They walked into the bridal shop.
"There are so many dresses," Sienna remarked, looking at the assortment of dresses.
A clerk came up to the trio and asked, "May I help you?"
"We're just looking around," Buford replied.
The clerk blinked, "Wonderful. Just let me know if you need any help. The change rooms are just over there."
Buford slung his arms around the shoulders of both women, "Right this way ladies."
Gretchen started to snicker.
"What's so funny?" Sienna asked.
Buford realized the reason why and cracked up laughing himself.
"What?" Sienna asked.
Gretchen regained her composure, "A man walks in with two women into a bridal shop and tells the clerk that they are just looking around..."
"Oh..." Sienna said, realizing what had just been implied.
Buford looked at some dresses, "Gretchen, you've got a similar complexion to Sienna. Take this and change."
"Uh, I don't think so," Gretchen replied stubbornly.
"Buford said change," Buford returned.
Gretchen stomped her foot on the floor, "No."
"Is there a problem here? Oh, that's a lovely dress, let me help you," the clerk had returned, then whisked Gretchen into a change room.
"She's stubborn at times isn't she?" Sienna noted.
Buford smirked, "Yes," then picked out another dress, "I want to see this one on you."
Sienna took the dress and went toward the change rooms. Buford took a seat and waited.
"Are we doing okay ladies?" the clerk inquired.
"Just peachy!" Gretchen snapped sarcastically.
Sienna came out of change room wearing a mermaid style dress, while Gretchen came out wearing a short dress.
The clerk looked at both women, then remarked to Gretchen, "It's never too late."
Gretchen responded with a tight, "I'm already married."
The clerk looked confused. Buford started to snicker and Gretchen shot him a venomous glare.
"I'm getting married, she's married to my fiancée's brother," Siena pipped up.
"Then why?" The clerk asked.
"They have a similar complexion, if the shade of dress looks good on her," Buford explained, indicating Gretchen, "it will look good on her," indicating Sienna.
"That sort of makes sense," The clerk said, a little less confused than before.
"Just go with it," Buford said.
"Might I add that there's a good five to seven inch height difference?" Gretchen pointed out.
"Height don't matter right now short stuff," Buford replied.
Gretchen sighed.
Buford looked over the dresses, "I think two shades darker."
"How about a lower neck line, show off some cleavage?" The clerk suggested with a nod.
"Sure," Buford said.
"I could show a little," Sienna replied.
"No! I'm not showing you my cleavage," Gretchen retorted stubbornly.
"I thought you looked beautiful in your wedding dress. You were the perfect blushing bride," Buford remarked.
"Buford, you getting ready to cross into a territory that you already know of the dangers of crossing into," Gretchen warned him.
"I'm just saying that-" Buford tried to defend himself.
Gretchen shot him a dirty look, "Buford there are reasons I don't want to share."
"Umm Gretchen," Sienna began then switched to Dutch, "Are you having uh...tenderness issues?"
Gretchen replied in German, "Yes, I'm ready to either scream or cry."
Sienna remarked Dutch, "You don't have to do this."
Gretchen returned in German, "I'll survive, don't worry about me."
Buford chimed in with very butchered German, "You realize I caught part of that."
Gretchen ran into change room, crying.
Sienna cast a look at Buford before cautiously following Gretchen, "Gretchen?"
Gretchen replied hollowly from one of the stalls, "Yes?"
"Can we talk? Just woman to woman?" Sienna asked.
Gretchen was silent.
Sienna took it as a sign to continue, she switched back to English, "I appreciate you coming with me today."
Gretchen sniffed.
"I know what it's like to be tender and sore, it gets better. Trust me," Sienna said.
Gretchen gave a whimper, followed by a sniff.
"That dress looked beautiful on you, can I try it on?" Sienna asked.
Gretchen unlatched the stall door.
"Do you need help with it?" Sienna asked
Gretchen gave a nod.
"That was cringe worthy German," Sienna noted as she unzipped the dress.
Gretchen sniffed and gave another nod.
"If he caught part of it, he would have been better off keeping his mouth shut. I take it his mouth has gotten into trouble in the past?" Sienna remarked.
