Five Years Old

Sarah and Chris were seated at the kitchen table; studiously drawing with the intensity only five year olds could muster. Suddenly a door hammered into the ground and Paige emerged, fatigue evident in her features.

"Hey sis" Piper greeted, eyeing her sister before enquiring "rough day?"

"The worst!" Paige exclaimed as she walked over to Chris, pecking him on the cheek.

"Urrrggghhhh!" he cried, horrified expression cemented on his face as he tried frantically to rub off the smudge of lipstick Paige's kiss had left on his cheek. "Now I've got cooties!" he wailed despondently.

At this revelation Paige's eyes widened, "Cooties?" she asked.

"Uh huh" Chris confirmed, "All girls have cooties" he stated seriously, eyes still wide from Paige's treacherous kiss. "Wyatt told me. He said if they kiss you then you get 'em too" the five year old stated fervently.

Piper and Paige turned away slightly, trying to mask the giggles erupting from them both.

Sarah, however, was looking at her friend, a hurt expression in her eyes. "Does that mean I have them too?" she asked in a frightened whisper.

Chris thought for a minute before his eyes widened once more, "You're a girl!" he cried, jumping up from the table, "you've got cooties too!"

Sarah shook her head, eyes going from hurt to fiery.

"Wait a minute! It's the boys that got the cooties. Girls don't have 'em!" she said fiercely.

That comment, of course, started a miniature battle of the sexes.

"Girls!" Chris shouted at his friend, squaring off.

"Boys!" Sarah yelled back just as determinedly.

"Girls!"

"Boys!"

"Girls!"

"Boys!"

Seeing that there was no end in sight, Piper shook her head and walked towards the squabbling children, pausing to break a small twig from the potted plant on the table before jabbing them both in the arm.

"What was that for?" Chris yelled indignantly, rubbing his arm where Piper had jabbed the stick into it, Sarah doing the same.

"Your cootie shots" Piper said seriously, "Neither of you can get cooties now, so go and play" she said in her 'mom-is-boss' voice.

The two looked at each other for a long moment, each as if they were assessing the other for possible cooties contamination. They shrugged simultaneously before clambering back up to the table to their previous positions and resumed their coloring, side-by-side as best friends should be.


Eleven Years Old

The Halliwell's customary 'family night' was well in swing when a loud, staccato knocking sounded on the front door. Wyatt jumped up to answer it just as thunder boomed outside, making the stormy night well known.

Wyatt's loud exclamation of "Oh my God" could be heard from the room before he burst into the room, the rain drenched figure of Sarah close behind him, an old shoe box clutched to her soaking chest protectively.

"You knew didn't you?" she whispered fiercely, not noticing the water dripping from her face and hair in light of the hurt and anger coursing through her.

"Knew what sweetie?" Piper asked gently as she passed the girl a towel, wondering if Amanda knew where she was.

Sarah looked at her for a long moment, eyes flashing before setting the box down in front of everyone. Numerous newspaper clippings were placed carefully inside, each protected in their own plastic sleeve.

'Child abandoned in hospital, police searching for parent'

'Police beg mother of abandoned child to come back'

'Serenity finds a home with local foster parent Amanda Sparrow'

The headings on the clippings left no doubt as to Sarah's current emotional state. Another piece of paper lay among them ominously, words clearly visible in bold black ink at the top. 'Certificate of Adoption'. No doubt at all.

"You knew!" she repeated coldly, words coming out of her mouth harsh and unforgiving.

Paige picked up a sheet from inside the worn box, recognizing it almost immediately. The page had been copied from the Book of Shadows and enchanted so that only a witch could read it. It was about the Slayer.

"Yeah sweetie, we knew" Piper admitted quietly, eyes heavy with concern and worry. None of them could stand the pain and anger displayed on Sarah's face.

Phoebe looked around at the others. "Maybe it's time everyone went to bed," she suggested softly.

