»—— act one. twilight
☽⋅── TEN ──they can keep us safe ─⋅☾

Eve had been pleasantly surprised to find that the day she had off was a beautiful one, and even more so when she realized that Carlisle had the day off as well. Mainly because he did confess to her that working together was one of his favourite things and she too, thought the same.

Their plans to meet his family would have to wait until the following weekend, since her daughter, had requested that Eve spend the entire weekend with her first.

She remained unaware that her daughter was about to reveal an important secret to her mother about her knowing the true nature of the Cullens.

Eleanor decided to take the wheel that day, determined to make the most of the sunny weather in Forks. They visited various places that were usually less frequented when the weather took a turn for the worse.

As the car glided through the sunny roads, the warm sunlight filled the vehicle, casting a pleasant atmosphere within it.

The sunshine streamed through the windows, creating a warm and inviting ambience inside the car. Eleanor drove with a relaxed smile on her face, her fingers gently tapping on the steering wheel as the car glided along the quiet roadways.

The peaceful silence between the two women was comfortable, not needing to be filled with conversation. The gentle hum of the engine and the occasional rustle of the breeze through the trees was the only sound breaking the tranquillity.

As they continued their journey through the scenic roads of Forks, the silence between the two women, broken only by the sound of the engine and the gentle rustling of the breeze through the trees, felt comfortable and natural.

Eleanor's relaxed expression never left her face, her eyes darting occasionally between the road and the surroundings. The scenery seemed to blend together into a picturesque backdrop outside the car.

Now and then, her hand would tap the steering wheel in a steady rhythm, creating a soft and comforting rhythm that punctuated the tranquil atmosphere.

While the conversation flowed effortlessly, Eve made sure to avoid providing any information that might give away the supernatural nature of her relationship with Carlisle. Instead, she opted to talk about various aspects within his present timeline, keeping her explanations limited to the surface-level details.

Eleanor couldn't help but notice that her mother was being coy about sharing more, and this prompted her to decide to end the stalling and find a secluded spot where they wouldn't be overheard.

After a while, the car finally came to a stop at an almost deserted park. The area was nearly devoid of people, which was ideal for having a private conversation.

Eve raised an eyebrow, a puzzled expression on her face, as she regarded the choice of location. "I must say, I didn't expect you to choose a spot like this," she commented.

Eleanor's voice held a steely tone as she turned off the ignition. "I want to talk to you about something," she said quietly, a serious expression on her face.

Seeing the concerned look on her daughter's face, Eve tilted her head and nodded, "Alright, let's find a bench to sit on." They both exited the car and moved silently towards a nearby bench.

The pair settled onto the bench together, the soft sunny breeze gently rustling the leaves overhead. Eve turned to her daughter, a mixture of curiosity and concern in her eyes.

"You said there's something you wanted to talk to me about?" she asked softly, waiting for Eleanor to speak up and share what was weighing on her mind.

Eleanor took a moment before speaking, her gaze shifting as she fiddled with her hands, a nervous habit she had.

"Since things are going great between you and Dr. Cullen..." she started, pausing for a moment before continuing. "Does that mean you know everything?"

Eve blinked as her daughter spoke, processing her words. Then, her eyes widened in surprise as she registered the confirmation of Eleanor's question. "Wait, are you saying that you know as well? About the Cullens?"

Eleanor nodded silently as the reality sank in. Her mother observed her for a moment, a mix of surprise and relief in her eyes.

"So, you figured it out without me even having to say anything," Eve finally said, letting out a sigh.

Eleanor replied, a shrug on her face. "Well, to be honest, Mom, it's not that hard to put two and two together. I go to school with five of them, so it wasn't that difficult," she continued.

After a moment of silence, her daughter stood up from the bench and spoke up again.

"I know it's dangerous, just us knowing. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

Eve couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. A part of her wanted to reprimand her daughter for not confiding in her earlier, but another part of her appreciated the trust and understanding that Eleanor had shown in keeping their secret.

With a tired sigh, she stood up as well, facing her daughter.

"You're damn right it is dangerous," Eve agreed, nodding her head in agreement. "But I know they can keep us safe," she added, her gaze shifting to take in the view.

"So, now that you know I know, can you enlighten me about you and Dr. Cullen?" Eleanor smirked. A playful eyebrow wiggle followed, and her mother playfully swatted her arm.

"Well," Eve began, a smile forming on her face. "Let's see, how much detail do you want to know?" she asked, crossing her arms and leaning back on the bench.

Eleanor rolled her eyes, feigning impatience. "As much as you're willing to share," she replied with a dramatic exhale.

"Well, Carlisle is a true gentleman," Eve continued, a warm smile playing on her lips. "He always goes out of his way to make sure I have food before our shifts. And he's even a bit of a traditionalist, so he frequently walks me to the car, no matter the hour. It's actually quite sweet," she concluded.

