"Since Shane's giving you a hand, I'll help out too," Percy offered.
Ferb gave a shrug, "All right."
Between the three men the lasagna was prepared and put in oven to bake.
"Can I get that recipe from you?" Percy asked.
Ferb nodded, "Sure."
"Were you not taking notes?" Shane inquired of his partner.
"My hands were a little full of onion," Percy returned.
Ferb laughed lightly, "I'll write it down for you."
"If there's one recipe you should get it's Starshine's German-" Shane began.
"Chocolate cake. It's really an amazing cake," Ferb completed.
"Oh?" Percy said, surprised.
"She made it one year for a staff party….Maybe when she doesn't have her belly full of baby," Shane responded.
Gretchen came into the kitchen, overhearing the conversation about the German Chocolate Cake, "My mother made that when she was expecting me on several occasions. My dad jokes that it's the reason why I'm a quote 'Chocofiend.'"
Ferb hugged her gently, "I know you've lost your sweet tooth, love."
"I hope to get it back. Not being allowed my coffee is one thing, but to take away my chocolate, that is just plain cruel," Gretchen replied with a pitifully.
"I know you darling, I plan on bring you a pound of coffee for every pound your son weighs in at," Shane said.
"I was just going to offer a large stuffy," Percy remarked.
"That very nice of the both of you," Ferb said.
"The two of you are very kind to us," Shane replied.
Gretchen smiled slightly.
"How long does that cook for?" Percy asked.
"Forty minutes," Ferb replied as he wrote out the recipe for the lasagna.
"It seems simple enough, once all the ingredients are together," Shane noted.
"It didn't take too long to put together today because Ferb used a can of sauce. When he makes the sauce from scratch, it takes longer," Gretchen pointed out.
"Oh, I'll need that recipe too," Percy said lightly.
Ferb nodded and jotted the recipe on another sheet.
"Anything else needing to be made?" Gretchen inquired.
Ferb shook his head, "Nothing that we can't manage."
Gretchen raised an eyebrow.
"I just need to prepare the garlic bread and that's it," Ferb replied.
Gretchen put her hands on her hips, "So, we're just going to eat out of the pan?"
Ferb became amused and joked, "Why not? We're all friends."
"I'll set the table," Gretchen replied.
"Starshine, don't you-" Shane began.
"Shane I wouldn't go there. She can be very stubborn," Ferb warned.
"I bet," Percy said.
"We'll use the china tonight. We don't use it nearly often enough. Ferb, can you bring down the candle sticks?" Gretchen said, knowing they were well beyond her reach.
Ferb smiled, "Of course. Do you want me to bring down the silverware as well?"
"That sounds like a good idea, thank you," Gretchen replied.
"Have you any crystal wine glasses?" Shane inquired.
Gretchen paused, and a tear escaped as her mood quickly shifted, "No, I don't have crystal glasses. Only glass ones."
"It's all right darling," Percy said quickly, with a glance at Shane, who look worried at the sudden mood shift.
Ferb wrapped an arm around Gretchen, "It's okay sweetheart."
"Ah..." Shane couldn't think of anything to say.
Percy exchanged a look with Shane, and Ferb caught the meaning behind it.
"I'm not saying that word," Ferb said.
Gretchen broke down sobbing, "I should have crystal wine glasses."
"You've got lovely wine glasses," Ferb tried soothing her.
Gretchen screamed at him, "They're not crystal!"
"Gretchen, please, love, just take a breath," Ferb said calmly.
Gretchen paused and took a couple of breaths.
"Better?" Ferb asked.
Gretchen nodded, "Sorry..."
"It's okay love," Ferb replied.
"Yup, definitely has to do with that," Shane said, noting how everything was back to normal.
"Didn't your sister nearly bite your head off when she was expecting?" Percy inquired.
"Yeah...That was not fun," Shane replied with a slight shudder.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" Ferb offered to Gretchen.
Gretchen nodded, "That sounds good," she said then went back to setting the table.
"That's one way to defuse the situation," Percy noted quietly.
Ferb nodded and replied in the same tone, "The calmer I keep her the better for everyone."
Shane watched as Gretchen meticulously set the table, "Same precision as she does her job."
Ferb nodded.
Gretchen shyly entered the kitchen, "I'm sorry guys."
"Don't worry about it Starshine," Shane waved it off.
"Pregnancy does that to some..." was all Percy got out before Gretchen sucker-punched him.
