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

Slytherin-Angel44: Yes, she is, but the good news is no one else dies. (Unless you count Zhane's little nap.)

Star Fata: Yeah, it's sad for the next five or six chapters but then things start to go good again.

Ch. 21 Two Down, Five to Go

Three months had passed since Akako had told everyone about her pregnancy and she had been completely correct when she had assumed that Andros wouldn't let her do anything. Today was her appointment with Dr. Silverman and they were supposed to learn the sex of their baby. Andros was nervous and it was obvious to everyone in the waiting room.

"You know, there's nothing to be worried about," Akako whispered in his ear and he jumped.

"I'm not worried," Andros lied but nodded only a second later. "I just want everything to be perfect and I can't guarantee that it will be." Akako was spared from having to come up with a reply when Dr. Silverman came to the door and called them back. Andros sat stiffly in the corner as he watched as Akako was examined, doing his best to look calm.

"Well," Dr. Silverman began, "everything's fine there. Now, do you want to know what the baby is or do you want to wait?"
"What do you think, Andros?" Akako questioned, as Andros came to join her.

"I'd...Whatever you want," he answered, hoping that she hadn't caught the beginning of his statement but he knew she had.

"You'd what?" she replied, forcing him to look at her.

"I'd like to know," he whispered.

"We'd like to know then," Akako told the doctor. When the doctor left the room to gather the few supplies that she would need for the ultrasound Akako questioned, "Why were you so afraid to tell me that?"

"I don't know," Andros answered truthfully. He really didn't know why he had been afraid, they had made the decision weeks ago, but something just didn't feel right. "Something feels weird," he added, more to himself than to anyone else but he pushed it aside as Dr. Silverman reentered the room.

In a matter of ten minutes, Andros had become the happiest man alive. While he hadn't thought it would matter to him what the sex of the baby was now that he knew there was a smile plastered on his face. 'A boy,' he thought to himself. 'I'm going to have a little boy.'

"Well, I see someone's happy," Akako stated from his side as he helped her up the ramp of the Megaship.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Andros replied, although he was still grinning widely. "You know, I really didn't think it would matter this much to me."

"I think you would've been just as happy with a girl," Akako added. "I think it's just knowing that makes a difference." Andros nodded and told DECA to have everyone meet them on the Bridge.

"Well, do you know what it is?" Zhane asked as he stepped onto the Bridge, no bothering to wait for anyone else.

"You know, Zhane, it's not nice to demand all the attention in the room," Andros addressed with a smile. Then he whispered just loud enough for everyone to hear, "I don't know what we'll do with him when this little one gets here."

"Hey!" Zhane yelled, as he pretended to pout around the room. When no one paid attention he asked again, "What's this baby going to be? And no matter what, I still think Zhane or Zhana will be perfect names." Everyone had a quick laugh before returning their attention to the couple in front of them, both expecting parents gleaming with pride.

"It's a boy," Andros stated excitedly, unable to keep it a secret any longer. They were soon surrounded by arms, congratulating them on their son, but the celebration was cut short by DECA.

"There are monsters attacking," the AI alerted and she watched as six of the seven rangers went into battle.

"Be careful," Akako cried after them, hoping her soon-to-be husband would be alive when their son was born. "DECA, put the fight on the viewing screen." The AI did as she was told although she had been commanded by Andros not to allow Akako to monitor any of the battles because DECA knew this was the only way to keep her from going to fight. It wasn't long before the rangers had the upper hand and while Akako was glad, her happiness melted away when she saw a small boy that had wondered onto the battlefield. "DECA, tell Andros he has to get that little boy." Just as Andros made a move to go to the little boy the rangers found themselves surrounded by monsters once again while Darkonda advanced on the little boy. Rylan was able to break away from the group and found herself face to face with Darkonda's sword and it wasn't long until her body was lying, bloody on the ground.

While the other rangers tried to fight their way to the little boy Akako had made a decision. As a superior ranger she overrode Andros orders for her to stay on the Megaship and went to save the little boy but she left her morpher behind. When she landed in front of Darkonda it took him by surprise that she wasn't morphed but he took advantage of the situation. With one forward thrust of his sword Akako laid on the ground bleeding severely from her abdomen. The monsters around the rangers disappeared and they rushed towards their fallen friend.

"Akako!" Andros yelled as he fell to his knees beside her. She opened her eyes and the look in them told Andros she knew she was going to die. "It's going to be okay. We'll get you to the hospital. You and our son will be fine."

"No, Andros," she whispered. "I'm not going to make it. I love you. Please be strong enough to move on past this." With her last breath Andros laid her back on the ground swearing even more vengeance on Darkonda and Dark Specter.

"Come on," Zhane whispered in his ear, pulling him gently to his feet and supporting him as he wavered. Zarkin took a place on his other side, full prepared to catch his brother as he fell forward in a dead faint. "This is going to be a hard one."

A/N: Please don't hate me. It had to happen. Please Review!