Gretchen met Sienna at the prearranged location; a small little restaurant inside the mall.
"How are you?" Sienna greeted.
"Just fine, and you?" Gretchen returned.
"Good," Sienna answered.
An hour and half later, the chat turned to family.
"I hate it when Phineas wants me to translate everything into Dutch for him," Sienna remarked.
Gretchen laughed lightly, "I taught Ferb German. He actually had me teach him to impress my father."
"How long did that take?" Sienna asked, out of curiosity.
"Not long, he had the basics after a couple of hours and was able to stumble through a conversation after a day," Gretchen replied with a slight shrug.
Sienna blinked in astonishment, "Is Ferb a linguist?"
Gretchen gave an embarrassed smile, "Yeah. He's fairly fluent in most of the European languages, he just didn't have "time to learn German". Or so he said."
"I've tried teaching Phineas..." Sienna shuddered, "He just butchers the language."
Gretchen dropped into German, "I'm thinking that he didn't want to learn before."
Sienna switched to Dutch, "What do you mean?"
"My father suggested that he had incentive to learn," Gretchen continued in German.
"Oh?" Sienna asked.
Gretchen nodded, "It's easier for me to speak it because, granted I grew up speaking both English and German, German was easier. My parents were from Germany so it was easy for them to teach us both."
"What about Ferb?" Sienna asked.
"He's a Brit through and through. He went to boarding school from the time he was thirteen. He literally took every language there was to take. He was going to take German the year he broke his leg, but that course wasn't offered via correspondence," Gretchen answered.
"It wasn't?" Sienna inquired, surprised.
Gretchen shook her head, "When his job took him to Germany for a week, he stumbled through; but came to me for practice."
"Is he older than you?" Sienna asked.
"Only by a year," Gretchen replied.
"So he's twenty-six now?" Sienna inquired.
Gretchen nodded.
"When did you turn Twenty-five?" Sienna asked.
"Not until Mid-November," Gretchen answered.
"You were nineteen when you got married?" Sienna inquired.
Gretchen nodded, "Yeah."
"How long had you and Ferb been going together?" Sienna asked.
"Technically, the better part of six years. Officially four years, when we had dated," Gretchen replied.
"Did your father always like Ferb?" Sienna inquired, trying to compare notes.
"There was a slight misunderstanding when I was fifteen," Gretchen replied.
"What do you mean?" Sienna asked.
"Well Ferb, Isabella and myself were talking. Isabella and I had posed a hypothetical situation and my father overheard, and misunderstood the conversation," Gretchen explained with a sight sigh.
"What happened?" Sienna inquired.
Gretchen replied sadly, "He kicked Ferb out of the house and forbid him to have any contact with me. He exchanged a few e-mails with Ferb and Ferb decided to tell him that he jumped in front of a train. Then my father found out I wasn't.. He was...devastated for lack of better words."
"That you weren't... what?" Sienna asked.
"Pregnant," Gretchen said simply.
"Ferb said he was going to jump in front of a train?" Sienna inquired incredulously.
"Yeah. He knew it was my father sending the e-mails, not me," Gretchen replied.
"What happened?" Sienna asked.
"Ferb went to a friend's place for a few days and eventually ended up at his parents' house," Gretchen replied.
"So how'd he find out that he didn't?" Sienna asked.
"Linda and Lawrence invited us over...Phineas had called me earlier...but at the time I had believed Ferb had actually done it," Gretchen answered.
"Weren't you relieved that he was okay?" Sienna inquired.
"I didn't really know what to do...I was angry with him, it hurt. I think you can relate to the being so in love with someone that it sometimes hurts," Gretchen admitted.
Sienna nodded, "Yes. I know the feeling...Have you ever had any arguments with Ferb?"
"Yes, but we've always worked through it," Gretchen replied.
"Phineas said that you decided to go with Ferb when he went back to England for school," Sienna remarked.
Gretchen nodded, "Yes."
"Have you two ever had an conversation that left you unsure of what to do?" Sienna asked.
"End of that school year...I'm not exactly sure of what was going through his head, but yes. His words really hurt, he came back though and apologized," Gretchen answered.
"Sounds like he was going through a tough situation.." Sienna remarked.
"Ferb's always been a private person, he doesn't share personal information lightly," Gretchen returned.
"Unlike Phineas," Sienna noted.
Gretchen gave a nod, "Ferb has always had a bad habit of bottling everything up. I'm one of a select few he'll talk to."
"Phineas said they used to always share secrets," Sienna commented.
Another nod from Gretchen, "Phineas and Lawrence are the only other two I know of who can get Ferb to talk."
"Phineas told me that you didn't talk much outside your troop," Sienna said.
"I never liked drawing attention to myself," Gretchen said with a slight shrug.
"That would be understandable," Sienna remarked.
Gretchen gave her a quizzical look.
"Sorry. It's just that you don't strike me as the outgoing type," Sienna replied.
"I can be, if the situation calls for it. I'd rather stand back and let those who want to shine, shine," Gretchen stated then an uncomfortable look crossed her face.
"Is something wrong?" Sienna asked, slightly concerned.
Gretchen rubbed her belly, "The baby's moving and it's rather uncomfortable.
