Well, here we go, guys. This is it. The final chapter of this ridiculous beast. This came in at a whopping (drum roll, please... ... ...) 1,170 pages, single-spaced. And yet, I feel like I have so much more to say.

I want to let the end of this story rest on it's own, so I will have my sappy, overemotional breakdown here instead. It's done, guys. It's done. The story that I wrote from so many hospital rooms—rooms I sat in taking care of my late aunt and uncle and rooms I lied in myself, hoping to get better. This story saw me through so many good things, too: graduating college, publishing my first paid article, getting my writing consultant job, starting my adulting life for real, starting grad school, getting engaged. This story was with me through so much; this story, and all the incredible support from so many of you that I had when writing it.

So here I am, sitting on my bed in an N64 shirt and Ninja Turtle boxers, staring at this screen, disbelieving this is finally over. You guys are rock stars! Seriously, this beast took forever to write, and you were so patient and amazing. Thank you so much for reading this-for bearing with me and for going on this adventure with these characters. Some of you might be excited to hear I am changing some things up in this story, adding elements and removing others, and turning it into a four-book series. Who knows, maybe someday in the far, far distant future, Something in the Mist will appear in another form, published by yours truly. It needs a lot, a lot of work—heaven knows I need to grow a way more as a writer—but it all starts with a dream, right?

From the bottom of my heart, I ask for one final review from you. How long have you been on this adventure with me? Did you like my story? Favorite parts? Most heartbreaking moments? How did it make you feel? Elements of writing that, now that you've seen my whole, you feel I could improve on? I'd love so completely to hear from you one last time!

Lastly: This story, and this last chapter in particular, which is filled with family love, is dedicated to my aunt and uncle. I finally made it to the happy ending, and I would have loved for them to see it.

EPILOGUE SIX:

Fellowship

-Final-

"I'm telling you, going from six to seven does not make being a parent any easier!" Phineas groaned as he sat hard on the nearest stool. It was the first time he'd sat that day, and even the eager alchemist's feet were screaming.

"But you've done such a great job, Phin," Isabel pointed out as she draped an arm over his shoulders. "Just look at it!"

While he felt silly singing his own praises, Phineas had to admit she was right. The guildhall had been transformed from its wide expanse of potions and tools and alchemy tables to an explosion of purple. There were streamers and flowers and dolls littered about. There were five purple drink and food stations and a ton of purple tables. With all Melissa's friends from Kaigate, Phineas and Ferb's Danville friends, and everyone they'd met on their journey, they were expecting a lot of people.

Already, things were crowded. He saw his mum, dad, Uncle Adrian, and Aunt Lucy cooing over Amada as she tottled—fully, enthusiastically tottled—around Candavere's legs. The little girl had been a handful since she'd become fully mobile, and she was a mischievous soul, to top it all off. Candavere swore every day it'd be the death of her; though Phineas knew his crazy sister was far tougher than that.

At the other end of the hall, Thaddeus and who Phineas had learned was his brother Thor were looking extremely perplexed as they spoke to Albert and Irving. Or, more accurately, Thaddeus and Thor stood looking extremely perplexed as Irving spoke enough for all of them, making wild gestures as he did with what Phineas regrettably recognized as the straw dolls Irving had made of Ferb and him.

Thankfully, Eliza's family was far tamer than this. While their parents socialized, the four Fletcher brothers kept mostly to themselves; in large because they hadn't strayed more than ten feet away from a food table. Phineas liked to think that was a big part of why they all got along with Bufavalous so well: they all payed keen attention to their stomachs.

Carl lazily sat with a contentedly sprawled Perrible in front of their expansive hearth, where several old refugees soaked in the warmth, and Jenny and Django were making vines grow up some of the wooden columns.

Ferb ruffled his hand through Phineas' hair, and his smile said it all: It's perfect.

There was a lot of brotherly pride in his expression, and Ferb really hoped Phineas didn't miss a single ounce of it. Phineas was super-dad, even if he didn't see it.

Melissa was already loving her birthday party. The now-seven-year-old was a flash that zipped around the room, drinking punch and snatching snacks off tables and showing off Terrance—whose shell, she was proud to show, she'd painted a shade of purple that matched her little birthday dress.

"We have new arrivals," Mishti called, nodding her head toward the guildhall entry as she passed by with more presents in her arms, and Phineas stood.

"Got it!" he replied, and took off.

This birthday party had been Phineas and Mishti's pet project for the past couple days. Ferb knew both of them had grown so completely attached to Melissa, probably to their lifestyle together here, too. Ferb knew they were both eager to give Melissa a birthday she wouldn't forget, something she'd never gotten before in her life as an orphan and refugee.

"I love seeing that," Isabel said after a moment of silence, and Ferb followed her gaze to where Lindavahle was sneaking Melissa another cookie.

"Mum is going to spoil that girl rotten," Ferb commented, but he couldn't help but smile. Whenever he brought it up, his mum just smiled and said it was her job to spoil Melissa. More than anything, Ferb thought his mum liked having another miniature Phineas running around, someone to mother and take care of in the way her older children didn't need her to anymore.

