I do not claim any ownership of the Twilight Saga. That stroke of brilliance belongs to Stephanie Meyer. Ellie and Luke, however, are of my invention.

This chapter skips forward a few months. Critical moments contained.

"Cole?" No response. "Father?" Silence. "Dad?"

I clutched that pregnancy test like a lifeline. I found it my bathroom this morning along with a note. Never bet against Alice.

"DADDY!"

I popped open my flip phone and pressed 'two.'

"Hi, Miss Egan. This is Yo'el Winters, has my father made it to the office yet?"

"Oh, hey, Ellie. Sure, one moment."

"Winters," my father droned.

"Father," I sobbed.

"What is it, Lizzie?" I never fully understood why he called me 'Lizzie'; it was probably because he called my mother 'Ellie.' He sounded like he didn't want to know what 'it' was.

"Dad, can you come home?"

"No, Lizzie, I can't. What exactly is the problem again?"

"Dad, I don't want talk about it on the phone."

"Liz, have you broken a law?"

"No," I watched myself smile in the mirror. "I just don't think you want the office to know what's going on." That ought to get him home.

"Too true," he replied. "Traffic's pretty bad. I'll be home as soon as I can. Wait in my study. This better not be silly."

"No, of course, not, sir."

"Now, young lady, what is the problem?"

"Um, sir," I lost my voice. I still held the pregnancy test.

"You said this was urgent, Yo'el. Spit it out."

I passed the test across his desk. "Sir, you know that thing with Tom, right? Well, he's got more answering to do. And don't think I wanted this."

"Yo'el Elizabeth, is this what I think it is?"

I nodded. "Yes, sir."

"I forgave you running away, but you expect to forgive you for this?"

No, Daddy-Dearest, I expect you to let Tom rot in jail. "I don't know what to expect from you, sir."

"I notice that you are taking a formal approach to our relationship. Are you saying that you want to repent?"

"I am not sure I know myself, sir. Do you know what I should next?"

Cole leaned back in his chair. "Adoption, I assume?"

"Whatever you think is best, sir." My heart sank. There's no fighting with him.

"Ellie!"

"Alice? Jasper? What are you doing here?" I stepped aside to let them in. "Is something wrong?"

"It's not bad. Luke's gone AWAL, and I don't trust the people he's with. How's the baby?" Alice placed a cold hand on my little bulge. "Can I tell you what you're having?"

"What?" Luke's went where?"

Jasper placed his hand on my shoulder. "Relax. We're here to help you; not talk about Luke."

I calmed instantly. "I guess you can hang out here for a little bit. You might want you leave before Cole gets home."

"Please, Ellie let me tell you!"

"Alice, how exactly did you know that was pregnant in the first place?" I stepped away from Jasper. "Do you mind?"

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"Look, Alice, I just need to know if you're really a psychic; no more, no less. I need to hear it."

"Yes, Ellie. I'm psychic."

"Fine, that's all I need," I nodded. "Now, what about my little bulge here?"

"He'll be fit as a fiddle. May I ask, why 'Edric'?"

"Because Luric doesn't sound right. First part of Edward, first part of Ricardo? Oh, and it's not ĕ; it's ē."

"Edric, then," Alice said, correcting her pronunciation. "That technically means that it's not from Edward."

"The spelling, Alice; I mean the spelling!"

"Can I paint your toe-nails?"

I rolled my eyes. "No pink."

Half-way through my first foot, Alice's face went blank. "Oh no," Jasper groaned.

"She's having vision, right?" I asked. "Alice!" I wiggled my foot. "What ya see?"

She closed the nail polish bottle. "Brace yourself." Jasper tensed. "It's Thomas."

I put my sock back on. "What does he want?"

"He wants to make sure that Edric isn't a figment of Cole's imagination."

I nodded right as someone knocked on the door. "Coming!"

I decided to leave it there. Next chapter: Lucas.