After much grumbling and moaning, the only people left in the room were Sarah, Chris, Wyatt, Paige, Phoebe and Piper.

"What am I?" Sarah demanded as soon as the others had exited the room. When no one answered her question she said it again, raising her voice even more. "What the hell am I?"

At that moment, the phone rang and Phoebe answered it, putting it on video. Amanda's frantic face appeared on the screen.

"Oh thank goodness!" she cried, relief evident in her voice.

Sarah ignored her coldly, turning once more to Piper. "What am I Piper? Am I evil?" She demanded, eyes shining with unshed tears.

"Oh no sweetie! Of course not!" Piper exclaimed, walking towards the distraught girl so she could embrace her but Sarah ducked away, turning to the image of Amanda.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she cried, eyes angry and hurt.

"I wasn't sure how to" Amanda said quietly, regret and guilt playing across her face.

Moments passed before Sarah spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper.

"So my real mum didn't want me?" she asked, her voice quivering slightly.

Amanda opened her mouth and closed it again. There really wasn't anything she could say that could make it better. Not this time.

Sarah just sighed before running out the door, slamming it behind her.

Chris took off after his friend, ignoring his mother's calls.

Rounding a corner, he saw flames disappear into the night. Chris closed his eyes and sensed for Sarah, and, after locking onto her aura, he orbed away.

Chris soon found himself standing inside the hospital and recognized it as the same one that had been in the background of the newspaper clippings. He looked around and found Sarah staring intently at something, silent tears sliding down her already-wet cheeks. Walking over to her, he noticed all the newborn babies beyond the glass.

"Children shouldn't lose their parents unless they have to" Sarah whispered sadly against the glass, "My mum didn't want me, guess that's a reason."

"She was stupid for not wanting you Sarah. You're a great person. It's her loss." Chris smiled slightly and offered her his hand. She took it and he looked around cautiously. Making sure no one was there, he orbed out, grasping his best friend's hand tightly. Even if her real mother had abandoned her, there was no way he ever would.


Twelve Years Old

Sarah and Wyatt's swords clashed together as they fought. Sweeping her legs out from under her, Wyatt sent Sarah crashing to the ground.

"Wy!" she moaned, massaging her back and rolling her eyes.

"Hey don't look at me,"

The 14-½ year old proclaimed, holding out a hand to help her up, "you're the one that wanted to learn this; I didn't want to teach you, you're twelve years…"

"I'm twelve and three quarters! And you teach Chris!"

"He's older than you!"

"By thee days!" she shot back, "look I can't always rely on my powers so I need to learn to fight! Chris is learning and he won't teach me because he's afraid I'll get hurt!"

Wyatt sighed and looked at the girl in front of him, clad in only a sports bra and sweat pants; she was far too stubborn.

"Fine. Remember, it's not always fighting back that matters, it's not getting hit." He lifted his sword and lunged.

Crash, Clang, Crash, Crash! Thump! Sarah's back hit the wall with a thud. Wyatt's sword at her neck. She sighed and looked up; Wyatt was a little too close. Her almost-teenage hormones jumping around telling her to kiss him, unaware that Wyatt's were doing the same

The space between them was sizzling with electricity. The logical part of Sarah's brain was screaming at her to stop but the voices were silenced when Wyatt's lips softly touched hers. She hesitated slightly before gently pressing her lips back against his, her hand softly dropping to his shoulder.

"BAM!"

Wyatt and Sarah broke apart and looked up, Chris was standing at the top of the staircase with a look of pure fury on his face. He turned around and slammed the door.

Wyatt sighed,

"I'm so sorry Firecracker, I shouldn't have done that."

She shook her head, "It was my fault, I knew what was going to happen, I'll try to talk to him."

Sarah pulled her top over her head and went looking for Chris.

Chris didn't want to hear it. Wyatt and Sarah had kissed. His brother and his best friend had kissed. Wyatt had tried to convince him that it had been his fault and not Sarah's but he didn't believe him.

