"Professor." I said standing to gather my things but she was already out the door before my mind had caught up to where it needed to be. Staring after her for another moment before I'm walking towards the parking lot while digging my keys from my purse.

I was tempted to call Edward but decided I would just wait for him to get home. His practice was going along quite well and I didn't need him rushing home when there was nothing that could even be done at this point.

Barely even remembering the drive home I find myself sitting in the driveway with the truck still idling. I quickly turned the key and pulled it out of the ignition before hopping out and going inside. I hang up my keys; take my phone out of my purse before collapsing into the oversized chair.

"Hi Caroline, this is Bella Swan can you give me a call as soon as you get this? Thanks." I tried to keep myself busy while waiting for a return call or my soon to be husband to come home.

I didn't want my mind to wander too much as I know I would jump to conclusions. I straighten up the living room a bit before turning on the TV. It didn't seem to help much. I couldn't focus on what Dr. Phil was saying. What does this mean? How is it that Frank knows this Sarah person and what does that have to do with me and our baby.

I wish more than ever that Marcus was still alive. With my mind on overdrive, my head in my hands and my fingers massaging my forehead I don't hear Edward coming through the front door.

"Bella?" his voice is full of concern. I lift my head up as he rushes over.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine, just a slight headache." He moves to sit behind me and starts to massage my shoulders trying to release some of the tension.

"What brought this on?" Edward asks as I let my head fall forward.

"I have some news." His fingers stop for a moment before starting again.

"Good or bad." He asks and his tone tells me he expects the latter.

"Good, I think."

"Okay." He says slowly.

"We have a line on Sarah Jones."

"That's great." He jumps slightly in his seat. "What did you find out?" I've shifted so I am facing him and our knees are touching. I barely got the story out before my phone buzzes and I see Caroline's name flash.

"Hello?" I answer as I put the phone on speaker.

"Bella, is everything okay? Has something happened?"

"Not exactly, well I mean nothing has happened per say, but I do need to speak with you right away."

"Of course, what's going on?" I looked at Edward and he nods like he's telling me to go ahead.

"Does the name Sarah Jones mean anything to you?" We're met with several moments of silence and I'm worried that we may have lost the connection.

"Caroline?" Edward finally asks looking worried.

"Sorry, I'm here. Listen, maybe we could do this in person. Would it be too much trouble for you to come by?"

"Of course not, when and where?"

"Now if at all possible and since Frank is currently at the office I think it would be best if you could come to the house." We take down the address and get into the Volvo.

We pull up to the curb and get out of the car. I take notice of the long and winding driveway and a large house that is set back a ways from the street. Solar lights light the way up to the front porch. Edward knocks rapidly on the door before it opens widely for us.

"Edward, Bella, please come in."

"Thank you." I wipe my feet on the mat before stepping inside.

"Can I take your coats?" Edward helps me off with mine before taking off his own as they are slightly wet.

"Please have a seat." She indicates to the living room before offering us something to drink. She comes back with coffee for herself and Edward and water for me.

"How do you know about Sarah?" She gets the ball rolling asking the same question that I want answered myself.

"We don't really." Edward answers grabbing my hand before telling her how we came to this point.

"How do you know Sarah?" I ask before taking a large drink, my mouth suddenly feeling dry. She stands up and takes a small photograph from its place on the built in bookshelves near the fireplace. She hands it to Edward before sitting again.

"Sarah is Frank's sister."

"Sister?"

"I'm not really sure where to start." She paused for a moment before continuing.

"You know the saying 'A little knowledge is a dangerous thing?'"

"Uh-huh."

"Well when delving into the supernatural world it can be a very dangerous thing."

"What happened?"

"Long story short, Sarah got involved in something that went very wrong. You know how kids are, I mean she was just a teenager she didn't know better and didn't even consider the possible consequences.

It started out simple enough, a slumber party, an Ouija board; I don't have to tell you how dangerous those things can be. Then a dare to check out an old haunted building, one rumored to have a spirit of a little girl there. They got some responses, things that terrified some and intrigued others.

Sarah was part of the latter. It became like an addiction. she kept going back again and again. Her boyfriend, Joshua, didn't want anything to do with it and it caused a rift between them for a while but he convinced her to stop. The end of their senior year came and Joshua was headed for Cheney to attend Eastern Washington University.

