The man took Amber home that evening since a bad thunderstorm came though and the surf shack would be closed and Amber would not have to work. Amber hated the storms that she once found solace in and actually enjoyed. She hated it because that meant she had to go home and not work which meant she could not spend a few precious hours with Lilly. Amber thought of the afternoon she spent in the girl's bed and smiled in her bliss. She learned to be in love again and it felt wonderful. As she entered the house the man mentioned he was going to shower while Amber was to cook dinner. Amber simply replied yes sir and went into the kitchen. When she walked into the kitchen she saw the woman was standing next to the stove gripping Natalie's small arm and the girl crying out it hurt. Amber looked around quickly and saw a broken glass on the floor and split juice. On the stove was a pot of boiling water and the woman was trying to force Natalie's hand to the pot. Fear gripped Amber and she thought quickly. The Goth girl saw the large pitcher of juice on the counter and tapped it. It fell to the floor in a crash and broke on the hard tiles. The woman let go of Natalie and turned to Amber.

"You clumsy, bitch! That pitcher was a gift from my mother when I got married!" The woman screamed at her and then turned to her daughter. "Go to your room. You don't get dinner tonight!" Natalie squeaked out a yes m'am and looked at Amber when her mother turned to face the older girl again. Amber winked at her and nodded. Natalie smiled sadly and ran to her room.

"You stupid, cunt! That pitcher cost a lot of money and had a lot of meaning to me! You are going to get punished! It was a fucking wedding gift from my mother!"

Amber, still giddy from her afternoon with Lilly and in her need to protect Natalie felt rare courage rise up in her, "Yeah I am sure it meant so much to you…being a wedding gift and all. Such a remembrance of such a wonderful day that you married such a terrific person as…" She fell to her knees with a painful whimper as the woman slapped her face hard. Amber often thought it odd that such a thin fail drugged out drunk could be so strong. The woman kicked her in the stomach and Amber felt her breath leave her body. She gasped and coughed and tried to beg the woman not to hit her, but no words came from her mouth. The woman smiled at her cruelly and started rubbing Amber's head in the juice and broken glass on the floor. Some of the glass cut Amber's face. They were not deep cuts, more like small scratches, but they stung and drew blood. The women then pulled Amber by her hair to her feet.

"Get up, bitch!" She yelled and took Amber to a chair and forced her to sit. The woman walked behind the girl and Amber felt her finger's caress her check almost seductively. Amber tried to stop her tears as the woman talked to her. Amber could smell the gin on her breath as she leaned close and whispered in her ear.

"Do you know why I despise you? Why I hate you?" She asked and Amber shook her head unable to talk. If she opened her mouth she would start crying and she did not want to the woman to see her fear. "When the courts contacted us about you I begged my husband not to take you in. I begged him not to try and get custody of you and allow those people in Seattle to keep you. I was happy we were going to lose the court case." She ran her fingers on Amber's bloody check again in a loving caress, "But then, you stupid cunt, you decided you wanted to live with us! Why I don't know, but you did!" The woman grabbed Amber's hair and pulled it back hard and Amber cried out in pain. As the woman pulled her hair she brought her fingers close to Amber's eyes and Amber oddly thought at first how much she hated the obvious fake do it your self finger nails and thought the woman could have at least gone to a professional to get them done and then her fear retuned as the woman pressed those long sharp nails to her cheek.

"God I hate your eyes! So much like you fucking mother's eyes! She always thought they were so perfect and special. I hated them! Maybe I should scratch your eyes out like I always wanted to do to hers." Amber closed her eyes and begged the woman not to. The woman laughed and pushed Amber's head down on the table hard enough for Amber to see stars.

"Stupid bitch, now you are scared huh? I hate you because you remind me so much of your mother…" She pulled Amber's head back up by her hair, "You look just like her and I hate you like I hated her." The woman brought her lips to Amber's ear seductively and whispered, "They used to visit us often…did you know that…way before you were born and your brat brother was only about two. My husband and your arrogant father were close at one time. Until your whore of a mother tried to fuck my husband and then claimed her tried to rape her when your father caught them. You mother was a whore just like you!" She let go of Amber's hair and caressed her face again, spreading the blood from the scratches over the girl's cheeks.

