Today's update is braught to you from Sarasota / Florida.

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Back at school I only had to wait for a few minutes before the final bell sounded and the students started to swarm the parking lot. My family took their time and I was sure Alice had already brought them up to speed on everything that had happened today by the time they finally showed up.

I wondered if she had seen beforehand what would take place today, and if she had, why she hadn't intervened? She only would have had to stop me from going to Biology and it would have been very likely that I wouldn't have lost my resolve to stay away from Bella. Or maybe she had seen it and had realized that I only had been waiting for an opportunity to break my promise, that it had been a lost cause from the very beginning.

Because, if I was honest with myself, I had known for days I wouldn't last much longer. I had been so miserable for the last couple of weeks something simply had to give eventually. I now felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders and just the thought of being friends again with Bella filled me with such happiness I thought I should be floating. Even the prospect of my family's disappointment wasn't enough to purge that happy feeling.

The parking lot was almost empty, a short line of cars forming at the exit, when my family finally made their appearance.

Glancing over to them, I tried to gauge their reaction. Were they angry at me? Or disappointed? Did they hate me for what I had done?

What I saw, though, confused me. They were smiling.

First Alice danced over to me. Taking one look at me, she wrapped her arms around my middle, placing her head against my chest. Surprised I closed my arms around her, pulling her close to me.

I wasn't the huggy type, really, but sensing the silent support she was giving me, I couldn't help to feel grateful to her.

"I'm sorry," I began, addressing the others over her head, but Rosalie held up her hand, stopping my apology.

"It's us who are sorry, Edward. I think we made a big mistake forcing you to do something you clearly didn't want to do. We all have seen how unhappy you've been for the last couple of weeks. We should have stopped this sooner and found another way to protect Bella."

My mouth fell open and I stared at her, incapable to utter a single word.

"Let's go home," she said and I nodded mutely.

Alice had released me and Rosalie gave me a brief, half-hug before climbing into my car. Emmett slapped my back – gently for him, but still I staggered – then followed his wife.

Jasper held out his hand and I dropped Bella's car keys into it. "I'll catch up with you at the house," he said, before turning his steps towards Bella's truck. I knew I wouldn't need to give him directions. He would know where she lived.

A million questions ran through my head on the way home, but not one solidified enough to be formed into words. I just felt happy that my family had taken this so much better than I had any right to expect. I thought I would have to fight them over my decision, something that I hadn't been looking forward to.

Jasper waited for us at the garage. I couldn't help casting a glance at him. I knew if Alice had seen anything that would have caused Jasper to attack Bella she wouldn't have allowed her husband to get anyway near her. His eyes glowed in their usual topaz light, though, and when he saw me looking a small smile played around his lips. I guess he knew what I was thinking. He certainly felt my apprehension.

Entering the house I saw Carlisle, who had the afternoon off today, and Esme already waiting for us. Alice had probably called them, for I could see they already knew what I had done. I avoided their eyes, not sure on how they would take the news, but I didn't need to worry. They smiled as Esme placed an arm around my shoulder and led me to the dinning room table.

The setup reminded me very much of the fateful meeting five weeks ago, but the atmosphere was totally different. While back then the outcome had been so negative, today I felt hope permeate me. Last time I had decided to accept my fate and hide, now I was ready to face it head on and fight for the support of my family.

"Edward, please tell us what happened today," Carlisle turned to me, a smile on his lips. He looked relaxed for the first time in quite a while. I hadn't exactly noticed before, as I had been in my own little world of misery, but I hadn't really seen anybody in my family smile in the last couple of weeks.

I quickly reiterated the events from today, how Bella had almost fainted in Biology and as I had been incapable to stand by and do nothing. I told them how I got her to the nurse and how I drove her home afterwards. I tried to stay with the facts, but I couldn't help to smile once in a while at the memories, on how she had looked at me, at how happy it had made me feel.

"I know I should have tried harder," I finally admitted, my voice rough. "I should have stayed away from her to protect her, but I can't do that anymore. I just can't."

I didn't cry, though I was close. Rosalie quickly rose from her chair and came over to me. Without a word, she placed her arms around me. I allowed myself to sink into her embrace, letting her presence calm me, like it had done so many times when I had been younger.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

She took a step back, placed two fingers under my chin and forced me to look into her golden eyes.

"I told you, Edward, we should have ended this much earlier. The last couple of weeks, they were terrible for you and, in extension, for us. Seeing you every day, watching how your spirit withered away, I don't think you have any idea how this affected us. I believe, no, actually I now know, we underestimated your feelings for Bella. It was a mistake and we are the ones who are sorry."

She gently stroked a feather-light finger along my jaw.

"I think we have to accept she's going to be an important part of your life. And if she's going to be part of your life, then she will be part of ours as well. We know you love her."

'You love her'

In the end it was a very simple statement.

I loved Bella.

As I mulled over those three words, I knew they were true. They had been true for a long time already and I had known that.

I did love Bella. I had no idea if she loved, or even liked me in return, and after how I had treated her the last weeks I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't want to have anything to do with me. But I had been given a second chance to find out how she felt about me, and I fully intended on using that chance.

Rosalie had returned to her seat and now cast a questioning look at Alice. She wanted to know how my decision had changed the future and so did I.

Alice looked apprehensive and I felt my heart skip a beat. "Edward, you know that what I see doesn't have to come true. The future is fluid and even a simple decision by somebody can change how something will come out."

