Disclaimer: I truly and honestly don't own the movies, characters and occupations.

A/N: So firstly, RedBrickandIvy said I ought to mention the fact that National Treasure 3 isn't coming out until 2014, 10 years after the first one, which is ridiculous. I know this update is close enough to being 11 months overdue but between starting university and mild mind block, I've finally done it and this story is finished. Yes, this is the last chapter so there are a few people to thank like LoremIpsum for suggesting I run with this story after a comment in Three Sides, RedBrickandIvy for being my constant consort despite being 5 (or as it is the minute 8) hours behind me and of course everybody who has read, reviewed, subscribed or favourited this story. Thank you everybody for your support.

Additional A/N: Also this is a semi-birthday present for Burkle so yeah, Happy Birthday.

Chapter Fifteen: At Long Last

Song: Happy Ending by Mika

The man who lives only by hope shall surely die by despair – Italian Proverb

Sometimes only a stumble can prevent a fall – English Proverb

The pale blue sky was slowly being overtaken by a growing golden haze heralding the true lateness of the hour; or earliness, depending how you looked at it.

Riley's fingers closed round the mug that Ben had brought into the living room and placed in his hands not ten minutes beforehand. The contents were warm and the heat seeped into his chilled hands slowly bringing back some feeling in them. His gaze however was fixed on the view outside the window.

Sunrise would be soon and, as exhausted as he felt, Riley couldn't help appreciating the view. That was the problem with his own place, you'd couldn't really see far enough outside.

"I see you came in your ferrari."

Turning, he saw Ben settle into the other chair, armed with his own steaming mug.

"Huh? Oh, yeah." Ben raised an eyebrow and Riley shifted uncomfortably. "I mean, I didn't want to fall asleep at the wheel, did I?" He couldn't help but smirk a little as he turned back to the window, and he didn't need to be a genius to figure that Ben would most likely have seen it.

They both knew why he had really come in the Ferrari.

It had been far too long since he'd last sat behind the wheel of his gorgeous red 360 spyder. It hadn't seemed right. Even tonight he hadn't considered driving it; at least until he'd caught a glimpse of the keys on the side table by the door.

Whizzing through the streets at ridiculous speeds, he had gripped the familiar steering wheel between his fingers and they had fitted so perfectly it was almost as though he'd never been away from it at all; although the somewhat stale smell that lingered above the seats clearly indicated the truth. Still, the smell was nothing that a little time driving with the top down couldn't soon take care of.

His smile grew at the memory of the wind gently ruffling his hair as he swept through the early morning air. It was a feeling he hoped to not soon forget again.

"So… Basically…" No, that wasn't right. "I don't…" That would only sound cheesy. Riley took a swig from his drink, searching desperately within his own head for the right way to say it.

After another swig he sighed, he'd just have to say something and if it sounded stupid he'd just have to live with it. I mean, that had worked so far…sort of.

"You." He pointed at Ben. "You don't need to say anything. At least not yet. Just-Just listen, okay?" A combination of fear, embarrassment and fatigue was swirling around in his head causing a slight delirium for which he was more grateful than he'd probably ever admit. "I'm sorry, Ben." And like that, he'd said it. But it didn't seem enough, not really. "I've been…really stupid since this started. Really, really stupid."

"Stupid's a bit strong."

"It really isn't." His eyes fell to his steaming mug as he slowly recalled the annoyingly-numerous times he'd been stupid, hazy as the memories were. "I knew this was going to be…"

-"Get out!" SMASH!

"I didn't want to find out…"

-"…obviously wasn't important enough…"

"…what happened but I went along anyway. And…"

-"…it's too busy revolving around you!"

His head fell back against the chair as the last one weighed heavy on him. He hadn't meant that one, more than all the others he'd said. "Shit."

"I understand."

"Shush!" Riley pointed at Ben with an accusatory finger. "I'm talking now." The finger dropped as the boy sighed. "It…the stuff…it was difficult, yes…but I should've dealt with it; I mean I'm a grown man, right?" He leant forward, obviously looking for a response this time.

Ben shrugged. "It was a pretty traumatic experience, Riley."

"I turned into an alcoholic." He purposely held forward one finger. "I threw a bottle at you. Hard." A second finger joined the first one. "My brother broke your nose." Three fingers. Riley looked at them with a sense of solemnity.

"In your defence, he did warn me about that."

"It doesn't matter." His gaze fell to his knees again as he lowered his hand. "Fourteen years." Closing his eyes he shook his head. "It's done." There was a small glint of something as his bright blue eyes opened again. "And now, I can move on." The smallest of hopeful smiles grew on Riley's faces, stopping once it was nearly big enough to be a smile in its own right. "Hopefully."

Still grinning, Riley took a shy swig of his drink, half-aware of Ben staring intently at him.

"I'm sorry."

"What? Why?" The kid's head snapped up while he searched his brain for any possible reason why Ben's apology would be necessary but there was nothing. "I'm the one who was an idiot."

