Requested by: Dreadwing216 (guest) on
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Normally Ferb wouldn't be out in a November snowstorm at 7:30 at night, but with Phineas out on a date with Isabella, his parents at an antique show, and Candace -for once- at her apartment taking care of last minute wedding details with her fiancée Jermey, Ferb was rather lonely despite telling his parents that he would be fine on his own that night.

But Ferb didn't think that was the only reason he felt like taking a walk in the park at dark.
There was something telling him to go where he was going.
There was something else that compelled him to listen to his gut. To the little voice telling him he was needed.

Granted, that last part seemed a little weird, but Ferb felt as if someone needed a hug right about now.
He knew he did.

So, not sure where to go, he went to the park, even though he was convinced that his little voice was broken.

As Ferb walked around the huge grounds of Danville park in the pitch black and snow, he passed the occasional street lamp standing tall next to the cold metal park benches, but he wasn't expecting to see a female figure huddled on one of them.
Shivering in the cold with a light jacket that couldn't be considered suitable for this weather.

Curious, Ferb wandered closer to find the quietest of the Fireside girls, Gretchen holding her thick glasses in her trembling hands while salty tears slowly dropped down her face and onto her lap and snow covered her light brown hair, making it wet.

What is Gretchen doing here?
Ferb asked himself.

"Gretchen?" He asked as he stood in front of the shivering girl with his hands in his coat pockets to keep them warm.

At the sound of his voice, Gretchen quickly returned her glasses to her face after wiping away any evidence that she had been crying before looking up at the composed boy in front of her with a concerned expression spread across his features as pure white snow landed in his bright green hair.

Gretchen knew he had comforted Isabella many times the past whenever Phineas had unknowingly shut her down before they started dating, so she figured that he could help her now after her boyfriend had dumped her over the simple, and stupid fact that she wore glasses.

For what seemed like the longest time, Gretchen was silent as she kept her eyes on her hero.

He had shown up just at the right time, and Gretchen was grateful.

"Oh, h-hey, Ferb." Gretchen stuttered finally as she offered a small, sad smile.
"What are you doing out here?" She asked him as he cleared the snow off the seat next to her and sat down.

"I could ask you the same question." He replied as she gave her a sympathetic smile.

"Josh dumped me." Gretchen explained as she looked back at her lap, and played with her hands that were dried and cracked from the cold.
"I needed somewhere quiet to be." She added.

Ferb chuckled beside her.
"And you chose the freezing cold park?" He asked humorously, but Gretchen didn't find anything about this situation funny.

"It's not that cold." She defended quietly, still not looking away from her hands.

Gretchen heard Ferb sigh, and the sound of the zipper of his coat being un-done.

No, no. I can't let him do that.
Gretchen reasoned with herself as she watched Ferb take his jacket off, and hold it out towards her, leaving him only in his usual attire; A long sleeve cream dress shirt with a dark purple sweater vest, and baby blue tie.

Gretchen immediately shook her head.
"No no, you don't have anything warm under that. You'll freeze more than me." She said firmly.

"Then I'll have no choice but to hug you so we're both warm." He joked, holding the jacket closer to her.

Ferb had only meant that as a joke, even though he did have a little bit of a crush on her, but he half meant it.

Gretchen, -who took him a little more seriously, hesitated before reaching out, and taking the heavy, warm jacket from his strong hands, and throwing it over her shoulders before putting her arms in the sleeves.

After she had zipped the coat, Ferb held out his arms, signaling he wanted a hug, and Gretchen complied, -snuggling into his strong arms.

"Now," Ferb started as he hugged her.
"Do you feel like talking about it?" He asked.

Gretchen sniffed as she remembered why she was here in the first place, and nodded against Ferb's chest.
"A little."