Disclaimer: if you recognize it- it's not mine; Andrew, Gloria, the plot and Carlen belong to ME!

A/N: Dear readers and reviewers, this is the last chapter of Quest into Space, I have enjoyed (well, kind of:P) every moment of writing. Thank you all for you reviews and love, but mostly for your patience, I know this epilogue took forever...
Andrew and I love you guys :) Enjoy the chap.

Quest into Space
by DarkHonda aka Tal

Epilogue

I was wearing my new green shirt; the one Uncle Carlos bought me two days before I started my quest. He said it would bring me luck, and you know what? He might've been right! Anyway I wore my best blue jeans and my best shoes, Timberland, which is my favorite. After I got dressed I ran to dad's room and knocked on the door.

"Enter, Carlen," he said quietly and I entered, surprised to see him wearing blue jeans and a collar red T-shirt. I looked at him admirably, he smiled, nervous.
"So, are you ready to go?" he asked and I nodded, his hair was in ponytail mine was only in half ponytail, it actually looked nice and tidy for once! We exited his room and I was ecstatic! Dad was going to give me a ride on the galaxy glider! It was a dream coming true, mum was always mad at Uncle Carlos for telling me he gave Sylvie a ride and making me green jealous, and now I understood I wasn't meant to have my first galaxy glider ride with Uncle Carlos, but with my very own dad!

We entered the Holding bay and dad stopped me next to the table.

"Wait here," he said and took a few steps back, "Let's rocket!" he cried and opened his morpher and press the buttons 3-3-5 and red and blue lights appeared out of nowhere and after a millisecond the red astro ranger stood in front of me! I was in a complete total awe, my mouth was open in shock and I was totally frozen.
"Aww, come on, I thought you said you knew I was the red space ranger?" he said and I couldn't miss his amused tone, I closed my mouth, yet my eyes were still wide with wonder.

"ThatwasthemostawesomethingI'veseeninmywholelife!" I blurted out and I heard him chuckle. "I'm glad you find it funny, dad," I snorted and suddenly remembered the galaxy glider, "come on! do the galaxy glider hang ten thingy!" I asked and he just cracked, laughing hard. "Daaaaaad! Come on! Mum's waiting…." I said and he instantly relaxed, I guess he was nervous than I thought..

"Galaxy glider, hang ten!" he said with the appropriate movements and the glider was standing in midair in front of him! That must've been the coolest thing I've ever seen, except for the morphing a minute before. He lifted me up; I was actually standing on a galaxy glider! And jumped behind me, he knelt in front of me, his knee kind of supporting my back and put his arms on my waist. "DECA, teleport us…to space," he said and in a minute we were teleporting in a red light to the outer space!

\3-3-5/

"WOW!" I said, totally shocked and dad chuckled, space was so quiet compared to the hectic Angel Grove, it was amazing! All of it! But we have already reached the earth, on our way to see mum! We landed in a deserted ally, dad demorphed and the galaxy glider was teleported back to the ship. I hugged him gratefully.

"Dad, that was the best thing I've ever done! It was so cool! It's waaaaaaaay better than winning in a basketball game against Uncle TJ." He grinned happily and patted on my back gently.

"Thank you, Carlen, now- the hospital?" he asked and I nodded.

"It's just across the street! Come on!" I said and started running toward the giant white building not too far away. He ran after me and soon enough we entered the building which smelled from disinfection materials. I hated that smell! It always meant something bad is happening; that mum wouldn't come back home for a long period of time. Yet after a while I kind of got used to it, the smell didn't make me shudder with fear anymore, only made me worried. I sighed desperately and walked quickly to the receptionist's desk, dad right behind me.
I knew the receptionist, Gloria, she was kind to me at all costs, always made sure I ate while waiting for mum to wake up or for one of my uncles to take me home, she bought me a really cool video game in my last birthday too. I guess I was like her grandson and she didn't even laugh at my hair, even when it wasn't dyed.

At the moment she was reading a file and I cleared my throat to let her know I was there, waiting for her attention. She raised a 'seriously-don't-disturb-me-or-else' look and immediately smiled when she saw it was me. she stroked my hair once and I noticed dad's arrogant look as he scanned her looks, I knew already that he didn't like her very much, especially the fact she liked me. he kind of felt it was phony, but I didn't care, as long as I wasn't alone, even she was okay.

"Andrew!" she called, "Sweetheart! Where have you been lately?" she asked and I grinned, blushing. That was something I haven't thought of- how to explain my absence from the hospital for nearly a month, especially when I never left my mum's side. yet I thought quickly and blurted an acceptable excuse.

