|| You, Me and Penny Green ||

| Chapter Four |

Iris sat behind the drivers seat nervously. Her perfectly polished finger nails tapped against the steering wheel as she stared at the house ahead. It was a bright yellow, the color Arthur told her was his favorite. She could even see the white roses planted out in the front. A motorcycle parked off to the side of them. 

She was here to finally do it, meet her biological father. Of course it was easier said than done, and now she was thinking about reversing the car and flooring it down the street. Would he let her in or completely deny her, slamming the door in her face. The smallest things could set her off, and the hair that was surrounding her face was starting to become one of them. 

A slightly cooler hand rested over her own fidgeting digits. They ceased the tapping as they ran caressing circles on top of her marble flesh. She sighed tiredly, fluttering her eyes closed to try and ease her nerves. "We don't have to go. We can turn around now and forget about all of this... but I know that's not what you want, is it?"

She cursed mentally, wondering how Edward had gotten to know her so well. What she didn't realize though, was this is what she needed. Someone to encourage her in the darkest moments and identify herself when she wasn't seeing clearly. Iris felt like she was looking through a foggy mirror for the longest time, looking but not really seeing. She felt lost after Edward left town, and she still did even though he came back. However, slowly Edward was revealing just who Iris Green was. 

And this was one more step closer to wiping the fog away.

"No, it's not what I want." She shook her head. Edward raised his hand and grasped her chin, turning it to fully face him. He stared between her speckled eyes, seeing the crestfallen glint there. As if staring into her soul, he knew the real desires of her heart. 

"You're worried he's going to leave you like Donna, is that it?" Iris tore her gaze away, her lip wobbling as tears started coming to the surface. A sob wracked through her body and Edward immediately acted, taking off his unnecessary seat belt to bring her into his arms. Iris clutched to the fabric of his shirt, burrowing her face into his comforting scent. Edward cooed to her, smoothing down the back of her head as he kissed the back of it solemnly. 

"But my darling, don't you know that's what makes life more worth wild? It's the unconditional love for others that makes us strong, a complete surrender to let life take its course. They is an unearthly beauty in letting go and just being in the moment," Edward breathed the words in her hair, running his fingers up and down her back in a rhythmic motion. He took her face in his hands, rubbing his thumbs over her cheeks to wipe away the tears.

"You can never really lose someone, they're always with you. In your heart and in your memories, they never disappear." His golden eyes glimmered with hope, passionate about the words he was speaking. Iris sucked in a breath as the watery tears stopped, her eyelashes clumping together from the moisture. Even when she had cried, she was gorgeous, and she didn't even know it. 

"You'll be with me?" She sounded like a small child as she glanced at him under her eyelashes. A tenderness she would never show to anyone else. She needed him like a drowning man needed fresh air in his lungs. It was poetic, that type of vulnerability. Edward's heart soared with pride as he pecked her pouted lips until they bore a bright smile.

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world, my darling."

Iris took a deep breath before knocking on the front door. She could hear heavy foot steps landing on the floor, padding closer and closer. A brief glance was exchanged towards Edward for reassurance and he slid his arm around her waist, squeezing lightly. The dark wood door opened widely, show casing a tall burly man. 

His dark brown hair hung in loose waves, laying limping against his red flannel. He had them rolled up to his elbows, showcasing the ink he had on his forearms and wrists. She could see where her similarities lied, their identical noses and forest green eyes. If Iris hadn't seen him before, she would be extremely intimated by the way he stood over the door frame. However, the friendly smile on his face completely contradicted his appearance.

"Arthur Buchanan?" Iris questioned thoughtlessly, yet she was caught off guard when he instantly offered his large hand in greeting. The way his eyes observed her changed form knowingly, made Edward wary. Although his thoughts were nothing to be worried about, the immortal was always over protective.

"Yeah, Iris right? And... a friend. What can I do you for?" Iris shook his hand, followed by her fiancé. She glanced anywhere but his face, not knowing how to go about this. Edward squeezed her waist, encouraging her to go on. She swallowed, meeting the identical eyes of her biological father shyly.

