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.
Star Fata: Um… Well… you see... I can't tell right now… but… it's not pretty. Glad you like Josh.
Phantom Rogue: Yeah, Ash has a good ex-boyfriend for once. We never give her one of those… do we? You can't have a Josh… he's Bea's! I wouldn't mind this Andros… then I get to cheer him up. I needed Andros away! Okay! Don't beat me up about it! The Plot Monkey's did it!
Mz. Daydream: Hehe, story too addicting? I'm very happy about that. I swear it didn't even come to my mind you were dating Josh when I picked the name. I just like it a lot. This Josh really, really sweet. Your Josh better be too, or I know a good imaginary baseball bat you can borrow.
Slytherin-Angel44: Now Ashley has Josh, things start looking up for her big time. At least you figured out Maura's future. Yes, she'll end up doing just that when Andros 'doesn't please' her, but it won't end the marriage just then.
Arwennicole: For who? Ashley… or both? Because things have started looking up for Ashley… for now. Get your bucket read… you'll definitely will want to be sick a few more times because of future chapters. I know I wanted to puke having to write it.
DarkHonda: I'm not giving away anything about Ashley's baby. Andros is a softy… because Ashley made him that, but without Ashley by his side, he doesn't dare to stand up to his parents either. Josh will stick around until the end of this story. Don't worry about that one. Josh is a very good friend of Ashley, being her ex-boyfriend and all. Yes, you'll get your piece of Maura at the end of the story.
Lady Kimiko: All college students and as you could have figured from Ashley's crappy apartment… she's not got much money for anything else.
The-power-of-love: This soon enough for you?
Zeopurple: Nope, she won't be alone. I just couldn't do that to her with all I've got planned in her future.
SweetSas: Josh is very cute and sweet. Josh cares for Ashley deeply without any romantic feelings involved, he's a good guy. If he knew this was all happening… I think Andros would have chained himself to the nearest something on Earth and refused to ever leave the planet again.
Jenny: Oh… you again. Go on liking Josh, he's great! I don't know why Rosa and me keep giving Andros and Ashley twins… probably because we can't choose a gender and go for both? You know… I'm not even going to look at your rambling much longer, much rather read it again. I know it was funny and I loved ever word you wrote… but now there are more reviews wanting response.
Piper xox Leo: Josh is a very good friend, he's almost like a brother to her. Nothing will happen between them. They've dated before and ended it with a mutual break when they realised they didn't have romantic feelings for each other, but stayed very close afterwards.
Dana Mitchell-Carter Grayson: Josh will be very good to her, promise. And she'll definitely get back to Andros eventually. They've got babies to make!
C.C.C: Put away the pitchforks, burning torches, shot guns, snipers and call back those assassins. Josh is NOT trying to win over Ash. Sure, he IS her ex-boyfriend, but every word he says is true. He really did love his fiancé and she really was The One for him. He sees Andros holds the same part of Ashley as Lu did of him. He won't try anything. You are right about Maura though. She's not at all who she seems to be right now and that'll change even before she finds out about Ashley and her past with Andros.
Jessica01: When the baby is allowed to drive a car.
Secrets Untold
Chapter 5: Separate Lives
"Well, that's the last." Ashley sighed, placing her hands on her back and stretching a bit. "I really appreciate what you're doing, Josh."
"Hey, what are friends for?" Josh grinned. "Need some help unpacking?"
"No, I'll be fine." Ashley replied with a weak smile, toying a little with the bracelet on her right arm.
"Okay, just holler if you need any help. Nice bracelet by the way."
"Thanks." Ashley replied distantly, continuing to fiddle absentmindedly with the piece of jewellery.
Her mind started wondering off to when she had gotten it. It had been the day after they had returned to Earth for good. Andros had disappeared for a while the day before and had proved his amazing ability to disappear at will when she had been looking for him. She had been moping around in her room when he had shown up. She had been grumpy at first, but he made it up to her by taking her to the park for a long stroll by the lake. As always she had been charmed easily and agreed.
About halfway through the walk Andros had halted and stared out over the water. It had puzzled her, until he turned to her with a strange look in his eyes. He started babbling a bit until he reached a point where he tried to tell her what his rambling really was all about… He had looked so cute stumbling over his words, she remembered… He had taken her aback when he told her 'I love you' for the first time there on that spot, but she had been quick in echoing the words. Never before had she seen him that happy and he managed to surprise her again when he presented her with the bracelet. He had taken her right hand and secured the bracelet around her wrist before taking hold of her hand again and carefully leaning in.
