"But just how long do you think you're gonna be?" Brian asked with a pout, his head in Izzy's lap as they lounged on the couch in the studio.

Izzy ran her fingers through his black hair, shaking her head, laughing. With Wilbur wanting her to concentrate on organizing the gala, he had covered her shifts and told her to just work from home. Brian had convinced her that the studio was as good a place as home, and so Izzy had spent the past few days with her laptop sat firmly in from of her, and her phone glued to her ear whilst Brian and the rest of the guys had concentrated on getting work done on their new album. It seemed to be a good arrangement, apart from Brian getting used to having Izzy around all the time.

"Oh I don't know, I mean....it's Amber and I....and shopping," she teased in a hushed voice.

"Dude, you may not see her again til the middle of next week if that's the case!" Matt taunted from where he sat writing.

"Nooooooooooo!" Brian wailed, taking Izzy's hand in his and gripping it tightly.

"We won't be that long! I've got to get Amber from work, and we already have an idea of where we want to go....so two maybe three hours at the most, and then we'll be back," she assured him. "Although, you do realise that once this is all over and done with next week, everything has to go back to normal."

"I know," Brian sighed. "I'm just trying to make the most of you til then," Brian admitted, gently kissing each of Izzy's fingers.

Brian sat up, and stood, pulling Izzy up with him so he could walk her out to her car. Fishing her keys out from her purse, Izzy unlocked the car, finding herself pressed up against the cold metal of the vehicle, Brian's hands cupping her face.

"I....love.....you...." he whispered in between kisses.

"I love you too you fool," Izzy giggled. "But I need to go," her hands resting on his chest.

Brian nodded, stepping aside to allow her to get into the car.

"If you feel the need to buy something completely inappropriate as well as a dress for next week....I won't mind," he told her with a wink.

Izzy just smiled, gunning the engine into life.

"I guess you'll just have to wait and see!" she called out driving off.
**********

Amber sighed, looking aimlessly through the selection of dresses the assistant in the store had suggested. She wasn't quite sure how the woman perceived her, but so far Amber wasn't impressed with anything she had been shown. Every dress had been dowdy or just too old-fashioned for her taste. It wasn't helping that her mind was completely pre-occupied with other matters. She and Izzy had been like ships in the night, both of them spending time with Brian and Matt, and hardly having any time for each other. And as much as Amber loved being with Matt, she was starting to miss her friend.

"Any luck?" Izzy asked as she stepped back out from the changing cubicle, already having been lucky enough to have found what she was looking for.

Amber shook her head with a sigh, turning away from the dresses laid out before her.

"No, they're....just not me," she murmured.

Izzy handed the dress she had chosen to the assistant, telling her she would be at the counter shortly to pay for it.

"Ambs, is everything ok?" she asked softly, sitting on one of the low stools.

Amber shrugged with a sad smile.

"I miss you Iz, we hardly see each other these days, especially since you and Brian sorted things out, and Matt decided to be uber cute and make me like him," she admitted.

Izzy grinned at Amber and laughed lightly.

"Ambs, I'll always have time for you, you know that. It's just that Brian kind of got the impression from Matt that you guys were having so much fun together that we thought it best to leave you two alone, have time to get to know each other."

"We are having fun, and I really love the time we spend together...I'm just worried that's all."

Something wasn't quite right, and Izzy knew that there was more to this than Amber was caring to admit.

"Amber," she encouraged.

"Remember when Matt and I first got together, and he said that he couldn't promise anything too serious too quick...well, we seem to be spending an awful lot of time together for someone that felt that way, and I'm concerned that he may suddenly decide it's moving too fast and start backing off, or even...."

Izzy's blue eyes widened at Amber's words. Was she serious? Did she not see the way Matt looked at her every time they were in the same room? Even Brian had commented that he really believed Matt had met someone that he was going to be truly happy with.

"Amber, that's something that only Matt can answer for you, but I really don't think you have anything to be concerned over. Anyone can see that man adores you, and as for what he said in the beginning, I'm pretty sure he's going to end up eating his own words, because from where I stand, he can't get enough of you."

"Really?" Amber questioned.

"Good god yes! The pair of you have totally surpassed Brian and I when it comes to the cuteness," Izzy stated.

"Well that's because Brian is now like a dog on heat at the mere mention of your name...and there's nothing cute about that." Amber pointed out.

Izzy stood back up and walked over to a rail of dresses, something obviously having caught her eye.

"Ambs," she called, holding aloft the teal gown she knew would be ideal.

"Oh my...that's the one!" Amber exclaimed happily.

"Good! Now go try it on, and let's get out of here. And tomorrow, I say we blow off those two that have managed to worm their way into our affections and have a girls day out...what do you say?" Izzy suggested with a grin.

"That my dear is the best idea you've had in ages!"

********

Brian walked into his bedroom, Ben and Jerry's Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream in his hand, and a smirk on his lips. Izzy lay on his bed, concentrating as she typed an email on her laptop, Pinkly curled up beside her asleep. He stood observing her for a minute, not quite sure how he had managed to be so fortunate in meeting someone like her. She had brought such new meaning to his days that if it all suddenly disappeared, he wasn't entirely sure how he would deal with it..

Izzy hit the return button, switched off the laptop and clicked it shut, placing it carefully on the floor beside the bed. Removing her glasses and sitting them on the night stand, Izzy rubbed her eyes before looking over at where Brian stood.

"Do you even recall what happened the last time you decided to bring dessert to bed?" Izzy questioned, spotting the ice cream.

"Fuck yes," Brian murmured, images springing to mind that caused him to smile.

"And it's hardly dessert baby..it's 2am," he pointed out.

Izzy glanced at the clock next to the bed.

"Bugger," she groaned, flopping backwards onto the bed, not failing to notice that she had been joined by Brian as he lay next to her, shooing Pinkly off the bed.

Izzy closed her eyes, smirking as Brian's fingers slipped under the pink camisole top she wore, tracing gentle circles across her stomach.

"Shit! Brian!" she cried as a blob of cold ice cream made contact with her skin, her eyes snapping open, sitting up slightly.

"What?" he asked with an air of fake innocence, before bowing his head to eat the ice cream off her stomach.

"It's bloody cold that's......oh god," Izzy moaned softly at the soft gentle kisses Brian placed on her stomach.

Looking back up at her Brian smirked.

"Sorry baby, I couldn't resist," he apologised, leaning forward to kiss her.

Ths shrill ringing of the bedside phone brought forth an aggrivated groan from Brian. Leaning across Izzy, he picked up the receiver, muttering about how it had better be urgent.

"Hello? She is yeah...may I ask who's calling? Oh, hang on."

Brian placed his hand over the phone and shot Izzy a confused look.

"It's your sister Victoria...she says it's important."