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It was another lazy afternoon around the Cameron homestead. With Robin, Nicole and Allison off at camp, and Em and Beth doing their own thing, plus Katelyn teaching another piano lesson, Sarah and Faith lounged around the pool.

Both girls wore form-fitting bikinis, but while Sarah had on a pair of expensive, sporty sunglasses, Faith’s were decidedly goofy-looking, with pink frames and heart-shaped lenses.

“This is the life,” Faith giggled softly. “You know Sarah, I’ve been thinking.”

“What about?” Sarah asked, glancing over at the girl.

“About maybe possibly tagging along with you to camp. I know I said I’d only stay through the weekend, but I haven’t taken a proper vacation in …” She paused and frowned. “Frankly I’ve never taken a vacation. But with Death, War, Love, and my Living Guardian I might actually be able to relax for a week or two for once.”

“Well you did spend a lot of energy on me, didn’t you?” Sarah asked softly, squeezing Faith’s hand. The girl smiled sheepishly.

“You were worth it. Don’t ever think for even a second that you weren’t.”

Sarah grinned softly back at her. “I didn’t mean to imply that I wasn’t. I’m just still kind of in awe that you’d do all this for me.” She leaned closer to pull her into a hug. “I’m glad you did. And I’m glad we can be friends. You’re like the sweetest, most caring girl I’ve ever known.”

Just as the two hugged, Meg yelled from the open kitchen window. “Girls, you have visitors! I’m sending them out to the pool, okay?”

“Sure, Mom,” Sarah called back.

A moment later, two humanoid shadows cast over the girls, blocking the sun. Faith and Sarah both glanced back to see two girls standing behind them. The first, dressed in a bright pink one-piece bathing suit, had her long, blonde hair tied back in a ponytail with a simple matching pink ribbon.

The other, a much older girl with pink and purple hair, wore a slimming black swimsuit with a red and purple skull motif. The pink-clad girl plopped down next to Sarah, as the older girl sat next to Faith, lightly wrapping an arm around her. Faith seemed quite comfortable with the pair, leaning into the older girl.

“So this is where you’ve been hiding the last few days,” the older girl grinned. Sarah unconsciously found herself hugging the younger girl, who giggled, resting her head on Sarah’s shoulder.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Sarah.”

Faith giggled softly. “Sarah, that’s Bethany, and this is Marry. Better known as Love and War.”

“So where’s Fair?” Sarah teased, drawing a light punch in the arm from Bethany, before she giggled.

“Oh ha ha, very funny. You’ll meet her someday.” She smiled innocently, drawing a glare from Faith when Sarah wasn’t looking. Marry giggled.

“You still need to meet Kris, but he’s handling a reap personally right now, so he’ll be along in a bit. We just wanted to come over and introduce ourselves.”

“Don’t worry,” Faith advised, “Unlike me, War, Love and Death were mortal once so they don’t tend to speak in so many riddles.” She giggled.

War laughed softly. “Nor are we super-scary. Except Bethany. For being the child of hippies, she can give Faith a run for her money when she’s angry.”

“Shut up,” Bethany pouted, sticking her tongue out. “You’re WAY worse than me and you know it!”

“Ladies, please,” Faith smiled. “No launching World War III from Sarah’s back yard.” Sarah laughed as she shrugged.

“Oh, that’s okay. Just don’t nuke my pool. I kinda like it. So um, what does the Universe and her super pals do for fun when you’re not lounging by my pool?”

“Sarah, another guest! A cute boy,” Meg teased from the window again. Marry giggled quietly under her breath as an older boy with black hair and soft, almost feminine features, dressed in a charcoal gray tank top and shorts approached, sitting next to Marry. He smiled and seemed to pull a pair of black, wire frame sunglasses from nowhere, sliding them up his nose before extending his hand.

“Hi Sarah. Call me Kris,” he announced casually. “Sorry I’m late, but I had a soul to pop on the way over here that refused to give up the ghost afterwards.”

