The Secret Life of the American Teenager belongs to Brenda Hampton as well as noticeable characters in this fanfic.

*Author's Note: So recently I've been rereading this story and have noticed some mistakes I've made, so somewhere in the near future I will be rewriting most of it. Also, I realized that I've put that Joseph's hair is blonde in one chapter, and black in another, so just to clarify, his hair is black. In addition you will find that at the end of the story, I have answered some of your questions, but I can't answer them all because I don't want to give too much away. If I didn't answer your question, it's nothing personal. Okay, thanks for reading this long author's note; I won't delay you any further.

Ricky's PoV

Michael had put up a fight, but it didn't take me long to get him on the ground. He'd made the mistake of turning his back on me, and that's when I went for him, throwing him to the ground. His nose was dripping with blood and I could see his eye swelling. Even through all of that, he still managed to have a smug look on his face, because he knew even if I wanted to, I couldn't kill him. His father was high on the food chain just like mine, and I knew me causing his death would start a war. So, instead, I just went for kicking his ass, sending him a message.

Of course, that really wouldn't stop him because we'd been in this position before. All he was trying to do was prove that he was better than me, that he deserved the shot I had, but he was power hungry. If David, his father, gave him a chance, he would take down the whole state of California, taking the business with it. So, Michael was only allowed to do surveillance, but I wish that he wouldn't do it on me.

A heard the car door slam snapping me out of my trance. I'd told her to stay in the car for a reason, but she didn't seem to understand that, since she was walking over to me. I didn't want Amy to see me like this, for who I really am. I was afraid that she would judge me, and turn her back on me, and I didn't need that from her. However, I couldn't tell her that exactly, so as an alternative, I just took to being angry.

"What did I say? Didn't I tell you to stay in the car?" I asked my voice gruff and infuriated. She crossed her arms over her chest and sighed.

"Ricky, I'm not a little girl and I can see you through the back window, I may as well come out for the live performance," she said calmly. Amy glanced down at Michael who was gawking at her. I rammed my fist into his eye and he winced. I didn't want him looking at her. I didn't want anyone looking at her but me.

"She's right," Michael said below me chuckling. "She's no little girl," That got him a good kick to the ribs after I stood up. He rolled over and grabbed them, milling around like an injured rodent. I kicked him again, this time he rolled over onto his back.

"You know, I should really shoot you, but you and I both know that I can't do that, so instead, I'm going to get you as close to death as possible," I stated unemotionally. I waited for a gasp or a flinch from Amy, but it never came; although, she did walk towards me, but I put up my hand to stop her.

"Don't come over here," I said without looking at her. She stopped in mid step. I saw her shift from side to side, becoming restless.

"What Ricky, are you afraid I'm going to tell your bitch what this is really about," he said snickering. Amy stopped moving, squeezing her forearms tighter to her chest, and biting her lips. "Or should I just tell her about what happened to her father?" I was confused at the question. It made me pause for a second. "Since you had your hand in that cookie jar," he chuckled. He only further confused me. I moved away from him, stepping towards Amy, but she shifted past me.

"What about my father? You know what happened to him?" She asked curiously. Amy squatted beside his form, looking at his face.

"Like I would tell you without getting something in return," I could hear the suggestion in his voice. He reached out to touch her leg, but she slapped his hand away, getting angry.

"I would never let you touch me," she said at a cool madness. I felt pride in the fact that he would never have a chance with her. That slims my competition down, not that I had any anyway.

"Who said I would ask for your permission?" he reached for her again, but she slapped him, making him cry out in pain from his already bruised face. I chuckled, finding amusement in the way that Amy was handling him.

"If you ever try to lay a hand on me, I would cut your fingers off and feed them to you. You are worthless and you're right where you belong, on the ground," she said making me shiver. If I didn't know any better, I would just about say that Amy grew up around the mafia. It was almost scary to think. "Oh and another thing, stop following me around," she said with finality before getting up, walking off to the car. I looked at him laying there as if he were dead. I should've just let her take care of it in the first place; it probably wouldn't have taken as long as it did. I grinned a little too happily.

