[A/N: Hi! Does anyone know if Eliza, William, and Henry have middle names?

The text for the Valentines I took from Victorian Valentines. The Vinegar Valentines are really mean… and creepy. Bleh… Google at your own risk…

This is another story with them as youngsters. They're so much fun to write. I have another "youngster" one after this, then an adult one.]

Would You Like Some Vinegar With That?

Will heard the front door slam. And 3, 2, 1! He thought as he held up a finger, waving it like a conductor. As if on cue, Lizzie burst into Will's room. He was already facing the door, leaning back in his chair, long legs stretched out, and crossed at the ankles. He folded his arms across his chest. He had an eyebrow raised and was looking at Lizzie.

She stopped short. "Am I that predictable?" She wondered aloud. Will snickered, "Yes. Anytime you slam the front door and stampede up the stairs, you usually have something to tell me. So, what happened at school?" He asked with a smug smile.

She narrowed her eyes at him and then gave up and sighed. There was no point in being annoyed with him, she needed to talk to him. "This happened." She said, handing him a plain beige envelope. She sat at the edge of the bed facing him.

Will looked at the front of the unmarked envelope, then turned it over and pulled out a card. As he read it his scowl deepened, and his ire rose. "Who gave this to you? Arabella?" He asked. Lizzie shook her head, "No, she hasn't been in school for the past week, she's ill. I don't think she was involved." "Do you have any other enemies?" He asked. She sighed again, "You're asking so many questions." "Aggravating, isn't it?" He replied. She knew it was immature, but she stuck her tongue out at him anyway.

The gesture startled him, he wanted to laugh, but he shrugged instead, and made to turn back around to his desk. "Will! Fine, no, I don't. I don't really talk to the other girls." She said softly. "Lizzie, do you truly have no friends in school?" He asked concerned. He knew that she didn't like her classes, neither had he, but he hadn't truly understood that she had no one in school to befriend.

She shrugged, "They make fun of me, they think I'm odd. Because I'm not like them. I don't want to marry and have children. I want to be a detective." She said defiantly, glaring at him, as if daring him to contest her. Will ran a hand through his hair, he couldn't say he completely disagreed with her classmates, she did have some strange notions, but he and Lizzie had a silent agreement of sorts, not to discuss the issue, each of them knowing it could blow up into a larger fight. Neither of them wanted to go there.

Will, for one, had acquaintances, if not so much friends. He continued to run messages for the detectives and police officers of Scotland Yard. The other street kids had been a part of his life since he had come to London, he still met up with them, and occasionally he and Lizzie would sneak them some food. Although Will suspected Ivy knew, for some mornings she would leave out extra breakfast and napkins for them.

He sighed, knowing he couldn't argue with her, ultimately when it came down to it, she was his only friend too. "Will, we both know you're going to help me investigate. So, can we skip the part where you protest and then give in anyway?" She asked hopefully.

Will looked at her and burst out laughing, "Very well. Where should we start? When did you get the card?" He asked, looking it over again. It was crude and it deeply angered him that someone would have the nerve to send it to her. When I find them… he thought, imagining what he would do to the offending party.

"Will! Will! Are you even listening to me?" Lizzie said, noticing his eyes had lost focus. "Wha? Yes, sorry Lizzie, you were saying?" He said. "I was saying, that the Valentine had been left on my desk when I had returned from recess. The classroom door is usually locked, someone must have had the key." She mulled this over. "Who has access to the key?" Will asked. "The teacher, and Arabella actually." Lizzie frowned in thought, "Sometimes Miss Dawkins gives it to her to fetch things." "But Arabella is out sick, so who is helping Miss Dawkins then?" Will asked. "I think Poppy had run an errand for Miss Dawkins, but she could have lent the key to someone else." Lizzie sighed, "Even if I ask her, she would probably lie."

Will nodded and handed the card back to her. He watched her face as she read it over again, her frown deepened with each line.

A FACE THAT WOULD STOP A CLOCK

In prison you ought to be doing some time,

For to wear such a face must be surely a crime.

If you 'mongst Gorillas had chanced to be born,

They would have disowned you with loathing and scorn;

For a monkey - no matter how homely a brute -

When placed beside you would be ranked as a "bute."

