Disclaimer: I only own my oc and any characters not recognised.

Authors Note: Hey. I'm back with a one-shot in a one-shot. Confused? I am slightly. Originally this was going to be a new one-shot with a new oc, but then I was thinking and it seemed perfect for this oc and her relationship with Ace, so yeah. I'm probably going to write more one-shots of these two, 'cause I think I can explore their relationship more, but this isn't going to be a full on story, it's just one-shots of their life.

Anyway I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you to Entangler (and thanks for betaing the last one-shot) and FirstCome-FirstStaked for your reviews.

Apologies if there's any spelling errors it's my first draft and it's like two in the morning and I'm too impatient to wait to post lol I will have to reread it in the morning.

All Bets Are Off

Six years we've been together. Six years down the fucking drain! My mother would say "I told you so! I told you not to marry that boy. As charming as he is to you - Charm fades. And then all you're left with is a broken record." Broken record this was, all right. Skipping and replaying the bad, over and over again, until eventually one of us gets bored and tosses the other away.

Is that what I am to him? Something he could easily toss away?

This has to be our worst fight to date, I haven't seen him since it happened. He never came home. He never showed up at my work, like he used to. We've had fights, plenty of them, but not like this. I can't even remember what had happened, let alone why.

At first I was sick with worry when he never came home. I called around to the usual places, His folks' house, all of the bars he drank at. Hell, I even checked that little diner he took me to on our first date. But nothing! He had disappeared.

Soon five days had come and gone and there was still no sign of him ever turning up. Funny how he could just vanish off the face of the earth when he wanted to, isn't it?

Worry turned into fear and that fear turned into anger. It got to a point where I didn't give a rats ass as to where he went off to. That was until my cousin Vince called the house, from a payphone, fifteen minutes ago. He told me that Ace was down at the local billiards bar, challenging any guy for a game of pool. It shouldn't have taken me by surprise - I mean, Friday nights at the billiards bar was a common occurrence for Ace - but it did.

So I grabbed my car key and shot out of the house - I don't think I even hung up the phone, or shut the front door - got into my car and drove.

Now I'm sat in my car, outside Irby's Billiards, wondering how I had the strength to come here tonight. I didn't think twice about rushing out of the house fifteen minutes ago. Now? Well, now I don't know. I'm clutching the steering wheel tightly, as if my life depends on it, and I can't help but think that this is a bad idea, a real bad idea.

I start the car back up when I hear a door slam shut, I look up to see a loved up couple walking away. The guy has one arm draped around the girl's shoulder and he's kissing at her neck, while she giggles into him.I suddenly get a vision of Ace inside doing the exact same thing to some blonde, or brunette, or red headed tramp. Or worse...all three! Before I can stop myself I've already turned off the ignition, grabbed my purse, and now I'm inside the bar, ready for all hell to break loose.

The front of the bar is deserted, but I can hear crowds of people. Irby comes around the corner, he looks tired, he looks up and sees me and smiles. "That husband of yours has sure cleaned up tonight," he sighs and then carries on, "There's not a full wallet in the joint. What can I get ya?"

"A new husband," I say and I regret it instantly. Spilling all my troubles on Irby is not my idea of good night. "I ain't drinking."

"Ah, he's on his last game. Then he's all yours." Typical Irby. He thinks I'm just another housewife who's mad that her husband is out all night and not at home with her. "Then I get my bar back," he tells me and motions with his head to the pool table at the back. I look and see that there's a crowd of people, all of Irby's custom, they're gathered around in a circle - blocking my view, but I spot Ace straight away. I know it's him just by the way he's standing. Ace watches his opponent make his shot, oblivious to the fact that I'm here.

I could turn back and he'll never know. Yet something's telling me to stay.

I place my purse on the bar and then compose myself. "I changed my mind. Give me something strong, I don't care what it is." I shrug and add, "just as long as it's drinkable."

Irby chuckles and he reaches up and grabs a clean glass and a bottle of rum from the back of the shelves. "Coke?" He looks over his shoulders at me.

I glance back at Ace's pool table and can see that he's now looking pretty comfortable with a brunette by his side. "Nope. Just on the rocks!" I watch Irby pour the rum into the glass and I can already smell the liquor before it's even under my nose. "Put it on his tab." Ace swears he doesn't have a bar tab but I know he does.

Irby lets out a whistle and warns, "He ain't gonna like that."

"Well, then keep 'em coming," I reply. The liquor is easier to drink than I had expected and it doesn't take me long to finish the first, or the second. The third was not so easy.

Ace's crowd had now died down and Irby now had his customers back. And Ace? He still had no clue I was here. 'Cause if he did he would have made himself known, I guess that's what I should be doing, but I still haven't felt the courage.

"Why's a pretty girl like you, all by herself?" A voice says from behind me.

I groan, getting hit on wasn't in my sights tonight.

