Chapter 21: Home Again

It was very late when Andros got back to KO-35. He landed the ship back onto it's platform and took a deep breath. He got up and walked down the platform from the ship and saw Kinwon and Tykwa there waiting for him. Andros stood there and saluted. "Mission accomplished Admiral," he informed. Kinwon smiled and placed a hand on Andros's shoulders.

"Welcome home, Andros," he greeted.

Andros smiled and then he embraced the man that was like a second father to him since he was a child and ever since his parents' death. "You have a family waiting for you at home," Tykwa informed. Andros nodded.

"Thank you," he told them.

Then Andros left to go see his family.

When Andros arrived at the house, he silently unlocked the door and Astro ran to greet him. Andros smiled as he scratched the dog's ears. "Hey, Astro," he whispered. Andros slowly closed the door behind him and had Astro go lay down in his bed. Andros walked up the stairs towards his and Ashley's bedroom. He stopped by Alena's room and his heart felt so big when he saw his daughter. He walked over and pulled the blankets that had fallen on the floor around her. He placed the small teddy bear he had bought for Alena while he was on Earth contacting Tommy. Then he got up from the floor and left the room.

Andros walked down the hall into his and Ashley's room. He found his wife fast asleep in her bed looking more beautiful than ever. He walked over and stroked her face. He placed a soft kiss against her lips and watched as Ashley's eyes opened. "Hey beautiful," he whispered. Ashley sat up.

"Andros?" She asked.

"One and only," he replied.

Ashley hugged him tight with tears falling down her face. "I thought something happened," she whispered.

"I'm alright," he whispered.

Andros kissed her neck and held her. "I'm home and I'm never leaving again," he told her. Ashley buried her head into his shoulder and tears fell down her face. "I'm never leaving, I'm never leaving," he whispered. He kissed the top of her head while he continued to hold her like there was no tomorrow. Andros removed his boots and his jacket before crawling into the bed. Ashley wrapped her arms around him and placed her head on his chest.

"I'll never let you go ever again," she whispered.

Andros kissed her forehead. "Don't worry," he answered. Ashley let out a sigh and hugged him tight. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," she answered.

They both fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Alena woke up and she found the teddy bear in her arms. She held the bear close to her as she got up and she went to mommy's room. She opened the door and she saw that for the first time that someone was sleeping next to her. "Who that?" She thought. She walked over and tugged on Ashley's nightgown sleeve. "Mommy," she whispered. Ashley woke up and looked over at her three-year-old daughter.

"What is it, sweetie?" She asked.

"Who that?" Alena asked.

Ashley lifted Alena up on the bed and looked over at Andros with a smile. "You know who that is, sweetheart. That's your daddy," she replied.

"But daddy out fighting bad guys?" Alena asked.

"Not anymore," Andros replied.

Andros opened his eyes and smiled at Alena. Alena jumped out of Ashley's arms and onto Andros. Ashley smiled as Andros hugged their daughter tight and Andros looked over at Ashley. "Don't go away ever again," Alena told him.

"I'm not going anywhere," he assured her.

He kissed the top of Alena's head before kissing Ashley's cheek. Ashley hugged him and Andros gladly hugged his two favorite girls.

(On Year Later)

Karone led Alena into the room with her son, Liam, sitting on her hip. Ashley was sitting up in bed with Andros sitting beside her. As Alena walked closer, she saw that someone else was sleeping in her mommy's arms this time. Andros picked Alena up and set her on the bed. "Alena, meet your new baby brother, Aldarico," Ashley whispered so she wouldn't wake him. Alena stared at the infant with a quizzical look and she looked at his tiny hands.

"He's small," she commented.

Andros held his daughter in his lap with a smile and looked over at Karone. "Thanks, Karone for watching her," he told her.

"Was my pleasure, Andros," she answered.

Karone left the room with Liam and Andros looked back at his son. "Why he so tiny?" She asked. Andros kissed her cheek.

"Babies are always tiny," Ashley replied.

"You were that tiny one time," Andros pointed out.

"No I wasn't," Alena insisted.

Andros chuckled and saw Aldarico open his eyes. "Look, Alena, he's opening his eyes," Ashley murmured. Alena smiled as she looked at her little brother.

"Here, go like this," Andros told Alena.

He lifted Alena's hand and had Aldarico hold her index finger. Alena smiled as she let her little brother hold her hand. "When he's older he'll do a lot of great things with your help," Andros told her.

"Speaking that they both are supposed to get the Red and Yellow Rangers' morphers," Zhane commented when he came in.

Andros rolled his eyes slightly. "What about you and Sierra?" Ashley asked. Zhane shrugged his shoulders.

"Sierra said one's enough. She's been spoiling Zalman everyday during the past what is it now, Ash, two years?" He asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Ashley replied with a grin.

Zhane looked over at Aldarico. "Poor kid, looks like his dad," Zhane commented.

"Very funny," Andros mumbled.

Zhane and Ashley laughed slightly before Ashley yawned. "I'll come back later you guys," Zhane commented. Ashley kissed Zhane's cheek.

"Thank you, Zhane," she answered.

"No problem," Zhane assured her.

"Could you take Alena back with you?" Andros asked.

"Sure, come on, shrimp," Zhane replied.

Alena kissed her parents and little brother goodnight before leaving with Zhane. Ashley bit her lip as she looked at her son. "I can't believe it," she whispered. Andros wrapped his arm around her and looked at Aldarico. Andros nodded his head slowly.

"Just four years ago I thought I wouldn't even see through high school," she commented.

Andros saw the pain in her eyes when she thought about what her father had done to her. "Your father is no more, Ashley," he assured her.

"I know," she answered.

Andros sighed and held Aldarico in his arms. "But before I had nothing to look forward to, now I do," she added. Andros smiled and kissed her forehead.

"You and me forever, Ashley, you and me forever," he murmured.

Ashley placed her head on his shoulder and Andros lied back while still being careful with his son in his arms before all three of them fell asleep.

Author's Note: All down. :frowns: I loved making this story and thanks everyone who's been supporting it. I have to thank SciFiNutAlways1999 again for helping me make the rest of the story come true, because without her, this story wouldn't have made it through like it had. Thanks everyone. Hope you guys enjoy the other stories I have up.