Disclaimer: Not mine. "Promise Me" belongs to Beverly Craven, but the third to last and second to last verses I made up on my own. Pretend Cassie did that.
Author's Note: Wow! The story's actually done! Up next: The Epilogue. (Well, the next chapter, not this one… Whatever. Enjoy!)
That Night
Cassie sighed, smoothing out her dress. Her hair had been done, and she just needed to apply her makeup. She sighed again, missing her best friend. They had always prepared for concerts and performances together… even when it was just Cassie, Ashley had always helped. Pursing her lips, Cassie headed to the bureau and sat down, studying the wide variety of makeup in front of her. Slowly, she held a brush with her thumb and forefinger, looking quite like she wanted to kill it. Wrinkling her nose, the raven-haired singer had to wonder when her life had started to go so horribly wrong.
"Aw, come now, Cass'. What has that brush done to you?" Looking up in surprise, Cassie felt a huge grin spread across her face as she caught sight of a yellow figure standing the doorway, an amused smile on her face.
"Well, it hasn't exactly been cooperating…" The darker haired one had a large grin splitting across her face now, and she had tossed the brush back onto the bureau, little care for it. She stood, walking over, opening her arms for a hug. The two friends hugged, silently forgiving each other for whatever they had done.
"Now come on," Ashley stepped back slightly, a cheerful smile on her face. "Let's get you ready for your performance."
Same Place, Different People
Andros paced back and forth.
"Andros, buddy, stop. You're making me nervous just looking at you."
"I know… I know. But what if it doesn't work! What if… what if I've lost her forever?"
"Andros… if you've lost her forever… then it wasn't meant to be." Karone fixed him with her cool, cerulean gaze. "You've both been Power Rangers… it's something like fate, or destiny. If you really are meant for each other… it'll happen. Trust me."
Sighing, Andros hugged his sister gratefully. "I always have."
Laughing, Zhane threw his arms around both of them. "The people I love most! Making up! Oh happy days it is!" And then he pushed them apart and began singing, off-tune, and dancing a strange jig - neither Kerovan nor Terran.
An Hour Or So Later
Cassie sighed, smoothed her dress once more, and stepped out onto stage. Pressing her lips together, she smoothed her face into a cheerful grin and picked up the mike.
"Hey, y'all, bet you didn't expect to see me again." Spurred on by the cheers that accompanied her declaration, Cassie continued. "Well, I'm back, again, for a special performance… You see…" As she spoke, she prayed that her two friends wouldn't rip her head off for saying this - even Andros didn't know about the speech she had planned.
"Well, my two friends… they've… been having a few problems in their… relationship. Well, they're probably soul mates and if they don't get together it'll be, like, world catastrophe or something… but…"
Off in the west wing (A/N: That is what you call it, right?), pressed slightly against the curtain, Ashley choked back a sob. Oh, Cassie, if I'm not completely dead from dehydration and crying by the end of this, you'll be dead…
"Anyway, so, they're just perfect together. I mean, seeing them… it gives me hope that life can be good, and love is true. So… this song is… um…" Feeling tears in her eyes, the woman in pink blinked furiously, batting away droplets of sorrow. "It's dedicated to them… In hopes that… maybe they'll learn something."
The band started playing and Cassie sang.
"Promise me you'll wait for me,
'cos I'll be saving all my love for you.
And I will be home soon.
Promise me you'll wait for me,
I need to know you feel the same way too.
And I'll be home, I'll be home soon."
"When I go away I'll miss you,
And I will be thinking of you
Every night and day just..."
"Promise me you'll wait for me,
'cos I'll be saving all my love for you.
And I will be home soon.
Promise me you'll wait for me,
I need to know you feel the same way too.
And I'll be home; I'll be home soon."
"Every night and day…
I'll wait for you,
Just promise me that you'll come back."
"And I'll be pouring the coffee,
Opening a book.
It'll be early in day,
When the sun's coming up.
I'll be sitting there,
Waiting,
Losing track of time.
I'll be in my dream world,
Till you come and bring me back.
You'll open the door,
And I'll still be missing you.
But you'll still love me,
And I'll have waited…
Cause you promised me…"
"Promise me you'll wait for me,
'cos I'll be saving all my love for you.
And I will be home soon.
Promise me you'll wait for me,
I need to know you feel the same way too.
And I'll be home; I'll be home soon."
