Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers; I do own Andrew (he's mine!), Scout Rin, Daniel Cade the plot, the feelings and everything else you don't recognize!

A/N:
be proud of me, I'm three chapters ahead of you, which means this week's update week! Plus, this story is going to be longer than I thought, the plot is progressing slower than I've planned…

Right now I'm sick so… update week says it all…

Slytherin-Angel44: Cheer up because today is the day!

GinaStar: starting from now:P

PernDragonrider: thank you very much. As I said, I feel like the plot is pregressing too slowly, in my original plan he was supposed to be in a very different place in chapter 8… but oh well…

zeopurple: I can't have Ash and Andros reproducing, it'll ruin my plans for Andrew, and since Andros has never heard of contraceptive err… methods (just ask AH/AY about her Sim Andros), I have to be drastic…

SweetSas: I will, in a minute, but WHY aren't you emailing me?

AH/AY: she doesn't need a girl! She has three strong Andros-like sons!

Quest into Space III: Serenity
by DarkHonda aka Tal

Chapter 8

Six months have passed since that day I found out about mum...
I grieved as much as she did, but from the inside. I had to be strong for her and for dad, taking care of Cade and Rin despite my blindness, doing everything I can for them. For mum. I wanted to hope that with time, her pain would pass, would at least ease. It did, very slowly, and it made me happy. Mum could never be sad for long, her optimism always won and I wanted it would win in this case as well.
Dad and I kept training even though I had told him many times to be with mum instead of training me, he always refused, insisting our training was as important as mum, I always knew that guy was dense. It didn't surprise me.

I tried to be perfect for mum, dad, Rin and Cade, to give everything I could so they would be happy. Dad had Uncle Zhane and Aunt Karone to talk to, they were only the people excluding mum who could calm him somewhat. Mum had no one except me, I knew how hard it must be, so as her birthday was coming, I asked Deca to invite Aunt Cassie to our house, as a surprise visit in my mum's birthday. As Aunt Cassie kept her morpher, just like the rest of my Uncles, it was set so she would come on her galaxy glider until Andromeda 7 and the Megaship would wait for her there. I had told dad about this surprise visit during one of our blindtraining sessions and he was pleased, telling me he's proud of me. I blushed.

We grew closer, dad and I, more than ever maybe it was the sorrow that bonded us again, maybe it was the fact that we spent an awfully lot of time in training together, whatever it was- it did the trick. He was my friend but first and foremost- my dad and I respected him for that. I never questioned him or been rude to him, maybe it was the discipline of training that got into me, or maybe my body that was back in shape and made me shut my mouth. I loved blindtraining, soon in those six months I have made an awesome progress and could easily kick dad's ass…

At first it was hard, I had to build good defense before learning how to attack, it tired me greatly and after every session I would collapse on the grass, panting before going to take a shower. It was hard and it nearly killed me every time I tried to listen better or smell better, every time I had to stand still so I would feel the changes in the course of the wind…
As the training progressed I became less and less tired, living my everyday life was one big training session because I used everything he taught me, when I strolled along the park or walked over to Uncle Zhane and Aunt Karone's house. He gave me the ability to be much more independent and I was grateful to him for that, now I was so trained that I was able to jog exactly like I used to when I could see. I could cross the street without needing anyone, I could walk Rin to his kindergarten, play with Jaden and even to change Cade's diapers! It came out to a point when dad said I could train by myself, but he never left my side and we trained together, as equals- not a master and his student anymore.

\3-3-5//

It was the morning of mum's birthday and I woke up to a heavy load that was currently breaking my back. Still sleepy I looked back, as if I could actually see anything, darkness was already my friend, that load that was breaking my back was giggling and quite happily pulled my hair. I frowned. As I sent my hand to Cade's little palm in order to make him stop pulling my hair.

"Good morning to you too, brother," I grumbled as the baby was crawling along my back to my legs. Someone was really trying not to laugh next to my bed. "It's not funny, dad," I pouted and he allowed himself laughing out in the open.

"I thought that you might want to train this morning before your Aunt Cassie would tag along and steal all the attention from us three men," he chuckled and took Cade out of my bed. I jumped on my feet.

"Morning Decs," I greeted, ignoring dad and continuing my regular morning routine.

"Good morning, Andrew," she replied.