"My…my mother was not a whore…you husband…he did try to…" Amber's head was snapped back as the woman slapped her again and she cried out.

"Shut up, cunt! I am talking not you! You mother was a whore and so are you. I know you seduced my husband and he fucks you almost every night! I know you whore yourself to him!" She slapped Amber again and this time Amber could taste her own blood as it trickled from her top lip. "Do not deny it! I know you seduced him like your whore of a mother tried to! God I hated her…so fucking superior acting like she was a fucking saint. Just like you! But I see through both of you…I see you for what you are…a low class slut!"

Amber wanted to scream at this woman to defend her mother, but she was to afraid and her eyes followed the woman as she took the pot of still boiling water from the stove top and placed it on the table in front of her. Amber's eyes grew wide in fear as she looked at the boiling hot water and the steam rising out of the pot. Amber started silently begging a God she no longer believed in not to let happen what she knew was going to happen. The woman moved behind her and caressed her arm. "Oh…how I hated that woman…and how I hate you. Then my hate grew and grew…do you know why, slut? It grew because my own daughter…my own flesh…loves you more than she ever loved me!" Amber's head fell forward after the woman slapped the back of her head. Amber felt the woman kneel beside her. The girl was too afraid to take her eyes off the pot. She felt the woman caress her hand almost lovingly.

"Have you ever seen boiling water take the skin off a tomato or an apple? I wander if it would take the skin off a person? Would the skin just peel away or would it melt away. I always wanted to know."

"Nooo! Please…ohhh…noooo! I…please don't!" Amber could not take it any longer and screamed and begged the woman not to, but the woman just laughed and grabbed her arm and brought the girl's hand to the pot. Amber tired to fight it but she was not strong enough. She begged and pleaded with tears running down her face as her hand got closer and closer to the boiling water.

Natalie lay in her bed crying softly as she heard Amber crying out on occasion and listening to the voice of her mother yell at the girl calling her names. The eight year old could not understand all of the words as they were muffled by the distance and her door, but she knew Amber was getting hurt. She cried as she heard the familiar slaps of a hand on flesh. She started to cry harder as she heard Amber start to beg and plead for her mother to stop doing whatever she was doing. Natalie let out her own scream of pain and put her hands over her ears when she heard Amber let out a scream of such pain and agony it hurt the little girl's ears and broke her heart. Natalie then heard her father yelling at her mother and her mother calling Amber words her "sister" told her ladies should never use and all the while she could hear Amber whimpering and crying in her pain. Natalie cried as she never had before, even when her mother painfully punished her. She cried and prayed to God for Amber to be alright and she prayed for the first time for her mommy and daddy to die.

Amber lay in her bed later that night and her left hand throbbed in dull pain. The man came running into the kitchen and made the woman take her hand from the pot of boiling water. He yelled at her and told her she was stupid since a wound like that would scar the girl and someone would start to ask questions. The woman screamed back at him and told him her was just protecting his whore. The man took Amber into the living room and got his doctor bag and put medicine on her hand and dressed her wound. He then gave her a painful shot in her hand to ease the pain telling her he did not think it would scar but could only be sure in a few days. He then warned her not to tell anyone what happened or the next time he would let his wife do the same again but this time push her head into the water. Amber cried and promised she would not. As she went to her room the man laughed, "I told you everyone has a breaking point and you are close to yours." Amber was crying quietly as she heard her door crack open.

"Oh…please…please not tonight…I…I will…I will beg for it tomorrow and show you how I can love you…but please, I beg you…not tonight." Amber whimpered a plea to the man.

"Ams…Ammer…it's me." Amber heard the sweet innocent voice of Natalie. She sat up in her bed.

"Little peep, you should go back to bed. You mommy may get mad." Amber said as she wiped her eyes. She did not want the girl to know she was crying.

