"It is stupid! A pointless waste! Why would people even consider this a holiday?" Sarah ranted as she hung pink and red streamers from the ceiling of P3.

Chris chuckled and began unwinding the red lights from their bundle as Sarah ranted. It had been three weeks since the 'Jinny Incident' and they were as close as ever- no awkward moments.

When the end of January had rolled around, his Aunts had somehow discovered his birthday and Sarah's birthday and thrown them a small party at the manor. Piper had been rather confused as to why her sisters were suddenly quite close to the whitelighter of the future but joined in the fun and even got them presents.

That night Sarah had been unusually quiet and when Chris had questioned her on it, she had broken down in his arms. All the celebrating had brought back memories she didn't want OR need about her death. After she had calmed down Chris hadn't mentioned it again. Now they were into February and P3 was having a Valentines Day bash… thus Sarah's outburst. You see, she wasn't one of the girls who enjoyed this holiday in fact…

She hated it.

"I mean it's an entire day dedicated to love and 'happily ever afters' When is everyone going to realize that there is NO SUCH THING as a happily ever after? Sooner or later, something will screw it up!"

Piper stopped what she was doing and raised an eyebrow at Chris.

"Is she always like this?"

He nodded and watched his friend mutter to herself as she wove the streamers around the poles.

"She never was a big fan of Valentines Day. Bad experiences if you know what I mean."

"She didn't get any valentines?"

"Oh no, she got plenty. It was just that she didn't know who ninety percent of them were from and then one guy said that she HAD to go with him to the Valentines Day dance because it was terrible for a girl to show up alone. Needless to say she wasn't too impressed."

The words just seemed to flow off his tongue as he spoke to his Mom. After many discussions with Sarah. (Which she was proud to say she had won) Chris had decided that a few details couldn't do much damage.

Piper nodded, "So, I take it she's a real go getter for women's rights huh?"

Chris absently nodded as his gaze returned to the lights he was untangling. He looked up as he heard Sarah shriek, half expecting to see a demon in front of her. Instead she was staring at the date book for P3.

"You have booked 'Broken' for tonight? THE Broken!?" she squealed.

Piper raised an eyebrow, "Um yeah, they're a small band from around here. I figured tonight would just be simple and not have an extravagant band. Why did you add a 'THE' to their name?"

Sarah paused for a moment, "Uhm…"

Piper's eyes widened in realization, "They're famous in the future aren't they?"

"No comment?" Sarah said weakly.

Chris just rolled his eyes and threw down the lights.

"Sorry Piper, they're a lost cause."

Piper nodded and looked around, "Well okay, I'm gonna go pick up some things from the manor I'll be back soon. Paige and Phoebe should be here soon so get them to help set up okay."

She grabbed her keys and walked up the stairs, leaving Sarah to mutter and mumble under her breath about the ridiculousness of this holiday.

There were footsteps on the stairs and Phoebe and Paige rushed in.

"Hey! We saw Piper leave!"

Chris nodded and wiped behind the counter, sneezing as some of the dust irritated his nose.

In seconds, Phoebe and Paige were beside him, checking his temperature and asking him if he felt okay.

"Uh, Sarah? A little help here?" he called over at his friend.

She looked up from her flower arranging and grinned.

"No thanks, I'm good here!"

Chris narrowed his eyes and looked at Phoebe.

"You know, Sarah was feeling a little under the weather this morning and…"

Both Phoebe and Paige were checking Sarah's temperature in seconds. She glowered at him and raised her finger.

"Hands Down!" he reminded her.

Seeing as she had to get all of her powers eventually, when she was dead she was unable to receive them so now she was alive, they were all coming back. That meant that every two days or so Sarah would go to do something and end up nearly destroying something by simply raising her hand.

Sarah rolled her eyes and pushed the two women off, heading to the stage to fix the lights. She was almost to the stage when a demon shimmered into the room and threw an energy ball in Paige's direction.

She ducked and shrieked, holding up her hands and sending the demon crashing into the tables Sarah had spent the better part of an hour setting.

There were footsteps on the stairs and Piper emerged.

"Uh, guys? I think I left my purse behind could you… WOAH!"

She caught sight of the demon and her hands flew up in front of her, but the demon merely shrugged off the attack and looked around.

"Nos ago ministro!" he chanted, raising an athame. His eyes scanned the room and landed on Sarah. His eyes widened and the athame fell with a clatter.

"Archos!" he hissed before disappearing in a whirl of dust.

Sarah stood frozen in her place, she had taken Latin in high school and the demon had referred to her a 'ruler' what did that mean?

There was silence before Chris rushed over and looked at her.

"You okay?"

She nodded slowly and Piper picked up the deserted athame.

It glinted as the dull light hit it and they saw that there was a small pentagram carved into the centre of the handle and an emerald was placed in the centre of it. When they looked closer they saw a small engraving on the blade.

"Patronus of Angelus ex Abyssus?" Piper murmured.

"Protector of the Angel from hell." Chris and Sarah supplied.

There was silence as Piper looked at Sarah's worried eyes.

"Think this might have something to do with you?"

XxX

Phoebe flipped through the pages and sighed.

"There is no demon in here matching the description of the one Piper attempted to blow up!"

Sarah sighed and leaned back, her head dropping onto Chris's chest. If they hadn't been so worried, Paige and Phoebe would have 'awwed!' at the cuteness of it.

Piper paced around the room and turned accusingly to Sarah.

"Why was he so afraid of you? Why was he your 'protector?' you're not even born yet! Hell you're probably not even conceived yet!"

Sarah sat up and her eyes brightened.

"Piper that's it! What if he's not MY protector?"

