Bella really didn't want to 'meet' Victoria, but Alice insisted that it was going to happen eventually no matter how much she fought against it. Charlie decided it would go better if he spoke to Bella alone first.
"Why her, dad? You could have chosen literally any other vampire and I would have been alright with it."
"Why Edward?" Charlie snapped back at her. She glared at him, annoyed, but her expression softened as she remembered how well he had accepted Edward and everything that had happened to their family.
"You're right. I'm sorry."
"I know you don't like her for what she did to me, and I felt the same about Edward at first, but she's not evil. I would like for you to get to know her properly."
"I'll try." she said, still with a stern expression.
"Good." he answered. Bella's approval meant a lot to him. He loved his daughter more than anything and respected her opinion.
"Don't you think it's kind of sudden? There's no rush. I mean…you just met her."
"Don't you think I should be the one giving you this talk? Or should have been a few months ago." He asked with an eyebrow raised.
"It wouldn't have changed things."
"Exactly." he answered, and she knew that he had won. She didn't like to think about her dad and his relationships in the same way she felt about Edward. It made her uncomfortable. But, she would do anything he asked of her were it possible, and so, she was going to at least be civil with Victoria despite her desire to rip her to shreds.
While Charlie talked to Bella, Victoria started to leave to allow everyone some privacy and to prevent being an intruder in family affairs, but she was stopped by Esme.
"How are you?" Esme asked.
"Good, for once." she said with a smile.
"Good. Care to help me in the back yard? I'm planting some flowers out there and we can talk in private." She motioned her head subtly towards where the rest of her vampire children were watching a movie around the living room. Victoria followed her outside.
"Is Charlie everything you expected?"
"And more." Victoria replied. Esme's kind smile made her want to tell her everything just as she had in the hotel. She trusted Esme. It was almost like having a friend for the first time in a long time.
"He's a wonderful man. And a loving father. I knew you would get along well."
"You can't have known that." Victoria insisted.
"I know people. I can tell if they are truly good or not almost instantly. Even you." Esme smiled and Victoria smiled softly in return.
"He talks about the future. About traveling. Spending more time with his new family. I've never met someone who was serious about those sorts of things. With James, life was all about the thrill of the hunt. Before that, I mostly focused on survival and not attracting attention."
"It's nice to dream, isn't it?"
"A little. But scary too."
"The best dreams are the ones that scare you a little because of how much they would change things if they were to come true." Esme handed Victoria a tray of flowers and a few small garden tools and indicated a place for her to start planting. "I always dream about what I can add to the world. Sometimes, it's as small as making the yard a little prettier. Sometimes, it's as big as encouraging the dreams of others or improving the lives of those around me."
"Is this why you consider yourself a mother?"
"Partially. I had a son, but he passed away shortly after his birth."
"I'm sorry." Victoria said, honestly empathizing with someone else's pain for the first time in many years. She was positive that Esme would have been a perfect mother. One for the storybooks.
"He was a lovely boy. I was overwhelmed by grief at first once he was gone. That's what caused me to jump from a cliff. Carlisle changed me and saved my life. Now, I cherish the precious time I had with my son. He is my reminder that there are always those out there who need a mother's love and never know it. And that breaks my heart more than anything. At least he got to feel love."
"I barely remember my mother." Victoria said, starting a row of flowers where Esme indicated. "I had a sister that I loved more than anything though."
"What was she like?"
"She was my light in the darkness. She always had a smile for me no matter what. She would look after us both no matter what it took, even when we were little. I have missed her every single day."
"She lives on then. In your heart, and in your memories." Esme said with a gentle smile, starting to plant a different type of flowers alongside Victoria. "You can consider me a mother…if you want to. Practically everyone else does. I promise to always lend a listening ear and to never judge you. If we were human, I'd make you hot tea and rub your back as you cried. I would celebrate your victories and hold your hand through your struggles. I can do that now if you like."
"You would do that for me?" Victoria asked, thinking back on Esme bringing her clothes and trying to get to know her even from the moment they met. She realized then that she already kind of thought of Esme as such, even though neither of them had acknowledged it yet.
"Of course, I would."
"What do you get out of it?"
"The same thing I get out of gardening. Joy." Esme said, taking a step back and smiling at the short row of flowers she had just finished. Victoria took a step back to admire her handiwork as well. "Just like these flowers, if I add one more smile to someone's day, one more small bit of beauty or happiness, then I will consider it a day well spent. It makes me happy."
