Emily swirled the Merlot around in her glass,trying to muster up the courage to call Aaron. It had been two days since Aaron had met Elena, and he had been running through her mind non stop for those two days. His offer to come to D.C. had replayed over and over in her mind. She sighed, and leaned across her bed to her night stand, pulling out a picture. It was a picture of her and Aaron at the Governer's ball, the very night Elena was conceived. They had both blamed it on too much alcohol and clouted decisions, but neither of them had had more than one drink the whole night. Aaron had looked so handsome in his simple black tux, the dark material contrasting against the ruby red silk gown she had worn.

"People are starting to stare." Emily murmured, her cheeks burning as bright as her dress.

Aaron had been so suave and debonair. "Let them."

"We're going to be the next White House gossip if we don't watch out."

"Well, we better give them something to gossip about then shouldn't we?" He replied, before twirling her around and dipping her dramatically.

"Aaron!" she squealed, her heart beating fast, not because of the dip, but because of Aaron.

He leaned in close, Emily could feel the heat of his breath on her neck. "Let's get out of here." he whispered.

Emily tipped her glass back, chugging the rest of her wine. She picked up her phone, and punched in Aaron's number, before the clock caught her eye. It was only one in the afternoon, Aaron's phone would be tucked away in his desk, where it stayed while Aaron worked. She picked up the slip of paper with his office number on. "If you need me for anything at all, even just to talk, call me." had said, slipping her the paper. Emily held her breath as she dialed the number and it began to ring.

. . .

"You can't possibly expect that someone on the terrorist watch list to be granted entry. . ." Aaron muttered to himself, staring at the computer screen. He was still playing catch up from the weekend he had spent away from the office.

There was a knock at the door. Claire, his secretary, poked her head in. "Sorry to bother you sir, but Ms. Emily Rhodes is on line four for you. You told me to put her call through no matter what."

Aaron instantly perked up at the sound of her name. "Yes, thank you Claire!"

He fumbled with the receiver, his palms suddenly sweating.

"Aaron Shore." he answered, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Aaron! I didn't think I'd get hold of you. I know you're busy." Emily replied.

He eyeballed the mountains of paperwork scattered all over his desk. "No, i'm actually not busy at all. What's up?"

"Well,I still can't go back to work, because there's a hound of reporters camped outside my office, and my students are more interested in our relationship than the democratic process."

A pang of guilt hit Aaron. "Em, I'm so sorry. Do you want me to do something about it?"

"No, no! No special treatment but the dean told me to take a break."

"Ah, a break sounds nice." he replied.

"That's just it," Emily sighed. "I don't know how to take a break. I mean I was teaching online during my maternity leave. ."

Aaron chuckled. "That's the Emily Rhodes I know."

"So, I was thinking since I have all this free time, maybe Elena and I could come visit? If that offer still stands?"

Aaron couldn't contain his excitement. "You're coming to D.C.?"

"Slow your roll Cowboy, Just to visit."

"When can you get here? Do you want me to send a car? I can get Mike to personally. . ." Aaron tried not to sound too eager, but he couldn't contain himself.

Emily snickered. "No! My Honda CRV will get us there just fine. How does next week sound? Tuesday? Would that be enough time to fit us in?"

"I always have time for you." Aaron replied.

"Very smooth . See you Tuesday then."

"Ok. see you then. Can't wait." He said hanging up the phone.

"Can't wait for what hot shot?" A familiar voice called from the doorway.

Aaron looked up, surprised. "Isabel!"

"We go out to dinner and then you ghost me. I was beginning to think that you forgot me." Isabel Pardo said, sauntering into Aaron's office.

"I'm sorry, things have been crazy. I didn't forget about you. . . um. . . Issy I. . . "

"The rumors are true, aren't they?" She asked matter of factly.

"I have a daughter. She's two."

Isabel pursed her lips. "You told me you and Emily were never a thing."

He shook his head. "I said we never had a relationship. This was a fling, a one time thing."

"A FLING?" Isabel said, laughing sarcastically. "Aaron I hear you murmur her name in your sleep. She's more than a fling and you and I both know it."

Aaron couldn't fight, he knew she was right. Emily had left a giant hole in his heart, and he covered it with words like "Just a fling" and a nonchalant attitude.

"Are you sure she's even yours?"

Aaron felt as if he had been slapped in the face. "What? Of course! Emily wouldn't do that. Besides she looks exactly like me. She even has some of my mannerisms! Issy it's incredible. We just. . .I don't know. . . bonded right away! she. . ."

Isabel held up her hand. "YOU MET HER?"

Aaron shrugged. "Of course. I don't see the big deal I. . ."

"You don't see the big deal? You can drive out to suburbia to see your "fling" but you can't even call me? I had to find out that you had a baby with someone you told me you never had a relationship with on CNN!"

"Isabel, I . . . I'm still processing it. Besides I didn't think we were that serious."

Isabel's face downturned instantly. "You didn't think we were that serious?! We we're pretty serious when we were together the night before that stupid reporter had to open up this Pandora's box! ! We were pretty serious before the great EMILY decided to leak it to the press that she had a baby with you!"

"Emily didn't do this. She actually doesn't want Elena in the media."

"Oh please. Did you ever stop and think why did this come out now? Who alerted the media Aaron? Someone had to!"

Aaron eyeballed his open door, suppressing the urge to scream at the top of his lungs. He glared at Isabel, "Emily didn't want this."

"No Aaron, she didn't want YOU. That child's two years old and she never thought to even call you?! She wants a relationship with you now? now that you're going to be vice president? That's shady and you know it."

He shook his head. "Emily didn't do this."

Isabel rolled her eyes. "You're going to take her side no matter what."

"I'm not taking her side! I'm not taking anyone's side! THIS IS MY CHILD WERE TALKING ABOUT!"

Isabel walked to the doorway, pausing at the door. "Just don't come crying to me when you get hurt."

"Issy! Wait. . . " he called, but it was too late she was already out the door.