»—— act four. breaking dawn, part one
☽⋅── THIRTEEN ──promise me ─⋅☾

The air in the clinic was thick with tension and anticipation. Eve's body was wracked with pain, the twins ready to make their entrance into the world any moment now. Carlisle, true to form, hadn't left her side. Their family members would occasionally come in to check on her, but they still hadn't figured out who would be there when the moment came.

Eve groaned, her grip on Carlisle's hand tightening as her labour pains washed over her.

Carlisle frowned as he examined the scans, his eyes narrowing as he noted the state of Eve's ribs. He turned to her, his expression stern yet filled with concern.

"Eve, your ribs are in seriously bad condition right now," he began, using his medical tone. "If the twins don't arrive soon, there's a risk of a rupture, and that could be dangerous."

Eve winced at his words but shook her head, her voice determined. "Not yet, " she insisted. "It's not time yet."

Carlisle sighed, the worry evident in his eyes. He wanted to push further, to insist that she let him examine her, but he knew how stubborn Eve could be.

"I trust you, I do," he said, his voice gentle yet firm. "But I'm worried. Your safety is paramount. There are risks even I can't help if things get worse"

Eve grimaced, her body writhing in pain once more. She understood his concern, but she was adamant that the babies weren't ready yet.

"I know you're worried, Carlisle," she replied, her voice a mixture of determination and pain, "but I can feel that they're not ready yet. I trust my body, and it's telling me to wait. Just a bit longer."

Carlisle's frown deepened as he listened to her words. He wanted to argue, to insist that she needed medical attention now. But he knew how determined Eve could be, especially when it came to her own body, and he didn't want to upset her further.

"Fine," he acquiesced, although reluctantly. "But the moment I see any sign of trouble, I'm intervening."

She nodded before sighing, feeling most of the pain momentarily passing, "We have to talk, " Carlisle's gaze softened upon hearing her words. He knew what she was saying, and it pained him.

"Eve," he began, his voice low and gentle, "I understand your concerns, but—"

Eve cut him off, her eyes determined despite her exhaustion. "No, Carlisle," she interrupted her voice firm. "You need to promise me. If something goes wrong, you save the twins. Promise me."

"But Eve!" Carlisle's eyebrows furrowed, and his voice slightly raised in volume before he muttered a quick "I'm sorry."

"Eve, this isn't just a precaution. We've discussed this before," he said, his tone both stern and tender. "It's never going to come down to a choice. We'll get through this together, as always."

Eve's eyes remained determined. "I know, Carlisle," she replied, her voice softer now. "But we have to be realistic. We should at least discuss the possibilities, even if we don't like thinking about them."

Carlisle's expression turned solemn but he nodded. He knew she was right. They had to plan for the unexpected, even if it meant facing the possibility of things going wrong.

"All right," he said, his voice quiet. "If it comes down to it, I will prioritize saving the twins. But, I swear to you, Eve, it won't come to that. We're going to get through this, together."

Eve nodded, the trust in her eyes making Carlisle's heart clench. She knew he would do anything humanly possible to keep her safe, but she also knew the risks.

"I trust you, Carlisle," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just promise me one more thing."

Carlisle nodded, his gaze fixed on her. "Anything, Eve. You know you can ask me for anything."

Eve paused, her voice shaky but firm. "Carlisle, promise me, no matter what happens, if there is even a slim chance that I don't make it through this, don't you dare try and change me. We've seen what happened when Victoria bit me. It killed her."

She searched his eyes, her own eyes filled with both vulnerability and resilience. "I know I once said you can change me, but that was before I knew the truth about my past. My genetic makeup is unknown and dangerous."

Carlisle's expression hardened as he understood the depth of her request. He knew exactly what she was asking of him, and the implication of it all shook him to the core.

"Eve," he began, his voice firm yet laced with a hint of panic, "You can't possibly be serious. We'll figure things out, this is—"

Eve's eyes remained steady, her face filled with a mixture of determination and fear. "I am dead serious," she interrupted, her voice surprisingly strong. "Promise me, Carlisle. This is non-negotiable."

