Chapter 8: Can Never Tell

Maya Corbett was walking around with her four-month-old son, Mather, when she saw a familiar ship land. "What…" she trailed off. She went up the ramp to the new Megaship that her husband was telling her about and went inside.

Ashley was finishing things up on the ship when DECA's alarms went off. "What is it, DECA?" Ashley asked.

"There is someone else onboard," DECA informed.

Maya walked in. "Ashley?" Maya asked. Ashley turned around.

"Hey, Maya," she greeted.

"What are you doing here?" Maya asked.

Ashley bit her lip and saw the baby in her arms. "That your baby?" She asked, avoiding Maya's question. Maya nodded.

"Yes, this is my and Mike's son, Mather," Maya replied.

Ashley walked over and held the baby's hand. "He's going to break a lot of girls' hearts when he gets older," she commented. Maya looked at Ashley.

"Why are you here, Ashley? Shouldn't you be on earth with Andros?" Maya asked.

Ashley let out a sigh. "I left Andros," she replied.

"What? Why?" Maya asked.

"Personal reasons," Ashley replied.

Ashley walked over to Alpha. "Alpha, I want you to take this ship back to Earth and erase all records that the ship came here today," she instructed.

"Okay, Ashley," Alpha answered sadly.

Ashley hugged the robot. "Goodbye, Alpha," she stated.

"Goodbye, Ashley, and take care," Alpha answered.

Ashley got off the ship with Maya behind her. "Ashley, will you please tell me why you won't be going back home to your husband?" She asked.

"I'm pregnant, Maya," Ashley replied.

Maya looked at her confused. "Ok, I don't see any downside to this yet," Maya answered. Ashley turned and looked at her.

"I'm pregnant and I don't know whether it's my husband's child or my attacker's child," Ashley informed.

Maya stalled. "Your attacker's?" Maya asked. Ashley stopped and looked at her.

"Yeah didn't I tell you? I was raped the same week Andros and I tried for a baby," Ashley replied.

Mather started to cry and Maya started to rock her son back and forth to get him to stop crying. "Consider yourself lucky, Maya. You gave birth to your son knowing that he was Mike's. I'm going to give birth to a child who's father is a mystery to me," Ashley pointed out.

"But Ashley, you need Andros there with you when you have the baby," she insisted.

"No I won't. You won't be telling him either."

Maya stopped walking. "What?" She asked. Ashley stopped and looked at her.

"You're not going to tell Andros where I am. No one will tell Andros where I am. I am going to have this baby on my own without Andros," Ashley replied.

(On Earth)

Andros walked towards the jailhouse to talk to Todd. Todd was led out of the jail and sat in front of him. "Well, if it isn't little miss Ashley's husband," he taunted. Andros glared at him. "What's the matter? Can't keep your girl happy anymore after I showed her a good time?" Todd asked.

"No, I came to ask you if you know where she is," Andros replied.

Todd sat back in his chair ."Why would I know where your wife is?" He asked.

"Because my wife ran away when she found out she's pregnant and she doesn't know if the child is yours or mine," Andros replied.

Todd laughed slightly. "So, she got herself pregnant," he laughed. Andros glared at him.

"Do you or do you not know where my wife is?" Andros asked.

"I do not," Todd replied.

Andros sighed and rubbed his forehead. Todd turned serious. "What makes you think that Ashley wants to be found?" He asked.

"She doesn't want to be found," Andros replied.

"Then what are you doing trying to find her after she told you not to find her?" Todd asked.

"Because I have vowed to be there for the good and the bad. In sickness and in health. And until death do us part. I have made those vows to her four years ago. I'm not going to have something that you did ruin what we have."

Todd sat back in his chair again. "Andros, listen to me. I have known Ashley from the fifth grade up to our senior year in high school. She's ran away before and she comes back on her own every single time," Todd answered.

"What do you mean she's ran away before?" He asked.

"Well, those times when she was a Space Ranger she ran away to space. She came back on her own," Todd replied.

Andros's heart stopped. "How do you know she was a Ranger?" He asked.

"Don't worry, I won't say anything. I was there the day your friends morphed into their Ranger Forms when you saving earth from Astronema," Todd replied.

"Ashley didn't run away then, she was trying to find a friend," Andros insisted.

"She was planning on running away before then, Andros. She was hating the way her life was turning out."

Todd saw the confused look on Andros's face. "You mean…she never told you?" He asked.

"Told me what?" Andros asked.

"Her father is an abusive drunk that beat Ashley whenever he got the chance. HELLO! You're her husband! I would think she would've told you," Todd replied.

Andros thought back, it explained why she was on the Megaship a lot when they were Rangers. Todd nodded his head slowly. "Well, I did my job. I told you what I know now if you excuse me, I have some time to serve," he informed. He nodded to the guard who led him back to his cell.

"Wait! If you know Ashley was getting abused then why on earth did you do this to her?" Andros asked.

Todd grinned evilly at Andros. "There's a question that I can answer. Because you had no right to take her, because she'll always be mine," Todd answered. The guard lead Todd away and Andros left in fury.

(Miranoi)

Maya led Ashley to her and Mike's house. "You sure you don't mind if I stay here for awhile?" She asked.

"No of course not. It's until you get yourself back on your feet or when you go back to Andros," Maya replied.

Ashley sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "Mind if I take a nap? I'm sort of jetlag," Ashley stated.

"Sure, the guestroom is down the hall," Maya informed.

Ashley walked into the guestroom, dropped her bag on the floor, and fell on the bed with tears falling down her face. "I'm sorry, Andros, I'm so sorry," she whispered.