Disclaimer: Maura: My daughter hates me!
Marieke: -shrugs- You hate her.
Maura: That's not the point.
Marieke: -shakes head- I think you're missing it.
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: Just wait, there's still one major twist to come. Maura and Andros are still married, because Andros still has no good excuse to divorce and Maura the attention of being the red ranger's wife too much likes.
Johnny: Well, the problem is not HOW he finds out, the problem is HOW does he proof it? Yeah, Andros is going to be proud of Chris and Chyler, but they don't take after Ashley completely.
Phantom Rogue: The man is not only half naked… she is practically completely naked… if you'd just distract the bathrobe… Ashley's a great doctor.
Lady Kimiko: Yes, Andros has ammo, he now just needs to find a way to proof his case to actually be able to use it.
Jason O. W.: Now you made Mel jealous. –lauhgs- THANKIES!
Megarider: Yeah, that baby girl will find a great and loving home.
Star Fata: SORRY! Yes, that was that chapter I was talking about.
SweetSas: Good! I would never cheat on Andros either, but Maura is not us. I wish I knew how to make such apples, I know enough people to give them too.
Ani: Oh, don't worry about Andros finding out. He definitely will.
Glacial Tiger: Join the club, Maura is very hateful. Nah, she won't try to murder Andros. I think the fishies died because of my frustration with Maura… TJ, Carlos and Cassie… they will be back… but play very small roles in the story.
DarkHonda: I already told you! That has NOTHING to do with it. Yeah, you entered the story.
Jessica01: Thanks.
Alyssa: Yeah, because I'm addicted to reviews.
SSL: Yes, it's a good thing, as soon as Andros can actually proof it.
Slytherin-Angel44: Here's the next chapter. Yeah, poor Danne, but look, it was solved. Yay! Voldie got Maura alone!
Jenny: Sorry! I guess with all the things I forgot! I'm really really sorry. But I'm sure I did this one.
BellaCordelia: Well, look how Andros is going to find out. Andros now has ground to divorce… problem is… they aren't solid.
C.C.C.: Actually… read. Ashley is great with kids, yeah, she loves them.
Mita427: Yeah, but it'll get better.
Mz. Daydream: Danne's the sweetest. She's would… since she's not getting much action out of him. And like it told you… it IS his fault… He just fell in love with Ashley first and that's a very good reason for treating Maura like crap.
Zeopurple: Yeah, Ashley want the girl to be okay.
The-power-of-love: Here's the update.
Tay: Very aching pain. Danne might tell 'her mother' off, but maybe Chris will do it for her. No, Ashley will not adopt the girl.
Barb from utah: Maybe…
PhoenixGuardianEmaku: Yes, 'the freaking slut' is cheating on him. No, Ashley will not adopt Janie.
Enigmaforum: Glad you liked it. Here's more.
JDPhoenix: No, Ashley won't take Janie. Maura is going to keep on cheating happily. Andros will make things up from Danne, promise. Soon enough… promise. Well, actually, not, about at the end of the story.
Secrets Untold
Chapter 23: Chance Encounters 1
"This is highly overrated." Andros muttered miserably, tugging at the collar of his red formal tunic and glaring at his reflection in the mirror.
"You look nice, daddy." Danne giggled from his bed.
Andros turned around and arched his eyebrow at his daughter, before walking over and tickling her sides. A smile graced his face when the five year old started shrieking with laughter, begging her daddy to stop between giggles.
"You should get dressed too." Andros told her with a small smile when Danne calmed down again.
"You?" Danne asked softly. "Mommy picks icky clothes."
Andros sighed and picked the girl up. He swung her over his shoulder, grinning at her surprised giggle, before crossing the hall to her room. He gave both doors a telekinetical shove. He set Danne on her bed and rummaged through her closet.
"So, has your mom complained about your pierced ears yet?" Andros inquired softly, keeping his voice down.
About two months ago he had come home and found Danne in her room, distraught and hiccupping with tears. He had comforted her and eventually had stopped her tears by promising to make up whatever had happened to her by taking her out the day after. They ended up getting her ears pierced without ever telling Maura.
"No, she hasn't noticed." Danne replied, turning her earrings a little.
Andros pulled out a more casual white dress with green, yellow and red embroidered flowers on the skirt. Karone had bought it as a birthday present for Danne, but Maura had never actually let Danne wear it. 'Too ordinary', Maura had explained haughtily.
"How about this one?" Andros asked.
"Mommy don't like it." Danne pouted.
"All the more reason for you to wear it." Andros grinned wickedly.
"But… but mommy will be mad." Danne pouted. "I don't like mommy when she's mad. She'll be like when that guy was here."
Suddenly Danne paled and curled up into a little ball.
"Danne?" Andros asked softly. "What's going on?"
