I have abandoned sleep to write this...so forgive me for any minor spelling or grammar mistakes. Otherwise enjoy!

Ferb: Age 16

Vanessa: age 20

Vanessa Doofenshmirtz considered herself a very strong willed and independent person. She was calm, cool, and collected. She was not the type to stand around feeling sorry for herself. Or sit alone in her car listening to sad songs on the radio. Or cry over some stupid guy who clearly wasn't worth her time. Nope. Not a chance.

"Okay...I'm pathetic."

Vanessa reached over to turn the radio off, and then sulked back into the car's seat. She knew it was getting late, but she didn't want to go back to her dorm and risk waking up her annoyingly perky roommate; Sara. The girls overly cheerful demeanor-not to mention nosy concern- would push Vanessa over the edge, she was sure. She also did not want to call her parents; her mother was away for the weekend, and her father would probably insist on using one of his inators on the boy.

'Although,' Vanessa thought. 'That doesn't sound like such a bad idea right now.'

Still…she refused to call. Her dad had already expressed his dislike for Damian- her now ex-boyfriend- and she didn't want to hear him say 'I told you so', or go all crazy overprotective father on her.

'Why did I think this guy was any different than the others?' she wondered, shaking her head at her own stupidity.

She glanced out her window, up at the clear night sky and frowned.

'Considering the mood I'm in….it feels like it should be raining.'

She sighed, flipping open her phone. She wanted to talk to someone, and she knew immediately who that someone was.

Ferb.

When she had graduated- along with the boy's sister, Candace- Ferb had asked if they could exchange numbers in order to 'keep in touch'. She had agreed, although they hadn't seen much of one another at the time, Vanessa knew he was a great listener, considerate, and pretty good at giving advice.

Still, it was almost a year later before she actually called him, and even then it had been an accident. When he'd answered though, she didn't have the heart to say that she'd pushed the wrong number- not after neglecting to keep in touch with him- so she told him she'd wanted to catch up. By the time they had finished talking- nearly two hours later- Vanessa had completely forgotten who she'd wanted to call in the first place, and honestly didn't care.

Over the next two years she continued to call him- sometimes to rant about her classes or her roommate, other times to simply say hi and ask about each others day. He texted her often- sometimes famous quotes, sometimes funny one-liners- but whatever he sent always made her day just a little brighter. It was strange that she had come to consider him one of her closest friends, and yet they hadn't actually gotten together to hang out. In fact, she hadn't seen him since the day she graduated.

Still, whenever she needed someone to talk to…Ferb was always there. So Vanessa didn't give a second thought to calling him now, and like always he answered right in the middle of the third ring.

"Vanessa?" Ferbs deep, rich voice answered sleepily from the other side.

Vanessa forced a smile even though he couldn't see, and tried to sound cheerful. "Hey, Ferb! How's it going?"

There was a pause and then a much more alert, "What's wrong?"

Of course Ferb saw through her facade: he was far too perceptive, and she was a terrible liar.

"Wrong? Why would anything be wrong?" she asked, running one hand through her hair in an inexplicable display of nervousness.

"Well, for starters," Ferb began, his british accent all the more thick. "You are calling at nearly two in the morning."

"I am?" she glanced at the clock on her radio and cursed; she honestly hadn't realized how late it was. Had Ferb been asleep?

"Sorry, I'm sorry-" Vanessa apologized in a rush, suddenly feeling foolish for having called him. " I'll just call you back later or-"

"Vanessa." Ferbs voice immediately demanded her attention, although he hadn't raised it in the slightest. "Are you alright?"

Vanessa didn't know why, but the genuine concern in Ferb's voice made her feel like crying again.

"I- Yes. No. I mean…I don't know." she sighed, frustrated, her thoughts and emotions so scattered that she didn't know where to start.

Like always, Ferb knew exactly what to say.

"Just start from the beginning."

Vanessa took a deep breath and told him everything that had happened. How she had foolishly planned on surprising her boyfriend with tickets to a concert, only to catch him in his apartment with another girl. How he didn't even try to make an excuse, and she'd been too shocked to even yell. How he had taken her aside and told her that she was a great girl, really, but she just couldn't give him what he needed. How she had slapped him across the face and stormed off, breaking down into tears before she even reached her car. How she had drove around for hours just to calm down.

She told him everything.

And like always, Ferb listened.

"…and so now I'm just sitting here in my car feeling like a total loser."

She tried to put some lighthearted humor back in her voice, but failed miserably.

There was a moment of silence on the other end and then, "Where are you?"

"What?" Vanessa blinked, confused by the question. "I just told you: I'm in my car."

"But where at exactly?" Ferb asked, patient and almost too calm for her liking. "I'm guessing you didn't return to the dorm, hoping to avoid a certain overzealous roomate."

