Chapter 13: Bump in the Road

Ashley sighed as she pushed her hair out of her face after she finally got the twins dressed. "Having problems?" Karone asked. Ashley smiled at Karone and stood up.

"No, I've got it," she replied.

Hayden gurgled and was kicking his feet. Ashley laughed as she looked at her giggling son. Jamie was giggling as her brother giggled. "Those are one of the cutest sights you'll see," Karone commented. Karone held onto Jamie's hand. Jamie made her usual baby noises. Ashley smiled as she picked Hayden up and she kissed his cheek. "Think you'll ever have anymore?" Karone asked. Ashley couldn't help but laugh.

"No, not again, not for a long time," she replied.

Karone smiled and she held Jamie. "So how are Trisha and Nathan?" She asked.

"They're doing very well. Trisha's practically attached to her father's leg though," she replied.

"I don't think Leo's complaining," Ashley pointed out.

Karone laughed and Jamie shrieked with laughter. "What are you laughing at?" Ashley cooed. Jamie buried her head into Karone's neck. "Jamie," Ashley called. Karone smiled. Hayden pulled at her shirt and Ashley sighed. "Hungry again?" She asked. Hayden made a little whimper and pulled at her shirt again. Ashley sat down in the rocking chair and undid her blouse.

"I know the feeling. Nathan seems to latch onto me every fifteen minutes," Karone commented.

Ashley laughed. "Well, you get to feed one, I have to feed two," she answered. Karone looked down at Jamie to find her asleep. "So Leo's a good dad?" Ashley asked. Karone sat down on the bed.

"The best," she replied.

"Good."

Karone sighed and she held onto Jamie's hand. "He called me last week," she informed. Ashley looked up at her.

"Who?" She asked.

Karone looked at Ashley. "No…" she trailed off. Karone nodded her head slowly. "What did he say?" She asked. Karone sighed as she sat cross legged on the bed and placed Jamie in her lap.

"We had no idea what to say to each other," Karone replied.

Karone wiped a tear from her face. Ashley did her blouse out and she set the twins into their cradle. She sat next to Karone. "I never meant to hurt him…" she trailed off. Karone lowered her head and her shoulders shook. "I never meant to hurt him," she repeated. Ashley wrapped her arms around her in a sisterly embrace. Karone placed her head on Ashley's shoulder and she let out a sob. "I didn't mean to," she sobbed. Ashley sighed as she stroked her hair and closed her eyes.

Later that afternoon, Andros came in and found Karone asleep with Ashley sitting up against the headboard. "Ash…" he started. Ashley gestured for him to be quiet. She got up from bed and she left Karone and the twins alone to sleep.

Andros grabbed her hand when they were downstairs. "What's going on?" He asked. Ashley stared at him.

"Zhane called Karone last week. She's pretty torn up about it," she replied.

Andros stared at her. "Oh come on, Andros! You're not still mad are you?" She asked. Andros stayed silent. "Andros!" She hissed.

"Ashley, Zhane's my best friend," he stated.

"Karone's your sister!"

Andros pushed his hair out of his face. "You can't be mad at her forever! She's with Leo now, she's in love with Leo. She loves the two kids she had with Leo. Damn it, Andros. Why don't you just let go of your stupid pride and go up there and reconcile with your sister?" she asked. Andros didn't say anything. "SAY SOMETHING!" She shouted.

"Why should I defend her?" He asked.

Ashley pushed her hair out of her face and she turned her back to him. "Damn you, Andros!" She hissed. Ashley tried keeping her tears back, but it was becoming hard. She turned and looked at him. Before Andros could react, she smacked him. "DAMN YOU AND YOUR STUPID PRIDE!" She shouted. Ashley pushed him. "YOU PRACTICALLY DID THE SAME THING SHE DID AND YOU'RE CONDEMING HER!" She shouted as she pushed him again.

"I didn't cheat on anyone," he told her.

"No but I did. I was supposed to marry Mark and I gave him up for you! Karone gave Zhane up for Leo! Damn it, Andros! Why do you have to be so STUPID!" She shouted.

She ran past him and went upstairs. "Where are you going?" He asked.

"I'm leaving," she replied.

"No you're not!"

Andros ran up the stairs and grabbed her. "LET GO!" She shouted.

"Listen to me!" He snapped.

"NO!" She shouted.

She pushed him back. "How can you do this to her? If you're ashamed of her for cheating on Zhane. Does that mean you're ashamed of me too for cheating on Mark?" She asked. Andros shook his head.

"No, no…" he replied.

He held onto her hands. "You're ashamed that she got pregnant with Leo's baby while she was still with Zhane. Are you ashamed that I was pregnant with the twins while I was still with Mark?" She asked. Ashley felt tears press against her eyes. "Are you ashamed of me and the babies like you are of Karone and Trisha?" She asked.

"No, I'm not," he replied.

"Then why can't you reconcile with your sister? Why can't you just stop pretending like she doesn't exist and just be with her again?" She asked.

Andros shook his head slightly. He sat down on the floor and let out a sigh. "I don't know…" he replied. Ashley kneeled in front of him. "I just…I don't know…I have to choose between my best friend and my sister," he answered. Ashley placed a hand on his face. "This has been going on for two years, Ashley. I've been stuck in the middle for two years! I've been pulled back and forth for two years," he told her.

"You took Zhane's side," she pointed out.

"I don't want to be on anyone's side."

"Then talk to Karone. She's torn apart too. She's torn apart because she knows that you're ashamed of her and that you've been pretending."

Andros looked up and saw Karone standing there. "Karone…" he trailed off. He stood up.

"I should go," she murmured.

"Karone," Andros called.

Andros followed Karone down the stairs and he grabbed her arm. "Karone wait," he insisted.

"Why?" She asked.

Before Karone could react, Andros hugged her tight. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he murmured. Karone hugged him back and Andros sighed with the tears wanting to fall. "I'm so sorry, Karone," he repeated.

"I'm sorry too," she answered.

Ashley smiled as she walked over to them. Andros smiled as he took Ashley into his free arm and hugged her too.