Another Chase - National Treasure

Two - Broken and Confused Hearts

But was that what this really was, love?

She had said she liked him, maybe even loved him. Maybe.  Said it to herself over and over and over again and again and again. 

It seemed that both Chase sisters were asking themselves that question, and both a lot as of late. Poor Abi and Ben had broken up – a pretty ugly breakup by the sounds of it (she had kicked him out of their shared mansion) – and they were currently dividing up the furniture – well, mostly historical artifacts. Yikes, and Alice thought breaking off her engagement had been bad.

Abi picked Alice up at the airport when her flight arrived in D.C. Despite not being as long as last time since they had seen each together, the sisters were still very thankful to have each other and be together in the same location, instead of a world away, especially now.

"Can we just stay inside this time?" Alice asked as they arrived at Abi's mansion, both sisters knowing full well what had happened when they had ventured out to a gala last time. Ian, that's what had happened. Ian...

Abi chuckled, completely understanding her sister's request. "Sounds sehr gut  to me."

"Gut. And besides, we have a big, huge mansion to spend our time in," Alice added.

"Yeah," agreed Abi. "And all to ourselves, too. No boys allowed."

"Agreed.  But talk of boys allowed?" Alice asked. "You want to talk about it, Abi?"

Abigail gave a small, sad smile. "Thanks Ali, I do. You too?"

"Ja." Good, they were both in agreement, on the same page. Alice linked her arm through her sister's and strode towards the grand front entrance of the house. "Then let's go."

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Despite claiming that she wanted to talk about it, Abi expertly avoided the subject of her ugly breakup with Ben. There was currently something to do with not wanting to part with a certain chair and special tea set... The source of their latest argument. But that was all Alice managed to figure out.  

The sisters ordered in take-out for dinner and stayed in the rest of the evening. 

 Alice herself was ready and willing to listen to whatever Abi wanted to say. Instead, however, Abi turned the conversation over to Alice's own 'boy issues' as she called them.

In dealing with the crumbling of her own relationship, Abi had seemingly taken to 'helping' Alice with hers, despite Alice not wanting the help.

Abi would 'subtly' bring up Ian whenever Alice tried to open up the conversation about how Abi was dealing with (avoiding) Ben and the broken pieces of her own relationship.

But then, Alice couldn't really call her sister out on her avoidance, nor could she herself talk - for she was avoiding talking about it just as much.  The Chase sisters could be very stubborn when they wanted.

"I thought you hated Ian." She had a very clear memory of Abi yelling and cursing at him in German for abducting her sister and holding her against her will. For the record, the abduction part was only partially true, while the 'holding Alice against her will' part wasn't true. Now it seemed Abi had elected herself as their personal matchmaker.

"I did, but that was before I saw him risk his own life to save yours, saw his devotion to you..." She trailed off as though for emphasis. 

Alice didn't need a reminder, for she remembered it all perfectly well, as clear as though it had just happened. 

So romantic. Alice rolled her eyes. "Which you didn't believe at first," she muttered.

Abi sighed. "It would seem we both had our hearts stolen by crazy treasure hunters."

Alice nodded in agreement. "Ja, seems like it." 

(This chapter took longer than I'd hoped, but here it is! 

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :))