»—— act two. new moon
☽⋅── ONE ──test yielded no results ─⋅☾

She was an astonishing sight to behold, possessing a striking beauty that transcended the ordinary. Her fiery hair cascaded down her neck in waves, and her radiant smile cast a warmth that seemed almost celestial. As she stood there, cloaked in the ethereal glow of a sunbeam, her presence exuded an otherworldly aura.

Eve jolted awake, her eyes adjusting to the early morning light. Her brow furrowed as she looked at the clock on the bedside table, its needle inching closer to the alarm time of 6 am.

"Just a few minutes before the alarm," she muttered, a hint of irritation in her voice. She glanced at herself in the mirror, her reflection a mix of tiredness and a touch of excitement. The memory of the dream involving the beautiful woman still lingered in her mind, mixing with the early morning grogginess.

She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of the strange dream that had left her both intrigued and puzzled. With a sigh, she got out of bed and began her daily routine, preparing herself for the start of another day.

As she went through her morning rituals, Eve's mind kept returning to the dream, the image of the beautiful woman still vivid in her thoughts. She wondered who she was and why she kept appearing in her dreams.

Despite the lingering curiosity, she tried to push the dream aside as she focused on the tasks at hand. Her thoughts shifted to the responsibilities of the day ahead.

The morning sun was just beginning to rise when a knock echoed through the house, interrupting the tranquillity of the early hour. Quickly gathering her belongings, Eve opened the door to find Carlisle standing before her. A smile immediately spread across her face upon seeing him.

"It's always a pleasant sight to see you first thing in the morning," she greeted.

Carlisle chuckled at her words, leaning over to plant a kiss on her lips.

"And it's always a pleasure to see you as well," he replied, his hand gently extending for her to take and guiding her towards the car.

Eleanor, had now entered her final year of high school, a milestone that came with both pride and a touch of anxiety. Recognizing their hectic work schedule that often aligned, Eve had permitted Eleanor to use the car for her daily commute.

It was Carlisle who suggested this, having heard Eleanor's desire to drive instead of relying on the bus.

To mark Eleanor's upcoming birthday, which was approaching, Eve had plans to gift her a car of her very own. However, that special gift wouldn't be until her birthday in December.

During the car ride to the hospital, Eve decided to confide in Carlisle about the recurring dream that had been haunting her. She had a strong intuition that there was more to the dream and that it was connected to her past.

"The colour was deeper than that vampire Victoria's hair," she shared, her voice laced with curiosity and unease. "In the beginning, I thought it might be a nightmare tied to her, but the woman exuded an aura that felt almost celestial."

Carlisle nodded, his fingers tapping softly against the steering wheel as he processed her words. "Do you think it could be connected to your past?"

Eve leaned back in her seat, her voice laced with a hint of certainty. She took a moment before replying, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery through the car window.

"It feels like it is," she confirmed. "But I'm not entirely sure what our connection is or the nature of it."

Carlisle reached for one of her hands and intertwined their fingers, gently squeezing to offer reassuring support.

"It's a good start," he agreed, his voice soft. "Finding the beginnings is often the most significant step."

With a gentle smile, she placed a tender kiss on the back of his hand, her gratitude conveyed through that small gesture.

"You have always known exactly what to say," she whispered, affection and relief mingling in her voice. "I'm so lucky to have you by my side."

He let out a soft chuckle, touched by her gratitude. "Sometimes I wonder if it's not the other way around," he teased. "You're the one who keeps me on my toes."

She couldn't help but roll her eyes playfully at his words. "Oh, please," she retorted with a hint of amusement. "We both know who's the one keeping whom on their toes."

He chuckled, enjoying the playful banter between them. "You think so, do you?" he countered, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

She couldn't help but respond with a hint of challenge in her tone. "Oh, absolutely. But I guess it's a good thing that you seem to enjoy the challenge."

He raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. "Challenge is the spice of life, my dear," he responded, his voice laced with a teasing undertone.

She couldn't help but laugh softly at his response. "Maybe for adventurous souls like you," she shot back, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

He chuckled, his smile widening in response. "I'll take that compliment," he quipped, not one to deny the truth in her words.

She rolled her eyes playfully, unable to resist a smile at his response. "Just be sure not to go overboard with that adventurous spirit," she warned lightly.

