Chapter 49: An Understanding

Ashley walked down the hall with a tray of food in her hands. She barely spoke to the rest of her team after their confrontation on the bridge. Entering the engine room, she frowned to see the young woman chained to a pole. Biting her lower lip, she set the tray down in front of her. She removed her data pad from her jacket. "I don't know what you eat usually…so I brought a little bit of everything," the data pad read out loud.

"I'm not hungry," Astronema answered.

"Are you sure? You should try something," Ashley insisted.

Astronema frowned as she sat back and let out a sigh. "It wasn't my idea to have you chained like an animal,' she added.

"Your friends don't trust me," Astronema replied.

Ashley shook her head slowly and she sat down when Andros entered the room. "But you two trust me?" she asked.

"Yes," Andros replied as he sat next to Ashley.

"Why?" Astronema asked.

Ashley held up her data pad again. "Because you saved Andros's life, not once, but twice," she replied. Andros reached down and entwined his fingers with Ashley's. A gesture that didn't go unnoticed by Astronema.

"Lovers?" Astronema asked.

Ashley nodded with a smile. "Well, then that makes sense then," she commented. She looked over at Andros.

"Our parents?" she asked.

Ashley saw Andros's eyes cloud with sadness. "Dad's alive…I helped him escape KO-35 right before the attack," he replied.

"Mom?" Astronema asked.

Andros lowered his head sadly and let out a breath and Ashley looked over at her. "Mom passed a few years ago," he admitted sadly, looking back at his sister, "She would've been so happy to see you again." Astronema's frown deepened and she looked at the floor.

"Dark Specter had me order the attack…" she started to say.

Andros immediately got up from his spot on the floor. "No," he said firmly, making her look up at him. Andros knelt in front of her. "Mom's death was NOT your fault," he insisted, "I promise it wasn't your fault." Astronema was silent and her eyes were downcast towards the floor again.

"I kind of remember her…" Astronema replied softly, "More images than anything…maybe?"

Andros frowned, but then he had an idea. He removed the bits of her gear from her forearms and then the gloves. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"Trust me," he replied.

Taking her hands, he held them between his and he closed his eyes. Ashley watched as Astronema stared in confusion but then she let out a soft gasp and her brown eyes grew wide. Then she teared up, which made Ashley get up and move to her other side. Her hands rested on Astronema's shoulders. Andros released her hands and Astronema was trying to keep herself from breaking down. "She was beautiful…" she said softly. Andros nodded his head.

"Dad used to say the most beautiful woman in the universe," he replied.

Astronema let out a shaky breath and tears slid down her face. "I don't even remember my own parents," she said, "I have believed in lies for so many years." Andros reached out and his arms went around her in a hug. Her hands went to his sides in her attempt to hug him back, but the most she could do was put her head on his shoulder. Ashley and Andros looked at each other. Reaching out, Ashley reached out and ran her hand along her boyfriend's cheek, before standing up. She gave them both a smile before leaving them alone.

Walking down the hall a bit, Ashley stopped and she leaned against the wall and rubbed the back of her neck. She couldn't even imagine the kind of confusion and pain Astronema or…Karone was going through. All these years believing that the Power Rangers killed her family only to find one of the Rangers WAS her family. She heard footsteps walk around the corner, Ashley looked up and Carlos stood there. "Oh…I was looking for Andros," He said. Ashley frowned deeply and shook her head at him, signaling to leave him alone. "Since when did you and Andros get so close?" he asked, making her stop, "Normally you two don't even stay in the same room for long." Ashley kept her back to him. "All of a sudden he's your best friend?" he asked.

Turning around, Ashley removed her data pad from her jacket again. "No, I want you to tell me," Carlos said. Ashley gave him a glare. "You talk when it comes to defending Andros, you're supporting him for bringing Astronema on this ship? This could be a trap!" he exclaimed. Ashley was staring at him. "Say something!" he snapped.

Instead of answering in any way, Ashley turned on her heel and started walking away. Carlos let out a frustrated breath, but he followed her. "So you'll say something when it comes to him, calling to him when he's in trouble, yelling at all of us when we're making points at him but you won't say anything to defend your actions? What about us?" he demanded, "We were your friends first!" Ashley stared at him blankly, her lips in a firm line. He was sounding like a child! At the same time she knew why he was upset. They didn't understand what Andros was going through, she did though. "Why don't you just say something?!" Carlos said irritated.

Ashley grabbed Carlos's wrist and forced his palm open. She took her finger and started writing in his palm. "You…are…an…ass," he read. Ashley gave him a glare before shoving his hand away again then storming off.