That fight had lasted for a month. Chris had been busted falling asleep in Magical History because Sarah wasn't there to throw paper balls at the back of his head. Sarah had lost her bubbly nature. In the end, all it took was a few words from Piper to get Chris talking.

"Chris sweetie. That's your third detention this week. Wanna tell me why you've been falling asleep?"

"It's a boring subject!" he answered coolly, glaring at Sarah's bag that was left on the table.

"Then how come you haven't gotten a detention before?" Piper knew that something was wrong with her peanut.

"'Cause Sarah usually wakes me up." Chris mumbled reluctantly.

Piper nodded, she had a feeling it had something to do with the midnight-haired ball of hyperactive energy that Chris had been avoiding for weeks.

"Okay peanut why are you mad at her?" she asked soothingly.

"She and Wyatt kissed!" he yelled throwing his hands into the air.

"Uh-huh, so, is it the fact that she kissed Wyatt that's bothering you or that fact that she kissed Wyatt."

"They mean the same thing," Chris said.

"Nope! I used emphasis on certain words, what I mean is; Are you mad because of the fact that she kissed someone 'cause if you are you're in trouble, she's growing up peanut, you'll have to let her go someday. Or are you mad that she kissed Wyatt… and not you?"

Chris shook his head.

"Sarah and I are just friends! I guess I'm a little mad that she kissed someone. I mean, I've known her for ages and it was kind of weird seeing her kissing Wyatt."

"Well sweetie, you better tell her that because she's been a little down for weeks. She's an excellent friend. You don't want to lose someone like that."

Chris nodded and jumped up from the table. He needed to find Sarah.


Thirteen Years Old

"Oh! My little firecracker is almost thirteen! I'm so proud!" Wyatt cried mockingly, wrapping an arm around Sarah's slight shoulder before grinning madly.

She laughed and looked at the clock. Eleven thirty.

Phoenix yawned not for the first time that night. "Why do you guys celebrate your birthday on the 30th of January anyway? I mean, if Chris was born on the 28th and Sarah was born today why did you have a party yesterday?" she asked tiredly.

Chris looked up at his friend. "Because, we were born three days apart so instead of having two parties we have one in between. I explain that every year Nixie."

"Don't call me Nixie!" she mumbled grumpily.

The Halliwell's were perched on various surfaces around the kitchen, waiting.

This year they'd decided to go for something different; intending to stay up until the exact time Sarah was born, just like they had for Chris previously.

Suddenly orbs shone and a letter came into view, breaking the tension momentarily before Chris rolled his eyes and telekinetically flicked it into the bin, not even bothering to read it. He knew whom it was from and what it would say.

"Ten seconds!" Paige called excitedly over the top of everyone's head.

"Five, Four, Three, Two, One!" they chanted together, counting down.

Suddenly Sarah gasped and collapsed onto the ground.

Concerned, Wyatt gathered the girl up and placed Sarah gently onto the couch. She moaned softly, her eyes fluttering a moment before opening fully.

"Owww!" she mumbled, clutching her shoulder. The concerned group gathered around the prone girl and gazed as one at her.

A small moon and star now lay on the back of her shoulder; branches black and blood red were winding their way up her arm.

"What the fu-"

"It is time, my daughter!" a ghostly voice echoed around the room as a white light blinded them.

A woman stepped out; her long black hair sweeping around her shoulders as though toyed with by an invisible wind, understated beauty shining through her like a light.

Sarah's mouth dropped, "M-m-Mom?"

The woman nodded sagely and smiled gently as Sarah's mouth dropped open in shock.

Memories

After a long pause the stunned moment of silence was shredded into pieces.

"No! No! No! No!" Sarah screamed, storming furiously over to the woman, "Go away! You're not my mother and you never have been!"

The Halliwells looked on in despair and concern. Since the woman had appeared she had divulged everything to them all. She had provided information on the prophecy, Sarah's destiny and the part she must play when she chose her path.

