Izzy let out a satisfied sigh as she sank further into the bubbles of the bath she had been relaxing in for the past twenty minutes. She and Victoria had been at the museum at six am that morning, ensuring that everything was ready and going over all the finer details for the gala later that evening. After seven hours of consulting with decorators, and caterers, checking seating plans , ensuring that security were fully briefed on everything that would be happening, and watching Walter run around the museum like some headless chicken, Izzy had decided to call it a day. There was no more she could do, and she wanted to allow herself time to relax and be prepared for what she knew was going to be an eventful evening. Victoria had left to spend some time with Matt Berry, promising to be back in time before the car arrived to collect them.

The sound of someone on the stairs caused Izzy to open her eyes and smile.

“Iz, baby?” Brian called out.

“I’m in the bath,” she replied, knowing what was going to follow.

“Dammit woman! You couldn’t have waited for me?” Brian moaned from the other side of the door. “Even after what we spoke about last night?”

“All in good time, my love, all in good time,” Izzy laughed, thinking back to the conversation they had ended up having where they revealed dreams they had had about one another, and whether they would actually make them a reality. Needless to say, Brian’s had involved a bath.

“I’m holding you to that. How long are you gonna be?”

“Not much longer, I just wanted to unwind.”

“Okay, no rush,” Brian assured her, his voice tapering off as he walked away from the door.

Closing her eyes once more, Izzy figured ten more minutes couldn’t hurt. In a few short hours , the calm and serenity she was experiencing right now would be a mere memory, and she was in no rush to lose the feeling of being so relaxed just yet.

A little while passed, and Izzy decided the cooling of the water in which she lay was a sign that she needed to get out. Standing and taking a towel from the rail on the wall opposite, she stepped out onto the bath mat and began to dry herself off. After moisturising herself all over, she took another dry towel, and wrapped it around herself before unlocking the door and making for her bedroom. Coming to a halt in the doorway of her room, Izzy could do no more than take in the sight before her.

Sitting in the middle of her bed, his back against the headboard, and an arm resting on the leg he had raised, was Brian, wearing nothing except for his white fedora and that damn smirk, a perfect replica of what she had told him the previous night.

“I guess dreams really can come true,” she stated, making her way over to the bed, dropping the towel to the floor before joining him.

Lowering his leg, Brian pulled Izzy onto his lap so she was straddling him, his hands settling on her bare hips.

“I thought it might help take your mind off tonight, just for a while anyway,” he murmured, leaning in to kiss her.

Her arms found their way around his neck as Izzy surrendered herself to the touch of Brian’s lips against hers.

“If I keep this image in my mind, tonight should be a breeze,” she whispered, after he pulled back a little.

“Now how did the rest of that dream go?” Brian asked, one hand leaving her hips and sliding in between them.

Izzy rocked her hips against him, his fingers toying with her slowly. A contented moan slipped past her lips as Brian eased his fingers inside her. Taking him in her hand, she glided it up and down him, feeling him harden steadily as she gently squeezed whilst her hand continued to run back and forth. Brian kissed her neck softly.

“Show me Izzy, show me what happened,” he murmured against her porcelain skin.

Silently, Izzy raised herself a little, before lowering herself down onto him. She rested her hands on his broad shoulders, steadying herself. Both hands now back on her hips, Brian groaned appreciatively, guiding her movements, keeping her at a slow rhythmic pace. He reached up behind her, taking the clip that held her red hair in a messy bun, and throwing it to one side, allowing her hair to fall around her shoulders.

Her thighs tightened their grip on him as she pressed herself against him. Brian wrapped his arms around her, caressing her smooth back. He frowned slightly as she took the hat from him before placing it on her head, a devilish smile crossing her lips. Brian returned the smile.

His brown eyes bore into hers, encouraging her to move faster, even though no words were spoken. Izzy bowed her head a little, her tongue forcing his thin lips apart as she kissed him. Again, Brian groaned, loving this whole new dominant side of the woman he loved. Grabbing one of his hands, Izzy placed it between them, letting him know just what she wanted. Her moans filled the room, Brian continuing to stroke her clit as she rode him quickly, their bodies colliding together with each thrust.

He worked his fingers fast, as she tightened around him. Crying out, Izzy’s body tensed, her legs trembling as sheer pleasure soared through her. Brian pulled his hand away, taking hold of her and flinging her down onto the bed, before thrusting deep within her over and over until he finally joined her.

Their bodies bathed in sweat, the couple lay in a tangled heap on the bed, trying to regain their breath. Brian kissed the top of Izzy’s head, smiling as he heard her yawn.

