Soul Colored Crimson

C18: My Future is With You

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

A/N: This is the last chapter of this one, and while I know I've been pretty quiet over the course of this, I am still hard at work on new fics, which I will start uploading at the start of next year because I will take December off to have a bit of much needed downtime and to catch up on some other things. For now, I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read and review, and I will see you all in January for the next one.

Victoria's POV

Bella's first months as a vampire were very interesting to say the very least. Not only did she have amazing control for a newborn, she also adapted to life as a vampire quicker than I had ever seen. Usually it would take almost a year for people to become used to the speed our minds and bodies functioned at, but Bella had once again blown me right out of the water when she found a quick balance between life and pleasure, the latter still being something we indulged in regularly.

She also seemed to be hellbent on making up for all the lost time with her family, spending entire days browsing online stores with Alice, since she wasn't allowed to go out just yet. Didyme had been fairly adamant on that until we knew for sure Bella wouldn't be a threat to humans.

Bella didn't seem to mind though, since there was plenty of things occupying her here at the house, and I had a feeling that even when she was finally allowed to be among humans again, there wouldn't be many instances of her actually doing so besides shopping and dates we would take each other on.

She also spent a lot of time, and I mean a lot of time in the garage with Rosalie, the two working on a project together that they were both keeping a secret from the rest of us, and apparently it was a rebuild, because of the sheer amount of time they spent in the garage, with them usually coming out covered in grease, oil and other undefinable stains, much to the consternation of both her mother and Alice, who felt that every stain on a top was an affront to her.

Right now though we were having our weekly movie night with the family, and since it was my turn to pick the movie, I decided to go a little bit out of character and pick a cheesy comedy, much to the amusement of my mate who was cuddled into my side. "You know love, out of every movie in our collection White Chicks was the last one I expected you to pick for tonight."

"I figured we could all use a bit of a laugh, and since this is classified as comically bad, I am sure we're going to get at least a bit of a laugh." I said with a soft smile.

Bella smiled at me as we waited for Esme to join us, since Bella had kept a seat for her mother free right next to us.

Rosalie and Emmett were already cuddled up on the couch, looking like the picture perfect couple, which they kind of were if you looked at the pictures I had taken a couple of months ago.

Alice and Jasper were in a similar position in the love-seat, both looking absolutely adorable. "I have to say that we really are the idyllic picture of a family right now. A family movie night once a week with everyone being cuddled up to their significant others while we're waiting for our mother to join us." I said with a soft smile.

Everyone smiled and nodded at me. "It does seem pretty perfect, but I think I speak for everyone when I say that this would've never happened if you hadn't decided to go pursue a relationship with Bella and made our dear sister see exactly how controlling Edward was." Alice said with a smile.

"To be honest I had little to do with Bella seeing that, I just made sure she was safe while we thought of a way for her to break up with him without endangering her life, for which I again have to thank you Alice. We couldn't have done so without your visions." I said with a kind smile.

Alice smiled at me. "Don't mention it Victoria. Bella's future was constantly in flux when she was with Edward, going black more often than not because Edward threw a fit. When you barreled into our lives, her future was always with you and in every instance Edward was nowhere to be seen anymore, but I never thought the actual reality of you two being together was going to be this amazing."

"I knew from the moment I saw everyone for the first time, but especially Bella that my life would be forever intertwined with all of you, and I couldn't be happier about how it has played out so far." I said with a soft smile.

Bella smiled and kissed my cheek. "You're so sweet sometimes baby."

I smiled at her. "Only sometimes baby. You hurt me."

Bella smiled at me. "No, you're always sweet, it's when you say these loving things when you're absolutely adorable."

I gave her a light glare, since even coming from Bella I hated being called adorable. This only made her laugh though as Esme joined us. "Now Bella, you know Victoria has some issues with that, so please don't embarrass your mate tonight."

I smiled gratefully at the matriarch as she sat down next to us, and for the first time Bella actually look conflicted on where to sit tonight, although Esme quickly sorted that out by sandwiching her between us.