He let out a hearty chuckle. "Don't worry, I'll save that for exploring the mysteries of life," he assured her, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

The day wore on with a steady and uneventful flow, with only minimal incidents. The hours slipped by with surprising speed, leaving them with a sense that time had passed with surprising quickness. When they finally stepped out of work, the daylight had already begun its descent towards the horizon.

As the light cast its last light on the sky, Eve and Carlisle retreated to the sanctuary of the Cullen home to delve into research. Since their return from their Alaska vacation, they had diligently searched for answers about Eve's mysterious powers, but progress had been slow.

The only leads they had discovered so far involved temporary abilities and now, the intriguing presence of the red-haired woman in Eve's dreams.

The relentless search for any information on Eve continued, even leading them to acquire a DNA test. Unfortunately, the test yielded no results, much like the lack of any documented records about her existence. But to their further bewilderment, even the DNA analysis revealed no identifiable descent or relation. This added yet another layer of mystery to the enigma surrounding Eve.

As Eve rested her head on his lap on the couch, Carlisle skillfully thumbed through the pages of his books, searching for any mention of red-haired beings that might shed light on the mysterious woman in her dreams. Though he couldn't pinpoint it, something about the description stirred a gnawing familiarity within him.

With a content sigh, Eve relaxed her head on his lap, finding comfort in the coolness emanating from his legs, even though they were shielded by his pants.

"There's something refreshing about your cold touch. It's almost therapeutic."

Carlisle chuckled and teased her playfully, gently pinching her cheek. "Maybe I should start charging a fee for my 'cold touch services,'" he joked.

She playfully turned her head to look at him, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, "Can you take kisses as a currency?"

Carlisle raised an eyebrow, his smile growing wider. "Kisses, huh? Well, I suppose I could make an exception for that."

He leaned back, regarding her with a playful glint in his eyes. "But let me tell you, the exchange rate is quite high."

She chuckled, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Oh, I'm sure my kisses are worth more than any currency."

Carlisle feigned scepticism. "Oh, really now? I think I'll need to conduct a taste test to determine their true value."

She rolled her eyes playfully and playfully batted her eyelashes. "Be my guest. But just remember, they come with a guarantee of satisfaction."

He couldn't help but smile at her eagerness to sell her kisses. "A guarantee, you say? I think I'll need a few samples, just to be thorough."

She couldn't suppress a laugh at his request. "Ah, a connoisseur of fine goods, are you?"

Giving him a coy smile, she leaned in closer. "Very well, allow me to offer you a taste. But fair warning, they're quite addictive."

He raised an eyebrow at her bold statement. "Addictive, you say? Well, how could I possibly turn down a chance to experience something so delectable?"

With a coy smile, he playfully tugged her closer by the waist. "I must warn you, though - I have quite a discerning palate."

She couldn't help but giggle at his response. "Oh, a discerning palate, you say? Well, I suppose it's only fair that I have the honour of being judged by such an esteemed critic."

In a playful gesture, she lightly traced her fingers up his arm. "Let the tasting begin."

Carlisle couldn't resist a smile at her enthusiasm. "Very well, the tasting will commence."

He leaned in, his lips hovering a few inches away from hers. "But I must warn you, I aim to be quite thorough in my assessment. I shall require multiple samples to gather a well-rounded opinion."

She grinned, her eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Oh, I have no doubt you'll make a detailed assessment. Feel free to take all the time necessary to savour each and every one of these samples."

With a suggestive wink, she reached up to playfully touch his cheek. "Be thorough and thorough only."

A playful smirk tugged at his lips at her response. "Detailed assessment, you say? Well, I assure you, I will conduct a thorough and extensive evaluation."

He leaned in a bit closer, his breath mingling with hers. "Be prepared, for I will take my time to fully appreciate each and every sample. Consider yourself under rigorous scrutiny."

As their lips connected in a gentle kiss, a hum of satisfaction escaped Eve's voice. It was warm and soothing, like a melody of contentment.

Carlisle, in response, gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing against her cheek with a tenderness that mirrored her hum of approval. He deepened the kiss slightly, his lips moving against hers in a slow and unhurried dance.

She melted into the kiss, her body instinctively pressing closer to his as his thumb traced the contour of her cheek. The tenderness in his touch and the slow, unhurried dance of their lips stirred a wave of calm and affection within her.

With a slight sigh, she wrapped her arms around his waist, drawing him deeper into the intimate embrace, where the world around them faded, leaving only the sensation of their intertwined lips.

