I don’t know why Ariel has to be pining for Eric during CaptainSwanFire. They don’t have to start off as romantic partners. I don’t think they’ll take the love at first sight thing that happens in the movie. I think it will be slow.
Also, Hook isn’t settling because he and Emma will realize that they aren’t meant to be and that their “relationship” however brief was just as a way to fill a hole in the moment. Hook won’t be pining for Emma because he knows he never truly loved her in a romantic love sort of way. He loves her as his best friend, but nothing more. Thus, Ariel isn’t backup.
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"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"