Soul Colored Crimson

C12: Home Sweet Home

Standard Disclaimer: I don't own any of the recognizable characters

Victoria's POV

When we landed in Los Angeles a couple of days later, it was quite adorable to see the look of confusion on her face when she realized where we were, and even now that we were in the car with Alice, Rosalie and Esme, since Bella had insisted on 'girl time' with her sisters, she still looked a bit dazed, although that could be the jetlag.

Bella was in the back with Alice and Rosalie while I sat next to our mother, chatting softly with the matriarch as Bella, Rosalie and Alice talked about their plans once they got home.

"I still can't believe everything is done already. I really thought we would be in Forks for at least a few more months." Bella said with a soft smile.

Esme smiled at her. "When you throw enough money at something it's amazing how willing people are to get things done. The contractor got three times as many people on the job as he usually would to make sure everything would be done on time and to my standards. I also made sure to give them all a nice bonus for completing it on time, and judging by the pictures they sent, it is all done to my standards, so there will be no reason for anyone to do anything else but pick rooms and decorate said rooms."

Bella smiled at that. "I can't wait to see it. I'm so excited to see your vision come to life Mom."

Esme smiled at her. "As I can't wait to show everyone our new home. I can honestly say that this will be the best home I've ever designed. I'm sure we will be able to make a home here in whatever way we wish."

"I personally can't wait to see how much closet space I have to work with. I'm so excited to go shopping in Los Angeles." Alice said with a slight squeal in her voice.

Bella expected rolled her eyes at that. "Remember the deal Pixie, no extreme shopping marathons until I'm turned and no throwing clothes at me like they are on fire, or on sale." She said with an exaggerated pointed finger at the Pixie.

Alice nodded and cuddled into her side. "Yes, yes, I promised you didn't I? No excessive shopping."

Bella smiled at that. "And what about you Rose? What are you looking forward to the most?" I asked with a soft smile.

The blonde smiled at me. "Honestly I'm wondering what space I will have in the garage. I think it's also time that we treat ourselves to some new cars. Other than that I'm more than content to live my life with the rest of our family, but what about you Vicky? What do you want, besides Bella of course, since that is obvious."

I laughed lightly at that. "There are a lot of things I want to experience now that I have the chance. I've always wanted to learn to do photography, and I've always loved art, so I am definitely going to learn how to do that, since I already promised Esme a family portrait at some point in the future."

The three smiled at that. "Well I wish you luck in getting that big bear of mine to sit still for more than five minutes." Rosalie said with a soft smile.

"I was hoping you would be willing to help with that. I do think it would be lovely to have a reminder of the chance we have been given." I said with a kind smile.

Bella grinned at me. "Don't worry about Emmett love. Rosie and I will make sure that he will behave long enough for a picture. Perhaps we could also persuade him to pose for a picture with his wife as an extra incentive."

Rosalie smiled and nodded. "I think that might actually work. There is one thing he loves more than his video games, and I would like to think that it is me, and he's been badgering me for a professional photo shoot for ages."

"I would gladly do that for you and Emmett, and for you and Jasper too if you want Alice." I said with a soft smile.

Alice smiled at me. "Let me ask Jazz first, he is a bit weary about his picture being taken at times."

I nodded at that. "That's okay, it'll take a few months for me to get comfortable with it, and of course I need to go shopping for equipment at some point too, perhaps we can combine that with buying your new computer, my love."

Bella smiled and nodded at me. "I would like that. We haven't really taken the time to go shopping as a couple in the last couple of months."

Of course Alice pouted a little at that. "Ali, don't be upset. It's not like we will be going shopping for clothes. That has always been and will continue to be something for us." Bella said with a soft smile.

Alice smiled brightly at that as she wrapped her arms around Bella, which didn't even bother me anymore like it had in the beginning.

I'll be very honest and say that Bella's close relationship with Alice had set my every instinct on edge when I first met her, but over the course of the last year Bella and I had been together, I had come to realize that Alice and Bella were sisters in every sense of the word, and they both needed that relationship badly, because no matter how bubbly and happy she seems, I could see an underlying sadness at times, which vanished whenever Bella was around.

I also saw that the same was true for Bella too. Especially in the early days of our relationship there was almost a miasma of negative energy hanging around her that only brightened whenever Alice was close to her, and only fully disappeared when Edward had left the house permanently.

I was also pretty sure that they both didn't even realize how close they were at times, especially when they were cuddled up together watching something on TV that only they really enjoyed.

When we pulled into the long driveway that led up to the home nestled deep in the California woods I was in awe of what I saw. It was a three story house that was easily twice the size of the house in Forks, and very much like the house in Forks there was a lot of glass everywhere.