"Happy." Victoria said. "That's an emotion I'm getting used to." Esme threw an arm over Victoria's shoulders and they stood in silence admiring the beauty of the garden.
Charlie walked downstairs with Bella a few steps behind. Edward quickly came up behind her and offered his hand, but she insisted that this was something she had to do alone. He rejoined his siblings on the couch where they were all pretending to watch a movie.
Esme came inside and distracted Charlie, pretending to want to ask him some questions about his final affairs in Forks, but really, she knew that both Bella and Victoria would be more comfortable having this conversation in private.
Bella stepped out into Esme's garden. Victoria's back was to her, still admiring the flowers and hoping to appear non-threatening. She hadn't been this anxious since she was away from Charlie. She knew that Bella could take him from her with just a negative word, and it terrified her, especially because she also realized she couldn't hurt his daughter without hurting Charlie.
"They're pretty." Bella said, coming to a stop a few steps behind Victoria. Despite her vampire grace and confidence, she still nervously tucked her hair behind her ears and bit her lip a little.
"They are. I've never really thought about flowers before and how much they add to a garden."
"Aren't you like five hundred years old?" Bella asked with a slight laugh.
"Something like that." Victoria grinned.
"And you've never thought about flowers?"
"No. Not exactly."
"What did you do with your time then?"
"Just tried to exist honestly. I wanted to apologize to you. You don't deserve the awful treatment I've given you. It isn't an excuse, but I truly believed that James was my mate. At least, until I met your father and even then, I wasn't sure at first. I've done many, many things wrong in my life, but I can assure you that I mean you and him no further harm. I would like to try to make it up to you."
Bella was quiet, contemplating. She wanted to hate Victoria. She wanted to be angry at her for changing Charlie and for once threatening the Cullens, but truthfully, she couldn't go against the ones she loved, including Charlie and Esme and their opinions. Esme in particular had never been wrong about anyone. "I hope that you can." she finally answered.
"Where can I start?"
"Don't kill anymore humans, for one."
"Deal. When I ran from here, I went to hunt, but when I realized I might be taking someone's mate or father, I just couldn't do it. You have my word that no matter how hard it might seem, I will never kill another human, unless they threaten Charlie somehow."
"That's fair. Although, I don't see a human being a threat to a vampire."
"No, not quite." Victoria answered with a smile.
"Why my dad?"
"I wish I could answer that. I have no words to explain the pull I feel towards him. He makes me happy. He calms my fears and my anxieties. He doesn't see me as his servant, but his equal. His companion. Most of the pain of my existence is gone when I'm allowed to simply be in his presence."
Bella nodded, knowing exactly how it felt to be with her mate. "Just don't ever hurt him. You would have to answer to me and the entire Cullen family."
"You have my word." Victoria said calmly, reaching to shake hands. They shook on it and walked together inside.
"Aww man, I was hoping to see a chick fight!" Emmett exclaimed with a loud sigh.
"Pay up, brother of mine." Jasper said with a grin.
Edward walked over to them with a curious look. Bella allowed him to read her thoughts and he wrapped his arms around her, still pleasantly surprised every time he was allowed to glimpse into her privacy and truly understand her perspective on things.
Victoria cleared her throat nervously and unnecessarily. "I've been meaning to thank you, Cullens. Especially you, Edward, Jasper and Emmett. For killing James. I didn't understand it at the time, and I'll admit to hating you all and plotting my revenge, but you really saved my life and turned things around for me. I can never repay you for what you did."
Emmett and Jasper smiled at her. Edward was the only one to speak. "I'm sorry I didn't say something when we first met in the clearing. I saw it then, but I didn't really understand that you felt so strongly towards him. All of my attention was on protecting Bella."
"I am glad that you protected her. She is worth protecting." she said, and Charlie appeared from another room with a grin, seeing that all had went well outside.
"I am glad to see that no one was murdered." he said with a laugh.
"And that my beautiful garden is still intact." Esme added with a smile.
Emmett didn't like the serious tone of the room and Jasper was hoping to break up the little remaining tension and anxiety. They grinned wickedly at each other and Emmett took the lead. "So, Victoria, you ever played vampire poker?"
"That sounds…violent." she said with a nervous look in their direction.
"Very!" Jasper responded enthusiastically. "But so much fun! Especially with a couple of newborns!"
"I thought poker was a card game." she answered.
"Oh, it is. But we don't bet with chips and money."
"Then what do you bet with?"