"But I am Serenity; I carried you for nine months, channeling your powers all that time. You are my daughter. I am your mother," she corrected firmly but gently.

"No! Mothers don't leave their children at the hospital when they're three fucking days old! Mothers watch their children grow up! My mother is dead and there is no way you could be her!" Sarah cried feverishly, tears streaming down her face, marking trails of despair.

"I am your mother Serenity!" the beautiful woman insisted, tone growing more forceful.

"No! You're! NOT!" Sarah screamed at the top of her lungs, spinning around and blasting the woman back with a burst of telekinetic energy. The mark on her arm blazed a deep red and her eyes blackened dramatically until they were pure darkness.

"If you were my mother, you'd know my favorite colour; you would have heard my first word and taught me my first spell. If you knew anything you'd know that my name is SARAH! I don't want to be a Goddess and I'm not choosing a side!" she yelled, the mark on her arm glowing brighter by the second.

A soft voice circled around her, whispering gently as though made of the wind itself, "You're evil Sarah. This woman never knew you. Embrace your true destiny, ruler of the Underworld!"

Sarah shook her head and stepped back as if from an actual physical foe.

Chris looked at his friend worriedly, asking; "Sarah? Are you okay?"

She gasped slightly and shook her head, "No I don't think I am! Someone's telling me- to do things and I…" she shook her head again and put it in her hands, moaning softly, her body shaking uncontrollably as the marks on her shoulder and arm glowed with more intensity, blood trickling from her arm and red spreading through her hair.

"Sarah?" Chris called again, taking a tentative step towards her but a hand on his shoulder held him back.

"No Chris, that's not Sarah" The woman whispered.

Sarah laughed the cold-pitched laugh of pure evil. Her head flew up sharply, eyes blazing midnight and shadows, fire dancing dangerously inside the blackness.

"Damn straight it isn't!" she yelled before throwing everyone backwards with a casual flick of her hand.

She laughed once more, the chilling maniacal laughter of a madman before flaming out suddenly.

The Halliwell's cautiously picked themselves up again from their positions on the floor as Sarah's mother shook her head.

'What the hell was that?" Paige yelled indignantly as soon as she recovered from the shock of what they'd all been witness to.

The Goddess closed her eyes; "The Source has claimed Sarah and taken her to the Underworld" the woman explained.

"I fear all of this was too much for her to handle, and left her defenses weakened. Her hatred and anger she harbored all these years about me has been released, allowing the Source to engulf her. We must find a way to bring her back or…" at that the woman seemed to falter.

"Or what?" Phoebe asked accusingly.

"Or else she will use her power to take over and nowhere will be safe. Demons and witches alike will kneel at her feet and she will rule the world- for the side of evil. Darkness will rule, and all light will be extinguished."

Memories

The demon screamed and exploded as Sarah smiled and lowered her hand.

A hooded figure appeared from behind her, clapping softly, "Well done my daughter."

"He had it coming. Never did like him" She said off-handedly.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her chest and gasped quietly.

A white light filled the room as Chris, Piper, Paige, Phoebe and Wyatt stepped out along with Sarah's mother.

The Source smirked, "You're too late! The girl has chosen her path!" he gloated maliciously at the intruders.

Piper threw a potion at him, causing him to stumble slightly.

Before his mother could tell him otherwise, Chris had stepped forward.

"Sarah?" he whispered quietly, "I know you're not evil"

She just chuckled cruelly and threw a force field up around them, "Sweetie, you always were a wet blanket on the fire of my personality but really, this is hysterical. Can you not see three feet in front of you? I'm evil."

Chris once again shook his head, this time holding up his hand, where the scar was visible. "We're friends forever remember?"

A flash of emerald flickered in her eyes and the red streaks faded a little.

"You're my best friend Sarah," he continued, and she began to shake her head vigorously.

"Shut up," she whispered fiercely.

"I never want to lose you," he said, moving even closer.

"Shut Up!" Sarah cried, stricken.