Will knew she would never admit it, but he could tell it saddened her. He got up and crouched down in front of her. "Lizzie…" He said. "Hmmm?" She muttered, but she was still looking down at the card on her lap. He tilted her chin up so she would look him in the eyes, "Lizzie, I have a favor to ask of you." He said. She looked at him perplexed. "Okay, what is it?" "You know how you always say I'm only right 2% of the time?" He said. She smiled, "It's actually 1%, but go on." He sighed, "Okay fine, I even got that wrong, but what I'm trying to say is, consider this one of the few times I am absolutely right, no arguments allowed." She nodded, and he took a deep breath, "You do know that you're incredibly beautiful, and that card is just trash from a jealous person. Right?"

Lizzie looked at Will, his face was earnest, she could tell he meant every word of what he said. She reached out and lightly touched his cheek with her fingertips and nodded. She wasn't going to argue with him, she had a feeling he would get angry if she had. She dropped her hand, "Thank you Will." She said softly. Then she bounced on his bed, her bad mood dissipating, "So how do we start? Should we follow Poppy and spy on her?"

Will wrinkled his nose, sitting back on his haunches. "It might take a while to learn anything conclusive that way." He said, considering if there was any benefit to doing that. "But…" Lizzie began to say, "she lives across from the pastry shop. We could get a cake and keep an eye on her house! When she goes out, we can follow her!"

"Lizzie! You just want me to buy you a pastry!" Will said in mock annoyance. He honestly would've done anything in his power to cheer her up. She leaned forward, face glowing, "I heard they have this new almond chocolate cake… I'll even let you eat the cherry on top!" He chuckled, "I can't argue with that!" "Great! I'll meet you in the hallway in ten minutes!" She jumped off the bed and ran to the door and paused. Will stood, wondering what had made her stop. She turned, ran back to him, hugged him quickly, and then ran off again.

He knew he had a silly grin on his face but he couldn't help himself. He also knew that once he had confirmed if Poppy was involved in this at all, she was going to get a visit from him with a stern warning.

At the pastry shop…

They managed to get a good table, by the window overlooking the street. Poppy didn't live too far from the Scarlets, so they hadn't had far to go. As per his usual, Will had let Lizzie order whatever she liked, and as per her usual, she had asked for two forks to share with him.

Will had already eaten the cherry, and was absently eating his half of the almond cake whilst keeping an eye on Poppy's front door. "I had heard her talking to the other girls at school, I think she has a violin lesson today. She should be heading out soon." Lizzie said around a mouthful of cake. She was thoroughly enjoying herself, the sting of the card had faded with Will's kind words, and the cake had helped to immensely improve her mood.

"Oi, Lizzie, I think she's heading out!" Will said, spotting a girl leave the house, holding a violin case. "Oh good!" Lizzie quickly stuffed the rest of the cake in her mouth, "C'mon!" She said standing and running from their table.

"Geesh, hold on a minute!" Will said running behind her. He caught up to her, watching Poppy from behind a wall. "That's odd, she's going in the wrong direction." Lizzie said, "The music school is the other way."

"Let's follow but…hey!" Will gently grabbed the bow at the back of the waist of Lizzie's dress, "Don't get too close, she'll see us." He said. She slapped his hand away, "I'm not a dog on a leash, let go!" "Fine, fine, stop running off then!" He grumbled annoyed.

The followed Poppy from a distance, and watched as she stopped in front of a house, staring at the front door. They saw her hesitantly take an envelope out of her pocket and look at it. It seemed as though she was going to drop it off, but then changed her mind and hurried off. Will was about to continue following her, but Lizzie grabbed his arm to stop him. He turned to look at her curiously.

"I think I know what's going on." Lizzie said. "Really? Do you know who lives there?" Will asked. Lizzie nodded, "It's Mrs. Parker's home, our landlady. She has a son around my age, Rupert." "So?" Will asked confused as to where this was going. "So…" She began to explain, as if it should have been obvious, "I think Poppy likes Rupert. If she's been spying on his house, she might have seen me go over there." "Why did you go over?" Will asked, wondering if he was totally missing out on something. "Last week, Father had asked me to drop off the rent. Rupert had let me in. Perhaps she had thought I had gone to give him a Valentine's card."

