Chapter 9: Explaining Everything

Andros and Ashley went to the bridge to see the others there. "Okay, I know yesterday wasn't a good time, could you please explain to us what the heck is going on?" TJ asked. Ashley let out a sigh.

"You guys might want to sit down. It's a long story," Ashley replied.

They sat down and Ashely let out a deep breath. "My name really isn't Ashley Hammond. I'm really Lady Adora, daughter of Alastair. Two years ago, on the last stand of KO-35, I was helping civilians out of a building. Andros was ordering me to get on the ship, but I didn't listen. When I was helping the last person out of the building, I saw a bomb. I quickly pushed him out just as the building blew up. When I woke up, I couldn't remember anything let alone my own name. Kinwon and Tykwa took my ring and morpher while I was unconscious and gave them to Andros telling him that I was dead. I was told that my name was Ashley Hammond. Then I was sent to Earth," she explained.

"So…you're Andros's wife?" Carlos asked.

"Yes," Ashley replied.

"So what about you, Andros? You really the Emperor's son?" Cassie asked.

"Well, I was. But once Dark Specter is destroyed and Zordon is returned, I'll take my father's place as Emperor of KO-35 and Ashley will be Empress," Andros explained.

"Well, what do we really call you, Ash? Should we call you Ashley or Adora?" TJ asked.

Ashley smiled. "Call me Ashley," she answered. They nodded with grins on their faces.

Later that afternoon, Ashley found Andros on the simu-deck practicing. "Hey," she greeted. Andros looked up.

"Stop simulation," he instructed.

Andros de-morphed and smiled at her. "Hey," he answered. Ashley leaned against the wall. "What's up?" He asked.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking," she replied.

"Yeah?" He asked.

Andros stood close to her trapping her between him and the wall. Ashley laughed and pushed him back. "Well, our custom at home would be like what you told me earlier that we would be trying for our first. How about after all this, after Dark Specter's gone and Zordon's brought home we try?" She asked. She smiled as she played with the collar of his workout uniform.

"Hmmm, sounds like a plan," he replied.

Ashley giggled as he leaned down and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer to him. Andros wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed her up against the wall. "Hey, hey you two," Cassie called out. They pulled back to see Cassie and TJ standing there.

"We know you guys haven't been together for awhile but come on," TJ teased.

"Yeah get a room," Cassie agreed.

"Sorry, have you guys seen Carlos?" Ashley asked.

"He's working on something in the jump tube room," Cassie replied.

Ashley let Andros go and went to talk to Carlos.

She came in and saw Carlos working. "Hey, Carlos," she greeted.

"Oh hey, Ash," he answered.

Ashley sat across from him. "You okay?" She asked. She unconsciously started to play with her wedding ring. Carlos looked up to see the ring and looked at her. "You've been acting really strange since Andros and I explained everything," she commented. Carlos shrugged his shoulders.

"It's just weird, Ash. All this time you have been married just as I started to feel things," he answered.

Ashley bit her lip. "Carlos, you saw that before I remembered who I was that Andros and I were together. We could only be friends," she answered. Carlos nodded his head slowly.

"I know," he murmured.

Ashley sat in front of him and held his hands. Carlos's eye caught Ashley's wedding ring again. Ashley let out a sigh and hid that hand behind her back. "Carlos, stop thinking of me being a married woman, even though yes I am, but we can still be friends," she assured him.

"Yeah, sure," he answered.

He looked up to see Andros standing there. "Better go," he commented. He got up and left. Andros walked over to her.

"Hey, everything okay?" He asked.

"Yeah…I think so," she replied.

Andros walked over and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Yeah, everything's going to be okay," she added.

"Okay," he answered.

He kissed the top of her head. "We should get back to work," he commented.

"Yeah," she answered.

Ashley got up from her seat and walked up to the bridge with Andros.

Later that evening, Ashley was sitting in her quarters when there was a knock on the door. "Come in," she answered. She looked up to see Cassie standing there. "Hey, Cass," she greeted.

"Hey," Cassie answered.

Cassie walked over and sat on Ashley's bed. "So, how does it feel?" Cassie asked.

"How does what feel?" Ashley asked.

"Hello! You've just remembered that you're Andros's wife."

Ashley laughed and leaned back. "It's different, I'm still remembering a few things here and there about my life as a Karovan," she replied. Cassie grinned and Ashley let out a sigh. "Things are different from here on out. I mean, after Dark Specter's gone, Andros and I will be heading back to KO-35 to take our place as Emperor and Empress," she added.

"Right, how do you feel about that?" Cassie asked.

Ashley shrugged her shoulders. "I always felt that I was supposed to be part of something bigger," she replied. Cassie nodded.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Ash," Cassie told her.

"Night, Cass," Ashley answered.

Ashley watched her friend leave and then Andros came in. She could tell he was exhausted. "You okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, just need some sleep," he replied.

Ashley smiled as she stood up. They both removed their boots and jackets before getting into bed. Andros pulled Ashley to him and she placed her head on his chest. "Night, Ashley," he murmured.

"Night, Andros," she answered.

Then in no time they were in a deep sleep.