RW26Z A/N: Alexander Riley Fletcher is the creation of my co-author, Sabrina06. Gretchen's parents, Wilhelm 'Will' Weiss, and Gertrude 'Trudy' Weiss, also solely belong to my co-author as well. All other original characters that appear later in this fiction are our co-creations.
2nd Wolfy A/N: Hey I'm not dead! I finally got around to getting these chapters uploaded. x.x I'm sucky with updates, well that and life got in the way. I promise that it won't be the same amount of time between updated, and BTW feel free to call me Wolfy.
Over the next two weeks, most of the old Fireside Girls troop 46231 had called Gretchen. Only Isabella and Milly had stopped by to visit. It was when Milly was visiting that Gretchen found out that Milly was no longer separated from her husband.
"How did this come about?" Gretchen asked of her curly haired, and slightly heavier yet taller friend.
"It was about three months ago," Milly confessed.
"So who ended the separation?" Gretchen inquired.
"He did, he actually surprised me when I got home from work one day," Milly replied with a slight smile.
Gretchen raised an eyebrow.
"He said he realized what had gone wrong and promised to never let it happen again," Milly said.
"That's good that he's trying," Gretchen replied.
Milly smiled again, "I've missed him."
Gretchen gave a knowing nod.
Milly noted the time with a start, "It's been nice visiting, but I have a doctor's appointment in an hour."
Gretchen's brow creased, "Is everything okay?"
"Yes, it's just my yearly exam," Milly replied with a smile.
A week after Milly visited, Gretchen pulled up to the old Fireside Girls lodge. There were pastel colored balloons in windows and streamers along the railing. Gretchen noted that every single member of the old troop was there; including Holly. Gretchen carefully got out and walked around the front of her car.
"Gretchen, come on in," Isabella called out.
"You look stunning. Pregnancy suits you," Adyson noted, meeting Gretchen on the stairs.
Gretchen blushed.
"GRETCHEN!" Katie screeched, and refrained from hugging the smaller woman.
Gretchen winced then rubbed her ear, and remarked, "Thanks for that Katie, I didn't need to hear out of that ear today."
Ginger was obviously pregnant, only slightly larger than Gretchen, "I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's pregnant. Now we can do everything together."
Gretchen offered a small smile, this was the first time she had seen the Asian woman in four months, "Ginger, you're looking radiant."
Ginger rubbed her bump and lifted her shirt showing it off, "Thanks you don't look too bad yourself. So, you and Ferb are finally having a child?"
Gretchen self-consciously adjusted her dark green top, "Yeah, turns out we were briefly able to sync up our schedules."
"Why didn't you invite us to previous showers?" Holly suddenly asked from the shadows, her light brown eyes glinting.
For some reason Gretchen became nervous, "The last shower was my wedding shower."
"You're joking, right?" Milly asked.
Gretchen shook her head.
"So this is the first shower you've had for your baby?" Holly inquired, with a tone Gretchen couldn't quite place.
Gretchen gave a nod.
"Isabella told us you were having a boy," Katie stated.
"Yes...and before you ask, he has a name all set," Gretchen replied.
"So you're five or six months?" Ginger asked.
Gretchen turned a bright red, "Eight actually. I'm actually due in about three weeks."
Ginger didn't look convinced, "Come on Gretch, don't joke."
Adyson remarked teasingly to the Asian woman, "What Ging? Are you irked that Gretch's is just now showing?"
Ginger shot a look at Isabella.
"Yeah, She's eight months Ging," Isabella replied, then said to Gretchen, "I'm sorry about earlier."
"It's alright, Iz," Gretchen replied, knowing what Isabella was referring to.
"Okay girls," Isabella's tone changed from 'Chief' to friend, "I guess I should say ladies."
Everyone rushed into the lodge; Ginger and Gretchen were slower than the rest. In the main area of the lodge there was a circle of chairs. In the center was a table that had an assortment of snacks. Gretchen noted that most of them leaned more towards the healthy side with a few cakes and treats.
"Gretchen, you get the 'Throne of Honor,'" Adyson said indicating a rocking chair with balloons attached.
"How is it you're just as big as I am, but you're almost through your entire pregnancy?" Ginger inquired as the two took their seats.
"He's sitting very far back," Gretchen replied, and her son moved slightly to prove the point.
"Can I ask you something?" Katie directed at Gretchen.
Gretchen gave a nod.
"What's it like being pregnant? My husband wants to start trying, but I've heard that morning sickness is terrible. I hate being sick," Katie asked.
Ginger and Gretchen exchanged looks then giggled.
"The morning sickness is terrible, especially when it hits you right after lunch," Ginger remarked.
"I never really had morning sickness," Gretchen answered for herself.
Ginger glared at Gretchen.
Gretchen shrugged, "It's different for each woman. That's all I can say. Some get it, some don't."
Ginger muttered, "The lucky ones don't."
"I believe that mine's been a bit more lax than Ginger's. Although because I stress easily, I had to avoid certain situations," Gretchen explained.
Katie nodded, "I can see why."
