A difficult choice- part 3

GrantL1991 asked for a oneshot of an alternative sequel to Ch1153 "A difficult choice" where Emma, instead, adapts to EF life as it is with the family getting to know each other.

Now, before I get more of these alternative sequel requests, the original chapter was sent by the same person. I just didn't write it correctly the first time lol.

The situation was impossible for all of them. Snow and Charming had been expected a little girl, instead, they got a twenty-eight year old woman. Emma had spent her whole life in a world without magic. Now suddenly she'd been pulled into a world of potions, magic beans, fairies and fairy tale characters were real and she was just supposed to accept it. She was just supposed to swallow down the fact that her parents were Snow White and Prince Charming. It was an awful lot to take in for someone who was still finding herself.

Then there was the massive cultural shift. Emma went from a land where she wore jeans and a red leather jacket to one where she felt almost obligated half the time to wear a dress. She was a princess, after all (apparently). She was expected to just get along with these parents she knew nothing about, and that knew nothing about her. Sure, Emma now at least understood and accepted why they gave her away to begin with, but it didn't make it much less difficult.

Snow and Charming could see how much Emma was struggling, and it pained them. Part of them wished they'd just left her to the life she had created for herself, but most of them would always be glad they brought her home. Emma had a right to know where she was from, to know that she was wanted. They just had to give her the space she needed to adjust. With that in mind, they had a plan.

"Emma?" Charming asked as he and Snow knocked on her door. "Have you got a moment?"

"Sure, what's up?" Emma asked them. She still wasn't sure how to address them. She was passed royal terms, and even using their first names, but calling two people her own age mom and dad just didn't feel right. So she mainly tried to avoid calling them anything at all.

"Come on." Snow said, motioning out the door. "We want to take you somewhere. Somewhere special." Snow explained. Intrigued, Emma followed them. They took her down to the stables where they all saddled up.

"You confident to go alone?" Charming asked her. Emma nodded. They had been working hard to make Emma feel confident on a horse. She was used to travelling independently, although using a far less literal horsepower system. A little apprehensively, she followed her parents through an unmarked path in the forest. This confused her. Although her parents made as much effort to give her every freedom possible, they cautioned her against travelling deep into the forest. There were many enemies to the palace, and there was often someone lurking in the forest.

They followed a path that her parents clearly knew well until they came out into a large clearing. Three sides were surrounded by trees, with the fourth barricaded off by a lake.

"Your father and I have always come here when we needed time to ourselves, time to think things through." Snow explained. "It's only fair you can use it as well." Emma took in the tranquillity of the little spot. It was so peaceful. The birds tweeted gently in the background, but it was so distant that Emma could think they were miles away.

"It's beautiful." Emma said quietly. Snow and Charming smiled, giving her a moment. She turned and smiled at them. "Thank you for sharing this with me."

"You're welcome." Charming said. Snow and Charming knew a spot like this was exactly what Emma needed to give her time to get her head on straight. So they wouldn't be worried when they were informed she hadn't been in the palace all day. They would be relieved in knowing Emma was taking the time to get used to things. It meant progress.