She quickly shook her head clear. This was no time to think about the sweet taste of Andros's lips. She had boxes to unpack, clothes to put away and whatevers to give a place. Andros wasn't hers anymore - maybe he had never been and the sweet innocent boy had just been an act to get into her pants.
Placing a hand on her swelling belly she sighed. Well, he had most definitely succeeded in that department. But now he was doing another woman and she was getting over him.
'Then why are you still wearing that bracelet?' A nagging voice in her head teased. 'It says he's forever yours and yet he married another, betrayed your trust. Why haven't you chucked it into the lake yet screaming "good riddance!"? You think that by clinging to the last thing of his you have will magically make him remember his promise to you? That he'll come back here declaring that he loved you and never stopped? Forget it girl, you're hopeless.'
A tear rolled down her cheek and she rubbed at it furiously. She was not going to break down and cry, not again. Determinedly she put the first box onto her new bed and started unpacking, but biting her lip every time a picture of Andros passed through her hands. She still gave them a place, knowing she didn't want to forget about him just yet and her baby would have to know about its daddy, it was only fair.
"That's him?"
Ashley jumped at Josh's voice.
"You scared me." She accused, looking over her shoulder, though there was no anger in her voice.
"Sorry." Josh offered. "But you didn't answer my question."
"Yeah, that's him with the dual toned hair." Ashley replied, biting her lip.
"I must say you still got a good taste for guys. Have a boy and you'll be having yourself one hell of a little heartbreaker." Josh grinned.
"I can't have a boy." Ashley mumbled as a thought struck her.
"Why not?" Josh asked surprised.
"He'd be the heir to Andros's morpher, according to Kerovan customs." Ashley replied, bending her head to stare at the ground. "I can't have Andros finding out about our baby and claiming custody."
"You'll have to tell him eventually, Ash. He has a right to know. I'm not saying you have to do it right now or anytime soon. Just… don't wait until your kid is 18." Josh pleaded.
"Fine… maybe… I'll consider it." Ashley gave in, not wanting to start an argument. "Now what did you come in here to do?"
"Oh yeah, dinner's almost ready. I came to get you so you can eat some real food again."
Ashley giggled and nodded.
"I'll be there in a minute."
KO-35
Andros looked out over the moonlit lake, pondering Ashley's disappearance. Had she given up on him that quickly? That didn't explain why she didn't leave an address though, unless she suspected something. Yet how could she? She didn't know about half of the Karovan traditions. He cringed when he realised it was suspiciously the half he wasn't proud of.
Or maybe something had happened to her that she wouldn't want to see him anymore. His heart turned cold when all scenarios of horrible things happening to Ashley played out in his mind, each one more gruesome than the one before.
Two slim hands suddenly appeared on his shoulders and gently started massaging them, only causing him to stiffen even more.
"Andros, you're way too tense." Maura complained laughingly, lips brushing over his neck, sending a shudder of disgust rippling through him.
Andros stepped away from her touch, trying to keep her from seeing him grimace.
"I might be able to help you relax." Maura offered huskily.
Andros said nothing. Maura just smiled and walked over to block his view of the lake.
"I enjoyed our night together." She told him bluntly, trying to trail a finger down his chest.
Andros stepped away again, wanting to cry at her words. He had tried desperately to make her first time suck so badly she wouldn't want more any time soon. Apparently, his mission had failed.
"And if we want children-" Maura continued but Andros cut her off.
"Work's keeping me too busy for children right now." He told her flatly.
"Well, we could practise." Maura grinned, not at all fazed.
"I'm not in the mood and… er, I've got a headache." He grumbled the first thing popping into his mind.
He silently berated himself and barely managed to keep from flinching. Ashley had told him both things at two different times during the last month he spent with her when they got a bit carried away when making out.
"Oh." Maura replied, sounding slightly disappointed.
"I got a lot on my head mind now." He tried to make the excuse his own. "Come to think of it, I think I've left some files open. Don't wait up for me."
With those words he made a quick escape, walking in the direction of his office. Once he was far enough away for her not to see, he turned a corner and started off for Zhane and Karone's. Despite the dark, it was still early evening and they wouldn't mind him sticking around for a few hours before he was interrupting anything.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Review. Oh and all of you: go read DarkHonda and SweetSas's stories! They GOOD! And I got my own site and forum, on my site are songfics fanfiction won't allow anymore and there's a link to my forum. Go see and join!