As the kiss intensified, a sudden flash of memory surged within Eve's mind. Through her eyes, she glimpsed an image of a tiny hand, delicate and fragile, reaching out towards a man with blonde locks that mirrored her own. However, the man's features remained indistinct, his face veiled in mystery.

With a sudden pull away, she looked at Carlisle, a puzzled expression etched on her face.

"I just... had some kind of vision. Or rather, a flash of memory," she began, her brows furrowing.

Carlisle's eyes widened slightly, taking in the look of bewilderment on her face. He immediately noticed the shift in her gaze and the sudden distance between them.

"What did you see?" he asked, his voice a low whisper, his attention fully focused on her.

She paused for a moment, still shaken by the unexpected sight that had momentarily invaded her consciousness. "It was like a memory...or a vision, I'm not sure. I saw a baby's hand...maybe my hand?... reaching out towards a man, and I think he had blonde hair...just like mine. But I couldn't make out who the man was."

Her voice held a mixture of disbelief and confusion as she attempted to piece together the fragmented image that had flashed through her mind.

Carlisle's brows furrowed in concern and curiosity as he listened to her description. He gently took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly, trying to help her make sense of the vision she had just experienced.

"Did anything else come to mind? Any other details or feelings associated with it?" he asked slowly.

Eve sighed, a mixture of frustration and resignation in her voice. "If that man I saw was actually my biological father, the fact that the memory resurfaced while I was kissing you just makes me want to bury myself in a hole."

Carlisle chuckled at her outburst but then continued to speak, carefully rubbing her cheek.

"Perhaps it's related to your emotions," he suggested. "I mean, remember back before you killed James? Your drive was to protect Eleanor you found a hunter, and after Rosalie almost got killed, you acted to stop it."

She huffed in frustration, her brows furrowing at the idea. "Yeah, that's quite the stretch," she admitted, though a hint of doubt lingered in her voice.

Carlisle watched her thoughtful expression as she furrowed her brows, contemplating the possibility that there might be a connection. He continued to stroke her cheek gently, waiting patiently for her to find her next thought.

She paused, her thoughts consumed by the enigma that their conversation had stumbled upon. Carlisle saw the flicker of confusion in her expression and the furrow in her brow. He continued to soothingly rub her cheek, waiting for her to articulate her next realization.

"But there's something else bothering me," she said finally, looking up at him with an expression of contemplation.

He raised an eyebrow at her words, his concern growing. "What is it?" he asked gently, his attention fully focused on her, ready to listen to any explanation or thought that crossed her mind.

She leaned in closer, resting her head on his chest as she released a weary sigh. "Every time I was frustrated, I'd always see that woman with red hair in my dreams. So maybe you're right, it's all about my emotions."

A frustrated groan escaped her lips, and Carlisle couldn't help but chuckle. She leaned in even closer before suddenly swatting his chest playfully. "But I wish I could kiss you without getting flashes of my potential father."

He laughed again at her playful swat and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer into a warm embrace. "Ah, the complexities of the subconscious mind," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

He smiled, his thumb gently tracing the contour of her cheek. "Perhaps we should avoid situations that might trigger such visions. For the sake of both our sanity and the lack of awkward dream flashbacks."

She pouted, her lips pulling into a cute little pout upon hearing his suggestion. "No kissing at all? Not a chance." Her defiant voice held a hint of playful determination.

Carlisle couldn't help but chuckle in response, an amused glint in his eyes. "Ah, the unwavering determination of my girlfriend," he teased affectionately, his fingers playing with a strand of her hair.

She huffed in mock annoyance, her pout deepening at his teasing tone. "You're not getting rid of me that easily." The determination in her eyes and the pout on her lips were endearing, but she held a firm resolve.

Carlisle chuckled again, his hand gently brushing against her cheek. "Oh, I have no plans of getting rid of you," he replied, a glint in his eye that suggested he was thoroughly enjoying this little exchange.

Time continued to pass, and the hours grew later as the pair delved into their research. They meticulously flipped through pages, reading and studying every word with determined focus. Despite the late hour, their dedication remained unwavering.

Finally, they closed the last of the books, a collective sigh escaping their lips as they concluded their research session for the night. It had not yielded the desired results, but with a newfound theory in hand, it was a small victory nonetheless.