»—— act four. breaking dawn, part one
☽⋅── FIVE ──maeve ─⋅☾

Eve found herself constantly admiring her ring in the days that followed the wedding. Frequently, members of the family would hear her exclaim with delight, recognizing that it was Eve once more. 

Rosalie, reading a magazine, looked up and chuckled, her eyes flickering towards Eve, who was sitting on the sofa, admiring her ring, and said, "It's been three days now.".

Eve gave Rosalie a playful frown in response and replied, "Let me relish this, please. Since Carlisle and I cannot go on a honeymoon until the twins arrive, I'm finding my own way to enjoy this moment."

"By staring at your ring," Rosalie commented, a teasing tone to her voice.

Eve gave a cheeky grin and defended herself, "Well, I don't have much else to do. And you have to admit, it's a really beautiful ring."

Rosalie couldn't argue with that. The ring was indeed a work of art, sparkling brilliantly on Eve's finger. "No argument there," she admitted with a nod. "Carlisle has good taste."

"Not just in jewellery," Eve replied with a sly grin, her mind wandering. The sparkle in her eyes betrayed the direction her thoughts were heading.

Rosalie snorted and went back to reading. Some time had gone on, and Eleanor had come back, from finishing her tuition.

After the wedding, the next day, Eve and Eleanor sat down and talked.

Eleanor who had been avoiding speaking about being accepted into College, decided to finally act on it. While she was still unsure what she was going to pursue, she was going to give it a try and see if she actually wanted to try it out.

Eve turned to Eleanor, "How was it?"

Eleanor fiddled with her fingers, a mix of excited and nervous. "It was good, actually. It felt kind of surreal, though. Like I could almost picture myself actually attending college."

Eve smiled, her heart swelling with parental pride. "That's a great start, sweetheart. Have you thought about what you want to major in?"

Eleanor shrugged her shoulders as she leaned back into the couch. "I don't know yet. I'm just going to try a few classes across different subjects and see what piques my interest."

"That's a smart approach," Eve agreed, nodding encouragingly. "It's okay not to know what you want to do right away. The important thing is that you're giving college a shot and keeping an open mind."

Eleanor smiled softly, the uncertainty in her eyes mingled with determination. "Yeah, that's what I need to do. Keep an open mind and see what happens. Worst case, I figure out what I don't want to do and find a new path. It's better than not trying at all."

As the hours ticked by, the conversation between Eleanor and Eve came to an end, and Eleanor retired to her room for some much-needed rest.

With the house quiet and everyone else occupied, Eve found herself drawn to the vacant room that was destined to be the nursery for the twins.

The newly painted walls, a soothing shade of muted yellow, stood bare and empty.

Eve ran her hand across the wall, the colour reminding her of a warm summer day. Despite the absence of any furniture or decoration, the room already held a promise of future laughter, late-night feeds, and countless treasured moments as the life of the twins filled its walls.

She stood in the middle of the room, imagining twin cribs against one wall, a changing table with a rocking chair nearby, and countless toys scattered across the floor. The scene in her mind brought a soft smile to her face, the anticipation of her growing family palpable in the empty space.

She blinked the sudden vision of children's beds, not baby cribs, startling her. It was like a brief flash of the future, yet it didn't match the reality she had been imagining only moments ago. Eve shook her head, the images leaving as quickly as they came, leaving her slightly dumbfounded.

"That was weird," she muttered to herself, running a hand through her hair. The image of the children's beds seemed so out of place, yet there was a hint of reality about it she couldn't quite place. She decided to push it aside, attributing it to a random, stress-induced hallucination.

"Probably just my mind playing tricks on me," Eve said aloud, trying to laugh off the strange image. Yet, a nagging feeling in the back of her mind told her there was more to it than she wanted to acknowledge.

As Eve meandered through the house, her eyes caught Jasper and Alice in a tender embrace on the couch. Through the window, she saw Edward and Emmett engaged in a playful battle, the sounds of their laughter filling the air. Rosalie stood to the side, occasionally chiming in with a laugh of her own.

