Welcome to Bermuda

Situation Seven: The Office Chatter

"So, I wanted to follow up? About what we talked about?" Kendra was leaning into Emily's office, she was talking to Seth, but her eyes had drifted to Emily before darting back.

"Oh." He glanced at her and she turned the corner of her mouth up slightly before gesturing to Kendra. "Come in."

It had been Seth's idea to go to Kendra, and he had actually done the going. Emily wasn't sure it was a good idea, or necessary, but she hadn't really put up much of a fight.

"So I agree with Seth." Kendra nodded, looking at Emily. "That it could be construed as a conflict of interest." Emily looked at her hands. "But I was talking to Aaron and-."

"What?" Her head snapped up at the mention of the National Security Advisor. "Aaron knows?"

"Yeah." Seth turned towards her stiffly. "I forgot to tell you, Aaron was in Kendra's office when I stopped in. Apparently that's where he hangs out since he ditched us."

Emily swallowed hard her gaze dropping again, Seth didn't notice.

"Anyway, I thought it would be weirder to ask him to leave." Wright shrugged, Emily pressed her lips together. Kendra gave her a long glance.

"So, after you left, he mentioned that he'd be willing to take you on board as spokesperson and communications for NSC." Emily found herself looking at Kendra again in surprise. "If the two of you decided to pursue a relationship." Kendra's eyes bore into hers, her expression passive. Emily wondered how she managed to stay so blank faced but still give away so much.

"That's.. Great…" Seth said a little too cheerily, turning and smiling at Emily.

She gave him another small smile, watching the light in the other woman's eyes dim again. Emily suddenly felt like she'd let the other woman down somehow.

"I'd like it if you two kept me posted." The attorney said softly.

"Yeah." Wright nodded before looking at his watch. "I have to get going."

"I'll walk with you." Kendra whispered, giving Emily another look, the chief of staff looked away.

…

Emily Rhodes had not been able to focus on anything all day. Segments of the five minute conversation had been swirling in and out of her mind distracting her from every important piece of information she needed to be giving her attention to.

Aaron hung out in Kendra's office now.

If the two of you decide to pursue a relationship.

Aaron knew. Aaron had offered Seth a job.

Kendra's eyes had searched hers when she said If.

Aaron KNEW.

Aaron hung out with Kendra now.

If the two of you decide..

She looked around her office.

Aaron's office.

The office where she'd kissed him.

The office where she'd kissed Seth.

She'd kissed Seth.

Pursue a relationship.

Kendra had looked at her knowingly.

Kendra had seemed disappointed in her.

Since he ditched us. She'd kissed Seth.

Before she'd really thought about it Emily Rhodes was on her feet and being pulled like a magnet down the hallway.

…..

"I already said the part about not wanting to talk about it anymore right?" Aaron Shore let his lungs deflate slowly until his body felt empty.

"I just think it was really nice of you that's all." Kendra shrugged noncommittally, before taking a bite of the carrot stick she'd been pointing at him. "Helping two starcrossed lovers."

Aaron grimaced up at the ceiling and she smirked.

"Seth's a good guy." Aaron squeaked.

"I'm just surprised you wanted to help that's all."

"Why's that?" He sighed, letting his head lull to the side so he could see her face.

"Since you're in love with her and all." Kendra shrugged, watching his eyes widen for a second before his lips curved into a grin. She waited, tilting her face towards him when he continued his silence.

"What?" His voice was hoarse and exasperated.

"I don't know, I thought you'd at least try to deny it." She laughed.

"Would you have believed me if I tried?" He groaned, rubbing his hands over his tired face.

"Of course not." She snorted.

"Then what's the point?" He smirked again.

"Does she know?" Shore shrugged at her question. "Don't you think you should tell her?

"Sure. 'Hey Em! l know it's been awhile since we talked and I know you're starting something with a totally decent human being; but it turns out I that I still have unresolved feelings from last year. If fact I'm kind in love with you. So.. if this doesn't creep you out.. Oh yeah, and if it doesn't work out with Seth. Come find me.'"

"Should I look for you here or in your office?"

Aaron Shore jumped forward in his chair at the sound of breathy voice echoing from the doorway; sending hit back a little too far. He yelped before rocking forward and stumbling into a standing position. Kendra looked from him to the doorway in stunned silence.

Emily Rhodes' saucer sized eyes were completely focused on the man in the room. Kendra swung her gaze back, watching Aaron's chest heave as he tried to regain his composure, his glance flickering between the floor and Emily. The White House Council slowly pulled herself up from her spot.

"On that note." She opened the door all the way and gestured for Emily to come in before slipping past her. "I'll close the door behind me."

"How much of that did you-?" He furrowed his eyebrows at her.

"The part where you said you love me." She nodded. Shore put his hands on his hips and leaned forward slightly at the waist. "You.. we don't even talk anymore." She breathed.

"Em."

"You barely look at me." He looked at the ceiling. "You're not even looking at me now." He swallowed hard before forcing himself to face her. "And when you do it's with that pinched pained look."

