Board Thread:Rant and Rave/@comment-25733960-20171029001047/@comment-25926288-20171029145342

Rumple is pretty possessive, so I wouldn't argue that point. (He does the same thing with Bae.)

I guess I view it a different way. I think he does love under the layers of controlling and possiveness he has. I think that was toned down during their lives together. While offscreen, it wasn't a complete whitewash as you could see elements of those bad traits crop up/ get overcomed during the flashback. So, I think he's worked through much of that and treats Belle as a partner rather than an underling.

Must be a writing choice as I do think Rumple did love Baelfire and Belle, but his wording always says "something" or "my things", but the writers stretch that out with "Heart of the thing you love most" when it's always the heart of the one you love most.