"That's true." Vanessa smiled faintly- sometimes it seemed that Ferb knew her better than anyone. "I'm actually parked in front of that old gas station near james town."

"The one that burned down a few years back?"

"That's the one." Vaness confirmed, managing a smile. "I certainly know how to pick a depressing setting for a pity party, don't I?"

Vanessa expected to hear a low chuckle at her remark, or to even sense the smile in Ferb's voice when he spoke next, but instead the boy sounded rushed.

"I'll be there in 20 minutes."

Vanessa almost dropped the phone.

"What? But you can't- I mean it's late and-," she sputtered. "Do you even have your license?"

"Learners permit."

"Ferb, you can't be serious." Vanessa tried to sound stern. "Do you realize how reckless and stupid that is?"

"Well," Ferb replied, in a calm mater of fact tone, "I am a teenager."

Vanessa rolled her eyes.

"So... what then?" she asked as sarcastically as she could, "Are you just planning to sneak out? Take your parents car? And then drive down here and hope you don't get pulled over?"

"That sounds about right."

"No. Absolutely not." Vanessa replied, frustrated by Ferbs calm demeanor. "This is not worth you getting yourself in trouble."

Silence.

"Ferb? Are you even listening to me?"

There was another pause at the other end, followed by some shuffling sounds and then-

"Sorry," Ferb apologized. "I was just putting on my shoes and jacket."

Thoroughly annoyed by this news, Vanessa opened her mouth to tell him to just go ahead and take them right back off-because he was NOT coming out this late to find her.

"And as for your last statement," Ferb continued, speaking before she could. "I have to disagree."

Vanessa blinked, thoroughly taken back when Ferb's voice came over the phone both sincere and concise.

"You are most definitely worth it."

Vanessa tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach that his words provoked. Ferb could be such a sweetheart, sometimes. He was a kid though, she reminded herself, and kids tended to be sweet and naive. Although,...it was difficult to picture Ferb as being naive. He'd always seemed wise beyond his years even when she'd first met him back when he was twelve. He'd always been mature, and he certainly didn't sound like a child on the phone.

She shook those thoughts from her head.

"Yeah..well," She tried to argue, "I'm still perfectly capable of handling this minor emotional setback on my own."

"Perhaps," She could hear him making his way down the stairs, "But...you did call me."

Vanessa let out a frustrated groan.

"Yes! Yes, I called you! But I needed to vent, okay?" she gestured wildly with her free hand although she knew Ferb still couldn't see her. "I didn't mean for you to come out and find me! I'm not some damsel in distress who needs rescuing by a knight in shining armor! That stuff is all fairy tales and make believe- and I'm not some little kid, ya know? I'm a realist! I mean, really, who even still believes in that kind of chivalrousness-"

"Vanessa." Ferbs voice was both mildly stern and inexplicably amused. "You're rambling."

Vannessa blinked, eyes wide for a moment as she realized what she'd just been doing.

"Oh my God," She groaned, covering her eyes with one hand. "I'm turning into my father."

This time Ferb did chuckle.

Vanessa sighed, brushing hair away from her face as she slumped back into the seat.

"You're still coming, aren't you?"

It was hardly even a question now, but he answered anyway.

"Yes. Yes, I am."

She couldn't- and wouldn't- argue with him over the matter any further. Vanessa had learned during their chats over the phone that Ferb could be very stubborn. Plus, if she were being honest with herself, Vanessa couldn't deny how relieved she felt in knowing he was coming; that she wouldn't be alone.

"Fine. I won't argue with you anymore."

"Well, that certainly saves a lot of time." ferb quipped.

Vanessa rolled her eyes and smiled at the friendly jibe. "Very funny, wise guy."

"I try." he answered, and then continued with, "I'll be there in less than 20 minutes."

"Make that 30, and take your time." Vanessa returned. "I'm not trying to say you can't drive- you've probably handled a lot more complicated machinery in your youth," She amended, "But I don't want to chance you being pulled over by a cop for speeding or anything so just..." She sighed, her voice suddenly soft with concern. "Drive safely, okay?"

Ferb's answering voice was equally as soft, "Always."

There was a click, then beep, signaling that Ferb had hung up. Vanessa sighed as she closed her phone and held it against her chest. Later, she'd undoubtedly feel guilty about Ferb making the trip out to see her, but right now she only felt grateful.

Maybe a little anxious too.

Just a bit.

After all, it had been a long time since she'd seen Ferb in person.

'I wonder how he's changed?'

I've not given much thought on whether or not I should continue, so who knows. Right now...I desperately need sleep.

But as for the story...Did it seem to OOC even for a future fic? Constructive criticism welcome! Please leave more than two words as a review if you can. Tell me what you liked about the story! The better the reviews the more motivated I'll be to continue!