|| You, Me and Penny Green ||

| Don't forget to comment as you read, if you want |

| Chapter Thirteen |

"It's safe to say, Penelope doesn't like sand."

Edward mused as he once again tried to set Pea down, only for her to stretch her legs away from the sand as if it was hot lava. The strawberry blonde was not having it as she screamed and cried, tugging urgently on Edward's shirt to keep her off the ground. By the complacent expressions of the parent's faces, you can get a glimpse of how their morning at the beach was going.

"Maybe if you put some in your hand and show her, she'll feel better?" Iris tried as she sat on the beach towel. Her baby hairs were gently fluttering around her face as she tried to braid her hair to the side. Edward made a sound of protest, but tried it anyway, scooping some sand in his hand as he held it towards the child.

Penelope only screamed louder, desperately trying to get away from the irritating graduals as fast as she could. Edward grunted as she jostled his shirt, reaching for her mother to hold her whilst unknowingly hitting the immortal. Iris sighed and quickly grabbed her daughter in her arms, setting her on the towel with ease. As soon as Penny realized she wasn't touching the sand, her whining was gone and she instantly started playing with her father's keys.

"What a drama queen," Iris rolled her eyes, readjusting Pea's headband.

Edward slumped down beside her, allowing Iris to lean on him for support. The weather was overcast, as usual in Dublin, a light breeze coming off the sea side as the waves curled up and down the beach. It was peaceful once Penelope stopped screeching and all that was heard was the cawing of birds and the splashing of other families skipping along the shore.

"Flowah?" Penny held up a shiny pebble she found in the palm of her chubby hand. She showed it to her parents with a tilt of her head, making both Iris and Edward awe.

"Mm, no honey that's a rock," Iris sounded it out slowly, pointing specifically to the glittering stone. The strawberry blonde pouted at that, but Iris had other plans. She brefily glanced around for any onlookers however, Edward had her covered.

"Coast is clear," He muttered, confirming her thoughts. To which, Iris sent him an appreciative quirk of her lips. Turning back to Pea, she showed her closed fist faced down. Iris followed what Arthur had told her before, suddenly feeling a tug in the center of her being as she concentrated. With a relaxed breath, she turned her hand over, spreading her fingers wide to show a pink rose blossoming straight from her palm.

"That, is a flower." Penelope made the cutest sighing sound, her fingers instantly reaching for the bud. She didn't quite hold it as delicately like one would need to, but the little detail didn't really matter to Iris. Once the flower was in her tiny hands, she held it out to Edward, giving him the smooshed rose as a gift. "Why thank you little one," Edward melted, taking the remnants of the flower and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"You two are too cute," Iris concluded, snuggling into Edward's side comfortably. She noticed how Penny had become territorial with Edward lately. She'd make disgruntled noises when she saw him across the room talking to someone else, or subtly push off her hand if she saw it on his arm. Penelope didn't like sharing her dad with anyone, even her mother. "I'm glad you two bond so much. I don't know what we're going to do when Dylan gets out."

Edward's eyebrows furrowed, a piece of him hardening at even the mention of Iris's previous lover. He felt that if Dylan wanted to treat Iris the way that he did, he didn't deserve to be around such a joy like Penelope. However, he also knew that wasn't necessarily his business. If he had any say about it, Penny was his daughter and no one else's. Edward wouldn't spare any details to the jury why Iris should get full custody, and he was sure his family wouldn't either.

"You think he's going to want her, and you're nervous about that?" Sometimes she cursed the universe for making Edward a mind reader in his supernatural form. There were often times when the gift came in handy, but others she doesn't realize she's thinking it and he voices it out loud before she can even comprehend.

Iris rested on her palms, looking far beyond the shore for something. What that something was? She didn't know... maybe a peace of mind. "Who wouldn't want Penelope, she's extrodinary. I - I just feel like once he knows that, he'll take her from me. Or maybe she'll like him more than me when she gets older, you know? Everything is so much easier with him in jail, but when he gets out - I don't want to deal with the confrontation."

Edward listened intently, subconsciously handing Pea one of her toys when she got tired of his keys. He knew Iris was usually someone who avoided conflict whenever she could, never mind her confrontation with Jessica Stanley. Yet, there were some battles you needed to fight, sadly that's just how life is. "Penelope could never chose him over you, you've raised her and given every ounce of your love to her every second of the day. You don't have to be insecure about that, and whatever happens when he's out - know that you have a very large group of people who love you and Pea unconditionally that will fight with you."

Iris nodded her head, finally meeting her husbands eyes with a swirl of varying emotions. Edward moved his hand on the towel, intertwining their fingers in a silent delcaration of his loyalty. "Plus, you know for a fact that Rosalie would start World War III before she'd ever let Penelope get in five feet of Dylan."

Iris snorted as she shook her head. She loved how Edward was able to lift the weight off her chest when she truly needed it. The ginger leaned back completely on the towel, finally relaxing her tense shoulders to enjoy the vacation as she put one arm behind her head. "You're right. I'm sure she's missing her right now, giving Emmett an ear full."

When the day waned on and the sun behind the plush clouds began to set, the Masen-Cullen family came back to the apartment. Iris had decided to draw Edward and herself a bath after giving one to Penelope. It was after all their honeymoon with the addition of Pea, quality time was essential.