"Mommy… Mommy was kissing another guy!" She cried suddenly, seeming to be on the verge of tears. "He wasn't wearing his shirt, daddy, and mommy was only wearing that robe thingy." Danne added in a mutter. "She said I couldn't tell or I… I…"
The connection was quickly made in Andros's mind; Maura was cheating on him and Danne had caught them.
"I won't tell." Andros promised her. "Now how about we get you into that dress, then I'll pull up your hair and then I got a little surprise for you."
Danne's whole face lit up and she nodded furiously. Only minutes later Andros had her in the dress and her hair pulled up with a few locks down to frame her face. He kneeled down next to Danne and pulled a small box out of his pocket, handing it to her.
"I hope you like them." He told her as she pulled of the lid.
"Oh…" Danne breathed, a bright smile lighting her face. "They're beautiful, daddy. Thank you!"
"Sunstones for my little sunshine." Andros told her lovingly.
He gently took the earrings out of her ears, before replacing them with the pair he had just given her.
"You look like a little angel." Andros smiled at her and held out his hand. "Come on, let's face the music."
Two hours later
Andros was getting bored and uncomfortable rather rapidly. Danne wasn't doing so well either, she had yet to let go of his hand and come out from behind his leg. With a sigh Andros fingered the second box in his pocket. Maura had insisted they'd get a little present for the newly installed ambassador from Earth, something for his daughter would surely steal their hearts - and jewellery would be the best option.
He had reluctantly gone out to get that present. Maura had insisted on a bracelet the girl could wear when she was older. He had chosen a delicate, yet strong bracelet, forged of the Karovan equivalent of silver. He had bought Danne's earrings while he was at it.
He spotted the old retiring ambassador walking over, joined by a young man and a woman of about the same age holding a little one-year-old girl on her hip. The younger man's face flashed a little, before completely straightening, leaving Andros to wonder if his boredom was playing tricks on him.
"Ah, Andros, here you are. Oh and little Danne, my, my, you have grown." The old ambassador greeted fondly. "Andros, this is Josh Weaver and his wife Atalya. That little one is their daughter Tal. Josh is taking over for me, but you probably already guessed that."
Andros greeted them politely under the watchful eye of his father, who had wandered over with the retiree. There was something about Josh he couldn't quite place and it made him uncomfortable as hell. With a forced smile he pulled the box out of his pocket and handed it to Josh.
"My wife insisted on getting your daughter a small present for when she's a little older, or a lot actually." He added ruefully.
"Thank you." Josh replied civilly, unsure of how to handle himself now he had actually met the infamous Andros.
Politely he opened the box and found one of the most beautiful bracelets he had ever seen. He figured it in his head - It was long enough to be even too big for Chyler's wrist, meaning Tal would likely have to wait about ten years before she could wear it. An idea popped into his head and he voiced it before he could stop himself.
"My daughter might be too small to wear it, but I've got a goddaughter whom it would fit almost perfectly. Would you mind if I gave it to her?"
"No, of course not." Andros smiled, feeling something tug his pants lightly.
Danne looked rather shy and uncomfortable. He quickly picked her up and set her on his hip.
"Say 'hi' to Ambassador Josh and his wife, Danne." He urged her gently.
"Hi." Danne whispered, barely audible.
Atalya took pity on the little girl and smiled.
"Hello Danne, you look beautiful. Did your mommy dress you?"
"No, daddy did and auntie Karone gave me the dress as birthday present." Danne replied proudly, stumbling only a little over her words.
Just then Maura popped up with Cevil right behind her. Josh had trouble suppressing his shudder at the dripping sweetness in the woman's voice and the completely toady and sucking up manner the boy had. To his surprise he found Andros had stiffened considerably when Maura had shown up, as had Danne. They both still looked as relaxed as before, but there was something obviously different about them.
He could almost see Andros roll his eyes whenever Cevil opened his mouth to speak. One look at Atalya told him she noticed the exact same. Something was up in that family.
If they hadn't been sure before, Atalya's compliment about Danne's earrings made it perfectly clear. Maura looked surprised and then a little enraged when she noticed her daughter indeed had earrings and Andros's arms tightened around the girl ever so slightly.
Dinner passed rather quickly with only Cevil spilling his food over his clothes every now and then. Zhane, Karone and their four children had joined them at the table. Surprisingly even three-year-old Arima managed to eat without spilling, though Andros suspected Zhane and telekinetics had something to do with that.
Andros watched Josh throughout dinner and noticed, to his delight, Josh didn't seem to like Maura either. He liked Josh, he decided. He just wanted to know what it was about him that seemed off.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Review. This chapter is dedicated to Lady Kimiko for posting review 400! –runs screaming- Too much reviews! I never thought a story could be this good. –is proud-