|| You, Me and Penny Green ||

| Chapter Seventeen |

"We're already thinking of getting Donny a new bed," Iris confesses to Bella as she pulls out some sandwhich elements from the refridgerator.

They were discussing, now a topic for the everyday, Donny's accelerated growth. Whether it had to do with how Iris and Edward were handling it to what steps of action their going to take next, Isabella Swan was one consistent shoulder she could cry on. Now, with Bella bringing up how cordinated the newest Masen was, Iris relinquished her dreaded thoughts and revelations with a weary heart. 

"Really? Why are you doing that, does he not fit in the cot by your bed anymore?" Bella took some lettuce from Iris's hand, taking out a knife from the drawer in front of her. This gave Iris some intense deja vu to when the ginger was assisting Bella with making dinner for her own family. Iris could recall the time she was aggressively pregnant, peeling the leaves off the lettuce head as they talked about the possibility of Edward's infatuation with her. A sigh left her lips as she brought out the cutting board. 

Oh how times have changed since then, she thought.

"Actually no, although he's a chunky monkey right now. He recently figured out how to pull himself out of the crib. Edward found him halfway down to the carpet yesterday."

Bella paused in her cutting, eyes widening. "Seriously, already?"

Iris hummed in the back of her throat as she unwrapped the twine around a loaf of bread. "Yeah, he's inteligent, we've known that, but he's gaining some major motor skills as well. Carlisle says his growth rate has slow in the most miniscule way, not even a tenth. But it gives us some hope that it will – stop all together in the long run."

The brunette shook her head with conviction, if she had gone through what Iris has she didn't know if she could be as strong. Just seeing little Anthony crawling around, joining in on the building block fun in the living room with the girls, worried her. She couldn't begin to imagine what Iris and Edward are going through behind the strained smiling faces and hoarse laughter.

Bella glanced over Iris's goddess-like features, admiration and the most sincere sense of respect for the young mother. Even when Iris was by herself, raising Penelope on her own because Donna passed away and the Cullen's left town, not once did she complain. She may have cried in the dark recesses of her bedroom but never had she expressed her displeasure to anyone unless she was pressured to answer. Iris Green was a survivor.

"How do you do it?" Bella questioned as she leant against the kitchen counter. Iris stretched to reach a plate from the overhead cabinet, setting it aside as she shurgged. "Cry in private and preserve in public, has been a moto I've been chanting for a long time.

A mechanism I've developed when living with my parents and somehow have carried over into this immortal/parental lifestyle. Sure, I let it all out at night and it's not pretty. Edward gets the ungodly show of that, but when the next day comes, I pushed through it and take one day at a time. Alcohol helps too," they laughed to clear the serious atmosphere and Bella clapped her hands once before pointing to the food out.

"Okay, right. Now can you teach me how you feed these kiddos." Iris grinned as she slid the bread loaf towards her friend and started unscrewing the mustard. 

"Oh, you think I just feed Pea and Don? You're in for a surprise then," At Bella's confused expression, Iris just cupped her ear – signaling the brunette to listen as heavy footsteps approached the house. Two familiar Quileutes came through the back door with a wide russet smiles gracing their handsome features.

Embry always came around on Mondays and Thursdays to spend time with Penelope and hang out with Iris, which meant the ginger had to do a big grocery haul once a week otherwise he eat them out of house and home. That's when Bella knew why Iris gave her the whole loaf of bread for the sandwhiches. 

"Jake, you're new. I haven't seen your face around in a minute, what have you been doing" Iris became the nosy mother she was after Embry came up to give her a hug. The sheepish grin on his face made her think it had something to do with that wily blonde elemental.

Embry snorted in amusement, crossing his arms over his chest. "I think you mean who has he been doing?" Bella choked as Iris arched a suggestive eyebrow. Two different reactions for two different personalities. Jacob shoved his friend, and would you believe he blushed?

"Says the guy who spends his days watching Dora with Penny," Jake fired back with a smug tilt of his lips.

"That show is very educational, we're learning Spanish!"

