"Alastor no!" Charlie cried out as she sat up in bed panting like crazy. Fearful that she was nine years old again and back in the woods with those boys. But once she became aware of her surroundings she realized that her fears were unwarranted.

She was twenty-six now, no longer the frightened little girl she had been seventeen years ago but a grown a woman living a very content life in the suburbs with her family. What she had seen was only a haunting memory from her childhood. Nothing more.

"Darling is everything alright?" Her husband had been downstairs making breakfast when he heard her cry out. He had quickly turned off the stove and then rushed upstairs to see what was the matter.

"Everything is fine." She answered him in a reassuring manner. "It's just a nightmare."

"Another one? That's three nights in a row."

"Not exactly Alastor. The first two nights were just random dreams that I ended up forgetting about."

"Do you remember this one?"

"No." She lied. "No I don't."

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm a little hungry." She smiled. "I think now would be the perfect time for me to get up and help you get breakfast ready."

"In that case let's hurry before the little monsters wake up." He joked.

Charlie and Alastor had come a long way from just being childhood friends. As they reached the teen years and adulthood, Charlie blossomed into a most beautiful young woman while Alastor had grown into a very handsome young man. Handsome enough to make some girls over look that he was a "retard" and try to flirt with him but he only had eyes for Charlie. He had loved her ever since he was eleven years old and because of that he felt that it was his soul purpose in life to keep her safe and happy. He cheered her up whenever her beauty caused jealous girls to bully her and when her loveliness attracted lecherous boys he would chase them away.

When he finally bucked up the nerve to ask Charlie out on a date he first went to ask her father for his permission and Gabriel was reluctant to give it but his wife managed to sweet talk him into complying. The romantic part of their relationship started out very chaste and shy. They only held hands, hugged a little, a peck like kiss here and there. Nothing really intimate. It was just the kind of relationship that God fearing parents wanted their children to have.

Alastor's mother adored Charlie the very moment she had met her. You see as much as Isabelle loved Alastor she had always wanted a daughter. In her youth she had hoped to have one little boy and one little girl but the untimely demise of her husband shattered that dream. Still she doted on Charlie as if she were her own. When she was little she helped her brush her hair, do her make up, and doll her up in some of her old dresses from when she was young. During the Spring and Summer time she would cut some of the flowers from her own garden and allow Alastor to give them to Charlie as a bouquet. And when she saw the way Charlie and her son looked at each other she would always pray,

"Dear lord please let my boy marry that girl."

Madeleine warmed up to Alastor very quickly. She thought he was funny, charming, and well bred. He always behaved politely and respectfully toward her and her husband. He would even volunteer to help out with the church occasionally. Gabriel on the other hand wasn't too fond of him and didn't approve of him for quite awhile. But then one night Alastor did something that proved to the reverend just how in love he was with his daughter.

The exact details of that night cannot be told now but let's just say that what the young man did was so noble and loving that he was not only rewarded with Gabriel's approval but also Charlie's virginity. They had consummated their love that night and as they were drifting off to sleep in each others arms, he breathlessly asked her to marry him and she accepted. The plan was to keep the engagement a secret and not make anything official until they were sure that their parents were ready for it. But they were forced to come clean early when Charlie got pregnant.

They were only eighteen when it happened so naturally the Parris couple and the widow Devalcourt was furious with their premarital rendezvouses. But in the end all three parents gave their blessing and their support. The wedding was simple, not much money could be spent but it was still special. Charlie wore Madeleine's wedding gown, Isabelle gave the two her engagement ring and wedding bands, and Gabriel officiated the ceremony. When the parents put together all the money they had for their children's future it was enough for the newly weds to buy a small starter house. Alastor found work in taxidermy like his father and Charlie got a job house keeping for the neighbors.