"Put on your uncle face," Isabel muttered and squeezed his hand, just in time for the birthday girl to sprint in their direction and leap at Ferb's legs.

"Did you see my presents?" Melissa gushed. "Did you see how many there are! Did you? Terrance can't believe how many there are!"

"Everyone is just so excited to celebrate you," Isabel told her; and of course, because it was Melissa, she frowned up at them.

"So are you two married yet or not?"

"My god, she's worse than my mother," Ferb groaned, burying his face in his hand, and Isabel laughed.

"No, we're not. The answer's not going to change from when you asked us four days ago!"

Melissa pouted. "Then stop being dumb."

"Melissa," Phineas chastised as he approached with Mishti and two strangers. "You have some more people here to see you."

Melissa squealed and hugged the strangers, making Ferb think they must have been some of the refugees that used to take care of Melissa. Immediately, the little girl began introducing them to everyone.

"Well this is Phineas, and he's my person, and this is Mishti, she's like my mom—but they're not married yet—and my best friend is my turtle Terrance, and my grandma Linda, she's really nice, and Uncle Ferb—he has green hair—and Isabel, she's a fairy princess, and oh! I have a dragonpus now, too, and he's—hey, where's Perrible?"

Melissa started looking all around, standing on her tiptoes then crouching low, searching for a certain dragonpus knight.

Ferb tightened his fingers in Isabel's and groaned into her shoulder. "I swear, the spitting image, I'm telling you."

Meanwhile, both Phineas and Mishti looked at each other in alarm as Phineas spluttered, "Not married yet? Melissa, uh—"

But the little girl was already pulling her two guests on, pointing out all the bells and whistles of the guild, and Ferb was left to watch, immensely amused, as his little brother flailed.

"It's not like that!" he called after them. It was a defense Phineas used often when Ferb teased him about his strange… whatever it was with Mishti. Ferb had tact enough not to tease Phineas in front of Mishti, of course; he didn't want to destroy what they had, just poke his brother about it a little bit.

"It's alright, Phineas," Mishti said as she put a calming hand on his shoulder. "You know it's only normal for her to think about us that way when we take care of her."

Phineas visibly relaxed, and while it was subtle, Ferb knew his brother well enough to notice how his ears were pink. He had to try not to grin.

"Yeah, fair enough," Phineas said, and the conversation ended there when Baljeetolus walked up. The elf precariously carried four glasses in his hands.

"The guild must be doing exceptionally well for you to afford such exquisite wine, Phineas," he commented, and his face shone with relief as the others reached out to claim a glass, lessening his burden.

"You don't drink," Mishti said, and Baljeetolus shrugged.

"That is true, but considering we saved the entire kingdom and likely the world, I may have treated myself to a glass." He tilted his head toward a table. "Mine is waiting for us, but," he grinned, "it would not mean as much without getting to enjoy it with my family, too."

Not blind to the significance of this statement, they followed the elf to where a table awaited. It was Phineas, Mishti, Baljeetolus, Ferb, and Isabel with only four chairs. Isabel faltered and glanced around for another, but Ferb reached for her. She hadn't been expecting him to pull her onto his lap, but with a surprised laugh, she didn't fight him.

"Problem solved," he declared, and while the others were pulling out their seats and settling down, he pressed a kiss against her neck. He left his face buried in her hair, his lips hovering over her skin, and feeling her shiver was immensely gratifying. She was probably blushing like mad, and the others would just have to assume it was because of where she was sitting.

Her fingers dug into his legs, as if warning him to watch it, but that only inspired him to kiss her again. Goosebumps rose on her skin and she squirmed, shifting so he couldn't so readily tease her. It was too easy. And, because they could actually do this, because they actually had each other, it was all too tempting, too.

The idle, ordinary drone of conversation was a blessing. It was a privilege: this kind of peace. To sit with friends and drink wine together during the clamor of a party. Ferb sat silently and observed, placing little kisses on Isabel's neck when no one was watching and sipping until his drink was gone.

Because they could, Mishti fetched a fresh round, and after all the work they put into this, Ferb could tell both quasi-parents appreciated the opportunity to relax.

"It's been Ferb's guild just as much as Mishti and I's," Phineas told Baljeetolus, and the sound of his name brought Ferb back into the conversation. He rested his chin on Isabel's shoulder, listening as Phineas said, "I mean, Ferb's just as good as me at potions," not true, Ferb knew, "so he's been doing jobs, too. We already have more requests than we know what to do with."

"And Isabel is quite the diplomat," Mishti added on. "Things have been so much smoother with her managing it."

"Yes!" Phineas beamed. "She started negotiating rates and stuff sort of as a fluke, but now she's got the whole guild wired! She's in charge of organizing and delegating requests, and since she took over that, we've been able to do so much more!"

