Love is beginning

We have found something worth living for

I've got my head in the clouds

Oh my love, love is beginning now

- Love Is Beginning, Imaginary Friend

The sun rose quietly over the parliament buildings, illuminating the grey sky with a warm, golden glow. With the light came an awakening - Washington was just beginning to buzz with commuting congressmen and enthusiastic tourists.

Just off Capitol Hill, Riley Poole awoke in his 8th story, dishevelled apartment to the sound of his phone ringing. He tossed and turned beneath his mangled sheets, hitting his hand on the cold metal frame of the futon. Mumbling profanities, he attempted to bury himself deeper into the tangled mass of blankets. The phone was silent for a moment, and then picked up its incessant ringing once more.

"Damn it," Riley sighed, feeling around the mattress for his cell. After a few seconds of blind scrambling, he opened his eyes and squinted as the brilliant light of the sunrise shone through his open window. Managing to adjust to the brightness, Riley realized with dread that he'd left his phone on the other side of his makeshift bedroom/living area. Cursing as he stumbled out of bed hours before his usual wake up time, he shuffled past his faded table, scooping up last night's coffee as he did so. By the time he reached his cluttered desk, he'd already downed half a cup of cold caffeine.

"H-hello?" Riley fumbled as he picked up his phone.

He recognized the voice of Marcus, his amateur business manager and old undergraduate classmate, on the line. "Look, hey Riley. I know it's early - and I'm sorry - but I've got a man here, a potential client for you. His PC just crashed and he could really use some help recovering the files-"

"Nope." Riley cut off his friend. "No new clients. I have enough already, sorry."

"You barely have ten. If I'm honest, I don't know how you're scraping by, man. I think you could really use this." Marcus sounded insistent.

Riley was groggy. "Thanks for the call, but I'm fine. I'm developing my own software, remember? That takes time."

"Well, I hope that pans out. Just let me know when you're ready to take more people on, okay? It's useless for me to refer clients to you, only for you to decline every time."

"Yeah, sure," Riley sighed. "Thanks. Bye."

Frustrated, he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he finished the rest of the coffee. There was no way he'd be able to function outside of his apartment before noon, let alone fix a guy's computer. Besides, he'd been staying in nearly all day recently, often referring clients to friends. His GPS software, which he was modelling after work he'd done while searching for the Templar Treasure, was his main focus. However, even that was being pushed aside in favour of daytime television, veggie pizza, and video games on a scratched DS.

While Riley's apartment was a far cry from some of the hotel rooms he'd experienced while treasure hunting, it was very much home for him now. The single bedroom bachelor suite served as his business office, kitchen, entertainment centre, and sleeping accommodation. The futon doubled as both a couch and bed, while an old vanity salvaged from a thift store was used as his desk and office. Miscellaneous electronics were scattered everywhere, and power cords and chargers littered every surface. It'd been weeks since he had changed his sheets, and over a month since the room had been dusted or vaccuumed. His kitchen table, originally part of an outdoor patio set, was in chaos: an open jar of Nutella rested atop two empty pizza boxes, while cracker crumbs and half-eaten pieces of toast completed the mess. Every glass and dish that Riley owned was piled up in the rusty sink, while the paper plates and plastic forks that poked out of various garbage bags proved he had resorted to disposable options.

Used to tuning out the mess of his surroundings, Riley turned back to his bed, fully prepared to crawl back in beneath the blankets. Instead, he caught sight of the early morning sunrise that was painting the sky outdoors a stunning golden orange. Despite his reservations about being awake at such an unreasonable hour, he followed the pretty glow through his cracked glass sliding door and onto the balcony outside. Strangely captivated, Riley sunk into one of the faded patio chairs he`d haphazardly decorated with, which matched the floral pattern of his kitchen table, as they`d once belonged to the same set.

He couldn`t help but break into a grin as he watched the sun illuminate his city, waking the citizens and energizing the air. Riley knew that out there, in Washington, shops were opening, museum tours would be starting soon, and the first surge of morning commuters were just about to take over the highways and train stations. From his vantage point, he witnessed the lights inside his favourite bakery turn on, several students from his building rush off to class, and the usual neighbourhood homeless man set up shop on a nearby corner, likely hoping for change or even just a cup of coffee.

Riley was suddenly struck with how beautiful the morning was, something he usually wasn`t awake to appreciate. Even the most gorgeous sunrise could never beat a few extra hours of sleep, but this was different. He felt empowered for the first time in weeks, hopeful even. Today was a day in which something exciting could happen. You could meet someone new, complete a project, be whisked away on an adventure.

