Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter two of "Not Here II: A Day in the Life." I can't believe I got five reviews for chapter one. I didn't think that would happen, but I'm happy it did. I want to thank everyone who reviewed. As for other readers, don't hesitate to review. I'd love to hear your ideas for this fic. Anyway, this chapter introduces Ashley's parents. It also features some Andros/Ashley. Stay tuned for chapter three.

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Chapter 2: Breakfast Time

Anna poured scrambled eggs from a small bowl into a skillet with a fork on the kitchen stove twenty minutes later. She went to the sink. She put former in, followed by the latter. She filled the bowl with warm water. She looked out the window. She spotted a northern mockingbird sitting on the windowsill. She tilted her head somewhat.

The mockingbird chirped a beautiful melody. Anna gave it two winks before pulling her hair behind her neck. She returned to the stove and picked up a plastic spoon. She proceeded to stir the eggs while singing nonsense. She eyed a large bowl, a plate of bacon, and a coffee-filled mug sitting on the counter next to her.

Ashton was sitting at the table in which he was reading the newspaper. He finished one page and turned the next. He mumbled inaudible words. He picked up his coffee-filled mug. He took a long sip. He laid it down with a soft sigh. The table had plates set up with silverware at his spot and on either side of him. The left had a second plate and silverware set up. He folded his newspaper to lay it on the table. Anna looked over her shoulder at him. She raised her eyebrows.

"What did the newspaper say, honey?" she asked.

"It said that Riley and her female calf are bonding very well. The aquarium is having a voting contest on names for the little one. They are Lily, Nessa, Olivia, Athena, and Artemis," he explained.

"I like Athena. It is the name of the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare," Anna said very sweetly.

"I do too," Ashton agreed. "It was nice to see Athena actually appear in Xena: Warrior Princess. The episode was called 'Amphipolis Under Siege.' Paris Jefferson did a great job playing her."

"Xena did mention that Athena was one of the few gods who deserved her respect," Anna pointed out. "Cyrene actually stood up to Athena. She mentioned she lost a son and a grandson she had never met. She said she would never give up Eve, not even to the gods themselves."

"It is obvious Xena told her mother about Solan," Ashton commented matter-of-factly. "Otherwise, why would Cyrene have mentioned him?"

"All sorts of silly mistakes can be found in TV shows and movies. When actors and actresses can't explain them, they say that a wizard did it," Anna added.

"Who came up with the saying 'A wizard did it'?" Ashton wondered in much confusion.

"I have no idea," Anna admitted. "One thing is clear. It has helped actors and actresses move on to their next questions very easily."

"No denying that," Ashton murmured and ran his tongue all over the inside of his mouth. "It would be funny if an actual wizard did appear and made the continuity errors happen."

"That would be such a riot," Anna said, laughing softly. "Some things will never make sense, no matter how hard people try to explain them."

Ashton nodded in agreement. He snapped his fingers before clicking his tongue twice. He placed his hands behind his head.

"I am so glad Johnny's friends and parents haven't caused us any trouble," Anna whispered in much relief. "It's been five months since he was arrested for felony weapon possession."

"His trial begins in three weeks," Ashton said and huffed angrily. "I can imagine his attorney trying to drag Andros and Ashley through the mud. He may even try to use their sexual history against them."

She snorted. "It's not uncommon for defense attorneys to resort to dirty tactics in hopes of getting their clients off for their crimes."

"Prosecutors will resort to dirty tactics to secure a conviction. They are willing to put innocent people behind bars, so they can make a name for themselves," Ashton said in much disgust.

"Those prosecutors deserve to lose their licenses to practice law," Anna said bluntly. She let out a long yawn and smacked her lips. "They give good prosecutors a bad name."

He bit his lip. "Yep."

The couple heard approaching footfalls. They looked toward the doorway, seeing Andros and Ashley came into the kitchen.

"Well, well, if it isn't the lovebirds," Ashton teased.

"Hi, Dad," Ashley said as she joined his side along with Andros.

"You two slept late," Anna said and raised her eyebrows. "I can't blame you. Both of you stayed up late last night."

"How could we go to sleep when we kept seeing great movies on TV?" Andros asked, giving a shrug.

"At least we didn't get loud while watching them," Ashley pointed out and adjusted the left strap of her gray overalls. She touched her stomach with both hands. She smiled as the babies kicked against them. "The babies are very active this morning."

