It's possible that Hook's who she left him for... (whether Hook was the excuse for her leaving him, or his cowardice was the excuse, either way)

...though it raises its own question: the "problem" with Hook having met pre-Dark One Rumplestiltskin, is how long ago that must have been -- Rumplestiltskin is at least a little older than however long ago that Regina's parents met.

Unless Captain Hook=Peter Pan, therefore Hook has his own sort of immortality (unless FTL people simply don't die of old age)


you raise excellent points. thank you.