Sarah stared at Kris’ hand for a second or two before Faith laughed softly. “Don’t worry sweetie. You’re protected, in the first place, and Kris only takes souls whose time has come anyway.”

Sarah relaxed a little, and even giggled as she shook Kris’ hand. “Sorry. It’s just weird, you know? I almost died, twice apparently, and now I’m shaking Death’s hand.”

Kris shook his head slowly. “Don’t think of me as Death. Like Marry and Bethany, I have a job to perform, but it doesn’t define me any more than you being a great dancer defines you.”

“How’d you know I’m a great dancer?” Sarah blinked.

Kris smiled and shook his head, “Just been to a few of your dances is all,” then looked over at Faith.

Suddenly memories of Sarah’s new life came surging to the forefront. She hadn’t thought about dance since before the accident, other than finding it odd that a pair of ballet slippers had been hung on the door of her closet. She grimaced lightly. “That’s right. I was the Swan Princess in Swan Lake. Holy shi-I mean crap.” She blushed brightly and giggled.

Faith smiled softly. “You must understand one thing, Sarah. The way things work, history follows the path of least resistance. You would not be a great dancer if you had not wanted to be. You would not be a great artist had you not wanted to be. I did nothing to your past that did not reflect how you would have turned out.”

“So... My family no longer hating Mom and me is because I’m a ‘real’ girl in this timeline?” Sarah frowned softly.

“It is a sad commentary on affairs,” Faith admitted softly. “But also, your father’s … indiscretions never came to light either, whereas in this timeline, your mother stayed because your father never hurt you so. I’m sorry, this must be very confusing for you still.”

Sarah shook her head. “It is a little, but I mean it’s getting a little easier every day. So um, what do you guys do for fun again? Sorry, Mom kinda interrupted earlier,” she giggled.

“Oh usually we just hang out at an abandoned asylum,” Kris and Marry both answered.

Sarah leaned forward, staring blankly at the two for a second or two before giggling. “Yeah, um, somehow that doesn’t surprise me,” she teased then grinned even as Bethany snickered under her breath. “I’m kidding! I didn’t know this place even had an abandoned asylum though. That’s so cool!”

“Oh its not that cool.” Marry admitted. “Kris and I spent two years in that wacko nut job place.” She sighed.

“But you guys don’t look that old, and,” she paused, realization dawning. “Ohhhhh.” She blushed slightly. “Sorry. I um... It’s like, way easy to forget you guys and Faith are older than you look. Hell it’s hard to remember any of you are anything but cool people that I really want to get to know better.” She smiled quite sincerely. All four of them hugged Sarah and then pushed her into the swimming pool, and started giggling.

“Hey!” she squealed loudly, laughing as her feet touched the bottom. “Oh my God cold!” she announced, turning around and grabbing Bethany and Faith by the ankles, dragging them in with her.

Bethany squealed, but Faith just smiled as the pool just started to warm up when she touched the water. “You are such a good friend Sarah. I’m glad the others like you as well.”

Sarah giggled, hugging Faith, and then climbed back out of the water, leaving her with enough room to sit on the edge again. “I’m nothing special. I mean, other than now constantly having two sets of very different memories competing for my attention,” she joked.

“Faith’s not told you?”, Bethany quipped bubbly-like.

Sarah shook her head, glancing at Faith. “I got the ‘All in due time’ speech,” she answered. “But I know she has her reasons.”

Just as Bethany was about to say something more, Marry swims up behind her and dunks her under the water, “That’s enough squirrel girl.”

Sarah giggled, covering her mouth. “So what aren’t you telling me? Am I like, the only person with this weird ability or something?”

“No there is another one just like you out there, you probably will never meet though.” Faith smiled.

“So if it’s not my magic sight, what else could there be?” She looked over at Bethany, seemingly the one most willing to talk.

Bethany shakes her head no. “Sorry, I can’t say, otherwise Marry will drown me!” she giggled.