"Mum insisted that I'd spend a month someplace far so I could clear my head a bit," I said, well, I wasn't exactly lying, now, didn't I? "How are you Gloria?" I asked politely lightly changing the subject. Dad bit his bottom lip, hiding a smile, and Gloria melted in front of me, I swear I could hear her think her: 'so young but already a gentleman!' thought. I snickered quietly.

"Oh, sweetheart, I'm okay, a bit tired but you know how I am." She stroke my cheek gently, I nodded but blushed even more. I did know, well, I spent so much time in the hospital anyway..

"Umm... Gloria? My mum, was she moved or...something?" I stuttered trying to get to the point, Gloria smiled at me one of her pitiful smiles. I hated them, but what else could I do?

"No, Andrew, but I heard she's improving, off you go to visit her, young man!" she ordered me fondly, 'yeah, like I need the order,' I thought as I noticed the suspicious way she looked at dad who was standing behind me. Her gaze didn't left him and I instantly knew what it meant, she disliked him, I know it was mutual, he didn't like her as well yet she had a little power in her hand, she could have him out of the hospital in a moment. So, not looking for trouble I tried to introduce them to each other, although of my insecurity, since I didn't know how she'd react if I told her my dad is…well, my dad. I took a long breath and took his hand in my hand and pulled him next to me.

"Umm, Gloria?" I asked her and she turned her gaze back at me, she smiled yet I could still feel her dislike toward my dad. "I want you to meet my dad," I said lightly, "his name is Andros," only after a moment it finally dawned to her as she looked at his hair. I could almost smell the change in her, she didn't hate him so much like before, she kinda thought he was okay, I laughed and dad slid his hand out of my hand and put it on my shoulders, hugging me.

"Oh, of course!" Gloria broke the embarrassment with an offered hand for a hand shake. Dad looked at her hand for a moment and then looked at me and took her hand. "How impolite of me," she tried to amend her former cold attitude, "I'm sorry Mr…?"

"I'm called Andros," he said quietly and I chuckled, didn't he say it to mum when they first met? But then again, in reality, Gloria was eyeing him strangely, and I knew which direction that was going… So I hurried to fix things.

"He doesn't like formality," I told her and silently I said, 'saved your butt, dad,' and when I looked at him he nodded slightly and flashed a tiny smile at me. I laughed and hugged him, yet after a second I took his hand and pulled him with me into one of the long corridor of the hospital, "Come on, dad! Let's go!" I told him, "Bye Gloria!" I told her and waved, she smiled and waved back as I was pulling him with me.

''That was a great save, Carlen, I swear she almost killed me with that glare of hers.' I heard his voice filling my mind, laughed as he frowned.

"Come on, dad!" I told him and sprinted my way to mum's room, I evaded some serious accidents that could occur if I...well, didn't evade, and entered my mum's room. She was lying awake, after pulling herself up against the pillows and uncles TJ and Carlos as Aunt Cassie were sitting there talking to her. I burst in and almost jumped at her, it was amazing watching her like that, looking so.. alive!

"Mum! You're not going to believe it! I did it! And it was so cool, mum!" I told her and she hugged me, laughing, "At first I was there alone but I knew it was him, I knew it and then his sleeve fell and I saw the morpher and I actually told him that my name is Andrew Zhane Hammond of earth! And mum he taught me how to fight and how to navigate the Megaship and everything, he even took me on ride in the galaxy glider and it was the best thing ever!" I told her and grinned victoriously, she was laughing and there was nothing more worthy of seeing. My mum was happy and alive once again and I was the happiest kid in the whole universe, a thing that increased my ramblings, "And I became green ranger of honor, you hear that! Of honor! And I totally kicked his bu-…" I saw her scolding look and I blushed. She was laughing and hugging me.

"Andrew, what's the rush, sit here and tell me all about it!" she said with a smile, I looked at my uncles that were very amused and then at aunt Cassie that almost her entire fist was stuck in her mouth so she won't laugh. 'Someone is missing,' I thought as fear crept into me, "wait—where is dad?' my eyes were opened in realization and I jumped back, pouting.

"Aww man! He was right behind me!" I exclaimed and instantly closed my eyes and concentrated in him… 'Dad, where are you?'

'Outside of the room,' came the reply in the form of his voice filling my mind, I pouted my disagreement to this state.

'I thought we came here to see mum, you can't see her if you don't come in! Why won't you' I inquired, eyes still shut and concentrating hard on him. I could feel the mild guilt, mixing up with fear and the endless worry and a little touch of anger as his reply bored through me.

