Disclaimer: Maura: Why isn't he like that to me?
Marieke: Look in the mirror, you'll know.
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: No… the dogs got named Ranger and Astro, don't every name them the other way around… it just sounds wrong. Seventeen years with Maura actually.
Arwennicole: Yeah, to some people it's actually obvious. Chyler's a dear and I swear… Zhane's kids are total angels… for the standard to use on Zhane's kids.
Mz. Daydream: Well… 17 years have passed now. Work is fun actually. The hammer met my hand.
Zeopurple: Karone tries for them not to… but she can't actually care too much. Well, Josh had to explain where it was from and all. He passed it on to her.
Johnny: It's a bracelet. Well actually here's some A/A stuff. Zhane can't have kids without having them act like him… it's a charm.
Lavonne Adams: See, perfect angels. Enjoy this chapter.
Tal: They are just cute, aren't they? All of them? I think they'll very much enjoy that VIP membership.
Star Fata: Yay! It was fun… don't cry too much when you read this.
BellaCordelia: Here's more.
SweetSas: Those kids are the best. You couldn't update in France either.
Megarider: The twin is 16, Elia 15, Cero 14, Kynin 12 and Arima 9. Okay… I'll just wake her from the dead when she enters the sequel.
Slytherin-Angel44: Actually the magical 16 where they'll meet their dad in person. Go Voldie!
Jenny: I'll stop updating… when I'm in Ireland. I'll see if I can squeeze the other rangers in with their families. In the sequel that is.
Juzblue: Yeah, well, I still appreciate you making the effort now. I just told Megarider their ages.
Enigmaforum: Josh and Ash are great friends, so yeah… they bound to be sweet when together.
DizneeDol: Yeah, the kids are definitely great. All of them…
JDPhoenix: You're the only one commenting on that one. If you were wondering… or not. Tommy's the reason the two girls know of their shared past. Go on hate Maura, this chapter should fuel it some more.
Mita427: Yeah, but Zhane's fun… who can blame the kids?
C.C.C.: Zhane's cute, so naturally, the kids are too, taking after him and all. Sorry, yes I'm sure he's Andros's, he just takes after his mother. Sorry.
Lady Kimiko: Kill school. Yeah, Chyler takes after her mom, but got distinct Andros actions too, even if we don't see them. Cero's fun, he'll have a morpher to play around with.
The-power-of-love: Enjoy!
Secrets Untold
Chapter 26: Memories
"Daddy!" Danne exclaimed happily as she ran into Andros's study, quickly shutting the door telekinetically. "Look, daddy! I won the story-telling competition. This fairytale book was the first price."
"Umph." Andros gasped when Danne planted herself onto her father's lap by just letting herself fall. "Let's see that book of yours."
Danne showed it to him and Andros grew quiet. He hadn't seen, heard or thought about that particular fairytale in years. He knew it by heart. It was an ancient Karovan tale, his favourite, about a prince of KO-35 turned into a monster and a yellow ranger freeing him with a simple kiss.
All too vividly, he remembered the last time he ever spoke of the story.
Andros smiled softly as he leaned back against the wall. Ashley's head rested in his lap as she lay curled up on his bed and he gently toyed with her hair. Her eyes were closed contently and he suspected her to be able to fall asleep at any minute.
"Andros?" Ashley murmured.
"Yeah?" He replied, keeping his voice down as much as he dared to without becoming inaudible.
"I just have to wonder. Does KO-35 have fairytales?" Ashley inquired, one eye blinking open to stare up at him.
Andros pondered the question for a moment.
"There are stories…" He started, tentatively picking his words. "They aren't really fairytales like they have here on Earth and there aren't as many. Some of the stories really did happen and others were just made up. But yeah… I guess there are fairytales on KO-35."
"Do you have a favourite story?" Ashley pressed on.
Again Andros took some time to ponder the question. Did he have a favourite story? Was there really one of those stories that appealed to him more then others? Heck, did one of the stories appeal to him at all? Karone was the one crazy about story telling, not him. All bedtime stories told had always been for her and he had always fallen asleep right away.
"I don't really know any of the stories. They didn't really interest me." Andros admitted softly, but his mind protested against the words.
There was one story he could recall. He had tried to fall asleep, but it had captured his attention from the first word leaving his father's mouth. He had pretended to be asleep though, not wanting to admit he needed a bedtime story.
"There is one." He added finally. "It's the only one my dad ever told us in Karovan. It might be because of that, but it stuck on me."
"Will you tell me?" Ashley requested softly, both her eyes open now, begging him quietly.
He never could say no to those eyes.
The words gently flowed from his mouth, a language he had almost forgotten, yet coming to him without a thought. Ashley didn't even make a sound of protest at the unfamiliar words. She couldn't understand, he knew, but her eyes had closed again and the mysterious smile gracing her expression was all he needed to keep talking.
When the story was finished, he couldn't quite stop talking, not just yet. He found himself repeating the story, or at least the basics of it. Presenting Ashley with a version in words she could understand. Her adoring eyes were staring up at him lovingly.
"Thank you." Her words were soft when he finally stopped talking and if he hadn't been looking at her directly, he would have missed them.
He still wasn't sure she had said them, but he had seen her mouth move and so decided she had. In reply to her words he leaned down and gently pressed his lips to hers. She responded, returning the kiss just as gently.
Though they had shared more passionate kisses, more daring touches, far more intimate bonds, he still savoured the feeling of his lips pressed to hers in such a gentle way. Their love for each other didn't need sex to show it, the simplest kiss could already express that, sending fire coursing through his veins. Of course, he'd never deny that making love to Ashley was enjoyable.
"Andros?" Ashley whispered when the kiss was broken. "I love you."
"I love you too, Ash." He replied softly. "Always and forever."
"Always and forever." Ashley echoed, her eyes twinkling.
"Daddy?" Danne inquired.
"Huh?"
"You spaced out on me." Danne accused giggling.
"Sorry sweetheart." Andros replied, kissing her forehead. "This story just sparked a memory."
"A happy one?" Danne asked mischievously.
"Maybe." Andros told her mysteriously.
"Bet it didn't involve mom." Danne giggled teasingly. "Oh, did you know Cevil failed that school project?"
"I've heard your mother complain about something like that, yeah." Andros laughed. "The doll one, right?"
Danne nodded furiously.
"Cero's doll pooped a lot… he decided to change the name from Toby to Cevil."
Andros laughed openly at that.
"Did you congratulate him on that brilliance?" Andros asked her teasingly.
"I will." Danne giggled.
"Well, congratulations on winning that contest, but I really need to get on with my work. I believe you have some homework to do?"
Danne groaned, but got up anyway. Just then the comm. sounded and Danne lingered at the door to listen in on the conversation.
"Ah, Andros, it's good to see you."
"Father." Andros greeted politely, with a curt nod of his head.
"I have to go to Earth for ambassadorial reasons, show my face and all."
"Have fun." Andros sighed.
"You're coming with me." Avidan laughed. "You, your sister and both your families."
"Fun." Andros replied bored.
"Oh, cheer up, Andros." His father sighed. "The other rangers will come too with their families."
"When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow."
A/N: Hope you liked it. YAY! Finally I'm getting Andros closer to Ashley than he's been in years! Review.