»—— act one. twilight
☽⋅── ELEVEN ──using my weakness against me ─⋅☾

Throughout the week, Carlisle and Eve managed to sync their work schedules, ensuring they had ample opportunity to spend time with each other. Their shifts occasionally varied in start and end times, yet there was still a significant amount of overlap. During this shared time, the couple found themselves growing even closer as they gained insight into each other's personalities and interests.

Carlisle continued to notice specific patterns in Eve's behaviour, one of which was her habit of reading when she was feeling nervous or unsettled. It seemed that when she sought to calm her nerves, she turned to the pages of a book, specifically medical literature.

Though it wasn't her intention to expand her medical knowledge, the act of learning new methodologies or techniques seemed to elicit a sense of satisfaction within her.

Carlisle was somewhat curious about this phenomenon and wondered if there was something more to her choice. However, he began to think he might be overthinking the situation.

He was genuinely surprised to learn about Eve's past. She had no memories of her life before the age of twelve, awakening one day in a hospital covered in cuts and bruises. The attending nurse who cared for her was eventually her adoptive mother, Ester Demeter, a kind and compassionate woman. Her adoptive father, Henry Demeter, was a doctor at the same hospital.

Over time, she became a part of their small family, along with their son, Echo Demeter.

Eve spoke as she sat beside Carlisle in the lounge, taking a bite of her sandwich. "They attempted to locate any family records," she continued after swallowing, "but there wasn't any information found at all."

Carlisle expressed his astonishment, his curiosity evident in his tone. "They couldn't find any records?" he inquired, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "Not even an official birth record? Not a single piece of medical documentation?" He held up an empty coffee mug as a prop, his words laced with intrigue. "It's highly unusual for there to be no evidence of someone's existence at all, especially considering how advanced our technology and documentation processes are these days."

Carlisle leaned back on the couch, his disbelief plain on his face. He was aware of several instances similar to this one, yet the sheer lack of evidence still impressed him.

As part of the conversation, Carlisle began discussing his family in detail, recounting how he met each of his family. He ensured to obtain their approval before sharing their stories, with the exception of Rosalie, who had requested her tale be told by herself whenever she was ready.

Eve became aware of Edward's backstory, including the fact that he was the first companion that Carlisle had.

Edward's admiration for the military was sparked as the onset of World War I transpired throughout his adolescence. He harboured the desire to enlist in the army upon turning 18, but his fate took a different turn when he and his parents fell ill with the Spanish Influenza in 1918.

"First, it was his father," Carlisle recounted, "and shortly thereafter, Edward and his mother also fell ill with the flu."

He paused, his expression becoming sombre as he continued, "On the verge of her death, Edward's mother, Elizabeth, shared her final words with me. 'You must do everything in your power. What others cannot do, that is what you must do for my Edward'"

Eve's eyes grew wide, a hint of shock crossing her face. "Did Elizabeth know what you were?"

Carlisle shrugged his shoulders, unsure if Elizabeth truly knew. "But the way she looked at me," he mused, "It was as if she had an inkling."

"At that time," Carlisle recalled, "I was feeling rather lonely, and I thought it might be good to give this teenager a second chance at life. So, I made the decision to turn him."

As he continued, he revealed that he later learned about Edward's telepathy while travelling with him. "He would frequently respond to questions I hadn't even voiced aloud," he chuckled.

Carlisle laughed softly, "Edward didn't realize what he was doing until I pointed it out to him."

Eve jokingly remarked, "Oh well, then I have sympathy for him, knowing what my thoughts are like." She pretended to look serious before grinning. "Eleanor must enjoy tormenting him if she knew what he could hear," she speculated.

"Eleanor does know," chuckled Carlisle, shaking his head, "Edward did undoubtedly share with me that she intentionally thinks strange things to make him uncomfortable."

Eve chuckled, shaking her head as she referred to her daughter. "That little troublemaker," she acknowledged with a smirk, "I'll make sure to keep my thoughts under wraps, so he doesn't have to deal with the antics of two people."

Carlisle laughed in response, before shifting the conversation to Emmett's story.

"Two years after Rosalie's transformation, I turned Emmett," he began, "It was in 1935, that Rosalie had found him mauled by a bear. After she discovered about his predicament, she sought my assistance to save him."

Carlisle paused for a moment, a warm smile playing on his lips as he remembered Emmett's tale. "Emmett even described the experience of being rescued by Rosalie as 'being saved by an angel who brought him to God,'" he added, his tone tinged with genuine affection for the experience. His expression softened as he went on, "He is incredibly strong, yet his heart is as loving and gentle as a lamb's."

Carlisle chuckled, recounting the situation with a smile, "When we had to inform Emmett about being a vampire, there was a sense of worry. But, as usual, Emmett's response was quite unexpected. When we revealed the truth, he looked Rosalie directly in the eye and said, 'Hell isn't so bad as long as you get to keep an angel with you.' I could tell that Rosalie was completely flustered by his words."