As he sat there, contemplating the city and enjoying the crisp fresh air, his thoughts turned to memories from years ago. How many mornings had he been up to see the sun rise during college? Too many to count. He'd often have gone without sleep, working through the night on some challenging paper, line of code, or...clue. Ben had awoken him at all hours with news of developments in their search for the Charlotte, often repaying him with a breakfast sandwich, which they'd usually share on Ben's balcony. It wasn't too different from a morning like this.

Somewhere out there, not far from the city, Riley knew Ben was wide awake, going for a jog with Abigail or preparing for an early business meeting. Surely he'd already had his breakfast, no doubt an elaborate meal prepared by his girlfriend. Riley knew what it was like to watch the sun rise from their home in Chevy Chase, as he'd done so many times through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the main guest room. It was beautiful, but solitary. Here, he felt as though he was sharing the experience with the entire city, watching as Washington came to life.

It had been a long time since he'd felt connected to anyone. He'd spent most of his time barricaded in his apartment over the past few months, telling himself that it was to work on his software, but usually simply procrastinating with pathetic delaying tactics. Video games, spreading Nutella on anything edible, and reading his old college textbooks had become his favourite pasttimes. When he did have to work, he'd do his best to talk a client through a computer problem on the telephone, never having to leave the comfort of his bed. He wasn't happy, exactly, but he was complacent. Eventually he would complete the software, meet people and develop a circle of friends, and leave the apartment for more interesting reasons than picking up food. Until then, well, he was getting by.

The brilliant colours of the sunrise began to fade as the world welcomed the new day. Riley reached for one of many newspapers he'd left strewn about on the patio, ignoring the waterlogged ones. The issue he grabbed was from three weeks ago; not really caring, Riley began to lazily flip through the pages. When he made it to the lifestyle section, he suddenly remembered that this was the paper he'd meant to throw out. A huge photo of Ben and Abigail took up nearly half a page, in which they were smiling as they cut a ribbon outside the new exhibit at the National Archives. The article detailed how Ben had used his connections to help bring ancient Chinese scrolls to the museum, while Abigail had facilitated and planned the transportation and preservation of the documents.

Riley sighed, throwing the paper down beside him. It still stung a little to see how well Ben was doing without him, all smiles and productivity. But what had he expected - that his friend would completely shut down and put his entire life on hold? Rationally, Riley knew that that just wasn't reasonable. But he had expected Ben to show a little sadness, or trouble coping. Instead, he'd done the complete opposite. Ben's face, usually accompanied by Abigail's, was everywhere from newspapers to television interviews to historical magazines. He was on fire, landing important deals for the National Archives, helping with research on ancient paintings at Georgetown, and even leading a kid's amateur diving class. Ben had never been more successful or highly respected.

Six months ago, Riley had decided to distance himself from his long-time friend. Ben had been spending more and more time with Abigail ever since their discovery of the second treasure. Feeling like a neglected third wheel, he'd gone to Ben and explained that he thought they should take some time apart to develop personal interests. He'd never actually expected Ben to go for it. He'd thought that his friend would simply apologize, explain that he never meant to shut Riley out, and vow to do better. But instead, Ben had simply accepted Riley's proposition and declared that maybe some time apart would be good for them both. After everything they'd been through together, from college at MIT to years of chasing down clues, that hurt.

It made sense to put some space between himself and Ben, he knew that. Abigail wasn't going anywhere; in fact, they seemed to be getting closer all the time. The days of his and Ben's two person team were over. College was simply a memory now, as Ben had too many responsibilities to stay up all night before taking Riley out for pancakes at 4 am. Treasure hunting even seemed to be a thing of the past, as Ben now focused on more academically respected pursuits. They'd never again be best friends, partners in crime, attached at the hip. It wasn't Riley and Ben against the world anymore. Riley was alone, and he recognized that.

Besides, their close relationship couldn't have lasted forever. Ben had to grow up at some point, get married, have children. They couldn't act like college kids for their entire lives. Riley had tried to accept that over the past few months, to realize that everything good must come to an end. He'd attempted to move on, and pursue his own goals. But losing his best friend hadn't been that simple. It didn't happen just once, the day he walked out of Ben's life. It happened again every time he came across an old letter, filled with inside jokes, every time he encountered an ancient family heirloom in the homes of his clients, and every time he picked up a pizza and ate it in front of the television, alone. Losing Ben hadn't simply been a moment in his past; it was an onging, active part of his life that he had to face every single day.