Kris took Faith’s hand and dragged her a bit away, hopefully out of Sarah’s earshot. “Faith, how long are you going to torture Sarah before you tell her? It was hell for Eric and me before you told us, it’s not fair to her!

“And while I’m at it, its not very fair to keep it from Jennifer either. You’re going to hurt their souls when it comes time for them to join us. Look at Bethany; that poor girl is all kinds of fucked up in the head. You can’t tell me she’s not. I spent a lot of time around fucked up people, remember?” Kris sounded very angry with Faith at this point.

Faith exhaled softly, her eyes flashing to a distinct dark blue for a moment before lightening again. She turned to Marry and Bethany. “Girls, come here for a moment. I’m sorry, Sarah, this will only take a moment, I promise.”

Sarah smiled, nodding. “I have to pee anyway. You guys go ahead. I’ll be right back.” She answered, standing and padding back toward the house, though she stopped to grab a towel at the door, drying her feet first before stepping inside.

“Kris, my son, you have a lot of balls to stand up to me. I should have made you War, and Marry Death,” she sighed, “But that is not what I wanted to talk to you all about.”

“I’m sorry Faith,” Bethany offered softly as she approached. “I wasn’t thinking. But I guess that’s kinda par for the course,” she giggled softly.

Faith looked at Bethany with a lot of love in her eyes, “You did nothing wrong Bethany. None of you did, and what Kris told me was true, but It’s not time to tell Sarah yet. I don’t want to force her into doing something rash and making things happen faster. But as far as Jennifer, Kris, Marry, Bethany - my children my friends, you can tell her. She’s been ready to know her fate.”

“Six hundred years,” Bethany murmured. “I wanna tell her, but...” She paused, looking up at Death and War, “But I’d just get sidetracked bubbling about her newfound lost love. One of you better do it.”

Faith looked at Bethany with a little sadness in her eyes now, “Bethany, do you regret that I let you die so early?”

Bethany shook her head vigorously. “No, of course not! I mean sure, I died young, but look at what I left behind? Nobody loved me. Nobody gave a -” she paused and blushed, “A fuck about me. That’s why you chose me, isn’t it? I knew what it was like to be denied love my whole life, the perfect candidate to make sure there weren’t more like me.”

Bethany smiled proudly. “Plus look at what I’ve gained. A ‘big sister’ who takes care of me,” she glanced up at Marry. “And these amazing powers.”

Faith leaned forward and kissed Bethany on the cheek. Normally Faith only kissed people on their forehead, but since meeting Sarah even she had changed a bit, “I’m glad to hear you’re not mad at me. Kris and Marry are you mad at me for not stepping in before what happened to you?”

Marry took Kris by the hand, staring at her feet. “What we endured in that horrible place... No human being ever should, let alone a couple of innocent kids who didn’t belong there. But if you hadn’t been there to protect us, we would’ve died before we even had a chance to try to escape.”

She paused, slowly raising her gaze until she met Faith’s. “Am I jealous of Sarah’s getting a second chance? A little, but that wasn’t your doing, so I don’t blame you. And I can’t complain really. I finally got what I wanted when you did take us.”

“And you Kris do you hate me? Am I a terrible Mother? Remember child, your answer will not change your seat in my kingdom. I still love you.”

“Faith, that’s not fair. I didn’t say you’re a terrible mother, nor did I say that I hated you. I said that what you’re doing felt unfair to us, to Bethany. I never understood why you let us suffer, merely trying to protect us rather than just taking us before we were basically murdered by the state.”

“I have reasons for everything. Sometimes even I don’t fully understand them. Sarah is your sister, and she is my daughter. Give her time to be human before we tell her my plans. I don’t plan on making the same mistakes I did with Jennifer with Sarah.”

Marry smiled faintly as she squeezed Kris’ hand. “You know she’s right. Sarah does have a good life. Unlike either of us, or even Bethany, she has a home, family and friends that love her. This may not have been what Faith had in mind to the letter, but if Sarah’s going to be our Balance then it’s only right that she does get this second chance, a chance to feel both the dark side of her old life, and the positive of this one.”

