Disclaimer: Phineas and Ferb and all characters associated with Phineas and Ferb are the intellectual property of Dan Povenmire, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh and Disney.

The story, characters, and incidents portrayed are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased) or events is intended or should be inferred. Please review this story to let me know what can be improved or revised. Thank you.

Perry

Guilt.

That's what I feel.

Regret. Shame. Sadness. Anger. But guilt is the worst of them all.

What the hell was I thinking, going into that place? That I was just going to go in, record some audio, plant some cameras and microphones, and collect evidence? God, I'm such an idiot.

It's been a long while since I left Mother's Mansion. When I'd gotten back to the hotel, I immediately looked for the manager and asked her to take me to the storage lockers that the O.W.C.A. uses for biological evidence. After depositing the evidence I'd collected and instructing her to do nothing with it aside from keep it there, I went to my room.

Once I got in, I threw the tracker into the drawer. I removed it from Princess' shoulder when I was rubbing her back. After I closed the drawer, I allowed myself to process what had happened. God, it hurt.

And now I'm lying face down on my bed, crying to myself. It's not something I normally do, but I can't help it. I hurt someone I love. I hurt her. Oh God, I hurt her…

I'm no better than Axel or any of the other clients.

After what's probably been hours, I literally run out of tears to cry from dehydration. I force myself to get off of the bed and head over to the refrigerator.

As I walk, I pass the mirror. My eyes are red and the brown hair dye around them is almost completely gone, revealing the bright teal underneath. My expression looks dead.

I open up the fridge and down an entire bottle of water. I toss it to the side and pull out another. I empty it, too. I try to reach for a third, but there aren't any left. I close the fridge and lean my back onto it, slumping to the floor.

I pull my legs to my chest and hide my face in my knees. My intestines growl at me: I haven't eaten since breakfast. But I don't care. I'm not hungry. I try to sigh, but it comes out as a cough.

I stand up, walk back to the bed and collapse. I try to start crying again, but I'm too exhausted. So I try to go to sleep, but I can't. Despite only knowing her for three days, I'd gotten used to Diana's presence, and now that she isn't here, I find sleep impossible.

Well. Tough. She's not here. Get over it.

I try to get over her absence, but I can't. Every time I try, the thought of what I did comes back, and that just reminds me of why it hurts so much.

I shouldn't have gotten emotionally involved.

But could I have helped it? I can't help how I feel, can I? I've been trained to suppress my instincts, but is it even possible to suppress emotions? I doubt it. Because if it is possible, then it isn't working right now.

I can't fall asleep. So I just lay face down on the mattress that we've been sharing, unmoving.

I hear a knocking at my door. I don't get up to answer it.

Fuck off, I think. The knocking comes again. I left a Do Not Disturb sign on the damn door, so just fuck off.

I hear a beep, indicating that the door's been unlocked. I hear it open.

"The sign says 'do not disturb,'" I say. My voice is hoarse and muffled by the blankets.

I hear quick footsteps approach. They stop just short of the bed.

"Perry?" a quiet chatter comes.

I recognize that voice… Wait a second…!

I quickly turn my head and look up to see Diana watching me, her face replete with concern.

"Pr-Pr-Princess?" I sputter. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

She steps towards me and rests her paw on my cheek. "I wanted to see you. You… you look…"

"Princess, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for—"

She shakes her head. "No. Don't apologize, Perry. It— It wasn't your fault. I know you wouldn't hurt me. I know you wouldn't."

I shakily reach out one of my paws and place it on her cheek. She places her free paw on it.

"Why on earth would you want to see me after that?"

"Because I love you, and that won't change."

I choke on a sob at that. "How…?"

She smiles sadly at me. "Because you're the first creature I've ever met who wanted to get to know me for me. You treat me with respect, you always do."

"But… after what I did…"

She doesn't say anything. She leans down and gently kisses me on the forehead. I close my eyes, suddenly overcome by my exhaustion.

I hear her step away, but I barely register it before falling asleep.

I wake up in a pool of water. I try to flail, but I hit my arms against something hard.

I realize that whatever I'm in, it's shallow. I open my eyes. Where am I?

I'm in the bathtub…

I feel something begin to scrub at my head. I look over and see Diana standing at the edge of the tub, rag in hand, my blueberry scented shampoo to the side.

I would normally complain about privacy, but I'm too tired. So I just close my eyes as she begins to gently rub the dye out of my fur. I feel her hands move to work on my face; I turn my head towards her.

Despite myself, despite my guilt, despite how terrible I feel, I find myself enjoying this. A quiet purr escapes my throat. Her hands settle on the sides of my face. I slowly open my eyes and see her smiling at me.

"I know you're not going to stop apologizing," she says. "So I'm just going to say this so you don't have to again. I forgive you."

I suck in my breath. Is she really not angry with me? I don't understand how that's possible; I don't deserve it.

I can feel tears filling my eyes again. I lean my head against the porcelain. She hugs my head, nuzzling her bill to mine. I close my eyes.

"Thank you…" I murmur groggily.

No more words are exchanged between us. She lets go of me and starts working again. I feel the rag scrubbing my face again. It slowly moves down to my neck, chest, back and further.

It's a while before she's finished. She had to replace the water twice because it had gotten so murky. But she's finished cleaning me, top to bottom, revealing my teal fur again. For once in my life, I didn't mind being given a bath. I think that means something.

I drag myself out of the tub with her assistance and she starts drying me off. It goes by quickly. My watertight fur really helps with that.

She leaves the restroom to allow me to take care of my business alone. I finish soon and, after washing my hands and putting in my normal contacts, exit it. She leads me over to the bed and helps me climb into it. I don't protest as she crawls up next to me and wraps her arms around my neck.

"Princess…" I whisper. She hums at me in response. "I don't deserve this… I'm so sorry…"

She shakes her head at me. "I already told you: I forgive you. For— for the first time in my life, I enjoyed it."

She pulls me to her and kisses me. I feel my heart melting from the passion she puts into it.

Does she really forgive me? I'm not sure, but I want to believe her. I seriously want to believe that she doesn't feel betrayed. I don't think that I can. But for now, I feel her comfort and let myself indulge in it.