"I'd die for you," he whispered so softly only she could hear.

"NO!" she screamed before the force field broke around them and she fell to the ground.

At this, the Source let out a cry of rage and advanced furiously on the Charmed Ones.

Out of nowhere, a large silvery white shield came up between the sisters and the Source.

The Source turned to see a figure standing before him, emitting a brilliant golden glow.

Eyes filled with silver light stared upon the Source.

"It's not the best idea to piss off someone stronger than you Daddy!" Sarah said as the Charmed Ones looked on in awe-filled silence.

The Source flicked his hands and a black light came shooting out of them, colliding with the white of Sarah's.

Powers surged around the cavern and The Source screamed, Sarah's scream of pain joined the noise and there was suddenly a blast of brilliant white light as the Source turned to bones before their eyes. Sarah dropped boneless to the ground and everyone ran to her.

Wyatt knelt down and ran his eyes over her searchingly. Her body was still radiating the golden glow when her eyes fluttered open.

"My dear daughter, your time has come for you to join me," Her mother said after assurances Sarah was okay filled the air.

"W-W-What?" Chris stammered.

"She fought the battle and won, she is now allowed to come and live with me and watch over the world," the woman explained simply.

Sarah sat up, "But I don't want to!" she exclaimed.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I don't want to. I like it here. I have friends and a family and I don't want to leave any of it behind."

Her mother opened her mouth but Sarah once again cut her off, "I know you did what you did for a reason but… I want to stay."

Moments passed in tense silence before the Goddess nodded and hugged Sarah tightly.

"You grew up so wonderfully Serenity. I just wish I could have raised you."

Sarah nodded and pulled away from the hug, tears glistening in her eyes. Her mother smiled and disappeared in a flurry of white sparkles.

Sarah turned to the group, "So… are you mad at me?" she asked carefully.

Phoebe jumped in, "Oh no sweets! Of course not! Believe me, I've been where you just were and I understand. We could never be mad at you."

Wyatt looked around, "Uh, sorry to break this up but… what about him?" he pointed to the pile of bones.

Sarah tilted her head, "He's not going anywhere- loser!"

Chris laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Together, the Halliwells orbed out of the cavern, leaving the bones of the Source to turn to dust behind them.


Fourteen Years Old

Chris screamed as Piper went flying across the room, landing with a sickening crack onto the hardwood floor.

The demon smirked evilly and shimmered out as Chris rushed to his mother's side, eyes widening in horror as he watched blood seep out onto the floor.

Something creaked behind him and he turned around wildly and found Sarah clutching her bleeding side and dragging herself painfully towards him.

Everyone else was at the fair; the only reason Sarah and Chris weren't was because they were grounded.

Wyatt's connection to Chris was wide open and he was sending frantic, distressed messages to him.

Orbs and hearts floated from the ceiling and the new arrivals took in the scene.

"Oh my God Piper!" Paige cried as she dropped to her knees to heal her sister. The glow came but the wounds remained. Wyatt tried but the same result came; neither of them was strong enough to heal Piper.

"Leo!" Sarah called.

"DAD!" Chris screamed.

Piper drew in a shuddering breath and looked at them all with slightly glazed eyes.

'I…Love…You." She stammered. Her eyes focused on Chris, "Never give up on her Chris." Her eyes fluttered closed and Chris gasped.

Orbs filled the room and Leo stepped out, "Blessed Be." His eyes then saw Piper's body and he fell to the ground beside her.

All was still for a moment before the grief-stricken man roared; arm stretched out accusingly towards Chris "You! You did this!" he pointed at Chris and then to Sarah.

Phoebe looked at Leo, unable to believe what she was hearing. He was blaming Sarah and Chris for Piper's death? "What did they do?"

"You should have healed her Chris! If you weren't such a useless son she'd be alive!" he whirled towards Sarah then, "And you! You're a Goddess, how come you couldn't heal her? Or didn't you even bother trying!?" he yelled feverishly, gesturing in Sarah and Chris's direction with a sharp wave of his arm.

