Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

"Checkmate."

Rumpelstiltskin's eyes widened."Impossible."

Belle simply rested her chin on her hand and smiled at him."Look for yourself."

The Dark One turned the board around and looked at the golden pieces again. True to her word, Belle had indeed cornered his king."Dammit. How?"

"That would be telling, Rumpel dear. Now, I believe that's three out of five."

He glared at her and heard a soft clicking. He look out of the window and opened one of them with magic."Quiet you!"The clicking got louder, and Draco lifted his head up to the window.

Belle rose from her seat and went over to the window."Don't listen to him, Draco. He's just a sore loser,"she said, rubbing the grown dragon's scaly head.(Think Glaedr from The Inheritance Cycle in his prime only a few shades darker and with a few scale differences.)

Rumpel crossed his arms."I am not."

She looked back at him and couldn't hold in a giggle."Sure you're not."

"I'm not,"he assured her."Best five out of seven?"

She smiled to herself."No. I think I'll remain content with the knowledge that beat you until next time."

He glared at her once again until a knock on the door was heard."Well, you can be content while you answer the door."

"Yes, Rumpel."

Belle stood and went to answer the door but not without ruffling Rumpelstiltskin's already messy hair as she passed him. At the door, she found a woman only a few years older than herself. She looked tired, as though she'd been traveling for days.

"State your business."

"I'm here to see Rumpelstiltskin. It's important. Is he in?"

"He is. Follow me."Belle stepped back and allowed her in."If it's a deal you're after, I'd advise you to be careful with your words. He's a tricky one."

"So I've heard."

The women reached the main hall to find Rumpelstiltskin still in his chair, resetting the chess board."Who was at the door, dearie? An old woman selling flowers, perhaps?"

"Very funny, but no. Someone wants to deal with you."

At the thought of a deal, Rumpelstiltskin turned only to freeze at the sight of the woman."Belle. Why don't you go on upstairs. I don't think you clean my lab today, did you?"

In fact, she had cleaned it that morning, but Belle left anyway. Something about this woman terrified him, but she'd control her curiosity for now."I'll get on that. I'll just be upstairs if you need me."

Giving Rumple one last look, Belle left the room, and Rumple looked back at the woman."You have a lot of nerve coming here, Elizabeth."

"Can't a wife come visit her husband?"

"You lost the right to call me your husband when you left me and Bae!"he snarled before sighing. His voice then lost its edge, and he looked almost lost."Do you know how hard it was to lie when he asked about you? Why did you do it, Liz?"

"I did what I had to do. I was the laughing stock of our village. I couldn't go out to the market without hearing people call me the wife of a coward. The hardest part was knowing that it was true."

"I'm a coward?"

Elizabeth came forward until they were face to face."Yes! You didn't have the heart to fight like a man, so you ran away. That sounds like a coward to me."

"I came back to take care of you. I watched the men grew up with, all husbands and fathers, die for nothing."

"And you should have died with them!"

With that statement, something in Rumpelstiltskin snapped. He was no longer angry, just numb."Why are you here, Elizabeth?"

"I had hoped we could work things out between us now that you'd changed, but I see I was wrong."

"Indeed you were."

"Yes. You haven't changed at all. I can see myself out."

Emotionally drained, Rumpelstiltskin fell back into his chair with a sigh. After hearing the door slam, he called out,"I know you're there, Belle."

Sheepishly, the girl in question came into the room. There was no pity in her eyes when she looked at him, only concern and understanding."I'm sorry, Rum. I shouldn't have let her in."

Rumpel waved his hand to dismiss the thought."It's not your fault, dearie. How much did you hear?"

"Just the ending, I swear. She's beautiful. I see why you married her."

"Yes. I was lucky, I suppose but it's all ancient history now."

Coming over to him, Belle grabbed his arm and pulled him up. With her arm around his shoulders, she began leading hm to his wheel."You need to think for a bit alone. Take some time and spin. I'll bring you some tea in a minute, and I think there's some cake left from yesterday that's still good."

"Hmm. Have I told you how lost I'd be without you?"

"No. Not lately."

He sat down and looked up at her."Then I'll say it now. I'd be completely and utterly lost without you, Belle."

"I know, Rum."

After kissing his cheek softly, she left for the kitchen, and Rumpel smiled to himself. Elizabeth may have been his first love, but Belle...Belle was something else entirely. He'd wanted to spend the rest of his life with Elizabeth before. Things changed, and now, he needed to have Belle in his life. However long it would be that was something, he was sure, that wouldn't change.

TBC