Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-6175354-20141215234519/@comment-5899967-20150313211517

Eskaver wrote: The only real thing that bothered me was that Bae isn't in Rumple's happy ending which contradicts what he said in previous seasons. Rumple said that Bae was his happy ending. He even left out Belle and only wanted Bae. It'll be a disservice to Bae, Rumple, and the actors if it isn't adequately explained. Rumple's idea of a happy ending better not just be with Belle, because a love interest shouldn't outweigh your child when you could have both.

I think it's been said there are multiple happy endings, and that they can come in unexpected ways. Bae was obviously Rumple's happy ending but that changed when he died, now his personal goal is to have Belle and power.