Dislcaimer: Not mine!

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Here's more.

Mz. Daydream: This story's gonna be different, but not yet. :P Yay, you're going to update!

Juzblue: There will be a little bit of Cassie with TJ, but it won't come until later.

Just Jill: Nope, no happy ending for awhile. I had too many ideas for this story, and I didn't want to rush it by cramming it all into one giant story.

Jessica01: You'll see later. And that's one more boyfriend than I've had. :P

Jenny: Don't worry, there's a tragedy coming! I just have to set it up first... :P Good luck with your homework.

Melissa: Actually, that's this chapter. :P I'd so name my kids Justice and Liberty, but those might be better as middle names, don't ya think?

Chapter 5

Ashley opened her eyes bleariy, glaring half-heartedly at Andros as he shook her shoulder gently. The fact that he was fully dressed and wide awake registered slowly in her mind, and for several moments, she was tempted to just roll over and drift back to sleep.

"Ash, you're going to be late for school."

"Mmph," Ashley mumbled, shoving his hand away from her as her eyes closed once again. She could have sworn she heard laughter, and gradually, her senses began working again. Andros's lips covered hers gently for the briefest instant before wandering over the remainder of her face, placing gentle, feather soft kisses across her cheeks, her nose, her closed eyelids.

"Ashley." He whispered her name quietly, and then again more loudly when she didn't respond. His hand was shaking her shoulder again, a little less gently than before, and eventually, Ashley had no choice but to open her eyes. She sat up slowly, her muscles not at all willing to start the day.

"Morning," she mumbled, nearly collapsing against him, her eyes refusing to stay open. Andros's arms encircled her waist, and she found that the steady rhythm of his breathing was nearly enough to lull her back into sleep. Andros must have realized that as well, for a moment later, one arm had left her waist and was beneath her knees, and a moment after that, her bare feet had met the cold wooden floorboards of their home.

"Ash, you're going to be late," Andros repeated, laughing quietly as she wrinkled her nose at him.

"I don't care," she said with a yawn, her voice still think with sleep. "I'd rather stay with you."

"So would I." Andros gave her a quick kiss before adding, "But I have to go to work, remember?"

"Oh yeah."

Her mind cleared some more, just enough for Ashley to remember that Andros had been hired a few days before by NASADA, using his Karovan background to help them in their attempt to make Earth a League planet. Frankly, she thought the job boring as hell, and suspected that he did as well, but knew that he would never admit to it. NASADA did pay well, after all - well enough to cover Ashley's college tuition with plenty left over.

Andros had talked her out of applying for a job, arguing that she was under enough stress as it was, and if she added work to school, with her sense of responsibility, she was likely to have nervous breakdown. Ashley had been reluctant to do so, but she'd had to admit that he was right. There was really no possible way for her to balance full-time school with full-time work, so in the end, Andros was the one who'd found a job.

With a sigh, Ashley wrapped her arms around his neck. She hugged him hard, not wanting him to think that she wasn't grateful for all he'd done for her and all the sacrifices he'd made to be with her.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too, Ash," he whispered back, his breath warm in her ear. "Always."

She smiled and stepped back, glancing at the digital alarm clock by their bedside and winced as she realized that it was past seven and she had a class in less than an hour.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" she demanded, digging through her drawers for something clean to wear. She didn't have time to be fancy, and quickly settled on a faded pair of jeans and a yellow sweatshirt.

Andros shot her an amused glance as he watched her change. "What do you think I was trying to do?" he demanded. "You aren't exactly a light sleeper."

"I meant earlier," Ashley retorted, wriggling into her jeans. "I was supposed to be up a half hour ago!"

Andros looked sheepish now. "I woke up before the alarm went off," he explained. "I was going to wake you up, but then you just looked so peaceful..."

Ashley laughed, coming over to wrap her arms around his neck as he blushed. "You're too sweet," she murmured, stroking his cheek for just a moment before she realized how little time she had.

"Do you want something to eat?" he asked, glancing at the clock.

"Nah," Ashley said with a shake of her head, reaching for her hairbrush. "If I have time, I'll eat something at school. If not, I've only got one class today so I'll be home by ten-thirty... You don't have to wait for me, Andros. Go to work."

"I'll see you later," he said, stepping forward to kiss her good-bye before leaving their room. Ashley heard the door open and slam shut a moment later. Andros's car started just as she found her left shoe, and he was long gone by the time she found her right one.

Shoving her feet into them, she ran out of the bedroom, skidding to a halt as she passed the kitchen. She had forty-five minutes to drive across town, find a parking spot and make it to class on time. It would be close, but now that she thought of it, she was starving, and beginning to wish that she'd taken Andros up on his offer to make her some breakfast.

Sighing, she pulled open the refrigerator, her stomach demanding chocolate. With cheese. She slammed it shut as the first wave of nausea hit her. Leaning against the fridge, she closed her eyes, breathing deeply through her nose, knowing that if she opened her mouth, she would be down on her hands and knees, vomiting.

Groaning silently at the thought of how late she was going to be, Ashley kept her eyes closed until her stomach had settled, sighing with relief as whatever had been troubling her passed. Deciding that it might be for the best to skip breakfast after all, she moved towards the door - only to find herself in the bathroom a moment later, crouched down by the toilet.

The worst feeling in the world, she thought miserably, was throwing up. If she'd been given the choice, she would have gladly remained bedridden for two weeks wiith the worst case of strep throat she could ever recall having as a child than be here now, even for ten minutes.

She didn't know how long she remained there on the bathroom floor, but it was much too long for her liking. Her stomach continued to empty itself long after she thought it was possible, and even when she was sure that there was no food left inside her, the nausea refused to leave her.

Finally, she judged it safe to leave the bathroom and stood unsteadily, gripping the edge of the sink as she struggled to shake of the sudden sense of dizziness she was overcome with. Rinsing her mouth out thouroughly, she wandered back into her bedroom, knowing that no one at school would thank her for sharing the flu with them.

Kicking off her shoes, Ashley sank down onto the soft, warm sheets, burying herself underneath the blankets, more than ready to drift off to sleep. A moment later, she bolted upright, her eyes widening. Dimly, she realized that she didn't feel sick any longer, and she was having the strangest food cravings...

She swallowed hard, settling back into the pillows before letting herself to remember that she was a month and a half late...

Tears welled up in her eyes, cascading down her cheeks when her eyes brimmed too full to hold them in. Drawing her knees up to her chest, Ashley did her best not to panic.

She couldn't just ignore the fact that she and Andros hadn't once discussed birth control, much less actually used it. With a heavy sigh, Ashley dragged herself out of bed, knowing that there was suddenly a whole lot she had to do today.

---

Andros felt his lips quirk up into a smile when he found Ashley later that night. She was curled up in their bed, completely hidden under the blankets. Careful not to shake the bed in case she'd fallen asleep, Andros slowly sank down alongside her still form, his fingers, slipping beneath the blankets to stroke her soft hair.

He thought he felt her stir just the tiniest bit and his smile grew. Drawing back the covers, he leaned over her sleepy form, kissing her cheek gently. He was startled to find her skin damp and clammy, and upon closer inspection, he saw tear trails marking her face.

"Ashley," he said loudly, running his fingers through her hair, wanting to wake her gently. "Ash, wake up."

"Go away," she muttered, turning away from his touch.

"Ash," he said softly, drawing his hand back. "It's just me."

"Andros?"

"Who else?" he retorted, his tone light, although he was frowning. "Ash, what's wrong?"

Ashley opened her eyes then, and stared up at him through a haze of new tears, too afraid to guess at what his reaction would be. "Andros, I need to talk to you..."