Chapter 2: Earth Tour Part 1

Disclaimer: still don't own anything! Only the plot and non existing characters are mine. I'm a student and just came back from a holiday, do you expect me to have money?

A/N: Finally, after a lovely vacation in France, here's chapter 2! I hope I'll get more reviews this time. I love the ones who do review, you're great! But the small number of reviews I get, really isn't stimulating to write on….Anyways, enjoy chapter 2! And let me know if there are to many thoughts/feelings from Ashley and Andros in.

Review Responses:

AH/AY: Thanks, so glad you like it! Finally an update, as I promised!

Phantom Rogue: Yes yes yes! You saw it too? It was soooo cute! Well, here's chapter 2, I hope you'll like it. And I can't wait till that story you told me about on msn:) Cause jealous Andros is cute! Thanks for the sweet review, I hope I'll make this couple look good.

Tal: Yeah, ya know I've got a crush alert too ;) Zhane's just so cute..I love him! Enjoy this chapter!

Star Fata: Thank you very much, I'm so glad you like it!

Jainasolo18: Thanks! I'm happy there is a Zhane/Ashley fan reading my story! Well, part 3 of ROL will be Andros/Ashley, but I really enjoy writing this pairing, I have to admit. I really like your story, I hope you'll update soon.

After taking a long, warm shower, Ashley, only wearing a soft, big, yellow towel, searched through her enormous closet filled with clothes for something to wear on her 'Date' with Zhane.

She had to grin. Date? It wasn't exactly a date, but she felt so excited, it might as well had been one.

She was happy with Zhane's arrival. Everything felt better now, lighter, less serious.

The first three months on the Megaship weren't easy for her. She had to get over Carlos, stay friend with him ánd work together with him as a team.

Not to forget her feelings for Andros. She tried to suppress them as much as possible, 1) for Carlos. She didn't want him to think she was over him that fast, cause she wasn't, 2) because of Andros' cold attitude towards her. It had hurt her so much, every single time.

It even hurt her that TJ and Cassie were so happy. And she found herself disgusting for thinking that. Not that she wasn't happy for them, no, she loved them dearly and wished them all the happiness that was possible.

It was just that everytime she saw TJ and Cassie kissing each other, it reminded her of the way it had been with Carlos, and the way she wanted it to be with Andros.

Ashley shook away those thoughts. She wouldn't let her being self hurt anymore, she would concentrate on the future, not the past. And in the future…she saw Zhane!

Smiling, she continued searching. It wasn't that she hadn't any clothes, god no, she had a full closet her on the Megaship ánd a full closet back home in Angel Grove, it was just hard to find something fitting for the occasion.

It had to be warm, cause it was almost the end of October and the weather had changed drastically.

It had to be nice, cause she really wanted to make a good impression on Zhane. He had only seen her in her rangersuit and in her not so trendy flight uniform.

She liked Zhane already very much. He was funny and she felt comfortable around him, like he always had been part of their friend group. And comfortable was something she was never around Andros, who would snap at her any time.

Finally, Ashley found the perfect, nice but casual outfit to wear: a knee length, loose jeans skirt, a pair of thick, brown tights against the cold and a cute soft yellow v-neck sweater. She got dresses, putted on her long, brown boots with heels, grabbed her long, suede trench coat and wallet and left the room.

Before going to the holding bay, she wanted to say goodbye to Cassie, so she knocked on her best friend's door.

"Come in!" she heard Cassie yell and Ashley entered the room.

"Ash! You look great!" Cassie exclaimed. "It's perfect, stylish, sexy but still casual. Zhane will love it!"

The two girls giggled.

"Of course he will love it, I mean this is his first appointment after being in the freezer for two years!" Ashley protested laughing.

"Nah I don't think he's excited about just having a date, he's excited about a date with you Ash! You can show up in a refuse bag and he'll still say your gorgeous." Cassie teased.

Ashley rolled her eyes. "Yeah right"

Cassie gave her a playful poke. "Don't be silly Ashley. He likes you! And I'm so happy for you." Cassie sat down on her bed and motioned Ashley to sit next to her.

"You deserve it Ash…I know how hard these first months were for you. I mean, the way you put through, even with Andros' coldness while you like him, shows how much strength and courage you possess. And now it's time for you to move on. With Zhane"

Ashley felt tears in her eyes and hugged Cassie tight.

"Don't cry, it'll ruin your make-up" Cassie whispered.

Ashley laughed and blinked away the tears. "Thanks Cas..you're such a great friend"

"No problem" the pink ranger smiled. "But now you have to hurry. There's a cute blond guy waiting for you!"

Ashley smiled, gave Cassie a last hug and left the room.

In the time Ashley was with Cassie, Andros had to dealt with an hyperactive, overexcited Zhane. Now they were sitting in front of the jump tubes, waiting for Ashley's arrival.

He sighted. He envied the way Zhane dealt with the for him four other unknown rangers. Only a few hours out the cryo, he already made friends with them, and even had a 'date' with Ashley!

It had cost him more than two months to be friends with the Earthlings. And a date with Ashley….he could only dream of that.

No! He thought. He couldn't like her! He didn't deserve her, he would never ever be together with her. That was the reason he acted so mean towards her, to protect himself against her loving personality.

