Chapter 12: Vows to Keep

Andros came up to the apartment that Leo and Karone told him that she was staying. His heart was thumping against his chest. He walked up to her apartment door and knocked.

Ashley was setting things up in the baby's room when there was a knock on her door. "Who could that be?" She questioned. She waddled towards the door and opened it. Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach and tears pressed against her eyes. "A--Andros?" She asked. Andros stood there in his KO-35 uniform. His hands were behind his back and he stood there staring at her.

"Hello, Ashley," he greeted.

"How did you find me?" She asked.

"Leo and Karone."

Ashley bit her lip. "You must hate me for leaving you like I did," she whispered. Andros shook his head.

"I can never hate you," he answered.

Andros hugged her. "I love you," he added. Ashley buried her head in his shoulder. Andros held her tightly against him.

"I love you too," she answered.

Andros pulled back and placed his hands on her stomach. Ashley held Andros's hand and led him into the house.

They sat down and Andros looked at her. "Why did you leave me, Ashley? I told you I was going to support you throughout this whole thing," he told her. Ashley shook her head.

"Because, I know that if this baby is Todd's, it'll tear you apart," she answered.

"How would you know that it would tear me apart?" He asked.

"It's tearing me apart just thinking about it."

Andros reached over and hugged her again. "This baby will change our lives, good or bad. We'll be together when we raise this baby," he assured her. Tears fell down her face and she buried her head in his shoulder.

"Do you forgive me?" She asked.

Andros felt the tears press against his eyes. "There's nothing to forgive," he replied with his voice shaking. They both sat on the couch crying. "I'm never going to let you leave me again," he whispered through his tears. Ashley held onto him.

"I'm not leaving again," she answered.

Ashley then gasped. Andros pulled back. "Ashley?" He asked. Ashley held her stomach.

"Andros…my water just broke," she answered.

Andros stood up. "I'll get you to the hospital," he told her. Ashley held onto his hand.

"No! Don't leave me," she begged painfully.

"I'm just calling for help, Ash."

Ashley shook her head. "No…" she answered. Andros winced when she squeezed his hand with all her strength.

"Okay…okay, I'm going to get you to the nearest hospital," he informed.

Ashley nodded and let Andros help her out of the house.

When they arrived at the hospital, the doctor led Ashley to a room. Ashley was lying in the bed and was holding onto Andros's hand. Andros was stroking her hair. "Andros…I'm not ready for this. I'm not…" she trailed off. She looked at him with tear-filled eyes. "I'm so scared," she added.

"I'm scared too, Ash, but we're going to get through this together," he answered.

He kissed her forehead. "I love you. I love you very, very much," he added. Ashley let out a sigh and whimpered when another contraction came.

"Remember to breathe, Mrs. Karovan," the doctor said when she came in.

Ashley then started her breathing exercises and Andros just watched her and gave her all the support she needed. The doctor checked her and nodded. "We're getting there. I'll be back soon to check her again," she informed. Andros nodded and he looked back at his wife.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"I feel terrible," she replied.

Andros sat on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on her stomach. "This is it. Today we'll find out who the father is," he told her. Ashley nodded and she held his hand.

"I'm scared, what if it's Todd's?" She asked.

"If the baby is Todd's, then I'll raise the baby as if it were mine."

Ashley bit her lip. "And it would be so unfair," she told him. Andros looked at her and stroked her cheek. "You know, not just because it would be Todd's, but because it took a monster to get me pregnant and not the man I truly love," she added. Andros sighed.

"It wouldn't be your fault if the baby's Todd's. It would be just Todd's fault for doing this to you," he answered.

Tears fell down Ashley's face and Andros easily just kissed her tears away. "I'll make you a little deal, Ash," he told her. Ashley looked at him.

"What's that?" She asked.

Andros held onto her hand and winced when she squeezed it when another contraction hit. "If the baby's Todd's, we stay here and start over with our lives. If the baby's mine. We go to KO-35 where we can raise him or her away from all the pain from the past," he suggested. Ashley smiled through the pain and nodded.

"Deal," she answered.

Ashley then sat up with a gasp. "Okay…this is it. I can feel it," she told him. Andros got up to get the doctor.

(Fifteen Minutes Later)

Ashley fell back against the pillow gasping for air and a baby's cry could be heard. "You have a little boy," she announced. Andros smiled and saw the tears of happiness fell down her face. Ashley sat up with Andros's help and took the baby into her arms once he was cleaned up and Andros cut the cord. Ashley felt tears fell down her face. She held the baby close to her.

"I have a son…I have a son," she sobbed.

Andros wrapped his arms around her and smiled. "Would you like the DNA testing done right away?" The doctor asked. Ashley looked up at the doctor.

"Yes," Ashley and Andros replied in unison.

The doctor nodded and they took samples from Andros's blood and the baby's blood. "We'll have the results soon," she informed. They nodded and watched her leave.

"So, what do you want to name him?" He asked.

Ashley looked down at the baby. "Andreas, Andreas Leonardo Karovan," she answered. Andros smiled and nodded.

"So be it," he answered.

Andros then remembered that Ashley's wedding ring was sitting around his neck. "Oh! I have something for you," he told her. Ashley looked at him and she gasped when Andros pulled out the wedding ring.

"Andros…" she whispered.

Andros smiled and placed the ring onto her finger. "Till death do us part," he told her. Ashley nodded.

"Till death do us part," she answered.

Andros then pressed his lips against hers in a kiss.

Author's Note: Two more chapters. The secret of Andreas's father will be revealed in the next chapter. I want you all to pay very close attention to detail and that's how you're going to know who the father is.