After a very public war of words, Bristol Palin and her family say they are trying to work with her former fiancé Levi Johnston for the sake of their 5-month-old son Tripp.
"I know Levi will be a part of Tripp's life," Bristol, 18, says in an interview in the lastest issue of PEOPLE. "I know he loves him"
Bristol's warmer tone in discussing her ex comes after a round of TV interviews in which 19-year-old Levi — and sometimes his mother and sister — harshly criticized the Palin family for trying to restrict them from seeing Tripp. At the time, a Palin family spokeswoman lashed back at the Johnstons. But now the Palins seem intent on making peace.
"I don't think we were ever at war at all," says Bristol, who graduated from high school May 14.
A baby and his dad
Her father says he, too, see progress. "Just think of what [Bristol and Levi] have been through the last three months. There's a lot there. And so, that they both could talk today and say let's work out a schedule, that's a huge positive step," Todd Palin said during PEOPLE's interview with Bristol at the family home in Wasilla.
"I think it's all going to be fine. And Tripp needs to share time with Levi's family," continues Todd. "When Levi came to pick him up the other day, Tripp was smiling. It's a special time for a baby and his dad."
Rex Butler, Levi's attorney in Anchorage, also expressed confidence that any issues over child support — Levi does not have a job and hasn't finished high school — and visitation could be worked out.
"I think that if the adults stay out of it, these two who have been very good friends and loved each other deeply in the past, then these people will find their way," said Butler.