|| You, Me and Penny Green ||

| Chapter Twenty Two |

Iris was dressed to kill. An ivory shirtdress delicately laying over her body like a greek goddess. The lighting was just right as it came in through the restaurant window, hitting her hair like a vibrant red halo. Her perfectly polished fingernails tapped against the fancy table cloth as she crossed one creamy leg over the other.

She was patiently waiting as she sipped her pinot noir with interest. Yes, it was the middle of the day, but why not? Iris always liked the finer things in life, after all it was in her upbringing.

"Can I get you anything else while you wait, Miss?" Iris smiled politely at the waiter, wondering why they weren't paying this women extra for coming to her table twice in the last fifteen minutes. She made a mental note to tip her generously later.

"Um, no. My guests should be here in a moment," The blonde woman nodded in response and she was just about to leave when a painfully familiar voice stung her supernatural ears.

"Actually, you have that wrong. Wouldn't you believe she's a married woman now." Dylan sauntered in with sunglasses snatched from his face as he propped them on his freshly trimmed hair cut. Some things had changed, like the new tattoos on his forearm of the moon and sun. The way his eyes surveyed the area, like he was paranoid someone was watching him somewhere. He probably got that from the time he spent in jail, Iris noted.

He sent the waitress his award-winning smile, blue eyes alit with false inspirational creativity. It was this same appearance that she unknowingly fell for, yet she found it astounding how she didn't feel a thing for him now whatsoever.

The waitress's eyes widened as she looked in between the pair suggestively and apologetically. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Congratulations!"

It was Iris's turn for her eyes to widen. She slightly choked on her wine, sitting up straight to clear her throat. "Definitely not, yeah no. Been there, wish I didn't do that. If you know what I mean," The ginger snorted with a sarcastic edge and now, the waitress looked extremely uncomfortable.

"Just, uh - let me know when you're ready to order?" Dylan shooed her away with his hand, sliding into the opposite side of the booth as he tapped his hands on the table cloth like a child. He eyed Iris for what seemed like an excruciating amount of time before clearing his throat, leaning his back against the seat.

"So... where is Edwin, and may I say you look absolutely amazing by the way?" Iris slid her glass onto the table, holding it there as she lazily met his gaze uncommittedly.

"Edward will be here, had to take care of somethings. Penelope didn't sleep well last night. I happen to think she's very clairvoyant with... untimely events and disturbances." She completely ignored his appreciative glance, internally rolling her eyes. Dylan lent his head back, his eyes narrowing slightly in annoyance.

"You talk boujee now," He tsked while shaking his head. "You're getting more and more like your mom, remember when you hated her, huh?" He smiled like it was supposed to be a happy moment to look back on. Looks like he seemed to forget Iris took AP classes for a time, she was advanced - even as a human.

"Still do, that hasn't changed." Iris sat forward in her seat, folding her arms over the table as she scrutinized his form. "What are we doing Dylan. I didn't come here to reminisce over old times. I'm here because you're interested in your daughter, correct?"

"Yes, yes! Of course I am, but how do we expect to be civil around Penelope if we can't have a simple convo?" The ginger rolled her eyes, but a grin formed on her plush lips as she spotted the love of her life. He waltzed in smoothly, hands in pockets as he made his way right towards her with a smirk. Reassuringly, he could see and supernaturally hear that she only had eyes for him.

"Darling," He lent down to chastely kiss her lips. Once. Twice, just for the hell of it. She fought a smile against his lips, scooting over to make room for him in the booth.

Edward slid in seamlessly, extending his arm around his wife as he finally made eye contact with Dylan. That was when his smile faded to a blank, flat line. He reached his large hand over the table, staring intently as Dylan shook his hand. He even added some extra pressure, to emphasize his position.

"Edward Cullen, you're Dylan O'Conner. Pleasure," He muttered stiffly as he took back his hand like it had been dipped in something disgusting.

"Yeah, likewise." He surveyed the two, watching their every move as if he could find the missing key to break them up somehow. But then... he mentally shook himself. What was he doing? Iris wasn't his. It was obvious in the way she lent into his side unconsciously and the way she greeted him when he arrived. Like he was everything in the world to her...and maybe he was, he thought. Still, he couldn't help the heavy burden of jealousy weighing on his chest.

It was silent until the waiter came back with an awkward smile and took their orders. Edward declining for specific reason, only to make the excuse that he would share a plate with Iris.

"So let's talk negotiations, yeah?" Iris sipped on her newly obtained Coke, squinting her eyes as Edward rested a hand on her thigh.

"O-okay, uh. I've got a job, not the best one, but it'll keep me steady for the time being. Not many people want to hire a guy like me, with a record y'know." Iris nodded, but Edward was the one taking the reigns on this. Leaning forward so he could show that he was all business.

