I don’t think Hook will simply step aside once Neal returns. Remember his motto: a man who doesn’t fight for what he wants, deserves what he gets. The only exception to that would be if Emma asked him to step aside and (he’d probably fight it at first) but stop pursuing her if being with Neal is what she wants.
He might need to be reminded of that motto though. He did seem genuinely shocked and saddened that Neal was dead (and also that he was Henry’s father) so the guilt of taking Emma from someone he wanted to be a father figure to might blind him.
Baelfire couldn’t be on The Jolly Roger for more than a week. Hook probably cared for him and genuinely wanted to be some kind of father figure for him but that didn’t happen b/c Bae rejected him and Hook was forced to turn him over to Peter Pan. But both of them were bonded through Milah. so they do have a relationship in a way.
I wouldn’t say Hook was forced to turn him over though, would you?? He seemed to deem it in his best interests. He got what he needed from Bae, and Bae had rejected him, so he turned back to his revenge. I would say they have a familial relationship, but not an emotional one. They don’t depend on each other for emotional stability like a real family would.
Thanks for helping me clarify some things!!! 🙂
Interested to hear what you think of my point on Emma’s apparent lack of devastation on Neals death?! It’s important for me to get someone else’s take on it. If you could be so kind 😉
Keeper of Captain Swan's first kiss