"Ricky, if you don't mind, could you hurry up? We have some things to talk about?" My grin dropped instantly as Amy called out to me. She didn't really sound too happy and I feared the worst.

Ashley's PoV

I stood at the mouth of the school entrance. I hadn't been here for a few days. I'd skipped just to get away from Adrian and to avoid Amy. The guilt of what I had done, how I sold out my sister, was starting to sink in. After Amy's altercation with Adrian, I spent hours in my room disappointed in myself. Oddly enough though, I hadn't cut into my arms or any other place on my body. I hadn't used the blade not once, there was no need to. Every time I thought about doing it, I became repulsed at the action. How had I gotten so down that I resorted to harming my body? I realized that the person I blamed before,-Amy- was not at fault; in fact, it was my own fault, for letting her bring me to a point as such.

I was the one who let her words hurt me. It was I who allowed her to talk down to me, to let me rest in the dumps of my hatred towards myself. Why couldn't I be as happy as she is? Why couldn't I be fearless like my big sister? Amy had done things that deserved the punishment of death and gotten away with them, so why couldn't I? My sister goes through her life not caring how she treats people, choosing the people who are worthy for her love, she has no feelings. Yet, people like me, good people, we hurt all the time, people barely notice that we exist. To try and get my own mother's attention, I cut myself, and even then, she didn't see me. The only person she focused most of her attention on was Amy, it was precious Amy who was taken as a child, it was Amy who could get away with things because she was just coping, but what was I supposed to do?

I watched my sister hurt my mother and father so much. She would turn her nose up at them when they offered her help; she didn't deserve the attention they gave to her. I felt like the orphan child in my own house. I was like Cinderella with no happy ending, where was my prince charming? Amy had the whole world at her feet, stepping on everyone just to reach the top. She was ruthless and I don't know if I could ever get that way, but I would damn sure try.

If this is what it took for me to get noticed then why not? Everything else was a fail so far, this was my last resort. This was my last attempt to take the world by storm. I didn't want to be known as Amy's little sister, I want to be Ashley, the individual. It's my turn to be noticed while my sister sits in the background, feeling like I felt. I'm going to take this world into the palm of my hands and shake it up, because I want it all to belong to me.

Anne's PoV

I thought that maybe I could get answers from my brother since he knew everything that went on in the mafia world, inside the prison and outside, thanks to our father's involvement and his work as a police officer. It's been years since I'd spoken to him, even sent a holiday card. We'd distanced ourselves for good reasons, he was on one side of the law and I was on the other. It was for the best, but now I needed him.

I'd let the detectives and forensics and whoever else you could think of work on George's murder case, but now it was time for me to do my part. After his death, I spent months trying to recoup, trying to build my life back, yet so much was nagging at my spirit. That night, the night George was murdered, he'd told me that he would be right back, I saw the look in his eyes, he wasn't saying goodbye. I knew my husband, and I knew when he would lie to me and that night, he wasn't. So what happened to him?

I figure that it had something to do with his old activities coming back to haunt him. He was dealing with the consequences of his sins, I at least knew that. I ran my fingers through my hair, starting to feel the weight of the day on my shoulders. I should probably be resting and taking my medicine, but I cut that off weeks ago, they were only making me feel worse.

I knocked on the large wooden door, hoping that he was home and not at work today. He'd become this big time detective from what I've heard around town. I knocked on the door again before hearing a muffled voice come from the other side. The door swung open as a beaming, very pregnant Lily appeared holding her belly. I gave her a light smile and an awkward wave.

"Anne? What are you doing here?" She asked skeptically with an odd look on her face. Her body tensed as she looked over my shoulder at the passing cars.

"Um… is Rob home? I need to speak with him," I said fanning myself. It seemed as though it had grown hotter in an instant.

"He's not, but… ugh… would you like to come in and wait? He should be home soon," she said stepping aside to allow me enough room to walk in. The cool air hit me quickly, and I was grateful for it. Lily sat me down in the living room as she went to fix us both a glass of lemonade.

