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: Glad you liked it…
Phantom Rogue: True, all his kiddies are stripey but Cevil.
Tay: They'll meet soon enough. Maura will unfortunately have some very good ammo at that moment. Chyler will have a boyfriend… well about that time and yet not at the same time.
Pretty Diva: I love how pure their love it. It's perfect! Trust me… you could have waited to read this.
Johnny: Danne loves here mom and Ashley loves her daughter. Otherwise Chyler would have been able to handle Chris, but she wasn't in a state too. Yes, Danne is very much aware of it, it's Andros and Ash who are still in the dark about the whole thing, Chris won't tell them until Chyler half spills the beans.
SweetSas: Yeah, you and me both. Nope, definitely not the last of Maura or I wouldn't be able to kill her.
Star Fata: Thanks. I'll patiently wait for that update you promised.
Tal: Yeah, Zhane's a fun character to write. Soon, promise.
Alexandra KHAYMAN: -drools- Glad you liked it. Don't kill me now.
Grass King: This cute!
Dragoneyes5000: Here's more… I guess.
The-power-of-love: Here ya go.
Titanium Ranger: He can get even cuter, just read and you'll see.
Living Truth
Chapter 15: Silence Before The Storm
Andros groaned and rolled over. Noah was crying his lungs out – again. Looking next to him, he dimly noted that Ashley was still asleep. With a sleepy smile he quickly pushed himself up and stumbled out of the room.
Once in the nursery, he picked the screaming boy up and gently rocked him. When that didn't seem to work, he put his finger to the boy's mouth and gently poked it in. Ashley absolutely refused to give him a pacifier, telling him it would be hell trying to get Noah off it again when he was older.
He had to agree though. Cevil had had a pacifier and had thrown many tantrums when Lynette had put her foot down and forced Maura to get five-year-old Cevil rid of it. Andros had been happy with it for many nights. Maura had quickly learned to sleep through the cries of their children during the night and so Andros had been forced up. Popping a pacifier back into his mouth had always successfully shut him up. He never minded taking time to comfort Danne, but every minute spend with Cevil felt like two too many.
Andros was snapped out of his thoughts when something scraped the finger Noah was contently sucking on. Startled he withdrew his finger and Noah started whimpering. When he opened his mouth to cry, Andros could just make out a white tip in the faint glow of the nightlight. Quickly he offered Noah his finger back and sat down in the rocking chair.
"So you've started teething, no wonder you're crying." He murmured thoughtfully to the baby in his arms. "I guess we'll just have to buy you a teething-ring tomorrow." He told him softly.
Noah blinked sleepily at him and settled comfortably in Andros's arms. Under the adoring eyes of his father, Noah fell back asleep, still sucking Andros's finger.
"I see I'll be keeping you company tonight." Andros sighed and shifted to make himself more comfortable, before joining the rest of the house in peaceful slumber once more.
Two days later
"Are you sure you want to go back to work already?" Andros asked again as Ashley pulled on her jacket.
"For the thousandth time; yes." She smiled. "Don't worry, I have absolute faith in you and your skills of taking care of a baby. And anyway, it's only afternoons for now. I leave after lunch and be back home in time for dinner." She patiently reminded him.
With a sigh, he gave in and smiled. "I'll see you at dinner, then." Andros kissed her goodbye.
"See you at dinner." Ashley echoed. "Oh and don't forget to pick up Danne. Just wake up Noah if he's asleep and otherwise ask Atalya to come over to stay with him."
"Should I expect a phone call every few minutes or do you think you'll be able to survive without Noah for so many hours?" He teased.
Ashley laughed and slapped him lightly on the arm. He pouted in mock hurt and she placed one last gentle kiss on his lips before leaving. With a sigh Andros returned to the living room and took a moment to watch Noah nap in his playpen.
A smile now playing on his lips he sank down on one of the couches and picked up some of the files laying on the coffee table. He had gotten himself a job as head of security for ambassadorial events. A big plus being he could do his job at home and his main client was living right next-door. Being an ex-ranger, they had practically begged him to take the job.
With a loud purr Misty jumped onto the couch and settled herself on his lap for another one of her many naps. Distractedly he scratched the cat behind her head as he read through the files in his hand.
Halfway through the page Misty was joined by Tal's fierce red kitten, Tuna. Andros swore her next cat would be called 'Fish'. Likely, she had been inspired by the tales of Cat and Food and Andros suspected either Chris or Chyler (or maybe both) had to do at least something with the name Tuna.
"Hey, I'm not a playground you know." He scolded the cats half-heartedly when the small kitten started hunting Misty's tail.
The kitten stared up at him for a moment before continuing. Andros hissed in pain when the small little nails dug into his leg and he quickly put the files away. He lifted the kitten from his lap and put it down on the couch before giving Misty a small push.
"I want something to drink, so move it. Go take that game outside with Ranger and Astro or something." He told them, walking into the kitchen.
When he turned from boiling water for tea he found the two cats sitting on the floor staring at him hungrily.
"Go home for your food, Tuna." He sighed, while pulling out a can of cat food.
Surprisingly enough Tuna ventured back out the open kitchen door and went to get fed by Atalya. Andros smiled and filled Misty's feeding bowl just as the water started boiling and Noah decided to let it known he was awake.
With a sigh Andros put the empty can on the counter and walked back into the living room. He leaned on the rim of the playpen and looked down at the crying boy.
"Hey little troublemaker, what's the fuss this time?" He asked.
Noah opened his eyes at his father's voice and blinked up at him. Andros smiled and reached down, lifting the boy into his arms. As he placed a soft kiss on his small cheek he made a face.
"You smell." He declared matter-of-factly. "Couldn't you have waited until mommy was home again?" He asked, starting out of the living room to change the dirty diaper in the nursery.
Hospital, some hours later
Ashley stuffed the last few things back in her bag and took one more look around her office. Everything had been put back in the place it belonged and her desk now featured a new picture frame featuring Noah laying on his stomach, cooing to the camera, a wide toothless grin on his face.
She smiled at her little boy and traced his face before looking at the other frames. The oldest one was of Chris and Chyler a few years ago, playfully hugging each other. Hidden behind it in the frame were pictures of different ages. The next was of her, Tracy and Josh. Another one displayed her wedding picture, just her and Andros, his arms wrapped around her waist, her head resting on his chest, both looking unbelievably happy. The last was of Chris and Chyler again, but this time Danne sat with them, hugging Astro close as she smiled into the camera.
Her smile brightened as she picked up her bag and jacket and went to leave the office. She just turned off the lights when the door of her office opened. She looked up to see James standing there, a maniacal glint in his eyes.
"What the hell do you want, Delgado?" Ashley demanded.
"It's time for you to finally be shut up." James growled.
Within a moment he had her pinned down against her desk, her bag and jacket dropped on the floor, forgotten. Picture frames shattered to the ground, shards of glass coating the floor and suddenly she realised it hadn't been such a good idea to wear a skirt to work today.
A/N: Sorry! Hope you don't kill me! –hides- Just review… don't flame?