Summary: As the fight continues, the rangers try to keep their lives as normal as possible while learning about their full powers.

The-power-of-love: Always.

Mz. Daydream: They're still there, don't worry… just not important to the story at the moment. They'll be a team before the end of this part.

Arwennicole: Glad you liked it. I can't wait for your next update. Until then; here's mine.

Jenny: I'm still amazed about how loyal I am to my Zodiac Rangers and how the chapters keep turning out alright. Normally I would have lost all creativity by now and chapters would be, well… sucky.

Ghostwriter: Glad you like.

Phantom Rogue: laughs Me want to do it too, but we can't. pouts Oh, there's more… Wait, I already discussed the rest with you… how you've been able to figure out everyone's names and family.

Juzblue: The moment you have them, let me know, I wanna share!

As The Battle Rages

Chapter 11

"So me and my dad went fishing this weekend. Our new cabin by the lake is the AWESOMEST. I've got the biggest room." Daren was bragging (again), making sure Ray would hear. "This weekend he's taking me to Disney-land – my dad's the best!"

Ray rolled his eyes and tried to pay attention to what the teacher was saying. It was hard, having Daren recite all the things he got to do with his father. Ray's thoughts wondered to his own father. Ever since he had gotten back he'd been spending a lot of time with his mother and Aurora, but Ray always seemed like an afterthought.

The bell rang and Ray quickly dumped his stuff in his bag and fled out of the classroom.

"Oh, little Ray can't take listening to how much fun others have with their fathers?" Daren's voice hissed into his ear as the larger boy walked alongside him, blocking his path.

"Leave me alone, Daren." Ray hissed back, trying not to let his anger get the best of him.

"Why should I? It's not my fault your dad left you all, bet he didn't come back for you." Daren sneered meanly.

Tears shot into Ray's eyes and he quickly looked around for some kind of way out. He blinked and looked again. Sure enough Andros was standing there waiting for him.

"Dad!" He exclaimed, running over to him.

Andros laughed and lifted Ray up in his arms, spinning him around. Ray laughed and held him close for a moment, before pulling back.

"What are you doing here?" Ray asked. "Home's not that far."

"Your mom had to take Ciana for her check up and I have to go to NASADA for a bit, so I thought, why not see if you wanted to come along." Andros grinned.

"Sure." Ray replied, shooting a quick look over at Daren, making sure he had heard it.

Daren might get to spend a lot of time with his father going fishing and all, but now Ray got to do stuff that was, in his class, considered way cooler. Daren was glaring at him and Ray had to grin, especially when he noticed his father's new car waiting by the curb.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Andros demanded, laughing. "Get in."

When he reached for his seatbelt, he could see the jealous looks his classmates were shooting him. It could hardly get much better than this, especially when they heard where he had gone tomorrow.

About two hours later

Ray looked in awe as he fallowed Andros into the control room. He had been at NASADA, but never here. Nobody dared to protest about Ray's presence, his own ranger status allowed him to enter every single room in NASADA and Andros knew this all too well. He had lost count of the many times he barged into rooms merely because he could and he was looking for someone.

"Ah, Andros, I've been expecting you. Oh and you brought your son." Commander Norquist greeted.

Ray muttered something beneath his breath about having a name and Andros inwardly smiled.

"Yeah, what was so urgent anyway?"

"Well, there's a conference on KO-35 in about two months, but our ambassador fell ill and will still be recovering." Norquist explained.

"You want me to take his place." Andros guessed with a barely audible sigh.

"Only if you want to." Norquist replied quickly. "If you don't want to, you don't have to."

"I'll discus it with Ashley, but I'm sure she'll agree it's the perfect excuse to visit KO-35 again… Taken, of course, I'm allowed to take my family." He added, throwing in his own requirements.

The relieve on Norquist's face was enough of an answer.

"Of course you are. We wouldn't want to separate you from your family so soon after being reunited with them again."

"Good." Andros replied courtly. "I'll discus it with Ashley and give you the answer tomorrow. Is that all?"

"Yes, that's all. Sorry to make you come all the way here just for that, but asking over the phone wasn't a real option."

"That's okay, really." Andros assured before saying his goodbyes.

Once outside again he turned to Ray. The boy looked up at him with glittering eyes.

"We're going to KO-35, aren't we?" He asked with hope in his voice.

"Your mom and I have been considering a small vacation to KO-35 for a while now." Andros admitted and Ray jumped into the air.

"Yay!" Ray exclaimed. "My classmates will be so jealous, they never get off planet."

Andros laughed and ruffled Ray's hair.

"I'll teach you how to ride a hoverboard once we're there." He promised.

"Really?" Ray asked in awe. "Wait… What's a hoverboard?" he frowned, the unfamiliar name causing slight unease in him.

"Practically the same as a skateboard… only this one really flies." Andros explained.

Ray's eyes light up and he hugged Andros.

"You are the best." He muttered into Andros's shirt.

Andros wrapped his arms around Ray and held the boy tightly for a moment.

"We should go home or we'll be late for dinner." Andros muttered to Ray, placing a quick kiss on the boy's hair. "Your mom will be furious if we let it get cold."

Ray laughed and nodded, obviously he had been wrong about his dad. He just wasn't used to having a son yet, they were only now getting to know each other and he couldn't wish for more. It would just take some time.

A/N: Hope you liked it. It took me a while, but I finally decided to dedicate the chapter to Ray and Andros getting to spend some quality time together. Not really what I had planned, but much better. Hope you liked it. Please review.