»—— act two. new moon
☽⋅── THREE ──you've already given me so much ─⋅☾

As the day was approaching that marked almost a year since their move to Forks, the significance of their time spent there, especially about the meeting with the Cullen family, weighed heavily on everyone's minds.

It was an unexpected turn of events, particularly for Eve. She never anticipated falling in love, especially given the circumstances. The journey, filled with new experiences and profound connections, had taken a surprising but undeniable turn. It was a sentiment shared by both mother and daughter – a year well spent in a place none of them imagined they would be.

Days before what would mark a significant milestone, Eleanor's birthday, a thoughtful arrangement was made. Inspired by Alice's suggestion, they decided to host a small gathering at the Cullen residence, inclusive of both the Cullen family and the mother and daughter.

A week before the special day, plans were set in motion, anticipation building as everyone looked forward to the intimate celebration at the Cullen's home.

The gathering, which started with the best of intentions, began with an air of innocence and excitement. It seemed like a harmless celebration, an opportunity for everyone to come together and enjoy time with each other. However, little did anyone know, including Alice herself, that this night would takea dreadful turn.

On the morning of Eleanor's birthday, with the sun just creeping over the horizon, a cheerful wake-up call echoed through the room. The unmistakable tune of a birthday song echoed, as both Eve and Charlie serenaded her with warm and heartfelt "Happy Birthday" wishes.

As Eleanor opened her eyes, the initial annoyance of being startled awake quickly melted away, replaced by the warm presence of her mother's voice and smile. The magic of the moment washed away any lingering moodiness, and a smile soon graced her face.

Eleanor sat up in bed, her voice filled with playful banter as she teased, "You two have too much energy in the morning."

Eve chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Well, with me being a doctor and Charlie being a cop, we have good reason to be up early in a small place like Forks."

Charlie then handed Eleanor a ringing phone, holding it out for Bella to say "Happy Birthday" on.

As Eleanor took the call and conversed with Bella, Charlie and Eve stepped to the side, waiting patiently to deliver her the small cake and gifts they had prepared.

Charlie handed Eleanor a collection of gifts, a joint present from Bella consisting of a camera and an album from him. He shared Bella's sentiment, saying, "Make this last school year filled with memories."

Eleanor's face lit up in gratitude, expressing her appreciation for her gifts and sending a thank you text to Bella.

As for Eve, holding up a cloth with a cheeky grin, she proposed a challenge. "How much do you trust me?"

Eleanor jokingly made a faux horrified face, defending herself. "Mom, I swear I've been on my best behaviour at school lately!"

Eve rolled her eyes at her daughter's insistence on being honest. "Oh, shut up and put on the blindfold," she commanded playfully, holding the cloth out further. Despite the mock protest, Eleanor complied, putting on the blindfold as directed.

Once her blindfold was removed, Eleanor's eyes widened at the sight of the sleek white Mercedes sedan. It was a gift from her mother, who dangled the keys in front of her. The words that followed made her heart skip a beat.

"They pay me so well here," Eve continued, a warm smile on her face, "and you deserve to have a car to call your own."

Eleanor's shriek of joy echoed, her excitement pouring out in a whirlwind of energy as she embraced her mother before running over to admire her new car.

Charlie chuckled at the sight of Eleanor's overwhelming enthusiasm, watching as she captured photos with the camera Bella gave her before heading off to work.

Eve approached her daughter, placing a hand kindly on her shoulder. "Alright you little excited birthday girl," she teased gently. "Let's head out for something to eat and have a go in your new car. Oh, and there's another surprise waiting for you later."

Eleanor looked at her mother with a mixture of guilt and curiosity, "Mom, you've already given me so much. What could possibly be left?"

Eve chuckled, "Let me spoil you. After all, you're officially an adult and you only turn 18 once."

Eleanor quipped back, "We turn every age once, Mom," while Eve teasingly poked her stomach in response.

"Okay smartass, let's get ready," Eve declared, pulling her daughter back into the house as they made their way to prepare for the day ahead.

The day had a clear agenda, with plans for Eve and Eleanor to spend time together from morning until Eve would eventually escort her to the surprise birthday party at the Cullen residence later at night.

As it wasn't time for the party to commence just yet, Eve decided to seize the opportunity to spend quality time with her daughter. They had hours to themselves before the festivities began, so she planned to make the most of it.

Eve led Eleanor around Forks, the city's streets filled with the hustle and bustle of ordinary citizens going about their daily lives. They walked together leisurely, exploring the local shops, stopping to admire the scenery, and perhaps taking a break in a nearby park.

The hours ticked by, and the sun began its slow descent towards twilight. As the sky took on hues of pink and orange, Eve stopped in her tracks and motioned for Eleanor to do the same.

"Come with me," Eve said, drawing Eleanor's attention. "There's something I want to show you."

Eleanor followed her mom's lead, curiosity piqued by her words as they walked towards the outskirts of town. The sun continued to sink lower on the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape. After a few more minutes of walking, they reached a secluded spot near a small creek.

Eve gestured towards a nearby patch of wildflowers, their colourful petals catching the fading sunlight. "Look at those," she said quietly, her voice filled with nostalgia.

Eleanor smiled at the sight, the vibrant colours and the lingering scent of freshly blooming flowers brought a sense of tranquillity. She turned to her mom, her curiosity still piqued. "What do you want to show me here?"

