Too often, the thing you want most
is the one thing you can't have.
Desire leaves us heartbroken, it wears us out.
Desire can wreck your life.
But as tough as wanting something can be.
The people who suffer the most,
are those who don't know what they want.

-Anonymous

"Edward!" Alice gasped, running into my arms and holding me tight. I looked around my house, everything the same as when I had left it. Well, almost everything.

"Alice, it's okay." She broke away and flashed a weak smile at me. Jasper walked slowly behind her, and he, too, pulled me into a hug. I could hear Esme's thoughts from the kitchen, as well as Carlisle's, who was right beside her. Both worried if I had read Alice's mind to see the vision yet, both worried about me. But Alice had effectively started reciting colors in her head, so her thoughts would be kept private to me. And at this exact moment, I didn't want to see what her brain had to offer.

Soon the whole family had come into the room to greet me. Everyone had the same look upon their faces. It was the same expression Jasper received when he found out his last living relative died, or when Alice first found out her past. It was the look that has been passed on for generations. It was the perfected "sympathy smile". The half smile people gave one to say they understood what the person was going through and that they feel bad for you, when in reality they didn't know, or else they wouldn't be giving one that cursed smile. Even Rosalie, the woman who would under normal circumstances be rejoicing from the fact that Bella was no longer part of our circle, was fixing me with that haunting half smile, her eyes scrutinizing me. The vision Alice had had must have been worse than I had thought.

"Any news?" Everyone looked at each other with wide eyes, their thoughts running a mile per minute. "About Victoria, I mean."

Emmett cleared his throat, as if designating himself to be the spokesperson for the family. "See, we have come upon a small problem."

I narrowed my eyes, my fists clenching at my sides. "Problem?"

Carlisle interrupted quickly, knowing that I wasn't in the mood for this. "You see, we are trying to keep tabs on…" he paused for a moment as if unsure whether or not her name was acceptable to even say.

"Bella." I continued, ignoring the pain that stabbed my heart.

Carlisle coughed and continued. "Yes, well, and it seem the territory we have come back to has been claimed."

"What do you mean?" I asked, starting to get frustrated. It didn't go unnoticed to me that Alice was keeping Jasper from calming me down by softly stroking his arm.

"Well…It seems Isabella has found other protection."

I scoffed. "Like who? Who could protect her from a big bad vampire?"

Alice looked at me, her eyes sparkling. "A werewolf." She said softly.

"Wait, how do you know this? Aren't they breaking their own treaty?"

Esme slipped her hand into Carlisle's and he looked up at me. "We had to have a chat with them, and it seems their tribe has been filling the void we left in Bella's life." That girl has a knack of becoming friends with creatures. "They have been on the lookout for Victoria, while keeping tabs on Charlie's family. If we interfere, it will cause problems. They have already made it clear that they would put up a fight, if it means that they can protect Bella."

"It seems there is nothing left for us to do." Esme said quietly.

"We can fight them." I stated. Everyone looked at me, and instead of the horror I expected, I was shot another row of sympathy.

"No, we can't." Carlisle said. "There's no point Edward. They are doing something noble, and have the same cause as us. Why would we hurt them when they are the ones who have been keeping Bella safe this whole time?"

"Because that's my job."

"It's not your job anymore." Rosalie stated. I looked at her carefully. I could hear it reflected in everyone's thoughts in the room, but Rosalie was the only one who would vocalize it. It was only then I noticed that we seemed to be standing on battle sides. I stood on one side of the room, my family all together opposite me. It was like they had known I would put up a fight.

"What are you saying? It's not my job to protect her because I am not dating her anymore?" I asked furiously.

"Exactly." Rosalie spat at me.

"Well I was the one who got her into this mess. I am not just going to sit here and let some werewolves take care of her just because it's convenient for us." I stood up tall to let them understand I was serious about this. I knew it wouldn't stop them, but I would not be talked out of my decision.

"Well, then you are a fool!" Emmett yelled at me. Rosalie looked up in surprise. She tried to rub his back but he pulled away. "No, I won't stand for this. Make up your mind! Either do us all a favor and grow up, stop moaning about how hard you have it because of some girl, or do something about it!"

"What?" I asked dumbfounded.

