June 6th 1996 - Volterra, Italy Victoria blinked lazily from her place hidden among the trees in the little beach resort her mate and her mother currently resided in. Watching as the bright little eight year old launched herself in the pool quite fearlessly. She was rather proud of the progress little Isabella was making in regards to the water. It had been less than a year ago her little mate had been so fearful of the water. Those swimming lessons her mother had almost stopped the girl going too because it cost too much money had surely paid off. Especially after Victoria had anonymously paid off the entirety of the girls lessons for the next two years. Not content at all with the girls mothers lack of care for her child's welfare over her own childlike hobbies.

"Look at me mommy, I'm doing it all by myself" the sweet voice of her ate cried out as she splashed a little wildly from one end of the pool to the other.

"Mommy, mommy look" she cried again when her first shout was ignored by the older woman who currently lay on a deck chair in nothing more than a skimpy bikini two piece.

"Not now Isabella, can't you see mommy is busy" Renee called back harshly, silencing the girls innocent excitement, bringing a look of utter sadness to childlike features. Victoria growled at the sight of her little mates upset, ready to give the girls mother a piece of her mind before a soft reassuring hand clamped down upon her wrist.

"Now now Victoria, she is still far too young to know of us, you risk exposing us if you go to her now. I know you will not like to see your little mates anguish, just as I loathe to see her innocent little face so downtrodden but we cannot interfere, not yet" Athenadora's voice was quiet, gentle as she calmed the red head and Victoria had never been so grateful that she had gone to the Volturi with news of her mate. She had found a fast friend in the Queens, especially in Athenadora who had taken Victoria under her wing a little.

"I know Dora, I know but she deserves so much better than her mothers callous disregard" the read head murmured back, finally settling herself down. Though her eyes did not falter from where they gazed upon her little mate. Watching intently for any dangers.

"She does but as long as she remains with Renee we can protect her. She is safe as can be there despite her mother. There home is marked as claimed Volturi land, the occupants under our protection, none of our kind can touch her though it would be near impossible to continue such protections if she moved around" Victoria sighed but nodded. She knew the Queen was right. They had looked into the human fostering and adoption system after the first time Victoria had met with the queens and they had followed her back to Phoenix to confirm the bond and place her mate under their protection. The possibility of Isabella coming to more harm or being moved excessively was too grand a risk and had come to the conclusion that it was better she remained with Renee where Victoria could easily keep an eye on her than her little mate being lost in the system.

"How are Cia and Di?" Victoria asked, intent on changing the subject. She hated knowing she was powerless to help her little mate anymore than she already was.

"They are doing fine Vick, they shall be down shortly to see you and get a look at how your little one is doing. Cia does so adore children" Athenadora chuckled, lapsing into a comforting silence as they continued to watch from the side-lines.

- Phoenix Arizona - September 13th 1999

"Mom you have got to be joking" Victoria heard her little mate sigh. "Why can't you ever be sober for more than a few hours?" Isabella continued, her voice a broken whisper as Victoria pressed closer to the house catching sight of her mate through the window.

Isabella was by the sofa, struggling to life her clearly incapacitated mother onto it properly. Fighting to take off her high heels and drape a blanket over her. This was a daily occurrence as of late. Her Little mates mother was becoming more and more of a drunk as the days went by and it irked Victoria greatly. She hated watching this woman throw away the best moments of her daughters life for the sake of the bottle.

"Happy birthday Bella" her little mate whispered to herself as she shook her head, standing upright before glancing around the room, taking in the sight of the hurricane like mess her mother had left in her drunken wake. Victoria frowned sadly as her little mate shook herself out of her own inner sadness and begun tidying the room.

"Vic I have everything you asked for" her brothers voice cut through her inner rage.

"All of it?" She asked, turning to look at him. Though she didn't bother concealing the fury on her face.

"Yes all of it, the balloon, the streamers, the party hat, the cake and the bracelet" he replied, smiling in sympathy at her.

"How can any mother forget to celebrate their own child's birthday James?" She whispered, allowing her fury to give way to the hurt she was feeling on behalf of her little mate who seemed unable to express it herself. Her mate was entirely too selfless and Victoria knew the girl wouldn't speak up about how she felt to her mother for fear of upsetting the incompetent women.

"I have no idea Vic, but you remembered and that will mean everything to little Isabella" he reassured gently as he finally handed her the bag filled with little things for Isabella. She took the bag gratefully before sitting down in the tree line, opening it and begging to put her little mates birthday gift together.

She'd drop it on the doorstep later for her girl to find and she hoped it would be enough to remind the girl that no matter what she was loved.