Finally, her footsteps led her to the makeshift clinic, where Carlisle was diligently working.

The clinic was filled with an array of medical supplies, the silence only interrupted by occasional rustling. Carlisle was focused on his work, not noticing her at first.

Eve stood in the doorway, watching him for a moment as he carefully sorted through medical supplies, the precision of his actions almost artistic.

"Hey," Eve said softly, finally breaking the silence. Carlisle looked up, his stern expression softening when he saw her. He straightened up, turning his full attention to her.

"Eve," he greeted, his voice warm yet filled with concern. "Is everything alright?"

He walked over to her, his eyes searching her face for any signs of distress.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she sighed, resting her hands on the door frame. "Just needed a change of scenery, I guess."

Her response was sincere enough, but the nagging feeling from earlier was still at the back of her mind, not quite letting her fully enjoy the moment.

Carlisle, observant as always, sensed that there was more to her nonchalance than she was letting on. He looked her over another moment before gently asking, "Are you sure? You seem a little... distracted."

Eve chewed the inside of her cheek, contemplating her words. After a moment, she relented, knowing that Carlisle would not let it go.

"It's just..." She paused, choosing her next words carefully, "I had this weird vision in the room we're going to set up for the twins. It was as if I saw the future, but not the one I wanted."

Carlisle's eyebrows furrowed slightly, a hint of worry in his eyes. He guided her further into the room, gesturing for her to sit. When they were both comfortable, he said, "Describe it to me."

Eve sat down, her mind trying to recall the image. "It was like... I saw the room, but it wasn't with baby cribs anymore. It had beds, like children's beds."

She shook her head, the strangeness of the vision still making goosebumps tingle up her arms. "It was so out of place like the moment of them being babies was going to be short-lived. Maybe my mind was just playing tricks on me."

Carlisle listened intently, his concern growing as she described the vision. He knew Eve well enough to know she wouldn't imagine such a thing without reason.

Instead of offering immediate reassurance, Carlisle remained silent for a moment. He understood that Eve wasn't looking for comforting words; rather, she wanted to understand and process what had happened.

They both were aware that the arrival of the twins was going to be a challenge. The vision had added another layer to it, a hint of uncertainty that they couldn't ignore.

As she shook off the vision, Eve declared, "Let's focus on the present."

She wanted to push aside the uncertainty lingering in her mind, preferring to deal with the reality instead of letting it overshadow her current happiness.

Carlisle nodded in agreement, understanding her need to stay in the moment. He reached out, taking her hand in his, a small gesture of support.

"The present is all we truly have control over," he reminded her, his voice gentle yet resolute.

"Right," Eve took a deep breath, grounding herself in the moment. The feel of Carlisle's hand in hers provided an anchor, helping her focus on the tangible and immediate instead of the what-ifs from her vision.

Their lips met, the kiss tender yet filled with a thousand unspoken feelings. There was a reassurance in that simple gesture—a silent promise of facing whatever the future held together. The hum in Carlisle's throat reverberated through Eve, a physical reminder of the bond they shared, the connection that went beyond words.

As their lips were still connected, Eve couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. The laugh, a brief escape from the intensity of the moment, echoed gently into the kiss.

Eve smiled, her question dripping with playful undertones. "So, Mr. Cullen," she began, drawing out the formality. "Are you planning to continue working, or shall we opt for a more relaxing activity? Perhaps we could watch a movie or simply delve into a book. The choice is yours, my dear."

Carlisle's smile widened as he replied, the tone of his mock reluctance making it abundantly clear that he was more than happy to oblige her.

"Well, Mrs. Cullen," he responded, playing along with her formality. "Although part of me wants to keep working, spending time with you sounds much more enticing. A movie night or a quiet evening with books sounds absolutely delightful. Count me in, dear."

His agreement was accompanied by a light twinkle in his eyes, revealing the excitement and anticipation he felt for the moment of relaxation they were about to share. The pretence of having to choose between work and leisure was nothing but a playful charade, for Carlisle knew very well where his priorities lay.

...

That night, as Eve slept, she found herself immersed in another dream. Like the first few times, she was a child again, yet everything felt different.

