A/N: A very short little drabble that's sort of a sequel to the last fic. I'm all hopped up on drugs (I currently have pneumonia) so it's probably awful. But it covers some of my headcanons so whatev! Another A/N at the bottom!

Feeling of Home

"-and then she broke his nose," Phineas blushed, rubbing the back of his neck as he re-told the story for his friend. Baljeet just chuckled, sitting across from him in the cozy little coffee house as the rain came down outside. It was Sunday and their favorite java hut was a pleasant retreat from the weather, a smattering of headphoned students milling about on their tablets and laptops as smooth alternative music flowed through the small space.

Baljeet had already graduated college early, but he was working on his doctorate and teaching a robotics class on Phineas and Isabella's campus. This gave the childhood friends many an opportunity to keep in touch. And as Phineas recounted that Friday's incident, complete with a dulling black eye, Baljeet couldn't help but be amused. "I would have paid good money to see that."

"Yeah he went down pretty hard. Izzie's right hook is a force to be reckoned with," Phineas cleared his throat, folding his hands on top of the table. Though there was an obvious smile at the corners of his mouth. The red head may have acted embarrassed, but it was obvious he wasn't too put off at the fact that his girlfriend had beaten someone up for him. Even when he had been trying to beat that someone up for her.

"You will find it is rather nice to have a little power in your back pocket, Phineas," Baljeet smirked, adjusting his scarf. "To have a mate that is protective can actually be a blessing."

"You should know, I suppose," Phineas chuckled, leaning back in his seat. "So how are you two?"

"Oh it is the same old, same old," Baljeet shrugged. "But it is a welcome comfort to be in such a rut. I was becoming over whelmed with work during the fall, you know. It is nice to just… have a pattern."

"I know what you mean," Phineas smiled fondly at his friend. "Any plans to move in together?"

"Goodness no!" Baljeet laughed, making Phineas laugh as well. "Why on Earth would you even suggest it?"

"Okay, okay," Phineas held his hands up in defense, still laughing. "I should know better."

"We are not like you and Isabella. We would absolutely murder one another," Baljeet's shoulders shook with another laugh. "No, no… we like our own space. It works best that way."

"That makes sense," the red head nodded, his expression softening. "But it is nice to see you happy for once. I know it was rough there for awhile with the arranged marriage."

"It was never what she wanted," Baljeet waved him off. "I cared too much for Mishti to let her go through with something I knew she would always regret. And even though she would never admit it, I feared if we had gotten married she may have eventually started to resent me. I could not bear to ever let that happen."

"You're a good friend, Baljeet," Phineas reached over to pat the top of his dark skinned hand. "And you know… it wasn't what you needed either." He knew Baljeet had cared a lot for the woman. But it was never love. Any of them could see that.

Baljeet merely nodded, staring out the window at the rain. Phineas had been right. His relationship with Ginger in high school had more love and passion than his engagement to Mishti ever did. The move to call off the wedding had indeed created a lot of tension in his family. More so Mishti's then his own. He had always had loving parents who had adapted to more of a Western view on the world. He was thankful for their acceptance and his more modern upbringing. They loved him regardless of his decisions.

Baljeet looked back when the booth dipped a bit from the weight of another sitting beside him. An arm slid around his shoulders and a Pumpkin Spice Latte was set down in front of him.

"Here babe," Buford leaned over, placing a gentle kiss to the side of Baljeet's temple, making the boy beam in satisfaction and accept the offered treat. Buford nodded in Phineas' direction. "Nice shiner, Dinner Bell."

"You should see the other guy," the red head chuckled.

"Isabella was telling me how she wailed on him," Buford grinned. "That's our girl."

"Says someone who has been on the receiving end of those fists before," Baljeet hummed, sipping his drink.

"I deserved it," Buford shrugged.

"You sure did." The group looked up as Isabella walked over with her own set of drinks for her and Phineas. "You know if you piss him off, all Baljeet has to do is text me."

"Lookit you, running a little personal body guard business over here," Buford smirked at his boyfriend, Baljeet rolling his eyes mid sip, but still leaning his head against the larger man's shoulder. "I dunno whether to be appalled or proud."

"Speaking of texting," Phineas reached into his back pocket as his phone buzzed. "Oh sweet it's Ferb! I'm gonna holo-call him so he can sit in," he quickly texted his brother back. He set his phone down in the middle of the table and activated an app the two of them had created. Soon enough, the phone projected an image of his brother's upper body right above the device. The image fizzled a bit as Ferb adjusted his own phone and settled into his seat, waving to the group who all greeted him excitedly.

"Phineas, what happened to your face?" Ferb raised a brow.

"What? You don't like my new shade of eye shadow?" Phineas folded his arms in a mock pout.

"The smoky look does not work with your complexion," Baljeet teased.

The group laughed before explaining the fight that had happened on Friday with Isabella's TA. And even though they were recounting his failed attempt at being macho, Phineas couldn't be more content. Ferb wouldn't be home from the United Kingdom until spring. Baljeet and Buford lived forty-five minutes away. Situations where they were all in the same room, even via hologram projection, were few these days.

It was incredibly refreshing to be around his old core group of friends. To feel that sense of security he had always had around them. If he had to pick a word to describe the feeling, he would chose 'home'. Because nothing felt more like home than how much they all knew each other and were proud of one another's accomplishments. They had all been through so much together during their childhood, but none of it was ever as hard as growing up and not having one another right down the street.

And so he would cherish this moment of 'home'. Listen to his friends' laughter. And admire how even though relationships had changed within the group… The group stayed the same.

A/N: So yes, I ship Baljeet and Buford lol. Though both are bisexual in my headcanon. I'll probably touch on it again later.