Emily was walking into the White House with her boss at her side. She walked up to the door where the chief of staff Charles Langdon and deputy chief of staff Aaron shore standing at the door.

"Mr.secretary welcome please," Landon said

"Charles" Tom answers walking towed his office

"I'm sure you remember Aaron Shore, my deputy chief of staff," Landon said walking into the conference room. Emily gave him a small smile before walking in.

"Aaron, good to see you," Tom said shaking his hand.

"Mr. Secretary," Aaron said before they all walked into the conference room

" I'm going to hazard a guess and say you're not here who's color the president is wearing tonight" Landon guessed as they all took a seat at the table

"That's his call" Emily answers chuckling "if he'll put the secretary's housing initiatives back in these programs can help millions of low income

Families."

"No ones debating the value here Emily," Aaron answered.

"Charlie there is not a single mention of my programs in the speech not one" kirkman said taking his glasses off

"I'm sorry but that's how it's gonna be. The speech is locked." Landon explained

"Does the president value the secretary's opinion Charlie," Emily asked, getting snippy. "Because right now it's hard to tell"

"Em" Tom interrupted stopping her from saying something she would regret

"Give us a Minute," Charlie asked, turning towards Aaron.

"I'll meet you outside," Kirkman whispered to Emily, who stood up and followed Aaron into the hallway. She walked into a side office and leaned against the desk when Aaron walked in.

"I'm going to kill you," she said as Aaron closed the door.

" Em I didn't have a say in any of this," he said walking towards her.

"But I'm guessing you knew and you didn't tell me I mean we were together this morning," she said crossing her arms.

" That is because I knew you would be mad. I didn't want to ruin the mood," he said, placing his hands on her hips.she just looked up at him. "I'm sorry," he said sincerely.

" I know," she said standing up wrapping her arms around his neck. Before pressing onto her tiptoes and pecking him on the lips. "I should probably go wait for the Tom," she said

" Will I be able to see my girlfriend tonight?" he asked, giving her his classic smirk.

"I don't know I guess it's going to depend if your office drops any more bombs on mine." She said, raising her eyebrows.

"Ok," he said, giving her another kiss before she went to walk out of the office. They had been dating in secret for about 3 months know and Aaron could sincerely say that he had not been this happy in a long time. "I'll see you tonight Rhodes'' he said

" see you tonight shore." She said chuckling before opening the door and exiting. Aaron chuckled shaking his head before sinking into his chair

…

Emily was fixing her hair before she left to go to Aaron's apartment with the news on. She got a text from Aaron saying he was going to have to work a little late but she could go over and wait saying that he left a key under the mat in front of his door. She was finishing her hair when she heard the headline.

" We are getting reports of some kind of explosion in or around the capitol building." Is all she heard from her bedroom. She felt her stomach drop as she walked into her bedroom and looked at the tv. She instantly reached for her phone a dialed Aaron's number

"Pick up pick up" she murmured

"This is Aaron shore leave a message" she heard his voice mail go off. She barely even heard it he always answered

" Aaron please call me back and tell me you didn't end up going to the state of the union," she said leaving a voicemail and hanging up she felt tears forming in her eyes before she grabbed her coat and drove to the White House.

…

Aaron was walking through the halls of the White House and he took one second to stop. He pulled out his phone and saw a voicemail from Emily 'shit I should have texted her she is probably scared out of her mind' he put the phone and heard Emily's voice. "Aaron please call me back and tell me you didn't end up going to the state of the union" before she hung up he was about to call her back when she heard her from behind him.

"Aaron I finally got past the gate" he heard as she let a breath out.

"I can't talk right now em I need to get back down to PEOC."

"Is Tom going to be in the meeting?" she asked as she hurried through the hall.

"It is his meeting"

"Then I'm coming with you," she said causing Aaron to chuckle

"I'm sorry, but em it's code word clearance." He said stopping turning toward her

"I've been with secretary kirkman a staff for three years Aaron"

"It's president kirkman know Emily and I'm sorry but you're not authorized"

"Aaron," she said pleading.

"I'm I'm sorry but I can't I'll find you when I'm done"

"President Kirkman needs people he knows by his side you know better than anyone why it is important why there is for him right now."

"Em you can't I'm sorry I'll find you when I get out," he said before turning around and walking down the hallway. As announced Emily was that he would not let her come she was glad to see that Aaron didn't decide at the last second. She knew he probably didn't but she felt like she couldn't breathe until she saw him in the hallway.

…

Aaron got out of the pool meeting at 2 in the morning. He opened the door of his office and found Emily sitting on the couch. He closes the door as she stood up and walked toward him. She threw her arms around his neck. He wrapped her arms around her waist.

"Are you ok?" he whispered into her ear.

"Yeah I was just scared you went to the Capital building on the last second," she said into his shoulder

"No no I was getting ready to meet you at my apartment," he said, pulling away seeing the tears on her cheeks which he quickly wiped away. "Hey it's going to be ok we're going to get through this," He said cradling her neck.

"I know I just I was so scared that you were there and this is just crazy," she said swiping her eyes sinking into the couch

"I know I know but right now the president needs us to be strong he needs you to be strong." He said reaching over the back of the couch rubbing her shoulders.

"No I know I know." She said on the couch as Aaron wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "When is his speech," she asked leaning her head against his Bicep.

"15 minutes," he said as she stood up.

"Are you ok?" she said placing her arms around his neck

"I'm in shock but I'll be ok," he said, giving her a hug. " let's go save the world Rhodes," he said before they exited into the hallway.

…

After the president's speech, the president sent Aaron Emily and Seth home to get some rest. Aaron and Emily both went back to his place. Emily was in the bathroom washing her face while Aaron sank into the bed. His mind instantly went to all of his friends that went tonight. Who had begged him to come with them but he said no saying he had too much work to finish even though he knew he was meeting Emily at his apartment to have dinner and watch from his couch. He dropped his head into his hands. He started to cry. He had been holding it in while he was around Emily or anyone else. He hadn't heard Emily open the sliding bathroom door. "Aaron" she whispered before coming to sit next to him on the bed and taking him in his arms. "It's going to be ok" she whispered into his hair giving him a kiss onto the top of his head