Emily knew it was bad news when Kirkman called her into his office. They'd just found out he wasn't being kicked out of office and they'd averted a government shutdown, so she should be feeling good. And she had been when she'd agreed to split a bottle of champagne with Kendra. Blow off a little steam after an incredibly stressful day. And for a full twenty seven minutes she'd allowed herself to forget about leakers, and investigations, and her own questionably legal activities, and just be happy. But working in the White House had taught her that letting your guard down, letting yourself feel happy was always followed by devastation. So there was a less than zero chance she was being summoned to the Oval Office for good news.

Take for instance her recent obsession. She'd kissed Aaron Shore and not twelve hours later was in charge of investigating him for treason. Amazing high, followed by an even more spectacular low. A low so spectacular that even a year later Aaron was not remotely interested in picking up where they'd left off.

In the two minutes it took her to walk to the Oval Office she ran through the possibilities, terrorist attack, war, assassination, natural disasters, the cabinet rethinking their decision. But he hadn't asked for Kendra. And even more suspiciously Aaron and Seth were not rushing down the hallway with her.

If the President only wanted to see her, it must be an Emily issue. And that's when it hit her, moments before she opened the door to the Oval Office. She was being fired. Really, Kirkman would be crazy not to. She'd instructed Chuck to break the law. And even if you could manage to forgive that, honestly could she really say she was all that effective as Chief of Staff? Kirkman had nearly gotten kicked out of office. He'd be crazy not to want a new Chief of Staff.

As she made her way to his desk where he sat as if lost in thought she wondered if he'd let her claim she'd resigned. Or after Moss' stunt today would he feel the need to make an example of her. The phrases "gross misconduct" and "referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution" played through her head as she sat down. A little clumsily. Because of course she'd indulged in a little champagne tonight, and now would be getting fired drunk. Well not drunk, but certainly tipsy.

"Sir?" She finally said when it became clear he was not going to speak first.

"Emily. Sorry to tear you away from your celebration."

"Not at all, sir."

"I've been thinking a lot about Alex today.". He started.

Emily listened without paying attention, hoping she was nodding along at the right points as Kirkman talked about the first conversations he'd had with Alex when he'd become president.

She felt bad letting her mind wander, but the combination of panic and alcohol wouldn't allow her to focus. She wondered if he would make Aaron Chief of Staff when she was gone. He was the logical choice, she thought. Kirkman trusted him, he was good at the job. Better than her in some ways she admitted bitterly to herself. It wasn't that she didn't trust him anymore, or even disliked him like she had in the old days. But she had to admit she was a little jealous of how effortlessly things seemed to work out for him. And a little upset that he'd described one of the best kisses of her life as merely 'serviceable'. If he had to turn her down, the least he could do is admit that the kiss had been unforgettable.

'Resignation'

The word jerked her from her thoughts. She let out a breath. He was going to let her resign. "I understand Sir." She said, cursing herself as tears pricked at her eyes. Because as much as she'd told herself she was being fired, she hadn't truly believed Kirkman would do it. He was the guy who always had one last trick up his sleeve.

"I know this is hard to hear, but it is the right decision. For the country, for me."

The entire country would be better off without Emily. As would her quasi father figure. Perfect.

"I wanted to let you know first, but we will need to move quickly. I will be letting Darby know shortly."

"Darby?" Eventually the Vice President would need to know she was getting the ax, but it hardly seemed urgent.

"Yes. As she will be President next week, it seems wise to inform her."

"But…" Her brain was not computing. "The Cabinet didn't remove you." They hadn't, there wasn't enough champagne in the world for her to get that detail mixed up.

"No. But I realize now it's what I need to do. Darby was wrong, I am not the man I was when I took office. I can't be. Not without Alex."

"But you can't"

Kirkman gave her a sad, gentle smile. "Actually I think you will find it is one of the things I absolutely can do. No Senate approval needed."

"But." She drew a blank. Kirkman might always have one more trick up his sleeve, but that didn't help when the person she needed to convince was Kirkman.

"I couldn't have done any of this without you Emily. And I know it's too much to ask, but now I need you to do this for me."

And just like every other time Kirkman had asked her to do the impossible, she couldn't say no.


One Week Later

"Montez is taking Al and McCoy with her."

"Kristen has an in with NYU."