Sarah remained here going to SSC. She… well I'm not sure what made her do it. To start up with the board again, all I know is that was when the trouble became noticeable. What she thought was a little girl, wasn't. She hadn't known that dark entities often pose as children to lure people in.

She finally confided to Frank what was happening. He didn't know at that point, much about the world of the supernatural; it was his suggestion to get rid of it. Get rid of the board and get rid of the problem. They threw it away thinking that would take care of it but it didn't. It came back; literally, they found the board in their back yard.

They thought that somehow one of their friends must be playing a trick on them or something. Their next mistake was to burn it. That's when all heck broke loose. Sarah became plagued by nightmares, horrible horrible things she would never discuss and feelings of oppression.

We know now that it was from the attachment but they didn't know it then. Anyway she thought a change of scenery would help. She moved to Cheney to be close to Josh, they got married and she got pregnant.

Frank and I don't really know that happened. All we know is that at some point they contacted a local paranormal group to come in and help. According to them they did a cleansing and exorcised the dark entity but when Sarah and Josh called again complaining of vicious attacks they had to come back.

Somehow there was an opening or a reopening of a portal, Frank of course is placing blame on the paranormal crew for not doing things correctly. It's one of the reasons he choose the field he did, and this instance is why he is so adamant about it being done properly with no margin for error. It's why he is so sure the portal we closed at your old house Edward is closed for good because he will not do to someone else what he believed was done to his sister.

Of course their version is that they found a charred Ouija board under Sarah and Josh's bed. They think that Sarah brought the board back in and opened the portal herself. We know she wouldn't but at the same time….." She pauses and takes a deep breath. "We'd also hate to think of the alternative.

Part of Frank's reluctance to believe that what Marcus said is true means that it could happen again. If it could come back then what's to stop something from coming back for his sister. It's not something he could handle. He doesn't think she'd survive it, well that she'd have the will to. You see shortly after the last cleansing she lost the baby and Josh was killed."

"How horrible."

"Where is Sarah now, does she live around here? Do you think it would do any good to talk with her?" Edward asked.

"She is currently residing in Medical Lake."

"Medical Lake." Edward repeated like he knew something I didn't.

"Yes…... Eastern." She started.

"State Hospital." They finished together.

"Hospital?"

"Psychiatric Hospital."

"She hasn't spoken a word since."

"What the hell is going on here?" Frank's loud and angry voice startles me and I spill some of my water on the table as he picks up the picture of his sister.

"Excuse us a minute." Caroline says as she reaches for Frank's arm and drags him into the other room. I use the sleeve of my shirt to try and wipe up the water before it reaches the books near by.

"Holy shit." Edward whispers to me as we hear a heated argument between the Varner's coming from the next room.

"Yeah." Is all I can say while listening in as best I can. It sounds like Frank is pacing as his voice gets louder and then more quiet before it loops around again. Caroline's voice is steady as she relay's our story to her upset husband.

"This can't be happening." Frank's voice is more desperate sounding than angry now.

"We don't even know what it is yet. There could be any number of reasons that Marcus Fuller came up with her name."

"And half of them aren't good, we can't get involved."

"You aren't thinking clearly." She must be pacing now too as her voice grows quiet before getting louder.

"… those two kids had nothing to do with that. This is no more their fault than." She says something else but the sound of her voice was drowned out by her husbands.

"Think of Sarah."

"I am thinking of Sarah! We can't change what happened but we might be able put a stop to this, prevent it from happening again. There is some sort of connection here no matter how big or how small, don't think for one moment that I'm going to stand by and let them handle this on their own if I can help in anyway."

"I can't deal with this right now." Was the last thing we heard before doors were slamming and loud footsteps stomped overhead.

We left with a promise of help from Caroline and a promise regarding Frank on her behalf. She seemed pleased to have a lead to go on even if we didn't really know what that could mean for us.

"Bella I think you'll know, I think that you'll start getting some signs. Something will sound the alarm." She taps on my head indicating to my ability.

"We definitely have that advantage; we'll be ready, whenever that may be." She says as she hugs both of us goodbye. "I'll be in touch and promise me that you'll try to relax. Like I said before keep your guard up and be on alert but don't let it consume you. I've seen first hand what that can do." She nods her head in the direction of the house and her husband. She waves goodbye as we pull away from the curb.

