Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-3038174-20130504231130/@comment-71.84.184.176-20130521164700

There's also a chance that Rumple's character will change. It's my hope that he will learn that courage and bravery don't come with the absense of fear, but in facing your fear and still doing the right thing in spite of it. This is real courage. Cowardice is facing your fear and letting it dictate your actions, like Rumple's decision to let go of his son because he was afraid to live without magic or his decision to break his own foot because he was afraid his son would grow up fatherless.

He showed courage in telling Belle the truth about himself and in letting her go, so we know he has it in him, however weakly it might shine.