Soul Colored Crimson

C13: Home Decorating

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

Bella's POV

The following morning I woke up a whole lot better, since our bed, as well as those of everyone else had arrived yesterday afternoon and it had been very amusing to see Victoria struggle to put ours together, which she had insisted to do by herself.

The end result had been worth it though because the bed was heavenly, and I think she agreed with that with the way she was curled around me for a change. "Good morning Bella. Did you sleep okay?" She asked with a soft smile.

"I certainly did baby, and if I didn't know better I would say you did too, I've never woken up to you curled around me like you are right now." I said with a soft smile.

She smiled at me as she pulled me on top of her. "You were warm and quite cuddly yourself, so of course I was going to take full advantage of that."

I smiled and kissed her softly. "I certainly don't blame you love. It was merely a surprise, and that you help stave off a bit of that summer heat is very much an added bonus."

Victoria smiled at me. "I am as always glad to be of service, Bella. Shall we go and test our shower before breakfast or are you hungry already?"

I thought about that for a moment. "You know, I could go for breakfast. We have a lot to do today, and it wouldn't make sense for me to take two showers in one day, nor would I want to put that stress on the environment." I said with a soft smile.

She smiled and kissed me. "Then before mother comes to see if I'm once again corrupting her baby girl, we should get dressed and make our way downstairs."

"I think Mom knows that we have sex baby. I don't think she will read you the riot act again." I said with a soft smile.

She just smiled at me. "Perhaps, but I'd rather be safe then sorry, plus I can hear your stomach rumble, so I know you're stalling because you're comfy."

I gave her a light glare. "Fine, let's see if Mom has breakfast ready then. Sometimes I hate you being able to hear exactly when I'm hungry."

She gave me a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry love, soon we won't have to worry about that anymore, since your body will be as silent as mine."

I grinned at that. "You're hardly ever silent baby, especially when we're in bed together."

Victoria smiled at that as she scooped me up into her arms and got out of bed. "Really, I'm the loud one? Because I think that you're a lot louder than I am."

"That's because I snore and you know it." I said with a slight pout.

Victoria only smiled at me as she put me down on my feet in the closet. "I was talking about the times I have made you scream in pleasure, love. If you were a vampire I'm pretty sure you've burst some windows already."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. "Could we not talk about future vampire sex just yet. I would like to have breakfast without soaking through my underwear."

She smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek as we got dressed. "Far be it from me to wanting to be responsible for you ruining your underwear around the rest of the family. I really want to keep Alice on my good side."

I smiled at her as we made our way downstairs. "I think you're good there Vicky. I'm pretty sure that Alice doesn't mind the fact that you're responsible for ruined underwear since that means she can drag me to another shopping trip."

I heard Alice giggle at that. "Did someone mentioned shopping?" She asked as she came to meet us.

"No, bad Pixie. No shopping until decorating has been taken care of." I said in a mock stern tone.

She pouted a little at that. "But Bella. That's not fair."

I smiled at her, having a bit of trouble not to outright laugh at her adorable expression right now. "Okay first off, you have no right to look so adorable this early in the morning, and secondly, we're going to go shopping in Los Angeles soon enough. Is it that much to ask to have just a few weeks to acclimate and settle into our new home?"

She smiled at me as she gave me a hug. "Sorry Bella, I couldn't resist. You know I would never pressure you to go shopping with me. Do I have hope every day, of course, but never would I dare pressure my darling sister. Mom is scary enough as it is." She said with a wink and a hug.

From the corner of my eye I could see Esme standing in the kitchen. "I'm only scary when people threaten our family, which I believe I am very much justified in." Esme said as she came up to us and gave me a hug.

I smiled and immediately relaxed in her arms. "You are Mom, good morning." I said with a soft smile.

"Good morning sweetheart. Did you sleep okay?" She asked softly.

I nodded and pressed a kiss to her cheek as we all made our way to the kitchen where Esme had made me the most amazing looking omelet I had ever seen in my life.

I could easily admit that omelets were kind of a guilty pleasure for me, and I used to make them for myself whenever I could. "Thanks Mom, it looks and smells amazing. It's been a long time since I had an omelet."

"I know Bella, and I remember well how you talked about them being one of your guilty pleasures, so I figured you would like your first breakfast in our new home to be something you would like." She said with a soft smile.

I only smiled at her as I took a bite, and couldn't help the moan that ripped from my lips when I tasted it. "Gods, this is the best omelet I've ever had. Thank you Mom."

