I’m not at all worried about Cora and Rumple’s relationship; it is obviously meant to contrast with Belle and Rumple’s loving relationship. I think we’re in safe hands with Jane Espensen, since there is no bigger fan of Rumple and Belle than she is. She wrote their love into existence. As for Rumple and Cora, they may have felt a close affinity for one another, but it can’t be true love, because that kiss between them had no effect of Rumple’s curse. They had a love affair, but they were selfishly using each other to get what they wanted: Cora wanted power and Rumple wanted an apprentice to cast the dark curse for him.
"That’s how you know you’ve really got a home. When you leave it, there’s this feeling that you can’t shake. You just miss it." Neal Cassidy