Disclaimer: Power Rangers belongs to Saban

Disclaimer: Power Rangers belongs to Saban.

More Than Anything

Andros wrapped his sister in a big hug. He saw Ashley over her shoulder and smiled at her. He couldn't be happier. Karone was back, Zhane was okay, he had three great friends, the universe was safe, and, of course, he had a girlfriend whom he loved and loved him in return.

Ashley smiled back at him. She was glad for him, but she wasn't happy. Something seemed wrong. Very wrong. But what it was, she had no idea. She watched Andros carefully as he let go of his sister. In a split second, his expression changed to one of pain and he fell to the ground.

Ashley rushed to his side. "What's wrong? Are you all right?"

Andros tried to stand up, but he couldn't. He had his hand on his chest. His friends crowded around him, both to see what was going on, and to keep the crowds from seeing it.

Ashley looked deep in his eyes. He tried to hide it from her, but she knew her instincts were right. Something was wrong.

"Take off your shirt." She blurted out.

"Ashley, what?--" he tried to say.

"A little help here?" She asked her friends. She lifted up his shirt and saw what she had suspected. There was a huge gash on his chest, streaming with blood. Without thinking, she pushed a button on his morpher and they teleported back to the ship.

* * * * * *

Ashley held Andros' hand tightly as Alpha scanned the wound. "Why didn't you say something before?"

"I guess I didn't realize it. I didn't feel it when I was morphed. I had only demorphed a minute before." He replied weakly.

"This is all my fault." Karone said.

Zhane put his arm around her. "No, it isn't. You weren't able to control yourself."

"Even if you were morphed, you had to have noticed something." Carlos said.

"I think he was a little preoccupied." T.J. said. "And he wouldn't have wanted to admit it anyway."

Alpha put the scanner down. "It won't heal."

Ashley burst into tears. "There must be something you can do."

"I'm sorry Ashley. But I can't."

Andros looked up at her. "Don't worry. It'll be okay."

"How can you say that?" Ashley sobbed. "Don't talk. You need your strength."

"It won't help. Besides, I need to."

"We'll leave you two alone." Cassie said. They filed out of the room, casting them mournful looks.

Ashley watched them leave, then turned back to Andros.

"Ashley?"

"Yes?" She squeezed his hand tighter.

"I wish we'd spent more time together. But with everything that was going on, we just didn't get the chance to. Before I..."

"It's not fair!" Ashley interrupted. "I don't want you to die. I love you."

"I love you, too. I'm sorry it has to end this way."

"It's not your fault." Ashley cried. "I don't want to say good-bye. Not yet. Not ever."

"Then don't. But I have to tell you this. I love you more than anything in the universe. I always will. More ... than ... anything." His hand went limp and he died.

"No! Andros." Tears flowed down her cheeks. "I love you Andros." She whispered softly. "More than anything." She put her head in her hands and cried for what seemed like an eternity. Then she heard someone call her name.

"Ashley... Ashley..."

* * * * * *

"Ashley!"

Ashley sat up in bed. Her pillow was soaking wet.

"It's okay. It was only a dream." She turned and saw that Andros was awake as well.

"It was so awful. I dreamt you were..." She threw her arms around him.

"It's okay." Andros said soothingly.

Ashley wiped her eyes.

"Go back to sleep. Before the baby wakes up."

Ashley smiled at her husband, and then at the baby in the cradle near the foot of the bed.

The baby shifted in her sleep, not knowing that the two people watching her loved her, and each other, more than anything.

The End.