Back with another chapter. First, I have to say that you need to check out a new Austin & Ally fic WritersWayOfLife made. It's called 'The Name On Everybody's Lips Goanna Be' and it's truly incredible. I recommend for whenever you're over looking for a good Austin & Ally story, read that one.

Christine's Pov

"What were you doing last night with my laptop?" Rachel asked. "I was too busy with Dr. Phil to ask."

I quirked an eyebrow and gave her a look. Somehow with her major bedhead and wrinkled puppy pajamas, she still managed to look great. I pressed my lips together and leaned against the island, still half asleep as I reply. "Did a little online gift shopping. Still have no clue what to get him and Friday isn't that far away!"

Rachel shrugged and sat down in the bar seat next to mine and watched as I thumped my head against the island. "You know, I don't need your dad coming over here saying you a got concussion while you spent the night here," she remarked as her mom set down plates full of food in front of us. She continued on, her words scrambled and messed up from her busy job of chewing scrambled eggs.

"There's this thing called chewing with your mouth closed," I groaned, fork pit stopped from my mouth. "Try doing it some time." Feeling satisfied I worked out my morning sourness; I let the food get driven smoothly into my mouth and ignore Rachel's mocking glare and pouty face.

Trina came down stairs minute later, fluffed and perfect as she got a glass of orange juice and popped two slices of bread into the toaster. Rachel crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat.

"It's not even noon," she huffed. "Yet you still have to look like you're going to walk down a freaking runway?"

I tried to ignore them and took a crunchy bite from my bacon. There was a golden rule when it came to Rachel and Trina: never interfere with their bickering, it'll just make stuff worse.

Trina narrowed her eyes and slathered grape jelly on her food. "The bride of Frankenstein called," she countered, "she wants her hair back."

Finally I just stood from my seat and spread my hands in a peace gesture. "Ladies, we're all beautiful; now quit fighting over me." I sat down and watched the twins look at each other before busting out laughing. My work was done.

After finishing off our plates and getting ready to face the day, I latched onto Rachel's wrist, grabbed our purses and ragged here out the door. I kept moving forward, not even responding even she kept whining, "I'm so not in the right shoes for walking!"

We both stopped in front of a little modern barn shaped building with a freshly polished rooster sitting properly on the roof. The smell of hay and painted wafted in from the open doors. "We're at the Science Toy Barn?" Rachel said in disbelief, gaping as I pushed her into the shop. "What the heck are we doing here?

It wasn't my favorite place. It stuck out like a sore thumb in the middle of all the classy perfume shops and jewelers that mobbed the building from all around.

"Howdy partner!" called out a deep southern accent from somewhere in the back. "What can I help you fine ladies with?"

"Oh, Charlie," sighed another voice. This one was obviously a girl, her accent not as thick and noticeable. A lady with waist long hair and a beaming smile walked out with her hands spread in a welcoming gesture. "Sorry about my husband," she apologized with an easy smile. "He can get a little over board about the whole barn thing. Anyhow, my name is Darla; what can I help you two ladies with?"

Rachel shrugged and nudged me in the rib cage with her elbow as she took a quick glance around. "This place is pretty cool," she admitted, crossing her arms and wandering closer to a display of small test tubes that were rested on a big bale of hay. "How'd you come up with it?"

A tall hairy guy with a big belly and a toothy grin popped up from under a counter in the back. "Used a little imagination and a good vision of the ole' hometown and got her a runnin'," he explained proudly while wrapping a muscular around Darla, whom I guessed was his wife. "And couldn't be happier."

Darla rolled her eyes and gave his shoulder a playful shove. "Enough about our life story," she chided lightly, turning to me. "Was there something specific you were lookin' for, Hun?"

I dug a hand deep into my jean pocket and pulled out a Post-It I'd written on. I furrowed my eyebrows as I tried to read it. My penmanship had never been the best when I was tired. "I'm trying to find some stuff for my boyfriend," I exclaimed earnestly. "He really likes the science channels and has this old show that he loves. I'm trying to find some stuff for him for our one month anniversary." I stopped and clicked my tongue against my cheek feeling like I said too much.

Darla clasped her hands against her chest. "Well isn't that the sweetest thing?" she cooed as she sauntered to a pyramid of rectangular boxes. "The smart ones are always the sweetest."

Charlie clapped his hands together then pointed at himself. "Just take me for instance," he said matter-of-factly. "I was the school nerd and ended up with the homecoming queen."

Darla shot him a look crossed with annoyance and happiness. Rachel drew a heart in the air and let out a long, dreamy 'awww'. "How cute," she gushed, stepping closer to me. "Almost like you and Chase." I just shook my head and ignored her fan-girl attitude on romance and turned to Darla.

"Do you have anything on-" I snuck another glance at the paper-"Shark Man & Flipper Boy?" I crinkled my nose as I stared down at my messy, bumpily scrawled out handwriting. I really needed to be more careful when leaving myself notes.