I hadn't been in this house in forever. It still looked the same, minus the new placement of the furniture. I can remember bringing Amy here, she loved this house. I doubt that she remembers it, or even remembers what the occupants of it look like.

Lily came back in the room carrying a tray with cookies on it, along with the picture of lemonade. I stood up and took it from her seeing as she looked like she was about to fall out any minute now.

"You didn't have to do that Anne," she said giving me a warm smile. I sat the tray on the coffee table and waved her off. Lily sat down exhaling harshly.

"It's nothing Lil," I said rubbing my hands together and staring at her stomach. "So, what is it? Niece or Nephew?" I asked trying to make conversation, and also being genuinely excited. Lily looked down at her stomach and rubbed her hand across gently, a smile on her face. I never knew what it would be like seeing her again, but I never imagined it would be a nice encounter. Lily and I had never really gotten along well, but she loved Amy, she loved children period. I was happy that she was finally having her own. Rob once told me that they were having trouble conceiving.

"Both," she stated dreamily. At one point some doctor told her she couldn't have kids, now she was about to have two. Lily loved to prove people wrong, I smiled at the thought.

"Really? That's great Lily, I'm so excited for you," I reached over the coffee table and grabbed her hand, squeezing it.

"Thanks Anne, I hope that you'll stick around to know them. I know you and I weren't the greatest of friend, but with these babies coming, I won't you to be here. Actually, I wanted you to be one of their godmothers," she stated confidently. I tensed at her words. Godmother? I haven't seen her in years and she wants me to be one of her baby's godmother.

"Oh," I said dumbly. "What does- How does Rob feel about that?" I asked stammering. She looked to the side mischievously.

"Don't know yet, haven't ran it by him, but he'll be okay with it, I'm sure. I've been thinking about it for a long time. Anne, you're a good person, you're a loving mother, and if something happens to me and Rob, I want the baby to be with someone in the family," she said sincerely. I didn't know what to say. I wasn't going to decline, but I don't think accepting was the right thing to do either, not until she talked to Rob.

"That's nice," I said taking a sip of lemonade from the glass I'd recently picked up while she was talking. Lily smile again, amused at my dreadful tone.

"It'll be okay Anne, Rob doesn't hate you. You two just chose different lifestyles that allow both of you to play in different leagues. Doesn't really matter anyway because both lifestyles are dangerous," she said smoothly. I sighed heavily.

"But I don't live that life Lil. I never have," I said unconvincingly. I took another sip of the lemonade. "I might be attracted to it, true, but my father, he beat it into us and maybe I was more tempted by it than Robert was," I said shrugging my shoulders lightly.

"Well they do say we women marry our fathers," Lily leaned over and took a cookie. Before Rob married her, I remember him coming to me and asking me if he should tell her about our life. In yet, it wasn't really our life, since my mother had moved me away from him and my father. Rob chose to stay behind because he was into the mafia thing. He looked up to my dad for a while.

"I've never really liked that phrase," I stated laughing, she joined in shortly.

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway snapped us out of our laughter as my nerves went into overdrive. How would he feel about me being here? Would he throw me out? Would he tell me that I made my decision and vouch to never speak to me again? I know we had our differences, but this was the time I needed him. I wasn't only here to talk about George's murder. I was here because I needed to ask him if he would take care of them. The cancer was eating me up quickly, it would only be a matter of time before I was lying on my death bed and I wanted his help. I wanted answers. Rob needed to tell me what happened that night. The night George was killed because I know he was there.

There's another one folk. I'm on a roll. Tell me what you think is going to happen next. Review, Review, Review!

Ramyfan1981: A lot of people don't even know Amy's last name yet, including Ben, but that should all change soon. Also, the landmass (that's what people on the weather channel call Mississippi) wasn't hit too hard by Isaac lol, thanks.

Guest from 9/2: Ben could be mistaken about seeing Ricky with Amy, you never know ;).

Guest from 8/30: Sadly, George isn't still alive.