Neal zipped up his work pants zip and straightened his tie in the mirror. Emma lay in her bra and underwear on the king size hotel bed.

"That was amazing Emma"

Emma smiled up at the man as she placed her pay in her handbag. She had saved quite a bit in the last two weeks and was well on her way to supporting herself through the writing class if she got accepted. She had finished the diary Regina had given her and had submitted the first one last night.

"Thank you Neal. I'm glad I met your satisfaction"

Emma winked at the man and began to get dressed.

"Emma I want to ask you something?

Emma nodded.

"Are you seeing anybody, because I sure would love to ask you out on a proper date sometime. Like you can't deny what we have together… Don't you feel the same way… like you can't fake…"

Emma stood up.

"Neal… You are my client and it's my job to make you feel good. I'm so sorry but I don't share your feelings"

Neal sat beside her on the bed.

"Oh come on Emma. You must be kidding? We've spent how many nights together. You can't tell me you don't feel something?

Emma sighed.

"Neal I enjoy your company I do… but you have to understand this is my job. I'm sorry but this isn't Pretty Woman Neal…"

Neal stood up abruptly.

"You like someone else who is he?

Emma stood up and headed for the door.

"Neal… I can't do this right now, please let me leave"

Neal begrudgingly stepped away from the door.

"And if you must know yes I do have feelings for someone else and she's very important to me"

Neal's jaw dropped as the room door closed in his face.

Regina paced back and forth in her bedroom. For the first time in ten long years she felt like the old her. The one she had buried so deep inside into believing she was sick. The depression crippling her to the point of no hope and tricking her into believing that she was different into believing that she needed to be with Robin. That her father was right about her and that Robin's wealth would be the life she always aspired to have. Robin had groomed her well but Emma Swan had unlocked the door to the past and Regina was not gonna let it close. Not this time. Robin's emotional and physical bullying had given her enough scars for a lifetime but enough was enough. She was getting out and she had an incentive.

She couldn't get Emma out of her head and the fear and anxiety started to build up as she now regretted asking her to dinner and now she feared that Robin might hurt the blonde. Regina was a bad liar and she knew it. Every time she closed her eyes she felt the warm sensations in her body as she imagined Emma's hand on her trembling frame. She pictured her rubbing lower then she had and was immediately snapped back to reality as her phone buzzed on the bed.

Hey Madame Mayor.

Do you need me to pick anything up before I come over?

I got caught up at work so I'll head straight over to help you prepare if you'd like?

Emma

Regina smiled. How did she she know how to make her feel so safe?

Miss Swan.

I look forward to your company this evening.

No need to rush.

Regina

Emma smirked.

Nice try!

I'm on the way.

Emma

Regina felt the butterflies literally eat her insides. It was only a matter of time till she couldn't control them. She knew sooner or later she would have to tell Emma how she truly felt about her. Regina stood in front of her bedroom mirror as Robin emerged from the shower.

"Do we have time?

The man kissed Regina's bruised collarbone.

"I really don't think we do Robin…

The man huffed as Regina took out her Silver evening dress.

"You know you drive me crazy when you say no Mrs Mills"

Regina sighed.

"Robin please. Emma is on her way and I still have to finish my makeup and dinner preparation"

Robin noted his suit all laid out on the bed and smiled at the brunette in appreciation.

"I look forward to taking that dress off you later"

Regina gulped as Robin pinched her ass cheek.

Regina carefully put her famous lasagne in the oven just as the doorbell rang. She opened it to see Emma wearing a backless green dress, holding a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of red wine. Regina's eyes grew wide in surprise.

"These are for you Madame Mayor… I hope you like red wine"

Regina chuckled.

"Well thank you Miss Swan. You didn't have to bring anything. Please come in"

Robin appeared leaning in the doorway of the lounge. He held a glass of brandy and began to swish it.

"These really are beautiful dear. I better go put them in water"

Emma wasn't quite sure if she meant the flowers because she was staring directly at her when she said it. Emma blushed as Regina walked briskly towards the kitchen.

"Indeed Emma dear you really didn't have to go that trouble. I don't pay you to pamper my wife. Just to clean. I trust your lateness can be explained"

Emma jumped and stood on the spot as Robin walked over to the blonde.

"Mr. Mills. You scared me I'm sorry I didn't see you there. My apologies for being late I had a last minute work problem that I had to attend to before I got here"

Robin smirked as he looked the blonde up and down.

"I see. Well nevertheless you are here now and as our guest would you care for a drink?

Emma gulped.

"Sure…

Robin called to Regina in the kitchen who was meticulously arranging the flowers.

"Regina stop being so rude and fetch Emma a drink!

Robin picked up Emma's hand and kissed it.

"Regina tells me you have been a great help around here"

Regina immediately came back into the hall.

"Oh that's quite alright. I know where you keep the glasses. Relax Madame Mayor I'll get it"

Robin glared at Emma.

"What did you just call her?

Emma remained calm as she turned to face the man.

"I called her Madame Mayor"

Robin squeezed his glass.

"Robin please. Let it go"

Robin glared at the blonde as Regina ran over to him and began to caress his upper arm trying to calm him down.