That said, as much as it hurt to lose Ben, Riley was almost glad that it had happened when it did, instead of years down the road. He didn't know if he would be capable of letting go of his friend if they'd had even more memories together. And the truth was, whether Riley wanted to accept it or not, Ben was gone. Even if he clung to their friendship with everything he had, Ben had moved on. Letting him go was simply about keeping whatever dignity Riley had left. And this way, at least they could text each other every now and then with a holiday greeting or friendly pleasantry. The Ben that Riley missed, the one from college, was no where to be found; he'd been replaced by Abigail's Ben, the guy who attended gallery openings, fancy brunches, and ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Still, even receiving a short message from his changed friend was better than nothing.

Riley sighed and forced himself out of the rusted patio chair. It was now fully light outside, as the sun had taken its usual place high above the city. Nothing beautiful can last, he reminded himself as he mourned the golden colours. It was time to start being a person and attempt to accomplish something worthwhile.

As he headed inside, he realized that the newspaper article had eroded his rare energy boost, and his hopeful thoughts were long gone. Still, he was up early for once, so he decided to try his hand at working on the GPS software.

Reluctantly, he plopped down in his cheap office outlet swivel chair, causing it to sink down a few inches. Riley didn't bother to adjust it, knowing the same thing would only happen again. He opened the online journalling program he'd been using to store notes on the development of the software, which he'd started compiling 6 years ago, just as he'd finished college. The notes were disorganized and jumbled; he'd simply jotted down ideas whenever he felt inspired. The bulk of it was written in the months leading up to the Charlotte discovery, as he'd developed a similar program which had led Ben's team to the Arctic Circle.

If Riley was being honest, one of the reasons he'd been so reluctant to get to work on the GPS program was because the notes depressed him. They contained not only his ideas, but Ben's as well. While Riley covered the technical side of things, his friend had offered advice on what people need from their software and what functions the program should have. It could be great, he knew, if he could only muster the resolve to put it together.

For the rest of the morning, Riley forced himself to pour over the notes, trying to make sense of and organize whatever he could. He worked through the morning, completing more in one sitting than he had in the past two weeks, combined. Determined to not end up as a total failure, he paused only to dash out to the slightly run-down bakery on the corner for a cinnamon roll that served as lunch.

Thankful that none of his usual clients were experiencing computer woes, he made use of the peace and quiet, and continued working all afternoon. Fuelled by his desire to accomplish something on his own, as Ben had been doing, he remained focused and diligent. By 5 pm, he was exhausted and desperately in need of a break. Still, he felt more productive than he had in a long time.

Riley made his way to the futon, careful not to trip on the wires that were scattered across the floor. He lay down, and breathed out an exhausted sigh. As much as he wanted to finish the software, he couldn't help but wonder if it was all that remained of his and Ben`s friendship. And what next - what would he do after this? So many ideas had come from being out in the world, treasure hunting and gathering clues. Soon he'd be out of touch with the technology that trekkers and hikers were looking for.

By the time his cell rang twenty minutes later, Riley had worked himself into another mental funk. Annoyed, hungry, and devoid of energy, he picked up the phone.

"Look Marcus, I can't take on anyone new right now, okay? The software-"

"Riley?"

There was no mistaking that voice. Taken aback, Riley stuttered, "B-b-Ben?"

"I'm sorry to phone you out of the blue like this. It seems like you were expecting another call. You can get back to me later, it's not a problem."

"No! No, don't hang up." Riley was surprised at his own surge of emotion. Embarrassed, he continued: "Look, no, it's fine. We can talk. What do you need?"

"Are you sure?" Ben sounded uncharacteristically awkward, but his voice was still comfortingly familiar. "I know it's been a while."

"Yeah, it's fine. I'm fine. What's up?" Riley asked.

"This might sound strange, but it's really good to hear your voice."

Riley smiled absently - Ben sounded like the Ben he knew. His Ben. "It's good to hear yours, too."

"I'm calling because I need to ask you something, Riley," Ben began. "But I think I need to see you. Would you be willing to meet? I know what we agreed on -"

"Yes! Yes, let's meet up," Riley blurted out without thinking. "I mean, if it's what you think is best."

"Alright, if you're sure." Ben paused for a moment. "Where would you like to meet - what's convenient for you?"

"I haven't eaten yet. Are you up for pancakes?"

