Chapter 24: Standing Strong Together

Ashley was sitting in her quarters putting flowers in her hair when she found herself putting her hand on her stomach again. Lately she was catching herself doing that. She loved the fact that this was her and Andros's baby. She bit her lip at the thought of actually being a mother. Sure she was only seventeen, but she was a Karovan so it was actually custom for her to get pregnant by this time. She remembered Andros explaining that to her when she had lost her memory. Now, she had remembered that she was Andros's wife and this was their baby. "Ashley, you just about ready?" Andros asked through the door.

"I'll be right there," she replied.

She pulled on her shoes and stood up. She made sure her hair was perfect before opening the door. She saw his eyes widen in shock. "Wow…" he trailed off. Ashley smiled and turned around once for him.

"So? What do you think?" She asked.

Andros was so stunned he couldn't even speak. "Ashley, you look…beautiful," he commented. Ashley smiled and held his hand as they left the Megaship.

While they were walking down the street, Ashley looked at him. "So you really like it?" She asked. She laughed when he took her hand and spun her around.

"You look very nice, you look like Stella Quazinella," he replied.

Ashley laughed and rolled her eyes, remembering the intergalactic star that she enjoying seeing on a holographic film from when she was a Karovan before the explosion. Andros let Ashley's hand go and wrapped his arm around her waist. "This will be one of the last times it'll be just you and me," he commented. Ashley placed her head on his shoulder.

"Yeah, it's going to be strange when the baby's born," she agreed.

Andros smiled and saw a couple of kids playing a game. "Oh wow! I haven't played this since I first came here," Ashley commented. One of the little boys handed her the little bean bag they were using to play. She tossed the bean bag and started hopping across the board. Once she was done she walked back over to him. "Here, you try," she told him. Ashley giggled when he threw the bag and just stood there.

"Now what?" He asked.

"Just hop across," she replied.

She watched as her husband hopped across the board like she told him to before she handed the boys their bean bags. "Thank you," she told them. She then looked up at Andros. "Ready?" She asked.

"Yep," he replied.

Ashley held his hand as they started to walk back down the street. "So do you want to get something to eat?" He asked.

"Mmm yeah," she replied.

Andros smiled as she walked backwards holding his hands at the same time. "Well want to go to that new Chinese place?" She asked.

"Sounds good," he replied.

Ashley smiled as she walked beside him again. "Nervous?" He asked. Ashley let out a breath.

"Yeah, sort of," she replied.

Andros kissed the side of her head. "I'm sure you'll both be fine," he assured her. Ashley smiled, but then she heard something and stopped. "What is it?" He asked.

"Did you hear that?" She asked.

"No, come on," he replied.

Ashley held his hand as they started walking again. However, they saw red lights coming behind them and Andros turned around to see a truck coming right at them. "LOOK OUT!" He shouted. He pushed Ashley down protecting her and the baby at the same time. Andros sat up and looked at her. "You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah," she replied.

"The baby?"

"Yeah."

Andros helped her off the ground and they ran towards the alley that the truck went down. Andros wrapped his arm around Ashley's waist with his hand protectively on her stomach. They looked around trying to find the truck, but it seemed to have disappeared. When they saw a small fire in the middle of the road, they looked up when the truck came after them again. "COME ON!" He shouted. He grabbed Ashley's hand and started running away from the truck. "OVER THERE!" He shouted. Andros pulled Ashley aside and they jumped on the fence. Once the truck was gone, Andros got off first and helped Ashley down. "You okay?" He asked.

"Yeah," she replied.

Andros looked over at the two lines of fire that the truck left behind. Ashley bit her lip as she looked around. Andros stood up. "We should head back," he commented. Ashley nodded and held his hand as they went back to the Megaship.

The next morning, Andros was in the equipment room to see TJ and Cassie there. "Hey you guys," he greeted.

"Hey, Andros, where's Ashley?" Cassie asked.

Andros looked at Cassie. "You really don't need to ask," he replied. TJ and Cassie glanced at each other right before Ashley came in. "Hey," Andros greeted.

"Hey," she answered.

"You feeling alright?" Cassie asked.

"Just pregnant," Ashley replied.

Ashley sat next to Andros and placed her head in her hands. "You want something to eat?" Cassie asked. Ashley shook her head.

"Please don't mention food to me right now," she replied.

Andros rubbed her shoulder. "So how did it go last night?" Cassie asked.

"Would've been better if we weren't running for our lives," Ashley replied.

"What?" TJ asked.

Andros explained what happened while Ashley was trying to get over her morning sickness. "Are you sure you got a good look at him?" TJ asked.

"Yeah, there are a lot of crazy drivers out there," Cassie pointed out.

"He nearly ran us down, twice. He was definitely after us," Andros put in.

Ashley nodded and lifted her head up, starting to feel a bit better than what she was feeling when she first woke up. "Cassie and I will go tell Carlos," TJ informed. Andros nodded and watched them leave. Ashley rubbed her temple.

"Andros, I feel terrible," she mumbled.

Andros continued to rub her back trying to help her feel better. "I really hate you right now," she mumbled. Andros rolled his eyes and just continued soothing her, used to her early morning comments.

(After the Fight)

After the fight with Tankestein, Zhane watched as Ashley went towards her and Andros's quarters. "She alright?" Zhane asked. Andros looked up from his work.

"She's pregnant, Zhane, what do you think? The stress of having only the two Mega Zords puts enough stress on her already," Andros informed.

Andros then looked at the others. "Guys, for now, unless it's a real emergency, don't bother her right now," Andros instructed. They nodded and got back to work. Andros stood at the controls and got back to work.