"Hello, Rumpel." A cold, piercing voice shot its way through Rumpelstiltskin.
"Regina." he responded, letting his muscles relax again. He remained content at his spindle, concentrating on his work.
Regina normally had those who called her by her first name arrested, or sometimes killed if she was in a bad mood, but decided it was better to pick her battles and let it go. "I've come on a matter of business. A certain girl in a tower I need taken care of..." she said, her fingers trailing along the long dining room table.
"I'm not dealing today, dearie. I'm expecting some rather important company." His eyes darted over to the flower, which had been sitting on a small table next to him, where he could always keep his eyes on it.
"Oh? Who is it this time? Another housemaid that you'll end up scaring away?" Regina laughed, loving the satisfaction of getting under his scaly skin. Rumpelstiltskin, of course, was very deeply upset by the remark, but would never let Regina know that.
"No, dearie, no one you need worry about." He said, in a strangely calm tone, so calm that Regina was taken aback.
"Why, Rumpel...you know you can tell me anything." She cooed, fluttering her eyelashes in a mock-flirtation. When she received no response, she dropped the pretense. "Fine. Whoever it is, I'll know about it in time anyway. I'll be back in a few days to-" her sentence was interrupted by a sudden fit of coughing.
"Rumpel," she said between coughs, "be a dear and fetch me a cup of tea. This cold weather does nothing for my health!" He grumbled and complied, knowing that nothing he could say would get her out of his home without a cup of tea.
As soon as he left the room, the Queen strode over to his wheel, eyeing the flower on the stool. She picked up the pot and immediately sensed the magic within it.
"So, this is who he's been expecting...well, then. I'll just have to take you home with me. It'll teach the little imp to refuse a deal with me." She laughed softly, and walked out of the doors as quietly as she could, the flower nestled closely to her.
Rumpelstiltskin carried the tray of tea out to the dining room, where he expected to see Regina. When he saw the empty room, he instantly thought of the flower, and became furious upon seeing that it was gone.
"My flower!" he fumed. He ran to the doors, and saw the Queen's carriage up the road, driving away. Knowing he wouldn't catch her, he ran to his bedroom, removing the cover from his wardrobe mirror.
"YOU DID THIS!" he screamed, pointing his skinny, green finger at his reflection. "BRING HER BACK, YOU WITCH! YOU BRING HER BACK!" Rumpelstiltskin was suddenly reminded of the day Regina had brought the news of his beloved Belle, the news that crushed his heart forever; Belle was dead. Blaming Regina for everything that had happened, he smashed every mirror in his home, all except one. The bedroom mirror, the one Belle had so admired, he kept untouched, as a reminder.
He'd let Belle slip from his grasp, but he wouldn't let it happen again. He was going to get the flower back.