Chapter 5: Waiting

A month after the incident, Andros and Ashley were trying to put their lives back together. Ashley went back to working at her store and Andros went back to working at a garage part time before working on tests for KO-35.

Ashley was relieved that Todd was going to be in jail for a long time. Once he was out of jail, he had to stay at least two hundred feet away from her and Andros. However, when things looked like they were going their way, some more shocking came into their lives.

Ashley woke up feeling sick to her stomach. She got up and ran into the bathroom. Andros sat up and heard his wife vomiting. "Ashley?" He called. He got out of bed and walked over to the bathroom. He knocked on the door. "Ashley, are you okay?" He asked. Andros opened the door to find his wife kneeling over the toilet. He hurried over and pulled her hair back. He ran circles on her lower back to calm her down.

"What's wrong with me?" She asked.

Andros sighed. "It could've been something you ate," he suggested.

"I've been doing this for three mornings straight," she answered.

"It could be the flu."

Ashley sighed and leaned back against him. "Yeah…maybe," she answered. Andros held her against his chest and kissed the top of her head. "You should get to work," she commented.

"I don't think I should leave you here," he answered.

"Please, Andros, just go. I'll be fine."

"Okay, you know how to reach me."

Ashley nodded and kissed his cheek. Andros got up and got ready for work.

As the morning went on, Ashley started to feel worse. She reached for the waste basket and threw up again. Laura came in and stopped. "Sorry!" She gasped. Ashley sat up slightly.

"It's okay, Laura, I'm okay now," Ashley assured her.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Laura asked.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Ashley sat back and rubbed her forehead. "I'm sorry, Laura, I think I have the flu," Ashley stated. Laura looked at her quizzically.

"Ashley, weren't you telling me a long time ago that you and Andros have been trying to have a baby?" Laura asked.

"Yeah."

"Well, you're showing signs that you are."

Ashley's heart stopped. "Oh, no! If I am pregnant…is it Andros's baby or Todd's?" She pondered. Ashley rubbed her forehead with her heart thumping against her chest. She just hoped it wasn't true. She did want a baby, but when she knew that the baby was Andros's. Between her and Andros making love and getting raped by Todd, it happened in the same week. Her ovulation date could've been during any of those times.

Ashley went to the drug store and picked up another pregnancy test. "Back again, ma'am?" The clerk asked.

"Yeah," Ashley replied.

Ashley picked up the test and she walked out of the store after paying for it.

When Ashley got home, she took the test. Her heart was pounding against her chest. Instead of feeling the excitement for the baby being hers and Andros's, she was scared because she wouldn't know who the father was. If it was Todd's, she would just fall apart. If it was Andros's, it would be a miracle that she and her husband have been waiting for. She closed her eyes as she tried to think of something good that happened before this.

(Flashback)

Ashley was running into the Surf Spot. Andros had left her a note asking for her to meet him at the Surf Spot at 7:15. She looked at her watch, it was 7:20. She had accidentally fell asleep while studying for her exams. She ran into the main room and noticed that the lights were off. "Great," she mumbled. She turned to leave when the lights turned on.

"SURPRISE!" Everyone shouted.

Ashley nearly fell over from shock. "Happy birthday Ashley," Cassie congratulated. Ashley smiled and laughed. Andros stood there with a smile.

"You planned this," she laughed.

She walked over and embraced him. "Well, we know how much your birthday means to you," Zhane commented.

"So with Andros's help, we threw you this birthday party," Karone put in.

Ashley smiled at Andros when she pulled back. "I know that two years ago when it was birthday, I gave you this," Andros commented. He held the necklace that was around her neck in his hand. "Now this year, I'm going to give you something that'll be better," he added. Ashley was confused, but then she watched as her boyfriend of two years got down on one knee, grasped her hands in his, and he looked up into her eyes. "Ashley Hammond, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He asked. Tears fell down Ashley's face as Andros used his telekinesis to have the ring floating in front of her.

The ring was a light yellow pear shape diamond is set in a classic platinum setting with one long tapered baguette on each side.

Ashley looked into his eyes with a smile. "Yes! Oh, yes!" She replied. Andros placed the ring onto her finger, stood up, and hugged her tight.

"I love you," he murmured.

"I love you too," she answered.

(End Flashback)

Ashley jumped when the door opened and closed. "Ashley?" Andros called.

"In here," she answered.

Andros came up to the room. "Hey," he greeted.

"Hey," she answered.

Andros stopped when he saw the worried look on her face. Ashley let out a deep breath. "I bought another pregnancy test," she replied. Andros's heart stopped. "I'm still waiting for the results," she added. Andros sat next to her. "What am I going to do if I'm pregnant, Andros? I mean, us making love and Todd raping me were too close together. My ovulation date could've been anywhere near those days," she pointed out. Andros wrapped his arms around her.

"If you're pregnant and if the baby's Todd's, I promise that I'll be there for you. If the baby's mine, then I guess it'll be the miracle we've been waiting for," he replied.

Ashley placed her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She jumped when the timer went off. "It's time," he told her. Ashley nodded and went into the bathroom.