"You heard me!" He said getting louder with every word. I could see Alice and Jasper having a frantic conversation of whether or not to calm him down. "If you love this girl, then change her. Rosalie?" He asked looking at his wife with expecting eyes.

Rosalie looked down and mumbled quietly. "I am tired of everyone in this family telling me that you love her so much, and that is why you can not change her. I changed Emmett, does that mean I love him any less then you love Bella, or does that mean I love him more? Just look at it from our point of view. "

"But that was different, Emmett was dying-" I tried to state, all of the sudden getting very confused. Was Rosalie now telling me I should change her? But what about the vision? Hadn't she moved on? Why was it suddenly Alice and Jasper that were screaming NO in their heads? I tried to wrap my mind around it but Emmett interrupted me.

"And you're sitting here killing yourself! If you want this girl, damn whatever man she has now. Get off your high horse and go win her back."

"Emmett-" Alice tried to grab his attention but Emmett was on a roll and nothing would stop him.

"I'm tired of your so-called 'leaving.' We all know you are running, and here's the question of the day. Are you running towards something you want, or away from something you are afraid to want?"

"You don't know what you are talking about." I spat at him.

"Oh did I touch a nerve? Too bad! I am tired of being in this household and everyone walking on pins and needles around you. I'm the only one here who will say anything. You like her, she makes you happy. I know that, you know that. Now, it's up to you to decide if that's worth it. So what? She has another guy-"

"Emmett!" Alice yelled, obviously realizing there is a piece of information that Emmett was leaving out to me.

"He'll get over it. There's a time in everyone's life when they have to go out on a limb for something if they really want it. It's worth it even if it means a little hardship along the way. Even if it causes you to go out of character a little bit. You are the one who determines if it's just you going crazy or if it's love." Alice was frantically trying to plea with Jasper, who looked torn.

Emmmet furiously whipped around to them. "Jasper don't you dare try to calm me down, someone needs to say this. And don't mess with his emotions either. He needs to face what he is feeling without being influenced by your artificial emotions."

Everyone at this point simply stared in shock. No one was quite sure what to do with this raging burly man in front of us. "Edward. Here's the gist. You can't have it both ways. Either you fight for her or you let her go. It's not fair to her if you wade in between. It can't be one way or the other. If there is one piece of advice I can give to you it's this, when there is something you really want, fight for it. Don't give up no matter how hopeless it seems. And when you start to lose hope, just ask yourself if in ten, twenty years from now are you going to wish you had given it one last shot. Because the best things in life don't come for free."

"You're crazy." I said, unsure of quite how to react. I couldn't listen to any more of this; I couldn't be around him anymore. He had no idea what he was talking about. I quickly walked past him and into my room.

"You can't get what you want in life by running!" He bellowed up at me. I listened for a few minutes at the conversation raging downstairs.

"You shouldn't have encouraged him." Alice yelled at Emmett. "You are getting his hopes up. I told you what I saw, this can't happen. She has other things to worry about. He made his bed, now he has to lie in it. because I know, just like you do that they were meant for each other. But that's the way it has to be. He can't go gallivanting after her."

"I thought you said your vision hadn't changed?" Rosalie asked. For a second I got confused. Which vision, the one with Bella and another man?

"It didn't." Alice sighed. "Which makes no sense."

"Then there is still hope." Emmett said confidently.

"No, there isn't." Alice fought. "She is … still in the same situation as before."

"As if Edward would care." Rosalie stated.

"This isn't about Edward. Don't any of you see that?" Alice asked. "How is this fair to Bella? Or the man?"

"How do we know it wasn't a one time thing?" Jasper asked.

"Bella wouldn't do that, and even if it is she can't be changed now." Alice stated.

"But you said-" Esme asked.

"I know, which doesn't make any sense to me." Alice answered, her voice full of frustration.

"Well then let's let him decide what to do. Let us allow the event to play out as it may." Carlisle reasoned. Everyone took a big breath.

"They still want each other." Emmett stated confidently. "I don't care what you say Alice, or who this guy is. They still need each other more then anything in the world. They are just taking a long time to figure it all out."

AN: SOrry it took so long. My beta read it and it was supposed to be up a week ago but she urged me to rewrite it because orginally I had Rosalie ooc, which I did. So I changed the screaming person to Emmett. And I must say I am thankful I did. So Sorry for the wait, already started the next chapter...