Chapter 2: The Past Returns

Ashley was walking down the street to meet Andros at a local café when she bumped into someone. "Oh! I'm sorry," she apologized.

"No, it's my fault," he answered.

Ashley stalled when she recognized the voice. "Todd? Todd Gregory?" She asked. He looked her over.

"Ashley? Ashley Hammond? No way! How are you?" He asked.

"I'm good and you?" She answered with another question.

"I'm good. Wow! Look at you. You're gorgeous."

Ashley smiled as she pushed some hair behind her ear. "Same old Ashley, absolutely beautiful," he commented.

"Same old Todd, a smooth-talker," she answered.

She rolled her eyes slightly as she started to walk by. Todd reached over and grabbed her arm. "Come on, Ash, how about I buy you lunch?" He asked.

"No thanks, I already have a date," she replied.

"Oh, boyfriend?"

"No, husband."

Ashley looked up when she saw Andros coming their way. "Hey, Andros," she greeted. Andros smiled.

"Hey, Ash. Thought we were meeting for lunch?" He asked.

"We are, I just ran into a friend. Todd, this is my husband Andros. Andros, this is Todd, he and I went to Angel Grove High together."

Andros shook his hand. "Nice to meet you," Andros stated.

"Like wise," Todd answered.

Andros wrapped his arm around Ashley's shoulders. Todd had a shocked expression on his face. "Umm, well, I'm very happy for you, Ash. I have to get going. I'll see you around," he commented. Ashley suddenly felt very uncomfortable when he walked by.

"You okay?" Andros asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied.

Andros smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Let's go get something to eat," he told her. Ashley nodded and followed him to the café.

The next day, Ashley was going into her dress shop when a car pulled up behind her. She looked over as Todd got out. "Hey, Ash," he greeted.

"Hey," she answered.

She walked over to her store and unlocked the door. "We need to talk, Ash," he told her.

"Fine, follow me," she answered.

Ashley walked through her dress store and into her office. Todd stood there with his arms crossed over his chest. "You wanted to talk to me. Well, go ahead, talk to me," she stated.

"What does he have that I don't?" He asked.

"Excuse me?"

"Your husband. What does he have that I don't?"

"Do you really want to do down that list?"

Todd walked over and grabbed her arm. "You are mine, you always have been mine," he hissed. Ashley winced at the grip on her arm.

"Todd, you're hurting me," she told him.

"Good, then you'll listen to me when I say to leave him."

Ashley glared at him. "No way," she hissed. She yelped when he threw her onto her desk. "Oh, God!" Her mind shouted.

"I'll teach you a lesson, little miss Ashley," he hissed.

Ashley kicked him away and got up. Todd reached out to grab her and he ripped her shirt. Ashley spun around and nailed him in the jaw. "LET GO!" She shouted. She nailed him in the gut, making Todd fall to the ground in pain. "Now, get out of my shop," she demanded. Todd got up from the floor and glared at her.

"We'll see each other again and next time, I'll get what I want," he snapped.

"I don't think so," she answered.

Todd left the shop and Ashley looked at herself in the mirror. The sleeves on her yellow blouse was ripped. Ashley let out a sigh as she just ripped the sleeves off, making it look like a short sleeved-blouse than a long sleeved-blouse. "Mrs. Karovan, are you okay?" A voice asked. She looked over to see one of her workers.

"I'm fine, Laura, just get some work done," she replied.

Laura nodded and walked away. Ashley sat behind her desk and picked up her wedding picture that had fallen off the desk when Todd threw her onto it. She traced Andros's face with tears falling down her face. All she and Andros wanted was to be married and to have a big family.

That night, Ashley was sitting on the porch swing, listening to the silence of the night. Andros came out of the house and sat next to her. "How are you feeling?" He asked. She let out a sad sigh.

"Still a little upset," she replied.

Andros nodded and kissed the side of her head. "I still intend on keeping my promise to you. We will have a baby," he assured her. Ashley held onto his hand. Andros looked down at their clasped hands, but then he saw bruises forming on her arms. "Ashley! What happened?" He asked. Ashley realized he saw the bruises and pulled away.

"Nothing," she replied.

Andros held her hand. Ashley let out a shaky sigh. "Todd…tried to take advantage of me today," she confessed. His heart stopped.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, it's just the bruises," she replied.

"I'll kill him."

Ashley grabbed had a grip on her husband's hand. "Andros, don't say things like that, please," she insisted.

"Ashley, he tried to rape you. He should be punished," he answered.

Ashley got down on her knees in front of him and held onto his hands. "Andros, I want you to promise me that you won't go after Todd," she instructed.

"But…" she cut him off.

"Promise me."

Andros sighed as he let one of Ashley's hands go and caressed her cheek. "I promise," he answered. Ashley smiled and gave him a kiss. Andros kissed her back. He pulled back and pressed his forehead against hers.

"Ready to try again?" She asked with a smile.

Andros chuckled. "You know it," he replied. Ashley stood up and led him into the house. To try once again to have the baby they've always wanted.