Rumple was seated at the front of the ship. He was thinking of her, of his lost love… his Belle. He longed to feel her warm breath caress his face as she leaned in to kiss him and the feel of her lips upon his. That was what he would miss most. He thought about all those years that he could have been with his beloved Belle. He thought back to the very last conversation they'd had in the enchanted forest.
….
He thought to himself how could anyone ever love me? It seemed impossible. He was the Dark One after all. Decidingwhat needed to be done, he went down to the dungeon where Belle was. Upon entering he could see her tearstained face but pretended not to care- this needed to be done.
"What are you going to do to me?" Was the only thing she said, nothing more.
Knowing that she would help Regina remove his powers meant she had to go. It was the only thing he could do. "Go."
Sounding puzzled she questioned, "Go?" realising that he meant everyword of it se began to leave what had become her prison.
"I don't want you anymore dearie." Finally feeling as though I had got the message though to her she came back in.
"You were freeing yourself! You could have had happiness if you just believed that someone could want you but you couldn't take the chance!"
"That's a lie." Of course it was a lie, how could anyone want him?
"You're a coward Rumplestiltskin and no matter how thick you make your skin that doesn't change."
"You're a coward Rumplestiltskin and no matter how thick you make your skin that doesn't change."
"I'm not a coward dearie, it's quite simple really my power means more to me than you!" Surely she didn't think she was important to him?
"No! No, it doesn't you just don't think I can love you now you've made your choice and you're going to regret it forever! All you'll have is an empty heart and a chipped cup.
….
How he wished he could go back and change things, he'd never have let her go all those years ago. Now it didn't matter, he was never going to see her again and as much as it hurt at the time he had been convinced that it was necessary.
He had failed Bae too, he'd let him go alone to start a new life. Belle was right. He was a coward but not any more, he needed to save Henry for Bae's sake, to respect him memory.