Bella's POV

As we pulled up to the house I was in absolute awe of the house, because while it was a lot bigger than the house in Forks, it already felt so much more homey, not to mention that the surroundings were beautiful. "Wow. It looks amazing Mom." I said once we were all out of the car.

She smiled at me as she pulled me against her front. "Thank you sweetie, I figured with the new path we've chosen we deserved a home that reflected that. This also makes sure that we're not that much in earshot of each other's intimate activities, shall we say."

I blushed at that. "Could we not talk about that. I don't think I'm ready to know what goes on in everyone's bedroom."

Esme smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. "And you won't sweetie. I've made sure to insulate every room with the best materials money can buy. Every bedroom and office should be completely soundproof even to vampires. No guarantees of course, but I suppose that is the downside of having a family of eternal teenagers."

I'm pretty sure my blush darkened even more as she smiled down at me in that sweet smile she reserved for me. "Again, too much information, but I suppose with proper sound proofing we can at least keep our private times private."

Victoria smiled at me. "At least for a little while longer that is. "She said with a wink.

"Victoria, we've talked about this, no corrupting my baby girl." Esme said semi sternly.

I smiled and winked at her. "Thank you Mom."

Esme winked right back at me. "Don't mention it sweetie, I'm not entirely selfish in this, as you know."

I only nodded at her as the boys came driving up the path. "That took them long enough. They better not have stopped for one of Emmett's asinine plans." Rosalie said only slightly annoyed.

"Hey! My plans are usually not asinine. Just not very much thought through, they are however not the reason we are late. Apparently navigation doesn't agree with vampire patience or male stubbornness." Emmett said as they got out of their car.

Rosalie smiled at that as she molded herself against his side. "Well you are quite stubborn, baby, but that doesn't explain why you were late."

"Because he took a wrong exit off the freeway and refused to take my suggestions on taking a shortcut." Jasper said with a soft smile as he pulled Alice into his arms.

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "You're such a man Brother Bear. Never wanting to take suggestions on directions."

He just stuck his tongue out at me in lieu of replying. "Now that we're all here, let me explain a few things about our new home. As you may see it is quite a bit bigger than the house in Forks, and that is for a reason. Each of you have a room designed specifically for you and this was done on purpose. I have designed this as a home for us to live in and that means the living room will no longer be used for video games."

Emmett pouted a little at that. "Okay, I understand. Could it be used for family movie night though?"

Esme just smiled at him. "I'll show you what I've designed for you Emmett, don't worry. I think you'll absolutely love it, and yes, family movie night is one of the things we will use it for. Come, let's go inside so I can show you exactly what our new home holds for all of you."

We nodded and followed her into the house, which had a grand foyer that would looked like it came straight from a movie set with its dual staircase in dark wood which opened up into a gigantic living room framed by two equally grand glass walls leading to an immense garden and from what I could see a large pool in its center.

"It feels so cozy even though its so big and spacious. I can't wait to see it fully decorated." Alice said with a bright smile.

Esme smiled at her. "Decorating is something we're all going to do together. We all have to live here and I want everyone's input on how it should look."

We all smiled at that. "We would love to help you decorate, Mom." I said with a soft smile.

Esme smiled at me as she led us to the first downstairs room. "This Emmett, is your man cave, to be furnished, decorated and filled as you see fit, and I will let you go wild on the living room media as well, with the side note that there will not be any gaming consoles in the living room."

Emmett grinned and nodded at her. "Of course Esme, and thank you. This will be a gaming paradise when I'm done with it."

Esme smiled sweetly at him. "I know it will, and I am leaving that paradise in your hands, and while we are still here, I just want to say that everything that is still in Forks will be brought here in a couple of days, so your comics will be here soon too."

His smile only brightened at that as Esme led us out to another part of the lower floor. "Something else I've put on the ground floor because of the light in that specific room. Victoria, here I had your studio planned, if you want it. I would say that this room has the best light besides the living room." Esme said as she opened the door to a brightly lit room.

I smiled as Victoria's jaw almost to the floor. "Goodness, this is amazing Esme. Thank you so much."

Esme smiled and pulled the redhead into a hug. "Don't mention it sweetheart. You deserve to explore your passions to the fullest."

Victoria smiled at her and pulled me into their hug too, and I could see that she was on the verge of tears that could never fall. "It's okay love, you're as much a part of this family as we all are."

She smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek. "This is beautiful Esme, and I promise to make very good use of this room by making a family portrait that would be fit for royalty."

