Disclaimer: Not mine. And the Goo Goo Dolls and their music isn't mine either. Not matter how much I want it to be.

A/N: Agh, I know, bad writer! I haven't updated in forever and I'm ashamed of myself. But here it is! And I hope it makes up for the past month without updates and I think a lot of you will be happy with it.

A/N: Calling all A/A fans! I repeat, calling all A/A fans! Read further, please.

Fire Dolphin: Glad you love it. To tell the truth, I don't know if I'm going to make it Tommy/Kim; it's all going to depend on the readers and what they want. So probably, yes, it will most likely end in T/K, but we can never be too sure. Here's the update!

Star Fata: Here's another chapter for you to enjoy.

Phantom Rogue: I know, he still loves her. Whoo! Now to get him to do something about it... Well, seeing as how I'm the writer... Teresa is annoying, isn't she? Yes, I'm getting rid of her. She reminds me too much of Kadri and Maura. Bleh! Hope you like this one, very A/A.

Ashley Hammond Astro Yellow: I honestly forgot what song that was. I think it's 'Iris' but I'm not so sure. It's just an indicator of how horrible I've been as a writer for not updating. Forgive me! Well, I'm trying to make up for it with this one. And I'm definitely sure you'll like this one. A/A moment, A/A moment! Enjoy it.

Have fun with the chapter, people!

Chapter 14:

It was taking all of Ashley's strength to hold back everything she wanted to do. She wanted to scream, to run, to cry, to jump into the biggest chasm possible. She had to get away but she couldn't bring herself to get up and get out. All she could do was sit in her seat in between her sisters and listen to the band sing the song Taylor obviously requested because she knew Ashley loved it. Unfortunately, it was also the song that made her want to break down for being so close to her heart. She held back her tears, straining her eyes while listening to the lines she couldn't escape from.

And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know you feel me somehow
You're the closest heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't wanna go home right now

Ashley felt a hand on her right wrist and turned to see Taylor's concerned gaze. She knew Kimberly was feeling the same sisterly worry. Ashley gave a half-hearted smile, unsure if she could do anything else. She turned her attention back to the band, hoping her mind would let her just hear the music instead of listen to the words. She found it near impossible.

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
And sooner or latter it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight

After the first chorus, Ashley felt some ease, albeit very diminutive. She looked down at her hands that she now placed on the table, believing for a moment that she could get through this. Yet whatever strength she had keeping her steady collapsed when she made the mistake of looking up. Once her eyes met Andros's, she knew she had to get away. As soon as she broke her gaze from his, she practically flew from her seat and out the club. She didn't stop when she heard her friends shoot up from their own seats and call her name in panic.

"Come on."

Kimberly grabbed Taylor's hand when they were out of P3, scanning the area for Ashley. She hoped her sensing power would work quickly, and thankfully she felt something pull her toward the park a block from the club. Ashley had unquestionably used her superspeed once she was out of the sight of everyone waiting in line to get into the club. Kimberly and Taylor jogged until they reached the side of the building and checked that no one was around before Kimberly orbed them both to the park.

They looked around as best as they could with the little light the moon provided. It didn't take them long before they found Ashley softly swaying back and forth in one of the swings.

Ashley knew they followed her; they were always there with her whether she needed them or not. She was just unsure if she wanted any company at the moment. Making no movement when she heard them running toward her and call out her name, she merely remained in the swing, letting whatever tears she let escape dry on her cheeks. A memory played like a clip from a film in her mind.

The Surf Spot was nearly empty with the exception of the former Astro Rangers and Karone, who had stayed behind to finish the celebration. It had been two weeks since Ashley and the rest of the team returned from their last stop at KO-35. The people of Angel Grove were still commemorating the group for their victory and everything the Power Rangers had done for the town during the last six years. The public believed the single group was the first group of teens who had been mysteriously saving the town for over half a decade, and the same group whose true identities were constantly investigated by Bulk and Skull. At first the rangers wanted to tell the truth and admit that they were only the current team in a line of tradition where each member was chosen, but that would only set the rest of the world into another investigation of who the original and past Power Rangers were. It was best to let them believe what they already did.