"Alright boys! Jeez, I feel like a mother of four instead of two. Anyway, good for you Jake, just no babies please. We have enough children running around right now, you boys being half of them."

"Hey!"

"It's true, now get out my kitchen. You're hogging up all the space with you massive muscles." They protested but Iris just waved them off to go play with the kiddos. Thanks to the procrastination between herself and Bella, they were behind in making everyone lunch. "Alright Bells, let get to work before they start digging in my pantry. The goal is quanity, speed and cleanliness. They don't care too much about the taste because they just scarf it down, expect Penny she's pretty picky but I'll make her lunch seperate. Does Morgan like her crust cut off or no?"

"Uh, no. She likes them," Bella nodded to herself as she recalled the meal she made the little girl the other day, clearly. Morgan was so... refreshing. She was curious and inquizitive, always looking to learn something new. Bella definetly and could never replace Morgan's mother, but she could try her hardest to be everything the little girl needed. A playing partner, a stylist, a confidant and a support system, she would be that.

"Awe good, less work for us. Now, tomatoes should be sliced, lettuce needs to be peeled off the head and I'll smear the condiments." The words were flying by Bella's head as she faught to keep up. Iris was sort of a prefectionist, so she operated with lists. Everything had to be done efficently and a certain way or it wasn't right. By the time they were done, a whole plate of sandwhiches were stacked onto a plate as Jacob and Embry devored them without stopping between conversation. She was glad she didn't have to deal with them on an everyday basis.

"So Jake, how is the pack?" Iris started up as she spooned Donny some rice she had at the ready. They were all crowded around the dinning table, the girl's chewing on their sandwhiches as they played with their carrots.

Jake cleared his throat free of food and adjusted himself in his seat. "Actually, I decided to completely seperate from the pack. We're still civil, I'm just not under Sam's gag order. Em and Seth have gone back for obvious reasons," Embry nodded as he tilted the bottle of his water back to drink from it. "Leah's with me though, which is – uh, interesting."

"What are you going to do to gain more pack members? Are you going to grow a new community?" Bella chirped in as she caught Morgan's fork before it hit the hardwood floors. She brushed the hair out of her face as well, so she won't accidently chew on it.

"Ava and I are actually thinking of traveling soon. She knows her way around and has come into contact with different shifters from time to time. So we'll see if that pans out." Iris pursed her lips in approval, finding it a good idea. Jacob was meant to lead and like she forementioned much earlier, Ava was meant to be his Luna. "Are you excited? Ava's pretty wild, don't get into too much trouble."

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Embry waved off, though he knew he was going to miss his friend.

"Oh I know he will. I just know Ava's been alive for a long time. She has some friends, yes, but possibly some enemies as well. Though, you guys balance each other out well." Bella agreed with Iris as she smiled towards her childhood friend, Ava and him were good for eachother. Adventurous and full of spontinaity, somehwat childlike. She was glad they remained platonic because everything fell into place after that. The Swan piped up, nudging his arm playfully, "Make sure you send us pictures, don't forget about the small people while you rule the shifting world."

"Nah, never. Besides, who's going to send me money when we run out?" Iris smiled at him patronizingly, the three of them already knowing the answer.

"Oh honey, you've got a big storm coming. Here's a tip, get a job." Embry snickered at Iris's reprimanding, Jake's face turning sour as he chomped of a carrot stick. Iris did a double take towards Em, raising an eyebrow matter-a-factly. "And why are you laughing, you have to clean up the crumbs you made on my floors. Don't think I didn't notice. You know where to find the broom, c'mon Bells let's go put our feet up."

"Awe, Riz come on!"

Unedited. 

More of a filler but I wanted to get some POV on what's happening with everyone else. Yes, Jake and Ava are going to be exploring the world for new pack members with Leah. I might do a short story on them after this, however I will also be doing the book Morgan Roe; on Morgan's life when she's older etc. Anyway, Iris is a surviving queen! She's honestly come so far and I'm so proud of her. 

Sometimes you have to look at where you've been to see how far you've come.

Let me know your thoughts on this chapter are in the comments, you already know I love to read them. Xx