|| You, Me and Penny ||

| Chapter Sixteen |

"No, I think I want that pulled in a little more. Like, two feet." The constant banging of contrustion equipment echoed off of the exposed walls in Donna's Daises. Despite the shrill sound of a saw drilling through a solid block of wood, the supernaturals in the unfinished room could hear perfectly. Iris was dressed like the 'working woman in charge' she was. A pair of demin overalls with a plain white shirt, steel toe boots on her feet and a chubby baby in the strap-on carrier slung over her front.

Emmett listened as she instructed him where to place the room dividing block. The Cullen's with Colton deciding to tag along with this little extension project just because they needed something to do. Other than taking care of the new bundles of joy that had joined their family, having no need for sleep whatsoever became incredibly boring.

So far, the plan Edward made to expand the shop was just in the workrings. The mess it made, piles of dibris and trash, irked Iris's perfectionists side like nails on a chalk board. She had to rush to protect her plants when demolition day came and went. The Cullen men were overly eager about destroying things and she didn't want her botanical babies anywhere near their sludge hammers. Now, it was all about framing. Which also meant half of the shop would be exposed to the elements outside for a while.

Iris leant against a counter to fill out the city paper work for the work she was doing on the shop. The construction was already approved, but there were so fine details she had to turn in before the deadline. Donny, who had been somewhat calm, decided to belt out a cry. His fat cheeks puffed out as his lower lip wobbled. Iris instantly attended to him, bouncing up and down as she searched for his pacifier. "Shh, you're okay Don. Calm down."

Like most mothers, she didn't know why he was so upset. He wasn't hungry, she just fed him in the breakroom. She didn't smell anything alarming coming from him either. Maybe he was tired or wanted some attention? Even when she place the pacifier in his pouting lips, he whimpered.

"What's happened, he's destressed all of a sudden." Edward walked over with his handy utility belt on. Eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he caught glimpses of an earthquake in Donny's mind, unstable and chaotic. He combed through his son's wavy locks, his golden eyes flickering around the demolished room for the cause of the problem.

"I don't know, he was just fine a second ago." That's when Edward heard it. Dylan's thoughts.

The biological father of Penelope Green walked in the shop with a frown. His tennis shoes scuffed on the exposed concrete as his crystal blue eyes wandered around the shop until they landed on the ginger in question then... a baby that looked just like a mixture of Iris and Edward. "Nevermind, I think I know why." Edward grunted as Iris caught sight of her ex.

"Why is he here," She whispered, perturbed. A flash of warning fluttered through her thoughts when Dylan set his eyes on Donny. He didn't know about her pregnancy, never mind there wasn't even enough time between their last meeting and now to have a baby that appeared six months old. Sighing to herself, she gently took Donny out of his carrier and handed him over to Edward's awaiting arms. The ginger was more than a little off-put by his unexpected visit.

"Dylan," She voiced softly, blocking his unrelenting curious view of her son. An inquiring set of brown eyes flickered to her speckled in bewilderment like she scared him out of a daze. "What are you doing here?"

Dylan leaned forward conspicuously, lowering his voice as if to keep the guys working from hearing him. Oh, how futile that was. "Hey, I'm here to see Penny. I was going to take her out for ice cream and was driving towards your house when I saw everyone working... Iris is that a baby?" He couldn't help but blurt it out as he blinked owlishly. Iris glanced back to her husband noticeably listening whilst holding Donny, not even trying to hide his interest in their conversation. "Uh, yes. That's Donny," She muttered as she ran a hand through her long tresses.

Dylan appear intrigued, yet unable to process something and Iris knew exactly what it was. She could practically hear him counting the months that have gone by in his head, adding up the numbers. "Did you adopt recently?" At that, Iris's frustrations had mounted and she was tried of the suspicious questioning.

"What's it to you, Dylan? You're here for Penelope, correct? Well she's on her way with Rose, I'm sure she'll be happy to see you," The sarcasm dripped from her words as she folded her arms over her chest. The blue eyed young father didn't look too convinced with her brushing it off and if anything, his expression was even more perturbed. She suddenly felt a presence behind her, and thanked her lucky stars for the gift Colton possessed to assist in situations like this. Within the dirty blonde's presence Dylan seemed to slump slightly, and Iris reveled in the family rescue.

"Dustin, right? The guy who couldn't land one beer pong cup," Colton smirked maliciously, taking Dylan's unexpecting hand into his own for a shake. A challenging glint flickered through his golden orbs as he leaned forward to intimate his prey. "How was the jailhouse? Miss place any... cleaning supplies in there?"

A sharp, one lined chuckled forced its way out of Dylan's mouth. One that lacked all humor and failed to convince anyone that he was unbothered by the older brother's dig. "Nah, Beer pong was never really my type of game." He shoved his hands back into his pocket, a defensive tactic as he blatantly ignored the dirty blonde's other insinuation.

"Oh yeah, I remember well. You preferred fucking up the minds of teenager girls, instead. Now, I wasn't here when you knocked up my sister so, enlighten me. What did you say to her right before you got arrested, better yet, why don't we walk down memory lane together and I remind you who I am." By now Colton had taken a threatening step forward, his usually carefree face had marred into a stone cold mask. His words reverberated through Dylan's body, the older brother's unrequited protectiveness coming into play as his eyes darkened.

