> However, that gravitational pull is still there -- will it at any point slow down the expansion and retract back inwards?
No. Even if dark energy stopped right now, almost ever pair of galaxies has long reached escape velocity. Their relative speed will slow over time, making them drift apart slower, but it will never reach 0, or even become negative (= contraction).
No. Even if dark energy stopped right now, almost ever pair of galaxies has long reached escape velocity. Their relative speed will slow over time, making them drift apart slower, but it will never reach 0, or even become negative (= contraction).