Sight Unseen 48

“You all didn’t need to stop with us. You should have continued on to Alaska and unloaded everything.”Tanya told Alice, Emmet, Garret and Kate who were all sitting on various pieces of furniture in the living room of the presidential suite that Tanya rented at a hotel for the night so that Bella had a place to sleep. Bella claimed she would be able to sleep in the car but not only Tanya but Bella’s other three bond mates wouldn’t hear of it. Tanya had already been planning to stop for the night anyway so she didn’t mind getting a room for Bella. Bella who was taking a shower while they were waiting for the human’s dinner to be delivered. Tanya was not pleased when the four members of her coven decided to join them. Carmen and Eleazar had decided to go home and Tanya would prefer if the other four did as well. Tanya knew they stressed Bella out but hadn’t wanted to fight them in public. She didn’t want fight them at the moment either because that would also stress Bella out. Out of everyone Bella suffered the most stress and Tanya wanted to lesson it for her daughter. The fact that no ghosts had shown up had not only Tanya but Irina hoping to spend time with the girl. Tanya was also hoping for Bella to tell them more stories about her life. She was still pissed at Carlisle, Esme and Edward for making her miss out on the rest of items in the box Bella was showing them. Irina said that they spent hours going through every item in the box. Tanya just hoped Bella was willing to tell her the stories in the future.

“We were bored driving so we wanted a break.”Kate lied. She didn’t want to be away from Bella in case something cool happened.

“Yeah the radio sucks in the truck.”Emmet like Kate wanted to be close to Bella. He wasn’t lying about the radio though. Carmen and Eleazar were driving Alice’s car and Kate and Garret were driving his jeep. Emmet enjoyed driving the moving truck but hated that it had subpar technology.

“You can use your phone to listen to music.”Rosalie didn’t believe for a second the four stopped because they were bored. She was beyond irritated that they were interrupting her time with Bella when the girl hadn’t been approached by any ghosts all day.

“That or you could have talked to each other.”Irina was just as unhappy as Rosalie and Tanya about the situation. She knew that Tanya didn’t want to fight them but Irina kind of wanted her to.

“We talk to each other all the time. We never get the chance to talk to any of you. Plus we wanted to get to know Victoria.”Alice had wanted to be close to Bella as well.

“You know plenty about me.”Victoria like the others knew that they four just wanted to be around Bella. Something that Victoria did not like. This was just a likely preview of what it was going to be like living with the group.

“Actually we don’t because other than knowing that you were in a false mate bond, your original coven died and that your sister is Anne Bella told us nothing. Not even what your gift is.”Kate would like to know more about Victoria. Especially what her gift was.

“That’s all you need to know about Victoria.”Bella said as she entered the room after hearing the comment.

Tanya happily made room for Bella on her lap when her daughter moved to sit down on her. Wrapping her arms around Bella Tanya sighed happily feeling the overwhelming feeling of peace wash over her smelling Bella’s scent.“How was your shower?”

“Good. How soon will the food be here?”Bella snuggled closer to Tanya while she held out her hand for a willing Irina to take. The pair were sitting on a love seat and Bella wanted to sit with them because even though they were in the same car as her Bella hated not being close to them. She figured that was a side effect of the familiar bond.

“Soon.”Rosalie was not happy that Bella was sitting on Tanya’s lap and not her own but didn’t say anything because she had gotten to sit next to Bella the entire car ride. Rosalie had a good time watching movies with Bella and like Rosalie predicted she was enjoying being able to explore lesbian culture with her mate. She actually liked the fact that she was experiencing things with Bella for the first time because it made it even more special.

“So what do you want to do Bella?”Kate was hoping Bella would be willing to call up some ghosts or break some laws.

“Why don’t we just watch some tv?”Bella suggested.

“That sounds like a good idea.”Irina leaned forward, grabbed the tv remote and handed it to Bella. Tv was a safe thing to do that didn’t involve ghosts.

Bella didn’t even bother arguing about someone else picking what to watch. She noticed that the vampires didn’t really have that much experience with human society even though they pretended to be human and had been taking their cues on what to do from Bella. She just hoped that in the future they would relax around her and she didn’t have to make all the decisions. Switching the tv on she looked through the tv schedule for something to watch.”Do you guys mind if we watch women’s basketball? The WNBA finals are on and I usually don’t get a chance to watch the games live.”