On August 30th 2037 Charlie gave birth to bouncing baby boy that she and her husband named Aaron. Aaron Gabriel Devalcourt. On the night he was born Alastor was scared out of his mind that something would go wrong and that his son would end up being labeled a retard just as he himself had been but the whole birthing process had gone perfectly. No trouble with the umbilical cord, no defects, no disfigurements. His son was perfect.

Two years later Charlie got a pregnant a second time and by then the couple had saved enough money to move into a bigger house in a very quaint neighborhood. It was located a long way from the town where they had grown up which made their parents a little upset about the move but in the end they realized it was for the best. The family came to the conclusion that the children needed to grow up somewhere that didn't have the influence of "The retarded bastard" and "The mental freak." An area where they had a chance at a happy, normal childhood and didn't have to go through what their parents went through. Their realtor recommended a very nice house that was perfectly suited to their growing family.

On April 17th 2039 Charlie had her second baby, this time a girl. The most beautiful baby girl she and her husband had ever seen. She was named Caroline. Caroline Isabelle Devalcourt but they called her Carrie. After Carrie was born Charlie quit her job to be a stay at home mom and Alastor continued to do very well with taxidermy. All in all it was a simple but a happy one.

"I'm surprised they're not up yet." Alastor said as he flipped over the egg he had been frying. "Normally they're down here as soon as they smell the bacon."

"They were up pretty late last night." Charlie said. "They didn't go to sleep til after midnight."

"After midnight? But we didn't send them to bed til eight. They shouldn't have been up for that long unless...Charlie dear, you didn't give them your special coco again did you?"

"Well..." She smiled guilty.

"Darling we talked about this. That coco has too much sugar. It keeps them up for hours."

"There's nothing wrong with a little treat once in awhile."

"Of course not but said treat has chocolate, marshmallows, whipped cream, and fudge. Honestly Charlie, did you have to add fudge to it?"

"Oh you never had a sweet tooth. Not even when we were kids."

"You on the other definitely had more than one sweet tooth." He teased. "But you know my dear you shouldn't be overindulging our children behind my back. It may give them the idea to not respect me."

"Oh?" She said with a raised eyebrow. "And you're not guilty of deceptive overindulgence?"

"Of course not. When you voice your disapproval of something being done for our children I always listen and respect your choice."

"You're right. You do always respect my parental choices." She smiled.

"Indeed I do." He turned back to the stove.

"But funny thing. Last week when Carrie saw the neighbor's new dog she got scared. So I asked her why she was afraid of it and she said it was because she thought it was a werewolf. Now she's only six. Much too young to be exposed to subjects like monsters and the macabre meaning she shouldn't know about werewolves. But she did which confused me very much and when I asked her where she had even heard the word werewolf, guess what?"

Alastor became stiff when he realized where this was going.

"She said that she heard it on the radio. Your radio to be exact."

"Heh, heh...Um I can explain." Alastor said nervously.

"You know I don't like them listening to those late radio shows. They tell horror stories that give the kids nightmares."

"Not both of them. Aaron sleeps like a baby after hearing a story."

"Well Carrie doesn't. No more of those late night radio shows for her."

"What about Aaron?"

"I guess two times a night wouldn't hurt and I'll only give them my special coco one day per week."

"Deal."

They kissed and then called their children down for breakfast.

Aaron was the first one down stairs. At first glance who was almost the spitting image of his father. Same chestnut brown hair, same lithe body type, and same sun-kissed skin complexion. But he had his mother's big blue eyes, her cute button nose, and her chin. He was eight now and like most boys his age he was very insecure about being considered too little or too cowardly. You see he had a habit of being a little timid about certain things but doing everything he could to make sure no one noticed. For example when most kids his age liked to get together and climb up huge trees he would decline because he had a fear of heights but rather than confess to that and risk being mocked, he'd make up an excuse like he didn't want to get his clothes dirty which would upset his mother.