I turn around and I'm met with an older man - I'm guessing in his late twenties - he's handsome in a rugged way with long sideburns and hair that's long enough for you to grab a fist full of.

The kind of guy that Ace hates. And that's how I definitely know Ace doesn't know I'm here, he would have beaten this guy black and blue already if he was watching.

"Can I buy you a drink?" he asks and leans in closer to me.

I grin escapes my lips as an idea starts forming in my head. "Sure, why not?"

He waves a hand in the air for Irby to come serve and he orders me and himself a beer. Irby looks at me in disbelief as he places the two beers on the counter and pops the lids off. He leans over to me as he snatches the money out of the guys hand. "You know, little girls who play with fire...get burned," he says in disbelief.

"And bartenders who pry into other peoples business...lose tips." I pick up the bottle of beer and bring it to my lips. Ignoring the warning from Irby I ask the guy, "Do you fancy a game of pool?"

Before he even has a chance to reply I've already taken a hold of his hand and led him to the back.

There's still a crowd gathered around watching the game.

Billy Tessio, is the first of Ace's pals to notice me, he nudges Richard 'Eyeball' Chambers in the side with his elbow. Eyeball glares at his friend for interrupting his make out session with a blonde chick, but his mouth gapes open when Billy points me out.

As Ace's second in command it's his duty to tell him what's going on. Unlucky for Eyeball it wasn't going to be that easy. Ace was on the other side of the pool table, he had just potted the eight-ball, winning the game. And before Eyeball could warn him Ace's cockiness has already come out to play.

"That's the easiest twenty bucks I've ever made," he gloats loudly as his opponent shoves two tens in his hands and then walks off with a damaged reputation. Ace chuckles, he still hasn't seen me, and he asks the crowd, "Who else wants to get their ass handed to them?" Eyeball is now standing beside him and he pulls Ace's attention away from the challenge.

If there was a perfect time it was now.

"I know someone who wants to play," I speak loudly, and I can tell Ace recognizes my voice by the way he blinks twice. I place the guys hand on my waist and the guy doesn't complain.

Ace puckers his lips slightly as he sucks at his teeth, a habit he always did when he felt threatened but didn't want to show it. He brings out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and pulls one out and lights it. He then exhales as he looks the guy up and down, sizing him up, and then scoffs, "What are you wanting to play for her pussy?"

Eyeball roars with laughter, like it's the funniest joke he's ever heard. And the rest of the cobras join in, apart from Vince, even Ace wouldn't laugh at the mention of a family members pussy, and I got the feeling that if it had been anyone else but Ace, Vince would have tarred them.

"'Cause I don't need to play for that," he smugly states to the guy, who suddenly takes his hands away from my waist. Ace places his half smoked cigarette down on the edge of the pool table and picks up his cue. "Could have found a better asshole to challenge me for a game, honey." He chalks the stick and blows the dust off.

"He isn't challenging you! I am!"

The cobras shut up immediately and the crowd goes silent

Ace smirks, but I can tell I've surprised him. He picks his cigarette back up and takes a long draw before stubbing it out on the ashtray beside him.

I turn to the guy and thank him for the beer, he's not impressed, and I shrug his cold stare off. I take a cue stick from the wall as I walk up to Ace's table.

"That's fuckin' idiotic! You playing, Ace?" Eyeball cackles from beside Ace. His left eye twitches when he notices all eyes are now on him. "What could you possibly play for? What's his is yours, or whatever that marriage bullshit is about." Ace gives Eyeball a look that shuts him up instantly and he backs away from the table. "Fuck, I'm gonna need a drink."

"Shut up and set up the game, Eyeball. Don't make me tell you twice," Ace warns. His eyes never leaving mine he runs a hand through his hair. "I guess the asshole has a point. What are we playing for?"

I pull the wedding ring off of my finger and place it on the table. "All bets are off. Winner gets whatever they want."

"Fair enough." He brings out the chain he wears around his neck, that has his wedding ring hanging from it, takes it off and places it down on the table next to mine. "May the best player win."

We flip a coin to see who breaks. Ace calls heads and heads it is.

He walks past me to break the game and he makes sure to grab my ass on his way and I almost forget that I'm angry at him for running out on me and disappearing for a week. I feel his breath on the back of my neck and he whispers in my ear, "You know I'm gonna win. Do you really want to find out what I'm playing for?"

I guess I do.

I watch him lean over the table. He holds the cue stick with such skill that you'd think it was his day job. He breaks the balls, potting the purple solid in the left side corner in the process.

And now I'm stood here wondering what I'm playing for. Was he something I could easily toss away?

dun dun duh! yes I'm evil for leaving a one-shot on a cliffhanger. mwhahaha. But who knows maybe you'll find out in future one-shots. Reviews would be awesome and greatly appreciated :D have a great day.