Beginnings and Endings

As often as unexplainable or even seemingly impossible things happened in Danville, it came as little surprise to most of the wedding guests that the church they were filing into had been completely and perfectly restored in less than a day. Indeed, most of the guests questioned if it had in fact ever actually been destroyed. Any questions in peoples' minds about the church, however, were simply not as important as the event that was about to take place within its walls. This was a long-anticipated wedding for those in both families who knew Candace and Jeremy.

One of the last major groups to arrive was a group of teenagers who were seated in a couple of rows towards the back of the bride's side of the church. Candace had felt that the least she could do as thanks to everyone who'd helped make her wedding actually happen was to invite them to the event and its festivities later. Even Irving had received an invitation, though he was far more interested in taking issue with what he deemed to be shoddy equipment being used by the wedding photographer.

The group didn't have much time to chat amongst themselves as organ music began to fill the church just minutes after they were seated. After a couple minutes of music there was a brief pause as Jeremy emerged from the right side of the church at the front. Behind him, in order, were his Best Man Coltrane and his three groomsmen: Andrew (who was the drummer from his band), Ferb, and finally Phineas.

The organ began playing once again. This time the familiar strains of "Trumpet Voluntary" filled the church. One by one the bridesmaids made their way down the aisle. Their dresses were royal blue and off-the-shoulder, and each carried a small bouquet of forget-me-nots. They were met halfway down the aisle by their respective groomsman. Suzie was first and was escorted to the front by Andrew. Next came Jenny, who was escorted by Ferb. Third was Isabella, who naturally was escorted by Phineas. Finally came Stacy, who met Coltrane halfway and allowed him to bring her to the front.

The music slowed and crescendoed as the gathered guests all rose to their feet and turned to face the back of the church. Candace emerged from the back with one arm laced through Lawrence's as he escorted her and her other holding a bouquet comprised of white orchids that hung down to her knees. Her dress was impeccable, and unless you were among the few who knew what had become of the first version of it, you'd never know it had only been made within the past twenty-four hours. A small, diaphanous veil covered her face and her red hair fell in cascades around her face and neck. She looked to be struggling to contain her emotions as she proceeded down the aisle to where Jeremy awaited her. Upon arriving, Lawrence shook Jeremy's hand firmly, hugged his daughter, and then allowed the happy couple to approach the pastor of the church. Lawrence joined Linda in her pew and put an arm around her as she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.

A hush fell over the church as the ceremony began in earnest. Blessings were given, vows made, and then came time for the rings. Jeremy checked his pockets and then looked at Coltrane panickedly. Coltrane merely shrugged at him. Ferb then stepped up with a smirk on his face and pointed up the aisle. Everyone looked and instantly broke into laughter. Perry - dressed with a bow tie around his neck and a pillow strapped to his back with both rings resting on it - waddled his way down the aisle and stopped in front of Jeremy. He uttered his trademark platypus noise as Jeremy patted him and took the rings, and then waddled over next to Phineas and Ferb.

With their rings exchanged the pastor gave them one last blessing. Jeremy lifted Candace's veil and the two shared a brief but loving kiss. They then turned to face the congregation with Candace now taking Jeremy's arm.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the pastor announced, "may I present the new Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Johnson."

A round of applause accompanied by several cheers greeted the happy couple as they began their recession from the altar, followed immediately by the bridesmaids and groomsmen. As much as everyone had been anticipating the wedding itself, all were thankful that it was over. Now the real fun could begin.

Ginger and Katie sat looking dreamily at the wedding party table which was clear on the other side of the reception hall from their table. They were totally enchanted by how perfect Candace and Jeremy looked together. They sighed contentedly as they watched the newlywed couple talk and laugh as the festivities continued all around them.

"That was quite a pleasant wedding, wasn't it?" Baljeet asked the two, hoping to at least rouse his own girlfriend from her trance-like state.

"Yeah," both girls replied in unison.

Baljeet frowned and decided to try again. "And the food turned out quite fantastic too, don't you agree?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"Though it certainly would be nice to maybe get up and talk to some of our friends, right?"

"Yeah."

"…oh look, Phineas is setting himself on fire."

"Yeah."

Baljeet rolled his eyes and let his head fall to the table in front of him with a considerable "thunk". He would have to try again a bit later and with considerable more effort if he wanted to salvage any of his evening. He turned his head a bit and managed to at least get a chuckle out of watching Irving continue to criticize the wedding photographer. Free entertainment was the best kind.

