Summary: The return of Andros's parents changes all future plans of Andros and Ashley. It's doubtful they'll ever see each other again. But there's a secret Ashley's carrying around just dying to come out.
Arwennicole: You think that was bad? You should get out a bucket reading this one.
Mz. Daydream: Yeah, my ears are still ringing… I love this story to death too. And it comes to me so easily too. The only problem… I can't write so you'll hate Maura for a while. :sniffles:
Phantom Rogue: Even when I say no… I mostly end up doing yes. And Andros tried! Desperately! They wouldn't listen! I know the problem about not being able to hate Maura just yet! It's disturbing! But she's not 16… she's Andros's age, a little younger, but not much. Ashley's younger. And every girl wants to marry Andros just because of his ranger status and fame for saving the universe.
Slyterin-Angel44: Well… it's still an A/A story… But things have to go bad before it can clear out. It's like cleaning your room, you have to make a worse mess of it before you can truly start cleaning. So you figured Ashley's secret out in the first chapter. Well, it's not a secret to the readers this time. But I'm still impressed.
Star Fata: Oh, don't worry, I don't mind… I tend to do it my self too. I was supposed to be going on vacation to Scotland this year, but we couldn't make it with the money, so me and my friends swerved to Ireland.
HarryPassionFan: Well, this wasn't really very soon. But I still updated. :D
Jessica01: With a shuttle? How else?
DizneeDol: Well, I'll hurry the Zodiac as much as I can.
Lady Kimiko: In this case… they should just have died or stayed lost for another week or so. He didn't run because he wanted to tell them about and have them approve of Ashley. Actually… Phantom can't get herself to hate Maura just yet… and she's read up to chapter 15 already…
Jenny (the almighty beta-reader): Did SS ever managed to kill Demon? Just wondering. Glad you managed to kill summer school!
Mel: Yeah, it took me months to get over the feeling of complete wonder when I got behind the wheel of our car. And I sometimes still amaze myself with the fact I'm actually driving a car and no one else is in there with me telling me what to do. And I'm still a kid, promise. As long as I still bounce off the walls and spin around in circles only to end up hurting my hand or foot over and over again randomly… I think it's save to say I'm still a kid.
Mita427: Well… here's an update… just for now.
DarkHonda: Don't cry… oh wait.. do… it's getting worse…
Piper xox Leo: Glad you like it :D Here's more.
SweetSas: It wasn't soon… but here's the next. I'm really starting to hate that tradition too.
Secrets Untold
Chapter 2: Her Secret
Ashley slammed the front door shut behind her, glad nobody was home at the moment to hear so. She couldn't believe Andros had… married another girl after he had promised to love her… be with her… grow old with her… She suddenly wished she hadn't let him get so close to her.
As she kicked off her shoes, she felt disgusted with herself - as if dirt covered every inch of her body. The feeling made her sick to her stomach. She ran up to her bathroom and locked herself in, nearly ripping the clothes from her body in the urge to get them off before stepping under a burning hot shower.
Ashley furiously scrubbed at her skin, trying to push away the memory of Andros's touch. It was no use, for the harder she tried the faster the memories returned as vivid images in front of her eyes.
Tears poured down her cheeks as she slid down to the floor against the wall, sobbing her eyes out. It didn't matter she had given him her all, it didn't matter that he betrayed her trust, it didn't matter she was pregnant with his child and he had married another, she couldn't stop loving him, couldn't hate him no matter how hard she tried.
After what seemed like ages, her tears stilled and with a few dry sobs catching in her throat, she got up and turned the shower off. She towelled herself off with the fluffiest, softest, most comforting towel she could find. As she was slipping into a pair of baggy, worn sweatpants and a sweatshirt, she realized that the towel was a bright, vivid red. Feeling the tears start up again, she threw the towel away violently and raced downstairs.
She noticed the mailman had passed by and picked the mail up from the ground. Shifting through it, she walked into the living room, mind momentarily distracted. A few bills and some junk mail passed through her hands before she reached the large envelope addressed to her. Dumping the rest of the mail on the table, she inspected the envelope, noticing it was send from Miami.
She quickly tore it open and skimmed through the letter.
"Accepted." Ashley muttered. "I got accepted."
She had completely forgotten she was applying for colleges. Though she had already sort of agreed with the others they were all going to AGU, this was her opportunity to run. Nobody needed to know of her baby. If she went, Andros wouldn't have to find out and be able to claim custody. He was sure to win that battle, being happily married while she would likely be a struggling single mother.
Her mind was quickly made up. Her parents weren't going to be too happy about her moving across the country, but they'd understand. It was her friends' reactions she was worried about. She was going to betray them by leaving… but it was for the best.
