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.
Johnny: Nope, many others did. Nope, too brilliantly simple. A five year old could definitely beat Cevil… in his sleep… by just snoring at him. They don't have to fight, they'll take her together. Nope, no violence… but I might make something happen to him… not sure yet.
Megarider: Absolutely no problem. Enjoy!
Enigmaforum: I know the feeling, sometimes it's just too much work. No need to wait longer.
DizneeDol: Here's more.
Arwennicole: Yeah, finally they're getting to the point they should have been 17 years ago.
Mz. Daydream: Yeah, finally they can be happy. Yeah, well, it ends up being a good thing I've already started… because 11 days later I have to have a Holiday Special finished. I'm going to be organized in my oneshot writing this year, so I can balance at least that with school.
Star Fata: Yeah, poor Terri, here's more.
Jessica01: All the time… this one just didn't.
SweetSas: That's okay, really, take your sweet time ;) James is definitely a jerk and we haven't seen the last of him either. I know school being murder, luckily I got little enough classes so I can balance things.
JDPhoenix: You're making this awfully hard for me you know. Well, I guess I'll just go browse around the story and see if I can find a missing scene to write.
Tal: Andros definitely stupid, but he often speaks the truth. Glad you like the chapters.
PhoenixGuardianEmaku: Actually, you've seen James before. Check Cause And Effect.
Phantom Rogue: Andros will definitely have to get up. Fighting is very bad for pregnant Ash, especially since you happen to know what she'll have to go through later on. I think I'll let them act like adults… for now.
Zeopurple: Yeah, well, it was time for her to go, she got what she wanted out of running away. No need to wait longer.
Psycho Tangerine: Yeah, I know.
Lady Kimiko: Yeah, at least the two main characters can finally be happy.
Dragoneyes5000: Yeah, only a few more chapters.
Tay: Well… I already wrote a little confrontation… there might be a bigger one.
Slytherin-Angel44: No need to wait longer, here it is. Very awesome, they finally get to be happy. GO VOLDIE!
Darklover: Just a little longer for that one. Glad your happy with my efforts.
Secrets Untold
Chapter 43: Bonding
Ashley sighed happily, her head resting on the strong and warm chest of the man she loved, softly rising and falling as he slept. Just listening to his heartbeat as she was securely and protectively wrapped up in his loving arms was enough to send her soaring through the air.
Today was their first day as a family; not officially, but it didn't matter, she couldn't be happier. She had her lover back, the one and only man for her and she was content just lying there in his arms, watching him sleep.
The bedroom door creaked a little and she looked up. From the strip of moonlight, she could make out a silhouette; too small to be either Chris or Chyler. A small smile formed on her lips and she carefully slipped out of Andros's arms. She loosely put on a dressing gown and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"I thought I told you to come and wake me if you wanted something?" She whispered softly, without a hint of anger in her voice.
Danne stared at the ground and scuffed her foot against the carpet.
"Hey, it's okay." Ashley assured her. "Come on, I'll get us something to drink. Do you like hot chocolate?"
"I never tried it." Danne replied in a whisper, still not completely sure she was doing the right thing.
Ashley had assured her, almost demanded her to get her out of bed if she didn't feel comfortable. She had been moved from everything she knew to something she didn't know at all. Her family used to be… dysfunctional, if you will, and suddenly when she stepped into the house, she had become part of a new, instantly functioning family. Her father and older "brother and sister" adjusted to the new situation as if it had always been this way, but she couldn't. Ashley seemed to have caught on to that and insisted on making it as easy for her as possible.
So now they were sitting in the kitchen in the middle of the night, a steaming mug of this 'hot chocolate' in front of them, both silent. Ashley didn't press her to talk or listen and she was glad for that. She stared down at the mug, swirling the brown liquid a little. She heard Ashley take a careful sip and felt obligated to do so too.
Gently she lifted the mug up and took a small sip, ready to spit it out if it turned out to be something horrible. A smile forced its way onto her face as the sweetness of the drink enchanted her. She had never tasted anything like it before and suddenly she understood why her father loved to drink it so much.
