A world based on lies- part 2

justanoutlaw asked for a oneshot of a sequel to Ch2218 "A world based on lies" where they have Emma come home, but she makes it clear things will be different now and she won't be able to forgive them right away.

Emma hardly slept a wink on that branch. She kept tossing and turning as much as the narrow space would allow. Every time she saw her eyes, she saw a girl her age. A girl so filled with hate, she could love nobody and receive no love in return. It was her fault there was a girl out there like that. Had she not been such a coin toss between good and evil because of her magic…that child might have stood a chance at a normal life. Well, as normal a life one can have when being raised by a villain.

When Emma finally got herself over to sleep again just as the sun was beginning to rise, a twig snapping beneath her made her jump with a start. Her eyes flew open. She immediately sat to attention, listening. She could hear whispering beneath her. Her heart was pounding. Someone had found her. Probably one of her family's many enemies. Emma knew she didn't have much of a chance here, but she was damned if she was being taken without a fight. She swung her legs up so she was crouching with her feet on the branch, ready to spring into attack. She took her sword out of her belt, and waited. A face popped up. Emma lunged. She stopped herself just in time…it was her father.

"We're so glad we found you." Charming sighed, ignoring the fact Emma nearly left him missing an eye. "We've been so worried."

"Worried I'd join forces with one of our enemies and show my true colours?" Emma spat bitterly. Charming couldn't deny that hurt, but he knew he and Snow deserved some backlash from this.

"Of course not, sweetheart. We were worried you'd gotten hurt, or worse. Come down from here, please, come home…"

"No way." Emma responded firmly. "I'm not going back there with you. Not after all those lies. I'm going to Alex's palace. I left at night because I knew you'd try and stop me. Just try and take me back there. See how long I stay put." Emma warned. Charming had to think carefully about this. Snow and Charming desperately wanted Emma home. They wanted to talk about this. But forcing her would do no good.

"Ok." Charming said slowly. "At least we'd know you'd be safe there. But you're not travelling alone. Can we talk about travel arrangements on the ground with your mother please?" Emma was a bit taken aback. She hadn't expected her dad to be so accepting of the idea. Emma gave a brisk nod, swinging down the tree.

When she was on the ground, Snow had to restrain herself from pulling Emma into her arms right there and then, but she knew that was the last thing Emma wanted.

"Emma wants to spend some time at Alex's." Charming explained when he had climbed down. "I think that might be a good idea. It will allow everyone to have some breathing space, and we'd know she'd be safe and cared for." Snow bit her lip. She hated being apart from Emma, she always did, but she knew Charming was right. Emma needed the space. Snow turned to Emma.

"Will you travel back home with us so we can get you a carriage and a knight as an escort? Just to be precautious." Snow explained. Emma's eyes narrowed.

"How do I know this isn't a trick to get me to come back home?" She asked. Snow and Charming were hurt. They had never tricked Emma.

"You would know if we're lying, Emma. You always know when people are lying." Charming pointed out. Emma accepted that he had a point, and that they were likely telling the truth. She nodded again.

"Thank you." Charming said gratefully. "We'll send word ahead to let Thomas and Ella know the situation. We'll ask if you can spend a fortnight's respite there. Does that sound like a reasonable enough time period before you come home?" Charming bargained. Emma thought this through.

"I suppose." She agreed. She sighed. "But you know even when I do come back, it won't be like it was, right?" Snow and Charming looked at her sadly. They knew. "I'm going to need some time. You broke my trust, you've lied to me for years. You two have never lied to me, like you said, and that really hurts. It's just going to take a while."

"We understand." Snow said, tentatively reaching out and placing her hand on Emma's shoulder. She intertwined her free hand with Charming's. "We'll do whatever it takes to get that trust back, starting with allowing you to go to Alex's." Snow said solemnly. Emma was grateful she'd have some breathing space, be allowed to talk to her friend about how she was feeling without her parents constantly trying to make it up to her for a couple of weeks. It would allow for the healing of their relationship to properly begin.