“We don’t mind.”Irina would watch the game if it made Bella happy.

“We don’t either.”Emmett loved sports so he would gladly watch some.

“I’m fine with it.”Victoria didn’t pay too much attention to sports but she did enjoy baseball. It was something that Victoria hoped to get a chance to play with the others once they got settled.

“We are good with it.”Kate said.

“I am alright with it as well.”Rosalie wasn’t a big sports fan but that was she because had no interest in watching men play any. She hadn’t put in the effort to watch any female sports.

“Are you a big sports fan Bella?”Garret himself loved sports and hoped that it was a topic Bella and him could bond over.

“I wouldn’t say I was a big sports fan. I like women’s basketball and soccer mostly. I love watching the Olympics because that is the greatest athletes in the world in each sport competing against each other. Other than that I pay attention to the standings in football, basketball and baseball but only catch the occasional game if I have time.”Bella didn’t really have the chance to sit down and watch a whole game so she usually had them playing in the background while she was doing other stuff.

Emmet just realized something important.“Holy shit we can go to the Super Bowl!!”

“Fuck you’re right!”Kate couldn’t believe they would be able to go to the big game.

“We could go to a lot of things now.”Alice hadn’t realized that they could go to events. She would have make a plan to convince Bella to take her to fashion week. It shouldn’t be hard because Rosalie and the sisters loved fashion as much as Alice did.

“Any trips in the future will be discussed with me and Irina before the ideas are brought to Bella. If anyone tries to convince her to take them somewhere without asking us first then the trip will not happen.”Tanya wasn’t going to let anyone pressure and nag Bella about taking them places.

Bella leaned back and whispered in Tanya’s ear.”Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”Tanya felt good doing something to protect Bella.

“Lame.”Kate would just have to figure out a way to get Bella excited about things without it being obvious that she was trying to influence her niece.

“If you want we can take you to some games though. We will just get some vip seating so that you aren’t bothered by the humans.”Victoria would like to go to some baseball games. She didn’t want to be surrounded by humans however so she would pay extra to get vip boxes so they didn’t have to.

“It would be nice to watch games in person without having to deal with humans. Now that the ghosts know I can talk to their loved ones I have no doubt that I am going to be bothered by some to do that and in a crowd of thousands of people I predict a lot will show up for me to do just that.”Bella knew for a fact that she was going to be overwhelmed with ghosts if she went somewhere crowded like a sporting event.

“I didn’t think of that.”Rosalie didn’t want Bella to be bothered.

“So no ghosts have bothered you today?”Kate asked the question she had been dying to ask but didn’t want to be obvious about it.

“Oddly enough no they haven’t. I’m not worrying about it though. I’m just going to enjoy the break.”Bella didn’t expect the break to last long but she was going to enjoy the time away from the ghosts.

Hearing a knock on the door Irina stood.”That should be your food.”

“What kind of food did you get this time Bella?”Alice asked.

“Indian food.”Bella was a big fan of Indian food. It was something she missed about living with her mother. There was a lot more different kinds of food restaurants than just the diner and the pizza place in Forks.

“It’s to bad that one of your gifts isn’t the ability to let us eat human food.”Kate would love to eat human food again. The variety in modern times compared to when Kate was human astonished her and she hated that she wasn’t able to try everything.

“It would be a nice ability to have.”Rosalie would love to eat human food again.

“Maybe one of the ghosts will come to me eventually with the way to help you all do it.”Bella wouldn’t be surprised if there was a way for vampires to eat human food.

“That’s almost worth calling a ghost to find out. Not that I want you to but it is almost a reason.”Tanya hadn’t eaten human food in a thousand years. She would kill for the chance to do so.

Irina came in carrying a paper bag full of food.”Do you want to eat in here or at the table?”

“If it’s alright with Tanya I’ll just eat here.”Bella didn’t feel like moving.

“That’s perfectly fine sweetheart.”Tanya would prefer Bella stay where she was. Tanya would actually prefer that Bella let her mother feed her but Tanya didn’t want to make Bella uncomfortable by asking if she could.