'I don't think I can, Carlen, I- I'm scared,' he said and I sighed desperately knowing I'll have to pull him in the room since he walk in from will. I opened my eyes and saw mum looking at me lovingly and each of my uncles and aunt was smiling wickedly, stifling laughter. I looked at them disapprovingly as I thought about the possibilities in front of me; I could go out and drag dad in or I could go out and…drag my dad in, so eventually I decided to choose option number three: execute previous options. So with a glance at the room I stepped toward the exit, pondering, when Uncle Carlos interrupted me.

"What were you daydreaming and staring at?" He asked curiously and I was starting to lose my patience; dad wouldn't come in, mum was busy with my uncles and aunt and they were all laughing at me. Grouchily I looked at my uncles and aunt as I responded.

"I wasn't staring, I was talking! Telepathy. Ever heard of it? Only karovans have it! Oh, and mum can too!" I stuck my tongue at them and glared at my uncles and aunt, and then tried to walk out before getting a detention from mum, right in time to escape the punishment but also to catch Uncle Carlos' remark-

"A week and a half with his dad and he already got that look. I swear Andros is contagious!" I snorted as I passed the doorstep and bumped straight into dad. He caught me before falling, his strong arms on my shoulders, protecting me. I felt good with that but I noticed he didn't. He was nervous and uneasy, so much that it actually made my stomach twirl with fear, I could almost drown in the desperation as he knelt before me and hugged me.

"I don't think I can do this," he whispered in my ear, "I don't think I can face your mother," he blurted out and I hugged him even tighter. It was the best way to try and soothe him, I didn't know any other way anyway.

"Dad, breathe," I commanded him and he took a long breath, "Now stand up," I said and he obeyed. Grinning, I pushed him into the room practically throwing him in and then I stood beside him and smiled, appreciating my actions.
Dad looked uncomfortable as my uncles and aunt were looking at him awe struck, their mouths slightly open and their eyes wide with amazement, I smiled innocently.

"Told ya I did it," I said and stuck my tongue at Uncle Carlos even though he wasn't looking. I looked at mum, but no one was looking at me; they were all looking at my dad, awe struck, their mouths slightly open and their eyes wide with amazement. I smiled happily, they were starting to believe it! but mum… mum was shocked, scared and…in love? I giant smile was forming on my lips. They loved each other! They love loved each other! The kind of love you get married because of.. it meant I was so going to have a family and now, all I had to do was to get my uncles and aunt out.
'How do I do it?' I wondered and as an answer to my question, Aunt Cassie got up, with an apologetic smile.

"We, uh... I have a doctor's appointment!" she blurted and I snorted, 'amateur, how not professional, and you'd think in their years as Power Rangers they would actually learn how to made up good excuses,' I shook my head as Uncle TJ got up as well.

"I...think I left my...er… daughter! In the garage! See ya!" he said and disappeared after Aunt Cassie, it was nonsense of course, he didn't even have a daughter! I looked at Uncle Carlos, waiting for his excuse.

"What?" he pretended someone's calling him, "Zordon? Dimitria?" he looked at us, "I think I've heard my name. Bye!" and he disappeared at the door as well. I snorted again, 'lame, how lame, Zordon is long gone and Dimtria is on Eltar!' I thought rolling my eyes, I sat at the chair next to mum and watched them.

They were hypnotized to one another, it was like they couldn't believe to their own eyes, as if they were stray wanderers in the desert and the other was some sort of mirage. Dad didn't even dare speaking, mum couldn't move a muscle. I had to do something before they'd turn into stone and never wake up again; but I had to think of something clever, otherwise they'd just be embarrassed. And after a few minutes of plotting I had just the idea…

"Um…mum, do you know dad has a photo of you in his room on the Megaship?" I asked innocently, I looked at dad; he was blushing! Mum looked flattered; she smiled a little smile at him, pink blush spreading in her face. I swear, if I wasn't there, she'd probably been giggling!

"Really?" she asked and I nodded even though she couldn't see it, as she was looking at dad.

"Yes, it's almost the same size as the photo of him we have in our living room," I said and dad looked surprised, I could feel the surprise tensing up in my stomach. Mum was really smiling now and dad was kind of… chuckling?
I stifled my laughter, 'if they've only known how funny they look,' I thought and knowing it's time for them to clear everything up, I jumped off the chair and pushed dad further into the room, next to mum's bed.

"Umm.. dad? Remember the photos of me you wanted to see when I was a baby?" I asked and he nodded absently, not really paying attention to what I've just said, I snickered, that was exactly how I wanted him to react since I was totally lying!
"Mum has made just the album for you, can I go get it?" I asked and dad nodded, "with DECA's help?" I asked and he still nodded, looking into her eyes. I pouted and grabbed his arm, he didn't even care! Snickering I pushed the communicator button.

