While I rather doubt this, part of me wonders if ABC isn’t whispering in A and E’s ears going “you have to do THIS because of how profitable it is…”
One of my biggest peeves is when people try to make the other one look like a martyr.
“Hook belongs with Emma because Neal did X Y Z”
“Neal belongs with Emma because Hook did A B C”
Emma is a fully grown woman capable of making her own choices based on her heart. Neal was not abusive, he was a drunk or a bad guy. He made an impossible choice for the betterment of thousands and, yes, to EMMA herself. Is there a lot of forgive? Of course! But in what relationship isn’t there a lot to forgive? Rumple threw Belle out of his castle! Snow took a potion and forgot Charming! David Nolan thought Mary Margaret killed Katheryn! MM slept with Whale! Relationships are not easy. “If true love were easy, everyone would have it.”