|| You, Me and Penny Green ||

| Chapter Seven |

"I'm so excited!"

"Hold on, quit fidgeting. Let me zip you up first," It was a sight to see, Alice trying to calm down someone just as hyper as she was. It made Iris giggle as she practically bounced on the balls of her feet.

"You girls ready?" Alice called.

The ginger was waiting anxiously with Alice in Edward's old room. An uncontainable smile graced her supple cheeks. She was extremely excited today, more than usual. It was her dress fitting here at the Cullen's and the girls, minus Alice, would be seeing her dress for the first time. Jasper made it his personal mission, under strict orders of Alice, to take Edward, Colton and Emmett on a boys hunting trip. It was not-so-coincidently the perfect timing for Iris to get her wedding dress altered a little for the final fitting without Edward sneaking a peek in anyone's thoughts.

All four immortals made sure not to think about it when he was around. They wouoldn't want to give away the surprise. Bella, fortunately didn't have that problem to keep up with. So, all four girls were sitting in the open spaced living room while Carlisle was away at the hospital. Sweet music played in the background as they chatted quietly to each other, Penelope was being smothered in kisses from her auntie Rose, chuckling uncontrollably as the blonde awaited the bride-to-be. 

"We're ready, c'mon already!" Bella shouted as her knee bounced in antcipation. The Swan made sure she sat as far away from the blonde immortal as possible. She knew Rose didn't like her very much, and the time apart didn't change that a bit. So Bella sat next to Esme, where the mother in-law stretched her neck to see behind the wall for quick peek.

"Come on out dear," Esme beckoned.

Iris shuffled out from behind the wall they walked to, her speckled eyes practically glowing under the warm lighting. The ginger was elegantly clothed in ivory, contrasting her vibrant locks as her bodice was covered in intricate lace flowers from head to toe. It was a sweetheart neckline, complimenting her creamy décolletage as it draped to the wood floors delicately.

Sheer off-the-shoulder sleeves dangled to the middle of her forearm, cascading far past her hips. She was the true definition of Aphrodite herself. A goddess far too exquisite for the natural eye to witness. She blinded everyone with her smile, yet left them wishing to see more. 

Esme, Rose and Bella sat like speechless statues, mouths agape as they took in the heavenly sight. If Iris was human, she would've blushed deeply.

"Well?" Alice probed with her hands clasped excitably in front of her. 

"I-it's perfect, really – g-gosh – "

"Edward is so in for it," Rosalie interrupted Bella playfully as she bounced Penny in her arms. Iris grinned, satisfied with the results. 

"Oh wait, almost forgot," Alice skipped out of the room and a second later she was back. She held a sheer veil in her tiny hands that fell to the floor and dragged a couple feet behind her. Esme's undead heart warmed as she cooed at her daughter in law. With gentle hands, Alice placed the veil securely on Iris's hair and fanned it out around her. The ginger felt like a princess, that's the effect the Cullen's had on her. 

Iris's eyes roamed her figure in the mirror set up in the living room, keeping her gaze focused on her dress and not her perfected face. She still had a hard time with who she was now. However, there was a twinkle in her speckled depths as she twisted and turned in the dress. She felt beautiful for once in a long while. 

"Are you nervous?" Esme spoke up, an endearing smile on her face.

"Mm, no. Cold feet are for those unsure about who they're marrying. I know Edward's the only one for me," She breathed dreamily as she smoothed her hands down the fabric of her dress.

"You two are perfect for each other," Alice agreed as she handed Bella and Iris a glass of champagne. Although the other girls couldn't have it, the drinks were named tradition in all the bridal magazines Alice reads day in and day out. The immortal pixie wasn't going to miss out on that. Iris gladly took it, sitting gracefully on the couch beside her best friend. Bella clinked their glasses, scrunching her nose up cutely when the bitter taste hit her tongue. 

"So where are you going for your honeymoon?" Rose chimed in.

Iris relaxed in the cushions, sipping periodically. "I don't know yet, he won't tell me. Probably somewhere with some cloud coverage. We're bringing Pea with us too, a little Vacay with all three of us." The girls all awed and Iris rolled her eyes playfully, downing the rest of her champagne in one gulp.

"Are you two working on things? I know us leaving was hard, how are you adjusting?" Esme voiced her concern as she leaned forward. Everyone seemed to want to know her answer, all of them going quiet to await her response. It made her anxious if she was honest.

"Uh, we're managing. I realized I didn't truly know myself even before he left, and I only recognized it when he wasn't around to lean on. It's a struggle now more than ever to – uh, look myself in the mirror. But he's helping me find myself, if that makes since... Strangely, Edward knows me better than I know myself. I'm jealous truthfully."

"It's unbelievably hard, being this way. But, you start looking at the things you do have instead of the things you don't. Emmett... got me to realize that on many occasions," Iris's lips flickered briefly at Rosalie, her expression showcasing her appreciation. 