Kris furrowed his brow slightly, and Bethany smiled, moving around to squeeze his other hand. “She has a point. Sarah “lived” as John for like, 13 years right? Everything Faith did to give her new memories, she hasn’t truly experienced for herself yet. She needs to experience her new life, to learn to cope with her position. I was ready at 12 years old. I was ready to be loved, and to be Love. Sarah’s not ready to be Balance yet.”

Faith smiled at her friends and children, her eyes turning pink again, “Thank you for understanding, I promise Sarah will be better off without knowing till she’s ready, but I have one last question of all three of you. Do you think I did wrong to Jennifer? Answer me honestly please,” Faith finished, almost begging.

Marry spoke first, but softly. “I … I think the reason she became such a kiss-ass is because she thought she did something to make you hate her. I mean, I didn’t realize it until just these last few years, watching her “grow up” again, but there’s a lot of sadness behind those ancient eyes, no matter how much she tries to hide it.”

“She wandered alone without guidance for a long time,” Bethany added softly. “She thought you hated her, and from what I sense, she does harbor some hatred for herself too.”

Kris simply shook his head. “You already know my feelings on the matter. You gave me express orders when I took this position, that she was the only one I could never touch.”

“I’ll make it right to her this time, Next time I get a chance to talk to Jennifer I will make it right.” Faith was almost in tears, “Thank you so much for not lying to me, I brought you to me and made you part of my Kingdom because I needed you, not to just do a job, but I needed others to help me keep myself straight.”

“Nobody’s perfect,” Kris teased lightly as he knelt, not to kiss Faith’s feet, but to pull her into a hug, leaning up to kiss her forehead as she had so often done. “I’m sorry if I hurt you. I get that you really do have a plan here, and that Sarah won’t ‘go out’ like we did. I’m just very protective of those I’m not allowed to reap.”

Bethany and Marry quietly joined the group hug. There was nothing more they could really say to add to the moment. Kris had said it all perfectly.

Sarah cleared her throat, causing Faith and Kris both to jump. Bethany just giggled, as the girl approached with a fresh tray of lemonade in glasses. “Sorry that took so long, but I wanted to give you guys a minute, so I made fresh-squeezed.”

She paused to add, “And... before anybody asks, yeah, I heard a little bit, but not enough to need to be like, blinked out of existence or anything, honest.” She grinned. “Just something about how I can screw around and never get killed.”

Kris laughed. “Just remember, you’d be amazed the kind of pain you can live through, so don’t push it, okay?”

Sarah giggled softly and nodded. “Deal.”

~oOo~

After the three guests had departed, Sarah headed upstairs to change out of her wet swimsuit. She passed in front of her mirror heading into the closet, but paused. “Hard to believe this shit started with a fucking mirror,” she moaned softly to herself. She turned about, admiring the reflection of her backside. “Nice butt though. Better than John’s if I remember right.”

“Now you’re getting it,” Faith giggled as she entered the room dressed in a white bathrobe that reached her mid-thighs, plopping down on Sarah’s bed. “Naked is beautiful. Unless Death is around. Naked around a boy is just plain weird,” she teased. Sarah laughed softly as she disappeared into her closet.

“The old Sarah was a real prude wasn’t she?” she called back. “It’s weird, thinking of myself in terms of two different people.” The sounds of clothes hangers being shifted around stopped, and a moment later Sarah called again, “Hey Faith can I ask you a serious question?”

Faith giggled quietly. “No, War and Death aren’t dating.”

“Well, I was wondering about that too,” Sarah laughed. “But no, I’m wondering about … Well, about me. My life, my old and new one.” She stepped out again, holding a cute, lime green summer dress in one hand. She wandered over to her dresser to get herself some underwear.

“Death said I’m marked, that he can’t touch me. If that’s the case, why did those weird ladies intervene? If I would’ve survived anyway, I mean. It doesn’t make sense.”