Esme only smiled at me as she took a seat on my other side, with the rest of the family also quickly taking their spots around the kitchen island, which had become something of a morning ritual for all of us.

Victoria's POV

An hour later Bella and I were walking down the endless aisles of a home improvement store, where we would get everything we would need to make our room and offices our own, since all other furniture would be delivered today and thus we would not have to worry about that until we got back.

We had discussed at length our preferences for colors and styles, and while we had not come to a complete agreement on those, it was enough to not let the colors clash. I have always loved richer colors like red and green, while Bella likes more homey colors like light purples and light blues.

"You know love, I never thought we would find some sort of common ground when it came to this, it is one of the things our tastes are almost diametrically opposed in I have noticed." I said with a soft smile.

Bella smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek. "I think we've managed to compromise here love, and as long as colors are our only point of contention, I think we'll live." She said with a wink.

I smiled and kissed her softly. "I believe we will, now, did you want to paint our bedroom or go for wallpaper, or a combination perhaps?"

"To be honest, I would like to go for paint, because I'm honestly kind of done with wallpaper, after having to do my own room at both Renee and Charlie's for years. I never want to touch another roll of wallpaper again." She said softly.

"Then we'll paint our room and your office together love. I want to wait with my studio until I have an idea for an actual layout and light scheme." I said with a soft smile.

Bella nodded at that. "I understand that love. Are there any colors you want to avoid for our room?"

"As odd as it may sound, I would like to avoid reds while you're still human. Everything I've read about colors and effects so far points to red not being the best color for a bedroom. It may lead to restless nights, and not in the good way." I said softly.

"We could go for a light green if you're okay with that. I always find green incredibly soothing." She offered with a smile.

I thought about that for a moment. "I think that might work, at least for the wall behind our bed and the wall with the door. We could go slightly darker for the wall to the bathroom and closet because of the light that comes in through the window, which come to think of it needs some sort of a curtain."

She smiled at me. "You're cute when you ramble, you know that? But yes, I could agree to something a bit darker for that wall, and perhaps dark green curtains, or would that be too much green, Queen of Color?"

I laughed lightly and gave her hand a squeeze. "Queen of Color huh, I could get used to that. I actually was going to suggest that we take either dark blue or plain black curtains. It'll help you keep a regular rhythm for sleeping. With all that sunlight pouring in that early it might become a problem at some point."

"Yeah I was going to ask you about that, because as much I love our room, the sun interrupting my sleep is really one of the downsides." She said with a slight pout forming on her lips, which admittedly looked extremely adorable.

I just smiled and kissed her softly. "Then we'll get some black curtains for the room, at least until you are turned, after that we'll see how we feel about them. Now what about your office. I've read that yellow is an inspiring color."

She shook her head at that. "There is one color, and one color only that I want on the walls of my office. Sunset orange. They remind me of my muse's hair." She said with a wink.

I grinned and kissed her. "Sunset orange it is, and perhaps some red drapes for the windows. It won't block out much light, but I think it will make a beautiful contrast."

She nodded and smiled at me. "I would love that baby. I think it'll also contrast nicely with the furniture Mom said she ordered for my office. If I recall correctly it was mostly cherry wood with dark accents."

"They are. Mother is very much aware of your love for cherry wood and has made sure that your office will be tastefully furnished with cherry furniture, including a huge desk that will probably hold more stuff than you might ever need." I said with a soft smile.

Bella smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek. "Yes, Mom showed me the desk she had ordered for me. It will easily hold my computer and laptop, and of course I want a couple of pictures of the family as well, both on me desk and on the wall."

I smiled at her. "Of course Bella, once we've actually made the trip to the electronic store and buy our new equipment, I would be happy to get some pictures for you to decorate your office with. I could even be talked into taking some special pictures for you."

Bella blushed at that. "Could we not discuss that in public. This top does not really allow for discreet hard nipples." She said softly.

"Sorry baby, but you know I love to tease you at least a little, I live for that beautiful blush of yours." I said with a soft smile.

"You better enjoy it while it lasts, because soon I won't be able to blush anymore, which is probably something we should start setting a date for, shouldn't we?" She asked softly.

I nodded at her. "And we will, when we're back home. This isn't really the place to talk about such things, not when there's a chance of humans overhearing."

She nodded and kissed my cheek as we made our way to the aisle with paint, so we could stock up on everything that we would need to make our room and her office as amazing as it could be.

