Moving Forward
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In the weeks after the Cullens had left and Edwards execution, Isabella found herself feeling lighter than she had ever done before. Despite the lingering sense of anger she had carried with her since the Cullen’s trial.
Her relief was palpable when Jane had reported that all of the Cullen’s had left Volterra successfully without issue and she had spent the remainder of that day curled up on the sofa with her Mother. Esme's challenge of Sulpicia over her had set the ancients instincts into overdrive and all she could do to soothe her mother was simply take comfort in the woman's arms. It wasn't often the ancient lost herself to her instincts or so Athenadora had told her and Bella really couldn't find it in herself to hold it against her mother. She wasn't a vampire so didn't understand why they were so possessive but she did understand that it wasn't a choice as such, it was their instincts and she wouldn't hold it against her. After all it did feel amazing to know that her mother loved her to such an extent that it took her eight hours to relax enough that Isabella could sit up by herself without the woman insisting that she help, all over another woman basically saying she was Bella's mother not the ancient.
For the next few days she had alternated her time between her mates and her mother, spending more time with her blondes who now were all much much lighter and prone to mischief than they had been before the Cullen’s had been dealt with. Tanya had even taken to playing hide and seek with Bella, launching an attack on the brunette whenever the eldest of her mates found her, an attack that often led to Isabella calling out for her mother to come rescue her. Much to everyone's amusement.
Though who could blame her really, as a human she had a really unfair disadvantage. One couldn't really hide, even in a castle this size when you were the only one with a heart beat. A heart beat that could be heard by all the castles occupants. Irena's anger also seemed to settle and Isabella loved to see just how peaceful the youngest blonde became when the four of them curled up at night on her bed. There was no trace of the volatile vampire she had been only days prior and Kate, well the usually playful vampire just got worse. Bella would say that when it came to Kate, Bella was most certainly the more adult out of the two most of the time.
Kate loved playing pranks on the castles occupants and it often led to one extremely pissed of vampire or another which Bella found extremely amusing as the fuming vampire couldn't retaliate. Kate was after all a queens daughter and she was most certainly mated to two (three in the future) of the other queens daughters. In particular Bella found it hilarious when Kate targeted Jane. The vampire was childlike, turned by Aro far to young and therefore quite quick to anger despite how caring, intelligent and diligent she could be. From what Bella could gather the little vampire was used to lashing out with her gift whenever something displeased her and she knew it infuriated the girl that she wasn't allowed to use her gift on any of the princesses of Volterra. Unfortunately for her but Bella found it amusing.
Today was one such day she had spent with her mates. Increasingly over the last few days Bella had found that her mates were becoming a lot more affectionate with her. Something that she was gradually finding more and more endearing. She knew physical affection was big in the vampire world, her experience with the Cullens before they had left and her experience with her mother, aunts and her mates had taught her that much but her experiences with Edward were what was truly stopping her from allowing her mates to progress with more intimate touch. She had grow used to being held by them, even being comfortable with soothing them when their instincts flared but the lingering touches, intense kisses that lasted a little too long to be chaste and the continually lightening and darkening of their eyes told her that her mates were struggling to restrain themselves as much as they were.
She had, had the conversation with them during the plane ride the day they had travelled to Volterra, where they had explained their struggle but also expressed their understanding and wish for Isabella to take the lead in that side of their relationship at a pace that was comfortable for her. Not wanting to push her or make her uncomfortable. Irena especially having been through similar trauma before her turning.
Their patience and dedication to allowing her to go at her own pace meant the world to the brunette but she found more and more that with the increase in their affection, her own cravings for intimacy were rising. She knew it was natural, it was healthy and it was to be expected and after the Cullens trial Bella found herself craving the ability to just let go of her fears completely. She wanted to be close with her mates, the three woman who came into her life and saved her from being forced into the worst decision of her life permanently. The woman she had already shared so much with and whom had already shared so much with her. It was the next natural step in their relationship and she knew they were only waiting on her being ready. They had been so patient and gentle with her over the past few weeks. Treating her with nothing but adoration and respect. Their kisses were always sweet, loving, their hands didn't stray and they always pulled away before things could get intense and it was slowly but surely driving Bella a little crazy.
Bella made her way out of the bathroom in which she had been standing in for far longer than she had intended to, shaking herself out of her own thoughts. Glad that Irena, Kate and Tanya hadn't come looking for her with how long she had taken. She needed the rare time alone to sort her thoughts for the conversation she wanted to have with her mates and she was glad they respected her so much that she could take that time.
