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: You better be loving it all! The only reason you don't care who the father is, is because you know already, so shut up :P
Johnny: What's evil? I don't know that word… Just invented it, but not know it.
PrettyDiva: -takes a bow- Thank you, you flatter me with your unkind words. Did I ever mention Evil is my middle name?
Slytherin-Angel44: David? Who's David? I think you mean James.
Titanium Ranger: This soon enough for you?
Megarider: I'm glad you don't hate her anymore, because Leigh's here to stay.
Star Fata: Jenny already is a Super Beta… she's just… occupied with school… BURN IT!
SweetSas: Thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you. Don't you just LOVE my horns? I know I do.
C.C.C.: Jonth is a great guy, kinda like Josh… Just read and you'll find your answer somewhere.
Tay: Keep um crossed and go read.
Alexandra KHAYMAN: -drools- No, I don't want to kill you, that would be bad of me. And I'm still not telling, you'll just have to read.
The-power-of-love: Here it is.
Andros50: Because that's the whole point of a clifhanger… to stop when it getting good.
Dragoneyes5000: Why thank you. I've never been more honered.
Jenny: -gasps- -bows- Almighty Jenny! We are not worthy! Why the hell do you think I'd update in the middle of the night? Anyway, we should riot and burn down your school. I think that would be a good idea where all these wonderful readers could agree with, except Rosa, since she's dead and haunting me. Don't ask, or ask her. I think we should invent the witch-burning in Salem a few centuries too late when it comes to your teachers. Okay, well glad to know you think I'm totally crazy, there's no greater complement you can give me. Glad to see you're still keeping me company when it comes to that. But… weren't you the one that started the 'wink-smiley-fear' in the review screens? Oh goody! Philosophical stuff :D GIMME! Thanks you SO much for making this an even greater chapter than it already was. Though I stuck with 18 years, because I have my reasons to and I'm not going to explain them here. Maybe if you're nice I'll tell you. But actually… it's all got to do with the first part about Noah and Andros ;)
Zeopurple: Easy actually, that's my job. Was this too long?
Living Truth
Chapter 29: Epilogue
Noah groaned and rolled over. Someone… was… poking… him. Who… dared… poke… him! Reaching out blindly, he made a grab for his comforter, but dismally realized it had decided to take an impromptu vacation.
"Leave me alone, dad." He grumbled when the incessant poking continued.
"I've sworn to make your life miserable in the early morn, and I intend to do so. Shouldn't have kicked me out of bed when you were about negative three months old." Upon hearing this, Noah inwardly rolled his eyes – was his dad ever going to let him forget something he had done years ago? "Now get out of bed – or should I send Alex up? I'm sure she'll be very interested in how you sleep."
After a moments pause – after all, teenage boys are notoriously slow-minded in the morning – Noah bolted up in bed and stared at his father.
"Alex is here already?!" He exclaimed.
"For about… oh, half an hour?" Andros replied with a grin.
Noah cursed colourfully, scrambling out of bed and out of the room into the bathroom. Moments later the shower could be heard and Andros walked back down the stairs, a smirk playing across his face.
"He's coming." He said as he entered the living room.
"Good, wouldn't want to be late." Ashley teased, placing a quick kiss on his lips.
"It's not as if they can start without us." Andros laughed, wrapping his arms around her, both completely oblivious to the beautiful girl with long black hair sitting on the couch, watching them with a smile.
Her dark eyes glistened with a sort of contented happiness. A day had not gone by that she hadn't failed to express her shy thanks at being invited, even though she had been dating Noah for over a year now and was practically part of the family already.
It wasn't long before Noah thundered down the stairs and burst into the room. His dual toned damp hair fell into his eyes behind his glasses. He was wearing black dress pants and a crimson button up shirt with the top buttons undone and his feet bare. Panting slightly, he grinned boyishly at the three in the living room.
Alex smiled and got up, placing a sweet kiss on his lips. Noah took her hands in his and stepped back, admiring her.
"Wow… you look beautiful." He commented, smirking at his girlfriend.
Alex looked down and blushed. She was wearing a strapless dark purple dress. The skirt reached just above her knees. The top was a bit ruffled and she looked absolutely stunning. Silently, she was pleased that being a mannequin for an assortment of well-meaning friends slathering lotion and makeup on her had paid off.
"Pop your eyes back in and grab something to eat. We need to go." Andros told him with a laugh after a few moments of silence.
Noah stuck out his tongue and disappeared into the kitchen.
Two hours later
Ashley sighed and looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a simple white dress, flowing down and just touching the ground. Around her waist ran a shining white ribbon, attaching a second, veil-like skirt to the dress. Five more ribbons ran around that skirt, divided by increasing distances. Her hair fall in soft wave down to her shoulders and a white lily was stuck in just above her right ear.
"Well, it's time to face the music." She told herself with a smile.
She picked up the bouquet of lilies and roses and left the room. Quietly she made her way to the entrance to the church. Standing in the doorway she took a deep breath and started walking as she heard the familiar wedding march begin.
Everyone present looked around and smiled. She spotted her friends and their families as she slowly made her way down the aisle. Almost at the end her eyes found Zhane and Karone and their horde of children along with their families. Eighteen-year-old Aila looked especially happy on Jari's arm, the carefree couple watching Ashley with eyes that reflected their own future.