Bella smiled at her as she once again got comfortable between us, going as far as pulling a blanket over our legs as she leaned into me and I started the movie.

Esme went even a step further by pulling Bella's legs into her lap, so she was comfortably lying across both of us. "You know, even after everything that we've been through as a family, it doesn't get much better than this. It is really what I always pictured the perfect family to look like." Bella said softly.

Esme smiled at her. "You've been a big part of that sweetie. Vampires by nature are solitary creatures, and Covens of any kind are rare at best. Families as ours are usually brought together by a common force of love, which in this case is you."

Bella smiled at that. "Thank you Mom, that means a lot to me."

Esme just smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of her head as we focused on the movie, no matter how bad it was written to be.

A year later, Volterra Castle,

Esme's POV

Over the course of the last year Bella and I had been talking a lot about taking a trip to Volterra together, but never found the time ever since she had started on her first book, which took up most of her time.

But now that Victoria had been booked for a photography job in Los Angeles for the next couple of weeks, we found that is was time to make the trip to Italy, just the two of us.

Sulpicia had of course sent her private jet for us to use which Bella was very excited about, since it allowed her to write a bit more on the trip.

I didn't mind though, since I always enjoyed spending time with my daughter, and seeing her in her element always brought a smile to my face.

By the time we had arrived at the Castle and had changed into something more appropriate to meet the Queens, it was well past midnight, and knowing how the Queens usually spent their nights, we decided to check in with Jane and meet with them tomorrow, which the blonde understood as she came to meet us at Gianna's desk. "The Queens have been notified and will meet with you tomorrow. A room has been made available for you two." Jane said in her usual stoic voice as she led us through the halls.

Only when we were out of earshot from the humans Jane turned to give Bella a hug. "Sorry for that Bella, but you know I have an image to keep at least to the one human we employ, because I am very happy to see you again."

"I'm happy to see you too Jane, and I understand needing to keep up an image. How have things been on this side of the ocean?" Bella asked with a soft smile.

Jane smiled as she led us to our room. "Things have been relatively quiet, much to my dismay. I've never handled idleness well. There haven't been many missions as of late."

I smiled at her. "Carlisle's death is still fairly fresh in the memories of most people Jane, give it a couple of years and then I'm sure at least Stefan and Vladimir will start stirring again."

The blonde grinned maliciously at that. "I hope they do. I've been waiting to end them for over a millennia."

We both just smiled at her as we arrived at our room. "I'm sure you will get that opportunity Jane, no one is more vicious than you after all." Bella said with a smile.

Jane smiled at her. "Thank you Bella, I always knew you were very perceptive, but I'll leave you two to settle in. I'll see you in the morning."

We nodded and bid her a good night and I just couldn't resist pulling Bella into a hug. "I hope you don't mind sweetie, but I'm just feeling the urge to cuddle with you."

She smiled at me as we sat down with her sitting down in my lap. "I don't mind Mom, I will never mind spending a night being held hostage in your lap."

I smiled at her as I nuzzled my nose in her neck. "That's good too because I have no intention of letting you go anywhere tonight."

"I know I've been a little bit engrossed in my book during the flight, but I had this wave of inspiration that I had to take advantage of, since I've had a bit of a writer's block over the last couple of weeks." She said softly.

"I know sweetie, and I don't mind. Seeing you in your element makes me happy too, and it's not like we didn't have a fun talk on the plane. I just like spending this time with you, no matter how we spend it." I said with a soft smile.

Bella smiled and cuddled into me. "I also love spending this time with you Mom, especially when Vicky isn't here. It takes my mind off thinking about her."

I nodded and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "That's because your mating bond with Victoria is still relatively new in vampire terms. It'll get better when the decades pass. You're both very lucky and unlucky in that aspect. Lucky that you found mate when you were still human and were able to build a real relationship with each other, and unlucky that it also causes you to feel the separation a lot more strongly, which is where I as your mother come in. I will always be here for you if you feel down or alone."