Ferb went wide eyed.
"Whoa, there Miss Fiestypants," Shane said, gently grabbing Gretchen's wrists.
"Damn, that's one nasty punch you have," Percy managed as he straightened.
Gretchen was still bristling, but Shane let her go, keeping himself between Percy and the constant mood shifting Gretchen.
Ferb pressed a cup of near water tea into Gretchen's hands, "Here you go love."
"Percy, are you okay?" Shane asked.
"Of all the people who've ever done that, she takes the prize," Percy noted, regaining his breath.
Ferb directed Gretchen to kitchen chair, "There we go love," he said and kissed the top of her head.
"I had no idea she was going to do that," Shane admitted.
"It's all right Shane," Percy assured his partner.
Ferb came over and informed the pair quietly, "Once she mellows a little she'll probably apologize. She's done it before."
"Never thought someone could move that fast," Percy admitted.
"I've seen her catch a tray of instruments before it hit the ground," Shane remarked.
"Really?" Percy asked, his eyebrows raising.
Shane nodded, "She can also maneuver anything on wheels better than anyone I've ever seen."
"I understand she gave my brother quite the fright last year though," Ferb said.
"The amputation...That wasn't a pretty sight," Shane said.
Percy grimaced, "I remember you saying something about that."
"Gretchen took the saw back. It probably didn't help that she didn't bother changing out of her surgical scrubs until she got back," Shane noted.
Ferb pulled dinner out of the oven, allowing it to cool slightly.
Gretchen sheepishly looked up, "I'm sorry Percy."
"It's okay. No permanent damage," Percy replied.
Gretchen became worried, "I shouldn't have lost my temper."
"No worries," Percy said.
"Are you sure?" Gretchen asked.
"No damage, it's fine," Percy assured her.
"Dinner will be served in the dining room this evening," Ferb said as he carried the pan into the other room.
"That smells delicious," Shane said as Gretchen, Percy and himself followed.
"Ferb, you don't have to keep doing this," Gretchen called.
Percy stood behind Shane and remarked, "Let him, there might come a day when he's at work and you'll wish he were here to help."
Gretchen's expression turned thoughtful and she followed Ferb back into the kitchen.
"I don't think she's going to sucker punch you again," Shane said.
"Can't be too cautious Sha, She really does pack a wallop. Heaven help the fool who triggers her Mama Bear mode," Percy replied.
"Ferb is first in line for that. All he has to do is wake up," Shane pointed out.
"That's not fair," Percy said.
"I will do whatever I can to keep Gretchen content," Ferb remarked as he came back into the room, this time carrying a tray of sliced garlic bread.
"Coffee," Shane said.
"I'm pretty sure she'll go back to having her coffee after the baby gets here," Ferb said as he started dishing up the plates: a little bit of lasagna, and a couple of slices of garlic bread, and pouring the Pino Grigo into the wine glasses save Gretchen's.
"I can hear everything you're saying," Gretchen warned from the kitchen.
"Coffee keeps you happy at work," Shane replied, his tone light.
Percy said nothing.
"Coffee keeps me conscious at work, especially on the night shift," Gretchen corrected as she came back into the dining room.
"And your patients love you for that," Ferb said as he finished serving everyone, and pouring sparkling apple-grape cider into Gretchen's wine glass, then sat to then took his seat at the table.
"You found out first hand what happens when I go without coffee for too long," Gretchen pointed out.
"Yeah...And you were a bit of a teaser when..." Ferb stopped when Gretchen smirked.
Shane laughed at the exchange of expressions between the married couple.
"Sometimes I hate being on the outside of the joke," Percy sighed.
"Better than being the joke," Shane pointed out.
"At some point we've all had to go without that which we love most," Ferb said, with a love filled look at Gretchen.
"You make it sound like I love coffee more than I love you," Gretchen teased.
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, very rare, sometimes I do. But you're always a close second," Gretchen replied.
Ferb smirked, "Although there are a few things I can do for you that coffee can't."
Gretchen's face instantly became red.
Percy caught the meaning behind the words and laughed lightly while Shane chuckled.
"And you left-" Ferb began.
Gretchen was now crimson, "FERB!"
"Dinner looks wonderful," Percy said then took a bite, a blissful look came across his face.
"I've not seen that look in a long time," Shane said.
"I've just died and gone to heaven," Percy said.
