Chapter 4: Living the Life and Misery

Ashley had found a nice place to live while she was thinking of what to do. Ashley was sitting on her new couch drawing pictures of new clothes designs when her wedding ring hit the sunlight and going into her eyes. She stopped her drawing and looked down at her wedding ring. She slowly twirled it around her finger looking at the design. She stopped when she saw engraving on the ring. "That wasn't there before," she commented. She took her ring off and looked at the engraving. "To my beautiful wife, always yours Andros," she read. Ashley bit her lip and she got up, putting the ring into her jewelry box. She jumped when her phone rang. "Hello?" She answered.

"Hey, heard you came back into town," Cassie greeted.

"News travels fast," Ashley laughed.

"Hey, going to a club tonight with Carlos and TJ wanna go?"

"Duh! I'll meet you there."

They laughed before hanging up.

Ashley drove up to the club Cassie was telling her about to see TJ, Cassie, and Carlos standing there. "Well, if it isn't the infamous Ashley finally here to grace us with her presence," Carlos commented. Ashley punched him in the shoulder gently before hugging him tight.

"Great to see you again, Ash," TJ told her.

"Yeah the last time we saw you, was that fight on Terra Venture," Carlos pointed out.

"Well, life got busy," Ashley commented.

Ashley rubbed the back of her neck, feeling a little uncomfortable. "Come on you guys, we're here to have fun," Cassie insisted. She grabbed Ashley's arm and led her inside.

Ashley watched as Cassie got up onstage with her guitar in hand and started singing. She smiled and noticed a guy watching her. She shifted nervously in her chair, not liking the glance. The guy got up and walked over to her. "Hey, beautiful," he commented. Ashley pushed some hair out of her face without answering. "Can I buy you a drink?" He asked.

"Sorry, I'm not twenty-one," she replied.

"Hmm, how old are you?"

Ashley looked at the guy in disgust. "I don't think it's any of your business of how old I am," she answered. She got up and sat somewhere else while listening to Cassie sing. She gasped when the guy grabbed a hold of her arm.

"No one walks away from me," he snapped.

Ashley grabbed the nearest drink and splashed it in his face. "Back off buddy," she hissed. She set the glass down and she looked over at the person who actually had the drink. "Sorry about that," she apologized. The guy chuckled slightly and shook his head.

"Don't worry about it, happy to know that my drink was put to good use," he commented.

Ashley laughed slightly. The guy grinned and held his hand out to Ashley. "Patrick Locke," he informed. Ashley shook his hand.

"Ashley Karovan," she answered.

They looked back up at Cassie to see her finishing up her song. Once she came on, some more music from the DJ started playing. "Would you like to dance?" Patrick asked. Ashley laughed slightly.

"Sure," she replied.

Cassie watched as a guy took Ashley out on the dance floor and they both started dancing. Cassie set her guitar down and she laughed when someone covered her eyes. "Guess who," TJ asked.

"Very funny, Teej," She answered.

TJ grinned and let her go. "You did great up there," he commented.

"Thanks," she answered.

They looked over to see Ashley laughing while enjoying herself. "Makes you wonder when was the last time she actually had fun," TJ commented. Cassie nodded and she looked over at Carlos to see him flirting with one of the girls there. TJ nudged her slightly. "Come on, let's go dance," he stated. Cassie nodded and they went out onto the dance floor.

(KO-35)

Andros was finishing his paperwork when the nanny walked up to him. "My lord, your son is asleep," she informed. Andros looked up.

"Oh, thank you," he answered.

She nodded her head and left his office. Andros rubbed his forehead and he looked over at the edge of his desk to see the family photo that was taken three months after Alastair's birth. He picked the picture up and sat back in his chair. He had no idea how she talked him into getting one of these family photos done, but he was glad she did talk him into it. Andros stared into Ashley's face and saw the twinkle in her eye in the picture. He slowly stood up and set the picture down. He picked up his data pad looking over the news during the past few months that was showing Ashley. Andros felt pain hit his heart when he saw that the light in his wife's eyes was gone. "You should go after her," a voice commented. Andros looked up to see Zhane there.

"Don't tell me what to do, Zhane," Andros answered.

He set the picture down and stood up. "Andros, this is your wife we're talking about here," Zhane answered. Andros rubbed his forehead.

"I know who we're talking about, Zhane. I'm not dense," he commented.

"So, that's it? You let her abandon you and your kid?" Zhane asked.

Andros shook his head. "No, I'm giving my wife a second chance at life. Trust me, Zhane. If I wanted Ashley to be home right now, I'd be out there getting her. But I can't," he answered.

"Why not?" Zhane asked.

"Because, I was watching my wife die slowly," Andros replied.

"What do you mean?"

Andros rubbed the back of his neck. "My wife was dying here, Zhane. She never wanted any of this, I never wanted any of this," Andros replied. Zhane watched as Andros just pushed paperwork and everything off the desk. He slammed his hands on the desk. "I'm the Emperor of KO-35! They should be listening to me!" Andros snapped.

"Who?" Zhane asked.

"The council. I've been trying to so hard to get them to change the marriage age. But they give me the same excuses and I lost my wife because of them," Andros replied.

Andros kicked the side of his desk revealing the pain he's been holding in. Zhane walked over and placed a hand on Andros's shoulder. Andros placed his hands on his desk and let out a shaky sigh. "I just want things back the way they used to be," he murmured.