Thanks to the reviewers! I'm definitely continuing even though I have no idea what I'm doing! Yay!

I was especially excited about tonight. There was not a square inch I hadn't thought out. Flowers, chocolates, dinner under the stars. Now I just had to work up the nerve to ask her.

I had done my research. She had always lived in that funny shaped building downtown. Now that Phineas and I had moved out of the suburbs, it was even closer. I believe that she had her own apartment now, away from her father. I was completely prepared. I even had roses again. I made sure to get the darkest of reds, since that seems to be her preference.

I've been infatuated with Vanessa for years now. I can't say I'm in love with her. I don't know that for sure. But somehow my heart has always led me back to Vanessa, despite her abandoning me in Paris.

For a little while in high school I dated Gretchen, but for some reason it felt like we were only together because people thought we'd be cute, not because we really had true feelings for each other. So we broke up, though she's still my friend. Then, in my college years, there was this girl Sandra that my grandparents introduced me to back in the UK. We got along very well, but she was very quiet and low-key. For whatever reason, I'm drawn to girls with a sense of adventure, unlike Sandra. That's as far as my official girlfriend list goes, though like every man, I suppose, I have had several flings here and there.

You'd think Vanessa and I might not work, what with the age difference and all. But I've made sure to keep in touch with her.

I knocked on the door of her apartment. Everything was set up. I'd give her the flowers, and we'd head out to the dinner I had specially arranged.

The door opened, and there she stood, as lovely as ever, even though she's older than I. She was wearing her normal black garb, but her sleeves were rolled up, and she had her beautiful brown hair tied with a beige and black bandana around her head.

"Oh, hey Ferb." She smiled at me, which was both a rarity and a blessing. "Come to help me move in?" That was why she was dressed for cleaning.

I gently shook my head.

"Then what good are you to me?" She said giggling. "Just kidding. Come in."

I stepped inside. Her apartment was really nice. Lots of black of course, but there was also lots of light, and high-tech appliances, like a fancy cappuccino machine.

"So why did my quiet little buddy decide to stop by?" She asked playfully.

I almost felt like cringing. The way she spoke to me was almost as if she was my babysitter or something. I was in my twenties, but apparently I was still a kid. I had no idea what to do so I just stuck out my bouquet of roses.

Vanessa stared at them in dismay. Did I get the wrong color? "Ferb," she began, "I'm sorry. I've told you this before. There is no future for 'us'. We can always be friends, but JUST friends."

"Vanessa, if you'd just give me a chance…" I pleaded.

"I'm sorry Ferb, I can't. See, I didn't just move in here to get away from my parents." She sighed, and held her left hand out to me. "I'm engaged."

I felt my eyes pop as I stared at the large diamond positioned on her ring finger.

"I'm sorry for unintentionally leading you on, Ferb. But all those nights when I said I was busy, I was with my boyfriend. Monty."

Great. So now I knew the name of the guy I needed to annihilate.

"He's really a great guy. I bet you'd like him. He does all sorts of crazy things just like you. You know, working with animals, fighting evil, acrobatics." She giggled at whatever inside joke came with those statements. But she turned serious again. "I'm really sorry Ferb."

I didn't know what to do. "I still want you to have these though." I whispered, holding out the flowers.

She winced. "I don't think that's a good idea. I shouldn't be taking flowers from other guys." I sadly nodded. "Bye Ferb." She said, shutting the door.

I glumly stared at the flowers in my hand, as I turned and started towards the elevator. I suddenly slammed the bouquet into the garbage can next to it.

I ran my hands through my hair and hit the button. Now what was I supposed to do with that dinner under the stars I had set up outside? You know what, I didn't care. I was just going to leave it there. It didn't matter. I sighed. What was I doing? I was chasing after a woman who would never be mine, that's what I was doing. I should have known this would've happened from the moment I left the apartment. Monty… I was doomed.

Uggh, by the time I got home, I was ready to fall into my bed. Phineas better not ask me anything about the "date" unless he wanted his face ripped off. The elevator finally reached our floor. Why did I make the building so tall? Whatever. Slinking into utter depression in bed, here I come.

