Disclaimer: If I haven't said that it's mine, then it's not.

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Yup, you got your brother. And you got mail after all. :P

Mz. Daydream: Yeah, they needed some alone time. The other rangers are back in this chapter, and there's going to be a battle sometime soon, or else this story will go on forever.

Jenny: Yeah, this is where your brother comes from.

the-power-of-love: Thanks, here's more.

C.C.C: Don't worry, you're not the only one. :P

Chapter 31

"Morning, sleepy."

Andros blinked his eyes open, a smile creeping across his face as he found Ashley's face pressed so close to his own all he could see of her was her eyes. Stretching, he pulled back a little, wrapping both his arms loosely around Ashley's waist.

"Morning," he answered, tightening the hold he hand on her as she leaned in to kiss him. When she pulled back, he laughed softly. "If you're calling me sleepy, does that mean you feel better?"

Ashley nodded, laughing a bit herself as she said, "Yeah... all I needed was thirty-six straight hours worth of sleep and you."

Andros smiled and tucked her head under his chin. "I needed you too."

She sat up, stretching her arms out above her head, and he saw that she had been right when she'd said the Power still healed her. What had been alarmingly deep gashes in the skin of her back only two and a half days before were now little more than large scratches.

"Have I mentioned you're beautiful?" Andros asked softly, reaching out to trace several of the wounds with his thumb.

"Mmm... once or twice," she said teasingly. "But I wouldn't mind hearing it again."

"You're beautiful," he said sincerely, leaning forward to kiss the back of her neck. He caught her in his arms as Ashley started to lie back down, and they sat there in silence for a long moment. Ashley squirmed into his lap, leaning back against his chest as he wrapped his arms firmly around her, telekinetically drawing the blankets up halfway over themselves.

"We should get up now," he muttered reluctantly several minutes later, sighing heavily at the thought of pushing her away. "There's some people who think I'm hogging you, you know."

"I don't care," Ashley murmured, resting her head against his shoulder. "They can wait."

"Some of those people happen to be our children," he informed her, smiling at the back of her head.

She sighed and muttered reluctantly, "I guess we should get up, then."

Andros nodded, realizing a moment later that she couldn't see him. "We should."

Ashley crawled out of his lap and stood reluctantly, thinking that she could have easily stayed there with him all day. Andros climbed out of bed a moment later, glancing at Ashley in surprise as she grabbed his arm when he went to pick up his clothes.

"I'll be in the shower," she said, not dropping his hand. The invitation was clear, and he followed her into the bathroom without a second thought.

As soon as they were both clean, dry, and dressed, they left their room hand in hand, going off in search of their family and friends. They passed several other rangers on the way to the glider bay, some familiar faces, and others newer and stranger.

"Ashley!"

"Cassie!"

Ashley threw her arms around her best friend. "How are you?"

"I should be asking you that," Cassie retorted. She paused for effect and asked, "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Ashley assured her. At Cassie's skeptical look, she insisted, "Really."

"Andros, how is she?" Cassie gave Andros a knowing look. "How are you?"

"Almost fine," Andros said, laughing as Ashley made a face at him. "But we'll be okay."

"You'd better be," Karone said, coming up behind them. Andros rolled his eyes and wrapped his sister in a hug.

"I'm all right," he insisted as Zhane released Ashley and turned to him.

"Andros..." he said, staring at his best friend for a long moment with a slightly unfocued look, as if trying to remember something. Then his eyes cleared and his old grin was back on his face. "Your son is entirely too much like you."

Andros winced. "Which one?"

"I thought we only had one!" Ashley exclaimed, her eyes narrowing as everyone shifted uncomfortably. "What's going on?"

"Um, well, see, the thing is..." Zhane stopped and shrugged. "Andros, you explain."

Andros shot a healthy glare at Zhane and turned to Ashley, sighing. "The rangers... they're kind of all our kids from the future."

"Kind of?" Ashley repeated. "How exactly are they kind of our kids?"

"They're our kids," Andros mumbled nervously. "Ash, I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I just-"

"I'm not mad," Ashley said. "Um, I just... so Ryan and Tempest are Aidan and... Seren?"

"Oh, Seren's with Carlos and Aura," Cassie said. "TJ went to get them."

"And we're back," a familiar voice announced. Ashley took Seren from Aura as the three people who hadn't yet smothered them in hugs proceeded to do so.

"Wait," Ashley said suddenly. "Who are Jenny and Marieke?"

"Skylar and Ximena," Andros said softly, watching her face carefully. "They're good now, Ash. They turned good to save us."

"Oh," Ashley said flatly. "Umm..."

"Well, you've taken it the best of us all," TJ said dryly.

"So they're on our side now?" Ashley asked, just to be sure.

Andros nodded. "They'll fight with us all during the final battle."

"When is that, by the way?" Zhane asked. "It's not like I'll be doing anything then, but I'd like to know."

"Why won't you be doing anything?" Ashley asked.

"We've only been Astro rangers," Zhane said, gesturing to himself and Andros. "And Karone's only been a Galaxy ranger. There aren't enough morphers for us."

"So the three of us will fight from up here," Karone said. "Zhane, you're going to be doing something."

"Oh, that reminds me," Cassie said, offering the yellow Turbo key to Ashley. "If you're feeling up to it..."

Ashley took the key, twirling it between her palms for a moment. "Thanks."

She caught Andros's eye then, and though he looked away quickly, it wasn't quickly enough for her to miss the apprehension that darkened his eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Andros..."

"It's stupid," he said, relenting. "But I just don't want to be stuck up here while you're down there and we can't help each other."

Ashley hesitated. She didn't want to be fighting apart from him, either, and if the battle was anytime soon, she wasn't sure that she was ready. Contemplating the key in her hand for a moment longer, she turned to Karone and offered it to her.

"Would you... " she started to say, and stopped, not knowing how to finiish.

Karone nodded instantly, her fingers clasping around the key. "If you're sure."

"I am," Ashley said instantly.

"Ash, you didn't have to..." Andros started to say guiltily.

"I wanted to," she broke in. "Don't start."

He gaved her a relieved smile and nodded, his smile fading quickly as the alarm shrilled.