When all she received was a blank stare, Sarah moved to the Book and flipped to the back page, placing the pendant around her neck into the indentation.

As the Book changed, she flipped it open and skimmed through the pages.

"A-HA! Found it!" she said happily after a moment.

The sisters and Chris walked over and she began to read.

"Months before the conception of the Slayer the Gods and the demons came together and forged an indestructible demon to protect the Source and the Goddess herself. Their duty was to keep the identity of the Source a secret and ensure that no one found out about the conception or pregnancy. While to normal witches these demons may seem like a regular demon, their souls are neutral and they kill those who are a threat. Good or Evil. Only they themselves would be able to recognize the Goddess who would bear the Slayer and the Slayer itself. After the birth of the Slayer the demons were destroyed in case they turned on the Gods."

She finished reading and he eyes widened as the full meaning of the passage sunk in.

Her mother was here.

Phoebe seemed to notice her discomfort and gave her an awkward hug.

"So what does it all mean? Why did they hide the Source? Why wasn't anyone allowed to find out about you? How did the demon know it was you? Why did he come after us?" Piper asked from beside Paige.

Sarah was quiet for a moment before opening her mouth.

"The Source doesn't want to be found because you would try to kill him, demons aren't allowed to know because they'd worship him and you'd all eventually find out. The demons were created to recognize me as the Slayer so when he saw me his must have gotten confused and disappeared but as to why he was looking for you… those demons were made to protect my mom and kill anyone who started to find out about little me."

There was complete silence once again before something came to Chris.

"Piper? Didn't you say that Leo told you something the Elder's were worried about? Something about a demon?" he asked.

"Oh yeah! Demons all through the Underworld are going missing and a few witches have disappeared too. The Elders said that there was also a dramatic tip in the scale of good and evil even before the demons were killed."

"My mom." Sarah said quietly. "She must have tipped the scales when she came to Earth. The demons and witches are dying because they've started to find out about me. When you found that information out you became a target."

"Will the demon be back?"

Sarah shook her head, "No, first and foremost they were made to protect me. Even though I'm not born yet, they HAVE to follow orders or they'll die. One of the orders is keeping the Slayer a secret. I'm the Slayer so all the demons will stay away from me AND not tell anyone that I'm here."

She absently flipped another page in the Book of the Slayer and sighed.

"I hate Valentine's Day."

XxX

Many hours later, after they had cleaned up P3 and discussed what to do about the new development;

'Absolutely nothing, stay out of the business of the Slayer or we'll get ourselves killed' Piper said.

Sarah and Chris were sitting on the plush chairs with Broken played up on stage. There were pink and red hearts everywhere and they both were holding drink in their hands.

Sarah took a sip from her water and Chris tentatively tried the drink the bartender insisted he have. It was surprisingly good.

"Can I have a taste?" Sarah asked.

Chris handed her the drink and she took a sip from the straw.

"Mmmm! What is that?"

"I have no idea but it is damn good!"

He glanced at Sarah out of the corner of his eye and she sighed.

"Chris, I'm fine, I mean sooner or later my mom had to fall from the heavens right?"

He nodded and took another sip of his drink.

They sat in silence while Sarah gazed at the band members. Chris shifted in his seat, a question he desperately wanted answered lingered in the back of his mind and somehow made its way to his mouth.

"Why'd you do it?"

Sarah looked at him curiously, "Do what?"

"Trade places with me?"

Sarah stopped for a moment, "You were my best friend… I wasn't about to just let you die!"

"But you died." He said quietly, half wishing he hadn't asked her why she did it.

"Death takes us anywhere, anytime...no discrimination, no consideration of any sort. Even if I hadn't traded places, chances are I would have died. It was just my time Chris. Despite rumor death isn't cruel… merely terrible, terribly good at doing its job. I don't regret what I did for you Chris and if I had to, I'd do it again."

Chris was silent for a while before looking up.

"When we were younger, you told me that in order to gain something you had to sacrifice something of equivalent value… always. No matter what it is in the world… that rule will always apply. What did I gain by losing you?"

She smiled weakly, "You gained your life Chris. You lived to fight and to take care of those who couldn't take care of themselves. Sappy as this may sound… your life means more to me than my own does."

Chris smiled softly and gave her a one armed hug. She relaxed into it and they listened to Broken playing onstage.

You gave me a happily ever after

In the end

A happily ever after

Thanks my friend.

Without you I would be a broken soul

And now I have got someone I can hold.

They finished their song and Sarah shook her head.

"There is NO SUCH THING as a happily ever after. Fairytales don't come true and there won't be a handsome prince to sweep the pathetic princess off her feet. Why does everyone think princesses are weak huh?"

Chris smiled at his friend and moved away so he could stand.

"You know Sarah means princess in Hebrew and you are far from weak. But your real name kind of speaks for itself Serenity."

Sarah narrowed her eyes, "You are probably the only one who can call me that and get away with it Christopher."

He laughed and looked at her.

"Want anything?"

She thought for a moment, "World domination."

"I don't think they have that at the bar so what's your second choice?"

"One of whatever you've got thanks Chrissy."

He nodded and headed for the bar, leaving Sarah to gaze adoringly at the members of her favourite band in the future. Both of them were unaware that three sisters hiding behind a pole near them had monitored the conversation.

"AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!! That was so sweet!" Paige gushed.

"Yeah, they are so perfect for each other!"

Piper agreed with her sisters, "Yeah I mean, how Chris didn't realized that they would be perfect for each other I'll never know? His mom must have raised him blind to the signals of women."

After that Piper couldn't figure out why her sisters were laughing.

Latin 'Nos ago Ministro' means (roughly) 'we live to serve' or 'we spend time to serve.' I own the sucky lyrics!