A/N - I just wanted to quickly thank everyone who has been reading and who favorited/followed this story! Thank you so much, I love seeing new people following! This is kind of a fluff chapter but it needed to be done.

—

Emma arrived to work still exhausted from the previous day's affairs. She had endured a restless sleep the night before and really was not looking forward to the work day. She walked into the station where David was already there.

"Whoa, you look like shit, Emma."

"Gee, thanks. I slept like shit too." Emma responded, heading towards her office.

"I'll do a quick coffee run." David offered, grabbing his coat and cruiser keys.

"Thanks, dad!" Emma called after him. She was kind of glad he was gone. She wasn't in the mood for people today and was hoping that it would be a quiet, smooth work day. She booted up her ancient desktop computer and flopped down into her desk chair with a sigh. She pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes. She really felt like shit. When her computer finished booting up, she heard the ping of an email. That's weird, I never get emails, she thought. It was from Regina.

Emma,

Did you get a chance to look over those papers I gave you? I know you left late last night so if you didn't that's fine. I just thought I would ask.

- Regina

She was rambling a little, Emma could tell. She could also sense that Regina was nervous. Emma thought a moment about how to reply, and then opened a new message. She wanted to take the edge off of the situation for the both of them.

Madam Mayor,

First, how did you get my email address? Stalker much? ;)

Yes, I did get the chance to look over those papers as I know that promptness is of the utmost importance to you! However, I do have some questions to ask regarding some key points. Can we talk soon?

- Sheriff Swan

Emma chuckled as she sent the email. She could imagine Regina's face as she read Emma's smart ass remarks. Just then David returned, setting a cup of steaming hot coffee on her desk.

"Oh my god, thank you." She said, smiling up at him.

"Do you want to talk about what has been bothering you? There must be a reason for your lack of sleep." Emma's computer pinged again. The mayor had responded.

"Uh, not right this moment dad." David shrugged and nodded and left, closing the door behind him. Emma opened the email.

Miss Swan (since we are being so formal),

To answer your first question, I am not a stalker but I do have my sources which I will not be revealing to you. And yes, being prompt in every aspect of life is something that I value, thank you for taking the time to notice. And Emma, a winky face? Really? I thought we were adults here.

I was prepared for you to have questions, all of which I will answer tonight. Come to my house around seven. I will ask David and Mary-Margaret to take Henry for the night. I want to make sure we have no interruptions.

- Regina

Regina could be so sassy sometimes, but that was just one of the many things Emma liked about her. Just then, David's phone rang, no doubt the person on the other end was Regina.

"Yeah, we would love to watch him. No problem." She heard him say, confirming her theory.

Emma was nervous to see the brunette again. What if she agreed to everything, but wasn't as good as Regina wants? What if she couldn't handle it? Emma really needed to see Regina. Seven couldn't come fast enough.

—

Later on that evening Regina cleaned up from her and Henry's dinner. She would have invited Emma over for dinner but she was afraid there would be tension and an awkwardness and she didn't want Henry to start asking questions.

"Go get packed to stay at your grandparent's. Mary-Margaret will take you to school tomorrow. And David will be here any moment to pick you up." She told Henry, watching as he turned and ran up the stairs. She finished cleaning and poured herself another generous glass of red wine. She wasn't trying to get drunk, but she was so nervous and needed to take the edge off. There was a knock at the door and Regina looked at the clock. It was still twenty minutes to seven. Emma is usually never this early. Regina walked to the front door and opened it.

"Oh, David, hello." Regina was relieved it wasn't Emma yet. She needed just a little bit longer to prepare herself for the blonde's arrival.

"Hi, Regina. I know I normally don't come up to the door like this but, I'm worried about Emma and I wanted to talk to you about it quick before I leave with Henry."

"Oh? Come in." She led him in to the family room and she took a seat in a plump arm chair, David settling onto a matching couch. "So, worried how?" Regina was genuinely concerned.

"She came in this morning and pardon my french but she looked like absolute shit. Clearly she had barely slept. I tried talking to her but she only dismissed me and I didn't want to press the issue further." Regina listened intently to Emma's father. She felt a pang of guilt sweep over her. Sure, Regina hadn't slept either but at least she had magic to energize her a bit and take care of her appearance. Emma wasn't that lucky. "I was just wondering if you knew anything."

"Emma is coming over tonight. We have some things to discuss. I will do my best to find out the issue and I will contact you about it." David was just being a worried father, and Regina did not want him to know that she was the cause of Emma's lack of sleep.

"Thank you, Regina." Just then Henry came flying down the stairs.

"I'm ready! Oh, hey grandpa!" He said upon seeing David sitting with Regina. "Um, is everything ok?"

"Just peachy buddy, you ready to get going?" David stood and tousled the boy's hair.

"Yep! Bye, mom!" Henry hugged his mother goodbye and both the boy and David left. Regina sighed, taking a large gulp of her wine. Emma would be there any second and Regina was feeling worse than she was before. The doorbell rang and Regina closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She walked to the front door for the second time that hour and opened it to let Emma in. David was right, Emma was clearly affected by her night. She had dark under eye circles, she was slightly paler than normal, and clearly exhausted.

