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.
BlackHalliwell: Thanks, I guess.
Titanium Ranger: Glad you liked Andros pounding in on Delgado. Yeah, poor Ash.
Star Fata: YAY! You won't kill me. Glad you love my Drosy.
Tal: GO TAL! Remember, you still get to kill Maura.
Grass King: Yeah, but Andros is not supposed to end up in jail.
PrettyDiva: Good, me too.
Tay: Actually, the idiot had no idea who he was messing with. Just wait until they throw in their ranger status in court.
Dragoneyes5000: Thanks, I just love putting inside joking in this story. James won't see the light of day for a long time, that's for sure.
Blue-sky-ranger: No need to wait longer.
Mellow girl: Ash will be okay eventually.
Johnny: Yeah, actually I can hardly believe it either. At least Andros had a go at him to make me feel better about it. Andros will have to hold a tight grip on Chris in court or James is dead.
SweetSas: Please, be my guest! HOT TASTY CARROT! Too bad I mentioned in one of the first chapters that Andros is no foodgroup.
AA Lover: Yeah, good thing Andros is around. When the twins get home.
Alexandra KHAYMAN: -drools- Yeah! Go Andros! Nope, that's what court is for. Andros always there, no matter what.
Phantom Rogue: Don't cry, it'll be okay. No Andros in jail, go see what I told Sas.
Jordan: Yeah, James can consider himself very lucky. James and Maura won't meet though… he's going to jail and she'll die, too bad, match made in heaven… or rather hell.
C.C.C.: Thanks! Yay! Someone's on my side! It's better for Andros to let his anger out then keep it inside ;) Yeah, Andros is good at making her feel better, you'll see.
Zeopurple: No Andros in jail! Yeah, I hate I had to do this to Ash too, but Andros will always be there for her.
DizneeDol: Here's the next chapter. We all love Andros.
The-power-of-love: I don't know? People seemed to be rather angry this happened. Actually, I'm not the only one, but I'm the only one who can write the end.
Puasluoma: Andros is the best!
Slytherin-Angel44: James is going to jail for a long time? He's a conceited bastard with no brain but the one down south? Glad you liked Andros.
Living Truth
Chapter 17: Not Giving Up
Andros opened the front door and Ashley all but fled inside. Andros followed more slowly and locked the door again behind them. In the living room he found Ashley curled up on the couch, eyes staring ahead blankly. Silently he crouched next to her, careful not to touch her.
"Should I make some tea?" He suggested softly.
Ashley nodded wordlessly and Andros got back to his feet. Ten minutes later he returned and handed her a steaming mug, sitting down on the other end of the couch with his own.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, quietly sipping their tea, reluctant to be the first to break the silence. Andros was running things through his head, as he then took a deep breath.
"If you want to talk, it helps you know." He muttered softly.
"I already told the police everything." Ashley replied tonelessly.
Andros sighed and shook his head.
"That's not what I meant. I meant really talking about it, not just reciting what happened as if it were a script. The longer you wait the harder it will be."
"This isn't some stupid TV-series, Andros!" Ashley yelled suddenly, tears springing into her eyes. "This is real! This really happened and talking isn't going to fix it or make it go away."
"I know." Andros replied patiently.
"Then don't pretend that what happens on TV can help, because that's not real!" She cried through her tears. "Why are you even still here? Who'd want someone tainted?! If you're here out of pity, I suggest you'd pack your things and leave!"
Andros looked stung at her words, but didn't get up.
"This isn't TV-knowledge, Ashley." He told her as calmly as he could. "This is real, this will help. Trust me, I know."
"How can you know?" Ashley hissed dangerously. "You have no idea how this feels. You have no idea how it is to be touched like this! There are but a few male rape cases and unless KO-35 knows rape as an active crime, which I highly doubt, there's no fucking way you could know how this feels!"
"You're right, on KO-35 no one ever gets raped. But you're wrong about me not knowing how it feels." Andros muttered.
"Give me one good reason!" Ashley snapped.
"Maura." Andros replied simply, looking down at his tea.
Ashley immediately deflated, fresh tears starting to fall. She stared at his face, though he wasn't looking back. His lip had started healing a little, his eye had turned a nasty shade of purple, even though he'd been forced to sit with an ice pack while he had waited for her, and the gash above his eye had been stitched.
She clearly remembered the mornings when he had first moved in. When he woke up his body would turn stiff as a board or he would flinch away from her before remembering it was her lying curled up in his arms, not Maura.
With a soft sigh she got up and gently pried his mug out of his hands, putting both hers and his on the coffee table before dropping down on the couch right next him. Tentatively she reached out and slowly slipped her arms around his waist. Andros didn't move, letting her settle against him before he lightly wrapped his arms around her, careful not to hold her too tightly so she could pull away at any time.
Ashley placed her head on his chest, listening to the smooth rhythm of his heartbeat as she closed her eyes. Andros's loving embrace could soothe away all her troubles, no matter how tentative it was.
Taking a deep breath she softly started to tell her story, sometimes whispering painfully, sometimes sobbing in outrage. How James had entered her office, taken her by surprise and overpowered her. She told him everything and Andros just held her patiently, slowly rocking her as the tears escaped
"Why us?" She demanded at last. "Why, every time things are working out, something comes along and ruins it? Why can't Maura just disappear? Why did James have to be born? Why?" She wailed in desperation.
"Because we're stronger then this." Andros told her softly. "Because we can take everything they throw at us. We'll fight it and come out even stronger than before. We'll overcome this thing. Together we can do anything."
Ashley nodded slightly and didn't quite manage to suppress a yawn.
"It's late, go to bed, I'll sleep on the couch." Andros told her softly.
"No!" Ashley replied firmly and pulled away from him, staring deep into his eyes. "Please… don't let this tear us apart… I don't think I could survive this w-without you."
"Are you sure?" Andros inquired gently, not breaking eye contact.
"I… no, but I want to try. If we're going to beat this… I… I wanna start fighting right now."
"Just let me know if you're uncomfortable with anything." Andros told her.
Ashley nodded in reply and they got up, turned the light off and walked up the stairs to their bedroom. Ashley looked at the closed bedroom doors that lead to their children's rooms.
"I'm surprised Danne and Noah didn't wake up." She muttered softly. "I'm really sorry I was yelling at you."
"It's okay, and Danne and Noah aren't here. I had just sent them over to Josh's so I could go look for you when you came home." Andros explained.
Ashley smiled slightly at him. She pulled their bedroom door open and stepped inside. For a few minutes she looked for pyjamas she'd feel comfortable sleeping in, ready to burst out in tears again when she found none.
She looked up surprised when Andros held out a clean pair of his pyjamas in front of her silently and she smiled a small smile at him in reply. After taking the pyjamas from him, she slipped off into the bathroom to take a shower and change.
Just thirty minutes later, Ashley felt herself stiffen when Andros slipped into the bed next to her and she felt like crying again. He stayed as far away from her as he could though, and that hurt her even more.
Carefully she rolled over and tentatively curled up next to him, suppressing all urges to pull away. Andros didn't move until she started to relax against him. Only then did he wrap her loosely into his arms. It took them both a long time to finally fall asleep, but Andros's presence kept all nightmares at bay.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Review.