Summary: 'You're the only truth I know, you're the road back home.' After years apart, Andros and Ashley can finally start building their life together with their children. Sequel to Secrets Untold.
Arwennicole: Well, he doesn't really mess things up, but he won't exactly make things easy either. Here's more, hope you like it.
Phantom Rogue: Yeah, but then again, Andros is always cute.
Tal: No, because they are finally LIVING the TRUTH! Sorry, he's not edible.
Zeopurple: Yeah, they deserve to finally be happy together.
Star Fata: Yeah, probably.
PrettyDiva: Glad you liked it. I'm very jealous of Ashley with every story I write. Andros is so sweet and gorgeous. –takes bow- I never expected to be this good with words.
Tunnel Rat: Yeah… um… I think I screamed that since the chapter after they were born?
Jessica01: Thanks.
Dragoneyes5000: Can't… I saw and claimed him first. And I already have to share with too many people.
Johnny: Yeah, Ashley definitely loves the pampering.
SweetSas: No way! You're not getting him too! Stick to Zhane and just send him for lessons to Andros. Nope, we haven't seen the last of James.
Lavonne Adams: Chris was just joking around, but you'll see.
DizneeDol: Sorry it took so long, but here it is. Blame it on fanfiction too.
Jenny: Of course I'll bear with you. No, definitely not, I don't even hold a light to Starhawk. Fun, then my locker's birthday would be… 8/7 or 8/9 I'll have to check when I'm at school again. Glad you like the story.
Amanda: I really wouldn't know.
The-power-of-love: Glad you liked it.
PhoenixGuardianEmaku: No, they're not dead in the story (unfortunately), but otherwise… ask the KMS.
AA Lover: Baby will come, don't worry. And yes, Andros will have a confrontation with James.
C.C.C.: I want him so badly. You'd first need to find him and I hid him well. No, they're staying on Earth and are still living in the same beach house.
Slytherin-Angel44: Here's the next chapter.
Alexandra Khayman: Glad you liked. Here's the next chapter.
Living Truth
Chapter 2: Typical Morning
Andros groaned lightly as he woke to a faint kick to his side. He smiled when he opened his eyes and found Ashley nuzzled up beside him, her head pillowed on his chest and her large belly poking his side. He just placed a kiss in her hair and was about to get out of bed to start breakfast when he was kicked again.
"Hey little one." He whispered to Ashley's bare belly. "Let your mommy sleep, okay? She needs it."
He stroked the bump for a moment and placed a kiss on his baby's home before getting up completely. With a smile he tugged the covers back over Ashley and brushed another kiss on her forehead.
He picked up the clothes lying on the floor and grinned. He really couldn't deny her anything. He dumped them in the hamper and took a quick shower. After slipping into some clean clothes he went downstairs to make breakfast.
A smile spread on his lips when he opened a cupboard and found waffle mix staring back at him, enticing him to the Dark Side of Laziness. Behind it he spotted flour, whole-wheat flour, unsweetened cocoa and baking powder. He considered being lazy for only a moment, but then shoved the mix aside and took out the basic ingredients. Ashley had taught him her grandmother's recipe for 'Death by Chocolate Waffles' ages ago, but he could still recall it. Quickly he calculated how many waffles he would need.
The recipe would produce only four waffles and both him and Ashley had been stuffed after eating two. There were five people in the house demanding food, so that would make ten, but Ashley was eating for two and with her constant chocolate cravings, so twelve would be about right.
"Three times of everything." He calculated to himself and started rummaging around for the rest he needed.
In another cupboard he found cinnamon, semisweet chocolate and granulated sugar and from the fridge he got eggs, butter and milk. From yet another cupboard he produced a bowl and started to work. Soon enough the waffle iron was producing the sweet smell of breakfast and he went to set the table, making sure to put the syrup in the middle for the children.
He was just pulling out whip cream and strawberries out of the fridge when the two half-dead zombies walked into the kitchen.
"Well, good morning." Andros greeted.
"I don't see what's so good about this morning. I got two tests, a pop quiz and an evil teacher who gives us a pop quiz about every other day." Chris grumbled, dropping down in the nearest chair as Andros placed a plate with two waffles in front of him, both decorated with whipped cream and strawberries. "Danne, you can have them, I'll wait."
Danne yawned as Chris pushed the plate under her nose. She tiredly reached out to the syrup and poured a truckload over it before picking up her knife and fork.