Chris's blood boiled, "We're useless!? We called for you and you didn't show up! If it's anyone's fault it's yours! If you ever set foot inside this house again I will hurt you!" He yelled, clenching his fists and furiously wiping away the tears that had streamed, unhindered down his cheeks.

Leo's face steadily reddened until a look of pure, grief-stricken outrage consumed his face and he orbed away.

Paige screamed, throwing a vase against the wall as all her anger for Leo that had built up over the years exploded outwards. Her sister was gone and there was nothing any of them could do.

The room was painfully quiet. Its occupants stood there in shock, quietly sobbing. Their sister, Aunt, Mother was gone, and she wouldn't be the only one to die.

Memories

Everyone had gathered outside the church, a congregation of mourners, as the people exiting gave their muted condolences. Sarah looked around and she noticed Chris wasn't there.

She whispered softly to Wyatt where she was going and he nodded slightly in acknowledgement, knowing if anyone could get though to his brother it would be Sarah.

She found her friend slouched against a tree with an unlit cigarette clamped vice-like between his lips.

Walking over to him, she quickly pulled it out, holding it tightly in her grasp so he couldn't snatch it back.

"It's just a cigarette!" he protested almost sullenly, though his attitude didn't fool her for a moment.

"This? Uh-uh. THIS is a slow and painful death in deceptively decorative wrapping" she quipped back.

"Huh, well at least I'd be dead eventually" was the saddening reply she received.

Sarah looked at him carefully before asking, "What's wrong Chris?"

"Leo was right, it was my fault mum died, I should have healed her but…" Chris said softly, tears falling unbidden leaving tracks of grief down his face.

"You don't have that power Chris!" Sarah stated firmly. How could he think such things? Surely he knew Piper's death wasn't his fault?

"I still should have healed her, I mean, Wyatt and Paige couldn't heal her but I'm the son of a Charmed One and an Elder! I should have been able to!"

Sarah sighed, time to change tactics, she thought. "You're right, it was your fault. It was mine too. I should have healed her because I'm half God half Source, I have the power to heal her but I didn't."

Chris shook his head, "But you can't heal!"

"And neither can you. Chris did you listen to Leo when he told you I was evil?"

"No!"

"When he said that you were grounded for making a vanquishing potion that Paige asked you to make?"

"No!"

"Then why are you listening to him now?"

Chris thought about it for a while and then sighed heavily. She was right. "I don't know."

Sarah nodded. He might not have been okay yet, but at least that stupid idea was out of his head.

She grasped his hand, pulling him up next to her, saying, "C'mon lets go back. They'll be waiting for us."


Sixteen Years Old

Wyatt and Chris walked up the stairs, ready to share an interesting piece of news with Sarah. It was snowing in San Francisco. In the summer. They knocked on her door and were greeted with a muffled yet unmistakably angry response.

"Bugger off!" They exchanged worried glances before cautiously opening the door. A blast of freezing air hit them almost immediately and they gasped at the sudden drop in temperature. It was freezing. Icicles hung from the bedpost and curtains and Frost coated the floor. Sarah was sitting on the windowsill, staring at the snow falling.

"I got a new power." She commented dryly.

Chris looked around, "I noticed." Wyatt began to walk towards her but she pulled herself closer to the window.

"Urgh! No! Stay Away! It's not safe!"

Chris rolled his eyes, "I take it you're the one responsible for the three feet of snow outside?" he asked wryly with a grin.

Sarah nodded sheepishly, a small smile gracing her lips as she explained what had happened.

"I accidentally touched the window pane and it started raining. Next thing I know its full-on snowing!"

Wyatt looked between the two friends and smiled, silently ducking out of the room to give them space.

Chris walked over to his best friend and sat down next to her, holding up his hand to silence the on-coming warnings.

