Chapter 8: Bringing her Back

Ashley was sitting outside with Hayden when she saw Carlos's car pull up. "UNCLE CARLOS!" Hayden shouted. He ran from the little game of soccer he was playing with some of the neighborhood kids and ran over to his godfather. Carlos got out of the car and picked Hayden up when the boy ran over to him.

"Hey buddy, you're getting big," Carlos commented.

Ashley stood up with a smile. "Hey," she greeted. She hugged Carlos with a smile on her face. She pulled back and saw Carlos's smile fade into a small frown. "What is it?" She asked. Carlos set Hayden on the ground.

"Hayden, why don't you go finish your game over there okay? I have to talk to your mom," Carlos informed.

Hayden nodded and ran off to play again. Carlos looked at Ashley with a sigh. "Ash…do you still have your morpher?" He asked.

"Yeah, I have it in a box up in my room why?" She asked.

"Well, I need you to put it back on. KO-35's in trouble."

Ashley's eyes widened in shock. "How much trouble?" She asked.

"That we can't beat the enemy without your help kind of trouble," Carlos replied.

Ashley sighed and looked over at Hayden. "I have my son to take care of though, Carlos. I can't just up and leave like I used to," she pointed out.

"You have to come back, Ashley. We can't beat Hashim without your help," he insisted.

She let out a sigh and looked over at her son to see him enjoying himself with his friends. "Please Ashley, if not for me but for Hayden," he insisted. Ashley bit her lip and she nodded. She walked over to Lisa.

"Lisa, I need you to take care of Hayden for me please," she informed.

"Is everything okay?" Lisa asked.

Ashley shook her head. "No, I need to go with Carlos, there's an emergency I have to take care of. Could you please just take care of Hayden for me?" She asked.

"Yes of course," Lisa replied.

"Hayden, come here baby," Ashley called.

Hayden stopped playing and followed his mother inside with Carlos behind them.

Ashley walked up to her room and she went into her closet. She pulled out the box she put her morpher in and opened it. She let out a sigh as she took her morpher and strapped it on her wrist. "Mommy what's wrong and what is that?" Hayden asked. Ashley kneeled in front of her son and touched his face.

"Sweetheart, I have to go with Uncle Carlos to go fight bad guys okay?" She asked.

Hayden nodded and Ashley bit her tongue. "You going to see daddy again?" Hayden asked. Ashley nodded her head slowly.

"Yeah, mommy's going to see daddy again," she replied.

Hayden hugged his mother tight and Ashley hugged him back. "Say hi to daddy for me," he told her. Ashley kissed the side of her son's head.

"I will and you know not to tell anyone that mommy's gone out to be a Power Ranger right?" She asked.

Hayden nodded his head. "Good, now go get your things because you're going to go with Lisa," she informed. Hayden nodded again before running to his room to get his things. Ashley watched Hayden run to his room and she wrapped her arms around herself. Carlos walked over and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"You okay?" He asked.

Ashley let out a sigh. "I don't know if I can face Andros again," she replied. Carlos hugged her and sighed.

"Everything's going to be okay," he assured her.

She nodded her head slowly and walked out of Carlos's embrace. Hayden came out of the room with his backpack in his hands. "Ready to go munchkin?" She asked. Hayden nodded and Ashley held his hand as they walked downstairs and went outside. Carlos looked around the room and walked over to Ashley's nightstand. He picked up the picture of her and Andros that was taken not long after the countdown. He put the picture back down and went outside.

Ashley had Lisa take Hayden before she and Carlos left to get to the ship so they could help save KO-35 from Hashim.

(KO-35)

Hashim appeared on the screen. "What is taking so long?" He ordered. The person in the room bowed.

"My apologies, my lord. I still haven't been able to gain access to the palace's shields yet," the person informed.

"Destroy the Red Ranger and KO-35 will up for the taking."

"My lord, how can I? Prince Andros was one of the greatest Red Rangers around."

"Even the strongest Red Ranger has a weakness. Find it and destroy it."

The person bowed their head. "As you wish, my lord," the person answered.

(Infirmary)

Andros was getting his bandages changed when TJ came in. "Andros, they're here," he informed. Andros got off the bed and went to greet Carlos and Ashley.

Cassie ran over and embraced Ashley when they got off the ship. "Oh I've been so worried about you," Cassie commented.

"I'm fine, what about you?" Ashley asked.

"A little beaten up but I'll live," Cassie replied.

Ashley embraced TJ and Zhane at the same time with a smile on her face. However, the next person she saw made her heart stop. "Andros…" she whispered. Andros came forward and stood in front of her.

"Hi, Ashley," he greeted.

Ashley bit her lip. "Hi, Andros," she answered. The Rangers looked at each other to see the tension between them. Ashley shook his hand with a small smile. "Glad to see you're okay," she told him.

"Right back at you," he answered.

"Andros?" Adyna called.

Andros turned and wrapped his arm around Adyna's shoulders. "Ashley, this is Adyna," he informed. Adyna smiled as she held her hand out to Ashley.

"His betrothed," she put in.

Ashley felt her heart leap into her throat with those words. She shook Adyna's hand but couldn't say anything to her. "I'll show you to your room," Zhane informed trying to cut the tension. Ashley followed Zhane and Andros watched her go. The feelings were still there, they both felt it, but with Adyna in his life now, how can things ever be the same?