I don't know how long I sat there, looking down at Bella's soft, sleeping face.

For once she looked completely at peace: her face no longer displayed any of the pain that the leech had caused her when he left her, neither did it show the inner turmoil that had so often troubled her since the bloodsucker's return. I knew how much it had been tearing her apart that we hadn't been as close since that Cullen came back. I knew she didn't want to loose me but it had been killing me to see her with that leech. To have her choose him over me.

But now she had given him up. Had she really chosen me this time?

That wasn't exactly what she had said, of course. She said she had chosen herself; that she didn't want to give up her family, friends and humanity for him. Not anymore.

She had chosen life. A life that included me. Even if she hadn't chosen just me it was still more than enough.

As long as she remained human. As long as she remained Bella.

As long as she remained a part of my life.

It was more than I could have hoped for. It was enough.

I kept looking down at the soft, small form in my arms and I just knew that I was smiling. The first long moments after our conversation I had feared that this was just a dream but the more time had passed with her snuggling into my chest the more hopeful I felt that this was really happening. That I had finally won her from that leech. Sure, she wasn't mine yet but she wasn't his anymore either.

I looked up when I heard a noise outside and a few moments later the front door opened.

"Hey dad." I said quietly, not wanting to wake Bella now that I finally had her in my arms for more than a few fleeting moments.

My father looked surprised to see her there for a moment. I half expected him to ask me if something had happened but instead he asked me if I was alright.

I could not stop a large grin from conquering my face. Not that I cared too. "I'm good, dad." was all I said, but I knew he had gotten my unspoken words as well. I'm better than I have been in a long time, since all of this werewolf and vampire stuff started. Finally, finally things seem to be going right.

He smiled at me and I could see the small trace of concern that had been hidden in his eyes recede. "Glad to hear it." He looked down at Bella "does Charlie know she's here?"

I looked at the clock and noticed that dinnertime was fast approaching before shrugging my shoulders best as I could without jolting my sleeping Bells. "Don't know."

Dad nodded and picked up the phone. I absently listened in on his side of the conversation.

"Dad?" I intervened before he had gotten any further than informing Charlie where his daughter was. "Could you tell him she's staying for awhile?" Now that she was finally here I didn't want her to leave again, not yet. Just a little bit longer, just to make sure.

My father turned to look at me, a question on his face. He must have read the answer somewhere on mine because after a second or two he turned his attention back to the phone, asking Charlie if Bella could stay for dinner, telling him I'd bring her home later.

We sat in silence for a moment, after the phone call. Dad patiently waiting for me to tell him whatever I wanted to share.

"She has finally given him up." I told him. "He can't have her now. She's human and he's… not." My voice was dark when I said that, the thought that Bella would have had to become a vampire to stay with that leech tainting my words into almost a growl.

I shook the dark thoughts off. It would not happen.

Relief flooded me when I realised that for once it was not the lie that I kept telling myself so that I wouldn't do something I might (or might not) regret. Like attacking that leech. Like picking up my Bella, taking her away in my arms, keeping her here in La Push, where she's safe.

This time, though, it was no lie. It rang completely true.

It would not happen. I promised, after all.

"She gave him up" I repeated. "She said she wants to live. To be human and clumsy and Bella."

"She said she wants to eat homemade cookies."

The words she had spoken earlier may have been accompanied with tears but I could almost sense how much she meant them. She had been hurting, just a bit, when she told me she had let Cullen go. It hadn't broken her, though.

This time she wasn't lost without him. This time she had made her own choice.

"She wants a bright, happy future, dad."

I tightened my arms around Bella and when I spoke again it was in a strong, determined voice.

"And I'm gonna give it to her."

There were no doubts in my eyes as I told him this, and there was no doubt in my father's reply.

"I know you will, son." he answered with pride in his voice. Pride not just for me, but for the both of us. "She made a good choice."

I smiled, looking down upon the girl in my arms. The kind, awkward, sweet, clumsy and human Bella that I would have given anything for to save.

The strong, beautiful girl that, just when I had almost believed her to be lost to me forever, had somehow managed to save herself.

"Yes, she did." I whispered in agreement.

The three of us sat in silence for another long moment; my dad, me, and the sleeping form of my Bells, my best friend since childhood, who had finally found her way home.

End

A.N: *groans* Ok, maybe that was a little bit too cheesy. Jeez, this is the last time I try to write from a guy's point of view (heh, that's probably not true).

I so suck… ^-^

Hope you enjoyed this anyway,

Please tell me what you think!

Love,

Maria