The family of Amanda Knox is getting ready to leave for Perugia on Thanksgiving Day.

They want to be with Amanda during defense closing arguments, and for the jury deliberations and verdict.

Even though they are preparing themselves for the worst, they say they are hopeful they can bring Amanda home to Seattle.

"It'll be the best day of my life when she comes home," said Deanna Knox, Amanda's younger sister.

The two have always been very close. Amanda turned 21 in prison and Deanna is about to turn 21. The sisters are hoping to celebrate their birthdays together.

But it is an extremely anxious time. Amanda's family says they feel helpless.

"It's in somebody else's hands to make that decision, and I'm always worried about that," said Amanda's father, Curt Knox.

Her mom, Edda Mellas added, "And you know what's scary? If it goes the way it should - correctly - she'll be acquitted and she'll be out of there, but so far, none of it has gone right."

The family is choosing to focus on the possibility that Amanda will finally be acquitted and set free. They believe she will be allowed to leave immediately if she's found not guilty.

"She's out of there!" said Mellas. In fact, her parents say they've already purchased a ticket home for Amanda.

Once they're able to secure her passport or legal documents from the embassy and collect her belongings from the Cappane Prison, they would leave the country right away.

"The nightmare would be over," Mellas said.

Through tears, her father said, "it would be a good day."

In Italy, the prosecutor can appeal a not guilty verdict. The Knox family says they would not wait around for that and can see no reason why the prosecution would want to try her again after an eight-month trial that has included more than 100 witnesses.

If Knox is found guilty, her dad says the toughest part will be helping Amanda to stay strong emotionally.

"She knows she's innocent. We know she's innocent. And she's still in prison," he said. "She needs to focus on surviving that. The light at the end of the tunnel is still there. And will always be there."

Deanna Knox says every time she talks to her sister on the phone, Amanda tells her "Don't worry about it. I'm coming home eventually."

Amanda is worried that family and friends might treat her differently when she gets back. But Deanna told her, "we're family. Of course we're going to treat you the same way. I'm going to hug you then say 'let's go play pass in the backyard with a soccer ball!'"

If her sister is found guilty, Deanna said it will be heartbreaking.

"Because I don't get to hold her and see her right then in that moment, but I know she's going to be there eventually. And I can wait for her and she knows that I will."