"Hey Ashy, what are you talking about?" A voice behind her made her jump as she realized she had been muttering out loud. "Sorry - didn't mean to scare you, I thought you had heard me come in."
She turned around to see her brother standing behind her. His keys were lying on the table while he was flipping through the mail himself, looking for something addressed to him and worth reading.
"I guess I'm a little out of it." She replied wearily. "I was, er, pondering the reactions to me going to college in Florida."
Jeff looked up, surprised.
"Florida? I thought you were going here in Angel Grove with your friends? Not having to move out and do your own laundry and stuff yourself with microwave dinners because god knows you can't cook."
"Yeah, you are the expert on that." Ashley giggled. "But, nah, I changed my mind. Here, look, they've got a great offer and it's a widely known University." Shoving a brochure at him, she tried to distract him from the wistful tears gathering in her eyes.
Jeff eyed the pamphlet that was send with the acceptance letter and whistled.
"Looks fancy. You must be really smart to be let in there. I guess you've got some sort of brain hidden under that blond hair of yours." Jeff teased good naturally.
"Hey!" Ashley protested, giving her brother a slight shove, even as a smile crept on her face.
"Well, good for you, Ash." He grinned, placing a kiss on her cheek. "I'll support your decision when you tell mom and dad."
"Thanks." Ashley smiled brightly, hugging her older brother tight.
KO-35
Andros nearly cried when he woke up with Maura lying in the bed curled up next to him. He had reluctantly complied with his 'wedding night duties'. Maura had mistaken his reluctance for nerves, 'sweetly' telling him she was nervous too. She had ignorantly believed she had been his first, like she was his. Andros had silently vowed not to contradict her in that.
The whole time he had tried to imagine Ashley being there with him. It had helped a bit, but not much. He had kept his hands to himself and made it as quick as he could, after that he only had had to wait out the night and he'd be free to dream of Ashley in his own bed in his own room with his… wife locked out. He was thankful this was her bed or he wouldn't get another peaceful night of sleep ever again… unless he burned the sheets… in which case he'd likely end up burning the bed – and then any furniture -
"Hey hubby." Maura greeted as she stretched, interrupting him from his maniacal thoughts.
She was a sweet girl, Andros decided. Yet he couldn't help but hate her.
"Hey." He grumbled in reply, causing Maura to giggle ditzily.
"Not a morning person, I see?" She inquired, batting her eyes like a regular, love struck newlywed.
Without another word Andros got up from the bed and scrambled back into his clothes. He almost fled into his own room and locked the door. Once safely inside he quickly stripped again and walked into the bathroom to take a long and hot shower to scrub away every single cell that was touched by Maura. He felt like he betrayed Ashley by sleeping with her… heck, in the name of all that is good, he had.
It wasn't until an hour later that he turned off the shower, quickly towelled and got dressed.
"Hey hubby, want breakfast?" Maura's voice greeted brightly when he came downstairs.
"I'm late for work." Andros muttered back and quickly escaped the house.
He got himself some breakfast on the way to his work, silently wishing Ashley would be waiting for him there, waiting to take him into her arms and let him cry on her shoulder while telling him everything would be alright. But she wouldn't and it wouldn't be alright.
Andros reluctantly entered the building and sought out his office. When he opened the door, he found Zhane leaning against the desk, waiting for him. He didn't say a word; the haunted look in Andros's eyes was enough for him. He offered him a quick, silent hug.
"Well, you made it through the worst of it." Zhane told him softly.
Andros closed his eyes and left himself fall into the chair behind the desk.
"I feel like I betrayed Ashley." He muttered.
"Yeah, well at least it's over now, right?" Zhane tried to cheer him up, though his own mood wasn't very cheerful at the moment.
"I got my own bedroom with a lock on the door." Andros mumbled.
"See, it's over." Zhane chirped.
"Until I'm pestered about an heir to my power you mean." Andros sighed.
Zhane winced, having forgotten about that particular detail. There had to be something they could do… He just didn't have the faintest idea what.
Earth
"Take care, sweetheart." Jonathan Hammond said, kissing his daughter goodbye.
"Stay in touch." Joanna Hammond sighed, giving her daughter a hug.
"And don't be a stranger when you're back in the good ol' Golden State." Jeff winked.
Ashley nodded, looking up when the speaker announced the last call for flight to board. After another quick goodbye Ashley walked away slowly and got in line to board the 747 to Miami. She waved one last time before disappearing in the terminal and boarding the plane to her new life.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Review. Oh and it's late, but thank you all so much for making my birthday special. And thank DarkHonda for making me put up this chapter… now… reviews could make the Zodiac end faster… Yes… that's a hint.