Cero was trying to keep his two-year-old daughter to keep quiet, while his six-year-old son leaned forward, intently watching his great-aunt Elia's eight-year-old son and seven and five-year old daughters were behaving perfectly, as could be said of Kynin's seven-year-old son. Arima's three-year-old daughter was playing with the lace on her dress and her newborn baby boy lay in his stroller, for once quiet and respectful – although that could be because he was, at the moment, contently sleeping.
On the other side of the aisle Tal was holding her four-month-old son perched on her hip. He was looking around, eyes wide in wonder at all the new things surrounding him. Her husband Keynan had his arm securely wrapped around her waist. Next to them Josh and Atalya were standing, smiling happily with Sergey and Bea with her fiancée next to them.
At the very front, on both sides of the aisle, was her own family. Chris and Chyler stood at one side with Leigh and Nicky. Chyler's twelve-year-old son, Tim, looked like a perfect little gentleman, his clothes very similar to Noah's and his long dual toned hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. His nine-year-old brother, Jamie, looked almost the same, but his hair was brown and short.
Chyler was a vision of beauty, making Ashley's heart swell with pride. She was wearing a simple yellow dress, reflective of the Power that both she and her mother had held. It flowed to the ground, fitting her body closely.
Chris's ten and nine-year-old daughters, Yolia and Sise, both wore yellow dresses. Yolia's long dual toned waist length hair was pulled back in a single braid with a ribbon threaded through it. Sise's dual toned shoulder length hair was pulled into two pigtails with a similar ribbon.
On the other side of the aisle were Danne and her husband. She was wearing a long red empire dress with a broad golden ribbon tied just above her large stomach. Her eight and seven-year-old sons, Steve and Vanas, were awkwardly pulling at their ties. In another month her daughter Kaia would be born. She and her husband couldn't wait to finally have a daughter – they had often joked about sending Steve and Vanas to their grandparents for a very long trip…
And beside them, her two youngest children and their dates. Noah looked much more together now, grinning at his mom with Alex on his arm, said girl smiling. Next to them, her beautiful miracle daughter, Aine. She was wearing a pale yellow dress, her abdomen wrapped in a ruffled corset flowing over a long skirt with a glittering veil draped over it, similar to her own dress. A single band ran around her neck holding the dress in place. Her hair was pinned up with a few curly tendrils falling loose, framing her face, both brown and blonde.
At the front of the church stood Andros, dressed in his formal pants and tunic, staring at her openly. Once she reached him he held out his hand to her and she took it, sliding her other hand in his free one.
Andros took a deep breath and started talking.
"Today, exactly eighteen years ago, I promised you body, mind, heart and soul. Today I'm standing here again, promising you the same things and strengthening the vows we made back then. On that day, I thought our troubles were over, but little did we know what was to come – and yet we emerged from every challenge victoriously. No one has ever been able to tear us apart and no one ever will. Plainly and simply: I love you. I've loved you since the beginning and I once again promise to hold you, keep you and protect you. Ashley Aila Maria Hammond, for better and for worse I'll stay by your side until death do us part."
"If I was told eighteen years ago about the horrible times and experiences we would go through, I probably would have laughed right in the person's face. I thought nothing could ever go wrong again. How wrong I was proven soon enough after, at the start of the birth of our second son. Times of trial and error weren't over yet, but we fought through them bravely. This time there was a big difference. This time… we were fighting together, side by side, hand in hand. We were rewarded with happy times too. Our children are our greatest gifts, and watching them grow up… our first grandson, Chris's marriage, our first granddaughter, Chyler's marriage and every following grandchild and ceremony were new adventures we experienced together. Despite the secrets untold in our early days, and the harsh truths we lived through, there's nothing more I want than to spend the rest of my days with you… it's you I want to share them with and no one else. Andros of KO-35, son of Avidan and Lynette, for better and for worse I'll stay by your side until death do us part."
"Always and forever." They spoke together, their voices entwined as their lives and souls would forever be.
After all the hardships… the years apart… the forces working to keep them distant… after everything, life had finally worked itself out.
After everything they had been through…
They finally got their Happily Ever After.
A/N: THE END! Hope you enjoyed reading this just as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please, stick with me as I write Scarred and expect a new story to be published March 1st named Forbidden Love, the links to my trailers for it on youtube are put up in my ID page.
Oh and this story is nominated for the Seasons of Love Reward! Voting starts March 1st, be sure to leave one!
Jenny: I've read all the death threats, and I just have one thing to say… YOU TRY BEING MISS. SPEED-WRITER'S BETA-READER! Riiight, Marieke:P And besides, to make up for those… oh, two weeks – I have just spent about half an hour making this chapter the absolute best it could be. Now all I ask is that you give me an hour's head start before you start chasing me with pitchforks and torches… But… I'M HOLDING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF SCARRED HOSTAGE:P Hope you enjoyed both SU and LT! It's been a fabulous journey and… and… I need to go review all the chapters I missed… So give your thanks to Marieke for writing such a great story for us! (But I know you will… even without me, so… I am going to shut up right about now)
AH/AY: If anyone dares to kill MY Jenny… no more stories.