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: HEY! No kill me! Um… yeah… Just sit back and enjoy the chapter.
HarryPassionFan: It's the best time… I love cliffhangers… if I write them that is. Yes, they will see each other again, but not now.
Zeopurple: Um… no he won't. The twin have ghosted their hair to mirror Ashley's colour, no one can relate them to Andros if they don't want them to. Get her out before… um… no?
BellaCordelia: I can't help it torturing them is fun. Yeah, just wait and see, what has to happen will happen eventually.
Arwennicolle: Well, because that would just kill my suspense. Don't worry, they will soon. Two more chapters.
Lady Kimiko: Um… no… two more chapters. Most are close yeah. Keep the language coming.
PhoenixGuardianEmaku: Wow… I can actually now type your penname without looking at the review. Don't you just love this kind of perfect timing? No… no one will figure out who Chris and Chyler really are. Well, that will take even longer than them meeting.
Mz. Daydream: Yeah, I just couldn't help it. I wrote elevator and bam… this happened. No, this concert is some classical music, the other is the next chapter.
Tay: It's not resolved quickly, that's for sure and about that little alone time… How do you think they made this baby? –winks-
Tal: Glad you liked.
SweetSas: How was Leiden? Very excited about Ireland. I really can't wait to get back there.
Star Fata: You got it. But no Andros. When do you think you'll update?
Johnny: She won't know they're her grandchildren. Andros will protect his twin at all cost. Even if that means having to keep them a secret from everyone else. She will find out… but not in chapter… maybe I'll write a missing scene about it… or have Jenny do it.
Megarider: Yeah, she will. No, it isn't. Here's more.
Mita427: -laughs- Yeah, well… it's not very bad news.
The-power-of-love: Always.
C.C.C.: No, not Zhane… but yeah, I like to make things very complicated. Don't worry, the hotel found it stuck, could contact them and called hospital. Both Chris and Chyler are by nature stripey, but ghosted into Ashley's brown colour. You could torture her a little before that?
Jessica01: No.
Enigmaforum: Um… yeah, it's fun! Here's the next chapter.
JDPhoenix: Yeah, he really should be freaking right now. Um, easily… I wrote the word 'elevator' and the rest just flowed out. It's interesting alright.
Piper xox Leo: Yeah, I'm glad you caught yourself up too. Two more chapters and she'll know.
DizneeDol: Here's more.
Secrets Untold
Chapter 29: Fate's Wishes
"Ashley! There's a pulley of an elevator jammed in the Silver Star Hotel." Jared informed her, barging into her office.
"And that's got to do with me, why?" Ashley asked wearily, looking up from her files.
"There's a pregnant woman and her husband stuck in there. Her water broke and she's gone into active labour. The doors are being opened as we speak and we're sending an ambulance. You go with them, check it out, get them to hospital and deliver that baby."
"Any more I need to know." Ashley replied professionally, getting up.
"You'd better treat them right. She's the daughter of the visiting ambassador."
Ashley nodded and left, quickly rushing to the ambulance bay. She was helped into the ambulance and it quickly drove off with blazing sirens. At the hotel the doors were opened for her and she rushed in.
"You'll have to take the stairs I'm afraid. Sixth floor, the doors are open, but the elevator is only about a third up, so you'll have a bit of a step when you're there." A bellboy informed her as she strode quickly past him, carrying a bag hastily filled with some basic medical supplies. "Wait, I'll take you there."
Ashley ran up the stairs after the bellboy. Soon enough she saw the opening of the elevator. She froze when she got a good look at the two trapped inside – or, rather, the 'husband'. There was only one person in the whole universe with that platinum blonde mop of hair.
She shook her head and quickly steeled herself. Locking all emotions away, she slid herself into the trapped elevator as the mechanics told her. She saw both her friends' eyes widen and she shook her head, kneeling down at Karone's legs. Luckily Karone was facing away from the doors.
"How long since your water broke?" Ashley inquired, searching out Karone's eyes.
"I don't know, Zhane?" Karone muttered, squeezing her eyes tightly shut as another contraction hit.
"Half an hour?" Zhane guessed. "Her, uh, contractions are coming about two minutes apart."
Ashley nodded and sighed.
"Karone, I have to check how far you're dilated." Ashley informed her friend.
Karone nodded, but Ashley didn't move. Noticing her discomfort, Zhane removed Karone's pants and underwear. Ashley flashed him a quick smile and got back to work. A slight groan escaped her lips, informing her friends she didn't like what she found.
"Karone." Ashley sighed. "You're already fully dilated. I'm really sorry, but you won't make it to hospital and I can't give permission to move you up from here. You'll have to deliver your baby right here on the spot."
"I don't care." Karone groaned in pain. "Just as long as I have this baby. You'd think I'd had gotten used to the pain by now."
Ashley offered her friend a weak smile.
"I won't be able to monitor the baby's or your vitals, so we'll just have to hope for everything to go okay. Now, at the next contraction, I want you to push as hard as you can."
Half an hour later
The cries of a newborn filled the air and Ashley smiled, placing the baby on Karone's chest.
"You've got a healthy little girl." She informed her friends.
Zhane placed a loving kiss on Karone's hair and smiled at Ashley.
"Thank you." He told her sincerely.
"It's my job." Ashley shrugged, motioning for the paramedics to get a gurney into the lift to get Karone and the baby out and to the hospital. "Have you thought of a name yet?"
"We were kinda expecting her to be a boy." Zhane shrugged. "Again."
"Ashley?" Karone inquired, not looking up from her newest child. "Do you have a middle name?"
Blood rushed to Ashley's face as she blushed slightly at the question.
"Yeah, Aila." She admitted distantly.
"Would you mind?"
Ashley shook her head as Karone was transferred onto the gurney. Karone smiled gently at her and stroked her baby girl's hair.
"Welcome to the world, my darling Aila." She murmured lovingly, pride in her voice.
"Could you do me a favour?" Ashley asked suddenly, praying they wouldn't question.
"Sure, what?"
"Don't tell the others you saw me. Please, they can't know." Ashley begged.
"Ash?" Zhane replied with a sigh. "Andros…"
"Didn't marry out of free will, I got that, but… Just don't tell?"
Karone nodded and silenced Zhane who opened his mouth to protest.
"We'll be quiet. We owe you something after what you've just done for us."
Ashley shot them a weak smile. During the ride to hospital she was quiet, staring off into space. Her face was blank, but in her eyes was a storm of conflicting emotions. Zhane and Karone decided to leave her alone. Obviously their friend had changed like none of the others and they weren't sure if it was for the best. Or if they could even call her their friend anymore.
Some hours later
"You could have called us." Lynette grumbled.
"Leave it, mom." Andros told her, grinning when his baby niece was placed into his arms. "What's her name?"
"Aila." Karone replied fondly.
Interestingly, all blood rushed from Andros's face and he almost dropped the baby in his arms. To prevent from doing so, he quickly passed the baby on to Elia. That name struck way too close to home and Zhane and Karone probably didn't even know it.
Sadly he turned to the window and stared over the houses and buildings to the faint glimmer in the distance that was the sea.
"Where are you?" He mouthed silently, a single tear running down his cheek.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Review.