"Hey, DEC, think you can teleport me to my room at home, and teleport me back here in 30 minutes?" I asked and I could swear I heard glee in her voice, maybe I wasn't the only one holding my fingers crossed for mum and dad.

"Certainly, Andrew," she said and in a second I was teleported in red shimmering sparkles into my room. I ran out of my room to mum's room like crazy.

(30 minutes later…)
I reappeared at the hospital room with my eyes covered with one hand, my other hand was holding my baby album. When I was sure I was teleported to the room, I took a step forward, my hand still on my eyes.

"Have you guys stopped smooching already or I have to separate you?" I asked and both of them laughed.

"Andrew, stop being such a grown baby and give me a kiss," mum ordered and I immediately gave dad the album and almost jumped at mum, hugging her and kissing her. It felt so good to be next to her again, it felt good to see the love in dad's eyes when he looked at us, it felt good to be a family. I sighed happily and mum laughed.

"You really did save the day, huh, baby?" she asked stroking my hair and I nodded, laughing she placed a kiss on my temple. I stuck my tongue at dad who was watching us, his hazel eyes twinkling and his face beaming and… he stuck his tongue at me!

"That was so mature, dad," I glared at him, shaking my head disapprovingly, pouting. Dad lifted his eyebrow, wondering but I only pointed at him and laughed, he made a face and I only sighed. I knew my face was getting that sullen expression mum hates but what could I do?
I knew we were a family, but I wasn't sure; I wasn't sure because I never notice that I don't know how a family functions and all these bad thoughts like, 'what if I'm a bad son?' and 'what if we can't be a family?' were eating me up, suddenly this whole family thing looked a bit scary. I didn't know how to be a part of a family.

"Are you tired?" mum asked me; stroking my hair I shook my head, I laid my hand at her shoulder gently.

"Mum?" I asked and she looked at me, "Are we…are we a family now?" I asked hesitantly, she smiled and nodded, tears in her eyes. I couldn't watch her cry; my eyes became wet as well, I wasn't sad but I was crying because she was. "Mum?" I asked again and both mum and dad looked at me; "I don't know how to be a part of a family, do you think you could teach me?" she smiled a tearful smile and nodded, dad stood up and sat next to me, he hugged me, crying, too. I was clinging onto him until I calmed down, a few moments later.

"Andrew Zhane," he said as his voice was finally steady, "what would you say if we moved to KO-35?" he asked and I jumped at him.

"Really? And then I could finally meet Aunt Karone and Uncle Zhane!" I asked totally surprised and he nodded, I laughed. "That would be so cool! And we could live there and I'd go to school?" I asked and he chuckled and nodded.

"There's a cure there, for your mother," he said and I was happy, 'I knew it!' I thought happily, 'I knew everything would work out in the end!' I smiled.

"Let's go now, daddy! What are we waiting for!" I said and started pushing him to the door, I knew it was foolish but I couldn't help it! If there was a cure for my mum at KO-35, then every minute is a minute a wasting!

"Hold on, Carlen, first we have things to do, events to catch up with and goodbyes to say." He said smiling, "but first, I wanted to know," he said eyeing my mum hesitantly, "why were you named Andrew Zhane?"

I shrugged, now there's a question I never asked! I mean, I knew I was named after Zhane of KO-35, the silver ranger but… mum never told me about Andrew, who was he? I looked at mum questioningly, she smiled and we moved to her bedside again. She opened my baby album and we all looked at the photos. Mum looked at dad.

"I made this album for you, I knew you'd come back and I didn't want you to miss everything," she said quietly and dad nodded and gently held her hand, she opened the album and the first photo was of me, as a little baby, sleeping in my old cradle. I looked peaceful and my hair was dual colored even back then, faint blond stripes were shown on the down that was my hair. The second photo was of all the Turbo-Space rangers standing together, in the hospital's yard, with mum holding me in the middle of them. They all looked very happy and young and hopeful…

"I called him Andrew," she started to say quietly to us, "because he was a little Andros," Ashley whispered to us and her eyes, much like my own eyes and dad's, were full of tears.

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A/N: enjoyed it? I hope so, check the Power Rangers stories list for Quest into Space II: Father and Son.
Love, Tal.

I'd like to send my special thank yous to:
Ashley Hammond / Astro Yellow
Phantom Rogue
Zeopurpule
PernDragonrrider
SweetSas
Dizneedol
BellaCordelia
Slytherin-Angel44
and last but not least- Star Fata:)