A quick note from the authoress:

I know this update is a long time coming and I apologize wholeheartedly. Things were not supposed to lag so long, but life has just kept getting in the way. However, I hope to start making up for lost time.

It's All Relative has not been forgotten. Rather, I am tackling it the way I should have in the first place. I'm writing and revising the rest of the story before I post another word. There will be an update, I just don't know when.

For now, you will have to make do with the vignettes. This isn't terribly involved, just a filler that I have purposefully left largely unchanged from the original notebook notes. It takes place right after the car chase through London, before the trio returns home. I hope you enjoy.

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

Another airport, another clue to explore and a major wrinkle in their covert plan in the blonde-haired, petite form of Dr. Abigail Chase.

Riley frowned. Why had she come? The last he knew, she had wanted nothing to do with Ben. Now, she seemed to be all over him, overtaken by the excitement of the prospect of another treasure hunt.

His frown only deepened as he watched the two, sitting across from him in an empty bank of orange seats. They conversed animatedly, no doubt, about what the latest clue might mean. Just because neither could read ancient Native American, didn't mean that speculation didn't abound.

Amid all these new developments, only one thing remained the same. Riley Poole, technological genius, was still part of the background, only paid any mind when a task needed to be done. Speaking of which, he had a half mind to stick that photograph from the London Police Department's database in a special place where only Ben's proctologist would find it.

He looked away from the nauseatingly eager couple and stared aimlessly at the other travelers hurrying past their gate, wincing at the throbbing in the side of his skull as he did so. That hit from the car chase had likely left a concussion in its wake. What was worse was that no one had seemed to notice. Sure, Ben had asked if, "everyone," was all right, but Riley suspected that, "everyone," meant Abigail. Naturally Ben had misinterpreted Abigail's lust for the hunt to be interest in him and focused on her accordingly.

So, Riley reasoned, maybe he should just step aside and leave the powerhouse couple to the treasure. They could easily find someone else to take care of the high-tech aspects if Abigail couldn't figure them out. Techies were a dime a dozen. They didn't need him. Hell, they didn't even notice him three-quarters of the time.

He sighed. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't walk away. He had promised and he couldn't break a promise even under the threat of a firing squad. Also, if Ben's hunch was right, and the man's track record had been excellent, so far, then he needed whatever reward the search might yield. Otherwise, Riley knew he would be headed straight to jail for his accountant's financial indiscretions and he knew he wouldn't last five minutes. People like him didn't survive jail with their bodies and wits intact. Period.

A touch on his shoulder made him start and he glanced up to see Abigail looking down at him, her face showing considerable concern. "They're boarding. Didn't you hear the page?"

"Guess I zoned out for a minute," Riley replied as he stood up and picked up his backpack.

"You looked a bit upset. Are you okay?"

Abigail's worry sketched him out a little. He didn't feel comfortable confiding in Ben, let alone Ben's ex-girlfriend. Abigail was an acquaintance to him, a wrinkle in his life that he really didn't need. What if her appearance at Buckingham Palace had busted them all? More maddening, why hadn't Ben realized such a risk and listened to him when he'd said not to include her? Besides, with another person on the team, it was just another way to split any reward that might be found, lessening what he would be able to hand over to the IRS.

Ugh! He hated that it had to be about money in any facet. Again. He swore money was like an anchor around his neck, dragging him down at every turn. However, that was his problem to bear. He gave Abigail a half smile.

"I just have a bit of a headache. I'll live."

Thankfully, Abigail didn't press further, seemingly satisfied with the answer. "Try not to fall asleep on the plane. You're probably concussed."

"Yes, Mom," Riley answered drily. Abigail rolled her eyes at him, in return, and walked over to the ticket agent. Riley followed, handing the young man his ticket, as well, and boarded the plane. They took their seats, Abigail next to Ben and Riley two rows behind as they couldn't get three seats together. It was just as well, for Riley wasn't in the mood to chit chat. Too bad he'd had to sacrifice his I-Pod for the cause. He could really use it, right now.

A flight attendant offered him headphones, which he gladly accepted. He didn't care what the in-flight entertainment was, he just needed a distraction. Despite Abigail's advice, he planned on sleeping the whole way home. He was physically and emotionally exhausted. He had no more than placed the headphones snugly over his ears when he felt a light touch on his shoulder. Annoyed, he lifted up one phone and frowned up at his friend.

"It looks like we have an empty seat next to us, after all," Ben said. "You're welcome to it."

"And put a monkey wrench in your attempt to rekindle romance? Sorry, but no one's stomach is strong enough to handle you two making googly eyes at each other."

Ben chuckled, but he turned serious instantaneously. "How's your head?"

"Still on my neck."

"No jokes, Riley, please."

"It's fine."

Ben nodded, but he was clearly unconvinced. "Get your stuff and come on up. I know you're planning on taking a long nap and that concussion I know you're lying about needs to be monitored."

"Do you guys share a brain? Is that why you're so good together?"

"The matter is not up for discussion, Mr. Poole."

Riley sighed and took his headphones off, though he wasn't wholly ungrateful for his friend's concern. Standing, he grabbed his backpack from the overhead compartment and walked up to the further row. He sat down next to Ben.

Abigail sat on the other side of Ben and looked over at Riley with a smile. "About time," she said. "We don't bite, you know."

"Not hard, anyway," Riley retorted. Abigail rolled her eyes, again, and returned to the magazine she was reading.

"Just like old times." Ben's grin stretched from ear to ear. "The team is back."

Riley smiled, for Ben's benefit, but he didn't feel as optimistic. He wanted to believe that things weren't as dire as they appeared. At the end of the day, he hoped he wouldn't be alone with no money, no future and no one to turn to.