Never Let Go

Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers.

Summary: Sequel to "Can't Let Go." Read that first. After tragedy strikes, can Ashley and Andros find their way back to each other.

Pinkrangerfan: Yeah, all those are good thoughts, aren't they? But you know I can't make it that easy for them. Lol

JasonLeeScottFan: Thanks! Karone is hurting a lot more than she's letting on, mainly because she's numbed herself to it. I think he is too. Lol! I'm surprised you didn't say anything about Kara. I wanted someone to bring up how annoying she is. Lol!

Mita427: Thanks, I'm glad you like them! Please keep reviewing. Here's the next chapter.

CraneAndFalconForeven: Lol! Here's the next chapter.

Chapter 3: Past and Present

Earth

"Zhane, duck!" Ashley shouted as the bowl of mashed string beans flew at his head.

Zhane ducked just in time and watched the bowl and its contents fall into the sink. "Ava, what did I do now?"

Ava frowned at Zhane as her mother picked her up. "Sorry, I thought I got rid of all the green stuff." Ashley looked at Zhane as he washed out the discarded bowl. "Try squash and sweet potatoes. Don't mix them." She warned.

"She'll just throw that at me." Zhane mumbled.

"Just try please. If she throws it at you again I'll make sure she'll be in big trouble." She said sternly turning her gaze to Ava, whose bottom lip began to quiver. "Don't try that with me. Be good for uncle Zhane."

"Come on Ava. Let's try something else." Zhane carried her to the cupboard to get more baby food.

Ashley sighed and went back into the living room with the others. "Sorry, had to prevent a crisis." She halfway joked.

"What happened?" Carlos asked with his arm snuggly around his wife Cassie. The two had finally tied the knot last month.

"Ava has this thing about green food, and she was about to fling it at Zhane's head again."

The others laughed at Ava's antics. "She's getting so big." Kate, TJ's girlfriend, cooed. She'd become very close with the team over the past year, mainly because she and TJ were head over heels for each other. And she wasn't hard to like.

"Yeah she is. And her powers are growing too." Ashley playfully rolled her eyes. "That's a hassle."

"Unfortunately for the most part she uses her powers to pick on Zhane." Karone put in and turned to Ashley. "Good thing you stopped it. He's been getting upset over the weirdest things lately."

"It's not like Zhane to be upset over anything." Cassie commented. "Is he alright?"

"I'm sure he's fine. Just stressed at work I guess." Karone responded. She was the only one of her friends not working with the IGC. They accepted that she was good now, but her face was still that of Astronema and it still struck fear in the hearts of many.

"I'm sure you're right." Carlos answered. "It's been a lot of work this week."

"You're telling me." TJ added wrapping his arm around Kate. "Good thing I have something to come home to." The collective 'aw' had TJ rolling his eyes.

"So cheesy." Carlos added causing an eruption of laughter.

"Like you're any better." Cassie teased.

Ashley looked up as Zhane walked into the room with Ava. "There's my good girl." She cooed as Zhane handed Ava to her.

"She ate everything." Zhane said proudly.

"I told you that it was nothing personal." Ashley commented as Zhane sat down between her and Karone. It was still strange seeing these couples and knowing that technically she wasn't part of that anymore.

You all right, Ash? Zhane asked telepathically.

Ashley should have figured he would feel the change in her. I'm fine really. She responded.

"Well since everyone is here," TJ started. "There's something I want you guys to be a part of." He stood and brought Kate with him. "I love you Kate and there's something I want to ask you right now in front of our friends." Everyone was silent as TJ got down on one knee and pulled out a sapphire engagement ring. "Kate, will you marry me?"

Kate's green eyes swam with tears of joy as she enthusiastically nodded her head and whispered, "Yes."

TJ slid the ring onto Kate's left ring finger and stood pulling her into his arms. All of their friends surrounded them expressing congratulations; everyone, but Zhane who quietly snuck away and headed up the stairs.