"How would Poppy know him?" Will asked. "Same reason I do, she lives in one of the houses his mother owns. I don't know what she sees in him, he's not very exciting. I can't recall if I've ever heard him say more than one word." Lizzie frowned, if someone does insist on getting married, they should at least try to find a person who is interesting. Unwittingly she turned to look at Will. He was staring at Rupert's front door, considering their next move.

He felt her gaze on him and looked down at her and smiled, "What's next, oh master investigator?" He asked her teasingly. "Ooh! Undercover operation! What if I ask Rupert to take me for a stroll? This way Poppy will get jealous and make a move! Then we can catch her in the act." Will made a low growling noise in his throat, Lizzie jumped in surprise, she had never heard him do that before. "Will? What on earth is wrong with you?" She asked. His face turned bright red, he absolutely did not, under any circumstances, like the idea of Lizzie going for a walk with anyone but him. He caught himself in time though, if he had said that, she most assuredly would do the opposite.

Then he had a thought, "Lizzie, you and I, we're together all the time. Why doesn't she think I'm your Valentine?" Lizzie shrugged, "We're just friends." "Oh. Right, right." Will said, his heart hurting a bit at her offhand comment.

"I have a different idea." He began, he had almost said better idea but he knew she wouldn't have heard him out if he had, "Why don't we just wait for her to walk back this way and ask her? You can tell her you have no designs on Rupert, and then perhaps she'll leave you alone." Lizzie huffed and crossed her arms. It made sense, but it wasn't a very exciting plan.

Will could tell she was waffling over the idea, "You have plenty of time when you're older to go undercover." He said trying to appease her, hoping she would drop the notion over time. He wouldn't hold his breath though.

"Very well. Shall we sit on our stoop until she passes back?" Lizzie asked. Will smiled, Our stoop… "Excellent idea." He agreed. They walked back home and made themselves comfortable on the steps.

"Will?" Lizzie said. "Yes, Lizzie?" He asked. "Have you ever been someone's Valentine?" She asked curious. "Eh? No, it wasn't something I ever had time for. I dunno if I ever really thought about it." "Ah." She said noncommittally. "Have you?" He asked her. "No, I don't know many boys, other than you. And Rupert I suppose." She was silent for a moment, "I wonder what it's like." She said and then jumped up, "I see her! She's coming up the street." Will didn't even bother stopping Lizzie from running up the block.

He caught up to her as he heard the tail end of her conversation, "… so you see, I don't like Rupert! You can have him!" Poppy's face was bright red, "You shouldn't stick your nose into other people's business!" "But, you left me a mean Valentine's card! I'm just telling you that you had no reason to!" Lizzie exclaimed. "Card? I didn't leave you any card." Poppy genuinely looked confused. "Oh, shoot, now I have to start the investigation all over again!" She said, but she wasn't truly annoyed, she was glad to have something exciting to keep her busy for a while.

"Poppy," Will said, "Someone had left Eliza a nasty card at school. Do you know who might have had reason to?" Poppy looked at Will, he was usually a permanent fixture at Lizzie's side. All of Lizzie's classmates knew of him, he would escort her home, or they would be in town together. Most of the girls thought him to be a handsome boy, but he could come across as intimidating at times.

Poppy shrugged, "Some of the girls talk about you you know…" She said slyly. "Me?" Will asked confused, "Why?" Poppy smirked, "Now, don't be coy. Perhaps you're the reason Lizzie got the card. I must be off." She waked past them, then turned around, "And if either of you dares mention any of this to Rupert…" Will took a step towards her and she ran off.

He felt Lizzie slide her hand into his. "Will, let's go home." She said. "Very well." He replied. "We can talk about all the girls who might like you!" She said enthusiastically. He groaned, but let her lead him back to their house.

After dinner…

They were lying on their stomachs on the floor in front of the fireplace. Lizzie had a piece of paper in front of her, and a pen poised in her hand, ready to write. "So, who are some girls that might like you?" She asked.

"Lizzie, truthfully, I have no idea. I'm either running around with messages most of the day, or spending my afternoons with you." He said. She paused thinking about that. "You don't talk to any girls?" She asked. He shrugged, "I was talking to one of your classmates last week." Lizzie felt annoyed at that for some reason, "Who?" She asked. "I can't recall her name. I was waiting for you, she came over to me and said hello." He answered. "And that was it?" She asked, trying to determine if he was hiding something from her, "Yes. I told her my name and we talked a little while, and then she left, and you came out." "What did she look like?" Lizzie asked, wondering how he would describe her.