"I know Mom, and I can only love you for it. Ever since we got confirmed that we share a maternal bond I feel everything between us so much stronger, not just happiness and sadness too, but I'm talking about every emotion here, quite strongly too." Bella said softly.

I smiled at her. "I had a feeling you would. Maternal bonds are very rare and very powerful. Even Didyme and I don't know a lot about them. You and I are a bit of a test subject on what exactly a maternal bond is and exactly how powerful it is."

"I don't mind being a test subject if my mother is also the one doing the testing. We're certainly comfortable enough with each other to talk about this." Bella said with a soft smile.

"Indeed we are, which brings me to something you said earlier. You said that you felt everything a lot stronger, not just happiness or sadness. What exactly did you mean by that?" I asked with a soft smile.

Bella looked a bit sheepishly at that. "Everything Mom, and I do mean everything, some of which are a bit distracting at times."

I laughed lightly at that. "So I suppose you also felt my sudden bout of hornyness a few weeks ago?"

She nodded at that. "Yes, which was very distracting because my body reacted to it, which in turn led to Victoria reacting to it and an afternoon of pretty intense love making."

I smiled and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'm sorry sweetie, I didn't know you felt it so strongly. I'll try and watch that."

She smiled at me. "You don't have to on my account Mom, it's not like I need a reason to fall into bed with my mate. It was just unexpected."

"I know you don't sweetie, I am well aware how addicted you two are to each other." I said with a soft smile.

Bella merely smiled and fully relaxed against me as we talked for most of the night, taking turns in the shower once the sun started to shine through the windows.

Bella's POV

When we walked into the Throne Room after our night of talks, I couldn't help but smile at the three Queens bickering with each other about some kind of game they were playing on their phone, all except Didyme too busy to notice our entrance. "If you two are quite done, our guests have arrived." The raven haired Queen said with a soft smile.

Sulpicia and Athenodora grumbled a little as they put their phones away before giving us their full attention. "Esme. Sorry about that. You know how we get sometimes."

"I do my Queen, it's no problem. I live in a house where this is more common than not." Esme said with a soft smile.

"I can imagine. We have only just gotten these and have yet to find out every feature. But that's probably something you don't want to hear about. What I am more curious about is the reason for your visit. Not that we mind of course, it was merely surprising to hear of your visit so soon after the last one." Sulpicia said with a smile.

Esme smiled at that. "The last time we were here was more of a vacation. Bella and I have come to make some updates to the Archives. We have some new insights about the maternal bond and Bella's gift that we need to add."

"We figured as much, although I am very interested in knowing what these insights are, if you don't mind sharing." Sulpicia said excitedly.

I shared a look with Esme, who smiled at me. "You may see for yourself, my Queen. I have no secrets from you."

She grinned broadly as she walked forward and took my hand between hers, her eyes fluttering closed as she did. "Interesting. This is certainly interesting information. I never knew a maternal bond went this deep. We should talk about this with our daughters whenever they grace us with their presence again."

"What did you see, Cia? Don't keep us in suspense." Athenodora asked sternly.

Sulpicia turned to her wife. "Isabella and Esme have discovered that a maternal bond goes deeper than we thought. We share more with our daughters than just happiness and sadness, but rather every emotion."

"That is certainly interesting. I look forward to reading the full entry in the Archives." The blonde said with a smile.

Esme and I nodded at that. "That is part of the reason I asked Bella to come. She is much more adept at writing than I am."

"Then we shall leave you to it. I'm sure we'll have an opportunity to talk later." Didyme said with her usual kind smile.

We nodded and made our way to the Archives together with Anne, who had been appointed as a caretaker of the Archives in Esme's absence.

"So Bella, how is my baby sister. Still busy corrupting you to the dark side?" The redhead asked as we made our way through the halls.

I laughed at that. "I think she managed to do that a long time ago Anne, and I'm certainly not complaining about that particular fact. She's particularly adept at that after all."

