Disclaimer: Not mine, won't ever be.

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Technically, I don't actually break them up, but yes, I do have to. :P

Jenny: Subconscious can't kill David just yet! I still need him. Hehe... You're gonna kill me.

flowerweasly16: Things won't be completely better until the end of the sequel, and even then, there's still a few things that aren't quite so good.

Just Jill: Well, they're still happy here... And David is just some guy I made up.

Chapter 17

"Ashley."

She groaned quietly, turning her face away from the hand gently stroking her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open half against her will, her reluctance to return to the waking world gone just a moment later. A slow smile spread itself across her face as she found herself curled up around Andros. He'd propped himself up on one elbow, and gazed down at her as his hand gently smoothed her hair.

"Morning," she whispered. "Sleep well?"

He nodded slowly, his hazel eyes never leaving her brown ones. "Better than I have in a long time, actually," he admitted, the contentment in his eyes dimming just a bit. "I love you, Ash."

"I love you too, Andros," she said quietly, covering his fingers with her own. He smiled timidly at her as his body relaxed, wrapping his arms around her to hug her close.

"What day is it?" she asked suddenly, noticing that the sunlight streaming in through the crack in the curtains seemed to be at a different angle than usual.

"Saturday," he replied after a pause.

"You don't have to go anywhere, do you?"

He shook his head. "Why?"

"I was just thinking..." Ashley stretched her arms above her head, arching against him. "We haven't spent any time together in so long..."

Andros smiled. "What did you have in mind?"

She shrugged. "Just something where we're together, where we can talk. Really talk. We need to, or else it's not going to get any better."

"I know." Andros sighed and nodded, his smile shrinking. "Did you want to go somewhere?"

Ashley shook her head. "I'd rather just stay here," she said, tightening her fingers around his. "Just us."

Andros nodded again, smiling bravely. "Want some breakfast?"

---

"Andros?"

"Yeah?"

"We have to learn how to cook something besides pancakes and scrambled eggs," Ashley said firmly, eyeing the remains of her breakfast warily. "We have cookbooks, don't we?"

Andros nodded, swallowing. "I think so."

"We have got to find them," she said decisively. "If I have to eat any more pancakes..."

Leaving the thought unfinished, she stood, dumping the plate and fork into the dishwasher. Andros shrugged and snagged the last pancake, reaching for the syrup as Ashley poured herself some more orange juice.

"You're not sick of them?"

He shook his head, still chewing.

"How can you not be?" she demanded. "It's practically all we've eaten for the last four months."

"Because you taught me how to make them," he admitted sheepishly, knowing how silly it must have sounded to her.

Ashley's face was sad as she watched him for a moment, and just as he was beginning to wonder what he'd said wrong, she slipped out of her seat, fastening her arms around his neck in a death grip.

"You're so sweet," she whispered in his ear, nearly driven to tears. She swallowed hard against the sudden lump in her throat, wondering how she could have ever wanted to hurt him.

Gently, Andros pried himself loose, blushing faintly. "I..."

Ashley smiled and straightened up, resting her chin on the top of his head. "Don't you ever just let me scream at you again," she whispered fiercely, hugging him hard. "You deserve so much better."

Andros shifted uncomfortably within her arms and she sighed, pulling back to just stare at him for a few moments as he finished the last of his breakfast. Taking his plate and her empty glass, she set them in the dishwasher as well, turning back to Andros with a smile.

"Come on."

He glanced up in surprise as she took him by the arm, but didn't protest as she tugged him out of the kitchen and into the living room. He sank down onto the couch as she motioned for him to do, stopping just short of taking her into his arms when she joined him.

"How are you?" she asked softly.

"I'm all right," he said slowly, not knowing how else to respond.

"No." Ashley shook her head. "Come on, talk to me. What are you thinking right now?"

"I'm thinking... I want to hug you," he admitted, watching her reaction carefully. "Please?"

Without a word, Ashley slipped her arms around his waist, holding him as hard as she could. He seemed startled for a moment, but then returned the embrace, holding her close, his face buried in her hair.

"I've missed this," Ashley murmured, overwhelmed by the warmth and safety she hadn't felt for a month and a half. With a sigh, she hugged him a little closer. "How's work? Is Earth a League planet yet?"

"Not yet," he said, sighing. "But they're considering it."

"I thought that was a good thing," she said, surprised at his sudden dejection.

"It is," he said, glancing away. "But once Earth is admitted into the League, there's no point in me working at NASADA, is there?"

"Oh." Ashley hadn't thought of that. "They'll fire you?"

He shrugged. "I don't know."

"If they do, you'll be fine," she tried to convince him. "Anyone will hire you. You were a Power Ranger."

"But I'm not anymore," he said quietly, his eyes darkening. "I was trained to be a ranger, and now that I'm not..."

"You think there's nothing else for you to do?" she finished knowingly.

He nodded slowly, not quite looking at her.

The question sounded ridiculous even in her head, but she had to ask, "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

He shrugged, considering the question for a long moment. "You had enough to think about," he said finally. "And now... I just didn't want to bother you."

"Andros..." Ashley sighed. "You should have told me."

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "I never meant to not tell you. I just - "

"I'm not angry at you," she interrupted quickly, hearing his voice grow smaller and smaller. "I can't be, not after all those times I should have just talked to you... Will you promise me something?"

He nodded wordlessly, his eyes still not quite fixed on her.

"Next time something's bothering you like this, just tell me," she pleaded. "And when something's bothering me, I promise I'll come talk to you, all right? Andros, if we just stop talking to each other, we're going to fall apart."

"I promise," he said quietly, his hazel eyes filling with fear at the thought of finding himself without her. "I can't lose you, Ash."

"You won't," she said, her fingers lightly stroking his cheek. "If we just talk to each other, you won't lose me, and I won't lose you."

"I can't lose you, Ash," he repeated, more firmly. "I love you."

"I love you too," she murmured, grinning nervously. "You know what?"

He shook his head, offering her a small, uncertain smile. "What?"

"I can't remember the last time I kissed you," she admitted, her fingers brushing against his lips. The invitation was clear, and he shifted carefully, lowering his face to meet hers. Their lips brushed together gently, parting again just a second later, but it wasn't awkward, as some of their last kisses had been, but sweet, and hopeful.