“You can still die, Sarah, but Death is not allowed to spirit you off to the place where the others go, You’re too important for that, and someday you will learn why, ok sweetie?” Faith smiled at Sarah, watching her.

Sarah nodded over her shoulder, and after draping her dress neatly over her head, giving her hips a shake to center it just right, she turned and approached, pulling Faith into a hug. “I hope I didn’t cause you guys any problems earlier. I like to tease you about this big secret because I love you, and once in awhile it’s just kind of fun watching your eyes go purple for a second or two.” She grinned.

“Purple isn’t a good color for my eyes to turn, Sarah, but you more upset Kris then me. He doesn’t understand sometimes that there are greater things out there and that sometimes people are not ready to know about them yet.” Faith smiled.

“I have another stupid question, then I’ll let the subject drop,” Sarah offered, sitting down on her bed next to Faith. “Right now, I hate Nathan. I fucking want to rip his balls off and shove them down his throat, but...”

She frowned, shaking her head. “In my old life, I got to know his brother really well. We almost dated. I found out that they had a very... not nice mother, and part of me wonders if maybe part of Nathan’s problem was her.”

“Everyone has something to blame for their problems. It wasn’t his mother being the wicked witch of the west. It was his own fault; he chose to be a bigot and a womanizer.” Faith frowned.

“I see. So there’s really no hope for him.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I don’t get humans sometimes.”

“Oh no Sarah, I never said there was no hope for Nathan. I just said that he chose to be the way he was, He has a long time to redeem himself, and I'm sure he will surprise you someday.”

Smiling, Sarah leaned close to hug her ‘cousin’ and nodded. “Thanks. I just needed to know that. Oh, um... I know I said I had one question, but I just thought of another. Last one though, I swear.” She giggled. “You said I can still die. So would I... Would John-Sarah have died if not for the intervention that night? And don’t sugarcoat it. I need to know the truth.”

“Yes you do Sarah. It will help you cope with both sets of memories, but yes, John Jr - Sarah would have died that night, if not for the meddling that was done. Those ladies went further then I asked them that night, which is why I did what I did.”

“Well it’s confusing as hell, and I still get headaches sometimes, but... in a way I’m grateful. Rape is like, way worse than getting the shit beat out of me, but everything else kind of makes up for it. I just want you to know that I appreciate what you - and those ladies - did for me.”

“In all aspects of your life, John Jr, or just Sarah, the events that unfolded are those that are meant to be. I could get really deep right now, and go all Martial Arts Teacher on you, but I wont. I’ll just tell you this: I could have removed John’s memories from you, but I chose not to for one reason. Please do not hate me for it.”

Faith paused to take a breath, “John deserved to live, to see what a wonderful life you have now.”

Sarah giggled a little as she stood. She approached one of the several rows of stuffed animals and dolls, taking down a very special doll still in its box. Despite that, the box had no dust on it whatsoever, as if someone had been keeping it clean on a weekly basis. She turned to return to Faith, sitting beside her to show it to her.

“Do you know why I keep this in its box? I used to think it was just because it was a gift from my Dad, and that was enough to make it special enough to protect. I’ve told him as much as well, that it’s because I love it so much. I’ve come to realize over this past week that in some way, I keep it protected because John Jr Sarah loves it as much as I do. She loves her father and brother too. I’d never know that without having her memories, knowing who she was, and that I’m living the life she should have had.”

“She does have it through you, You make her real, and make her feel special, and she gets to see what love is and what family is. She’s got two sets that love her dearly, as do you, You are John Jr still, Sarah, even if your DNA says you’re a girl.” Faith leaned over and kissed Sarah’s cheek.

Sarah blushed softly and nodded. “That helps so much. John Jr Sara’s memories are just as real, right?”

“Would you like to talk to her tonight while your body sleeps? You can ask her yourself about how she feels.” Faith’s smile broadened.

Sarah’s eyes widened. “I... I never thought of that. I... yes, that would be wonderful! It would like, really put my mind at ease knowing she doesn’t hate me for having the life she was meant to.”