Following after him was his sister Carrie. With her angelic blonde hair, fair skin, and rosy cheeks she was identical to her mother save for the mahogany eyes, bright smile, and perky ears she had inherited from her father. Carrie was six the age when most children were very naive and curious. This made Carrie very eager to make friends and very opened minded to things that most adults were dismissive of. This would sometimes cause her parents to worry that she could be easily lured away from them by a stranger despite the fact that she had been told repeatedly not to trust strangers.

"Alright so who wants eggs? Who wants bacon? And who wants both?" Alastor asked once the kids sat down at the kitchen table.

"I'll take both." Aaron said.

"I just want bacon. Eggs are slimy and yucky." Carrie said.

"Anyone want toast?" Charlie offered.

"Can I have jelly with it Mommy?" Carrie asked.

"Of course sweetie." She opened the fridge and pulled a jar of jelly along with two jugs of juice. "Orange or apple?"

"Apple." Both kids replied.

"Bacon crispy or with fat?" Alastor asked.

"Fat." They replied again.

"Alright then."

He served up three fried eggs, six strips of fatty bacon, and three strips of crispy bacon while his wife brought fourth four slices of toast with jelly, three cups of apple juice, one cup of orange juice, and two cups of coffee.

"Mine's black right Darling?" Alastor asked her.

"Seventeen years and you still doubt me." She grinned before handing him his mug. "Now after breakfast I want all of you to put on your best clothes and look nice because grandpa is coming over."

The grandparents would visit as often as they could and as expected they spoiled their grandchildren rotten with gifts, hugs, and kisses. Giving their children parenting tips and still treating them like they were younger than they actually were. Pretty much what every grandparent does. Charlie and Alastor enjoyed the visit from their parents as each year went by because all too soon old age and poor health began to take it's tall on the three of them.

Isabelle had been the first to pass which was odd considering that she was youngest of the three but she had a very weak heart condition that could only keep her going for so long. Her poor son was heartbroken because her death had been completely unexpected, he had come up to her house to bring her some flowers when he found her collapsed by her sewing machine. He took her into his arms and pleaded with her to hold on while he called an ambulance but she just courageously assured him that it was her time, that she was ready to be with his father again. And before the light went out in her eyes she told her boy how proud she was of him. Proud that she had proven all who had tormented him wrong about what kind of person he was.

Madeline left this world two years later and unlike Isabelle's her passing was expected because she had been in her late seventies. On her death bed she kissed her husband as she did when they were young and experiencing first love. She then confessed all her sins to God and asked him to watch over her grieving loved ones. And with her her last breath she told her daughter how grateful she was that God had blessed her with such a lovely child when it seemed certain that she would never be able to bear any. Charlie stayed by her side weeping until it was time to prepare for the funeral.

Only Gabriel remained now and he still worked as an exorcist even though his health and age had limited him to how much he could do. Charlie had tried many times to convince him to retire but he was too stubborn to do as she pleaded. He continued his only work while making as many frequent visits to the house as he could. In fact since the passing of his wife had began visiting them once a week, every Sunday.

"Yay Grandpa!" Carrie cheered.

"He's not going to give us another sermon is he?" Aaron asked.

"If he does we'll just listen to it like we always do." Charlie said.

"Aww man."

"Now Aaron we've told you how much your grandfather wants you and your sister to be educated in the bible."

"But he's starting to repeat the sermons over and over again. It's so boring."

"He's getting older son." Alastor said. "His short term memory isn't what it used to be. Just humor him like I do."

"Humor him?" Charlie questioned in a way that warned her husband not to make her father come off as some crazy old coot.

"Did I say humor? I meant respect! Listen to him respectfully Aaron because he's a very respectable man."

"Who loves you and your sister a great deal." Charlie added. "Now let's eat before everything gets cold."

Yes a very happy life indeed. A happy husband, a happy wife, two happy children, put it together and you get one happy family. But it is usually the happy families that are often put to the hardest tests because there are many wicked forces in this world who desire to shatter such joy and the Devalcourt family would be facing this force very soon.