Bella's POV

Once the trunk of Victoria's SUV was nearly half filled with everything we would need to decorate our rooms, probably five times over, we made our way to the nearest Best Buy, so we could spend probably just as long debating on the things we would need to fill our room, my office and her studio all at the same time, which would probably amount to us spending the equivalent of a small fortune, something that honestly didn't bother me as much as it used to.

Since the time we had spent at the home improvement store had been about my preferences for color and the like, I was more than happy just watching Victoria as she tried to choose the perfect cameras for her purposes, since she was adamant she needed several, including a slew of extra lenses to make sure every picture would be perfect.

I also had to admit that she had the most adorable pout on her face as she just didn't seem to be able to make a choice, a sight I just couldn't help but giggle at. "I see you find my indecisiveness funny." She said as she compared yet another set of cameras.

"Not funny per say, just extremely cute. That pout could rival Alice's on her best day." I said with a soft smile.

She quirked an eyebrow at that. "Well I think I am justified in that because this is entirely too frustrating."

I smiled and kissed her cheek as I wrapped my arms around her waist. "Is it that you have too many options love? Is there anything I can do to help?"

She smiled at that. "It is about having too many options. There are so many types of cameras that I just don't know what to choose."

"Perhaps I can help. Could you give me your phone for a minute? Mine died since I forgot to charge it last night." I asked softly.

She nodded and handed me her phone. I then went online and typed in my idea, a comparison of different cameras for professional use which hopefully would make things easier for her. "I think this might help you love." I said with a soft smile as I handed her the phone back.

Victoria smiled and scrolled through the list. "You know love, this might actually help. Could you grab a cart for us, since we need quite a few things after I've made my decision."

I nodded and made my way back to the front of the store to get a cart for us to use, because Victoria was right, besides her cameras we would need a new computer and laptop for me, since we had agreed to the fact that it would be easier if I had both available if inspiration ever struck at random moments.

I had thankfully already done my research with the help of the only other computer nerd in the house, being Emmett. We had spent hours searching for a computer that would suit my needs, and of course the same went for the laptop. Both didn't need to have strong graphics cards since I wouldn't use them for gaming, but they would need plenty of storage space and processing speed.

Thanks to that I kind of knew what I was looking for, so we wouldn't need to spend as much time in selecting those, which I figured Victoria wouldn't mind after the time she spent almost an hour looking at cameras.

When I came back to her with the cart, she seemed to have made her choice, and looking very pleased with that choice at that. "I see you've made your choice love."

She smiled and nodded. "Indeed I have. That website you showed me really helped. I have also made sure that I have every lens I will ever need. There's no reason for me not to do anything half-assed after all."

"In my experience you have never done anything half-assed, Vicky, so I'm sure you're not going to start now that you're going to explore your interests to the fullest, and I do hope you know that I will always be a willing test subject." I said with a loving smile.

She smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek. "Thank you baby. But I do hope you realize that might be a lot in the first few weeks."

"I don't have an issue with that love, I promise, so I hope you've gotten enough memory cards." I said with a wink.

"Of course I have, more than I will probably ever need, since I won't need to do much editing, or so I hope, since I honestly have no idea what the effect of camera's on vampires is." She said softly.

I nodded at that. "I don't think Mom will mind sitting for a few mother-daughter pictures love, that might be easier to test things."

"I was planning on doing that love, Mom will understand if it doesn't go as planned right off the bat. Shall we go and take a look at a computer for you?"

I smiled at her. "I kind of have an idea of what I want thanks to the research I've done with Emmett. It shouldn't take long to pick a computer and a laptop."

Victoria smiled and kissed me softly before placing her cameras and lenses into the cart. "Then in the interest of time, shall we divide and conquer? You take the cart to the computer aisle, and I will pick out a TV for our bedroom, should we ever be in the mood to curl up together and watch a movie."

I nodded and smiled at her as we did exactly that, with her making her way to the enormous TV section and me making my way to the computers and laptops.

Victoria's POV

When we came home later that afternoon, Esme had of course prepared a nice lunch for Bella, and while she ate and undoubtedly regaled her mother with everything we had bought today, I made sure that all of our decorating supplies were put in in our room, so that everything would be ready for us to start painting after lunch. All electronics and my cameras were stashed in my studio for the time being, since we didn't actually need to be in there today and thus everything would be safe from any potential spills, whether purposeful or accidental.

After that was done, I made my way to the kitchen where I could hear Esme and Bella talking softly to each other. "I see you have wasted little time in telling mother of our shopping spree."

Bella smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek as I took a seat next to her. "Of course, Mom was curious on what colors we settled on."

"And I have to say you two have surprised me with your choices. Orange is a bold choice for your office." Esme said with a soft smile.

