I read your question that you put forward in the CaptainSwan thread and responses. I find it so interesting that we all interpret things so differently. I wanted to reply with my interpretation of the echo caves but didn’t want to invade the cs thread, but i’ll stick it here ;p
Emma tells Neal that his presence causes her pain and makes it harder for her to move on, which is a choice she has made. She said she can’t change her feelings. And Neal’s response “I’ll never stop fighting for you. Never” – is essentially ignoring that choice, and over-riding her feelings.
I didn’t pick up on her saying she wanted to move on. Just that it would be a lot easier to do so than facing the pain. If Emma had said I don’t love you, then I would agree that saying I will fight for you would be ignoring her choice but she never. She began by saying ’I love you and I probably always will’. A few days previously they both declared their love for each other when Neal fell through the portal. Neal is human and feared rejection. We all make mistakes. He acknowledges that he should of came and found Emma when the curse broke but I’m happy he is going to put up a fight for her now!
I think Emma has been giving mixed signals to both Neal and Hook mainly because she doesn’t know what she’s feeling. If Emma had said out right to Neal that she wasn’t interested in him, she doesn’t love him any more, she’s over him, etc then Neal would definitely not try and “fight” for Emma. He would respect her choice, even if it’s not what he wanted to hear. The same probably goes for Hook. Yet both men are trying to prove themselves to her because they both think they’ve still got a chance however small. Emma has currently shut them both down whilst Henry is in danger, but she’s only delayed the inevitable. Hook was right when he said Emma would have to make a choice, question is, will it be the right one?
All magic comes with a price!
Keeper of Felix