Disclaimer: Marieke: Awe… cute!
Maura: What a waste.
Marieke: -shoots Maura in the butt with the nearest Astro Blaster-
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: Sigh, because Andros is a cute guy? How did Ashley get a better life? Um… Josh?
Arwennicole: Done, you're the first member. It will get even worse if this already made you cry. A flashback of that day is in store for you in a later chapter. They'll actually will be happy about meeting him, Ashley will make sure of that.
Lady Kimiko: Yeah, Ashley's getting her life back together so her children can be happy.
DarkHonda: You logged in again. I'm counting your Squad entries. Maura is all yours once the story is finished.
DizneeDol: Glad you like my two little sweethearts.
Slytherin-Angel44: And that's two, welcome to the Squad. Glad you liked the chapter.
Megarider: And number 3, welcome, I hope you will enjoy your killing attempts. Here's the next.
Jenny: You're review was greatly appreciated, by not only me. Tal thought it was brilliant. As do I! We all just have to love your brain, don't we? Oh and you're the 4th member of the Squad. Don't kill me for writing 5 chapters in one day… okay?
Zeopurple: Well, the Kill Maura Squad won't actually come into action until the story is finished, but then she's all yours. Welcome to the Squad.
Mita427: Yeah, but unfortunately, real babies aren't telepathic. I missed Andros in a lot of chapters where I was writing family moments for Ash.
C.C.C.: Yeah, and stripey too. Welcome to the Squad. I know what you mean, my friend had it once too, only her fingertip was almost completely decapitated. I unfortunately, always seemed to break my left wrist while being right-handed. I WANNA WRITE WITH MY OTHER HAND AND BE SLOW TOO!
Jessica01: If I did, he could. But the story wouldn't be as long as it is now.
Tay: Well, that will be a while, even after Andros finds out. Glad you liked Ashley's little moment alone.
Dragoneyes5000: Great, member… I lost count. And I got a definite number for that now: Chapter 31! Yay! Here's more.
Mz. Daydream: Yeah… I'm just great at stealing names, aren't I? Tracy just became her own best friend. Here's the next.
PhoenixGuardianEmaku: Welcome to the Squad. Maura won't actually die in the story, but after it's over, she's all yours.
Bored-Girl-84: Feel sorry while you can, this will all change soon enough.
JDPhoenix: Well, this is what happens next and it's sure to cheer Andros up for a while.
The-power-of-love: Joined, welcome to the organisation.
Piper xox Leo: He will… somewhere off to chapter 40 or something, 32 he'll know the truth.
Secrets Untold
Chapter 13: I Told You So
"Zhane." A familiar voice greeted, mildly surprised.
Zhane whirled around and smiled warmly at the people behind him.
"Kin Won." He greeted happily. "Taikwa. What are you doing here?"
"We could ask the same of you." Taikwa replied with a warm smile. "Don't you live on Earth now?"
"They never told you." Zhane's face fell and he sighed. "We haven't lived on Earth for over a year; just over, but still."
"What happened?" Kin Won asked, worry evident in his voice, obviously running through worst-case scenarios in his mind.
"Nothing you're thinking." Zhane reassured. "Our parents returned here and were asking for us."
"And they asked you to stay here." Taikwa guessed. "So does that mean Ashley moved here too?"
"No one has seen Ashley since just after we left Earth." Zhane sighed. "Andros's parents had found a girl amongst their group of colonists. They wouldn't listen to our protests… well," He frowned. "Actually we never got past 'but' and 'listen'."
"What happened?" Kin Won asked, his voice lowering bit.
"They married off Andros." Zhane answered softly.
"They WHAT!" Taikwa exclaimed. "They can't have!"
By now all the other rebels from Centaur-B had gathered around, obviously outraged by the story.
"We should…" One started.
"We should do nothing." Zhane said firmly. "Even if this marriage would be disbanded, that doesn't bring back Ashley and Andros would never be happy without her. His marriage to Maura… It keeps him from going completely suicidal."
"I hate to say this, but he's right." Kin Won admitted. "Unfortunately Andros is so much like his father in that way."
"And his grandfather." Taikwa teased lightly.
