I think there are two things at play. 1) Breaking the DO curse and 2) Ensuring that Rumple lives TLK will work but it is going to take more than that to break Rumple’s DO curse. Like I said a page back, I think it’s a mix of two things 1) Rumple choosing to try and break his curse with the ultimate sacrifice and 2) TLK He has had TLK since magic was brought to SB (201, 222) but because he had not yet been ready to make the ultimate sacrifice, they didn’t break his curse. Now he’s made that heroic sacrifice, but he has yet to be kissed. So both times he’s missing a key ingredient. And I think the large Rumple arc for S3B is him fighting against being controlled by Zelena because he no longer wants to be the DO and it’ll culminate in the TLK of epicness. And *that* will finally break his curse. And then S4 is about him trying to be a mortal man again.
God, I’d love that…..for one thing, that kiss will be EPIC. For another, seeing Gold try to live as a mortal would be an amazing story for he and Belle – together. He has to worry about his physical condition – who’s to say he’s in good shape? He’s 20 plus years (physically) older than Belle – he would worry about dying before her – and about being an older father.
I just hope we get an engagement and eventually a wedding. I want babies before the end of the series, so please – no last episode wedding