After they'd gotten back to the house, Kat was sent to take a warm bath while her Mistress showered and prepared dinner for them. While soaking in the tub, Kat wondered why there was no beating, no punishment at all really. She'd received only affection since she'd been back. She'd never have thought a slave could be caught and returned without being beaten, yet her pale body remained unblemished. She reached down and pulled the plug, lost in thought.

Once she was out of the bath and dressed, she made her way into the dining room, where her Mistress sat at the head of the long table. When Mistress Alexa spotted her, she waved her over, and Kat came to her. There was food at the table - salmon, rice, and stir fry vegetables - and as she ate, the silence of the room almost deafening, she thought more.

She thought back on the graveyard they'd visited that evening. The way Mistress Alexa had teared up when she spoke about Sarah. The supposed similarities between Kat and Sarah. Mistress Alexa's story. Her past. She'd made a mistake, and it had cost her, just like Kat had. And now, here they were, two broken people healing. Together.

After dinner, Mistress Alexa had taken Kat up to her study, and made her kneel before the fireplace. Then, she sat in her chair and gently set a pencil and a notepad in front of Kat. Looking down at her, Mistress Alexa said, " Alright Kat. It's time for you to learn something. Are you ready?"

"Yes, Mistress," she said, and really meant it, somewhere deep down. She was ready to learn something. She'd gone this far without learning anything, really. And Cobb was right. That was disrespectful to not only her MIstress, but to herself too. Her garden was growing, but she... wasn't.

Mistress Alexa seemed to notice something in Kat's eye that made her smile. "Alright. You will write, 'I will not run away from home' one time."

Kat blinked. One time? That was easy. Suspiciously easy, at that. Something about it seemed fishy. It didn't feel like a punishment. Still, she nodded and set to work, placing the paper on the floor and writing out her one line. I will not run away from home.

Finished, she looked back up to her Mistress. "Good," She said. "Now I want you to underline that last word."

Kat looked down at her paper. Home. She underlined it.

"Now circle it."

Kat circled it.

"Now make it bold."

Kat scribbled in the letters until they were dark and thick, and the word home stood out staunchly on the paper.

Mistress Alexa nodded in approval and crossed her legs. "Good. Now, what did you learn?"

Kat blinked. Learn? From this? She... wasn't sure. She gnawed on a finger as a thoughtful look fell upon her face. What was there to learn from this? Mistress Alexa, reading her face, shook her head and chuckled.

"Take a good, hard look at that last word."

So Kat did, reading it and rereading it, searching for its meaning. She sat there for a moment, before something clicked. She swallowed, and slowly looked up to her Mistress.

"Figure it out?"

She nodded. "Yes Mistress."

"What'd you learn?"

"I... I'm home. This is home," she said.

Mistress Alexa reached onto her desk and snapped off a piece of chocolate, offering it to Kat. Kat took it in her mouth with a smile, letting herself enjoy the treat for what it was. The taste of cocoa washed over her mouth, and she purred with delight as she chewed on it. Meanwhile, Mistress Alexa reached down and picked up the paper and pencil, setting them on her desk.

"You're home, Kat," She said. "This is your home. Not just some place that you reside in. But your home. And I promise to make it as much of a home for you as I can. I want you to feel safe here. Comfortable."

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Kat swallowed the chocolate and smiled. "Thank You, Mistress."

"Tell me your thoughts on that," she said, leaning back.

Kat thought on it for a moment, eyes upturned in thought. "I... I've not had a good home in so long. It's unreal to me, Mistress. But... but I want to believe it. I do believe it. I-I trust you, Mistress. I want to trust you."

Kat's cheeks felt a little hot after saying that, but she pushed the thought aside. It was the truth. All this time, she'd overlooked all of the things that had happened, so focused on the bad things that hadn't happened. She'd missed the good things. The happy times. The gentle, loving times. And she was just now coming to realize it.

It hit her like a brick to the chest. "I never thought I would be happy again, Mistress."

"Kat, you're a wonderful slave, and a beautiful person. Don't you think you deserve to be happy?" Mistress Alexa asked.

Kat looked down in thought. "I... don't know, Mistress."

"Tell me Kat, what have you done wrong? How have you dishonored me?"