"It sounds like quite the team effort," Baljeetolus commented, and Mishti sat up straighter.

"Speaking of team efforts, Lord Jeet, where is Constable Knuckle-Head?"

As if summoned by her words, Bufavalous and Eliza were a storm as they passed by, determinedly making their way to the gift table.

"Let me carry that," Bufavalous barked as he trailed behind her, most likely referring to the present in Eliza's arms.

"Shove off," she groused, trying to hold the package out of his reach. "I've got it. Buford!"

He managed to snatch it from her hands and began to push her back toward the rest.

"You sit down," he insisted. "Eat something. Uh… drink water!"

She turned on her heel and started punching him in the chest, her cry of, "Buford, I swear to god I'm going to run you through with my knife before this is over!" carrying all the way back from the gift table.

Mishti laughed, placing her hands on both of Phineas' shoulders, and he looked up at her. "And you thought our dynamic was strange," she mused.

Phineas laughed, too, and went back to watching the two from a distance—how Bufavalous was practically fussing over Eliza like a mother hen.

"Honestly… I'm afraid to ask," he mumbled, glancing to Baljeetolus. The elf chuckled under his breath like he knew something they all didn't, and Phineas' brow furrowed. "This isn't another one of his 'women shouldn't do men's stuff' things, is it? He has to know Eliza can take care of herself."

Baljeetolus sat forward, clasping his hands together as he leaned on the table. He was trying awfully hard not to meet any of their gazes. Meaning, Ferb knew, that he was trying hard to keep his mouth shut.

"Baljeetolus," Ferb said evenly, unable to contain his own curiosity, and something about his inquiry made Baljeetolus resign. The elf let out a breath and grinned at them all.

"She is pregnant."

Phineas' eyes almost popped out of his head and he choked. "Preg—what? What? It's been six months!"

Baljeetolus scoffed. "Trust me, Phineas, for those two, I am surprised it took this long."

Isabel's eyes widened. Dear lord, that was too much information. But to make it even worse, now Phineas turned his same wide-eyed stare toward Ferb and her.

"I don't—you guys can't—Don't go getting any ideas!" he blurted out.

Isabel's jaw dropped. Was the alchemist implying what she thought he was implying? Seriously? Before she could decide if she wanted to a) ask what he meant; b) smack him for meaning what she thought he meant; c) tell him to mind his own business; or d) run away and never look him or Ferb in the eyes again, Phineas continued.

"I'm already a part-time dad, and between that and the guild, I'm just not ready to be an uncle, too."

Isabel almost fell over.

"Phineas, I—you—oh my god, stop."

Mishti hummed contemplatively, running her hands over Phineas' shoulders once before she returned to her seat. "They are not married. That'll create quite the scandal," she said seriously, and Isabel was ready to hug her for redirecting Phineas.

"I dare anyone to give either of them a hard time about it," the alchemist laughed. "That would be asking for way more trouble than any scandal is worth. Seriously, it's Bufavalous and Eliza."

"Bufavalous doesn't have family," Mishti mused. "Beyond us here, of course. Will her family help?"

"You haven't met Eliza's mom," Phineas muttered. "I mean, I'm sure she'd helped, but that's only assuming she survives the shock of her only daughter having a baby out of wedlock."

Ferb snorted and nodded his agreement. Although, Ferb reckoned Lucy's future reaction to this news would only be icing on the cake for Bufavalous and Eliza. Both of them liked to shake things up.

"A baby," Baljeetolus said, as if he simply needed to hear it. "Bufavalous will be a father."

His statement settled between them in silence. Bufavalous… a father. Starting a family with Eliza. Bufavalous, who'd always sworn up and down that he didn't do families. Who was so weird about it that he still didn't openly acknowledge that he and Eliza were actually together.

"How is he taking it?" Phineas asked. "Is he freaking out?"

"Yes," Baljeetolus smirked. "I would most definitely say he is freaking out; but not in the way I believe any of us would have expected."

As if to prove a point, Baljeetolus nodded his head back toward where the two in question were. With the present safely on the table, Bufavalous and Eliza appeared to be talking about something pretty intensely. If Phineas had to guess, he'd say Eliza was telling him off—but then Bufavalous was doing something very unlike him: he took both her hands and cradled them between his as he pulled her a little closer. He said something, his expression calm and sure, and even from this distance, they could see Eliza turn bright red.

"As you may have noticed, he has been positively doting on her since he found out," Baljeetolus stated. "It was perhaps a couple of weeks ago. They did not tell me, but, well…"

"His behavior was enough," Phineas guessed, and Baljeetolus nodded.

As bizarre as this all was, Phineas couldn't stop thinking about one thing in particular: an image from the night they'd reunited with Bufavalous and Baljeetolus, when they'd arrived at the refugee camp outside of Kaigate.

The moment they broke through the trees to the camp waiting beyond, Bufavalous had been mobbed by a whole gaggle of screaming children. They'd danced around him, latched onto his legs, tried jumping up to reach his beard. Bufavalous hadn't even been fazed by it. Phineas had really been struck by it then, and now he felt Bufavalous' overwhelming protectiveness finally had context.

