A/N: If you're on the Facebook fan page then you will know that I needed to take a break from writing about love recently, but I have inspiration again. After the next chapter, part 2 of the story will begin. Edward and Bella's love story in this fanfic is going to be a long one. Make sure to like the fan page for Beauty and the Edward for updates! I know I said last time that I was going to send a sneak peek for the new chapter, but it took me so long to write it. I was going to send everyone who sent reviews the new chapter yesterday, but didn't let me send it since it was too long. Since I have inspiration, next time I will send you a sneak peek. I really do appreciate your reviews! Okay enough from me, enjoy the story!

Bella glanced down at her phone.

I know how Edward can keep his job. Meet me in my office in half an hour.

-James Avery

She knew Avery was a manipulator and Edward would tell her to delete his text, but Bella was growing desperate. She had heard Edward on the phone with his lawyer recently and things were not looking up. She would do whatever it took to help Edward even if it meant going to James Avery.

That was exactly why she found herself knocking on Avery's door.

"Come in," he said, almost as if he knew she would show up.

She opened the door and took a seat in front of his desk. She hated how messy and unorganized his office was. She crinkled her nose and didn't try to hide her distaste of the office and James Avery.

He sat back with a Cheshire cat like smile. His blue eyes were twinkling with a sense of mischievousness which could have been a good thing when he was a semi-decent person. Now it just had a sinister tone to it. Bella wondered if Tanya ever felt pity when she looked down at James and Edward ( before he had found her of course) because her death had changed them so much.

"Let's skip the pleasantries. How can Edward keep his job?" She asked bluntly

He smirked at the young girl in front of him.

"Look at you. You're just like him. I can make you a very pleasing offer. End the marriage and I can make sure of it that Edward keeps his job and half of the inheritance. "

Bella glared at him. "You're ridiculous. That's never going to happen. How can you even assure me that you have the power to do all of that?"

James picked up his blue ball point pen and twirled it around. He wasn't phased by her question. He simply shrugged and looked at her as if he was bored.

"Edwin and I are friends. See we realized all these court battles were going to be a waste of time. Edward's father is willing to split half of the inheritance with us and he will let Edward keep his job if you decide to leave him" He paused and looked into Bella's eyes.

"You're lying! His father may be many things, but he's not going to settle for half the money."

"Nobody gets the money if the court decides that Edward didn't fulfill the condition that was established in his grandfather's will that he enters a true and real marriage. It will default to the state, he placed his pen down and locked his eyes with Bella," It's all legal jargon, Bella. I won't waste your time with it, but you're a smart girl think wisely."

Bella turned away from him. She could never lose Edward, but could she allow him to lose everything else? He wouldn't be the man she loved if he lost himself completely. She had seen his dark sides, but could she lose him to the darkness and still find it to be satisfying?

"This revenge you seek will leave you feeling empty inside once you get it. You won't feel justified because when you're laying in bed all by yourself and you reach over looking for Tanya, but she still won't be there. Nothing will change the past." Bella turned her head and looked at James, hoping it would settle in.

He avoided her deep gaze. It was like she was staring into his soul.

"You don't understand my pain." He said bitterly.

"Everyone feels pain. Not just you." She stood up to leave. She gave him a look of disgust and walked to the door.

She stopped in her tracks and turned her head to look at him. "I'm going to think about this, but I love him and asking me to leave him will destroy me like it destroyed you when you lost Tanya. However the love I shared with Edward will prevent me from becoming a cold, monster like you." With that she pulled the door open forcibly and slammed it shut on her way out.

Ever since Avery had made his offer to Bella she had been on edge and she was acting distant from Edward. He hadn't noticed it that much since he was out meeting with lawyers and then rest of the time he was busy at work.

Bella stirred the Chicken Alfredo that was on the stove aimlessly. She wanted to cook, so that she could take her mind off her situation. Her grades seemed to be slipping and she was falling behind in almost all of her classes. It was safe to say that the past week was not good for her.

Edward walked behind her and gently kissed the side of her neck. "Hello beautiful," he said in his normal charming manner.

