»—— act one. twilight
☽⋅── FIVE ──is it worth the risk? ─⋅☾

Despite having the title of "mother" for a few years, Eve still found it hard to feel that maternal connection with Eleanor. She was used to being more of a friend to Eleanor, which often got her reprimanded by many parents they met. But it was simply what worked for her and her daughter.

After all, Eve was young, most people her age didn't have teenage children. However, at this moment, she had a person around her age who had children who were teenagers- Carlisle - and he had the perfect advice, even if she was unaware of the nature surrounding the Cullens.

Despite the Cullens being frozen in time, their teenage habits remained unchanged. For Carlisle, having grown teenagers with an eternal lifespan meant they still carried their teen-like behaviours. During a rare night shift, he found himself and Eve having more time for conversation.

One particular night time, he overheard Eve arguing with Eleanor on the phone from her office. Curiosity piqued, he paused and listened in to the conversation.

Immediately after hearing the slamming of the phone and the muttered curses, he pretended not to notice. The scent of her grew stronger and he fixed his chair in anticipation, looking toward the door. The sound of a knock came from the outside, and expecting her, he called out, "Come in."

He straightened up in his chair, and Eve walked in, looking somewhat frustrated.

"Dr. Cullen." Eve briefly acknowledged his presence. He chuckled when she sent a specific look his way, and he indicated for her to take a seat in the chair facing his desk.

"Please, have a seat. What can I do for you?" he asked, gesturing towards the chair in front of his desk as he leaned back slightly. He found her look and the fact that she was here intriguing, anticipating the reason behind her visit.

Eve sighed and moved to take a seat, leaning forward slightly. She paused for a moment before saying, "I know you mentioned having teenagers."

"Yes, I have five of them," he replied, allowing her to continue.

She bit her inner cheek before gesturing with her hands, expressing her frustration. "It's been a while since the accident, and El has been acting strange. I know she's been getting along well with one of your sons before it, but recently, she's been... distancing herself from me. It's not just typical teenage moodiness. I am so sure of it."

Eve stood up and began pacing around the room. "Anyway," she explained, "I've been finding it difficult to handle El lately. This morning, she even ignored Charlie, which is something she doesn't usually do. Charlie suggested giving her some space, but I..."

Carlisle took a moment to observe the situation, noticing the anxiety in Eve's demeanour. He wished that Jasper was around to soothe her, but he preferred not to resort to that kind of advantage if possible.

Instead, he stood up and moved closer to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. He spoke in a reassuring tone, "Edward had his moments when he rebelled against me. I felt like I failed him, so I chose to give him some space, but I also made an effort to talk to him."

Eve looked up at him, "I try to talk to El, but she gets angry at me."

"In that case," Carlisle continued, "Give her the space you think she needs, but don't forget to show her that you still care. That is something they crave, sometimes."

Despite Carlisle's inability to disclose the entirety of Edward's rebellion, he took note of Eve's heart rate returning to a more relaxed state. There was still a lingering sense of guilt regarding the years when Edward left to feed on humans, and although Edward had subsequently returned and even held some conversations, Carlisle hadn't fully forgiven himself for not acting more to prevent the situation from unfolding.

A small smile appeared on Eve's face as she complimented Carlisle, acknowledging both his good looks, his advice-giving skills, and his role as a good father.

Carlisle chuckled softly at her comment, acknowledging the first two points but trying not to dwell too much on the third.

The silence stretched on, the air around them thick with tension. Their gazes remained fixed on each other, not a single sound could be heard, and the room felt like it held its breath. Eve's heart continued to race, echoing in her ears, while Carlisle's ears picked up every thump with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.

Neither dared to break the silent connection, as if acknowledging the unspoken mutual attraction. The room grew warmer and the air even thinner, as they stood there, frozen in time, refusing to break the spell that had taken hold.

An interruption rang out sharply, causing the moment of silence and intimacy to shatter into pieces. Eve quickly retrieved her pager from her pocket, while Carlisle involuntarily flinched at the sudden sound.

Despite her disappointment, Eve tried to conceal it while removing her pager from her pocket.

"Well, that's me," she muttered apologetically before departing. Just before exiting his office, she looked over her shoulder and asked, "Hey. How about having dinner together sometime?"

Carlisle could tell his eyes widened, not expecting the invitation. It caught him off-guard. "Um, that... might be difficult," he began, "considering..." He trailed off, not knowing how to explain his inability to eat food.

Eve, noticing his hesitation, held her breath, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean—"

Carlisle abruptly halted her words, "No, it's not that," he insisted. His eyes closed for a moment as he wrestled with his thoughts. He grappled with the decision of whether to tell her the truth about what he truly was, but the weight of the risk and the potential danger deterred him.

"I... just," he murmured, "it's complicated."

Eve tried to mask her disappointment, but the pager's beep signifying her departure hung heavy in the air. "It's alright," she reassured, though the hint of rejection in her voice was undeniable.

As she prepared to exit the room, she left Carlisle behind, his emotions weighed down as the door shut, leaving him alone with his thoughts and a palpable sense of disappointment.

The door closed, Carlisle's isolation intensified, leaving him with his swirling thoughts and a weight of disappointment. The empty room felt much too vast after the encounter with Eve. The door's gentle click echoed in his mind, like a final farewell as she walked away.