The melody slowly came to an end, and Cassie sighed, shuddering, tearing. Biting her lip, she accepted the applause, and even managed to curtsy slightly, but she ended up walking off the stage after only a few minutes later.
"Cassie!" Stopped quite abruptly by her best friend, who was wearing a mask of pure outrage, Cassie halted and faltered. "How could you? How did you? I just… Why?" Ashley sunk onto the floor and began to cry, her mask of anger sliding off to reveal her true emotions. Emotions of confusion, of disappointment, of pure, utter, sorrow.
"Ashley… I had to make you see… Please, don't cry…" Cassie kneeled beside her friend, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder, trying to show her light. But for once, Ashley didn't accept the warmth of her friend's care. She pushed away Cassie's hand and rushed away, still sobbing.
In The Audience
"Ashley?" But the young woman didn't stop. She ran right past her friends, out of the café, still crying like she would never have tears again.
"Guys…" They looked at Andros, standing there, a strange look in his eyes. "I'm going to go after her." There was absolutely no point in arguing. So he went; and his friends watched him go without a word. Only time would tell what would come of this…
A Few Minutes Later
Andros found Ashley in the park, by the lake. She stared out into the gleaming, smooth surface of the pond, broken only by light ripples left by ducks, swans and other air/land/water creatures drifting by serenely.
"Ashley…" She turned around and stared at the man that had called her name.
"Andros…" Her voice was broken with tears, though only salty, dry rivers running down her cheeks gave any indication she had ever shed a tear. "I need to know."
"Huh?" Startled at the conviction in her voice, he could only blink at her.
"I need to know," she repeated. "Whether or not… whether or not…" She choked slightly and turned away. "Forget it," she mumbled. "It's stupid… probably useless… hopeless…"
"Ashley…" Andros stepped up and brought her head over to face him, causing her to shift and turn around. "Tell me, please."
"I- I need to know. Do you… Are your…"
"Yes," he prompted gently.
"Are there any feelings you have for me!" she finally burst, tears once again sliding down her cheeks.
Andros sighed softly. "Oh, Ash…" He lifted her clasped hands and tenderly rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. And then he spoke the three words that can change anyone's life. "I love you."
Ashley looked up at him, surprised. "Do you?" Her voice broke and she sniffed, blinking away tears.
"I do."
"Andros… I would have waited. You know that. I would have… and I did."
"I know… thanks, I guess."
Ashley gave a strangled sort of laugh. "You're welcome," she said finally. And they stood there, in silence. Until Ashley broke it again.
"Andros?"
"Hmm?" he murmured, unwilling to break the comfortable peace that had overcome them.
"I never stopped. Loving you, that is." Tilting her face up to look into his eyes with her own, shining with a light that had been lost for so long, she spoke again. "I love you."
And they hugged. As the setting sun cast a warm, golden glow across them, their single, twined figure was outlined in shadow and light. And as the last rays of light began to disappear, one of the two tilted her face upwards and stretched upwards slightly, meeting the other partway, their lips touching. And the star cast one last sun-kissed beam of light over the two – shining them in a spotlight of love, happiness, friendship, and life.
Author's Note 2: I dedicate this chapter to GreenDayFan1, in celebration of her birthday (wish her 'Happy Birthday' and I'll get the epilogue out faster.) and Ashley Hammond/ Astro Yellow, for everything she's ever done: Writing such magnificent A/A stories, letting me beta-read (extending my literary knowledge) and being there for this story from the very beginning. This get-together of Andros and Ashley is for you two.
RR! Phantom Rogue, Well, they're together now. Happy? You better be! And as for another story… I have one in the works, but I'm going to get this done, clear my work plate of FL (get it done!) and then I might submit a few standalones while I work on my newest story. Then I'll put it on here. :shrug: Be patient. :) Ashley Hammond/ Astro Yellow:sweet smile: And just how do you plan on using the zords to make sure I can hear you scream? Once you figure out and prove it, I'll believe you. (And you can't have Andros! If you get Andros, I get Ashley! (Then I do some asking and tossing money around and kidnap Andros back so they can be together!) GreenDayFan1, Yeah, I might create a new one, just ask Phantom Rogue. And as for the strawberry one top… :ponders: I'll take it! I do prefer strawberries to cherries; you just made the update come faster! Oh, and happy birthday!