Gretchen gave a nod in reply.
"Gretchen, are you okay? You're starting to hyperventilate," Sienna asked.
Gretchen tried to regulate her breathing and nodded.
"Are you sure? I can ask the clerk for a glass of water for you," Sienna said.
Gretchen shook her head.
"You know, even in the dress you could hardly tell you're pregnant," Sienna remarked.
Gretchen nodded.
Worry creeping into Sienna's voice, "Gretchen are you sure you are okay?"
Gretchen gave another nod.
"Why do I feel I shouldn't be accepting that as an answer?" Sienna inquired.
Gretchen smiled and started to pull her own clothes on, "I'm fine, really."
"Okay. How does this look?" Sienna said tentatively.
Gretchen looked over at Sienna, "You need a necklace."
Sienna blinked, "I do?"
Gretchen tilted her head, "Yes...Are you allergic to silver or gold?"
"No."
"Then I have something in mind."
"I guess I'll go show this dress to Buford," Sienna said.
"I'll be right out," Gretchen said then finished getting dressed then, when Sienna came out of change stall, pulled out her phone and sent a text to Candace.
Buford let out a low whistle, when he saw the dress on Sienna, "Dinnerbell is gonna have a hard time keepin' himself under control when he sees you in that."
Sienna blinked "Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?"
Gretchen came out of the dressing room, "Yes, yes you are," then she switched to German to address Buford, "You repeat what you heard today, I will maim you."
Buford raised hands in surrender and spoke in English, "Whatever you say. I made a vow to myself many years ago that I would never cross Ferb's girl."
"Deep down, you really are a good guy Buford. I'm lucky to have you as a friend," Gretchen remarked.
"You know it," Buford said.
Gretchen glanced at the dress under the shop's lighting, "I think you're right, the dress needs to be slightly darker. This shade of white is over white."
The clerk brought in selection of dresses for Sienna, and saw the short dress, "I've got one here for you, come this way," she said then guided Sienna toward the change rooms.
"So are you married, dating, engaged or single?" Gretchen asked.
"Single," Buford replied.
"That's too bad," Gretchen noted.
"How's Adyson doing?" Buford asked.
"What do you mean?" Gretchen inquired.
"I heard she got a divorce a while back," Buford explained.
Gretchen nodded, "But she's dating some-" Gretchen stopped and looked up, "Oh Sienna that looks lovely."
"Turn around," Buford said.
Sienna turned around.
"You need a train, a veil, and there's something missing..." Buford said.
"A necklace," Gretchen chimed in.
Buford nodded, "Something simple...not too flashy."
"Silver would do nicely don't you think?" Gretchen suggested.
"Yes, it would," Buford agreed.
"Is it really that nice?" Sienna asked.
"Take a look in the mirror behind you," Gretchen said.
Buford came up behind her, "With your hair up."
The clerk brought accessories over: placed a veil with silver tiara in hair, attached train, simple silk choker necklace with cameo.
Sienna started to cry as everything came together.
Gretchen snapped some pictures.
Buford nodded in appreciation, "Phineas won't know what hit him."
"Does Phineas have a Tux?" Gretchen inquired.
"He said something about the one he wore four years ago," Sienna replied.
Gretchen gave Buford a significant look.
"I'll arrange somethin' with Dinnerbell," Buford said, catching the meaning behind the look.
"You look absolutely lovely Sienna," Gretchen commented.
"Thank you for your assistance. We need to confer with a higher power. I'm sure we'll be back," Buford said to the clerk.
"Thank you. It was a pleasure to assist you today," the clerk replied.
Sienna went to change, Gretchen accompanied her.
"You really think that I look lovely in that?" Sienna inquired.
"Most definitely," Gretchen replied.
"What 'higher power' was Buford talking about?" Sienna asked.
"They'll meet us in a little while," Gretchen replied.
Gretchen and Sienna left the change room, met Buford and they all left the store.
"Okay, that was fun. Now where are we going?" Buford asked, then became cheeky, "Intimate apparels?"
