Disclaimer: As much as I would like for it to be, Power Rangers is not my creation.

Slytherin-Angel44: Yeah, it's going to be a roller coaster. Some good, some bad, but I hope you like it.

Ch. 19 Showing Love

Two years had passed since Andros' little drug problem and the team was now stronger than ever. He had followed the doctors' orders when he had been released from the hospital, he even went to his weekly visits with Dr. B. It wasn't long before the rangers saw the real Andros coming back. He was back to having fun with them, playing with Kilee and creating mischief with Zhane. He and Akako had also become more serious. A few months after she had turned eighteen he had asked her to marry him. Being fifteen she had thought it was a joke but when Andros had pulled a ring from his pocket she couldn't help but say yes. They had agreed to wait until he had turned at least sixteen before having the wedding seeing as though on KO-35 sixteen was when you became an adult.

At the moment the two lovebirds were sitting on the Observatory, watching the stars pass overhead, although neither of them was paying much attention to the stars. Andros would sneak glances at her every now and then but as soon as she looked at him he would turn his gaze back to the stars.

"Andros?" she questioned, taking his hand in hers. When he finally looked at her she grinned and stated, "I'm tired of looking at these boring, old stars."

"But they're not boring," he argued but was silenced when she pressed her lips to his. "Or maybe they are." He closed his eyes as she kissed him again and his mind shut down completely. It wasn't long before they were to the point of losing clothes and he groaned as she pulled away from him.

"You know," she began, tugging him to his feet, "it might be better if we went somewhere a little more private." Andros allowed himself to be led to Akako's room and forced onto her bed.

"Are you sure about this?" he found himself asking. As she nodded his anxiety grew, he wasn't sure he was ready for this but with the way she was kissing him he wasn't sure he would be able to put up much of a fight. He pushed her away just as her hands found there way under his shirt. "I can't do this." He didn't wait for her response, he just ran from the room and teleported to an abandoned tree house that he and his brothers had played in when they were younger. It wasn't long before Zhane showed up to see what was going on.

"Akako's worried about you," Zhane stated as he sat down beside him. "She wouldn't tell us what was going on. Why'd you run?"

"I'm not ready to…" Andros couldn't find the words but Zhane understood. Zhane had thought that Akako wouldn't push Andros until he was ready but maybe he was wrong. "She wanted to but I couldn't and I just ran. I couldn't explain it to her."

"I think she already understands, Andros," his best friend replied. "But it wouldn't hurt for you to talk to her. She'll wait until you're ready." They sat in silence for several minutes before Andros began to relax. "Now, let's get back to the ship. This place creeps me out at night." Andros only nodded in agreement and the two made their way back to the Megaship.

Later that night, Andros finally got up the nerve to go and talk to Akako. He had sat in room for several hours rehearsing what he was going to say and finally though he had the right words to explain himself. He had asked DECA if Akako was asleep and was pleased to find that she wasn't. He knocked softly on the door and was surprised when the door automatically slid open.

"It's about time," Akako stated. "I was starting to think I really scared you off."

"I'm not ready to take that step, Akako," Andros stuttered quickly, completely forgetting what he had planned on saying. "I thought I was, but I'm just not."

"I kind of figured that one out when you ran," she replied with a smile. "It's fine, Andros. I'll wait until you're ready." Andros let out a relieved sigh and pulled Akako into his arms.

"Can I stay in here tonight?" he questioned softly. Akako nodded, seeing as though Rylan was spending the night with her parents and they got ready for a good nights rest.

Three months had passed since their little accident and the attacks from Dark Specter had quickly become more and more demanding. With each fight the rangers were losing more and more hope. Andros tried to keep the team thinking positively, but the truth was they were slowly losing. It was then that he knew he was ready to take that step. With the possibility of either of them dying in the next fight or ten fights down the road Andros knew it was pretty much now or never and he wanted to make sure Akako knew just how much she meant to him.

After a very intense battle the day after his epiphany Andros invited Akako to spend the night in his room since he had been pretty much hogging hers every night Rylan wasn't around. Karone was now sharing the room with the rest of his siblings leaving him with his own room. When she arrived that night Andros told her how he felt.

"I can't help but wonder what would happen if one of us was killed," he began his voice nothing more than a whisper, but he forced himself to continue, "I don't want to wait until it's too late." With that he pulled Akako into a passionate kiss. He didn't stop her this time when her hands slid under his shirt nor did he stop her when she tugged it over his head, tonight was the night and he was no longer scared.

In the early hours of the morning Andros woke to find his arms securely around the waist of his fiancée and he smiled. As he laid there he couldn't help but hope there would be several more nights like this for Akako and him, especially after they were married. When he finally did fall asleep only good dreams came to him.

A/N: Please Review!