There’s an interesting observation about Belle, when she’s around other female characters, she tends to be strong and stand up for herself.
Like with Regina last season. Regina needed her help with the candle, Belle stood up to her and Regina backed down a little. But when Belle is around male characters like Rumple or her father, she’s weak.
Belle has stood up to other male characters before such as Hook. So it isn’t just female characters that she is “strong” around. I think the difference for Belle between Rumple and her father and other characters is that Belle loves Rumple and her father so she tends to let her guard down around them.