Well I disagree that Rumple’s motives were to protect his son. I think Rumple’s doing what Rumple does at this point in the show–he protects himself first and foremost. He wants to protect what is left of his broken and fragile ego and sense of self worth (a thing I used to adore about him) and because he can’t face the idea of another son not loving him (which is codswallop…seriously, someone bring up Bae and not just as a reminder that he died!) he panics and resorts to black magic and trickery and abuse and manipulation. It’s self preservation, not protection. I has nothing really to do with loving his son and everything to do with hating himself and maybe that’s sympathetic (Bobby’s acting like you said does sell a lot of this) but that doesn’t mean that Belle or Gideon or anyone–least of all the audience–should be hoping for a happy, lovey dovey ending because his methods are deplorable. The best case scenario is that Rumple gives up his magic and goes to live a life of seclusion, to ATONE (a concept this show has historically done poorly with) by accepting what he said way back in 3A “villains don’t get happy endings.” Maybe he’s actually right about that. Maybe he doesn’t get one. I don’t think he should anymore. I think his happy ending is inner peace and not external love. And that either comes through a life lived alone or through making peace with himself before death.
This I agree with. But unfortunately I do think that by not having Rumple accelerate the pregnancy, they are setting us up for a Rumbelle reunion at some point. It’s not what I want either but I think that’s what’s going to happen. Before this episode I thought there was no way they could mend this relationship but after this episode, I can see the writing on the wall.