I got out of the elevator and the first thing I saw was a bundle of pink and black scrunched up on the hallway floor in front of our apartment. I quickly walked over there to see none other than Isabella on the ground, crying her eyes out. There was no way I was going to leave Isabella crying there, no matter how tired I was. All I could think was, what did my stupid brother do this time?

I walked over and stood right in front of her, so that she would see me. She did. She lifted her head and peered up at me. I offered my hand. She shook her head.

"Ferb, just leave me here to rot in my own misery." She whimpered.

I rolled my eyes. The drama queen. I wasn't exactly having the best day ever either. I took both her hands and hoisted her to her feet. I turned and was about to unlock the door to my apartment, when she stopped me.

"No! Phineas is in there!" She exclaimed. Obviously he was in there. "Come to my apartment." She turned to open her door. Hmm, I guess that meant that my assumption about Phineas making her cry was correct, and it also meant that she wanted to talk about it after all. I followed her inside.

We both sat down on one of her sofas. I turned towards her, giving her my full attention, though another broken romance was the last thing I wanted to hear about.

Isabella sniffled. "I was going to tell him. I really was this time, Ferb." That hardly seemed likely. Isabella was never going to work up the guts to tell Phineas she loved him. I mean, look how it worked out for Vanessa and me!

Isabella continued. "And when I came to the door, some gorgeous blonde girl was coming out! I just couldn't say anything! And then he just went back inside like it was no big deal!"

Isabella began crying into my shoulder, with her legs draped over mine. Was that all? She had lost her nerve again. All because she saw a girl leaving the apartment. But this was news to me. If it were somebody for work reasons, wouldn't I know about it? And even if this woman were a friend, wouldn't Phineas have introduced her to the gang already? Could it be that my seemingly clueless brother was hooking up with women in our apartment when I was out? Oh god, I didn't even want to know.

I suddenly realized how close Isabella was to me when I felt her hair tickling my neck. And for some reason, I didn't want her in my lap anymore. It was making this situation uncomfortable.

"Isabella," I said. I gently moved her off, and turned her head to face me. I gently wiped two parallel tears that were running down her cheeks off. "Phineas didn't actually do anything. You just saw an acquaintance leaving. Why are you crying so much?" I gently asked.

Isabella took a deep breath and flopped back onto the sofa. "You're right Ferb. This isn't really Phineas' fault. I just started crying because of… well, I guess because of the conversation I had with the Fireside Girls today."

What did they do? I guess Isabella saw I was curious, because she continued. "They said I should be off having fun, but I kept defending Phineas. It just sucks because it looks like he's off having fun after all."

She groaned. I gently patted her hand. She smiled at me. "I guess it doesn't matter. He's not married to this chick or anything." Oh, deathblow to my heart right there, even if she didn't know it. Because Vanessa was getting married to her suitor. "Anyway, how did your special thing go?" She asked. At least she had perked up a little. Which was great, because I was feeling down again.

"I don't want to talk about it." I muttered.

"Why?" She stared at me with her big blue eyes. "Did something go wrong?" I nodded. "Oh, Ferb, tell me."

"She's engaged." I sighed. "She didn't want my flowers or to come to dinner. She basically wants me to stay away until I'm okay with being 'just friends'."

Isabella sighed too. "I'm sorry. Who was the girl anyway?"

"Vanessa." I whispered.

"Still?" She exclaimed. I glared at her. "I mean…"

"I know what you mean." I said.

"Ferb, really, I shouldn't be talking. I've been going after the same guy for years, and it's not working out so great." Isabella exclaimed. "I'm really lonely most of the time."

I nodded. I was too.

Suddenly she let out a little giggle. "Do you know what the girls said I should do? It's absurd! I wonder if they'd give you the same advice?"

"What?" I asked, curiously.

"They said that I need to become 'friends with benefits' with somebody, so I can, I don't know, screw around, until Phineas realizes he likes me. Isn't that ridiculous?" She said laughing.

I nodded. I was smiling too. The thought of squeaky-clean little Isabella sleeping around with anybody other than Phineas was ridiculous. Even with Phineas it was kind of ridiculous. "So with me it would be the same thing, except I'd be waiting on Vanessa?" I asked jokingly.

"Yup." We were both laughing. "'Friends with Benefits'. It doesn't get any wackier than that." She said.

