Hey, everyone! I know it's been a long time, and I know I say this every time, but I truly am sorry for my extended absence. My job and college work completely took over my life this semester and I was finding it difficult to focus on my writing with all the other work that was constantly piled on me =/ Thankfully, however, the spring semester is finally over and I no longer have to worry about getting my school work done...until the fall, that is.

Anyways, what I'm trying to say is...I know that I've been writing Broken Twilight for an incredibly long time, years really...but I do NOT intend to give up on it. I have again begun to appreciate this story as I hope you all do too and I am eager to finish it, as I have it all planned out in my head for the most part.

I am currently working on two other stories, as well...but I would like to make Broken Twilight my priority this summer. I really want to see this story come to a good end, before the fall semester begins. I'm not making any promises, on that however, but I do promise to update more often as I should have more than enough time on my hands now.

So...without further ado...I present to you, my lovely readers, the next installment of Broken Twilight. This chapter is titled after The Last Night by Skillet (the perfect song for this chapter, I must say). Enjoy!

Broken Twilight

Chapter 18- The Last Night

Bella's POV

"I'm a vampire, Bella."

I stared at Edward for a second, taking in his stance; the way he stood, ramrod straight, arms resting by his sides. I took in his expression, which displayed nothing but the utmost severity. I took in all this and I couldn't help my reaction. I laughed.

I laughed hard-cackled, really-for the first time in months. However, it wasn't a happy kind of laughter. Not the kind I longed for. It was the kind of laughter that comes out when you've endured all you possibly can and have finally reached your limit.

I snapped, but instead of lashing out or withdrawing into myself, I laughed. This news, it was the straw that broke the camel's back...it was the cherry on top of the pie that was my fucked up life. I'd officially reached my limit. I'd had enough impossible situations to last me a lifetime and then some. Gods, I didn't even know how to react anymore.

So, I laughed. I couldn't seem to stop, even as tears came to my eyes and a stitch made itself known in my side. I just laughed and laughed until it finally began to affect my ribcage and the burning, which had been previously stabilized due to the medication, returned in full swing.

It was then that I stopped. Lightly spluttering and choking on my guffaws, I reached for and came to lean on the wall closest to me, trying my hardest not to breathe too deeply.

Edward stepped closer, worried. "Are you okay?"

I held an arm out to stop him from coming any closer. "Yeah," I wheezed. "Just give me a sec."

Once I'd composed myself and felt I was at least semi-capable of having a serious conversation, I faced Edward and took him in. I looked him up and down, took in his pale skin, the way his once ocher eyes were now the darkest shade of charcoal. I took in his beauty, for he truly was a beautiful man. HE'S PERFECT, I thought. And he really was.

When my eyes returned to his, I smiled a bit ruefully. "A vampire, huh?"

For a moment, he seemed to search my face, my eyes for something. When he found what he was looking for, he smiled back sadly and nodded his head. "A vampire."

I shook my head, feeling the weight of the day's events settling heavily down upon my shoulders, and sank down to the floor.

"What a day..." I muttered, leaning my elbows on my crossed legs and burying my face in my hands. I shook my head, feeling emotions that I could no longer even describe. It no longer mattered that Edward had seen my ugly, bruised body. I couldn't bring myself to care anymore.

Everything was falling apart around me. Everything was so fucked up. I couldn't even wrap my head around it all. There was a mixture of denial and disbelief coursing through me. I felt nauseous. Sick to my stomach with it all.

I looked up at Edward. He was staring down at me with pity in his eyes. He felt sorry for me: poor, crazy, little Bella. I hated being pitied. I opened my mouth to tell him so, and snapped it shut immediately when I felt the familiar stirring in my stomach: the bile rising up and trying to escape. My eyes widened. I smacked a hand over my mouth and crawled-quite pitifully, indeed- over to the toilet and promptly began to upchuck the little bit of food that had not been sitting well in my stomach.

"Bella," I heard Edward whisper as he approached me. He knelt down beside the toilet and myself and made to pat my back.

"P-please," I managed between dry heaves, for there was no longer anything left for my stomach to reject. "Don't."

I rested my arm on the toilet seat and pressed my forehead against my clammy skin, trying to catch my breath. The pain had returned perhaps even stronger than before and every deep breath I inhaled felt like a thousand knives poking through my torso. It hurt so badly.

Edward's POV

"Bella," I whispered again. When she looked over at me, I thought for sure I was still alive because my heart…I swear I felt the long dormant organ twist and contort from the look in her eyes. Those beautiful pools of chocolate reflected nothing but complete and utter defeat.

Bella was quite obviously in great physical pain, but I just knew that the pain from her injuries couldn't possibly measure up to the mental and emotional agony that she seemed to be drowning in.

"Bella, please," I pleaded with her. "Let me help you. Let me…let me do something, please."

I saw the tears welling up in her eyes and I wished more than anything that I could take her pain away. I'd have give everything I had, all the priceless possessions I'd acquired throughout my incredibly long half-life, to be able to trade places with her- to feel what she was feeling because she looked so completely exhausted: as if she couldn't possibly continue to lead such a trying life.

