Where Are You Christmas
Chapter 14: Silver Gives Pink Her Christmas Wish
By: Pink-Green-white-4ever
Last Revised: December 18, 2011

Summary: All she wanted for Christmas was for her family to be together, all he wanted to do was grant her, her heart's desire.
Rating: T
Ship: Silver/Pink

Disclaimer: Don't own the Rangers (SABAN DOES!) and I don't own the song, that's Faith Hill's.

AN: This is set Christmas of 2002 *winks*

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3:15 P.M. - Monday
December 16th, 2002
KO-35

She was restless and quiet and he was starting to go crazy from watching her mope around their house. At nine months pregnant, and so close to her due date, he figured she'd be in nesting mode, or at least that's what he expected after watching Ashley go through it the year before. But no, his wife was curled up on the couch, her eyes unfocused as she stared out the window, looking for a figure he wasn't sure was going to be showing up any time soon. The worst part was, he understood how she was feeling. He too wanted to see the familiar frame dressed in red and gray come up the side walk as he had many times before. This year, it just wasn't going to happen.

It was very nearly Christmas, a holiday that they'd enjoyed ever since Ashley had come to live on KO-35. Christmas was a religious holiday on Earth, first and foremost, and a secular one for most everyone else but they'd created their own kind of Christmas, and for their team, it meant family and being together. This Christmas, it just wasn't going to be the same. All the former Silver Ranger could do was shake his head and think to call his sister-in-law to see if she'd heard anything from her husband.

The fact was, the former Red Space Ranger had come out of retirement earlier in the year to track the remnants of the Machine Empire. Alongside T.J. and eight other Red Rangers, Andros had been in a battle some time before, and had destroyed Lord Zedd's personal Zord, Serpentara. However, it wasn't like the old days where they could just go back to their lives after a battle was over. Andros had had to stay on Earth, to help clean up the mess, but more importantly, to plan with the other Red Rangers and the governments of Earth for any future events like this that might occur. He'd been gone for nearly six months, and only knew that his baby sister was pregnant because when he'd called after the battle, she'd been with Ashley and had spoken to him.

While Zhane was terrified of what his best friend was going to say about becoming an uncle, he was upset that Andros hadn't made it back, and probably wouldn't, before Christmas or the birth of his niece or nephew. Zhane knew that Karone craved having her brother with her when she brought the child she carried into this world. It was one thing to have him and Ashley with her, but they weren't her blood relatives, much as she loved them. She couldn't have her parents there, because they were both long dead, but she had a living breathing big brother and she wanted him home with her.

Catching sight of the tears running rivers down her cheeks, Zhane cursed softly. He heard the song playing on the radio and knew that it wasn't helping his wife's mood. Faith Hill had a stunning voice, but the lyrics to her song, 'Where Are You Christmas', were not going to help Karone's frame of mind. Muttering crossly to himself, he turned for the vid-com. He was damn well going to do his best to make his wife's Christmas wish come true.

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8:00 A.M. - Tuesday
December 24th, 2002
Hospital – KO-35

"Feeling okay?" Cassie asked, brushing sweaty strands of blonde hair from Karone's face.

"Tired," the former Pink Galaxy Ranger sighed, leaning back against the pillows. Maya sat at the end of her bed, rubbing Karone's feet. Maya's own belly was just starting to round, revealing her and Mike's growing child. Kendrix stood near the door, her and Leo's tow-headed son braced on her hip as she talked to the doctor. Carlos and Damon sat on the floor, entertaining Cassie and T.J.'s two year old son and Ashley and Andros' one year old daughter. Karone did a mental count and tried to remember where everyone else was. Mike and Kai had gone to Earth to give Leo, Andros and T.J. a hand, Kai's wife Hannah was busy with their two year old son and work on Mirinoi but had sent a vid message and flowers, and Zhane and Ashley had been called to the government building on an emergency call from the ambassador. She hoped, with all her might, that it wasn't anything serious and that her sister and her husband would be there soon. If she couldn't have her brother with her, she wanted the other two members of her family close by.

"Relax," Maya murmured, stroking strong fingers up and down Karone's calves. "Stressing out isn't going to help the baby."

"I know," she gasped as a particularly strong contraction hit. "I just wish…"

Cassie leaned down and kissed her forehead. "They'll be here in time, have a little faith," the former Pink Space Ranger grinned. "They had to stop and get something for you after they were done with the ambassador."

Karone nodded and focused herself on breathing as her contractions grew stronger, gripping her body and causing her to cry out softly. "Breathe," Kendrix ordered as she handed her son to Damon and moved to the opposite side Karone's bed.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Karone could only nod once and focused her attention on her breathing, hoping it would ease some of the pain caused by her body trying to give life to her child. "I wish Zhane and Andros were here!" she cried out seconds before her body relaxed and she flopped back against the pillows. Cassie, Kendrix and Maya shared a look that said they hoped the same.

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12:00 P.M.

"I hope I'm not late!" Hannah giggled as she walked in, toting her little boy in her arms. Karone shot her a small smile and shook her head.

"No, your niece or nephew still hasn't made their appearance," the former Pink Ranger softly murmured, patting her belly.

"That's good, because I found something you wanted for Christmas," Hannah commented seconds before Ashley and Zhane strode into the room, followed by another, much beloved, figure.

"ANDROS!"

He grinned and quickly moved toward her open arms, leaning down to kiss her forehead and hug her as tight as he could. He stroked her softly along the back of her head and held her to him. "Shhh," he soothed. "Did you think I'd honestly miss this?" he asked, pulling back to look down into her tear filled eyes. "You're bringing my niece or nephew into this world, I'm not missing this!"

"I'm glad you're here," she choked, seconds before she cried out at the contraction. Kendrix, Cassie and Maya jumped up and began moving to help her through.

"I'll get the doctor," Hannah supplied as the boys moved the kids out of the room. "Mike and Kai are in the hallway," she told them before she rushed out.

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4:30 P.M.

"So?" he asked, sitting on the side of her bed.

"What?"

"Did you like your present?" he asked, leaning over her to rub his lips against hers before looking down at their daughter.

She eyed him carefully. "How'd you get him home?" she asked, tears choking her voice as he looked up from playing with the baby's hands.

"Put a few calls in to some former spandex wearing superheroes and may have called in a few favors with NASADA," he shrugged. "It's not like they needed him that badly for a few days, Tommy's got everything under control for now."

"Beloved," she murmured, reaching out to cup his cheek and lift his face to hers. "Thank you."

"I love you, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you," he reminded her, turning so he could kiss her palm.

A knock at the door brought them out of their little world for two. It was followed by Ashley darting her head inside. "Safe to come in?"

"Yep," Karone grinned then yawned as Ashley, Andros, Cassie, T.J. and Carlos came in together.

"Well?" Carlos prompted, gesturing to the baby.

Karone laughed while Zhane just glared at his former teammate. "Well what?" the proud daddy grumbled.

"Do we get a name or not?" T.J. laughingly asked, his arm around Cassie.

"Zoe Kalani," Karone nuzzled her sleeping daughter.

"Welcome to the family, little girl," Andros greeted as her newborn baby blues opened up and stared at him before she reached a hand out and grabbed his hair. "And just like your mom, your cousin, and your aunt, you're already playing with my hair."

The comment sent the others into soft, delighted laughter as Andros nuzzled the side of her face, planting gentle kisses on her neck.