Individual disclaimer: "Tender Years" by John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band
The anniversary
"Hey," Ashley glanced up from her computer monitor to find her best friend standing in the door to her office.
"Oh hey Karone what's up?"
"Oh, nothing really I just wondered if your going to work through the night?"
"Well, I have a lot of work to do." Ashley nodded at her computer screen.
"You know I may come from another world but I was under the impression that earthlings celebrate the anniversary of their marriages." The Karovian said and Ashley felt a little pang at the reminder, she could understand why her husband had had to go on a mission to save the world but it still ate at her that it was their anniversary and they still weren't back. She had known he'd not be back in time when she'd come into their bedroom to find him strapping on his morpher.
Boy it felt great to be home, Ashley loved her job but she was smashed. They'd been tracking the remnants of the machine empire along with tracking about fifty of the most evil characters in the universe. It could be really draining. Now as she kicked the door closed she noted Andros' jacket lying on an arm chair. That was odd; Andros was not usually home so early.
"Andros?" She called as she headed for the kitchen, and then changed her direction when she noticed the light coming from beneath their bedroom door. Good, maybe now was the perfect time to tell him…
"I'm in here!" He called and she reached the door in time to find him pulling on his old vest.
"You're leaving?" She asked and he nodded.
"There's been some activity I need to check it out." He explained as he headed for the closet on the far side of the bed.
"Oh, ok." She knew from his tone and stance it was classified and sighed.
"Ash?"
Hmm?"
"You alright?" Karone asked and Dana nodded.
"I was just thinking." Ashley said and Karone rested a hand on her friends shoulder.
"He'll be back."
"I know." Dana looked at her monitor again and punched in the end of her log.
"Listen I'm going to go meet Cassie and Tarick, why don't you come along, it has to be better than working on this stuff." Karone said and Ashley looked back at her almost empty file list and nodded. It might just help to take her mind off of the situation for a couple of hours.
They headed down town to a club where they not only had loud music but pretty god food. Ashley would probably have noticed how dead the main club seemed when they entered but her thoughts were still on this most depressing anniversary.
When they entered a smaller room in the back Ashley was surprised to not only see Cassie and her phantom but also Kimberly Oliver, Catherine Scott, and from what she gathered other significant others of rangers.
'What's going on?"
'Well I thought that since our boys went off to play we should all have a little fun of our own." Catherine smiled mischievously at her.
"Oh, well ok."
With that Ashley placed an order with a waitress and settled in between Cassie and a woman introduced to her as Dana Grayson.
Still she wasn't" interested in conversation, her mind just went over and over how she'd acted when he'd gone. Would he even want to come back to her?
As soon as the new song started Ashley felt tears well up in her eyes. It was their song, and he wasn't" there…
When the moon hung soft and low,
Catchin" stardust in the light
You held me closer and closer
There was magic in the night
The sounds of voices faded around her and she only heard and Andros's voice as the memory of their wedding day hit her.
"Ashley Magdalena hammon do you freely bond yourself to this young man, for al that stretches out before you?" The Karovian priestess asked and Ashley nodded a water smile on her lips.
"And Andros Son of Della and Ashon do you do as was bidden of this child of earth?"
"I do."
"And now the bands."
Zhane stepped forward with the band for the bride while Karone the band for the groom.
Soon the bands were slid around their upper arms and she they touched they dissolved into their skin, completing the Karovian marriage ceremony.
A sweet love song, a melody
That I still can recall
Two young hearts filled with dreams
To walk away with it all
"May I have this dance?" A deep voice asked and Ashley glanced up in awe to find him there, really and truly there.
"Andros?" She breathed afraid it might be a day dream.
"Come on." And he was helping her up, guiding her to the floor.
Whoa, whoa tender years
Won't you wash away my tears
How I wish you were here
Please don't go, tender years
"How? I thought you were still…"
"We were on our way back. I wanted to surprise you." He explained as they slowly moved about the floor.
"You did, oh yes you did." She smiled up at him. Heavens he was even dressed up, in a pair of black pants, tight ones, she noticed smiling to herself, and a white blazer over a red shirt. He looked as handsome as he had when he took her to prom.
"Good." He smiled back down at her. Funny but Ashley couldn't even remember why she'd been upset. "I know you were mad when I had to go. Ash if there had been any other way…" he looked at his feet which were managing to avoid stomping n hers.
"Andros I know," She murmured reaching up to stop hymn before he could go on a guilt trip. "I just…" This time he silenced her, but with a slow passionate kiss.
A summer love, a beach romance
Sought her kisses in the sand
Two young hearts filled with fire
Lost in never-neverland.
"Well, I'd say that's better." Katherine murmured over to her predecessor and Karone frowned.
"You two were in on this from the start?"
"Yeah, we couldn't just let their anniversary go by."
"So that's why you really called us all in." Wes said from where he sat to Carter's left.
"Yep. "The more red rangers the father it would get finished so Andros could make it home." Tom Oliver smiled at his wife who smiled right back at him.
Whoa, whoa tender years
Won't you wash away my tears
How I wish you were here
Please don't go, tender years
"I love you." Andros told his wife.
"I love you too Andros." The pretty brunette smiled right back into his eyes. Heavens how could she think he'd not come back? Then she remembered the news she'd been planning to give him that day when she'd found him packing to leave. "Andros…"
"Hmm?" he asked catching her mischievous gaze.
"I have a surprise for you." She told him.
"Hmm?" He asked not at all surprised, Ashley lived to shock him. Not that he minded.
"Remember that doctor's appointment I had the day I got home from work early?" She asked and he nodded. "Do you think you could have the guys help you paint the nursery?" She asked innocently. S
"Ash…"
***
Hey I hope you guys liked it. It was a bit of a strange song to use I guess but it's the one I was listening to when I started planning it. PlZ R&R and let me know what you think. Should I try more Ashley and Andros?