“Thanks.”Bella began filling the plate Irina handed her with different foods. Once done she sat back down on Tanya’s lap and began eating.

Irina grabbed Bella’s drink and held in her hand to keep it cold before taking a seat next to Bella.”You’re welcome darling.”

“Is there any place you want to go Bella?”Victoria hadn’t heard Bella talk about anywhere she wanted to go.

“Not really. I actually fear traveling because every time I spend time in a new town I usually get bothered by a local ghost. I went with Rene my biological mother on a road trip when I was 16 and it was my own personal version of hell. I was pestered the entire time and had to pretend the ghosts weren’t there so my mother who I was riding around in the car with didn’t think I was crazy. Plus I had to keep making excuses for why I wanted to go off on my own at each stop. Luckily my mother’s main hobby at the time was picking up men so she was more than happy to let me get my own hotel room at each stop. That way she didn’t question why I was out at all hours of the night helping ghosts.”Bella had slept only a few hours during that two week trip.

Rosalie frowned thinking about that.”I hadn’t really thought about that being a problem when you travel.”

“It’s a huge problem when I go anywhere. The only thing that worked in my favor before was that I couldn’t travel outside of Phoenix so I couldn’t be dragged all over the world. You guys entering my life screwed that up for me because I don’t have an excuse for why I can’t travel anymore.”Bella was extremely annoyed by that because she knew the ghosts were going to have her traveling all over the world for them.

“Sorry about that.”Alice did feel bad that Bella was going to be involved in a lot more travel in the future. Even if Alice would enjoy the trips.

“Hopefully you won’t be bothered to do that for a while.”Irina wanted the house remodeled before Bella was forced to go on a trip.

“I’m hoping that the next few ghosts that show up just need your hacking skills.”Victoria didn’t want them to have to do anything that time consuming for the ghosts.

“That would be super lame.”Kate wanted to do something exciting.”I myself am hoping for a bank robbery.”

“That would be awesome.”Emmet would love to rob a bank.

“Let’s not worry about ghosts until the next one shows up.”Tanya wanted to get the subject off of something that caused Bella so much stress.

“So what team are you rooting for Bella?”Irina like Tanya wanted to change the subject.

“Phoenix is my team. I’ve been following them ever since I found out about the WNBA. I never went to any games when I lived there though.”Bella had wanted to but didn’t like crowds.

“We will definitely have to go to one of their games next session then.”Rosalie would make sure Bella got to see her favorite team play in person.

“That would be nice.”Bella wouldn’t mind going to a game with Victoria and Rosalie. Maybe her mothers as well. Not everyone else though. Just the idea of dealing with everyone in that type of crowed caused her anxiety.

“Have you ever went to the beach and swan in the ocean?”Victoria hoped Bella hadn’t so they both could experience it for the first time together.

Bella shook her head.”No I learned to swim from my grandmother but she had a pool. Neither she or my mother took me on vacations.”

“Was your grandmother a big part of your life?”Alice asked.

“A huge part of my life until she died when I was 12. When my parents got divorced me and Rene lived with them until until she died. My grandfather died when I was 8.”Bella had only good memories of her maternal grandparents.

“Your mother lived with her parents that whole time?”Emmett thought that was odd for an adult to live with their parents.

“No she only lived there for 4 years. I lived with them without her and when my grandmother died I went to live with her full time.”Bella had not liked living with her mother at all.

“So your mother lived on her own while you stayed with her parents?”Rosalie had only heard Bella mention her grandparents a couple times and she never really said anything about her life with her mother.

“Trust me I was much better off not being with Rene. Whereas Charlie is a great person who just doesn’t know how to be a parent Rene is a horrible person who shouldn’t be around children.”Bella finished off her food and stood to refill her pate. She was more hungry than she realized. That and the food tasted better than what she had been eating since she moved in with her dad.

“Did Rene abuse you?”Irina hadn’t gotten much out of Bella about her birth mother because she didn’t want upset Bella and have her stop sharing stories about her life. Thinking about it Irina’s realized that all the stories Bella told her had to do with her grandparents.

