Disclaimer: (whiny voice) Do I have to? I don't want to... Fine... BIG FAT MEANIES! Oh, hello. Didn't see you there. Anyway, the characters you recognize in here don't belong to me. That's right, they don't. Surprised? Yeah, so am I. Well, either way, they're still Saban/Disney/Buena Vista's. Oh yeah, and the chorus of "My Dream World" belongs to me. I know it stinks, but I made it up in, like, two seconds, okay?
Author's Note: Okay, I know I had something to say, just can't remember what... Um... Well, this is my longest chapter yet, so appreciate that. Um... enjoy? Yeah, I think that was it! No, actually I don't. But, oh well. Enjoy anyway!
Somewhere Not So Far Away
Karone laughed as she plucked a teddy bear, bearing a heart, off the shelf. "Oh, don't you think this'll be perfect for Andrea?" she asked, giggling as she turned to Zhane, who was inspecting a shelf of water guns and Nerf balls.
"Oh yes!" Zhane exclaimed in his high-pitched, dumb-blonde voice. "(giggle) And, like, if she doesn't use it, well, like, Lillian'll just love it!"
It was too much, Karone burst into full-forced laughter, the sweet sound of the innocent, pure, fun, laughter spreading through the small drug store. "Oops." She said softly, placing a hand over her mouth as she glanced around at the other shoppers, staring amusedly at the blonde with the sweet laugh. "Ahhh." She sighed, her smile fading as she watched her brother staring at a rack of sample pictures by the picture counter, head cocked. Walking over to him, Karone peered over his shoulder and bit her lower lip as she saw the picture that seemed to have caught his attention so intently. It was one of a married couple, laughing, smiling, as they posed, surrounded by their friends, crowding together to fit in the shot.
"Like we were." The doleful, distant voice jumped into Karone's thoughts and startled her, but she answered quickly.
"Yeah… which happy couple would it be?"
"Not Carlos and Andrea." Zhane came up behind them, placing a hand on their shoulders. "Two words, yellow and red. Yes, Andros, it would be you and Ashley. You can see it; everyone loved Ashley and you, and those friends? Cassie, T.J, Carlos, you, Karone, and me. It would be exactly like that picture, your wedding picture, it would be."
Choking slightly, Andros replied, "Thanks… I guess."
"You're welcome. Now, find any gifts?"
Wordlessly, Andros held up a picture frame carved out of mahogany wood, set with a yellow diamond in the center of a carved bow. Inscribed on the bottom, in clear white writing, 'My Dream World, My Reality'.
Karone cocked her head at it thoughtfully. I wonder what Ashley will end up putting in it? And with that thought, Karone plucked the frame from Andros's hands, ready to purchase the frame for Ashley, teddy for Andrea, Nerf ball for T.J, water gun for Carlos and stationary for Cassie.
In A Kitchen, In A Condo, In A Building Nearby
"And that's my dream world.
Where fishes dance,
And bluebirds play
With me, (with me!)
And where a someone lives
That'll love me (me!)
Forever!"
Their voices twisting and drifting throughout the house, Ashley and Cassie sang the chorus of "My Dream World" as they chopped, diced and boiled.
Wiping her hands on a towel, Cassie checked the simmering soup quickly before grabbing the ingredients needed for her award-winning lasagna. "Hey, Ashley," she called to her friend in yellow who was tossing a salad. "Are you going to make cheesecake?"
Ashley paused in her tossing to blink thoughtfully before shaking her head and smiling ruefully. "No, I don't think everyone here has the etiquette required for such a refined dessert." She grinned mischievously, before adding casually, "I think I'll make brownies instead."
Giggling, they turned back to their cooking.
An Hour Or So Later
"Ohhh," Carlos groaned, clutching his stomach. "I can't eat another bite."
"Serves you right." Cassie smirked and poked her fork in his direction. "You ate an entire serving of lasagna when the rest of us were barely served."
Carlos opened his mouth to interrupt, when he was interrupted by a cheerful, "Hey! Save some food for us!"
Zhane and Karone walked in, carrying bags and laughing.
"So," Zhane asked, plopping down in a seat while Karone set down her bags by his. "What food did Cassie and Ashley cook this time?"
"How do you know we cooked it?" Ashley demanded, laughing as she jabbed her fork in Cassie's and hers direction.
"Hmmm," Zhane cocked his head and pretended to think it over. "Well, I think that it may have something to do with the sight of Cassie's lasagna, and Ashley's and Cassie's soup… and the salad that looks almost exactly like the one you made before… Convinced?"
