Was it selfish to be so worried about your husband that you didn't have enough room for being worried about anyone else?
Belle knew that the world was going to hell out there. The darkness was free and who knew what it was capable of? In Rumple it had been a devastating force, but free? It could be an unholy terror.
But she didn't care enough to check the score.
Her husband – Her Rumple – might not wake up. And that, more than the darkness, terrified her.
Belle had already survived weeks without him. She had stood at the town lines and listened to the man she had promised forever weep and rage in fear and pain.
And she had walked away because it was the right thing to do.
Because it would help protect others. Because it would protect her; and she didn't think she could break any further.
And then she did. When he came back and the first thing he did was deceive her. When he rescued her heart and told her all he wanted was for her to be happy. When she was his fantasy and he was a hero to please her. And when she realized they had a chance, and for one moment she had hope.
But then that moment was over and reality came crashing down.
And Belle didn't think she could survive losing him again.
Not now. When the darkness was gone from him and she had the strength and wisdom to accept what was left.
Not now that she knew what kind of man he could be, and wanted to be.
Not when she had had a glimpse of what their life could be like. With a home and children. With love and peace. With both of them together.
Rumple couldn't die now.
Please.
No.
And that was why Belle didn't care what was happening out there, with the darkness.
Because it didn't matter to her if the darkness won out there, if something happened to Rumple in here.
Because if anything happened to Rumple; She had nothing, and no one, to go on to.
And that was the simple truth of it.