“Rene wasn’t abusive she was neglectful. That and she was immature and irresponsible. When living with her I was forced to be the adult. I took care of the home to include making sure all the bills were paid on time and there was always food in the fridge. I paid for everything with the inheritance I got when my grandmother died. Then when I started helping out ghosts I made money through that so I was able to cover the bills that way. Rene didn’t work nor did she ask me where I got my money from. All she cared about is that the bills were taken care of and she could spend her time partying. The road trip we went on wasn’t because she wanted to bond or spend time with me it was she wanted to go to a festival and wanted to check out a bunch of bars and clubs on the way. The reason I was forced to go was to pay her expenses as I refused to give her spending money.”Bella was still irritated that so much of her inheritance was wasted on Rene.

“Why didn’t your father help out?”Tanya wasn’t pleased hearing Bella had been supporting her birth mother for so long.

“He sent child support that Rene didn’t use on me but honestly I didn’t want to live with him because he’s a cop and he pays enough attention to me that he would catch on to my strange behavior.”Bella didn’t even consider living with her father.

“That makes sense. Even though I don’t like hearing about you living in those conditions with Rene.”Victoria would have preferred Bella to be raised in a loving home her whole life.

“Does your grandparents ever visit you?”Garrett asked. Hearing how Bella lived he was already making plans to do some fun things with Bella to help make up for the tough life she was forced to live.

“No they didn’t and I haven’t asked for them to. I don’t think I could handle talking to them because I fear that I will use them as a crutch and call them all the time. Even with Sasha I didn’t talk to her that often. She only showed up when things got really bad. Although thinking about it I think maybe I didn’t call for my grandparents and relied on Sasha because of the bonds. Sasha was the reason I felt comfortable with you all. It was her being Tanya, Kate and Irina’s mother that made me actually give you all a chance when my plan was to avoid the Cullens the best I could.”Bella figured the bond was the reason she didn’t reach out to her own grandparents and looked to Sasha to fill the role.

“If that is true then I am even more grateful for Sasha.”Rosalie hadn’t known that Bella was planning on avoiding them. She truly was grateful for the Denali showing up if that was the only reason Bella gave them a chance.

“I wish that you would have your conversation with her so that you are back on speaking terms.”Irina not only wanted to know what they pair spoke about during that conversation but she wanted to have another chance to talk to her mother now that she had a chance to get over the shock of learning her reasons for creating the child.

“It would be nice to talk to our mother again.”Kate had a ton of things to talk to Sasha about now that she had a chance to really think about things.

“I need privacy to speak to her.”Bella didn’t want people listening to her talk to Sasha.

“You’ll get that privacy when we get home because all the bedrooms are soundproof.”Tanya like Irina preferred to hear what Bella and Sasha spoke about but wouldn’t push to be involved for fear of upsetting Bella.

“So Bella do you have hobbies?”Alice wanted to see if Bella and her had anything in common.

Bella wiped the plate with her naan bread and popped it in her mouth. Chewing she put it on the coffee table and took her soda from Irina.”Not really. I like to read and watch tv and movies. When I was in Phoenix I got really into astronomy and would break into the college to use their telescopes. Other than that I don’t really have time for hobbies.”

“You used to break into a college to use their telescopes?”Tanya held back from lecturing Bella about the wrongness of her actions.

“Due to living in the city you couldn’t see the stars very clearly and going to the planetarium wasn’t the same as the real thing. One of the ghost I helped used to work in that department in the college and got me hooked.”Bella loved looking at the stars.

“What did you do for that ghost?”Rosalie asked.

“He had discovered a new star and never submitted his findings to get recognized as the one who did it. How I helped him was I broke into his former office and put everything needed to prove he found it and sent it to the appropriate people. Apparently his ultimate dream since he was a kid was to discover either a star or planet.”Bella had liked ghost because he was kind and introduced her to his passion for outer space.

“You are going to love Alaska then. Where we live are clear sky for miles and you will get to see the northern lights.”Irina was pleased with Bella’s interest in the stars because their property was perfect for stargazing.

“That’s something to look forward to.”Bella would like to see the northern lights.

