A/N: Gah! This chapter's only 883 words! To make up for it, I'll answer the four lovely reviews I got. I just broke 150 reviewsm, will you guys help me to get 200? Next chapter will be longer, I promise. Anyway, back to answering. Oh, and by the by, this chapter is dedicated to Beka Rhade, because she has a good reason for not reviewing all the time. On to the answers!

CSIrookiechick: I'm trying to throw a little more of the hope in this chapter, is very bouncy compared to the other ones. Oh, and as to the book on the radiator, I was basing Sara's bathroom off my bathroom, and the radiator never comes on in there so it's always unbearably cold. Anyway, it's where I stick my book. It hasn't caught fire yet.

Beka Rhade: I don't really know why Nick hasn't noticed, but Greg is always the one to say "God she's thin" or something. Anyway, I'm planning a little confontation next chapter, so then we'll know they all noticed. About my update-every-day policy, I can't change it, sorry. I'm way too obsessed with this fanfiction. I do take an off day on Thursdays though.

Daisyangel: All your reviews have gotten through just fine, don't worry! I love them. Like I said, I'm plotting for next chapter, but depending on the circumstances it may not be updated tomorrow morning, I have to go volunteer at Planned Parenthood this evening, which cuts into my writing/homework time. I'll post your ff soon, but life is happening at the moment. It sucks.

Silver Hair Fox: I'm not entirely sure why I threw Ecklie in, maybe just to like, note his prominence in her downward spiral of doom, or something. To show how truly evil he is. I'm loving VMT, you should update that soon, as well as WTM. I'll be on Yahoo this afternoon but not for long, and I have to type and do homework so I might not talk that much.

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"Come on, Sara," Catherine said, tuggin Sara's arm as they ran along the sidewalk towards Sam Braun's estate. It was May first, Sara's birthday, and Cathy had been the one volunteered to bring the birthday girl to the party.

"Remind me again why we have to run?" Sara said breathlessly. She was never much of an athlete, and her decreased apetite had diminished her strength considerably. She puffed along behind Catherine, as her friend spoke.

"Well, Gil told me he wants to speak to me alone, I told him to meet me here, and I wanted to bring a witness," Catherine said, reciting her carefully chosen alibi. Gil knew nothing of this, of course, and since Sara was the only one Cathy had told about her fascination with Gil, it only made sense for her to be the "witness". Sara didn't question it, she trusted Catherine's judgement, and she was too out of breath to argue.

"This is it, right, Cat?" Sara asked, pointing to a sprawling lawn in front of a large mansion, a small guest house beside it.

"Yup," Catherine confirmed, dragging Sara along faster, a huge grin on her face.

When they reached the big, oak front door, Catherine pushed it open. The house was dark, but as soon as the two girls stepped in someone turned on the lights and everyone jumped out of various hiding places.

"Surprise!" the group yelled in unison. Natasha bounded out from behind the couch and gave Sara a hug. "Happy birthday, hon!" she said happily as Sara noticed Jim watching somewhat jealously.

Grinning like a fool, Sara hugged everyone and thanked them, admiring the decorations and the smell of the food. "Presents first," Greg said to the room at large, shoving a plastic bag into Sara's hands.

"Typical guy, not wrapping a present," Sara thought. "It's sort of endearing." She opened the crinkled plastic and looked inside. A walkman with headphones was inside, with what looked like a mix tape next to it.

"I made it for you, it's all my favorite songs. I can't wait til you hear The Cure," Greg said, giving her a quick hug. "Happy birthday, Sara."

Heather's present was next. Sara adored the shiny black paper and opened it carefully, letting the wrapping fall away in one piece. A white box was inside, and Sara gasped as she opened it. A short, strapless, midnight blue dress unfolded in her hands, the satiny material sliding in and out of her fingers. Noticing the tag, Sara was even more shocked. "Lady Heather's Creations," it read.

"Did you make this?" Sara asked, a new admiration for her friend blossoming in her mind.

Smiling modestly, Heather nodded. "I make a lot of my own clothing. It keeps me busy when I have to while away the hours."

Gil saw Heather in a new light. She was now not only smart, kind and insightful, but creative and resourceful. His mind snapping back to the task at hand, he handed Sara his present. It was a butterfly pendant on a delicate sliver chain. The colors of the wings were dark and mysterious, yet at the same time, they held an inner light, making them cheerful. It fit Sara's personality perfectly.

Mia had given Sara a black peacoat. It hugged her body just right, hiding how thin she'd become, accentuating what little curves she had left. Sara adored it, and put it next to the growing pile of unwrapped presents. Nick's gift was practical; he'd given her an Agatha Christie novel called And Then There Were None. Sara had wanted to read it for awhile, and she grinned, giving Nick a hug and thanking him.

Jim gave her a black beret, which, by coincidence, looked ravishing when combined with the peacoat. Archie's gift was Edward Scissorhands, the movie they'd watched after Catherine's karaoke birthday. He grinned when Sara thanked him, saying he knew she liked it, even if it was the saddest thing she'd ever watched. Sara laughed and thanked him again, putting it carefully next to everything else. Next was Warrick's present, he'd gotten her a pair of gold earrings with ladybugs on them. Trying them on, everyone agreed that the flash of red every so often under her hair was a fantastic touch.

Natasha handed Sara her gift, an ear-to-ear smile on her face. When Sara tore back the wrapping paper, out fell a black t-shirt with a picture of the Eiffel Tower in silver on it. "Since you love French so much, I thought I'd bring you a little taste of France," she said, smirking a little. Sara laughed, saying it wasn't France she minded, it was conjugating verbs which got her down.

Lastly was Catherine's present. It was in a large box, and when Sara opened it, she found a variety of things inside. A bunch of silver rings with various colors of stones, all on the white hand of a mannequin. A fluffy stuffed penguin, a copy of The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack, and a handmade card which proclaimed, "I'll buy you a whole outfit at the mall next weekend and we'll go clubbing to show it off. Deal?"

Sara looked at Catherine and grinned. "Deal, Cat."

"Okay, what are we waiting for?" Greg asked rhetorically. "Let's eat cake!"