I lifted a hand, and very slowly and deliberately reached out to the object of my affections. I saw her flinch, but I kept going and after what felt like a lifetime, my fingers came to a stop about a centimeter away from her pale, wet cheek.

There was so much I wanted to say to her; so much I wanted to ask and so much that I wanted to know about her life, but I didn't dare ask because I knew she wouldn't be very receptive to any such inquiries at the moment.

Her eyes were pleading with me, but I didn't know what it was that she wanted.

I would have given her the world in that moment.

When I finally made contact with her skin, I felt an electric shock course through my fingers and travel up my arm and down my spine, and I almost stopped. I almost pulled back, but she hadn't protested and I didn't want to startle her. Bella just closed her eyes and inhaled a deep, shuddering breath.

"Bella, look at me," I said, my voice raw with emotion. She opened her eyes, still breathing deeply, and let her intense gaze fall upon my own.

"Bella," I started. "I will never hurt you. Do you understand that?"

The look in her eyes was hesitant, as I began to stroke her cheek. "Please don't be afraid of me. Please, Bella. I will never do anything to hurt you. I will never wrong you in any way and so help me if I ever came across anyone who wanted to do you wrong…" I trailed off, shaking my head, because I wanted to tell her that I'd hurt them too, but that wasn't it. I'd kill them. If I ever came across the person who had hurt her, who had made her this way, gods help me, I would destroy that monster.

"Listen," I whispered. "I know it's hard for you to believe and I know you don't trust me, but I promise I will earn your trust. I will always be here for you and I will never let you down. No matter what, Bella. I will always take care of you."

"I can take care of myself," she whispered.

"I know," I said. "I know you can, sweetheart, but if you ever need an extra hand or someone to fall back on, or someone to talk to: a friend. I will be here. I only want to help you and if it's not too much to ask, will you please let me?"

Bella let out a heart-wrenching sigh and closed her eyes again. The next words that came out of her mouth almost killed me all over again. "Edward," she said, voice low and fragile like glass. "I wish you had just let Tyler's van hit me this morning….I wish you hadn't saved me."

My fingers stopped their movement over her skin. I closed my eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath, though I didn't really need it. Her intoxicating scent had completely engulfed the bathroom and I was surprised to find that I wasn't having trouble controlling my monster.

My feelings for this fragile child went beyond the mere lust for her blood. Yes, it was intoxicating, and yes my mouth still filled with venom at the thought of that sweet crimson liquid pumping through her veins, but it didn't matter as much any more. I could handle it. The burning in my throat was nothing when compared to the incredible ache I felt at hearing those words escape her pretty, pale lips.

When I opened my eyes again, Bella's gaze was trained on me. Her eyes were pained and mournful and I knew she was serious.

I'd seen the look on her face before I saved her this morning. Her expression had been a mixture of happiness and relief, but I hadn't fully understood it until this moment and the thought of what would have happened to her had I not stopped that van, the thought of Bella dying, her beautiful blood splattering all over the concrete and being washed away by the rain- it made me sick.

"Why, Bella?" I asked, horrified. "Why do you want to die? Why do you do this to yourself?" I held up my other hand-the one with the bloodied fingers-for reference.

Bella spared a glance at my fingers, which were covered in dry blood-her blood-and looked down at the floor, ashamed.

"I just-" she whispered. "I just don't know how much more of this I can take." She looked up at me, eyes begging me to understand.

"It hurts, Edward. And that-" she motioned towards her blade that lay forgotten on the floor. "-it helps. Even if it's only for a little while."

"What hurts?" I asked, desperate to know what ailed her. "What can't you take Bella?"

It was too late, however. She'd closed herself off. Bella shook her head, in answer, effectively shaking my hand away as well. Immediately, I mourned the loss of contact with her warm, soft skin.

"I…I can't talk about that." She stated definitively.

"Bell-" I started, but cut myself off. I wanted to know more, fuck did I want to know more, but I also didn't want to pry and end up completely loosing the connection we'd just formed. She'd withdrawn, yes, but what she'd already shared with me was enough. For the time being, at least.

She'd shared her feelings with me, she'd opened up and while it mightn't have been much, it was still progress when compared to how guarded and difficult she'd been when we first started talking.

I nodded my head in understanding and acceptance and stood up. Bella followed my movements and I could just barely spot a hint of a flinch when I held my hands out to help her up.

"Why don't we get you cleaned up, Bell?"

The girl in question stared at me for a long moment: sizing me up. She glanced back and forth between my outstretched hands and my eyes, which I knew were the darkest possible obsidian, and for a moment I thought she wouldn't take my hand. For a moment, as a hint of doubt and hesitance flickered in her expressive eyes, I thought she'd regressed. I thought she'd reject my assistance and pick herself up off the floor.

But, then that moment was gone and she merely nodded in acquiescence, looking, maybe not determined exactly, but ready and-gods help me-willing. She took a deep breath- readying herself for the physical contact-before accepting my helping hands.

Yes, we were making progress, indeed.

(A/N)Well...there it is. After such a long wait, I know. I hope you all enjoyed it and I expect things to be moving along in the story now...their relationship is progressing slowly, but surely.

PLEASE REVIEW! I do so love to read your feedback, and I'm desperate to know if anyone is still reading this story...

Peace, Love, Unity and Respect to all! x)