Esme smiled and pressed a kiss to her cheek too. "I look forward to it sweetheart, come let's go upstairs and see the rest of the rooms."

We all nodded and followed her upstairs, and I could just see that these stairs would be used for other things than just going up and down them.

Esme's POV

By the time I had shown everyone their respective offices and bedrooms with attached bathrooms, it was nearly dinnertime for Bella, and for our first night in our new home, Bella insisted on helping me, being adamant on mother-daughter time.

Of course I didn't mind that since I loved every second I spent with my daughter, and I just couldn't help but ask her about what she thought about our new home. "So sweetie, what are your first thoughts on the house?"

She smiled brightly as she kneaded the dough for her garlic bread. "I love it Mom. It already feels like home and it's not even fully decorated yet. I can easily see us making a life here like we want to live it."

I smiled at her. "That means a lot to me sweetie. I was a bit worried you might think it was a bit too big for us."

"In the past, absolutely, but I've learned that when you have all the time in the world to build a fortune, all of the things you've ever dreamed of as a human are suddenly possible. I always thought a home like this was either the stuff of fantasy or movies, but to be able to build a life here with our family, most importantly with Victoria of course, but I can't express how happy I am that I will have my mother by my side forever. I love you so much, and I can't even begin to thank you for everything you have done for me and what you have shown me." She said with a teary smile.

I smiled at her but refrained from the hug I wanted to give her because my hands were full of dough and eggs. "My sweet darling Bella. I love you too, my daughter, now and forever I will love you and will make sure you know that every day of your life."

Bella smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek. "I do Mom, but I worry for you too. Aren't you sad that all of your children are paired off while you are left alone?"

I smiled at that, having wondered when she would ask about this. "I won't be alone forever sweetie. Alice has already seen my mate joining us in the future, but I've asked her not to reveal too much, but I do know that she will be a lovely blonde that will love you as much as I will."

She frowned a little bit at that. "I don't know how to feel about that, but I suppose I will know exactly how to feel about her when I meet her. My gift will show me exactly what she will mean to me."

"Not to mention the maternal bond you two will share, sweetie. You know that will not be denied as well, even more so when you are turned. Chances are you will be extremely clingy with me in the first couple of weeks." I said with a soft smile.

"I figured as much, and it's not like I will mind being close to you in any way, shape or form. If I could get away with it I would cuddle up with you all day long." She said with a slight blush.

I smiled at her. "Nobody is stopping you from doing exactly that sweetheart. Nobody will look at you weird because of it. I would say that everyone already knows you're a Mama's girl."

She blushed a little at that. "I can't help it with all the love and attention you've showered me with over the last year, and it's certainly not like I mind being a Mama's girl, especially when you're said Mama."

I smiled at her. "You're too sweet, Bella. I'm only trying to be the best mother I can be."

She smiled at me as she started adding the chopped garlic to her bread. "And that alone makes you the best mother ever. You know Renee never did anything like that for me and the fact that you provide all the love and warmth you do makes you the best mother in history in my eyes."

"I swear if I could still blush I would be beet red by now. What's bringing this up sweetie?" I asked softly, being a bit worried about why she was so emotional right now.

Bella smiled at me. "I don't know Mom, it's probably close to the time my monthly friend is supposed to visit. I'm just so happy right now that I can't help but show it in one way or another."

I gave her a sympathetic smile. "Soon you won't have to worry about that, sweetling, but I'm happy that you're so happy. It's been long overdue that I have seen that smile on your lips all day long."

Bella smiled at that. "I can't do anything else but agree with that mother, because while I thoroughly enjoyed our time in Volterra, I missed us being together as a family a bit."

"I understand that sweetheart, and for the foreseeable future we'll be together as a family. I've come to an arrangement with the Queens that we will make a yearly visit to Volterra so I can update and manage the archives, but other than that we'll only be there when invited over." I said with a loving smile.

Bella nodded and smiled at that as she started to place her dough into the tin. "I'm glad for that, because for some reason living in Volterra doesn't come easy for me."

"I get that sweetie. Volterra has a completely different atmosphere than what you all are used to. They're not really a family like we are. It's one of the reasons I was so eager to volunteer to keep an eye on Carlisle. It would never be perfect as long as he was around, but I could build a family." I said with a soft smile.

She nodded at that as she placed the tin in the oven, washing her hands afterwards. "You of all people deserve to have a family. I could never imagine you being anything else than a caring mother."

I only smiled at her as I placed the noodles I had made into the pan, washing my own hands afterwards so I could give her a hug. "There was a time I had to suppress that part of myself, and even though the Queens knew of my gentle nature, in those early years it was necessary for me to be heartless. Times were very different back then."