Gretchen smiled softly as her son moved to a more comfortable position, "It's wonderful when the baby moves for the first time though."
Ginger nodded in agreement as her own child moved.
"Umm... Another question for you Gretch," Katie began hesitantly.
"Yes?" Gretchen prompted.
"Why'd you two wait so-" Katie was quickly interrupted by Isabella.
"Katie I don't think that's a suitable question."
"Well, that's why you ran away with him... isn't it?" Holly remarked.
"I don't understand," Gretchen replied.
"Oh, come on. We all know you were desperate to become a mother, so you left to," Holly used air quotes as she continued, "'go to school.' How convenient that Ferb was going back to England. You could start a family, then come back here when it suited you; pretending everything's just fine."
"HOLLY!" Adyson and Isabella scolded while Milly, Ginger and Katie all looked absolutely shocked.
"You all thought it, I'm the one with the guts to say something," Holly retorted.
Adyson looked worriedly to Gretchen who appeared to be in pain, "Gretchen, is something wrong?"
Gretchen nodded.
Adyson's worry increased, Ferb would more than likely maim or kill her if Gretchen went into labor, "What is it?"
Gretchen looked directly at Isabella, "This is why Ferb wanted to wait until after he was born to have a shower."
"No one thought that," Katie and Milly chimed in, both shot a glare at the antagonistic African-American woman, "at least your friends didn't think that."
"We all know that you were much too studious. Your education meant more to you," Isabella said placing her hand on her 'Second's' shoulder.
Gretchen sobbed and nodded.
Adyson knelt beside Gretchen, "No one thought it strange that you transferred schools. Most were wondering why you hadn't sooner," Adyson shot her most venomous glare at Holly, "And not for selfish reasons."
"There were rumors about how her and Ferb were actually married. They were living together," Holly replied, and there was that tone that Gretchen couldn't place again.
"Holly, you started those rumors," Katie pointed out.
"Well they were living together," Holly replied, pointing out a fact.
"At her parents' house," Isabella interjected.
"Still," Holly replied.
"In separate rooms," Isabella defended.
"Holly just because you keep rejecting perfectly good guys doesn't mean you have to be mean and nasty to anyone who is happy and content in their relationship," Adyson snapped, keeping a rather scathing thought to herself.
"Oh like you and your Ex?" Holly shot back.
"We both decided to go our separate ways Holly. Besides, Ferb respected," Adyson paused then corrected herself, "respects, Gretchen more than anything to get her pregnant while they were both in their teens."
"Are we forgetting about-" Holly began.
"That's enough Holly," Isabella's 'Chief' tone came back then she continued irately, "You know if I hadn't have pushed it when I was with Phineas, I'd probably be married and have a family already. I went with your stupid advice instead of listening to someone who was and still is in a meaningful relationship."
"Aren't you in a meaningful one now though?" Katie asked.
Isabella turned tomato red, "Yeah, but after I had to learn from mistakes from following not so good advice."
"A baby brings a couple closer together," Ginger pointed out.
"If the relationship is strong to begin with," Isabella noted.
Ginger became worried, "Baljeet wouldn't leave me."
"I've no doubt about that, Ginger. Just think for a moment. What if you and Baljeet became pregnant while you were both still in high school? Do you think he'd still stick around?" Adyson asked.
"My parents would have forced me to give up the baby, they would have thought we were too young and immature," Ginger replied.
Adyson gave Ginger a knowing look, and Ginger knew she was expecting a response.
"They would have been right," Ginger said sadly, her gaze shifted to her swollen abdomen, "Now I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing."
"You and Baljeet are engaged to be married," Isabella reminder her.
"He did say he would have married me anyway, baby or not," Ginger replied.
"Even with all of Ferb's medical problems, I still loved and married him. In fact I still love him," Gretchen remarked.
Everyone turned to Gretchen who clamped her hands over her mouth. Gretchen was shocked that she let that slip out.
"You never mentioned that Ferb has problems," Isabella said.
Gretchen muttered, "I should not have said that."
"The words 'Ferb' and 'Medical Problems' do not go good together in a sentence," Adyson noted.
"I didn't say anything," Gretchen said quickly.
"I don't know how to put this but... We were kinda expecting to do one of these earlier. Two to three years ago in fact," Ginger said.
Gretchen's gaze dropped slightly, "I would have thought you would have figured some things out by now."
"We're not you," Isabella pointed out gently, as it was well known that Gretchen was basically the smartest one of them all, "We've tried asking over the years but you slam the proverbial door on the conversation."
"Does this have anything to do with his 'accident'?" Adyson asked.
"Ferb wasn't in an 'accident' as you say. He was pushed down a flight of stairs," Katie pointed out.
Gretchen nodded.
"That's right. He was using a cane and wearing a neck brace for a while," Milly said, remembering seeing the green haired Brit with a neck brace shortly after the assault.
"He still uses the cane, from time-to-time," Gretchen said.
"Why?" Katie asked.
Gretchen was hesitant to answer, "Well..."
"You can tell us, We swear we won't tell," Isabella said.
Gretchen sighed, "I'll tell you what our families know."
