Chapter 39: Reunited with Friends

Everyone was sitting in the waiting room at Mariner Bay Hospital. Ashley had just gone into labor and just as they wanted, Dana was going to be the one delivering it.

Ashley was lying in her bed with a sigh. Dana came in with a smile. "How are you feeling?" She asked.

"I'd feel better once I have this kid," Ashley replied.

Dana laughed lightly and sat next to her. "Where's Andros?" Dana asked.

"He was driving me nuts, so I had Ryan take care of him for me for a little while," Ashley replied.

"I hope Carter keeps his wits once we starting having children," Dana stated.

Ashley placed a hand over Dana's with a smile. "Don't worry, you'll be stuck in this position," Ashley laughed. Dana laughed and winced when Ashley squeezed her hand when a contraction hit.

"That's going to be fun when it happens to me," Dana commented.

"It's not all fun and games," Ashley sighed.

"Well, since I'm your doctor, here are your orders. Sit back, relax, and remember to keep breathing when a contraction comes. I'm going to find Andros."

Ashley nodded and watched her leave. She leaned back against her pillows with happiness in her heart. She was with Andros and they were expecting their first baby. She looked up when Andros came into the room. "Hey," he greeted.

"Hi," she greeted back.

He sat next to her and held onto her hand. "How are you feeling?" He asked.

"The same," she replied.

He placed a kiss on her forehead with a smile. "I love you," he murmured.

"I love you too,' she answered.

"You know what, T. J. and everybody are here," he informed.

"What?"

"Yeah, they just arrived. Carlos and Cassie are here with little Christopher. T. J. is here with his girlfriend, Tamara, and Justine is here with his dad."

"Justine is here?"

"Yeah, he is."

Ashley smiled but then she winced in pain. "Andros, get Dana, get her now," she insisted. Andros got up and went to get Dana.

When Dana came back, Ashley was ready. "Andros, support her," Dana instructed. Andros sat beside her and held her hand. "Okay, Ashley, when the next contraction hits, you have to push," Dana instructed. Ashley nodded and pushed when she felt the contraction hit. "You're doing very well, Ashley. Just remember to breathe and relax," she added.

"Don't tell me to relax again," Ashley snapped.

Dana smiled as she went back to work. Andros placed a kiss on the side of her head and felt the pain of her strength go through his hand. "I see the head, you need to push one more time," she insisted. Ashley screamed in pain and fell back against Andros's arm. She smiled when she heard a baby's wail. "And we have a handsome boy," Dana announced.

"Aden," Ashley whispered.

After the boy was cleaned up and wrapped up in a warm, blue blanket, Andros walked over and took his son into his arms. Ashley sat up as her husband brought their son over to them. "Here he is," he whispered. She took the infant into her arms with tears of happiness in her eyes.

"Andros, he looks like you," she commented.

"And he will grow to look like his father," Dana agreed.

Andros placed a kiss on Ashley's cheek and placed a kiss on his son's head before looking at Dana. "Thank you," he told her.

"Don't thank me, Andros. It was my pleasure," Dana assured him.

She then smiled at the young boy. "So, what do you plan on naming him again?" She asked.

"His name is going to be Aden Alcander Karovan," Ashley replied.

"A strong name, for a strong boy," Dana commented.

Ashley nodded with a smile. She touched the baby's hand and his tiny hand wrapped around her finger. "I'll go get your friends," she told them. Andros sat by his wife and stroked the baby's arm.

They looked up when T. J., Cassie, Carlos, and Justine. "Ashley, he's beautiful," Cassie complimented. T. J. and Carlos patted Andros on the back.

"Congratulations, Andros, a boy. You must be proud," T. J. stated.

"Yep, I'm a very proud dad," Andros agreed.

Carlos had Christopher to look at the sleeping baby. "Be careful, sweetie," Cassie cautioned.

"Stop worrying, Cass, he'll be okay," Carlos assured her.

"I know," Cassie stated.

Andros looked at T. J. with a quizzical look. "Where's Tamara?" He asked.

"She was beat from the flight. She went back to the motel early," T. J. replied.

Karone and Zhane came n a few minutes later to see their newborn nephew. Ashley smiled at her. "Would you like to hold him?" Ashley asked.

"May I?" Karone asked.

Ashley placed the baby into her arms and watched as Karone looked at Zhane. "Isn't he the sweetest thing?" She asked. Zhane looked at his nephew with a grin.

"Yeah, he's cute, now put him back," he replied calmly.

Karone placed Aden into Andros's arms, and Andros just smiled at Zhane. "Nonsense, Zhane, here, you have a turn," he insisted.

"Uh...okay," Zhane mumbled.

Andros placed his son into his best friend's arms and saw the nervous look on his face. "I'm afraid I'll break him," he stated.

"Nah, if Andros can hold him, you can," Ashley assured him.

Justine then had a turn to hold Aden. "He's big," he stated. He then saw the markings on Andros's hand. "Whoa! Are you okay?" He asked. Everyone looked at him to see the scratches on his hand.

"I'll be fine. Ashley has a strong grip," Andros replied.

Ashley took Andros's hand and placed a kiss on top of it. "Sorry," she apologized. He placed a kiss on her forehead and then they watched as their friends took turns holding Aden. "Zhane, Karone, we would like you to be Aden's godparents," Ashley suggested. Karone looked at Aden, who was in Carlos's arms at this time.

"We'd be honored," Karone answered.

Zhane wrapped an arm around her shoulders with a smile.

After awhile, all but Carlos and Cassie left. Karone and Zhane took Christopher with them so he could sleep. "I'm so happy for you, Ashley," Cassie stated.

"Thanks, Cassie. You were always there for me," Ashley stated.

"Of course I am, I'm your best friend," she stated.

Ashley sighed sadly. "So, you'll be going back to Angel Grove then?" She asked. Cassie nodded sadly and looked at Carlos.

"Yeah, Carlos and I have made a living there. Carlos has become a soccer coach for Angel Grove High. I'm now running my own club that has singing and dancing," Cassie replied.

"That's wonderful," Ashley told her.

Cassie wiped a tear away that was falling down Ashley's cheek. "We'll always be friends, Ash, nothing can change that," she assured her. Ashley hugged her with a sigh.

"We would come back to Angel Grove, but Ryan and Andros created a place like the Youth Center here for kids to come to whenever they need to hang out and they'll be there to help them when they need it. I'm starting my own fashion store," Ashley explained.

"That's wonderful. You should stay here. This is your and Andros's home now."

Andros watched his wife with a sigh. He was proud about having a son and that he and Ryan were working together on this center for the kids. he was proud of Ashley with her starting her own store. She was finally achieving her dream. The best part was, Koko Kashmere was going to use some of her designs like she said she would. Carlos placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Take care of her, Andros," he instructed.

"As always," Andros assured him.

Then he and Cassie left. Ashley leaned back and fell asleep. Andros walked over and got into the. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. "I love you," he whispered. He looked over at the end of the bed to see his son fast asleep. "Goodnight, Aden," he added. Then he fell asleep.