Chapter 17: Broken

Ashley came downstairs and Andros looked up. "You should be resting," he commented. Ashley gave him a small glare.

"Why should I be resting?" She asked bitterly.

"I mean with…"

"Andros, I don't need to rest. I'm fine."

She brushed past him with anger showing on her face. "Didn't I ask you to take the cradle out yesterday?" She asked. Andros set his coffee cup down.

"I didn't think I should until…" he trailed off.

"Until what?" she asked.

Andros let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine, I'll take the damn cradle out," he muttered. He stormed upstairs and he threw the door open. The door crashed into the opposite wall.

"Mommy, why is daddy so mad?" Jamie asked.

Ashley sighed. "Hayden, why don't you take your sister outside to play?" She asked. Hayden nodded and the twins ran outside to play. "Andros…" she started. She winced when Andros tripped over some over the twins' toys.

"Damn it," he cursed.

Ashley came up the stairs. "You okay?" She asked. Andros yanked his arm from her grasp.

"I'm fine," he muttered.

Andros stood up and he limped slightly to the bedroom. Ashley picked up the toys and she tossed them into the twins' room. Andros practically tossed the cradle up against the side of the bed. "Andros…" she started again.

"What? Come to rip my head off some more?" He asked angrily.

"I'm sorry about that."

"I just want to help, Ash."

"You can help by setting up for the baby."

Andros rubbed his forehead. "About that Ash…" he started.

"What?" She asked.

"Maybe we should wait until after the doctor's appointment," he replied.

"Nonsense, the baby's fine."

"But what if…"

"Andros! The baby's fine!"

Ashley glared at him. "Ashley! Open up your eyes! Something could be wrong," he answered.

"I'm not listening to this," she hissed.

Andros grabbed her arms. "You have to!" He insisted.

"NO I DON'T!" She shouted.

"Our baby could be sick!"

"OUR BABY'S NOT SICK!"

"IT COULD BE! I WANT YOU TO BE PREPARED!"

Ashley let one of her arms go and she smacked him. "STOP SAYING THAT!" She screamed. She walked over and she grabbed her bag. Andros held his face while watching her.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"I'm leaving," she replied.

"Ashley…"

"Don't Andros, you obviously don't care! You're being selfish!"

"I'm not…"

"You are! You don't care about this baby! You're saying it's dead already!"

"I'm not…"
"Yes you are! I'm taking the twins and I'm going to stay with my dad."

Andros went to grab her arm. "Don't touch me!" She hissed.

"ASHLEY!" He shouted.

Ashley had the twins packed and she left.

(Two Days Later)

Andros sat in the chair, the lights were out and the shades were closed. Cassie came in. "Wow…" she trailed off.

"What do you want Cassie?" He asked.

"I came by for some of the twins' stuff. They're whining that they're bored."

Andros rubbed his forehead. "Upstairs," he muttered. Cassie went to go upstairs.

"Ashley also wants to know why you're being so selfish," she added.

Andros stood up. "I'm not meaning to sound selfish. But, what if we go to this doctor and he said that this baby wouldn't be able to live? I think Ashley would find it really hard to come home to finding the cradle by our bed," he explained. Cassie listened to him in disbelief. "I don't know about you, but I know that would just tear Ashley apart," he added.

"Andros…" she trailed off.

"Just get what the twins need and leave. Tell Ashley I'll see her Wednesday."

Cassie nodded and after grabbing what the twins needed, she left.

(Wednesday)

Andros sat in the doctor's office and he looked over at Ashley. "Ashley, whatever the doctor says, I want to talk about it okay?" He asked. He reached over to hold her hand, but she pulled her hand from his grasp. The doctor came in.

"Good morning, how are we doing today?" The doctor asked.

"Could be better," Ashley replied.

"Well, it will be better. According to this test, the other test we took was contaminated. Your baby's just fine."

"Really?"

The doctor nodded and Andros pushed his hair out of his face. "Hallelujah," he murmured. The doctor got up and headed towards the door.

"I'll leave you two have some time alone," he commented.

Before he closed the door, he looked at them. "Oh and by the way, it's a girl," he informed. Then he closed the door. Ashley felt tears press against her eyes.

"A girl…" she trailed off.

Andros smiled and hugged her. "Thank God," he murmured. Ashley hugged him tight with tears falling down her face.

"I'm sorry for thinking you were such a jerk," she told him.

"I'm sorry too."

Andros pressed his forehead against hers. "We have nothing to worry about anymore," he added. She nodded her head with a smile and he kissed her deeply. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.