Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers.

Chapter 18

The first thing that Ashley was aware of as she opened her eyes was that she wasn't alone. A slow smile spread across her face when she saw Andros still asleep beside her, one arm draped over her chest as he hugged her close.

Since late afternoon the day before, he'd hardly left her side. It had taken her awhile to coax him into repeating the conversation that he'd had with Lyra, and then she had understood. It was sweet, really, and he hadn't been there to distract her. He'd helped her with her homework, even.

Her smile widened as she rolled over carefully onto her side. Her ankle twinged, and Andros's arm hugged her closer. Ashley snuggled up to him more comfortably, reaching out to trace his face with her fingertips. She had been the one to insist that he sleep in her bed that night and now that he had, she knew why she had crawled into bed with him the night he'd almost killed her. She was safe with him. Andros would protect her from anything, even himself.

It made no sense even to her, and she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. But it was nice to feel safe, she decided, placing a kiss on his chin. And he kept her warm. She liked the way his body felt, too. Plus, he was cute when he was asleep. Ashley sighed ruefully to herself. She'd fallen way too hard.

Her fingers brushed against his eyelashes and she felt him stir a bit. She paused a bit guiltily, but in the end didn't stop, the path of her fingers tracing his eyebrows inward, down his nose to his lips.

"Morning, sleepy," she murmured in his ear, and felt him kiss her fingers. "Sleep well?"

He hadn't; she'd heard him mumbling constantly in his sleep. She'd caught her name a few times, and she thought he'd been calling for his old teammates as well. Ashley knew she'd heard Zeah's name more than once, and he'd been wanting his parents, too. He hadn't woken up, and she hoped that whatever it was that he'd seen in his sleep was long forgotten by now. It hadn't been easy to fall back asleep herself when she'd realized that she was the only one of the people he'd called for that was still living.

"Yeah," he yawned. Ashley couldn't help giggling as he rubbed sleep out of his eyes, and he looked at her sheepishly. "Sorry."

"For?" she prompted, reaching out to smooth stray hairs against his shoulder.

"I didn't mean to..." he said, glancing away from her. "I didn't bother you too much yesterday, did I?"

"Of course not, silly," she assured him quickly. Ashley laid her head back down on his shoulder, adding, "I'm glad you're here."

"So am I," he admitted. He touched her hair and Ashley smiled, tucking her head against his shoulder. "I love you, Ash."

"I know you do," she told him, squeezing him hard. "And I love you too."

He relaxed, his arms around her loosening just a little. "I know you do," he echoed her, then surprised her by nuzzling her ear with his lips. Ashley jumped and then giggled, not protesting when he tugged her face towards his.

His lips were gentle against hers, even when he slid one hand to rest against the back of her head was he was being tentative. Ashley pushed him back slightly, staring up at him with inquisitive eyes.

"What's wrong?" she demanded, sliding her fingers through his hair. "Something's bothering you."

"I don't want to hurt you," he murmured against her lips, stealing another kiss. "Your ankle's still swollen."

Ashley sighed in fond exasperation, sliding both arms around his neck and kissing him hard. "I won't move it, then."

Andros considered that for a few moments, then decided that was solid enough reasoning. Ashley giggled against his lips when he returned the kiss, her laughter quickly dying when he nipped at her bottom lip.

He pressed closer, his free arm snaking around her waist. Ashley held him closer, her hands running through his hair. Andros groaned. His tongue slid teasingly around the inside of her mouth while his hands wandered across her back, tracing her shoulder blades.

Ashley shuddered, small tremors running through her stomach. He really was too good at that. She couldn't think when he kissed her like that, she couldn't do anything but let her insides go weak every time he kissed her.

Her fingers tightened in his hair and Andros kissed her harder, gently urging her over onto her back. She rolled over and he moved to cover her, still kissing. She shifted against him and her ankle twinged painfully. Ashley yelped before she could help it and Andros jerked back, mumbling an apology.

"Ash, I--"

"I know," she said before he could get too far. "I'm fine and it wasn't really your fault if you think about it."

"If you think about it, maybe," he retorted, but she saw a smile tug at his lips. "Do you want some ice?"

"Andros, I'm fine," she assured him, tugging hard on his arm until he fell back down beside her. "Don't worry about it."