"Not this trip Buford," Gretchen replied with the utmost seriousness.
Sienna's jaw dropped, "I can't believe you just said that!"
"I've got Phineas' best interest at heart. I have to make sure that his blushing bride is blushing," Buford replied.
"Buford's kinda like everyone's big brother. Although he does get a little cheeky at times," Gretchen said.
Buford simply smirked.
Sienna whispered to Gretchen, "How do you handle that?"
Gretchen gave her a wink then said, "So you don't have anyone to manage your mouth for you yet Buford?"
"Buford don't settle," Buford replied.
"Wouldn't you like to have a couple of kids? You could teach them things," Gretchen asked him.
Buford softened, "Yeah maybe," he realized what Gretchen had done and shook his head, "Dirty ploy Short Stuff."
"It's been a while since we've seen you, where've you been?" Sienna asked.
"I've been working," Buford replied with a shrug.
"Where?" Sienna inquired.
"Ship yards," Buford answered.
"What do you do?" Sienna asked.
"Welding," Buford answered.
An uncomfortable look suddenly crossed Gretchen's face.
Buford noticed this and asked, "Are you all right Short Stuff?"
"Your baby's moving again isn't it?" Sienna inquired.
"The baby is moving a lot more than usual right now...Anyways, what kind of welding Buford?" Gretchen responded.
"Standard welding, ya know rivets and ship hulls and the like," Buford said.
Gretchen paused in her step, then placed a hand on her abdomen and took a few deep breaths.
"Maybe we should sit down," Sienna suggested worriedly.
Gretchen gave an agreeing nod.
Buford helped guide Gretchen to a bench, "You want me ta call Ferb?"
Gretchen shook her head, "I'll be fine. I just..."
"Gretchen?" Sienna prompted.
Gretchen exhaled a held breath, "For a moment I thought I was going to be ill."
"I'm callin' Ferb," Buford said.
Gretchen squeaked out a, "Don't!"
"What's wrong about me calling Bean pole?" Buford asked.
"Just don't call him," Gretchen said.
Sienna sat next to her, "Are you okay?"
"Give me a few minutes," Gretchen replied.
"Ya don't look right. Som'tin's wrong, Buford can tell," Buford remarked.
Sienna placed a hand on Gretchen's back, "Gretchen, were you hurt earlier today? Do you think something happened to the baby?"
Gretchen shook her head, "I don't think so. I'm just getting more..."
"Pain?" Buford asked.
Gretchen shook her head again, "No, not pain so much as pressure than before."
"I'm callin' Ferb," Buford decided.
"I'd rather that you didn't," Gretchen replied.
"Gretchen, maybe we should take you to the-" Sienna started.
Gretchen sighed, "Fine, call Ferb, but be warned."
Buford took Gretchen's phone, "What number's his?"
"The fifth one," Gretchen replied.
Buford made the selection and waited, "It's Buford," he paused as Ferb replied, "I know this is Gretchen's phone," another pause, "Shut yer trap 'n listen. Gretchen's complain' of pressure from that peanut of hers," A listening pause, "She's right here, ya wanna talk ta 'er?"
Gretchen took the phone back, "Well at least it's not-" she listened, "Well..." she paused, "Do you remember how I told you I had an encounter a few months ago with Jason?" another pause, "Well...he's been-" a slight pause, "Ferb!" she sighed, "He stopped me today," another pause, "Yes."
Sienna looked over at Buford.
Buford's expression was unreadable.
"Ferb you're going to cause your back to go into a spasm," Gretchen warned.
Sienna looked worried, she said to Buford, "What's happening?"
Buford shrugged, "Dunno."
"It's just some pressure," Gretchen paused, "Ferb, no I didn't," a listening pause, "Yes, I'm sure," another pause, "Fine, here's Buford," she said then handed the phone back to Buford.
"Yo," Buford paused, "I helped her back to her feet and she seemed fine, just a bit nervous," he paused again, "I'll ask 'er," he said then to Gretchen, "Do ya want Ferb ta pick ya up?"
Gretchen shook her head, "I'll meet him at home. I'm fine."
