Based on 2x04... Enjoy:)


Roots Before Branches


"You climbed to the top of the ladder Aaron, but maybe you've forgotten who helped you build it."


After his fight with Nadia, Aaron felt like his body was drained from energy. This job saw him running on fumes and adrenaline and when that was knocked out of him, even for the briefest of moments, he felt so very down.

He eventually found the energy to leave his office and make his way round to the office of the one person he knew would make things better- Emily.

He stood in the doorway and watched as she worked from the sofa in her office, her feet up on the sofa, her shoes off and a bag of chips beside her. Aaron snickered, appreciating that even in the White House, Emily found moments to just be herself.

"Hey" he said quietly as she looked up and greeted him with a smile.

"Hey yourself" she replied as he pushed off the doorway and sat beside her, lifting her legs onto his lap. "You ok?" Emily asked, immediately sensing that he wasn't himself.

"I just had a fight with Nadia... I really screwed up." he confessed.

"The great Aaron Shore doesn't screw up" Emily said with a soft smile.

"I did this time... I thought I was doing something right by her, I thought I was fighting this noble cause but... I wasn't." he said, defeated. "Do you ever feel like you've just lost your way Em?" he asked. "You forget where you've come from?"

Emily thought about it for a second before answering; "Sometimes... it's easy to get swamped in this world of Washington. It's easy to forget that you had a life before it all. It's easy to forget your roots."

Aaron nodded; "I used to pride myself on being in touch with my heritage. It never even occured to me that I'd lost it until today. I've been away from Texas since I was 15 years old. Yet I never forgot where I came from. I never forgot the people who got me where I needed to be... until now."

Emily rested her hand on the back of Aaron's neck; "Your family are proud of you Aaron. You know they are. Nadia says so every time you see her. Maybe you haven't been home in a while... but you're not the only person in Washington who is married to their job. It's not too late to make things right Aaron. It's not too late to reconnect with where you came from. You've got to have roots before branches."

Aaron looked at Emily and the small smile that graced her face was enough to ease him, even for the briefest of moments.

"If I told you that the rest of my family weren't like AJ and my dad, would you believe me?" Aaron asked.

"Well considering you turned out ok, yeah I would believe you." she told him with a light laugh.

"... You want to meet them?"


A short while later, Aaron and Emily had made their way round to a house in downtown Washington. Aaron held Emily's hand tightly as he opened the front door, and walked into the busy house.

Emily immediately smiled when she saw kids running around and adults laughing. It felt like family.

"Aaron!" Nadia said as she walked over to him. "I'm glad you could make it."

"Me too" he said as he hugged Nadia. "I'm sorry about earlier."

"It's ok. You're here now." Nadia said reassuringly.

"Aaron!" an older lady said as she walked towards Aaron and Emily. "Nice of you to finally pop round..." she teased.

"I'm sorry Esmerelda..." Aaron said sincerely.

Esmeralda winked at him, before looking behind him and seeing Emily standing sheepishly. "And who is this beautiful woman you have brought with you?"

"This is my girlfriend Emily. Emily this is my aunt Esmeralda" Aaron introduced.

"It's so nice to meet you" Emily said with a smile.

"My, my Aaron... how did you manage to get someone so beautiful? I didn't realise you were that charming..." Esmeralda teased as Emily giggled.

"I can be charming when I want to be Esme" Aaron responded with a smirk.

"Well you have to be if you want to make it in politics. You work in the White House too don't you? I think I've seen you on TV..." Esmerelda asked.

"Yes, I'm the White House Chief of Staff" Emily confirmed.

Esmeralda smiled, clearly impressed. "Well, we practically have American royalty with us then. Alejandro, make a space for them to sit down." Esmeralda insisted as the men around them scramble to give them seats.

"Your mother was on the phone to me the other day, talking about some fight you and AJ had..." Esmeralda told them.

"Would you believe me if I said AJ had it coming?" Aaron asked.

"Oh definitely" Esmeralda confirmed. "AJ is too like his father, Amada can't seem to knock it out of him." Esmeralda said. "She's going to be so jealous that I saw her Aaron before she did" she teased, knowing how much her sister missed Aaron. But Amada Shore was stubborn, just like her sons, and she was always reluctant to admit that.

"I'll call her tomorrow, maybe see about heading back home for a little while" Aaron told her.

"Remembering your roots huh?" Esmerelda said with a knowing smile.

"Yeah. They're what got me where I am." Aaron said as she squeezed Emily's hand, who instantly squeezed back.

They were ushered to sit down as Esmeralda went to finish the dinner. Emily looped her arms around Aaron's and rested her chin on his shoulder.

"I know AJ is a sucky brother but... this side of your family is great. Thank you for bringing me here." she said quietly.

"Thank you for reminding me that it's not too late to make things right... thank you for being you." he said as he placed a small, sweet kiss on her forehead.


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