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

Jenny: The first time that Aria talked to Andros, he told her about Karone, and Aria convinced him to tell Ashley. As for Ravenna . . . Zhane needs a friend. But that's in the next chapter. This one is Andros/Ashley stuff.

Juzblue: It's okay if you don't get it. I won't make it obvious until the end of the story. Ravenna shows up in the next chapter, and she's not one of the good guys, exactly, but she is most definately not one of the bad guys either.

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Don't I always update soon: P

GreenDayfan1: Glad you like it. (Sorry I haven't answered any of your IM's. My computer kept freezing. It should work now, though.)

Chapter 10: Don't Leave Me

Andros was lying on his bunk, staring up into the dark. He was shaking uncontrollably, but no tears fell. He was trying to think, but the only word in his head was 'no.' No no no no no no no no, he thought desperately.

Astronema wasn't Karone. Astronema wasn't his sister. His enemy wasn't his sister. He wasn't fighting against his twin sister. If she was, he would have recognized her. He would know his sister. The same thoughts passed through his mind over and over as the hours ticked by slowly.

"Andros?"

Ashley's voice brought him back for a moment, but he couldn't think enough to reply.

"Andros, can I come in?"

Ashley was speaking to him slowly, and very gently. Gradually, her words penetrated through his daze.

"Yes," Andros said dully.

His door slid open immediately, and the light blinded him temporarily, but he didn't blink. Ashley sat down on the edge of his bed, taking his hand gently. His grip tightened painfully, and Ashley lay down next to him, rubbing his shoulders reassuringly. Andros held on to her desperately, as if she was the only thing keeping him alive, and at that moment, it felt like she was.

"How long have I been in here?" he asked. It felt like years.

"It's eight at night," Ashley said. "You've been in here all day."

Andros nodded. If he could just stay in here forever, maybe it would all go away.

"Can you talk?" Ashley asked him gently.

"No," Andros whispered, his throat contracting painfully. He swallowed, but he couldn't hold back the tears any longer, and they started leaking slowly out of the corners of his eyes.

"It's okay," Ashley murmured, holding him tight. "You can cry."

Andros buried his head in her shoulder and started sobbing. Ashley didn't say anything, she only held him close, gently rubbing his back. When Andros pulled his head back, his face was washed with tears, and he felt hot all over.

"I'm sorry," he muttered.

"Don't be," Ashley said softly. "It's okay to cry."

"It's all my fault," Andros whispered, a few stray tears trailing down his cheeks.

"Don't do this, Andros," Ashley pleaded. "You were six years old. This was not your fault."

"But I still feel guilty," Andros said, unable to look Ashley in the eye, even in the dim light. "It still hurts."

"I know it does," Ashley said soothingly. "But I promise you, we'll find out if she is Karone. And if she is, we'll do everything that we can to get her back."

"I should have recognized her," Andros muttered. "How could I not know my own sister? And if Astronema's not Karone, then where is she? I don't want to believe that she's Astronema, but I can't believe that she's not, because that would mean that Karone is -"

He choked on the word 'dead,' and Ashley couldn't think of a reply.

Andros didn't say anything else for a long time, and Ashley thought that he'd fallen asleep, but when she moved to get up, he tightened his hold on her.

"Don't leave me," he begged. "Ash, don't leave me. I'm scared."

Ashley nearly burst into tears at the admission, but she managed to keep herself together. For Andros to admit that he was scared must mean that he was terrified out of his mind that he was going to kill his little sister.

"I'm not going anywhere," she assured him. "Just let me get another blanket, all right? You're cold."

Andros reluctantly loosened his death grip, and Ashley quickly grabbed up a few extra blankets and slipped off her boots, tossing her jacket to the floor. Andros removed his boots and jacket as well, and lay down again, pulling Ashley into his arms, unwilling to let go for fear that he'd lose her somehow.

"Andros," Ashley said gently. "I need to breathe a little, all right?"

Andros loosened his hold on her just enough for her to roll onto her side next to him and pull the blankets up over him.

"Good night," Ashley whispered. "If you feel like talking, you can wake me up."

Andros nodded. "Ash . . . "

"Go to sleep," Ashley said softly, not complaining when his grip tightened again.

Ashley heard Andros start breathing deeply, and she felt him relax slightly. She smiled a little at his sleeping form, and closed her eyes. When Andros woke the next morning, he saw Ashley asleep next to him, her arms still wrapped around him. Despite everything, his heart lightened at the sight of her.

Andros knew then that he loved her.