"Gates! You're fucking late!"

Brian groaned as he ran in through the door of the studio, ready for Matt to launch into a lecture about his tardiness. He hadn't been able to help it though. He had spent every night with Izzy since that night they had first slept together, and tonight was going to be his first night at home alone as Izzy had made plans to see her mother. Brian hadn't wanted to leave her that morning, especially as Izzy had appeared to be a little anxious about something. He had tried to coax out of her just what was on her mind, only to be told that she would speak to him about it tomorrow. Brian flung himself down on one of the couches, his head resting on the back, eyes closed.

"Gates, what's up with you dude? You've been moaning for fucking weeks about having nothing to do, and then the first day we get together to discuss shit...your ass is fucking dragging in behind everyone else's," Matt reprimanded.

Brian rolled his eyes behind their closed lids. he loved Matt like a brother, but there were times like today when Brian wanted to take the invisible "I'm in charge" hat Matt wore and shove it where the sun had a tendency not to shine.

"I was at Izzy's last night, and I was a litle reluctant to leave this morning, I'm not seeing her til tomorrow night now," Brian explained quietly.

A snickering from the other end of the couch caused Brian to open his eyes and glare in the direction of where the noise had come from.

"Problem Baker?" he asked.

"Well have you listened to yourself?" Zack threw back at him. "For months you've had the 'fuck 'em and flee' attitude, yet within the space of a few short weeks you've turned into some lovestruck idiot."

Zacky wasn't the only one to notice the way Brian's face reddened a little, his head slightly hung.

"Wait up a minute....are you in love with her?" Johnny questioned.

Brian ran a hand over his face, not quite believing they were even talking about this.

"All I know is that I've never felt like this about anyone, including Chelle. Izzy's just so different to every other woman I've known. I can really see a future for us," he admitted quietly.

"Sounds like you're in love to me," Matt stated.

"Oh! My boy's finally growing up and found himself a wonderful woman....I'm not sure I can take all the emotion," Jimmy announced from his corner of the room, adding a fake sob for affect, gaining him a whack round the head from Matt.

"Although this does mean you're going to have to be truthful with her Gates...this little facade you have going on has to stop," Jimmy added, rubbing the back of his head, scowling at the man who dealt the blow.

"I know Jimmy, I know...which is why I'm getting Izzy to come to mine tomorrow night. I'm going to be straight with her....and just hope that she understands," Brian told them all.

"Good, because I'm taking Amber out on our first proper date tomorrow, and I'm not lying about anything just to save your ass," Matt warned him.

"Awww, Brian and Izzy. Fuck! You're Brizzy!" Jimmy exclaimed excitedly.

All heads turned in Jimmy's general direction, wondering just what he was rambling about.

"Brizzy?" Brian asked, not quite sure he wanted to know the answer.

"Well, we've had Bennifer and Brangelina....I figured it was about time we had another hot couple for everyone to talk about....and Brizzy it is!"

Brian chuckled, shaking his head at Jimmy. He didn't care if they were the next hot couple, he just wanted Izzy by his side. And as long as tomorrow night went well, Brian knew there was a great future ahead of them.

*************

Izzy strolled in through the main entrance of the museum, needing to find a way to kill some time. She still had a couple of hours left before meeting with her father, and her stomach was in knots. In the ten years since she and her mother had left England, she had seen her father twice, neither time being particularly pleasant, and Izzy knew that today wasn't going to be any different.

Wilbur Stanforth who oversaw the running of the museum walked hastily by her.

"Morning Wilbur, good day?" she asked pleasantly.

"If I said yes I'd be lying," Wilbur snapped, disappearing from view.

Izzy stared after him for a while, before continuing over to see Lynn.

"Good morning sweetie," Lynn greeted with a smile.

"Morning...what's been rammed so far up Wilbur's rear end to make him the life and soul this morning?" Izzy asked.

Lynn laughed at Izzy's words, patting the seat next to her behind the desk. Izzy wandered round and sat down.

"Well, you know this secret he's been keeping to himself the past few weeks?"

"The one that he says will be a turning point for the museum?" Izzy suggested.

"Mmmhmm, well it turns out we're going to recieve a huge donation, and the benefactor isn't happy with the plans Wilbur has made for the presentation. For some reason he wants a huge deal made out of this, big gala event....and Wilbur has eleven days to try and get everything sorted to the man's satisfaction."