"I thought pop quizzes were surprise tests?" She asked.
"Tell that to Dr. Egghead." Chris grinned evilly. "He pretty much just announces them – and even if he didn't, we've learned to expect them. Wait until you get physics with him – you'll see what I mean."
"Dr. Egghead?" Andros raised his eyebrow and shrugged. "What are the other 3 for?"
"Nickname." Chris shrugged. "Tests are for Karovan and English and the possible pop quiz for Science… Well, I guess Dr. O's not really evil… but can't you talk him into cutting us some slack? I mean, you're kinda friends, right? And you told us you two fought together on the moon with eight other red rangers."
"Quit whining." Andros warned. "You're not the one who got kicked out of bed by a baby this morning."
"The baby kicked you out of bed?" Chris sniggered.
"How?" Danne laughed, taking another bite. "These are good dad."
Andros shrugged and put a new plate in front of Chris, frowning when Chris drowned his waffles with syrup too.
"Your mom taught me." He replied without thinking, but Danne didn't show any indication of thoughts of Maura at that. "And yeah, the baby kicked me out of bed. Your mom always complains the baby loves playing soccer with her bladder; well, apparently daddy's ribs are great for karate practise."
"Cute, I can't wait for the kid to get here." A voice laughed from the door opening and Chyler walked in, placing a quick kiss on Andros's cheek to show she was just teasing before joining her siblings.
Andros ruffled her hair affectionately and went to make her some waffles. He made a face when she, too, covered her waffles completely with syrup before eating them.
"Don't you have better things to eat than syrup? I swear, between the three of you, you empty a bottle whenever we eat pancakes or waffles for breakfast." Andros complained, stashing the next two waffles on a plate.
"We need loads of sugar to get sugar-high." Chyler replied innocently.
"I feel sorry for your teachers, Lelis." Andros told her, shaking her head.
Chris paled and made a wild grab for one of the books Chyler had taken down with her. He started flipping through the pages furiously. Andros watched him with a frown and Chyler giggled. Moments later Andros placed another two waffles on the plate and covered the four with whip cream and strawberries, filling a tall glass with orange juice he turned around and looked at the three sitting at the table.
"Your mom's awake. Can someone bring these up to her?" He asked.
"I will." Danne grinned and jumped up from her chair, reconsidering and placing a hand on the book in Chris's hands. "Lelis means 'my daughter', idiot."
Chris stuck his tongue out at her as she passed him with Ashley's breakfast. Danne returned him the favour and fled the room. She quickly made her way up to Andros and Ashley's room and opened the door with her elbow. Ashley was just sitting back onto the bed, holding her enlarged stomach.
"You okay mom?" Danne asked, walking into the room. "Dad made you breakfast."
"Yeah, I'm fine, this baby just thinks it's funny to practice its kicking. Baby's got more strength than Chris and Chyler." Ashley smiled, sniffling the air, smiling in happiness. "Waffles! Your dad's a dear."
"Chris and Chyler had less space." Danne giggled. "And the baby has another sport. Apparently dad's ribs are great for karate practise."
Ashley laughed and shook her head. Danne waited until Ashley was sitting with her back against her pillow, before handing her the plate and placing the glass on her nightstand. Then she joined her on the bed and watched Ashley take a bite.
"Oh, 'Death by Chocolate'." She smiled. "I knew teaching him would work out in my favour some day."
Danne smiled and watched Ashley eat.
"Shouldn't you get dressed for school?" Ashley inquired laughingly.
"Oh, yeah." Danne grinned sheepishly and jumped off the bed, practically running to the door, stopping just before she left the room. "Oh, you might want to stay in bed until dad brings us to school. Chris and Chyler have a truckload of tests and quizzes and Chris is freaking out."
Ashley laughed and nodded, waving Danne away. She loved the girl and it was almost as if she had mothered Danne herself. Even Danne acted that way. Ever since she had came to live here there had been a more than obvious change in her, both she and Andros noticed.
Before 'mom' had just been a meaningless word to her. It was said without any emotional attachment when she used it for Maura. Now she said the word lovingly to Ashley. 'Mom' had become more than just a word. It had become a person she could love who loved her in return. The transition had easily been made too. She now talked about 'mom' and she talked about 'Maura'.
Ashley smiled at the thought. Danne was her daughter now.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Review.