|| You, Me and Penny Green ||

| Chapter Twenty One |

"How long do we have?" Edward immediately fired after hearing the news. Iris squeezed his hand to reassure herself that he was there with her, the silence in the room unnerving her more than she'd like.

"Less than a week," The supernatural group suddenly exploded with wary whispers, bewildered by the short time.

"This could turn into a blood bath," Carlisle voiced warily. Iris's eye widened as she thought of everyone's safety, including her daughters. Penelope's first birthday was in two days. What was supposed to be a fun and lighthearted event celebrating a whole year with her bundle of joy, was now tarnished with the act of war. She bit her bottom lip harshly, meeting the eyes of Alice. "Do you know who's behind it?"

Much to the ginger's disappointment, Alice shook her head slowly. "I didn't see anyone I recognize. Maybe one..." Iris felt Edward stiffen against her, his sharp jawline tensing under the warm lightly. 

"I know his face. He's local, Riley Biers." Bella silently reached for Iris's hand, gaining her attention as they met eye contact. Riley Biers was the missing college student that been all over the news... and now he was a newborn vampire, seeking some type of vengeance with the Cullens. Iris instantly shook her head at Bella, denying a possible thought of the brunette's. Her mind moved at a thousand miles per nanosecond, connecting as many tattered pieces as she could.

"No.. Riley didn't start this."

"Whoever did is staying out of the action," Alice added and Iris went back to her somewhat scattered thoughts.

"They must be playing with the blind spots in your vision," Carlisle moved to stand next to Esme, laying a compassionate hand on her lower back to console her. With Carlisle stepping back, Jasper symbolically took his place. Having the most experience with wars and rivalry, he stood rigid like a commander, his arms clasped behind his back. "Either way, the army is coming... and there aren't enough of us to protect the town."

Iris's head snapped up just in time for Jacob to explode impatiently, "Hold up. What damn army?" Carlisle shares a silent look with Edward as the curious faces of Jake, Embry, Quil and Ava all wait to be informed. Iris knew this would happen, the shapeshifters needed to know what was going on. She warned the Cullen's multiple times to let them in on everything, but she guessed it fell on deaf ears.

"Newborns. Our kind," Carlisle sighs in resignation. 

"What are they after," Embry sucks in a deep breath. Penelope's safety instantly coming to mind as an inner part of him whines in distress.

"They were passing around Bella and Iris's scent, articles of clothing –"

"Say what now?" Iris exclaims as she steps forward, Edward's arms falling limp by the absence of her body. She knew they were somewhat after her and Bella, seeing as they came in to her home uninvited, snooping around. However, she didn't know they were passing around her scent. This could easily connect her with Penelope if the situation were to have it.

"Bloody – there after you two." Ava looked beyond angry, her nostrils slightly flaring as she pointed her finger and met the speckled eyes of Iris. Jacob spared a longing glance in her direction before barking his own indignation. It was like they were feeding off of each other, tag teaming without even noticing it. "What the hell does this mean?"

"It means an ugly fight. With lives lost." There was a pause before the blonde slammed her hands on the desk, startling the majority out of their thoughts. "Buckley's chance! I'm in, you're not beheading any leeches without my help." She spoke with determination, sending a challenging smirk towards the captivated Quileute.

"Ava, we wouldn't ask you to –"

"Alright... We're in," Jacob joins in, matching her grin with one of his own. Iris rolled her eyes at their unintentional flirting. It was annoying her now to no end, especially if they were trying to get themselves killed. She couldn't help but feel her maternal instincts kick in hyperdrive. The lighthearted, chuckling faces of Quil, Embry and Jake all flashing before her eyes.

"You're not going to get yourselves killed –"

"I wasn't asking your permission," Jake quips but Iris holds up her hand to silence him. She stalks up to his giant form, despite Edward reaching for her to come back, eyes blazing with fire as she met the gaze of every Quileute stupid enough to be present. "You. Will. Not. Join this fight because your lives will be on me. My fault, do you hear me? You have parents, some of who don't even know your out tonight – Quil, Embry. I won't have children put in the line of fire."

"We're not children and it'll give us numbers. Increase our odds of winning this thing," Embry argued as he tried to reason with her. 

"Yes, give us numbers but also increase the possibility of you guys being in the receding/depreciating side!" Jacob groaned in the back of his throat, looking to the Cullen's to help him out in some way.

"The newborns won't know they even exist. That'll give us an edge," Jasper responded coolly, only pissing off Iris more – to which he tried to amend supernaturally.

"Carlisle, they're children!"

"We'll all need some training. Fighting newborns requires knowledge that Jasper can provide. You're welcome to join us." The ginger had just about had enough at Jake's question asking about a time and place. Her own palm slamming on the desk, a subtle crack resounding through the room as she stared Jacob down, even with her shorter stature.

