|| You, Me and Penny Green ||

| Chapter Five |

"Have the trees spoken to you yet?" Iris snapped her head towards Arthur, everything suddenly clicking into place. She always wondered what those voices in her head were. From the day in Port Angeles she's had them blaring loudly against her skull. Now, she knew she wasn't going mentally insane.

"That's what they were?" Edward kept his distance from the pair, wanting them to bond. From an outside perspective, they seemed to be getting along well. Iris and Arthur were so alike in many ways. Even down to the way they walked as everyone trudged towards the forest.

"Oh yeah, and they tell the most hilarious jokes as well. Don't even get me started on ferns," He chuckled throatily, stopping in a circle of trees. Iris arched an amused eyebrow and followed his lead as he plopped down on the damp ground, crossing his legs over each other. He pushed his hands through the soil, taking a deep breath in as the energy surge through the ground like a live wire.

Iris mimicked his motions warily, thrusting her palms to the soil and digging them through. Almost instantly she could feel the mystical energy there, it was uncontainable. She stuck to only watching him for now, just to be safe.

Arthur closed his eyes and remained perfectly still. It was silent for a good moment and Iris wondered what he was doing before her eyes widened dramatically. The once perfectly still forest had come alive; trees from many different directions stretched magically towards the bender. Their branches extending and sprouting with new life. They were now bountiful with colorful flowers and vines, Iris felt like she was in the middle of a fairytale. The sound of her giggle as a vine brushed purposely against her cheek echoed throughout the enchanted fortress.

"This is amazing!"

Arthur smiled at the childlike joy on her face. He had missed her whole life and it saddened him deeply. He always wished he could share this magic with an offspring of his. "Why don't you try?" He coached, making a cupping motion with his hands as a rose appeared out of thin air. 

Iris nodded enthusiastically, slowing inhaling as she made a cupping motion with her own palms. She bit her lip as a slight stinging sensation erupted in her hands, however she continued on. Her eyebrows furrowing in concentration. A shadow appeared above her, Arthur was sitting closer to aid her.

"Don't try to force it... just let it come on its own. We're not controlling it, we're allowing it to pass through us." Iris took his words in consideration, fluttering her eyes closed as she imagined the flowers growing and flourishing. What Edward told her in the car not to long ago, returned to the forefront of her mind. There is an unearthly beauty in letting go and just being in the moment. 

With that, she fully surrendered, letting her soul intertwine with the natural elements around her. She could feel it all over. The weeds and wild flowers, spruce trees and poison ivy, even the furry moss. Their essence stored in her being and she suddenly knew all of them by name. It was euphoric and empowering at the same time.

"There you go!" Arthur cheered, his eyes alit with pride.

When Iris blinked her speckled eyes open, a gasp left her lips. She was surrounded with hundreds of different flowers. Sunflowers, Daisies, Baby's breath, yarrow, you name it. A rainbow of colors filled her supernatural vision and her face pulled in the most heart stopping grin. She glanced to Edward leaning against a nearby tree, unknowingly looking for some type of approval and she wasn't disappointed in the least. His grin was just as wide as hers, however there was an overwhelming amount of admiration in his eyes. She never ceased to amaze him, he didn't think she ever would. Iris Green was an enigma.

"You're a powerful little lady," Arthur praised as he watched her smell the flora around her. 

"That she is," Edward agreed.

The three of them found themselves back indoors after some 'fun', as Arthur put it. Iris and Edward were cuddled on Arthur's orange couch, having small talk with the eccentric sprite. He sat with his legs thrown across his armchair, his fist resting underneath his chin. His green eyes were securitizing every move Edward made as the immortal rubbed small circles on Iris's arm. It was amusing how protective he could get even though he didn't know he had her until a month ago. Parenting was crazy that way.

"So is that little girl, yours?" Arthur asked suspiciously, the image of his strawberry blonde grandchild coming to kind spontaneously.

Edward perked in his seat, not skipping a beat as he proclaimed wholeheartedly, "She's more mine than she'll ever be anyone else's." Iris smiled softly at her fiancé, lifting her hand to caress his cheek lovingly.