"Dares, physical challenges and various nonsense." Emmett said with a booming laugh. "The losers usually embarrass themselves and the winners have a damn good time. This one time, we got Edward to prance around town skipping and singing-"
"Don't you dare, brother!" Edward interrupted with a scowl. "That was nearly fifty years ago."
"And I've thought about it every single day since!"
"Trust me, I know." he said rolling his eyes as Emmett laughed again.
"I expected you to give me all the details later." Bella said.
"Of course, I will sis. And then some!" Emmett laughed. Edward groaned and hid his face in his hands. Jasper started to clear the decorations off of their large dining room table to prepare the game.
It started off simple enough, with the guys explaining the rules and everyone joining in, except for Carlisle who had secured a job as a surgeon at a local hospital. It ended with Bella and Charlie both beating Emmett at arm wrestling after being caught bluffing and challenged to a physical challenge and him sulking and hiding in the top of a nearby tree while Bella, Charlie, Victoria, and Jasper cackled laughing at him from below.
"What, the big strong man is afraid of a couple of newborns?" Victoria asked.
"I'm not afraid!" he insisted. "I'm just waiting up here until the next game is ready!"
"Why not come rematch?" Bella asked.
"You cheat." Emmett insisted.
"How the hell does someone cheat at arm wrestling?" Charlie asked. "Besides, I thought we were playing poker."
"We were playing poker." he answered.
"The rest of us were. I don't know what you call your awful playing." Bella said, enjoying the reactions he was giving them.
Emmett still refused to come down, although mostly because he was having fun with the shenanigans rather than truly being upset about losing. Victoria looked at Bella with a mischievous grin and Bella immediately understood. They both put their hands on the same side of the tree and toppled it with a laugh, causing Emmett to fall out along with the tree and leaves to go flying everywhere around them.
"Vampires land on their feet just like cats!" Charlie exclaimed with a laugh. "Good to know."
"I am not a cat!" Emmett shouted.
"You landed like one." Victoria said.
"You're hairy like one." Bella added.
Charlie's heart was filled with joy at watching his daughter get along with she who he now truly acknowledged as his mate. Charlie never thought he would want to be with anyone after Renee left him. He had gone on a few dates over the years at the insisting of his friends, but mostly just focused on his career and loving his daughter from afar.
The highlight of his life was a call from Bella or the few weeks they would spend together in the summer. Now, he had something else to live for. He had a bigger family than he ever could have imagined, and a mate. Though he was still coming to terms with what all having a mate meant, he was truly happy. Victoria felt the same. They belonged. They were whole.
The next morning, Charlie finally worked up the courage to call Billy and his friends on the reservation. He was pacing nervously, wishing he had accepted Bella or Victoria's offers to sit with him while he made the call. He insisted that this was something he had to do alone, though he wasn't stupid. He knew they were both eavesdropping from the next room over where they were pretending to help Esme with some chores. He could hear that neither of them was moving.
"Hello?" Billy answered after a couple of rings.
"Hi Billy."
"Charlie?"
"It's me."
"You sound different."
"A little, yeah." Charlie said, running his hands through his hair. "It's still me though. Just a slightly improved me."
"Is that what you call it?" Billy asked sarcastically.
"Hey, thanks for taking my call. Listen, I didn't choose this life, but I'm happy. I'm not a monster, you know. I haven't killed anyone. I won't kill anyone. I'm still Charlie." he repeated, insisting that Billy understand that fact. "We've been friends nearly my entire life. I would like to keep it that way, although I understand why I'm not allowed to visit."
"Yeah." Billy said, unsure of what to say next.
"I've met someone." Charlie said.
"Another bloodsucker?"
"Of course. You wouldn't want me to go socializing with humans now, would you?"
"Guess not."
"She doesn't kill people either. She's trying to be better."
"Aren't you upset about what you are?"
"I was at first. But this way, I get to spend more time with Bella. And I'm faster, stronger, more energetic. I'm not constrained by things that have always defined me like work. I'm happy. I have more than I ever imagined. I hope you can accept that."
"I'll try." Billy said.
"I'm afraid I've been out of the loop for a few days. How's the teams doing? What are the latest scores?" Charlie asked and the men settled in to more comfortable and familiar topics for the remainder of their call. Bella and Victoria shared a smile, glad that Charlie was at least getting to keep one friend in his new life.
Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is a little shorter. This was the best place to end it to avoid a cliffhanger. I'm looking to have 2-3 more chapters and wrap up Attraction by the end of March. I'd also like to try to finish one of my other active series, The Center of His Universe. Thanks for reading!