Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers.

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Sorry for the wait, but here's more. The next update should be sooner, my twisted mind came through:D

Arwennicole: I know, Andros and Ashley are so cute! Especially Andros:D Here's more, sorry for the long wait.

Jessica01: Thanks.

Just Jill: Yeah, something else is going to happen.

Chapter 23

"Ash?" Andros called softly, closing the door behind him.

"In the bedroom," he heard her shout, her words followed by a loud crash. He hid a smile as Ashley swore loudly, and quickly made his way up the stairs. Ashley glared at him as he appeared in the doorway, and he hid his amusement as best he could.

"Are you all right?"

She nodded ruefully, her expression softening into a sheepish smile. "I was trying to pack," she explained, surveying the mess at her feet. "I don't think the box was strong enough."

"Really?" he teased. "I know the box wasn't strong enough."

She glared at him, but had to laugh. "Help?"

Andros tossed his jacket onto the bed and knelt beside her, reaching for the roll of tape that had been under their bed the day before. A few strips of tape reenforced the cardboard enough so it wouldn't give way again, and Ashley dumped a pile of books back into the carton.

"Where'd these come from?" he asked curiously. "Why were they in our closet?"

"Wedding present," Ashley said absently. "And they were in our closet because we don't want to read the encyclopedia?"

"The what?"

"Never mind." Ashley sighed, and then perked up. "Hey, these won't be of any use on KO-35."

Andros's mouth quirked up into a smile and he settled himself crosslegged across from her. "I take it you want to get rid of them?"

"Yeah," she said. "Where's the pile of stuff we're getting rid of?"

"The corner?" he suggested. Ashley glanced around the room and raised an eyebrow at him. He laughed. "One of the corners."

Ashley groaned. "Does this mean we have to go through them all over again?"

"I'll do it," Andros offered. "You've been in here, what, all day?"

"Only a few hours," she said with a shrug. "I'll sort through them. You don't have to."

"Or," Andros suggested as he stood, "we could just get rid of everything."

Ashley laughed and grabbed the hand he offered her. "We should," she agreed, glancing around their room in dismay. "We're moving in a month, and we can't even get our room packed."

"We could," he said seriously, settling himself comfortably on the bed. "If you wanted to."

"Really?" she asked in surprise, curling up against him.

He nodded. "Zhane called me today. He said that things are already doing much better. The Alliance finally got supplies through to the border worlds. And besides that, if they offer us anything, we can't refuse."

Ashley nodded. "It's probably more practical not to move everything we own halfway across the universe..."

"We'd just need to bring our clothes," he said, quickly warming to the idea of leaving most of their belongings behind on Earth. "Not even that, really."

Ashley giggled and nuzzled closer to him. "What, do you want me walking around KO-35 naked or something? Don't answer that," she added hastily when his mouth moved.

"I was just going to say that we can find more clothes there," he said defensively.

"Sure you were." Ashley grinned.

"I only meant that... Look," he said hastily, causing Ashley to dissolve into a fit of giggles. "I say we should leave everything here and start over again when we get there."

"I agree," she said, arching against him as she stretched. "So... what do we do with all the stuff in all the boxes?"

Andros considered. "Give it away?"

Ashley sighed and settled back into him. "You're smart."

"You sound surprised," he teased her.

"Maybe I am," she shot back. "Zhane couldn't have called you an idiot all those times for nothing, after all."

"Since when do you agree with Zhane?" he grumbled, though he was smiling.

"He kinda had a point," she insisted. Ashley sat and kissed his cheek, twining her arms around his neck. "But I love you anyway."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" he demanded indignantly, still unable to hide his smile.

"Nothing," she murmured in his ear. After a moment's deliberation, she grinned to herself and nipped at his earlobe, whispering, "I love you."

"Ash," she heard him mutter as he pulled her onto his lap. "You were joking, weren't you?"

"Yeah," she said breathlessly, her mouth finding his. "Weren't you?"

"Yeah," he muttered against her lips, somehow managing to speak between her kisses. "I just... wanted... to be... sure..."

"You're so cute," she whispered, lacing her fingers though his.

Andros lay back against the pillows as she relaxed on top of him, practically sinking down into him. He snared her around the neck with one hand and held her to him as her fingers buried themselves in his hair, lightly caressing his scalp. He squirmed slightly against her touch, and she grinned, letting her hands trail downward just a bit. If there was one place Andros was ticklish, it was the back of his neck, and she had no qualms about taking advantage of that knowledge.

"Hey!"

His hands closed around her wrists even as he jolted in surprise, and he carefully pried her arms from around his neck. She pouted, but rolled off of him, and curled up at his side.

"What was that for?" he demanded. One hand came to rest on her waist, and for a moment, she thought he was debating whether or not to attack her in return, but then his hand slipped around behind her, pulling her close up against him.

She shrugged. "Sorry."

"You're not," he accused, placing a kiss in her hair, and Ashley didn't deny it. "I knew it. You--"

Andros jumped at the sudden ring of a telephone, glancing over at the nightstand on Ashley's side of the bed. She was far closer to the phone than he was, but made no move to answer it.

"Ash?"

"What phone?" she mumbled, nuzzling closer to him. "I don't hear a phone."

He made a face at her, but reached over her. He couldn't quite reach and pulled it forward telekinetically, pushing the talk button as he settled back down beside Ashley.

"This is Andros."

"Where's Ashley?" the woman on the other end demanded. "I need to talk to her."

"Who is this?" he asked suspiciously. The voice was vaguely familiar, but after the whole incident with David, he didn't care.

"Where's Ashley?" she demanded again. "What have you done with my daughter?"

"She's right here," he said quickly, wincing as he glanced at Ashley's peaceful face. "Ash, it's your mother."

"Tell her I don't feel like talking to her," Ashley muttered, tensing. Andros didn't reply, and she opened her eyes a moment later, not wanting to put him in that position. With a sigh, she reached out and took the phone from him.

"Mom?"

"Ashley, you need to come to the hospital," her mother said urgently.

"What?" she said, pulling away from Andros slightly. "Why?"

"You're father's been in an accident," Alice informed her.

"What?" she cried, cold with fear as she remembered her own accident and how close she had come to death. "Is he all right?"

"Just come here," Alice said, and hung up.

"Ash?" Andros touched her face gently, brushing stray hairs from her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"My dad," she whispered. "He was in an accident. I--I have to go see him."

Andros gave her a quick squeeze before letting her scramble out of bed in search of her shoes. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Ashley paused, and nodded slowly. "You'd want to?"

"Yeah," he lied, nodding his head. "You shouldn't be alone, and if nothing else, you shouldn't drive like this."

Ashley winced, but took his hand gratefully. "Thanks," she murmured.

"Come on, Ash," he said gently, leading her out of the room. "It'll be all right."