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

Jenny: I know, homework sucks. I've only got six more weeks of school. And then summer school, but I don't feel like thinking about that right now... How many more smiley faces do I get if I update ten times in the next day? Won't happen, just wondering. : )

Melissa: You'd think I'd actually let them take a vacation, and so did I, but that's not what I ended up writing. Maybe next time.

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: I know, I've seen lots of stories that begin with an A/N, but I guess someone doesn't like me. Umm... are you psychic or something? (If this question makes no sense, read the actual chapter.)

TrueRomantic: Thanks. : ) I love Andros and Ashley.

Ghostwriter: Yeah, they deserve a vacation. Maybe they'll get one sometime...

Chapter 23: You

The Megaship- the bridge

"Next time, choose a beach plantet," Justin suggested. "Or better yet, stick to the Simudeck."

"Or," Zhane added, "Just don't stop at the planet emitting strange energy readings."

"I agree," Karone said, her teeth chattering. She was wearing a purple ski hat, and several layers of sweaters, but still shivering. Gabriel tossed her a blanket, which Zhane promptly took, and pulled her onto his lap on the floor, wrapping the blanket around them both,

"Warmer?" he asked.

"Not really," she laughed. "But much more comfortable."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Zhane decided, and Karone leaned back against him.

Andros glared at the seven crystals currently resting on the control console. He didn't know how they'd ended up on a barren icy desert, but when the Megaship had flown by, Deca had reported increased energy activity. They'd stopped, and retrieved the crystals, and had been about to leave again when the storm hit. Now the thrusters, as well as everything else on the external side of the Megaship, were damaged, and they had no way of taking off again.

Most of the team had assembled on the bridge, and they were huddled together on the floor under various layers of blankets.

"Don't worry," Aria assured Andros, shrugging a warm sweater over her head. Her long hair fell loosely around her face, and she claimed that it kept her warm. "I know that you didn't do it on purpose."

"Thank you," Andros said, shooting mock glares at the others, particularly Zhane, who was still holding Karone his lap.

"I know you'd much rather be on a beach planet with Ashley," Aria continued. Her eyes sparkled teasingly.

"How'd you know that?" Andros had a distinct feeling that he was walking into a trap, but he couldn't see what it was.

Aria grinned. "On an icy planet, you put clothes on. On a beach planet, you take them off."

"Shut up," Andros stuck his tongue out at his sister. "Wait, where is Ashley? I haven't seen her since before the storm started. Deca?"

The AI made no reply, and Andros groaned.

"I'll fix that in the morning. Until then, we do everything manually."

"How long until everything else fails?" Gabriel asked. "I thought Deca did everything."

Andros shrugged. "Deca runs everything, but it can be done without her. The backup power is programmed to divert all remaining power to what we need most. The environmental controls will fail first, and then the lights. If we all stay in here, we should be able to not freeze."

"The environmental controls and the lights?" Aria repeated sarcastically. "What's important then?"

"A working engine," Andros said.

"That at best is currently at half power," Gabriel pointed out quietly. "Do we go fix that now?"

"We should," Andros sighed, stifling a yawn.

"Is there any point?" Aria asked. "It can't get any worse than cold and dark, which is already happening."

"I guess it can wait," Andros said reluctantly. He didn't want to be stranded here any longer than they had to be, but it was the middle of the night, and he really didn't feel like doing anything.

"So do we just sit here?" Justin asked.

"Don't fall asleep," Andros warned. "You won't wake up."

"You should go wake up Ashley, then," Karone said. "She fell asleep about three hours ago."

Ashley's room

Andros felt his lips curve up into a smile when he saw Ashley. She was fast asleep, lying on her stomach, her head resting on her arms. He hated to wake her, but he figured sleepy was better than frozen. Andros knelt down by her side, touching her face gently. Ashley stirred.

"Andros?" she muttered. "What are you doing here?"

"Ashley, wake up," he whispered. "It's going to get cold."

"Make me," Ashley muttered, obviously about to fall asleep again. At her last remark, Andros smirked at her sleeping form, and sat down on the edge of her bed, running a hand down her side. Ashley woke up instantly, and Andros grinned at her innocently, and leaned over her, tickling her sides.

"I'm up," Ashley said, squirming frantically, trying to escape. She was barely able to get the words out around her laughter. She rolled over onto her stomach, trying to escape his touch.

"Just making sure," Andros teased her, moving his hands higher up her sides. Ashley was shrieking with laughter, trying to catch his hands, but Andros moved more quickly, and Ashley could do nothing but giggle helplessly. After several minutes, he decided that she'd had enough, and stopped. Ashley rolled out of the way and tackled him, trying to tickle him back. She pouted when she realized that he wasn't ticklish and Andros smiled sweetly at her. He sat on top of her legs, tickling her harder, moving his hands over her stomach. Her shirt had come untucked, and his fingers slid under the cloth, causing Ashley's laughter to double.

"Not fair," Ashley gasped out. She managed to catch his arms, and he stopped, laughing, gazing down into her eyes. She wasn't sure what happened next, but suddenly, his lips were locked against hers, kissing her hard. Ashley wrapped her arms around his neck, and Andros kissed her again. Ashley let him become the focus of her entire universe, not wanting him to ever stop. Sitting up without taking her mouth from his, she shrugged off her jacket, and tugged on his. When she lay down again, she pulled him down with her.

"Are you sure, Ash?" Suddenly, Andros pulled back, knowing that he wouldn't be able to restrain himself much longer. "Is this what you want?"

"I want you," Ashley said softly. "What do you want?"

"You," Andros whispered. "Ash-"

He forgot whatever he had been about to say when Ashley kissed him again, and then he forgot everything else in the universe but her.