Charlie looked up at the rafters before looking back at me with his eyes wide, fingers snapping. "Oh!" he said excitedly. "Darlin', what'd you do with those old posters with those men with fins and gills on it?" He scrambled to leaning taped up tubes.

Darla peered at him from over a tall box tower she carried in her hands. "Those old things?" She swiftly set the boxes the side, dusted off her hands, and picked up at cylinder layered with a thin coat of cobwebs. "No one's wanted this thing in forever. Was gonna put em' up in the old attic later today." Darla gestured up to a tall wooden ladder leading up to where bale after bale of hay was sitting side by side. "Good thing you asked for them when you did."

"But I thought Shark Man & Flipper whatever was a new type of thing?" Rachel said, going back to looking and touching everything she passed. I shifted my weighted and rubbed my lips together, giving the barn another look around even though nothing had changed.

"That's the new fancy shmancy version," Charlie scoffed and waved away her confusion dismissively. "This is from old times. Back when people could survive without their little thingy-what its or whatever you rowd'ers call em'."

Rachel and I turned to each other. Rowd'ers? We mouthed but then just shrugged and went along with it.

Darla uttered a swear word or two as she swatted away from spiders trying to continue fancy web work. Rachel did a shutter dance when they crawled up the wall. "Antique is what they are," the older woman claimed. "The 1940's version: a pure classic."

I clapped my hands together and did an excited little jump. "That's perfect for Chase!" I exclaimed happily. "He's always going on about how he's wanted to see the old version to compare and contrast it with the new one."

Charlie let out a whistle. "Yes sir-ee. That's a smart one alright. Always know what's best."

Darla popped up beside her husband and thrust the old cylinders into my arms. After her urging me to I unrolled a long, fine looking poster and held up in front of me. Even I had to admit it looked pretty cool. The picture of two men with exotic gills was popping out and long, sleek fins slicing the water as they dropped into the ocean and swam surround by hundred schools of fish.

"Wow," Rachel sighed with a dreamy glint. I've known her long enough to tell that was her that's a really hot dude look. "The taller one's a hunk."

Darla cocked a hip and tilted her head. "Yeah," she agreed with a lopsided smile, "Shark Man was a cute one." I took another look at the poster and shrugged.

Charlie huffed and rolled his eyes. "Cute for a sushi bar, maybe." Rachel widened her eyes and put a hand to her mouth to stop an oncoming snort to let loose. But it was nothing compared to the full-out giggle session I had as I watched Darla elbow Charlie in the stomach.

"Jealousy isn't the best color on you, my dear," she informed, smiling at Rachel and me before nodding her head toward the register. "Is that all you'll be getting today?"

Rachel pursed her lips and looked at me for an answer. Sweeping another quick shot around the room, I stopped on a setup of stuffed animals attached with little informational booklets strapped to their wrists.

"Actually, I just need a couple more things."

Chase's Pov

"A little focus would be nice," grumbled Mr. Davenport as he watched me strike down another dummy. I curled my fists together and shot another perfectly fine kick toward an unsuspecting punching bag. He's been like this all training sessions ever since he 'banned' Christine and me ever seeing each other again. His phone or blue tooth glued to his ear nearly twenty-four seven. I think he might even be sleeping with on too; the weirdest I've seen him act in months.

"You're doing fine," Bree encouraged with a knowing look. She's knew why I was acting so out of focus-I couldn't stop thinking about whether or not Christine would like my present for her. Bree had seen it last night after I came home from the mall with Leo. If anyone was going to respond close enough to how Christine would, it would definitely be Bree.

"Actually, your punches are a little off," Leo commented from where he was observing on top of the desk. I glared at him and watched Bree shove him to the floor, feeling a little bit better when I heard the loud thud he made.

Davenport sighed and walked away, muttering interrupted sentences into his phone as he walked away.

"He's been acting weird," Adam noted with a weight over his head.

Bree rolled her eyes. "No duh."

No Pov

"What do you mean it's not her birthday?" Davenport demanded in a sharp hushed tone, clutching his phone. "It's not like he knows any other girls." There was an eruption of static from the other end and he could just barely manage to make out the words his assistant said. Davenport reached a hand up and pressed his fingers to his temples. "Alright," he concluded, "I'll check it out."

He snapped his phone shut and entered the training area again. "Chase," he called to the youngest lab rat. "Whose birthday is it again?"

Chase stopped and held a dummy but its shoulders. He met eyes with Bree and tried to pray his frantic expression was just uncovered enough for her to notice. All she did in return was meekly shrug. "Uh, it's," he started, "Rachel's friend's birthday, Natalie. She didn't know what to get her so I just got something for her."

Bree nodded in agreement and shot him a look. Nice save.

Davenport looked at the four of them hard. Then just shook his head and rubbed his temples. "Back to training," he muttered before walking out of the room.

Chase let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Too close.

Not as long as I wanted it to be but still long. I gave you a sort of cliffie because I want to see if you guys can figure it out.

On a completely random note, you know a few chapters back where I said Ferb was my cartoon crush? Well, today I meet him and Phineas, got a picture and some autographs, and bought the doll at a store. Best day ever. :)