Kin Won rolled his eyes, but didn't deny it and turned to Zhane.
"What about you and Karone? I take it my son and his wife would at least have panicked a little about her returning and them not having a betrothed for her."
"Them and my parents both, you'd almost think they'd rather had us both dead at that moment. I managed to get them to betroth us to each other. Yesterday was our anniversary." He added proudly, his love for her evident in his voice. "Andros married a month before us. And for a while Andros should be safe."
"Safe?" Taikwa asked.
"Yeah, Karone is ready to deliver our first child any day now." Zhane smiled proudly.
At that moment Zhane's morpher beeped urgently. With a frown Zhane answered it.
"Abort your mission, drop everything and get your ass over here if you want to be there when my niece is born." Andros's voice told him with barely contained joy and excitement, though his empathise on the gender-specific word still came through clearly.
"Nephew." Zhane corrected absently. "I'll be right there."
Andros confirmed and cut the connection. Zhane barely caught Karone's screaming before the line went static and he understood why his friend cut off so quickly.
"Well, that's my cue." Zhane smiled brilliantly.
"Can I come?" Kin Won requested. "It's not every day my great-grandchild is born."
"I wouldn't dream of refusing." Zhane grinned, lifting his morpher to his mouth. Addressing the rest of them, he added, "I'll see you all later, I guess. Deca, two to teleport directly to wherever Karone is."
The two materialized right in front of Karone as Andros and a doctor were helping her to a delivery room. Fleetingly Zhane wondered why there weren't any wheelchairs on KO-35.
"Zhane." Karone exclaimed. "Don't ever scare me like that again."
"Good, you can take over. Andros, you'll have to wait in the waiting-room with everyone else till this baby is born." The doctor practically ordered.
Andros didn't move and watched Zhane help her the last few meters to the room. Then he felt a sympathetic hand on his shoulder and turned to look at the owner. Only now it registered Zhane hadn't come in alone and he smiled weakly at Kin Won.
"How much did he tell you?" He asked with a sigh.
"Enough." Kin Won replied. "I'm sorry, I should've… I could've… But that's no use now, is it. Should've, would've, could've aren't helping you."
"No." Andros sighed. "And a previous engagement isn't enough grounds for a divorce either. I'm stuck until either cheats and though I hate my situation… I'm no cheat."
"I know. You're loyal, more loyal to Ashley than to Maura, but still loyal to both. It's a shame, really. You and Ashley were made for each other, everyone could see that."
"Yeah, I just wish I had a chance to explain. I never told her about our betrothing tradition. I was quite frankly ashamed of it when most of Earth was so free of it. Now I regret not telling her."
Kin Won patted Andros's shoulder silently before steering him in the direction of the waiting room.
"Let's go face some of the music. I'd like to see what kind of banshee they made you marry."
Andros let out a dry humourless laugh and followed.
Two hours later
Andros smiled down at the little bundle that was placed in his arms by a proud Zhane. Kin Won was looking over his shoulder at the tiny baby and Andros felt pride swell up inside. His brother and sister had 'done a great job'. His amusement only grew when he noticed Zhane's parents looking a bit sour, and his parents weren't quite so happy as they should have been either. Maura just looked at the baby as if it was some lower life form, but everyone else was radiating pure joy. A thought occurred to him and he couldn't help himself.
"I hate to say I told you so." He whispered, just loud enough for everyone to hear.
In reply both his and Zhane's parents glared at him and Maura looked even less pleased. The others just laughed and Kin Won offered him an amused smile.
"So what's her name? Or did you only think of one for a boy?" He pressed on highly amused.
"Elia." Karone whispered with a smile. "We do listen to you every once in a while, you know."
Andros smiled and placed a tender kiss on the baby's forehead, before settling her gently in Cassie's arms. Then he walked over to Karone and gave her a big bear hug.
"She is the most beautiful creature I've ever seen." He told her softly.
"Second most." Karone replied softly for only his ears to hear. "But that's okay."
Andros offered her a sad smiled and watched from the edge of her bed as his baby niece was passed around. Silently he vowed no one would ever hurt that little girl, he'd help Zhane and Karone make sure of that. That was a life long promise.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Review.