Natalie ignored her and crawled into her bed. She gently took Amber's bandaged hand and kissed it, "Ohhh, Ams, your poor hand," Even the girl's gentle grip caused Amber's hand pain but she did not flinch or wince and allowed the girl to take it and bring it to her sweet little lips, "I…I…I am sorry…I am so sorry. P…please don't love me anymore. Please…I…I don't want you to love me and then you can leave." Natalie was crying. "Please, Ammer…run away. Don't love me and run away." The girl begged and cried and Amber used her good hand to brush the girl's long blonde hair over her ears and out of her face.

"Hush, baby, don't cry. It…it is not bad and your father said it may not scar. I…I am not going anywhere. And I am not going to stop loving you. I will always love you. Now you should go back to bed before…before your father comes in here."

Natalie wiped her eyes, "He…he is asleep. He took one of mommy's pills and fell asleep and she took extra medicine tonight to sleep. She does that when they fight. Ams…I don't want you to love me…I…I hate you! I hate you and want you to leave and never see you again!" The girl said quietly and with fake hate. Amber grinned and hugged the girl, being careful with her hand.

"Oh no, little peep, it does not work that way. When I love someone I love them forever. And when I am their best friend I am their best friend for life. And I love you even more for your worry of me." She kissed the girl on her neck and blew a strawberry causing Natalie to giggle.

"I…I did not mean it…I don't hate you. I love you…I love you more than anything. I was just sad you got hurt because of me."

"I know, baby, I know. So do you want to sleep with me tonight since your mom and dad are out of it?"

Natalie looked confused, "Out of what?" Amber laughed and hugged the girl again loving her innocence.

"Just meaning they were sleeping and won't wake up. So…I guess you want a story since I have not told you one in a while."

Natalie smiled and nodded, "Yes…I…I thought you did not love me anymore until tonight when you broke that pitcher. I knew then you still loved me. Ams, I am sorry. And…and you poor beautiful face…its all scratched up." Natalie said as she caught the sight of Amber's face from the light in the hall.

"Oh…nothing serious…they will be ok in a few days. Now go shut the door and I will tell you any story you want." Natalie got up and ran and shut the door and ran back in the bed. She got under the covers as Amber lifted them. The girl snuggled close to Amber and Amber put her arm around her.

"So…what story do you want to hear?"

"My favorite one!" The girl said.

Amber chuckled, "Now how come that does not surprise me…Once upon a time I was only five years old and it was my first day of kindergarten. I was a small girl…smaller than you…and scared. I never been away from my mommy and found myself in a room full of boys and girls I did not know. I made my way to the desk the teacher told me to sit at clutching my Snow White lunch box…I used to be so in love with Snow White when suddenly…boom…a fell to the floor and heard a boy laughing at me. He was a boy much bigger than me had mean red eyes and teeth like a wolf. He glared down at me with those cruel eyes and I thought he was going to eat me! 'Give me your lunch box!' He said in a scratchy ugly voice that hurt my ears. I was so scared. I was too scared to move. He snatched my lunch box from my little sweet delicate hands with perfectly manicured finger nails with his big ugly hairy paws and laughed. It was an evil laugh like a wild hyena. A just lay on the floor shaking I was so scared. And suddenly the room lit up in a bright light as the sun rays shown through the window and I glanced up and saw the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my life. She had long straight silky black hair, beautiful brown eyes, a face the angels in heaven would be jealous of, and she was so tall and strong looking as the sun rays seemed to make her glow like a Greek goddess. She was so lovely and beautiful and frightening in her beauty at the same time. I fell in love completely with that lovely girl right then, even if I was afraid of her strength and power that flowed from her wonderful body in a golden light..."

"The lovely Ran!" Natalie squealed in delight.

