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

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Hmm . . . that interesting. (But just in case you'll believe it: they are two different people.) : )

Juzblue: You'll find out what Ravenna's hiding but not until the end of the story. Same with Amara and Jadon.

GreenDayfan1: Yup, more Andros and Ashley in this chapter.

Jenny: Yup, Ravenna's smart, but she'll do something stupid. I can't tell you what yet, but it should be enough to get an angry review demanding more. : )

Chapter 15: Content

Angel Grove

Andros sank down tiredly onto the soft grass of Angel Grove Park, leaning his back against a tree. Their battles had decreased in number over the past few weeks. At first, it had given Andros hope that Astronema had begun to remember, but he didn't still believe that. Not if she'd just sent Ecliptor to fight them, as she just had.

He sighed. It had been six days since he had last seen Ravenna, and he was growing anxious to know what she had found. He'd tried searching himself, but Ravenna was the one with all the information.

"Andros?"

Andros looked up as Ashley's voice sounded in his mind. She was walking over to him, looking exhausted, and limping slightly, he noticed somewhat guiltily. He'd missed a block, and while Ashley had been busy helping him, Ecliptor had managed to take a shot at her.

"Hi," he said, smiling up at her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ashley assured him, sitting down next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Are you?"

"Yeah," Andros sighed, leaning his head against hers. "I just . . . I don't know."

"Feel like talking?" Ashley asked, taking his hand gently. "I know something's been bothering you for awhile."

Andros shrugged.

"Ravenna," he said finally. "It seems too convenient that the one person suicidal enough to betray Darkonda is the one person that he trusted with this information."

"Maybe that was her plan all along," Ashley suggested. "To gain Darkonda's trust in order to betray him."

"At least one of you can think," a familiar voice said from nearby.

Andros glanced up in alarm, and he saw Ravenna leaning casually against a tree, the black hood draped over her head as always.

"Ravenna!" he said, moving to get up.

"Stay down," Ravenna said. "Meet me tomorrow at the largest abandoned warehouse in Angel Grove. Three o'clock."

"Wait," Andros said, standing up. "You're not really a bounty hunter, are you?"

"No," Ravenna said. "Be there tomorrow, and you might as well bring the silver ranger. It's much more annoying for him to follow us there."

Then she turned and stalked away.

The bridge

"Deca, where's Zhane?" Andros asked, his arm still around Ashley. "I need to talk to him."

"Zhane is not on the Megaship," Deca replied.

"Ask Aria if she knows where he is," Ashley suggested. "They've become really good friends."

"Where's Aria?" Andros asked.

"Aria is not on the Megaship."

There was something in Deca's tone that Andros couldn't place.

"Are they in Angel Grove?" Andros asked.

"Both asked that their whereabouts not be disclosed."

Andros raised an eyebrow in surprise, and glanced at Ashley. "That's not normal for Zhane."

"Aria does whatever she wants," Ashley said. "She doesn't like her brothers checking up on her."

"Are Justin and Gabriel here?" Andros asked.

"They are not," Deca said.

Andros rolled his eyes, and shrugged.

"I'll tell Zhane later, then," he said.

He sat down in his seat wearily. "What do you want to do now?"

Ashley shrugged, letting him catch her and pull her sideways into his lap. She yawned and let her head fall against his shoulder, closing her eyes. Andros held her, letting her doze off. Soon, they were both fast asleep.

A few hours later

Aria and Zhane were walking together when they came onto the bridge.

"Why's it dark in here?" Aria asked. "Deca turn on the lights!"

The lights came on, and Zhane laughed softly when he saw Andros and Ashley asleep in a chair.

"Aw, look how cute," Aria said, grinning mischeivously. "Let's wake them up."

She tapped Ashley gently on the shoulder, and Andros less gently on the head.

"Hey, what was that for?" Andros complained, waking up slowly. "Wait, what time is it?"

"It's, like, eight at night," Aria said. "How long have you guys been here?"

"A few hours, I guess," Ashley said, sitting up and stretching. "Wow, I didn't realize I was that tired."

"Didn't get much sleep last night?" Zhane said innocently. "Busy doing something else?"

Ashley blushed slightly, and Andros glared at his friend.

"What?" Zhane asked. "What am I supposed to think when I see you two taking a nap together?"

"Where were you?" Andros demanded, hastily changing the subject. "Why did you tell Deca not to tell anyone where you were?"

"I was busy," Aria and Zhane said together. They looked at each other uncomfortably.

"That was you!" Zhane exclaimed. "Why were you following me?"

"Why were you with -" Aria began, but she was cut off.

"We can do this another time," Zhane said quickly. "Were you looking for me or something?"

"I'm meeting Ravenna tomorrow," Andros said. "She said you can come."

"I'll come," Aria said brightly.

"No," Andros and Zhane said together.

"Worth a shot," Aria shrugged, grinning.

"I need to talk to you," Zhane said seriously, taking Aria and dragging her out of the room by her arm. "Night, guys."

"What was that about?" Ashley asked, yawning.

"I'm not sure I want to know," Andros said. "But I'm sure we'll find out. Zhane's no good at keeping secrets."

"Or at being subtle," Ashley said, grinning.

"Ash . . . " he said, shifting uncomfortably. "Does it bother you that - I mean, do you want - We - I -"

He looked away, blushing furiously. Ashley laughed, and leaned back against him, kissing him gently.

"I love you," she said softly. "Don't worry about it now. Zhane was just joking."

Andros nodded awkwardly. "I think I'll go to bed now."

Ashley let him get up, and he slipped an arm around her waist. He walked her to her room, and hesitated.

"Can I stay?" he asked.

Ashley smiled. He always asked, and she always said yes. She figured he was asking more shyly than usual because of what he'd been trying to say earlier.

"Of course you can," Ashley said, standing back to let him in.

She stepped into her bathroom to change. Andros followed her with his eyes, feeling his face grow warm again. He wanted her, but he was afraid that if he told her, she'd say yes only because she knew that he wanted her to.

"What are you thinking about?"

Andros glanced up as Ashley emerged from the bathroom.

"You're beautiful," he said, kicking off his boots and sliding into the bed next to her.

"I love you," Ashley said sleepily, smiling as Andros wrapped his arms securely around her waist.

Andros kissed her neck gently, content for now just to hold her.

"I love you, Ash."