"And you're being reckless!" he snapped at her.

Ashley had to keep herself from going back to argue with him some more. She instead let out a loud groan and disappeared around the corner.

After finding out that everything on Utoba was a trap, but Astronema came through and protected all of them from not just Dark Specter but Darkonda as well, everyone was back on the ship. Ashley was back to fixing the damage from their crash landing, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She reached for her tool that was by her feet but it was suddenly being held up to her. Ashley saw it was Carlos holding it and stood up, taking it from him. "Does it help if I say I'm sorry?" Carlos asked.

She shifted a little on her feet and let out a sigh, shaking her head. Carlos frowned, thinking that what he had done the previous day really crossed a line. Ashley reached out and she grasped his hand, holding it between hers. He lifted his head again to look at her. "I'm sorry," she said very quietly. Carlos saw how difficult even just saying that for him to hear was a step for her.

"I am too," he answered, "I just…I don't know I don't know how I feel about these changes I see in you, Ash."

Ashley frowned a little, not understanding what he was meaning. "I may seem clueless but I'm really not," he commented. Ashley tilted her head to the side, what was he talking about? "A year ago you barely left your house without Tommy or someone with you always," He pointed out. Nodding her head slowly. "I know being a Ranger brought you out a bit, but…being here. You're not the same person at all, I don't even know if I know this Ashley," he added, "Other than the muteness you're different. All the way down to the way you dress."

Feeling guilt eat her up, Ashley lowered her head. "I mean, you're more confident, which I think is great," he insisted, "I don't know I feel like ever since we've been here I can't speak for Cassie or TJ but for me…I feel like I faded in the background." His confession made Ashley stomach twist. "Then all of a sudden you're not just defending Andros, but Astronema? Someone who had been trying to kill us since the beginning? I thought for a second you had gone crazy, but then I felt so pissed off and I have to admit, Ash. I felt betrayed," he explained.

Hearing Carlos say this made Ashley rethink everything, she never realized just how much her life revolved not just around this ship but Andros. "All of a sudden you went from one of my best friends…" Carlos started to say. Ashley stunned him when she suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. The impact made him stumble a little. Ashley shook her head, hugging him even tighter. Carlos hugged her back, resting his head on top of hers.

Later that night, Ashley was sitting on her own bunk with one of her books in her hands. She heard a knock on her door and looked up. "Ash?" Andros called on the other side. She got up and walked over to the door, letting it slide open. "You okay? I'm surprised you're over here," he commented. Ashley looked around and saw no one was around and she let him in.

"I figured you wanted more time with Karone," She replied as she closed the door.

"She's asleep now," he said as he leaned back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

"This feels surreal…" he replied.

"Of course, after all these years," She said smiling, "You and Karone both deserve all the time you can together now. She has a few years to catch up on."

Ashley smiled but then Andros stared at her. "Something's off, what's going on?" he asked. She let out a sigh as she sat on the edge of her bunk.

"I had a little bit of a confrontation with Carlos…he made some good points," She replied.

Andros frowned. "About supporting my decision dealing with Karone?" he asked.

"No," she replied.

Ashley shook her head as she stood up. "Nope, you are not going to worry about anything else than your sister," she insisted.

"What did he say?" he asked.

"I think everyone's starting to suspect us," She replied.

She saw his shoulders sag. "Dammit, Ashley, don't scare me like that," he told her.

"What did you think I was going to say?" she asked.

"I don't know, like maybe you were having second thoughts about standing up for Karone or something, make you pick between us and them," he replied.

Ashley sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "You know it's not a crime for our friends to know we're together," he pointed out.

"No," She agreed, "Carlos said I'm different too."

Andros pushed the hair from her face as she looked at him. "You are," he answered, "But in a good way." Ashley had her hands on his chest and he kissed the top of her head as his arms moved around her back and she leaned into him. "You are far from the timid girl who was scared that she fell onto me when the ship was plummeting to that planet," he added.

"Okay in my defense, I was on a strange ship that was crashing into an unknown planet and I'm falling into a Red Ranger who I don't even know was human or not," she answered.

Andros smirked as he held her closer and her arms moved around his waist. "Although, since we have been together, I think they do miss hanging out with you," he commented after a few minutes. Ashley nodded in agreement.

"I kind of miss it too," she admitted.

"And I'll admit it would've worried me if you said you didn't miss it," he answered.

Andros kissed the side of her head. "I have to get Karone acclimated to things," he said, "But I'm still not going anywhere."

"I know," She answered.

Ashley hugged him a little tighter if it were possible. "I love you," she murmured. Andros kissed the top of her head.

"I love you more," he replied.