Chapter 11: Hopes Dashed

Ashley shot up in bed, her heart racing and her breathing heavy. She pulled her knees up to her chest in hopes of stopping the shaking of her body. Her recollection of the dream she'd had was hazy. Carlos had been there at first, but then he'd changed into Andros. It scared her that whatever had happened in her dream, she had liked it. With a sigh she threw the covers away from her and rolled out of bed to take a shower in hopes of washing the last tendrils of the dream away from her.

When she finally emerged from her room and walked down the hall when she saw a nine-month-pregnant Karone attempting to move a crib. "Karone!" Ashley exclaimed, rushing over to her, "Are you crazy?"

"Well, my lovely husband is always at work and the baby due any time now, I need to make sure the nursery is ready," she replied.

"Let me," Ashley insisted, pushing the crib into the nursery.

Karone rested her hand on her belly, letting out a sigh. "I'm three days late, I'm losing my mind," she admitted.

"Well you're also in nesting mode, everything is about everything being ready when it's time for the baby to arrive," Ashley replied.

Karone sat down in the rocking chair. "I'm just ready for her to be out," she sighed.

"She'll be here," Ashley reassured her.

Karone gave her a smile and Ashley started putting the bedding in the crib, adding a few toys. Ashely looked over at her friend to see Karone beginning to doze. She placed a blanket over the young woman before she left her alone to rest.

Making her way through the manor, Ashley walked by Andros's study, staring at the door for a second. They had another gala to go to that evening, Karone and Zhane had to decline the invitation this time but they were happy to send their regards. Kinwon would be attending this gala with them.

Reaching her room, Ashley pulled out the dress she was thinking of wearing at the gala that evening. It was red with one shoulder, it flowed like the Vica Galaxy gowns, a Terran Grecian style gown that flowed and had a red silk shawl that went with it. Placing the gown on her bed, she grabbed her bathrobe and went to her bathroom to shower and prepare herself.

After the shower, Ashley looked up when there was a knock on the door. "Yes?" she called out.

"It's me," Hecuba called out.

"Enter," Ashley answered.

Hecuba entered the room and smiled softly. "I thought I would help you get ready for the gala," she told the young woman. Ashley smiled back at the woman.

"I would love that," she replied honestly.

Ashley sat down and Hecuba started brushing out her hair. She did a few little braids around her head, tying them together. "Now, this gala is special, over two hundred years since the planetary systems have called a truce," Hecuba explained.

"I remember mother and father going every year," Ashley replied.

Hecuba smiled at Ashley in the mirror. "Now it's your turn," she stated. She rested her hands on Ashley's shoulders. "I have been seeing a few more smiles than tears in the last few months," she added. Red tinted her cheeks lightly and Hecuba smiled softly.

They got Ashley's hair and makeup done before getting her in the dress. There was a soft knock on the door. "Enter," Ashley called out. Helia entered the room.

"My princess, this was left outside the door," she informed her.

Ashley turned around and saw a box in Helia's hands. It was a beautiful, small gold box with red gems along the sides. Opening the box, Ashley gasped at what was inside. Inside the box sitting on silver silk was a white gold chain with what looked like an arrowhead charm and in the middle of the charm was a yellow stone. "Well, I have never seen that jewel out of our vault before," Hecuba commented. The Queen smiled softly at her. "The stone is a rare gem here on KO-35," she informed her, "It belonged to Queen Relena, it was a gift from her husband as a sign of his affection for her after their first wedding anniversary."

Ashley smiled as she held the necklace in her hand, her thumb moving over the gem. "Andros has a hard time relaying his thoughts and his feelings, this I am sure you have by now noticed," Hecuba stated.

"He's been expressing them in other ways," Ashley murmured, looking at the new mirror that hung above her vanity.

Hecuba took the necklace, clasping it around it around her neck. Ashley held the charm in her hand, smiling softly. "I'll never take it off," she murmured. The Queen smiled at her, kissing her cheek.

At the gala that evening, Andros and Ashley arrived arm in arm and the other guests greeted them happily. "Well, if it isn't two of my favorite Karovans," Hawthorne stated as he walked up. Andros and Hawthorne pressed their fists to their chests before bowing to each other. Hawthorne turned to Ashley, holding her hands in his as he pressed his forehead to her hands. Ashley curtsied with a soft smile.

"It's a pleasure to see you again," she answered.

"The pleasure is all mine," Hawthorne assured her.

Ashley smiled at Andros. "I will go make my rounds?" she asked him.

"I'll be here," he answered.

With that, she disappeared through the crowd. Hawthorne stood beside Andros with his arms behind his back. "Well, this is a change," he commented.