Normally Bella would close her eyes and enjoy Edward being this attentive to her, but she was miles away. She stood still and nodded her head.

"Um hey," she said as she reached to turn the stove off.

She grabbed the Alfredo sauce from the counter and walked to the fridge to put it away.

Edward wasn't expecting such a cold response from Bella. He stood by the stove as he watched her act like he wasn't even there. She looked thinner, there were bags under her eyes and she seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on her tiny shoulders.

"What's going on Ice Queen?" He asked a bit teasingly.

She shut the door to the fridge and spun her head around to look at him.

"A lot, Edward. A lot is going on," she said sounding exasperated.

He walked to her, closing the space between them. He placed his hands on either side of her small face and she looked up into his green eyes. "Well relax," he said as he leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.

Bella kissed him back softly at first and then more fervently. He liked how he could feel her soft body molded against his. His hands roamed around her body. Coming home to Bella always lifted his spirits. He didn't think he could possibly be good without her. He was sure he'd plunge back into the darkness if she walked away from him. It was a terrifying thought.

Bella slowly pulled away from the kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his beautiful green eyes. "It's not fair how you can do that."

"Do what?"

"Change my mood like that," she said a bit teasingly while offering him a smile.

"But when you smile like that it's worth it."

"Stop being so nice, it doesn't suit you."

"Have we swapped personalities?"

She giggled a little and shook her head as he leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. Avery's words kept ringing in her head, making her feel sick to her stomach. A serious look over took her face.

"Do you think love is sacrifice?"

Edward picked her up and placed her on the counter top. His neck was sore from bending down to look at her. He arched an eyebrow, wondering why she asked him such a random question.

"When I went to church they always talked about how Christ showed us love by sacrifice. I guess it depends how you look at it."

"You went to church?"

He nodded his head.

"But it is sacrifice then. Sometimes you have to do what's best for someone else even if it hurts you in the end."

"I really wouldn't know much about that," he said and avoided looking into her eyes.

"I'd do anything for you Edward. I hope you know that."

He took a step back. "Why are you talking like that?"

"No reason. Can't I just say that I would do anything for you?"

He walked back towards her and placed his hand on her knee. "Not when it sounds like you're going to leave. I'll go back to the darkness if you leave.."

His grip tightened on her knee and Bella saw what almost looked like desperation in his eyes. Something she had never ever seen before. She threw her arms around him and felt tears in her eyes. He was surprised by her strong reaction. He took his hand off her knee and held her closely to him.

A few days later Bella was talking a walk through Greenwich Village. She was trying to run away from the offer that James made her. She couldn't leave Edward. There was no way she could just abandon him after what he had told her. She couldn't bare it if he slipped back into the darkness because of her.

Just then a limo pulled up beside her. She smiled a little, how did Edward find her? The window rolled down and Bella's smile immediately vanished. James Avery was staring at her with a smirk on his face.

"Are you stalking me now?" She asked angrily.

"Let's just say you're easy to follow. Have you thought about my offer?" He opened the door and moved down a bit to make room for Bella.

She glared at him and refused to move from the sidewalk.

"Oh yes I have and my answer is no."

"Well it's too bad that Edward chose to end the marriage to keep his money. It seems like you never meant much to him?"

Bella felt the floor disappear from under her. He wouldn't do that. She thought to herself. She found herself going into the limo to see if Avery had proof and she didn't want anyone overhearing their conversation. Manhattan was a busy island, but it could also be small.

"What proof do you have? You know you should really work on this James. Your approach is sloppy."

He took out some documents that seemed to have Edward's signature on it. "He agrees to our terms and conditions for half of the money and the ending of your marriage."

Bella snatched the papers out of his hands and glanced at it. The signature looked just like Edward's. She felt sick to her stomach. "This can't be true."

He almost felt pity for the beautiful girl. If she wasn't tainted by Edward he would have been attracted to her in dangerous ways. Bella grabbed the door handle, but it wouldn't open. "I need to get out, please open the door."

