Author's note: I apologize profusely for taking so long to update this. My life has gotten really hectic lately, so there wasn't as much time to devote to fic writing (also I was generally exhausted and lacking inspiration). Hopefully I'll go back to normal updating mode soon. For now, I hope you enjoy the new chapter.

Part Seven ~ Complications

"We…are fucked."

It was unlike Maleficent to use such a vulgar expression, but considering their current predicament, Diaval didn't blame her one bit.

"Yep." He didn't bother with attempting to see a bright side and instead focused on the premiere episode of Doctor Who, which they were both watching.

With a frustrated moan, his girlfriend sank further into the couch cushions. "How are we going to handle this mess we've gotten ourselves into, babe?"

He didn't take his eyes off the TV, but reached out, placed a comforting hand on her knee, and squeezed lightly. "Since we're getting nowhere with trying to start a discussion between them: we'll have to approach them separately and ask how they want to handle this."

She grimaced, but as usual: Diaval was right on point. "All right. I'll invite Belle out for lunch. A friendly setting might work better than meeting at the office."

"And I'll take Jones out for a drink." He didn't sound pleased at the idea, but she knew it would probably do the trick. "That should loosen him up a bit."

"Sounds like a plan," she sighed and curled closer to him, her attention shifting to the action that was playing out on the flat screen.

It went silent for a little bit as they focused on the show, but when commercials began playing, Diaval turned to look at her. "After this case is over: I want to take you somewhere."

She faced him, curiosity crossing her lovely face. "Take me somewhere?"

"Yes. As in a vacation. I think we're going to need one when this is done."

Her breath caught in her throat as she found herself at a loss for words. Their relationship was not one of strict definitions, but taking a trip together: that was definitely a sign that they were getting quite serious.

"Where do you want to go?" She finally asked when her mind stopped racing long enough to form a coherent sentence.

"Hawaii would be nice."

Her expression turned warm and she tugged him forward by the collar, kissing him soundly to express her approval at his plan.

Before they could go running off to an island paradise, however: they needed to get things settled between their clients, so the following week: Maleficent scheduled a lunch date with Belle and Diaval organized a casual meeting at a local pub with Killian.

"Thank you for agreeing to this," Maleficent stated as she and Belle sat down at the table of the café the fashion designer had chosen for their lunch meeting.

"Considering that the "negotiations" are getting nowhere when we meet at the office, I wasn't exactly surprised when you suggested a one-on-one." Belle admitted.

"Yes. Your husband brings out an interesting side in you."

"That's a delicate way of putting put it. Let's face it: the man makes me bat-shit crazy."

Maleficent couldn't help the laugh that escaped her at Belle's blunt explanation. "I've spent enough time with him to agree with you completely."

"Yeah…I'm sorry for the trouble we've been causing at any rate. It must be driving you insane."

"My co-counsel isn't faring any better," Maleficent confessed, grabbing the menu and perusing over the options as she took a sip of water.

"My eventual ex-husband certainly isn't making it easier for Mr. Corbeau," Belle agreed.

Maleficent smirked, though Belle couldn't see it, and thought briefly of just how frustrated her lover had become by his client. "I'm sure that's the case…now: you've got my full attention, Belle, so why don't you tell me how you want to proceed?"

"I don't know where it all went wrong, mate," Killian Jones mumbled into his fourth glass of whiskey as he and Diaval sat, side-by-side, at the bar of the Irish pub that the lawyer had suggested for their meeting place. "We used to be crazy about each other."

That doesn't exactly excuse all the lying and cheating, Diaval thought wryly as he wisely nursed his beer. "Sometimes being in love just isn't enough, I guess."

The rock-star glanced in his direction. "Have you ever been in love, Corbeau?"

Diaval nearly choked on his drink. "What?"

"It's a simple question," Killian shrugged.

Diaval smoothed back his hair with one hand and pondered on what the best answer would be.

The simple response was: Yes.

The problem, however, was that he and Maleficent had agreed to keep the true nature of their relationship secret from their clients.

"It's complicated," he finally stated. "I'm involved with someone but I'm not entirely sure what the future holds. We're taking it day by day."

"Well do yourself a favor: get out before it gets serious. It'll save you a lot of grief later," the musician's tone was extremely bitter, which caused Diaval to arch an eyebrow.

"You're still in love with Belle, aren't you?"

"I never stopped loving her. That was never our problem. Fame is what did us in…" Killian sighed and gulped down the remnants of his drink.

Across town, Belle was lamenting in a similar fashion. "At some point…being with Killian became more of a chore than anything else. Don't get me wrong: he was my first love, and he'll always be special to me, but I just can't take the marriage part anymore. It's supposed to be for better or worse, and lately all it's become is the "worse" part."

Despite the fact that she had heard similar tales from other clients over the years, the sadness in Belle's tone made Maleficent's heart clench.

"I've seen many marriages fall apart, Belle. And there are times when I just want to shake both parties by the shoulders and tell them to work their issues out, but…I think with you and Killian that's a moot point by now."

Belle let out a humorless chuckle. "You know what the funny part of all this is? For all our fighting and accusations at each other: I don't really want him to suffer."

"Then what do you want from him Belle?"

The designer sighed and settled back in her chair. "I don't need his money. I make a good living on my own…but there's one piece of property that I would love to get my hands on."

"And what's that?"

"There's this castle, in Ireland, where I proposed to Belle," Killian explained to Diaval. "We bought it not long after we got married. Honestly, the woman can have whatever she wants if she's willing to sign it over to me."

"You're going to have to make a better case than a simple "I want it," Killian," the lawyer warned.

"Would the fact that it was my idea to buy it mean anything?"

Diaval grinned at this. Finally: they were getting somewhere. "Yes. Yes it will."

"So it was your idea to buy the castle then?" Maleficent confirmed.

Belle nodded, her eyes bright at the prospect of something finally going in the right direction. "Yeah I called the realtor right away."

"Excellent," Maleficent jotted the information down on a notepad and then smiled in Belle's direction. "I'll discuss this with my co-counsel and hopefully we can reach an agreement quickly."

When Diaval arrived at Maleficent's apartment that evening with dinner, he was in excellent spirits. "Baby! I have excellent news!"

"So do I!" her tone was equally pleased, and when she emerged from the living room she was all smiles. "It looks like this might end amicably after all."

"It just might. Killian just wants the—

"Belle just wants the—

They froze at the exact same moment and stared at each other with growing horror.

"Please don't tell me…"

"That they both want that castle..."

Both lawyers lapsed into silence before cursing in unison.