Emily jerked her arm out of Linda's grip, venom in her eyes. "He's my son, actually," she hissed.
"You're not supposed to be here," Linda said. "So I'm giving you a chance to leave without a fuss. Just turn around and leave."
Ferb stared up at them as Linda spoke calmly but firmly. Emily rolled her eyes and looked down at him. "He's mine, bitch, no matter what Lawrence says. You're not his mother, and you never will be."
The words didn't sting Linda. She simply smiled. "Of course I won't be. He's told me that himself."
The shock on his mother's face didn't matter, but his mum's confident smile warmed Ferb. She understood! She really did! He hadn't been entirely sure, but he was now. He couldn't force himself to move yet, but his eyes noticed a bright flash of color that he looked at for the briefest of moments. Baljeet and Buford were waving makeshift flags by using the Fireside Girls' sashes. He didn't dare to look for too long, as the danger was still far too close. The mama bears were about to fight. And that was terrifying. He watched Linda braced herself, heard her feet slide into place in the gravel. He braced himself and when Linda glanced briefly at him, he gave the tiniest of nods and blinked twice, their old signal for yes when he couldn't speak at all. Linda's jaw clenched and she took a deep breath.
"One more chance," she said.
Emily sneered. "Don't toy with me, luv." She pushed Linda and reached for Ferb.
Linda lashed out as soon as she had her footing. Emily let out a yell and clutched at her eye as she stumbled back. Linda followed her down and tried to get her in a hold as she said one word.
"Run!"
Ferb twisted and scrambled to his feet, slipping on the gravel twice before he found purchase on grass. He bolted for Baljeet and Buford, not daring to look back. He saw Phineas standing there, waving him over, and he fell against him, panting whimpers coming from his throat. He couldn't speak, couldn't push the words out, but when Phineas pulled back, Ferb knew he understood and calmed at once. He clutched at Phineas as he turned to see what was happening with Linda.
Linda hadn't quite gotten her into a hold in time, and Emily was energized by her outrage at Linda's interference and the scotch she'd had. Ferb watched the two women struggle, but as much as Emily dished out, Ferb was pleased to see that it not only didn't faze Linda, but she was dishing back just as much, if not more. The wail of police sirens grew in the distance, and Ferb waited anxiously as Linda finally got Emily into a hold. She locked herself in place and waited as red and blue lit up the parking lot. Coming in with them was a few cars, and Ferb watched the family car as Lawrence swung neatly into a spot and ripped himself out of the car. Isabella came running, leading them over. When Lawrence caught sight of just who Linda had pinned, he froze, his mind unable to process what he was seeing.
"Hello, dear," Linda said calmly. "Your ex came to visit. I should have told you, but I thought I'd have a talk with her first."
"Yes, well," Lawrence said dazedly as Adrian and his parents came to a halt, staring openly at the two battered women. "I suppose it could be worse. Glad you're on top of things, dear." He stared at her sitting calmly beneath Emily, holding her in a grip that must have hurt very badly indeed if she couldn't even spit out the venom burning in her eyes. Then he began to grin. "Figuratively, of course."
"Naturally."
"Allow me to assist you with that, milady."
When Ferb heard their playful banter, he couldn't help but relax. It was going to be okay now. He jostled Phineas and gestured with his head. Phineas squeezed his hand and they began to slowly make their way toward the group. Baljeet and Buford stood between Ferb and his mother, and Isabella and the Fireside Girls joined them. Isabella gave Ferb a gentle hug, but Ferb couldn't reciprocate. Isabella didn't mind, and she laid a hand on Ferb's shoulder as they watched the police take Emily from Lawrence. Lawrence helped Linda up, stared at her a moment, then pulled her into a searing kiss.
"I love you, Linda," he said fervently, pressing their foreheads together.
"I love you, too, Lawrence." She turned to look at Ferb. "And you, too, Ferb."
Ferb nodded, but not a word passed his lips. His eyes were huge in his face, and he was hunched over and trembling as his eyes kept dashing over to his mother, who was currently fighting two police officers who were trying to get her into the back of a car. Lawrence and Linda walked over, and Lawrence scanned Ferb's face before he sighed.
"Well, let's drive you to hospital," he said tiredly. "I've no doubt you both need to be looked over."
Ferb clutched the jacket around him, but he didn't respond otherwise. Linda nodded and flexed her wrist with a wince. "Probably a good idea."
"Ady?" Lawrence asked, looking at his brother.
"Call us when you know something," Adrian said. "We'll mind the house."
"Feel free to order pizza," Linda said. "Because I'm pretty sure dinner is no longer edible."
"Not really, dearie," Winifred said. "I pulled it out when I smelled it burning, but whatever it was is now charcoal. And the potatoes we had to sweep up and throw away. They were all over the floor. There was water everywhere, too."
Ferb's grip on Phineas tightened and he looked down. Phineas squeezed him. "I think we should go, Mom."
Linda nodded. "Tell the police they can interview us at the hospital," she told Adrian.
Adrian nodded, and Candace joined them with her camera still held up. "Should I stop recording now, Mom?"
"You can," Linda said. "Now come on. Lawrence, you'd better drive."
Several hours later, they were heading back home, bandaged and tired. Linda had severe bruising and several cuts from Emily's long, sharp nails that had needed stitches. Ferb had been reluctant to let the doctors and nurses touch him, but Phineas had patiently stayed with him while he was being treated. Wrapped in the jacket his mother had given him since his shirt had been ruined by Emily, Ferb huddled next to Phineas in the backseat as they went home. When they pulled in, the house was aglow with warm light, and Linda sighed as Lawrence turned off the car.
"They're just going to make sure you and Ferb are okay, Linda," Lawrence said. "Then we can send them to their hotel."