"The lovely Ran," Amber repeated with a smile and felt Natalie wiggle closer to her, "'Leave her alone!' The lovely Ran commanded and the room shook with her voice…the voice of the goddess Venus herself. Well the boy thought he was so tough and he thought he could combat a goddess. 'Who says?' he said in a toad like croak. He took one step forward and the lovely Ran held out her hand and a ray of blue light shot through the air and opened a big hole in the floor and the boy fell down the hole never to be seen again. I trembled in fear of this beautiful goddess looking down at me, but she smiled and I thought I would never see such a lovely smile in my life again. She then held out her hand and I shook in fear and love at the same time as I took it and she lifted me to my feet. 'My name is Hu-Ran Isuel…I liked to be called Ran through.' She said in a lovely musical voice. 'I-I-I am A-A-Amber S-St. C-C-Clair' I stuttered out, still afraid of this beautiful goddess in front of me. She put her arm around me gently and suddenly all my fears were gone and they were replaced by the most incredible feeling of love. 'He won't brother you anymore. No one will brother you when I am around. You and I are best friends for life from now on'. She said in a gentle voice and walked me to my desk her eyes daring anyone to bother me again. That was how I met the lovely Ran; my protector and my best friend."

"Yaaay!" Amber giggled, "I love her too. I am glad she was your friend. And I am glad you like Lilly now. She is very sweet."

Amber smiled fondly, "Me to, little peep, me to. Ran was the best. And yeah, I like Lilly a lot now." Amber thought of the blissful afternoon in Lilly's bed and smiled. She was glad she did not hear the voices today. I just hope she can survive me and not get hurt, she thought. "Now lets get some sleep…you must be tired."

"One more…please one more." Natalie begged.

"Ok…one more…which will this one be. About how Ran saved me from the evil mutant cheerleaders one day in gym class or the time she rescued me from the horrible zombie boys in junior high…which one, baby."

"Umm…I want to hear one about Samantha."

"Samantha? You never want to hear one about her. I did not think you like her much."

Natalie pressed harder against Amber, "Well…if you loved her as much as you tell me, she must have been a good person. Tell me story about her."

Amber smiled, "Ok…I will tell you about Samantha...a story that is funny and how she used to take care of me when I was sick or scared and you will see she was a wonderful person as well. Did you know she used to have her own show on the internet? It was a silly show she did with the ugly witch Carly. Well, I used to watch the silly show just to see Samantha. She was so beautiful and had the prettiest long curly blonde hair you ever saw. Almost like yours, but longer." Amber paused and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds in thought with a pretty smile on her lips, "God, I loved her so much. Anyway…one time her and I went camping. Now, I am not very much of an outdoor person. I much prefer the city than the woods. Well she made me go and I was miserable. One time we were hiking and…" Amber told Natalie about her camping trip and more about Samantha. By the time she was done, Natalie was asleep and Amber had tears in her eyes. As Natalie found comfort in the breathing of Natalie when she felt her hair being brushed back from her face; Amber opened her eyes and smiled as the White Lady caressed her face and smiled kindly down at her. Amber knew she was pleased with the story of Samantha as well.

Lilly was waiting in front of the school the next day for Amber. She was hoping the good day Amber would show up and not the dark Amber. But she knew regardless of which one came to school that morning, she was in love. Lilly went to sleep the previous night thinking about her afternoon with Amber and felt incredible. The passion the girl had consumed her and she wanted more. Lilly frowned when she thought of the dream through. It started perfect with her and Amber kissing and starting to make love and then her uncle showed up and threw her off Amber and started to rape the girl. Lilly tried to help her but she could not move. Lilly forced the image from her mind and hoped she could keep buried. She thought Amber was right, it was hard not to think of it and make love to the girl. She smiled when she saw the black BMW pull up and then sadly frowned when she saw Amber get out of the car. Her eyes had the glassy far away look in them. Then her sadness turned to anger when she saw the scratches on her girlfriend's face, her slightly swollen upper lip, and the bandage on her left hand. Amber saw her and smiled weakly…almost as if she was just smiling to a polite comment she barley heard. Lilly walked to her and put on a bright fake smile.

"Hey, baby…ummm…what happened to your hand and face." She asked in a calm tone and took Amber's books from her good hand. She learned not to show too much emotion during Amber dark periods or the girl would ignore her the rest of the day.