Two weeks and the celebrations were still going. One person who was one of the most amazed was Adelle Ferguson, who couldn't believe that the rangers were the same kids who occasionally visited her establishment and seemed to strangely disappear off the edge of the Earth afterward. She kept her head down to earth, though, and offered her restaurant/recreation center as a haven for the teens when the public became too much for them. This was one of those nights; the teens hadn't had any quiet time with just each other or their families and they thought two weeks was long enough. Adelle closed the Surf Spot so that the former Astro Rangers would have a place to hang out and enjoy their friends and family without the world hounding after them.

By midnight, all their families went home, tired from the day. T.J. and Carlos left when Adelle needed a ride home, telling the rest that they would see them tomorrow. The girls were cleaning the minor mess around the place while the Andros and Zhane were playing one last game of pool together. Ashley almost regretted teaching the game to them; they rarely visited the Surf Spot without heading the to billiards table now. They would have kept playing if Karone hadn't dragged them to help clean.

When they were finished Zhane was hungry again and decided to get some of Adelle's irresistible fries no one could refuse. Karone went to make sure he didn't burn himself with the stove or microwave and Cassie went to refill the drinks dispenser to help out Adelle for the next day. Ashley fell into the closest seat she could find and rested her head on her folded arms, closing her eyes for a moment's respite. She had barely gotten enough sleep the last two weeks and could only worry about the days to come. She, Cassie, T.J. and Carlos were allowed to graduate with the rest of their class, the principal excusing their absence for saving the world from absolute destruction. After that, they were all planning to attend Angel Grove University, the idea of staying close to home a comfort in their minds. However, Ashley discovered she got into the University of California at Los Angeles as well as the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising; now she had to figure out if she wanted to stay in Angel Grove or move to L.A. It wouldn't be an easy decision.

Ashley was shaken out of her thoughts when she felt someone's hands on her shoulders, making her jump up as if someone poured freezing water on her. She sat back down when she saw Andros's face behind her.

"Hey, don't worry, it's just me," he said, sorry for startling her. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't," she replied. "I'm just a little jittery, I guess."

"Why?" Andros took the seat across from her, watching her with patient eyes.

"I don't know," Ashley admitted. "Maybe just because after all this is over, I've got to get on with whatever the future has for me."

"You're not one to sit and take what life throws at you," Andros stated. "You choose what to take from life. I know you do. And besides, I'll be right there for you the whole time."

"Andros, you can't-"

"Ash," Andros cut her off. "Don't."

When he said those words, Ashley's mind shifted back to five days ago. There wasn't much alone time for personal talks for any of the rangers but Ashley had found some time with Andros. She ended up meeting him on accident one morning at the park near Angel Grove Lake when neither could sleep and found themselves wondering about their futures at five in the morning with almost no one else around.

Eventually, they stumbled on the subject of Andros being with Ashley the entire time after all this blew over. Ashley had been meaning to talk to him about it for days but couldn't find the time. A week and a half ago, she was just ecstatic that Andros was going with them back home to Earth. But now, after seeing how he reacted to the public wanting to speak with him, Karone and Zhane practically 24/7 and seeing how much effort he had to put in just to make life work in Angel Grove, she had to think about the choice he made. She finally realized this may have been too much for him. Moreover, she felt guilty at being one of the reasons he came to Earth with them. Ashley knew he said that all of them were his home but something inside her told her that he was staying mostly for her. She was suddenly a little angry at herself for basically taking him away from his home planet which was rebuilding itself after going through hell. Ultimately, she told herself that she had to convince him to go back. Their conversation over what the future had in store of them suddenly turned into a dispute over Andros staying on Earth instead of returning to KO-35.

"Are you saying you don't want me here," Andros asked, his voice slightly heated but mostly confused and hurt.

"Of course I want you here, but you have to go back," Ashley urged. "You need to go back."

"Why are telling me this, Ashley?"

"Because you're doing this for me, because I needed you to come with me since I felt so horrible about coming home without you, but you need to go home. Earth isn't your home."

"No, you're my home," Andros repeated, disappointed that he couldn't convince Ashley to believe it.

