BEAUTIFUL FANART ABOVE BY articulateme

Sin sauntered silently into Gold's shop. He didn't bother stopping at the reception desk and went straight to the staircase that lead to his office. The receptionist didn't bother stopping Sin but did call her boss quickly, to warn him about the arrival of his guest. She saw something in his eyes, something deadly, a purpose that made her reluctant to approach him.

Sin adjusted his cuff links, stretched his neck, then opened the door. He went straight to the bar and poured two glasses of whiskey, ignoring Gold. He set one of the glasses in front of Gold and leisurely set down across from him, leisurely. He sipped the whiskey and studied Gold.

"Did you come here as a friend or foe?" Gold asked him, before taking a sip of whiskey. He had got a call from his receptionist as soon as he had stepped in the building but Gold had been expecting. It was only a matter of time.

"That depends... I want to make a Deal," Sin said, playing a game they both knew very well. That was the thing with devil's, they recognised each other, having the sort of movements. The problem only arose when they decided to play against each other, that's when the trouble really started.

"What are the terms of this deal?" Gold's finger trailed around the edge of the glass in circles as he fought down a smile. It humoured him that Sin wanted to play a game, he had mastered long before he had even started.

"I'll buy whatever deal you've made with the Miller girl and you'll back off from her," Sin knew it was a long shot but he needed to test the waters. The thing with Gold was he had always played games. All sorts of games, from chess to cards, but Sin preferred chess. He had waited for Gold to make his move before he struck.

Gold, this time, smiled. He stood up and started walking around the desk slowly, he hadn't trailing the edge of the desk. This was a predator slowly getting ready to strike. He had a few cards left up, before he made the final blow. It was all about how well Sin could hold up his poker face because they had to see who was bluffing today.

"The thing is, Cameron, she's not for sale and you already knew that, so why don't we just skip a few steps," Gold purposely used his real name. He wasn't afraid of Sin. He had known him from when he was known as Cameron and only Cameron.

They had grown up together, never really friends but never really enemies. Their relationship was a grey space, that no one quite understood. There was something that kept them together, something no one knew. A past that only a few knew about. Their paths crossing way too many times for them to simply kill each other off. This was something new though, this was a fight for a happy ending.

"So you really believe she's the girl you're going to marry? I saw the bracelet," he replied. They had both been there when Gold got the bracelet. It had been given as a parting gift of some sorts with a hope that soon became a promise. A promise to give the bracelet to the girl he would finally be honest to, the girl he would eventually love, the girl who would give a villain a happily ever after. The second Dawn had put on the bracelet, Aziza and Cameron should've know about his choice. It was really useless for him to even ask a question.

"You were with us, what do you think?" Gold walked circles around Sin. His hands brushed the back of the chair as he moved casually, without purpose, it seemed. It was his nonchalant behaviour that would rile up Sin. He preferred people to cower because he had more power but this time Gold had all the right cards.

"I see, then I suppose we won't be making anymore deals..." Sin stood up, only a few inches taller than Gold but not enough to intimidate him, like he would have.

"Of course, she's mine and she had been for a while. Stop trying to make her your second queen, I won't let you," Gold warned him. He also used something to hurt Sin. The thing was that Sin had already fallen in love and apparently lost her. She was searching for him but he didn't want to be found. It was a sad ending to a love that could've saved them both and now he was trying to replace her with Dawn.

Sin threw the first punch. Just like Gold had expected. He didn't dodge, letting him hit him in the jaw. Only after that a fight broke out.

Meanwhile, two people had just arrived outside Gold's shop. Two people from the same place but with different means of transport. They were surprised to see each other at the same destination. Dawn and Her Majesty. They were stopped by the receptionist, who had been given instructions to not let anyone up whilst Sin was around.

"So Dawn, what brings you here?" Her Majesty asked, politely but curious at the same time. She was also their when he received the bracelet and made a promise to himself.

"Lunch plans and you?" Dawn replied awkwardly. She knew that they were old friends from that present but she didn't think they would be having lunch together. What exactly was Gold up to?

"Just passing by to meet an old friend quickly," she replied shortly. Their polite conversation was cut short by the sound of glass breaking upstairs. Ignoring the receptionist's protests, Her Majesty marched up the stairs and into the office. Dawn followed behind her, taking this as her chance to find out what was going on. He had made the plans so why was he leaving her to wait.

Dawn gasped whilst Her Majesty tutted at the sight of two grown men brawling. The rolled around on the floor, fists flying but Sin had none of that killing intent from the fight she had previously witnessed. Dawn was unsure on what to do to get them to stop. She was sure Sin was here after last night's warning.

"Why do I keep finding them like this?" Her Majesty muttered.

Aziza, on the other hand, had been in this position before and sprung right into action. She went straight to the bar and found a empty champagne bucket. She filled it with cold water with a tap from behind the bar. She simply walked up to them and tossed the cold water to take them out of their little fight. They were currently acting like little children in her eyes. Using fists for a problem that can be solved with words.

"Cameron, get out," she commanded.

"But I'm not done with him, A. I still need to-" He protested but Aziza shook her head. She threatened to call his brother or mother if he didn't leave this office. Eventually, after a few more protests, he begrudging stormed out the office, with her following behind him.

