Chapter 22: Never Apart

Two days had passed since Andros had sacrificed himself to save Ashley. Two days, Ashley had not left Andros's side. No one could get her to leave and she refused to let Hayden come in the room, because she didn't want the machines that Andros was hooked up to scare him.

Zhane came in to find Ashley holding Andros's hand staring into his face. "Ashley…" he called quietly. Ashley looked up as Zhane sat next to her. "You should at least go see Hayden," he added. Ashley shook her head.

"I can't leave him," she answered.

Zhane placed a hand on her shoulder. "Ashley, he's going to be okay," he assured her. Ashley shook her head slowly.

"I can't leave him again," she answered.

She stroked Andros's hair and tears fell down her face. "It's all my fault, Zhane…it's all my fault," she whispered. Zhane sat down next to her.

"What's your fault, Ash?" He asked.

"It's all my fault that Andros is lying there…it's all my fault."

Ashley stood up with tears falling down her face. "It's all my fault," she sobbed. She placed her hands over her face.

"No…no its not your fault, Ash," Zhane answered.

Ashley looked over at Zhane. "I know what happened when I left him. I know that he was just going to marry Adyna because she was just a Karovan and he was just making his parents happy. I broke his heart, how can he still love me after I broke his heart?" She asked.

"Because he knew that one day you would return to him," a voice answered.

Ashley looked up to see Caspar standing there. Zhane got up. "I have to go," he informed. Ashley looked over at him.

"Going? Where are you going?" She asked.

"I have to go pick up my daughter," he replied.

He grinned at Ashley as he turned and left. Ashley watched him leave and she looked at Caspar. "What do you want? Come to make more threats at me?" She asked. Caspar sighed.

"Okay, I deserved that," he answered.

Ashley crossed her arms over her chest. "You threatened to terminate my baby if I married Andros. Why? Why would you do something like that?" She asked.

"It's blood, Ashley," he replied.

"Blood? What is it with the blood. It don't matter to Andros that I'm from Earth. He just wants me."

"I know that now. I realized my mistake a long time ago."

Ashley sat down. "When did you realize you made a mistake?" She asked.

"The day I found out that you had given birth to my grandson and had to hide him from us, never giving Andros the chance of being a father to him," Caspar replied.

Ashley sat back and bit her lip. "I had no choice but to hide Hayden the day he was born. Because I know you two would've carried out your threat and killed my son," she pointed out. Caspar nodded his head slowly.

"He's a beautiful boy, Ashley. He has good blood running through his veins," he added.

"There you go again. What makes it good blood?" She asked.

Caspar stood up and placed his hand on Ashley's face. "Because he has the blood of two people who are destined to be together. I can only hope that one day you'll forgive me," he replied. He kissed her forehead and left the room. Ashley let out a sigh and she looked back at Andros. She reached over and she touched his face again. She kissed his cheek and sat back in her chair.

A day later, Ashley was asleep when Andros woke up. He reached up and he touched the air mask on his face. He removed the air mask on his face and looked over at Ashley. "Ashley," he called out quietly. Ashley opened her eyes and she gasped to see Andros awake.

"Andros!" She gasped.

Andros smiled weakly at her. "D--Did you mean what you said?" He asked in his raspy voice. Ashley bit her lip, knowing exactly what he was talking about. She nodded her head slowly. She stroked his face with a smile.

"I meant every word. I love you," she whispered.

She sat on the edge of his bed and Andros place his hand on the side of her face. "I love you," he murmured. Ashley smiled as she leaned forward to kiss him when there was a knock on the door. "Come in," Andros answered. Caspar came in with a smile.

"Andros, it's great to see that you're awake, son," Caspar commented.

Andros sat up slowly with Ashley's help and they looked over at Caspar. "Anything I can help you with, father?" Andros asked. Caspar smiled as he sat down on the chair that Ashley was just sitting in.

"Andros, I'm stepping down from the throne. It is time for you to take your place as King of KO-35," he informed.

A smile came across Ashley's face and she looked over at Andros. "If you're willing to take the duty," Caspar added. Andros seemed to be thinking about it for a moment and he nodded his head slowly.

"I'll do it," he answered.

Caspar looked over at Ashley and he kissed her forehead. "Take care of him," he instructed.

"You got it," Ashley answered.

Caspar left the room and Ashley smiled. "Ashley…I don't want you to…" Ashley pressed her lips against his to silence him. Andros looked at her when she pulled back.

"Andros, I can continue my dreams right here. Because I want you to be there to watch Hayden grow up. You're everything I have ever wanted, Andros, everything," she whispered.

Andros stroked her cheek. "What happened to Adyna?" He asked. Ashley smiled and held his hand.

"Adyna was defeated, it seemed that she and her brother were linked. When he was killed, so was she," she replied.

Andros leaned back against the pillows and let out a sigh. Ashley helped him get a drink and had some good brought to him.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Karone peeked in with a smile. "Someone's here to see you," she informed. Hayden came running in and he jumped on the bed while hugging his dad.

"Easy, easy," Ashley cautioned.

"He's okay, Ash," Andros answered.

Andros hugged Hayden tight and kissed the top of his head feeling the tears press against his eyes when he realized how close to death he was and how grateful he was to have both Hayden and Ashley. He pulled Ashley into his free arm and he hugged them tight and closed his eyes.