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: DUH! Stripey still being dense.
Blue-sky-ranger: You'll see.
Slytherin-Angel44: Thanks, here's more.
Mellow girl: They already have. Five is a standard ranger team.
Tal: Very scary!
Tay: Glad you liked the chemistry.
C.C.C.: Yeah, they're idiots when it comes to that. Are you really sure about the Chyler-Jonth-Nicky triangle?
Alexandra KHAYMAN: Glad you like Aila. Aila my little surprise baby. She definitely wasn't planned at first. Zhane getting pain! Who not going to like it?
Zeopurple: Yeah, Nicky's definitely not the only one wanting Chyler. Can I say I feel sorry for Rocky?
Star Fata: Because one is?
PrettyDiva: Thanks! There'll be some more A/A soon… I promise.
Megarider: See, and Chyler's acting like a total twit! Here's the next chapter. Well, he does agree they've got way too many kids already, though they love them all. The house is just getting too small for another one.
Johnny: Don't worry, I can safely say you'll know by chapter 29… that's the epilogue… I just finished it. Andros definitely wouldn't murder Jonth and he's a great guy.
The-power-of-love: Here's more.
Titanium Ranger: Glad you liked it.
SweetSas: Yes, your sweet Zhane's getting fixed! Protection? You'll see why not.
Living Truth
Chapter 24: Changes
Two months passed rapidly. Andros had returned to his old job for the duration of their stay, reluctant to leave Ashley's side, but aware that without money, they wouldn't last very long. People would often give rangers stuff for free, but there was still a limit when it came to giving and getting.
Ashley often found her days spent with either Lynette or Karone and Aila, sometimes the three of them. She enjoyed the freedom she was having. The whole colony probably knew what had happened on Earth and why they were here, but no one ever seemed to look at her differently. Once a total stranger had walked up to her and told her how proud she was of the courage Ashley was having taking the risk in carrying the baby to term.
Chris was hardly ever at home anymore, always spending his time with Leigh - though they often offered to baby-sit Noah after school or whenever Andros decided to take Ashley out to dinner. Chyler had found her own crowd of friends too, always having a good time with them. Even though they didn't spend as much time together as they used to, the twin's closeness didn't seem to suffer, nor did their relationship with Danne.
One night Chris had camped out on the girls' floor, and only when Andros had finally cracked and told them they'd be grounded if they didn't shut up and went to sleep (keep in mind that this was at 2 AM), did they finally keep quiet.
Noah, Ranger and Astro didn't seem to mind the change of environment at all. As long as they were fed, changed (or walked) and had somewhere to sleep, they were happy. And it just so happened to be that the two dogs had decided Chris's 'closet' was the best place in the house for them.
Tomorrow evening there would be an ambassadorial ball and Avidan had informed his children that their families had been invited along with them. Of course, since a ball required dancing, dates were allowed too. Chris had immediately invited Leigh as his dad and Ashley had arranged for Danne to baby-sit Noah, or children-swap as she had jokingly called it.
Josh and his family were due to arrive later that afternoon, naturally having been invited to the ball (seeing as how Josh was the ambassador from Earth). No matter how uncomfortable Ashley was around him, she was looking forward to seeing her friend again.
Chyler had jokingly teased Chris, he should watch out or he'd be Tal's date to the ball. In retort Chris had pointed out he'd have two dates in that case and she had none. It had deflated Chyler immediately. She knew whom she wanted to ask, but whenever she worked up the courage, she always found some feeble excuse to not do so.
"What's wrong with you?" Jonth asked as he walked up to her as she stared out over the lake again.
"Just thinking about the past two months here, that's all." Chyler shrugged, snapping out of her thoughts.
"All good I hope?" Jonth inquired, with a grin.
"Everything's changed." Chyler shrugged. "For the better though." She added quickly. "Mom's much more relaxed here. Dad's always making sure she'll never doubt that he still loves her more than anything, it's almost sickeningly sweet."
"But not as 'sickeningly sweet' as Chris and Leigh, right?" Jonth prompted, causing Chyler to laugh.
"No – never as bad Chris and Leigh. I swear, the two will be married before they're twenty. I don't mind him having a girlfriend, though. It's just… he's always got a date for balls and stuff like the one tomorrow. Danne pretty much had the boys begging her to pick them, so she'll definitely show up with a date too…"
"And you still haven't got anyone and feel left out." Jonth guessed.
"Yeah, it's stupid really, but I'm jealous of them both. All the girls seem to be throwing themselves at Chris when Leigh's not around and boys are always trying to get Danne to look at them." Chyler muttered.
"Don't you dare think guys don't look at you, Chyler. You're one of the prettiest girls on the colony." Jonth told her firmly. "They're just too shy to tell you. They're all trying to pretend they're machos, but when it comes to girls, the guys around here are blubbering messes. At twelve they're just too ignorant to rejection." He added jokingly.
Chyler laughed, blushing at his words.
"If it makes you feel any better, I'll take you." Jonth added, looking at her intently.
"You would?" Chyler asked shyly, staring back into his eyes.
"I wouldn't be offering if I wouldn't." Jonth whispered, taking her hand and slowly leaning closer.
"Good, cause I've been wanting to ask you." Chyler mumbled, just before their lips met in a gentle kiss.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" Jonth asked, slightly embarrassed as the kiss was broken.
"Will you be my date for the ball?" Chyler teased slightly, though she felt her cheeks heat up.
Jonth smiled at her and nodded. Chyler grinned back and nodded too before gently kissing him again. This was how love needed to be, she decided. This was how a kiss needed to taste and feel like; like you were soaring… not like you were dying. Nicky could never make her feel like this.
An ambassadorial residence
Andros frowned at his friend when he watched Zhane wince as he sat down. He, Ashley, Karone and Zhane were visiting his parents to go over some stuff for the ball tomorrow night, just a few formalities that needed to be taken care of.
"What's wrong with you?" Andros asked curiously.
Zhane glared at him, but didn't reply. Karone however, did.
"Well, when I had that pregnancy scare a while ago, we talked and decided five kids really is enough." Karone shrugged.
Andros looked between his sister and best friend, amazed, before a smirk started forming on his lips.
"Don't even think about it!" Zhane warned.
"You do know there are less painful ways of preventing pregnancy than a vasectomy, right?" Ashley inquired. "Or is this the only way they know on KO-35?"
"What do you mean?" Karone asked curiously.
"Anti-conception pills, condoms, an I.U.C.D., a pessary… Want me to continue my teenaged-girls' speech or…" Ashley smiled teasingly.
"Never mind." Zhane groaned.
"Though, you did choose the easiest and most effective way." Ashley amended.
"It still hurts." Zhane complained.
"Serves you right for getting my sister pregnant five times." Andros laughed.
"Watch it, I still see an army of kids coming from you and Ash." Zhane shot back.
"Actually, we've decided, either way, this is the last baby. We just decided we're mature enough to remember using protection."
Just then Avidan walked in with a grim look on his face.
"What's wrong, dad?" Ashley asked, earning a small smile from Avidan.
"I just received word… Maura and Cevil have perished."
A/N: YAY! I did it! I killed them! Hope you liked it. Review.