Buford pressed the phone to his ear and spoke to Ferb, "She says she'll meet you at home," he paused, "All right," he disconnected the call and handed Gretchen her phone back.
"Something wrong?" Sienna asked.
"What'd he say?" Gretchen inquired.
"He wants me to accompany you for the rest of the time you are here, just in case Jason tries something else," Buford replied.
"You don't have to," Gretchen said.
"I told him I would, I got nutin' better ta do. 'Sides, I don't see ya often," Buford replied.
"Thank you Buford," Gretchen said.
"Now where?" Buford asked.
Just then Gretchen's phone rang.
Gretchen quickly answered, "Hello," she paused, "Sure, ten minutes in the coffee shop on the third floor. We'll see you soon," She hung up and smiled, "Let's get this wedding organized."
"Is that the 'higher power' that you two were talking about?" Sienna asked.
Gretchen nodded.
Buford smirked.
Ten minutes later, at the third floor coffee shop, the trio had been sitting for a while, Buford and Sienna had Coffee while Gretchen got a water.
"So who are we meeting?" Sienna asked.
Buford glanced at Gretchen.
Gretchen said without looking up, "Hey Candace."
"How are my favorite sisters today?" the red-headed woman greeted.
Buford gave a slight cough.
"Hello Buford, what have you got to report?" Candace asked.
"We might have found 'The Dress'," Buford replied.
"That was quick," Candace noted.
"Well do you remember how quickly we found mine?" Gretchen replied.
Candace nodded.
"So Candace is the 'Higher Power'?" Sienna asked.
"Yup," Buford replied.
"I don't understand," Sienna said.
Gretchen smiled, "This is the woman who can pull a wedding out of her ear. She really should have become a wedding planner."
"I don't like dealing with people who don't know what they want," Candace replied.
"You should just tell them what they want," Buford said.
Candace shook her head, "I want the weddings to be the couple's personal wedding, not some sort of pre-fabricated box wedding."
"So other than Ferb's and Gretchen's wedding and your Aunt Tiana and Uncle Bob's wedding, who else have you planned?" Sienna asked.
Candace pointed at Gretchen, "One of her friends, Adyson's wedding...Shame what happened though."
Gretchen gave a slight nod, "But she was happy with what you came up with."
"You did your own wedding as well," Buford pointed out.
"That doesn't count. Besides, I had help from everyone," Candace replied.
"You told us what to do and we did it," Buford said.
"I was nine months pregnant at the time as well. So it was kinda of hard for me to do those things," Candace replied, stating a fact.
"Bean Pole McGee and Short Stuff came all the way from Europe for it," Buford remarked.
"A Thirteen hour flight and they managed to help the day before and attend it, nicely dressed, despite being jet lagged," Candace said.
"That was insane," Buford noted.
Gretchen gave a shrug.
"You two seriously did that?" Sienna inquired incredulously.
"It was a good thing it was over a three day weekend," Gretchen replied
Buford remarked behind his hand to Sienna, "Candace would'a killed 'em if they weren't 'ere."
"That's not true," Candace said.
Gretchen raised an eyebrow at Candace.
Candace smirked, "I would have disowned you."
"What matters was that we made it," Gretchen replied.
"Yeah and after the weddin you and Bean Pole left," Buford pointed out.
"We had class the day after," Gretchen said simply.
"And you were able to focus?" Sienna asked.
"Trust me, with those two, nothing could really pull them out of classwork...But anyways, I want to see you in your dress Sienna, but other than that, it's the cake, reception.." Candace said then continued on with a list.
Buford pulled out his phone, "This is the dress we found, we didn't look hard and long."
Candace looked at picture, "If the dress looks half as good in real life as it does in a photo; We might have a winner, though we should look around a bit more. You just never know."
Sienna smiled.
"Now, cake. Do you want vanilla, chocolate, carrot or the traditional fruit cake?" Candace inquired.
"I didn't know there were that many choices," Sienna admitted.
"You forgot chicken," Buford remarked.
Candace glared at him.
Gretchen snickered.
"What's so funny?" Sienna asked.
Buford tried not to bust up laughing.
