Disclaimer: Not mine, please don't sue me, I have no money anyway.

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: I'm not saying anything yet. I'll probably make you wait until the almost the last chapter to find out for sure. But the point of the story will be very obvious way before that.

the-power-of-love: It's okay if you don't understand where it's going yet. I don't think very many people do. There is a point to it, I promise, and I'll drop some big hints.

Chapter 6: First Kiss

"Hey, Andros," Ashley said brightly, walking onto the bridge in her pajamas. She took a seat next to him, and started looking at star charts. "It's almost midnight. What are you doing?"

"Nothing," Andros said.

For once it was the truth, not a one-word answer used to disguise his feelings. Andros was just sitting in his seat, staring off blankly into space, when Ashley had arrived. He glanced sideways at her when he thought she wasn't looking, unable to keep himself from staring at her. Ashley's smile never seemed to disappear for long, and her eyes always seemed to be shining.

Andros looked away quickly when Ashley turned towards him.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing," Andros said. He groaned silently. Now he was back to hiding his feelings. At that moment, he would have given anything for the courage to tell Ashley how beautiful she was.

He pretended to be busy checking the strength of the shields, but he was aware that Ashley was staring at him. He felt his face grow warm. Had he been that obvious?

"What?" he said, swiveling around in his chair.

"Nothing," Ashley muttered quickly.

"Oh."

They sat uncomfortably for several minutes, with a loud, heavy silence hanging over their heads. Andros stared at his hands, trying hard not to look at Ashley. They both jumped up, relieved, when Aria entered the room unsuspectingly.

"Hey, Ash," she said. "Oh, you're here too, Andros. Actually, I can't remember what I came in here for. I'll come back later."

"I'm going to bed," Ashley said, suddenly aware of how thin her pajamas were. "Good night."

Aria's lips quirked up in a smile when she realized that Andros followed Ashley with his eyes until she was out of sight.

"Aww, you two are so cute," she teased, taking the seat that Ashley had vacated. "Ask her out already."

"What does that mean?"

"Didn't I explain this to you already?" Aria feigned exasperation that Andros took seriously.

"Not this," he said. "Is this like a crush?"

Aria wrinkled her nose as she contemplated her possible courses of action. She could explain clearly what she meant, or she could vaguely hint at an answer and let him screw up. She sighed. If he screwed up, he'd end up hurting Ashley.

"All right," she said. "Are you admitting that you have a huge crush on Ashley?"

Andros blushed slightly and looked anywhere but at Aria.

"I'll take that as a yes." Aria paused and grinned. "Well, okay. If you like someone, and they like you back, then you go out."

"Go out where?" Andros was getting lost.

"It means that you're boyfriend and girlfriend," Aria said. "You hold hands and kiss and stuff."

"How do I ask her out?" Andros asked. "What if she doesn't like me?"

Aria looked away quickly, but not fast enough. Andros had seen the smile that she was working hard to suppress.

"Ashley likes me?" he said, both shocked and relieved. "Are you sure?"

"Okay, first," Aria said. "I didn't say anything, and I didn't tell you anything. But . . . yeah."

"So do I just ask her if she wants to go out with me?"

"More or less," Aria said. "Oh, her birthday's tomorrow. She's turning seventeen.You should get her something."

"What's a birthday?"

"On Earth, we celebrate the day we were born," Aria said. "If it's your birthday, then everyone has to give you a present."

"What should I get her?"

"Get her something that you think she'd like," Aria said. "Surprise her."

"Okay," Andros said uncertainly. "I - thanks."

Aria shrugged. "Whatever, dude. Just don't screw up."

Andros wandered away, wondering what Ashley would like.

As soon as Andros had walked away, Ashley appeared again.

"Aria, should I ask out Andros?"

Aria rolled her eyes.

Andros spent several hours searching through various items that he had collected travelling through space, looking for something to give Ashley. Nothing he'd come across so far had come even remotely close.

