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.
Phantom Rogue: Sure, go kill! We really should give her the flu sometime.
PrettyDiva: Glad you liked the chapter. Here's more.
Lavonne Adams: um…
Johnny: Yeah, he's locked up and no more doctor. He was definitely lucky Chris was being held down.
SweetSas: Here's more.
Megarider: Yeah, it's been a while since your name popped up. Glad you still like it.
Alexandra KHAYMAN: -drools- You'll see next chapter, I think. No, I can't make Noah grow up.
Tal: Agreed!
Zeopurple: Yeah, I think everyone's glad James is guilty. Here's more.
Star Fata: Glad you liked the chapter.
The-power-of-love: Here's more.
C.C.C.: Glad you liked it.
Puasluoma: Here's more.
Slytherin-Angel44: Here's the update you're begging for. Yes, it's a good think James got locked up.
Mita427: Um…
Living Truth
Chapter 20: The Decision
"Ash, we're home!" Andros called as he entered the house with Noah perched on his hip.
The house stayed silent and Andros just shrugged, looking at his son.
"Mommy's probably asleep." He cooed, putting his keys on the table in the hall and closing the door behind him.
He walked into the living room and placed Noah in his playpen. He was headed towards the kitchen when a small collection of papers piled on the dining table stopped him abruptly. He was sure they hadn't been there when he left.
Curiously he walked over and skimmed the content of the paper lying on top. His heart stopped when the silent message registered, though his brain was sluggish in processing it and refused to believe what was right in front of him.
He snatched up the papers and sprinted upstairs to their bedroom, a cold fury starting to spread like wildfire. She couldn't do this to him, not now.
Sure enough he found Ashley curled up on their bed. She didn't look up when he entered and he glared at her form. He was about to yell at her for those papers when he realised she was crying – sobbing pitifully, more like it. Despite his anger, it broke his heart and he wearily decided he might as well calm her down first.
He put the papers down on her nightstand and sat down on the edge of the bed. He gently reached out and touched her shoulder. She didn't seem to be aware of him being there and touching her and that puzzled him. Carefully he turned her around and made her sit up, wrapping her into his arms so she could cry on his shoulder.
Slowly she calmed down as he rubbed small circles on her back and whispered soft soothing words to her.
"You shouldn't be here holding me." She whispered in a broken voice. "You should be yelling at me and signing those papers."
"I told you we'd get through this together." He murmured back. "Why do you want out so badly all of a sudden?"
"I… I…" She stuttered and broke down in tears again, pointing to their bathroom.
He looked over and saw the door standing wide open. Something lay on the floor by the sink, but he really didn't want to leave Ashley and walk over to get it. Instead he settled on reaching out his hand and telekinetically calling whatever it was over to them.
He recognized the little wand immediately and he didn't have to ask what the two pink lines in the window meant either. He tightened his arms around her, holding her closer.
"I promised we'd get through this and we will." He declared firmly. "And besides." He added lightly. "It doesn't even have to be his, considering our honeymoon."
"I did the math, Andros." She sobbed. "My ovulation date was right about the time he… he…"
"Sssh, it's okay." He soothed her. "I told you, I'm not leaving you and whoever of us two is the father of this baby doesn't change a thing. If James ends up being the father, I swear I'll raise this child as if it was my own. You didn't ask for this, Ash. I'm not letting that bastard ruin my marriage. I've had to wait too long to be with you to give up on us this easily."
"How can you still want to be with me?" Ashley asked through her tears.
Totally at a loss of how to assure her he still loved her anymore, he pressed his lips to hers in a kiss more passionate than any of the others they had shared after she had been raped. He felt more than heard her gasp before melting into the kiss.
"I love you, Ash." He told her breathlessly. "Why won't you believe me when I tell you?"
Ashley sighed and placed her hand over his cheek, staring into his eyes.
"How could I ever have doubted you?" She sighed, a small smile starting to play on her lips.
Andros let out a noise in surprise when her lips pressed to his again, her kiss firm and demanding. He let her control the kiss for a while, but when she gently pushed him down onto the bed, he knew he had to take actions or they both might end up regretting their actions.
"You don't have to do this, you know." He told her, breaking the kiss and looking up at her. "I can wait until you're ready."
"I want this." She muttered softly, stroking his hair. "I want you."
Andros nodded and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
"Tell me when to stop if you feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable." He pressed on and she nodded in reply, slowly letting him take control.
His tender kisses fluttering over her jaw and down her neck made her feel like she was in heaven. Andros slowly cherished and adored her body, for the first time since James had advanced on her, she truly felt good about herself again. Andros just had a way of making her feel beautiful.
Two hours later
Ashley lay curled up in Andros's arms with a small smile playing on her lips as her head was pillowed on his chest and she trailed an invisible pattern on his stomach.
"We could have a paternity test." Andros suddenly remembered. "Just like how you proved Maura's baby wasn't mine."
Ashley slowly shook her head.
"I don't think I could stand that kind of invasion of my body after what James did. We'd have to wait until the baby is born." She sighed.
"Maybe… No, never mind, it's stupid." Andros muttered.
"What is?" Ashley asked curiously, lifting her head of his chest and looking at him.
"On KO-35 they can do a paternity test at 6 months and up without any invading procedures." He offered. "It's still a few months wait, but… well, we'd know sooner than waiting for the child to be born."
Ashley thought about it for a moment and then caught his eyes again.
"Could we leave now? I don't think I could handle the sympathetic looks when I start showing. Not from my friends and everyone I know." She pleaded.
"Well, we can't leave right now." Andros laughed softly and placed a quick kiss on her lips. "But we can start setting things up to go. I'll give Zhane and Karone a call right now if you want, see if they can arrange a place for us to stay and get the twins and Danne registered at school and such stuff."
"Andros." Ashley smiled. "You're an angel."
Andros laughed again, placing another kiss on her lips before getting out of bed and slipping back into his clothes. He glanced over at Ashley who still lay happily curled up in bed.
"I should check on Noah anyway." He commented offhandedly and Ashley's eyes grew wide.
"You left our baby alone downstairs?!" She demanded, outraged as she sat up.
"He's in his playpen, it's not as if he can get out of that and he knows crying gets him all the attention he needs." Andros shrugged.
"He's still a baby!" Ashley protested, slipping out of bed too and dressed again.
Andros had already left the bedroom and gone downstairs. She followed him quickly and found him leaning on the fencing of Noah's playpen with a smile. Both Ranger and Astro were curled up at his feet, seemingly watching over her little boy. When she stepped next to him and peered inside, she found her baby boy fast asleep, contently sucking his thumb.
"Told you he'd be fine." Andros grinned sheepishly and kissed her temple. "I'll go call Zhane and Karone."
"You're lucky to get away with it this time." Ashley told him softly, affectionately. "Next time you won't be so lucky."
"What next time?" Andros laughed and winked at her.
Ashley shook her head and looked down at her young son again.
"Your daddy is crazy." She informed the sleeping infant. "Awfully cute, but still crazy."
A/N: Hope you liked it. Review!