Rumpel is a coward. He went to war and he ran and people died. He didn’t trust Bae and let go of his hand and Bae fell through the vortex by himself. He didn’t trust Belle and screamed at her, threw her to the floor, and then got rid of her. It isn’t just Rumpel’s wife that called him coward. Everyone calls him coward because he is one. That will be his arc. At some point he needs to learn to not do something so cowardly in those big important moments in his life.
That is the most interesting thing about his story, is whether or not he can learn to do the right thing, because as of now, he doesn’t.
And, for me, when Rumpel said she’s dead, i thought he was saying i killed her. But i totally agree that they could leave it like it is. They don’t need to do more there though they could if they want. Especially if Bae ends up not actually being Rumpel’s son.