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

Mz. Daydream: Don't worry, the baby's going to be fine. I just needed her to be born now, so I can get to the rest of the story. Andros and Ashley will find out, but they'll be the last to know, and that won't be for awhile. I love protective Andros too. :P

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Duh, they'll both survive. :P

Chapter 19

Ashley was struggling to stay calm, but every time another contraction hit her, panic rose up with in her. It hadn't hurt this much with any of the other three, and fear that there was something horribly wrong nearly overwhelmed her.

"You have to really push now," the doctor told her.

She tried, and it felt like her body was being torn in two. "I can't," she wailed. "It hurts too much."

"You're almost there, Ash," Andros said, squeezing her hands. "Everything's all right. It's almost over."

"If it's all right, then why does it hurt so much?" Ashley cried, leaning aginst the arm Andros had wrapped around her shoulder. "Something's wrong, I know it!"

"Some babies come easier than others," the doctor assured her. "This one is just a little harder than most, and it's almost here."

Ashley stared at them both uncertainly, but calmed a little, and the next push was a little less agonizing. Andros kissed the side of her head, whispering softly in her ear. Ashley didn't register any of what he said to her, but the calmness of his voice sunk in. She knew that nothing mattered more to Andros than his family, and if he was so calm right now, she figured that everything must be all right.

"One more push," the doctor told her. "You're almost there."

Ashley wailed with pain but pushed hard, her body straining forward as she struggled to deliver the baby. A moment later, she fell back against Andros's arm, gasping, rewarded with the cries of a newborn baby.

"It's a girl," the doctor announced, placing the baby in Ashley's arms for a moment before saying, "We're going to take her to get cleaned up now, and we'll want to watch her carefully for the next few days, just to be sure that she's all right."

"Okay," Ashley whispered, hating to relinquish her daughter even for a moment. Reluctantly she handed the girl over to a nurse.

"While the baby's getting cleaned up, we're going to get you out of the delivery room, and into a real room, all right?" another nurse said cheerfully. Ashley nodded dazedly and looked up at Andros, who squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"It's all right, Ash," he whispered, kissing the side of her head. "The baby's fine."

Ashley nodded again, nearly crushing his hand in hers as she started sobbing with relief. She buried herself in his chest, tears streaming down her cheeks as Andros held her close, the familiar warmth of his body more comforting than anything he could have said. He stroked her hair gently, fighting back tears of his own.

"Shh," he said soothingly, rocking her back and forth. "It's all right, Ash. It's all right."

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"Here she is," the nurse announced, placing the baby girl in Andros's arms. He cradled his daughter carefully, slowly sitting down beside Ashley on her bed as the nurse closed the door behind her, giving them some privacy.

"She's beautiful," Andros said softly, placing a kiss on his daughter's forehead. Ashley smiled and leaned against his arm, still crying a little. Andros shifted the baby into her arms, wrapping his own arms around Ashley.

"I love you," Ashley whispered to the little girl staring up at her with wide hazel eyes. "Seren."

Andros's smile grew wider, and he pulled Ashley closer to him, gently stroking Seren's arm with his thumb. She was alarmingly small, but her eyes were bright as she stared up at her parents, and every now and then she flexed her small hands.

"I love you," Andros said softly, echoing Ashley's words. His gaze flickered to her for a moment. "I love you, Ash."

"I love you too," Ashley murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder. She paused and added, "Thanks for keeping me calm."

"I kept you calm?" Andros asked, a trace of amusement in his eyes.

"I was being serious," Ashley said, making a face at him.

"I know," Andros said quickly. "It's just... I wasn't calm, Ash. I was so scared that I was going to lose both of you. Spyridon said he'd killed both of you, and I..."

His voice trailed off and he swallowed hard, not wanting to ruin what had been a happy moment a few seconds before. Ashley squeezed his hand and smiled tiredly, her eyelids starting to droop shut. Andros was just about to suggest that she get some rest when Seren wailed suddenly, snapping Ashley wide awake.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" she asked, rocking her back and forth. "Mommy's here... it's all right. You're just hungry, aren't you?"

Seren's cries grew louder, and Ashley hurried to pull down the front of her hospital gown. Seren quieted as she started to nurse, greedily sucking up all the milk she could.

"If she's nursing, that means she's all right, doesn't it?" Andros asked anxiously.

Ashley smiled and nodded, relaxing completely now. "I think so," she said. She paused, something else occuring to her. "Andros? Shouldn't we tell Aidan and the twins that they have a new baby sister?"

Andros looked at her sheepishly. "Probably."

Ashley sighed, and started rocking Seren to sleep. "I'm not allowed to leave this bed, so I guess you should go tell them."

Andros grinned at her, and held up his wrist. "I've got a better idea."

A moment later, Aidan and the twins were standing in front of them. "Mom! Dad!"

"Shh," Andros said quickly, getting off of the bed. He knelt down, wrapping Aidan in his arms before turning to the twins and doing the same. "We're all right."

"Mommy," Jenny said, struggling to get to Ashley. Andros picked her up, setting her down on the bed as she threw her arms around her mother's neck. Ashley returned the hug as best she could.

"You guys aren't supposed to be in here," Andros said. "So keep quiet, all right?"

"Okay," Aidan said, his gaze landing on Ashley. "Why's Mom holding a baby?"

Andros stiffened a laugh. "This is your new baby sister."

"Another sister?" Aidan wailed. "Aww..."

"Her name's Seren," Ashley said.

"I wanna hold her," Jenny said, still sitting next to Ashley.

Ashley hesitated. "If you let Daddy help you."

Slowly, Ashley transferred the sleeping child into Jenny's arms, and Andros placed his hands underneath hers, helping her support the child.

"Why's she tiny?" Marieke asked, climbing onto the bed next to Jenny.

"She was born a little bit early," Andros said, carefully handing Seren back to Ashley. "But you and Jenny weren't much bigger."

"I wasn't tiny," Jenny insisted.

Ashley smiled. "If you say so."

A few minutes later, Andros noticed how exhausted Ashley was. He sent Aidan and the twins back to the Megaship, telling them that he'd be there in a little while, and to get Karone and Zhane to watch them so they wouldn't disturb the rangers.

Ashley nearly collapsed against him as he sat down again. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, Andros held her close to him as she started to doze off, her head resting on his shoulder. Soon both she and Seren were fast asleep. Andros watched them with a smile, now more determined than ever to protect his family.