"Yes, she is. Always has been too, although with you she has certainly turned over a new leaf. She's a lot more stable ever since you two got together. Where is she anyway? I would have thought you two would still be attached at the hip." She asked with a smile.

"She had a photography job in Los Angeles that she just couldn't turn down. She's really become a great photographic artist in the past couple of months. She's even getting asked to do some things for movies sometimes." I said with a soft smile as I thought about my mate.

Anne smiled at that. "She's always been the artistic one, even back when we were children she would find something to draw on, much to the consternation of our mother when we still lived there. It was also a way for her to forget the horrors of that whore house we were forced to live in."

"I know, she told me about that, and I've been trying to help her through that together with Rosalie, and while it is definitely a work in progress, she's made great progress so far." I said with a soft smile.

Anne smiled and nodded at that. "I figured as much, she's always been able to adapt to new situations very quickly, and since she can't lie to you because of both the mating bond and your gift, I know she's being truthful in it too."

I smiled at her. "I know she is. As you said I can feel it through our bond. She's always been truthful with me, sometimes brutally so."

Anne just smiled as we walked into the massive library, making a beeline to the Archives. "You really need to teach me how to do that, because Vicky always omits the truth with me."

"That's because you're sisters. It is what they do. I do the same thing with Alice and Rosalie all the time." I said with a smile.

Esme smiled at that. "They know sweetie, because despite being a lie detector, you are a terrible liar. Alice especially knows because she can see it."

I grumbled a little at that. "I guess I'm still a terrible liar then. I would've hoped that would have gotten better once I was turned."

Esme just smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek as she got the correct tomes down from the bookcase so we could add the latest bits of information.

Ten Years later, Esme's POV

After two thousand years of being a vampire I really thought nothing could surprise me, but finding my mate after so long clearly had.

Alice had told me that it wouldn't be long almost a year ago, and that it like it had been with Bella and Victoria would be a chance encounter and that she was a nomad passing through our territory.

I of course was well aware of how mated couple acted when they found each other, I lived with three mated couples after all, but knowing that today would be the day I would find her sent all sorts of butterflies flying through my stomach.

I also was a bit worried if I was being very honest mostly because of Bella. Over the course of the last decade we had explored every single aspect of our maternal bond and we had come to realize that a maternal bond stood on the same level as the mating bond. The love felt was just as strong, albeit not being romantic and every emotion either of us felt was amplified. I would also always instinctually know whenever she was holding back information, or was not honest to me about what she was feeling.

This had made Bella quite possessive of me, and me of her and while I knew that my mate would also be her other mother, I just couldn't help but wonder if Bella would recognize her as such immediately.

Knowing that it wouldn't do anyone any good to speculate, I just made my way out of the house to go and meet her where Alice had told me she would be passing through. I'm sure she would smell another vampire there and we could go from there.

When I was far enough away from the house I leaned against a tree close to where Alice said she would definitely see me, so I could think about exactly what I would be saying to her. I never thought I would be in this situation, at least not until Alice told me about her vision of my mate.

Not soon after I saw a streak of blonde out of the corner of my eye and I just couldn't help but smile when she came to a stop in front of me. "I smelled you from a mile away, but you don't smell threatening to me. Who are you gorgeous?" She asked with an almost predatory grin.

I smiled at her. "My name is Esme Felice, beautiful. I've been waiting a long time to meet you."

"Then I'm sorry I've kept you waiting for so long. My name is Nadia, and I do believe you're my mate." She said with a smile.

I smiled at that. "You're very straightforward aren't you? You are right, you are my mate, and I will immediately admit that I had a little bit of help in finding you, if you are willing to trust me and follow me to my home. It's not far."

She nodded "I thought I smelled a Coven nearby. I will admit you had me worried for a bit Esme. I've not had the best interactions with passing through a Coven territory in the past two centuries."

I smiled at her. "We're not a Coven, we're a family, in more ways than one. They are all mated couples, but I have a feeling you will feel something special with one of my daughters in particular."