"You should try Ferb's garlic bread," Gretchen remarked as Shane took a bite of his own food.
Percy took a bite of the garlic bread, "This is amazing."
"Thank you," Ferb said.
"Starshine we might have to kidnap your husband," Shane threatened.
"You do and I'll have to hunt you down," Gretchen replied.
The pair laughed at the banter.
"How do you get the garlic so... so... right?" Percy asked.
"I bake the bread with garlic in it. Then I mix crushed garlic into the butter before toasting," Ferb replied.
"Genius," Shane said then turned to Gretchen, "That's why your sandwiches always look so good, home made bread."
Gretchen shrugged.
"What was that one dish you made love?" Ferb asked his wife.
"Which one are you talking about?" Gretchen replied.
"The one recipe you had to get from your mother again," Ferb prompted.
"Rouladen," Gretchen said.
Ferb nodded, "That's a good meal."
"Did either of you take formal cooking classes?" Percy asked.
Ferb shook his head, "My mother did, I picked up a bit from her."
"Nope. The Fireside Girls provided on the fly training," Gretchen replied.
"Sounds like fun," Shane noted.
"Some of the cooking patches required us to make the stuff first," Gretchen said with a slight shrug.
"You didn't just have to cook up mac & cheese?" Percy inquired.
"That was the simple cooking patch. There were others. Open Fire Cooking, Barbecue, Roasting, Gourmet," Gretchen listed off.
"Did you miss any of them?" Shane inquired.
"Not a one," Gretchen replied with a grin.
Ferb smiled as he recalled seeing those patches on one of her sashes, "How many courses was the Gourmet one?"
"Six," Gretchen answered.
Shane let out a low whistle, clearly impressed.
"Whoa," Percy acknowledged in a agreement.
"Her mother's cooking has nothing on her," Ferb began.
"Ferb! You promised not to mention anything," Gretchen interrupted quickly.
"To your co-workers, you've said yourself, Shane's not just a co-worker, he's like a brother," Ferb pointed out.
"I learned a number of skills during my time as a Fireside Girl," Gretchen said.
"Besides cooking, which you obviously share with your husband, what other skills did you learn?" Shane inquired.
"First Aid," Gretchen supplied, then continued with an eye roll, "There was one member of our troop who was a little accident prone."
Ferb snorted, "I've never known anyone who could get concussion from paper mache."
"A concussion from paper mache?" Shane asked, his curiosity quipped.
"You remember that young woman who's arm I sutured?" Gretchen said, referring to Adyson Sweetwater.
"Yeah?" Shane prompted.
"That'd be her, she's grown out of it...mostly," Gretchen replied.
Dinner continued for a short while and eventually Shane and Percy had to leave. Shane had the mid-morning to mid-afternoon shift and Percy had to be at his job early. Ferb and Gretchen bid the two men farewell.
"I enjoy entertaining, but I'm exhausted," Gretchen admitted to Ferb after the front door was closed.
Ferb wrapped an arm around her back and guided her to the rocking chair, "Have a seat, you've earned it."
"What are you going to do?" she asked as he made her sit.
"Clean up," Ferb replied.
"But you made dinner. It's-" Gretchen tried protesting.
Ferb smiled and placed a loving hand on her abdomen, "You're carrying our child. There's nothing I can do to help you with that."
Gretchen tilted her head, as she usually did when thinking.
"What are you thinking?" Ferb asked.
"Nothing important," Gretchen replied, somewhat sadly.
Ferb sat on the couch beside rocking chair, "You're a terrible liar."
Gretchen gave a small smile, "You're a wonderful husband and I love you."
Ferb placed a kiss on her temple, "I love you too, dear," he said then stood up and started cleaning up.
Gretchen looked down at her abdomen as her son kicked and said softly, "I can't wait to meet you.
By the time Ferb was done cleaning up and had returned to the living room, he found Gretchen softly singing in German. He smiled slightly at the gentle lit to her words. She looked up at him and smiled.
"You always had a lovely voice," Ferb said.
"Do you think I'm going to be a good mother?" Gretchen inquired.
Ferb hugged her tight, "You're going to make a wonderful mother."
"How do you know?" Gretchen asked.
"I believe in you," Ferb responded.
"But I got mad at Percy this evening."
"That's just because you're pregnant. Things upset you that don't normally wouldn't and-"
"Are you calling me hormonal?"
"No I'm not."
"Ferb..."
