Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 9: Here without You

Aaron waited. He waited and waited and waited, but for three months no call back, no message, no nothing. He started thinking maybe he had the wrong Emily but then again Garcia was the best and if she said this was Emily then it sure as hell it was. For three long months he tortured himself. He wanted to call again to see if she would answer but he talked himself out of it. If she wanted to call she would've.

The saying 'Distance makes the heart grow founder' was a complete lie. Distance only makes you crazy he scoffed looking at his computer screen for airfare to Paris. It was just a few months away and even though he knew she wouldn't be there he needed to go. Maybe truly seeing that she wasn't would help him move on. Then maybe he could take Dave up on his offer to set him up on a blind date.

His team had been pressuring him lately. He understood they wanted to see him happy and he wanted that too but he couldn't move on yet. He tried a month ago to go on a date but all he thought about was what Emily would say or what Emily would do. Let's just say the woman wasn't too happy by the end of the night. But still Morgan tried to set him up almost every week and now Dave had started in on him.

As his hand moved the mouse around, he clicked his fight and booked his hotel. Leaning back in his chair he sighed. Maybe he was stupid for hanging on this long but he felt something for Emily that he never felt with anyone else. And that's what kept him going.

At the knock at his office door Aaron was pulled out of his thoughts. "We are ready in the briefing room sir."

He nodded to the media liaison and gathered his work. "Be right there." Looking on more time at his confirmation number on the computer he smiled softly. "I'm coming Sweetheart" he whispered.

-CM-CM-

Emily's dark eyes racked over the computer screen, the curser blinked over the submit button. She had been staring at it for the better part of the day. Her mind raced with scenarios about meeting him again. They had been for days now. She couldn't shake then.

Up until recently she was able to push back her feelings for him for James but finally coming to her senses she broke it off with the blonde man. James was great and so sweet but he wasn't for her. He didn't make her feel the way Aaron did when she was in his arms.

She remembered feeling safe and so completely loved with the dark haired agent. And she wanted that from a man, problem was Aaron was the only one she felt it with. But then there was the thought of him not being in Paris that made her go a little crazy. If she went and he never showed it would break her completely. She didn't know if she could handle that. Maybe she just didn't try hard enough to get over him and somewhere was a guy that would do that for her.

So that fear was in her mind whirling around with others of how they could make it work and if he was still in love with her. Shaking her head of the thoughts she placed her hand over the mouse going back and forth over the submit button or cancel button.

Making one last movement she clicked the mouse and sat back hoping she didn't just make a huge mistake.

-CM-CM-

After saying goodbye to his son Aaron raced to the airport to catch his flight. Traffic in D.C. was horrible and he should have left earlier but he wanted to make sure he said goodbye to Jack. After months of fighting and court dates the judge ordered him and Haley to share joint custody and neither was allowed to move out of state. Aaron was happy about that. And over the past few months he really stepped up his game. He left the office earlier than he use to and spent more time with Jack. They became more bonded so leaving without saying goodbye would hurt his four year old.

Making it to his departure gate on time he settled in for a few minutes before they could board. His nerves were shot to hell. He didn't know whether or not she would be there and if she would want to be with him again. He hoped for the best but was preparing his heart for the worst.

Finding his seat on the plane he smiled politely to the older man sitting next to him and pulled out some files he took from work. No better way to take his mind off things than serial killers.

The gray haired man looked over at Aaron's bouncing knee. "Nervous son?" he questioned with a raised brow.

Aaron sighed. "Yeah, just a bit." And he would stay that way until he saw her.

"Well if she says no keep asking." The grin on the man's face to Aaron he knew a thing or two about women.

"I haven't seen her in a year." Aaron countered. He didn't know why he would talk to a complete stranger about his problems but the man seemed to pull it out.

"Don't worry too much boy. If she's half as nervous as you then everything will turn out just fine."

"I don't even know if she'll be there." He looked to the window watching the clouds pass.

The older man nodded slowly. "Do you love her?"

"Yeah" he whispered.

"Then she'll be there. Now stop bouncing that knee so an old man can get some sleep." He turned slightly in his chair and laid his head back.

Aaron smiled and stopped his knee. His internal question was did she know he loved her. They never said the words but he knew the night before he left they were in love but somehow maybe she didn't.

-CM-CM-

He looked around the bar once more as the bartender filed his drink. It was his second night in Paris and still no sign of her. He looked everywhere. The bridge where they kissed, the small shops they visited, he even scoped out the streets they walked down. It was his second night in the bar where they said they would meet again but she still hadn't shown. And he only had three more days till he had to get back.

Taking a sip of his drink he felt himself coming to the realization that she moved on. She must have. So he needed to also. Gazing into the crowd his eyes landed on a lone dark haired woman sitting at a table a few feet away. Dark hair, tanned skin, and full red lips. She was cute. He smiled as their eyes met.

Not as beautiful as Em… he stopped and pushed that thought away. He had to stop thinking like that. He had to give other women a fighting chance. Turning back to the bar and ordering the woman a drink he smiled. He could do this.

"Did you make sure she doesn't have a ring?" a voice that made his heart race filled his ears and he froze.

A/N: Yes I did just leave it there but I promise to get the next chapter up fast. Thanks for the reviews!