The lights were turned down low as the giant sinker tub was filled to the brim with bubbles and steaming water. The skylight overhead provided a nice view of the stars that night, adding to the cozy and romantic aura surrounding the couple. Iris sat on one side of the tub, Edward on the other as the former sipped on a glass of white wine. She loved the tangy aftertaste, the sensation remindering her in someway that she was still attached to her humanity.

The ginger wrapped her incredibly long hair into a messy top knot. Her supple skin was completely free of makeup, glowing under the low lighting as she sunk deeper into the water. Steam rose from the suds, encasing both of them in a fog-clouded room. Edward's arm rested on either side of the large bath, his head leant back as he closed his eyes peacefully. Iris would've thought he could never top how he looked on their wedding day, oh how wrong she felt in this moment alone. Just the way the steaming clouds left droplets to leisurely slide down his defined chest was enough to get her mind in a daze for weeks. However, she decided to only enjoy his presence... for now.

"You know," She drawled, swirling the crystal like liquid in her glass. Edward only fluttered his finger as a tell-tale that he was listening to her, prompting Iris to continue. "I sort of want a cat..." That made Edward peel one eye open as he arched an eyebrow.

"A Cat?" His face scrunched up in displeasure, eyebrows furrowing as he thought of the furry creature roaming around their home, getting tiny hairs everywhere. He already had to deal with Embry, and that was enough. Iris made a pleading face, toeing her foot out of the water to place on his chest cheekily. Edward eyed the perfectly painted teal nail polish, an unamused expression marring his face.

"Yeah, a kitty. Okay, maybe not a kitty - because we don't need anymore babies to take care of. But... think about it. You, me, penny and a little kitty." A frown was slowly pulling at the corners of Iris's lips as Edward kept shaking his head in disagreement. "Why not?"

"Because I'm going to be the one ending up taking care of it," He groaned, tilting his head back in exasperation. Edward tried to hold up his stance against her, because he knew he couldn't refuse her very often. Especially when she was swimming her way into his lap with an adorable pout on her delectable lips. "No, Riz - I say no."

Iris sprawled her fingers over his wet chest, sliding in between his legs as the water sloshed around them. She started placing light smooches on his peck, buttering him up much like a cat herself. "Come on Eddie, just one teeny tiny feline. I'll watch her, I promise. It'll be like she was never even there," Iris whined as she pressed her chest against his, mouthing the words on the corner of his jaw before nipping the marble skin there. Edward groaned in annoyance, but Iris knew deep down it was a signal of defeat and she fought the grin coming on.

"Ugh, fin -" The sudden sound of a phone ringing interrupted their discussion. Blaring loudly as it disrupted the tranquil moment between the newly weds.

Both immortals furrowed their eyebrows at the same time, it was almost comical... almost. Sighing in agitation Iris stood from the tub, not caring about her lack of clothes as she stepped on the towel placed underneath it. She walked into their shared bedroom and dug into her purse for her cell, briefly checking the baby monitor out of habit.

"Hello -"

"Iris. Victoria is in the area, it's splotchy but I've seen it." Alice. Her bell chime voice could be recognized anywhere. She sounded distressed as she rushed out the words in supernatural speed however, Iris caught all of it. And when she heard that specific name, her whole body stiffened, spine straight as her nail dug into her palms harshly.

Edward suddenly appeared by her side, wrapping her in a towel as Iris focused on a blank spot on the wall to remain calm. The ginger's sharp teeth grinded against one another, her melodic voice coming out deadly calm despite her appearance. The sound could make any one's hairs stand on edge. By her thoughts, Edward already knew the drill, flashing around the room to pack their bags in a hurry. "Where and when."

It was quiet for a moment and Iris figured Alice was spacing out, searching for the answer."West of the house later today, if you leave now you'll just make it in time." Iris worked as she held the phone tightly to her ear, throwing on some clothes Edward laid out for her. She shoved some tennis shoes on her feet after sliding on a pair of black leggings. She vaguely noticed her luggage was packed along with Penelope's and standing by the front door.

"We'll be there," Iris muttered before hanging up. She shared meaningful eye contact with Edward as he held a fast asleep Penelope in his arms. She was still wearing her Disney princess onesie, swaddled up in her favorite blanket as her head rested in the crook of Edward's neck. "Are you ready for this?" He spoke into the chillingly silent apartment.

"Well I've got no choice do I? I want her head on my mantle," She answered with a straight face, a desperation swirling in her speckled eyes. Edward stared at her for what felt like five minutes, but it was only a second or two. Of course there was no one else who wanted Victoria to cease to exist more than him, especially after what she'd done to the love of his life. However, he rather sacrifice his own moral than tarnish the goodness that Iris still had. He didn't want Iris to lose herself, when she just figured out who she was.

At last Edward nodded his head, running a hand down his face roughly. "Alright, let's go get her. Do what you have to do, love." Iris bit her bottom lip as they clambered out of the apartment, landing on the dimly lit streets of Dublin. Fortunately, there was already a taxi waiting for them, thanks to Edward. And there was only one thing Iris had to do before getting on a flight back home.

"Yellow?"

"Arthur, if you wanted to practice your grandparent skills, now is the time."

"Say the word, I'm on it kid."

Unedited.

Lmao, I was so pumped writing the end of this chapter. And oh my god, here we go! Victoria business is going down guys. This is when we start interrogating Eclipse completely and I'm so excited. Don't forget to comment as you read, because I love your reactions. Let me know how you felt about this chapter, are you just as excited as I am for a Victoria vs. Iris reappearance?