“If it works out for you both tonight, I can arrange for you two meet every night and discuss things, She and you may like that. It will help you keep things in perspective.”

“Can I … Um, I mean, is she... Shit, how do I put this.” She sighed. “I want to give her something. Can you make that happen? I mean, is she in a real place, or just an intangible part of me?”

“She’s in your mind Sarah, but you can always give her a gift - any gift. It will be real to her. She would probably love it, too.” Faith giggled softly.

“Then I know what I want to give him!” She squealed happily, kissing Faith’s cheek. “I can’t wait to fall asleep tonight!”

~oOo~

Later that night Sarah was fast asleep, but in her mind however, she was sitting in a beach chair in Palm Springs, drinking a cold soda in a glass with ice, and a little pink umbrella sticking out one side.

“This seat taken?” John-Sarah smiled at Sarah. She was wearing a pretty lime green sun dress, and looking so happy.

“Not at all!” Sarah giggled, motioning to the empty chair. “Oh my God, I love your hair.”

“Well you should Sarah, it’s the same hair you have.”, John-Sarah smiled at her as she sat down with her own soda.

Sarah reached out very slowly, very hesitantly touching her arm before she finally smiled and squeezed her hand. “This is so weird. I know Faith said she could do it, but actually being here with … Well, with ‘me’ is just so... so surreal. But I’m so happy too. There are so many things I want to talk to you about. I don’t know where to begin. I have something for you first though.”

John-Sarah already knew what the surprise was but decided before the meeting that she would act surprised anyway because that was the thing to do. “Oh, what’s that?”

“It’s a letter. It... belongs to you anyway. There’s nowhere in this ‘new’ timeline or reality or universe or whatever you call me where it would be safe, but it still belongs to you, and it still means SO much to me, even though I can never talk to anyone else about it.”

She reached for her purse, pulling the first handwritten letter from Robin out of it. It still stunk of perfume to her, and she giggled, offering it. “Faith says that everything here is real to you, but I promise you, I will get the one Robin wrote after I … after our time on Earth passes.”

John-Sarah smiled brightly, “Thank you so much. Robin is such a sweetheart. If it wasn’t for her we would have switched places a lot sooner.” She laughed as she took the letter.

“So, first question... Is it all right if I address you as Sarah? You just don’t look like a John Jr. You’re way too pretty.” She beamed.

“I am you after all. You can call me Sarah if you want. Oh can I tell you something without sounding like I’m spying on you?” she asked with a smile.

Sarah giggled, blushing. “This is about Christina isn’t it?”

“No, it’s about Katelyn and us. Love her for me? Because I couldn’t love her the way you can now.”

“Oh, honey,” Sarah cooed softly, setting her drink aside and, without really thinking, pulled her up out of her chair into a tight hug. “I’ll love her enough for both of us, but you’re not spying. Faith says you’re a part of me, and I really, really want that to be true because it’s not fair to you otherwise.”

“I’m just glad that our life is real like this Sarah. I mean, I always wanted to be a real girl, and I wanted to love like a real girl, and be seen as one, and do the things real girls do, and I’m so happy that I get to do them through you.”

By now tears streamed down Sarah’s face. She sniffed, nodding softly. “I was so scared you would hate me for basically taking over what should be your life. I understand that those ladies did this to save … ‘us’, but it still just felt kind of wrong somehow, you know?”

“No, Sarah, it feels right. I mean this is what we both wanted right? You wanted to be real and I wanted to be a real girl. We got what we both wanted.” She smiled softly, serenely at her real self.

“Just remember that you’ll always be real too. Promise me? You’re too precious to lose. and you ARE a real girl. It’s just now you, I... We,” she giggled, “have the goods to prove it.”

“I’ll promise you that, if you promise me one thing as well,” John-Sarah answered, now crying as well..

Sarah nodded and kissed herself on the lips, not in a romantic gesture, but in a comforting one, as she stroked her hair. “Of course, anything.”

