Chapter 6: Forgiveness

Karone was sitting outside playing with Trisha when a car pulled up. "Wonder who that could be," she commented. She picked Trisha up and had her sit on her hip and she saw her brother get out of the car.

"UNCLE ANDROS!" Trisha shouted.

Karone set her down and watched as her two-year-old ran over to her uncle. Andros smiled and picked Trisha up. "Hey kiddo, you've gotten so big," he commented. He tickled her stomach and kissed her cheek.

"Why are you here?" Karone asked.

Andros set Trisha down and she ran inside. Karone crossed her arms over her chest. "Came to insult me some more?" She asked.

"Karone I never meant…" he trailed off.

"You really hurt me, Andros. You know what happened."

Andros sighed and sat down. "You know that Leo and I never meant for what happened between us happen. It was an accident," she insisted. Andros sighed again. "I don't regret having Trisha and I don't regret marrying Leo," she pointed out. Karone pushed her hair out her face. "I love both Leo and Trisha more than anything, but I do regret hurting Zhane like I did," she added.

"Karone, I did something that I think I regret," he put in.

"You think?" Karone asked.

Andros rubbed the back of his neck. "I slept with Ashley," he replied. Karone stood up.

"Andros! Are you insane!" She gasped.

"It just happened, Karone."

"It just happened. I mean, you said you were ashamed of me when I said it just happened."

Andros sighed. "It doesn't matter, Karone, okay. It's over," he muttered. Karone sat next to him.

"What were you thinking?" She asked.

"I wasn't thinking okay."

Andros pushed his hair out of his face. "I just wanted her back and I still want her back, but I think it's time for me to see the truth. Ashley will never be mine again," he muttered. He let out a heavy sigh. "I love her…more than anything," he added. Karone wrapped her arms around her brother and pressed her forehead against the side of his head. "It's my fault I lost her this time, I had to be such a damn fool," he muttered. Karone shook her head.

"It's her fault, Andros. She knew how afraid you are of commitment," she pointed out.

Andros closed his eyes. "I lost the most important person in my life. Damn it Karone she keeps me alive," he told her. He got up and he pushed his hair out of his face. "And everyday when I wake up and she's not there, I feel like I should fall over and die. I have no reason to live without her," he confessed.

"That is not true and you know it," Karone told him.

"Then tell me why should I keep waking up in the morning?" He asked looking at her.

"I can give you two reasons."

"And what are those two reasons?"

Karone stood up. "Trisha and me," she replied. Andros rubbed the back of his neck. "Andros, even if Ashley isn't with you anymore, you still have people who love you. If something were to happen to you, I'd fall apart. You're the only family I have left," she explained. Andros sighed and he hugged her. "Don't you dare talk about leaving us forever," she told him. Andros again and hugged her tight. "I love you Andros and you remember that," she told him. He closed his eyes and he kissed his sister's cheek.

"I love you too," he answered.

Karone pulled back and placed her hand on his face. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like," she pointed out. Andros chuckled.

"I don't want to intrude," he answered.

"No way you're not going to play that on me."

She grabbed onto his hand. "You're staying with us," she added while dragging him inside. Andros laughed and followed her inside.

Leo was working on a few things when Andros and Karone came in. "Leo, Andros is going to stay with us for a few days," Karone informed.

"Before I could even object my sister was already dragging me inside," Andros told him.

"Fine with me," Leo answered.

Trisha smiled. "Uncle Andros is staying?" She asked. Karone smiled.

"Yes he is," she replied.

"YAY!" Trisha exclaimed.

Andros laughed and picked Trisha up.

That night, Andros was sitting on the porch swing in front of Karone and Leo's house. "Want a drink?" Leo asked as he came out.

"Nah, I'm good," Andros replied.

Leo sat down next to him. "See you've been taking good care of my sister," he commented. Leo sat back with a sigh.

"I promised you I would," Leo answered.

Andros was silent after that. "Andros, I know you're not happy with what happened between Karone and Zhane. I know you're not thrilled about what happened between Karone and me," Leo stated. Andros rubbed his forehead.

"Leo, I just thought you two knew better that's all," Andros answered.

"Come on Andros. We just say it was a celebration that went too far."

"No shit."

Andros stood up and he leaned against the railing of the porch. "Andros it was after Trakeena was defeated. We were all celebrating. I mean, Karone and I were celebrating with the others. Someone must've put something in the drinks because we had no idea what we were doing that night," Leo explained. Andros didn't answer. "I didn't force her to do anything," he added.

"You knew she was in a relationship," Andros answered.

"Damn it Andros, we didn't mean for it to happen!" Leo snapped.

"BUT IT DID HAPPEN!" Andros shouted.

Both former Red Rangers glared at each other. "I'm not just talking about how you and Karone betrayed my best friend. I'm talking about how after that night you guys told Zhane and me you didn't get to see what happened to Zhane! Damn it, he's like my brother and I was the only one there for him that night!" Andros snapped. Leo glared at him. Karone was listening to it all.