"Very!" Andrea laughed as she spooned applesauce into Lillian's mouth.
"Come on!" Carlos exclaimed, forking even more lasagna into his mouth. "Eat, or I'm going to eat it all!"
"That's what we were afraid of." Karone joked as she poured dressing over a helping of salad.
"Yeah, yeah." Carlos grumbled through a mouthful of sauce drenched, cheesy lasagna.
After All The Lasagna Is Eaten
"So, where were you two earlier?" Ashley asked Zhane and Karone as they settled on the couch with brownies in hand and questions on mind.
"Yeah," Cassie added, taking a bite of Ashley's white chocolate swirled chocolate brownie.
Zhane chewed thoughtfully on his brownie for a moment before swallowing and motioning to Karone. Karone grinned; they had practiced this earlier.
"Gifts!" she exclaimed with a flamboyance and carefree ness unlike her usual self. She grabbed up the bags from before and thrust them into the air. Laughing, the rest of the gang stood and gathered around the bags. Karone began passing the bags out and they opened them, accompanied with cries of…
"Sweet! Love it!"
"Nice… guess who's going to be my first target."
"Oh! How lovely, it's adorable."
"It's gorgeous, thank you."
"However did you… it's beautiful, I love it."
All the presents were opened, but the most precious was yet to come. Karone stood and headed for the door with a vague murmur of forgetting something in her car. Zhane led the group into a separate room, putting Cassie and Ashley in the master bedroom and the rest of them in another.
Meanwhile, Karone led Andros in, giving him a telepathic tour of the apartment. Bringing him into the first room of those who already saw him, she let those squeal in delight as if Andros was a delightful puppy. Then, she brought him to the door of the master bedroom…
Inside The Master Bedroom
"Oh, Cassie!" Ashley breathed, pushing herself off the wall where she had pressed against it, listening to the light commotion in the room over. "It sounds like… a puppy! Or a bunny!"
"How cute." Cassie commented wryly, but she smiled. About to say more, Cassie opened her mouth, but a knocking interrupted her. "Oh, uh," Cassie called instead. "Come in Karone! With whatever you have… Ashley thinks it's a puppy! She probably wants to name it Andros Jr!"
"I do not!" Ashley protested indignantly, shoving Cassie lightly. She paused before grinning wickedly. "I think Phantom is a better name for it… right, Cassie?"
Cassie's smile fell and her shoulders drooped slightly. Sighing softly, Ashley came forward and wrapped an arm around her best friend. Silence reigned, until…
"Uh, guys?" Karone called, sounding worried. "You okay?"
Ashley sniffed slightly, feeling her friend's pain. "Yeah," she sighed. "Come on in." Then to Cassie, "Hey, if it's a puppy, it'll cheer you up!" Cassie was silent but smiled at the comment only one of her closest friends could make without getting pummeled. Little did they know that Ashley would be one who needed comforting soon enough…
The door opened slightly and Karone stepped in with Andros half concealed behind her. The hardest part of this was yet to come…
Same Time, Same Place, Different Person
Andros watched the friends comfort each other. Then… Ashley lifted her eyes and caught his. Confusion swam in her expression for a moment, then her eyes widened and she stepped back abruptly.
"No."
Author's Note 2: Okay, I do have something to say down here! Let's see... can anyone guess the order in which those comments about the gifts were made? Anyway, did you enjoy the actual meeting of Andros and Ashley?... Thought you would! But, the real stuff is coming the next chapter. Stay tuned!
Author's Note 3: Sorry, but expect a few slow updates lately. My teachers are intent on preparing us for the next grade and I have a chinese test in one week. And I stink at chinese. But, yes, I am writing. Just don't expect me to be able to get anything up. Therefore, I am putting this up despite the fact that I only have ten chapters written and this is already Ch 9. So... thanks to anyone who decides to keep checking out this story! I'm so grateful to all of you!
RR! First off, I'd like to say thank you to anyone and everyone who reviewed. It's a record! Three reviews for one chapter! Okay, on to the real stuff... Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow, I, first, want to apologize for the time in one chapter where I misspelled your penname, sorry about that. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the others. Interesting to see that I already have fans for a story that's not even out yet... thanks! And, thanks for letting me try my hand at being a beta-reader. I've already e-mailed you back, just so you know. Thanks! Gobball, you are a new fan, but, I enjoy any fan. Well, you finally see Andros and Ashley meet, but, as I said, the real aftermath isn't coming until the next chapter. But, thanks for the review! The-power-of-love, again, a new fan! I'm so happy! I updated. Happy? Hope you're happy with this chapter! (Gosh, I like saying happy.)