Karone saw Zhane leave and excused herself from the others. She made her way to their bedroom and saw him sitting on their bed holding a picture frame in his hand. "What are you doing?" She and Zhane hadn't been communicating much verbally, let alone telepathically.

He turned the frame towards Karone. "Reminiscing."

"I remember this." Karone gently took the picture frame from him, in the frame a picture of herself, Zhane, Ashley and Andros stared back at her. We were so happy then. She thought to herself. "Seems like yesterday." She smiled.

"It feels like forever ago to me." Zhane whispered.

"What do you mean?" She asked confused.

"What happened to us, Karone?" His eyes were red from the tears he was holding back.

Her expression darkened. "My brother died." She stated flatly, putting the picture face down on the bed.

"You think I don't miss him too?" He fought to keep his voice under control. "Andros was like my brother, and about a year ago he was going to be my brother."

"A lot can happen in a year." She deadpanned. "You thought we'd be married by now, and I thought my brother would be here to walk me down the aisle, but we can't always get what we want can we? So just please drop it."

Zhane slowly and silently stood up and walked to the closet, pulling out a suitcase.

"You can't change my mind with threats to leave Zhane."

"I'm not threatening to leave Karone, I am leaving." He stated calmly.

She felt her heart stop in her chest. "You can't be serious."

"I am." He spoke as he put his things into his bag.

"God, what do you want from me?!" She asked tersely.

"I want you to marry me!" He shouted, his last bit of control snapping like a twig. "I want to make a family with you and be with you for the rest of my life!" He stood directly in front of her, glaring down into her eyes. "But obviously, you don't."

Karone was struck silent. It's like her mouth just stopped working. She thought she remembered how to form words when Cassie abruptly rushed into their room.

Zhane turned towards the intruder ready to pounce when Cassie spoke. "Something's wrong with Ashley!" She stated in panic.

Zhane quickly turned and moved past Cassie down the stairs. He made his way to Ashley's side and cradled her in his arms. "Ashley?" Her eyes were closed, but her body trembled in his arms as he held her.

Karone looked at the two of them not knowing what to think.

Taurus

Zavier and Sondria sat at their son's bedside. Though he protested, Trenton ended up staying with Kayden. The two of them looked up as someone entered the hospital room.

"Trinity." Zavier called and rose to embrace her.

She hugged him in return and gently pushed him away holding on to his shoulders. "Rikai is fine." She assured him. "I think he's remembering things and it's too much for his mind to handle. Right now he needs to rest." Dr. Trinity Slade was a tall willowy woman with long dark brown hair and intense brown eyes, both of which were the same color as her older brother Zavier Slade.

Zavier sighed in relief. "He scared me, Trinity. I haven't been that scared in a long time."

"I know." She whispered and hugged him again. Trinity had taken a liking to Rikai quickly and easily began to think of him as her nephew. She turned to her sister in law and embraced her as well. "How are you Sondria?"

"I'll be better when he wakes up." She gestured to Rikai.

"Won't we all." Trinity stated.

Rikai's dreams had changed. He could see her almost as if she were right in front of him, like they were linked somehow. Her presence shouted in his mind, beckoning to him.

It was so familiar and so welcoming he didn't want to let go of the sensation. Images passed through his head. Of people, strangers to him now, but he knew them, he was sure of it. But there was someone else he hadn't seen before. A baby girl. Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she smiled and another small presence echoed in his head.

He images faded as Rikai abruptly came into consciousness. "Ashley!" The three people in the room rushed to his bedside.

"Rikai, calm down." Trinity urged him.

He ignored her and turned to his father, his eyes gleaming with hope. "She's alive, dad. She's alive." Rikai wasn't sure how he knew it, but he felt it in his heart, mind and gut, that the woman from his dreams was alive and well.

"The girl?" Sondria asked. Zavier had filled her in on everything while Rikai had been asleep. "The one who that necklace belongs to?"

Rikai nodded to her and turned to his father, his expression becoming serious. "I have to go to Earth."

(A/N: Things are getting serious huh? Lol! Tell me what you think.)