"I would never call you that."
A few tears escaped as Gretchen's mood once again shifted.
Ferb handed her a handkerchief, "Please don't cry."
Unfortunately for Ferb, Gretchen sucker punched him.
Ferb doubled over.
Gretchen's eyes went wide, "I'm sorry, I don't know why I did that."
"It's okay love," Ferb said as he straightened back up while making another mental note to not even suggest a hormonal imbalance.
"Sorry."
"It's all right, you just knocked the wind out of me."
"Are you sure I didn't hurt you?"
Ferb nodded, "I'm sure."
"I'm so sorry," Gretchen apologized and started to cry.
Ferb wrapped his arms around her, "Let's get you to bed, love."
The couple went to bed after Ferb set the alarms. Gretchen snuggled in as close as she could. Ferb had the following day off, and was undisturbed when Gretchen's feet intertwined with his. The next morning, Ferb greeted his wife in the kitchen, as he sipped some fresh coffee.
"Good morning love," Ferb said as Gretchen pulled out the fresh gallon of milk.
"Morning," she replied, pulling down a glass and pouring herself a glass in it.
"You seem refreshed," Ferb noted as she took a drink out of her glass.
"What a world a good night's sleep does huh?" Gretchen replied.
"Is there something special you would like to do today?" Ferb inquired.
"Don't you have to work?" Gretchen asked.
"It's the weekend," Ferb reminded her with a smile.
"Can we look at things for the baby?" Gretchen asked almost shyly.
"Sure. We should probably stock up on diapers and wipes while we are at it. Maybe get him some blankets as well," Ferb replied.
Gretchen nodded.
Ferb smiled slightly. The two finished breakfast, and got ready for a day out. Gretchen's pregnancy was beginning to become noticeable. Once the couple arrived at the store, they started looking at newborn clothes.
"These are so tiny," Gretchen breathed.
"Newborn babies are tiny, aren't they?" Ferb asked.
Gretchen nodded, "How many outfits do you think we need?"
"I don't know. We'll need to find warmer clothes though," Ferb replied, glancing over the summer clothes on display.
"Why? These are so adorable," Gretchen asked.
"His birthday's supposed to be in September," Ferb reminded her.
"We could get these in larger sizes for next year," Gretchen replied.
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"It's what Karen did for Cory," Gretchen replied, referring to her sister-in-law and her nephew.
"Let's find some warmer clothes love," Ferb said gently.
Gretchen gave a slight nod, "How much do you think he'll weigh?"
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"If we're going to get some baby clothes and diapers we need to know how much he's going to weigh," Gretchen gently pointed out.
"We'll wait on those then. Let's look at some of the other things, a bath, blankets and such," Ferb replied.
"Okay," Gretchen said as they moved over a few aisles, she reached out and picked up a blanket, "I love this blanket, it's so soft."
Ferb raised an eyebrow then felt the softness of the dark purple blanket, "Whoa."
"Do you like it?" Gretchen asked.
Ferb nodded, "He might like it too."
They purchased several items and placed them in the car. The back seats of Ferb's car were folded down to make room for the box the unassembled crib was in. The items purchased included but were not limited to a bath, several soft blankets and sheets for the crib, a crib mattress, a bumper for the crib, a changing mat, and a few outfits for three to six month olds. The couple went out to lunch at a restaurant.
"Maybe we should talk to your doctor about an estimated weight. He might be a smaller baby," Ferb suggested.
"But he might be a bit bigger," Gretchen replied.
"You were a small baby," Ferb pointed out.
"How much did you weigh when you were born?" Gretchen asked.
"I'll have to check with my father, but I think I saw a paper that had me listed as seven pounds six ounces and twenty-two inches," Ferb replied.
"That's average. I don't think he'll be one of those twelve pound babies... I hope not," Gretchen said.
Ferb stopped eating and visibly blanched, "Twelve pounds?"
"We've got nothing to worry about," Gretchen assured him.
"Twelve pounds...and what exactly does that do for the mother?" Ferb asked.
"Well... for one they aren't too happy with the fathers," Gretchen replied.
"Anything else?" Ferb prompted.
Gretchen shook her head, "At the end of the day, as long as the baby's healthy most mothers are forgiving."
Ferb looked extremely worried.
"I'm sure I'd be bigger if he was going to be a large baby," Gretchen pointed out.
"They said he was sitting further back," Ferb said.