Riley heard Ben's laugh, and he automatically smiled in response. "I should have known. Same place as always?"

"Of course," Riley said. "Meet you there in an hour?"

"Yes, sure." Just when it seemed as though Ben was going to hang up, he continued. "Thank you for taking my call, and agreeing to meet me. I know you don't have to, and you're probably busy."

"Anything for a friend!" Riley managed to say, the reality of what Ben was asking for finally sinking in. Before they could discuss anything further, Riley signed off: "See you soon."

Slightly shaken, Riley hung up. He hadn't spoken to Ben in over five months, much less grabbed a meal with him. Why now? Why today? And what did this mean for them? Trying to calm himself down, Riley reasoned that Ben must just be checking in on him and wanting to catch up. Afterwards, they would go back to their new normal. Even ex best friends go out for pancakes, right?

Riley briefly wondered if he had the strength to see Ben again. He'd spent months losing him in multiple ways. Meeting up with him would only bring that on again, and force Riley to start the healing process all over. Ben must have known that; he seemed hesitant to ask for a meet up. And yet he did - meaning that something beyond a desire for a quick chat must have been behind his decision. But was Ben's request worth months of emotional wreckage? Riley didn't know if he would have the ability to walk away from his friend again. That would mean becoming Ben's third wheel once more, pushed out of plans and left out of invitations, forever struggling to hang on.

He put his head in his hands and exhaled deeply, frustrated and confused. Just as he was about to text Ben to cancel, he looked up and really saw his apartment for the first time in weeks. It was a pigsty; a mess of wires, half-eaten food, garbage, and dirty clothes. What was he trying to preserve? This half-life that he'd fallen into? It was a shadow of who he'd once been, who he knew he was capable of being. He'd been convincing himself that it was better this way, that being alone wouldn't hurt forever, but he wasn't getting any better. Even after today's spark of hope, he'd still struggled to get through his old notes. He was a shell of a person, capable only of procrastination and avoidance. He realized that he would never get the software finished, because it reminded him too much of what he'd lost. Riley now lacked the ability to face anything, to confront his feelings or memories. He simply wasn't the same with Ben at the edges of his life. Even if his friend wanted nothing to do with him after their meeting, at least he could ask a few questions and get some semblance of closure. Either way, it was more than he had now.

The digital clock on his kitchen table alerted him to the fact that there were twenty minutes left before he had to leave the apartment, if he wanted to make it on time. Suddenly flustered, Riley rushed into the bathroom to brush his teeth. He was horrified when he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror: unshaven face, sweaty, grungy t-shirt, raccoon-like dark circles, and messy, unkempt hair. Terrified of letting Ben see him in such a state, he jumped in the shower as quickly as possible. Afterwards, he shaved, and then attempted to dry and style his hair, which resulted in something incredibly similar to the bedhead he'd been sporting all day. He made a mad dash for his dresser, throwing clothes on the floor behind him as he searched for something decent to wear. Out of time, he settled on comfortable jeans and an old but respectable tshirt, which he hid with a newer blazer.

Riley hurriedly took the building's groaning elevator to the lobby, where he rushed out and headed for the metro station. The diner where he'd be meeting Ben was in Georgetown, close to his friend's old post-college apartment. They had shared that place for over a year after graduating together from MIT, Riley with his Bachelors in Computer Science, and Ben with his graduate degree in mechanical engineering.

After swiping his DC Metro pass, Riley boarded the first subway train to the Georgetown stop, directly downtown. He'd tried his hand at living in Georgetown after the discovery of the Templar Treasure - he had bought an upscale townhouse in the richest part of the area. It had been his home for two years, but after finding the ancient Aztec treasure in Mount Rushmore and Ben and Abigail's reconciliation, he'd given up that way of life. Riley had been living in his one-bedroom apartment ever since, located in a slightly run-down neighbourhood not far from the parliament buildings on Capitol Hill.

Riley exited the subway after a few stops, climbing the stairs back up above ground. A brisk wind chilled the early October air, scattering fallen leaves along the pavement. The sun was beginning its evening descent, and Riley couldn't help but smile, knowing that he'd witnessed its rise that morning. Yet as he walked along the busy sidewalk, past shops and restaurants, nerves started to kick in. He hadn't seen Ben in months, and his lack of time to prepare for their meeting confirmed the fact that he wasn't going to look his best. By the time Riley reached his favourite diner, his stomach was in knots.

