I'm on the last day of my vacation while writing this A/N and while I wish it weren't over, I am looking forward to getting back into a usual routine. I made it through with only a slight sunburn, so I'm chalking it up to a win. We spent a lot of time being lazy, but that's the best part of vacation!

There is only one chapter left after this one! Then the focus is on Me and You, which actually is already eight chapters in. I can't wait to get further on that one!

I hope you enjoy the chapter and as always, please let me know what you think.

… …

Edward Cullen

"Hey, so…change of plans," Bella said as soon as I picked up the phone.

"What's up? Is everything okay?" I asked.

It was late Saturday night, and Violet and I had already talked to Bella on the phone after my lunch with my parents, so I was surprised to hear from her again especially since it was almost midnight.

"Everything is fine. Great, even. But I decided to leave IMATS early."

"What? What about having to be there? You were so excited for this."

"I still am," Bella assured me. "I'm going to leave tomorrow around lunchtime, so I'll only miss the end. Today was great- we had so many customers and people seemed genuinely interested in checking out the booth and meeting me. It was kind of surreal, even more so than it was last year. But we're almost sold out, and we don't do restocks for this kind of thing because we put out everything we come with. And Alice has been great as usual, so I know that she'll be able to handle anything just as well as I could or maybe even better. But I'm going to catch a flight out of LAX and then we can spend the rest of tomorrow and part of Monday in Forks, with our families. I think that's important, too."

"It is," I agreed. "But are you sure?"

"Edward, I'm sure. I don't know when we would be able to go up there again, and I think it's important that Violet spend some more time with her grandparents."

"You don't have to convince me, I just wanted to make sure. You know I'll be happy to see you."

"Yeah?"

I rolled my eyes even though she couldn't see me. "Yeah, I guess," I teased.

… …

"We're going to get Mom," Violet informed her grandparents, talking through a mouthful of scrambled eggs.

"Hey, Vi, don't talk with your mouth full," I reminded her.

Charlie and Renee laughed, always the easygoing grandparents. They were through raising kids, and I could see how much they enjoyed having their granddaughter in the house now.

"Finish your breakfast, Blossom, and you can watch some television with Grandpa before you leave to pick your mom up," Renee suggested, and Violet polished off the rest of her breakfast in about five seconds before grabbing Charlie's hand and leading him into the living room. They both plopped down in front of the television, and I shook my head in amusement.

"Two peas in a pod," Renee said with a laugh. "Do you want any more to eat, Edward?"

"No, Renee, I'm full. But it was delicious, thank you," I said, standing to help her with the dishes. "Your cooking never gets old."

"I'm glad you still like it," she laughed. "With you and Jasper in the house, it was like I could never make enough. I'd turn around and the whole meal would be gone just like that."

"Hey, we were growing boys."

I smiled as I remembered fond moments spent in this house with the Swans. Back then, almost everyone had called Bella "Izzy", and we were already a part of each other's families. I had been the one to start calling her Bella, and now that name had really stuck and we were still a family. Even more so now. No more lies, no more hiding.

"I'm so glad you're here, Edward," Renee said, putting her hand on my arm. "We missed you."

My heart clenched, and I smiled down at her. She had been like another mother to me when I was younger, and I knew that she would be my mother in law in the future. We had come full circle.

"I missed you guys, too."

"I still feel like we owe you an apology," she continued. "We were miles apart from you, Charlie and I, and we never reached out to you to tell you what you deserved to know. We loved you, Edward, and we still do. Just know that we are truly sorry."

"Thank you, Renee. Really. I was hurt and very angry at first, at all of you. I didn't understand how Bella could do that, or how you could let her. But the chief told me that it was because the two of you couldn't risk losing them, too. And now I understand that. All we can do now is look forward, because there's nothing we can do about the past. I don't want to linger on that. I want to focus on building a future with Violet, and with Bella."

"Of course. You're a good man, Edward. We were always proud to call you a part of your family, and that's still true. We love you."

"I love you guys, too. You're like another set of parents to me, and even though my dad and I seem like we're going to be able to patch things up, I will always be grateful to you and to Charlie for being there for me."

We embraced, and I wasn't surprised when Charlie came into the room and hugged me as well. Violet was still parked in front of the television, not paying any attention, so I figured now was as good a time as any to ask them for their blessing.

I wasn't ready to propose to Bella right this minute, because even though we had dated for a long time before, this stage of our relationship was very new. We had a lot of work to do before we could move forward. But in the next year or so, I hoped we would be. I was asking Renee and Charlie for their blessing now because I wanted them to realize how serious I was, and that I really didn't hold the past against any of them. I couldn't- my heart literally wouldn't let me.