Phineas beamed. "I actually think Bufavalous is going to make a great dad."

"Optimist," Mishti muttered under her breath, and Phineas shook his head at her in exasperation. Ferb didn't know where that joke between them had started, but sometimes the two of them spoke almost as if in code.

Baljeetolus closed his eyes, and after a few seconds, he nodded again. "You know, Phineas… I do too."

"And Phineas may have been joking, but if anything, it appears it will be you, Baljeetolus, who will be taking on uncle responsibilities," Mishti pointed out, and every eye fell on the elf.

Ferb thought one thing was very clear: this hadn't yet occurred to Baljeetolus. He froze in place, halfway through lifting his glass, and he paled.

"I most definitely am not a kid person!" he exclaimed, and a smile tilted at Mishti's lips.

"I suppose it's a good thing you've always been so inclined to learn, then, now isn't it?"

He gaped at her, then at all of them; and Ferb figured it was pretty lucky for the elf when Melissa suddenly jounced up to the table. She had confetti in her hair and something that looked suspiciously like brownie crumbs dotted her face.

"Can we eat cake?" she cried, tugging on Phineas' arm. "I think Terrance wants to eat cake! Don't you want yummy cake? It has strawberries on it and I love strawberries! Can we eat it?"

Phineas threw his hands up and said, "You've gotta' ask mom."

Melissa turned on her heel and tackled Mishti's leg.

"Can we? Can we please, please, please? Terrance is hungry and I think some cake is just perfect."

Mishti rolled her eyes at Phineas, and Phineas looked like he was trying not to burst out laughing. This had been the mold for them, Ferb had observed. Phineas got things done when they needed to be done, but being strict? Well, Ferb figured it was safe to say Phineas had never been one for boundaries or saying no.

Mishti hadn't been kidding when she said she and Phineas had a rather strange dynamic. They weren't together… Ferb didn't think. He was pretty sure—kind of. Mostly sure. But they'd both quickly taken to living in the guild. They worked together every day, and even if they weren't together-together (maybe? Because Ferb actually had no clue), their combined personalities made a pretty scary team.

Ferb had been initially startled to learn of his brother's plan, adopting Melissa and raising her with Mishti, but they complimented each other surprisingly well. Mishti brought organization, a sense of pragmatism that Phineas often lacked. In turn, Phineas never let Mishti forget that life was meant to be fun. He brought joy into two really tragic lives.

Over the past few months, Ferb had seen all three of them transform. Mishti laughed and teased and, in a way only being around Phineas could do, allowed herself to be a child from time to time in an adult world. Phineas had matured. He lived outside of his potions and projects, instead living for other people through them. And Melissa, well… now she had a strangely random, strangely perfect family.

Ferb was so happy for his brother he could cry. He never saw this coming, and that was saying something considering how well he knew Phineas; but it was one of life's happy accidents. Things sort of fell into place. Like Isabel's banishment. Or an invulnerable sword that was still able to break.

"We can do cake," Mishti decided, and Melissa squealed as she took off for the dessert table. When Phineas made to stand up, she waved him down. "I've got it. You picked up the cake. The least I can do is cut it."

Mishti made to follow Melissa, but she stopped after two steps and met Baljeetolus' eyes. A second past between them, and he suddenly shot to his feet.

"I, uh—I will help you!" His cheeks were pink, but Mishti refrained from commenting. Her smile said it all.

"I was wondering when you were going to spend some time with me, Jeet. It's been nearly two moons!"

"I've been busy," Baljeetolus defended as they headed off. "Litigation, organization, Kaigate has been so demanding!"

Their conversation faded, and Phineas turned a smile on Ferb and Isabel now that it was the three of them.

"I'm going to need a break after all of this," he said, barely stifling a yawn. It made Ferb grin.

"That will be, what? A mark? Two, tops, knowing you."

"Carpe diem," Phineas shrugged. "I love what I love."

Melissa bounded out of nowhere.

"Phinny! You have to come get cake. It's my birthday, you have to!"

She used those eyes that Phineas simply couldn't resist, and Ferb snorted as his brother obediently stood, took the little girl's hand, and let her lead him to the cake table. He didn't miss Isabel's quiet hum.

"You've been unusually quiet, love," he said, this time kissing her on the cheek. "You okay?"

She went rigid at his question, but immediately thawed.

"Yeah, I am. I'm just… taking it all in." She scooted on his lap so she could see his face. "Our life now. It's just… sometimes I can't believe that we're all here. That we're sipping drinks around the same table and teasing each other and getting ready to eat cake."

She looked over to where the crowd was gathered at the cake table. Mishti and Lindavahle were hurrying to dish up as many slices as they could for the ravenous guests.

"I'm all for hanging back until the crowd thins," Ferb mumbled into her shoulder, and she relaxed back into him.

"That's good. I didn't want to move anyway."

