"And Mars said that I have potential." Isabel said, taking a bite of her chicken.
"That's great." Aaron replied.
"He said I could be the next deputy chief of staff."
Aaron glanced at his phone. "Mmhhmm."
Isabel arched her eyebrow. "So how do you like the pilaf?"
Aaron pushed the food around on his plate, oblivious to Isabel's questions. "Sure."
Isabel hit the table. "AARON THOMAS SHORE!"
Aaron snapped out of his thoughts. "What the. . . Izzy what's going on?"
"That's what I'd like to know!" She shouted. "You've been lost in space all evening! You can't go five minutes without looking at your watch!"
"Elena is supposed to be face timing me at seven."
Isabel rolled her eyes. "Of course."
"She's my daughter Isabel!"
"Allegedly! You haven't even established paternity yet!" Isabel screamed.
"We're not having this conversation." Aaron huffed.
"Like Emily's never done anything shady! I just want you to protect yourself. You're getting attached and. . . "
"AND YOU'RE JEALOUS OF A TWO YEAR OLD!"
"Oh you did not just. . . " Isabel said, her face red with suppressed anger.
Aaron's phone began to ring. He glared at Isabel as he stood up from the table.
There's my girl!" he called as he answered the phone, all while his eyes shot daggers at Isabel.
"This conversation isn't finished.' he muttered under his breath as he walked into the other room.
. . .
"Ok Lennie, let me talk to mommy now."
"Bye wuv you!" Elena cheered.
"Love you too!" Aaron replied.
Aaron got a brief shot of Emily sitting on the couch reading a book before the toddler ambushed her with the phone.
"Hello?" Emily said, instantly shaking her hair out of the messy bun that it was tangled in.
"Hey, I know we don't usually talk on these calls, but I have a question for you. . . Not really a question, a proposition." Aaron asked nervously.
"This can't be good." Emily replied, arching her eyebrow.
"I have a convention in Ohio coming up, and I'd really like Elena to join me on stage."
"Aaron. No. . . you know how I feel about putting her out there."
"Penny and Leo are coming with Kirkman, and I'd really like her there with me."
"Aaron, she's two. I don't want her sprawled across the newspaper with everyone in the country critiquing her every move."
"C'mon Em. She's my daughter! It would mean a lot to me. Besides, Lorraine thinks this would be really good publicity for us."
Emily rolled her eyes. "Lorraine. I should have guessed."
"It was my idea first!" Aaron cried.
"I can't believe you can't just respect my wishes! You'd rather use our child as some prop, toting her around for numbers and publicity! That's low Aaron. I'd expect it from Lorraine, but not from you!" Emily yelled, her face beginning to flush.
"Ok, ok!" Aaron said, "Forget I asked."
Emily could hear the dismay in his voice. "I'm sorry. I'm not in a very good mood right now."
"Everything ok?" he asked, his voice suddenly softening.
Emily nodded. "Just stress. Our kitchen sink sprays gallons of water every time you use it, and the repair man can't get out until Tuesday. have a really important work function tomorrow night and my babysitter just cancelled, and. . ."
Aaron's face lit up. "I can watch her!"
Emily bit her lip. "No, I know you're busy, and it's almost the election, and …"
"That's nonsense Em and you know it. What time do you need me there?"
"Can you be here by six?" She asked timidly.
"I'll be there at five thirty." he smiled.
Emily grinned. "Ok see you then."
…
". . . and they lived happily ever after. The End." Aaron glanced over at Elena who was still wide awake. "Ok that's the fifth story, it's time for you to go to sleep."
"No daddy I stay with you." Elena pouted.
"Mommy said you should be in bed by nine."
The stubborn toddler crossed her arms in front of her and kicked her footie pajama clad foot. "Mommy not here!"
Aaron chuckled. "You may look like me, but you got your momma's temper! Tell you what, you can come downstairs with me, but you have to promise to go to sleep."
"I go night night with daddy." Elena said, grinning from ear to ear.
"Well then let's go!" he said, playfully tossing her over his shoulder, and hopping down the stairs.
Not even ten minutes later, Elena was cuddled up into his chest, snoring softly. He knew he should lay her down, but he wanted to enjoy the moment a little more. He smoothed her soft curls off of her face, staring in amazement at the beautiful baby he and Emily had created. Sure he had screwed up a lot in his life, but Elena certainly wasn't one of those times. He kissed the top of her head and she snuggled him closer, murmuring in her sleep. Aaron flipped through the channels, settling on an old Sons of Anarchy episode. He wasn't even ten minutes in before his eyelids started to become heavy and he fell fast asleep, still holding Elena.
….
Emily opened the door as quietly as she could. It was almost one a.m. Aaron had insisted that she stay out as late as she wanted, but she still felt guilty. She heard the quiet murmur of the TV from the living room.
"Aaron?" She called out, but got no reply.
She slipped her shoes off and walked into the living room to find Aaron asleep on the couch, Elena curled up on his chest. A smile spread across her face. She gently scooped Elena up, placing her on her shoulder.
She nudged Aaron slightly with her foot. "Aaron. Psssst. Aaron wake up." She whispered loudly, trying not to wake Elena up.
"Mmmm no." Aaron sighed in his sleep.
"Aaron it's one a.m." She whispered again, nuding him harder.
Aaron lay there, still asleep snoring. Emily shrugged and tossed a fleece Minnie Mouse blanket over him. He murmured a few nonsense words and rolled over, pulling the blanket up tight against his face.
Emily carried Elena upstairs, placing her in her bed. Elena rolled over, and opened her eyes drowsily. "Mommy?"
"It's ok baby go back to sleep." Emily cooed.
Elena closed her eyes. "Night mommy."
Emily leaned down, kissing Elena on the top of the head. "Goodnight baby."
"I love daddy at my house." Elena said softly, not opening her eyes.
Emily smiled. "me too baby, me too."