"Er…" he paused, trying to remember, "brown hair, lighter than mine, brown eyes. There was nothing distinct about her." Lizzie stared at him, waiting to see if he would sniff. He misunderstood her expression, "I'm sorry Lizzie, I don't remember anything else!" He said exasperated. She didn't quite know why, but she was glad that the mystery girl hadn't made much of an impression on him.

"I suppose I could ask the girls at school if any of them like you. Then I can tell them you would be their Valentine! Whoever says yes, might be the one that had left me the card!" Will lightly thunked his forehead on the floor. "Will?" She asked confused by his behavior. She heard him take a deep breath.

"Lizzie, I would really appreciate it if you would not do that." He mumbled, his face still in the floor. "Why? It would solve the mystery." She said, confused as to why he was being so reticent. He turned his head sideways, to rest it on his folded arms, and looked over at her. "It wouldn't be nice, to make a girl think I like her." He tried to explain. "Oh. When you put it that way… I suppose it makes sense." Lizzie folded her arms too, and mimicked Will, resting her head on them, and faced him.

"So what should we do?" Lizzie asked. "Go to school tomorrow, see if anyone lets something slip." He replied. "Okay." She said. "And Lizzie?" He added. "Yes Will?" She said. "Please, be careful." He said softly. "I will." She said softly back.

The next day…

Lizzie spent the morning in class watching all of the brunettes. None of them seemed to be acting suspiciously. She was of a mind to give up, and just consider the card a mean prank, when a girl approached her desk.

"Say, Eliza…" The girl said. "Yes Anna?" Lizzie queried, looking up at her. She didn't suspect Anna, she had reddish hair. "Your err… foster brother?" Anna started to say. Lizzie looked confused, foster brother… does she mean Will? "William?" She asked confused. "Yes. Do you know if he has a Valentine?" Anna's face had turned slightly red. "He doesn't. Why do you ask?" Lizzie asked, very curious now. Perhaps Will had the girl's hair color wrong.

"Would you give this to him, from me?" She asked shyly, handing out a card. Lizzie took it from her tentatively. "Alright." She put it away in her bag. "Thanks." Anna said, about to go. "Anna, wait." Lizzie said, "Do you know if any of the other girls like William?" Anna shrugged, "He is rather handsome, I've heard a few of the girls talking about him. Perhaps they plan on giving him Valentines cards too." "Do you know if any of the girls had left me a card? A mean one?" Lizzie asked, desperate for a clue. "I heard Victoria say she liked him, then Emily said that she thought you were his Valentine and Victoria got mad at her and stormed off. I have to go now, bye Eliza." Anna left and Lizzie groaned and put her head in her hands.

If they like Will, why would they send me a card? To scare me off? Victoria has brown hair. Lizzie mused. She spent most of the remainder of the school day trying to work out the mystery.

By the end of the day she had no more leads. She packed up her things and headed to the gate. She glanced behind her, Victoria had been looking at her, with a scowl on her face. Lizzie shuddered and walked home a bit faster. Will only came to get her on days when he didn't have too many messages to deliver, or when they had plans after school let out.

When she reached her front door and let herself in she was relieved, the look on Victoria's face had been scary. Then she saw Will's face and revised her opinion, The look on Will's face is very very scary…

He had been waiting in the entryway for her, his face thunderous. He had cards and envelopes in both hands and was holding them up. "Lizzie, do you have any idea what the meaning of this is?" She tentatively took a step closer, "You have a lot of Valentines there…" she said, stating the obvious. "Aye, I know, and what I cannae figure out is why. They all came this afternoon, they were slid under the door. As soon as one would come, there'd be another."

He was breathing deeply, his face still red. Lizzie figured she might as well get the worse of it over. "You're short one…" She took out Anna's Valentine and held it out. "Anna asked me to give this to you…" He dropped the ones in his hands and took the new one and read aloud, "To my Sweet Love, My heart is stirred, sweet Valentine, By love both deep and true, Oh tell me then that you are mine, For I am 'spoons' on you." Will let his his hand drop, he looked up to the ceiling, "Lord Lizzie, how am I supposed to answer all of these?"