“When we do the remodel we will add a comfortable space on the roof and get you a good telescope so you can have the proper equipment to see everything.”Tanya would make sure Bella had the all the best things she needed to enjoy her hobby. That way she had one more incentive to stay in Alaska.

“You’re going to have to teach me abut the stars. That way I can experience it with you.”Victoria thought spending time stargazing with Bella sounded romantic.

Rosalie was already mid plan of having a date with Bella looking at the stars.”I want to learn to.”

“I have some books you can read and different star charts I can show you if you want.”Bella wouldn’t mind teaching her mates about her passion.

“When we get settled you can show both of us.”Victoria would love to learn about something Bella enjoyed.

“What about you Rose? Do you have any hobbies other than cars?”Bella didn’t know as much about her bond mate as she would like because they were always with someone or they had other things to talk about.

“I like fashion a lot but cars are my passion.”Rosalie told her.

“Do you think you can build a garage for Rosalie to work on her cars in Alaska?”Bella asked Irina and Tanya.

“We were already planning on it sweetheart.”Tanya was hoping the garage wouldn’t entice the trio into staying home longer.

“Thank you.”Rosalie had been waiting to ask but was glad that Bella did.

“You just have to tell us exactly how you want it designed and what equipment you need so we can build it exactly how you want it.”Irina was of the same thought as her mate. She wanted the garage to make Rosalie not want to leave Alaska.

“Is there anything you were thinking about Victoria?”Tanya wanted to have something for Victoria at the house as well.

“I haven’t really had a chance to be a part of civilization for centuries. That being the case I don’t know what the world has to offer. I wasn’t in a place to have my own interest when I was with James and Laurent so I have no hobbies.”Victoria was looking forward to finally experience living her life free of the two men’s influence.

“Let us know if you want anything in the future. We don’t mind adding onto the house or building a separate building for you.”Tanya hated that they didn’t have anything to make Victoria want you stay in Alaska and would make sure to act as soon as Victoria took interest in something.

“If you weren’t a part of society does that mean you aren’t caught up on the latest technology?”Alice asked.

“I know what things are I just have never personal used them. Like cell phones, tablets and computers.”Victoria had to have Bella teach her how to use a tablet so Victoria could read Bella’s books on it.

“That’s kind of crazy to think of someone not being able to use those things.”Emmet didn’t know anyone who didn’t know how to use a cell phone let alone a computer.

“What exactly have you been doing all these centuries that made it so you don’t know technology?”Kate couldn’t understand how someone as old as Victoria didn’t know how to use a cell phone.

“That’s none of your business.”Bella shut down that line of questioning right away. No one had the right to know Victoria’s background. Especially because Bella knew Victoria didn’t want people to know. Even Rosalie was told an overview and no details.

“I think it’s only right for us to know about our coven mate.”Kate wanted to know about Victoria’s past because based on how secretive she and Bella were about it Kate knew it had to be dramatic. Kate lived for drama and knew that Victoria’s past was full of it.

“You know enough about her. So stop questioning her about her past.”Bella wouldn’t put up with it.

“But we need.”Kate was cut off by Tanya.

“Kate enough. Victoria doesn’t have to tell us anything she doesn’t want to. Leave her alone.”Tanya wanted to know about Victoria’s past just as much as Kate did but didn’t want to upset Bella who was very protective of the red head. Protective enough to leave the Cullens because of them pestering Victoria. Tanya didn’t want Bella to bale on them as well as she had no doubt Bella would if they didn’t leave Victoria alone.

Kate opened her mouth to argue but decided against when Tanya glared at her.”Fine.”

“It doesn’t look like your team is doing well Bella.”Garret said trying to take attention off his wife.

“They are tired and played really hard teams getting to this game. I don’t expect them to take the title. I’m just happy they did so well this season.”Bella told him.

“I’m glad you aren’t upset with them losing.”Victoria was making plans to thank Bella for sticking up for her. It was nice having someone on her side that wanted to protect her not exploit her. Victoria also found it highly arousing the way Bella came to her defense. Seeing Bella yawn Victoria checked her watch.”It’s late you should get to bed.”

“You’re right I should.”Bella was tired.

“Who would you like to sleep with you tonight?”Irina was hoping to be picked.

