|| You, Me and Penny Green ||

| Chapter Three |

Iris and Edward were enjoying their new place to call home. The process of moving all their belongings was long, but eventually it felt like theirs. They were making use of the kitchen, trying different recipes Penelope would like. Since she was starting to eat solid food, Iris wanted everything she consumed to be organic. She wasn't going to settle for that store bought rubbish anymore, and with Edward's help, they've made a giant mess.

"Like this Pea! Yeah, there you go," The ginger sang.

Some upbeat music played on the CD player on the counter. Iris dancing and spinning around to entertain her daughter in the highchair. Penelope was very in tune to the music, patting her hands slightly to the beat on her little table. The little family cheered and sung along, joyous smiles on their faces. It was like a breath of fresh air after sufficating for ages. 

Edward was slowly helping Iris see herself for what she really was, a beautiful creature inside and out. And with the endearing news that they were soon to be wed, it boosted the ginger's confidence that she was worth loving still. So, the family fully immersed themselves when the moments were happy, they didn't take them for granted.

Edward was mashing up some carrots after steaming them, adding a little raw sugar. The only inclination that he was making something seemingly tastey, was the 'Cookbook for Tots' he had tilted open on the counter. He wasn't so sure if she'd like it.

"Are you ready my little taste tester?" Glancing over his shoulder at his fiance, he grinned. Lifting the spoon full of mushed carrots he made a cooing sound in the back of his throat, flying the utensil towards his baby's open mouth. Iris quickly turned the music off for effect before scampering back over towards Edward's side. The parents waited in anticipation as Penelope mouthed the spoon, getting orange carrot on the top of her lip messily. 

They held an unnecessary breath; Iris clasping her hands together in a silent prayer. Penelope's eyebrows scrunched together in concentration, sticking her fingers in after to touch the paste with her own hands. The next second she was spitting it out, wrinkling her face in disgust. 

Iris and Edward groaned in unison, tilting his head back in exasperation. That was the third recipe they had tried that morning. The young mother threw up her hands before turning to a questioning Edward. She pointed to his spoon, a determined twinkle in her eyes. "It can't be that bad, give me some."

Edward arched an eyebrow, "You know it would taste bland to you anyway right?" Vampires didn't have a taste for anything other than blood, that was fact. However, Iris was already contradicting everything he knew about his species. They might as well test the theory.

"We'll find out, let me have it," Edward shrugged and scooped another spoon full of carrots. With a wary expression, he fed Iris the whole thing. Almost immediately Iris face replicated Penelope's. Her eyebrows furrowing as her nose scrunched adorably. Penelope squealed at the funny face her mother was making, clapping her hands. Iris quickly grabbed the closest dish rag she could find and scraped her tongue in disgust. 

"Awk! Yeah, she's right. Your carrots suck," Edward laughed sarcastically, rolling his eyes as he started scraping the left over carrots into the trash. After a moment, Iris paused. Lifting her hand she touched his shoulder as she tried to put her thoughts into words. "W-wait hold on."

Edward made the motion for her to elaborate, placing a hand on her hip out of habit. She mutely touched her hand to her lips, rubbing her tongue to the roof of her mouth. Astonishingly, she could taste... and not just something bland or bleak. It lacked sweetener and was incredibly bitter. Suddendly she got excited, patting Edward repeatedly on the shoulder.

"I can taste! I-I have taste, oh my god!" Once Edward could comprehend what she was getting at, he brightened immensely. Although he wished he had these gifts, he once took for granted, himself – he was more than happy that Iris still had things that she thought were taken from her. Edward grinned mischeavously, wiggling his eyebrows as he pulled her closer.

"Great darling! Now I can make you all types of food," Iris's smile instantly dropped in objection. She patronizingly patted his chest before poking his nose sweetly.

"Oh no, you stay out of the kitchen. Lord knows I'll miraculously end up dying twice from food posioning."

"Hardy har-har," He jostled her playfully, faking offense to her jab.

Iris's smile only grew as she reached up to try and kiss his pouting lips. He teased her, leaving away and Iris groaned in response. It was perfectly okay though, because Iris was going to do one better. She slid herself from his arms with a nonplussed expression and turned on her heel. A smirk made its way onto her face as she deliberately swayed her hips and went to the sink. Iris blocked her thoughts, knowing it drove him insane when he couldn't hear them.

She practically counted in her head, turning on the sink to start cleaning up the dirty dishes. Just as she was about to reach for the soap, she was spun around. Her vibrant hair flying as she was pushed against the counter with Edward's strong arm closing her in. Edward rolled his eyes at her knowing smirk and claim her plush lips relentlessly.

Iris took note that they were possibly wasting water as the faucet was still on. So what did she do? Her hand reached back and shut it off before weaving her delicate fingers into his auburn tresses. Once again, her heart didn't sing like a canary and her stomach didn't fill up with butterflies. However, she got used to the new experiences, like her nerves lighting up as if they were on fire. And the way her brain seemed to shut down completely, giving her the notion that she was floating on thin air.

"Hey guys, whoa okay." Embry shielded his eyes after walking in unannounced to their new home. Edward and Iris parted abruptly, the former glaring at the quileute. With a sigh, he separated himself as Iris sent him a look to behave.