Amber looked at her and shrugged, "Oh…just burnt it on some hot water…I am such a klutz…and I know I look terrible but Natalie got this new kitten and it is a little mean and scratched me." Amber said nonchalantly and continued to walk into the school.

Lilly's smile left her lips as she followed Amber. Amber suddenly stopped and turned to Lilly. Lilly saw her blink hard and a sad look came over her face. She then lifted her good hand to Lilly's face and caressed her cheek and brushed back her hair. "I'm sorry, love, I am so sorry. I wanted to be good for you today. I wanted to make love to you again today." She kissed Lilly gently to just allow her lips to brush the blonde's then her eyes got glassy again.

Lilly wanted to cry for her girlfriend's pain. "It's ok, Amber, come on…I'll walk you to class."

The rest of the week was the same as the last; Amber had her good days and her dark days. Lilly loved Amber's good days and enjoyed her girl friend's company and the times when a very passionate, affectionate, and seductive Amber would drag her to a secluded spot at school and make out with her or when she would take her break at work and the girls would kiss and talk, mostly about Lilly since Amber was still very closed off about her life before she moved to Malibu. Lilly would tell her stories of growing up and Miley and Amber would listen just to hear that sexy slightly whiney voice. Lilly would giggle and appreciate Amber's ability to flirt with the customers and her while at work and thought the girl must have been really something to admire before she moved to Malibu. But Lilly discovered it was Amber's dark days when she loved the girl the most. She did not know why, but when Amber would get that far away look in her eyes, rarely talk, and walk around almost in a daze; Lilly felt her love for Amber deeper than it ever. There was no passion to Amber then and no laughing and no long talks and no surprise make out sessions, but for some reason Lilly felt a deeper love for the girl during that time. She would walk with Amber in the school hallways when she could, sit with her at lunch and just stare at the lovely brunette, or sit at the stool at Rico's and watch and admire the grace and beauty of the Goth girl she loved. She no longer got mad or hurt feelings when Amber ignored her and she cherished the times when Amber would briefly snap put of her dark time and caress her face and lightly brush her lips against hers; calling her "love" and telling her she was sorry and loved her very much. Lilly did not know if it was the pity or the fear she had for Amber during those times; but whatever it was she knew she was in love and had not felt that way about anyone before.

Thursday was a good day for Amber and even while her hand was still bandaged and the burn still showed there would be very little scarring if any and her face healed with no permanent marks. Lilly was walking next to her and the girls were laughing and giggling at each others flirtations when once again Amber pulled Lilly in a corner of the hall and kissed her.

"Lilly, take me to your bed and make love to me. I want to feel you, to taste you, to love you." Amber said wrapping her arms around the blonde seductively and kissed her neck and lifted one of her legs and wrapped it around the other girl as she pushed her against the wall.

Lilly moaned in pleasure and desire and all she could do is whimper out a yes as the Goth girl left her breathless from passion. Lilly drove them to her house as Amber held her hand and kissed it and licked it in a tempting manner as a seductive smile played on her lips. When the girls got to Lilly's house they both rushed into the bed room striping their clothes and touching and kissing the entire way. By the time they made it to the room, Amber was already naked and she jumped on the bed to watch Lilly remove her bra and panties. As Lilly removed her bra she stared at Amber with lust and desire as the Goth girl traced her fingers over her own breasts and down her stomach while she started at Lilly's body. Once naked Lilly walked to the bed and Amber met her half way and pressed her body to her naked lover and kissed her deep and passionate as the blonde groaned and both girls fell on the bed. Amber lay on her back as Lilly fell on top of her and she wrapped her legs around the blonde and kissed her nipples. Lilly let out a gasp of pleasure as her hand spread the Goth's legs and she entered the wetness between her legs. Amber let out a sharp gasp and Lilly knew it was not pleasure but one of pain. She quickly removed her finger and lifted her head.