As usual, he was a few minutes late. Ben was already there, seated at the infamous post-college table they'd occupied so many times after late nights. The entire diner was decorated in neon colours and fluorescent lights, with black and white tiled floors and posters of 60's stars on the walls. Ben waved Riley over, a huge grin on his face. Riley felt his nerves melt away, falling into the familiar sense of comfort that always accompanied the presence of a good friend. As he approached the table, Ben got up and wrapped him in a giant hug.

"Mhmf - nice to see you too!" Riley laughed as his voice was muffled by Ben's jacket.

After Ben finally pulled away, they both sat down at the booth, facing each other. "Wow," Ben grinned. "You look exactly the same."

"Is that an insult or a compliment?" Riley was teasing.

"You know I love anything that can stand the test of time," Ben smiled. "So, how have you been?"

In an attempt to remain calm, Riley filed each individual emotion away for later processing. It was the only way to keep his composure and stop himself from going insane in front of Ben. "I've been fine - good, yeah. I'm doing freelance electronics repair and working on some GPS software."

"Really?" Ben seemed intrigued. "Is that the program I helped you with while we were searching for the Charlotte?"

"Yep. I finally decided to start developing it," Riley explained.

"God, you're lucky." Ben sighed wistfully as a waitress approached their table.

Riley was too taken aback to place an order when prompted; Ben simply chose for him, getting them both strawberry waffles, an old college favourite. As soon as the waitress was out of earshot, Riley began: "What are you talking about? I've seen the news - you've been America's new super-historian. Exhibits at the Archives, volunteer work with kids, research at Georgetown...you're living the dream."

Ben shook his head and looked away. "You don't get it, do you? Ribbon cutting, awards ceremonies; that was never my dream. Abigail's dream, yes, my father's at one time...but never mine."

"It must feel good, though," Riley reasoned. "The historical community finally respects you. Being a Gates means something. Isn't it validating to know that the work your family did is being recognized?"

"Sure. It's better than being called crazy, definitely." Ben paused and smiled. "But history wasn't made by men who sat around and patted themselves on the back. That's not who Thomas Gates was - or any of my ancestors. They were on the front lines of history, working and fighting for what they believed in. It's not about recognition at all. And my dream is to continue that passion, no matter what."

"You have to be proud of yourself, Ben. You don't have to be out there, searching for clues every minute. It's okay to celebrate what you've achieved."

"And I have - I am. But am I supposed to spend the rest of my life accumulating certificates and trophies? I know that there's something more, and it's killing me to run in place like this." Ben sighed, clearly frustrated.

"Well, have you talked to Abigail about it?" Riley got the impression that Ben was dumping several week's worth of thoughts onto him - he had to have been carrying the burden for a while.

"That's actually why I called you tonight." Ben looked slightly ashamed. "Abigail's loving all the positive attention, of course. It's great for the Archives, and I think she likes living with someone who isn't deemed insane by the entire historical community." He paused for a moment. "But she doesn't understand my drive to continue my family's work. So when Georgetown called yesterday, offering me a position as a history professor, she -"

Riley gaped, and couldn't manage to contain his excitement. "A professor at Georgetown? Holy crap, Ben. Congratulations."

Ben shot Riley a small smile. "Thank you. I know I should be happy about it, and Abigail's estatic. I just can't imagine spending the rest of my life studying and teaching the history that others have created, without ever having the chance to contribute to it myself."

"Ben, you already have! Two world-changing treasures aren't enough for you?" Riley grinned as his friend started to go on the defensive. "I'm joking, don't worry."

The waitress brought over their waffles, piled miles high with strawberries, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. The two friends were silent for a few minutes as they dug in to a meal they'd shared countless times before.

"Just like after college," Ben mused as he swallowed a bite. "Abigail would kill me if she knew I was eating this; we've been gluten and sugar free for a month now."

Riley snorted, and Ben caught his eye. "Don't tell me you're still living off Nutella and pizza." The blush that warmed Riley's cheeks was enough of a response - both friends started laughing.

"You really haven't changed," Ben smiled. "It's been too long since I've seen you."

"I know," Riley said, attempting to steer the conversation away from their time apart. "So, are you taking the job at Georgetown?"

"That's what I wanted to discuss," Ben explained. "Abigail wants me to; she thinks it'd be perfect."

"And your dad?" Riley inquired.

