Wakened by the sudden singing birds, and the blinding rays of sunlight through the thick window blinds, Lorraine stirred and in instinct reached her hand out on the other side of the bed. Her palm caressed the rumpled sheets, only to retract it when she felt no one there.

Getting up, she slipped on a robe and trailed down the stairs to their kitchen. She was immediately hit with the fresh scent of breakfast wafting through the air as she entered. Lorraine quietly observed the room, her back leaning against the wall and hands neatly tucked in her arms.

Eyes trailing to her daughter, Lorraine couldn't help but frown. Lia sat poshed up on the chair, staring gloomily outside the mist covered windows. Her hand clutching the fork, unconsciously playing with her food, and still haven't notice the added presence within the room.

"Are you alright?" Asked Lorraine, hand in her daughter's hair, while a frown like smile formed her lips. Looking up past her shoulder, Lia replied with a small smile and said nothing in return. Lorraine hesitantly left her be, and instead went over the kitchen counters to greet her mother who had arrived as promised.

"Goodmorning mom," Lorraine greeted with a smile, her bright eyes glinting from the morning sunlight, "Ah, goodmorning dear. Breakfast is on the counter, and oh!---" She paused, reaching over to the side and grab Lorraine's signature mug, handing it to her daughter with glee. "---I made you coffee, Ed already took his."

Lorraine gratefully took the mug, clutching the rim with her fingers while her other hand guided the bottom, "Thank you, and mom..." She idly took a sip, taking note of the temperature, before facing Georgianna continuing the conversation. "Speaking about Ed, where is he?"

"He went to his office, something about getting inspired?"

With the tick of knowledge given, Lorraine gently smirked. Her husband had a God-given talent of art, and it has helped their investigations more than they've imagined. Not only does it portray Lorraine's distinct visions, the cases they took oddly resembles Ed's paintings. Although, Ed doesn't have the gift of clairvoyance like his wife, he managed to understand the concept of what they're about to tackle.

Thanking her mother one last time, Lorraine headed for their office. She met the familiar entry way, her hand taking guide by caressing the rough walls before stopping right where she could see her husband quietly sitting down on a stool.

"Hey there stranger," Ed looked up from his work, chuckling at the remark Lorraine made, his eyes softly following his wife who made the decision to walk on closer and stand beside him, her hand on his shoulder, and quietly glance at the closely finished painting.

He watched as Lorraine trailed all over the details, eyes almost in a glazed manner, he could feel her fingers tightening on his shoulder before gently letting it go. She took a sharp intake of breath, looking away suddenly as if blinded by something only she could see.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing," Lorraine said, not pressing the matter further. A merry smile formed her lips, ignoring the suspicious look her husband gave her. She tugged on Ed's arm, making him stand and follow her out, still not looking him directly in the eyes, "Let's go eat breakfast?"

"Come on, was it really that bad?" Ed chuckled, letting his arm be pulled by his wife who was persistent on going out the room, Lorraine rolled her eyes playfully, taking a glimpse of Ed's pouting state.

"What?" Lorraine focused her gaze back on the entry way, not bothering to answer both his questions, her hand on Ed's as they walk out and headed for the kitchen.

...

Lia had been sitting on their couch for the past minutes, shifting from the uncomfortable fabric of her uniform. She patiently waited for the school bus to arrive, with it's non-stop chattering students and the bright chipped off yellow paint that embodied the whole vehicle.

Georgianna was still in the kitchen, cleaning hers and Lia's plates, humming a tune she once heard on the radio. The melody echoed throughout the room, softly muffled by the extended curvature of their walls, and barely reached Lia's ears.

The grandfather clock, although across the hall, ticked just in time as Ed and Lorraine walked out their office. Georgianna's merrily tune stopped, just as they entered the kitchen, the atmosphere dull with the scent of breakfast.

Lia watched as they ate their breakfast, still unaware that she was over on the other side of the room, quietly waiting for the bus.

And as if someone heard her silent prayer, a loud beep carelessly reached their ears. The sudden sound, made her jump and scramble towards the door, but not before trailing to the kitchen and planting a kiss on both the parents' cheeks and waving goodbye to her grandmother.

The lack of words Lia had said, not only alarmed Lorraine but Ed and Georgianna as well. She hadn't said a single phrase after last night, and both parents began to worry.

...

"Father Gordon called," Ed commented, sipping coffee from his nearly empty mug. The couple sat out in their veranda, the sky clear as the crystal waters across the horizon, they've been enjoying their mornings out where they could see a glimps of the wondrous nature.

"What did he say?" Lorraine asked, eyeing her husband who sighed as he kept his gaze forward, as much as they loved to help a generous amount of people, the Warren couple had boundaries. Unless, of course, the situation reached a level that is labeled crucial for the individuals.

