Prologue:
It had been nearly two weeks since their return from Neverland. Henry was safe and everyone had started getting their life's routine back in order. Things were returning back to normal. The only thing the fairytale residents of Storybrooke wanted was to forget and move on. Emma wanted the same, but she knew things couldn't go back to how it was before Neverland. And though trudging through that timeless jungle, fighting off Lost Boys, defeating Pan and rescuing her son had been like living in Hell on earth, a part of her never wanted to forget some of the events that took place there.
It was in Neverland where she nearly drowned; where her father had been poisoned and briefly lived on the brink of death. It was where her son had been kidnapped, threatened and had his heart pulled out of his chest, (literally). So much evil lived upon that Island and yet, Emma couldn't help but think about some of the good that came out of her journey there. She felt closer than ever to her parents, Mary Margaret and David. She even learnt to accept their alternate identities as Prince Charming and Snow White. She also embraced her own destiny as the saviour. She had started getting along with Regina because of their common goal to save Henry. Her son got a second chance to be with his father. And although Neal being alive was a shock and somewhat upsetting for her to deal with, Emma knew it was a blessing to have him back.
The only downfall to Neal's return was the expectation everyone now had that the two of them would get back together, no questions asked. Everyone, from Neal to Henry to her parents figured things would return to how they were twelve years ago when he abandoned her in prison and she was forced to give up her one and only child. To say she had unresolved feelings about the whole situation would be the understatement of the century.
Mary Margaret and David went on and on about Emma, Neal and Henry finally being able to start fresh and be a happy family. Mary Margaret pushes Emma everyday towards Neal and tells her she deserves her happy-ending more than anyone. The only thing they don't think about is the fact that Neal may not be her happy-ending as they all suspect he is. First and foremost, being with Henry, no matter how complicated his family situation, is her idea of a happy-ending. But if she were to imagine her life with someone else in the picture—a partner in life—Neal isn't always the face that comes to mind.
Emma often thinks about another good that came from Neverland. Without their adventures there, she never would have gotten to know the man Hook can be. He changed in Neverland, for her. It is something she could never forget. Without Hook, they never would have stood a chance in rescuing Henry. Emma saw how sweet, caring, brave and trusting Hook is. In Neverland, he became the man she hoped he would, the man she could confide in, the man she needed, and in result, the man she ultimately wanted.
