"C'mon Em pick up." Aaron muttered as he received her voicemail once again. He had tried calling her the whole way to Baltimore to no avail. He threw the phone onto the passenger seat, no use in calling now, he was almost to her house.

"No no no" he cried out loud as the car rounded the corner onto Emily's street. The small patch of sidewalk in front of Emily's townhouse was littered with reporters, cameramen, and paparazzi, spilling out onto the street.

He did a quick U turn and parked the next block over. He opened his trunk and pulled out a hoodie and a worn out El Paso Coyotes ball cap, a trick Kirkman had taught him. He quickly shrugged the hoodie over his dress shirt and suspenders, placed the ball cap on his head, and prayed that the disguise was enough. He walked briskly through the alley, virtually undetected. He quickly scaled the privacy fence into Emily's backyard, and ran through the yard. He knocked loudly on the back door.

"I SWEAR IF YOU DON'T LEAVE I'M CALLING THE COPS!" Emily shouted from behind the door. "I HAVE A GUN!"

Aaron knocked again. "EM! Em it's me, Aaron! Open up!"

He saw the curtain move slightly and Emily's big brown eyes peeping out. She opened the door and he ran in, locking the door behind him.

Emily's face flooded with relief and she collapsed into Aaron's chest. "I thought you were some rouge reporter."

"You didn't answer, I was worried." He replied, cradling Emily.

"How did you get into my backyard?"

"I climbed your fence."

"You climbed my fence?!" She exclaimed.

"Yes! Still want to make fun of my cross fit?"

Emily squeezed him tight. "They've been out there all evening."

"I am so sorry. I never meant for this to happen." Aaron replied, stroking Emily's hair gently. "I never wanted you or Elena dragged into any of this."

"How did they get her picture?! I haven't even handed them out yet. You're the only one I gave a copy to." Emily cried, her eyes welling up with tears.

Aaron grasped her chin softly, pulling her gaze up to meet his. "Emily I promise you I did not give them her picture."

Emily's body relaxed slightly, her pensive look melting slightly. "I know you would never do that."

Aaron's face downturned, pain evident in his eyes. "My one job as her father was to keep her out of the public eye and I can't even do that."

Emily pushed him away slightly. "Hey! You listen to me. You are a great father! The fact that you just drove out here and ninja'd over our privacy fence in dress pants proves that you would do anything for your little girl."

Aaron grinned slightly. "I didn't do it just for her."

"This is going to be horrible for your campaign." Emily replied, ignoring his flirtatious compliment.

"I don't care about the campaign. I care about you."

"Aaron don't. . . that kiss was a . . ."

"That kiss was not a mistake." he declared boldly.

"What about Isabel? The statement you put out. . ."

Aaron looked at her, confused. "What statement?"

Emily pulled up an article and read from her phone. "When contacted, had this to say about the incident. "This is nothing but an attempt to slander the credibility and values that the Kirkman campaign stands for. I have contact with limited only to the well being of my child. I was caring for my daughter while her mother attended a work event, and it became late. I made the responsible decision to sleep on the couch in the family room, rather than drive back to D.C. while exhausted. I am in a monogamous, faithful, relationship with my long time girlfriend, Pardo. The pain and turmoil that this has caused our relationship, saddens me deeply."

"What? Let me see that" he said, snatching her phone. He read over the statement, sighing loudly. "I didn't release this statement. I drove out here as soon as I saw the news. This has Lorraine written all over it."

"This whole "scandal" has Lorraine written all over it." Emily scoffed.

Aaron chewed on his bottom lip slightly. "Lorraine wouldn't sabotage her own campaign."

"All publicity is good publicity. . . isn't that what she always says?"

"I told her that we didn't want Elena. . . wait, where is Elena?" He asked, suddenly hyper aware of the toddler's absence.

Emily gestured towards the living room. " I gave her free reign of my tablet and let her have Oreos for dinner. She watched the Little Mermaid in a blanket fort in the living room until she fell asleep. She doesn't even realize that there's a mob of tabloid reporters outside our house."

Aaron glanced into the living room, bright lights from the news vans peaking through the heavy curtains Emily had pulled tight. "You can't stay here. Go pack a bag. One for you, and one for Elena."

"Where are we going?" Emily asked softly.

Aaron placed his hands squarely on his hips. "You're staying with me."

...

"Knock Knock!" Lorraine called as she waltzed into Isabel's office.

Isabel smiled sheepishly. Something about the woman just made her feel on edge. "Lorraine! What do I owe the pleasure?"

"I came to talk about saving your boy toys campaign."

Isabel's face wrinkled. "I don't think we're even together anymore I. . ."

Lorraine waved a hand in front of Isabel's face. "Nonsense. Didn't you see the statement I put out when all this baby mama drama dropped on Friday? He told me what to say, I would never release a statement without his and Kirkman's approval. He's just giving you time to cool off. I wouldn't be surprised if there was an engagement ring hidden away somewhere right now."

Isabel perked up, suddenly intrigued. "Aaron said that?"

Lorraine shrugged coyly. "Maybe. . ."

"We haven't even been on speaking terms. . . I thought for sure that Emily. . ."

"Emily is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about."

"What about her?"

"She's bringing Aaron down. His head is out of the game. She's caused nothing but drama and problems since she came back. If Aaron wants him and Kirkman to win this election, we need Emily out of his life."

Isabel's face wrinkled up in confusion. "What? How do we do that?"

Lorraine spread a newspaper out on Isabel's desk. "SHORE'S DAUGHTER SLATED TO ATTEND OHIO CONFERENCE." It read, with a picture of Elena front and center.

"I thought Emily didn't want her to go, because she didn't want her in the limelight?" Isabel questioned.

Lorraine looked up from the paper, her grin wrapping up her face like a cheshire cat's. "Well her photo was leaked to the press, so she was already in the limelight, so Emily swayed."

"I still can't believe someone leaked a photo of her to the press. I heard that only Aaron had a copy of it."

Lorraine nodded. "It's a shame. Aaron should be more careful where he leaves his wallet."

Isabel arched her eyebrow. "Lorraine did you. . ."

Lorraine held a finger to her lips. "Shhhhh I have a plan."