"Help me this morning?" I asked as I took the blanket and shook it a few times, folding it as best as I could. Then I reached for my pillow hitting it a little and putting it on the folded covers. "What do you say, Decs?" I asked her.

"Perfect as always, Andrew," she said.

"Thanks," I smiled, "Shower…" I muttered to both dad and Deca.

"Don't forget to take your clothes," Deca reminded me, I smiled.

"You're right, help me choose something to wear," I asked, "what do you think of the yellow buttons up and blue jeans?" I asked her.

"I think black jeans would be in order," she advised, I nodded. I heard dad chuckling.

"'s not funny, is mum awake?" I asked, frowning.

"No, I turned off the alarm clock," he said and I smiled wickedly on my way to the closet.

"Rin?"

"Already in his kindergarten,"

"Breakfast?"

"Karone insisted on fixing one for your mother today," he answered. Sweet! Aunt Karone makes the best marshmallow chocolates ever! I smiled happily and pulled my clothes from the closet.

"Umm, I'll go take a shower, dad we won't practice today, we have to decorate the house and stuff so Decs, if you may, please, teleport to the living room a few balloons, and decorations," I ordered and exited the room.

\3-3-5//

I got out of the shower dressed, all I had to do is do my hair in a ponytail. I walked to my room quickly and somehow managed to find a yellow band to my hair. I quickly brushed my hair and put it in a ponytail and got out of my room, walking quickly to the living room.

"Dad?"

"Right here, check on you brother, he's crawling to you right," he said obviously in effort, I crouched and collected Cade in my arms, playing with him for a while. A gentle knock was heard on our front door, I opened it.

"Good Morning, Andrew," Aunt Karone's voice, I stepped out of her way.

"Morning, Aunt Karone," I told her with a smile, I heard her entering, her steps slow and heavy. "Do you need help with anything?" I asked her, she kissed my cheek and took Cade from my hands.

"Good Morning to you too, baby Daniel," she cooed, I wanted to vomit. Rolling my eyes mentally I crossed my arms on my chest.

"Um, don't you want to come in? Dad's decorating the living room," I told her, she laughed.

"You made Andros decorate?" she laughed, "you are god!" she said and I heard her step in to the living room, I closed the door behind her and followed. I think I heard her gasping with she entered the living room.

"Wow, Drosy, great work there, big brother, you really outdid yourself," she complimented and I heard dad sighing and he jumped down from something.

"Thanks, Karone, I think I better wake Ash now," he said and I heard Aunt Karone jump in surprise.

"Oh no, no, no, wait until I leave, and let me take care of Daniel, too," she said, I nodded.

"I'm coming too," I said quickly.

"You stay!" Aunt Karone and dad attacked together. 'Gee, why don't you two just hit me?' I thought sarcastically, hoping I didn't say it out loud. I didn't. Dad thanked Aunt Karone and walked her out, giving her Cade's usual backpack and she went with Cade. I sat on the couch and waited until dad came back.

"Alright, I'm going to wake up your mum," he said quietly and I heard his steps starting to fade.

"Wait- dad!" I called after him, I heard his steps louder as he walked back to the living room.

"Yes?"

"Are you sure you want me here? I would be just fine with Cade at Aunt Karone's.." I said feeling my cheeks grow hot.

"No, you stay here, kid," he said, I snorted, I heard him stopping. "What was that supposed to mean?" he asked.

"First of all, I'm not a kid and second- the last time you called me that…" I stopped, "do you even remember?"

"First day I met you," he said and I could hear the smile in his voice, "you've been telling me about your dad," I laughed.

"Yeah, my dad," I laughed, "but I guess mum was right about-"

"I'm always right," mum's delicate voice was heard, I could imagine her wearing her yellow robe and leaning against the wall, "What was I right about?"

"Well, everything you told me about, happened, eventually," I told her.

"I told you lot of things," her voice came closer, she sat next to me on the couch, one hand on my shoulders.

"You were right about fighting skill, you said he'll teach me with endless patience. He did, still does actually," I told her with half a smile, she laughed.

"I'm still here, you know," he said, it seemed he was sitting right next to mum.

"Sorry," I smiled an apologetic smile, "But hey, I have to tell you something, dad, you really have to improve your stealth talent, it really sucks," I laughed, "I totally saw that morpher that day an Onyx, it was the third time you got recognized," I stuck my tongue at him, mum laughed.

