Disclaimer: Ray's full name is mine.

Summary: Mornie utúlie. Believe and you will find a way. Mornie alantie. A promise lives within you now. He went on a mission never to return again. Or so they said.

LucyE: Yeah, Chaitlin is Zhane and Karone's daughter, but that doesn't mean the others can't order her around.

Phantom Rogue: Andros is going to do something with Derek, yes, but not beat him up. Something more fun. And I know it's not nice shoving Ashley into a black hole, but otherwise I'd feel bad for stealing Andros from her. At least then he'll be single again. :P No, I'm not in hospital, it was just a joke between Jenny and me. Too bad, because that means I still have to go to school. Please don't take everything I say serious, it might end up being bad for your health. :P

Necroblade: Yes, thirteen rangers, twelve signs, but the twin was born under Gemini, catch my drift?

Ghostwriter: Well, good luck, I'll root for you. Glad you got in. More A/A in this chapter. Catch ya on the flip side.

Juzblue: Maybe you should go see a doctor with that speech problem. :P Oh, and how dare you ask? I ALWAYS update soon.

Arwennicole: Wow, you read it twice? I'm impressed by my own skill. Glad you liked the chapter. Yes, things can get back to the way they used to be, sort of.

Ani: Always.

The real vampire: Like I said; always.

Jenny: Yes, promises for the future, you've read the epilogue you know what I mean. Don't worry about not being able to keep me company in hospital, I'd only be crushed if me being there was true, though I do have to pass a hospital to get to school. WAIT, Chris and Tracy are married? How come no one ever told me about that? Please don't stop blabbing, I like it. Oh, and if you start collection those five dollars from everyone, you can count on mine.

The-power-of-love: Yay, you loved! Well, sure they're going to be happy, but you seem to forget Ray never met his daddy. Andros got Ashley pregnant the night before he left. :P

What Was Lost

Chapter 19

"I missed you." Andros sighed in her hair.

His arms were wrapped securely around her waist as he lay pressed against her back.

"Missed you too." Ashley muttered.

"How have you and Aurora been holding out?"

"Okay, I guess." Ashley replied, shifting uncomfortably.

How was she going to tell him he had a son, born nine months after he left on the mission they thought he died on?

"What's wrong?" Andros whispered in her ear.

"Andros? Do you regret the decision of only Aurora?"

"Ash, how many times do I have to tell you…" He chuckled. "We were young, practically children ourselves when Aurora was born. If we hadn't met, you would probably have gone to college without carrying a child around. We were trying to figure out how to raise a child while still exploring our own relationship. Others may have wanted to help, but it was something we had to do on our own."

"But all the others had more children." Ashley sighed.

"Aurora was two when Caithlin was born, Ash. Karone was a year older than you were when giving birth. Cassie was three years older when Anlon was born and TJ and Carlos didn't become father's until over a year later. They were all older than we were and they could all cheat off us in raising their children. I was and still am happy with just my two girls." He replied, kissing her cheek.

"Do you remember the day before you left?" Ashley asked softly.

"How could I forget?"

"Do you regret the decision we made that day or what followed?"

"You mean 'no protection, but not trying for a child either'? How could I regret that decision, Ash? I know I said I was and am happy with just my two girls, but that doesn't mean a new addition to our happy little family wasn't welcome."

"That happy little family of yours crashed two days later." Ashley snorted.

"Something I do regret." Andros admitted. "Why did you ask?"

Ashley took a deep breath.

"Nine months after you left, Ray Brice Hammond was born. The first time I skip my period, I blamed it on the stress and grief your death brought, as I did the second time. By the third time I was late, morning sickness had kicked in and I was gaining weight, so I made an appointment with my doctor, to confirm my fear. The day I found out about Ray was also the day your parents called me for the first time after your death. Your mother was just about to give up when I answered, for I just returned from the doctor. The moment she saw the tears on my face she knew something was wrong and she wasn't fooled when I told her everything was fine, so I told her I was pregnant. We talked for hours after that, until I needed to pick Aurora up from school."

Andros tightened his embrace for a moment, encouraging her to continue.

"The next day I was just about to tell Aurora about her baby brother or sister, when the doorbell rang. When I opened the door your parents stood there. The smile on Aurora's face when she saw them was the first I'd seen since she heard you weren't coming back. Then I told her about the baby. She was thrilled, admitting she'd always been jealous of the others, having brothers and sisters. Your parents stayed until a month after Ray's birth, making sure I took good enough care of myself and got enough rest. If it wasn't for them, I don't think that between my pregnancy and the care for Aurora, I would have been able to get myself together."

"And the others?"

"I didn't hear from them until I saw them today."

"They were probably scared."

"I don't doubt they were, but it would have been nice if they just had let me know they were there, thinking of me too. Now the only reason I know they cared was because your parents told me they kept asking about me. They don't even know about Ray."

"I can't wait to meet him."

"He can't wait to meet you either, I'm sure. He's always interrogating me and Aurora about you."

Andros smiled and hugged her closer, if that had been possible.

"Let's sleep, tomorrow you can meet him and see Aurora again." Ashley whispered. "But keep in mind they have to go to school first."

"Got it. Sleep now, Aurora and Ray later."

Ashley giggled and sleep claimed her easier than it had in eleven long and lonely years.

A/N: Hope you liked it. Review.