|| You, Me and Penny Green ||

I recommend re-reading the battle chapter before this, adds to the emotions lol

| Epilogue |

Hysteria. Iris was in a state of hysteria.

Her immortal body crumpled to the ground, knees digging into the snow as fog expelled with every breath. She was exhausted, in every sense of the word. Nothing but an empty shell of herself, energy depleted long ago.

Finally, her glazed over eyes cleared. She blinked once, twice, her surroundings once again becoming recognizable. In her hands, the remains of Aro. His discarded cloak laid not two feet from her, yet something didn't sit right. Her ears rang, a supernatural migraine, she didn't think was possible.

It was then she realized, someone was calling her name. A voice, that brought instant tears to her eyes, overflowing down her cheeks and chin. Her heart shuttered, chest caving in on itself as her ears twitched to hear it again... one more time, just once more.

"Iris... Iris, can you hear me? Darling, look at me." Hands, just slightly cooler than her skin, met either side of her damp cheeks. Her eyelids fluttered out of habit, this was too familiar, too comforting to be the hell she unleashed on earth. Thumbs, too soft on her burning flesh, caressed the tears she desperately just wanted to fall.

No, she couldn't have died, had she? This touch, sensation, was far too gratifying to be real. It caused her nerves to hum with delight and her undead heart to pump vigorously. Such a reaction, only Edward could draw from her. And if this was heaven, she'd gladly except it with open arms and little to complain. He - He felt so real. His fresh woodsy scent wafted towards her nostrils like a drug, dulling her senses.

His... His breath fanned across the bridge of her nose and high cheekbones. Even the chill in the air created a fog around it.

He was beautiful, her ghost – she quickly put together. His thick eyebrows furrowed deeply just like her beloved's used to do. But why was he so distressed, she wanted to ask but her words failed her. The auburn brown locks fell in wavy tendrils over his forehead, much like her son's tended to do. The lone lock blew in the wind and Iris wanted to touch it. She feared her fingers would go right through, missing the mark.

"Baby, look at me. Focus," Her ghost pleaded and she wanted to listen. He sounded like he was underwater, muffling the sweet words she longed to hear. She was so inclined to his melodic voice, Iris wanted to please him, but how?

Finally, the ringing in her ears died down, like the melting of ice on a hot day. She reached up to touch her ear, flitting her speckled orbs to the swiftly moving lips. She knew those lips. Tasted those lips on her own many times. Those were her husbands lips, her Edward's lips. She parted her own, throat dry from screaming and etcetera. The only thing she could get past was the saving grace of her beloved's name. "E–Edward," She coughed.

Edward stared down at his wife with an unexplainable, intangible desperation melting his orbs. Once again, he wished he could cry for he surely would be at her troubled expression. So looked so helpless, lost and lonely, he didn't know what to do to help her. He knew she wasn't defenseless, hell, he saw the chaos she enacted on the battlefield. Her thoughts and mind had seemed to go somewhere else entirely during the whole war. A fierce warrior she was, charging at anything and everything in her path, barely batting an eye at anything.

He was extremely worried for her, and reasonably so, seeing as she crumpled into the snow as soon as she defeated Aro singlehandedly. The last King was nothing more than ashes, sticking to the fibers on Iris's hands.

He never seen anything like it and he wondered when she zoned out, when she snapped. He didn't know when conscious Iris ended and hysterical Iris began.

Edward grasped her face tighter, urging her eyes to actually see his face. Come back to reality, he pleaded. We need you, he begged. A resounding gasp echoed around the gathered supernatural and it was a sweet relief to his tightly wound muscles. Iris reached up to touch his face with shaking fingers, a sob wracking through her body once her fingertips came into contact with his own marble flesh.

"Y-you're not dead," She choked and Edward's forehead furrowed deeper. How could she think such a thing.

"No darling, I'm right here. I can't leave you, not ever." He confessed as he finally lowered to her height, nudging his knees into the snow. Iris attacked him in an embrace, nuzzling her head into his shoulder, inhaling his scent. "Oh god," she cried, "I thought I lost you! D-don't ever leave me again. I l-love you so much."

