Chapter 24: Never Give Up Hope

Ashley sighed as she sat in the bathroom. Her heart was breaking all over again when the test came out negative. She and Andros were married for two years and they were trying to have kids for months. Every single week she'll get another pregnancy test and it always came out negative. Ashley wiped her tears away and stood up. She still had a husband out in their bedroom waiting.

Andros looked up when Ashley came out of the bathroom. "Well?" He asked. His heart sank when Ashley almost burst into tears.

"Negative…again," she replied.

Andros sighed as he pulled his wife into his arms. "Everything's going to be okay, Ashley," he assured her. Ashley shook her head and pulled back.

"Andros, we've been trying for months and still nothing. I don't understand it," she told him.

She sat down on the bed and Andros held onto her hand. "The doctor told us we're both okay. But what if he's wrong? What if it's me?" She asked. Andros got off the bed and kneeled down in front of her.

"Ashley, we had two doctors check us and they both told us that we're okay. It'll just take time, okay?" He reassured her.

"It shouldn't be taking us this long to have a baby."

"Things like this take time."

Ashley stood up and wrapped her arms around herself. "What if our powers are affecting it? What if our time as Rangers is preventing us from having children?" She asked. Andros stood up.

"Ashley, our powers couldn't be affecting this," he insisted.

"Then what is it, Andros? Why can't I get pregnant? For months we've tried for this and yet I can't give you a baby."

Ashley then grabbed her jacket. "Where are you going?" He asked.

"Out," she replied.

Then she closed the door.

Ashley found herself in the park and sat under a tree. She pulled her knees up to her chest and she started to cry. Andros gave her everything she ever wanted, but she can't even give him a child. She buried her head in her knees and cried.

Andros came out of the house and went searching for his wife. He found her in the park and walked over to her. "Ashley," he called. Ashley lifted her head and it broke his heart to see the tears. "Oh, Ashley," he murmured. He kneeled in front of her and wiped her tears away.

"You've given me everything, Andros. I can't even give you an heir," she told him.

Andros touched her face. "Have you truly given up hope?" He asked. Ashley looked at him with a tears streaked face.

"How am I suppose to hope for it if we've tried for so long?" She asked.

Andros placed a kiss on her forehead. "Please don't give up hope, Ash, please," he whispered.

(Three Weeks Later)

Ashley came back from the doctor and sat down. "What did he say?" He asked. Andros came back from his appointment an hour ago and everything was okay with him.

"He says I'm fertile," she replied.

Andros stood up and placed his hands on her shoulders and started rubbing her arms. "I don't understand it, Andros. If we're both okay and able to have kids, then why is it so hard?" She asked. Andros sighed as he hugged her.

"I don't know, Ashley, I really don't know," he replied.

Ashley buried her head in his shoulder and let out a sigh. "All we can do is hope that it will happen," he added. Andros pulled back slightly and looked at her.

"Andros…..maybe we're just not blessed to have kids," she stated.

She pulled out of his arms and sat on the bed. Andros walked over and kneeled in front of her. "Ashley, I don't care what it takes, but we will have children. I promise you that we will. Just hang in a little longer, okay?" He asked.

"Andros, how much longer do I have to wait? How many negative pregnancy tests should I look at before I see a positive?" She asked.

"I don't know."

"I'm tired of waiting."

Andros then held her hand. "I know that this won't really help, but it will happen we just have to be patient," he told her.

"I'm just tired of getting hurt over this," she stated.

Andros stood up and sat next to her. "Everything's going to be okay, Ashley, I promise you that," he assured her. Ashley reached over and held his hand as she thought about it.

"You could be right," she agreed.

Andros sighed as he held her. "I love you…and if we can't have kids…I'd never blame you, Ashley, never," he murmured. Ashley closed her eyes as exhaustion started to take over. Andros could tell that she was tired and he had her lie down.

"Please stay with me," she murmured.

Andros lied down next to her and wrapped his arms around her as they both fell asleep.

(Two Days Later)

Ashley sighed as she went up to Karone and Zhane's house and smiled to see Karone chasing her and Zhane's year-old son, Zaid, around the front yard. "Karone," she called. Karone looked up and smiled.

"Hey, Ash," she greeted.

Ashley smiled as she hugged Karone. "How are you doing?" Karone asked. Ashley sighed as she pulled back.

"Not so good, can I talk to you?" She asked.

"Sure," Karone replied.

Karone picked Zaid up and they went inside.

Karone had Zaid go play up in his room while she and Ashley talked. "You and Zhane had Zaid in only a few months of your marriage. How did you do it? Andros and I have been married for two years and we've been trying for what seems like forever. And yet I can't seem to get pregnant. The doctors say we're okay, but it just won't happen," Ashley explained. Karone reached over and patted Ashley's shoulder as if to calm her down.

"Well, for one thing, you shouldn't be comparing Zhane and me to yours and Andros's sex life. It'll happen when it'll there's no magic that can make the process work faster," Karone explained.

Ashley nodded her head slowly. That was exactly what Andros told her a couple of nights ago. Karone smiled as she placed a hand on her shoulder. "Just give it time, Ash. It'll happen," she assured her. Ashley sighed and nodded her head again.

That night, Ashley was sitting at home out on the patio when she heard Andros come in. "Ashley," Andros called.

"I'm out here," Ashley answered.

Andros walked over and wrapped his arms around her. "Hey," he greeted.

"Hey," she answered.

Andros looked at her confused. "She must have forgotten after this whole baby thing," he

pondered. Andros then sat beside her and held her hand. "Ashley, do you remember what today is?" He asked. Ashley thought about it and her eyes widened. Andros smiled at her and placed a box on the table. "Happy Valentine's Day, Ashley," he told her. Ashley smiled as she held the box up. She totally forgot and it surprised her that Andros remembered. "I know we don't celebrate your Earth traditions, but I think it's fitting that we do," he told her.

"That's sweet, Andros, but I didn't get you anything," she told him.

"Sure you did," he assured her.

"What did I give you?"

"Your heart."

Ashley smiled as she opened the box. Inside she found a ring sitting inside the box. "Andros," she whispered.

The ring was 14k yellow gold genuine Rhodolite garnet ring. The red ruby in the middle was shaped as a heart.

Andros smiled as he took the ring and placed it onto her right ring finger. "It's beautiful," she told him.

"Not as beautiful as you. Look at the engraving," he told her.

Ashley looked at the band on the ring and tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at the engraving. "Always be in my Heart" was written across the ring. "Andros…" she trailed off. Andros smiled as he leaned over and kissed her. Ashley kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then Andros picked her up and carried her into the house and up into their room.

Author's Note: I wrote this on Valentine's Day, I hope you guys like it. Please review