"That's good," Anna said in much happiness. "If a woman can't feel her baby move, that doesn't mean something is wrong with it. The baby is likely too far back for her to feel it."

"It's amazing how some women don't even know they are pregnant until they experience terrible pain in their backs or stomachs. They are rushed to the ER. The doctors tell them they are in labor. The mothers-to-be are shocked," Andros said in amazement.

"That they are," Ashley agreed. "Of course, my babies are too forward for me to miss their movements." She patted her stomach with both hands. "If anything, they dance in my womb."

Andros slipped his arm around his girlfriend to give her a small hug. He kissed her temple twice. He let go of her and put his hands behind his back. Anna noticed his ponytail.

"You wore your hair in a ponytail last night, huh?" Anna asked.

"Yes, I did," Andros said, touching his ponytail and bringing it forward. He let go of it. "It never came loose. I did take the ponytail holder out, so I could brush my hair."

Ashley pulled it behind his neck. "You might as well put some bows in that ponytail. You'd look so cute with them."

"I will if you let me put a mustache on you," Andros said, eyeing her.

"You are dreaming if you think I will let you do that," Ashley said as she turned to him.

Andros flicked her nose. "I know you love seeing me in your dreams. We've had steamy ones about each other since the first time we made love."

Ashley flicked her boyfriend's chin. He ran his finger up and down her nose. He kissed the tip of it. Anna cleared her throat, causing them to look at her.

"The eggs are nearly done," Anna said and licked her lips. "Andros, you can get the bacon."

"Sure," Andros answered with a nod. "Just don't let the eggs run away."

Andros approached the counter to get the bacon. He took it to the table in which he set it in the center. He went to the cabinet next to the sink and got glasses. He went to Ashley. They walked to the refrigerator after he gave her the first one. She opened it and grabbed the orange juice. She poured it into her glass until it was nearly full. She repeated her action with his glass. She returned the jug to the refrigerator. She closed it with a slam. Ashton chuckled, and they turned toward him.

"You two will always be the orange juice twins," Ashton joked.

"I am glad we are," Ashley responded as she took a long sip of her juice. She went to the chair on her father's left to sit down. She put it down as Andros approached the chair next to her. She eyed him seating himself. "All that Vitamin C is keeping our immune systems strong."

Ashton exhaled sharply. "I am proud of you for maintaining your weight gain properly. Too many pregnant women gain more weight than what is necessary."

"It is understandable a woman who is pregnant with multiples needs to gain more weight. It ensures the babies grow properly," Ashley commented matter-of-factly.

Andros cringed a bit. "Excess weight gain during pregnancy makes it more difficult for women to lose it after their babies are born."

"I feel sorry for people who have a difficult time losing weight due to medical conditions. However, I can't feel sorry for people who deliberately gained weight and stubbornly refuse to lose it," Ashton hissed bluntly.

Ashley nodded in a sharp manner. "Neither can Andros and me."

Anna finished the eggs. She tapped the spoon on the skillet's side three times before switching off the burner. She dumped them into the bowl and left the spoon there. She took the skillet to the sink, putting it in and filling it with warm, soapy water. She grabbed the eggs and her coffee. She went to the table, sitting in the chair on Ashton's right. She laid her coffee on the table. She scraped some eggs on her plate. She gave them to Ashley. She got two pieces of bacon.

"I have been a fan of orange juice since I was a little girl," Anna said as she picked up her fork. She poked it into her eggs. She got a decent amount on it. She placed them into her mouth to chew. She swallowed with a quiet gulp.

"You got me hooked on it when I was two years old," Ashley squeaked while scraping eggs onto her plate. She handed them to Andros, who proceeded to put some on his. "Being turned off by it would've killed me."

"You are itching to get back to drinking coffee, Ash," Andros said and finished with the eggs. He handed them to Ashton, who started scraping them onto his plate. "You stared at the coffeemaker for a few minutes before breakfast yesterday morning."

"I couldn't help it," Ashley whispered solemnly. "The bright side is I can stand the smell."

"You'd be miserable if you couldn't," Andros commented matter-of-factly. "Yes, you would."

Andros and Ashley grabbed three pieces of bacon each. He picked up his fork, poking it into his eggs. He managed to get a decent amount on it. He put them in his mouth. He chewed quickly before swallowing.

"The eggs are good as always," Andros complimented.

"Thanks," Anna said, picking up her bacon. She broke off a piece to pop it into her mouth. She chewed at a slow yet steady pace. She swallowed and let out a contented sigh. "The bacon is good too."