"She's right, and I hate that we will have this hanging over our heads but we have our life to live. We have someone to live for." He puts a hand on my stomach. "We have each other and our wedding and our families. We can't just go through the motions; we can't let it take anything from us. We can't let it win."

We keep our guard up even as the years pass. Some of our family members feel that if nothing has happened by now that we're out of the woods. Edward and I don't agree. In fact my guard is higher now than it was the night we left Caroline's, which seems like a lifetime ago. As I look down at our sleeping baby my mind goes back to the day we told them.

"You're starting to show." Edward stands behind me with his hands at my hips twisting me this way and that as we look in the full length mirror.

"Don't be too sure, it's probably just the 10 pounds of Taco Bell you forced me to eat last night."

"Forced? I clearly recall you slapping my hand away when I tired to take a soft taco."

"I can't control what your son craves." He smiles and shakes his head.

"I'm so glad we're telling them. I want the world to know my wife is having our baby."

"We're not married yet."

"Not yet, but soon." I moved to kiss him but the phone ringing stopped me. Edward frowned as I dropped my shirt back into place.

"Hey mom." I heard him say.

"Yeah that would be fine…..I'm sure Bella won't mind if Aunt Carmen comes." He said spinning around looking at me in question. I smiled at him letting him know it was okay.

"How long is she in town for? … to Spokane? …. Really, Port Angeles?...…I don't know, it can't be too far away from Forks, Bella used to make the trip on weekends when she was a kid…..Mom…" He closed his eyes and shook his head slightly.

"Mom, I wouldn't know." His tone turned half whiney and half exasperated.

"Innocent question? Hardly." I watched as he ran a hand through his hair.

"No, Bella's asleep." I am? I mouthed to him but he just put a finger to his lips.

"Okay, I love you too. See you then. Bye."

"Did you just lie to your mother?"

"It was necessary, besides you should be grateful that you can now claim complete ignorance when this blows up in her face."

"When what blows up in her face?"

"Esme 'The matchmaker' Cullen is at it again."

The house is clean, thanks to Edward, and the food is ready, thanks to the deli down the street. Our announcement was met with even more happiness than expected. Charlie sort of flops down in the chair with a far off look on his face but his smile is wider than I've ever seen it.

Esme is crying happily while sending Carlisle out to the car to get the catalogs for baby furniture she was ready to buy once our approval was given. Even a few gender neutral baby clothes had prematurely (though not) been purchased. Everyone was happy for us talking about how much more fun the holidays will be with having a baby around.

An hour later Esme's face lights up again as she glanced out the window after looking at her watch. At the sound of a car door slamming shut she smiles widely before scanning the room.

"Oh,Carmen was able to make it after all." Her voice is projecting towards the males huddled around the food table. "Her arms are pretty full, how about one of you strong men going out to help her?"

"Subtle she is not." Edward whispers to me.

"All part of the plan I assume?"

"Yes, just watch." He says around a mouth full of food.

"Sure Muhhh." Emmett groans at the jab to his gut from his mother's boney elbow.

"Charlie?" She smiles. He looks confused as Emmett is hunched over.

"Sure Esme." He sets his drink down before following her out the door. We are briefly introduced to Aunt Carman before she and Charlie are suddenly in a somewhat secluded area of the room.

"And Charlie is the Chief of police." Esme gushes before leaving them alone while my father's face reddens and her sister looks….interested.

"Hey." Edward whispers. As he sits down next to us and reaches over to kiss me softly and steal our child from my arms.

"Hi." I whisper back not bothering to stop him. He's just gotten home from work and the first thing he wants to do when he gets here is take the baby, though toddler might be a more appropriate term now.

"I have got to be the luckiest man in the world." I softly snort but smile as he says that same thing everyday, which in fact makes me the luckiest woman in the world.

"It's true; I could have lost you both." And he's not talking about anything supernatural though he was nearly convinced that it was at the time...

"Okay Bella, you really need to practice a little more with the shoes." Rosalie says.

"What was I thinking picking these out?" I groan taking them from her.

"You were thinking that they go perfectly with the dress and you wanted to look a little taller in the pictures." Alice reminds me.

"You could go barefoot for all I care." Edward says as he comes in from the kitchen.

"Would you get out of here?" Alice asks, swiftly moving the offending items around her back.