Edward held her tighter, running his fingers through her, now, loose hair. He kissed her crown, tugging his wife into his lap like a babe. Over her shoulder, Colton was marching up to him. His expression was severe, bordering anxious.

"Hey Edward, I found out what's wrong with her." Edward nodded for him to continue, eager to find out what caused his wife so much unease. Colton glanced back at the assembled covens, meeting his wife's eyes before turning back to his brother-in law. "Turns out the Volturi had circus freak with them, an illusionist. Could alter the mind towards insanity, see their worst fears. Got Bree too, Emmett wrangled him before he could get anyone else, but..."

"He still got to two of ours... right. Thank you Col." The dirty blonde nodded, eyes sympathetic as he looked over his sister. "I can change some of her memories, but it would leave a lot of holes."

Edward shook his head, sending him a small smile in thanks. "No, she's coming out of it. You've got everything here? I'll take her to the kids, maybe that'll ease her mind. Take care of Bree, will you?" Colton waved his hand nonchalantly, walking back to the group to check on everyone else.

They had won, but they did suffer some loses. Maggie, from the Irish coven. Amun and Kebi, from the Egyptian coven. Leah Clearwater and Colin Littlesea from the packs. It was devastating to say the least, each and every one of them fought for a valiant cause and their sacrifices will be remembered.

Iris whimpered as Edward started to stand. He held her close to him, wrapping her legs around his waist. "Don't worry, I've got you." He sped into the trees, one destination in mind. Hopefully, Embry hadn't left just yet or gotten too far with the kids. The Volturi were completely gone now, overthrown by the unhappy people they ruled. It was bound to happen, for it had throughout history. All that was left was to figure out what to do next. A large species of people without laws or any people to enforce those laws, was madness. It had to be someone everyone approved of, not just another dictator. 

"Can you stand?" Edward breathed in her ear as he stopped just before exiting the tree line to Sam and Emily's house. Iris mutely nodded and he set her down. Her legs wobbled before they stood firm, however she hung on to his collar.

Edward was ready to move on, stepping forward, but Iris stopped him. Glancing down, he paused at the vulnerable look on Iris's face. "Edward," She whispered, staring between his molten gaze.

"Yes, love?" Instead of answering him, she pulled on the collar of his shirt and captured his lips with her own. Tears slid down her cheeks, melting into his skin as her bottom lip trembled. It was the first kiss she's had with him after thinking he was dead. A raw emotion is what he elicited from her.

A power surge of love encompassed them, setting Iris's nerves on fire from her toes to the tiny baby hairs on her head. She sighed, embracing the wholesome feeling in her heart once again. Her tongue tasted his parted lips, exploring what she thought she lost like buried treasure. Edward groaned, a rough and guttural sound that gave an illusion that she was flying, soaring through the air. She didn't want to come down, not for a while, not ever.

His hands found their place in the crook of her hips, pulling her closer until her body was flush against his own. This was serenity, complete and utter tranquility. A cup of bliss that just keep flowing, never running empty.

When Iris separated her lips a centimeter from his own, Edward found himself in a daze. He longed to chase after her own, foreign words of passion spilling from his lips uncontrollably. "Quel fruit succulent vous partagez ma reine."

Iris chuckled at his words, not understanding a word but loving the way it rolled off his tongue with such passion. Her brow arched in curiosity, gaze full of adoration as she stared up at him from beneath her lashes. "French?"

"Only you could bring such a reaction, my love." He leant down to kiss the shell of her ear, causing Iris to melt entirely. Edward wove his fingers between her own, bringing the back of her palm to his lips as well. "Come, we have children to greet. Maybe many more to welcome in the future."

A genuine smile curled her lips for the first time since the savage battle, not minding his suggestion in least anymore. After experiencing the heartache she felt believing she lost him, it only encourage her to love him more. She urged herself to cherish the little and intricate moments better than before. Savor the way he inhaled and how his eyes held nothing but love when he gazed at her that way. Just the way his undead heart forced itself to beat, only for her. His existence was poetry for her, a love letter for her soul... And she'd recite it again and again and again until the words blurred and smeared across the page from her joyous tears.