"Fine. You want to commit a mass homicide, do it. Have it your way," She snapped before turning on her heel, hastily snatching the decorative shot gun off the wall as she left. Pushing through the throng of oblivious partying people, she stood on top of a littered coffee table and clicked the gun in place. Finding it loaded, she shot two into the air, noting personally how she was going to repair the flooring she obviously shot through.

The music instantly stopped, jarring off the speakers as the room went dead silent. "Party's over, cops showed up and are shutting us down!" She yelled into the crowd and as soon as she said it, they scrambled, falling over each other to get to the exits quickly. Satisfied with herself, she slung the gun over her shoulder before walking out the house herself. 

"Darling, was that really necessary?" Iris shrugged indifferently at Edward's words as they walked through the dark forest towards their home.

"I was pissed off. Either I shoot a gun or I'm sucking everyone in that house dry. I happen to think I chose the best option, don't you?" He mutely nodded, following her as a tired sigh eased out of his lips. That was the only sound between them for a few minutes before he cleared his throat again, to which Iris groaned in exasperation.

"It will help our odds, dear," He muttered softly.

"Yes, and at what cost? Don't even get me started on everyone else joining in, I just focused my attention of the pack because they can actually die." Her voice cracked slightly with emotion, but she sucked it up and calmed herself down. There was no need for a humongous temper tantrum. 

Edward didn't know what to say about that, because it was oh–so true. He felt the same about his own family, Iris and Penelope at the top of his priority list of course. All he could voice was, "We're in this together, you and I."

He intertwined their hands, bringing his lips to the back of her palm to place a kiss upon it. That finally calmed down the emotional beast in her, letting her shoulder loosen even the slightest bit. They made it to their cottage style home, padding up the porch steps. However, before they could walk inside, Iris turned so her back was to the front door. Her lip sliding between her teeth as she looked at Edward with puppy eyes.

"What?"

He ghosted over her stunning face, warily. Thinking he should turn back around right now because that, was her asking face. Mostly asking for something she knew he wouldn't like... Just like the cat, to which he was victorious... so far.

"Well, we have a meeting tomorrow." She muttered stealthily as she shielded her thoughts from him. Edward squeezed her hand in aggravation. Choosing to play along he sighed. "With who exactly?"

"Dylan–"

"No."

"Darling, listen–"

"Nope." He went around her form to slide inside, padding to their bedroom as he undid the buttons on his shirt. Iris lent against the bedroom archway, watching with eager eyes as he peeled off his shirt to reveal his glorious, muscled back. She tiptoed towards his tall form, wistfully ghosting her fingertips over the contours of his back delicately.

She mouthed the delicious space between his shoulder blades, fluttering her eyelashes as her nail scraped down towards his jeans. "Darling... let's face it. I'm going to this meeting either way," A growl resonated throughout his chest and Iris felt the vibration against her lips as she fought a grin. "So what will make you more agreeable to coming with me... because I so want. you. there."

The ginger left open mouthed kisses down his spine, almost smirking when a noticeable shiver ran through him. She spread out her palm, sliding them down and around his solid body as if memorizing every square inch of him. Just her touch alone made Edward hold in a groan, his head tilting back as he fought with all self control to deny her.

The sound of a belt buckle loosening was heard throughout the room and he couldn't even find it in himself to stop her. She was seductively nipping and kissing his neck, as that's how far she could reach on her tip toes. Just as she was about to tug the last article of clothing off, she paused everything, causing her husbands eyes to flutter open.

"What will it be. Alone? Or with my adoring husband that will make Dylan wrought from the inside out with jealousy over how unbelievably sexy he'll see you are?" She whispered it and waited patiently, her polished nail lightly teasing him as she scraped over his defined V-line.

Abruptly, she was scooped off the floor and moving towards their shared bathroom. Her flexible legs wrapped around his yummy torso as she giggled in his ear, the seductress gone in a matter of a second. The only sentence that gave her any clue he agreed to going was his suggestive question and deep groan thereafter.

"How does a shower before bed sound?"

Iris nipped on the shell of his ear, tightening her hold around his neck. "Mm, yeah. I'm feeling pretty dirty right about now."

Unedited.

Woo is it hot in her or? Just me? Lol.

Anyway, this chapter – I hope you liked it, I wanted to show some more of Iris's compassionate/mother instincts towards her dear friends. Also! We'll be meeting Dylan next chapter and I don't want to necessarily give him a face claim, gives him too much importance to me. So you guys list some or one you'd think our scumbag/teenage dreamboat could be. (No shade to the actor whatsoever)