Chapter 5: What Happened

Andros entered a dress shop and he walked over to the clerk. "Yes may I help you?" The woman asked.

"Um…yeah…I'm looking for Ashley Hammond," he replied.

"She's right over there getting her dress fitted."

"Thank you."

Andros walked to the back and he suddenly froze when he saw Ashley. "A--Ashley…" he trailed off. Ashley looked over her shoulder.

"Andros? What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I…um…came to…um…" he trailed off.

While he was standing there, he suddenly had the need of a cold shower. "Can you excuse us for a minute?" Ashley asked the girls who were working on her dress. Andros felt his heart rate go up.

"Don't send them away," he thought.

Ashley got down from her stool and she crossed her arms over her chest. "What do you want?" She asked. Andros cleared his throat.

"I--I needed a question answered," he replied.

"I'm listening."

Andros shook his head slightly. "Damn it Andros focus," he scolded himself. He cleared his throat. "What happened to us?" He asked. Ashley leaned against the wall.

"We grew up," she replied.

Andros sighed. "We weren't ready for commitment yet," she added. Andros sat down.

"Yeah, right," he muttered.

"Okay, I was ready, but you weren't," she corrected.

Andros was silent. "You became distant when I mentioned the idea," she added.

"I never meant…" he trailed off.

"But you did."

Andros sighed and stood up. "I mean, I just thought…" he trailed off. Ashley forced her tears back.

"You thought what?" She asked.

"I was scared."

"A lot of good that does us now."

Ashley let out a sigh. "How could…" she trailed off. She wrapped her arms around herself. "I thought…" she trailed off again. Andros dared to take another step closer to her. He held onto her hands and let out a sigh.

"Remember what you asked a week before we broke up?" He asked.

Ashley looked at him with a quizzical look.

(Flashback)

Andros and Ashley were lying on a hill watching the stars forming in the sky. She had her head on his chest and let out a sigh. "Nice night," she commented.

"Yeah," he agreed.

Andros kissed the top of her hand. "Andros…" she murmured.

"Yeah," he answered.

"In your future, what do you see?" She asked.

Andros was silent. "What do you see?" He asked.

"No fair I asked first," she whined.

"If you answer then I'll answer."

Ashley sat up on her arm and looked at him. "I see you," she answered. Andros smiled and kissed her.

(End Flashback)

Ashley lowered her head slightly. "You never did answer me," she pointed out. Andros lifted her chin up and their faces were only mere inches apart.

"I saw you," he confessed.

Ashley felt tears press against her eyes but then Andros kissed her. Ashley placed her hand on his face and kissed him back. Ashley relaxed against him, it felt so right. However, reality kicked her hard in the rear when his arm went around her waist. She pushed him back. "No, no," she objected. She shook her head. "That did not just happen. I love Mark," she insisted.

"It won't happen again," he answered.

"It can't."

Andros pushed his hair out of his face. "It won't," he assured her. Ashley then went into her dressing room and Andros left.

(Two Days Later)

Ashley sighed as she sat down looking at her wedding plans. She looked up when there was a knock on the door. She got up and answered the door. She jumped when she saw Andros there. Before they could say anything, Andros placed his hands on the sides of her neck and kissed her deeply. Ashley was stunned for a minute before she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back. Andros picked her up and carried her to her room, his leather jacket laying on the living room floor along with his motorcycle helmet and her buttoned up sweater.

(Next Morning)

Ashley woke up and she suddenly remembered the night before. "Oh God!" She gasped. She got out of bed and she started pulling her clothes on. Andros woke up to find her dressed and she was throwing his clothes at him. "You have to get out," she told him.

"What?" He asked.

"Get out," she replied.

Andros pulled on his clothes and he gave her a quizzical look. "Andros, you can't say anything to anyone. This can never happen again," she insisted.

"Ashley…" he started.

"Last night was a mistake."

Andros stood there. "Do you love this guy?" He asked. Ashley looked at him.

"What kind of a question is that?" She asked.

"A serious one."

Ashley just stared at him. "I was wearing the wedding dress I'm going to wear when I marry him and I'm still wearing his engagement ring. Yes, I do love him," she answered. Andros sighed and pushed his hair out of his face.

"Okay then," he muttered.

He walked over and he pulled his hair in a half-ponytail. "Andros…" she trailed off.

"I know what this was, Ashley. Just an urge to sleep with your ex-boyfriend. Well, you got rid of that urge. You'll never have to see me again," he assured her.

Ashley bit her lip and she watched as he grabbed his leather jacket off the floor and pulled it on. "Have a nice life," he muttered.

"Andros," Ashley called.

Andros slammed the door closed behind him. Ashley sat down on the bed and she let out a sob.

Andros got onto his motorcycle, glanced back at the apartment complex for a second, and then he drove off.

(NASADA)

Andros got off his motorcycle and he pulled his helmet off. "Anything we can do for you, General?" A soldier asked.

"Just keep my bike from getting stolen," he replied.

Andros walked onto the ship. "DECA, set a course for Miranoi," he instructed.

"Acknowledged," DECA answered.

Andros then flew away from Earth and didn't look back.