AN: Still a bit of ambiguity in this chapter. Things will start to clear up in the next.

He smiled as he stepped out onto the porch, already opening his arms to her.

"Elizabeth!"

"Hi," she breathed as she moved forward, giving him a hug even as she felt the nervous jitters of the two agents that hovered behind.

His chin pressed into the top of her head as he spoke.

"It's been too long."

She hadn't been here, hadn't seen them in a year.

He pulled away, looking her up and down. "It looks good on you."

She cocked a brow. "What's that?"

Aaron smirked. "The power." His lips twitched. "You're doing good," he said as he stepped to the right, motioning her inside. "Making real change happen." He followed a step behind.

"Sometimes," she muttered.

Her eyes roamed as he helped her with her coat, hanging it on the coat tree beside the door.

"Sometimes I think the good we do fails to outweigh the evil."

He took the small box she had clutched in her right hand and set it on top of the credenza. "Then why keep fighting?" He didn't miss a beat, almost as if they had this same conversation every year.

Maybe they did.

"Because of my kids." She twisted her hands together. "Because of your girls."

He gave her a small smile.

She stared into his eyes. "You've painted," she said after a moment.

His lips pulled at the corners. "Nothing gets past you, ex-CIA McCord."

His laugh made her smile.

"Come on." He waved a hand. "They're in the kitchen."

She swiped the small box wrapped in pink ribbon from the table before following him towards the back of the house.

"Girls."

She was smiling before she even turned the corner into the kitchen. And her heels clicked against the tile. The sound echoed off the walls until heads lifted and the kitchen erupted in excitement.

"Aunt Liz!"

Emma was the first one out of her seat and into her arms. And Maggie followed.

Hugs were given and kisses were pressed onto the tops of each of their heads. She breathed them in, and squeezed them tight, holding on as long as they'd allowed. And she knew, without having to glance back over her shoulder that Aaron stood to the side as tears built in the corners of his eyes.

"We've missed you."

Her fingers tangled in the ends of Maggie's hair.

She held her closer. "I've missed you more."

Maggie pulled away and stepped towards her father while Emma stayed at her side, leaning into her.

Aaron clapped his hands together. "Who's up for pancakes?"

"I'll never turn down pancakes," she said as she squeezed Emma's shoulder.