Chapter 35: A Gem

Ashley stood in hers and Andros's room wearing the mourning outfit that she had to wear that day. Today was a more solemn day, sadder day. Sai was asleep in his bassinet, but he had to come as he was the symbol of hope for their people. Andros entered the room wearing his own mourning outfit. Ashley walked over to him, kissing his lips lightly. Andros kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her.

The streets to the colony were quiet as there were several caskets brought through the streets carrying the remains of soldiers or empty caskets to symbolize them since there were many bodies that were never recovered.

Ashley stood with her family, watching the Karovan Holy Man perform the service. There were families crying, comforting each other over the loss of someone they loved. Each casket was lowered to the ground and once the dirt covered them, a torch was lit.

By the end of all of it, Andros stared out at the many torches that lit the Karovan cemetery. Andros let out a deep breath, knowing he had to speak. "My people…" he started to say into the microphone that was in front of him. His subjects turned to look at him. "This war was long and arduous. We have lost many lives, brothers, sisters, friends, sons, daughters, even mothers and fathers. No one has escaped this war unscathed by the nightmares it has caused," he explained.

Ashley stood beside her husband sadly, holding onto his hand. "We must not allow this nightmare to destroy our dreams for a future. This war will go down in history as the war that was started because of one former allies' selfish actions, but we also remember that wounds do heal. The scars left behind are the memories that the people we loved have left behind and those are what we have to cherish; memories. Grieve, but do not allow yourself to be consumed by it, as they would not want you to grieve for them forever. My people, we will begin our journey along the path of healing and let us help each other heal. There is still hope, that will not die," he explained. As solemn as their people were, they still held onto that hope and it was obvious to Ashley that KO-35 will heal from these tragedies. Andros moved his arm around his wife as their people continued to mourn through the day.

When night fell, Ashley was exhausted as Ly got her out of her dress. She had just pulled her nightgown on when Andros entered the room. "You have been as solemn today," he commented as he sat on the edge of their bed. Ashley let out a breath after dismissing Ly and sat beside her husband.

"I have embraced so many mourning people…" she murmured, "Offered my comfort to so many children…"

Andros nodded his head slowly. "I knew how those men and women felt," she murmured. He looked over at her. "During those long months that I thought we lost you…" she trailed off. Reaching over, he held her hand in his as she used her free hand to wipe the tears from her eyes. He held her close and Ashley let out a deep breath as she wrapped her arms around her husband, grateful that they could start rebuilding their lives again.

Three months later, Ashley was laying in the medical bed breathing through another contraction. This labor was a little easier, but just as painful as the first time. Andros was holding her hand, being the support she needed. "My lady, you are ready to push," the healer told her. She had felt her first contraction the previous night, but to keep her husband's mind calm she had to reassure him that she was not ready for the birthing room for a few hours. It wasn't until that her water broke just as she was getting ready for bed that it was time to bring her to the room.

Andros was the best support he could be in this situation, he held her hand, he rubbed her back when she would roll onto her side for any sort of relief. There was a point where Ashley fell asleep trying to regain strength for when it was time to push. She had her head resting in his lap and he stroked her hair, but when a contraction would hit, her nails dug into any part of him that was close to her. There were plenty of bruises beginning to form on him from her nails biting into his skin. It was a pain he welcomed, not wanting to take this experience for granted after missing Sai's birth.

With every push, he encouraged her. Ashley's hand gripped his as tight as she could with every push. "The head is out, my princess," the healer informed her. Ashley laid back against Andros's arm that was behind her and was breathing. "You are nearly there," the healer assured her.

"The shoulders are the worse part," she muttered, closing her eyes.

She let out another breath when another contraction hit she started pushing all over again. Minutes passed and she felt her child leave her body. The baby screamed and cried as it entered the universe. The healer smiled at the couple. "You have a daughter," he announced over the baby's squawks. With tears in her eyes, Ashley looked at her husband and she saw unshed tears in his eyes.

Andros stood up and reached for his newborn daughter. The baby screamed and cried until she was in her father's loving arms and she calmed down even though she just whimpered. "Just cry it out," he cooed softly, "Daddy is here." Ashley was laying back on the bed with a smile on her face but she couldn't stop the tears from falling. Andros let out a breath as he stared at his daughter. He wiped his eyes and sat down again. "She's so beautiful," he told his wife.

Ashley reached out, wiping a tear away with her thumb that he hadn't noticed that fell. "Thank you, for her," Andros added, kissing her lightly. Ashley kissed him back, her hand resting on the baby in his arms. Pulling away from their kiss, Andros looked back at their daughter and smiled. "Gemma," he murmured. Ashley's smile just brightened.

"It's perfect," she answered.

They moved Ashley back to their room where she showered and changed into another nightgown. The only time Andros let Gemma go was for her to be cleaned up and checked over. When she was returned to the room he welcomed her back into his arms happily. Andros finally had to give her back to Ashley when it was time to feed her. He laid down beside his family, watching Ashley nurse their daughter. Ashley looked over at him to see him holding their daughter's tiny foot in his hand. "What do you think?" she asked.

"I can't believe it," he replied honestly.

He sat up and moved so he was sitting right next to her. "This was what it was like when Sai was born?" he asked.

"Yeah, I remember holding him for hours to the point Hecuba had to take him so I could sleep," she replied.

Andros smiled a little. "The minute I was awake I just wanted to hold him all day and night," she murmured.

"I can understand why," he answered.

Ashley smiled at him, kissing him lovingly. Andros kissed her back when their daughter let out a little noise. They pulled away and smiled at her. She finished eating and Andros happily took her to burp her while Ashley fixed the top to her nightgown. She leaned back against the headboard, watching Andros hold their daughter with such love and care, the same love and care he showed to their son when he first saw him. It made her love him even more if it were at all possible. They leaned into each other and smiled at their newborn daughter.