That is an interesting idea Priceofmagic. Though, like you said, it is all speculation that Hook took Belle’s first wife as well. We don’t even know when the flashbacks of this episode take place. That would, of course, then bring a connection to the two timelines which there always is a connection. The wife could leave and Belle could stay. I have never really liked the theory that this character from the fairytale land parts was Rumpel’s first wife though. The description never sounded quite right for that to me.