He kissed her neck again, and she closed her eyes. She'd worked so hard, nearly wore herself to tatters and pieces, just to earn the right to get back to him. It took so long to appease the Lady, to fight her way to his door. But it was quiet moments like these—and every little moment in between—that confirmed just how worth it any scratch or bump or bruise they'd ever gained was.

As if reading her thoughts, Ferb said, "They're all here."

She nodded, looking to where their family was gathered, too.

While Phineas ate some cake with Melissa—that little girl was all smiles as she happily plopped a cream-covered strawberry in her mouth—Baljeetolus was talking animatedly with Mishti. Presumably mid-sentence, Ferb watched, surprised, as Mishti shoved a wad of cake in the elf's unsuspecting mouth.

Even more surprising, however, was when Baljeetolus—Baljeetolus, of all people—suddenly took some cake and tried to retaliate. Mishti had caught the Phineas Syndrome, and it appeared to be contagious, because Ferb never thought he'd see Baljeetolus acting so silly, too.

He was laughing as he got some frosting on Mishti's nose, and when she tried to grab more, he ended up with his arms wrapped around her, holding her as they both grappled for sweets. Ferb reckoned Baljeetolus didn't realize how close they were, and he could tell the moment it registered; Baljeetolus went completely still.

Mishti grinned from within his hold before she lunged forward. At first Ferb thought she kissed his cheek, before he realized she must have eaten some of the frosting. Either way, her lips had been on his skin, and even from here, Ferb could tell the elf was ready to explode.

Mishti laughed as she pushed him back, and Ferb wasn't sure what Baljeetolus would have done had Melissa not bounced up next to Mishti and started tugging on her shirt.

Phineas approached behind her, grinning while he deposited his empty cake plate on the table. When he saw all the cake on both of their faces, he reached out and swiped his finger across Mishti's nose. He was laughing, too, as he brought it to his mouth.

"This is so weird," Isabel decided, and Ferb knew she'd been watching the same thing he'd been.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the hall, they heard Eliza call out, "Get your own damn cake, arsehole!" She must have been talking to Bufavalous; she most definitely didn't speak to anyone else that way.

Yes, Ferb thought weird was one hell of an understatement to describe all of this.

"Seriously, Ferb," Isabel laughed. "I'm a fairy-turned-sprite-turned-human fairy-turned-fairy-turned-human and you're the half-blood son of a human and a banished auracle nymph. How is it even possible that we have the most orthodox relationship we know?"

"You're a what?" he teased, and she crinkled her nose at him.

"I'm not saying it again, you jerk," she laughed, and he suddenly dipped down to press his lips against her jaw. A content sigh left her, and she laid her head back down against him. "Seriously, though. It's just crazy."

Ferb nodded his agreement. He was super, super observant… and even he had no clue how to define any of the relationships between the rest of his friends.

"Do you think it would bother Phineas?" Isabel asked, and when Ferb didn't respond right away, she clarified, "If something started happening between Baljeetolus and Mishti, I mean."

Ferb shrugged. It appeared to be a valid question, but he had absolutely no idea.

"Phineas and Mishti have really taken on the roles of mom and dad, way more than I would have expected," she mused. "What would that even look like if she got together with Baljeetolus? She and Phineas would still live together and act like parents, you know? It's just so… weird."

He shrugged, but she wasn't finished.

"Or what about the other way around? I honestly still can't tell if something's going on between Phineas and her! Like, seriously! They're not together either, right? I don't even know! I literally can't even guess what's what with those three."

Ferb snorted. "Did you ever expect things to turn out normal for my brother?"

He felt her go still in his arms, and after a second, she started giggling.

"Oh my god, you're totally right. It's Phineas. I bet he wouldn't even care so long as he and Mishti still had this whole family thing going on. And it's not like Baljeetolus wanted to settle down and raise kids either."

"Mm, who would want to do that?" Ferb murmured, pressing his lips to her ear this time. "Settle down," he whispered, kissing her again. "Raise kids." And again. "Grow old with someone."

Isabel pulled back, her cheeks pink, but she smiled as she took his face and kissed him for real this time. No more brushes. No more teasing pecks. She really caught his lips with hers nice and thorough, which was immensely satisfying because he'd been driving her crazy during the whole conversation with the others!

"Yeah," she breathed when she pulled back, and she grinned, "who would ever want to do that?"

She wasn't prepared for how intensely he was looking at her now. His face held the same expression of determination it used to when they were facing battle. Although, there was a tender side to it, too. Truthfully, she'd never seen him look at her quite like this.

"I'm going to marry you."

His voice was a quiet hum when he said it: soft as velvet but sure as stone. Had she not been sitting on him, she might have collapsed at his words; but he wasn't done.

"I lost you so many times, Isabel, and I won't ever let it happen again. I want to be bound to you in any way I can: legal, physical, emotional, through the church or any other ritual of the Lady—I don't care. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

The air caught in her throat, welled up there with sentiment she never could have fathomed. If she still had her magic, she was certain she could have frozen time itself, just to hold onto this moment, those words, how she felt so close to him.

