#warily optimistic

but, lets think realistically -Emma does love Neal, even though its been ten years and he broke her heart and maybe a part of her will never forgive him, but that has never stopped a person from loving - especially when it ends so suddenly and without conclusion. That's what happened with Regina - I have no doubt Regina still loves Daniel, even though he is gone and he is concluded in her story forever.

Which makes me think about that scene where they were separating. I have to wonder, what was Emma supposed to say - other than I Love You? Nothing else would have been appropriate. I mean, here is the boy she once loved and was forced to get over by her own means, and here he is again, just starting to conclude parts of her life that she never had answers to, and he's leaving again, clutching on for dear life, and Emma thinks of the boy she once loved, and yeah, in that moment she did need him, she did love him; that doesn't make her less strong or less of an individual, it makes her human. 

As a Swan Queen shipper, I was disappointed with the obvious force of Swan Thief, but I don't think this means Once is a bad show. Or that Swan Queen isn't endgame, either. I think Emma will find Neal again, and that she will love him, but I honestly don't believe Neal is her True Love, not of any fault of his, but just because he was her first love doesn't make him her True Love, and I hope the writers show this.