Gamble Until You Can't

10

Regina was stood, leaning against her Range Rover. She glanced up at the door, lowering her sunglasses to the end of her nose, as she watched Emma step out the door. She wore a pair of tight, denim shorts and a cream vest top. Regina smirk at the sight, instantly catching Emma's attention.

"Come on, Miss Swan, we don't have all day" Regina quickly said, smirking still, as she pushed her glasses back to her eyes.

Emma chuckled as she jogged down the few steps and to the car. Regina opened the passenger side door before walking around and getting in her side. She pushed one of the buttons on the car, allowing the roof to fold off into the back.

"This is a really nice car" Emma said as she allowed her eyes to admire the vehicle.

"Being rich has its perks, my dear" Regina replied, putting her foot on the gas pedal and allowed the car to begin moving.

She drove out of the gate at the end of the road, allowing her to drive fast down the street. The wind was blowing into her hair, allowing all the built up thoughts to be free. Regina glanced across at Emma, seeing her smiling and looking around the view Law Vegas has to offer. The blonde was so happy and oblivious to the smirk she was being given. Regina chuckled as she focused back on the road.

"What" Emma asked, finally looking across at the woman who was chuckling to herself.

"You just looked pretty cute then. It's a nice car to go out for a long drive and clear your mind, I'm always out for a drive nowadays" Regina replied with a smirk as she glanced across at the blonde.

This was the first time, in a long time, Regina was out on a drive with someone. She never usually brings people because this is her time to think. Then again, Regina has a certain soft spot for Emma so this isn't a surprise.

"Maybe ask yourself why" Emma simply suggested, thinking back to the tough times with her husband.

"I know why... I just never care to admit it" Regina replied with a chuckle, hiding the fact she was actually hurting inside. Emma wasn't sure whether to speak or not. After all, they had only known each other about a month now. "So you grew up in the foster system, right? What was that like" Regina asked with a curious face, hoping to changing their topic.

"Yeah, I did. It was rough but I survived" Emma replied, remembering a her horrid past.

"Rough? How so"

"I got beaten up by this same kid every day, the foster people didn't give a shit if we were fighting. If I went to a family, it was always an abusive one. I never stayed longer than a month. My life in foster care was shit, so shit and scary, that I ran away for college and never returned" Emma replied, trying to keep it brief as she didn't want to bother people with her problems.

"That's awful, I'm sorry you had to go through that" Regina softly said, reach out to place her hand on the blonde upper thigh.

Emma tensed up ever so slightly. Regina's hand was very high up and she was fully aware of this. At this point, Emma is practically gagging for Regina and has been for the past week now. The blonde glanced up at Regina who gave her a cheeky wink and a smirk, slowly removing her hand from where it was. Emma relaxed a little more and adjusted her position to make it less obvious.

"What was your childhood like? Were you always rich" Emma asked, still moving to make herself comfortable once again.

"Depends who you ask. My mother is one of the richest woman in Beverly Hills, she comes from a long line of woman who never work and rely on their father or husband's money. She has never worked a single day in her life and currently lives off her third husband's pay checks. She tells me every month, I'm a disappointment to her family because I worked hard for my money. Some mother, right" Regina replied with a chuckle, knowing she practically lived two different lives as a child.

"Bloody hell. What about your dad" Emma asked as she knew there had to be a second half to the story.

"My father use to be rich but when my mother was pregnant, he decided booze, drugs and abuse was a better path for him. My grandfather refused to allow him into the family after that and my parents split up before I was born. He lost all his money to alcohol and drugs, leaving him to rot away in a two bedroom apartment. He's a truly cruel man who would beat my mother when he came to pick me up. One day, I stood up for her and he told me that meant I was old enough for a beaten. He's fucked in the head and only comes to me when he needs money" Regina replied with her eyes locked on the road, completely unaware how much she just said.

"Whoa... Is that why you're stressed? You're scared" Emma asked, looking in so much shock at what she heard.

"I wasn't meant to tell you that. Miss Swan, don't ever tell anyone I said that" Regina quickly demanded, giving a stern look that she knew would get the blonde not to.

"I won't, I promise. Am I right though? Are you scared" Emma softly asked, knowing Regina hasn't been herself all week.

"Yes but I have my plan and I have it under control. Its nothing for you to worry about. So, to sum up your question, half my life was rich and the other half no" Regina replied with a smile at the end, keeping her eyes locked on the open road.

"He beats you, doesn't he" Emma asked in a gentle tone, already knowing the answer.

"What" Regina quickly asked, slamming her foot against the break pedal due to the shock she felt.

"I can see it, the scars across your arm and the fear in your eyes. He still does it, doesn't he" Emma softly questioned, placing her hand against the brunettes shoulder.

Regina didn't say anything, she just looked down in fear. She restarted the car and began driving again. She decided to just not answer the question, it was easier than admitting it. Soon, they arrived at a diner. It wasn't a very big diner but it did the best food they could ask for. Regina parked her car round the back and pushed a button, causing the roof to return back to its place. She turned the engine off and placed the keys into her bag, never moving her eyes from her lap.

"I'm sorry... I wasn't meant to tell you that. Could you... Umm... Well"

"Forget it? Of course"

"Thank you" Regina replied with a big smile, finally looking back up at the blonde.

"It's ok, we've all got our stuff we don't want told" Emma said in response, chuckling as she thought about her husband.

"I don't know if you've heard but in the gang we have a nicknames for everyone based on who they are. For example, Isabella is the gossip, Oxana is the lady killer, Yun is the sweet one, Brandon is the stud, extra. We all have different ones" Regina explained, looking at Emma with a sweet smile as she did.

"And what's yours" the blonde asked as she smirked and looked the woman up and down.

"It use to be the boss but some how adapted to become... the temptress" Regina replied with a large smirk as she let the words fall off her lips.

"Good name. What's mine" Emma asked, bitting her lip as she just watched the hot woman.

"The intelligence. Sometimes, I think you're too smart for your own good" Regina replied with a chuckle, sliding her hand back onto Emma's upper thigh.

"And you're too much of a temptress for my good"