"I know," Linda said. She turned and looked at Ferb. "Ready?"
Ferb blinked up at her then shook his head, but he unbuckled and opened the door. Everybody else followed suit, and Ferb clutched at Phineas like a lifeline as they made their way toward the back door, or what was left of it. The glass had been entirely cleared away, and a layer of tarp was taped over both sides. As soon as they slid the door open, Adrian and Lucy stood up from the table.
"There you are," Adrian said.
"We were starting to worry," Lucy said. "How are you, Linda?"
Linda shrugged as Winifred and Reginald came in from the living room. The cousins were half asleep watching television, and only Eliza roused herself to come in to greet them. She gave Candace kisses on both cheeks.
"How are you, luv?" she asked.
"Mad and tired," Candace said. She turned to her parents. "I'm going to get the video sent off to the sergeant."
"Send them the entire Gardening Supplies folder, too," Linda said.
Phineas looked over. "You mentioned that before. What's up with that, Mom?"
"I looked at Emily's LifeCircle page. She was planning this for awhile," Linda said tiredly. "I took screenshots of the posts and comments and put them in that folder. Just in case we needed evidence."
"We do," Lawrence said, running his hands through his hair. "We need to put her away, but I don't know how. Last time…"
"What?" Linda asked, her temper flaring. "What stopped her from going to jail?"
"Ferb couldn't testify to anybody," Lawrence said miserably. "He couldn't say a single word. He'd stopped talking after that night Emily fought me, and he couldn't even do an interview one-on-one with anybody. He simply couldn't speak, Linda."
Ferb watched his father cover his face as everybody glanced at him. Lowering his gaze, he squeezed Phineas's arm and shivered.
"Can you talk, Ferb?" Candace asked.
Ferb didn't respond for several moments, then he shook his head. Not one word could escape him, and he knew it would happen all over again. The questions, the lawyers, the judge, the court, he was going to have to go through it all again. And just like the first time, he couldn't talk. She would get away with it, and he knew she wouldn't stay away. She'd found him once, and now she knew where he lived. It would only get worse from here, and it was all his fault.
"Anybody hungry?" Winifred asked. "We've got a couple of pizzas staying warm in the oven for you."
"You're a life saver, Mum," Lawrence said. "But I think you should get to your hotel. It's late, and I think we need a bit of a lie in tomorrow."
"Of course. We can entertain ourselves," Adrian said.
"You're welcome for supper tomorrow," Linda said. "But I think it would be nice if we all go out to eat after we wake up. We'll go somewhere nice."
"That sounds lovely, dearie," Lucy said. "Come on, Ady. Let's get the children into the van."
They all got up and said their goodbyes then staggered out to the car. Eliza hugged Candace. "You and I can spend all the time you want together tomorrow. And we can invite Stacy, too."
"That sounds great," Candace said. She held up her hands to show off her nails. Only one hand was finished. "I was interrupted, and so was Stacy. Trish said we can come by tomorrow and she'll finish up. I'll pay for you to get yours done, too. And a pedicure for all of us."
"Sounds lovely," Eliza said. "See you tomorrow."
After everybody had gone, the family simply stood there and looked around, unsure how things had changed so much since that morning. Lawrence took a deep breath then turned to Ferb.
"How are you? What did she do?"
Ferb shivered then slipped out of his jacket and turned around. There was silence as they took in the scratches. There were stitches in some of the deeper cuts that decorated his arm and back, and bruises had already begun to appear across his arms from his mother's hard grasps. He didn't move until Phineas took his hand.
"Let's go get you washed up," he said. "We'll use a rag and stay away from the scratches. Then we'll go to bed."
There was a soft churring noise, and Perry came in. For a moment, Ferb noticed his eyes uncross as he took in the room. Then he went back to normal and waddled over to Ferb, churring again. Ferb knelt down and picked him up as Phineas spoke.
"Oh, there you are, Perry."
Perry churred a third time, and he docilely allowed Ferb to hold him as the two boys made their way up the stairs. Candace went upstairs to prepare the video and the files, leaving Lawrence and Linda alone. Lawrence stared at her with such intensity that it made her uncomfortable.
"Linda Flynn," Lawrence said after a moment. "From the moment I met you, there was something about you. I had to have you. And I'm glad I took the chance. Because you don't know this, but I almost didn't take you to that concert. Ferb was having a bad night, and I called to talk you out of it, but when I mentioned him, you immediately suggested that Mrs. Garcia-Shapiro watch him along with Phineas and Candace. I thought it would never work because Ferb didn't like anybody. I came over just to prove to myself it wasn't going to work, that you wouldn't want Ferb and he wouldn't like you. But when you opened the door and I saw you talk to him even though he wasn't talking back, I knew there was something different about you. And when Phineas came and showed interest in Ferb, and Ferb actually showed interest back by the time we got back from the concert, I knew you were the one."
"Really?" Linda asked.
Lawrence only pulled her into a kiss then took her hand and led her upstairs. Lucy and Winifred had clearly straightened up after the police had taken their photos. The bed was made, though the pillows were clearly new. Neither one of them noticed as Lawrence shut and locked the door then turned to his wife and gazed at her through glinting eyes.
"I always liked a woman who could take care of herself," he murmured. "But if you'll allow me…"
He didn't get any farther as Linda pulled him into an embrace and kissed him back. There was so much that seemed to need her attention, but she pushed it all away. For now, she wanted nothing more than her husband. He was more than happy to oblige, and afterwards, they both lay holding each other. After such a stressful day, it was a relief for it to finally be over. Whatever the next day would bring, they'd face it together. With that comforting thought, Linda pressed into her husband and fell asleep.