I nodded, urging her to continue. I knew that stuff, I'd been around Alice long enough.

"For the last few weeks, I've taken several looks into Bella's future. And every single time the future I saw was different from the one I saw before. I've never met somebody who's future was so much in flux."

"I don't understand," I interrupted her. "Last time you spoke of her future, you said if I stayed with her there would be no doubt one of you would kill her." I looked around, smiling apologetically at my family. "Now you tell me her future is not written yet. How can that be?"

Alice sighed. "I don't know. I know it doesn't make sense. I'm sorry."

"Okay," I inhaled deeply trying to calm my nerves. "Just tell me, is one of you going to lose control and kill her?"

That was the question, really. That had been the reason I had forced myself to stay away for so long. If Alice said yes, if she saw one of my family doing what she had told me weeks before, I just didn't know what to do.

"I … don't think so," she slowly said, unsure.

"What do you mean?" I probed anxiously. I needed to know exactly what Alice saw.

"It's not clear, not in the long run. In one of my visions I see her getting killed, and I see a vampire being involved, but I don't think it will be one of us. It is only one vision, though, and it's much less likely than it was before."

"But it wasn't one of you?" I asked, needing confirmation.

She thought for another minute, then shook her head. "No, it won't be one of us."

"I have an idea about that," Jasper spoke up.

I tilted my head, my attention now fully on him.

"You know what we said the last time, how Bella's scent affects us?"

I simply nodded. As if I could forget?

"She still does affect us like that, but now other factors come into play. You care about Bella very much. We care about you. The thing is, up until now, we didn't know how deep your feelings for her were. If any of us would do something to hurt her, you would be hurt as well. Do you really think now any one of us could live with that knowledge? I believe, if nothing else, this is enough to stop us."

I looked at the people who had been my family as long as I could remember. Everybody smiled at me and nodded.

I felt myself smile in return. "Thanks, guys," I simply said. It was all I was capable of saying.

Alice placed a hand on Jasper's forearm, squeezing it gently. For a moment they got lost into each other's eyes and the love they felt for each other washed over us, making us all smile. The moment stretched on for a long time, and it was with a visible effort the two pulled away from each other.

"Edward, I think Jasper has it right." Alice now turned to me. "But even if Bella is safe from us, she still is in danger of some sorts. There is this unknown vampire I see and there are other dangers. I wish I could be more specific in what kind of danger she is, but I can't."

"Can we protect her then?" Emmett spoke up.

I looked over to my father, surprised. I hadn't expected him to support me like this. He grinned at me and an expecting glint showed in his eyes.

"I think so," Alice said, a smile suddenly on her face. "It will be a challenge, though."

"Oh, I do love challenges," Emmett retorted, and I suddenly knew why he offered his help. Part of it was, of course, because of me. I knew he wanted to protect me, and he knew that I cared about Bella, so he would naturally also protect her. But the other part was that this sounded like a challenge to him, and if there's something Emmett really enjoyed it was that.

"Thanks," I said sincerely.

"Think nothing of it," Emmett dismissed my thanks with a wave of his hand, but I knew he was pleased.

We then went down to do some serious planning, going through various options and possibilities. Especially this other vampire Alice had seen caused us some concern. With her scent Bella was just too damn alluring for her own good. We developed plans what to do, if this unknown vampire should ever show up here, though we hoped we never would need to execute them.

After two hours the ideas dwindled down and eventually we decided to take a break. I was exhausted and hungry and stumbled more than walked into the kitchen to make myself a sandwich and something to drink. I was sitting at the kitchen counter devouring my food when Emmett sat down next to me.

"You're okay, kid?" he asked quietly.

I nodded, my mouth too full to speak. I was feeling good, much, much better than I had felt for the last couple of weeks. I had hope again and knowing that my family was behind me made me fell warm and cared for.

"It's just, well…," he stammered breaking off in the middle of the sentence, and I looked up at him in surprise.

My father was not one to mince words. If he wanted to say something, he did so, straight forward and damn the consequences. It had gotten him into plenty of trouble with Rosalie, leading to some spectacular fights. Of course, they always made up in the end – they did love each other too much for that.

I looked at him questioningly, hoping he finally would spill what was on his mind.

"Well, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for hurting you. I knew you were suffering, and I should have seen that there had to be another way," he finally rushed out.

I raised an eyebrow – a skill I was particularly proud to have mastered – and reached for my glass to wash the sandwich down.

"You had the best interest of the family in mind, dad. And Bella's too. Do you think I wanted her to get hurt?"

"That's it," he said. "You're family. You're my son. Don't you think you're less important because you're not a vamp. Actually, you're more important to me because of it."

I almost blushed at that statement. Instead I took another bite.

"I've been thinking, though. I tried to put myself in your shoes and imagening it would be Rosie instead of Bella. I know I would never have lasted as long as you did. Not because I think you love Bella less than I love your mother. But because I almost think you do love her more."

My eyes grew wide and I forgot to chew.

My dad looked quickly away and rose from his seat.

"I just wanted you to know what I'm thinking," he finally said, quickly leaving the kitchen.

I sat for a little while longer, the sandwich almost forgotten. In the end I finished it off, smiled to myself and went up to my room.

For the first time in weeks I didn't need any pills to go to sleep and instead of nightmares I only dreamed of good things.

I dreamed of Bella.