Carlisle was at a loss for words, his brain grappling with the gravity of her request. His thoughts were racing, and his mind was already conjuring up all sorts of possible scenarios in which he might have to honour her request.

He took a deep breath, his voice quiet but resolute. "All right," he said, his eyes locking with hers. "I promise. If there is a chance that you... don't make it, I won't make the risk and change you. You have my word."

Eve let out a sigh of relief, the tension that was present before slightly receding. She knew it wasn't an easy promise to make, but he had given it without reservations.

"Thank you, Carlisle," she murmured, the vulnerability from before returning. "I know it's a big ask, but I had to make sure. I couldn't risk you trying to change me and putting yourself in danger."

Carlisle gently took her hand in his, his thumb stroking her knuckles. "I know, love," he replied, his voice a soothing murmur. "But I'll hold on to hope that it won't come to that. You're strong, one of the strongest people I know. You'll get through this."

Eve didn't mind the idea of becoming a full vampire if it was even possible, but the memory of Victoria's fate after biting her still haunted her. The image of her sister turning into dust before her eyes had been a horrifying experience. And she did not want to put Carlisle through the same trauma.

...

The moon was not high in the sky when Eve suddenly felt it. The pain in her abdomen was intense, signalling that the time for the birth of the twins had arrived. But the timing was all wrong — the children were coming too soon, far earlier than Eve had expected, and the pain was excruciating like her insides were being torn apart.

The realization hit her that something was wrong, very wrong. The twins weren't supposed to come yet, and the pain was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Her entire body writhed in agony, and she couldn't help but call out for Carlisle.

"Carlisle," she cried out, her voice a mix of pain and urgency. "Something's wrong. The twins... they're coming too soon. I can't handle this pain. Please, I need you."

Carlisle, who had been quietly keeping watch, immediately sprang into action upon hearing Eve's cries. His eyes widened in fear and concern as he hurried to her side. He gently took her hand in his, his own gripped with worry.

"Eve, stay with me," he said, his voice firm yet shaky, attempting to mask his own panic. "We knew this could happen. You just need to hold on a bit longer, okay? I'm right here, darling. I've got you."

"No, Carlisle, you have to cut them out now! Forget what I said earlier, the time is now!" Eve cried out, her words urgent and filled with pain. The realization of the danger had changed her mind, and she was now desperate to get the children out.

Carlisle's face paled at her words, fear filling his eyes. "Eve, I—" he started, but he knew there was no time to argue. Her tone was firm and urgent, and he knew he had to act quickly.

"All right, all right," he finally said, his voice steadier now that he had made a decision. "I'll do it. Just hold on, love."

Carlisle moved swiftly, grabbing the medical supplies he had prepared for this moment. His hands trembled slightly as he washed them thoroughly, trying to remain focused and steady.

Eve winced and groaned in pain, her face contorted in agony. Her breathing was shallow, and the pain only seemed to increase. "Please...hurry...please," she gasped out, her voice strained and shaky.

Carlisle nodded grimly, his expression determined. "I'm doing it as fast as I can," he assured her, his voice strained yet steady. He quickly made the necessary incisions, his hands moving with a precision that only came with years of medical training.

The pain was excruciating, and Eve's body writhed under Carlisle's hands, but she held on, her fingers tightly grasping the bed sheets. She screamed and groaned, tears streaming down her face.

"Almost there, almost there," Carlisle murmured, his voice a mix of reassurance and focused concentration. His hands moved swiftly and skillfully, each incision and suture meticulously executed.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the first twin emerged, their cry filling the room. The second one followed suit shortly after, their tiny body slick and wriggling.

Carlisle's thoughts ached as he watched Eve's heartbeat slowing down. He looked up at the sound of the door opening, and Edward and Rosalie appeared, their expressions a mix of horror and concern.

Edward tried his hardest to block out the enticing smell of the blood, while Rosalie fought the overwhelming urge to give in to the potent scent. They recognized the severity of the situation, and both were struggling with their instincts.

