Ch. 60 Oops Iris Did It Again
"Iris?!" I opened my eyes to the sound of Edward's panicked voice.
"What?" My own voice was lazy, raspy, thick with sleep...the sound of a voice after a night of...extreme...pleasure...mmm...
"Love, something's wrong. You've drifted us both somewhere."
"What?!" This time my eyes flew open, and I was much more alert. What the hell?! Drifted? How? Why? Where?!
"I can't be sure since I have never been here before except for your memories, but I think we're in Forks, Washington in Isabella Swan's bedroom..." he sounded very apprehensive as he looked around the space.
It was definitely her room. The same greenish walls and purple comforter with old, yellowed curtains...the desk with the ancient computer...fuck. Where was bella? And—holy shit! "We're naked!" I looked down to see that I was still covered but only by the ripped comforter from the bungalow.
"No one is here, love. Can you drift us back? We need to find Carlisle. I don't know how your intervention in the past may have affected this future. They may not be here in this time." He still sounded very worried...and duh. I was worried. I might have just conceived a half vampire hybrid baby who—if I did—would be making an appearance in the next several weeks—most likely ending my life without proper care—and we didn't know where the only qualified doctor was to care for me...shit shit shit! "Calm down, sweetheart. Your drifting is tied to your emotions, remember? Take a few deep breaths, focus, and bring us back..." That easy, huh? Oh darling, I wish I could...
"I'm not sure I can. I don't know how I brought you with me now! Oh fuck! I'm so sorry..." My face was in my hands as I cursed my lack of control over this ability. Apparently, I wouldn't have complete authority over it until I was changed...which couldn't happen yet. Fucking bullshit! "What if I try to go back, and I end up leaving you here? What would happen then?! Time might fold in itself and the universe would explode. I may never find you again! I'd just be drifting around—possibly pregnant with a hybrid species—alone! Fuck! I'm so screwed. We're so screwed. I'm so so sorry..." I wanted to make myself calm, to control myself, but it was useless. The stupid tears and anxiety which never could seem to stay away had made their inevitable comeback.
"Shhh...it's alright, Iris. None of that will happen. Shhhhh...At least we're together. I'll make sure you're ok, my love." He held me to his chest, brushing my cheek with one hand and my back in the other in soothing strokes.
He continued that way while I cried until my breathing finally became more regular. "Wait here. I have a plan, love." He kissed the top of my head, laid me back on the pillow, and jumped up, rushing from the room. How had this happened?! Everything was so perfect just moments ago...
He returned quickly and was wearing a pair of ill-fitting jeans and a blue and green flannel, obviously he had "shopped" in Charlie's closet. He disappeared in Bella's closet and returned with a t-shirt which read "The Doors" and a pair of black yoga pants for me.
"What are these clothes?" He made a face of distaste at the items, and I couldn't help but laugh through the hysteria threatening to overtake me once more. "Comfort and laziness will always prevail in this new millennia."
"Ok. Well, put these on. We need to go to the Forks house and see if the family is there or if they have been to the area any time recently. If not, at the very least, we can travel to Denali and start there to find them." I sniffed back the tears which were building in my eyes again. Edward placed his hands on either side of my face, ensuring that he had my full attention as I tried to calm myself. "We will be fine, Iris. I will make sure of it. You are safe. Do you understand?" God, I loved this man. He was the yin to my yang.
"Yes." I whispered and nodded my head. I trusted Edward with my life. He would keep me safe. Cool it, Iris. You're not alone anymore.
"Never again." Edward responded earnestly to my thoughts.
I walked to the bathroom for a "human minute" as Bella always called it, and put on the clothes Edward had given me. I raked my fingers through my crazy hair, and stole a hair elastic that I found there, braiding the tangled mess into a more manageable style. When I came back to the room He was scavenging in her drawers, and I was about to ask what the hell he was doing when he tossed a pair of thick socks in my direction. He disappeared in the closet once again and came out holding a thick brown sweater.
"Sorry, love. I don't think her shoes will fit you. I'll find some others for you later, but we need to move. I keep hearing broken thoughts from a man who I think is headed toward this house..."
Shit. Charlie was coming. I looked to the clock on Bella's side table. It was 6:00 P.M., the time when he came home from work. Charlie Swan was nothing if not predictable. I vaguely wondered where Bella was. Did she ever come here from Phoenix? Wait, what year is it?
"I'm not sure." He peeked our the window. "Things have definitely changed since the last time the family was here...do you know the way to the house? He has just pulled into the driveway..."
I pulled the sweater over my head and yanked the thick socks on to my bare feet. "Yes. Let's go!" Edward nodded, and pulled me into his arms.
We were at the old, white house in less than ten minutes, but it seems we would be dealing with worst case scenarios here. The house was empty, weathered, and obviously abandoned as it was still boarded up from the last time the Cullens had been here back in the late thirties. Shit.
It was already dark out, and I was exhausted. I wanted to cry. Why must I always complicate things? Everything was so perfect. What if we couldn't find them? What if I was pregnant? What if something had happened to them in the last however many years...?
"Iris. I'm here, remember? I will not let anything happen. I promise." His voice was stern, not leaving any room for argument. I loved when Edward was so determined.
I laid my head against his chest and sighed. "So what do we do? It's late. I hate to whine, but I'm exhausted. I haven't slept since Scotland because of that stupid cigarette smoke...and our own little adventure back in Bali..." I smiled slightly at the memory in spite of the predicament we were in. "We have no money or fitting clothes..." I looked over my shoulder toward Edward's bare feet. "We can't go in public like this..."
Edward brushed a stray hair away from my face. I probably looked like a mess after our...intimate time...but oh well, who even cared at this point? "You're beautiful, and I so enjoyed every moment we spent together." He kissed me chastely and carried me inside the house before finishing. "We will stay here for the night. I think I left some clothes here last time if they're any good now...Who knows? Maybe Alice saw us and is on her way now. I'll make a fire a you can rest, my love."
I looked around when we crossed the doorway. It was dark, but I could still see a bit in the moonlight which drifted through the small windows on the back wall. Esme hadn't renovated and added the glass at the back of the house yet, clearly. There was no furniture and the place reeked of dust and "old house" scent. "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore..." I said as I spun around taking in the surreality of the place. The last time I had been here it was so light and airy. Now it was dank and sad.
"Huh. I finally understood one of your popular culture references." Edward mused with his crooked smile. He walked around me to the fireplace and placed some wood inside. He rubbed two sticks together, which I kind of thought was a made up thing, but a fire sparked to life and was blazing in no time. Edward disappeared again.
I went to sit near the warmth of the fire, but before I reached the ground, Edward reappeared carrying a couple of thick blankets. He walked over to the front door, walked outside to shake them free of the dust, and came back, making a pallet on the floor.
"Sleep, Iris. We will sort this out in the morning. You need your rest so that we can make a plan, and you will need your strength for whatever is to come, love."
I don't think he meant for that to sound foreboding, but it did...whatever is to come...whatever IS to come?
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