"I remember, though I wouldn't mind being pregnant again. I think Lillian would like a younger sibling," Sienna commented.
Gretchen nodded.
"I must say you do carry quite well," Sienna admitted.
Gretchen tilted her head.
"Something wrong?" Sienna asked.
Gretchen simply pointed up to the tiny speaker above their heads. A familiar song was playing.
Sienna listened for a few moments, "Isn't this the song by that band, PFT?"
Gretchen nodded and started humming along.
"I wonder what happened to them," Sienna commented.
"I take it Phineas didn't tell you," Gretchen noted, surprised.
"Didn't tell me what?" Sienna asked.
Gretchen bit her lip, trying not to laugh, and pulled out her phone, "Let me see if I can find it."
Sienna became curious, "Find what?"
"Ah, here we go," Gretchen had found what she'd been looking for: a picture of the concert at the mall, Candace and Phineas on lead vocals.
Sienna looked at picture, "That kid has a striking resemblance to Phineas."
"He is Phineas, that's Candace and..." Gretchen scrolled the pictured over, revealing Ferb on keyboards.
Sienna burst out laughing, "Is that Ferb?"
"PFT stood for Phineas and the Ferbtones, but something entirely different in my line of work" Gretchen replied.(1)
"Is there more to the picture?" Sienna inquired.
"Yes," Gretchen said, nodding, and scrolled the picture over further.
"So who are they?" Sienna asked.
Gretchen smirked, "The Ferbettes, that's Isabella, Adyson, Milly and myself."
Sienna giggled "Phineas never said anything about this."
"Phineas came up with all sorts of crazy ideas when we were kids" Gretchen replied.
"I never knew," Sienna remarked.
Gretchen looked at picture, as she spoke sadly, "Phineas always tried to make the most of every day. He'd make sure everyone was having fun, especially his brother."
"What happened?"
Gretchen shook her head.
"You don't know?"
"I'm not sure. I think somewhere along the line they drifted apart."
"They seem close now."
"They've sorted out a few things. That's part of the reason Ferb left in the first place."
"Because they drifted apart?"
"You know how Phineas is."
"Yes, yes I do."
"Does Phineas ever speak of Ferb to you?" Gretchen asked.
"Sometimes he'll tell Lillian stories about what they used to do as kids" Sienna replied.
"You don't believe him," Gretchen noted.
"I think I'll start believing him," the Dutch woman replied.
"Get him to tell you the story about the Summer Solstice," Gretchen advised.
"Why?" Sienna asked.
"A lot of things happened then. They were almost late," Gretchen replied.
"Late?"
"Sundown. But it's best if he tells you."
"You and Ferb were there?"
Gretchen shook her head, "Ferb went on the trip. I stayed behind to prepare the party."
"Why didn't you go?"
"There wasn't enough room in the plane. Besides, I was needed at the house."
"Why?"
"To set up for the party... I don't think Adyson was too trustworthy to be in command of the troop at that age," Gretchen laughed, "Clay Aiken wasn't impressed when she handed him a broom."
"You've met Clay Aiken?" Sienna asked, clearly shocked.
"Shaka Kahn too... Bowling For Soup...Love Handel...quite a few bands," Gretchen listed off.
"How did you meet them?"
"Phineas and Ferb, I guess mostly Phineas... he's the more charismatic of the two."
"He is quite charming."
"Phineas has always been the outgoing one. But Ferb, even though he's quiet around most people, has his own charm."
"You two complement each other."
"You and Phineas do as well."
"Can I ask you something?"
"I suppose."
"Do you feel that you keep Ferb away from friends and family?" Sienna asked.
This got Gretchen keyed up, "I've never told Ferb he can't do anything."
"Sorry. I was just curious," Sienna admitted.
Gretchen gave a sigh.
"Has Phineas told you the wedding date?" Sienna asked, promptly changing the subject as she felt she had, very much, crossed an unspoken line; and that Gretchen was now wary of any questions like that, and would be on guard for any others like it.
"Early November, right?" Gretchen asked in return.
"Yes."
"Are you registered anywhere?" Gretchen asked, grateful for this change of subject.
"I'd like to register at a few of the boutique shops," Sienna admitted.
"Which ones?" Gretchen inquired.
"Why?"
"We were registered at a few of the boutique shops, as well as a couple of the larger stores," Gretchen replied with a shrug.
"How do we-" Sienna began.
Gretchen gave smile, "We can do that in a bit. It's fairly simple."
Sienna nodded, "Okay."
"Is there anything special you'd like for a wedding gift?" Gretchen asked.
"Anything will be fine."
"You're going to be a member of the family. If there's something you'd really like(,) let me know."
"I couldn't."
"Do I have to call Candace?" Gretchen threatened gently.
"No."
"Good, then is there something you really like let me know."
"I've not had much chance to look at non-children's stores for a while," Sienna admitted.
"I guess I'll have to get used to that soon," Gretchen replied lightly, resting a hand on her abdomen.
The two women shared a laugh.
"Linda and Lawrence are great, they'll take Lillian for a few hours and give me a chance to take care of things," Sienna remarked.