She was not in the vast flower fields but inside a small, cosy cottage. Despite its diminutive size, the place held a charm to it. Eve was seated at a table, her legs swinging idly as she hummed a familiar, melodic tune.

The atmosphere was peaceful, the dim glow of a nearby oil lamp casting a warm, soothing light around. Eve continued humming, the melody blending into the gentle quietness of the cottage. The dream felt so realistic that she could almost smell the faint scent of wood smoke and feel the texture of the fabric of her clothes.

As she surveyed the small space, taking in the cobblestone walls and the makeshift fireplace, Eve felt the certainty that she was back in the 1400s. It was a familiar understanding, an innate knowledge that came with her youth.

Her hands restlessly tapped on the table, mirroring her childish energy. With a sudden burst of energy, she jumped off the chair and scurried to the door.

There, she paused, listening to the distinct knocks on the door. They weren't just any random knocks, they were a familiar code, one she instantly recognized.

With a smile, she flung open the door to find her father standing outside. His expression was a subtle one, a mere hint of a smile playing on his lips.

Her father raised an eyebrow, a mix of amusement and mild parental sternness in his expression.

"Maeve," he started, his voice carrying a hint of parental reproach, "you know you're supposed to wait until I knock a second time."

Her young self, full of carefree energy, protested, "But Daddy, I already knew it was you! I could smell your scent." She paused, then added, "And I told you, I want to be called Eve!"

Her father chuckled lightly despite his feigned annoyance, his sternness softening in the face of her exuberance.

He conceded, "Okay, Eve," and followed her into the house, his hand cold and calloused in her small one.

Eve spun around, her face lit up with a smile. "What did you catch for me today, Daddy?"

Her father replied, "A hare."

Her smile widened as he continued to the small kitchen. "Do you want the blood or the meat?" he asked.

"Both!" she exclaimed cheerfully, sitting down at the table. She then asked, "Did you feed today?"

He looked over his shoulder, stating, "Not today, I'll do it tomorrow."

Eve frowned, "Why don't you try animal blood, Daddy? I'm telling you, it's good."

He turned back to face her, a shadow of something in his eyes. "You've never even tried human blood," he stated, "Trust me, it's better."

Eve made a face, pulling a face of disgust. "No, I prefer animals," she insisted, a note of stubbornness in her voice.

Eve suddenly sat up, her throat parched, the dream she'd just woken from fresh in her mind. Her sudden awakeness caught Carlisle's attention, his head snapping up from the paperwork he'd been immersed in.

"Darling? Is everything alright?" Carlisle asked concerned, rising from his desk.

Eve turned to him, still struggling to shake off the remnants of the dream. "I just had a dream about my past," she began, her voice tinged with a seriousness.

She paused, taking a moment to choose her next words. "I have a favour to ask of you."

Carlisle's eyes softened as he appeared right next to her. "You know you can ask me anything," he reassured her, his hand gently resting on her knee.

"I need to drink some blood," Eve stated, her hand moving to her teeth as she felt a sudden, sharp pain. "I think my vampire side is starting to make itself known."

As if on cue, the twins kicked inside her, their presence in her womb adding another layer to her need for blood. "And I think the twins want blood as well."

"Thank goodness I stocked up some blood in the clinic," Carlisle said, preparing to rise from his seat.

Eve stopped him, shaking her head. "No, I don't want human blood—I want animal blood."

Carlisle seemed puzzled. "Are you sure that will satisfy the thirst?"

Eve chuckled, her expression softening. "Yes, trust me. I've never wanted to drink human blood, even as a kid."

Carlisle's gaze lingered on her face, searching her eyes intently for a moment. Finally, he slowly nodded, conceding to her preference. "If that's what you want, that's what you'll get," he affirmed before rising to go and hunt.

A few minutes later, Eve rose from the bed, a sharp pain in her side causing her to wince and rub her stomach. "Don't worry," she said softly, addressing the twins, "Your Daddy is getting it." She let out a gentle chuckle, "Please don't bruise Mommy. The blood will be here soon."