"Wait," she exhaled, "wait. Is this a proposal? Becauseif this is a proposal, my answer's yes."

It was his turn to grin. Laughter tumbled from his lips and he held joy in his eyes.

"No," he chuckled, "no, love. I've got to do it proper. You deserve a ring and some sort of event of it and—"

She cut him off with another kiss while her insides danced. They needed a ring first, by the Lady, it was just like Ferb to be so traditional. She could tease the hell out of him about it, but truthfully it only made her love him more.

She was taken aback when Ferb suddenly sat up—so quickly she nearly tumbled off his lap! She would have, had he not come to his senses and stabilized her as she teetered.

"Ferb?" she yelped, but now that she was no longer in imminent danger of falling, he gently pushed her to her feet. He stood as well, looking off toward the door with an expression that somehow managed to be vacant and focused.

Wordlessly, Ferb strode to the door, and Isabel followed behind. He was glancing all around, searching for something, and judging by his frown, she'd say he didn't find it.

"Ferb," she said, gently now, and rested her fingers on his arm. "What is it?"

With one final survey of his surroundings, Ferb sighed. "Nothing."

His shoulders fell and he felt a bit foolish—and that was when he saw the basket. It was messily woven out of twigs, almost like a bird's nest, with so many leaves sticking out of it you would think it was still part of the tree.

Isabel saw it just a moment after he did, and smiled.

"Is that…"

Rather than answering, Ferb decided to figure out for himself. He picked up the basket. It was filled with leaves, too, and after shuffling through them, he came upon a small wooden sword. He couldn't claim to be an expert, but even Ferb could tell this had been carved from a fine tree. It was a perfect toy-version of Excaliferb.

Ferb passed it off to Isabel and continued to dig, hoping—there! He pulled small rectangle of parchment from the very bottom.

~A gift for the birthday girl.

See you in your dreams.

Ferb didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and ended up with something in between: a small, delighted huff of air flew from his lungs as his vision went misty. Feren hadn't appeared to him again since the day Isabel returned, at least not in person. Ferb had been troubled by her distance; but that did not mean he didn't understand it.

Happy ending or not, his mum had broken an essential rule of her kind, and she was still banished. Technically. But Ferb knew his mum still took advantages of moments like this: moments that she could brush the corner of Ferb's life and let him know she was still there. She was watching, and invested, and there. Even if she was banished.

No manner of restrictions had stopped his mum from visiting him in his dreams, though. They never spoke, not directly; but he could feel her presence as he slept, and his mind was filled with memories of his father in his youth, of old days and grassy meadows and the adventures of a banished auricle nymph as she slipped between the lines to keep the kingdom safe.

"Come on," Isabel said after a few minutes. "Your mom would want to make sure we give this to Melissa." She looked down at the sword. "She has an interesting idea for what to get children. I mean, she set you on a path to wield a sword since you were a baby and gets a crazy, hyper seven-year-old this? I'm sensing a pattern."

Ferb brushed his sleeves over his eyes and smiled at her.

"We both know Melissa will love it. Phineas and Mishti, on the other hand?"

Isabel laughed. "They're going to start cursing Feren's name the moment Melissa starts trouble with that thing."

Holding his hand out to her, Ferb waited for their fingers to lock before he carried the gift back into the party.

Melissa was every bit as much of a trouble maker with her new toy as Ferb predicted. After a substantial amount of time of the birthday girl yelling "Fight, knave!" and chasing Irving, Phineas cradled his head in his hand.

"This is why she gets along so well with Bufavalous," he muttered. When he finally lifted his head again, he said, "Do you think I need to be worried?"

In response, Ferb only grinned, slung an arm around his little brother, and mussed his hand through that shaggy red hair.

Melissa didn't terrorize the party-goers forever. Guests slowly trickled out, and the night started winding down when Melissa ended up drooling on Lindavahle's shoulder. Cookie crumbs dotted her face, yet even in her sleep, her little fist remained clutched around the hilt of her new sword.

Candavere prepared to leave not long after Melissa fell asleep, probably so she and Jeremiad could put their own tuckered out toddler to bed; but not before she made sure to give Phineas and Ferb a hug goodbye.

"See you dweebs tomorrow," she promised, running her hand through Phineas' hair like Ferb had earlier that night. Candavere was always doing things like this now, Ferb observed: embracing them a little bit longer than she used to, verbally acknowledging that she'd see them again.

"Bright and early!" Phineas said in agreement, and his sleepy eyes told them all he'd crash long and hard before the next day was to be seized.

Candavere took one more glance around at the dregs of the party before she looked back at Phineas. "You did good, bro. Make sure to crash soon."

With a kiss blown over her shoulder to Isabel, Candavere joined her husband to begin their short journey home.

"You father carried Melissa to bed," Mishti told Phineas as she approached. "I think both your parents are up there now, tucking Terrance in with her and going full grandparent-mode."