Dawn jumped up out the door way and made her way to Gold who was currently catching his breath. He was lying on the floor, completely unguarded, relaxed. He knew he had won from the second Aziza appeared. It was the only reason he had visited her the other day, and got her involved from the start. She didn't need to have her send Dawn to his office, he could've got her here via other methods, but with Aziza on her side, it meant that Cameron was under control.

Gold sat up when he saw Dawn approaching him. He had a lot to explain, and he could tell she had a lot of questions by the look on her face. He had to answer her carefully or else she would be the one murdering him. She leaned down, grabbed his chin and checked the bruise that was currently forming on his jaw. She stood up, "I have questions for you."

Dawn went to the bar to search for some ice and a towel. She wrapped some ice in the towel and sat down next to Gold who had moved to sit against the side of his desk. She roughly pressed the ice on his jaw.

"Oww," he whined, trying to come off as more innocent than he was. Dawn had to fight a smile and keep her glare in place. If she didn't find out now, she might never be able to know what was going on behind her back.

"You better start explaining EVERYTHING or else I'm leaving. You did say I could walk out at any time, well lying might be the reason for me leaving."

Gold told her from the beginning. He told her that Aziza, Cameron and himself had all gone to the same school and grown up together, even though Aziza was older than them. He told her how sometimes he did favours for both of them and that one of his favours had been to find her for Cameron and another had been for Aziza to get Dawn to his office. He told her he sort of had an idea about her debts but never fully knew the extent of what Cameron wanted from Dawn until today. He told her that they were fighting over her but she already knew. He told her not to worry. He told her the truth and most importantly, that he was sorry but doesn't regret getting to know her.

Dawn laid her head on his shoulder, trying to absorb all that she had found out. She had been playing a game like she had expected, but it had been bigger than she thought. She had managed to get away from Sin and straight into Gold's arms. The problem was that she didn't want to leave his arms just yet so she would stay here a little longer.

Gold had taken the ice from her and currently, was pressing it to his jaw himself. He sat still, waiting for Dawn wrap her mind around everything. He had played his final cards, it was now up to her to make the choice. He would fight for her but if she was sure about her decision then he would leave her. He was a greedy man, and he wanted Dawn's happiness... even if it was without him.

"So how does Aziza relate to Si- I mean Cameron? She had all his family details," Dawn asked. She didn't want to make her choice just yet but she needed to know just a little bit more about everything. She didn't want to be in the dark anymore.

"You know her husband, Hunter?" Dawn nodded, she had met him once or twice but never really interacted with him, "Well he is Cameron's older brother. So Aziza is technically family to him."

Dawn laughed. What else could she do? She had no idea how separate events had been so closely intertwined. Now that they had been stripped their reputations and facades, they were easier to approach. Sin could no longer be taken seriously, if all you had to do was call his mother on him and Aziza, well she was still a Queen in her own right but today had changed her view on her boss. Dawn knew she needed to speak to Cameron first. The game was nearly over.

Meanwhile, outside the office, Aziza scolded Cameron for his behaviour. She had managed to find out what he had been doing with her Personal Assistant and wasn't very happy about it. She told him that this was not the way to get over someone and he needed to get closure from his love, not look for a rebound girl, who had similar looks.

"-Look Cameron, I want you to go apologise to the both of them for your despicable behaviour and don't think twice about not doing it, because I will tell your mother," she warned him.

Dawn had heard the end of his lecture, and had to stifle another smile. Cameron looked defeated, sitting in a chair, with his head in hands. She had found out his end game from Gold and had to disillusion him before they continued any further.

"Aziza, can I have a private word with Cameron?" Cameron's head shot up at the sound of her voice. Aziza nodded and left, telling Dawn to call her if he didn't behave.

"Look Cameron, I'm going to be blunt but there's no way in Hell that I'm going to get with you and marry you so leave us be," she said. Yesterday, when he was going on about a Queen, he had meant that he had wanted her by his side and she didn't want that.

"Dawn, are you seriously picking him, over me?" Cameron looked a bit insulted.

"This is about me, not picking you. It has nothing to do with him," she replied.

The pawn had crossed the board and become a Queen, except he would never be able to use her to make all the powerful moves like everyone had said, he already had a queen and he needed to build new bridges over the ones he had burnt with her. His game was over with Dawn, he needed to move on from here. He had lost.

Dawn returned back into the office, to see Gold on his feet. He had taken his suit jacket off and unbutton the top buttons of his shirt. He was speaking with Aziza, telling her everything he had told Dawn just now. Dawn waited patiently in the doorway to finish. Aziza gave Gold a light hug before leaving. She stopped and told Dawn to take the rest of the day off. Maybe having Gold as a close friend to her boss would come in handy sometimes.

Dawn had a decision to make. One that she had already made long ago but hadn't changed. Gold sighed and turned away from her. He leaned with his two hands against his desk. He wasn't sure how this was going to go but he hoped she stayed. She walked up to Gold and wrapped her arms around his muscular back. He didn't move, letting her hold him.

"Have you made your choice?" he asked eventually.

"Yes, but I need to know one thing. What's your real name?" They both knew from their position that this was the start of something new and Dawn had chosen Gold. He was lucky and still had to redeem himself but that would be something to talk about another day. Today had been the end of many games but the start of something new.

"You won't even let me maintain a little mystery?" he joked, knowing that he would give her anything he could, within his power.

"Nope." He let out a short laugh before answering.

"My name is Aurelio."