"I'd still be bigger if he was going to be a large baby," Gretchen replied.
Ferb gave a slow nod.
"He might be between six and seven and half pounds. That's a very rough assumption, but I could be wrong," Gretchen replied.
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"That's still a healthy weight for a full-term baby," Gretchen assured him.
"I'm sorry, love," Ferb said softly.
"What for?" Gretchen asked.
"For putting you through all of this," Ferb said.
Gretchen smirked slightly, "Not your fault. You had my assistance in all of this."
Ferb raised an eyebrow at that.
"I'm sorry for making you put up with me and my constantly changing moods," Gretchen apologized.
Ferb's brow furrowed, "What is considered to be an unhealthy weight for a full-term baby?"
"Under five-and-a-half pounds," came Gretchen's automatic reply.
"Weren't you a tiny baby?" Ferb inquired, recalling his wife mentioning that she was five pounds five ounces exactly.
"Yes, but Mom's not a large woman and neither am I," Gretchen pointed out.
"Your father's a tall man," Ferb pointed out.
Gretchen nodded, "Greg takes after Dad's side of the family, while I take after Mom's, physically."
"You wouldn't care if he turned out to be a smaller baby would you?" Ferb asked.
"As long as he's healthy," Gretchen replied.
"Isn't your one cousin's younger brother taller than him?" Ferb asked, remembering when he met Gretchen's cousins that actually lived in the States.
Gretchen nodded.
"You've got an upcoming appointment soon, don't you?" Ferb inquired.
"Wednesday. I'll ask," Gretchen replied, knowing what Ferb was going to ask.
Ferb nodded, "You've still got two months before the due date, the baby has time to grow."
"Time yes, space... not so much," Gretchen replied with a giggle.
"You're going to be relieved when all this is over, aren't you?" Ferb asked.
"It would be nice to be able to bend over without having excessive pressure on my bladder," Gretchen replied.
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"And you are one hundred percent positive you want to be with me when I deliver?" Gretchen asked.
Ferb nodded.
"You have the easy job of holding my hand," Gretchen said.
Ferb reached out for her hand, and gently took it in his, "I want to be there for you."
"That's what most fathers say, then they try to tell the doctors what to do," Gretchen said.
"You can hit me if I try that," Ferb said.
"You might regret that. But I'll try to keep it in mind," Gretchen warned.
"Isn't Dr. Manson the one doing the delivery?" Ferb inquired.
"I'll ask him at the next appointment," Gretchen replied.
"Are you wanting to do anything to-" Ferb began.
"I'm not scared of having him Ferb," Gretchen interrupted.
"You're sure?" Ferb prompted.
"I'm sure."
"It's a bit late to go back now," Ferb noted.
Gretchen laughed, "Yes, yes it is. I'm actually enjoying being pregnant."
"Do you just want to go back home?" Ferb asked.
"Are you okay with staying out for a little while longer?" Gretchen asked back, looking at him with her dark blue eyes.
"Whatever makes you happy," Ferb replied.
Gretchen smiled slightly.
"Is there something in particular you'd like to do?" Ferb inquired.
"Is it too much trouble to go for a walk around the park?" Gretchen asked him.
Ferb smiled, he knew how much she enjoyed their walks, "Not at all."
Gretchen tilted her head, "Isn't Django doing an art expo in the park?"
"I think so. I'm not entirely sure. Has Adyson said anything about Anthony?" Ferb asked, since his co-worker hadn't been saying too much about the brunette after Gretchen and himself had introduced the pair.
"Other than how happy she is with him? No," Gretchen replied, knowing that Adyson was much happier with Ferb's co-worker than she had been with her ex-husband.
Ferb smiled, "She deserves happiness don't you think?"
Gretchen nodded.
RW26Z A/EN: Okay I feel a little explanation is needed for the whole Adyson dating Ferb's co-worker Anthony. So yes Ferb and Gretchen introduced the two. The pair actually hit it off quite well and had been dating for about four months at this point. As for Buford, there are some things in the works for him that aren't going to be revealed for some time. In actuality, Ferb went to the local diner with Anthony when Adyson noticed Ferb and chatted with him a little bit before picking up her lunch to-go and returning to her job site. A few days later Anthony asked Ferb about her while Adyson (in another visit to the ER thanks to her 'Accident-Proneness') asked Gretchen about Ferb's co-worker. Anyways, next character to be added in the mix: Django Brown.