"Em, what did I tell you about calling first?" Iris turned back to the sink and got to cleaning up the mess they made. The shape-shifter chuckled lightly, leaning on the counter beside her carelessly. "What? I thought we were passed that?"

"You're mistaken," Edward grumbled as he picked up Penelope in his arms after wiping her chubby face with a damp towel. Embry and the immortal still weren't on common ground. Edward was still that over protective dad, and he would remain that way. Although the shape-shifter seemed like a nice guy, there were plenty of nice guys. He didn't trust him... just yet. 

"Eddie," Iris warned lowly to which he sighed heavily. "Why don't you get Pea to sleep for her nap, yeah?" He reluctantly nodded, pecking Iris's lips before taking little Penny to her room. Iris smiled at Embry, waving the pot in her hand towards him. "Help me?"

"You wash and I dry?" Embry grinned, slipping into the spot beside her. She eyed him as they started the routine, noticing how tired he looked made her maternal instincts kick in.

"So what's going on? Sam got you running a bunch of shifts?" Embry shrugged in response, spinning the cleaned dish in his hand as he dried it. 

"Well sorta, it's been kind of tense since the Cullen's came back. Plus Victoria's still out there... somewhere. He wants us to be ready for anything." Iris shivered as that certain nomad was brought up and then, a new emotion washed over her. A deep hatred, that was the certain emotion. It was Victoria's fault she was dead, or undead. It was her fault she didn't need inhalation. Her fault she couldn't grow old anymore and stay in one place for long otherwise people would start to notice. She couldn't have anymore children or experience the rush of living everyday like it was your last. She was forever bound to this unchanging life for all eternity, and it was all her fault.

"Iris, calm down love."

The ginger snapped out of her thoughts and realized the plate she was holding had shattered into a million tiny pieces. Edward was close behind her and slowly placed his hand over her taught muscles. Iris closed her eyes tightly, leaning into her lovers chest. "I h-hate her – so much," She gritted out. Edward leaned his head on her shoulder, wrapping his arms around her as if to shield her from the world.

"I know," He soothed against the shell of her ear.

His presence was an allieviator, overwhelming her senses like an extinguisher to a wild flame. As she calmed, Edward brought his attention towards a worried Embry. He didn't like seeing Iris this way, full of torment from the one they failed to get rid of. Edward could hear all of Embry's guilty thoughts and it made him soften the littlest amount.

"What's going on with the treaty, any news?" Edward was quick to change the subject and Embry's lips quirked at the corners. He was actually speaking to him without grunting or giving him the eye, it was nice. 

"Not officially, but I think Sam's going to let Iris roam to and from the line. Since she isn't completely a blood sucker and Penelope's mom of course." He shrugged afterwards, crossing his arms over his bare chest.

As Iris finally opened her eyes, now calm, she made a mental note to tell him to wear one more often then not. Embry padded towards the frigid and brightened, like a child getting a present on Christmas day when he spotted a sandwich Iris had made in case he stopped by.

"Now enough with the blah-blah bland stuff, when's the wedding?" If Iris was human, she probably wouldn't be able to discern what Embry was saying because his mouth was full of a turkey sandwich. And the sight made Iris tear off a napkin and wipe his messy face, just like she does with Penny. 

"In a week or so," Embry coughed on his food before composing himself. He wasn't expecting it, but then again, Iris Green was full of surprises. "A w-week?"

"Why wait? I mean, we love each other. I don't want to spend a year and a half planning it." Iris glanced to Edward for confirmation, only to find his gaze already on her face. She looked down shyly and leaned further into his embrace, his fingers intertwining with her own. "We want it simple and with close friends and family only."

Embry nodded, finishing off his sandwich in one bite. He clapped his hands together, dusting the crumbs off and onto the floor. Iris narrowed her eyes at the new mess and grumbled under her breath about having two kids instead of one. "Are you inviting your dad?" The question caught the ginger off guard as her eyebrows furrowed, deep in thought. 

"Uh – I don't know. I haven't met him yet. I don't know what he's really like or –"

"Do you want to meet him? Officially." Edward stepped in, searching her eyes curiously. She had mentioned once before how much she wanted to know who he was. However, they haven't made any moves to see him since they left the Volturi. He could tell Iris was afraid of what she might find. Would he be harsh and abusive like Richard? She didn't know or really want to find out if that was the case. When it came to parental figures, she was on rocky road. Donna was her only great example and now that she was treated with such respect, she didn't want to experience anything less.

Swallowing her fear, she nodded jerkily. "Y-yeah, I do. I mean, from what we've seen at the shop, he seemed like a decent man right?" Embry smiled but it didn't look very convincing. That is, until Edward gave him a look to encourage her and he perked up instantly, scratching the back of his neck.

"I'm sure he's great, biker jacket, man bun and all." Iris slapped the Quileute's arm with squinted eyes, much like any scolding mother. Edward laughed at her behavior, loving this maternal nature she'd taken on. She pointed towards the mess he left on the floor and then the broom laying against the far wall. 

"Clean this up, now."

Unedited.

Whoop, there it is. I don't know guys, I just love these domestic moments. It makes me so soft! Also, the Victoria talk. You got to see a glimpse of how Iris is feeling towards her and she definitely wants some revenge. Let me know how you guys are feeling in the comments.

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