… …

Violet and Bella's reunion at the small airport in Port Angeles was touching even though they had only been apart for two days. It really made me realize how strong the bond between them was, and that I had done the right thing by recognizing them as bridges to each other. My long lasting love for Bella was only outmatched by my unfailing love for our daughter. Being on good terms with Bella had let me get close to my daughter so fast, and Violet had been our way back to love.

"Where are we going?" Bella asked, frowning as she looked out the window.

Forks was small, so of course she noticed immediately when I didn't turn off of Main Street towards where her parents lived and continued straight instead. Almost overwhelming greenery took over as we continued through Forks and out further.

"Ah," she said quietly as it dawned on her. "It's been forever since we've been out here, hasn't it?"

"It has," I agreed. "I…I actually haven't been out here since."

She paused, her eyes searching my face like she was trying to see if I was serious. But I was, and she realized it quickly.

"I'm sorry, Edward," Bella murmured.

"The past is the past."

"Are we going camping?" Violet asked loudly, making me laugh.

"You wanna go camping, Vi?"

"NO!"

Bella laughed too, reaching back and tugging on one of Violet's feet. "Don't worry, Violet, your dad isn't much of a camper either."

"Oh yeah, and you are?" I challenged.

We got there quickly, and I eased off the road and parked the car off to the side. There was a small driveway, but it looked pretty icy, so I didn't bother.

"Where are we?" Violet asked as Bella turned and helped her put her mittens and hat on.

"This is my land," I explained as the three of us got out of the car. "I wanted you to see it, because one day it'll be yours."

She was quiet for a moment, looking around. There was snow on the ground, and a little ice, but the clearing was still beautiful. In the summer and spring it was a flower filled meadow, and Bella and I had spent countless afternoons out here. It had originally been my intention to build a house out here and start a family, but now I didn't know what I would do with the land. Likely it would sit empty, and it would be passed on to my daughter.

"There's nothing here," Violet finally said.

"Someday there could be," Bella told her, but she looked at me as she said it.

"But we live in Chicago," Violet pointed out.

"Well, even if your dad never builds something here, you could."

"I think I'd still like to build here," I said, making my mind up then and there. "Someday."

Bella looked a little surprised, but in a good way. "It's beautiful here."

We stood there for a while, my arm around Bella and Violet clinging to both of us. Despite the chill in the air and the empty land in front of us, it felt good. Knowing that we could plan for a future meant a lot to me. I liked living in Chicago, and had Bella's company and Violet's schooling to think about, but Bella and I had talked about coming back to Forks. Not for good, but for long weekends or summer trips. It would be nice to not have to stay with either of our parents, to have a place here to call our own.

… …

I was at the diner, picking up dinner for the family when I heard my name being called.

"Edward."

Lauren stood there, looking slightly uncomfortable. "I thought that was you."

"Hey," I said, unsure of how to greet her. I settled for a half hug, then stepped back. "It's good to see you."

"Yeah, you too. What are you doing back?"

"Eh, we're just here for the weekend," I explained. "Heading back to Chicago tomorrow."

"I see. How's…your daughter? And work?"

"Both good. Great, really," I said honestly. "You?"

"Work is good. I'm going well. I…I heard you and Bella are back together."

She didn't look angry, which didn't surprise me given how she reacted when we broke up and she said that Bella Swan had always been in our relationship, even before I really realized it.

"We are," I confirmed. "It…wasn't really planned. I didn't think it would ever happen, I mean."

"Everyone always said you guys were meant to be," Lauren said with a sad smile. "I'm glad you're happy, Edward. And that you're doing well."

"You too, Lauren. Really. You deserve it."

My takeout order came up, and I gave her another hug before we said goodbye.

I was happy with Bella, and never wanted to be apart from her again, but seeing Lauren gave me closure that I hadn't even realized I needed. I felt like I had treated her so badly, and seeing that she was probably better off without me meant that we really had made the right decision in breaking up.

I had always loved Bella, even when I was hurt and angry and tried to convince myself that we no longer had a chance. Once I had thought that without Violet, we would have nothing holding us together. But now I knew that wasn't true- even though I still thought Violet was our path back to each other, the love had never gone away. It had been hidden and beaten down, but was always there.

Broken hearts, secrets, distance and time had worked against us, and choices we both made changed our lives forever. But loving each other had never been a choice. It just was.

… …

Home from vacation now! Took the longest nap of my life earlier today and it felt so good.

See you guys soon for the next chapter! I work night shifts this weekend so I'm planning on posting the final chapter either Saturday or Sunday. Of course, if anything changes I'll post on facebook.