Disclaimer: If I haven't told you that it's mine, then it belongs to Saban or Disney or whoever I told you I borrowed it from.

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: So you like it then? Oh good, I was wondering how you'd react to being turned evil. :P

Mel: Yeah, you didn't tell. :P Your school can't be the poorest in the state. I think mine is. :P

Juzblue: Nope, they're not dead... although it doesn't really matter, since we're staying in the present.

Mz. Daydream: Yeah, Karone was the one who sent them. The other rangers will be back in the story, but not for a few more chapters... and here's a whole chapter of A/A-ness. :P

the-power-of-love: Yay, you were right! Here's more. :P

Jenny: Nope, you're not Skylar. I let Marieke choose. :P Why couldn't you have thought of Andros and Ashley being the Overlords before? That's a really good idea, and now I'm too far into the story to use it! Oh well, now I've got a story for the one after the one after the one after the next one. :P

Chapter 17

"Done," Ashley said, nearly collapsing on the floor of the new nursery. The walls were a cheerful yellow, and all the trim was a bright red. A somewhat battered crib that had once been white, but was now more like gray stood in one corner, lined with stuffed animals of various stages of wear. There was a changing table in another corner, and a dresser in another, filled with as many clothes as Ashley had been able to carry.

"It looks great, Ash," Andros said with a grin, watching as Ashley admired her handiwork even as her exhaustion started to set in. "But we didn't have to do this in one afternoon, you know."

Ashley shrugged. "What else was I supposed to do today? Aidan's at school, Jenny and Marieke were practically stolen by Ryan and Tempest, and you were supposed to be at work."

"Tykwa told us to take a few days off," Andros said with a sigh, his eyes darkening for a moment. "She thinks we'll need it before an official announcement is made naming her the new leader of the colony."

"KO-35 won't fall apart," Ashley said confidently, although she was biting her lip with anxiety. "It's stronger than that."

"You're right, Ash," Andros quickly agreed, seeing the worried expression on her face. Why had he even said anything? Ashley didn't need to worry about KO-35 erupting into a civil war on top while it was simultaneously invaded by the Overlords. "We'll be fine."

"I know we will," Ashley said with a weary smile. "Come on, it's been weeks since we've had time alone together. What do you want to do?"

"I think you should rest, Ash," Andros said gently, catching her in his arms as she passed him on her way out the door. When Ashley didn't protest, he realized just how tired she must have been, and wondered why he hadn't noticed earlier. When he'd gotten home from work, the nursery had been half done, and he started to wonder how long Ashley had been working.

"I'm hungry," Ashley said suddenly, turning around and heading down the stairs. Andros followed her and convinced her to sit down on the couch and let him bring her some food. The anxious feeling in the pit of his stomach grew as Ashley only picked at her food, despite claiming to be starving.

"Ashley, are you feeling all right?" he asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Ashley said, setting her food on the table next to the couch as Andros sank down beside her, wrapping her in his arms.

"Are you sure?" Andros asked. Her entire body was much too tense, and he could clearly see dark circles under her eyes. How had he not noticed before? No matter how busy he was, Ashley should have come first.

"I'm fine," Ashley insisted, pushing him away just the slightest bit, but more than enough for Andros to take notice. "Don't worry about me so much, all right?"

Andros nodded his head uncertainly. "If you're sure you're okay."

"I'm fine," Ashley said again, now sounding exasperated and more than a little annoyed. "Really, Andros. If something was wrong, I'd tell you."

"I know," Andros said softly, giving her an unreadable look. He sighed and kissed her temple, pulling her back into his arms, ready to let go if she resisted. She didn't, and he held her close, knowing that she wasn't okay, but also knowing that he couldn't force it out of her. He started rubbing small circles in her stomach, and he felt her gradually relax against him, but not enough for his worry to abate.

"I love you," he heard Ashley whisper suddenly.

"I love you, Ashley," he whispered back. Tears started to roll out of her eyes and he pulled her as close to him as he could, cradling her in his arms as she buried her face in his chest. "It's all right," he said softly, rocking her back and forth. "Ash, what's wrong?"

"I don't know," Ashley cried, clinging to him. "I just keep feeling like something bad is going to happen."

"It's all right," Andros repeated, wiping her tears away with the back of his hand as she struggled to compose herself. "Talk to me?"

It was a question more than a request, and for a moment, Ashley was tempted to ignore it. Andros didn't need her adding her nightmares to his worries, but she found herself speaking nonetheless.

"I'm just scared," she whispered, meeting his eyes only when he grasped her chin and forced her to. "I don't know why, but I am. I keep imagining all these awful things happening. I keep seeing you and Aidan and Jenny and Marieke and this baby being taken away from me, and I know it's not real, but it feels like it is, and it's starting to drive me crazy."

Ashley was out of breath by the time she was done, and Andros sighed, holding her wordlessly for a long time before saying anything. "I'm scared too, Ash," he admitted, his grip on her tightening as he spoke. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost any of you, and as much as I hope I'll never have to find out, something tells me that I'm going to."

"I can't lose you, Andros," Ashley whispered, on the verge of tears again. Andros leaned down to kiss her before he spoke again.

"I can't lose you either, Ash," he said quietly, and for a moment, Ashley wondered if she wasn't seeing tears in his own eyes. "I want you to promise me something."

"What?" Ashley asked, her eyes locked into his.

"Promise me that no matter what happens, you'll stay alive," he whispered. "No matter what you have to do, no matter what anyone does to you, you have to survive."

"Andros..."

"Promise me," Andros pleaded. "I know that there are some things that you'd rather die than do, and I know how selfish I'm being by asking you, but I... I can't live without you, Ash."

"Promise me the same," Ashley said, reaching out to take his hand. "I need you just as much as you need me. Our children need us. We have to stay alive for them, and for each other."

"I promise," Andros whispered, his hold on her hand painfully strong. "As long as you do."

Ashley swallowed hard and buried her face in his neck, wondering if it was possible for them to stay there for the rest of their lives and never let each other go. Her voice was muffled, but it carried at least as far as Andros's ears.

"I promise."