"Not funny," dad said and I could imagine the mock glare he gave her, she only laughed harder.

"Did you know he made me enter Deca's database the full names of every known care bear?" She said and at that moment I just cracked up and started laughing, clutching my stomach.

"What?" dad said guiltily, "I happen to love Harmony Bear! She's the cutest bear!" I couldn't contain myself any longer, I just laughed and laughed…

"I-Is that the bear that goes around everywhere and hugging innocent objects?" I asked between my fits of laughter, "Aww, dad, you're such a girl," I laughed and I could feel mum's mocked glare. "No offense, mum," I said quickly before she lands a chore on me or something.

"He made me pull an Aunt Cassie on the entire Megaship," I told her after I calmed down a little.

"Andros!" she said hurriedly, "to your own son?" she demanded, I sniggered.

"Well, what is it, 'gang up on Stripey' day?!" he exclaimed, I laughed.

"There are two of us," I corrected with a smile.

"Good, now we can gang up on you," dad said gloating, mum laughed, she was happy, you know, it was making me feel hazy, like a drug or something, everything was a little blurry, I was kind of light headed, I shook my head and held mum's hand. I got dizzy all of a sudden.

"Andrew?" mum's voice, my head hurt and my face burnt, I put my hands on my face and they were so cold and my face so hot…"Oh my god, Andrew?" I blinked, my hands rubbing my face.

"Andrew? Carlen, are you alright?" dad's voice, I don't know how water got to my face, I got up, rubbing my forehead and my eyes furiously.

"My face…my head hurts...my eyes burn" I managed to blurt.

"Let me see," it was dad's voice, I curled into a ball and didn't let him touch me. it burnt so much, like acid that ate my face away. I evaded his touch.

"No," my face was wet; it took me a while to realize it's from my eyes, tears? I didn't know and wiped them away with my sleeves. When it stopped hurting, I closed my eyes strongly, scared of another shots of pain. I got up and managed to walk to the kitchen, which was the closest room that held water. My face were still stinging as I turned on the faucet taking cool water in my hands and rubbing my face with it, until it relaxed a bit. When the stinging feeling stop, I closed the faucet, turning back to where I knew my parents were standing.
I carefully opened my eyes, expecting to see the relaxing darkness, but instead blur of colors jumped into my brain and I felt dazed, there was too much light in my darkness, I almost immediately closed my eyes again, not able to open them again. The light hurt too much.

"Andrew?" it was dad's voice.

"You don't happen to own a spare pair of sunglasses, do we?" I asked, still forcing my eyes to stay closed. Mum was standing right next to me, her hand on my shoulder.

"What happened?" she asked.

"My face, I… dad, do you think you can ask Deca to teleport a pair of sunglasses to my hand?" I asked and he didn't even answer, I heard him half running to my room. I sighed loudly.

"Tell me what's wrong, Andrew," mum ordered, she was stressed, I was too. Maybe it wasn't a dream, maybe I did see those colors a few minutes ago, but it hurt my eyes so much… Almost at that same instant a pair of sunglasses appeared in my palm, I put them on, mentally counting until three before opening my eyes again. I blinked a few times, everything was a little brighter, the sunglasses had made the lights weaker and even though the colors were still a dark blur, I started laughing and crying at the same time. I didn't even notice I was shaking.

"Andrew, please," mum begged, I was still half laughing half crying when I stopped shaking.

"I love your dress, mum," I told her, my voice unsteady, "It's the most beautiful shade of yellow I've ever seen," I was immediately wrapped with her hug. Dad returned from my room at that very second. He was wearing a fading red T shirt and a blue pair of jeans, his hair down and he was still very worried.

"What's wrong?" he asked, "are you crying?" he asked again, his voice a little queasy.

"Nothing is wrong," I told him, his hazel eyes so worried, bored into me, "It's just that…your red shirt is so ugly, dad," I told him. He seemed shock for a moment, maybe he couldn't grasp what I had just told him, he was that dense.

Thirty minutes after that, when we were sitting in the living room again, this time passing pictures of Cade, exchanging memories with photos a woman clad with pink burst through our door. "Ash!!" she screeched and I knew I was already lost. Aunt Cassie just came in to town…


A/N: well, optimistic enough:P review!