Isabella and Gretchen came up to the sliding patio door and saw this rare sight. Candace laughing... Ferb, of all people, laughing. "I wonder what's so funny." Isabella commented to her friend. "No idea chief." Gretchen replied and reached her hand toward the door and started to open it.
"You never told him did you." Candace said unaware that the two girls were now listening in on the conversation. Ferb shook his head. "He never asked, I thought he might have..." He said before another wave of laughter rolled over him. Ferb caught a breath and tried to continue his thought. "...figured it out." He finished. Candace's laughter dwindled. "Our brother really is oblivious isn't he? He just doesn't get it, and he doesn't think to search for the answers by asking questions."
"Amen to that." Candace and Ferb both jumped at Isabella's sudden reply. Isabella giggled. "Sorry, couldn't resist." She and Gretchen stood in front of them. "What's so funny?" Candace waved a hand in front of her face. "Nothing really, just an old joke." Ferb covered his mouth to suppress a snicker. Gretchen glanced over at Ferb with a small smile. Isabella shrugged. "Must have been good, to get Ferb to laugh that hard. Anyways, where's Phineas?" Candace and Ferb looked at each other for a moment before Candace turned back to the girls. "He's uh...somewhere around here. He's not in the best of moods; he stormed off a while ago."
Ferb looked to his feet. "He's really got his heart set on this doesn't he." He muttered to the room in general. Candace, Isabella and Gretchen nodded. "It would seem that way." Gretchen replied. Ferb shook his head sadly and quietly whispered to himself. "It's always the same." He looked up and walked out the door into the yard to see what was going on.
"Ferb," Candace called to him. "You should give them the glasses. That's a very thoughtful gift." She finished. "It doesn't matter, Phineas started this project without consulting me... I should help him, he's my brother after all." Ferb said and stepped into the backyard.
The girls looked after him in amazement. Gretchen looked down at her hand and smiled softly. Always so kind. She then started towards the backyard as well. Isabella and Candace looked at each other in surprise, soon smiling and raced off after Gretchen.
Phineas hugged his knees tighter. Why is this happening? Normally things go through without a hitch, so why is everything seeming to go wrong? He ignored the faint hums and bangs coming from the backyard. I wish Candace were here. She'd know what to say. As he finished his thought, there was a quiet knock on the door. Phineas lifted his head hopefully. "Candace?" The door creaked open and a dirtied Isabella stepped in.
"Phin?" She called quietly. "Are you in here?" She finished as she saw him huddled in the corner. She stepped over and sat beside him and reached for his hand. "Ferb's working on your guys' project."
Phineas dropped his head and shook it. "It's my project. Ferb had nothing to do with it. I just assumed he'd help; like he always does." Isabella leaned over and hugged her best friend. "He seems unhappy." Phineas looked up. "How would you feel if you knew your parents were going to be getting divorced?" Isabella was shocked. "Are you sure?" She asked him and Phineas nodded. "Today's their 10th anniversary. Dad's probably forgotten again and if I don't do something incredible... they're going to..." He couldn't finish his sentence.
Isabella placed a hand on Phineas' arm. "Is that what happened before?" Phineas nodded slowly. "They...they didn't make it 10 years." Tears were brimming his eyes. Isabella rubbed his arm gently. "Don't worry about that happening again. You may not see it, but the way your dad looks at your mom; it's like she's a diamond in the midst of coals. Their love for each other is what made this family strong. What they have is all I ever dream about having." Phineas looked at Isabella in awe as she smiled softly. Soon smiling himself, he placed his hand over hers. "I guess Ferb was right, my sense of romance needs a little work."
Isabella smiled lovingly at him. "You know Phin, candles and quiet music is romantic." He looked up at her, his expression a cross between confusion and hurt. "So, once again, Ferb was right." Phineas said and Isabella hugged him and kissed his cheek.
Phineas stood up and offered his hand to Isabella. "I wonder what Ferb's idea was. He didn't say." He said and Isabella looked at him with a touch of exasperation. "Did you ask him?" She inquired and he shook his head.
"Maybe that's what you need to do next." She said as she took his hand. Once she was on her feet, Phineas turned to go. Isabella held his hand firmly to stop him. Phineas turned back to the slightly blushing girl. "What's wrong?" She said nothing, only pulled him to her, wrapping her arms around his waist. She lay her head gently against his chest. Phineas blushed at the intimate action. "I-Isabella?" She hugged him tighter. "Don't be sad because you did what you thought was right. You planned this because your definition of romance is what you see in your parents. Your heart's in the right place, Phin. Don't ever change that."
Linda thanked everyone for the wonderful evening. "You're welcome Mom." Phineas said as he looked around for his brother. Lawrence stepped up beside his wife and whispered something in her ear causing her to blush.
Phineas was thanking his friends for helping out. "It was no problem at all Phineas." Isabella said as she looked lovingly at him. He turned to face her. "I'm sorry for acting the way I did earlier." With a smile, she turned toward the gate. After a brief pause, Isabella turned back to him. "Have a good evening Phineas. Don't be too hard on your brother."
Where is he anyhow? Phineas thought as the gate closed for the last time that evening. With a sigh, he went into the house and saw Candace leaned up against the wall talking on the phone. "Have you seen Ferb lately?" He inquired and she shook her head and continued with her call. Phineas went upstairs and into the shared room.
Ferb was sitting on his bed deep in thought about something when Phineas stepped in and sat on his own bed.
"Ferb, there's something I wanted to say." Ferb sat up straighter, signaling that he was listening. Phineas cleared his throat. "W-well, today I wasn't exactly myself and I've said, and done things, that were...rather selfish. I mean, I didn't even take your plan into consideration. Despite that, you helped finish the restaurant. I am so sorry. You're the best brother a guy could ask for and I've been a jerk." Ferb blinked in surprise at the apology. He leaned forward on his elbows and sighed. "Candace told me why you did all this. Honestly, if you had told me before...you are so stupid sometimes." Phineas glared at his brother, his stern glare breaking away at his brother's playful smile. Phineas laughed. "So, what did you have in mind, genius?"
Ferb glanced toward his desk. "It was nothing." He stood up and crossed to the desk, opened the drawer and pulled out the gift box. "Just a couple of stupid glasses." He said placing the box on the desktop. Phineas carefully opened the box. "Wow, Ferb. These are really nice, and they probably won't disappear..." He said as the light of a green ray crossed outside the window.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Phineas inquired. Ferb cocked his head to the side with an eyebrow raised. "You didn't ask." He replied. "Besides, you wouldn't understand the subtleties." He finished and Phineas nodded. "You're probably right. Are you still going to give these to Mom and Dad?" Ferb shook his head. "I guess." He said and put the glasses back into the box.
Phineas clapped his hands together. "Of course you should! What better way to end an amazing day than with an amazing gift!" Ferb ran a thumb over the edge of the box. "It isn't that special." Phineas waved his hands in the air fanatically. "Bro, of course it is! That's a gift not only from the heart, but from one of their kids! It will have tremendous value to them!" Ferb raised an eyebrow at his brother. Phineas sighed and placed a hand on Ferb's shoulder. "You should give it to them." Ferb smiled softly and nodded.