"Do you ever get together with your friends?" Gretchen asked.
"Sometimes we'll get together for lunch and shopping," Sienna replied.
"That's good," Gretchen said.
"What about you?"
"It's very rare that I can get (together) with all of them. I more frequently get in contact with Isabella and Adyson than the rest," Gretchen admitted, recalling the last meeting she had with her former troop.
"Phineas talks about her often," Sienna noted.
Gretchen knew exactly who Sienna was speaking of, "Isabella?"
Sienna nodded, "He speaks fondly of her."
"They've always been best friends. They tried dating for a while, but that didn't work out."
"I think he still has feelings for her."
"What makes you think that?"
"Well the way he would say her name or the way he would talk to her."
Gretchen sighed and decided to reveal a little bit of the history behind it, "She hurt him, really bad. But someone hurt her worse. He's forgiven her, but she can't forgive herself for what she had done to him."
"How did she hurt him?"
"Broke his heart...But the guy she dated after him...well...some not so very nice things happened to her with him...It's taken her a long time to trust a guy again, after Evan," Gretchen answered, remembering what had happened to her best friend.
"Phineas said that he once thought he had feelings for you."
Gretchen became reflective, "That was just emotions running high."
"Did you return his feelings?"
"There was nothing there. Ferb was unconscious and in hospital. Both Phineas and I witnessed what happened and he tried to be a good friend and comfort me, for his brother's sake," Gretchen replied, Ferb had been the only person she had fully and truly loved with her whole being.
"He said he kissed you."
"I never returned it. He said something to Buford after I attacked him," Gretchen responded.
Sienna's eyes widened, she had seen the size of the former bully, "You attacked Buford? He's like three times your size."
"His mouth is what got him in trouble," Gretchen replied simply.
"What could he have possibly said to get you angry?" Sienna asked.
"He was being disrespectful," Gretchen said simply.
"Wow. Phineas has always said that you're a fierce friend," Sienna said with a low whistle.
Gretchen raised an eyebrow, "He did?"
"Yeah," Sienna said with a nod.
"I just don't like disrespectful people, I had enough of that when I dated a guy named Jason," Gretchen responded, trying to keep the contempt out of her voice.
"Do you mind me asking what happened?" Sienna asked.
"I'd rather not talk about it," Gretchen replied, a slight tightness in her voice.
"I'd like to get to know you better, as a friend," Sienna said.
"I'd like that as well," Gretchen returned.
"I take it he tried pushing you into something you didn't want to do?" Sienna asked.
"Yes, and I'm gonna leave it at that. Phineas never said how you two met," Gretchen replied, changing the subject.
"I used to work with Candace in the accounting department" Sienna said.
"Candace set you two up?" Gretchen asked.
"No, Candace and I were working through a couple of accounts. Phineas came over and took her out for lunch; it was her birthday," Sienna replied.
"So what happened exactly?" Gretchen inquired.
"Well..." Sienna started blushing.
"So Phineas picked Candace up for lunch, nothing unusual about that," Gretchen remarked, knowing it was something the two red-heads did on a fairly regular basis.
"Candace must have seen me smile at him and the way he smiled back," Sienna continued.
"Let me guess her birthday lunch was postponed so you two could go out," Gretchen said, knowing how the older woman was.
"Yeah. Just before driving back to the office, Phineas picked up a bouquet of flowers for her," Sienna said with a nod.
"He's a good guy. He tried surprising me at work on my birthday once. Sadly Ferb had picked me up already," Gretchen commented.
"Has he tried surprising you any other time?" Sienna asked.
Gretchen nodded, "One other time...I was assigned to help in the OR that day and he caught me at a bad time."
"What happened?" Sienna asked curiously.
"I must of scared him, I had to help the surgeon with a few things soo... he told me that he would wait in the cafeteria," Gretchen replied.
"I didn't know Phineas was afraid of a little blood," Sienna commented.
"Actually, I think it was the large bloody saw I had on my trolley," Gretchen replied.
"They actually use saws?" Sienna asked incredulously.
Gretchen nodded, "We had to amputate. There's a reason why surgeons are called-"
Sienna interrupted her, "I don't want to know!"
Gretchen laughed lightly at this.
"You find that funny?" Sienna asked.
"Quite a few people find it unnerving," Gretchen replied with a slight shrug.
"I bet," Sienna noted.
"I scrubbed down and met up with him for coffee," Gretchen pointed out.
"I can't picture you being covered in..." Sienna stopped and shuddered.
"It's not often. I usually help patients post surgery," Gretchen replied.
"That's good," Sienna noted, relieved.
"Generally, patients are good about post surgery care. There have been a few that haven't been so good," Gretchen said.
"Phineas said that you've worked in the pediatric ward upon occasion," Sienna remarked.
Gretchen nodded.
"Do you have a specialty?" Sienna asked.
"No, I'm not specialized... yet. I'm considering either cardiology or pediatrics as a specialty. However, I'm also curious about geriatrics. There are quite a few avenues I could take my career. Though trauma isn't my first choice," Gretchen replied.
A/N:
1. My co-author has mentioned that in the medical profession PFT stands for Pulmonary Function Test.