A/N: Sorry for the long wait everyone! Projects and classes are inundating me with fatigue that sometimes it's hard to concentrate on one specific thing.

Huge thanks to riley-poole57and rottieluv77! You guys are amazing for simply reading my writing! I deeply appreciate it!

Continuing on the subject of the story, this particular chapter was inspired by the cloudy skies, rain, and the hot chocolate I oh so adore. (Pretty inspiring, actually.) It has a bittersweet ending, but don't panic. This is just to warm up the characters. Next one will definitely have a happier ending.

Disclaimer: I don't own National Treasure. If I did, I wouldn't be here writing this fanfiction…I think.

Warmth

It was a rainy day in November, the gloomy clouds above being held up with heavy rainfall. The droplets of water pit-patted atop the Gates Mansion, dripping from the top of the windows and sliding down across the glass like tiny worms. It was exceptionally cold that day, and Abigail had insisted on turning on the fireplace and letting it warm up the spacious building. She mentally punished herself for not getting a cozier home.

"It's so cold, that my butt is literally frozen solid to this couch." Riley commented, taking a sip of his hot chocolate with trembling hands. His navy blue hoodie was apparently not enough to soothe the goosebumps that formed on his bare skin. Abigail grinned, eyeing her friend from across the opposite couch while reading a book. Ben had gone out to buy the groceries that night, and had taken a detour to meet Sawdusky, who had mentioned that he was in dire need of the treasure hunter's assistance. But that wasn't the good news; It was that Ben had steered away from his documents and treasure hunts, that both he and Abi could spend more time together. And now, the blonde woman was finally happy. Just like Riley had expected.

"You could get a blanket," Abigail said with a sigh. "No one's stopping you."

"Yeah, but the blankets are upstairs..." Riley whined, snuggling deeper into the sofa's white pillows. "And quite frankly, your house is a maze...one that I often get lost in." Abigail scoffed, somehow unable to contain her smile. Her gaze returned to the book in front of her, as her eyes slowly retraced the printed words on the yellow page.

Riley never understood why she read those books. What was it, Secrets of the Constitution? Conspiracy Theories of Hatsheptsu? Both sounded boring in his mind...not that he'd tell Abigail anytime soon.

"You know what," Riley said, uncurling himself from the couch and standing up. "I'm going to sit down right in front of the fireplace. It'll be way better than sitting alone…on that couch." He mumbled the last part. Abigail simply muttered an audible "mhm" as she heard Riley pace toward the fireplace and sit down a few feet away. He set his hot chocolate beside him and pulled his knees up to his chest, still chilled to the bone. Great, he mused to himself. I'm hungry…and marshmallows sound really good right now. But... His eyes discreetly peeked at Abi, watching as she flipped to the next page with such concentration that he thought her eyes would burn the paper to a crisp. She's gonna be so mad. Clearing his throat, the brunette stared inconspicuously at the flames that threatened to lick the sides of the rug.

"Abs," Riley said, still watching the fire. "Hey, Abi. Abi-Abigail." She didn't even move. "Abigail Chase!"

"Huh? What, what?" She asked indignantly. She had clearly been ignoring him.

"Do you, uh, have a bag of marshmallows?" A pause.

"That is why you were calling me?" Abigail asked, in an irksome tone. "For pastries?" Riley nodded his head. The woman gawked at him, wondering if he was being serious or not. He most definitely was. Riley, upon noticing her doubtful expression, clasped his hands together and gave her the most pitiful puppy dog stare ever.

"Pleassssee?"

"...fine." Abigail sighed after a moment, closing her book and setting it down next to her, begrudgingly. She hopped off of the couch, the white sweater she wore was long, easily reaching past her thighs as she stalked off inside the kitchen. She heard Riley mutter a tiny, "Yes!" before turning to take a sip of his hot chocolate with content. Abigail shook her head, as she crouched down to open the small cabinet beneath her. Her hands gingerly plucked the small bag of white and pink marshmallows, before standing straight once more. They did look tempting, though. She could eat one right now… Shaking off her small craving, the blonde returned to the living room, tossing the bag toward Riley, who clumsily caught it in his hands.

