You all rock for being so patient with me since I suck at updating. But I wanted to get something up before leaving for my trip, this is more of a set-up for some backstory/plot points to come. A little different, more focused on Mal/Pam whatever you want to refer to her as, but hopefully it lives up to the rest so far. Enjoy! Please review :)

Update: I was impatient and didn't wait for my beta to update this. As always she catches things I don't, and thank you bunches Temera!

Chapter 25

Mal had finished up a session and was walking back towards her office when she was redirected by Vic towards her own.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I checked the schedule and waited until you had a break, darling." Vic stated, not exactly answering her question at all.

Mal gave her a look, "Waited for what?"

"To talk to you." Vic rolled her eyes, ushering Mal into her office. "Sit."

"Aye, aye, mistress," Mal responded sarcastically and propped down onto her sofa. She looked up at the blonde expectantly, waiting to hear whatever it was she wanted to say. She had a feeling she knew. The three of them hadn't exactly left off on the best foot this morning but she was expecting whatever intervention was coming to come from Ursula. Of course, she had pissed Ursula off and maybe that's what Vic was going to talk about.

Vic went over to her desk pulling off her suit jacket and draping it over her chair. She walked back over to the couch and sat down next to Mal. "Urs and I are worried about you, darling."

Mal pursed her lips, "I told you, there's nothing to worry about."

"I know you have, we still do. Because whether you admit it or not, you're hurting."

"Vic…"

"I'm not done," Vic sternly interrupted. "It's not my place to tell you what to do with your love life, it's not Ursula's either. We both know this. We're not trying to tell you otherwise. If you still want to fuck around with Regina, by all means go ahead. We're the last people who will judge you."

"I know, and I really, really appreciate it." Mal responded reaching over for Vic's hand. "You know I love you both. Very much."

"I love you, too," Vic squeezed her hand. "We were talking earlier, and we both think that maybe you need a few sessions of your own."

"What do you mean?" Mal furrowed her brows not quite getting what she was suggesting.

Vic gave her a look, "Ursula and I think you need to call Eric. He's the only one who has ever been able to get you to own up to whatever you're feeling…"

"Vic, for the love of...no. I'm not calling him. And neither are you," she argued.

"Pamela, you need this. Just like you needed it when Stefan left." Vic emphasized. "I know he came here a couple months back."

"Yeah because of you." Mal narrowed her eyes at her friend. She had pulled back her hand and crossed her arms, clearly not liking this suggestion.

"There's nothing wrong with needing a little perspective. At least talk to him, he has a way of making you see reason that I have yet to master." Vic stroked Mal's thigh. "There was a reason you were with him for so many years and why he's still apart of your life, darling. I want you to be happy. We all do. Just think about it." She leaned over to peck Mal's check. "I have a client waiting." She stood up and started walking to the door, "And talk to Ursula, darling, you're both stubborn as bats but I really hate being the reasonable one in this trio."

Mal sighed and got up, walking out the door. She walked by Ursula's office, the door was open a little and she peeked in to see her friend was indeed in her room. Might as well bite the bullet and make nice, she knocked lightly popping her head into the door, "Busy?"

Ursula looked up at her, staring for a moment before shaking her head, "No."

"Do you want to get lunch?"

Ursula nodded standing up from behind her desk and made her way to the door, "Sure, but you may want to change first." She smirked a little as her eyes trailed down Mal's body. She was still dressed from her last appointment.

Mal rolled her eyes, "I know, although, I don't see anything wrong with me going out like this."

"Nothing wrong at all, but we both know that Vic would be the one to do that not you. You are far too classy for that."

"A classy dominatrix, just what the doctor ordered," Mal sassed, "I'll meet you in the lobby in five."

The two of them had gone to their favorite salad place and found a couple seats near a window.

"Urs, I'm sorry for this morning," Mal blurted out the minute they sat down. "I don't like fighting with you."

Ursula smiled slightly, "I don't like fighting with you either, even when you're being a total pain in the ass."

Mal rolled her eyes, "Shut up."

"Truce?"

"Truce."

Mal started to dig around in her salad, mixing it up. Ursula studied her for a moment, "Did Vic talk to you?"

"About the two of you conspiring about me?" Mal replied sardonically.

Ursula narrowed her eyes, "We were making a suggestion. One I think you should really listen to."

"Why?" she inquired.

"Because our methods clearly don't work on you," she exasperated.

Mal furrowed her brows, "Sure…"

"Pam, honestly, do you really believe I would pawn you off onto Eric if I knew how to help you through this? With Vic and me, you'll never fully get to the place you need to be in order to figure everything out."

"Urs, are you saying I need to be dominated to deal with my issues?" Mal asked slightly amused.

Ursula rolled her eyes, "That's not what I'm saying. Everyone has their own methods, your biggest problem is you can't let go of control of anything. When it comes to matters of the heart, control doesn't really factor in, sweetheart. You know that." She gave her a look. "Besides, I happen to know the wonders Eric has done on you in the past regarding your current problem." She took a bite out of her salad before continuing. "You taught both of us how to do this, we'll never get you to let go completely," she shrugged.

