|| You, Me and Penny Green ||

| Chapter Four |

"What is this, Carlisle?" Iris asked tiredly as she laid down on a medical bed they quickly accommodated for. She instantly felt exposed and vulnerable as her stomach barely peeked out. If she was human she would've believed it was just food, making her bloated. However, between her now noticeable symptoms and that fact that Vampires can't become bloated or gain weight. Hell, the more she thought about it the more noticeable the signs became.

Her unusual repulsion to peanuts, sensitive breasts and the uncontrollable desire to constantly sniff her husband. Iris gulped as she thought about the amount of alcohol she consumed on Bella's bachelorette night. She hoped it wouldn't effect anything, seeing as she wasn't even slightly tipsy from the drinks.

Carlisle walked towards her with eyebrows furrowed in deep concern. In fact, that was the only visual inclination that he was worried. Iris hated the prospect of having an audience as they crowded by the door. Each of them wore varying expressions, she didn't want to stare at them for too long or she'd feel worse. Penelope being held in Alice's arms didn't help, either. The toddler could even sense the dire situation as she fidgeted and whined in Alice's arms. She was completely aware of Edward beside her, his fingers constantly running through her hair as she laid down. Iris felt utterly helpless.

"I didn't know this was possible," Carlisle muttered as he produced a large needle from a sterile blue mat. Iris stiffened in her position, glancing to Edward for some reassurance. "I just need a sample of your venom, maybe from the embryonic sac."

Edward held her hand in his own, squeezing it to give her some relief. "That needle won't be able to penetrate, Carlisle."

"I was thinking... only our teeth can bite through the flesh."

Iris clenched her eyes shut, trying to stop herself from shaking. She knew that bite would hurt like a bitch and she felt the walls closing in on her again. "Darling, calm down... I'll do it, I'll be gentle as I can." She stared at him for a good moment before nodding dejectedly. Iris couldn't chicken out now, they needed to know what was going on with her.

Edward delicately took her wrist in his hands, giving her a meaningful glance to advert her eyes. She obeyed, turning her head as she held her breath. A pained yelled tore from her lips as she felt every bit of Edward's teeth sinking into her marble skin. It stung like someone electrified her with a buzzing rod, and stayed with her way long after Edward unlatched himself.

Carlisle made quick before the puncture closed, sticking the needle into her wrist as he extracted a cloudy, thick liquid. Iris could see the tiny particles floating within it, the chemical makeup of her venom somehow disgusted her. As soon as the syringe was full, he took it out and the wound further closed without the needle stopping it.

"Iris, are you alright," Rosalie's soft voice met her ears and she leaned toward the source like a security blanket. Rose bent down and wrapped her arms around the ginger, smoothing her hair off her forehead. Iris didn't like when people asked that because it made her want to cry every time, but this time she welcomed the comfort. "There's no need to fret. I'm sure that little baby is snoozing away, safe and sound in there."

Iris only took her words with a grain of salt. She didn't want to get her hopes up about what exactly was growing inside her.

"We don't know for sure what the fetus is," Jasper interjected matter-of-factly to which Iris winced. Carlisle sighed as he started writing down things on his clipboard, the ginger was curious what it was. "Seeing as an ultrasound can't penetrate the embryonic sac, we'll never truly know. Venom doesn't have the same properties as blood. I can only truly infer that she is pregnant... but with what?"

Iris glanced at all the pondering faces of the Cullen's and felt her face screw into contempt. She sat up on the bed, gently pushing away Edward's helping hand. She was pregnant not handicapped. She threw off the thin blanket over her legs and ignored the curious voices asking what she was doing.

"Iris," Edward grasped her arm, searching her face for what was wrong. For some reason, it was getting harder and harder to read her thoughts. It frustrated him to no end that he couldn't instantly know what she needed like usual. Iris softened as she gazed into those golden honey orbs, and for the first time in hours felt like they were the only two in the room.

"I need... space, okay?" He looked like he was about to object but something in his gut told him not to, so he nodded and let her arm go. Iris stood on her tip toes to place a chaste kiss to the corner of his mouth with a sad smile. The next moment, she was walking out of the Cullen's house with her mind in a bee swarming mess.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she blinding got into their car and drove to the one place she knew she would find solace.

The familiar shop came into, blurry, view and she stopped the car. Her parking was crooked but she didn't care as she hopped out and sped into the safe haven that was Donna's Daisies. The flower shop somehow still smelled like the elder woman, coating all of Iris's senses as she leaned her back on the wall and slid down to sit on the floor.

She hugged her knees to her chest, resting her head on top. Iris never thought she'd be this distraught after such wonderful news. Well, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows though. Obviously, there was a big question mark at the end of the word, 'baby'. Yet, as Iris sat there and thought of the one woman who could've talked her out of the nervous breakdown she just had, she realized she didn't care what it was.

Donna couldn't care less that Iris was a young, very pregnant, teenager when she took her into her home. She welcomed her with open arms and a heart big enough to sustain them both until the ginger's could mend completely.

The elder knew somewhat of her background from the incessant gossip around town. No doubt, seen Iris on her wild escapades with Dylan, just knowing one day that one sided relationship was going to end nasty.

Iris was a mess. Tore and beaten down in so many ways, yet Donna still saw the potential beauty within her. A diamond in the rough, just waiting to be picked up and shined clean... That was when Iris knew she could love this fetus growing inside her no matter what. It was hers, and she was a mother down to her very core.

The shop bell ran above the door and Iris looked up for the first time and realized just how long she'd been here. The windows were cast in a warm glow of the slowly setting sun, signaling the coming end to the day.