Eve smiled at the thought of Emmett's endearing comment.

Carlisle nodded, briefly detailing how Alice and Jasper came to them. "I didn't turn Alice and Jasper. They were already vampires when the two of them found us." Carlisle paused, "I'll leave their stories to them to tell," he clarified before continuing.

"Alice has the extraordinary ability to see into the future," he added. "In her visions, she frequently saw us, prompting her decision to take matters into her own hands. As a result, both Alice and Jasper joined our coven. around 1950."

Carlisle wrapped up the story about his family with a matter-of-fact statement, "To maintain our cover story, we often pretend that Jasper and Rosalie are the children of my late sister, so that is why they have the same surname, Hale."

Eve's excitement was palpable, her voice filled with barely restrained impatience. "I can't wait for the weekend to arrive," she exclaimed, her tone brimming with anticipation. Carlisle chuckled at her enthusiasm, and he didn't even need to delve into her thoughts to sense her eagerness. It warmed his heart knowing that she was undeniably thrilled to meet his family.

She leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Is there anyone I should expect," she asked, her voice hushed, "Especially when it comes to personality, or anything else?" Carlisle observed the gleam in her eyes, the eagerness in her voice.

Carlisle thought for a moment, recalling his family members. "Well, each member of my family has a unique personality," he said, his voice filled with affection. "Edward is often serious and reserved, but once you get to know him, he's actually quite sentimental. Emmett, on the other hand, is loud, playful, and has a mischievous streak. He loves to rile people up and enjoys pranks. Rosalie can be a bit reserved and closed off, but once she lets you in, she can be fiercely protective. And as for Jasper..." Carlisle paused to consider how to describe him.

He leaned closer, his touch gentle on her arm. "I must refer to the case of Jasper," he began, his voice low. "Since he is our newest vegetarian, it can be somewhat challenging for him. So, he may keep a slight distance initially, mainly for your safety."

He mused, "But other than that, he's quite gentle and sweet, and always has a calming aura about him. He's always looking out for others and making sure they're comfortable. He's also incredibly intelligent and has a sharp mind. And...of course, Alice," he added with a warm smile, "Well, Alice is the one with the ability to see the future, so she tends to keep things organized and on track."

Eve smiled, understanding Carlisle's explanation. "I understand," she said, her voice reassuring. "I don't mind, especially if it's for Jasper's comfort and mine. I respect his boundaries and look forward to getting to know all of them in time."

Carlisle nodded gratefully, appreciating her understanding and a warm smile tugged at his lips. "I'm sure he'll warm up to you once he feels more comfortable," he reassured.

Eve's smile widened at the familiar gesture of Carlisle reaching for her hand and kissing her knuckles. It was a gesture that never failed to make her weak in the knees, and she couldn't help but bask in the joy it brought her.

He gently caressed her hand with his thumb, a tender smile playing on his lips. "You always react like that," he observed with a hint of amusement. "It's adorable."

Eve chuckled softly, a hint of embarrassment mixed with laughter in her voice. "I can't help it," she admitted, her tone slightly sheepish. "Every time you do that, I just melt a bit inside. You have a talent for making me feel all weak and giddy at the same time."

He chuckled in return, a warm, fond smile on his lips. "I know," he responded, his words spoken with a touch of amusement. "And believe me, I love seeing your reaction every time I do it, it never fails to make me smile. It's like a secret little way I have of making you all flustered."

Eve's cheeks grew even redder, a combination of embarrassment and laughter. "You're enjoying this far too much," she teased, her voice carrying a touch of mock indignation. "I should be immune to your little charms by now, but somehow, you always seem to find a way to pull it off."

"Oh, come on," he teased back, his voice filled with playful amusement, "I can't help it if you react so adorably every time. It's too delightful to resist."

She rolled her eyes playfully, a smile tugging at her lips. "You're insufferable sometimes, you know that?" she said, her tone laced with affectionate mockery. "You take too much delight in my weak spots."

"Guilty as charged," he conceded with a smirk. "But can you blame me? Your reactions are priceless, and I relish every minute of it. Besides, I can't resist when you look so adorable getting flustered."

She couldn't stay mad for long, his playfulness was infectious. Her smile widened as she playfully nudged him gently with her elbow. "You're lucky I find your charm irresistible," she replied, shaking her head with mock exasperation.

He feigned innocence with a mock pout, his expression filled with affectionate amusement. "It's not my fault you have such adorable reactions," he countered. "I just happen to take a tremendous amount of pleasure in exploiting them."

She chuckled, her frustration gradually melting under his charming teasing. "You're such a tease," she chided, albeit with a hint of affection in her voice. "Using my weakness against me like that."

Carlisle chuckled at Eve's whining and nudging, "We should get back to work," he replied with a warm smile. "Our lunch break is almost over."

Eve, not wanting the break to end just yet, whined, "Boo" and playfully goaded him.