"Oh come on you two, it was a mistake," Candace protested.
Gretchen nodded, "Yes, yes it was."
"I was trying to delegate a few things to Phineas and Ferb. They still managed to put their own spin on it. I then got a couple of calls mixed up," Candace explained.
"Things worked out in the end though," Buford noted.
"Yeah, they did," Candace admitted.
"Chicken?" Sienna asked.
Gretchen laughed, "You'll have to ask Phineas."
"Okay then..." Sienna replied.
"Have you decided on bridesmaids?" Buford asked.
Sienna shook her head slightly.
"Any close friends or family?" Candace asked.
"My sister, she's a few years older than me," Sienna said.
"Any friends or other close relatives?" Candace asked.
"Most of my friends have moved away and I don't feel right asking them," Sienna admitted.
"Don't you have any friends here?" Candace inquired.
"Just a few people I've met through Phineas and yourself," Sienna admitted.
"Why not ask Short Stuff?" Buford asked.
Sienna looked down.
Gretchen rolled her eyes, "Buford..."
"That sounds all right, if it's okay with you Sienna," Candace remarked.
Sienna looked worried.
"What's wrong?" Candace inquired.
Gretchen looked to the table, "It's because I'm pregnant."
"No. That's not it," Sienna said.
"Then what's the matter?" Buford asked.
"Well I don't know Gretchen too well," Sienna said then mumbled something in Dutch.
Candace smiled slightly, "Gretchen's very easy to get along with."
"There are somethings that she won't be too sharing of," Buford noted.
"I'd rather not," Gretchen said.
"Come on. You're already sisters-in-law," Candace tried coaxing her.
"Candace, drop it. I don't want to ruin her wedding," Gretchen said shortly.
Candace's voice became low and gentle, "Gretchen, I just had Amanda when I got married. I had to get up halfway through the reception to feed her."
Gretchen became quiet.
"Oh boy," Buford said.
"It something wrong?" Sienna asked.
"She went quiet," Buford said.
"What does that mean?" Sienna inquired.
"It's never good," Buford replied.
"You can decide who you want your bridesmaids to be later," Candace said.
Gretchen was shredding serviettes and kept her eyes on the table.
"Is something wrong?" Sienna asked.
"Gretchen?" Candace prompted.
Gretchen shook her head.
Candace placed a hand on Gretchen's shoulder.
Gretchen looked up and pierced Candace with a warning glare.
Buford shuddered at the intensity of the glare, "I'm going to get another square."
Sienna looked between Candace and Gretchen.
"Gretchen..." Candace started.
"I need to make a call," Gretchen said suddenly.
Gretchen stepped out of the coffee shop.
"Maybe I should just not bother with the wedding," Sienna said.
"Nonsense. You want to get married, you've told me this," Candace said.
"I never put any thought into this before. I know that Ferb is Phineas' best man. Do you think Gretchen's upset that my sister will probably be my maid of honor?" Sienna asked.
Candace shook her head, "I don't think so...She's a bit off her normal demeanor today."
"What do you mean?" Sienna asked.
"Well she's a bit, I don't know how to put it exactly, she's just acting off.. Did something happen earlier?" Candace replied, knowing exactly how Gretchen was off but unable to convey it.
"We ran into a guy named Jason," Sienna said.
Candace sat up straighter, and her voice tightened, "What happened?"
"He slapped her and pushed her to the ground," Sienna said.
Buford came back with squares for all.
"Buford, is that why you're with them today?" Candace asked.
"Huh?" Buford returned.
"The incident with Jason," Candace clarified.
"Oh, yeah. That sorry excuse for a man pushed Gretchen to the ground. I've got some guy's video of it to take to the police," Buford replied.
"May I see the video?" Candace asked.
"Why?" Buford inquired in return.
"Just let me see the video Buford," Candace said.
"You ain't gunna like it," Buford replied then showed the video to Candace.
Candace looked from video to Gretchen sitting outside, "Was she injured?"
"She's been saying that the baby's more active than normal," Sienna said.
"I'm going to talk to her," Candace said and left to sit with Gretchen.