Eleanor raised an eyebrow suggestively. "So, have you and Carlisle kissed yet?" she teased, a sly grin on her face.

Eve let out a soft laugh, shaking her head amusedly. "Are you really asking me that?" Eleanor just nodded.

"That's an... interesting question to ask your mother," Eve said, trying hard not to laugh at her daughter's question.

Eleanor shrugged, a smile still on her face. "What? I'm your daughter, I deserve to know these things, Mom."

Eve shook her head again, a chuckle escaping her lips. "You're really pushing your luck, aren't you?"

Eleanor's smile widened slightly at her mother's reaction. "Can you blame me for being curious?" she asked, her tone nonchalant.

Eve rolled her eyes affectionately, a smile playing on her lips. "No, I suppose not," she admitted. "But it's a bit embarrassing discussing intimate details with my own daughter, you know."

"Oh come on," Eleanor protested, still with a cheeky grin. "I'm a hundred per cent sure Carlisle doesn't mind."

Eve raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "And how exactly would you know that?"

Eleanor shrugged nonchalantly. "Let's just say I've noticed a certain... tension between the two of you," she responded, a hint of amusement in her voice, "That's all I'm saying."

Eve let out a soft laugh at her daughter's cheeky response. "You're being quite perceptive," she remarked, not quite ready to admit whether there was any truth in her daughter's statement.

She then chuckled looking forward to Eleanor's reaction. "But no, he only kisses my hand," she explained amusedly.

"Are you serious?" she was shocked, making her deadpan. "Only the hand? Not even on the cheek or forehead?"

Eve continued to smile, "I like it, to be honest. It's just so fitting for him, it makes anticipating an actual kiss even more thrilling," she added.

Eleanor couldn't help but laugh at her mother's amused reaction. "You're joking," she stated, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "You mean to tell me that Dr. Cullen has been just limiting himself to kissing your hand?"

Eve chuckled again, shaking her head. "No, I'm not joking. I think it's sweet how he always seems to stop at the hand, it just adds to the anticipation," she replied, a tender smile on her lips.

Eleanor was genuinely taken aback, her eyes widening slightly. "That's just... that's just not right," she insisted, trying to wrap her head around the idea of Carlisle only kissing Eve's hand. "But doesn't it get old after a while?"

Eve chuckled softly, a bemused expression on her face. "No, not at all. I actually find it quite endearing that he keeps things respectful in that sense," she explained.

Eleanor smirked knowingly, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ah, so you're just as old-fashioned as he is," she teased, her voice laced with playful banter.

Eve rolled her eyes and let out a chuckle. "Well, it's called respecting each other's boundaries, you know," she replied, defending her and Carlisle's choice to keep things more chaste.

Eleanor shook her head, a grin on her face. "You two are almost too old-fashioned if you ask me," she remarked.

Eve huffed in playful indignity at her daughter's teasing remark. "Excuse me for being polite," she retorted, crossing her arms in mock defensiveness.

Eleanor just laughed out loud, clearly enjoying the playful banter between the two. "Oh, sure, blame it on politeness," she shot back, a smirk still on her lips. "You're just old-fashioned at heart, Mom."

Eve raised an eyebrow at Eleanor's statement, though a small smile tugged at the corners of her lip. "Well, old-fashioned isn't such a bad thing, you know," she said, her tone light and playful.

Eleanor smirked, clearly enjoying herself. "Maybe not, but it still doesn't change the fact that you two seem to be living in a different century," she teased.

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with that," Eve shot back, a hint of mock offence in her voice. "Some traditions are worth preserving, you know."

Eleanor shrugged, a grin on her face. "I'm just calling it as I see it," she replied, continuing to tease her mother.

"Oh, you're a cheeky one, you know that?" Eve laughed, shaking her head in fond exasperation.

Eleanor just grinned, not backing down. "Someone's gotta keep you young and up-to-date," she quipped, continuing to throw playful jabs.

Eve raised an eyebrow at her daughter's comment, a mixture of amusement and disbelief on her face. "Eleanor, I'm still only twenty-six years old," she protested, keeping a straight face.

Eleanor's smirk widened, not backing down. "And yet, sometimes I swear I feel like the grown-up in this conversation," she replied, clearly enjoying teasing her mother.

Eve let out a soft laugh, shaking her head in mock annoyance. "Alright, you're never going to let me hear the end of this, are you?" she asked, feigning a resigned sigh.

Eleanor just grinned, clearly relishing the chance to poke fun at her mother's age. "Nope, not a chance," she declared, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

The two women continued their stroll through the park, Eleanor's smirk growing as she looked up at the bright sun above.

"So," she began, a hint of mischief in her voice, "you know what happens with vampires and the sun, right?"