"Before you say anything, I don't care if it's not safe. I'm not going to let you spend the day holed up in your room alone because you have a new power you can't control."

Sarah shivered again and Chris took a good look at her.

Lips tinged with blue from the cold framed her chattering teeth and her skin was marbled white but overall she seemed fine.

He took off his jacket and placed it gently around her shoulders. She smiled and sat back in the cushions, leaning against Chris slightly, and drawing from his warmth. Maybe today wasn't so bad after all.


Eighteen Years Old Part 1

Sarah desperately tried to pull a furious Chris away from Jacob Benson as their fists flew into each other, one of Jacob's hits landed with a sickening crack and Sarah lost it.

"THAT'S IT!" she screamed, throwing Jacob back with a blast of telekinetic energy and holding Chris back with one hand.

Paige came into view and Jacob pulled a sad face.

"Headmistress Matthews, Christopher here simply attacked me! I reacted in self-defense and then Sarah threw me into a wall!"

Chris unfroze and reacted instantly, "Bull! Yes I threw the first punch but you had it coming!"

Paige held up her hands to silence the two, "Now Mr. Benson, what did you say?"

He smirked, "Nothing that wasn't true!"

Chris growled and launched himself onto the boy. Sarah moved to pull him away but Jacob's fist caught her right across the face, sending her sprawling to the floor. A hush rippled through the corridor and Sarah looked up, blood slowly dripping from a cut on her cheek. She laughed a little, shoulders shaking before she threw herself at Jacob, sending her fist flying into his stomach.

"Touch me again," she said in a low and dangerous whisper, "And we're going to have a serious problem."

"JACOB, CHRIS, SARAH! MY OFFICE NOW!" Paige boomed, no sooner had they disappeared into the Headmistresses office did the whispers break out among the students of Magic School. What had Benson said? Why had Chris lost it? No one would ever know.

Memories

Chris sat in his room, washing the cut on his arm with a wet rag. Paige had insisted that Wyatt not heal him so he would learn the consequences of his actions. Both he and Benson had gotten three weeks of detention and Sarah had been given one. Chris hadn't told anyone why he had lost it.

His door creaked open and Sarah stepped through, a band-aid covering the cut on her cheek. She smiled and sat on the bed next to him.

"Here," she took the things from his hands and began to clean around the cut.

"You might have to take your shirt off so I can see all the wounds," she said with a slight blush.

Chris nodded and pulled the thin tee over his head, ignoring Sarah's gasp as he did so. His chest was covered in bruises but Jacob looked worse, Chris had done his fair share of damage.

"This might hurt!" Sarah warned him softly as she dabbed on the antiseptic. Chris flinched and pulled away, only to have Sarah place her hand on his bare chest and hold him in place.

"Why is it," she began as she wrapped a bandage around his arm, "That men can take painful blows without batting an eye but when it comes to the antiseptic they turn into babies?"

Chris shrugged and tried to ignore the burning feeling of Sarah's hand on his chest.

"Are you gonna tell me why you were fighting him?"

"No,"

"Please?"

"No," he replied more forcefully.

Sarah sighed and placed two fingers on his jaw, turning his head towards hers.

"Please?"

With a resigned sigh, Chris opened his mouth,

"He made a crack about you and what he'd do to you if he ever got you alone in one of the classrooms."

Sarah's eyes widened, "Oh!" silence fell around them and she began to rub cream over his bruises. Chris flinching with every move she made. The moves weren't just in pain though.

"Thank-you then, for defending me," she whispered as she finished applying cream to his bruises.

"No problem Sarah," he said quietly with a smile.

Sarah smiled back and looked at his calendar. One month till graduation.


Eighteen Years Old Part 2

"Why do I even have to wear a tie?" Chris complained sulkily as Paige tried yet again to straighten the annoying accessory.

Wyatt laughed happily as he pulled on his jacket.

Tonight was Sarah and Chris' graduation dance for Magic School and he was there to 'chaperone' in other words he was going to check out all the dateless girls.

