Farewell Amory

"Are you sure we're doing the right thing here Char? We should just find Jasper and get him down to Mexico."

Charlotte narrows her eyes as she winds through the streets of Los Angeles looking for a particular residence, "Neither of us knows how to find the Olympic coven right now, Peter. If we can get to William Alford he can get in contact with Jasper; this is the only way to save her."

The man stays silent in thought; he hopes they can, because if Amory is lost so is Jasper. Charlotte puts her foot to the accelerator and breaks every traffic law to get there as quickly as possible. Rubber burns on the pavement as she skids to a stop in front of an apartment with a shop underneath, and the pair rush up the stairs at vampire speed.

The petite woman doesn't bother with formal introductions when the tall older gentleman opens the door, "William, its Amory, she-"

"I'll call Jasper – you drive," Liam pales as he downs his scotch and dials a number. All he can think is that his adopted daughter can't stay out of trouble even when she's on deaths door.

Mon petite chat, what have you done?

Even if he didn't have these pictures he'd remember every curve of her face, every line on her body. Alice had shuffled the pictures of her and Bella away after leaving Forks, and had subsequently left the Cullen family with the Denali coven – the loss has her seeing every future as a dark one, always focused on the bad, and she couldn't take staying. Jasper almost left a few times, too, but the support of his family is the only thing keeping him from truly losing it.

That fateful night, as soon as the Major was securely locked away in his mind again, Alice and he that had come to the conclusion that moving would be best for both mortals they courted. But Rory had been so hurt the day he left, so blind-sided. What she said had nearly ruined his resolve to leave, but if he stayed, if the Major tried to claim her as his…

He would never forgive himself if anything happened to her because of him. That night was everything he ever feared would come to pass; he watched as he made it impossible for her to resist, and if she wasn't a hunter that bastard might have succeeded. He was unable to do anything but scream at the dark force inside of him to stop, that she was his. Those cries fell on deaf ears, and it was only her sudden rage that caught the Major off guard enough for him to come forward again.

He hadn't intended on going back to say goodbye – that part of his resolve crumbled quickly. He only lasted two restless days before he had to see her again.

Days. He scoffs contemptuously at himself. Days would be welcome; months are sheer Hell.

"Hey Jazz-man."

Jasper is shaken from his thoughts and nearly drops the picture in his hands. Emmett sits in the chair across from him, and looks down fondly at the woman in the picture.

"Ink is one of a kind."

The blond rakes his fingers through his hair, "I think I'd give anything to get her back. I keep asking myself why I haven't just gone back and…I don't know why I haven't tried to make this right somehow."

"Well?" Emmett looks at him expectantly, ever sure the obvious answer is the right one – that things rarely ever go deeper than that.

"It's too dangerous," he stares into the warm chestnut eyes of the love of his long life, still full of vigor even in the glossy photograph, "I won't risk her safety. He wants her-"

"So, take her first," the larger man shrugs, "go back and make her yours, won't that shut him up?"

"No," Jasper's response is automatic; he refuses to believe anything other than being separated from him is good for her well-being.

But when he went back, even in the midst of that last heated kiss the darkness in his mind was once again absent. He can't bank on that being a constant, so he was relieved when she commanded him out. Since then he's pleaded with the force in his head, tried to make the beast see reason.

The Major is strangely silent – almost despondent.

As soon as they'd gotten to Alaska, nearly all of his time was and is consumed by researching with Amory's adopted father, William Alford. The older man had been surprised at his first call – Amory had called and told him everything that had transpired since January. When his daughters mate explained the plan to use a mysterious mark to save her, Liam began to pull every favor he could everywhere he could think to.

Saving his beloved is still Jasper's number one priority; maybe if they have more time, things will work o-

Suddenly Edward barrels into the room, his face the picture of seriousness, "Jasper, it's…Alice is back. R-Rory, she –"

Feeling the fear on him, the blond responds instantly, "What? What is it?"

Edward can't describe the horror of Alice's vision; Amory Belmont lying in a puddle of blood staring up at the sky has his heart breaking. It's not just Jasper's emotions for her, either – after spending so much time in her mind, sifting through her ever-irreverent thoughts, he too came to care for the hunter. But he knows those feelings will forever be unrequited; his brother's happiness and her happiness come first. It doesn't take the sting of the image away, though, and the room is silent has he struggles to find the right words to break the terrible news. There's something about it though, something –

The pixie who'd been absent for months appears a moment later, wide eyes terrified and apologetic as she slumps in shame, "I'm so sorry Jasper, I'm so sorry – I saw it too late. She went after Maria, she escaped, but – oh god, she's dead. Amory is dead."

While Edward see's Alice's vision, he's not quite convinced the hunter could be put down so easily, not without seeing it with his own eyes. As Jasper bolts from the house, formulating ways to kill John and then Maria before joining the woman he loves – loved – in whatever the afterlife turns out to be.

Then his phone rings, and Edward answers the call.

(A/N: *cue super suspenseful music* She's dead! No! Jasper is pulling the same stupid stunt now, too – what's going to happen!?

You'll see. Mwhaha.

So, you totally don't have to worry about a love triangle(because she's dead…right?), that's not why I briefly mentioned Ed's more than platonic attachment to Rory. I've got plans for him, though; this adds a facet to him I think is at least semi-important. He's never been my most favorite – both main characters in this book just never quite did it for me – but I'm explaining all the brooding and general saltiness as him being lonely. Sad Professor is sad! D: I feel like such a meanie posting this alone (unless you're reading this when the next chapter is up, then yay for you!), but there will be more! Thanks guys!)