Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

A/N: Alright, so I guess the word 'soon' is no where to be found in my vocabulary. I have to be one of the worst updaters ever. Haha. I think I'm exaggerating a bit there, but still. I'll stop saying 'soon' since I end up not updating until three or four weeks later. I'm so sorry! Sorry is definitely in my vocabulary. Anywho! Here it is for those of you who were waiting for it.

Demise

Fallen now is

Babylon the great

Beast and the Harlot - Avenged Sevenfold

I hadn't had any peace lately; she didn't want to talk to me and, although it shouldn't have, it caused my guilt to resurface. She was suffering and there wasn't much I could do; there wasn't much she would even let me do. And it all led back to the darkest days of my eternity. The hours that ticked by without being able to see her face, to see her smile, to have her loving me the way I never deserved. I would never forgive myself; I couldn't if I tried. I knew that it would always exist in me and in her and as long as she felt that pain, it would always be my fault. She would tell me otherwise if she remembered, but it was forgiveness that I couldn't fully accept.

"Edward!" Alice broke my thoughts. "Bella's in trouble! Victoria is back." My breath stuck in my throat. There was no time to waste; I had to protect her - my love, my universe, the sole reason for my existence.

"I'll take care of this." She only nodded, knowing it would be useless to argue with me. I have faith in you, Edward. Good luck. She tossed a lighter to me. I left immediately.

I knew I would do anything to save her.

I reached the forest in a matter of minutes, where Victoria's scent heavily tainted the air. I followed the scent until I ran into none other than Jacob.

So you smell her too. I heard in his mind.

"Yes. Alice saw her in a cave Bella's scent is getting stronger so we must be getting close." Even in his wolf form, I could still see him scrunch his face. "There's no time to argue over that now."

We hastily began our tracking once more and, as Alice had predicted, we found them in the cave.

She looked so crumpled and weak. I could feel her losing consciousness. I would not lose her again. Not to that cruel witch.

Jacob snarled and jumped towards Victoria. She threw Bella's body aside as she dodged the flying werewolf. A look of menace crossed her face; then satisfaction.

"Well, well. The prince in shining armor has arrived. Edward Cullen, the love of this woman's life." She mocked. "A life that will end very, very soon." She smiled, exposing her teeth.

Jacob was about to attack again. "Go and take her out of here." It was a demand I hoped he would follow without any trouble.

Why?

"This is my battle to fight." A battle I intended to win. "Please. Just take care of her."

"Yes, run along, dog."

He growled furiously, his canine teeth ready to rip her to shreds. She only seemed amused.

"Listen to him. This isn't your war. She didn't choose you." That was harsh, especially for him. If I didn't interfere soon, he'd end up doing something irrational.

"Don't do anything stupid, Jacob. Just go. I can handle this." I looked calmly at the flaming vampire. "Let's just say we need some closure."

You'd better kick her -

"That's unnecessary. Now go."

"Not if I have anything to say about it." Victoria launched herself towards Bella's body but I blocked her way. It left enough time for Jacob to take Bella and leave. She sighed. "Fine. Once I defeat you, I'll find her again. After all, her tantalizing scent isn't very difficult to find. Of course, you'd know that better than I."

I smirked. "Who said you would win? I'll never let you lay another finger on her ever again."

"Oh, I intend to lay more than just a finger on her. She'll be begging for death when I'm through with her."

I crouched down in my hunting position. Anger coursed through my body. She would regret those words. Like a mountain lion, I lurched towards her. She swiftly avoided me. Her flaming hair twisted and turned as she and I continued to fight. Though she was agile, she could never be a match for me. My rage and want to protect my Bella fueled me to go faster, to be one step ahead. Suddenly, she was trying to find a route of escape. As if I were really going to let her get away with what she had done.

"Leaving so soon?" She knew she could no longer handle this alone. However, it was too late for her. Before she could even make her move to leave the cave, I captured the vile creature and with a swift motion towards her neck, she was gone.

I watched as the flames devoured her body. She would never cause Bella grief again. Purple smoke huffed out of the fire and lingered in a slow, curling movement up towards the sky. The sight filled me with relief. Bella was safer now.

I didn't waste any time returning. My anxiety for her current physical condition was present in all my thoughts and nothing could keep me from at least checking on her.

Jacob had brought her to the hospital where Carlisle worked. She hadn't left this world. Her low breathing was a sure sign of it.

"How was the fight?" Jacob asked casually as he entered the room.

"Nothing special."

"Yeah, right. I wish I could have been there. I wanted to be the one tearing her head off."

"I know." I smirked. "I'm sure you would have done a good job of it too."

"But what she said was true."

"What exactly do you mean?" I questioned, puzzled to why he would say something so absurd. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, I knew what he was saying.

"She didn't choose me."

"That would have been true if it were before my departure. Now, I'm not quite sure. It's no longer set in stone." He waited for an explanation. "She doesn't remember much of what happened before she jumped. She could still choose you because you were there for her when I wasn't. I'm eternally thankful that you were there to keep her together. If you hadn't been there for her, I don't know what she would have done."

"What exactly would you plan to do if she doesn't choose you?"

"I'd abide by her decision."

"Just like that? You'd just cut all detachments that easily."

"Of course not. But if I were ever to show her that I was tormented, she would feel guilty and begin blaming herself."

"She's always blaming herself. I told her the truth about everything and she still found a way to blame herself for it."

I chuckled. That's my Bella. "She is as stubborn as a rock."

He joined in the laughing himself. "You're telling me."

Then, a brief moment of silence washed over the room. We both stared at her, both determined to win her heart.

It came out of nowhere, really, but I remembered her saying she didn't remember why she had jumped off the cliff in the first place. Maybe he would know since during that time, I had basically buried myself away from the world.

"If you don't mind me asking, why did she jump off the cliff?"

He looked unsure. "She didn't tell me. I had told her we could go cliff-diving sometime" I glared at him for even allowing her to participate in irrational activities but he ignored it "but I didn't think she'd do it on her own."

Interesting. If he didn't know and she didn't know, it would be impossible for me to solve the whole reason for her attempt at some sort of early demise. Then it occurred to me. She might have been trying to commit suicide. "What if… she was trying to kill herself?"

He was quiet before responding. "It kind of makes sense."

Oh, Bella. Why would you do such a stupid thing? Don't you know I can't live without you? I wish I could just talk to her. But even so, I would never know if she didn't remember. If I hadn't left, this would have never happened. I was an idiot to believe that leaving was a good idea.

"But Bella doesn't seem like the suicidal type though." Jacob said, interrupting my thoughts.

"She doesn't. But I can't be sure. I never know what she's really thinking."

He grunted. "Join the club."

Rolling my eyes, I looked back at her seraphic face. If only she could see the vampire and the werewolf finally getting along. Sort of.

"Edward…" She mumbled. At first, I thought I was dreaming; but of course, that wasn't possible. I had heard it clearly, like I had the first time I had heard her say my name. She had to be talking in her sleep again. Or so I thought…

Until I saw her lovely, brown eyes.

A/N: Thank you, readers! Patience must be a strong virtue in you! That or you're just too nice to yell at me. Either way, you people are amazing. :)