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: Yeah, as long as he has his family, he'll be just fine.
Phantom Rogue: Andros definitely good daddy! We love him!
SweetSas: What Andros was saying if for me to know and you to guess.
Johnny: Of course Chyler couldn't sleep, it's her twin! This chapter explains where Leigh was.
PrettyDiva: Only little Noah was absent. They all love Chris too much.
Anyabar1987: Chris definitely makes a good hospital patient.
Slytherin-Angel44: Here's the next chapter. Aren't I great?
Titanium Ranger: Of course they make up!
Megarider: That's okay. No you won't hate Leigh, go read and you'll see. She didn't go with Chris because she was too damn scared he wouldn't make it. She couldn't take seeing him like that and than wait in that sterile air for ages without word because she's no direct family.
Tal: Andros is very, very sweet.
C.C.C.: Once the idea popped into my head, I knew I had to write it. Just had to get Chris into hospital first. About the email.. –ponders- If you mean the email with those uploads requests, yeah, I just need to find time to upload them.
Star Fata: Of course I couldn't ever be any more horrible to them since I'm doing this…
Alexandra KHAYMAN: -drools- Of course he'll get all good, he's got the power to heal him. Only one left now.
Tay: I'm not going to kill a character we all love!
Dragoneyes5000: Yay!
Andros50: Thanks, glad you liked it.
The-power-of-love: Here's more.
Living Truth
Chapter 28: Pieces Falling Into Place
"So Chris is just fine?" Jonth asked, concerned, as they through the park, holding Chyler's hand.
"Yeah, mom and dad decided to keep him at home today, just in case, but he should be back at school tomorrow." Chyler replied, looking down at their clasped hands. "While I was waiting at my aunt and uncle's, I… I had a talk with my aunt and… Jonth, we need to talk." She sighed, turning her head away.
"I'm not going to like this, am I?" Jonth sighed, walking over to the nearest empty bench and waiting for her to sit down before doing so himself. "Talk."
"You're a really great guy and I just want to you know I was never leading you on. I… there is something between us, some distant chemistry." Chyler started, barely audible and stumbling over her words.
"But…" Jonth urged her on.
"But it's no more than a simple crush. And yes, I know crushes and grow into something more, but this one won't and can't." Chyler sighed, knowing she'd have to start from the beginning. "Before we left Earth, one of my best friends… kissed me."
"And you like him." Jonth guessed, taking her hand in his.
"I really thought I didn't. I thought those feelings couldn't grow between friends who grew up together. You always make me feel special, like I'm more than any other girl in the universe – and when we kiss, I feel like I'm flying." She smiled at him before continuing. "This other guy, he made me feel, well, lonely and that kiss… I felt like I was dying."
"But you were missing something, didn't you?"
"Yeah and my aunt pointed it out to me last night. Nicky makes me feel lonely because it's as if I'm the only girl in the whole universe when I'm with him. When I kiss him I feel like dying, but that kiss is keeping me alive and so to keep from dying I have to keep kissing him." Chyler explained softly. "I know it sounds crazy and like some whacked out reverse psychology, but… it's true. I was just too blind to see that."
"Hey." Jonth said softly. "I understand. I'm glad you're being honest with me instead of leading me on now that you know. I know you were sincere in our relationship and I'm glad I got a chance to be with you."
"So… you're not mad?" Chyler asked hopefully.
"I could never be mad at you." Jonth laughed. "And this might sound corny, but we can still be friends right?"
Chyler laughed and nodded.
"Yeah, that sounds really corny. But I didn't dare to suggest it, mostly because that's the cue for the other to walk away."
Jonth laughed and got back to his feet. He held out his hand and helped her to her feet. They walked on towards her house and Jonth looked at her from the corner of his eyes.
"So… tell me about this Nicky guy. I wanna know about him." Jonth asked.
Chyler laughed and started telling about him. Jonth noticed the sudden dreamy look on her face and grinned. Now she knew she was in love, she had fallen rather hard. Yet when she finally mentioned Chris in her story, he remembered a few things.
"Talking about Chris for a moment. How bad was he anyway? And I noticed Leigh wasn't at school today either."
"Leigh didn't sleep all night. She arrived at our house just after we brought Chris in. She practically fell asleep in his arms when she was sure he was okay, so yeah. She's probably still there. As for how bad Chris was, beside the severe concussion and skull fracture, the combination being the reason they kept him in hospital, he was pretty much okay. Few cracked ribs, one puncturing his lung; broken nose, twisted ankle, sprained wrist, scratches and bruises…" Thoughtfully, she added, "I think a few tears in some muscles too, but those are just minor injuries."
"Sure, sounds perfectly fine to me." Jonth replied sarcastically.
"Perfectly fine by ranger standards." Chyler giggled. "Trust me, most of the injuries happened before while we were sparring."
"Yeah, whatever." Jonth laughed and turned to her. "Well, here you are. Tell Chris I said hi."
"I will." Chyler promised.
Jonth gave her a quick peck on her cheek before winking and running off in the direction of his own house. She smiled and sighed. She had survived that part. Now all she had to do was find the courage to talk to Nicky.
Opening the door she quickly stepped inside and walked into the living room. Chris and Leigh didn't seem to have moved since this morning, but Leigh was half-awake now.
"I got your homework and you've both been missed today." She declared loudly and obnoxiously. "Now please get off the couch or stop being so cuddlingly cute together. It makes me want to puke." She told her brother and friend with a dramatic sigh. "So, feeling better yet, Chris? Want anything to drink?"
"Orange juice if it's not too much trouble." Chris told her, receiving a hug as she passed him. "And beside the dull headache, occasional stab of pain when I breathe and rare dizzy spells, I'm fine."
Chyler returned for the kitchen and handed him the glass of orange juice while she took her own glass of milk and sat down in the nearest chair.
"Where's mom?"
"Taking a nap with Noah. She was completely wiped. Didn't get a very good night of sleep yesterday." Chris replied. "Danne should be home soon and dad said he'd get take out on his way home before he left for work."
"Perfect." Chyler grinned. "Free afternoon. I'm going to practise some katas in the garden if anyone's looking for me."
"Okay." Chris smiled. "I'll holler if I need you."
Chyler stuck out her tongue and quickly ran upstairs to change into some workout clothes. Things would surely work out from this point on. She just left it would.
Two weeks later
Chris and Chyler walked back home from school, laughing and joking around all the way. If anything they were now closer than they had ever been.
"Chris! Chyler!" A voice called.
They turned around and saw Danne running their way. Stopping for a moment, they waited until she caught up and continued walking with her between them.
Their mood was light as Chris opened the front door and they quickly entered the house. They're smiles faded when they heard quiet sobbing coming from the living room. Biting his lip, Chris opened the door and stepped in, followed by his sisters.
Andros was sitting on the couch, silent tears streaming down his face. Ashley was sobbing against his shoulder, wrapped up tightly in his arms.
"What's wrong?" Chyler asked softly.
"The results came in." Andros replied hoarsely, pointing at the sheet of paper on the coffee table.
"The baby…" Ashley sobbed as she choked on tears. "We found out the father."
A/N: Yes, I am THIS evil! I did tell you that you'd have to wait for the epilogue! And the epilogue is still being held hostage by my beta-reader, so… you're in for another wait. Oh how I love this. REVIEW!