"Good," Phineas said with a yawn, and when he began rolling up his sleeves, Mishti's hand lashed out and smacked his arm.

"Phineas Flynn, go sit down."

He opened his mouth to protest, but Isabel already joined forces with Mishti and began guiding the overachieving alchemist toward the hearth, where Bufavalous, Baljeetolus, and Eliza were already sitting. Two monstrously amazing couches were arranged in a soft V around the warm flames, and the moment the heat embraced him, all the fight left Phineas' body. He slumped down on the cushions beside Baljeetolus, while Ferb and Isabel claimed a couch of their own.

"I need to help," Phineas said through another yawn, and Mishti frowned down at him from where she stood behind the couch.

"You're tired, Phineas. I can clean up."

Phineas rested his head on the top of the couch, gazing up at her, and sent her a goofy grin. "I'm fine. I'm not tired."

Her frown flattened out into a pensive line. Then she reached down and began to knead her hands across Phineas' shoulders; and he instantly melted where he sat. His eyes closed and he practically purred as she worked some of the tension from his muscles. He was drooling as his mind went fuzzy.

"Oh yes," she mused. "You are not tired at all."

Phineas made a vague noise, not quite actual words, and after a few more seconds, Mishti pulled back and met Ferb's eyes.

"If he tries to help, tackle him. He's had more than one late night with projects, and it won't take me long regardless."

Ferb had no idea how to argue with her, so he nodded. Something told him he really didn't want to argue with Mishti. Especially since it had taken her only twenty seconds to turn his brother into a nebulous puddle of ooze.

"I'll help," Eliza decided, pushing to her feet and stretching up on her toes.

"But—" Bufavalous started, and Eliza swooped down on him so fast he had no time to react before she shut him up with a quick peck on the cheek.

"Let us women have some time," she said, before bounding off, and Bufavalous was left with his mouth opening and closing like gaping fish. His eyes flashed to them, almost panicked, like he was embarrassed that they'd seen him be the object of affection, but Ferb thought his worries were pointless.

For starters, Ferb didn't care. Baljeetolus had probably witnessed other moments between the two of them far more tender than this, and didn't even blink. Isabel was busy tracing patterns on Ferb's chest in the flickering firelight. And Phineas… Phineas was still drooling as the cushions slowly consumed him.

"Not a damn word," Bufavalous huffed as he crossed his arms, every visible part of his skin the shade of Phineas' hair; and Isabel surprised Ferb by grabbing his face and planting a kiss on his cheek.

"There you go, Byoof," she laughed. "Now we're even."

Bufavalous made a gruff, non-committal noise, but Ferb was more interested in Baljeetolus' reaction; the elf turned away sharply, looking back out into the larger room. It wasn't difficult for Ferb to tell he was looking at Mishti, who was laughing with Eliza while she wiped a dish.

"Mmkay, maybe I am tired," Phineas finally mumbled, and Isabel and Ferb shared a grin. It was good to see Phineas just… relax. He didn't do that often. In his crusade to seize the day, the alchemist sometimes forgot that some days needed to be seized lazily and languidly; and when you were with the right people, those days could often be the most spectacular of all.

They stayed pretty quiet for Phineas' sake. Baljeetolus spoke in hushed tones about Kaigate and the rest of the south. Apparently Bufavalous had finally tracked down Southern, who was now locked up in Kaigate, under their watch. While they were only at 85 percent for developed housing, their fields had finally reached full harvesting potential.

Baljeetolus was throwing in a lot of figures that the rest were honestly too tired to give much thought to, but the gist was clear: the ravaged south wasn't quite so ravaged anymore. While the elf didn't say it, Ferb figured he must have been a pretty admired leader.

Eliza walked back up behind the couch, and Bufavalous jumped when she suddenly ran her fingers through his hair.

"Whadda' you want now?" he barked, and she grinned like that crabby response was music to her ears.

"Surprise," she laughed, presenting a beer in a tall mug: a frothy, amber treasure that made Bufavalous' eyes swell. He sat up and snatched it.

"Oh my god, I love you."

Everything froze. Eliza gaped at him, her hand still hovering mid-air. The rest stared at Bufavalous, too. It took him a second after he started drinking for him to realize what he'd said, and when he did, he choked.

He coughed and spluttered, pounding his fist against his chest before he whirled around in his seat. His jaw opened and closed over and over again as he first met Eliza's gaze, then the others', then hers again.

"I—uh. I was talking about the beer," he blurted out, lifting the mug and staring it down. "I love you, beer. Uh."

He started chugging, and everyone was still dead silent after he took a few swallows. In the following tension, he nervously glanced up at Eliza again, and she finally seemed to regain her wits. Maybe it was his stupid lie that made her smirk. Maybe it was what he admitted. Either way, she looked immensely pleased.

"I've always been more of a wine woman, personally," she chuckled, standing tall again as she clasped her hands behind her back. She took one step away, then another, before she said, "But I suppose I'm coming to love beer a little bit more every day. Something about its rampant pig-headedness—sorry, taste."