"I can't-." He pressed his lips together and dropped his chin to his chest again. "I don't know what to say."

"I thought you hated me."

"I don't." He pushed out the words.

"So I hear." She took a step closer and Aaron rocked back on his heels like a cornered animal. "What happened to us?"

"I don't know." He stopped moving, she watched him swallow.

"I thought when you came back to the White House-." She shook her head slowly.

"Me too."

"But then you just-."

"It wasn't me." He told her, finally meeting her eyes. "It wasn't just me. You and Seth-. Things had moved on. I was the third wheel." He shook his head. "More than that, you were fine without me. You were kicking ass as COS and you had Seth to keep you grounded. You had everything under control. You didn't need me."

"Did you ever stop to think maybe I wanted you?" She sat on the edge of Kendra's desk. "That I missed you?"

"No." He admitted, dropping into Kendra's chair and pushing the heels of his palms into his eyes.

"Look at me." She whispered, he grunted in reply, pulling his hand down his face. "Aaron." She reached out and tugged at one of his wrists.

He lifted his face up to meet her gaze.

"I missed you."

…..

"Hey." Kendra looked up from the briefing she was reading and studied the man in the doorway. "I was looking for Aaron." He leaned back out into the hall. "I'm pretty sure this is his office."

"Mine's in use." The woman told him blankly.

"Ah." Seth nodded.

"Did you want me to tell him you stopped by?"

"Do you think I'm crazy?" Wright asked suddenly.

"No?" Kendra asked. Seth smirked at her. "Why exactly?"

"For even considering giving up the job of a lifetime for a relationship that may or may not work out?"

"No?"

"Do you always sound like you're asking?"

"I'm not sure what to say here." She admitted.

"Are you and Aaron dating?" Seth cocked his head to the left.

"What?" Another question.

"Cause you're always in each other's offices, and he's been MIA with me and Emily. It makes sense." He shrugged, picking up a picture from Aaron's desk. "He and Emily used to be close."

"I've heard that." Kendra watched Wright pretend to study the picture.

"Then this whole… thing…. Happened." He sighed loudly and set it back down.

"I do know… about the thing." She nodded, her eyes taking in the frame. Aaron Shore with curls and sunglasses smiled next to a woman that looked like his sister.

"So then it was me and Emily."

"And then it turned into something else?"

"I guess." He pressed his lips together and looked at Kendra. "So are you?"

"Dating Aaron?" She asked after a few minutes trying to recall what the hell they'd been talking about. "No. I'm not-. We're not."

"That's what I thought." Seth pursed his lips before scratching his face. "I should go back to work."

…..

"You are not Seth." Aaron whispered softly, walking into the Press Secretary's dark office.

"No." Emily smiled, looking up at him, sniffing back the tears in hopes he wouldn't notice. His eyebrows narrowed quickly as he took a few quick steps towards him.

"What?" He hummed, running his thumb over her cheek despite her attempts at protest. Her fingers grasped halfheartedly at his wrist. "Was it that bad?"

"No." She said again, pressing her head into his biceps. "He totally understood. I think he knew, or at least suspected."

"Then what?" He tilted her chin up to look at him. "Second thoughts?"

"No." She murmured, returning his soft smile. "I'm just.. Reflecting."

"On?" He let her face go and she got up and moved to the sofa. She smiled at him, pulling her legs in purposefully making a spot. The corners of Aaron's lips lifted for a second as he crossed the room to join her.

"What the hell happened." She sighed, shaking her head. "I feel so stupid." Shore took her hand in his and waited. "I should have done things differently last year."

"Em. We don't have to-."

"I should have."

"You were following orders-." He tried to pull his hand from her grip, but she wrapped the other tightly around his wrist.

"That I should have followed differently." She met his eyes. "I have trust issues Aaron, major.."

She let go of his wrist and trailed her perfectly manicured finger across her cheek. "My dad, left when I was little."

"I know." He whispered, she looked up at him startled for a second before smirking. "Oppositional research."

"Of course." She sniffed.

"He was here?"

"He left the day I kissed Seth." She told him blankly.

"You kissed Seth because of your Dad?"

"I kissed Seth because he'd never hurt me." She told him quickly.

"Emily I never meant to-."

"Seth'll never push me to see a bigger picture." She continued. "He'll never challenge me. He'll never tell me I'm wrong. He'll never tell me to do better." Aaron looked down at their hands, stroking his thumb against her wrist. "Seth would never make me feel out of control. He'd never leave."

"He's safe." Aaron breathed, lifting his head up to meet her eyes, pressing his lips together tightly. " I don't want to hurt you."

"I know." She sniffed. "And I also know that part of being with someone is being vulnerable."

"Emily if you're not ready we don't have to-." He shook his head slowly. .

"Aaron?" Emily put her palm against his cheek and leaned forward. "I think we've maybe put this off too long already."

"It has been a while." He tilted his head slightly to the left and nodded agreement.

"You should probably kiss me now." She instructed, leaning further.

"Bossy." He whispered as close to her lips as he could get without touching them. Emily sighed before bridging the gap and closing her mouth over his.