Disclaimer: I love Once Upon a Time, but I do not own any of it. This fic is what I consider PV (Parallel 'Verse) because it has a foundation of canon to a certain point before branching off in some way.
"Rumple?" Belle bit her lip. They needed to talk about this, but she was afraid to broach the subject; this was something deeper than the weather.
"Belle?" Rumple looked at her. Seeing that she was bothered, he asked, "What is it?"
She took a deep breath. "Rumple, about the dagger..." At these words, she could feel him all but shutting down.
In lieu of saying anything, he merely shook his head.
"Why can't we just discuss it like normal, civilized people? At least give me an explanation for the silence you keep hiding behind."
"I don't want to talk about it now. Some other time perhaps, but not right now."
"That's what you always say! That's what you keep saying every time I bring it up!"
He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.
"You know, whatever it is you're not saying? It's coming in loud and clear to me."
"What?"
"We're at a crossroads here."
"Belle...? I don't understand."
"All this time I've been with you, I've always been wide open - like a window, or an ocean - there is nothing I've ever tried to hide."
"I know that, Belle, and I-"
"I'm not finished." She forestalled him by holding her hand up. "So, when you leave me not knowing, I start thinking that we're looking..." Swallowing heavily, she steeled herself before finishing, "...we're looking at goodbye."
"Belle, no..." Rumple pleaded.
Belle rolled her eyes. "Oh, now I've got your attention. How about a strong shot of honesty, Rumple?"
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then he closed it again.
Belle couldn't understand his continued reluctance. "Don't you owe that to me? Is the dagger really so much more important than me? Because if I'm not the one thing you can't stand to lose-"
"You are, Belle, you mean everything to me," Rumple insisted.
"Do I really? Because I feel like I'm second-best to your precious dagger," she spat scathingly.
Rumple didn't say anything to that, which spoke volumes to Belle.
"Right. That's what I thought. Then I guess we're done."
"Belle-"
"Let's not drag this on, Rumple. You've made your decision, and I've made mine. Consider me gone." At this, Belle turned on her heel and walked out, ignoring his stammered protest.