Well, here's the first few chapters of my shorter National Treasure story 'Man's Best Friend'. Don't worry, I'm still working on my other stories, but I have to pick and choose which ones I'm going to work on and/or update. Well, I have a new Danny Phantom story up called 'Danny Phantom: Friday the 13th'. I'd really love to here from all of my loyal NT readers to see what you all think of my new, out on a limb story! I only have two reviews! Please read! Anywho, enough of that! I'm warning you. This story is a little weirder than most of mine, so don't be surprised when I add this new element to my story. But don't worry! If you absolutely hate what I've done in this story, you'll be glad to know that I'm not planning to do it again. Okay, story!

Man's Best Friend

Chapter 1: New Arrivals

Alexis Lowell sat on the couch of her new apartment. She was bored. And, she missed Riley. He had been sent on a business trip to New York and wasn't due back until Wednesday. It was Saturday. She sighed and flipped through the channels on her TV. Suddenly, she heard a knock at her door. "Chloe's here." She thought. She got up and opened the door. "It's about time you got here Chl-"

"Hey Lexi!"

Alexis was unprepared for the tight embrace she received. "Riley!" She exclaimed.

He kissed her and smiled.

Alexis was still in shock. "What are you doing back! You said you wouldn't be back until Wednesday!"

"We finished early." Riley explained.

Alexis motioned him in. Her apartment was small, having only a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and two small bedrooms. Some of Alexis's things remained packed in boxes. She had only been in the apartment for two weeks. It was sparsely furnished. Riley looked around in amazement. When she had rented the place, it had seemed so much bigger and emptier. Now, it was filled with life and color. What he couldn't understand was why Alexis chose to live in such a tiny place. Her recent help in their little treasure hunt the month before had ensured her a piece of the Finder's Fee, but she still lived simply.

He never commented on this, attributing it to her simple upbringing. Maybe she felt more at home this way.

The balcony door was open, providing a fairly good view of the Mall and its monuments half a mile down the street. A warm June breeze blew in lazily, rustling the papers on the kitchen counter.

Alexis motioned for Riley to follow her to her bedroom. "Come here."

He followed apprehensively. "What's going on?" He thought, misinterpreting Alexis's motives and blushing faintly.

Riley stopped just short of the bed as Alexis slipped around to the other side and knelt down. At first, he didn't see what she had picked up, but then he saw the tiny form of a gray tabby kitten with long fuzzy fur and big blue eyes.

"A cat!" He exclaimed, relieved and shocked at the same time.

"What's wrong?" Alexis asked with concern, seeing the look on Riley's face. "Oh no! You're not allergic, are you!"

"No." He sighed. "I'm just not really a cat person."

"Oh, but look at how adorable he is!" Alexis said, placing the fuzzy mass in Riley's hands.

"Where did you get him?" Riley asked as the stared back at him, trying to figure out who this strange man was.

Alexis knelt down again and looked under the bed. "From the SPCA. Hold on."

Riley sat down on the bed and put the kitten next to him. It promptly began to rub up against his hand and purr.

Alexis stood back up, holding another cat in her arms. This one was obviously the mother.

"Two cats!" Riley exclaimed. "Holy Lord."

The mother cat's fur stood on end and she hissed at Riley, seeing her baby beside him.

"Oh, hush Abby!" Alexis said sternly. "Riley won't hurt J.Q.!"

"J.Q.?" Riley asked.

"It stands for John Quincy." Alexis explained, setting Abby on the bed so that she could see that J.Q. was unharmed.

Riley laughed. "Abby, J.Q. I get it!"

"It was Ben's idea. But we decided to modernize the names a bit. Who goes around calling their cat John Quincy?" Alexis said.

"And since we know someone named Abigail, you named the mom Abby so none of us would be confused."

Alexis nodded.

Riley stood. "Do you want to go somewhere?"

Alexis stood and let him draw her to him. "And where do you want to go?"

"How does Golden Dragon sound?" He asked.

"You mean that new Chinese place?"

"Yup." Riley said, pulling his keys from his pocket. "I'll drive."

AN: For those of you who didn't get the whole Abby J.Q. thing, here's a short history lesson for you. John Quincy Adams was the son of Abigail Adams.