@PriceofMagic wrote:
Rumple wasn’t being a coward. His presence wasn’t helping Belle, she was terrified of him. He was desperate to get her to remember and he was only making the situation worse. Emotions were running high for him and her. The best thing for both of them was for him to leave her alone and that wouldn’t have been an easy decision to make. She is the woman he loves, she’s telling him to go away, he’s respecting her wishes. That doesn’t mean he’s given up on her, he’s just allowing time for everything to calm down before he tries again.
It’s that classic saying that if you love someone, you have to set them free, and if they come back, then it was meant to be. Much easier said than done. I’d say that realising that Belle needs space and giving it to her is the bravest thing he’s done in a good long while.
@Elle wrote:
Some people do say that he tried a bit too much to get her to remember (and I agree) but it was a bit understandable.
I reckon it’s completely understandable. The only way Rumple has solved problems in his life is by using magic, so it was totally in character for him to charm Chip and shove it in Belle’s face, begging her to let it work. He was desperate and didn’t know any other way to handle it. The last time he let go of someone, it was Bae, and he’s been alone and suffering for it ever since. So is it any wonder he couldn’t bring himself to let go of Belle here?