"After one more goodbye kiss." I move over to Edward not minding at all.

"All right you two, one night apart isn't going to kill you."

"Speak for yourself." He mumbled to his sister.

"I'll meet you at the alter." He runs a finger down the side of my face.

"I'll be the one in white." Edward begrudgingly leaves when he hears a knock at the door.

"The shoes." Rosalie tries again.

"Shit." I say when I attempt to put them on.

"Don't worry, I have a plan B." Alice says digging through a bag she had by the couch pulling out some alternatives.

"How could you have possibly predicted this?"

"A lot of pregnant women get swollen feet."

"Sure but..." I inspected them more closely. They were huge. Ugh just like the rest of me. You could barely tell I had ankles at all.

"It will be fine, you heard Edward. He doesn't care about shoes or swollen feet. He just wants to marry the love of his life."

"Don't make my cry; my face will be all puffy in the morning."

The smell of bacon frying woke me up and I made my way to the kitchen after stopping off in the bathroom.

"How did you sleep?" Rose asks me when she hears me come in.

"I dreamt my ankles exploded and Edward had to carry me everywhere."

"He probably would too." Alice answered from behind me.

"Do you think we can do a picture retake day when I look more my size?"

"What are you talking about? You look beautiful." We made our way to the church and from what I hear Emmett had to stop Edward from coming in to see me.

"Dude, she's getting ready, there's no cold feet." Just huge feet I thought to myself as I hear Jasper's voice from the hallway. I automatically stood wanting to reassure Edward.

"Bella, the curling iron." Rose reminded me as I felt the heat nearing my face. I carefully sat back down.

"Knock knock." We heard and Alice quickly went to the door barely opening it to see who was out there.

"Sorry, just making sure my brother wasn't going to try to sneak in." Alice explains. I could hear the crowd quietly humming as the door opened and closed again.

"Oh Bella, you look beautiful."

"Thanks." I cleared my throat. "Thanks mom." She did seem happy for me, though I was right that she wasn't as involved as Esme thought my mother would have been in the wedding planning. This was the first time I had seen her since her and Phil's impromptu visit so many months ago. I'm assuming Phil would be out there somewhere, not because of me but because Renee would never have come alone.

"Mom, you remember Rosalie, and this is Alice."

"Hello girls." Another knock on the door and it opened slowly.

"Ladies, they're ready for you." It was Charlie this time. The wedding was perfect. I was a little nervous as my dad walked me down the isle but when I saw Edward the rest of the world disappeared and before I knew it I was Mrs. Edward Cullen.

"Can I have this dance?" Jake held out his hand. I felt like I have done nothing but. My first dance with Edward, one with my father, another one with Edward, one with Carlisle, Edward again, Emmett was next. Jasper was able to swoop in before my husband had the chance to ditch Renee.

"Of course." I was barefoot now. Toasts were made, the cake was cut, and the bouquet was tossed. Carmen caught it and she shared a look and a smile with Charlie and Esme smirked proudly.

It was a perfect day until…. "Bella!" Edward shouted in alarm as I fell backwards with a sudden wave of dizziness. Instead of going on our honeymoon we were going to the hospital.

"Preeclampsia." The doctor had said.

I was soon put on bed rest and stayed that way until delivery. Caroline had called Edward that night asking if I was okay, if something had happened. She and Frank were not in town so they had not been able to attend the wedding.

They had gotten their annual call from Eastern. It was the anniversary of Sarah's tragedy and they went over to stay for a week or so. She woke with a distressed feeling and Edward took that to mean something far more sinister than it was.

He wanted to take a leave of absence but I convinced him to go back to work. Stating that I'd rather have him take the time off after the baby was born. He looked tortured with the decision to return for now and agreed finally but only if Esme came to stay with us. The truth is I needed someone and she would have been my first choice regardless.

I was bored but my mother in law did a great job of keeping me entertained. She brought in paint samples or more accurately that app that lets you see what colors work with the room in your house. We had fun with that one and of course going through baby stuff until I was sure we would be forever stocked and our baby, or as Esme said, her first grandchild, would have everything it could ever need or want..

The only time I got up was to use the bathroom. Edward wanted a bedpan set up but I put my foot down. He was being ridiculous. I felt okay, as okay as anyone with Preeclampsia can feel I guess, but that hadn't lasted.

"Esme." I called weakly. I woke with a blinding headache.

