Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-26116863-20150512000952/@comment-11058666-20150824195152

Okay, you know what, I used to go along with the whole "Belle is abused" thing, but now I realize that I don't actually understand how that is possible. Like, Rumple stalking her and touching her under the guise of Hook was gross, yes, but before that I think the only issue was that he always lied to her. But I guess you could argue that an extreme level of lying and manipulation like that is abuse. Idk, though. I think the point was that Rumple was a complete and utter coward when it came to honesty in relationships and that Belle just wanted him to be braver.

I'm starting to think Belle didn't really suffer until she found out about the dagger thing and the gauntlet thing and the plot to destroy Storybrooke in S4. If anything, it's been other people suffering. How can people say that she's been fighting him for years when she's actually been fighting for other people suffering at his hand? She knows she's a monster. She said so in S2, and that it was the reason she stayed with him. Not only can she see the good in him that no one else can, but she can protect other people from him. She's the only person he really listens to. I think that's very brave of her, not an indication of spinelessness, thank you very much.