Andros sighed in frustration. He just didn't own anything that he could see himself giving to Ashley. He dragged another box toward him, determind not to go to bed until he had something.

He paused and lifted a small gold-colored box. He removed the lid and broke into a wide grin. This would be perfect. His smile faded slightly as he imagined himself handing it to her, and then asking her out.

He sighed, trying to calm his nerves. He finally convinced himself that she wasn't going to reject him, but he couldn't convince himself that she would say yes.

"Deca, what time is it?" he asked, yawning.

"It is six-thirty a.m. in Angel Grove," Deca replied, sounding amused. "You have been awake all night."

"Is Ashley awake?" he asked.

Deca sounded even more amused as she answered, "Yes. She is on the Simudeck."

Andros took a deep breath and headed out the door, rehearsing what he would say to her under his breath on the way to the Simudeck.

Ashley stepped off the Simudeck just as he reached it, and the sight of her drove everything else from Andros' mind.

"Morning, Andros," Ashley said, still panting slightly. "Are you going to practice?"

Andros shook his head.

"I was looking for you," he managed to say without stammering.

Ashley looked at him but didn't say anything.

"Happy birthday," Andros said shyly, handing her the box.

"Ooh, thank you," Ashley exclaimed, taking the box from him eagerly. "It was so sweet of you to get me something."

She opened the box carefully. Her eyes lit up with delight as she lifted the necklace gently out of the box. It looked like a golden arrowhead, in a sleek, feminine design, and had a yellow gemstone set in the center.

"It's beautiful," she said, staring at it.

"You're beautiful," Andros said before he realized it.

Ashley blushed, and Andros looked down uncomfortably.

"You're so sweet," Ashley said.

She threw her arms around him, and Andros returned her hug hesitantly. Ashley hesitated.

"Can you help me with this?" she asked, holding up the necklace.

Andros took it from her, and Ashley turned around, letting him slip it around her neck. He fastened the clasp, and it settled gently around her neck.

"Thanks," Ashley said, turning around.

For several minutes, neither of them moved. Ashley let herself get lost in his eyes, and before she realized what she was doing, she had kissed him.

Andros stiffend, and she pulled back hastily.

"I'm sorry," she muttered. "I didn't meant to do that."

"You didn't mean it?"

Andros was watching her with a curiously unreadable expression.

"No, I just meant that I- I mean-"

Ashley's attempt at an explanation was cut off as Andros tentatively leaned forward and brushed his lips gently over hers.

"Don't be sorry," he said.

"Andros-" Ashley began, but stopped abruptly, staring over his shoulder. He turned and groaned.

Leaning casually against the wall were Aria, Justin, and Gabriel. Justin was wearing his usual sullen expression, but there was an odd look in his eyes. Gabriel was doing his best to keep a straight face. Aria was grinning at them.

"How long have you been there?" Ashley demanded, finding her voice before Andros did.

"Long enough," Gabriel answered, giving up and breaking into a wide grin.

"We came to wish you a happy birthday," Aria said. "But it looks like Andros was in the middle of that."

"It's not what you think," Andros said, stepping away from Ashley.

"So you two weren't just making out in the middle of the hall?" Aria said. "' Cause it looked like it."

"Oh," Ashley said. "So it is what you think."

"We'll go now," Aria said. "You two have fun."

Ashley shifted uncomfortable as the other rangers disappeared.

"Ash?" Andros said softly.

She looked at him.

"Are you my girlfriend now?"

Ashley hesitated.

"Do you want me to be?"

Andros nodded shyly. Ashley smiled happily.

"Then I guess I am."

Andros kissed her again, gently, unsure of what to do next. Finally, he asked, "Do you want to get something to eat?"

"I'm starving," Ashley admitted. "But I'm not sure we want to go eat with the others."

"Of course we don't." Andros said. "Let's go down to Angel Grove."

Ashley nodded. "That sounds good."

Andros reached out and took her hand, pulling her close as they walked down the hall. For the first time in years, he realized that he was happy.