He could have had both if she had approached it better.
I agree. Every time I watch “Skin Deep” I start yelling at Belle when she says “Kiss me again. It’s working!!” If she had just kept her mouth shut or thought of a different way to approach it… And I agree that he was more than willing to go get Belle after the fight, especially if she needed a “home”. (that scene…ugh. I can’t contain all the emotions I feel). There is no doubt in my mind that he loves Belle more than his power. But because of his massive insecurity (“no one could ever love me!”) he can’t allow himself to believe that someone so beautiful and courageous as Belle (the two things he believes he is NOT) would love him.
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"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"