"We're going to need paperwork you have the job. At least a month's worth of paycheck records, for precautions of course. Do you have a form of transportation? A stable place to stay?" Oh, he was all business all right and Iris could say it turned her on in more ways than one. Just the way he spoke oozed with sure, unadulterated confidence. Shoulders straight, jaw pulled taunt, the sight alone made her want to bit her lip. However, she contained herself, for now anyway.

"Of course I have a place to stay! What is this, FBI interrogation. Riz, I thought this was supposed to be between you and me," Dylan huffed and as much as she hated to admit it, Penelope looked so much like him when she was angry herself.

"Whatever he says is nothing less than I would. We talked about this together, we're in agreement. It's not hard for you to get these simple documents to us," Edward nodded firmly along with his wife, leaning back again to squeeze her thigh in appreciation for sticking with him.

"Listen...Penny deserves the absolute best. I myself am not the best father figure in the world, I'll be honest. Yet, we make do and she's amazing. So when I say, I'll do anything and be anything for that little girl, rest assured she's going to get everything she needs from me. Are you willing to do the same?" Edward let the words sit, reading his scattered thoughts at the same time. Feeling some time of sympathy, the immortal decided to go easy on him. Not in the responsibility but in the way he approached him.

He could tell by the way Dylan stiffened when he showed up, that he felt threatened. Edward didn't even have to read his thoughts to know that. And the jealousy that surged through him when he mentioned Penelope and their time spent together further confirmed it. Dylan was a peculiar guy, who enjoyed nice things like any other person. He just didn't know how to cherish and take care of them like most people learn with age and experience.

Dylan O'Conner truthfully wanted to be some type of father figure for his daughter, that much Edward was certain. Did he deserve it? That he didn't know too much, it was really up to Iris.

"Please, I do want to see her. J-just, I'll get the proof - for everything alright?" Iris smiled faintly, reaching into her purse to pull out a baby photo of Penelope when she was just born. The picture of Pea swaddled in her green blanket, face still a little puffy from birth, her hair at the stage of blonde before turning ginger gradually.

She slid the picture under her finger tips across the table. When she let it go, revealing what the picture was - Edward could hear the sharp intake of breath Dylan made. No normal human could pick it up, but they did and it made sense when his eyes slightly watered.

Taking the photo in his hands, he thumbed over the sleeping baby. A watery smile crawled onto his face and for once, Iris could see the guy she fell for when they first met. It reassured her somewhat, that he was still there... somewhere deep down. "She's beautiful, really she is."

"Yes, she is." Iris breathed wistfully, her mind briefly going to the upcoming danger. Shaking her head, she cleared her throat - gaining everyone's attention as she met Edward's eye contact as a subtle question. Said immortal internally groaned, rolled his eyes and mentally slammed Dylan's head to the table about a thousand times before mutely nodding in agreement. He would regret this later, that was for sure.

"Listen, Dylan. Penelope's first birthday is coming up and it's this big thing. If things go alright... you can stop by and see her. But you still have to bring those documents we talked about, without them it's a no go." Dylan seemed to brighten as he clapped his hands together once.

"Yeah, yes, of course. Wait... what should I get her like one of those kid Barbie cars?" Iris shook her vibrant mane, curling a strand behind her ear.

"She's one, not three. Just get her something to do with flowers, she likes those a lot." Edward made a noise of agreement, absentmindedly playing with her hair, himself.

"Of course, it was her first word."

"Really? She gets it from her mom I guess. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Dylan commented as the waitress came back over with a check in hand. As soon as she was in the vicinity, Edward put a fifty in the fold and instantly gave it back to her.

Just as the human was about to protest, Edward raised his to stop him, a weak half smile tugging at his lips. "Leave it, man. I got this one, you take it next time."

"Sure, sure." He shrugged it off but Iris knew it was another subtle masculine attack. She rolled her eyes noticibly, wondering why she was having a meal with two neanderthals.

"It's okay, Dylan. You'll have the rest of eighteen years to splurge on the princess, I'm sure she'll love that." Iris quipped with a hint of sarcasm, to which Edward squeezed her leg in amusement. They laughed lightly, clearing the rest of the tension until Iris stopped short and stared at him blankly.

"No, but seriously. You better be consistent for the next eighteen years or I'm cutting your ass of immediately. I don't need my child coming to me, crying because her dad didn't show up for a soccer game or ballet recital." She jabbed her finger into the table, not flinching from his gaze for a second.

Dylan gulped visibly, however he held a determined glint in his eyes Iris rarely seen before. She didn't know what to make of it.

"I'll be there, trust me."

"We'll see."

Unedited.

So it wasn't as dramatic as maybe some of you would've thought it would be, but I did the best I could to where it made sense to the characters. Dylan is definitely not off the hook, he's under tight surveillance but he will make an appearance to Penelope's birthday. Let me know what you guys thought in the comments, do you feel Edward and Iris slayed?