"Penelope's father is incarcerated. However, Edward is the best father to her I could ever ask for." Arthur made a thoughtful sound in the back of his throat, tilting his head as he watched them interact. It's not like he didn't like Edward, he was just wary of his kind. His run-ins with them have not been pleasant over the years.

"And how are you adjusting, to the change – I mean?" He gestured with his ring clad finger towards his daughter and Edward. Iris fumbled with her fingers, somehow knowing he would be able to tell she was inhumane.

Edward rubbed her arm and she unconsciously leaned further into his touch, welcoming the comforting feeling. "I'm managing. I didn't necessarily want this to happen, but I'm making due with what I have, which is a family that loves me." She smiled to herself, suddenly overcome with the highest gratitude for the people who been with her through this. "Why didn't you tell me who you were when you sought me out?"

Arthur sat up in his chair, his expression turning sympathetic. "I didn't know if you'd want me around. I'd be coming in this so late in the game, you have a child of your own now. What is there left for me to instill?"

Iris nearly scoffed as she scooted forward on the couch. What one earth gave him that idea, she thought. 

She needed him for tons of things and just because he wasn't there to shield her from the harsh words of Richard and Annette, didn't mean he had nothing useful to provide. His presence in her life was more than enough, especially now. 

"Well... I need a teacher, someone to show me how to channel the power within me. W-will you, possibly, teach me?" Arthur stared at her for a minute or two, taking longer than necessary to process what she was asking. Iris was about to take it back until a slow, genuine smile lit up his face. 

For the first time in years, he felt needed and useful. This was his purpose, he pieced together, to pass on wisdom to his lineage. He didn't even know he had someone of him, and now he felt a distant hole in his being gradually filling up. There were some things, like children, that nothing else could fill and he was finally blessed with that special gift.

"Y-yeah, I could do that... kiddo."

As they got ready to leave, Iris realized she was reluctant. She enjoyed her time with him, but just like her father, she didn't know how to properly express it. Soon they would have to pick up Penelope from Rosalie and Emmett. The couple spending some bonding time with their god child after being away for so long. Yet, Iris found herself hesitanting at the front door and there was an awkward pause amongst them.

"Well Edwardo, you take care of this Sponky Sprite for me, yeah?" Edward chuckled as they shook hands firmly. He liked that Arthur didn't necessarily address what Edward was even though he had every right too, especially because his run-ins weren't so great. Arthur was an observing man, of little words and of greater imagination. He'd certainly be keeping an eye on that handsome immortal.

When Arthur made eye contact with Iris, Edward took the que to start the car. He left them alone to hash out what would happen next. And boy did Iris want a 'next' with Arthur.

"I uh –"

"Do you –" They laughed as they spoke at the same time. Arthur gestured with his hand, letting the hybrid speak her mind.

"Do you... want to do this again? I'd really like to learn from you and, hear about your adventures?" Her resolve became uncharacteristically shy and it softened Arthur to the core. She was offering her time despite knowing very little about him, its what he admired about the woman she grew up to be. She was everything he'd hope she'd be and more.

"You're alright kid, you can come over any time." He patted her shoulder good-naturedly and Iris breathed a sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing immensely. "Now about that Edward boy, you two serious?" Iris rolled her eyes, he was already jumping into protective mod. It was nice having someone to worry about her again, she missed the concerning words of Donna.

"We are mates actually, but that doesn't describe us at all... We're actually getting married soon," She smiled sheepishly, curling a ribbon of vibrant red behind her ear. Arthur squinted his eyes before his face brightened into a cheeky grin.

"I guess I gotta' have the talk with him then, huh. Send him my way later this week," Iris rolled her eyes tutting to herself. Shaking her head, she turned on her heel to pass over the threshold. She could practically see Edward grimacing through the windshield as he sat in the driver's seat.

"I'll see you later Arthur," She called over her shoulder.

"See ya Kid!" Kid, that was his kid – he couldn't get over that, and he didn't think he ever would.

Unedited.

OH MY GOD, OMG I. LOVE. ARTHUR!? I don't know why, but I've suddenly grown very attached to him. What do you guys think? Let me know

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