"It's good." She offered, the words falling out of her mouth involuntarily and she tentatively looked up.
Ashley was smiling at her and winked when she caught her eye.
"Yeah, all chocolate is good. Normally I don't have it around, to keep the temptation away, but this baby is craving for it." Ashley patted her stomach affectionately.
Danne giggled and bit her lip.
"Aunt Karone was craving for radishes when she was pregnant with Aila. They're icky."
"Where did you eat radishes?" Ashley asked amused.
"Cero stole one and we tried it." Danne explained looking down in mild shame.
Ashley just laughed gently and waited for Danne to start talking again. When it was obvious she wouldn't, Ashley decided to get the conversation going again herself.
"Do you know who named you?" Ashley asked gently.
"I think it was dad, but I'm not really sure. Why?" Danne replied, a curious look in her eyes.
"I knew a Danne on KO-35, that's all." Ashley shrugged.
"How?" Danne wanted to know and Ashley smiled, recalling the memory.
Flashback
Ashley looked around in awe at the square. It was small with a humble fountain in the middle. The buildings around it were overgrown by weeds sprouting colourful flowers, but despite the ancient look, it had a certain air to it that made her imagine the great place it once was. She was snapped out of her daze when she bumped into someone, causing the other to drop everything she was carrying.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Ashley exclaimed, quickly crouching down to help pick up the stuff.
"That's okay." The other girl replied with a smile. "I guess we both didn't look where we were going."
The two stood back up. Ashley estimated the girl to be around her age; she had short blonde hair with light auburn highlights and sparkling blue-green eyes. A bright smile appeared on Ashley's face and she held out her hand.
"I'm Ashley." She introduced.
To Ashley's amazement the other didn't hesitate to shake it.
"Danne." She replied.
Ashley smiled and held out the stuff to the girl.
"I believe these are yours." Ashley grinned and Danne took the stuff from her as Ashley's eyes fell on the datapad on top. "Baby stuff?" She asked curiously.
Danne nodded and smiled.
"I just heard I'm pregnant." Danne told her happily, placing a hand on her stomach.
"Congratulations."
The girls sat down on the edge of the fountain, just talking. They giddily went over all the stuff Danne would need and didn't notice the time flying by.
"Ash." A voice called and the girls looked up.
A short distance away Andros, Zhane and Karone stood waiting for her.
"I have to go." Ashley smiled. "It was nice to meet you."
"You know the rangers?" Danne asked incredulously as they got up.
Ashley felt herself blush as she nodded.
"I am one." She admitted and watched Danne's eyes widen. "Good luck with your baby. Maybe I'll see you around sometime.
Danne nodded and left and Ashley turned around and skipped over to her friends, flinging her arms around Andros's neck and placing a tender kiss on his lips. Andros wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close.
"Sorry we're late." He muttered. "We were held up."
"Who was that?" Zhane asked, watching the other girl walk off.
"Danne." Ashley smiled happily. "My new friend."
End flashback
"We ran into her a few more times before we returned to Earth. Your father had asked me to marry him that day I met her. That was why I was meeting them, we were going out to dinner and he asked me then. The next time they went to KO-35 was three months later." Ashley sighed. "He married your mother."
"But now he's here, keeping his promise to you." Danne smiled. The story had shown her just how much her father had always loved the woman in front of her.
"Mom." She added quietly, already feeling more comfortable using the word with Ashley than with her birth mother.
Ashley's eyes sparkled at the word and Danne shot her a tentative smile. It wasn't going to be easy, but she might just get used to this.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Review.
Okay, listen up: I started this one of the few little traditions here on fanfiction; birthday presents. Now I already asked two of the people I know birthdays from (they know who they are) what scenes/events they would have wanted to see in SU that didn't get featured. For I'm planning on writing them as birthday presents. Okay, so now that surprise has been lost, but still. So, I'm asking all of you: birthdays and what scene/event YOU would have wanted to have seen and you just might find it posted on your birthday.
No, there are two more chapters to this story, so this is not the end.