"You don't know me, Andros," Ashley said, letting her words spill without thinking. "I know I want you to stay, more than anything, but you need to go back. I could never forgive myself if something happened to you and you wanted to go back to KO-35 but you couldn't because you suddenly made a life for yourself here. I would never be able to-"

Her words and thoughts were cut off as she felt Andros's lips press onto hers with such intensity that she was unsure it was actually Andros. They had kissed only once when she thought she'd never see him again. It was a soft kiss but it stayed in her mind and she had been yearning to kiss him since then. However, she had figured that she would always be the one to give the kiss; after all that time together in space, she presumed that even though he was a good leader who could always take charge, he would forever be the shy one when it came to romance. The kiss certainly changed her mind about that.

When their lips parted, Ashley's eyes were still closed from the kiss, thinking the feeling of his mouth on hers would disappear as soon as she did. Yet when she heard Andros's next words, she had to look at his face.

"You don't know me, Ash," Andros said, his voice so soft, Ashley thought she almost missed his words. She almost let her eyes close again when she heard him call her 'Ash' once more; everyone had called her when they got to know her but there was something in the way Andros said it that made her remember the kiss they just shared. "If you really think," Andros continued, his voice still mellifluous to her ears, "that I would leave you to go back to KO-35 or that I even came back here for any reason besides what I told you before, there's a lot you have to learn about me. I need you to know who I am, Ash. I came here because you are my home and I'm going to stay because you're my home."

After that, Ashley put up no argument. Something told her she couldn't bring it up again now, but she was unsure if she could ever let the matter go. Right now, she didn't want to bring Andros down and decided to let things be for now. She knew Andros knew what she wanted to say but he wasn't going to say anything. They had to change the subject.

"You're tired," Andros asked suddenly.

"Yeah," Ashley answered. "I'm going to get a drink, you want one?"

"No, I'll get it," Andros offered, putting his hand on her shoulder before she got up. "I'll be right back."

"Thanks," she said, finding her head resting once again on her arms. She didn't see Andros talk to Cassie briefly before getting their drinks nor did she do anything but close her eyes until she heard the cups softly touch the table.

"Thanks," she repeated with a gentle smile, taking a sip from the straw. She noticed Andros stir his soda with his straw, looking into the cup as if he was staring off into space. "Hey, you all right?" she asked, placing her hand on his arm that rested on the table.

Andros looked up and paused for a quick second before smiling at her. "Perfectly fine." His eyes flashed to the table again like he needed a moment to think before getting out of his seat and offering his hand to Ashley. "Want to dance?"

"What," Ashley responded, trying to keep the surprise from her voice. "Why-"

She was cut off once again when Andros simply said, "Just dance with me." Ashley didn't even bother resisting.

The only thing Ashley could feel on the empty floor was that life was perfect at this point in time. Everyone said she had one of the perfect lives with her well-off family and the best friends anyone could ask for. True, she had that and a real family with real friends, but nothing was more perfect that Andros leading her in a dance, even without the music. She knew he was trying, his steps stumbling every now and then and it only made her smile. She almost jumped when she heard music play over the speakers.

"What the-" she started involuntarily. When she turned her head to the side, she saw Cassie and Karone staring her and Andros, beaming with smiles. Zhane was by Karone, munching on his fries while grinning at his best friend. Ashley chose to ignore that little fact when she looked back at Andros, deciding that his smile was the best thing she would ever see for the rest of her life. She continued to sway with him to the music, hearing the lyrics of the Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris". She'd remember the song forever now, partially because it was the first time they truly danced together but mostly because of what he said to her.

As she took in the last line of the chorus, she stared at Andros as he finally spoke. "I'm always going to be with you, Ash. You're always going to be my home and I'm always going to stay."

Ashley couldn't stop herself from asking why, hoping what she'd hear would be what she needed to finally believe everything.

Andros's smile grew the smallest bit wider, hoping this moment would last forever in his mind. "Because I'm falling for you. I'm falling fast and I don't want to stop. Ever."

She'd remember that forever.

Ashley wondered if she would ever have another moment like that with Andros again. That memory was only second to the first time he said he loved her, beating her by just one second from saying it to him. She'd remember them forever but she wanted to live them over more than anything. She continued to sway in the swing, wondering what would happen next.