"He thinks it's an amazing opportunity," Ben admitted. "And I can't argue with him. But I also can't imagine myself in a classroom for the next twenty years, lecturing every day. I don't mind doing the odd speech, but those are always about things I've seen and experienced, first hand. You know, historical sites I've visited, things my family discovered...I'm not ready to give all of that up. Call me crazy, but I want another one."

"Another what?" Riley asked, confused.

"Another treasure."

Before he knew what was happening, Riley realized that he'd dropped his fork and was allowing his mouth to hang open, unchewed waffle and all. "I definitely misheard you. I thought you said you wanted another treasure?"

"That's right." Ben laughed at Riley's shocked expression. "I want late nights and frustrating dead ends and manic calls to every historian who will pick up the phone. It's insanity, and I know that, but I want it."

"Ben, we discussed this!" Riley was frustrated now, unable to understand why his friend would go back on his word. "You said that you needed time with Abigail, to build a solid relationship. And that at some point you had to grow up - that you couldn't chase every clue you came across for the rest of your life. So you moved on, and did what you said you would, and so did I."

"But you must miss it," Ben reasoned. "You're developing software based on our treasure hunt. Surely, some part of you still wants that adventure."

"Some part of me?" Riley laughed sarcastically. "I miss it every second. The drama, the adrenaline rush, the insanity...all of it. And there were days when I'd have given anything to hear you say those words. But you were right, Ben. We can't do this forever, and it's stupid to try."

"Not forever." Ben grabbed Riley's hand, and met his eyes with a passionate sincerity. "I'm not ready to give this up yet. Maybe, if we can make another discovery, I can show Abigail that it's possible to keep a little adventure in my life. I can't force myself to choose between treasure hunting and the person I love...and if all else fails, we'll go out with a bang. If this is our last treasure, let's make it count."

Riley sighed. As much as he knew it was a bad decision, he couldn't walk away from the chance to spend a few weeks with his best friend. The treasure hunting could never last, and it was only a matter of time before Ben would have to accept the position at Georgetown, leaving Riley alone with his computer. But that day didn't have to be today, and maybe that was a gift. To have loved and lost...

"Okay." Riley spoke the word quietly at first, hesitantly, before allowing his features to break into a grin. "Okay. Let's do this. Let's find a third treasure."

"Are you sure?" Ben was asking the question, but his eyes confirmed that he'd already made up his mind.

"Completely." Riley felt a wave of happiness crash over him, combined with a sense of purpose and hope that he hadn't experienced in months. "What do you have so far? Where do we start?"

It was Ben's turn to blush. "The truth is...I don't really have anything yet. I'm going more on a feeling than any historic information."

Riley knew exactly what that felt like - to need something so badly that you make it real. After all Ben had done for him over the years, Riley owed him this chance. He'd have to let all of his reservations slide and welcome his friend back into his life, essentially throwing away the baby steps of progress he'd managed to make. But it was entirely worth it. If Ben needed a treasure, then Riley would make his dreams a reality.

"You know, I might be able to help." Riley watched Ben's eyes light up, illuminated by hope much like the city that morning, which had been awakened by the sun. "I have a list of unanswered questions throughout American history. And I'm not talking conspiracy theories here. These were oddities I came across while writing my book; irregularities so small that no one's even researched them enough to develop any possible explanations. It's not much, but-"

"It's perfect!" Ben grinned. "That's where we'll start. Can you meet me tomorrow?"

"Sure," Riley promised. "Just text me a time and a place."

Ben turned to Riley. "I'm sorry, I've got to run. Abigail and I are attending a benefit gala at the Smithsonian. But thank you, Riley, so much. For agreeing to meet me, for listening to me tonight, for the list...I just didn't know who else I could go to about this."

"It's fine," Riley assured his friend, internally cataloguing his roller coaster of emotions. "I'm happy to help. Try to have fun, okay?"

After a few more seconds of hurried goodbyes, Ben was rushing out the door to hail a cab. Riley remained seated at the booth, unsure of what to do with himself. So much had changed within the past few hours; he'd gone from shutting Ben out to welcoming him in. Riley was overwhelmed by the rush of feelings the meeting had brought on. And they had embarked on a one-way journey neither of them could go back from. They were treasure hunting once more. Whatever that meant - tracking down ancestors, translating ancient documents, breaking in to museums - they were in it together.

As Riley prepared to leave the diner, he paused to collect his jumbled thoughts. It might take days to sort everything out; he'd probably go over the conversation he'd shared with Ben a million times. But one thing was frighteningly, alarmingly clear: he was still madly in love with his best friend.