I think Mo just read the same warped parenting book that King Xavier, King Midas, King George and Cora did–he loved Belle, but he was ruthless about substituting his judgement for hers about what was “best” for her. I think he and Smee knew Rumple was dangerous, so they didn’t have much time to do whatever they were going to do, so they rushed to the back-up plan. It was not well-thought out but I do not think it was motivated by revenge, because if that was the case, he wouldn’t have wasted time talking to her at all. He wouldn’t say to her she doesn’t understand–because what she understands or not wouldn’t matter.
About Hook and Neal–we do have the CSF thread and it tends to produce stormy waters as people have intense opinions. I agree that Emma’s emotions are unclear, because she has been written to be a character that can repress what she truly feels. What is clear is she told both guys to back off the love game, because right now, all she wants is her son back. They both acknowledged that’s what she wants. While some people unfairly take Neal’s line about fighting for her from an earlier episode as coming after her declaration to back off, the context was different as Red said. I am glad they’re taking a break from it but not glad they aren’t resolving it.
I dislike these triangle plotlines!
“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?” -- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass