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.
Phantom Rogue: Yeah… I did. You choose right... but then again… You read everything I've got so far… Ashley definitely got the better end of the deal somehow.
The-power-of-love: Yeah… Andros's got it bad.
DarkHonda: Don't cry… please? It will end up getting so much better? I like your idea of Andros and Maura adopting Zhane… I really do… but this chapter disables them from doing so. And why… well… the plot made me do it!
Star Fata: He'll only have an heir if Ashley is pregnant with a son… which… I'm not going to give away… maybe it's a girl… then it's her heir to her morpher. You'll just have to wait and see until I decide the kid gets to be born… As for your room… get some C4… that should clean it out…
Arwennicole: Hope this chapter will cheer you up a little. I feel SO sorry for doing this to Andros:shudders: And I made him sleep with her too. Please someone hand be a bucket!
Slytherin-Angel44: He never WANTED to leave her. He was practically forced to. He loves Ashley and no one else for the rest of his life.
AstROnAut: Well, here's more. Unfortunately… your answer will temporarily be answered in this chapter.
Zeopurple: Thanks :D Hope I didn't make you wait too long. I promise things will start looking up a bit for Ash.
Lady Kimiko: It gets worse… Don't feel too bad for Andros just yet… you won't have any pity left when things really start looking down for him. Oh and don't worry… Zhane can still be the same immature insane (:cough:) guy he has always been… sometimes.
Mz. Daydream: I need to find some ways to make everyone dislike Maura… though it's not working on Jenny and Rosa just yet. Um… actually… I'm writing chapter 16 now… and… um… it's barely been a year? And actually… if Ashley has a boy it's Andros's heir… if she has he girl, she's heir to Ashley's powers.
C.C.C.: Um… well… actually… This chapter… it… uh… oh just read and don't kill me. And no… Andros never got to tell his parents about Ashley, they wouldn't listen.
Fantasywriter13: Glad you like it. Any change you'll be updating?
Jessica01: Um… she's scared she'll lose the baby by a custody lawsuit? She has NO clue what's going on!
Jenny: I was coaxed! DarkHonda made me do it! And right now I'm averaging 16 reviews a chapter. :D That's goody! You beta… I'll write :D
SweetSas: Yeah… well… I had to make out some why of everyone knowing he really didn't want to sleep with her. This is as soon as I could make updating.
Piper xox Leo: Yup, very really pregnant, carrying Andros's baby. This is happening next.
Kamali Shen: Glad you like it :D
HarryPotterFan: Eventually.
Secrets Untold
Chapter 3: A Happy Marriage
Andros shuddered, doing his best not to make it too conspicuous seeing as how that would lead a barrage of questions from Maura, who was practically sitting on his lap. Normally he managed to avoid being too close to her. Today he couldn't. Today was Karone and Zhane's wedding. Today was his and Maura's turn to act like the happy newlywed couple congratulating the other happy newlywed couple (the only difference being that the other couple was happy).
Karone was looking beautiful in her light lavender wedding dress, her hair was twisted upwards elegantly, but a few locks had escaped and framed her face in soft, blonde curls. She wore a radiant smile on her face as Zhane gently held onto her fingers while the minister held his speech.
They were perfect for each other, anyone could see that. Andros felt a small, almost sad smile creep up his face when he saw Zhane's hands trembling as he slid the ring around Karone's finger. Zhane truly loved his sister. She was in good hands, he decided. There was no one he trusted more anyway. And he could tell that his beloved sister shared the silver ranger's feelings; Karone wasn't doing a much better job slipping the ring around Zhane's finger.
"You may kiss the bride."
Zhane didn't need to be told twice, wrapping his arms securely around Karone's waist while she wrapped hers around his neck. Their lips met in a tender kiss lasting much longer than his own had. Of course, they were actually marrying someone they loved, not a total stranger.
A stone seemed to drop in the pit of his stomach when his mind told him they weren't going to spend their wedding night with a total stranger either. They would be making love together, instead of having quick sex just to get it over with.
He rose mechanically, applauding when Zhane finally pulled back. He had to bite back some laughter when he noticed Karone's face was slightly flushed. Distantly he wondered how long it would take before their marriage produced children. He knew his would stay childless until the whining of his parents became too much.
The moment he could, Andros pushed his way through the crowd to reach his sister and, now, brother. Gathering Karone into his arms, he placed a kick kiss on her cheek.
"You look stunning." He told her lovingly, before turning to Zhane with a wink. "Take care of her or I might have to hurt you."
Zhane laughed joyfully and shook his head.
"It will be a cold day in hell before I hurt such a precious woman." He grinned, kissing Karone's hair. "You should be more worried about her hurting me with that temper that runs in your family."
"Quit hogging the happy couple, Andros." Maura teased in a sugar sweet voice. "They've only got so much time before their honeymoon. Speaking of which…"
"I'm too busy with work." Andros mumbled and quickly made his escape.
He didn't pop up again until everyone saw Zhane and Karone off to Earth. He took his time with a lengthy goodbye and greetings for the other rangers, though he didn't say a word about Ashley. Both Zhane and Karone could see in his eyes he had so much to say about her, but he couldn't get it past the lump that seemed to have formed in his throat.
"Don't worry, Andros." Karone told him quietly. "We know what to tell them."
Andros nodded without a word, knowing his sister meant only Ashley, but Maura was standing too close for her to tell him that specifically.
He waved them off sadly, longing to go with them. He spent a long moment staring after the shuttle that quickly disappeared from sight, leaving KO-35's atmosphere and him behind. Then he turned abruptly and started walking home. Maura hurried after him, trying to catch up and fall into step next to him, but she didn't have the same training as him and definitely wasn't as fit, so she failed. Secretly he smiled, knowing he shouldn't be treating her like this, but he just couldn't help himself; she wasn't Ashley. Would never be Ashley…
Earth
"Zhane! Karone!" Cassie exclaimed happily when she spotted their friends making their way to them. "Where have you been?"
"Long story." Karone sighed. "Is Ash around?"
"Nope, she changed her mind and went to study in Florida. Her family probably knows where, but she seemed to have told them not to tell us." TJ sighed. "Why?" He added curiously. "What's wrong? And why did you take so long to come back?"
"And where is Andros?" Carlos noted, looking around as if he expected him to pop up out of thin air.
Zhane sighed and rubbed his forehead wearily, despite having been alive and bouncing only minutes ago.
"That's what we wanted to talk to Ashley about. When we arrived my in laws appeared to have betrothed Andros. They wouldn't listen when we tried to tell them about Ashley." He explained.
"Andros was married within the week and has been miserable ever since." Karone added.
"In laws?" Carlos asked, raising an eyebrow as the other made noises of surprise and sympathy.
"Yeah, Karovan traditions marry children at 16, hence Andros's misery. I was presumed dead and Karone never to be seen again, so our parents went crazy about not having a betrothed for us rather than being happy to see us again, alive and kicking. I jokingly suggested they'd just betroth us and solve both problems." Zhane grinned weakly.
"Our wedding was yesterday. We wanted to tell and invite you, but they wouldn't let us leave KO-35 until our 'honeymoon' to Earth." Karone sighed. "And before you ask; yes, Andros is okay with it. I even think he's going to try and squeeze kids out of us so he can put off the bugging about grandchildren from our parents as long as possible."
"Oh man." TJ muttered in sympathy. "It's bad enough Andros was forced to marry that girl, but to have to sleep with her and have her carry his child… That's just sick."
"He looked like a lost puppy who just saw his whole family be slaughtered when he appeared at work the morning after. Maura was, and still is, a complete stranger to him." Zhane said, his eyes showing his heart went out to his friend.
"This is going to tear Ashley apart." Cassie sighed.
"If we can find her." Carlos sighed. "It's as if she felt it and disappeared."
"Maybe she does know…" TJ mussed. "Remember the day before she told us she was going to Florida? We went to the beach and tried to ask her to join, but she was nowhere to be found."
"You think she went to KO-35?" Cassie asked.
"She could've. It's only eight hours away when travelling with Hyper Rush 3." TJ shrugged helplessly.
"Oh great, so Ashley might know, but, er, not know." Zhane groaned. "Andros will freak when he finds out. It's going to hurt him so badly to know Ashley probably thinks he left her for another willingly so close to their wedding."
"IF he finds out, that is." Karone retaliated determinedly.
"What?" The others looked at her with shocked expressions.
"If we tell him he'll only feel more miserable. I don't want to see him like that. We'll just have to tell him Ashley went to study in Florida and didn't leave an address. He doesn't need to know we think she knows only part of the story." Karone pressed.
Zhane hang his head and the others nodded, all seeing their defeat. Karone was right. It was better for Andros not to presume what they did or he was liable to take his own life.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Are you able to hate Maura yet? Phantom can't. :D Review! I can stay in college! I had to get this paper within the first 2 years of my studies and I just passed the last subject to get it! So… to celebrate… I updated. :D