I agree with you completely, Rumplegoldfankristi: no romance between EQ and Rumple. It would lower the level of the conflict from universal to personal. Right now, it seems the conflict is on a higher plane: not exactly good vs. evil, but more like wisdom vs. inexperience, with Rumple, in his centuries of experience, having learned not to let his emotions take control of his power (although he does occasionally slip, as when he turned Gaston into a rose–but then, wouldn’t we all have done that? 😛 )
But it does seem to me that their relationship is more than the curse buyer/curse seller one we’ve been shown so far, so I’m putting my money on an apprenticeship. My theory is that the young EQ came to Rumple to learn his tricks, and he–whether for self-gain or a vain hope he could teach her to use her power more judiciously–agreed to teach her. Or then again, maybe it’s part of the Dark Ones Code of Conduct that no deal can be refused (that would explain why Rumple accepted Ella’s contract, even though he knew better) 