Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers.

Chapter 12

Andros glared over at his morpher, suspended in mid-air just because he wanted it to be. Almost a week, and nothing. No Psychos, no Cosmos, no Lyra, not even a Quantron or two. As nice as the peace was, none of them thought for a second that it would last much longer, and the more time that passed without a disturbance, the more worried he was.

He knew he wasn't the only one growing restless, but the others didn't have his problem, either. He didn't dare remain morphed for more than a few minutes during training sessions. His team was adjusting to covering for him, but he didn't like it a bit and knew that they didn't either.

His morpher beeped, and Andros grabbed it out of the air. He rolled onto his back, sighing heavily before he answered. "This is Andros."

"Hey, it's me," Ashley's voice spoke to him cheerfully. "Are you busy right now?"

He briefly considered lying, and then sighed again. "No, not really. Why?"

"I haven't seen you for awhile, that's all," she told him. "Want to come over?"

"Where are you?"

"My house. Deca knows the coordinates."

"Okay, then," he agreed, slightly reluctantly. "I'll be there in a minute."

"See you then," Ashley chirped, and cut the connection from her end.

Andros let out a deep breath before sitting up. It wasn't that he didn't want to see her. He did, and very much so. She just always seemed to catch him at those moments when he didn't feel like doing much else besides thinking. Still, he couldn't say no to her, and so he got out of bed and quickly changed out of his flight suit to something that would blend in easily down on Earth.

"Deca, teleport me to Ashley's house," he requested softly, straightening the button down shirt he wore open over a tank top. "Or as close to it as you can."

No sooner had he spoken than he found himself standing in Ashley's driveway. She must have been watching for him; her arms were around him in a welcoming hug only a second later and there was nothing he could do but hug her back.

"Hi," he said, smiling a little.

"Hi," she whispered back, finally letting go of his neck. "How are you?" She studied his face intently. "You're looking serious again."

"I can't help it," he muttered. "There's a lot on my mind."

"I know." Ashley smiled sympathetically. "Hungry?"

"I could go for some lunch," he agreed, following her into the house as he spoke. "Is anyone else home?"

"My parents are gone for the weekend and Jeff--my brother--is out somewhere," she informed him. "So, no, we're alone."

An impish grin followed her words and Andros felt himself blush. "I didn't mean that," he added quickly, realizing how else his words could be taken. "I just wanted to know if we could talk about ranger business here."

"Oh, I know," she assured him, beginning to pull food out of the refrigerator. "And my family knows I'm a ranger so it wouldn't matter... and you're really cute when you're blushing."

He glared at her, and she giggled. "Well, you are!"

"That doesn't mean you have to say it every single day," he complained, good-naturedly enough that she knew he wasn't bothered by it--yet.

She set the loaf of bread down on the counter and turned to face him, considering that. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I didn't realize it was bothering you."

"It wasn't," he assured her. Andros shrugged and kicked at the floor. "But--you're not the first person to tell me that. It gets old."

"Oh," Ashley said, understanding. She thought for a moment longer, and then smiled teasingly. "I could always kiss you instead."

Andros pretended to think that over, sighing loudly. "Well, if you insist..." He was cut off by Ashley pressing her lips to his.

"You're always cute," she murmured, kissing him again.

He wrinkled his nose at her, grinning mischievously. Ashley backed up quickly when she caught the glint in his eyes, but he was faster and soon had his arms wrapped around her waist, thoroughly enjoying her shrieks of laughter as he tickled her mercilessly.

After a brief struggle, Ashley managed to wrench herself free and darted out of the room. Andros chased after her, still laughing, lunch and his Power troubles completely forgotten. She was in the living room when he caught up with her, jumping when he grabbed her from behind.

Ashley doubled over, giggling helplessly. Andros thought he heard her gasp out his name, but her words were too full of laughter for him to be sure. She tried to jerk away and they both stumbled when he was laughing too hard to let go.

Andros collapsed onto the couch and she fell against him, managing to find just enough strength to pull herself up onto the couch the rest of the way before dissolving into giggles yet again. He couldn't seem to stop laughing, either, and that only seemed to make Ashley crack up even more, so they just sat there laughing until their sides hurt.

"That," Ashley gasped weakly, still giggling, "was so not fair."

"You started it," Andros pointed out, his eyes closed. He wasn't breathing as hard now, but felt far too lazy to do anything else but just lie there with her.

Ashley apparently wasn't feeling the same. "I started it?" she repeated indignantly. "All I did was kiss you."

Andros opened his mouth to retort and then closed it again, shrugging. He really didn't have the energy winning an argument against her would require. Ashley giggled at him and slid closer, laying a hand on his cheek. When he looked at her, she kissed him hard, effectively silencing any further argument from him.

Ashley slid across his lap and he wrapped his arms around her waist, trailing fingers up and down her spine. Her tank top was thin, thin enough that he could feel easily the heat of her body pressed against his.

She squirmed closer, and Andros caught his breath when he felt her fingers in his hair. Ashley tugged playfully at his ponytail, her fingers smoothing down his hair after she freed it from the elastic band that had held it in place. That felt good, too good to not make him want more.

He shifted restlessly when her lips touched his again, his hands slipping tentatively beneath her tank top. Her skin was soft beneath his fingers, and somehow, he kept himself from doing anything more than just holding her. Ashley tore her mouth away from his, nipping playfully at his lower lip before slowly kissing her way across his jaw... down his neck...

Andros moaned quietly when she found the soft spot between his neck and shoulder, his arms moving automatically to wrap around her again when she pushed his shirt over his shoulders. He was left in the white tank top and even that seemed too much for what he wanted...

He wanted her. Andros almost started as the realization dawned, but the motion was somewhat lost among Ashley's own movements. His head had fallen back against the couch and Ashley didn't waste any time, kissing and licking and nibbling her way across his neck. He gasped quietly when he felt her lips just beneath his jaw, tingles shooting up and down his spine.

"Ashley," he groaned, feeling his self-control rapidly slipping away. "Ash..."

"Yeah?" she murmured breathlessly.

Andros realized dimly that his hands weren't resting on her waist any longer. His fingers were tracing her spine now, and that seemed to be a sensitive spot, if the way she was acting was anything to judge by.

"I--" She nipped at his earlobe and he couldn't remember what he'd been about to say. "Never mind," he muttered, pulling her closer. "It wasn't important..."

In the back of his mind, Andros knew that hadn't been quite right, but it felt so good and his hands were sliding down her back again. He loved the feel of her skin beneath his hands, and from her breathing he guessed that she didn't exactly mind the sensation either.

What was the harm, really? he wondered, his hands wandering across the backs of her legs. It wasn't like they would do anything while they were on the couch in front of an open window. And Ashley was pushing more than he was...

Andros jerked when he heard their morphers beep, his mind slamming back down into his body and beginning to function again. I want her. That was the only thought in him for several moments afterward, as Ashley fell back onto the couch, still breathing heavily but calming down more quickly than he did.

"What is it, Deca?"

"Cosmos has appeared in Angel Grove Park."

"We'll be right there."

Andros was careful not to look at her as he pulled his shirt back on. Ashley quickly straightened her own clothing and stood, seemingly avoiding his gaze as much as he was avoiding hers.

"We need to talk," she said quietly, and all he could do was nod. "Later," she amended, reaching for her morpher.

He did the same, trepidation slowly welling up within him. "Ready?" She nodded. Andros took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Let's rocket!"

Author's Note: Yes, I know it's short. I figured you guys could use a bit of fluff before the next few chapters, and if you don't... I do. Hehe. I'll write as much as I can over the long weekend and hopefully the next chapter will be up soon. Review?