Disclaimer: Not mine!

Summary: After years of trials and hardships, a certain Yellow ranger returns not only to her old team…but to the Red ranger who has won her heart.

theblondeone07: Sorry for the long wait! But I hope you like this next one.

AH/AY: Yeah I know! Long wait. Hope you liked this one. I stayed up until 2 in the morning just writing the outline: P

PhantomRogue: I love cliffy! You should know…you make real good ones! Hope you like this chapter. It wasn't at all what I was thinking, but close enough! Kinda sad, sort of, but we'll see how it goes!

Isinha: I hope you like this chapter!

Star Fata: Thanks for the ideas! Hope you like this chapter.

Emmy2288: Here's the next chapter. Hope you like it.

"After all that we've been through
I find myself still loving you
But I think we need to take the time to get it right
'Cause I never give up on a good thing
I never gave up on the love we had
We just need to take it slow…"

-"Loving You" by: Jennifer Lopez

Chapter 10

The cool, summer breeze sent shivers to her warm petite body as she slowly began to open her eyes, taking in her surroundings. She looked across her dim lit bedroom, only to see her bay side window slightly open. She pushed herself up, pushing away the white sheets which delicately covered her bed, slid her legs off the side, and glanced at the clock which happily sat on her bedside table.

"7:15," She yawned, as she went to shut the window.

She heard giggling and chattering coming from her living room downstairs, and all she could think to do was chuckle herself.

"Some things change, and some just never do," She whispered, shaking her head as she heard familiar voices talking all at once. "I can smell the coffee already. That's probably Cassie."

She walked to her lamp stand and switched the light which gave off a silent flick. As she laid her hand on the bed frame, she felt something different. Her hand grasped the smooth fabric, fingers feeling every inch of the cloth.

"This isn't mine," She alleged, her hand still around it.

She closed her eyes knowing all too well what she had her hand upon. She looked down and she found herself hanging onto a man's black leather jacket, one that was perched on her bed post. She took it in her arms, just when her bathroom door was slightly slammed shut. She felt her heart race as she turned around only to be met by a pair of gorgeous hazel eyes.

"Hi," Ashley ever so lightly announced, still clinging to the jacket.

She noticed that he seemed a bit different, yet he was just the same as well. He is the same Andros she befriend all those years ago. He is the same team mate and leader, whom she followed into battle without a moments notice. He is the same boy she fell in love with when they were just young teenagers.

Andros, dressed in denim jeans and a red shirt, with hair pulled back, glanced at the woman in the light yellow, strapless dress and slowly moved forward towards her, as if asking for permission.

"Hi," He answered back, keeping his gaze on her.

"I, umm…I'm guessing this is yours," She replied, referring to the jacket she held tightly in her hands.

"Yeah, sorry. I, umm…I hope it was ok that I just…well, that I just came up here."

Ashley nodded and handed him the jacket, tearing her eyes off of his.

"How long have you been here?"

"Not long. I got a call from Zhane and I just…he told me to meet him or pick something up here…and well I just…I was just surprised to see you."

Ashley nodded and handed him the jacket, tearing her eyes away from his in a flash.

"We should…umm…we should probably get back to the others. I kinda fell asleep for a while after I got in, and well…we should just go," She babbled, as she moved to her bedroom door.

Andros shut his eyes as Ashley brushed past him. "Ash," He said in what was almost a whisper as he grabbed onto her arm, holding her back.

Ashley looked at him, knowing it wasn't fair for her to further avoid what has been avoided for the past few months since she left.

"Andros…can we not talk about this…now?"

"Ashley we have been avoiding it for the last few months. I don't even know what it is."

Before Ashley could answer him, at the perfect moment, her phone started ringing.

She let out an exasperated sigh and tore herself away from Andros' light grip and answered the phone.

"Hey mom…no yeah, I got in a few hours ago…Yeah. Thanks mom…alright. I love you too. Good night."

Ashley hung up the phone, as her body fell onto her bed, crumpling the bed sheets neatly laid down on the bed.

"Sorry, about that…Andros, can we just…not tonight. Please?"

Andros sighed and nodded, opening the door for her. She gave him a grateful look, a look she hadn't shown in a while, as she laid a hand on his shoulder.

Once in sight, Karone saw the look on their faces as they descended down the staircase.

"Not good," She whispered in Zhane's ear as she accidentally lightly elbowed him in the abdomen. "Sorry! Oh, I'm sorry, honey!"

"Mhmmm," Zhane mumbled as the others broke in a series of laughter one after the other.

