Chapter 15: The Baby
Zhane stood there with his own blaster in his hands. Andros fell to the floor holding his throat while Ashley came to him. "Are you okay?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he assured.
She fell against him after she felt her baby finally relax. He held her close and sighed. She gasped as the Dark King grabbed her arm. "The child of Andros must not survive," he snarled. He pulled out a knife and went to put it through her stomach.
"ANDROS!" Zhane yelled.
Zhane tossed to blaster to Andros and Andros put the blaster in the way having the knife go through.
"This will be the last time you try to kill my child," he snapped.
A blaster hit the Dark King again, finishing him off. Zhane walked over to the two of them. "Are you guys okay?" He asked. Andros nodded and looked down at his wife. Ashley sighed and placed her head on his shoulder. Andros picked her up and transported out of their prison cell.
When they came back to the city, Ashley and Andros looked at Zhane. "How did you know where we were?" He asked.
"The Dark King's ship was hovering over the planet. When it was reported that the Chancellor and the Lady were kidnapped, I had a feeling that's where you were. So, I was able to transport myself there," Zhane replied.
"You made it just in time," Andros commented.
Andros found his wife sleeping in his arms. He placed a kiss on her forehead and carried her to their house.
(Two Months Later)
Ashley and Andros were packing up to go to earth when the baby hiccupped. "Andros, the baby has the hiccups again," she groaned.
"Well, at least I don't carry them," he teased.
Ashley threw a shirt at him. "Very funny," she snapped. Andros rolled his eyes.
"Mood swings," he sighed.
"You've got that right," she mumbled.
"Are you willing to have more kids after this one?"
"If I have the energy."
"Hey, you've done so much and you still had the energy to go to school."
Ashley nodded and then Andros's communicator beeped. "We still have that party to go to," he reminded. Ashley looked at her stomach with a sigh.
"This is my first great big party and I look like an elephant," she whined.
"Oh, boy," he murmured.
He walked over and grabbed her hands. "Ashley, Ashley, look at me," he stated. He lifted her chin up so she was looking him in the eye. "You are the most beautiful girl in the universe. You are gorgeous and every man should be jealous that I have taken the prettiest girl as my wife," he assured. He wiped her tears away with a smile. "You are very beautiful, Ashley," he commented. He gave her a gentle kiss and stood up. "Now, let's go show you off," he stated.
Ashley laughed and left the room with him.
That night, many women walked up to Ashley. Ashley was getting annoyed having the same questions asked. Then Zhane walked over to her. "How are you doing?" He asked.
"I'm getting tired. This baby takes a lot out of me," she replied.
Zhane smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead. "How long will you and Andros be gone?" He asked.
"We'll be gone for a few weeks. Our friends and my family would like to spend time with the baby before we return to KO-35 to our duties," she replied.
"I just don't want it to be like last time where you guys were gone so long there was going to be a riot," he stated.
"Oh, don't worry, we won't be gone that long," she assured.
Then Andros walked over to her. "May I have this dance, Lady Ashley?" He asked.
"I would be honored, Chancellor Andros," she replied.
He led her out to the dance floor and started dancing with her with a smile on his face. Ashley began to giggle. "What?" He asked.
"The baby keeps moving and it tickles," she replied.
He placed a hand on her stomach and felt the baby move again. "See?" She asked.
"Yeah, but wait until we finally have this baby," he replied.
"I won't be the only one taking care of her during the night," she stated.
"It's going to be a boy."
"It's going be a girl."
"Boy."
"Girl."
"Boy."
"Girl."
The banter went on for awhile until Andros had to go and make his speech to the public, announcing that he'd be leaving once again.
(One Month Later)
Ashley was sitting in her mom's house with a sigh. Mrs. Hammond came out of the kitchen with a smile. "Ashley, where did Andros go?" She asked.
"I sent him out to be with T. J. and the rest of the guys. He deserves to have fun too," she replied.
"Shouldn't he be helping you?"
"Mom, he's done so much already."
"I know, but when I was pregnant with Jeff and you, your father rarely left my side."
"If I hadn't sent Andros out he would be the same way."
Mrs. Hammond sat across from her with a smile. "Your grandmother is sure excited," she stated.
"She was excited when I was pregnant the first time," Ashley murmured.
Ashley sighed thinking about her first baby that the Dark King killed. However, as Ashley got up to go to the bathroom, it happened, her water broke. "Uh, oh," she murmured.
"What is it, Ashley?" Mrs. Hammond asked.
"Mom, my water broke," she replied.
Mrs. Hammond then called Jeff downstairs. "Jeff, call Andros and everyone. Tell them that Ashley had just gone into labor. While your at it, get her suitcase in the car," she ordered.