"Who would be your 'friend'?" I asked. "Baljeet?"

"No!" She playfully whacked me. "He's dating one of my best friends! What about you? Gretchen?"

"Please remove ex-girlfriends from the menu." I replied.

"If it was Adyson, I'd be irritated with both of you." She said.

"What about Irving?" I teased.

"Ewww!" She exclaimed, though she was still laughing.

"Yeah. Maybe we'd just be better off with each other." I joked.

About a second after it left my mouth, we froze up. Shit, why did I just say that? This is why I'm normally the quiet one. I just wanted to cheer her up. I broke the silence with an awkward little laugh, which she returned. She was playing with her hair in a nervous way.

I stood up and gestured that I was leaving. I hurried to her door with my head down.

"Wait, you don't have to go." She said quietly. Oh yes I did. The awkwardness was nearly tangible.

But I found myself turning and going back to her. She was standing up too. She looked like she was thinking. I just stood there, rocking back and forth on my heels.

"That… that really is a ridiculous idea the girls came up with, isn't it?" She said quietly. I nodded. "I don't know why I couldn't get it out of my head all day. Do you think that being with a guy other than Phineas would help?"

Honestly, it could. Then she wouldn't be so desperate all the time when it came to Phineas. Is it the same with Vanessa and me? I am sort of desperate… and lonely. I nodded again.

"Yeah," she said awkwardly.

Ok, that was it! We were moving into another danger zone, and I was officially leaving. I opened the door and stepped into the hallway. I was going to close it when Isabella stuck her foot in the door.

"Wait!" She said. I was staring at a very flustered Isabella again. "I'm only going to ask this once." She said. She closed her eyes tightly and she started babbling very quickly. "After the girls talked to me I couldn't get the idea out of my head but I couldn't think of the right guy to ask so I put it out of my mind but then you came and you're kind of in the same situation so would you like to be Friends with Benefits with me?"

"What?" I asked. I vaguely followed her rambling, but I'm positive I couldn't have heard the last part right.

"Would… you… like… to… be… Friends… with… Benefits… with… me?" She asked again tentatively.

Wow. I had to have been the reason we got to this point. I did basically suggest myself. But how could I answer this? What if Phineas did like Isabella? I'd be in a lot of trouble if he found out. But that was Isabella's whole mission. We'd definitely keep it as secret as possible. But I loved Vanessa, not Isabella. But she was engaged. And I was just as sick-minded and needy as every other man. And Isabella was exceptionally attractive… perfect figure and skin, lovely hair, beautiful face, and those big blue eyes. I can't believe I was going to do this.

"Umm, yes, Isabella." I stammered. "I believe we could make this work. With some ground rules."

"Right. Rule 1: WE NEVER TELL ANYONE! Especially Phineas." She said.

"Rule 2: We stick to physical relations. Meaning no obligatory dates or presents or anniversaries." I could not have Vanessa or anybody else thinking I was dating Isabella. That could only lead to problems.

Isabella nodded. "Rule 3: Absolutely no strings attached! As in, we're free to stop and pursue others as soon as we want too." Just a fancy way for her to say she'd drop me as soon as Phineas shows her any attention. Whatever.

"No strings." I nodded "And rule 4: We stay friends. No matter how this turns out." I said. Isabella nodded vigorously. I needed Isabella as my friend. I just… needed her. It was different from my friendships with all the boys.

"So…" She said, rocking back and forth on her feet. I just stood there awkwardly. "Should we start tonight?" She asked. Well, we did both have pretty crummy days, romantically speaking. I nodded slowly. "Okay… come to my place… after dinner."

God, what were we doing! Isabella and I aren't even going to know HOW to be friends with benefits, much less actually pull it off.

Isabella pulled her foot out of the doorway, and shut it without saying anything else. I was probably sweating. I opened the door to my apartment to see Phineas on the couch watching TV.

"Hey, Ferb!" He said smiling. I wanted to ask about his "mistress", but I was too busy worrying about Isabella becoming mine. "What should we do tonight?"

I couldn't tell him that I think I'm doing Isabella tonight.

Wow, I can't even believe I just wrote that. But I kind of like the story; look how long this chapter is! Well, it looks like this is the first ever M rated Ferbella fanfiction. You have been warned.