It was the most depressing drinking game. Stare morosely in your cup and break the silence every minute or so to share rumors of where your former colleagues were getting job offers. Or better yet, where you could hope to get one.

"I hear Angleman needs a new strategist."

"At least one, if he thinks he's getting reelected."

"He's a Republican."

Lyor shrugged. Emily never understood how someone could jump from working for one party to another. But then, who understood Lyor? She did have to admit that he would have options. Election season was somehow already heating up, and Lyor always managed to land on his feet and find some campaign that needed him.

Seth hadn't said it, but she could tell he was leaving politics. He'd been teetering on the edge of that decision for months now anyway, and she thought he felt Kirkman's resignation the same way she did. A gut punch that confirmed all her worse thoughts and fears about DC. He might write a book she thought, or end up a talking head on cable news. But he wouldn't be angling for something in DC. She was already missing him the way she probably should have when he'd dumped her. But they were always better friends then lovers anyway, so while the breakup had slid easily off her back, this would hurt.

Kendra had all but confirmed she'd been offered something on K street. The way she casually mentioned lobbying wasn't that bad really, and stood up for anyone they accused of selling out. It was clear as glass. But it seemed none of them wanted to be the first to admit they had something lined up. Well Lyor wouldn't have minded, but clearly the 'i's had not been dotted on his contract yet.

Which left her with Aaron as the one she couldn't figure out. She'd been surprised when he'd offered to host this pity party. He'd distanced himself from their core group this year. Where it had once been Emily, Aaron and Seth, it had transformed into Emily, Seth, Lyor, Kendra, and oh yeah Aaron too. But what was even more surprising than him hosting was the fact that he wasn't drinking.

Just like her, he had been nursing the same glass of whiskey all night. She knew why she wasn't drinking. As Seth put it, she was a glutton for punishment and was booked on the morning shows tomorrow morning. Kirkman's unpaid spokesperson, to try and put a good spin on his legacy. It would be quick at least, she thought. No one would want to spend much time on Kirkman when they had the first woman president to celebrate. And she couldn't blame them. Any other time she would have been shouting from the rooftops as well.

Aaron on the other hand, hadn't given any reason for his relative sobriety, just like he hadn't given even a hint as to where he was headed next. But he must have something lined up, she thought. Or else why wouldn't he be drinking away their failure like everyone else.

She did have one theory that bothered her more than it should have. There was a rumor circulating that Darby was keeping someone senior from Kirkman's team. She actually kept quite a few more junior people, and was mostly keeping the cabinet intact. But for the senior roles she was bringing over her own staff. But the rumor was flying that someone senior from Kirkman's team had been offered a plum assignment with Darby's team.

It had to be Aaron. Chief of Staff, Emily figured. It was smart. Just like it had been when she imagined Kirkman was firing her. But as much as it shouldn't it felt like he was crossing enemy lines. And she had to admit she was just a tiny bit jealous. Or okay, incredibly jealous.

He must have noticed her staring daggers at him because he sat down next to her, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body and said, "I heard Emily is taking a position with NASA, wants to get as far as she can from America."

"You know more astronauts are from Ohio than any other state." It was one of those Ohio state facts that tumbled out of her mouth no matter how inappropriate the context, you had to take what you could when you were from Akron.

"We know." Seth rolled his eyes.

"Because everyone wants to get as far from Ohio as they can." Kendra added.

She flipped them off.

As if by some committee decision she was not a part of Seth, Lyor and Kendra all begged off in the next ten minutes, claiming Lyft arrivals, plans for tomorrow, and the need to head off a hangover. She thought about leaving too, clearly the party was over but sometime in the last five minutes Aaron had put his arm around the back of his couch, and despite her lingering aggravation over the 'serviceable' comment she decided to stick around and see where the night took them.

"What am I going to do?"

"Write a book?"

Apparently Aaron had the same opinion of her as she did of Seth. No longer suited for politics. "Who would read that?"

"It's not who would read it, it's who would buy it?"

"Okay, then who would buy it."

"Guys who wanna get laid and think having a copy on their coffee table will impress women. Aunt's who don't really know their nieces but want them to be feminist."

She scanned Aarons coffee table for any tell tale memoirs but it was neat and minimalist like the rest of his apartment. Only a chess board kept it from looking sterile. "That feels like a rather niche market."

"I'll buy one."

"Because you wanna get laid or because you have a niece?"

"Okay, I'll buy two."