A grand funeral was held for those they'd lost. Not just a ceremony, but a celebration of the magnificent lives who risked it all so that those who survived would have better life. Many, many heart felt words were shared from whom wanted to speak. The festivities went on for a couple days, led by Edward and Iris themselves. Who provided anything they could for the mourning and their families.

Jacob and Ava soon packed up a few of their belongings, trekking the forest for their search of nomadic shapeshifters in need of a family. The group sent them off with an intimate gatherings of close family, exactly what the couple wanted after everything. Ava promised they wouldn't be gone for long, saying they'd visit unexpectedly just for the fun of it.

Colton, Isabella and Morgan decided to stay in Forks with Charlie. With Sue mourning her daughters passing with Seth, family meant much more than it usually did with them. Charlie wanted to witness his grandchild grow up, which they understood more than anything. The curious little girl adored Charlie, it was an endearing sight to see.

What a blessing loving someone unconditionally was. What a gift that was so easily taken for granted by their greedy hearts. It wasn't "how can you serve me" no, it was "how can I please you, serve you" that made it so precious, so beautiful and timeless.

The yells of endearments from their children and niece warmed Iris's whole body with a fierceness she could not explain. Their loving embraces and kisses upon her cheeks brought on tears, falling with no specific direction. She laughed with them, mourned with them, rejoiced with them. In the coming hours, she was their sister, friend and comforter. She stood in the gap their lost love one's created and started mending the cracks that she knew wouldn't completely heal. The eternal beauty led them to a hope of a better life, a freer existence. She stirred up the dreams they thought were long buried.

Without even realizing, she was their queen.

As for Iris, Edward, their two little ones... and eventually one on the way; after a grand meeting with the main leaders of every coven in each continent, the immortal community had come to a decision.

The Masen family of the Olympic coven would, in fact, become the new ruling leaders of the immortal faction. With a mix jury and council, of course. The supernatural government was now a practiced democracy with the two unlikely lovers at the head.

They had refused it for the longest time, not seeing the truth those titles held for the couple. But after some convincing, by no other than Arthur – which was surprising to say the least – Edward and Iris were officially ordained. They ruled with benevolence in Ireland, where they always wanted to go back since their honeymoon. Arthur and Embry was sure to follow, seeing as he hadn't been there in a few decades and Iris needed his help keeping a level head while ruling. She valued Arthur's opinion greatly.

Iris didn't know it at the time but Edward had somehow foretold their future in the forest that day. Quel fruit succulent vous partagez ma reine.

What a succulent fruit you share my queen; for she did bare the fresh fruit, and willingly shared it with her ravenous people. Why not share her abundance, lend a hand where those are without. Iris found out giving all her beautiful, ripe fruits was more satisfying than enjoying them herself. Her children and her children's children will reap the rewards she's suffered and strived for.

She had not known real love if Edward had not taught, if Donna had not taken her in.

Through the drought and fire, wondering if she'll ever make it out alive; to the downpouring, where she finally felt relief in the pits of her soul. Here, her seemingly endless life cycle is complete and the harvest is so righteously efficient... finally, she can lay her head down to rest with the others, who persevered and came out victorious.

E N D   O F   B R E A K I N G   D A W N

Unedited.

So, it turned out to be all in Iris's head; the death of Jasper, Carlisle, Seth and Edward. Were you surprised, shocked? How do you guys feel about this ending, do you feel it justified their love story?

Let me know your top 3 favorite parts of this book series:

Who was your favorite character:

Your favorite story plot/character development:

What do you think Iris and Edward's story will go from here? You write it out, I want to read your theories:

Anyway, I truly enjoyed going on this rollercoaster with you guys. It has been a treat, reacting with you with tears of happiness, stress and sadness. I absolutely loved creating these characters and hope it shows just how much in my writing. Please, feel free to reread and experience these characters we've invested so much in again and again, I'll be one comment away to share the fun with you. Xx

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