Sitting in the chair, Brian took a deep breath, not entirely sure just what to expect. He knew it was something that he needed , even wanted to do, but that did nothing to prevent the feeling of trepidation that soared through him. Small beads of nervous sweat began to form on his forehead, making him wonder for a brief moment if he should even be considering this, until an image of the person he was doing this for appeared in his mind, making him realize then that he could and would do anything for her.

“Are you ready?” Izzy murmured in his ear.

“I think so,” Brian replied quietly, swallowing hard.

“Right, now it may feel a little odd and cold to the touch, but you’ll soon get used to it. Close your eyes if you want, and hold out your hands, I promise it won’t hurt,” she assured him softly.

“Is anyone else getting mildly turned on by this conversation?” Jimmy questioned from across the room

“Shut the fuck up!” Brian hissed, scowling at him before closing his eyes in preparation.

He let out a low shaky breath as he felt Izzy place something in his hands, and began to silently count to ten before slowly opening his eyes.

“Oh…okay, that feels fucking weird” he stated, watching the baby corn snake move around his large hands, attempting to wrap itself around his long fingers.

“He’s kinda cute,” Brian added with a smile.

He flinched a little as the snake’s tongue flicked out across his thumb, but managed to remain calm, still eyeing him with fascination.

“Okay….I think that’s enough for now,” Brian admitted as he felt the snake’s grip on his fingers tighten a little, causing his friends who were gathered in his lounge to laugh.

Izzy gave a gentle smile as she took the snake from him and placed it back in the glass tank she had brought it over in. Afterwards, she settled herself on Brian’s lap, cuddling into him as she felt his arms around her.

“Are you alright?” she inquired.

“Yeah, “ Brian breathed out with a chuckle. “But does this now mean you’ll give the whole moving in with me scenario some more thought?” he asked, kissing her forehead.

“Brian, I was always going to say yes, I just thought if you’re going to live with Crazy Snake Lady, you’d have to find out for yourself why I love them so much,” Izzy answered, grinning.

“It’s a good job I love you Izzy Hamilton,” he growled before pressing his lips against hers.

A year had passed since the night Charles had been arrested, and life had finally begun for Izzy. Her relationship with Brian had gone from strength to strength, with both of them finally finding the one person who was with them for who they really were, and not who they could be or had been. Neither of them had been in any huge rush to take it to the next inevitable level, they had simply spent the past year learning more about one another, taking their time to develop a bond that they were both now completely sure couldn’t be broken. That was why it had come as no surprise to any of their friends when Brian had finally asked Izzy to move in with him.

Victoria had returned to California a couple of months after the night of the gala, and picked up her relationship with Matt Berry. She was now working as Wilbur’s assistant at the museum, and that pleased Izzy immensely. They had re-discovered each other and were now the sisters they should have always been. She and Matty were going to take on the house that Izzy had shared with Amber, now that both friends were moving on. Amber had moved in with Matt a few months previous, and they were happy beyond belief. It was as though that unexpected meeting between Izzy and Brian at the museum that day had brought so much happiness into the lives of many.

“So when do you think you’ll move in?” Brian asked.

“Whenever you want, I’ve already started packing,” Izzy admitted with a blush.

“Today?” Brian suggested, his brown eyes almost pleading with her.

“How about tomorrow, I still have some things to pack,” Izzy laughed.

“I say we go to yours now, finish up the packing and get you back here as soon as fucking possible!”

“Gates, it’s one more night, it’s not gonna kill you,” Zacky sighed from where he sat on Brian’s couch.

“No, but I may kill you if you don’t stop fucking listening in,” Brian warned with a smirk over Izzy’s shoulder. “So, what do you think?” he turned his attention back to Izzy.

Looking at him, Izzy knew she could deny him no longer. He had waited so patiently the last two weeks whilst she had kept him hanging in suspense over just what she would decide. She wanted nothing more than to be waking up next to him every morning, and be able to go back to a home that they shared each evening.

“I think we can manage that,” she answered.

Brian leant in to kiss her once more.

“I love you Crazy Snake Lady,” he whispered, strangely thankful for his phobia and how it had ended up making him the happiest he had ever been.