Chapter 8: No Regrets

A few weeks had passed since Ashley returned to her father's house. She didn't do much to tick him off so she didn't beaten as often as she used to. The last time she was severely beaten was when she returned home. Her father broke down the door and beat her until the sun came up. She couldn't go to school for the next week because she was so sore, so her father gave the school an excuse that she was really sick. However, she was empty inside. She was still forbidden to see Andros, so she felt really empty inside.

One night, Ashley couldn't go to sleep. She couldn't stop thinking about Andros. The look on his face when she left haunted her dreams. She sat up and took a deep breath. "I have to see him," she whispered. She got out of bed and walked over to her dresser. She pulled on a pair of jeans, a yellow t-shirt, she left her hair down, and she grabbed her jacket. She pulled on her shoes. She unlocked her door and she walked down to her father's room. Ashley found her father passed out on his bed and he had beer bottles surrounding the bed. She let out a quiet sigh of relief as she turned and went back to her room. She closed and locked her door again. She climbed through her window and jumped down. She landed on both feet and she walked down the street. Not taking the chance of taking her car just incase.

Andros was sitting in the park playing with the bracelet that he had yet to give back to Ashley. He closed his eyes when his mind drifted back to the girl that he fell in love with the moment he saw her. "I wonder what you're doing now, Ash. Are you okay? Has he hurt you?" He asked aloud to no one. He stood up and put the bracelet back into his pocket. He headed back to his car feeling empty and worried.

"ANDROS!" A familiar voice called.

Andros stopped. "ANDROS!" She called again. Andros looked over his shoulder and saw Ashley running over to him.

"Ashley?" He asked.

He looked closely and he saw that it was Ashley. "ASHLEY!" He shouted. He ran over and took her into his arms. Ashley hugged him tight and buried her head into his shoulder. Andros hugged her tight. "How did you get away?" He asked. Ashley pulled back.

"My dad's passed out on his bed," she replied.

Andros touched her face. "It's been so long," he murmured. Ashley nodded and pulled him down for a kiss. Andros wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He reached up and let his fingers stroke her hair. He pulled back and pressed his forehead against hers. "Ashley, I know it's early. But I have to ask," he stated.

"Ask what?" She asked.

Andros looked at her and held her hand. "I don't have a ring, but Ashley. Will you marry me?" He asked. Ashley's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Are you serious?" She asked.

"Dead serious. I haven't been more serious like this for a long time. I mean it, Ashley. Will you marry me?" He asked again.

Ashley just nodded her head and a smile was on her face. Andros smiled as he picked her up and swung her around. Ashley laughed and held onto him. He set her down and kissed her again. Ashley pulled back and placed her hands on his face. She stroked his cheek with a smile on her face. Andros smiled back before leading her to his car.

When they came back to Andros's house, Astro was fast asleep in the little bed that Andros bought for him. "Oh…Andros," she whispered. Andros wrapped his arms around Ashley's waist and kissed her neck. Ashley let out a sigh and inclined her head back. Andros placed gentle kisses along her neck and pulled her closer. Ashley turned around so she was facing him and pulled her into a kiss. He picked her up and carried her to his room.

Andros placed Ashley on his bed and pulled back. "You sure you're ready for this?" He asked. Ashley reached up and stroked his hair.

"I'm ready," she replied.

She grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him down for another kiss. She pushed his leather jacket off his shoulders and shivered slightly when his hand went up her shirt. He could feel a few scars on her stomach and side. He pulled back but only to lift her shirt up and kiss the scars. Ashley bit her lip and a tear fell down her face. Andros lifted his head up when he heard her a small sob come from her. "Ash?" He asked. He came back up to face her and saw tears on her face. "Ashley, what is it?" He asked. Ashley bit her lip and she touched his face.

"I feel like I'm in a dream and soon I'm going to wake up back in that house. That this never happened," she answered him sadly.

Andros stroked her cheek and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Ashley. Do I feel real?" He asked. She nodded her head. "You're here with me. You're not back in that house. This is happening," he replied. Ashley hugged him and let out a sigh. "I love you and I won't let anything happen to you," he murmured. Ashley sighed and a smile came across her face. She pulled back and she kissed him. Andros kissed her back and pushed her back on the bed. Andros pulled back and pressed his forehead against hers.

"I love you too," she answered.

Andros stroked her cheek before kissing her again. She reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it up. He broke the kiss and removed his shirt. Ashley ran her hands down his chest and she traced the light scar on his stomach. Andros started to undo the buttons on her blouse. One the material was removed, he felt his heart ache when he saw scars in so many places. Ashley bit her lip and closed her eyes knowing that he was staring at her scars. He kissed each scar and tried to help her heal from all the pain she went through during the past ten years of her abuse.

Soon after everything was removed, they were under the blankets. Ashley felt like she was flying. With every caress and every kiss, she felt like nothing could go wrong. During the night, they felt like everything had faded away. Andros stared down at her wanting to make sure she was ready. Ashley held onto his shoulders and looked at him. "You sure?" He asked. Ashley nodded her head slowly and then Andros entered her in one swift movement wanting to make it fast and as painless as possible. Ashley whimpered in pain and dug her nails into his shoulders. He winced in pain and looked down to see if she was okay. "You okay?" He asked.

"I'll be okay," she assured him.

After a minute he started a steady pace and she was soon joining him. Before they both knew it, they were both caught in their own world of love and passion.

(An Hour Later)

Ashley was lying in her arms and she slowly started to get up. She pulled on her clothes and tears started to fall down her face. She looked at the clock to see that it was three in the morning. More tears started to make their way down her face as she looked over at Andros fast asleep unaware that she was once again leaving. She wrote a note and left it on the nightstand on his side of the bed. She looked over to see Astro fast asleep in the little bed that Andros had bought for him. She quickly left the house before Andros woke up.

When Ashley got home, she quickly changed back into her pajamas. She doubled checked to see if the door was locked before she climbed back into her bed. She buried her head into her pillow and she cried.

(Next Morning)

Andros woke up and he found the note. He sat up and started to read the note.

Andros,

As you can see I'm gone. I had to go back before my father finds out that I'm gone.

Last night was incredible and I'll always remember it. I have no regrets for what we have done. It'll always remain special to me.

Please forgive me for running out like this. I'm sorry to abandon you again, but until I graduate it has to be this way. Daddy can't know that we're still together until school's over. We'll take Astro and move to KO-35 to start over with our lives. In four months it'll be you, me, and Astro. No one else will come between us ever again.

I love you so much.

Love Always,

Ashley