Their regular school wasn't having one; simply sticking with the traditional ceremony.

Sarah had been selected as the valedictorian and had to present a speech at the ceremony.

Wyatt had a funny feeling that even though the ceremony was tomorrow, Sarah still hadn't done her speech.

"Come on firecracker!" he called up the stairs.

Rushed footsteps were heard on the stairs and Sarah emerged in a beautiful blue gown.

Paige had refused to let her wear black or red so she had reluctantly gone with blue.

"Do I look okay?" she asked self-consciously, pulling on the hem of her dress in a nervous gesture.

Wyatt nodded confidently.

"You look gorgeous. Doesn't she Chris?" When no immediate reply was forthcoming he turned only to find Chris staring at Sarah.

His brother became aware he was staring and looked sheepishly at them both.

"Yeah," he murmured, "Breathtaking."

Sarah grinned and slipped her arm through his as the door for Magic School appeared.

Phoebe was taking photos like there was no tomorrow and Paige had tears in her eyes. Their sister's baby was growing up.

Memories

The area for the San Francisco High graduation ceremony was packed. People were everywhere and the Halliwell clan was eagerly awaiting Sarah's Valedictorian speech. They had been almost late for the ceremony due to the VERY late night Chris, Wyatt and Sarah had had at the Graduation Dance last night.

"And now, I am very pleased to invite to the stage Miss Serenity Sparrow with the Valedictorian speech."

Everyone clapped as Sarah ascended the steps.

"Thank-you. I was once told something, a very long time ago that I would like to share with you all today. Life is hard- Deal with it!"

A ripple of laughter went through the crowd.

"These words were spoken by Piper Penelope Halliwell- may she rest in peace- and they are completely correct. Life is hard, but here we are. And let me be the first to say...that I feel old! I live in a world where anything is possible and by anything I mean anything. I've grown up with some people who I never want to forget and thankfully never will. They are my pillars, without whom I could not stand. Amanda Sparrow, Paige Matthews, Piper Halliwell and Phoebe Halliwell are just a few of the people who have been an inspiration to me. A household filled with laughter and jokes and fun. Many people to talk to and many people to listen. People who are like the brothers and sisters I never had. But my ultimate inspiration comes from my best friend and the one person who knows exactly what to say and when to say it. Chris Halliwell."

Phoebe and Paige gasped and Wyatt smiled. He looked at his cousins who were staring shocked at Sarah.

"He has been a factor in almost every major aspect of my life. Loss, Happiness and Love. Some of my ex boyfriends will never be the same once Chris and Wyatt have had their say." The titter rippled through again, it was a well-known fact that to date Sarah you had to go through Chris and Wyatt first.

"Thanks Chris, you are my guidepost in life- and I don't know where I'd be without you."

The audience erupted in applause and Sarah smiled at Chris who smiled back.

"Throughout these years, everyone graduating here has been through so much. From failed papers to failed relationships but we are all the same today…"

Memories

"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you, the graduation class of 2022!" The crowd cheered and the class threw their hats into the air.

Chris and Sarah hugged each other and smiled. They had finally graduated- they'd made it. And they had their whole future ahead of them.


Nineteen Years Old

Chris stared at the ground of the Halliwell crypt sadly. She was gone, no longer there to hold his hand; no longer there to tell him it was all going to be okay. Because it wasn't. Not ever again. Nothing would ever be the same.

It had literally been a magical service. After the church ceremony, elves and trolls and pixies had appeared to pay their respects.

The casket was simple, white and shiny. The fairies had sprinkled a little dust over it and her name had been engraved in gold on the side.

He stared at the headstone.

Serenity Elizabeth Sparrow

2004- 2023

Friend and Family

May She Rest In Peace

He whispered a spell and the name changed from Serenity to Sarah. It may have been personal gain but he couldn't force himself to care.

He looked at his mother's plaque.

"Look after her mum." He whispered brokenly before orbing out.