She nodded at me as she took a seat at the island while the pasta cooked and her bread was in the oven, and I just could help but smile at her as we talked some more about my life in the Volturi.

Bella's POV

The following morning I woke up cuddled up close to Victoria wrapped in one of the many blankets we had used to make a bed out of, and because of that my back was absolutely killing me. "Good morning my sweet Bella. How did you sleep?" She asked softly as she cradled me against her body.

"Miserable to be honest. I really hope we can get a bed today, because this is not going to happen a second night. I'd rather take the couch than to have to sleep on blankets again, and besides that, my back is killing me." I grumbled out sleepily.

I could see her smile sympathetically at me. "I'm sorry love. Esme's been on the phone all morning yelling at the store owner why our furniture hasn't been delivered yet, while she left specific instructions to them when exactly we would be home to make sure we would be here to receive them, so your discomfort hasn't gone unnoticed by your mother, and she is taking appropriate action to make sure it will all be here today."

I smiled at that. "Good, I knew Mom wouldn't let this slip unnoticed given the talk I had with her yesterday while we were making dinner."

Victoria smiled at me. "Yes, we all heard how incredibly sappy you were with mother. It was very sweet to hear you two talk about how much you love each other."

I blushed at that as I curled into her body to hide my face between her breasts, which she obviously didn't seem to mind. "Feeling frisky this morning love?"

"No, I'm just embarrassed that everyone heard that. I thought that everyone would be busy browsing the internet on what to buy." I said softly.

"They were, but of course they were all in the living room, so we heard none the less. It's nothing to be embarrassed about thought baby. We all know how much you and Esme love each other. It's sweet to listen to you two talk to each other." Victoria said softly.

I smiled and kissed her softly. "Fine, I'll try not to be embarrassed about it anymore. Can we take a shower together. That might help my body to cooperate a bit more."

She nodded and kissed me as she picked me up and carried me to the shower. "Of course baby. You know there are few things I enjoy more than being wet and naked with you." She said with a wink.

I slapped her arm softly at that. "I know you do, which is why we always take so long when we take a shower together."

She just grinned as she put me back on my feet to turn on the shower. "It's not my fault that you have such a gorgeous body that I can't keep my hands to myself."

"No it isn't, but there is something called restraint, and it is a skill both of us will need to master at some point." I said softly as I pulled her under the spray with me.

Victoria smiled at that as she pulled me against her body. "We should, but why start today. We should properly christen our bathroom."

"We have an eternity to christen every single inch of our bathroom, bedroom and closet if we please. Why start now when I'm so much pain?" I asked softly.

"You're right love, I was mostly teasing you. Is there anything I can do to make it better?" She asked with a loving smile.

"Well, after breakfast I would love a massage if you would want to do that for me. That should help my back pop back into alignment." I said softly.

She nodded and kissed me softly as she spent a lot of time in washing and pampering me, and of course I wasn't going to object to being pampered by my mate, especially since she was adamant on making me feel better this morning. "Like I need an excuse to touch you in such a way love, but it might be better if we do that downstairs and ask Mom if we can use the couch."

"I don't think she will mind if we say it's not in any way sexual, but rather for my back." I said with a soft smile.

Victoria smiled and kissed me softly. "I think she won't mind it then, especially if we make sure to protect the couch from getting dirty. I am no mood for a spanking."

"Not when I'm supposed to be the only one who should be spanking you." I said with a wink.

She gave me a soft slap on the butt and smiled. "Don't start anything you can't finish love. You know what that talk does to me."

"I know, but why don't you turn around so I can get your back. I was only teasing you a little." I said with a wink.

Victoria nodded and turned around for me extra slowly, probably because she wanted to tease me too.

I of course didn't mind because there were few things I would rather do than have free access to my mate's naked body.

"You're such a tease love." She said with a content sigh.

"Hello pot, meet kettle." I said as I placed a kiss to her spine.

She smiled when she heard the bedroom door open. "Bella, Mom asked if you two were ready yet. Breakfast is almost ready." Rosalie called into the room.

"We're in the shower Rose. We'll be down in a few minutes." I called back loud enough for her to hear.

Rosalie acknowledged that before closing the door again, which led us to quickly finish our shower and drying ourselves off before getting dressed in some comfortable clothes.

As I sat down at the island Esme gave me a sweet smile and a kiss to my cheek as she placed my breakfast in front of me, while the others quickly filled the other spots around the island, and I just couldn't help but smile at the domesticity of the sight.