Trigger warning!!! Minor oc character deaths mentioned in this chapter.

Note: yes you see right! another update!!!! Not even a week since the last but I couldn't stop thinking about this chapter and it has literally just been nagging me until I caved and wrote it. You guys are honestly the best support and encouragement and I LOVE ya'll tremendous amounts.

Little bit of a niggle here though and again definitely not naming names but I got a comment that really didn't sit well with me as someone who always always wants to make sure everyone else is okay I just had to say something. I trigger warn each individual chapter that contains anything that I think might be a trigger for some readers, I have done since I started writing and have done so with every one of my fics. I had someone rant at me for not posting trigger warnings on a chapter and when I went to look because honestly I felt so blooming guilty because I'm usually on the ball with this type of thing I found that there was in fact a trigger warning, it was plain to see, right at the top in the notes and clearly laid out what the triggers might be and the section to avoid if a reader might find it difficult. So I guess what I am saying is the comment really upset me firstly because I thought I had done wrong and the last thing I ever want to do is trigger someone because I know how that feels and I wouldn't wish it on anyone and then secondly because when I realised I had included the trigger warning I realised that said reader must not have read the trigger warning for some reason, so please please I am absolutely begging, read trigger warnings please!! I cannot stress that enough, they are there for a reason, they are there to protect readers and it is so important that when reading online on platforms like this that you pay attention when an author posts one. This is a creative platform where a variety of things are explored and they can be triggering so please please be aware of your own self, trigger warning and take care of you!! Do not read something that could potentially trigger you. Please!!!!!

So to make myself feel better this chapter is much fluffier than it was meant to be. And yes there is more Bella - Tanya mother/daughter cuteness. I hope you enjoy

Lots of love Nell xoxo

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Consciousness came back to Bella slowly, much slower than it had for as long as the brunette could remember. Her body much more able to sleep deeply and peacefully now that the danger was officially over with. Especially when it was safely ensconced in between the two stone cold yet soft bodies of her mothers. She could tell by scent alone that Esme lay at her back with Tanya in front of her. Soft hands gently stroking through her hair and rubbing soothing patterns on her back.

Twin purrs of content filled the room and if she really concentrated she could hear the quiet murmur of her mates somewhere in the room. The three obviously unable to stay away from her despite knowing she was safe with her mothers and it was unlikely that either Tanya or Esme would have released her or given up their positions close to her until completely necessary.

They had moved to her private rooms after Tanya had healed enough for her to walk unaided, though the blonde had insisted on carrying Isabella too, despite the fact that she still hadn't fully healed. Sulpicia had thought it best they moved somewhere more private away from the battle ground that lay in waste and the vires whom all were very much running on instincts and unfortunately needing to hunt. Bella wasn't sure how they had resolved that issue, knowing that being able to send someone out to fetch fresh blood was not something they could do straight away, especially when their resident 'fisher' was immobilised during the fight. Heidi having sustained multiple injuries as well as loss of limbs. Though she supposed the collection of blood wasn't something she should concern herself with. Yes she could help, as the resident human but as Didyme had explained diplomatically to the few idiots that had asked, Isabella was just one human and didn't have a limited blood supply. The brunette had politely pretended she didn't hear the possessive "and anyway we will not tolerate anyone who does not share a bond with our mate near her" that Athenadora had so politely (read aggressively) pointed out.

So yes, Bella hadn't crumbled in the slightest at being scurried away from the debris and death that surrounded her in the castle training room. To remain was just asking for trouble and she already knew she'd have a time of it later in the week when her mates and she finally got a moment alone. She wasn't naive, her queens weren't the sharing type and mothers or no, they weren't all that happy with having to remain at arms length from their mate for any length of time. Especially after a battle where said mates life had been on the line. She knew she was in for a thorough claiming from her rather possessive counterparts... not that she was complaining all to much at the thought of such a thing. Their possessiveness of her was something she found rather endearing after all.