"Yes, mom," Jeff acknowledged.
He grabbed her suitcase and got her out into the car.
Andros came into the emergency room and Mrs. Hammond stood up. "Is she okay?" He asked.
"She's fine, she's fine. She's in delivery room number 214. That's down the hall, turn right, then left, and it'll be the first door on your right," she informed.
He thanked her and hurried down the hall.
When he came into the room, his wife gave him everything he needed before sitting. Ashley gasped in pain and grabbed his hand. "Just remember to breathe, Ashley," Dr. Warner informed.
"I am breathing," Ashley snapped.
"Just try to relax," she informed.
"If you tell me to relax one more time, Dr. Warner, I'm going to rip your freaking head off."
Andros knew that this was going to happen, but he winced as she squeezed his hand as hard as she could. She lied back when the contraction stopped and he stayed right by her side. "This is going to be a very long night, so just get comfortable," Dr. Warner informed. Andros nodded and stroked Ashley's hair. Ashley looked at him with a smile.
"This is it," she murmured.
"Yes, this is it," he agreed.
"Our first baby is on the way."
"We've been waiting a long time for this."
"And it has finally come, but now that I think of it, will I make a good enough mother?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Andros, I've been fighting demons, being stalked by demons, and was able to balance school with it. Am I good enough to take care of a baby?"
Andros smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead. "You'll make a great mother," he assured.
"You really think so?" She asked.
"I know so," he replied.
Ashley sighed and leaned back against the pillows. She groaned and squeezed his hand as a contraction hit her. Dr. Warner then came back into the room. "Andros, you should tell the family that she's having slow contractions and it'll be awhile before the time actually comes," she informed. Ashley groaned as he let her hand go.
"I'll be right back, Princess, I promise," he assured.
Andros then walked out of the room and towards the waiting room.
He came out and watched as Cassie jumped up from Carlos's lap when he came in. "How is she?" She asked.
"She's fine, however, her contractions are coming slowly so everyone just get comfortable, it's going to be a long night," he informed.
They all sighed at the news. "I'm going to grab some things out of my car," Cassie informed.
"I've got to get back in there, Ashley's waiting for me," he stated.
They nodded and watched him leave.
(Seven Hours Later)
Ashley was reading some notes from KO-35 when Andros snatched them out of her hands. "Stop worrying about work and start concentrating on having our baby," he insisted.
"Andros, I have to do something before I go insane," she whined.
Andros chuckled and held onto her hand. "Hey, do you remember that time when we first met?" He asked.
"What the time you took off running and then you left us behind on the planet?" She asked.
"Yeah, and you know I still kick myself for doing that. Leaving behind the angel that captured my heart."
Ashley touched his face with a smile. She then sat up with a gasp. "Okay, I think this is it," she announced. Dr. Warner then hurried in front of her.
"Okay, Ashley, remember to push now," she informed.
Ashley nodded and cried out in pain.
A few minutes later, Ashley fell back against him. "And we have a girl," she announced. Ashley felt tears of happiness fall from her eyes. After the baby was cleaned up and wrapped up in a warm pink blanket, she walked over and placed the baby into Ashley's arms. "Here she is," she stated. Ashley looked at the baby with a smile.
"Andros, you're a daddy," she announced.
He took the baby into his arms and looked out the window. The first rays of light came spilling through the window. "I'm a daddy," he whispered.
"And what will the name be for the beautiful baby?" Dr. Warner asked.
Andros looked at Ashley with a smile. "How about Sapphira?" He asked.
"Andros, have you been looking names up on my computer again?" She teased.
"No, it was a name my mother told me," he replied.
"Oh."
Andros smiled and placed Sapphira in her arms.
After a few minutes, the family came into the room that Ashley was moved to. Mrs. Hammond smiled as she looked at the baby that was curled up against Ashley's chest. "She's beautiful," she commented. Andros smiled and touched his daughter's face. Ashley then looked at Cassie and Carlos.
"Would you guys like to be her godparents?" She asked.
"We would be honored," Cassie replied.
Ashley's grandma then came over. "Let me see my great grandbaby," she insisted. Ashley placed Sapphira into her arms and smiled to see the happiness in her eyes. "She's so tiny," she commented. Andros nodded and watched as Ashley started falling asleep against him.
"We better go, we'll visit again tomorrow," Mrs. Hammond informed.
Andros placed Ashley against her pillows before taking Sapphira into his arms. "Sweet dreams, Sapphira," he whispered. He placed her into her crib before falling asleep next to Ashley.Sapphira, daughter of Andros, was born on April 17 at 2:30 in the morning.