"I – um, well I'm your daughter so uh," She blurted it out, much like how she was with everything in life. Arthur didn't look phased in the slightest, the only thing giving away his surprise being the way his eyes widened briefly. He laughed at her bluntness, a giant smile adorning his bearded face as he opened the door wider in invitation.

"Well welcome, come in." Edward intertwined their hands as they followed him into his house. The inside wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Potted plants hung from the ceiling, sat on top of coffee tables and the stair banisters. Different historical trinkets sat here and there from multiple places around the world. The furniture was brown, matching the floors and contrasting the blue striped wallpaper. A large bookcases lined the farthest wall in the living room, cluttered in various ancient looking books. Iris figured he was a serious book worm. 

Arthur brought them in a conservatory. All the walls were made of windows, much like a green house as they faced the forest behind the house. "Go ahead and sit, do you want tea?" Iris arched an eyebrow, meeting Edward's gaze inquisitively.

"Uh, yeah. Oolong...t-thank you." Iris and Edward sat down at his small breakfast table, moving their chairs closer together for comfort. Iris didn't admit it at the time, but when she came into contact with him, she felt a surge of energy passing through her veins. It was a sensation she could only describe as familiarity. She knew Arthur was just like her, she could feel it. 

When Arthur came back in the room, he was holding a tray with three cups of tea and a large book. The outside was a brown leather, weathered and worn down material, tearing at the bridge. He sat down and gave each of them their mugs before leaving forward with his arms resting on the table. He sighed heavily to himself, scratching his bearded thoughtfully.

"I uh, only knew about you for a little while. But it wasn't because your mother told me you existed," He spoke about her bitterly, his bushy eyebrows furrowing in the middle of his forehead. Iris could understand the feeling, Annette was a relentless woman. "Have you gotten on well with your gift?"

Iris leaned forward in her seat, playing with her hands, almost, experimentally. As if she could will them to do something extraordinary that instant. "N-no I – it's only just now making itself known," She bit down on her lip to keep her rambling at bay, but she couldn't help herself. Arthur thought she was much like him in that way. "So you know about the gift... Elemental sprites, is that what your are as well?"

He grinned meekly, breaking eye contact to stare at his mug. "Your eager, that's good." Iris had no idea what that meant, but she was intrigued with this man. He held this wise aura, greens and touches of grey. She tried to hold in her many pressing questions.

"How did you know about me?" Edward listened intently, being there mostly for emotional support as he threw his arm over the back of her chair. Arthur eyed the action momentarily before giving Iris his full attention once more. 

"...Our kind, is a rare species. I was the third in existence in the last one hundred and fifty years. When we reach adulthood is when we manifest. Guardians of nature, is what we were called in the eighteen hundreds. When you turned eighteen, I became aware of your existence because you descend from me. Just like how you could tell we were alike when we met outside," He casually sipped his tea as if what he said didn't completely blow Iris's mind into a thousand different directions. She was utterly speechless and seeing this, Edward stepped in.

"If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" There was a mischievous glint in Arthur's eye as he thought about it. Edward was bewildered by the number to say the least.

"Two hundred – forty seven... and a half," He added cheekily. Edward and him shared a chuckle or two and Iris had to reframe from rolling her eyes at the dad jokes. 

"What all can we do?" Arthur quickly set his cup of tea down and stood to his feet. Iris watched on curiously, going along with his silent instruction to follow his lead. She took note that he was a wise man, yet also eccentric too. The ginger figured that could happen to you if you lived for so long.

"Now, you're asking the fun questions. Let's go outside, I need room to work."

Unedited.

Let me just say that I'm sick as hell right now... but that's not going to stop me from seeing Captain Marvel today lmao. I'm bringing a box of tissues with me! Anyway, I am thriving off of this chapter. I honestly love Arthur so much already, let me know what you're thinking!