Shaking herself out of her own head before her mind had the chance to conjure all sorts of thoughts that would be highly inappropriate to entertain with both her mothers present Bella allowed her eyes to open, squinting in the bright room as the light from the desk lamp lit up one side of the room. She could tell it was still dark outside so either she hadn't slept long or she had slept entirely too long. She wasn't sure but regardless she wasn't all to keen on moving anytime soon. Her mothers had her in a state of bliss with their skilful soothing and their proximity was rather healing to her, having spent weeks on edge on the build up to last nights confrontation and then the entirety of the fight completely terrified she wasn't going to fight anything that gave her this sort of peace. Though the pressure in her bladder may have her leaving the warm cocoon created by her mothers much sooner than she would like.

Blinking lazily her eyes drew up towards her eldest mothers face, meeting burnt orange eyes in the low light her face broke out in a shy smile as the vampire smiled back tenderly. A hand coming up from its place on her back to cup her cheek.

"Good morning maličký" the blonde spoke gently, a hint of regret and uncertainty dancing in her eyes and Bella knew instinctively just what was causing such a look. They had only shared a bond a mater of a day but she knew her mother, could almost feel her emotions and it caused her heart to hurt a little at being the reason for them.

"Good evening mama" Bella murmured, freeing a hand from where it was trapped under her to clutch onto the hand that was on her face, keeping it their. Silently telling her mother that no she didn't regret her choice to ask her mother to drink from her and no she wasn't about to shy away from her and fling her walls up like she had the first time they had lay in a similar position. The fear she had felt yesterday at the thought of almost losing this woman had been very real, all but ensuring that Bella would take any and every opportunity to keep her mother close.

"How are the instincts this morning mom?" Bella questioned, her tone a mix between playful and serious, leaning her head back against Esme's shoulder to ensure her brunette mother knew she was asking her.

"Better but still not fully controlled little one so best curb the cheek hmmm?" Esme's tone was light but the subtle tightening of both her mothers arms around her torso let Bella know that her mothers description was accurate. They had got themselves under control significantly more than they had been last night but they still weren't ready to let her go far.

"Why do you ask? Planning on running off Isabella?" Her blonde mother asked a slight hint of command seeping put in her tone and Bella was yet again reminded of her previous conundrum regarding this particular vampires demeanour. A question she would most certainly ask once she had a moment alone with the blonde.

"I need to use the bathroom mama" she replied honestly but regretfully and her mothers mournful sigh and reply of "I see" didn't help the brunette in the slightest with her unwillingness to move.

"Come back after you've freshened up little one and we can get you breakfast and debrief a little" Esme murmured, pressing a kiss to the back of her head as Tanya pressed one to her forehead, both releasing her. She released a squeak of surprise when Tanya gathered her in her arms and stood from the bed, squeezing her tightly in a hug and pressing one last kiss to her head before standing her on her own to feet.

Upon coming back into the room after rather inelegantly running to the bathroom to relieve herself and shower quickly, washing the grime and the feel of yesterday from her skin Bella found her bed remade and both her mothers sitting comfortable at one end of the sofa by the window of her room. Her mates sat together at the other side, curled up together comfortably and Bella felt a longing to join them swell up within her. Though the look of displeasure Cia's wore, matched by Dora's scowl and Di's gentle look of understanding told her that currently such a thing wasn't possible.

The mix of anxiety and impatience displayed on both her mothers faces told her all she needed to know of her mates thoughts and she smiled at them apologetically for the second time in the space of a day.

She really was in for it when they finally had her alone, she thought with a mixture of anxiety and impatience.

She made her way over calmly, hugging and giving a chaste kiss to each of her mates as she passed before allowing her mothers to pull her back into their laps, both nuzzling her and hugging her tightly as she got comfortable.

"You weren't joking" she playfully huffed and rolled her eyes with a mock scowl in response to the identical looks of amusement that flickered across her queens faces as they watched the scene.

"They weren't at all darling" Sulpicia groused, playing along, unable to hide the tender smile aimed at her human mate.

"They haven't let us near you Bella" Didyme added, smiling gently.

"I know, they won't for a while if their current behaviour is anything to go by" the brunette grumbled as she was yet again nuzzled by Esme who only pressed a kiss to her cheek in apology before continuing with her nuzzling.

"Its normal dove" Didyme said, leaning further back into Athenadora who sat in the middle of her three mates as usual. It would never not warm her heart to see the oh so feared and rude vampire act so tenderly with them.

"How are the repairs going?" Bella asked prompting her vampires, knowing that by debrief this is what her mother meant. She was a little fearful to ask her real question, not wanting to know of any casualties on their end yet wanting to know just as much.