Bella smiled at that. "There's a method to my madness Mom. Orange reminds me of Vicky's hair when it's caught in the sunlight, and I am very sure that it will help my inspiration by having that permanent reminder."

Esme smiled at that. "I can understand that reasoning sweetie, but it's not the most subtle color now is it?"

"We're not going to do the entire room in orange mother, only the two walls that connect to the windows, and we've thought of a bit of contrast too by adding some deep red drapes. It'll bring the room together and it'll make sure that the orange won't be overpowering at the same time. I've also made sure not to go for a bit of a gloss paint, so it won't cause my darling Bella a headache every time she's going to spend time there." I said with a soft smile.

"I might also add that I chose sunset orange for that reason, it's a bit brighter and a little more homey while not being as overpowering as regular orange." Bella added with a similar smile.

Esme smiled at that. "I'm impressed that you have thought so deeply about the colors of your rooms, sweetheart. Not many people would go for such bold colors and then find a way to make them work."

"To be honest that's all Victoria's influence, Mom. She's been teaching me all about this over the last few weeks and I've come to realize that I was very linear in my thinking of decorating in general. You and Victoria have definitely opened my eyes to those things."

We both smiled at her as she finished her lunch. "We're glad that we have been able to expand your horizons a bit sweetie, but I have to ask, are you two planning on decorating today?" Esme asked with a smile.

We nodded at her. "We were planning to start with our room first and then move our bed to my office for the tonight, so Bella doesn't have to sleep in paint fumes all night."

"May I suggest something love? Perhaps it would be better if I slept in Mom's room tonight. We both know that I'm not going to be much help in painting our room, since I won't be able to get it as perfect as we both want." Bella said softly.

I smiled and kissed her cheek. "That's okay love, I know Mom wouldn't mind having you there, and I could work through the night to finish everything, then we can spend tomorrow putting together our furniture."

She nodded and smiled at me. "It would best, because we both know I would find a way to trip over the bucket at some point."

Both Esme and I laughed lightly at that. "I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be that bad love, supernatural speed has its uses after all." I said with a wink.

She just smiled at me as we both gave Esme a hug before making our way upstairs so Bella could change in some old clothes, since we wouldn't want to incur the wrath of a certain Pixie.

"So love, what's the plan? I have to be honest and say that I've never really painted a room before." Bella asked once she was changed.

"Well, I was thinking to make it easier for both of us, we should start with the edges, so there will be less of a chance of accidentally painting the ceiling or floor, since I'm pretty sure mother won't be too fond of that, even if I've already made sure to mask everything off with tape." I said with a soft smile.

She nodded and kissed me softly. "Would it be okay if I kept to the lower areas? I really don't trust myself on a ladder." She asked softly.

I nodded and smiled at her. "Of course love, and to make sure we both get everything out of this experience, I'll be painting at human speeds for at least the afternoon. We also still have to talk about some things if I'm not mistaken, so we can easily combine this and that talk."

Bella smiled at that. "Of course love. I know how much you love to multi-task."

I smiled and handed her a brush. "Exactly, shall we get to it then?"

She nodded and gave me another kiss. "Yes, let's get to it, and I will start of with the most obvious question, when will you turn me?"

"Baby, we can do it anytime you want, but I was hoping you would indulge me by making it somewhat of a special occasion. If you're willing to wait until Halloween, I promise to make it the best night of your life before beginning your new one."

She quirked an eyebrow at that. "Why Halloween specifically? Does it hold special meaning to you?"

"It does. I was turned on All Hallows Eve myself, which also happens to be Anne's birthday, so it holds some meaning to me, plus it'll give us a reason to dress up for a night." I said with a soft smile.

Bella smiled at that. "That does sound like something we would do, wouldn't it? Any ideas for costumes then?"

"As a matter of fact I have. I was thinking we could go as Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, since I've heard you make that comparison back in Forks." I said with a wink.

"Well it's true, isn't it? Besides the obvious resemblance, their story is also kind of similar to ours, if we count Edward as the Joker in this case." She said softly.

I smiled and nodded at her. "I can see it, so you're okay with being Harley Quinn to my Poison Ivy?"

"Of course I will, although I don't want to dye my hair blonde, nor do I want that spandex suit she wears. I'm sure we can find a proper wig and a proper outfit for that." She said with a soft smile.

I only smiled at her as we continued to paint our room until it was time for dinner, after which Esme monopolized my mate's time and I continued the work we had started, working through the night so that her office and our room would be done by the time Bella would wake up.