Beautiful! Thank you for your intelligent, well written story and very in character dialogue!

I like it :)

I really liked this! I had been hoping for a scene like this on the show - so thank you for making it happen! :)

I really value what Emma says about Neal here. I just rewatched the episodes where they find Neal in NY the other day. And they reminded me that while I was never able to summon enthusiasm for Emma and Neal as a couple (that is, I liked the idea of Emma getting back together with Baelfire, if indeed Baelfire was Henry's secret dad, before we actually met Neal, but not really after), Neal lived a regrettable life. You can be disappointed with how someone treats you and not want to be bound to them, but at the same time grieve over what their life amounted to. (And it's not even that Neal *never* puts himself out there for his family; he certainly does the odd highly noble thing. I think maybe it's just that he and Emma both turned out to be people who strongly resist giving themselves away - with Emma making an important and very laudable exception for Henry - and that it's hard to watch him be crusty and guarded with Emma, who needs secure love rather than arm's length love. And that by contrast, Hook had time to come all the way full-circle, past hoarding his personal resources for the sake of self-protection or saving face, right back 'round to the revelation that if he weren't willing to give everything, without regard for what it cost him, then it would mean he truly had nothing. Neal never made it to that point, so I think if he were to have had the chance to love truly, it would have had to be with someone like Hook, who spills over with enough feeling for two, until the other person is ready to catch up...)

Anyway, I just wanted to reiterate how nice it would have been to see more character development like this on the show. It's absolutely in keeping with what I believe Emma feels - that she continues to go back to Hook as a lieutenant and a companion speaks to the friendship and trust she places in him - but by gum, to have actually seen her acknowledge that friendship so respectfully and to take a moment to give him a little sincere comfort in his grief, without worrying that it encourages him to, you know, overestimate his value to her, would have been so nice... *sigh.* Such a balm to my soul...

I don't mind that the show has focused on Emma's arc to becoming more trusting. And I don't exactly mind the lengths she's gone to test Hook, since it all makes perfect sense for her as a character crossed with his rap sheet. But it can be easy to forget that he hasn't had anybody, all this time, that he could go to and say "today was rotten" and trust that that person would immediately take his part/look after him a little.

I really enjoyed this story. It does a good job filling the gap left in the show.

Excellent one shot. Very thought provoking, and a great scene that could have happened when we didn't see anything on screen. {smiles}

lovely

Wow, that was brilliant and totally believable! I feel like too often these stories end with them professing their love over something small and it just seems all too rushed, but I thought you nailed this scene perfectly and really presented the characters how they would probably act. Well done!

This was pure perfection!

Wonderful scene. Too bad the show is so plot,plot,plot they miss character moments like this.

No no no no NO WAY THIS IS THE END.
Your writing is perfection. I can't find words. It blows my mind away. You have to write another chapter, you have to !
Reading you was like watching the next OUAT episode, it was so good and I really hope a scene like this is going to happen in tonight's episode. Everything Emma said was so true and so beautiful. Killian was perfect.
This is one of the best fiction I read in years, so thank you so much.

Loved it!

This was beautfiful written and you are right we could have had something like this but who knows maybe tonight we will :))

Very well done! Your characterization and voice were spot on, and the conversation between them was absolutely genuine and realistic. *Keeping fingers crossed for this as a deleted scene*

Powerful. Pure emotion. Love it.