"She seems happier," Andros replied.

Hawthorne shook his head. "Mm mm, don't let the smile fool you," he told the young man, "Her soul has changed."

"How much?" Andros asked.

Hawthorne's snakelike eyes looked at him. "She's very conflicted," he replied. Andros watched as Ashley started talking with one of the other guests, laughing.

"Do you know how she feels about me?" Andros asked.

"I'm a soul reader, not a mind reader," Hawthorne replied.

"You can't tell that by reading her soul?" Andros asked.

"What I can read is she's conflicted," Hawthorne replied firmly.

Andros let out a sigh. "Her soul doesn't feel so broken either, it feels…like it is mending,' He added. Andros nodded his head slowly. "I sensed probably the most disgusting soul today though," Hawthorne stated, "I felt as though I had to shed another skin."

"Hawthorne, we are friends, but I really could go without talking about your shedding skin," Andros replied.

Andros shuddered, making Hawthorne chuckle. "How do you think I stay so young?" he quipped. Andros shook his head slowly with a smirk.

The night wore on, the music was playing the people were enjoying themselves. Andros watched as Ashley sat at one of the tables watching the people dance. Then Andros saw it, he saw Meranda making her way over to Ashley. Walking over to her first, he held his hand out to his wife. Ashley looked at his hand and then at him with a hesitant look, but then he gestured to his right and she saw her mother. Ashley grabbed his hand and he pulled her out into the dancing crowd, as far away from Meranda as possible. "Thanks," she told him.

"Always, I didn't want to hear her asking you when we're having kids," he replied.

Ashley laughed and he smiled at her. "I can get used to that," he commented without thinking. Ashley looked at him surprised and his cheeks turned red, his eyes aimed toward the floor. She couldn't help but smile, he was cute when he was embarrassed.

After the song, Ashley let out a deep breath. "It's getting a bit stuffy in here," she commented. Andros nodded his head slowly and let her go. Ashley started to walk away but then she looked back at him. "Aren't you coming?" she asked.

"Yeah," He replied surprised.

They walked towards the balcony. There were lights tied in the trees and the bushes, giving the garden a starry look. The moon was bright and large since the planet was closer to it. "It's so nice here," she commented.

"To think when my great-great grandfather met Hawthorne, this place was ravaged from an attack," Andros answered.

"Really? You can't even tell," she commented.

"It took years, but they brought it back," he replied.

Ashley suddenly shivered a little. "You okay?" he asked.

"It just got a little chilly out here," she replied.

Andros removed his jacket, resting it on her shoulders. She was surprised, looking at him. "Thank you," she murmured. Andros leaned against the rail. "You're a good man, Andros, you'll make a great King one day," she added.

"A King isn't much without a good Queen beside him," he replied.

Andros looked at her. "Which I believe you will be," he added. Ashley stood up and looked at him.

"I've been having a lot of fun in the last few months," she admitted.

"Yeah?" he answered.

She nodded her head with a slight smile. "I'm glad, because I've been having fun too," he replied. They were quiet now, staring at each other. Ashley's eyes kept diverting away but then looking back at him. Andros noticed her eyes kept glancing at his lips before she looked away again. Taking a nervous breath, he slowly moved took one of her hands in his, her eyes looking up from the floor to catch his when she felt his touch. She squeezed his fingers lightly as they were slowly leaning in closer. His breath was warm on her lips and she shuddered, her eyes closing in anticipation.

"Ashley, darling, there you are I have been looking all over for you," Meranda called out.

Ashley all but jumped away from him, the moment was now broken. "Hello, Andros," Meranda greeted.

"Meranda," Andros replied with a nod.

Ashley handed the jacket back to Andros before going back inside. Andros watched her go and let out a deep breath. All the while, Meranda watched with an evil smirk, before hurrying after her daughter. She quickly caught up with her and painfully grabbed her upper arm, dragging her off to a secluded corner of the ballroom.

"Aren't you carrying his heir yet?" she demanded of her daughter. Ashley looking away from her was all the answer she needed. "It's not that hard," Meranda continued. "Just lay there and take the pain while your husband takes his pleasure. If a common whore can do it, why can't you? After a while you may even learn to ignore the grunting."

Ashley's whole body stiffened. Meranda just smirked and walked away, leaving her daughter alone in the corner. After a minute, Ashley quietly slipped away from the ball.

The next time Andros saw his wife was in the shuttle back home. She'd curled up in a corner far from him and Kinwon. Even though she tried to hide it, he saw her eyes were red and puffy and immediately knew not to approach her. Whatever progress he had made with her, Meranda must have said something to shatter it all.