She tried to stifle a giggle, but he had heard it, and looked at her. Ignoring his question, she went on to say, "Anna asked if you had a Valentine, I told her no." "And what time of day was that?" He asked. "Late morning." Lizzie replied, then inspiration hit, "Do you think the girls dropped them off during recess? But we're not allowed out of the yard… maybe they had someone deliver them?" Will groaned, "How do they even know me?" He wondered. "They see you on the days you come pick me up. Anna said that some of the girls think you're handsome." Lizzie shrugged as if to say, there's no accounting for some people's taste. She noticed a flash of hurt cross Will's face, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he knelt down and began to pick up the cards he had dropped.

Lizzie knelt across from him, and began to help. Silently they made a large pile. Then Will spoke, looking down at the pile of cards and envelopes. "I'll come pick you up from school tomorrow. Delay in coming out, perhaps some of the girls will talk to me and I can sort this out." He sighed, All these Valentines, and there's only one I want, and it probably wouldn't even occur to her.

Lizzie stood, Will was still on the floor. She took a step forward, by his side, and lightly rested her hand on his head, "You're not bad looking I suppose." Then she left not waiting to see his reaction.

Will chuckled to himself, I suppose that's the best compliment I'll ever get from her.

The next day…

"Oh no," Lizzie said to no one in particular as she stood by her desk, "William is meeting me and I still have to finish this assignment!" She looked around the room to see who might have taken notice of her statement.

Some of the girls looked at her oddly, but Victoria looked like she had a smug smile on her face.

Lizzie sat back down, and pretended to write in her notebook. She glanced up briefly, Victoria had hurriedly packed her bag and run out of the room. Lizzie waited for a few minutes and then followed behind.

She saw Victoria approach Will, who was waiting for Lizzie by the gate. Lizzie quietly walked as closely as she dared. She stopped, as soon as she was able to make out most of the conversation.

"Eliza said you had no Valentine." She heard Victoria say. She heard Will sigh, "I don't." "Then why won't you be mine?" Victoria sounded annoyed. "Because… I may not have a Valentine, but there's someone I care very deeply for, and it wouldn't be fair to you, or anyone else, if I said I would be your Valentine." Will sounded sincere. Victoria hesitated, "Oh." She said softly, "That's actually kind of you. William…" She said, haltingly, "I owe you an apology. I was the one…" Will held up his hand, "I think it's Eliza you owe the apology to." Victoria hung her head. "I'll go talk to her, she might still be inside." Will nodded and Victoria left.

Lizzie quickly backtracked, to make it seem as though she had just begun to exit the building. "Eliza, a moment please." Victoria said. "Yes?" Lizzie asked. "I… I owe you an apology. I had left that card for you. I… I had thought you would tell William, and he would come to the school more often to pick you up. I had just wanted another chance to talk to him for a bit." Victoria's face was bright red. "Oh. Well, he's not that interesting really." Lizzie said offhandedly. "Really? But, you spend so much time with him." Victoria said confused. Lizzie just shrugged and made her way to the gate.

Will was leaning against it, and straightened up when he saw her. "Did Victoria apologize to you?" Will asked her. Lizzie nodded, "Yes, she said she had left it for me with the hope that I would tell you, causing you to worry, and come pick me up more often, so she could talk to you again." Lizzie explained. Will snorted, "That's a round of about way to go about it." "I know. I don't understand people in love. It's weird." She said. "Aye, isn't it just?" Will agreed.

"Will?" Lizzie said. "Yes Lizzie?" Will asked, with a sneaking suspicion as to where the conversation was headed. "It's Valentine's Day today." She said. "Aye, so it is." He agreed. "William Wellington, are you really going to make me ask you?" She said huffily. He grinned, and nodded. "Fine. Will you take me for dessert? There's a new…" He burst out laughing "What? What's so funny. What did you think I was going to say?" She was getting annoyed.

"That. I was expecting you to say precisely that. The new bakery is it?" He asked, holding out his arm. "Yes." She took his elbow, "I hope they have a free table." She said, worried about it being crowded. "They will." Will said confidently. "How do you know?" She asked suspiciously. "I made a reservation." He said with a grin. "Wait… you knew I was going to ask you… and… Ugh, I am that predictable!" She said, annoyed with herself. They walked, arm in arm, with Will's laughter trailing behind them.

The End