“Promise to be as girlie as you can, because I was never allowed to be, do all those things I always wanted to do. Continue to draw and dance, and be a sister for Ricky and a daughter for dad and for our real Mom.”

“I promise,” Sarah giggled, smiling broadly. “God, I promise. I’ll never stop playing with dolls or be too grown up to kiss Mom in public, and I’ll never sneak out of the house when I’m grounded. I’m going to take dance lessons as soon as I can get started again. I’m going to have a bright, hot pink car when I’m sixteen.” She laughed softly, but she was quite serious.

The other Sarah giggled at the sound of the hot pink car. “I so wanted a hot pink Mustang GT!”

Sarah grinned at herself, glancing up toward the heavens. “Hey, you said everything is real here, right?” She glanced over her shoulder, wishing with all her might for her other self to have a hot pink Mustang GT, while simultaneously making a promise to herself to get one in the real world as soon as she turned sixteen. Up in the beach parking lot a hot pink car’s alarm makes a beep noise to let the owner know the alarm was set.

“Thanks Sarah. I don’t know if we should meet all the time like Faith suggested, but I wouldn’t mind seeing you again someday, like before we go to college?” She smiled brightly.

“We can meet as often or as little as you want, sweetie. I owe you that much.”

“You live our life Sarah, and if you have any questions about any of those memories that were mine that pop up, and you want to ask me about them, feel free. I will always be here to talk to you.”

Sarah smiled happily as she squeezed her other self close, kissing her cheek the way Faith had begun to lately. “Thank you so much. If there’s ever anything you want to ask me about, you know how to find me too. I kind of wish we could have been born twins, you know,” she giggled.

“I would have still felt like a girl trapped in a boy’s body Sarah. We both know that, but it’s such a sweet thought. Thank you.” This time she leaned over to kiss Sarah’s cheek.

“I suppose that’s true. Well, can I at least walk you to your new car?”

“Sure. Hey, when you go to camp and get to see Robin again, will you give her a big hug for me? I mean you don’t have to tell her it’s from me because that would just seem weird.” She smiled and hugged Sarah again.

“Totally,” Sarah giggled. “She won’t know what hit her!”

~oOo~

Sarah was normally not a morning person at all. At least, this Sarah wasn’t, but this morning, she nearly knocked Faith out of her bed when she sat up, giggling happily. “Oh my God; that was so amazing.”

Faith smiled softly as she sat up and hugged Sarah. “Did you find what you were seeking, my daughter?”

Sarah kissed both Faith’s cheeks before hugging her tightly. “She’s so happy. She said that we switched places though. It took me awhile to realize what she meant by that. I’m the inner girl, the girl she always wanted to be, like, literally, aren’t I?”

“Yes sweetie, you are the girl that was deep inside her the entire time, and now its your turn to shine.” Faith smiled.

“I get it now,” Sarah responded, as though seeing the world for the first time for what it truly was. She paused, furrowing her brow though. “Wait, that can’t be right. I thought I had it, but if I’m an accident, then it couldn’t have been part of what you had planned for us.”

“Why do you say you were an accident Sarah?” Faith frowned a bit, “And why wouldn’t it be what I had planned for you? “

“Well you said yourself that the ladies who interfered went farther than you intended. I, we I mean, were supposed to die without their help.”

“You always existed inside yourself, You were a part of your other self, They were supposed to make it so you lived Sarah, but they went to far and changed you, John Jr, the other Sarah wouldn’t have been able to handle it, so I brought you forward, his real girl self.”

“Ohh... OH!” she brightened considerably and giggled. “I thought that they did that too, that I was just a consequence of their actions. I’m sorry Faith. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”

Faith tussled Sarah’s hair with her hand. “You have it part right daughter, the rest you will need to figure out later, It wasn’t so much to allow John-Sarah. a better life. You see, she would have never made it without you in the front, taking the lead.”

“Even... Even if they hadn’t done what they did?” Sarah frowned.

“Even if they didn’t do what they did, your other self was getting tired Sarah. Nothing was going right. Things seemed to be knocking her back down, Eventually John Jr.s Sarah would have succeeded in killing herself.”