"Yeah well, you two were my best work." Mal smirked at her friend. "Fine," she internally groaned, "I'll call him. But I'm not making any promises."

"I just want you happy. Regardless, of who or if someone is next to you."

"I know."

Ursula reached across the table to squeeze Mal's hand, "Good. I love you."

"I love you, too."

.::.

Mal paced her office holding her cell phone. Why was she nervous? It's not like she hadn't talked to him on the phone before, or whatever else she was about to request. Why was she going through with this if she really didn't want to? Yes, her friends meant well but she could very well say no. But she didn't want to. She knew this would help her in the long run. Sure, it would be uncomfortable and she really didn't want to ask but there was light at the end of the tunnel.

She sat down on her couch putting her face in her hands, get it together. She groaned and reached for her phone again. Now or never. Just do it and get it over with.

She hit the call button and held the phone up to ear. Maybe he won't answer. She cringed when she heard a reply, no such luck.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Eric," Mal responded.

"Pam? Everything okay?"

Mal nodded, rolling her eyes at herself, he couldn't see her, "Uhm yeah.. I just.. Uhm…" she stuttered nervously.

"What's going on, Pamela?"

She sighed, "My friends seem to think I need you."

"You need me?" she could hear the surprise in his voice, "How so?"

"Eric…" she whispered his name almost like a whine, she didn't want to be this vulnerable, shaking her head, "Nevermind, I shouldn't have called. I'm sor…"

"Stop," he cut her off. "Pam, where are you?"

"Work."

"Are you done for the day?"

"Yes." She bit her lip, shaking her leg. She was suddenly antsy.

"And where's Lily?"

"Eric, what are you…"

"Where's Lily, Pam?" he asked her sternly.

"With her nanny." She groaned.

"Okay. I'll meet you at Pete's in ten minutes. We'll talk in person about what you need."

Mal's eyes widened, "Eric, that's not necessary. I really don't need…"

"Pamela, ten minutes."

Mal shut her eyes, "Fine. I'll see you there." She hung up and rubbed her face. Grabbing her purse she made her way out of her office and out towards the coffee shop.

By the time she got to the coffee shop, Eric was already waiting outside. He smiled at her, opening his arms for her as she got closer. Mal smiled back walking towards him and melting against his embrace. She hated to admit it but just being in his presence calmed her sometimes.

Eric kissed the top of her head and led her into the shop, "You want to get a drink first?" he asked.

"Please," she responded keeping an arm around his waist as they walked towards the counter. Around him, it was easy to be all touchy feely. He was the one who taught her how to feel after all, and some things were hard to forget.

They grabbed their drinks and found a booth that's a little more secluded than the rest to sit down at. After a few moments of sipping their drinks in silence, Eric turned towards Mal, "Pam?" he raised an eyebrow, giving her a look to start talking.

Mal sighed, "Yes?"

"Don't start that, tell me what you need. What's going on?"

Mal bit her lip studying him for a moment, "I need you to… can you…" she groaned.

Eric placed a hand on her thigh squeezing it slightly, "Hey, it's just me." his voice suddenly softer than it had been, "You can tell me anything, what do you need me to do?" he urged.

Mal ducked her head a little and mumbled, "Be my dom again."

Eric frowned slightly, "What?"

"Eric, can you just be my daddy again for a bit. I need to work through something. I can't do it alone. Ursula and Vic are right. I need to let go of the control aspect to really feel and you're the only one who can get me there."

"Okay," he replied nonchalantly.

"Okay?" Mal asked frowning at him, "That's it? No questions about why or more details. Just okay?"

"Yeah, just okay." Eric nodded.

"You gave this up. Why are you so suddenly…"

"Pam, for you I'd do anything. No questions asked." Eric watched her for a minute, "Lily is with Stefan on Thursdays?"

Mal nodded, "Yeah, and every other weekend."

"When's the next weekend?"

"The one coming up."

"What time does he pick her up?" he asked.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, "7:30PM Friday night," she answered, "And she's back home Sunday night by 7:00PM."

Eric nodded, "Good. After she leaves, pack a weekend bag and come over to my place. I'll let you go by 5pm on Sunday so you're back and can do whatever you need to before your daughter gets home."

Mal took a sip of her tea, "Okay."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Eric asked, "I know your friends think you need to and you may even think that, but, Pam, do you want to?"

She turned to look into his eyes and nodded once, "I do."

"Alright, Friday night. Get yourself into the right mindset. All the same rules will apply as they did back in the day, not just an abbreviated version like we've done every so often after we ended things."

"I got it," she replied, "Do you want to come see Lily? She'll still be awake."

"I'd love to see my goddaughter." He smiled at her, leaning over to kiss her cheek before slipping out of the booth and walking back to her place.