"I know, I know, I'm late. But hey, I got to see you on your first day!" Candace said as she walked into the dorm. "Heya, Baljeet! Long time, no see."

"Hi Candace. It is good to see you. How is your music career coming along?"

"It's going great! We're on the last leg of the tour so we should be done by Thanksgiving or Christmas. How are things here? My little brother is in college! I feel so old."

"Things are going well so far," Ferb said. "the classes we had today seem pretty simple, but it's only the first day."

"Oh I'm sure you two can make easy work of it! You're both geniuses, after all." she said, ruffling his emerald hair. "When I think back to all the amazing stuff you guys did...man. I'm surprised you're just starting college now!" she joked.

"Have you been home yet?" Ferb asked. Candace's cheerful attitude faded a bit. "Yeah. Yeah, I have."

"So I assume you've heard about everything..."

"Yeah, about both of you actually. Mom and Dad have been keeping me up to date on most of the happenings."

Everyone's mood dropped a bit at the mention of the past incidents.

"So, what do you think?" Ferb asked after a few minutes of silence.

"About what?"

"About this? About me being in college at such a young age. Am I making a mistake?"

"Ferb, I can't answer that. I'm sure you realize that this won't be an easy time for you. You may breeze through the work, but the social aspects...this is very different from high school, but in some ways it's just like it. I know I'm not making a lot of sense, but I think this'll be good for you. It's a sink or swim kind of thing. If you can stay above water, you'll be more outgoing and come out of your shell, which you so desperately need. You'll be out of Phineas' shadow and be your own person."

"And if I sink?"

"Well, I haven't really known you to fail at anything." she said winking. "But on the very off chance that this is all too much, you've got your family backing you up all the way." She said, hugging him.

"Thanks, Candace."

Baljeet watched the touching scene before him. Even though, he was happy for Ferb, he had to admit he was jealous. He didn't have that any more. He was so enthralled with the people in front of him, he'd forgotten he was on the phone with his boyfriend.

"Yo! Jeet!" Buford yelled, finally getting his attention.

"Sorry, Buford. Candace is here, she stopped by to see Ferb." He said. Buford could tell by the change in his tone of voice something was wrong. He was excitedly telling him about his first day one minute, the next, it sounds like he's going to cry. He knew what it was about. He was still upset about his relatives. He'd forced himself and Baljeet to stop calling them family, as they ceased to be so the second they threw him out. He got this way a lot while he was living with them. He'd stop talking and he acted as if he were afraid that one wrong move would get him thrown out again.

"I'm coming over." He said finally.

"What? No Buford, it's Monday! You have school tomorrow!"

"Don't care. See you in twenty." with that he hung up.

Baljeet was almost irritated with his boyfriend's lack of concern for the idea of school nights, but he was glad that he was coming. He hated feeling so alone, even when he's surrounded by people.

"I take it he's on his way." Ferb said, giving Baljeet a knowing glance.

Baljeet just nodded.

"Who is?"

"Buford." he quietly said.

"Aw, that's so cute! I remember when Jeremy would come and visit and I would be through the roof with excitement."

"Well, I just saw him yesterday, so..."

"Ah, young love..." she sighed, ignoring Baljeet completely.

The trio sat around and talked. Mostly about Candace's tour and her life as a popstar or getting ready for her wedding. About twenty minutes later, as promised, there was a knock on the door. Baljeet got up to open it and was almost tackled the second he did. He was pulled into a fierce hug by none other than Buford Van Stomm.

"Couldn't last a day without me, could ya, pipsqueak?" He grumbled into Baljeet's ebony locks. He was about to dispute him, but he felt tear forming in his eyes and he couldn't hold them back. Not another word was said. Candace and Ferb looked on with sympathetic eyes, both thanking their lucky stars that their family was full of people who would never cast them out for something a silly as sexual orientation.

Once Baljeet had gotten a hold of himself, he admittedly felt a bit better. He turned back to his roommate and his other guest but they made no mention of what happened. They just invited Buford in and broke out the game Skiddly Whiffers that Candace seems to always have on hand. She ordered a pizza and they enjoyed the rest of the night.

When it was time for Candace and Buford to go they lingered for as long as possible. Candace needed to get back on the road and Buford did have school the next day.

"It was good to see you little brother," Candace said as she wrapped her arms around him. "And don't worry, I'll try to talk some sense into that brother of ours," she whispered. He just nodded and hugged back. "Baljeet! It was great seeing you! You're starting to come out of your shell and have fun! It's a good look on you," she winked and hugged him as well.

"Thank you, Candace...for everything," he said, hugging her back.

"You keep watching out for my nerd, ya hear?" Buford gruffed while fistbumping Ferb.

"You've got it."

"Buford, thank you for coming. I don't know what came over me."

"Hey, this is all still new. It'll take some time to get over it. I'll always be there. Don't doubt that." he said, placing a chaste kiss on his boyfriend's lips.

With that he and Candace made his way back to the neighborhood and Ferb and Baljeet made their way to bed. It was a whole new day tomorrow.