So here's the next chapter! Thank you all that reviewed and followed and Favorited. It really makes me happy to know that you guys enjoy my story so much. I had a question about the Amu's wings. This chapter should answer it. Enjoy!

Oh yeah, so, here are the ages.

Amu-16

Ami-10

And I don't own Shugo Chara!

The Issue of Acceptance

"You're a disgrace to this family! Because of you we're sandaled, and looked at like were not even human!" As mom raised her arm, preparing to strike, dad ran and stood between us-stopping her from delivering the blow.

"Midori, stop it!"

"Tsugumu! what the hell are you doing?" she screeched.

"I'm protecting our daughter!"

"Our daughter? That thing is not our daughter!"

"Yes she is! Just because she was experimented on, it doesn't mean she isn't the same girl we know and love. Midori you can't feel this way. This is our daughter. You gave birth to her, and we raised her together."

"I will never consider her my daughter again. She's a freak! And she's brought dishonor to this family." Dad clenched his fists and his hands trembled with rage.

"Girls, I think you should go upstairs. Let mom and dad talk." he said in a quiet voice. I held my hand out for Ami, and we started across the room toward the stairs. Mom started for us, her eyes lit with fire. I held Ami's hand tighter, scared, and hoping she would interpret it as reassurance. Before she could take a second step dad took her hand, stopping her in her tracks.

"Let go of me you bastard!" While she was distracted, I pulled Ami the rest of the way across the room, and we skirted around mom before running up the stairs. When we had safely made it into my room I slammed the door shut and locked it behind me. Poor Ami was standing in the middle of the room, not sure how to deal with the situation. I sank down into one of my beanbag chairs and gestured for her to come sit with me. She sat sideways on my lap, cuddling up to me, and I wrapped her in my arms.

"Why do mama and papa have to fight so much now? And why won't mama accept you for who you are? Who cares if you have wings? I think it's cool." she sniffed.

"I don't know Ami. I guess mama just doesn't like people thinking badly of our family."

"I can understand if she's angry, but she shouldn't take it out on you! It's wrong, and cruel."

"I know, but we can't really do anything about it. Come on, why don't we just sleep. There's no point in working ourselves up over something we can't change." I said solemnly. Ami and I cuddled up under the covers. As I drifted off to sleep I couldn't help but feel scared that mom would go over the edge and even start attacking Ami. I felt powerless; I hated not being able to do anything.

I woke up at the sound of a light knock on my door.

"Amu-chan? Ami-chan? Dinners ready." I shook Ami awake and opened the door. Dad looked drained, as if all the fighting had gotten to be too much. It had taken a toll on him. It killed me to see my cheerful, energetic father look so depressed and lost.

"Is mom going to be eating with us?" I whispered. He shook his head.

"She's taken food up to our-her, room." At one point, the fighting had driven a wedge between my parents and they started sleeping in their own beds. Dad had taken the guest room.

We all trudged down the stairs, feeling dismal. Dinner was silent until dad cleared his throat.

"Girls, I have something very important I need to tell you. Now, before I say what it is, I want you to know that what I do is in your best interest, and is to protect you and keep you safe." He took a deep breath before continuing. "Your mother and I are getting a divorce." Ami and I gasped.

"But, dad-"

"Let me finish. We both believe that this is for the best. I don't want to be with a women that constantly hurts and doesn't love her child. Your mother has been very cruel to you, and I just can't live with someone like that. I won't let something like this pass. And she can't live with me since I'm protecting you, and going against her, and not supporting her. Once everything is sorted out we're going to move into a new home for just the three of us. But don't worry, we won't move far. You won't have to change schools and leave your friends.

"Papa…" Ami and I whispered.

"I'm doing this because I love you girls. And I won't sit back and watch while my daughters are going through so much pain."

"I love you too dad."

"I love you papa." I looked down at my plate and held back the tears threatening to spill. The grip on my chopsticks tightened as I tried to keep myself in check. When I was composed, I looked over to Ami, and saw her looking down, her hands trembling in her lap. She let out a soft shaky breath, and resumed eating. The rest of dinner was silent, the atmosphere tense and suffocating.

I walked out of the kitchen, finished washing the dishes, to see dad at the door, putting on his shoes.

"Dad, where are you going?"

"I'm going to the store to pick up some groceries. While I'm out I'm going to get some realtor's and lawyer's cards."

"So, this is really happening?" I choked on my words. Dad looked at me sadly.

"I'm afraid so sweetie." He walked out the door, and disappeared into the night, twirling his keys nervously. When the sound of the car faded I heard the stairs creak.

"Ami?" I turned around and froze in horror. Standing at the top of the stairs was mom. She had a murderess glint in her eyes. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She slowly walked down the stairs and started speaking quietly. I had never been more terrified. She sounded even more intimidating with her voice low.

"Because of you, not only have I lost my reputation, and my respect, but I've also lost my husband." Her hands shook. "You're going to pay for making my life miserable." I was so terrified, so entranced, that I was rooted to my spot. I tensed as I waited for the assault.

It was the worst beating of them all. She raced towards me and punched me in the face so hard I was sent flying to the floor. At the sound of the thud of my body hitting the floor, Ami came charging down the stairs, and froze at the bottom. While I was down mom started kicking at me and I was forced into the fetal position. Ami started screaming at mom to stop, sobbing as she yelled. Her voice sounded so broken and terrified I felt even worse. Mom's screams at me were added, and the house was deafening. All hell broke loose when I tried to get up and block her blows. Mom punched me in the stomach and I double over. She took advantage and landed another punch on my other check. I still stood, and she gripped my arms, her finger digging into my skin, and shook me violently. The hitting and the screaming continued for a while until I was left on the floor in a crumpled heap, sobs racking my body. Mom stormed back upstairs, shoving past Ami, causing her to fall to the floor. Ami pushed herself up and ran over to my limp body, sobbing. She landed on top of me and we cried together; Ami choking out my name every once in a while. The sound of glass breaking was heard above us and we flinched. I knew it was one of mom's bottles of vodka from her not so secret stash. I let my instincts take over and grabbed Ami and ran to my room, carrying her in my arms. I shut the door, locked it, and collapsed onto my bed. Soon after sleep overcame me and I surrendered to the darkness.

Ami's POV

I was woken by the sound of shouting in the middle of the night. Mama and Papa were fighting again. Papa must have come home and found out what mama did to onee-chan. I could feel the tears threatening to spill.

No, I can't cry. Not with the risk of waking onee-chan up. I can only cry by myself. I have to be strong for everybody.

My eyes cleared, and I curled further into onee-chan, trying to block out Mama and Papa's fighting, so I could fall back to sleep.

I'm so glad I have school tomorrow. I won't have to listen to Mama and Papa fight all day.

As always R&R

Next chapter, more characters are being introduced, and there will be more of Ami's POV.

So look forward to that.

Until next time!