Izzy glanced at the desk calender that sat next to Lynn's computer. Today was September 18th, the date he father had given her for the gala he was attending was the 29th....in eleven days time. Izzy found herself praying that it was purely coincidence, that there were going to be two similar events in Los Angeles that evening. Yet the sickening feeling she began to experience was letting her know that the chances of that being the case were slim to none.

"Who's the benefactor?" Izzy asked quietly.

"Wilbur wouldn't give his name, but apparently he's from England and famous for being very generous with his donations," Lynn told her.

Izzy didn't need a name, she knew exactly who it was. Lynn threw Izzy a look of concern as she stood up.

"Sweetie, what's the matter?"

"I suddenly remembered I had somewhere to be," Izzy murmured, hurrying out of the museum.

An hour later, Izzy found herself standing outside the Beverly Hill hotel. The pink masterpiece was a place where the rich and famous were to be found, but all that was on Izzy's mind right then was facing a man she loathed with a passion. Taking a deep breath, Izzy entered the lavish reception area, walking with a sense of purpose.

"Can I help you miss?" the smartly dressed concierge asked.

"No thank you, I know exactly where I'm heading," Izzy told him, not meaning for her tone to be so dismissive.

Earning glances from hotel guests as she strode through the building, Izzy soon found what she was looking for. Her father was staying in one of the presidential bungalow suites and Izzy hurried along the winding path to the one he had informed her would be in. Raising her hand, Izzy pounded on the door.

"Good god!" a muffled voice yelled from the other side of the door. "Do people have no.....Isabella?" her father questioned as he opened the door.

"No, good old Saint bloody Nick," Izzy muttered, barging past her father into the suite.

"I thought we agreed noon," her father stated, closing the door and following behind her.

Izzy stood in the middle of the sitting room area, anger building within her.

"We agreed nothing. You left the usual clipped message on my machine and told me noon."

"Glad to see you dressed for the occassion," her father commented, a look of disapproval and distaste on his face as he took in Izzy's outfit. The grey print top, black skinny jeans and black and pink converse a little out of place for his liking.

"I'm not here to discuss my wardrobe Charles, I'm here to discuss your low handed tactics."

Charles looked at her, trying to appear as though he had no possible idea what she could be refering to.

"I know Charles, I know that the gala you want me to attend is at the museum. How could you?" she spat.

"But I thought you'd be pleased, the donation I'm making is very generous, it'll help secure it's future and allow it to expand greatly. I thought that's something you would want."

You bastard! They wouldn't be getting a penny of your bloody cash if it wasn't for the fact that I work there. I love that place, and the happiness I get from helping to educate the kids that walk through it's doors. Yet you want to go and taint it all with your money, and your influence....why can't you just leave me be and let me live my life?" she asked in a whisper.

"I just want what's best for my daughter," Charles informed her.

"If that's true, then do what I've been begging you to do for the last ten years, strip me of my title, deny me my heritage and let me continue as I am, because that's the only thing that would make me truly happy."

"Happy? Isabella, how can you be happy here? This isn't where you belong. All you have is your mother and a job that quite frankly is beyond the realms of reason for someone like yourself."

Izzy laughed bitterly and shook her head.

"I've never belonged anywhere more than I do here. I have wonderful friends, a fantastic job....and a man in my life who has finally allowed me to see what true happiness is really all about. It's the simple thngs in life Charles that count...and I thank God every day for bringing Brian into my life and giving me some hope that not all men are like you," Izzy stated quietly, a smile forming on her lips as she spoke of Brian.

"And just what does this Brian make of your true self Isabella?"

"This is my true self Charles....who you see standing before you is the real me."

"So you haven't told him then," Charles pointed out matter of factly.

"No, but I plan on doing so, and I also plan on filling him in on every last little detail of as to why I keep you hidden from my life, because let's face it...someone like you isn't exactly something to be proud of."

Izzy made for the door, Charles' voice stopping her momentarily.

"The car will be there to collect you at 6.30 on the 29th Isabella...I trust you're still coming."

"Oh I'll be there....just don't expect me to be the dutiful daughter you hope for though," she answered, slamming her way out of the bungalow, knowing that she had to come up with a way to disgrace the man she despised as soon as possible.