Kimberly bent down slowly beside her sister and laid her hand on Ashley's shoulder. "Hey, Ash," she said gently. "You okay?"

Ashley simply nodded, unable to say anything right now. She felt Taylor bend down, placing her hand on Ashley's arm.

"I'm sorry, Ash," Taylor said. "It was stupid of me to forget."

"It's not your fault, Tay," Ashley returned, knowing it was no one's fault for what was happening. A part of her blamed herself, another blamed whatever destiny there was out there she had to fulfill, and another part just told her that this was no one's fault, even hers. "You made a sweet gesture; I just won't let myself take it."

"I still shouldn't have forgotten," Taylor countered.

"Don't blame yourself," Ashley urged, finally turning her head to look at her sister. "If you do, then how the hell am I going to get through this?"

Taylor pulled Ashley into a hug, Kimberly joining in a second later. Words were completely useless at the moment but she wasn't going to stand by and not comfort her sister. None of them said anything for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts until Ashley spoke, her voice close to a whisper.

"You guys were talking about me when I was gone, weren't you?" She wasn't accusing them; she was merely asking.

"How'd you know," Kimberly asked absentmindedly. Ashley turned to her sister with a look in her eyes that made Kimberly think twice. "Right. We were that obvious, huh?"

Ashley nodded before asking what exactly were they talking about.

"You and Andros," Taylor admitted after exchanging glances with Kimberly. "Sort of."

"Sort of?"

"I asked Andros if he was okay," Kimberly explained. "One question led to another and we ended up on… that."

"Hmm," Ashley responded softly, looking in front of her at nothing in particular.

"We told him about the empathy thing," Taylor added. "Then after a while, we were stuck on why he was scared. After that, I felt like he should know why you were scared, just to know the truth. I think it made him think a lot about you two, but I'm sorry if you didn't want us to say anything."

There was nothing but the sound of night after that. Ashley deliberated on her feelings about what Taylor just said. She thought a part of her was the tiniest bit angry at Kimberly and Taylor for telling Andros what they did, but she knew she actually wasn't. She felt a little disappointed in herself for not being the one who talked to him. It had to happen sooner or later and Ashley knew she probably wouldn't be able to talk to him about it herself; maybe it was better that he heard it from them. But she definitely wasn't angry.

"Don't worry," she told her sisters. "I'm not mad if that's what you're wondering. I'm just confused."

"Who wouldn't be," Kimberly said, letting Ashley's head rest on her shoulder. "I just don't know how you're being so strong about this."

"I'm not strong," Ashley argued. "If I was, I'd be over this and I would've told Andros myself."

"You're just not ready," Taylor offered, not wanting Ashley to blame herself for anything. "To tell you the truth, I don't think Andros is either. This isn't something you guys can fix with one talk in one night. It's going to take a lot. But I know you two will get there eventually."

"You two just have to stop telling yourselves that you don't still care for each other and that you both need just a little more time," Kimberly put in.

"It's been over three years, I think my time is running out," Ashley said, the smallest of laughter in her voice. "And I never said I didn't care about him."

"Come to think of it," Taylor thought aloud, "he never said that either."

Ashley let out a sigh before speaking again. "I'm just not ready now." She was starting to dislike being associated with the phrase but she had no other way to describe what she was feeling.

"We're not rushing you," Taylor said.

"And Andros would never ask you to do so, either," Kimberly assured. "Just remember that we love you," she reminded.

"Of course I do," Ashley replied, let a small smile come from her lips. "How on earth am I supposed to forget that?"

After one more embrace, they walked back to P3 together, none in a rush to get back. They needed the walk.

By the time the three returned, most of the guys had returned from the gameroom; only Zack, Carlos, Danny, Max and Merrick remained in the room. The rest were sitting at the collection of tables along with their friends. The band was taking a break for ten minutes and everyone in the club was waiting for them to return onstage.

Ashley's thoughts were almost clear, or at least became more lucid, from the slow fifteen-minute walk she took with her sisters. Nothing was solved but she found control over her emotions and couldn't wait to get back to P3 and enjoy what she could of the rest of the night.