Not too far away, Adyson was having a similar problem getting time with her boyfriend; however, her issue wasn't due to Django being distracted by the beauty of the event or its participants.

"This is truly one of the most stunning sets of ice sculptures I've ever seen," one of Jeremy's family members said to Django as they looked over his creations.

It was a sentiment that had been echoed dozens of times over the course of the afternoon by everyone who came over to inspect his work. Django had actually created a series of sculptures depicting Candace and Jeremy first as toddlers, then as young children walking towards each other, then as teenagers looking shyly at each other, and finally as their current selves embracing and looking at each other fondly. He had used photos provided by Phineas and Ferb to base his sculptures on and the finished products were, as he'd been told, uncannily similar to how the newlywed couple had looked while growing up.

Proud and happy as she was that Django's art was getting the attention it so rightfully deserved, he had been occupied for almost the entire reception so far with talking to people who wanted to know more about him and his art. For his part, Django wanted desperately to escape and be with his girlfriend, but he didn't want to possibly cause a scene at the reception. Fortune smiled, however, in the form of his cellphone ringing with a phone call. He quickly excused himself from the group of people who were still surrounding him and walked a ways away to answer it.

"Hello?" he said as he answered the call.

"Turn around," he heard Adyson tell him through the phone. Django quickly looked back over his shoulder and saw Adyson closing her own phone, smiling at him.

"You are brilliant, you know?" he told her with a laugh as he pocketed his phone.

"Flattery will get you nowhere," she told him as she took his arm. "A few slow dances, on the other hand, will be plenty to make it up to me."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get all-"

Adyson shushed him with a quick kiss and then took his hands in hers. "I know how important your art is to you," she told him. "And I never want to get in your way as you pursue your dreams."

"My dreams are worthless if I don't have someone there to share them with," he told her as he stroked her cheek gently. Adyson blushed a bit, but then hung her head as Django's comment reminded her about what was coming the next day.

"Listen," she said quietly. "About tomorrow…"

"Tomorrow happens tomorrow," Django told her, squeezing her hands in his. "Let's enjoy what we have today and let the future sort itself out when it gets here."

Adyson looked up and felt her spirits lift the moment she saw Django's smiling face. She smiled back and, with an excited nod, let Django lead her off into the party to seek out a few more memories to make before they had to part ways.

Over on the dance floor, a particularly energetic set of dance tunes wrapped up with a round of applause struck up. Ferb and Gretchen had basically taken over the dance floor and had put on quite a show for all those who gathered around. A slow song then began to play and as the floor repopulated with couples seeking a slow dance, the teenage couple took the opportunity to do the same.

"I can't tell you how glad I am to have you here, Gretchen," Ferb told her as they swayed slowly to the music. "To be honest, I was afraid tonight would be terribly boring since you originally weren't invited."

"You know you could always have just come over to see me after it was all over," Gretchen reminded him. "But I have to agree. This certainly is a much better way to spend the afternoon."

"It certainly beats doing anything in the backyard at the moment," Ferb said despondently.

"You're still pretty broken up over losing that tree, aren't you?" Gretchen asked, reading Ferb's expression and tone expertly.

"The tree was as much a part of our childhood as any of the things we invented or adventures we went on," Ferb said as he reminisced about it. "When Phineas first suggested we try to save it on the day of the tornado, it took every ounce of will I had to not agree with him. Now I can't help but wonder if I shouldn't have at least tried to help save it."

"I understand the sentiment, I really do," Gretchen said as she hugged him tightly to comfort him. "I still keep my old Fireside Girls uniform and sash in my closet. They're similarly important to me as they remind me of that part of my life. But as important as they are, I know that I have even better and more important reminders of those accomplishments and endeavors I undertook."

"You do?" Ferb asked, looking down at her in curiosity.

"Of course I do," Gretchen said as she looked around the reception hall at Isabella, Ginger, Adyson and Katie one by one. "And I get to see them every day, not when I decide to go digging through my closet. You have a similar reminder of those times as well, and you wake up in the same house as him every day."

"Yes, yes I do," Ferb said. He smiled and looked over at Phineas, who sat at the wedding party table with Isabella. He then turned his attention back to Gretchen and, as thanks for her kind words, shared a tender kiss with her as they continued their dance.

