Chapter 8: A Challenge

Another month went by and Ashley was starting to feel very…empty. All of a sudden, the partying and everything else didn't really matter to her anymore. What she really wanted was to wake up in the morning feeling her husband's arms wrapped securely around her waist. She wanted to walk around with her baby in her arms. She closed her eyes and found herself missing them so much.

One day, Ashley was sitting in the living room with Patrick by her side. They were hanging out like they usually did during the past few months, but Ashley had no idea that her good friend actually had romantic feelings for her.

Patrick looked over at Ashley with a smile. "Hey, Ash, there's this new club that opened up a few days ago, was wondering if you'd like to go with me?" He asked. Ashley bit her lip and shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know, Patrick, things have been a little difficult," she replied.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

Ashley pushed her hair out of her face. "It's complicated okay?" She asked. Patrick nodded his head slowly.

"Yeah…okay," he answered.

She let out a sigh. "Sorry. I've just had a lot on my mind," she apologized. Patrick pushed his hair out of his face.

"Mind talking about it?" He asked.

Ashley shrugged her shoulders again. "It's not important," she replied. Patrick reached over and stroked Ashley's hair. Ashley lifted her head up and looked at Patrick, before she could react, Patrick had placed his hand on the back of her head and kissed her. For a minute she was stunned, but then her mind drifted back to Andros. She gasped and pushed him away. "What are you doing?" She asked.

"Wasn't really the reaction I was hoping for," he replied.

Ashley stood up and pushed her hair out of her face. "Patrick…I have a confession to make," she informed. Patrick looked at her with a quizzical look. She looked over at him with a sigh. "I'm married…I'm married and I have a son. I came here to Angel Grove because my husband and I are separated. I needed some space," she explained. Patrick looked at her in shock and stood up.

"Do you still love him?" He asked.

Ashley looked at him with a slight glare. "What kind of a question is that?" She asked.

"A simple one, do you love your husband yet or not?" He asked.

Ashley stood there for a minute. Her mind drifted back to everything they went through. From when they fought against their parents about their marriage up to when she tried to call him. She found herself wanting to go back home, throw her arms around Andros, and vow to never leave again. She looked up at Patrick and nodded. "Yes," she replied. Ashley knew she broke his heart. "I'm sorry, Patrick, but I still do love him. Andros…is the other half of me…" she trailed off. She remembered the last piece of the puzzle she was missing since the explosion three years ago. Patrick grabbed his jacket and went to leave.

"Call me when you leave him," he told her.

Ashley watched the door close and she wrapped her arms around herself. She sat down as she thought of that day. She got up and ran over to her intercom. She picked up and she called Andros. "Hello?" He asked.

"It was you," she replied.

"Who is this?"

"You kept me alive."

"Ashley?"

Ashley swallowed the lump in her throat. "You kept me alive after the explosion hit. I…I fought to live…because I wanted to come home to you," she told him.

"What are you talking about?" He asked.

Ashley let out a sob. "When the bomb went off, I knew I couldn't make it out. But…then I saw your face and how it would shatter you if I didn't make it out. I fought hard to live. I wanted to live, I wanted you. It's always been you," she replied. She heard silence on the other end and she bit her lip. "I want to come home," she whispered. Silence was still there.

"We've been waiting for you," he finally said.

Ashley let out another sob. "And Ashley," he called before she could cut the transmission.

"Yeah?" She asked.

Andros was silent for a minute. "You're the only girl for me. I've wanted you since we were kids. It's always been you," he answered. Ashley smiled.

"I'll be home," she murmured.

"And we'll be here."

Ashley smiled and pushed her hair out of her face again. "I love you…" she told him.

"I love you too," he answered.

They cut the transmission and Ashley ran into her room to gather her things to go back home, where she belonged.