"Pig-headedness?" he demanded, sitting up straighter, and she laughed.

"Taste, Buford. I've come to find it sticks with you for a while, warms you up from the inside out." Her grin widened. "I love that stupid dumbarse of a beer, too."

She turned and strolled away, and Bufavalous' jaw dropped even further as he watched her.

Ferb pressed his knuckles to his mouth, for once actually trying to stay quiet. Because that? That was gold. He could hardly believe it.

Then Bufavalous said the most heart-wrenching thing: "Wait… wait a minute. Did she just say she loved me?"

"Troglodyte," Baljeetolus snorted, but when Bufavalous turned back to them, his face was a completely earnest mold of total shock.

"Am I the beer? I think I'm the beer. I think she just said…" He trailed off, his eyes wide, and it was Isabel who spoke up. Her voice wasn't teasing or condescending. Rather, it was surprisingly gentle.

"You're the beer, Byoof."

Bufavalous' eyes grew impossibly wider. He looked down to Eliza's gift in his hands, and he was shaking so badly now that he placed it on the table in front of him. Still, he stared at it, and everything he was feeling right now was stamped plainly on his face.

"Oh. Oh, shit. I'm the beer. I—she…" He pressed his mouth closed, and they all knew why; his voice had begun quivering with emotion. His eyes glimmered with it, too, and he suddenly buried his face in his hand. There was a beat of silence. Then Bufavalous muttered, "Excuse me."

They all watched as he stood and made a beeline to the table Mishti and Eliza were cleaning up. Their jaws hit the floor when he suddenly took Eliza at the hips, pulled her against him, and claimed her with a devastating kiss that left all of them bright red and reeling.

Isabel's hand came down hard on top of Ferb's leg and Baljeetolus let out a squawk of surprise. Phineas was too far gone to turn around, but he must have guessed what happened, because he raised his fist and let out a quiet, "Yes."

It didn't last long. Already Bufavalous had let Eliza go and shot back to the couches with his eyes glued to the ground. He reclaimed his beer and stared down at it long and hard. In the following silence, he barked, "Okay. Okay. Not a goddamn word, you hear me? Not one."

Ferb didn't think any of them had any words, regardless. Not for what they just saw. Although, he wasn't altogether surprised when Baljeetolus proved him wrong.

"You do realize," the elf cooed with a devious smirk, "that you can no longer deny that you are together."

"Shut it," Bufavalous grumbled, and even though he punched Baljeetolus in the arm, his fierce blush said it all. "Laugh it up, and you'll be hearing from me."

Baljeetolus unflinchingly took the punch like he always did, and Isabel said, "I think it's sweet."

Of course, I think it's sweet was just about the worst insult one could give to Bufavalous. She knew that, and when Bufavalous' red face became nearly purple—and, most surprisingly, he shuffled and looked away—they burst into laughter.

"Hey, at least I'm not trying to merge with the couch," the brute grumbled, throwing one of the couch pillows at Phineas. The poor alchemist was so out of it, he yelped and jumped when it plowed into his face.

"We are not starting a pillow fight, Bufavalous!" Baljeetolus snapped. "I still have bruises from the last time you decided to start throwing things."

"Hey, Girlie started that one!"

"I did not! I tripped."

"Oh yeah, and just happened to smash that pie in my face?"

"Exactly! It was a delicious mistake."

"Do you know how long it took to clean my beard?"

"At least it was rhubarb," Ferb tacked on, and Phineas sighed in content.

"Ah, home sweet home."

His words resonated with them: home. That's where they were, wasn't it? Not necessarily in the guild, but with each other.

"Yeah," Isabel agreed. "It is."

There were agreeing hums all around, and, as if on some cue, their gazes drifted to the hearth.

Mounted above the mantel, the two pieces of Excaliferb glowed in the firelight.

Ferb felt it was an appropriate resting place for the mighty, vorpal blade. Not at the bottom of a lake, and not buried in the recesses of his wardrobe. No, Excaliferb belonged here, in the warm center of the life he and his brother had built for themselves.

Showing the first bit of energy in a while, Phineas sat up with a start, like something just occurred to him.

"Oh," he gasped, "Oh!"

Isabel blinked. "What?"

"I know I've brought this up before, and you all threatened to smack me—but I have to!"

Phineas turned that devilish look on Ferb, and realization dawned. Ferb smacked his forehead.

"Phineas, no."

"But it's not even a joke anymore!"

"Phineas!"

With a wicked grin, Phineas gestured to Excaliferb. "We really are the Fellowship of the Broken Sword!"

It took a second, just a single, painstakingly long second for Phineas' words to register. Then Bufavalous, Baljeetolus, Ferb, and Isabel groaned in chorus; and not even the sound of four more pillows flying in Phineas' face could drown his laughter out.

THANK YOU FOR READING

All my love,

Lilly-Belle