Chapter 36: More than Anyone
Ashley was holding a sleepy Sai in her arms while Andros paced the room with Gemma in his arms. He wasn't able to put her down for a long period of time since her birth. There was a soft knock on the door and Ly entered the room. "My lady, your father is here," she informed the young woman.
Andros turned towards his wife, who just nodded her head slowly. "Let him in," she answered as she sat up in her bed. Fernando entered the room and he bowed his head to both of them. Ashley was surprised by her father's greeting.
"I have been informed of a new arrival," he stated simply.
"Yes," Andros replied, holding Gemma a little closer if it were possible.
Sai let out a yawn and curled up into Ashley's side. "Father, that is Gemma, my daughter," Ashley informed her father.
Fernando walked over to Andros, looking at the baby in his arms. "She is beautiful," Fernando commented. The newborn let out a little noise, her tiny hands opening and closing. "She looks just like you had when you were first born," he added.
"You were off planet when I was born," Ashley answered.
"I came back, three days later," Fernando stated.
Fernando made his way into the manor. He had just finished a visit to Earth and he felt lighter than ever. When he entered his home, however, he heard a sound he was unfamiliar with. It was the sound of crying, then he realized…it was a newborn's cries. A healer approached him. "Did one of the servants bring a newborn with them?" Fernando asked.
"No, my King…the Queen gave birth three days ago," the healer replied.
Fernando stared. "Then why is my child crying? Why won't my wife answer the child?" he asked.
"Your wife won't answer because it is the girl that cries. My king…with my condolences…I must tell you that your son, he did not make it," the healer replied.
Fernando's heart ached at the words and his eyes were downcast towards the floor. "Your daughter lives, but she has not stopped screaming since her birth. Your wife has rejected bonding with her, calling her "cursed" as your son didn't survive," the healer explained.
Fernando made his way down the hall. "Does she have a name?" Fernando asked.
"She has not been held let alone given a name," the healer replied.
Fernando followed the wails and was led towards a nursery.
Reaching the nursery, Fernando opened the door and the baby's screams filled his ears. The cries were so loud, his head started to hurt. Making his way over to the crib, he looked inside at the screaming, wriggling child. Her little body was beet red from the screaming. "She will not eat, sire!" the healer called out.
Fernando reached into the crib. "I am afraid that if she does not eat soon then she will not survive another day," the healer added. It was then the healer realized, he didn't have to shout for his King to hear him. The baby's screams had settled and now she was only whimpering.
"Fetch a bottle for her," Fernando ordered, looking at the baby in his arms.
The healer stared at the now quiet child to see her staring up at Fernando with tear-filled eyes. "Quickly!" Fernando ordered. The healer immediately left the room and Fernando paced the floor, holding his child in his arms.
"You are…truly beautiful, my sweet daughter," he said softly.
He pressed a gentle kiss to the baby's forehead, holding her close when the healer returned with a bottle. He took it from the man, and the newborn latched on. "There we are," he murmured.
"And a name?" the healer asked.
Fernando stared at the feeding infant. "Ashley…her name is Ashley," he replied.
"That is an unheard of Vican name," the healer stated.
"It's not," Fernando replied, "It's Terran."
Ashley stared at her father as Andros made his way over to his wife. "You named me?" she asked. Fernando nodded his head slowly.
"I did," he replied.
Ashley looked at Sai. "Your mother wasn't thrilled when I told her that I gave you a Terran name, but…the name fit you and it still does. An ash tree starts out small, but as it grows older the roots go deep into the earth and it grows stronger and taller," he explained.
"Why would you put her through that with a Terran name?" Andros asked.
"She's my daughter, her mother rejected her. I don't have many rights on Ola, but I wasn't going to allow my daughter to grow up without a name," Fernando replied firmly, "You know what lengths I am willing to go to protect her."
"Then why not protect her from Meranda in the past?" Andros demanded.
"Who do you think agreed to send her to Earth in the first place?" Fernando answered.
Andros was silent. "You agreed to it?" Ashley asked.
"Ashley, I have done what I can to protect you from Meranda. She wanted you sent to Gratha for your teachings, I said Elisia, she reluctantly agreed. She saw how happy you were, she went behind my back and sent you to Aquitar instead," Fernando replied.
Ashley looked at Sai and Andros took a seat next to her on their bed. "One of your instructors contacted Zordon, who then contacted me about sending you to Earth. He needed you there to help his planetary Rangers," he explained.
Ashley was silent, looking at her son. "Then mother went behind your back about Enar…" she murmured.
"I promise you, Ashley, I didn't know about you and the Terran boy," Fernando replied.
Ashley closed her eyes as she felt Andros move his arm around her waist. "Carlos was an escape, Father," she replied, "I have a family here." Andros pressed a kiss to her shoulder and Ashley leaned against him.
"I did what I could to protect you without your mother's interference. I have no rights to my daughters on Ola," Fernando replied, "I only have rights to my son."
Ashley leaned further into Andros with a deep breath. "I think she needs time to herself, Fernando," Andros stated. Ashley reached for Gemma and Andros happily placed their daughter into her waiting arms.
Grabbing his cane, Andros limped across the room to escort Fernando out. Before the Vican King left, he turned and looked back at his daughter. "For what it is worth, Ashley, I have always loved you," he told her, "More than anything…more than anyone." With that, Fernando left and Ashley just sat there silently, staring at her children.
Andros closed the door behind him, looking at his wife. "Ashley?" he murmured, looking at her. Ashley leaned back against the headboard with a heavy breath as he limped back over to her. "Say something," He murmured.
"I have really nothing else to say about my mother. She's an evil woman who should never get her hands on my children," she replied, "I don't want her near our children."
Andros sat on the edge of the bed. "I can talk with my mother about limiting her visits?" he suggested.
"I just wish she would never come back," she replied.
Andros leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his wife's forehead. Ashley reached out, her fingers entwining with his as they sat silently, holding their children close.