Karone looked at TJ, who looked to Cassie, who immediately turned around.

"Hey, you. About time you woke up. Are we going or what?"

Ashley glanced at Andros, and nodded her head, moving over to where Cassie stood.

"Shall we?"

"Finally! For a second there, I thought I was gonna have to cancel my date!"

"Carlos!" Screamed the girls as the guys broke it with sounds of laughter.

"What!"

"Alright you guys, let's go," TJ commanded, shaking his head.

( A few hours later...)

After dinner, the gang headed to the nearest Lounge and ordered a few drinks, as they continued to celebrate not only the birthday of Ashley but her return as well.

"I'm sorry you can't have some, Rone," Ashley commented, placing a hand on her slight bump.

"It's ok, Ash, really. Besides, I was never too fond of drinking anyway," She replied, grinning at her, making the whole group laugh.

"Hey, hey! Wait a minute! That was one time! Besides, it was at your wedding!" Ashley defended, laughing as well.

"Oh yeah, you were real…drunk that night! I gotta tell you Ash, that was a side of you I haven't never seen…ever," Cassie pointed out, giggling as she did so.

"Alright, alright! But come on guys, that was like 4 years ago! I was a lot younger…" She continued, still in laughter.

"Yeah, I even remember Andros had to drag you out and carry you up to your room. Man, that was such a long time ago. You guys were so close…so close. It was almost as if you were already married…" Carlos continued, as the laughter slowly died down to a halt.

TJ pat his shoulder, beckoning him to stop, as he seemed to notice the uncomfortable silence that was now coming upon them.

All Ashley could think of was nod, and as she did so, she excused herself, not wanting to meet Andros' eyes.

"Yeah…" She whispered slowly getting up. "Sorry guys, I just need to…umm…excuse me for a minute."

"Ashley," Andros called out, getting up to go after her. He looked to the others and said "It's alright, I got her."

"Hey, will you wait a second?"

"I'm fine, Andros. Go back inside. I just needed some air, and it was getting kinda hazy in there."

"Alright, I just…"

"I'm sorry. Is that what you wanted to hear? I'm sorry. I'm sorry for leaving. I'm sorry for everything. God, I'm sorry," She mumbled, pacing back and forth, finally meeting his hazel eyes.

"Hey, hey," He said, trying to calm her down, as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "It's ok, just stop."

"I know I shouldn't have left…that wasn't the smartest thing to do in the world. It was just something I felt I had to do at the time and I'm sorry. What's done is done."

"What happened Ashley? What happened to us?"

"I don't know. I guess it was a mix of things. Me leaving for work all those years ago, then hearing about this girl you were seeing while I was away…then I metMiguel and everything just got confusing. I guess what I'm trying to say is, when I came back, I needed to find myself, not just for me, but maybe even for us."

Andros nodded. "But why didn't you tell me this sooner? You just left."

"I guess, at the time, that was the point. So much had happened… I was hurt Andros. I knew the distance was a test to what we had, but the moment I found out about her, I hated you for not fighting for what we had since it all started." Ashley tried to explain. "I guess, I just needed to get a way for a while."

They stayed quiet for what seemed like a lifetime, until Ashley said, "Don't think I never loved you. That was one of the reasons I left. I never liked being angry with you, you know that."

"I…I should be the one, Ash. Not you. I should be the one sorry," Andros commented. "So now, you're back. What now?"

Ashley closed her eyes. "At this point, I honestly don't know anymore. I mean maybe…I just know one thing. I don't think it'll ever be the same anymore."

"Ash…don't say that," Andros pleaded.

Ashley sighed. "Maybe, Andros. Just maybe is all I can offer you right now."

He nodded and waited a few minutes until noticing Ashley shiver as the breeze hit her tan-bronze colored skin.

"Come on, I'll take you home." He replied, before she flashed him a faint smile.

The pale blue moon shined a light upon them as they reached the driveway to Ashley's house. He walked her up the steps to her front door, but before leaving, he turned and touched her elbow.

"Ashley…"

She looked at him, her eyes glistening against the dark sky, as if it were among the stars up above.

"I need to know one thing." He said without hesitation. "You say you loved me. I need to know if…you still love me. Or if there's a chance that…"

"I don't think I ever stopped, Andros. Now only time will tell."

With that, she shut the door behind her, leaving the same boy she fell in love with hope. The boy that deep down, she's still in love with.

A/N: Soooo sorry for the long wait. I've been getting emails saying that I shoulr update...so here it is finally. Hope you like it. I kinda had more fun writing this chapter.