Ferb -

I unlocked the door then slid past her, it was obvious she was in awe of the house. I was pleased with her reaction, which was why I felt I should let her explore by herself.

The bottom part of the house contained my study, a guest bedroom, and a large bathroom. The upstairs contained the master bedroom along with a smaller bedroom with a bathroom connected to only the master. I also had a loft area that I had turned into a living room since the downstairs lacked one. If I hadn't been so set on keeping the original lay out I wouldn't have included so many bedrooms. I rarely have any guest, and when I do they never stay the night. I built this house for her though, so it had to be how she dreamed it.

I currently stood in the kitchen, which was also located on the bottom floor. Most of the house has grey walls, which are also in here. The cabinets are a navy blue and the counter tops a dark marble. A table sits on the wall directly in the view of the door way. It seats six, but rarely do I have that many people over.

I started a pot of coffee and waited. Each room was well insulated, meaning I couldn't hear her as she moved from room to room. I imagined she would spend a good amount of time in the study, after all it was my treasure cove full of personal creations. She always loved looking over my shoulder as I drew out the newest idea my mind had concocted. She would always have something to say when I was finished. My favorite thing she had done was right before the incident, we had come here so she could let her mind wonder. She and Phineas had fought and she needed the house, her escape. I was drawing as she paced and ranted over my brother. I can still remember her gasp once she saw what I had been drawing, I can still hear her fast steps as she ran towards me and grabbed the blue print. "Oh Ferb," She had said, "This is absolutely beautiful. Can we put it in the upstairs bathroom?" I had laughed and told her one day I would do that, if she wanted me too. I was shocked by her reaction for a moment, after all it was only a shower. That how she was though, in love with the world and easily pleased.

The pot began to make a 'beeping' noise so I turned from the doorway and grabbed a coffee cup. I heard the faint patter of feet, but I waited to turn till she said the first words.

"Ferb?" She sounded unsure of something. I turned and looked at her as I raised the cup to my mouth. She looked stunning.

I raised my eyebrow hoping she'd take the hint to continue her question.

"Did you make this house for," She paused for a moment, "why did you make this house?" I knew what she had meant to say, and I hoped my answer wouldn't scare her.

"I made it because we designed it together. Even if we could never be together how I wanted I knew I wanted this house to become how we dreamed it." I raised my cup to my lips again before I continued with a question of my own, "Is that ok, Bella?".

She took a moment to reply, and I almost began to regret my words before she said "Ferb, of course its ok. I love it, the house is beautiful." She smiled at me as she walked closer to where I was standing. She stopped once she made it to the counter that separated us and pulled out a stool. I gestured towards the coffee and she shook her head.

"I know this may sound forward," she said as she brought her hands up to rest below her chin, "but do you have anything stronger than coffee?" I smiled and turned from her.

"You sure you want something stronger Bella? I mean its only seven o'clock." I said as I reached for my scotch.

"You forget I'm jet lagged Fletcher, plus I'm a world renowned super star. I can drink whenever I want and the only conscience Ill receive is public back lash." I raise a brow at her light hearted tone as I reach for two glasses. I smirk as I see her perk up when I turn around with the alcohol in my hands. I can hardly contain my laughter as she visibly deflates as I pass her.

"Ferb! Where are you going?" She pouts at me as I reach the door way. As I turn to look at her I half expect to see the sixteen-year-old Bella looking at me wearing jeans and a pink pull over with a pout, but instead I see the twenty-five-year-old Bella wearing a green dress and the same pout.

"You forget that we don't drink these drinks in the kitchen Bella. I know it's been seven years, but I can't believe you've forgotten the rule!" I say as I turn and make my way up the stairs, after a moment I hear her follow.

The stairs open up into the landing, which on three of the four walls is nothing but floor to ceiling windows. In the middle of the landing are two big leather couches separated in between by a glass coffee table. The floor is like the rest of the house and is wooden, though this floor is covered almost entirely by a burnt orange rug. The one wall not covered by windows contains two doors and countless pictures varying from me with my inventions to scenic ones of the places I've been. I make my way to the couches, but Isabella pauses like I know she would. "Oh Ferb, this is amazing." She makes her way to the pictures and I watch as she examines them. She makes her way down the line of pictures, pausing briefly at various ones.

"Ferb," She begins as she makes her way to the couches where I'm sipping my first glass of scotch, "I had no idea you were such a sentimental person." She sits on the couch opposing me.

"I wouldn't say 'sentimental'" I say as I pore her a glass.

"What would you say, then?" She asks as she brings the cup to her lips.

"I'd say I've been many places but no one's been with me. So I like to use the pictures to share in the memories since no one was there to make them with me." I down my current glass and pore another.

"Ferb I," She pauses, "I'm so sorry that" I raise my hand to stop her.

"Bella, don't apologize. It was," I correct myself, "it is my decision to be alone. I work better that way. The less distractions the more I can get done and the quicker I can move onto the next project." I'm on my fourth glass, mentally I tell myself to slow down. I almost don't notice that Isabella is on her third, almost.

She sits quietly across from me for some time. I watch the sun set through the windows. After a time I let myself get lost in my thoughts.

I get taken from my haze of thoughts by the sound of giggling, I lift my eyes to see that the bottle I had brought up over half gone and a flushed Isabella, the source of the growing giggles.

"Isabella, what's so funny?" I say as I gently take the glass from her hand as she rocks forward.

"Oh Ferb! I was just," a giggle, "I was just thinking about," more giggles "about the time we decided to start building here and, "full blown laughter now, "and you stepped over there," she points to a spot right outside the door leading to the master bedroom and laughs. I know where this is going and I can't help but laugh now too. "and you fell through and when you had to get stitches we told everyone you hit yourself with a hammer!" She's practically doubled over with laughter by the time she finishes her explanation.

I smile before saying, "That's nothing to the time we were working on the kitchen and you walked strait through the window because you couldn't stop ranting about how some other girl wore the same dress as you to homecoming!" I say and in return get a shocked expression from the woman sitting across from me.

"I had no way to know you had taken the window out!" she says as she throws the throw blanket at me.

We continue like this long into the night. I don't think we would've stopped if Bella hadn't abruptly stood and exclaimed loudly "I am going to bed." I watched as she wobbled towards the master bedroom door. I consider telling her that that's my room, but before I can she exclaims loudly "Oh Ferb! Some ones taken the bed that we took from the yard!" I laugh as I stand. Somehow her drunkenness had taken her back to over seven years ago. I gently grab her shoulders and open the other door, revealing the guest bedroom where I had put our stolen bed. I watch as she smiles and runs to the bed and sprawls across it. Within moments she's fast asleep. I walk across the room and pull her flats from her feet then cover her in the blue spread.

"Good night, my Bella." I whisper as I turn off the lights and close the door.