Forest - Early Afternoon

Phineas is sitting on a log, quietly crying into his hands. His friend was… Mutilated, different, and destroyed. Buford was taken away so quickly from Phineas and his family. He thought he had already moved on from his death, but it proved that he still misses him dearly.

Phineas starts to wipe his tears with his arm when a handkerchief was handed to him. Ferb was standing right behind him with a concerned expression on his face than his usual quiet manner.

Phineas looked at the cloth for a few seconds before taking it and blowing his nose into it.

He then tries to hand it back to Ferb, "Want it back?"

Ferb shakes his head and motions him to keep it.

Phineas weakly grinned, "Yeah, I wouldn't want any of my gross boogers on it too…"

Ferb sits next to Phineas and puts his hand on his shoulder, "Phineas… You can't run away like that again."

Phineas starts to look down at his feet and sniffled, "I know… I could have lost two more friends today…"

Ferb chuckles, "I think you're forgetting about Perry."

"Heh, Perry would have found me if he knew I ran away or got lost…" Phineas wiped his nose with arm and looked at Ferb, "Ferb, can I ask you a question?"

"What is it?"

"That boy you dug up… He protected me from harm's way…" Phineas starts to form more tears in his eyes. "He d-didn't leave with his family like he was ordered to and… Made sure I got out safely…"

Ferb took his hand and wiped away the tears that were falling on Phineas' face. "That boy seemed very brave-"

Phineas suddenly turned away from Ferb, "That's the thing! Buford sacrificed himself and didn't get a chance to live his life! His whole family bloodline was loyal to our family… I feel like it was our fault that he didn't get to be a normal boy."

Phineas sighed and turned back around to Ferb, "I want you to promise me not to sacrifice yourself if I'm in danger. You've only known me for about five weeks and I don't want you to end your life when it hasn't even-"

Ferb covered Phineas' mouth with his hand and slightly frowned, "Phineas, I don't think it's your decision whether or not I choose to let people take you out of your misery. You have a mother to find."

Phineas took Ferb's hand off of his mouth and exclaimed, "Well, you have an amazing father that still needs his son around!"

Ferb slightly flinched at Phineas' sudden burst. And he was right… What would happen if his father lost his only son?

Ferb closed his eyes and sighed, "I'd rather promise something like... We won't stop trying to find a way out. We keep each other alive and survive this."

Phineas looked at Ferb for a minute. "From what I learned today, I'm not sure if that's possible…" He started looking down at his feet. "Just look at Buford…"

Ferb tipped Phineas' chin back up to meet his eyes. His eyes were also dark blue, and it was filled with more passion than Ferb's quietness could ever come up with.

"I won't let anything happen to our band. Our family. You're now with us for the time being, so that means I have your back. And you have mine." Ferb smiled, "And your mum will be waiting for you in America."

Phineas looked at Ferb and made a weak smile. After a moment, his smile disappeared, "Ferb… What if I can't find my mom? She's in New York and that's a really big city. It'll be impossi-"

"I don't want to hear the I word, Phin. The only that's impossible is impossibility."

"But… You'll let me stay with you if I can't… Right?"

"I mean, you and father are the only friends I have so far in my life… I don't see anyone walking around anything soon."

Phineas chuckled, "You forgot Perry…"

"Touche."

Phineas wrapped his arms around Ferb's chest and looked at him, "Thanks Ferb… You're always making me feel better."

Ferb returned the gesture by wrapping his arms around his shoulders, "You make it seem like I'm your big brother."

Phineas gasped at the statement, "I've always wanted a big brother before! And someone that has always had the same interests as I do."

Ferb thought for a moment and smiled. "Well, we do love having a platypus for a pet and building is our kind of thing. I think it was meant to be, brother."

Phineas smiled and hugged Ferb tigheter. "Brothers?"

"Forever, Phin." Ferb whispers in Phineas' ear.

Author's Note: So this has been an eventful October and we're only halfway through! I went to Dapper Day at Hollywood Studios as Phineas and this weekend I'm doing a boatload of rehearsals. Oh, and homework which I should be doing right about now... Review, dear?