“I love you, Izzy,” he whispered, pulling her into him as he closed his eyes, joining her in sleep.

*********

The journey into Los Angeles had been filled with small talk amongst the five couple who were in the limo. The only one who had kept a relative silence was Izzy, her mind elsewhere. Taking her hand in his, Brian gave it a reassuring squeeze, winking at her when she looked up at him, a half-hearted smile on her lips. The car began to slow down, everyone preparing themselves for what lie ahead. Jimmy looked out of the tinted window as the car finally drew to a halt.

“Fuck, there’s a lot of press out there,” he stated, letting out a low whistle.

“Well, if you’re going to bring a man down, you may as well do it in style,” Victoria pointed out, a wicked grin appearing.

Izzy shook her head with a smile, still a little phased by how much her sister was relishing the thought of seeing their father brought to his knees in public. The door opened, and Izzy felt Brian’s fingers lace through hers.

“You ready for this?” he enquired softly.

Izzy nodded, taking solace in the knowledge that soon it would all be over. The noise and lights flashing that greeted them as they all began to step out of the car was a little daunting, questions being thrown at them as they made their way past the throng of media that were gathered outside of the museum. They simply smiled, not commenting as people tried to discover how Brian and Izzy had met, why Avenged Sevenfold, minus their bass player who was visiting family, was even at such an event, and just who was the new woman on M Shadows arm. One reporter stepped forward, thrusting a Dictaphone in Izzy’s face.

“Why did you keep your true identity a secret from everyone at the museum Lady Isabella?” she questioned, clearly wanting some gossip.

“Because that’s someone I haven’t been for the last ten years,” Izzy informed her with clarity, ignoring any further attempts to get more information from her, Brian leading her inside the museum.

No sooner had they stepped foot inside, Izzy spotted Wilbur heading in their direction. He ran a critical eye over the group who accompanied her, looking as though he was about to have a seizure at any moment.

“Your father is already here, and told me to tell you that he requests your presence immediately, he’s over by the bar area,” he told her.

“May as well get the introductions out the way,” Brian mused, glancing down at Izzy, his eyes glinting playfully.

“I believe the Earl only wants to see Izzy,” Wilbur insisted as the group all began to move.

“Guess that’s too fucking bad,” Matt called over his shoulder, continuing to walk away.

Reaching the bar area that had been set out earlier that day, Izzy stopped in her tracks.

“Which one is he?” Brian murmured, arm around her waist, his thumb caressing her side in a gentle circling motion.

“The arsehole holding court to your left,” Victoria piped up, joining them.

“Let’s get this party started!” Jimmy declared, causing a ripple of laughter to flow through the group.

Leading the way forward, Izzy approached her father, Brian’s arm still firmly around her. Seeing her from where he stood in conversation with some of the guests, Charles gave a smug grin before excusing himself from the crowd gathered around him.

“Isabella,” he greeted, his tone full of fake delight.

“Charles,” she answered coolly.

“Wilbur informs me you’re responsible for how everything has turned out, it looks wonderful.”

“Well, I had a lot of help,” Izzy informed him, taking great delight in the way her father’s complexion paled as Victoria stepped forward.

“V..Victoria,” he stammered. “I had no idea you were going to be here.”

“I like the element of surprise,” she answered cryptically.

Charles gave a curt nod, finally turning his attention to the strangers who accompanied his daughters.

“And these are?” he questioned with some distain.

“These are my friends,” Izzy began, giving a brief round of introductions. “And this is Brian,” she added, leaning into him a little more as his hold on her tightened.

“Ah, the infamous Brian, I’m afraid I know nothing about you,” Charles confessed, extending his hand.

“Really? Well that’s odd, because I know a hell of lot about you,” Brian answered, refusing to shake his hand. “C’mon Iz, let’s go get something to drink,” he finished, leading her away, the others quick to follow.

Izzy watched Brian closely as he ordered everyone drinks, wondering just what was going through his mind. He glanced over at her as she placed her hand on his arm.

“I’m sorry Izzy, but I look at him, and all that runs through my head is what he did to you, how he’s hurt you, lied to you. I wanna hurt him so bad, make him feel what you felt all those years,” Brian admitted quietly.

He turned to face her, his hands cupping her face.

“I won’t ever let anyone hurt you like that ever again, that I promise. I love you,” he whispered.

“And I love you,” Izzy answered before his lips found hers.

