He lost her, but at long last, he had her…

"Look, Rumple," Belle sighs, touching his face gently. Then she hands him his dagger. "I know you. And I love you. As you are. And I know…I know you have to kill Zelena."

She exhales softly. Her voice lowers to a murmur. "I've got to admit, I honestly don't understand it, but I need…an empathy potion or something."

"I don't want to make you one. You see, Belle…" Rumple makes a flourishing motion with his free hand. "If you understood, you'd know the pain of being broken. My dear, that is but a fate I do not wish on you."

"But…Rumple, my love—"

"And this," Rumple runs his fingers along the blade. "This…means so much to me. It means you trust me. But I want you to keep it."

"I can't." Belle gazes into his eyes. "You need to be free. You're a free man. Don't let another witch grab it," she grins.

"This means a lot to me," Rumple mutters, spinning it between his fingers then handing it to her. "It means you trust me with all your heart."

"I do."

He pulls her in his arms and kisses her lips. "But I don't want to be a free man. I am now, and for, all the future yours."

"Wh-what are you saying?"

He smiles at her, knowing she wants this as much as he does. Knowing no pirate is going to snatch her out from between his fingers. Knowing even if he skipped out on the Ogre Wars so his son wouldn't grow up fatherless, Belle wouldn't snap at him, "Your son would be better off with you dead!" Knowing this woman means her love with her whole heart, whereas Milah only loved him with the edge of her lips.

And never mind Cora. The heartless power-loving broad.

The two of them were mistakes. One brought him his son, who he loves deeply even in death. The other tried to kill him so she could be the Dark One. But Belle is the one he wants, the one he feels lucky to have this chance with. A chance he never dreamed he'd get when Zelena had his dagger.

"Will you marry me?"

As he speaks the words, Belle's eyes light up like never before.

"Yes!" She grabs his neck and kisses him passionately. She is grinning hard and uncontrollably as she kisses him. When she pulls back slightly, she whispers, "It would be an honor." She strokes his chin with starry eyes, thinking, Mrs. Gold.

"No. You honor me. Darling Belle…I have dreamed of this for so long."

"As have I," she whispers, awash in rapture. Unable to believe—after everything they've been through—that they are at last uniting.