She shook her head. "Well I hope that works for you."

"You know there really are some benefits to being out of politics." He said, resting his hand on her knee.

"Really?"

"Really. When's the last time you've been able to drink as much as you want on a Thursday?"

"I'm not drinking now."

"Yeah, cause you're an insane person."

"You're not drinking either." He shrugged, taking a sip of the water she hadn't noticed he'd exchanged his whiskey for. "Darby's offering you something, isn't she?". She couldn't take his platitudes about getting out of politics while suspecting he was headed for greater things.

He sighed. "I haven't made any official decisions yet."

The confirmation of what she's told herself she already knew stung. "Really? Like you're not dying to get your old office back."

"Like I said, there's benefits to being out of politics."

"You're that desperate to get drunk on a weeknight?"

"I've never gotten high before. You can't do that working in the White House."

"You're giving up a career you've worked your whole life for to smoke a little pot?"

"It's not going to be a little pot. And there are other things…"

"Anything you care to share with the class?"

He leans back, a wolfish grin on his face, "So a couple months ago, I was out at a bar, and these two super good looking women, like model hot, came up to me and invited me back to their hotel room to, well you know…. But with my job and everything I had to say no."

"You know they were probably spies right? Like almost definitely spies? Or maybe journalists, but like 100% spies."

"You know, that's your problem Emily. You never look at the bright side of a situation."

"I don't understand why men are obsessed with threesomes anyway. Most of them can't even get one woman off"

Aaron chucked, "Trust me, that's never been an issue for me."

In Emily's experience, arrogant guys like Aaron were the most likely to be the ones who couldn't find your clit with a map. "Trust you?"

"Or would you prefer a more practical demonstration?"

Practical?" She sputtered. Sure she'd stayed behind to flirt with him, but she hadn't expected things to take a turn this quickly.

"Unless you'd like me to provide you with references?" His hand was still on her knee, hot, reminding her that he was ready to take the next step.

"But what about…?" She tried to remember his reasoning for not pursuing anything. Something about them being low rent crooks.

"We're not working together anymore. Like I said there are benefits."

"Benefits." She repeated, well aware what he was proposing and desperate to be the kind of woman who could turn off her brain and say yes.

"Only if you're interested."

"I am." It hardly seemed her voice that was answering him, but she was desperate to feel good.

He leaned in toward her and she closed her eyes, anticipating the feel of his lips on hers. But to her surprise he brushed past them, whispering, in a commanding voice that turned her on more than she wanted to admit, "Lean back."

Some part of her protested that she wasn't the kind of woman that did this before even a kiss, but another more powerful part of her thought that being that kind of woman was yet to get her what she wanted. So she leaned backwards, eyes still closed, the middle of her back falling against the arm of the couch.

"Perfect." He murmured. She felt his head moving down her body, lips not touching her but feeling barely millimeters from her body, stopping only shortly to suck her right breast through her shirt, before he came to a stop just above the start of her pants.

Agonizingly slowly he first untucked her shirt from her pants, feeling every newly exposed inch of skin. Then with the same maddening pace he unzipped her fly and pulled her pants down her legs, this time allowing his lips to follow pressing kisses down her legs. Then on the other leg he kissed his way back up, stopping halfway up her thigh when he started lightly rubbing her pussy through her panties.

Her back arched and she felt her hips entirely of their own accord start slightly rocking, she needed Aaron to move a hell of a lot faster then he was.

But telepathy didn't work with him as he continued his exploration of her body, pushing her panties aside and ever so slowly inserting a finger into her. Just a finger shouldn't feel so good, she thought as she let out a deep moan. And she realized he was not one of those men incapable of locating the clit, as his thumb started circling over it, alternating between gentle touches and applying pressure.

"Oh fuck, Aaron."

He didn't reply but slightly increased his pace, more quickly pushing in and out of her, while still playing with her clit.

"Mmm, yes." She managed between moans.

To her frustration just as she was getting close he removed his hand. Just as she was about to protest he continued kissing his way closer to her pussy. Then using one hand to pull her panties down her leg he started sucking on her clit.

"Fuck." Involuntarily her legs clenched around his head pulling him closer while the rocking of her hips increased in frequency.

As he inserted two fingers into her this time, she grasped his hair, unable to form a coherent thought. His mouth continued at her clit alternating between sucking and licking, as her world for a moment almost went black while she rode out the waves of pleasure coursing through her.