Eve nodded, a soft note of intrigue mixed with her response. "Yes, Carlisle told me about it, but I've never actually witnessed it for myself."

"It's quite an amazing sight, you know?" Eleanor said, a hint of excitement in her voice as she recalled the experience. She paused for a moment before asking her mother, "You know, next weekend, you're going to meet his family, right?"

Eve gave her a questioning look, surprised that Eleanor already knew about her plans. "How did you know?" she inquired.

Eleanor grinned warmly, "Mom, I love you," she affirmed, her voice filled with sincere affection.

But as Eve scrutinized her daughter, her suspicion grew. "Yes, I know you love me," she responded, a small frown on her face. "Now, what are you not telling me?"

Eleanor shifted her weight on her heels, a hint of excitement in her tone. "So, you know about vampires, and the gifts they possess, right?"

Eve nodded slowly, her expression becoming slightly guarded. "Yes, but how much do you know?"

"Well, it's kind of complicated," Eleanor explained, her tone becoming more subdued. "But I did end up meeting with Dr. Cullen when I paid a visit to their home."

Eve tilted her head, her expression a mix of curiosity and caution. "What do you mean, 'complicated'?" she inquired, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Alright, alright," Eleanor replied, a mixture of nerves and anticipation in her voice. "There's something I need to tell you, Mom." She paused, her eyes avoiding Eve's gaze momentarily.

Eve raised an eyebrow, sensing the seriousness in her daughter's tone. "Alright, what is it? You can tell me, El," she reassured her, her voice gentle yet firm.

"So, uh, I have been granted permission to share this with you," Eleanor explained, her tone growing more cautious. "And I should mention, don't worry about it."

She paused, collecting her thoughts before continuing, "One of the Cullens, Alice, can see the future. And in her visions, she has seen you and Dr. Cullen together in multiple instances. To achieve that, it's only natural that people might get involved to make it happen."

The news took Eve by surprise as she listened intently to her daughter's confession. "Wait, Alice can see the future?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. "And she's seen me and Carlisle together multiple times?"

She fell silent for a moment, processing the information. "And... what do you mean by people getting involved to make it happen?" she inquired cautiously, her concern growing.

Eleanor turned to face Eve, meeting her gaze directly. "Mom, I swear Dr. Cullen was completely against any suggestion we had," she affirmed, her voice filled with conviction.

"The only thing that finally worked," she continued, "was when I asked, as a favour, to borrow the car to get it serviced." She paused for a moment before concluding, "And that's when he had the opportunity to chat with you since you know, you don't have a car of your own."

Eve let out a resigned breath. "So, that's it?" she asked, her expression weary.

"Exactly," Eleanor nodded in confirmation. "Dr Cullen wanted everything to unfold organically, on both your terms, without being influenced by Alice's visions."

She observed her mother's expression, noticing the weariness etched on her face. "But, I wanted to make sure you understood the situation," she added, her voice softening slightly. "I know all of this can be quite a lot to take in, Mom."

Eve let out a hum, her voice filled with concern. "So, you didn't do anything mean to him, right?"

Eleanor let out a snort, her tone lighthearted despite the seriousness of the conversation. "I love how that is what worries you, Mom."

Eve couldn't help but roll her eyes at her daughter's remark, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Well, in the end, the interventions did lead to Carlisle and me getting together. So, I can't really be too upset about that, no matter how it happened."

Eleanor let out a sigh of relief, feeling a sense of gratitude for her mother's understanding. "You truly are the best mom ever," she confessed, a warm smile spreading across her face.

Eve rolled her eyes, acknowledging the truth in her daughter's words. "You're absolutely right," she replied, her voice filled with resignation. "You and I are clearly quite similar, so did you really expect a completely different reaction from me?"

Eleanor's grin widened a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Nope, not even close."

Eve chuckled at her daughter's unapologetic confidence. "You're absolutely insufferable," she teased, shaking her head in mock disapproval. "I swear, you take pleasure in being a little troublemaker."

Eleanor just feigned innocence, her hands gesturing innocently. "Me, a troublemaker? No wayyy"

Eve raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying her act. "Oh, come on," she retorted, crossing her arms across her chest. "You know exactly what you're doing, you little brat."

Eleanor's eyes sparkled with mischief, her smile never faltering. "Me? Trouble? Never. I'm as innocent as can be."

Eve's mouth curled into a small smirk, amused by her daughter's feigned innocence. "Innocent, right," she echoed, rolling her eyes in mock disbelief. "If by 'innocent' you mean cunning, mischievous, and a pain in my side, then yeah, you're definitely innocent."

"Thank you for the compliments, Mom." Eleanor grinned, her voice filled with mock gratitude.

Eve rolled her eyes, suppressing a laugh. "Oh, you're most welcome, you little smartass," she teased, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.