"What happened to Zhane, Andros?" She asked.

Andros looked at his sister. "After you two left. I swear I thought Zhane was going to kill himself. You didn't know what his intentions were that night, but after what you told us, Zhane just fell apart," he explained. Karone was afraid to ask, but she needed to now.

"What were his intentions?" She asked.

Andros reached into his pocket. "This," he replied. He threw the box at her and she caught it. Karone opened it and she froze. "You asked him before you left to find the Quasar Saber what he saw in your relationship. Look what it was right there," he answered. Karone looked at the ring inside of the box.

"W--Where is he now?" She asked.

"Would you believe me when I tell you that he's buried himself in his work?" He answered with another question.

Karone bit her lip. "I--I have to go," she muttered.

"Where are you going?" Leo asked.

"I need sometime to myself," she replied.

(KO-35)

Karone rubbed her forehead. "What am I doing here? What am I doing here? What am I doing here?" She asked herself over and over. She walked up to the woman at the desk.

"May I help you?" She asked.

"Yes…um…I…I need to speak with General Zhane," Karone replied.

"Do you have an appointment?"

"Don't give me that shit, I want to talk to Zhane and I want to talk to him now."

The woman let her in and Karone went into the office. "Zhane," she called. Zhane turned around in his chair.

"Karone? What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I came to talk to you," she replied.

Zhane sat back in his chair. "Okay," he answered. Karone placed the box on his desk. "I told Andros never to show you that," he muttered.

"So it's true?" She asked.

Zhane rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes," he replied. Zhane stood up and Karone backed up.

"Zhane I'm so…so sorry," she murmured.

Tears pressed against her eyes. "I never meant to betray you," she added.

"But you did. You slept with Leo while you were dating me," he muttered.

A tear fell down her face. "I'm so sorry, Zhane," she repeated. Zhane sighed and leaned against his desk.

"Do you love him?" He asked.

Karone crossed her arms over her chest. "Yes," she replied. Zhane sighed.

"Does he treat you well? Does he treat your daughter well?" He asked.

"Of course he does."

She pushed her hair out of her face. "Does he know you're here?" He asked. She let out a sigh.

"No…no he doesn't know I'm here," she replied.

Karone let out another sigh. "I--I didn't know that you took it so hard," she murmured. Zhane stared at her.

"How can you say that to me?" He asked.

"It was complicated, Zhane."

"You can explain it to me, Karone, I'm not stupid."

Karone sighed and she leaned against the wall. "Okay, I confess. I fell in love with Leo while I was on Terra Venture," she murmured. She pushed her hair out of her face. Zhane just stared at her.

"Damn it Karone, I loved you when you were Astronema. I helped Andros defend you," he answered.

Karone lowered her head. "I was going to do anything in my power to be with you. I still want to be with you but you love Leo and you have Trisha," he insisted.

"You wanted all that right away, I didn't," she answered.

"I wanted to marry you, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you!"

"I WASN'T READY FOR THAT!"

"NO SO YOU GO AND JUMP INTO BED WITH LEO CORBETT!"

Just then a loud smack could be heard in the office and Zhane's face jerked to one side. "Don't you ever say that to me. It just happened. You were my first love and I'll always remember that," she murmured. She grabbed onto his jacket. "You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me," She added. Karone realized how close they were and she went to pull back, but Zhane kissed her. Karone froze. "Oh God! This can't be happening!" She thought. She reached up and stroked his face after a minute, but then her wedding ring was weighing down on her hand and she pulled back. "NO!" She shouted.

"Sorry," he muttered.

Karone bit her lip. "I'm married, Zhane," she answered. Zhane nodded. "And I love Leo…" she trailed off. Zhane nodded his head slowly. She bit her lip and she pushed her hair out of her face. "I hope that one day you can forgive me," she murmured.

"One day," he answered.

Karone kissed his cheek and she turned and walked away.

(Miranoi)

Leo had put Trisha to bed and Andros was inside working on a few things when Karone walked back up to the house. "Get things straightened out with Zhane?" He asked. Karone looked up.

"How did you know?" She asked.

"I've known you well enough that when Andros mentioned how much Zhane was suffering. I knew you went running to him."

Karone sighed. "Everything okay between you two?" He asked. She sighed and she rubbed the back of her neck.

"In time," she replied.

Leo nodded and went to go inside when Karone grabbed his hand. "Come here," she murmured. She held onto his jean shirt and kissed him. Leo kissed her back and stroked her cheek. They pulled back and Leo pressed his forehead against hers. "I love you," she murmured. He entwined his fingers with hers.

"I love you," he answered.

Andros looked up from his work and watched as Karone and Leo went upstairs. "Night Andros," she told him.

"Night you two," Andros answered.

He grinned slightly and went back to work.