"And what would that be Esme?" She asked as we ran to the house.

I smiled at her. "There is no easy way to explain it love, you have to experience it for yourself."

She nodded at me as we slowed to a walk. "I've heard so much about the mating bond that I am willing to trust you. I know you wouldn't intentionally let me get hurt."

"After waiting for two thousand years, no. I would never hurt you intentionally or unintentionally." I said with a soft smile.

She smiled at me. "Wow, I never would've thought you were that old. I can't imagine the things you have seen."

"We have plenty of time to learn all about each other love. Are you ready to meet the family?" I asked softly.

She nodded and followed me into the house where the entire family was waiting for us, most noticeably being Bella, who was pacing the length of the living room. "Sweetie, we've just renewed the carpet. Please don't wear grooves in it just yet." I said with a soft smile.

She smiled brightly at me as she flew into my arms for a hug. "Mom. You're back. I was worried about you."

I smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "It was with good reason sweetie. There is someone I want you to meet." I said as I led her over to where Nadia was standing.

The moment Bella and Nadia locked eyes Bella gave her a hug. "Welcome home Mama."

Nadia mostly looked surprised at the situation. "What's this Esme? I'm feeling things I've never felt before."

"I share a maternal bond with Bella, and now you do too. That's why you feel the need to protect and love her. I've been through the same thing a decade ago. It's best not to fight it, because that will hurt like nothing else will." I said with a soft smile.

She nodded at that as she wrapped her arms around Bella. "It's nice to meet you Bella and I look forward to getting to know my daughter in the coming weeks."

Bella smiled at her. "As I can't wait to finally get to know my other mother. I've heard so much about you in the past years that I can't help but be excited."

Nadia quirked an eyebrow at me. "I'll explain everything when we have a moment, love. We have quite the gifted family here."

She just smiled as we all took a seat in the living room, with Bella being sandwiched between us while Victoria gave us a sweet smile from the opposite couch.

Two years later, Victoria's POV

In the two years since Nadia had joined the family, life finally seemed to feel complete. Esme had her mate and I had to admit that they were adorable together, and of course Bella never missed an opportunity to spend time with her mothers.

Today though the family had opted to go to our own private beach, and everyone seemed content with spending time with their respective mates, and given how Bella and I had only gotten closer over the past decade, we were more than okay with that, having picked a spot under our tree away from everyone else.

Her head was resting on my stomach as we watched our siblings have fun. "It's been a hell of a decade hasn't it love?" She asked with a soft smile.

I nodded and bent down to kiss her. "It has, but I wouldn't have it any other way, since it has been spent by your side."

Bella smiled and repositioned herself so she could lean against my side. "You know I love nothing more than spending time with you, especially since we get to go to so many red-carpet events together. I never expected life to take this kind of turn."

"It's not like all those book signings you drag me to are boring either love, but you're right, I never expected that my style of photography would be so high in demand. They're not that special." I said softly.

"Yes they are. Your pictures capture something deeper than just a scene or actor. You don't have to sell yourself short anymore love." She said with a loving smile.

I smiled and kissed her. "I know, but sometimes these old insecurities rear their ugly heads. At those times I'm so happy that you are there to help me get through them."

"That's my job as your mate love, and don't think that you don't do the same for me whenever I get stuck in my head again." She said with a soft smile.

"I know love, we've had numerous discussions about our fears and anxieties over the years and I think we've both come a long way in that aspect. I also couldn't have imagined doing so with anyone else but you." I said honestly.

Bella smiled and kissed me softly as she wrapped an arm around my waist. "I don't think there could be anyone that I would have been as comfortable with in telling everything to, besides maybe Rosalie."

I smiled at that. "True, and it's not like you've minded the slight bit of corrupting I've done to you. Often times you would be begging for me."

"Baby, I've never had an issue with you corrupting me. You're my Soul Colored Crimson, and I wouldn't have it any other way."