"Maybe, but you weren't the only one." Suppressing the laugh that bubbled up at the sight of Riley's slack-jawed confusion, Ben continued. "Alcohol makes you many things, Riley. A liar isn't one of them."

Closing his mouth, Riley again tried to gain some understanding from the words Ben used. "…I don't get it."

"Although most of what you said is debatable," Riley flinched as he again thought of the remark about the world revolving around Ben, "you were right about…the way I treated you after we found the Templar Treasure."

Riley continued to stare at Ben. "…I still don't get it."

Putting down his mug, Ben raised an eyebrow as he sat forward. "Seriously?"

"I was really drunk, Ben. Remember?"

"Do you at least remember telling me that this entire thing was none of my business?"

Riley nodded as he cast his memory back to the argument that had started it all. "Yeah. That bit I remember."

"Well you were right." He sighed, shaking his head as he too remembered facing Riley all that time ago. "The memories of your past were not a 'treasure'… I should've left it."

Silence fell between them as Riley processed what Ben was saying. As it slowly sunk in, he began to smile.

"Thanks, Ben. That means a lot."

He took a deep drink as he leant back in his chair, putting the mug on the table beside him. Then he drew his legs up into the chair, holding them against his chest.

The last year's troubles still sat, kinda heavy on his chest. Heaviest of all was his guilt over how he'd treated Ben during his 'drunken' phase but he felt kind of…calmer and less like he ought to terrorise Mr. Chesney.

Cautiously he shifted in his chair. "So…are we good?"

Ben looked at him quizzically. "Shouldn't I be asking that?" Riley shrugged. "Yeah. I think we are."

"So…" he paused, half-knowing the answer already. "Would you help me with something…?"

As Riley knelt down he carefully placed down a small bunch of flowers. Taking a moment he closed his eyes, remembering as much as he could about the boy who lay beneath.

The memories were few, and some of the details he'd rather not have dwelled but each detail, the sights, the smells…the pains; he allowed each of them to pass before his mind thinking of each of them for but a moment before passing on to the next.

Fourteen years it had been now since the ordeal had finished; one year since he'd first remembered or near enough.

Opening his eyes, Riley waited a moment before he stood up. He didn't bother to turn to Ben who was stood waiting just a short way behind him.

Neither of them moved, Ben wanting to give Riley the space he no doubt needed while Riley read the epigraph again.

'-A child long lost, though far later found

Is finally at rest beneath this hallowed ground

Not on his own at his final demise

At long last revealed by a grown child's cries-

Thomas D. Scott

Forever loved, never forgotten'

"You alright?"

Riley shook his head. "Not really." Then he took a step back and turned to face his friend. "But I will be."

He half-heartedly returned Ben's muted smile. There had never been any doubt that Ben would join him in trying to lie to past to rest and Riley was grateful. Doing this alone would have been terrible.

"Are you ready to go?" Riley sighed deeply.

"I guess." With one last look, he made his way over to Ben. "We still need to pick up Joe anyway." A huge grin began to grow on his face. "And then…to the airport!" he jabbed a finger dramatically in the air.

Ben laughed "Are you excited by any chance?"

"Excited doesn't begin to cover it." Just the thought of getting to the airport was terrifically thrilling. He was going to Spain to visit Annie, Rob and R.J. But he wasn't going alone; Joe was coming with him. "I still think you ought to come."

"Don't be stupid, Riley." Ben patted Riley encouragingly on the back before reaching round his shoulders and pulling him in for a semi-hug. "This is a Poole sibling reunion. I can't get in the way of that."

They'd reached the edge of the cemetery and Riley could've cheered at the sight of his Ferrari. There was nothing he wanted more than to drive around for hours on end for no reason other than he'd missed using his beautiful car. But as it was, he was perfectly happy to drive up to his brother's apartment block before going on his way to Spain.

Jumping over the passenger side into the driver's seat he picked up a pen and pointed it at Ben as he reached out for the door handle.

"You better take care of my car while I'm gone." The stern glare he gave the historian fell kind of short and Ben couldn't help but to laugh. "I'm serious!"

"Am I allowed in?"

Riley feigned thought for a moment before lowering the pen. "Alright." Rolling his eyes Ben opened the door and sat down. "But I swear, if there's even one scratch on it when I get back…" He trailed off as he realised he had no real ending to that threat that he could honestly follow through.

"Don't worry, Riley." Ben interjected. "I'm fully aware of how much you love this car."

"Come on, let's go." He turned the key in the ignition and felt the engine roar into life again. God that feeling was amazing. Riley really had missed driving this glorious machine. Silently he prayed that he would never be too far from it again.

He was about to head out but paused, innocently drummed his fingers on the wheel.

"Sooo…now we're all…you know, good and stuff, are you going to tell me about your secret project with the President?"

Ben raised his eyebrow. "What do you think?"

"Oh well." Riley shrugged, smirking widely as he pulled out the parking space. "It was worth a try."

Don't cry on a sleepless night.

Don't fall down in cold rain.

Live.

Live.

For years to come.

Take me with you into the distant future…

- Immortal Rain Volume 3