Eve looked at the patch of blossoms, a mix of nostalgia and reminiscence in her eyes. "I used to come here when I was an intern at the Forks Hospital," she began before kneeling among the flowers.

Eleanor joined her mom, crouching and listening intently. "You mentioned that bad things happened during your time at the hospital," she pointed out, "but you never went into specifics."

Eve sighed, recalling the past. "It was certainly challenging and unpleasant, not nearly as dark as I made it seem, but the environment was toxic. Many of the older staff had prejudices..."

"They didn't welcome me,  because I was so young, so they tried to take advantage of my youth. They would hide important meetings from me, and even lie about where I was supposed to go," Eve explained, "It was like a relentless nightmare."

Eleanor listened intently, her expression a mix of sympathy and understanding. "It must have been tough dealing with all that," she said, placing her hand on her mom's shoulder.

Eve sighed, a sense of determination in her voice, "But being treated poorly only fueled my drive to try harder and prove them wrong." She then offered a small smile, "In any case, my main point is that you should always seize an opportunity when it comes your way."

Eleanor raised an eyebrow, sensing her mom's subtleties. "Are you trying to bring up your thoughts on the Edward situation again?"

Eve chuckled, "Not particularly, but I did want to touch upon how you tend to use humour as a defence mechanism when dealing with serious matters."

Eve glanced down before continuing, her voice soft yet sincere. "There was a time after Echo left us that you developed a habit of avoiding serious matters. I'm not urging you to change who you are, but consider being open to embracing opportunities."

Eleanor listened patiently, her hand resting on her cheek. "I'm aware that I have a tendency to run from challenging situations, and I realize it's a difficult habit to break."

As Eve stood up, reaching out a hand for her daughter, Eleanor took it and joined her.

"What have you been thinking about, Mom?"

Eve let out a sigh, realizing that her thoughts were evident. "You've already seen through me," she acknowledged, looking towards the open field.

"We've avoided New York since..."

Eleanor nodded in agreement, understanding her mother's unspoken sentiment. "Yeah, since that time," she agreed softly.

Eve continued, her voice filled with determination, "I know you're not quite ready to go to New York yet, but I feel a strong need within me to find answers." She confessed, "After the events with James, I'm afraid of losing myself and putting those I care about in danger. I want to look for my forgotten past," Eve said with a mix of anxiety and determination.

She glanced at Eleanor, her eyes conveying a sense of urgency and necessity. "I need answers, El."

Eleanor listened intently, her concern for her mother evident on her face, but she held her tongue, allowing Eve to continue speaking.

Eve struggled to find the right words, grappling with the guilt of discussing this on her daughter's birthday. But fate seemed to twist their plans as the conversation unfolded.

Eleanor, with a reassuring smile, squeezed Eve's hand. "Go and find the answers, Mom."

Eve met her daughter's gaze, filled with a mix of surprise and guilt. "El, I can't just leave you here alone."

But Eleanor countered, "Mom, I've got Charlie, the Cullens, and even Jacob. I'll be fine."

"It's not the same without you here, El," Eve asserted with conviction.

Eleanor scoffed in response, "I'm an adult now, Mom. I can survive being away from you."

Eve considered this, replying, "I don't know how long it might take."

Before she could finish, Eleanor interrupted, "It'll be fine, Mom. I'm not ready to venture into New York yet. And Forks isn't as intimidating as I once thought."

Then she paused, adding, "Mom, ever since the incident with James, I've seen a change in you."

"You've been different, keeping up appearances but I can tell you haven't been yourself," Eleanor concluded, looking at her mother with a thoughtful expression.

"You have a past you want to uncover, and I would never want you to give that up," Eleanor affirmed with conviction, her voice steady.

"I'll be alright here, and I will wait for you," she added soothingly, looking at her mother with understanding eyes.

Eve wrapped her arms around Eleanor as she spoke, "I love you, El."

Eleanor returned her embrace, replying, "I love you, too, Mom."

However, her eyes widened as she realized the gravity of the situation. "Wait, what about Carlisle? Did you even mention it to him?"

Eve swallowed hard, avoiding her daughter's gaze. "Well, no.."

Eleanor's expression turned disapproving, "Hold up, you weren't even planning to talk to him before leaving?"

Eve sighed, realizing the impact of her decision. "I was intending to tell him, but I was worried that he might try to join me, Carlisle has his family here, and they chose this place because of the mostly cloudy weather. They desired to spend time among people without having to worry about the sun." She explained, averting her eyes.

Eleanor shook her head, a disapproving look on her face. "Even if he offered, it wouldn't be fair to just go without a word. You love him, right? So don't be foolish and just leave without saying anything," she insisted.

Eve's expression shifted, realizing her error. "You're right, El."

Eleanor agreed, "That's right because if you were to leave without saying anything, I was going to tell him myself." She wore a mischievous grin on her face.

Eve responded with a feigned look of hurt, "My own child would betray me?"

Eleanor huffed, "Hey, listen here. If I didn't tell Carlisle—well, Edward would probably just read my mind and tell him anyway. It's better coming from your daughter than for Edward to spill it."

Eve chuckled, realizing the irony of the situation. "You have a point there," she admitted with a grin. "You might as well be the one to tell him instead of letting Edward drop the bomb."

Eve smirked and held up her hand, gesturing for Eleanor's keys. "Alright, I've got another place to take you, so hand them over."

Eleanor grinned and handed over the keys. "But remember, take care of my baby."

Eve chuckled in response, "I'll take good care of it, don't worry."