I love this confession so much. I mean, really, if everyone in the OUAT fandom had this attitude about love life, there would be fewer ‘shipper wars, less hate and peace everywhere! Even as a CS ‘shipper, I want Emma to end up with someone who makes her happy. I just really don’t see how that person is Neal when he’s responsible for so much pain in her life and she’s already confronted that pain and doesn’t want to feel that way anymore. Her confession in Ariel is a stepping stone towards Emma finding her own happy ending, emphasis on ‘own‘ happy ending.
That reminds me of an interview Jen gave:
“I think, ultimately, she is the product of true love, so genetically her makeup is going to want to find her own true love. What I’ve tried to maintain within her is that there is always this flame of hope, even if it’s the tiniest flame. Even though she is so guarded and protected, there is this little flame, and you see glimpses of it at times with the Sheriff and with Hook.”