I am so happy that I got a lot of reviews last night! Thanks a lot, everyone!

Disclaimer: I don't own Hamtaro or any of its characters.

Chapter 2:

Bijou could feel the fear in her blood, moving around all her body. She could feel the world moving everywhere and just waiting to attack the little hamster. Bijou was worried. She had ventured far from the clubhouse and was completely lost.

"Oh, no! I just 'ave passed dat alley! Or did i?" Bijou asked herself. She didn't know. And then, she missed Maria. She missed her friends Pashmina, Penleope, and Sandy. She missed all of the clubhouse members, even Hamtaro. Heck, she even missed Stan's flirting because it brought all the old memories back. Bijou climbed on top of a trashcan and tried to find where Maria was. But instead of finding her owner, she came across a little girl. She had very dirty, dark brown hair and a frayed shirt and her pants were worn out. She didn't have any shoes on and Bijou could have sworn that the black stuff on her toes were a frostbite. She looked at Bijou and squealed.

"Oh, aren't you a cute one?" she squealed. She ran over to pick Bijou up and cradled her in her hands. Bijou didn't know what to feel. Symphony for her or to get the heck out of there was the choices. Bijou couldn't find a way out, but when she looked into the looked into the deep blue eyes of the little girl, she couldn't help but feeling safe.

"Hmmmmmm. I don't know what you exactly are. Maybe you're a gerbil? That's right! You're a gerbil!" the girl said. Bijou was horrified and thought, I look like a gerbil? I thought I took better care of myself zhan dat!

The girl so happy to see Bijou and put her on her head.

"Do you want to come home with me? We'll have a lot of fun!" The girl was shaking with excitement.

"No! I vant to find my Maria! You've got the wrong gerbil- I mean, 'amster!" Bijou said. The girl could not hear her of course.

"Really? If you're squeaking that much, it must mean that you really want to come with me!" the girl cheered. She put Bijou on her shoulder and ran to the mist covering the city.

"C'mon! I'll show you my house so we can live together! We're going to have so much fun!" the girl said. She was skipping down, which made Bijou's pigtails bob up and down. Bijou could feel the wind in her hair and this was kind of fun. But, she wanted to get somewhere else. Or did she?

"Okay, this is my home!" The girl held Bijou out for her to see her house.

It didn't look like a house. It was a dark gray, with fading paint. The tree in front was chopped down and the chimney wasn't working. The blinds were closed and the front door was wrecked. Bijou felt sorry for the girl because this was nothing compared the mansion that Maria had.

"Yeah, it needs some fixing, but you'll be happy. There's no heat or running water, but I'll be sure to take care of you, little-um… Oh, yeah! I forgot to give you a name!" the little girl remembered. She put Bijou in front of her and said, "You look a lot like a princess 'cuz of those pigtails and ribbons. So I'll call you Snow White!"

"Snow White? Vat about Bijou?" Bijou asked.

"Yup! I can see that you like it already! Come on, let's go inside!" the little girl said as she skipped to her house.

The door had creaked open and Bijou could see only a little chair and a little table for the living room. Her old mansion had a fireplace, many recliners, a table for eatery, a TV, and a rocking chair that Maria would hold Bijou in. The kitchen in this house was basically empty as was the rest of the house.

"Emily? Is that you?" a voice called.

"Yes, Ma! It's me! Guess what!" the girl called Emily shouted back. She put Bijou behind her back as her mother came from out from one of the rooms.

"Look at her! Her name is Snow White!" Emily said as she revealed Bijou. The mother just stared and said, "Take her back, Emily."

"But, Ma! She wasn't at the pet shop! She was a stray!" Emily whined.

"Take her back, Emily," her mother repeated.

"No! She doesn't need a cage! All she needs is a little love!" Emily cried.

"TAKE HER BACK, EMILY!" her mother yelled. Bijou was very frightened. On one hand, she didn't want to be taken care of like this. On the other, she didn't want to go back to the alley with all of the… cats.

"Please, Ma. I'll be good. I'll take care of her. You won't even know that she's here," Emily pleaded.

Her mother looked at her for a while.

"Okay, but you can't spend a dime on her, Emily. Not more than a dime. You know how tight our bills are," her mother said as she looked at Bijou.

"Yay! Thanks, Ma!" Emily thanked and then ran over to her own room. It had one chair and one bed. No toys were to be seen at all.

"Look! Isn't it neat? I'm an only child and so I get to have my own room!" Emily said. She put Bijou on the floor and said, "I know you won't run away! 'Cuz you're too nice for that."

Bijou looked at her and thought that this girl was sweet. She was really happy to have Bijou. Bijou couldn't let her down. She couldn't run away. She liked the girl already.

"There aren't any toys that you can play with since the bills are tight. Ma works hard because Pa died years ago and we really can't get any money without him," Emily said. Bijou was surprised because Emily was happy and said this without a hint of tears. Bijou was halfway crying and understood. She walked up to Emily and nudged her with her head. Emily looked at her happily and picked her up.

"You're the first pet I've ever had! I'm glad that I got a gerbil," Emily said as she put Bijou on her head.

" 'Amster, Emily! I'm a 'amster!" Bijou said. She meant it, but was laughing. It was as if Emily heard her and she laughed.

"Do you want to play? We can play princess!" Emily smiled.

"You can be the princess and I'll serve you!" Emily cheered. She put Bijou down and laid her on the bed. Bijou watched as the little girl walked to the kitchen. She later came back with bread crumbs and a little water.

"Okay, Snow White. Here is your feast!" Emily said as she gave Bijou some bread crumbs and water. Bijou immediately gobbled everything down since she was famished, but couldn't help but feel sorry for Emily. Bijou saved half of the bread and water and gave Emily the rest.

Emily looked taken aback, not because Bijou had given her the food back, but what looked as if Bijou was curtsying. Emily smiled and Bijou got on top of her shoulder.

"Do you want me to be the princess?" Emily asked.

Bijou nodded and Emily was once again taken aback. It was as if Bijou could actually know what she was talking about.

"Wow, you're a special gerbil! It's like you know what I'm saying!" Emily laughed.

Bijou cuddled up to her as darkness crept upon them.

" 'Amster, Emily. 'Amster," Bijou whispered as she fell asleep.