"Sweetie what is it?" Her voice was full of concern as she hovered over me.

"I feel horrible, my head is about to explode." I can hear her speaking quietly from across the room and I assume she's on the phone but I can't focus on that right now.

"I'm going to get you to the hospital Bella, just sit tight for a second while I get the door." I thought that meant she would be taking me herself. I tried to get out of bed thinking I could walk to the car but a cold hand stopped my progress.

"Don't try and move Mrs. Cullen, let us help you." I heard someone say and suddenly I was being moved. I didn't register the ambulance ride this time or the hysteria in Edward's voice as we met in the ER.

The next time I woke I noticed the pain had lessened and for that I was grateful. I could hear the murmurs of people in the room but I was too tired to open my eyes.

"Edward, go home and get some sleep." Charlie says.

"I can sleep later, I can't leave them."

"Son, once the baby is born you won't be sleeping for months." I hear a tiny snort.

"How's she doing?" I think its Jake's voice.

"She had a seizure last night."

"Shit."

"They want to take the baby but it's too soon."

"Is there anything they can do, anything they can give her?"

"The only cure for Eclampsia is to deliver the baby. They are talking about giving steroids to advance the baby's lung development."

"She's going to be fine Edward; they are going to be fine."

"Still don't know if it's a boy or a girl?"

"No, every time we've done an ultrasound the baby gets shy."

The next time I wake up, everyone with the exception of Edward seems to be gone. I open my eyes slowly and focus on the snores coming from my husband. His head is resting on my thighs and his arm is wrapped around my stomach. I can't see his face because I am protruding too much.

The whole thing was hard but seeing Edward in that state was something that I never want to see again. But that all changed a week and a half later when the decided to induce labor.

"Your doing great Bella." Edward was at my side of course. I didn't want anyone else in the delivery room but I knew that they were all outside and just down the hall. Charlie would pop his head in for updates because it was taking a long time. Any longer and they were talking about a c-section and I was exhausted but forty minutes later the sounds of crying suddenly fill the room.

"Congratulations, you have a son."

"What are you thinking about?" Edward pulls me out of my thoughts as EJ starts to stir.

"Just remembering the day he was born. You were so surprised."

"I was just so happy that you were both okay. That was the best day of my life." Really everyday since has been amazing. EJ did most everything early. He crawled early, talked early, I think he skipped walking all together and went straight to running.

He looks exactly like father and according to Esme and Carlisle he has the same disposition. He is constantly talking. Really the only time he isn't is when someone is reading to him.

He can't get enough. Anytime anyone comes to the house he immediately climbs into their lap with a book. Of course now he has a hard time sitting in Alice's lap as she is pregnant now. He was greatly offended by the intrusion at first,but once we told him there was a baby in there he decided that it was okay to sit next her instead.

"Again." I hear my son joyfully shout as Edward just finished his third bedtime story.

"You're supposed to be going to sleep little man."

"Again."

"This is the last one, and then you need your sleep." Edward had a hard time not giving in. I listen as he starts the little golden book again instead of picking up my own book while I wait for my husband to join me in bed, wondering if this will really be the last book for the night.

oOo

When I hear him chatting away I don't think anything of it. He was due to wake up from his nap about now and he's pretty content with just being. Normally I would go in to get him but I'm finishing up getting lunch ready. Our guests were due any minute.

The doorbell rings and I go to answer it. Leah is all smiles until she walks in. Literally I watch as the smile fades from her face and she looks around the room.

'Some thing's not right." She is shaking her head slightly.

"What?" I didn't notice anything different. And trust me I have been keeping my eyes open. I never saw anyone else in the room. I looked for others to see if EJ was in fact talking to them or just talking to himself. He loved the sound of his own voice.

"I can feel it."

I hurry to EJ's room and he's not there. I'm panicked looked frantically shouting his name. Suddenly I can hear Edward off in the distance calling to me.

"Bella! Bella! Wake up." I sit up and my heart is pounding in my chest. I wipe the tears from my eyes as I try and calm down. Edward's hands are on my arms and he is staring at me blankly while blinking his wide eyes. He finally lets go and let his hands fall. He sits on the bed for a minute before looking at me and whispering. He isn't really coherent but I understand what he means. This is the sign Caroline mentioned, that indeed a warning bell had gone off.