Carlisle's gaze flickered between the two of them, his thoughts racing. He had never felt so helpless, watching his wife dying in front of him while his son and daughter struggled to reign in their natural instincts.

But one look from Carlisle, his desperate plea.

This made Edward and Rosalie work quickly, their focus solely on the task at hand. They knew the gravity of the situation and wasted no time in gently taking the twins to the connected bathroom to clean them.

Meanwhile, Eleanor, who had just run in, looked away from the gruesome sight, her eyes stinging with tears. She couldn't bear to look at her mother's lifeless body and Carlisle's desperate efforts to save her. Instead, she hastily made her way over to assist Edward and Rosalie in caring for the newborns.

Carlisle looked at Eve, his heart aching as he watched her wounds slowly heal. The blood loss, however, was still severe. He was at a loss, his mind racing and thoughts jumbled.

Edward, holding one of the twins, suddenly felt a touch on his face, coming from the small hand of the newborn. His eyes widened, and he swiftly turned to leave the room.

"Carlisle, bite Eve," he said quietly.

"What?" Carlisle looked at him incredulously.

"It will be okay," Edward stated, his gaze briefly flickering to the baby in his arms, "She said it would be okay."

Carlisle's eyes shifted from his child to Edward, contemplating his words. Eventually, he nodded, his demeanour becoming more resolute as he made his decision.

He looked down at Eve, the woman he had loved and pledged his life to, and took a deep breath. The time had come to test the theory, and he could only hope that the consequences wouldn't be devastating.

Carlisle then leaned down, his face mere inches from Eve's. He took another deep breath, trying to calm the anxiety that was threatening to overwhelm him. This could be a moment of immense transformation or complete tragedy, the faint sound of her heartbeat was all he needed to make the decision.

And with that, he bit her neck...

His teeth sank into her soft flesh, injecting his venom into her system. The room seemed to hold its breath as he waited for a reaction, the only sound being the faint cries of the newborns from the other room.

The room was eerily quiet after Carlisle withdrew, he stood firm worrying of what would happen next to him. But when nothing happened, Carlisle found himself letting out the sigh he was holding.

"A girl and a boy," Edward stated, re-entering the room with one of the babies, before passing the infant girl to Carlisle.

Rosalie entered after, carrying the twin boy, with Eleanor following suit, looking somewhat pale from the blood she had seen.

"She showed us that mom will be okay," Eleanor stated matter-of-factly, "Now we just have to wait."

Carlisle looked at his daughter, bewildered. "She showed you?" he mumbled, his gaze flickering between her and her tiny hand touching his face. For a brief moment, the reassuring message flooded his mind, bringing a glimmer of hope.

Edward, seeing Carlisle's confusion, explained, "She has a gift of predetermined instincts."

Carlisle nodded in understanding, the weight of the situation slowly lifting off his shoulders as he held onto the newborn girl in his arms. He looked back at Eve, her body lying still, the process of transformation already underway.

"They came earlier than expected," Carlisle began, his voice carrying a hint of exhaustion mixed with awe.

"Two days," Rosalie chimed in, holding the baby tenderly.

Eleanor, being the curious one, reached out to poke Carlisle's forehead. "How many days does a transformation take?" she inquired.

Carlisle responded patiently, "Typically, it's between two and five days, but Eve is already half-immortal. The process might be slightly different for her. It could be shorter or longer."

He then gingerly handed his daughter back to Edward before turning his attention to the two bundles being held by Edward and Rosalie.

"Celeste Antonia," he announced, taking a moment to look at his daughter before turning his gaze to the baby boy in Rosalie's arms. "And Ciel Emile," he declared, his voice filled with a mixture of love and pride.

Carlisle watched as both Edward and Eleanor reacted to the names. The two newborns each held a special meaning, a connection to the family that bound them.

Edward recognized "Antonia" as a nod to his own middle name, Anthony. Eleanor, on the other hand, noticed that "Emile" was formed from her middle name, Emily — a touching tribute that carried on a thread of familial love.