Entering her bedroom she paused briefly. Taking in the sight of her blondes, all three were spread out on her bed, Irena curled up at Tanya's side, the eldest playing with her hair as Kate Read a book beside them. They looked relaxed and so very at peace she almost didn't want to call their attention to her but as she should have guessed her brief pause was enough to catch all three vampires attention. Kate shutting her book as Irena cracked her eyes open and Tanya gestured for Bella to approach them. A wordless request that Bella found herself complying with without much thought, settling herself on Kates lap in a position that mirrored Irena who had sat up, leaning her back against Tanya.
"What's on your mind love?" Tanya questioned as soon as she settled and Bella had to stifle her giggle at just how direct and to the point her eldest mate could be.
"I've just been thinking is all, nothing bad" she began adding the last bit in reassurance when she saw the flash of worry in Irena's eyes. "Thinking about what sweetheart?" Kate murmured, brushing her nose over her cheek affectionately.
"This" she whispered blushing a little as she tried to come up with the right words.
"You've all been so patient with me when it comes to the physical side of our relationship" she began to explain, looking at her hands as she fought hard to temper the heat rising in her cheeks at the feel of the three sets of suddenly intense eyes focused on her.
"Always Bella, we would never rush you into anything you were uncomfortable with" Irena reassured, placing her hand on top of Isabella's.
"I know and I'm grateful, it's just.. " she broke off struggling to find the words to ask her mates to help her begin getting more comfortable with intimacy.
"Its just you feel as if you would like to begin to explore the intimate side of our relationship more?" Tanya asked, her tone gentle but questioning as she reached over to lift the brunettes chin to establish eye contact and Bella felt her breath catching for various reasons. Tanya's eyes had darkened but were still so gentle and full of love it made her want to weep. She also couldn't believe she had gotten so lucky to have found herself mated to these three beauties who seemed to be able to read her so easily to the point they could work out what she was saying even when a few mumbled sentences were their only clues.
She nodded shyly her cheeks fully flushing now as she got sight of the playful smirk that had grown on Irena's face and Kate's arms tightened around her torso, the blonde leaning in to whisper directly in her ear.
"That's not an issue Isabella, we are more than happy to acquaint you with intimacy" the words were purred and more seductive than she had ever heard Kate be and she couldn't have helped the shiver that ran up her spine even if she had tried to.
"Kate's right little one, it is definitely something we can explore with you and again we can go at the pace that you are most comfortable with, it is a massive step for you and we all understand healing from something as traumatic as what you experienced takes time so we might not always get it right but we can do this together" Irena added, feeling the need to temper Kate a little, all too aware that the woman could very well get a little too excited at the prospect and become a little too much too quickly for their human mate.
"Thank you" Bella whispered through the lump in her throat as she smiled in gratitude. It made her feel as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulder to know that her mates were supportive but also that they seemed to understand so much. Her healing was taking time, as was expected and she had taken great comfort and support form her mother in particular ever the past few weeks. Finding it helpful to talk through the many things she had experienced at the hands of Edward without the worry of setting of her mates again like they had been triggered the first time they learned of what she had experienced.
Sulpicia was everything she needed as a mother and her degree in human psychology and trauma counselling was something that had come in handy with Bella. Though the knowledge that the queens had multiple degrees was something if a shock to the human girl who never even considered that human education was something that the vampire queens would know about let alone have dived into so ferociously to have acquired multiple degrees. Bella had quickly learnt that Sulpicia really had been true to her word when she promised that she would do all in her power to help her heal because barely a month after escaping and she could already feel the gradual change within herself as she slowly but most definitely surely cane to except all that had happened to her and all that she had experienced.
"There is no thanks needed little love" Tanya murmured leaning over to kiss her sweetly before allowing her to settle down properly in bed for the night, sandwiched in the protective embrace of all of her mates.
That night for the first time since she could remember Bella fell asleep almost instantly, a small smile etched onto her face and the quietly whispered words of her mates fallowing her into her dreams.
"We will always be right here in any way you need us Isabella. Forever" Kate had whispered.
"We love you so much little one" Irena whispered and Bella's heart seamed to swell at their heartfelt admissions as she drifted off.
"I love you three too" she murmured sleepily, her eyes shutting and her smile growing finally allowing herself to breathe in the certainty and love she was surrounded by as she looked forward to a life that would not be haunted by the horrors that she had experienced and instead would be filled with moments like this with her mates, her aunts and a mother who loved her with all her heart.