Ashton finished with the eggs. He set them in the center of the table and rubbed his hands together. He grabbed two pieces of bacon.

"I am having two big cups of coffee not long after the twins' birth," Ashley said in excitement. She ran her hand over her stomach. She giggled when the babies moved against it. "I am putting lots of sugar in them."

"Uh-oh. We could have a hyper Ashley running around in circles!" Ashton yelled in fake fear.

"That reminds me of the 'Totally for Kids' segment focusing on consuming too much sugar," Andros said thoughtfully. "A girl was eating a bunch of sugary foods. The Totally for Kids group tried to stop her, but they were too late. After she bit into the candy bar, she ended up in the hyperactive chamber. This was where kids were running around like crazy. Then she ended up in another chamber. The same kids were dragging after their sugar rush had ended. A boy told her she had to consume more sugar in order to get back. The group and John Walsh offered her healthy food such as broccoli, carrots, and apples. She didn't like any of it and tried to get more sugar. She became desperate. She was offered a sandwich. She ate it. John said eating too much of anything could throw your body out of balance."

Ashley huffed. "I am nowhere addicted to junk food of any kind. I may get a craving for the stuff, but I never consume a bunch of it."

"You have excellent self-control, Ashley," Anna said in much sweetness. "That is why your weight gain is on track."

"I crave lots of different foods. Some combos are downright weird," Ashely said with a shrug.

"You have asked me to get you something at a fast-food restaurant in the middle of the night several times," Andros pointed out as he looked at her.

"I can't stop the cravings," Ashley said and eyed him. "I wish I could, though."

Andros tickled her chin. "It doesn't matter. I am more than willing to get whatever you are craving. Even if I have to tear up the town, I will do it. Of course, I don't mean it like that."

Ashley growled playfully and kissed Andros on the lips. He slipped his tongue into her mouth. This made her moan softly. Ashton cleared his throat in which it forced them to break apart. They gazed at him.

"Guys, you shouldn't kiss at the table like that. People are eating," Ashton said seriously.

"We are sorry, Dad," Ashley apologized.

"We can't help it because we are so in love," Andros said and kissed her temple. "Besides, you and your wife kiss just as much as we do. Sometimes, you look like we have to pry you apart with a crowbar."

"The same goes for you and Ashley," Anna teased and giggled hysterically.

"Oh, get out of town, Mom," Ashley retorted playfully as she and her boyfriend looked at her.

"No, you get out of town," Anna yelled in delight. She picked up her bacon and pointed it at her daughter. "I mean it."

"Don't point that bacon at me," Ashley yelled, holding up her hands. "It might go off."

"Okay. I'll just eat it instead," Anna replied and popped the entire piece of bacon into her mouth. She chewed it quickly and swallowed with a loud gulp. "That was good."

"I hope you don't turn into a pig," Ashley quipped with a snicker. "We must never forget does come from pigs."

"You are the biggest pig in this family for the moment," Andros said and tickled her chin.

"I might be, but at least I won't be for much longer," Ashley admitted. "Nope, nope, nope."

Andros planted another kiss to his girlfriend's temple. He put his arm around her to hug her once more. She sighed in much content. He released his hold on her.

"It's been great living in this house for five months," Andros said, happiness radiating from his face. "Some people look at us weirdly because of our living arrangement, but I don't care."

"You shouldn't care what other people think," Anna commented in seriousness.

"Let them have their beliefs," Ashton added in a calm but firm voice. "What matters is what we think."

"We think our living arrangement is just fine," Ashley responded with great pride. "I say it makes things much easier because Andros is right there to help me when I need it."

"I enjoy rubbing your back and feet when you need me to," Andros admitted much with much love. He touched her shoulder and rubbed it lightly. "I pray to God that the twins are born as close to the due date as possible."

"Me too," Ashley replied and glanced at him. "You will be right there coaching me through labor. That is if nothing prevents you from getting to the hospital in time." She laughed nervously.

"Don't worry. I will be there," Andros assured.

"If Andros is not there, then I will help you," Ashton said, giving his daughter a wink.

"Of course," Ashley said as she turned to her father. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Let's stop talking and finish this breakfast," Anna suggested eagerly. "What do you say?"

The others voiced their agreement. This caused Anna to laugh in great delight. She became silent ten seconds later. They proceeded to eat the rest of their breakfast.