“Don’t think Izzy’s dad appreciates the public display dude,” Matt interrupted, “He’s looking over and seems pissed.”

“Like I give a fuck, let him look,” Brian replied. “If he’d seen us earlier, he’d have been having a coronary,” he added with a smirk, chuckling as Izzy blushed.

“You’re a nasty fucker Gates,” Matt mumbled, walking away.

“Let’s go wait for this to get started, because the sooner it’s over, the sooner we can get out of here and put this behind us,” Izzy suggested, wanting nothing more than to get it over and done with.

An hour later, and they stood around listening to speeches, with Wilbur waffling on about what an honour it was for the museum to have been chosen to be the recipient of such a generous donation.
Izzy rolled her eyes, suppressing the urge to laugh as Zacky made quiet comments behind her and Brian about Wilbur kissing ass. Charles took to the podium, and began talking about how choosing the museum hadn’t been a difficult decision to make, due to his connections there, and how he knew that his father would have approved greatly of his decision to donate $2 million to make a difference to the institution where his youngest granddaughter worked.

“Wanker!” Victoria hissed from where she stood beside her sister. “I have the urge to punch that smug look off his face, and I’d feel no remorse.”

“And so, it’s with great pleasure and pride that I ask my daughter, Lady Isabella, and her sister, Lady Victoria to step forward and accept this check on behalf of the museum,” Charles declared.

Izzy ignored the nausea that threatened to overcome her, stepping forward with Victoria and making their way to the front of the crowd. Standing behind the lectern on the podium, Izzy took a deep breath.

“Whilst any donation that can help to improve the work that so many of us do here, and also help secure the future of the museum we all love is something I know I should approve of, I find this one a little hard to swallow, or even want to accept. However, it was the dying wish of my grandfather that his fortune, the legacy he left behind was to be bequeathed to charities and institutions across the globe until it was all gone. “

Izzy looked around the audience who were hanging on her every word, many of the faces somewhat confused as to where she was heading to with this.

“My grandfather was never a man to show his love for his family that often. It was something of a family trait, we grew accustomed to growing up without the customary shows of affection in the Hamilton-Forsythe household. However, I recently discovered that he loved me more than I was led to believe. I’ve never been comfortable with my title or status in life, especially after being raised by a man who is nothing more than a bully and a tyrant, who made me believe that I never truly belonged. Yet when I asked to be stripped of my name, he denied me that, whilst continuing to degrade and humiliate me in ways I have spent years trying to forget.”

“Isabella!” Charles warned.

Izzy searched for Brian amongst the sea of faces, only to realise he had joined her and Victoria when she felt his arm around her.

“You can do this baby,” he whispered in encouragement.

“Since moving here with my mother when I was a teenager, I have hidden and refused to acknowledge who I am, something that has caused me problems over the last ten years, and ultimately almost cost me the man that I love more than anything. My mother took matters in to her own hands, and through contacting my grandmother, made a startling discovery. My grandfather had learned of my wishes, and denounced me of my title, something that Charles Hamilton-Forsythe neglected to tell me. So, when I was asked outside earlier this evening why I had kept my identity a secret, and I answered that it was someone I hadn’t been for the past ten years, it wasn’t a flippant remark, it was the truth. I’m not Lady Isabella Hamilton- Forsyth, I’m Izzy Hamilton, herpetologist.”

Murmurs amongst those gathered in the museum could be heard loud and clear. Izzy looked round at Brian, who nodded towards several men moving through the crowd. Turning to Victoria, Izzy stepped aside to let her continue. Victoria held the audience captive as she explained how Charles had paid off his lawyers and had been cheating each charity and institution out of a third of what they were entitled to.

“Wilbur, here’s the check for the other $1 million you should have received tonight. Oh, and Charles, your mother has frozen all of your accounts, and will be ensuring that everyone you have kept money from will receive what they deserve,” Victoria added with a smile.

“Charles Hamilton- Forsythe?” a voice rang out to the right of them.

Charles turned to face the man who had spoken.

“Yes.”

“Detective Don Chambers, LAPD, you’re under arrest for fraud and deception….”

Izzy could do no more than watch on as the man she despised was read his rights before being handcuffed and taken away. Brian enveloped her in an embrace, kissing her forehead.

“It’s over baby.”

“I know,” she answered, relieved it was finally done.

Her past was being ushered out of the door, her future was right in front of her in the form of a man who accepted and loved her for who she really was, and made her happy in a way she had never imagined possible. There was no more secrets, no more hiding. She could finally move forward, and be the person she really was.