"He asked us if we could lecture a university, not far from here. He said if we could, we can do it later this afternoon."

Ed watched as his wife played with her ring, a habit of hers she seemed to act when she felt nervous, tense, or scared. She kept her gaze on the now empty mugs, contemplating what to say next.

"And...?" A feeling of unease came over her, which Ed did not miss. Lorraine dreaded what her husband would say next, her eyes scanning him in plead. Ed seem to take a moment, still had his brows furrowed over Lorraine, "I told him we will talk about it, let him know if we've decided."

Lorraine closed her eyes for a mere second, as if to sigh in relief. Ed knew how Lorraine felt about all this, he saw how it affected her last time and he does not want that to happen again. "Hon, you know you can just stay here. I can take the lecture, I'll be fine---"

"N-no I'll go with you," This time, it was Ed's turn to look her in the eye with the same worry, but knowing how stubborn his wife is, the decision was made clear. "Are you sure?" He asked, mouthing it this time. Lorraine nodded with ease, that was all the confirmation Ed needed, he could see Lorraine would not be moved by any kind of bribery he would offer and so he just bobbed his head as if agreeing as well.

"Alright, I'll inform Father Gordon." He was about to stand to make the phone call, fingers already ready to dial the keys. Halting, he looked down on his arm, Lorraine had her hand clutched on it stopping him before he could even take a step.

She had those pleading eyes again, while Ed could only raise a brow, "But Ed...we'll only be there to lecture. Nothing else." She said, her crystalline eyes observing how he thought for a moment. "I-i can't take another..."

Ed seem to understand and so he nodded, cutting off what his wife was about to say. He could see his wife sigh a small relief, before looking up again with eyes full of admiration. "Promise...?"

"Promise." Lorraine seem to be more at ease when he said that, she stopped fiddling with the ring and stood beside Ed. The couple walked their separate ways by Ed heading to their office while Lorraine making the decision of taking a quick nap upstairs.

Entering the study, he quickly retouched the painting, finishing it up before hanging it on an empty spot on the office wall. His fingers trailed along the hem of the canvas, feeling the stitched rough fabric, avoiding the still wet paint.

The painting wasn't at all bright and colorful, yet it was dark and gray. A creature as dark as night, stood at the very center of the canvas, long spider-like legs took half of the top space, hands that were long and slender that seem to crook at a deranged angle. The prominent wide grin displayed such pearls of white, teeth that stood out like pointed knives, hollow-less eyes forging out pale red lids with veins bulging out like blood-worms. The beast dragged paper thin fly-like wings on its back, spreading that of a bat. Surrounding the dark terror-filled creature, were horse-flies times the size as they are.

Ed left the room slightly tensed, seeing the painting after the final product was enough for him to leave the room. Like instinct, he headed up to him and Lorraine's room, not forgetting to call the priest that awaited their answer.

He knocked, not too loud for his wife to wake up, just enough for her to be aware that he was there. But to his surprise, Lorraine was awake, sitting at the edge of their bed and seem to dissociate. "Thought you took a nap," Ed said, closing the door lightly and sat beside his wife. "What's wrong?"

"I couldn't sleep..." She sighed, her voice brittle. She faced Ed with such fear that he began to worry, "Ed, I had a premonition of our daughter."

That caught his attention. Lorraine kept quiet for a moment, her hand holding Ed's but hers seem to tighten every minute. They fell into deep silence until Ed heard his wife sob, and that was enough for the husband to bring her closer and hold her tight.

Lorraine didn't fight her urge to lean closer to Ed's touch. Her hand visibly shaked, she had her eyes closed letting the tears fall freely. Ed knew better than to question further, he had seen how bad Lorraine's visions can get, and he can't let it happen to Lorraine again.

He stayed by her side, holding her close and kissed her forehead, he kept caressing her face with his thumb, bringing comfort to the crying woman. His hand gave enough warmth to balance out her cold touch, and they stayed like that until Lorraine's tears have subsided.

...

"So what are you guys, I mean... what do people call you?" The guy asked, while the other students put down their hands. The couple had indeed kept their word and decided to lecture the students with their cases, Ed pushed Lorraine to stay and rest at home, but the woman was stubborn and went with her husband anyway.

She felt slightly better, despite her mind replaying the premonition she had earlier. Ed stole glances on her from time to time, making sure his wife was capable of continuing the event.

"Uhh, well we've been called demonologists, that's one name for us, ghost-hunters, paranormal researchers---"

"Kooks," Lorraine interjected, adding light humor to the scene while the whole room laughed. Ed chuckled slighty before he continued,"Wackos."

"But we prefer to be known simply as Ed and Lorraine Warren."