As the slow dance song came to an end, Candace approached the dance floor with a microphone in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other. The people who had been dancing made way for her and a mob of women of a range of ages quickly formed nearby.

"Well it's that time, girls," Candace said into the microphone. She held up the bouquet and gave a knowing look to the mob of women, who were already pushing and nudging each other for a better position. Candace laughed and dropped her hand that was holding the bouquet to her side as she brought the microphone back up again.

"I have to be honest with you all, ladies," she told them. "I'm gonna break from tradition here a bit. I'm sure I'll hear all about this later, but I have a reason for this so bear with me."

Candace began pacing the dance floor a bit as she looked at the bouquet. "Tradition states that whoever catches this thing is supposed to be the next one to get married," she said as she walked. "Frankly I think that's a load of hooey, but I do appreciate what it's supposed to represent. It's the bride's wish for her happiness to be passed on to another lucky girl she knows. As much as I like all of you ladies who've gathered to try and catch this bouquet, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have one particular young lady in mind who I wanted to actually catch it. So rather than chance her not getting it, I figure I'll just make sure it happens."

Candace lowered the mic and walked straight over to the girl she had spoken about, smiled at her, and held the bouquet out towards her.

"Promise me you'll take good care of him," she said to the girl as she dropped the bouquet into her hands.

"I will, always," Isabella replied, clutching the bouquet closely to her.

Candace hugged Isabella and then quickly whispered, "I look forward to your guys' wedding someday, Izzie. You're going to be a great addition to the family."

Candace then turned back to the rest of the people at the reception, a mad grin creeping across her face. "Okay, people, enough mushy stuff," she said. "I want 'em to hear us over on the other side of town! Party on!"

Those present didn't need any more prompting than that and the party immediately resumed with great vigor. Isabella simply sat back at the table next to Phineas, still holding the bouquet. She smiled knowingly at him as he tugged nervously at his shirt collar a bit. Their day would come, of that she was absolutely certain now; but they would certainly have plenty of fun together along the way.

Hugs were shared all around as the newly united Johnson and Flynn-Fletcher families had gathered at the airport to see Candace and Jeremy off on their honeymoon the next morning. The two were flying to Miami, from where they'd be boarding a cruise ship for a weeklong cruise of the Caribbean. It was a trip that had come together fairly last-minute. In fact, Phineas had only learned at the reception the night before that the delivery he'd made to Mr. Davis in Las Vegas had in fact paid for the cruise. It was a point he now took a great deal of pride in.

"Remember, if anything goes wrong on the ship Ferb and I are only a phone call away," Phineas told Candace as he hugged her one last time.

"Phineas, I doubt the people running the ship will want me taking instructions from my brother over the phone to fix stuff if it actually comes to that," Candace told him.

"Oh you won't have to," Phineas replied. "We've perfected our phone transporter app, and it's specially got your phone's coordinated pre-programmed into it. We can be at your position at a moment's notice."

"Is that so?" Candace asked, looking at her phone. "In that case…"

Candace walked straight past Phineas and tossed her phone in the nearby trashcan. Phineas narrowed his eyes at her as she simply stuck her tongue out at him. He then went to the trashcan to retrieve her phone.

"You really have a total disrespect for technololgy, don't you?" he commented as he brushed the phone off.

"I am not taking any chances of you two just dropping in on us at any time during our honeymoon, thank you very much," she replied. "Seriously, we'll be fine. It's a cruise, Phineas. Fun is about the only thing you can do on one. I mean, what could go wrong?"

Ferb was about to begin listing possibilities, but was silenced by a piercing glare from Candace.

"You kids have fun out there, okay?" Linda told them one final time. The newlywed couple acknowledged her wish and, waving all along the way, headed down the hall and around a corner towards the security checkpoint.

"Well, I suppose all's well that ends well," Lawrence pronounced.

"Almost, dad," Phineas said. "Can Ferb and I meet you back at the car? There's one more pair of people we need to see off."

"Of course, honey," Linda told her son. "We'll see you back at the car in a few."

The two boys nodded and headed quickly off in a separate direction from their parents. It didn't take them long to find who they were looking for. Isabella and all of the other former Fireside Girls were gathered in a big group looking on as Adyson was saying her final goodbyes to Jenny and Django. Phineas and Ferb quickly and quietly joined Isabella so as not to disturb the couple that was about to be split up.