To Dylan, he looked like a crazed psychopath craving his blood, yet when he tried to take a step back, Colton bunched the front of his shirt between his fist. "Don't be shy now, it doesn't suit you."

Iris watched slightly opened mouthed as Colton dragged Dylan to the break room, the door slamming open before swinging shut. Meeting the dead serious eyes of Edward, she knew he was going to let Colton do whatever he wanted in there. No matter how flattered she felt for her brother's sense of protectiveness, she wouldn't be able to bare the guilt if he ended up seriously injured. So she followed them.

"What the hell are you?" Dylan's shout echoed in the room as she opened the door. He was restrained against the chair by some unknown force. Iris figured Colton compelled him to sit and stay, that was when the ginger really understood how dangerous her brother's gift could truly be.

Dylan's hair was messed about, already sporting a slowly turning black eye, wide with a unnerving swirl of fear. Colton must've punch him, an aggressive act yet somehow calm compared to his wild expression at the moment. Her vampiric nature was getting a kick out of this, the bloody thirsty side. However, her compassionate overruled as she stepped to her brother's side and laid a hand on his tense shoulder. "Colton, I won't have you hurt him."

Colton shook his head and rolled his shoulders. He obviously didn't agree but instead of voicing it, he circled Dylan's chair, making the guy uneasy. "Relax, we're just going to mind swipe, although I'd like to have some more big brother revenge... We can't have him exposing our secret, better to compel him to accept us with no questions asked."

Iris relax at his words, glad her brother wasn't too brutal with all this. It would be convenient for Dylan only to know the basics of their family dynamic. He wouldn't question why they have to move eventually, or how fast Donny's is aging. The Volturi wouldn't be on their backs for exposing the 'almighty secret' to the human world. Though it was still harsh in her mind, a little brainwashing was necessary. So, she crouched in front of Dylan as he shouted how insane they were, lunatics even. All that fell of deaf ears. "Do it," She relinquished with a firm nod.

"What? W-what the hell –"

"What do you want him to know?" Colton flexed his fingers before cracking one side of his neck, a vexing grin taking over his chiseled features. A he creeped toward Dylan, said guy thrashed without physically being able to move up from the seat – Colton sighed in content as he placed both of his palms on either side of his jerking head. "Just make him agreeable, let him think it's a normal thing – that we don't potentially stick out." Colton nodded, his golden orbs zoning out as he forced Dylan to meet his stern gaze.

"This might hurt," He cooed apathetically.

Iris winced at the shrieks spilling from Dylan's lips, she guessed sifting and altering one's memories could do such a thing to a person. His eyes practically rolled back as his form became limp and compliant, she had never seen such a terrifyingly and exhilarating gift in her life. Sure, she felt bad for doing this but it was what had to be done. Iris would do anything to protect her family, intermediate and extended, and it seemed Colton felt the exact same way.

When they were finished, Iris walked out the room first to a construction sight full of Cullen's. Her expression was sorrowful yet resolved as she padded to Edward's side. The immortal took her hand in his own instantly, giving it a reassuring squeeze as he carried Donny with his other. Dylan and Colton walked out at the same time, the latter coming out first with a blank expression whilst the former glared at the back of his head. Dylan appeared numb as he met the eyes of everyone in the room, mix-match set of crystal blue, like seeing the gaggle of people was an everyday occurrence. When he met Iris's eyes, his lips quirked at the sides in amusement.

"Why is everyone so solemn?" That seemed to shake everyone out of their stupor and nonsensical chatter started amongst the group, most of it fake so they could ease drop without being too obvious. Dylan walked towards the couple and only spared Donny a mesmerized once over. Edward confirmed his thoughts were suspicious, only awe struck and slightly jealous of the relationship.

"Hey, uh Iris. I don't think I'll be able to take Penelope out for ice cream today after all. I have work in the morning anyway, could we reschedule?"

Iris smiled small, squeezing Edward's hand again for strength. "S-sure, just remember to call first. Holidays are coming up soon, we can talk custody for the events. Let me know," Dylan agreed, nodding as he lifted a hand in farewell. When he finally left the property, everyone seemed to sigh heavily. Edward kissed her forehead lovingly, once again soundlessly showing his support with his actions. This episode was a first and Iris hoped it wouldn't be a recurring thing from now on. There's only so much the ginger could handle without the guilt weighing down on her shoulders.

"So, I guess that means one extra guest for thanksgiving?" The resounding grown from everyone's lips after Emmett's joke could be made into it's own song. There was no way she was looking forward to the holidays this year, especially because their family was large enough as it is. Dylan tagging along would be a strange event all in itself. "What'd I say?"

Unedited.

I literally just finished this chapter and it's definitely different from my others. More dark than usual. I wanted to show off Colton's gift since I hadn't touched on it much previously and also show a little of Colton's dark/protective side. He wanted his vengeance for Dylan treating his sister like crap during his absence and he never really got that till now.  The Dylan problem is solved as of now, how do you feel about it? Comment!