"Are you going to be okay," Taylor checked when they got to the bottom of the stairs and looked on toward their old teammates.

"I'm good," Ashley checked. "But I'm going to get something to drink first; I'm thirsty from the walk."

"All right, see you in a few," Kimberly said before walking back with Taylor. "So, the little brat boys are back," she commented when she got to the table.

"What's that supposed to mean," Jason asked, offense written over his face.

"I thought it'd be funny?" Kimberly offered. "I'm just kidding, Jase, you know I love you like my brother; what else am I supposed to call you?"

"My name?"

She took a moment to pretend to ponder over his words. "Nah."

"Whatever," Jason gave up.

"We started feeling a little guilty and didn't want another interrogation from you girls," Tommy admitted. "Seriously, you guys can be scary when you get into investigator-mode."

"Nice to know," Aisha replied to her old team leader.

Taking the closest empty seat, Kimberly asked if everyone was enjoying their night, attaining only pleasant responses. "I hope everyone's doing okay." She glanced around the tables when she said that, her gaze lasting only a second longer on Andros, giving him a small smile for comfort.

Conversations spurred up quickly enough but T.J.'s voice captured almost everybody's attention when he made a quick observation.

"Hey, it looks like Ashley's in the middle of something big. Did something go wrong?"

The group directed their attention to where T.J. was looking, finding Ashley trying to mediate between two young ladies in an apparently heated conversation.

"I'm going to see what's up," Taylor said as she got out of her seat. "It's probably nothing. They might just be disputing over which girl gets to take Ashley's dance class; she's pretty popular among the students."

"I hope everything's all right," Katherine uttered.

"So what do you guys want to do tomorrow?" Zack brought up.

After some rather ridiculous and unnecessary disputes, they decided on a picnic at a park a bit far off from the houses along with football and volleyball. Kimberly had to put a little downer on the whole idea.

"You guys go have fun at the park. Taylor, Ashley and I are going to search around in the attic at the manor to see if there's anything to help… our situation." Suddenly, everyone wanted to stay back and help the three in their search, eager to find a solution to their problems that began days ago. "No, you guys really shouldn't get too involved in it. We'll call for you guys if we find anything urgent."

"Fine, but only if you promise to come to the park for the picnic while there's still a lot of sun out," Katherine posted an ultimatum, one that everyone agreed on.

"Okay, whatever you say," Kimberly acquiesced. "We'll come by around four or five."

"Three o'clock," Aisha declared. "No later than that."

"All right, three o'clock."

"Um, is everything all right over there," Cole mentioned, pointing over to where Taylor and Ashley were. "I don't think nice conversations look like that."

Everyone turned their heads in the same direction again, this time to find two other females around Ashley and Taylor's age noticeably arguing with the sisters. The two younger girls who were bickering before stood aside and watched with anxious eyes.

"Oh, shit," Kimberly said suddenly. Several of the group asked what was wrong and who the other girls were, but she just got up and excused herself quickly, leaving the group with more questions than answers.

"Anyone knows what's going on," Tommy asked the group, everyone shaking their heads in response.

"Can somebody explain to me why Ashley and Kimberly are holding Taylor's arms down," Max brought up, the situation swiftly becoming more engaging.

"She looks pretty angry," Danny observed.

"Try pissed off," Zhane put in. "Actually, all of them do."

It took only a few seconds before some of them realized what could possibly happen. "Uh-oh," Wes let out.

"What?" half the group asked.

"Oh my god, she's going to punch the girl," Tanya said without a second thought. Immediately, Taylor's team and some of the guys voiced their disbelief at the possibility.

"No way would she do that."

"She's not that mean."

"Slap her, maybe," Alyssa said, "but she won't punch."

"She'll do it," Eric stated with a firm tone.

"No, she won't."

"Come on, you can't believe that."

"She's going to do it," Wes and Eric declared concurrently, causing more words of debate to pass in the group. They turned their heads to the girl in question when they heard a popping sound from the same direction. The girl Taylor was arguing with was practically on the ground.

Voila! Cute sister and A/A moment and a laugh at the end. I think. Hope this one ties you guys over until the next update. Be nice and review. Please. :)