Chapter 10: Perfect, Just Perfect

Ashley was sitting in the park when a telekinesis ball landed beside her. She picked it up with a smile to see Alastair running over to her. "Sorry, mommy," he apologized. He kissed her cheek with a smile.

"It's okay. Are you letting your sister play?" She asked.

"Yep, Aldarico wasn't going to at first."

"You tell your brother to let your sister in."

Alastair nodded and ran off to play with his siblings. Alastair was eight, Aldarico was six and Angeni was five. Ashley watched her children play and a smile came across her face. After Angeni's birth, which was the scariest pregnancy yet, she and Andros decided to stop.

When Ashley first found out she was pregnant with Angeni, they were both just as thrilled as they were when she was pregnant with Alastair and Aldarico. However, for some reason, when it came close to Ashley's due date, she became violently ill. Andros got her to the hospital and the doctors told Andros that they had to induce the labor, that it was the only chance to save both Ashley and the baby. Andros agreed to have it induced, even though Ashley objected to it.

The hours went by and their daughter was born, she was very small and the scary part was that she wasn't breathing. The doctors took care of her and soon their little Angeni was the strong baby girl they both had wanted.

Now, Ashley was watching her children play and a smile came across her face. She wouldn't trade her children for the universe. They were her treasures and she cherished them everyday. She loved her kids, she loved her husband, and she loved her life. She hated herself for trying to give that up. "ASHLEY!" A voice called. Ashley looked up to see Andros hurrying up to her. She stood up with a quizzical look.

"What is it?" She asked.

She saw the smile on Andros's face. "It's been changed," he informed.

"What? What's been changed?" She asked.

"The age. The whole custom. It's been changed. There's no more betrothals at birth and no more marrying at fifteen. Our kids are free."

Ashley gasped and threw her arms around his neck. Andros hugged her tight and spun her around once. "Their betrothals were broken off. Our kids can be whoever they want to be," he added. Ashley sighed happily and she pulled back.

"I love you," she murmured.

She placed her hands on his face and kissed him deeply. Andros wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back. "Ewww, mommy and daddy are kissing," Angeni whined. Andros and Ashley pulled back, laughing slightly at their daughter.

"Trust me, sweetie, you'll be doing this one day," Ashley commented.

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Andros mumbled.

Ashley laughed slightly and she looked at the three. "Go play," she told them. They ran off to play and Andros wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. "You know, one day they'll be making a difference in this universe," she murmured. Andros pulled back and placed his chin over her shoulder.

"Yeah, but for now, they're our kids," he answered.

Ashley nodded her head slowly and she held his hands. "I love you Andros," she murmured. Andros kissed the side of her head.

"I love you, Adora," he answered.

Ashley smiled and tilted her head back. She had everything she had ever wanted and she knew that Andros's dreams had also came true. That's all they had ever wanted, and they got so much more.

Preview

Taylor was getting a glass of lemonade that was in the fridge. "What's going on?" She asked. She could tell by the tone in Wes's voice that something was wrong.

"Taylor…I have some bad news," he informed.

Taylor stood up straight. "What?" She asked.

"It's Eric," he started.

"What about Eric?"

"I don't know what happened, everything just happened so fast…"
"What happened to Eric, Wes?"

Taylor felt like everything had fallen apart with Wes's next words. "Eric's gone…he disappeared. We have found no trace of him," Wes answered. The glass and phone slipped from Taylor's hands, falling to the floor, breaking the glass. She collapsed to the floor, her face white as paper, she was shaking, and the tears were showing in her eyes. "Taylor, are you there? Taylor," Wes called out.

Title: Having Faith

Genre: Drama/Romance

Rating: T

This story is due: September 30, 2006