Back in business

                                    

                                          
THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN REVISED.

"I really think you should've stayed home; I'm fully healed.  You shouldn't be traveling while carrying a baby, plus this could turn into a case. It's not just you that you need to consider." 
Ed had tried to convince Lorraine to stay home Instead of coming with him to a conference way to New Hampshire. But she insisted, dropping everything to get in their car with him" I promise, I'll be completely fine. If anything starts to feel off, I'll go home. I promise." She gave him the iconic, irresistible blue puppy dog eyes. He sighed and nodded; Lorraine knew how to convince her husband better than anyone else.
"I hate that I'm such a klutz suddenly. I guess I am getting old. This poor baby and Judy will have to be teaching me how to walk soon" Ed chucked, resting his hand on the side of his wife's protruding stomach. "Well, that's why I have to be with you so that doesn't happen. I know that you don't think it's safe that I'm doing this, but you have to trust it's going to work out in the end." She didn't know whether she was convincing Ed or herself. 
Lorraine had decided to wear a beige turtleneck sweater with a long maroon skirt.  She adjusted her clothes, running her fingers over the swell that magically appeared to be smaller than it actually was in the sweater. Lorraine had decided that she wasn't going to share her pregnancy with the world just yet, only with family and a few friends. She felt that her and Ed had been in the media eye way too much recently, with each case coming with its own controversies. She also couldn't handle being the neighborhood's main target. Next conference, she would explain her absence. " Ready?" Ed asked, keys in his hand. 
" Judy, we gotta go! Did you pack for Nana's?" Lorraine asked as her daughter made her way down the stairs." Yes! How long will you be gone?" She asked. "Just a few days. Daddy will be staying behind, so he won't be back for at least a week." Lorraine watched as her daughter's smile turned into a frown.
" When will you guys be home for a little?" Judy whined, swinging her little limbs around. There is nothing that could break Lorraine's heart than when cases took over " I'll be back for good, and daddy will be really soon. How about you go with me to my next ultrasound? You can see the baby and we'll get ice cream after. How does that sound?" Lorraine was answered with a tight hug. " We can go ahead and make it a Judy day. Maybe you can even help me with the gender reveal gathering?" Lorraine asked." Yes! I'm glad we're hanging out" Judy pauses, growing solemn. " I miss when we aren't together, I hope we can all go shopping together soon." Ed smiled sadly at the comment. He felt as though he was never home. He'd missed out on so much of her life because of work. "That sounds great, sweetheart."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hon, we're here." Ed lightly tapped on Lorraine's leg, rousing his wife from her slumber. She slowly fluttered her eyes open. "Where in Massachusetts are we?" She asked, voice raspy from sleep. "Worcester. "I'm supposed to be meeting this young couple who had complaints about a haunting taking place in their house after." He explained.
They were shown the room where the lecture would be held. The lecture itself went well, now if they could just get through the questions.
"Jason Doyle's case was a bit eerie, the spirit attached to him seemed to have not have a liking to being acknowledged. Thankfully, he is safe and will be returning to his family soon." Ed explains, closing up the question.
Eventually, the topic of Lorraine's absence was acknowledged. According to the rumors, Her and Ed split because he cheated with some lady at a case. Though it did make Lorraine's blood boil, she ignored it. Her life was no one else's concern.
"Mrs. Warren, there had been some circulation that you have quit the demonology business, since you have rarely been seen since the Perrons' case. Do you mind speaking on that?" Before Ed could get defensive, she grabbed his arm. "Hey, it's okay, I got this." She whispered.  A quick deep breath, she had to say something eventually. "I am expecting a baby in mid spring. That's the reason why I'm staying away. I will be back as soon as I heal from birth." Lorraine explained. The crowd happily congratulated her, then immediately started back with questions.
" So, Ed, how do you get through cases without the insight of Lorraine's visions?" An interviewer asked. "I've been managing. It is hard without that extra layer where you know how the spirit feels and its motive. But it's not as hard as I thought it'd be." Ed said. "All that matters is that my family is safe from our profession, and my wife is able to safely bring another child into the world." He smiled, darting his googly eyes toward Lorraine.
                           __________
After a couple hours of answering questions, they were finally leaving the college. Suddenly, a nervous and panicked voice catches their attention." Mrs. and Mr. Warren? I need your help!" A man approached them. "My wife is sick - at least I think she is- and I don't know what to do." Lorraine could read him like a book. He was panicked, scared. Something told her to listen. 
"Me and my wife Catherine have been experiencing random light flickering, silhouette hallucinations, and eerie nightmares. At first, we thought someone was just messing with us, but my wife has gotten extremely sick and it's making her pregnancy unbearable. The other night, Catherine said something was crawling inside her stomach, but it's not the baby. Every day she wakes up with claw marks all over her stomach and we don't know why. She screams at night, says it burns. It's been going on for two months and we are at a loss." His voice quivered when as be talked.
" Have you tried reporting this before?" Ed asked." Yes, but no one believes me. You have to help me. She's only getting worse, and the pain hurts her so bad. This can't be good for our baby." The man pleaded. Ed turned his attention to Lorraine. He had to consult with her first. They had one on the way themselves!
" Say the word, and I won't go. I'll stay with you." He whispered.
"Ed, it'd be completely selfish if you didn't help this family. He needs help, his wife is pregnant. This family needs help, and I don't want to be the reason they don't get it.  I'll go get a hotel and call to say we'll be staying a little longer." Lorraine smiles before turning her attention towards the young man." I don't believe you told us your name yet, dear."

"I'm Liam Harris. I can write my address down. Thank you so much." After they got the information, they headed to the motel.
_____________
" I don't know how I feel about  this; you could have a vision or be attacked. This is just as dangerous than if you were actually apart of the case." Ed was worried that if he left Lorraine all by herself, he'd also be leaving his family in danger.
 "I'll be okay. My visions aren't as bad, I haven't had one for weeks. I promise you if something goes wrong, I'll go home. Like you said, it's not just me I have to think about anymore." Lorraine snuggled next to him on the bed. Ed decided to switch the subject to something he had been pestering Lorraine about for the past few weeks.
 " So... when do I get to know what gender the baby is?" He asked." I'll tell you soon, I promise." She chuckled.  The husband usually knows this stuff at the same time, you know." He teased. Ed was set that they were having another girl. He's not sure why, but he feels it. His hand rests on her stomach, Baby happily kicking inside. "But it's more fun because me and baby have our own little secret. And you'll know soon enough." She bantered, giggling at her husband pouting playfully.
"Don't lose sleep over figuring this out. You have a 50/50 chance and a long day tomorrow. This might be the last time we get to be like this for a while. Get some rest, hon." Lorraine quickly pushed the conversation to the side. She knew he'd keep asking for little hints." You're right, night love." He wrapped his arms around his wife, falling asleep contently.
A/N: AHHH HI LOVES!! I've been a tad busy, sorry! I do have some good news,though. I've been making prewritten chapters so I can just publish them and end the torturous months later update. But Ed is on a case! What do you think the baby's gender is? Love you all.💗
-V