“Since I didn’t sleep with them last night I’m going to pick Rosalie and Victoria.”Bella missed her mates.

“That’s not a problem with me.”Rosalie would have been downright depressed if Bella didn’t pick her.

“Me neither.”Victoria not only wanted to be close to her mate but didn’t want to be stuck with this group of people without Bella running interference.

Bella turned and gave Tanya a hug.”I will see you in the morning.”

“If you need me just call out and I’ll be there in a second.”Tanya was upset she wasn’t picked to hold Bella but took comfort in the fact that Bella had sat on her lap for the entire evening.

“Both of us will be there.”Irina happily returned the hug Bella gave her.

“I will.”Bella doubted that she would need her mothers but wouldn’t hesitate to call out if she did.

“Good night Bella.”Alice was sad that Bella was going to bed. She was hoping for more time with her.

“Night Alice. Night everyone else.”Bella waved over her shoulder to the rest of the replies.

Seeing the door to the bedroom shut behind the three women Kate sighed.”I really wanted to a ghost to show up and give us another mission.”

“That would have been rad. Especially one that involved breaking the law.”Emmett agreed.

“Breaking the laws is not rad. It’s stressful and anxiety inducing for Bella. Not a fun game.”Tanya now knew that Bella in no way liked breaking the law. Well except to look at the stars.

“There is no way Bella doesn’t have fun when she is doing stuff like breaking into dead people’s homes and stealing from thieves.”Kate knew Bella had to have a great time doing those things.

“Bella has told us personally that she hates breaking the law and the fact that she is forced to constantly is one of the major causes for her depression. When she put Ralph’s wife on the no fly list she said that it made her feel guilty even though the woman was a murderer.”Irina hated that she couldn’t keep the ghosts away from Bella.

“She shouldn’t feel guilty. That woman murdered her husband.”Emmett wouldn’t feel guilty if he was Bella.

“Regardless of what she did Bella feels guilty for framing her. She told us that when we broke into Ralph’s house and stole all that stuff that the entire time she was anxious and afraid of getting caught. That was because she knew if the cops caught her she would have no excuse for being there and would likely be charged as an adult based on what we took. She has no link to Ralph’s family so she had no defense for taking a dead man’s stuff.”Tanya thought Bella’s fears were valid.

“She had us there. Nothing was going to happen to her.”Kate wouldn’t have let Bella be arrested.

“And she will have us there in the future so she doesn’t have to worry about things like that happening.”Alice like Kate would never let Bella be arrested.

“Speaking of the future. I meant what I said about traveling. You are not to pester Bella about taking you places. She has already told us that if she gets annoyed she will take Rosalie and Victoria and the three of them will go on vacation without any of us to get some peace. As we have seen with the incident at the Cullens Bella will follow through on that threat and none of us want Bella to be gone for months with us not knowing when she will come back.”Tanya sure as hell didn’t.

“She’ll be fine.”Emmett knew that Bella wouldn’t get annoyed with them.

“It doesn’t what you think Bella will feel all travel requests will go through me and Irina. Bella has already agreed to come to us if one of you approaches her to take you somewhere so there is no going behind our backs.”Tanya would not let anyone bug Bella about traveling.

“We heard you.”Kate was just going to have figure out how to get Bella to agree without asking her outright.

“Good.”Tanya turned her attention back to the tv. It was just starting the third quarter and now knowing that Bella like basketball and her favorite team was playing Tanya wanted to watch to have something to talk to her daughter about. Knowing Bella liked to watch tv and movies so much Tanya was planning on adding a small theater to the remodel so Bella could watch in style. The coven leader thought it would be a good incentive for Bella to stay in Alaska. That and the set up on the roof Tanya was going to make for her daughter to look at the stars. After the game was over Tanya was going to use her phone to start researching telescopes. She wanted Bella to have the best one money could buy. If Bella who hated breaking the law willingly broke into a college to use one then Tanya knew that it was important to the human. That made it important to Tanya. She was looking forward to spending nights on the roof listening to Bella tell her all about the stars and planets. Just the idea of spending time bonding with Bella made her smile. Then again who would smile at the thought of spending time with their bond child.