"I…I'm sorry…I did not mean to hurt you." Lilly said as Amber continued to kiss her neck trying to drag the girl back down on top of her.

"Shhh…please make love to me, love, it will go away. Please, baby, I need you." Amber said as she continued to kiss Lilly's neck. Lilly moaned at the wonderful sensation but she pushed Amber away gently.

"Why…why did it hurt, Amber?" She asked and got the answer she feared.

"Shhh…don't worry about it…you promised you would not think about it when we are together like this."

Lilly rolled off Amber and sat on the edge of the bed, "How can I not think about it, Amber. It…I know why it hurt and why you are sore! I can see the bruises on you wonderful body! I can see the marks! And your hand…I know you did not burn it on hot water! I…I…it is always with me, baby, it is always running through my mind when we kiss, when we make love, and when I think about you alone in my bed. I know what he does and it hurts me…and…I cannot help but think about it!" Lilly yelled as tears came to her blue gray eyes. She was not angry at Amber, but she was heart broken about what was happening to the girl she loved and the thoughts of someone else having sex with her and raping her crushed her. She put her head in her hands and wept.

Amber got on the bed on her knees and pressed her naked body against Lilly from behind and wrapped her arms around the blonde, "Shhh…its ok, love…its ok…shhh…please, baby, please don't cry. I…I knew you were not ready yet…shhh, love, I…I should not have done this to you." Lilly touched Amber's arms and caressed them as she cried.

"No…I…I'm sorry Amber…I can't. I want to so bad…but I can't. I want to make love to you and feel you wrapped around me…but I can't right now, baby…I'm sorry." Lilly felt Amber pull her back down on the bed and she went willingly. She turned to face Amber and the Goth girl wrapped her legs around her and pressed against her hard. Amber pushed her hair away from her face and brushed her lips to hers. Lilly saw Amber had a few tears running down her cheeks.

"Shhh…its ok, love…we don't have to. Just hold me, Lilly, just hold me, love." Lilly wrapped her arms around Amber and both girls pressed themselves to each other harder. Lilly felt Amber snuggle her head against her neck and the Goth girl's arms wrap around her. Amber whispered into Lilly's ear.

"Just don't leave me, love…promise you will never leave me…I am so sorry I came into your life, my sweet Lilly, I am so sorry…but it's to late now…I cannot leave you and I cannot stand if you left me…promise me, Lilly…never leave me, my love…never leave me." Amber cried into the blonde's neck.

"I won't, Amber, I will never leave you…I love you, baby, and I will stay with you forever."

Amber pulled her head away from Lilly's neck and kissed the other girl on her eyes and cheeks to draw her tears into her mouth. She then smiled sweetly and looked into the pretty blue gray eyes, "Shhh…even I will not ask forever…just while I am here with you, love, they will not let me forever, baby…they are jealous of my love for you." She then placed her head back into Lilly's neck and kissed it gently.

Lilly felt a shiver run down her back at her words and gently pushed Amber back from her, "Who, baby, who is jealous? Does your aunt and uncle know? I thought we hid it well even from Natalie…who, Amber?"

Amber's eyes went glassy for a brief moment and then back to normal. She pressed her fingers against Lilly's lips, "Shhh…not now, love...later…much later." She pulled back from Lilly and lay on her back and used her good hand to entwine her fingers in Lilly's hand. She turned her head and smiled at the blonde, "So, dear Lilly, do you want to know about what I was like before I moved here? I can tell you some things now." Lilly, with fear still gripping her, smiled and lay her head on Amber's chest and put her arms around her lover. She felt Amber stroke her hair, "Yeah, baby, tell me something about you." She learned to ask too many questions and cried quietly in her fear for the girl she loved as Amber told her about her mom and dad before they died.

That afternoon the girls did not make love but just lay in the bed as Amber talked. Amber was careful not to tell Lilly too much and kept her stories related to her mom and dad and brother and Ran when she was younger. She did not tell anything of her life after her parents died. She wanted to tell Lilly everything, but she couldn't as much as she tried and that made her very sad.