Of course my mental fanficition has taken off with Neal feels himself getting to emotional, excuse himself saying the fire is getting low and he will get some firewood. Where he starts to cry (because he lost, his father, Emma, Henry, Darlings, all in one day and he just learn his grandfather wanted to kill him) but Charming follows him and tell him its okay, empathize with him and encourages him, assures him that no matter what He is family and will always be family. They hugs not as bros but as “father” and “son.” Then he says come on we will bring that firewood back together. And of course Snow is comforting Belle because of course she is now family to.
Family feels, Goes off to cry.
I can totally see that playing out in my head. So bittersweet! It huuuuurrrrts!
People found Neal wanting another chance with Emma offputting due to the recent nature of his engagement? Do these same people have no problem with Hook taunting Emma into kissing him and and imagining he’s in love with Emma 4 – 5 days after leaving her for dead?
Yes they did. And yes they have no problem with it. The double standards make me wanna *HEADDESK*.
I look forward to the new perspective on things that Emma will have after regaining her memories. In Emma’s previous reality (real reality?) she gave up Henry and put her feelings in a box, choosing not to deal with them. Her reaction to Neal in Manhattan was raw pain. However, raising Henry will have forced her to deal with Neal and the way he left and to have processed some of her emotions. Not all. Neal left and it still hurts Emma, but everytime Henry makes a friend they both have to address where his dad is. Every parent/teacher conference Emma has to confront Neal’s absence. Anything that happened during the Lost Year are real memories. I think that when Neal and Emma meet again, she will be coming from a different emotional place. Still angry, but not raw.
That’a a really excellent point, and it could well be another reason they decided to do this time jump, so that Emma will be in a different place emotionally now when it comes to Neal, so it’s setting up a situation where their relationship can progress with new understanding, and less pain.