(Author's Note: The previous chapter was called "The One At Fault" revolving around Jasper. Just to clear this up I do NOT hold Jasper to blame for the leaving- I just believe that he holds himself to blame, because that's who he is. Just someone was struggling with that concept.)

Part Three: Worth Fighting For

Emmett's mind is moving far too fast for him, trying to make sense of this, trying to work out what's going on. He barely notices Rosalie pulling herself closer to him and he knows he'll be in big trouble late for this, but he can't force himself to stop thinking. He doesn't understand, but then he's never really understood Edward- first he's going against them all by taking on a human, and now he's just letting her go. It doesn't feel right, this leaving. It's like all the fighting his brother did before was in vain. And if this isn't worth fighting for, then what is?

He can't quite put his thoughts together into an argument, so it's probably a good thing that Alice is arguing for all of them and to him, she seems to be doing a rather good job. But every time she tries to convince him, he struggles out. He's already thought about it all, spent a long night preparing himself for this and now he won't be swayed.

"What'll she think of us?" Esme mutters, more to herself than to anyone else and so no one answers. They all know Bella will forgive them. And they know that Esme can't stand that.

"As long as this is what's best, then I have to do it. And I need you all to help her by leaving her alone," he says, and no one can come up with a good enough argument for this.

Alice tries. "But what about you?" She looks like she wants to say more, like a thousand unspoken questions were to follow this one- but she freezes, not wanting to cause him to dwell on it. Or maybe knowing he'd hear them all anyway and only speaking this one aloud of the benefit of the others.

And he smiles, for a few moments, his eyes focused on the ground, a slight smile, like remembering some distant memory, lost and almost forgotten and pleasing to him. And it's like it's the easiest thing in the world to give her up, like he's already convinced himself he's not in love with her any more, like he's humouring them. Except his smile is a bit too small, a bit too forced and nowhere near extending to his eyes. And it can't rid them of their agony- which becomes even more clear as he meets Alice's gaze, making him look even more pained.

"It's what's best for her," he says again, and it's like he's trying so desperately hard to believe it himself. "I can live with it. If she is happy, then I can do it." He pauses, seeing that Alice is about to dispute his words and changes them around. "If it keeps her safe, then I have to do this. I want to. And if she can find happiness along the way-" and here Edward frowns, seems to wince, but maybe he's hearing things that aren't there, maybe not, "then how do I have any right to take that from her?"

And there's nothing to say. He can't argue with his brother on this, because this was exactly what they argued about half a year ago: whether she was going to be safe around him. And he can't take back his words, even though he doesn't believe them any more. It isn't fair. When Edward was arguing for keeping her around, he had won. And now that he's changed his mind, he can't seem to remember Edward's winning argument, to use against him.

Edward seems to have realised that they've all run out of things to say, arguments to oppose his plans, and so he begins to stride up the stairs, at a more hurried speed. Alice gets a chance to glance quickly around the room, her eyes lingering on Carlisle's, hoping for some help. He merely sighs and shakes his head. Her gaze flickers to his, and he mimics Carlisle's shrug. What does she expect him to do? Beat Edward up? Tie him to a tree (and it would have to be a very stable tree) and lead Bella to him every other day? The idea does sound rather tempting, but Edward would see him coming. And he'd never admit it aloud, but Edward could beat him in a straight fight, if he had enough reason to fight.

And then Edward returns, after only a few human moments had passed, with fresh clothes on. His face retains a smile- but it isn't the real smile they had grown to appreciate Bella for giving him. More like a mask- one he had put in place for the benefit of them all. It wasn't like his face when he had to leave her, resigned and angry, or even when he thought she had died. It's the cover each of them recognise vaguely, just realising how much his face had changed- how much more alive it was just a few short days ago. It's the face he had put in place before he'd met Bella, back when his life didn't really mean anything or offer him anything besides his family- no emotions he'd never felt before, no task he'd never tackled, no one to love like the others had. When life was just a pretence as well.

There's no life in his face, just a serene charade, to try and fool others that he's happy, to try to hide the hurt and emptiness. Only now, it's oozing from his eyes, in a way that cannot be hidden- at least not from them. To them, he looks dead. To him, he looks as if he has no reason to exist- as if he could just drop at any moment from lack of purpose.

Alice sees his intentions and stands, meaning to change or locate her bag, and then follow him, but he's already shaking his head. She stares at him incredulously, and for a moment he feels a tingle of something he's never felt for Alice- genuine fear. If those eyes were directed at him, he'd probably decide to keel over, rather than face that fury, but Edward frowns back, the smile gone.

"You can't really expect me to-"

"That's exactly what I expect, Alice. No goodbyes." He says this a little louder, gritting his teeth. And then he turns to leave. And finally, when all seems said, the words that had evaded him become clear, and come out before he can truly process their meaning. "She won't give up you know. And you won't be able to convince her to want you to leave."

His words stop Edward in his tracks- maybe because he hadn't been expecting them from his big brother, because he hadn't thought them before speaking. Or maybe the words drag something up that he wants to suppress. Either way, Edward turns, a momentary smile coming to his face, bitter and grim and then disappearing completely. "Then I'll have to give her no reason to believe I want to stay."

The others widen their eyes or take a quick breath. Even Rosalie stiffens in his arms. Alice glowers. This is too much for her- she can't see that in some ways Edward is right. He has to leave her- he was always going to have to. His only mistake was getting too involved to begin with, if she wasn't going to join them. But Alice is too involved as well, and can't see this in any way, other than two people in love, both too stubborn to agree with each others beliefs and so one deciding it can't continue. Or maybe she's able to see more clearly the consequences of their leaving. Poor Alice- to have to see all the hurt they'd cause, just by packing up and moving on like they'd done so many times before. And then he thinks of Edward, having to read it in Alice's mind. He's better at hiding pain than any of them could ever imagine.

And Edward must have read this thought, or maybe Alice's were heading in the same direction because he turns on her at that moment and growls, "And no looking at her future either. We've done enough damage." And he's not sure if Edward asks this because he can't stand to know- because his decision is so definite that a little thing like Bella being unable to go on living wouldn't phase it, but might phase him or because he thinks it will phase the plan, and it's better Bella died than him giving in and her joined them.

And then he leaves, like that's it. Like the discussion is over, like Alice has given in, like she'll accept they just have to go. And maybe in her mind, she has. But her face shows resolve that doesn't look capable of giving in. This is one clash she won't lose easily. Even if she can see she'll fail, she won't give in without a fight.

Apologies. I seem to have put a little too much Alice in here... and not enough Rosalie, which is where Emmet's attention SHOULD be. But Alice takes central place in the arguements. The dialogue is the reason why this chapter is longer than the others- I suck at dialogue and it kept getting in the way of all the reflective glory. Also, I had no New Moon in front of me while writing this (my friend took her copy back), so if I made any mistakes in the dialogue, then I apologise. I didn't think it turned out bad, considering I don't really understand Emmett's reactions to things. Rosalie is next and I understand her even less, so it should be fun! Review if you like and spelling checks as always! Thank you.