Chapter 13: Not Wanted Promises

Ashley came up to Karone and Leo's house to find Karone coming outside with her baby in her arms. "Karone," she called. Karone looked up and a smile came across her face.

"Ashley," she murmured.

Karone set Rory in the crib that was on the porch before hurrying over to embrace her. Ashley smiled as she hugged Karone back. "It's so good to see you again," Karone told her. Ashley sighed with a smile.

"It's so good to see you again too, Karone," Ashley answered.

Ashley pulled back with a smile. "Look at you now, you're married with a baby!" Ashley commented with a small laugh. Karone nodded.

"Yep, yep," Karone answered.

They walked up on the porch and Karone picked Rory up. "This is my and Leo's daughter, Aurora or Rory," Karone informed. Ashley smiled as she looked at the baby.

"She's so beautiful, Karone," she commented.

Ashley held the baby's hand. "How long have you and Leo been married?" She asked. Karone sat down on the porch swing with Rory in her arms.

"Let's see four years now," she replied.

Ashley sat down next to her. "Four years?" Ashley asked. Karone nodded with a smile.

"Yep, four wonderful years.

Ashley nodded and looked at the baby. "Andros came by a few days ago," Karone informed. Ashley's smile faded and she cleared her throat. "He told me about what happened between you two," she added. Ashley rubbed her forehead and let out a sigh.

"So you know that we…" she trailed off.

"Yeah, yeah I know," Karone replied.

"Great."

"Your secret's safe with me. Here's what I don't understand though."

Karone stood up and went inside with Ashley following her. "What I don't understand is why you agreed to sleep with him if you're not in love with him anymore," Karone commented. Ashley bit her lip and she lowered her head slightly. Karone had placed Rory into her little swing and looked at Ashley. "You're still in love with him aren't you?" She asked. Ashley sat down in the rocking chair and nodded.

"Yes…yes I do," she replied.

"Then what the heck are you doing letting him marry someone else?"

"Your parents won't allow us to be together."

Karone let out a groan. "For the love of Zordon! What is up with you and my brother wanting to keep my parents happy?" Karone demanded.

"It's not easy, Karone. Andros and I can't do what you and Leo did," Ashley replied.

Karone crossed her arms over her chest. "Let's see, my mother and father tried everything in their power to keep Leo and me apart, but look at this. I'm married to him and I've got a daughter," Karone pointed out. Ashley shook her head. "Here's another good question. You're not afraid of anything, then why in the universe did you run away when you heard what my parents said to Andros?" She asked. Ashley bit her lip and closed her eyes.

"I can't tell," Ashley replied.

"What do you mean you can't tell?" Karone asked.

Ashley shook her head and stood up. "I can't tell, because then I'll be in such a big hole that I can't crawl out of," she replied. Karone stared at her in disbelief.

"You are unbelievable Ashley Hammond! Have you not been listening to me?" Karone asked.

"What?" Ashley asked.

Karone shook her head. "I'm not part of the Karovan Colony anymore if you were listening to me. I've been banished, whatever you say they won't find out," she assured her. Ashley bit her lip and she wrapped her arms around her stomach. "Why did you leave my brother like you did?" She asked. Ashley felt the tears press against her eyes.

"I…um…I left because…" Ashley trailed off.

Ashley sat down and let out a heavy sigh. "I left because I was pregnant," she confessed. Karone's eyes widened in shock. "I was on my way to tell Andros when I heard your parents threaten to terminate any of my pregnancies. I couldn't let that happen so I ran away. I lived with Carlos for the next nine months and I gave birth to my and Andros's son," she explained.

"Ashley…" Karone trailed off.

Ashley bit her lip and she looked at Karone. "His name is Hayden Christopher Hammond, he's five. He looks and acts just like his father. I worry everyday that something will happen to him and I worry everyday that your parents would find out about him and then take him away from me. I couldn't deal with that so I ran away from Angel Grove and started over in Reefside. I've been raising Hayden by myself during the past five years and I don't plan on telling Andros," she explained.

"You have to at least tell Andros," Karone insisted.

She shook her head. "Not happening," she replied.

"Hayden's his son," Karone insisted.

"Hayden's life is in danger if I tell him."
"Andros would die first before any harm would come to his own child."

"Forget it, Karone, I'm not going to tell him and neither are you."

Karone looked at Ashley in disbelief. "I hardly keep secrets from Andros," she stated. Ashley shook her head.

"You're keeping this a secret, Karone. Your daughter's safe from your parents. My son's life would be in danger," Ashley insisted.

Karone let out a frustrated sigh. "You know what, Ashley? Everything I've said to you seems to go through one ear and out the other. I told you that Andros would die first," Karone snapped. Ashley rubbed the back of her neck and shook her head.

"I wouldn't let him," she answered.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not going to let Andros give up his future to live in the past."

"He loves you."

"He shouldn't."

"Why not?"

"Because he has no reason to love me anymore."

Karone shook her head. "You're wrong, Ashley. You're dead wrong. Andros has every reason to still love you, because you kept him together," she answered. Ashley looked at her confused. "You have no idea what happened to him after you left do you?" She asked. Ashley became worried at her words.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

Rory started crying and Karone picked her daughter up. "What happened to him, Karone?" She asked. Karone sighed as she calmed her daughter down and looked at Ashley.

"Andros practically fell apart. He locked himself in his room for weeks. No one saw him for nearly a month. No one but me and what I saw I still can't get out of my head," she replied.

Ashley sat down in shock. "He couldn't sleep, he wouldn't eat. He was a mess and slowly dying right before my very eyes, Ashley. I couldn't do anything to bring him out of it. The only thing that brought him out of his depression was when the Red Rangers needed his help. He hasn't been the Andros that we've known, but one thing is certain. He's still so in love with you," she added.

"But…" Ashley trailed off.

Karone kissed her daughter's forehead and she looked at Ashley. "I won't tell him about Hayden, but before you go and start shutting him out of your life forever. Think about how much it tore him up when you were gone," she informed. Ashley sat there thinking about everything Karone had told her.