He needs to do the right thing because it is the right thing and not because Emma might be upset and not because he got caught or Henry might tell or any of that.
I think we are going to see that at the conclusion of this show. Bc that is one thing that he keeps failing on. Sure we saw him help Belle and save her life. Which apparently I’m the only one on here that gives him props for that. He didn’t have to risk his life for her. And basically for Rumple who was powerless. But other than that, and his actions to help Charming find out about his father, which were somewhat motivated by getting Charming’s approval and blessing to propose to Emma, he has mostly done good things to appease Emma, but not necessarily realizing he should do them bc it is unequivocally the right thing to do, like the constant good decisions Regina has made countless times in her redemption arc. I’d like to see him make that connection and see the difference by the end of the season. And I think we will. I hope we will.
I am not sure that they will. Like i said, Hook doing one good thing is not enough. Regina has been working hard at doing the right thing for a couple seasons now. I still think it is ridiculous that Regina is part of the group because of her past actions and i don’t think her redemption really works either, but at least there is something there. Hook doing one thing is not enough. Especially now in this situation where he is on the outs with Emma again and he has something to gain from acting good again for a minute.
It isn’t enough for them dating to work. Them dating makes no sense in the context of how Hook actually behaves on the show. And it is going to be way more then them just dating. They are getting engaged and married and one time doing right because it is the right thing to do is not enough. It makes them all seem like crazy people because of it. Because Hook has tried to kill the majority of them, multiple times and recently and he still is not acting any different.
They have waited too long and not done enough with Hook’s “redemption” to earn a wedding when they haven’t even earned them dating.