"The repairs are going well, Edward and Carlisle certainly picked their new-borns well, every one of them had a gift and as a result the training room and halls surrounding it took some extensive damage but nothing we can't correct in the next few days" Athenadora replied, smiling apologetically when the mention of her tormentors names caused the human girl to flinch slightly which caused her mothers to begin nuzzling her with more vigour in an attempt to soothe her.

"We sustained a few casualties on our end and although most made it with minimal injury. Heidi, Irina, Carmen, Corin and Dimitri all suffered quite a bit of damage as did Alice and Tanya as you know. All will make full recoveries with plenty blood and time to heal." Sulpicia continued with a sad smile, no doubt feeling the loss of some of the guard because despite what the wider vampiric nation believed Bella knew that they were very much a family who cared for each and every one of their members despite ranking, gift or position and any loss would be felt greatly.

"Who?" She whispered, choking back tears as what she feared was confirmed to her, her throat feeling as if it might close over with the sudden lump of guilt and sadness that was creeping up it.

"All were newer recruits, Jaxon and his twin Ally. Shade and Benny all perished. They we believe were caught by a new-born with the ability to manipulate fire before Jane and Alec could immobilise him. We are holding a vigil tonight to commemorate them. Jane feels more than guilty for not seeing the new-born until it was too late, though no one blames her I fear she will struggle with it for a while" Didyme murmured gently knowing the news would hurt their mate, they could see it on her delicate face and in her expressive eyes that would never not betray the way she feels.

"I...I" Bella began, her eyes filling as she blinked desperately, trying to keep her tears at bay. Her heart clenching as she thought of those three guards. She didn't know them really. She had only met them a few times in passing but still Shade had seemed lovely and Jaxon and Ally or Jax and Al had gone out of their way to make her laugh on a day she had felt the over bearing pressure of the upcoming fight as if it were going to suffocate her, it hurt her deeply to know that anyone had died for her, that they had literally given up their lives to protect her and what made it worse is they had died fighting to protect her from things no one should ever have to fight to be free of. It hurt. The whole thing was infuriating and heart-breaking and she wished more than she could possibly express that no one had had to die, that Edward and Carlisle had never come and ultimately in the moment she wished she had never come to Volterra because that would mean no one had to die on her behalf.

She would never ever give up her mates nor did she regret finding them but she felt the sorrow, anger and guilt fill her entirely as she let out a broken sound that was mixed between a scream and a sob. She couldn't decide which she would rather do.

"Hush little one" Esme murmured in her ear, pulling her closer to tuck her against her vampire mothers neck, Tanya moving to cocoon her.

"It isn't your fault Isabella" Tanya added, soothing her fingers through the sobbing teens hair as both mothers tried to calm the humans racing heart and frantic breathes.

"You did nothing wrong, if anyone is to blame it is Edward and Carlisle that bare the responsibility. Not you sladké dievča, I promise" Tanya whispered as she began to purr low in her throat. The sound deeper and more pronounced than it had been earlier as her pheromones released almost without thought in response to her child's pained cries. She had thought the mate bond had been painful and sudden but she didn't think it compared to the pain in her heart at seeing her daughter so stricken, the instinctual need to soothe taking over without any conscious say so.

Bella could hear their continued murmurs of reassurance and love, the soothing scent of her mothers filled the air and she could smell the soothing scent of her mates trickle in to join from across the sofa, her queens beside themselves knowing that their mate was distraught but her mothers were still far too on edge to allow them any closer and despite her upset she knew they wouldn't even attempt to move closer. They had already made it clear that the maternal bond was one that not even the queens of the volturi were willing to get between. Which was probably wise as everyone knew there was no bigger risk than a mother acting to protect her child.

She allowed herself to take the comfort so willingly offered to her as she let herself simply feel in the safety of her room, her mothers and her mates surrounding her. Grieving not only for the lives lost on her behalf but the childhood and teen years lost to her through no fault of her own, expelling all the pent up hurt and anger she had gathered over the years.

And as she felt the last of her energy and tears run out she let herself relax into steadfast arms and gentle words she knew with certainty would never falter.

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maličký = little one in Slovak sladké dievča = sweet girl in Slovak