»—— act two. new moon
☽⋅── SIX ──there will be nothing in our way ─⋅☾

After a week and a half of journeying, Carlisle and Eve finally arrived in New York, specifically at Ithaca, where Carlisle had a home.

Fortunately, the hospital they were set to work at wasn't too far away, making the location ideal. Additionally, the secluded area, similar to the tranquil setting of Forks, provided a comforting environment that suited Eve's preferences.

Since settling in Forks, Eve had come to detest her cramped apartment in a densely populated city before their move there.

The home in Ithaca was just as opulent as the Cullen residence back in Forks but with a unique vintage aesthetic. As Eve wandered through the spacious estate, she marvelled at the beautiful surroundings, while Carlisle walked beside her, providing company.

"I acquired this property from an elderly couple back in 1904," Carlisle revealed, watching her peruse the vintage wallpaper with an amused grin.

"There's definitely a story there," Eve declared, glancing at him.

Carlisle chuckled at Eve's observation, fully aware that she had a knack for noticing even the most minute details.

"Looks like I underestimated your keen eye," he replied, amusement lacing his words.

Eve smiled slightly, her voice laced with mirth, "Well, I noticed an old portrait by the staircase, and it didn't seem like any of the family, so I guess that's kind of cheating."

Carlisle nodded, amused by her observation. He led her to his office, which was devoid of a bed. Realizing that Eve would require a place to sleep, Carlisle made a mental note to purchase a bed for her, since he didn't need sleep.

In the office, which mimicked the vintage ambience of the rest of the house, Carlisle proceeded to pull out an antique album. He led Eve over to the couch and took a seat beside her.

As he opened the album, a captivating figure with golden-blonde hair like his own, but adorned with dark eyes instead of the typical golden hue, appeared in the portrait. The aged image made it challenging to discern the exact colour of the eyes, but Eve marvelled at the man's striking resemblance to Carlisle.

Carlisle recounted to Eve the story of the couple who owned the house, detailing how the loss of their son in the war had led them to never have another child. As retirees, they moved into this estate. They eventually required a doctor for regular check-ups, and luck would have it that Carlisle had been the one to look after them.

He turned the page to reveal a photograph of him with the couple. Carlisle confessed his reluctance to have his picture taken, explaining, "Since I don't age, it's risky."

"So, you took care of them," Eve observed. He simply nodded in affirmation.

Carlisle proceeded by showing her a series of photographs of the couple throughout the years, from childhood to later in their old age. As he reached the conclusion and closed the album, Carlisle remarked, "I think before they passed away, they knew what I was."

"What do you mean?" Eve asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

Carlisle reached the end of the album and said, "Before I became their doctor, they had been through many others, but none of them had met their needs. It was when they met me."

"Initially, I believed that my extensive years of experience were the reason they chose me, but that wasn't the case. They chose me because they understood what I was," Carlisle stated. "I was someone who never aged. For them, having me around allowed them to feel like their son was alive again, immortal in a sense."

Carlisle gently placed the album on the couch, his gaze distant as he grappled with the implications of their unspoken understanding.

"I never anticipated they knew my true nature," he confessed softly, his voice tinged with a melancholy edge. "They wanted to entrust the home to someone who would honour its legacy, and I vowed to uphold that promise."

He absently ran a hand through his golden locks, the weight of their unspoken connection heavy in the air.

As she laid her head on his shoulder, Eve remarked, "You've honoured their promise."

She looked up at him, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "When things return to a sense of normalcy, I'd like you to take me to your other homes. I feel as though some of them hold stories similar to this." She gently touched his face.

"I want to know everything about your experiences throughout the centuries," she confessed.

His gaze softened at her words, his eyes filled with a mix of fondness and weariness. He leaned slightly into her touch.

"I'd be honoured to show you my other homes," Carlisle affirmed, a warm smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Each abode is a chapter in my long existence, and I'd be happy to share the stories that come with them."

As their eyes met, they confessed their devotion to each other— "I love you," she softly breathed.

Carlisle reciprocated with, "I love you as well," his voice a tender whisper. Instead of kissing the back of her hand, he tenderly kissed her palm. "There's something I want to share with you," he revealed.

"What is it?" she inquired with curiosity.

"You are the first person I've ever loved," he confessed, his words tinged with a mix of surprise and vulnerability.

Her voice cracked slightly, surprise laced in her tone. "Even after how long you've lived, you've never loved anyone?"

With a tender touch, Carlisle brushed her cheek with his thumb. "I never sought it out before. I didn't care for it. I just wanted to heal people, and I hadn't realized that by helping others, I was neglecting myself," he confessed.

"I wouldn't change it, though," Carlisle added with conviction. "No matter how long it took, I'm glad I waited, because I can't imagine anyone else but you."

As a wave of emotions washed over her, tears streamed down her face. Carlisle's chuckling and soft kiss on her tear-stained cheek only intensified the moment.

Eve, too, broke into a soft laugh, then bridged the gap between them, capturing his lips in a tender kiss of her own.

In a moment of passion and desire, Carlisle leaned forward, ignoring the sound of the album slipping off the couch. He gently manoeuvred her back against the couch, his kiss deepening without a moment of hesitation. The world around them faded away, consumed by the intimate connection they shared.

As the embrace deepened, Carlisle continued to move with a tender determination. His body pressed firmly against hers, the world's noise replaced by the rhythmic pulse of their breaths and the soft sound of lips parting. The album, now forgotten, had fallen to the floor, but at the moment, it was the least of their priorities.

Caught in the heat of the moment, yet held in check by an internal struggle, Carlisle and Eve suddenly pulled back simultaneously, the connection between them abruptly severed. Their foreheads touched, each pair of eyes meeting with a profound tenderness.

The anticipation hanging in the air was palpable, their gazes holding a mix of intense longing and self-disciplined restraint.

"Once we have all the answers..." Eve murmured tenderly.

"There will be nothing in our way," Carlisle completed her sentence, his voice a soft whisper as he kissed her lovingly.

He gently pulled her back up, and together, they settled back onto the couch, wrapped in their embrace.

As they leaned back together on the couch, the intensity of their feelings still present yet subdued, Carlisle and Eve found themselves in an intimate hold. The passion from moments before had given way to a calmness, a shared understanding that the answers they sought were paramount to their future.

"For now," Carlisle said softly, "we'll wait."

As the night enveloped them, a sense of restlessness settled over Carlisle and Eve as they prepared for the coming days at their new hospital job. Having secured night shifts, they recognized a unique opportunity to seek answers amidst the quieter hours of the day.