When she came back to earth and sat up Aaron was sitting in the middle of the couch looking awfully pleased with himself. Which she had to admit he had good reason to, clearly he had well and truly proved he knew how to get a woman off. She watched him very slowly rub his hand up and down his erect cock. Not looking like he was trying to get off, rather getting ready for her to join in.

For a second she was unsure what to do, he had thus far taken all control tonight. But she pulled her mind together and in one fluid movement pulled off her top and bra, leaving her fully naked. In a way glaringly naked compared with Aaron who had only opened his fly. She straddled him, letting her wet pussy rub against his cock, finally hearing his sharp intake of breath.

Still all bravado he asked, "So, what did you think?"

She thought about telling him it was serviceable, but decided she didn't want to play that game, "Amazing."

He grinned, and she kissed him, tasting herself on his lips.

She needed more of him and almost every part of her body was calling out for her to align them and take his cock inside her, but she wanted him to feel the same frustration she had. She wanted him to want this just as much as she did. So pulling her lips away from his she started slowly pressing kisses down his body, unbuttoning his shirt as she went.

When she reached his cock she pulled his pants down a little further and then started slowly licking his balls and the base of his cock, while she in what she hoped mirrored his frustratingly leisurely movements rubbed his shaft. She was pleased to see it jerk as his hands immediately came down, one grasping her shoulder the other wrapped in her hair.

She kissed her way up his shaft and when she reached the head she lazily licked her way around it before taking it in her mouth. She tasted his salty precum and moaned around him, letting him feel the vibration.

She alternated between taking as much of him as she could into her mouth, and licking up and down his shaft getting him wet so she could squeeze her fingers around him and rub him. She was sucking on his balls when he gasped, "Em, stop. I want to cum inside you." She pulled away from him, pleased that two could indeed play at his game.

He kicked his pants off and pulled his shirt away faster then Emily would have thought possible. And then he pressed her on her back, and any thought or impression of taking their time was gone when he thrust into her.

It took her body a moment to adjust to him, and then she wrapped her legs around his waist as he drove into her faster and faster. This time when she came apart she dug her nails down his back, not cognizant of if she was leaving a mark. And he followed not far behind, moaning her name before going still.

"Damn." He said after pulling out of her. She didn't reply, unsure how to voice what she was feeling.

He picked her up bridal style, and while normally she would protest that she could walk just fine, she let him carry her to his bedroom, and lay her down on the bed. Lying down beside her he said, "See? Benefits to not working together."

"Okay, you right."

She expected him to gloat, but instead he pressed a kiss at the base of her neck and spooned her, clearly ready to fall off to sleep.

"You should take it."

"Huh?"

"Chief of Staff. Darby. Your country needs you and all that."

"I appreciate the vote of confidence, but it's not just that."

"We still wouldn't be working together."

He's silent for a while and embarrassed she realized that he never said the other reason had anything to do with her: them. Finally when she thinks he's dropped the conversation altogether he says, "It's not chief of staff. She's offering VP."

"Oh." She replied lamely. VP was different. VP she couldn't even wrap her head around.

"Yeah. 'Oh' is right."

She realized now that he sounded anxious. If he was anything like her Vice President was so far from what she could even imagine. Vice President immediately made you a viable Presidential candidate. President. The thought made her mind spin. "You'd be good."

"Thank you." He chucked. "But I actually have another conundrum."

"Which is?" She didn't understand how he wasn't freaking out about this, rather lying still beside her stroking her hair.

"I had my choice of Chief of Staff all picked out, it would be a step down for her, but I was pretty sure I could talk her into it, since I really couldn't see myself doing the job without her. But then she went and reminded me just how enjoyable it is not working with her."

"Oh." Once again it was all she could say. The lure of the familiar was there, they worked well together, she knew the job. Her sensible side said it was better to take the good job then bet on a romantic dream with a guy she had gone on zero dates with and slept with once. Who was yet to offer her anything beyond, 'Well wasn't that fun.' But another side of her, partially romantic, partially burnt out by the last year and half in the White House, took control and said, "I'm sure we could find you another Chief of Staff."

She thought she could feel him smile against her neck. "Well, then what do you think about Second Lady."

"I could give it a try." She said as a million details and reasons to say no whipped thought her head.

"Well then. VP it is, I guess."

VP. The thought still scared her. Second Lady. The thought terrified her.