He nodded his head slowly, leaning forward to kiss her cheek lightly. "Ash... did we--did we just..."

"You know," she remarked when Andros didn't finish, "we never did talk."

"I guess we didn't." Andros sounded a little odd, and when she glanced over at him, Ashley was startled to find him blushing.

"Want me to start?" she offered, taking pity on him.

He nodded, carefully avoiding her eyes. "Please."

"Okay." She sighed a little, then shrugged. She might as well ask now instead of later. "Do you want us to sleep together?"

"Ash..." Andros shot her a pleading glance that she ignored. "I--I'm not... asking anything of you--"

"I know you're not," she promised him quickly. "But you're not answering my question."

"I... yes," he mumbled, turning his face until it was half-hidden by the pillow.

"Good," she said brightly, hoping that she didn't look half as nervous as she felt. "We both want the same thing, then."

Andros looked at her carefully. "We--we do?"

Ashley couldn't help giggling slightly at his wide-eyed expression. "Don't tell me you're surprised."

He considered that for a few moments. "Okay."

"You... argh!" She shoved his shoulder lightly, then paused. "You really had no idea?"

He shook his head slowly. "Not really." Andros suddenly looked worried. "Should I have?"

"No..." Ashley frowned slightly. "Why would you think that?"

"Because you're not Karovan?" He sounded uncertain, his words more a question than an answer. "I--I don't really know what... I mean..."

"Andros?" she prompted gently. "Just say it."

"On KO-35, all that mattered was that you were in love," he said quietly. "Because having sex with someone that you didn't love would still bond you to them and it's hard to make that just go away."

"I like that," Ashley murmured, smiling at him. "It sounds so... pure."

"It was for some people," he agreed. "Zhane and Karone. My parents. They knew who they were meant to be with almost from the start."

He sounded just the tiniest bit resentful and Ashley couldn't help asking, "And you?"

"I thought I knew," he said, his eyes somewhere else again. "I was wrong."

"Who are you thinking about?" she asked softly.

"Kadri," he muttered, and sighed. "After she--" It took him a minute to say the words calmly. "After she killed them, I kept thinking that I should have seen it coming somehow. That if I hadn't loved her so much I could have seen through her."

"You know that wasn't your fault," she insisted, relieved when he nodded. "There's nothing that you could have done."

"I know that now," he assured her, forcing a smile. "But it doesn't matter anymore... The point was that not everyone has someone they're meant to be with."

"Didn't I tell you to be more optimistic?" she inquired mildly, and reached for his hand. "And I still like it. Earth isn't so different," she added. "Some people wait until they're married, other people don't, but for most people, I think it makes a difference that you're in love."

"I love you," Andros said immediately, and she would have giggled if he hadn't looked so serious.

"Love you too," she answered lazily, leaning back against his chest when he drew her into his arms. "And weren't you going to teach me to be telepathic?"

"You already are," he explained, letting her change the subject. "Or else you wouldn't have been able to hear me."

"Close enough." Ashley rolled her eyes at him, though she made a point of smiling. "How does it work, then?"

"Relax," he instructed, hugging her a little closer. "Close your eyes and just listen... Tell me when you hear me."

"Okay," she murmured, and he felt tension melting away from her body.

He waited a moment, then quietly called, "Ash?"

"I hear you," Ashley said no louder than before. "Now what?"

"Think at me." It was a lousy explanation, but he couldn't do a better job than that. "Just think at me, and expect that I'll hear you."

So she did and he thought he might have heard her, but he couldn't be entirely sure that it wasn't just wishful thinking. She refused to quit trying, though, and finally he heard his name clearly, and the voice was definitely hers.

"Andros," she said, her mental voice uncertain and unsteady but there. "Whoa," she said aloud, glancing up at him. "That felt... really weird."

"You get used to it," he assured her, understanding exactly what she meant. "I can't believe you can do it."

"Me either." She paused, laughing. "I like it."

There was only one way he could think to answer that, and that was to laugh and then kiss her. He pulled her close, his lips touching hers briefly. Then the monster alert went off.

A/N: The next chapter will be longer, I just couldn't wait any longer to write this scene. I hope you liked it anyway. Please review. :)