Chapter 3: Can't be Happening

Ashley came downstairs when the smell of her mother's breakfast suddenly made her stomach spin. "Morning Ashley sweetheart," Caroline greeted. Ashley held her stomach and pushed the nausea back.

"Morning, mom," Ashley answered.

Her stomach tightened up when she saw the pancakes, bacon, and eggs. "Ashley, are you okay honey?" Caroline asked.

"I'm fine, I'm just not feeling so well," Ashley replied.

Caroline touched Ashley's forehead. "You're a bit warm," she commented. Ashley sat down. "Maybe you should try eating something," she suggested.

"I just want dry toast," Ashley answered.

She took some toast and she carefully ate, but then she suddenly felt ill all over again. "Oh God!" She gasped. She got up from the table and ran into the nearest bathroom.

"Maybe I should…" Caroline cut Greg off.

"I'll check on her."

Caroline walked over to the bathroom. "Ashley, sweetheart, are you okay?" She asked. She opened the door slightly to find Ashley laying on the floor. "Did you eat something weird last night?" Caroline asked. She kneeled beside Ashley and stroked her hair.

"I feel awful, mom, I feel just plain awful," Ashley replied.

Caroline sighed. "Did this just start?" She asked. Ashley shook her head slightly.

"No, a few days ago. Constantly in the morning," Ashley replied.

Caroline stalled. "Only in the mornings?" She asked. Ashley nodded.

"Uh huh," Ashley replied.

Caroline then suddenly felt sick too. "Mom?" Ashley asked. Caroline stood up.

"Ashley, have you been having sex?" She asked.

Ashley sat up and looked at her mother. "Excuse me?" She asked.

"Don't lie to me, have you been having sex?" She asked.

"Okay, I've had sex once. What the heck does my sex life have to do this."

"How long ago did you have sex?"

"Mom!"

"Answer me Ashley LeAnn."

"Um…two months ago…"

Her mother's eyes widened in shock. "Stay right here," she instructed. She got up and she left the room.

Fifteen minutes later, Caroline came back with a box. "Take this," she instructed. Ashley took the box and a shocked look was on her face.

"A--A pregnancy test?" She asked.

"Take it."

Ashley nodded and she looked at her mother. "A little privacy please," Ashley told her. Caroline got up and left the bathroom. Ashley felt tears press against her eyes as she took the test and waited for the results. "Fate please don't be this cruel," she whispered.

(Four Minutes Later)

Ashley felt a lump rise in her throat as she picked the test up. "Ashley, what does it say?" Caroline asked. Ashley's hands were shaking.

"Two pink lines…" she whispered.

"What?" Caroline asked.

"Two pink lines."

"Does that mean positive or negative sweetheart?"

Ashley lifted the box up. "P--Positive," Ashley replied. Ashley jumped and shrieked when she heard something break outside the door.

"ASHLEY LEANN!" Greg shouted.

Ashley locked the door and sat on the bathtub. "Greg, Greg calm down. Getting mad won't make it go away," Caroline insisted. Greg pounded on the door.

"Get out here now," Greg ordered.

"Ashley stay in there," Caroline put in.

Ashley was shaking and she looked over at the bathroom window. She opened it and kicked out the screen like she had done many times before since she was seven. She climbed down the tree and she ran down the street.

(Cassie's House)

Cassie was studying when she heard pounding on her door. "Who is it?" Cassie asked. She got up and walked over to the door.

"It's me, Ashley," Ashley replied.

Cassie opened the door and saw the tears on Ashley's face. "Ashley, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Can I come in?" Ashley asked.

"Yeah of course."

Cassie let her in. Ashley started pacing. "I have no idea what to do, Cassie. My parents are fighting again," Ashley informed.

"What are they fighting about?" Cassie asked.

"Me."

"You?"

Ashley sat down and she placed a hand on her stomach. "I'm pregnant," she replied. Cassie's eyes widened in shock.

"Pregnant?" Cassie asked.

"Did I stutter? Yes, pregnant."

"Andros?"

"No, Zhane, of course Andros."

Cassie sighed and she sat down across from her. "What are you going to do?" Cassie asked. Ashley swallowed the lump in her throat.

"I want this baby. It's all I have left of Andros," Ashley replied.

"But?"

"But I know my parents will make me give it up."

Cassie sat next to her and Ashley placed her head on her shoulder. "I want this baby, more than I have ever wanted anything in my whole life," Ashley added.

"Tell them that," Cassie advised.

Ashley nodded her head slowly before getting up and heading back home.

(Ashley's House)

Ashley snuck back into the bathroom and she unlocked the bathroom door and came out. She saw her parents sitting on the couch. "Sit down, Ashley," Greg instructed. Ashley sat down and her parents stared at her.

"How could you do this to us?" Caroline blurted.

"You? This is my life," Ashley insisted.

"We gave you life," Greg put in.
"Andros and I created life," Ashley answered.

"Andros?" Greg asked.

"Yes, Andros," Ashley replied.

Greg stood up. "That baby inside you is half-alien?" He asked. Ashley stood up.

"Don't call him an alien dad," she insisted.

"Well he's not from Earth so he's an alien."

"He's the father of my baby."

Ashley placed a hand on her stomach. "And I want the baby. I'm keeping it," she told them.

"To hell you are," Greg snapped.

"I am having this baby and I'm keeping it."

Greg walked over and grabbed her arm. "You are not keeping it," he snapped. Ashley took his hand and threw him over her shoulder like Andros taught her.

"Ashley!" Caroline gasped.

Ashley was in a guarding stance. Greg stood up from the floor and went to smack her when Ashley blocked it. "Don't you touch me. This is my baby, this is my choice. I want to keep it," she snapped.

"As long as you live under my household, you're not keeping it," Greg answered.

"But I want to keep it. I will keep it and you can't stop me."

She then ran upstairs. "ASHLEY LEANN HAMMOND!" Greg shouted.

Ashley slammed the door closed and she fell on her bed. She buried her head into her pillow and cried.

Later that night, Caroline came in and sat on the edge of her bed. She stroked Ashley's hair. Ashley had relaxed and she was able to fall asleep again while her mother kept humming the tune from her favorite song to her. "I'm sorry, sweetie, we just want what's best for you," she whispered. She kissed the side of Ashley's head and left her alone to sleep.