Chapter 17: Years to Come

Two years had gone by since Andros's death. During those two years, the Ashley that everyone had known and loved seemed to have melted away. It hurt everyone to see Ashley so miserable. However, around her neck she wore Andros's locket with his wedding ring hanging from the chain.

That night, Selena came home with Layla. The four-year-old was out like a light since they came back from visiting Selena's new boyfriend. She set the young girl into the bed, ever since Andros's death, Selena moved in to help her mom out. After Andros's death, Selena handed in her resignation, she wanted to stay home to be with her daughter and her mother. She had done what she promised her father, she was raising her little Layla and made sure to tell Layla about her grandfather everyday.

Selena walked upstairs and placed Layla into her room and closed the door behind her. She walked down the hall and knocked on her mother's bedroom door. "Mom?" She called softly. She came in and found her mother lying on her bed motionless. "Mom," she repeated. She walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. She stroked her mother's hair.

"When did you get home?" Ashley asked.

"Just got home," Selena replied.

Ashley closed her eyes for a second before opening them. "Do you know what today is?" Ashley asked. Selena nodded her head slowly.

"Yeah, I know. It's your birthday," Selena replied.

Ashley bit her lip and stared at the far wall. "Thirty-one years ago today, your father gave me the necklace that I never took off," she murmured. Selena kissed her mother's temple and let out a sigh.

"I know," Selena answered.

She continued to stroke her mother's hair. "I loved your father from the moment I met him you know. The moment he de-morphed from his Red Ranger form I fell in love with him. He was everything I have ever wanted and everything I needed and I still need him. He's been gone for two years and I still need him," Ashley babbled. Selena held Ashley's hand and let out a sigh.

"Mom, he loved you more than anything, that's why he did what he did," Selena pointed out.

Ashley let out a shaky sigh. "Why did I have to lose him?" She asked. Selena bit her lip as she tried to force herself not to cry.

"These things just happen, mom. He wanted you to stay alive as well as Apollo and Solana. Dad wanted you to have everything," Selena replied.

"Everything doesn't mean anything when he's not here to share it with."

Selena hugged her mother when she saw the tears falling down her face. "I miss him so much," she sobbed. She stroked Ashley's hair and the tears fell down her face.

"I know," Selena answered.

(A Few Hours Later)

Selena had gone to bed and Ashley was able to fall asleep after trying to fight it again. In her arms she had Andros's space jacket.

As the night went on, a figure came up to the front door and overrode the house alarm. They walked down the hall as if they were searching for something. The person opened the door that led into Layla's room. The person stared at the sleeping child for a minute before closing the door and going down the hall again. They opened the door to Ashley's room and snuck in. Sitting beside her on the bed, he person stroked her hair. Ashley opened her eyes and looked over to see who was touching her. Her eyes widened and she sat up. "It can't be," she whispered. The tears fell down her face.

"Hey, Ashley," he murmured.

Ashley threw her arms around him and let out a sob. "Andros," she sobbed. Andros hugged her back and closed his eyes. She pulled back and touched his face. Tracing every outline on his face. She bit her lip when she saw that the scars on his face were gone. He looked just as handsome as she remembered him years ago. Tears fell down her face. "Y--You were dead…they told me…" she trailed off. Andros nodded his head.

"I was," he answered.

"Then what happened?" She asked.

Andros took a deep breath. "It's a long story," he replied. Ashley shook her head.

"I have the time to hear it," she answered.

Andros held her hands as he prepared to tell her everything.

(Flashback)

Andros opened his eyes and looked around. "Where am I?" He asked.

"Welcome to heaven, son," a voice answered.

Andros looked over his shoulder and saw his father standing there with his mother beside him. "Mom? Dad?" He asked. They nodded their heads. "What's going on?" He asked. Angeni walked over and placed a hand on her son's shoulder.

"Andros, you have made a great sacrifice to protect your family and the universe," she replied.

Andros let out a sigh. "I left her again," he mumbled. Aldarico nodded his head slowly.

"But what you have done as a Ranger when you were younger up to now, you are to be rewarded for what you have done," Aldarico informed.

Angeni placed her hands on her son's face, making the scars on his face disappear. "Now what?" Andros asked. Aldarico smiled and had his wife stand beside him again.

"Enjoy the rest of your life with your wife, son," Aldarico told him.

Soon darkness claimed Andros.

(End Flashback)

Ashley was in disbelief, but then she hugged him again. "I missed you," she whispered. Andros hugged her back.

"I missed you too," he answered.

Ashley buried her head into his chest with tears falling down her face. Andros hugged her tight and closed his eyes. "Never ever am I leaving you again," he assured her. Ashley smiled.

"Never ever," she answered.

Andros pulled back and kissed her gently.

(Four Years Later)

"GRANDPA!" Layla shouted. Andros turned around and picked his granddaughter up from the ground while she was running towards him.

"Hey, how was school?" He asked.

"Good, guess what, grandpa," Layla replied.

"What?"

"We learned about the Power Rangers today."

"Yeah?"

Andros set her on his shoulders as he listened to Layla babble about what she learned about the Power Rangers. "Hey, dad," Andreas greeted. He had his four-year-old daughter, Angeni, on his shoulders.

"Hey, Andreas, where's your sister?" Andros asked.

Astra was walking up with her two-year-old son, Aldarico, in her arms. "I hate family photo day," she commented. Andros chuckled and looked up to see Apollo and Solana there along with Artemis and Selena. With all their kids grown up this would be their last picture of the whole family. Ashley was playing with Solana's baby girl, Alejandra. Apollo was talking with his fiancé. Artemis and Selena were talking.

"Guys ready?" Andros asked.

"Ready," they replied.

They Karovan family stood together with smiles on their faces as the family photo they've been wanting for so long was finally taken.

(Preview to Next Story)

Ashley was walking down the hall towards the throne room to see how his parents were taking the engagement when she came in on the conversation. "I am marrying her, mom. I love her," Andros insisted.

"That girl's put a spell on you somehow. If you marry that girl without our permission and she gets pregnant, the pregnancy will be aborted willingly or by force," Andraya hissed.

Ashley's eyes widened in shock at what she was hearing. "You wouldn't dare," Andros snapped.

"We don't want earth blood tainting our bloodline," Caspar answered.

Title: The Trouble with Love is

Genre: Romance and Drama

Story Due: August 13, 2006