Chapter 17: Taking Vows

Ashley took a deep breath as Cassie zipped up the back of her wedding gown. "Well, you're a graduated high school student and marrying an awesome guy," Cassie commented. Ashley smiled as she put her tiara in her hair. A smile came across her face as she felt her baby move.

"Cassie, she's moving," she whispered.

Cassie stood in front of Ashley and placed a hand on her stomach. The two best friends giggled when the baby kicked. "How do you know it's going to be a girl?" A voice asked. Ashley looked over to see her stepfather, Greg, standing there. She's started to call him dad, because he's treated her more like a father should treat their daughter. Greg smiled when Ashley turned and looked at him. "Ashley, you look beautiful," he told her. He walked over and held her hands.

"Thank you, daddy," she answered.

Greg kissed her cheek. "Oh…I wanted you to have these," he informed. Greg pulled out a box and Ashley opened it to see a pair of diamond earrings sitting inside.

"Dad…" she whispered.

Greg smiled and kissed her forehead. "Do you like them?" He asked.

"Yes," she replied.

Ashley hugged Greg with a smile. "Thank you so much," she murmured. Greg gently hugged her back.

"You're welcome," he answered.

Just then, the door opened and Ashley's little brother, David, came in. He noticed the tears on her face. "Ashley, why are you crying?" He asked. Ashley pulled back and she looked at her brother.

"I'm just very, very happy," Ashley replied.

She looked at the mirror. "Oh you guys! I'm ruining my makeup," she laughed. Cassie laughed as she had Ashley sit down and fixed it up. "Dad, have you seen Andros?" She asked. Greg nodded.

"Yeah, I saw him. He just as nervous as you are," he replied.

Ashley let out a sigh and closed her eyes. "So, you two going to his home planet afterwards?" Greg asked. Ashley nodded her head. They had explained everything about being Power Rangers, KO-35, and everything else.

"Andros is the General of KO-35, he needs to go back. They only let me stay because of what he did," Ashley explained.

Greg nodded. Ashley looked up when April came in. "Sweet heart, just about ready?" She asked. Ashley nodded.

"Yeah, I'm ready," she replied.

Ashley took a deep breath and stood up. Greg walked over and offered her his arm. "Shall we?" He asked. Ashley smiled as she pulled her veil over her face.

"We shall," she replied.

Andros stood at the altar and his eyes widened when Ashley came down the aisle. She was so beautiful, took his breath away. Greg came to the altar and stopped. "Who gives this woman to this man?" The minister asked.

"I do, Gregory James Leonardo," he replied.

Greg removed the veil from Ashley's face and kissed her cheek. He took Andros's hand and placed Ashley's in his. He held their hands with a smile on his face. "Take care of each other and love each other until the end of time," he advised. He walked away and sat down beside April. Ashley took a deep breath as she looked at Andros with a smile on her face.

Once it came time for the vows, Ashley felt Andros's hands shake in hers and she smiled at him. "Relax," she mouthed. Andros calmed a bit and nodded slightly.

"Ashley, I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life," he vowed.

Ashley bit her lip as she forced her tears back. "Ashley?" The minister asked. Ashley took a deep breath as she held onto his hands.

"Andros, I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life," she vowed with her voice shaking slightly.

They had decided to say their individual vows before saying vows in unison. They had practice days on end to get it right. They were both so nervous that one was going to mess up. "Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you, For where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. And where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord do with me and more if anything but death parts you from me," they vowed in unison. The minister called for the rings. Andros took one ring and held it up to Ashley's finger.

"Andros, I want you to repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed," the minister instructed.

"With this ring, I thee wed," Andros repeated.

Ashley bit her lip as she took the other ring and held it up to Andros's hand. "Ashley, as you slip the ring onto Andros's finger. I want you to repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed," he instructed. Ashley slipped the ring onto Andros's finger.

"With this ring, I thee wed," she vowed.

The minister nodded with a smile. "By the powers invested in me in the state of California. I now pronounce you husband and wife," he announced. Andros pulled Ashley close and kissed her. However, he pulled back and they both laughed. The baby had kicked both Andros and Ashley.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Andros asked.

"I think this would be a good thing," she replied.

Andros held his wife's hand as he led her back down the aisle, they were both happy as ever. Nothing could ruin this day, nothing.