"Emma, hi. Thank you for coming."

—

Regina lead Emma into her study.

"So, shall we get right into it then?" Emma wasn't trying to sound snippy, she just wasn't in the mood to beat around the bush. She placed the contract down on the coffee table in front of her and took a seat on the couch. Regina took a seat next to her, but she was careful not to sit too close as to crowd Emma.

"Yeah, dear. We should. So what are some questions you have?" Regina asked. Emma considered carefully where she should begin.

"So…I would be your submissive?" She asked.

"Yes. You would be like my pet. When we are in our playroom you will be there to serve me, to obey me in every aspect. I think you would make an amazing pet, Emma." Emma let that all sink in.

"So it's only if we are in that room?" She questioned.

"Yes unless I chose for us to continue outside of the room on occasion. But that won't happen often. And I won't allow for others to find out about our BDSM relationship." Regina explained. Emma relaxed a little at that explanation. She didn't want others to find out about it. She liked to keep her bedroom life private.

"And you'll teach me how to be a good…pet? You'll show me what you want?" Emma was never fully a Sub before, not in the ways that Regina was asking. If she accepted this offer, she didn't want to let Regina down.

"Yes you will always know what I expect of you and when. There will be no surprises. I will inform you of everything. And I will teach you as well." Regina shifted closer to the blonde and took her hand, rubbing small circles on the top of Emma's hand.

"Will we still be able to be intimate outside of the playroom? Like how we have been in the past?" Emma asked sheepishly.

"Yes, we will." It was a short response but exactly what Emma needed to hear. Emma nodded in response, feeling a whole lot better about all of this. She wanted this, she concluded. She at least wanted to try it out. Plus, if she didn't like it, it said right at the top of the contract that she can void it at anytime. Her worries were eased and she was ready to commit to this, feeling loads better and visibly more relaxed. She knew Regina had seen her relax too.

"I have one more question." Emma said, beginning to smirk. "Strawberry? Really?" She laughed. Regina smiled too.

"Yes, strawberry. We need a word that can be used without confusion. I chose strawberry."

"Fair enough. Well I think I made my decision." She was silent for a moment, honestly entirely for dramatic effect. She liked seeing Regina squirm a little. "I'll do it." Emma offered a large grin.

"Oh, honey, I am very happy you chose this! I was worried I might lose you." Regina kissed Emma's forehead. Emma relished the feeling of Regina's lips on her head. There was one more thing the two of them needed to discuss before Emma signed the papers.

"I do have one condition though." Emma's voice was stern. She looked Regina directly in those chocolate eyes. She could see the curiousness in her eyes. "I will be your slave inside of that room. But outside, you will be my girlfriend. I've more than proved that I am ready for this. I want this, all of this," Emma gestured to the contract, "and all of you. And I need this relationship, which means we will be girlfriends. Agreed?" Emma finished her little speech. She could see that Regina was taken aback by the stern voice she was hearing. But Emma needed her to know she was ready for this relationship and everything it entailed.

—

Regina was beyond thrilled at what Emma was saying. She knew Emma was close to being ready for a relationship, but Regina didn't want to rush things so she let the subject go until Emma brought it up. Regina wasn't totally used to these feelings. She had been with other men and women but none made her want a relationship like Emma did. She could see herself with Emma. She wanted a family with Emma. The feelings made her well up inside. The tears began to flow and she cursed herself for allowing herself to look so weak. She felt Emma's arms pull her into a huge loving embrace.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry!" Emma sounded distraught.

"No, no it's not you" Regina sniffed, wiping the tears away and composing herself before continuing. "Of course I'll be your girlfriend!" Emma looked elated. She threw her arms around the brunette and kissed her with such passion. Regina felt at home with Emma. It was something she had never had, and something she was more than ready for. She was ready to open up and let the blonde in.

The two pulled apart breathless. Regina was going to take Emma right there on the couch if they hadn't stopped. Which wouldn't be such a bad thing, she thought. She watched as Emma picked up a pen and signed the document. She handed the pen to Regina, who took it and signed on the line below Emma's signature.

"I'm yours." Was all Emma said before planting a needing kiss back on Regina's lips.

"You're mine" Regina said, touching her forehead to Emma's. "I think you should stay here tonight. You're clearly overly exhausted and I'd rather you didn't drive home like this." It definitely did not take much to convince Emma to stay because she agreed with the brunette immediately. Regina knew Emma's exhaustion put her in no state to drive, and she didn't want anything to happen to her. "It's early still but did you want to go lay down now?" Regina asked the blonde.

"Actually, I have something else in mind." Regina looked at Emma, who was smirking. Green eyes darkened with lust, causing Regina to become aroused. "Follow me, baby." Emma stood, tugging Regina's arm.

—

Emma led Regina to the purple door in the hallway. She was all too eager to see what Regina had in store for her. She turned to face Regina, grabbing her by the waist and pulling so their bodies were flush. "Teach me." Emma could tell that aroused Regina, whose mouth hung open for a moment before Emma saw her change completely, into a completely different persona. Regina straightened, lifting her chin.

"Follow me, pet." She said before leading Emma down the steps.