"You're right, I am thankful for that little love bug over there." The ginger made a face at her daughter, causing Penelope to smile in response. She didn't know where she'd be if she hadn't gotten pregnant. To most girls, it was the day their world was knocked on its head as all hell broke loose. Suddenly their lives were over, their hopes and dreams were now in tatters.

Yet for Iris, it was her wake up call. She probably would still be slumming it at every frat party, getting high and drunk on cheap drugs and liquor, pinning over a verbally abusive boyfriend as he wroughts in a jail cell. Penelope was her saving grace, a chance to become something so much better than herself... A mother.

Alice filled her glass up again, grinning mischievously as she announced loudly, "Drink up Iris Green, because come forty-eight hours from now and you'll be Mrs. Masen!"

Everyone cheered happily as Iris downed the rest of her flute. She set it to the side as she reached for her daughter, Rosalie reluctantly handing her over. Penelope lightly ghosted her fingers over her mother's dress and Iris smiled down at her with a look of admiration.

She pointed to the lace flower in Penny's line of sight, "Its a flo-wer," She spelled it out for her, "can you say flower Pea?"

Much to everyone's bewilderment, Penelope pointed where her mother's finger was with her tiny one. Her lips roughly molded over the word as her eyebrows scrunched together. "Foeweha," She tried and every girl in the living room gasped. 

Iris's eyes widen as she squealed, sporting an ear splitting grin. "That's so good, baby! Flower?" Bella was on the edge of her seat, much like everyone else as they waited for Penelope to speak again. Penny loved the encouragement as she clapped her own hands, noticing Iris's finger pointing to the lace again. "Fower," She echoed, gracing her faithful subjects with her underdeveloped words.

"Oh my god, oh my – someone get my phone. Call Edward, quickly!" Bella scrambled to grab Iris's phone, tapping the numbers in as fast as humanly possible. Iris eagerly reached for the cell, bouncing a jubilant eleven month old on her lap as it dial toned. "C'mon Eddie, stop snacking on the kittens for a second."

The phone picked up, only to annoy Iris when Emmett's voice sounded through it. "Little red! What's going on, living up your last days as a single woman?" She playfully tsked, already knowing Emmett was going to ask something along those lines.

"If male strippers count...then yes," She teased back and just like she wanted, there was the sound of struggling on the other side of the line. The familiar voice of Edward wrestling Emmett was like music to her ears.

"M-male strippers, what do you mean male strippers?" The girl's laughed around her as Edward's flustered voice brought a smirk to her lips. No matter how hot a man thought he was, there was always jealous – even to the lowest degree. She was just glad she got him on the phone in a timely fashion. "There are no male strippers, just listen."

She put the phone next to Penny as she pointed with her other finger towards her dress. The strawberry blonde watched as carefully as an eleven month old could as her mother coached her along. "One more time honey, can you say flower?"

Penelope grasped her mother's dress in her tiny palms, curiously feeling the texture as she mindlessly echoed Iris, "Fower."

Edward sucked in an unnecessary breath, his eyes widening as the boys gathered around him. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Her voice was like music to his ears and he swore his undead heart started beating to life. "Very good Pea! I'm so proud of you my darling," He cheered and the sweetest thing happened. Penelope instantly recognized his voice on the phone and snapped her head in attention, reaching her hands out to grasp it from her mother.

"She's reaching for you, its so cute. Say a few words then we have to go."

"Hi Pea, it's daddy. Hanging with the big girls are you? Listen, daddy will be home soon okay, I love you." Iris took the phone away from Penny's ear as the baby suddenly pouted, somehow knowing her dad wasn't actually in the room with her. The ginger smoothed down her daughter's curls as she hugged her chest. Iris could relate, she already missed Edward too, it was endearing to see such a connection between them.

"Next time I see you, it'll be at the alter lover boy." Bella made obnoxious kissing noises at her friend, eliciting a rude gesture from her.

She was instantly scolded by Esme.

"Can't wait to see my goddess divine in white. Kiss Pea a couple times for me, yeah? I love you, darling." She grinned shyly, somehow she still wasn't used to that, no matter how many times they've said it. It brought on a strong tingling sensation all over her body.

Iris could catch in her peripheral vision, Rosalie bringing out feather boas and a crown as Alice started turning the music up. She guessed it was time for the partying part of the festivities. "I love you, and don't let the boys run all over the place. You keep them decent." His chuckle made her miss him even more.

It was a fickle thing, love. 

"No way baby, we're going wild tonight," Colton called into the phone theatrically. The next thing she knew, the sound of tumbling was heard with shouts and laughing. Another second and the line was cut off, causing her to shake her head in condemnation, rolling her eyes into the back of her head for show. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the family I'm marrying into..." She set Penny down carefully on the floor as she stood, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "So, who's playing truth or dare?"

Unedited.

The phone call with Penny made me so soft!

Edris wedding count down starts right now! T-minus two more chapters!!! Don't forget to comment as you read guys, I love seeing your reactions to things.

I'll try to post again tomorrow, we'll see how things play out! Xx