"We got here as quickly as we could," Ferb told Isabella quietly. "Candace and Jeremy took forever to actually get going."

"No big, Ferb," Isabella replied. "I'm sure Addie will appreciate having you guys here at least."

"How's she handling it so far?" Phineas asked.

"As well as can be expected," Katie told him. "But I wouldn't count on that lasting long after they actually leave."

"We'll be here for her, no matter what," Gretchen said resolutely. As the rest of the girls quietly echoed the sentiment, Adyson continued her talk with her boyfriend and his older sister.

"You sure you can get everything set up properly once you're back home?" Adyson asked Django, sounding a bit concerned.

"I may not be as technically inclined as Phineas and Ferb, but I'm pretty sure I can figure out how to set up a webcam and Skype," Django assured her. "And even if I do have problems, I know the guys are just a phone call away."

"I'll be looking forward to our first call," Adyson told him, managing a smile in spite of herself.

Jenny stepped up to her and gave her a big hug. "You've become quite the beam of sunlight in my little brother's life," she told her. "And your own aura has become spectacular since you two got together. What you two have is something truly special, Adyson. I hope you get the chance to come visit us sometime. California isn't as bad a place as Django makes it out to be."

"I can't make any promises, but I'll see what I can do Jenny," Adyson told her. "And thanks. I'm glad to know you approve of me."

"Even if I didn't, I would have no business getting in the way of such a perfect couple as you two," Jenny told her. She then turned to Django as she picked up her backpack. "Time to get going, bro."

Django nodded and took Adyson's hands in his, looking her in the eyes as he spoke. "This summer has been amazing for me, and I owe it all to you, Adyson. I promise you we can make this work. I'll do whatever it takes; on account of I love you too much to even contemplate failure."

"It's gonna be rough not having you here with me," Adyson told him. "But I'll get by. I've got the best support group in the world to back me up. And there's always the holidays, right?"

Django nodded and, after one final kiss that neither of them wanted to end, he slung his backpack over one shoulder, waved to everyone assembled, and followed his sister off towards security and to their awaiting flight home. Adyson stayed watching him walk away until he disappeared and then silently turned and walked back to the group avoiding eye contact with any of them as she joined them.

"We're all here for you, Addie," Isabella told her. "If you wanna talk or go do something or even just bawl your eyes out…we're all here."

"I think I'll be fine, Izzie," Adyson told her, still not looking at her. "Let's just get going. No point in dwelling on it."

Isabella nodded and the group began heading for the parking garage where Katie had parked the car they'd all arrived in. Not a single word was said for most of the walk back, which made it feel far longer than it actually was. Just as the car came into sight, the sound of a plane taking off caused Adyson to stop in her tracks. Everyone else quickly stopped as well and looked at her.

"Izzie?" Adyson said, her voice now quivering. "One of those options you mentioned…it was bawling my eyes out, right?"

"Yes it was," Isabella told her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Adyson nodded to her and said, "Good…'cause I think I need to do that now."

Isabella hugged Adyson gently as she broke down into uncontrollable sobbing. One by one, the other girls each joined the hug, trying to lend some modicum of comfort to their brokenhearted sister. Phineas and Ferb hung back from the group and watched it for a moment before Ferb tugged on Phineas' sleeve and got him to walk on with him back towards their mother's station wagon.

"Adyson will be all right," Ferb told his brother. "Besides, there's not much we could say or do that would actually be of help to her right now."

"Yeah, you're right," Phineas conceded. "Let's be sure to check in with Izzie and Gretchen later, though."

"Absolutely."

"So we've got one more day of summer vacation left. Any ideas?"

Ferb sighed as his mind raced to recall everything they'd done. "This summer's been a bit of a blur," he told Phineas. "I think we could stand to slow down a bit for once."

"Do Nothing day, then?" Phineas asked.

"No, I do want to do something. Just perhaps something not all that ostentatious. Or perhaps even all that interesting, at least to others."

Phineas gave the parameters Ferb had presented extensive thought as they reached the car and as they rode along towards home. As soon as they pulled into their driveway at home, however, the idea came to Phineas. It was so simple yet so brilliant that he honestly didn't know how he hadn't thought of it sooner.

"Hey Ferb," he said, looking at his brother. "I know what we're gonna do tomorrow."

Epilogue Preview: One last day of summer and Phineas and Ferb know exactly what they want to do with it.