"I figured I'd find ya here." Iris shook her head and leaned it against the wall tiredly. She was just tried, utterly exhausted from all the heightened emotions running through her.

A flash of blonde fluttered in her peripheral vision as Ava sat down beside her, fixing herself into the same position as the ginger. When the Aussie went to her home and found it empty, she went to the Cullens, only to see she wasn't there and the Cullen's all in a disturbing silence. She didn't ask any questions, not wanting to intrude and went straight to Donna's Daisies right after. Wouldn't you believe third times the charm.

"What's got your nickers in a twist?" Iris rolled her eyes lightly and sniffled her tears away.

"I'm pregnant," She suddenly felt a giant weight release from her shoulders as she breathed easier. It was the first she actually voiced it out loud and it felt impossibly empowering. Her eyebrows scrunched together as she muttered the words again silently to herself.

Ava arched an eyebrow comedically, wondering if she heard her correctly. "Uh - come again?"

"I'm pregnant."

"... And its your husbands baby, correct?" Iris cracked a small smile at that for she had to admit, that was pretty funny. She gave Ava a 'Are you serious' look to which the Aussie raised her hands in surrender.

"Right, then you should be stoked! Oi, a little bubberoo, congratulations. Why the bloody hell are you crying?" Iris just wanted to shove her head into a giant ass pillow and scream her head off. She wasn't mad at Ava, or course not, Ava just didn't know the extent of all this.

"Because, our baby may not be... a baby," She shrugged with a sniff, relaxing her legs to lay flat on the floor. If she was honest, the human eye couldn't probably tell the difference in her body. But any supernaturally enhanced eye could see the little maternal plump of her tummy.

Ava made a thoughtful expression before raising her eyebrows like she just caught an epiphany. She gestured with her hands towards Iris abdomen, tilting her head to the side in question. "May I?"

Iris furrowed her brows, but didn't objects as she sat up for Ava to touch her stomach. It felt foreign having someone touch her stomach in a motherly type of way again. It felt like ages ago since she had Pea. The blonde concentrated as she touch her palm to Iris tum, her lips pulling into a tight line.

A second later, Ava jumped in surprise, taking her hand off the bump like it shocked her. Iris immediately worried, glancing over Ava's face for any inclination to what happened. "W-what is it?"

"My theory was somewhat spot on. See, when someone of our species is around another, you sense it - the magical energy flowing round their aura. Like how when we met. I could feel that same energy in your little tum," Ava nodded again like she was coming to the conclusion herself a second time.

Iris took this in and her mind swirled with endless conundrums. What the hell did that mean, she thought. Then, she caught it. It meant good news. Really good news. It meant her baby was in some way, human because it held the elemental gene to an extent. It brought her fetus that much closer to normalcy, in the supernatural spectrum. Overjoyed and full of some relief, Iris jumped on Ava and hugged the life out of her.

She squeezed her tight, tears of joy unconsciously spilling from her. "Right, okay rack off. You have super strength and I need air!"

"Ava you have no idea how much you helped me just now, t-thank you so much." She choked on the words as she wiped her face, feeling like an overemotional pregnant woman for the second time. Ava waved her hand around nonchalantly, "Piece of piss, you were there for me about Jake. Thought I'd return the favor."

"Well it's appreciated. And can you just do me another slight favor? Can you keep this information to yourself for a while. It's still a very vulnerable topic and - "

"Got it, you don't have to explain. Plus, I've held so many secrets over the years, one's that Arthur doesn't even know... Like where I hid his Lays chips."

It was around twilight when Iris came home. She walked through the door, finding it lit with low lighting from a living room lamp. Putting her keys on the small table by the door, she padded towards the filled arm chair and sat on the occupants lap. Edward pulled her closer into his chest, his body humming with content once she was within his reach. His was worried beyond belief about her, especially now.

Iris laid her head on his shoulder and raked her fingers through the hair at the back of his neck, twirling the baby hairs as she sighed. "I found something out today, but I want to tell you how I got there..."

Edward hummed as he pulled her legs over his lap and held her in a cradle position. "This... whatever we're having, is what I want Edward. I want this for us, no matter what it is." She leaned back and roamed her fingertips over his face, tracing his angular nose and lips. "I- I already love this fetus, too much to let it go and pretend it never happened. You know how I am about this stuff... I believe everything happens for a reason. We're in this position for a reason, and I rather fully enjoy them then count my blessings."

Edward became mesmerized with how molten her speckled orbs turned. She was passionate about this, that much he pieced together. He could hear the desperation in her voice for this to work out and who was he to deny her that elation? If he was honest, if he allowed himself to be, he wanted this just as much as she did, if not more. But he was afraid of the unknown.

"W-what if you're put in danger because of this. I can't l-lose you," Her heart clenched at how his voice cracked. She smooth her hand down his neck, soothing his tense muscles. Licking her lips, she stared at their family portrait on the piano. The three of them smiling happily without a care in the world, unsuspecting. Then, she realized she wouldn't be losing anything, only gaining more to love. Her heart and mind were set.

"Ava figured something out today..."

And that's how she got Edward to see her side of things as he kissed all over her face with the utmost relief and gratefulness pouring out of his loving actions. They both fully accepted the news now. Iris was pregnant and they hopefully were going to be a family of four.

Unedited.

I've never put so much emotion in a chapter till today. I'm a crying mess guys, just so you know. This is a chapter for the books... hehe literally, because get it - books... pages and, never mind lol!

Let me know in the comments, do you think it's a boy or girl or both!?