Chapter 10: Appointment

A few months later, Ashley was in the waiting room for her appointment with the doctor. She read over some fashion design patterns she had made up and she pushed her hair behind her ear. She rubbed the small bump on her stomach and a smile came across her face. "My and Andros's baby…" she murmured. She looked down at the ring on her hand and let out a sigh. The ring was meant to bind her to Mark, but that changed when Andros crashed the wedding. She loved Andros, even after two years of being apart from him she was head over heels in love with him. There was no way anything could change that. He was part of her and she was part of him, bound together forever.

"Ashley," a voice called.

Ashley looked up and her mother came in with a smile on her face. Ashley's smile turned to a frown. Her mother sat across from her. "Sweetheart, Mark is willing to take you back," she informed with a smile.

"Mom…I can't go back to Mark," Ashley answered.

"And why not?" Denise asked.

"Incase you haven't noticed, mom, I'm married to Andros."

Denise smiled and held onto Ashley's hand. "That's the beauty of it, sweetie. You don't have to stay married to Andros just because you're pregnant with his baby. Mark's willing to take the baby in as his own," she assured her. Ashley pulled her hand out of hers.

"Mom…I'm not staying with Andros just because he's the father of my baby," Ashley answered.

"You still can't be in love with him!" Denise insisted.

Ashley let out a frustrated sigh. "Mom…" she muttered.

"Stop your whining," Denise instructed.

"I'm twenty, mother, I think I'm capable of making my own choices."

Ashley rubbed her stomach. "And yes I still am in love with Andros," she added. Denise shook her head.

"He can't give you things Mark can," she insisted.

Ashley shook her head. "You're right he can't. Andros can give me so much more," she answered.

"The boy has no job," Denise snapped.

"Not material possessions mom! That's not what I want! Andros gives me what I want," Ashley snapped back.

"How can he give you what you want?"

Ashley placed a hand on her stomach with a small smile on her face. "This is proof right here," she replied.

"A baby? A baby doesn't mean anything, just life," Denise told her.

Ashley looked at her mother with a shocked expression on her face. "Life yes, but life that Andros and I created out of love and devotion!" Ashley insisted.

"You're talking crazy talk now," she answered.

Ashley rubbed her stomach. "How can you say this to me? After all the support you gave me over the years I mess a little something up and all of a sudden you're making my life a living nightmare!" Ashley snapped.

"This wasn't supposed to happen!" Denise hissed.

"What was supposed to happen?" Ashley asked.

"ANDROS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GONE FOREVER LIKE HE PROMISED!"

Ashley looked at Denise in shock. "What?" She asked. Denise stood there in shock at what she said.

"Nothing," she replied.

"No tell me, mom, what are you talking about like he promised?" She asked.

Denise glared at her daughter. "Have you ever wondered why all of a sudden Andros changed his tune two years ago?" She asked. Ashley was in shock.

"You…" she trailed off.

Ashley sat down in her chair in shock. "I went to your house while you went shopping with your friend, Cassie," Denise informed.

(Flashback)

Andros was putting things away when there was a knock on the door. He walked over and answered it. "Mrs. Hammond…" Andros trailed off. Mrs. Hammond smiled.

"Andros, we don't need the formalities, you can call me Denise," she assured him.

"Um…okay…Denise. Ashley's not here, she went out with Cassie…"

"Yes, I know, I came to talk to you."

Andros let her in and Denise looked around. "Well, this is where you and my daughter are living?" She asked. Andros shrugged.

"It's enough for the two of us for now," he replied.

Denise ran her finger across the table and saw some dust on it. "It's not much, but it's home," he answered.

"Hmm, how cozy," she commented.

Andros nodded his head slowly. "Would you like anything?" He asked.

"No, no, I won't be staying long," she replied.

"Okay…then have a seat…"

Andros sat down in the chair while Denise sat down on the couch. "Andros, I have to ask, where is this relationship with my daughter going?" She asked. Andros gave her a quizzical look.

"Well…um…in a year we planned on getting engaged at least," he replied.

"Andros you love my daughter right?" She asked suddenly.

Andros became confused. "Um…yes…of course I do," he replied.

"You would want what's best for her right?" She asked.

"Yeah…"

"Then dear…can you imagine my daughter living in places like this forever?"

Andros looked around. "Andros, if you care for my daughter as much as you say you do, you would think about her future," she pointed out. Andros just sat there listening to her. "And living in places like this and waiting for her fashion career isn't what's best for her," she added. Andros rubbed the back of his neck. Denise smiled as she got up to leave. "I know you'll make the right choice," she assured him. Then she left.

(End Flashback)

Ashley felt tears press against her eyes. "You…you ruined everything…" she murmured. Ashley looked at Denise with a heartbroken look. "You made Andros leave…YOU MADE HIM LEAVE!" She shouted.

"I did what was best for you. You really didn't care then, because three months later you were dating Mark," Denise answered.

"Only because you told me to! I died that day he left!" Ashley snapped.

Ashley felt a lump go up into her throat. "I died that day I had to say goodbye," Ashley sobbed. She placed her hand over face. Ashley glared at Denise. "Get away from me," she snapped.

"Ashley," Denise started.

"Get away…" Ashley replied.

"Sweetheart."

"I SAID GET OUT! GO AWAY!" Ashley shouted.

Denise got up and left. "Ashley Karovan?" The nurse called. Ashley turned and went to see the doctor.

(Andros and Ashley's House)

After the appointment, Ashley was sitting on the couch in her and Andros's house. Tears were falling down her face. She sat up when she heard the door open and close. "Ashley, I'm back," Andros informed. Before Andros could react, Ashley had her arms thrown around him and she was kissing him senselessly. Andros kissed her back, but then he pulled back looking at her. "What was all that about?" He asked. He saw the tears on her face. "Hey…what is it?" He asked. He wiped the tears from her face.

"Did you change because my mom was at our apartment?" She asked.

Andros gave her a quizzical look. "Did you leave because of my mom?" She asked. Andros sighed and pressed his forehead against hers.

"When she came to see me, I suddenly felt like I wasn't good enough for you anymore," he replied.

"You're wrong."

Ashley kissed him gently. "Dead wrong, you're everything I have ever wanted," she assured him. Andros smiled and she kissed him again. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her. They ended up in their room and didn't come out for the rest of the night.