Chapter 18: Together Forever

Two weeks went by and Ashley was still in the infirmary. She was still a little weak and she wasn't waking up. It worried Andros that she never once woke up to at least show him that she was okay.

Andros was working on the navigation system when Zhane walked over to him. "Ashley's vital signs are getting stronger," Zhane informed.

"That's a relief," Andros murmured.

Zhane sat beside his friend. "We were hoping you'd come back," Zhane told him. Andros sighed as he stopped punching in coordinates and sat back.

"I came back to help Ashley, but then I realized that being a Ranger is my life. You were right, Zhane. I was a coward," Andros admitted.

Zhane watched as Andros got up. "I was running from everything. I was running from my friends, my past, and I was even running from the best girl in the universe," Andros explained. Zhane lowered his head as he thought about his comment he said to Andros a few months ago. Andros chuckled slightly and looked at Zhane. "And I'm sorry for doing all of that," he apologized. Zhane smiled as he stood up.

"Yeah, and you can really throw a punch," Zhane laughed.

Andros laughed slightly as he remembered punching Zhane about the commented. "And for that, I'm sorry too," Andros added.

"I forgive you," Zhane answered.

They did their secret handshake when DECA interrupted them. "We have arrived on KO-35," DECA informed.

"Thanks, DECA," Andros answered.

The others came in and Andros went to the infirmary so they could get Ashley to the hospital.

Andros walked over and picked Ashley up into a carrying position. Then he walked off the ship once they landed.

Kinwon walked over and saw Andros carrying Ashley off the ship. "She needs medical attention," Andros informed. Kinwon nodded and led him to the hospital.

Andros placed her on the bed and the doctor's checked her vital signs. "Her vital signs were getting stronger," Andros informed.

"She should be better in a few days," the doctor informed him.

Andros touched Ashley's cheek with a sigh. "Please get better soon," he whispered. He kissed her forehead and left the hospital.

As Andros sat in his apartment, he started to think about the last time he saw Asta. She was still devastated by her daughter and husband's deaths. Andros stood up and went to make things right with Asta.

Andros came upon the home that Asta was living in and knocked on the door. Asta opened the door and her eyes widened to see Andros standing there.

Asta had shoulder-length light brown hair, brown eyes, she was wearing calf-high black boots, a knee-length silver-skirt, a yellow shirt, and her hair was pulled back in a braid.

"Andros…is it really you?" She asked. Andros nodded his head slowly. Asta touched his face with a smile. "Look at how much you've grown," she murmured. Andros smiled as she hugged him. Asta never blamed Andros for the death of her daughter or her husband, but she never told Andros that. "Please come in," she insisted. Andros nodded and followed Asta inside.

Asta sat down and Andros saw pictures of Aiko and Alejandro. He saw a pictures of Ashley as well, however, unlike Aiko, these pictures went all the way up to before she became the Space Ranger. Unbeknownst to Andros, Asta thought that Ashley had died as well. "Asta, I came to apologize about Aiko and Alejandro," he told her.

"What for? You didn't did kill Aiko, Lord Hadrian killed her. Alejandro was killed by Dark Specter's soldiers. Astera was killed in that explosion on the Command Center. None of their deaths were your fault," she assured him.

Andros stalled, Asta thought that Ashley was dead. "Asta…why do you think that Astera was killed?" He asked. Asta looked at him confused.

"It's kind of obvious. No one could survive that explosion," she replied.

Andros sighed as he kneeled in front of Asta. "Asta, listen to me, Astera isn't dead. She's alive," he informed. Asta's eyes widened.

"What?" She asked.

Andros nodded his head. "She's alive. She's in the hospital though, because of our last battle. I did cause her to be in pain though. I left her when she needed me the most, but she's alive," he explained. Asta stood up and her heart was pounding against her chest. Her daughter was alive. At least someone she loved was still alive. "Asta, Astera and I are engaged to be married," Andros informed. She looked over her shoulder and looked at the boy.

"Why wasn't I told that she was alive? Why was I lied to all these years?" She asked.

"We thought that you knew that she was alive," Andros replied.

"You didn't make sure of that, did you?"

Andros lowered his head. "No," he replied. Asta sighed as she lowered her head slightly, but then she walked over to him and lifted his chin.

"Take me to her," she instructed.

Andros nodded and then he went back to the hospital with Asta behind him.

When they came to the hospital, Andros decided to stay out in the waiting room while Asta went to talk to Astera or Ashley.

Asta entered Ashley's room and tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at her daughter. "Oh, Astera, my little Astera," she whispered. She sat beside the unconscious girl with tears falling down her face. "You're here, you're alive," she murmured. She touched her daughter's face as if she were going to disappear into thin air.

Andros sat in the waiting room, fear coursing through his body. He hoped that Ashley was okay. All he wanted was to hold her in his arms again.

(Hours Later)

Ashley slowly opened her eyes and saw Asta staring at her. Ashley sat up slowly and looked at her. "Who are you?" She asked. Asta sighed as she stood up with a smile.

"I am Asta," she replied.

Ashley's heart stopped when the woman introduced herself. Asta…her mother. "Mom?" She asked. Asta smiled as she came closer to the girl.

"It's me, Astera," Asta replied.

Tears fell down their faces as Asta placed her hands on her face. "Oh Astera, my little Astera," she whispered. Ashley smiled as she hugged Asta tight and they both started crying.

After a few minutes, Ashley started to think about Andros and Asta knew. "He's out there, waiting for you. Do you want me to get him?" She asked. Ashley nodded and Asta went to get Andros.

Asta came out and Andros stood up. "She's awake and she's calling for you," she informed. Andros stood up and quickly went into the room.

Ashley smiled when Andros came in. "Andros," she whispered. Andros smiled as he walked over and hugged her tight. "You're here, you're really here," she sobbed.

"I'm here, and I'm never going to leave like that again," he whispered.

Ashley buried her face into his shoulder and started to calm down. She couldn't believe that Andros was back in her life again and this time he was there to stay. He wasn't going to run off again. "And Balavan?" She asked.

"He's gone," he replied.

"Thank God," she whispered.

Andros pulled back slightly and touched her face. "I love you," he murmured. Ashley smiled as she placed a hand over his.

"I love you too," she answered.

Andros then leaned forward and kissed her. Ashley wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

Asta stood in the doorway of the room and nodded. She knew that Andros was going to take care of her Astera, or Ashley as she was normally called. Asta was just thankful to have her daughter in her life. She thanked Alejandro and Aiko to let Astera come back to her. Now, she saw that Andros and Ashley were happy together.

In Ashley's mind however, she still had to tell her parents about her and Andros's engagement and that she was born on KO-35. She knew that Andros was going to be there to support her and that's all she cared about.