"Thanks, Abs," he said, once regaining his composure. He watched as Abi went to take her position back on the couch, wanting to continue her reading. "Wait, you don't want some?" Riley asked with surprise. One did not simply ditch marshmallows. It was a very dumb thing to do...well, in Riley's mind.

"I'm not eating any," Abi stated, pausing next to the couch. "It's...unhealthy." Riley snorted in response, displeased with her simple answer.

"Whatever you say, Abs. But you're missing out on life." He said, purposely opening the bag as Abigail eyed it with longing. Dang it, Ri. The brunette reached inside, taking out a plump white pastry, and biting it with exaggerated happiness. "Mmm, yum." Riley mumbled, as he chewed with closed eyes. Abigail was so going to regret not having any.

"Okay, but only a couple." Abigail said, heading toward Riley and sitting a few feet apart from him, cross-legged. She reached over, going to grab the bag of delicious pastries, before Riley snatched it out of her grasp. "Hey!"

"Say the magic words." Riley grinned in a cheeky fashion.

"Give me the bag," Abigail said, ignoring the brunette's request.

"The words, Abigail. They are sacred." He said seriously.

"Give me the bag, please."

"Actually, it was 'Riley is the most handsome man' but, that works too." Abigail shook her head, her lips curving into an entertained smile as her friend handed her the bag. She reached inside and took out one of the white pastries, taking a nibble out of it.

The silence loomed inside the living room, the fire crackling in front of the two adults softly. With the rain patting down outside, it was a perfect way to spend the time indoors. Riley took another sip of his chocolate, the taste warm and delicious on his tongue. He watched as Abi took another two marshmallows from the bag and stow the bag away beside her.

"So how are you and Ben?" Riley asked, the question slipping from his lips unintentionally. Great, you screwed that one up, Poole, he scolded himself, shifting uncomfortably where he sat. Abigail blinked, swallowing the remains of the last pastry, as she shot Riley an inquisitive look. "Just curious," Riley responded monotonously, once he had read Abi's expression.

"It's been...better," the blonde responded, unsure of her answer. "We've talked more than other times and he's been trying to take me out on dates more often," she chuckled softly.

"Trying?" Riley asked with a quirked brow.

"Yes. In between his work." She said bluntly, but quickly smiling. "But it's progress." They both returned to sitting in silence, each consumed in their own thoughts of different things.

Abigail wanted to tell him about how her relationship was really going with Ben, how hard it was to act like she was content with him. What the heck was stopping her? He was Ben's best friend, after all.

"Sometimes I wish..." She trailed off, closing her mouth, and shaking her head in dismay, her mind seemingly clouded in confusion. She wasn't going to tell him. "Never mind." She stated. Riley chose this moment to remain silent, his blue eyes eyeing the woman worriedly. Whatever was occurring in Abigail's head was to stay hidden; And he didn't know why. He sighed softly, turning back to the small flames that swayed softly to and fro, relaxing him. Say something! His mind beckoned loudly. Anything! C'mon, you wouldn't leave Abigail hanging!

"Shut up." He hissed under his breath. Oops. Abigail's eyes widened in disbelief, immediately turning to face Riley with a flabbergasted expression.

"What?" She asked in a peeved tone.

"Wait, hold on!" Riley quickly said, realizing what he had uttered. "I, uh, see...I guess...I wanted to say that..." He took a deep breath. "If you need something...I'm here for you. So, if you ever need a good laugh, since, I'm the only one in this house that actually has humor, don't be afraid to ask." He ended his sentence with a nervous laugh, as he hung his head with embarrassment. Way to go, kid, the voice mocked, and Riley had to restrain himself from shunning it. Abigail couldn't speak at the moment, though. She swore she wasn't going to tell Riley about her troubles. But now he was practically giving her an invitation to do so. All he wanted to do was help. That's it. And what was she doing? Pushing him away. Guilt began to overflow her thoughts, as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Riley," she said softly, staring at the crackling fire; too afraid to meet his gaze. "That's...very sweet of you." She finished, lamely. Good job, Abigail.

Riley, slightly disappointed at her statement, gave her a small smile. Her comment would suffice. And he knew she was going to say no more.