By ignoring your kindness, she thought. By writing you off as a monster. By hating you before knowing you. She wanted to say these things, but couldn't find the right words for them. And besides, her Mistress seemed like she wanted to lead the conversation for now.

"You've done nothing wrong," she said. "Not even running away. Not throwing that platter, not disobeying me. I understand now. I'm the one that did something wrong. And I'm sorry."

Kat shook her head and looked down. "Mistress, I've also done something wrong."

Mistress Alexa chuckled and patted her head. "Well, whatever you think you did wrong, I forgive you. No harm, no foul."

Kat smiled softly. "Thank you Mistress. You are... kind."

"You deserve some kindness. Now, I want you to think about everything that happened today. But first, follow me. I don't know about you, but I'm tired. Sleep sounds pretty good right about now."

Kat looked up to her and smiled. "Yes Mistress, it does."

They lay in bed, together, wrapped in each other's arms. Kat's face was buried in Mistress Alexa's bosom, and the embrace was warm and soft. Kat found herself rather enjoying it. Her Mistress held her gently, pressing their naked bodies together as if they were one. Kat sighed contentedly and snuggled closer.

Mistress Alexa had ordered her to strip, and for once, Kat wasn't afraid. Something about the way her Mistress looked at her, the care in her eyes, the admiration, it soothed her. There was no hunger there, nothing dark, just a gentle smile and beautiful gaze. Kat had slipped into bed without even thinking about it, and now, pressed against her Mistress's warm body, Kat found that she was content. Happy, even. A small smile spread across her face.

Then, her Mistress, gently and idly running her fingers up and down Kat's back, looked down and planted a little kiss on her cheek and said, "Kat, I want to get closer to you. To know you more intimately."

Kat blushed. "I don't understand, Mistress."

Mistress Alexa smiled and chuckled softly. Then, carefully, she slid her hand down the length of Kat's body, to her behind, and rubbed it tenderly. "I want to be open with you. For you. And I want the same from you."

Kat's blush burned even brighter. She looked away, unsure of whether or not to panic. But there was something in her Mistress's touch, something gentle, that made her unafraid. Something about it told her that things were alright. That this wasn't to be feared, or shunned. This wasn't simply sex. This was more. This was deeper than that.

Kat felt her Mistress take her hand and guide it to her Mistress's breast. Kat gave it a gentle squeeze, looking away in embarrassment. Her cheeks flushed as she felt her Mistress slide her hand down between Kat's thighs, then up slowly, and down again, softly, gently, tantalizing her.

Mistress Alexa cooed and whispered to her and coaxed her, tenderly touching her. "Spread your legs, sweetheart."

Kat gulped, but did as she was told, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Her Mistress continued to stroke her thigh, running her fingers up and down Kat's soft skin. Kat looked up at her, and almost purred to herself; her Mistress's touch felt amazing. But then, her Mistress pulled her hand up Kat's thigh, higher, and higher, not stopping this time. Kat's breathing grew shaky. She was going for... there.

But when she finally got there, Kat found her hand warm, calming. Mistress Alexa cupped it and held it as if it were some fragile item, and as though she was afraid of breaking it. Kat sighed and closed her eyes, leaning into her Mistress. Mistress Alexa rubbed her for a bit, playing with her, teasing her, and Kat made little squeaks and moans in response.

After a time, Mistress Alexa took her other hand and tilted Kat's chin up, forcing their gazes to meet. Eye to eye they stared into one another, sharing a moment of silence that neither wanted to break. Kat looked into her Mistress's beautiful hazel eyes with longing, her bedroom eyes glossy in the lambent light.

Mistress Alexa smiled. "I love you Kat. I want to love you. If you'll let me."

Kat swallowed and blinked, but nodded slowly. "Yes Mistress. I... I will."

And then, they kissed. Mistress Alexa leaned in and pressed her lips to Kat's, and Kat thought they were the softest things on the planet, softer than the bed, softer than the sheets - perfect. They kissed for a moment, holding each other, loving on each other.

That night, they made love. It was gentle, calm, caring, and somewhere deep down, something bloomed in Kat's chest. Something she'd never felt before. But it was warm and pleasant and it heightened whenever she looked into her Mistress's eyes, whenever her Mistress slipped a finger into her, whenever her Mistress commanded her. Whatever it was, she wanted it to last forever.

And ever.