Chapter 10

Emma smiled, she was walking out behind the tracks, ready to drive. Forty-one days had gone by since the accident. For the same amount of days she had been watching the races on tv, She had been preparing mentally for them. She had done everything in her power to get to this day, the day she would race again. She hadn't even told Regina she was going to, Emma wanted it to be a surprise. Her eyes searching through the different pit crews to spot her.

She was to hear Henry's voice before seeing her as he cracked a joke, making fun of one of the other teams. Inside joke Emma suspected, her looked good, wearing the team shirt of the Ferrari team. Unlike herself Regina had obviously made sure to include him in this. Emma could feel a sting of jealousy over the fact that the brunette was a better mother for him than she would ever be.

The blonde walked closer to the Ferrari team, still only seeing Regina's crew members, not the woman herself. Still she kept walking, if they were there, she had to be around somewhere close, it made only sense. She was about to sneak up on her son, their son, when she heard a squeal behind her, "Emma, I can't believe it you are back."

The blonde turned with a crocked smile saying, "Did you ever doubt I would."

Regina looked at her, smiling back, some of the burns on her face was still visible, but nothing major, or so she hoped. She walked over and hugged her whispering, "Welcome back."

"Thanks," she smiled gratefully. She was very glad indeed to be back. In fact so glad that she didn't want to let go of the other woman. She did thought saying, "We need to catch up after the race."

Emma nodded, giving her a brief kiss on the cheek, before walking over to her team. She was ready, ready to win again. Regina smiled as she felt her heart beat faster than usual before a race, Emma was back, her Emma was finally back and this time it would be so worth it if she could win. They could finally celebrate the victory together.

Regina heard the engine of her car purr as she was ready to drive, she stepped lightly on the gas teasing it. She knew Emma's car was next to her, she looked over halfway, knowing it had to hurt to have her helmet on, knowing what an effort it most likely had to be that she was even there.

The shoot and then they were off, faster, faster, faster, round and round, chasing after each other like wild running horses. She loved it every second of it, the adrenalin going thought her body, a turn, she was having the lead. Emma right behind her, she smiled, she was back, she was finally back.

Emma shifted the gear and stepped on the gas, moving faster, she was at one with her car as she drove round and round in circles. Regina inches ahead, she had to beat her, she just had to.

It was only half through the race they saw it, the bad weather coming around them, heavy rain, making it hard for them to see. In the back of her mind Emma could see herself crash again, terror striking through her, she didn't want to die. She pictured Regina crying over her mangled body, Henry holding on to her. Should she give up, should she fold back.

"Regina…" she tried the radio system.

"Yes?" the answer came fast, her breath unsteady, she was struggling like she was. Emma assumed she was having trouble seeing as well.

"Do you want to fold, no winner, no loser?" Emma's voice was steady. She gave her the option.

"Scared Swan?" came the answer, a smile on her red lips.

"Terrified you?" a small laughter escaping the blonde.

"Mortified!" it came out only as a whisper, she waited for an answer, fold or not.

Regina took it in less than a second as she said, "Side by side to the finish line, winner takes all?"

"I'm in," Emma said, this was it, the driving conditions horrible, still she wanted to make it more than anything. She wasn't quitting, she had come too far. So had Regina. The best would have to win.

A tired brunette stepped out of her car, water coming in from all sides, the skies was crashing down around her, she had come second, Emma had won, but not by much. It was a fair game. She handed her helmet to one of her crew members and looked over at the victor. She deserved it after what she had been through.

Emma held her helmet high, smiling into the rain, before going into the brief press conference. She answered most of the questions without even thinking much off it, when a reporter dared asking, "What did Regina say, when she saw your face for the first time after the accident?"

From the back of the room a gasp escaped Regina, how dared he ask such thing. A man next to Emma asked her something, she shook her head saying, "I'll answer it. That I looked beautiful, wouldn't you agree."

The room laughed and with that it was over, and she headed out the back. Regina found the man moments later, making sure he regret his question. Then she went to find Emma in a room further up the hall, hugging her tight from behind.

Emma's hands went back to hold her as she whispered, "Hey there."

"Congratulations on the victory," she whispered, pressing a kiss beneath her ear.

"Thank you, celebrating tonight?" Emma wondered in a soft tone.

"Anywhere you want let me know," said Regina and smiled, not bringing herself to let her go. Emma didn't try to get out of the embrace either, and so they simply stood there holding on to each other, happy that they were finally about to do just that.

Thank you so much for reading this chapter, I would love to hear your point of view :o)