For Andros, it was easier to snap at her and feeling himself miserable afterwards, than being nice to her and open up.

The last people he loved, were ripped away from his life violently. His twin sister Karone was kidnapped when they were only six years young. His parents were missing after a strange accident on KO-35.

He searched for Karone, Laryn and Atanya Karovan every single day of his life, without succeeding. He didn't even know if they were still alive.

And then, when he was only 15, he had to put his best friend, who was injured so badly that he was as good as dead, in hyper sleep to save him. Well, Zhane was back, alive and healthy, but still…he couldn't love Ashley.

When he would let himself love her, she would be ripped away from him too and he couldn't even think about that without feeling sick to his stomach.

If Dark Specter knew about his feelings for the yellow ranger, he would do everything to kill Ashley, just to weaken Andros.

A relationship with Ashley wouldn't even be a problem if Andros was able to protect her. But he wasn't. He couldn't even protect his own flesh and blood, his sister and parents, let alone someone else he loved dearly.

No, he had to stop thinking about her. Zhane was able to protect her, like he'd protected Andros on that dark day on KO-35. He just had to be happy for his best friend….

Zhane's soft whistle made him wake up from his deep thoughts.

Ashley had entered the room.

Andros stared at her, just like Zhane. She looked beautiful, even with a sjawl and thick jacket against the cold. Her shiny hair danced on her shoulders and her eyes sparkled.

"Am I late?" She asked Zhane with a shy smile, walking over to him.

Zhane smiled and stood up. "Not at all. I was early to not let this beautiful woman wait!"

Ashley flushed. "Well, shall we go?"

Zhane offered her his arm gallantly. "Of course my lady!" he bowed grinning.

Ashley shoved him playfully, but was still holding his arm. "DECA, could you please teleport us to my house in Angel Grove?"

"See ya tonight Mate!" Zhane said to Andros, who nodded.

"Have fun" Andros even managed to say to Zhane.

Ashley waved to a grumpy Andros before they were teleported to Ashley's parents house on Earth.

"Well…I thought this was a good place to start our little tour. This is my parents house. I try to visit them as much as possible, but because of our ranger duties, I'm not always able to" Ashley told Zhane while she leaded hum through the Hammond's house.

"Do your parent know you're a ranger? Cause Andros told me that unlike on KO-35, on Earth people don't know the rangers identities." Zhane asked, looking around him, absorbing the new environment.

"Yes, they and my brother Jeff know about it. My dad is still a bit reluctant towards it…his little girl fighting monsters….but he knows there's nothing he can do about it!" Ashley said determinant.

Zhane smiled too. "Well your daddy's little girl is an excellent fighter! I saw your moves during the fight"

"Thanks" Ashley said smiling. "You aren't so bad yourself! Maybe we can spar one of these days, if you like."

"Okay" Zhane said a bit surprised. "But don't think I'm gonna let you win" he grinned evilly

"I would be offended if you would let me win" Ashley returned quickly.

Zhane smiled. He started to like Ashley more and more every minute. She was nice, easy to talk with, had definitely a strong personality and….he thought…glaring at the babbling, slim brunette next to him, incredibly hot!

Ashley showed Zhane the living room, where a boy with brown, short hair was lying on the couch.

"Hey Ash! I didn't know you were her!" Jeff said enthusiastically, hugging his little sister.

"We just arrived. Jeff, this is a new friend of mine, Zhane. He's the silver ranger. Zhane, this is my brother Jeff" Ashley introduced the two boys to each other.

"What's up man, nice to meet you!" Zhane said, shaking hands with Jeff.

"Are you the guy that is dating my little sis?" Jeff asked curious. "You'd better treat her right, or else I'll..AUW!" he stopped talking when Ashley stood hard on his foot, her face flushing.

But Zhane wasn't embarrassed at all. "Well, I hope I will become that lucky guy.." he said with a wide grin.

Ashley's face was getting redder and redder.

"And I would be stupid if I would ever hurt her" Zhane continued.

Jeff nodded satisfied and grinned evilly to Ashley, who couldn't take it anymore.

"Zhane we're running out of time. Bye Jeff!" and she dragged a startled Zhane out the house to her car.

Ashley sighted.

"I'm sorry Zhane…Jeff didn't meant to embarrass you. He's a bit impulsive with saying things." She smiled. "That runs in the family, I've got it too"

"Don't worry Ashley, I meant what a said" Zhane said softly.

"But what the heck is that?" he exclaimed suddenly, pointing at Ashley's yellow VW Golf.

"That" Ashley laughed, leading him to the car, opening the passenger door and shoving Zhane inside, "is a car. You can ride with it if you got a driving license."

"Oh I get it!" Zhane said thinking, after Ashley had taken place on the drivers seat.

"Like we had hover cars on KO-35!"

Ashley started the car and they drove away.

"Except…that these cars don't fly" Zhane concluded a bit disappointed.

Ashley laughed. "No, normally they don't fly".

"Well Zhane, are you ready to explore Angel Grove?" she asked playfully.

Zhane glanced at Ashley. "I'm more than ready. Let's go!"

A/N: Please don't be lazy and review!