The other women nodded.
"He's got two crushed vertebrae in his neck. It's a miracle that he's not paralyzed or dead, however the nerve damage was extensive. For years he was in constant pain, every little movement..." Gretchen wiped away a few tears, "I could see it in his eyes. He was on so many medications," Gretchen's voice softened, "now he's only on a few."
"I never realized. He always seemed..." Adyson paused as a realization hit her, "wait, that's why he asked Buford to drive his car home from the dance that time?"
Gretchen nodded, and shredded a pastel blue serviette.
"You weren't happy, you should have left him. Who could possibly put up with..." Holly began.
The other women cut her off with, "HOLLY!"
"You're bitter," Katie added, and the tone in Holly's voice now made sense to Gretchen.
"How were you two able to...you know.." Adyson implied.
Gretchen turned red, "Adyson."
"Actually I was a bit curious about that too," Isabella chimed in.
"It's not as bad as it was when we were teenagers," Gretchen replied.
"When did you actually sleep with him?" Holly demanded.
"Holly!" Katie tried getting the other woman under control.
"Not until after High School...it was after we got engaged," Gretchen replied.
"Goody-goody Gretchen slept with someone out of wedlock?" Ginger said lightly, as it was a well known fact that Gretchen was the only one out of the old troop to have not been active in that particular department during their teens.
"It doesn't matter, at least you slept with him because you loved him; not out of spite," Adyson said.
"Thanks Adyson, that means a lot," Gretchen whispered.
"So, you're telling me you've only ever slept with Ferb? No one else?" Holly remarked.
"HOLLY!" Katie shouted.
"What? How does she even know that he's the right one for her then?" Holly asked.
Isabella hugged Gretchen, then turned to Holly, "Ferb loves her and she loves him, that's what makes them right for each other," she took Gretchen's face in her hands, "That's what makes your relationship perfect," Isabella placed Gretchen's hand on her belly, "And this is what makes your relationship even more perfect."
Gretchen replied with a quiet, "Thanks Iz."
Isabella smiled at her friend.
After a couple of hours, Gretchen came home. She walked into the house.
"Have fun with the girls?" Ferb asked without looking over.
"Yeah," Gretchen replied.
Ferb heard something slightly off in her voice, and turned to look at her, "Is something wrong?"
"Uh, no. They all found out I'm pregnant though. Most of them are happy for us," Gretchen answered.
Ferb stepped up to her and looked into her eyes, "You've been crying."
"I'm just emotional," Gretchen said.
Ferb hugged her, "What happened?"
"We were just talking," Gretchen replied.
Ferb's eyebrow went up.
"They asked about you," Gretchen said.
"Oh?" Ferb prompted.
Gretchen nodded.
"What'd you tell them?" Ferb asked.
"I told them about the reason why you had to use your cane," Gretchen replied.
Ferb raised an eyebrow.
"Do you remember that one rumor about us being married in High School?" Gretchen asked.
"What about it?" Ferb replied.
"I found out who started it, for sure," Gretchen answered.
Ferb thought for a moment, "You said that was your ex."
"He's the one who started the pregnancy rumor. Holly started the marriage rumor," Gretchen remarked.
"Isn't she a friend of yours?" Ferb asked.
"I thought so," Gretchen answered then took a sharp breath.
Ferb became worried, "Is something wrong?"
"The baby. He's... moving," Gretchen said.
"You're not in labor are you?" Ferb asked.
"No, it's too early for that. I think he's getting ready to drop though," Gretchen replied.
Ferb put an arm around her back and guided her toward the sofa, "Have a seat. Just relax."
Gretchen smirked, and replied teasingly, "I think relaxing is what got us to this point."
Ferb smiled, "I wouldn't trade it for the world."
"I remember you not telling me anything until we got there," Gretchen said as Ferb helped her sit on the sofa.
Ferb sat next to her, "You had a panic moment until I told you I had spoken with your supervisor."
Gretchen snuggled up to him, "You could have said something."
"And ruin the surprise?" Ferb asked.
Gretchen laughed, "Ferb Fletcher, you are one stubborn guy."
"And you can melt my resolve," Ferb replied softly.
"Did I apologize for the cereal bowl and salad plate incident?" Gretchen asked.
"Yes, three times as a matter of fact. You without coffee isn't pretty," Ferb replied.
"What's that supposed to-" Gretchen began.
"It means that you gave me quite the fright. I've never heard you so..." Ferb cut her off.
Gretchen raised an eyebrow, "Yes?"
Ferb sensed that he was in hot water, "Did I tell you how much I love you?"
Gretchen looked into his eyes, "Tell me again."
Ferb caressed her cheek with one hand, and rested the other lightly on her abdomen, "I love you Gretchen."
Gretchen kidded him lightly, "I'm scared."
"There's nothing to be scared of."
"What if I'm a terrible mother?"
"You're not going to be a terrible mother."
"How do you know?"
"You are caring, attentive, compassionate, loving," Ferb said then started kissing her neck, "understanding, sensitive, thoughtful, sensitive...
"Kiss me."
Ferb happily obliged.