Chapter 7: The Help from a Brother

For three days Karone didn't leave the house. She would have Kendrix drop the kids off at home. Maya was worried about her friend. She decided to go see her and talk to her about Leo. He was heartbroken since Karone had denied his heart.

When she came into the house, she walked upstairs and opened the door to find Karone lying in her bed in the dark. "Karone, this isn't healthy," she informed. Karone sat up with tear trails on her face. Tears were still falling down her face.

"I really hurt him, didn't I?" She asked.

Maya sat next to her and placed her arm around her shoulders. "Yes, you did hurt him. He loves you so much, but yet you denied him," she replied.

"I can't love him, Maya. I just can't," Karone murmured.

"Why can't you love him?"
"I can't love him, because it would show that I am having someone replace my husband."

"You can't replace Zhane. He was your first husband, your first love, and the father of you two beautiful children."

"I won't love him."

"Do you love him though?"

Karone was quiet and Maya had an idea. "Karone, just get some sleep. I'll be here," she assured her. When Maya was about to leave, Karone called out to her.

"Maya, I'm sorry for what I said to you," she apologized.

"I know."

Maya left the room and went into the Megaship. She walked over to the main screen. "DECA, contact Andros on Earth," she instructed. Andros then appeared on the screen.

"Andros, its Maya," she informed.

"What's wrong with Karone?"

"She has fallen in love with Leo. However, she won't admit it."

"Why not, it has been almost eight months."

"She's afraid she'll erase Zhane from the family permanently."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to come here and explain to her that falling in love with Leo doesn't mean she'll erase Leo from her family."

"I'll be there as soon as I can."

Maya nodded and then she turned off the communication.

Later that day, Andros and Ashley arrived and Maya quickly walked over to them. "I finally got out of her bedroom. She's downstairs," Maya informed. Andros nodded and went inside.

"Where are Zavier and Kamilah, they're going to be so happy to see Andrew and Andrea again," Ashley stated.

"They're playing in their bedroom," Maya replied.

Ashley called her children out of the ship and they went inside.

Karone was lying on the couch wrapped up in a blanket when the door opened. Andros came into the living room and saw his beloved sister lying on the couch. "Karone," he murmured. Karone sat up and looked to see that it was Andros.

"Andros?" She asked.

He walked over, but she ran to him and embraced him. Andros hugged her tight and sighed. "Karone, what is going on with you?" He asked. He let her go and held her at arm's length. "Maya told me everything," he stated. She looked at him with tear filled eyes.

"I can't love him, Andros. I want to love him, but I can't," she insisted.

"No, you don't want to love him."

Karone let him go. "What are you talking about?" She demanded.

"If you want to love him you would love him. You don't want to love him, because of Zhane," Andros replied.

"That's not true," she denied.

"It is true, or you would be with him now."

Karone sat down with her arms wrapped around herself. "I don't know what to do," she whispered. Andros sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her.

"Listen to your heart, Karone," he murmured.

"What if I can't hear it?"

He placed a kiss on the side of her head. "You'll figure something out," he assured her.

That night, Ashley was putting her children to bed when Karone came in. "Here, let me help," she insisted. She picked Kamilah up and put her into her bed.

"Mommy, could you tell me how you met daddy?" She requested.

Karone sat down and explained everything. Once Kamilah was asleep, she placed a kiss on her forehead. She kissed Zavier goodnight before leaving the room.

Andros walked into Karone's room to see her lying in her bed looking at the ceiling. "Andros, I'm afraid," she murmured.

"What are you afraid of?" He asked.

She sat up and looked at him. "I'm afraid that if I give my heart to Leo fully that I'll lose him too," she replied.

"You won't lose him," Andros assured her.

"How do you know that? How do you know that Leo won't be called out on a mission and be killed just like Zhane?"

"I know that, because Leo put up his morpher for good."

"Zhane did too."

"Leo doesn't go on anymore missions."

Karone sighed and Andros held her to him. "Leo won't leave you, Karone, Zhane hasn't left you," he assured her.

"In case you haven't noticed, Zhane's dead," Karone mumbled.

"He may be dead, but he lives inside your heart and your kids."

She started to cry again and Andros let her cry against his shoulder.

Author's Note: Will Karone give into her heart's desire and let herself fall in love with Leo? Or will she live with heartbreak and let herself die slowly?