"See that's not going to happen." James said as he pulled out a cloth from his pocket that had chloroform in it and grabbed Bella. "You'll be in a deep sleep," he whispered into her ear as he placed the cloth over her nose and mouth. Bella kicked and tried to get away from him, but before she knew it everything went black and she was knocked out cold.

Edward was beginning to worry. Bella had left 5 hours ago and she still wasn't home. He had called her and texted her, but she didn't reply. Edward knew that he was pushing some sort of limit, but he got onto his laptop and searched for Bella's location using the gps on her phone. He knew that with the impending court case anything could happen. His uncle and Avery knew how to play dirty.

He arched an eyebrow when he found she was at James Avery's house. What was she doing there? Before he could really think, he had already grabbed his coat, walked out the door and was hailing a cab.

Nine minutes later he arrived at Avery's apartment . He banged on it loudly. "Bella? Are you in there?" He shouted.

Bella felt groggy as she heard loud noises coming from the door. "Edward! Help me!" She yelled with what little strength she had left. James quickly walked over to her. He placed his hand over her mouth and held her close to him. "Shut up."

The door suddenly fell from it's hinges and an angry looking Edward glared at James Avery with so much immense hate, it's heat and intensity could have melted the sun.

"Get away from her," he growled.

James was angry. His plan was to make it seem like Bella had slept with him and send Edward the pictures. He knew Bella wouldn't leave him, so he wanted to give Edward an incentive to leave her.

"But we're here together. Tell him that Bella."

He had a knife in his hand, he placed it against her back and poked her slightly.. "Yes, it's true." Her eyes told a different story. Bella and Edward could know what the other was thinking without even talking.

Edward charged over to James and punched him in the face. Bella fell onto the couch as James went flying backwards and into the wall.

"This is the last time you will mess with her," he said angrily as he stalked over to Avery and kicked him in the stomach.

James spat out blood and smirked as he pulled out a silver, pistol from his grey coat pocket. Bella saw the pistol in his hand from where she was sitting on the black couch.

It was like it was all happening in slow motion. James staggered up onto his feet and aimed the gun at Edward.

"No!" Bella yelled as she threw herself off the couch and stood in front of Edward.

All Edward heard was the sound of the gun being fired and Bella crumpling down in front of him. James looked at a lifeless looking Bella laying on the ground with blood pouring out of her midsection.

"I-I didn't mean for her to get hurt.." he said in shock. In a daze James ran out of the room.

Edward couldn't focus on anything else. He pulled his black coat off and placed it over Bella's stomach. The color drained from her face and blood tricked down her chin. Edward's eyes stung with the threat of tears. He called 911 and slammed his phone to the ground. They would be here soon and they'd help. He didn't understand why she would do that.

"Edward, it hurts," Bella said with labored breath. It was like each word physically hurt her when she spoke.

"Shh don't talk baby. You're going to be okay," he said as he applied pressure to he wound. Her crimson red blood covered up his hand.

"Y-you can't promise that."

"Yes I can. You're not allowed to leave."

Tears fell down Bella's eyes. She had never been so scared before. She was 20, she never thought her life could be coming to an end.

"You gave me the happiest days of my life."

A stray tear escaped from Edward's eye and rolled down his cheek.

"I made you miserable. I'm so sorry for wasting all our time when we first met. Why did you do this for me? I'm nothing but a beast. "

"The middle and end of our story was better. I told you I would do anything for you Edward, don't you see that I love you?" She said sounding a bit worked up.

Edward finally knew what love was at that moment. Bella was willing to give up her life for him. To save him. He would never deserve her.

"You shouldn't have done it. I would take all this pain if I could. Our story isn't over Bella, you're going to finally be old enough so I can take you to bars" He laughed a little at that, but with a sad tone," we're going to have another wedding, a real one. With no lies and then when we're ready we're going to have a daughter who will be beautiful like you," he said honestly. This was what he thought their future would be like.

"I would like that Edward. It would have been perfect." She reached up to stroke his face. "This isn't your fault," she felt her eyes get heavy and she passed out in his arms.

A/N: The story isn't over.. that's all I can say.