“Oh my God,” she gasped softly, shutting her eyes tight as though Faith had just told her a mass murderer was coming for her. She pulled the girl closer, burying her face in Faith’s shoulder. “The poor thing.”

“Live for her. I think that’s what she asked you last night in your dream was it not?” Faith smiled as she held Sarah close.

“You were spying after all?” Sarah smiled up at her, kissing her cheek. “Thank you.”

“Well I know what to buy you for your sixteenth birthday.” Faith smiled and pulled Sarah closer.

“Oh God yes! Katelyn might not like it not being very Eco-friendly, but that’s fine with me,” she giggled. “My bike is the same color, and ever since I saw it, I’ve wanted a car in that color, but I could never figure out why. This is SO cool!”

Fresh coffee could be smelled throughout the house as Sarah and Faith talked on her bed. Sarah grinned, squeezing Faith’s hand. “Excuse me a minute, will you? I need to go let Mommy know how much I love her.” She grinned more broadly, quite intentionally using that word, ‘Mommy’, this time. She paused though to kiss Faith’s cheek.

“Well, I guess that would be mortal Mommy, right?” she added.

Faith giggled, “Go, and hey, can I have a cup of coffee?”

“Aren’t you a little young to be drinking coffee?” Sarah teased, giggling loudly, unable to contain it.

“Hey you started early too! Having coffee ready for your mommy before she went off to her classes,” Faith teased back.

“Yeah, that’s true. I try to stick to one cup a day, but it’s just so tasty. I swear I’m like the only person that drinks it for the taste. Anyway, sure, I’ll bring you back one.” She added as she bounced out of bed, racing for the stairs, and only slowing down enough not to take a tumble down them.

“Mommy?” she called warmly as she hit the bottom step.

“In here sweetheart,” Meg answered. “I’m surprised you weren’t up yet,” she added with a playful smile as Sarah rounded the corner.

“There you are!” Sarah chimed, almost sprinting across the kitchen, and throwing her arms around Meg to squeeze her close.

“My goodness,” Meg chuckled lightly and kissed Sarah’s forehead. “What’s gotten into you today?”

“I just wanted you to know how much I love you. No matter how old I get, no matter what happens, I promise I’ll always be your little girl.” She smiled, a little teary-eyed as she kissed her mother’s cheek.

“Well, my little girl,” Meg giggled, stroking Sarah’s hair with her free hand. “We need to take you to get your passport soon.”

“Huh?” Sarah asked, staring confused back up at her mother. Meg chuckled softly.

“Didn’t I tell you? Moira called yesterday while you were out by the pool with your friends. There’s going to be a big Cameron family reunion in Ireland in mid-July. She wants you to go in her place this year.”

“Oh my God,” she gasped softly. “That would be so amazing. She’s been teaching me about the Cameron family history. Do you think I can take Katelyn too?”

“I don’t see why not sweetheart, as long as she gets her passport in order. I need to renew mine as well. I’d like to meet some of this extended family.” She grinned. “But for now, your cousin’s probably waiting on her coffee,” Meg added.

Sarah giggled. “I already teased her about being too young, but then she reminded me that I started young too,” she added with a giggle as she took down two cups, filling each. “This is so cool. That’ll give me enough time to relax after camp before the reunion too. God, what am I going to wear? It’s got to be something nice. I’ll get Faith to help me figure something out,” she bubbled, grabbing both cups and hurrying out of the room.

Meg chuckled softly to herself as she rested her hand against her cheek where Sarah had kissed it. “That girl. Always full of surprises,” she smiled softly, returning to her coffee.

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I know Zoe said she was going to take a break, but I figured id share Everythings Sunny with Sarah Chapter 12 with you guys, Also please note in order to fit the entire chapter name I had to shrink the title to ESwS as we call it for short , Same Story line just shortened name :)

I hope you guys enjoyed this story, Zoe and I enjoy writing about Sarah.

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