"Regina I need to see you for a moment… alone"

Regina glanced up at her husband as Emma stood on the spot. Robin held Regina's hand firmly dragging her into the study. Emma could feel the blood drain from her skin as she heard Robin's raised voice all the way from the hallway. Emma took a deep breath and charged towards the study.

"Regina I thought we had this conversation! You are not and I repeat not ever to use that name for yourself. Do you understand?

Regina looked at the ground.

"Robin… it's just a pet name she has for me it's no big deal. I like when she calls me that… She makes me feel..."

Robin balled his left hand in a blind rage, then lifted it and slapped Regina hard across the face. Regina held onto her cheek with both hands as the tears stung her eyes.

"A pet name? Don't be ridiculous Regina. She doesn't care about you. She's the help. You are not Mayor anymore Regina! Get that through your thick head"

As Emma barged through the door as the doorbell rang. Regina immediately removed her hands from her face as Robin turned and glared at her.

"Must you always make a scene when we have guests Regina! Emma thank you for notifying us about the doorbell. We would never have heard it"

Emma nodded as the man brushed passed her. Her heart literally sank as Regina gave her a half smile. Regina stood up straight and flicked her hair and began to walk with confidence. Emma reached out and caught her hand in hers as Regina went to walk passed her.

"Emma don't… I'm alright"

Emma looked down.

"This is all my fault"

Regina touched the blonde's face.

"Don't you ever think that! Do you hear me?

Emma looked into Regina's watery brown eyes as the Mayor's cheek became red.

"Regina...

Regina squeezed the blonde's hand.

"That's Madame Mayor to you"

Emma smiled as a single tear fell down her cheek.

"I'm so sorry!

Regina wiped the tear away.

"Emma I'd like to talk to you about something later"

Emma nodded.

Robin lay his brandy glass down and opened the front door as the two women went to the kitchen and opened Emma's bottle of wine. Regina poured Emma a glass and walked towards the front door. Emma took a sip as she stared out Regina's kitchen window at her apple tree oblivious to the three figures walking towards her.

"Welcome to her home, so glad that I'm finally meeting you. Robin speaks so highly of you"

The man smiled and kissed Regina's hand.

"The pleasure is all mine Regina… may I call you Regina?

Robin cut across his friend.

"Of course Neal"

Regina took the man's coat and hung it in the closet as the man walked into the kitchen noting the blonde by the window.

Regina walked over to Emma and lightly touched her back snapping her out of her trance. She turned her body as Robin gestured Neal towards the blonde.

"This is…"

Neal cut across Robin.

"Emma!

Emma looked like she had seen a ghost. Regina looked at the blonde's now pale face.

"Neal…"

Robin and Regina both looked at each other.

"You too know each other?

Emma took a large sip of her wine.

"Oh we know each other… It appears you know her too? You didn't tell me it was this kind of dinner party"

Emma felt physically sick as Neal put his hand on Emma's lower back making her drop her wine glass.

"Oh Regina. I'm so sorry how clumsy of me. I'll clean it up"

Emma ran out of the kitchen and into the utility where she backed against the wall and took some deep breaths. When she returned Regina had cleaned it already and was beginning to plate up the dinner. Neal tapped the seat next to him and gestured her to sit.

"Thank you for cleaning that…"

Regina didn't say a word as she sat opposite her.

"So how long have you know Emma?

Piped Robin.

"Oh ummm bout a month or so. She's very good isn't she?

Neal grabbed Emma's hand as she pulled it away and kept her head down eating her meal.

"I don't quite understand?

Regina cut into the conversation and Emma immediately looked up at her and then to Neal with pleading eyes.

"You know at her job?

Emma wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

"Oh yes she is"

Regina nodded and smiled looking at the blonde who had now gone even paler. Neal choked on his lasange.

"Are you alright Neal? Care for some water?

Asked Robin and he reached for the jug.

"You've had her too?

Emma gulped hard as the tears were beginning to form.

"Is that some business term I'm not in on? Well yes I guess we have had her to our home… Emma works for us"

Neal's jaw dropped.

"Both of you?

Emma looked up at Regina who was looking deeply confused.

"Yes she's our maid"

Neal looked down at Emma who had her head down.

"You never told me you wore outfits"

Emma grabbed her water and gulped it.

"Emma is everything alright. You look rather ill?

Regina stood up as Emma began to wobble and lose her balance falling onto the ground as Regina ran over and caught her head onto her lap just before it hit the tiles. The two men rushed over and lifted her to the couch as Regina fanned her face. As Emma opened her eyes Regina was holding her hands.

"Are you alright Miss Swan?

Emma looked around in a panic.

"Miss Swan… How kinky I like it!

Emma stood up.

"Neal.. Please just Shut the fuck up!

Regina stood up beside Emma rather startled at her tone.

"Why are you being so defensive? I'm only joining in the fun. This is your job right? Is this her?

Neal gestured to Regina.

Emma shook her head violently and walked briskly to her coat in the hall.

"Emma what's the matter? Where are you going? Please don't go"

Emma looked back at the Mayor.

"I'm sorry… I'm not feeling well I have to get out of here. I'm sorry"

Regina reached out as Emma headed for the front door. She opened it and found herself running in her heels as the tears fell down her face.