When It Rains

9. Fuel for The Fire

"God damnit!!" Regina screamed, "She makes me so fucking mad!!"
Emma gazed at the woman beside her in the car, "Though I do understand your frustration Regina, I don't think the word mad quite cuts it."

Regina let out her breath hard, "Yea.. I know.. I know... it's just, it's just so hard sometimes, you know?"
"Maybe.." Emma replied, "But honestly, it doesn't have to be."
A moment of silence passed between them. Regina replied, "You think so, do you? Tell me, Swan; what makes it so easy for you?"
"Pride." Emma answered automatically. "Pride is what keeps me moving forward, gives me courage."
She lowered the volume of the radio as she continued, "Regina, I am proud of who I am, what I do, and where I go."
"Ok, sure" the brunette answered back as they pulled into the cobblestone driveway of her home. "But how does Pride makes any of this easier??"
"Because if you are proud of yourself, I mean really proud of who you are, inside, then nothing else matters anymore."
Still confused, Regina unlocked the front door of the mansion allowing both women to step into the foyer.
Kicking off her shiny black heels, Regina tossed her keys into the dish her father gave her and flopped down onto the loveseat by the fireplace. As Emma followed her into the den, she called out to her, "Oh, hey Em? I've only got one wine glass in here. If you'd like to have a drink you'll have to take one from the kitchen, ok?"
Slowly, Emma made her way into the den, "Oh!" Regina replied, gesturing to her empty hands, "No wine for you then Swan?"
"Oh Uh..." Emma thought before she spoke, "No. no wine for me tonight, thank you."
"Ok then, Ms Swan, suit yourself." She replied, taking a mouthful of the sweet, red wine from her glass.