Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter fourteen of "Not Here III: Going Around." Ashley begins her recovery from her emergency C-section. There is a tiny bit of Andros/Ashley as well. Stay tuned for chapter fifteen.

XXXXX

Chapter 14: Fragile Bonds/Firm Resolve

Ashley lay on her back in Room 505. The bed was in a straight position. The room was medium-sized. A TV hung from the ceiling in the corner. The bed had a table that could be folded up and put in front of her. A table was near it. Two chairs were along the wall near the window. Two happened to be next to the door.

Ashley emitted a soft groan. The spinal block from the C-section had worn off, leaving a dull ache in her abdomen and a heavy numbness in her legs. She looked at the tubes that snaked from her arm to an IV drip. The bag swayed slightly as it delivered fluids and pain medication. Her hair was damp with sweat. Her eyes fluttered half-open due to grogginess from exhaustion and medication.

Andros sat beside Ashley. His chair happened to be pulled as close as the bedrail allowed. He gripped her hand rather tightly. He rubbed the back of it with his thumb so slowly that it seemed he wasn't even moving it. His hair fell into his eyes, and he pushed it back with a shaky hand. He clenched his teeth while flaring his nostrils.

Andros hissed angrily. He cursed Kayla for what happened to Ashley. He traced her selfishness back to chaos of the last few hours that included Ashley's pain and the twins' premature birth. He was never going to forgive her for everything she had done, especially when it came to draining Ben and Gerald's finances. He felt grateful that finances of Ashton, Anna, and Raylene remained untouched due to their move to Angel Grove.

The door opened with a loud squeak, causing Andros to look up. Relief washed over his face as Ashton, Anna, Zhane, Karone, Raylene, Gerald, Kinwon, and Tykwa came in. Kinwon approached him as the young man rose to his feet. He gave him a huge hug. Andros hugged him more tightly. He shuddered rather softly before swallowing hard.

"We're so sorry this happened, man," Kinwon said with great sympathy. He pulled back and put hands on Andros's shoulders. He furrowed his brow. "Kayla's a damn fool for putting Ashley through all this crap. I'd curse her to the stars if I could."

Tykwa stepped up to Andros as Kinwon moved back somewhat. She hugged him briefly. Her grip was firm yet quick. She let go of him and clasped her hands together.

"He's right," Tykwa agreed in a fierce voice. "She's got no excuse. This is on her—every bit of it."

"Thanks, guys," Andros responded and managed to form a tiny smile on his face. "It means a lot to see you all here."

Ashton approached the bed, a worrying expression showing on his face. He leaned over Ashley, his hand going to her forehead. He felt tears come to his eyes.

"Hey, sweetheart, how're you feeling?" Ashton asked.

Ashley's eyes flickered fully open. She focused her attention on her father and blinked twice. She lifted her hand a tiny bit.

"I feel so groggy," Ashley admitted, her voice sluggish but laced with pain. She winced painfully again. She moved her hand to her abdomen. "I am hurting a bit. My legs feel like tree trunks, heavy and useless."

Zhane leaned against the wall next to the window. He had his arms crossed. He tapped his head against it.

"Ouch," Zhane muttered, his voice low and sympathetic. He grimaced quite a bit. "That sounds rough, Ash."

Karone stepped closer, perching on the bed's edge. Her hair fell over her shoulder as she reached for Ashley's other hand. Her eyes became dark with anger.

"I still can't believe it," Karone said through clenched teeth. She tightened her grip on her soon-to-be sister-in-law's hand. "Your grandmother gambled away her life with your grandfathers and nearly took you and the twins with her. It's insane."

Ashley formed an angry expression on her face. She gritted her teeth while pulling the mask down somewhat.

"She means nothing to me now. Nothing!" Ashley hissed. "I want her out of my life for good. She's done enough."

Andros squeezed his fiancée's hand tighter, his own anger flaring as he met her gaze. She put the mask back over her face.

"I'll make sure of it," Andros declared and flared his nostrils. "This is especially when it comes to Gabriel and Jessica. She's not getting anywhere near them, ever."

"I called TJ, Cassie, Carlos, and Justin," Zhane said, straightening his posture. He slipped his hands into his pockets. "I told them about the twins and how they came early, everything. They're on their way now."

"Thanks for doing that, Zhane," Andros replied, eyeing him. "We appreciate it."

"No problem, man," Zhane commented. "They deserved to know."

Gerald was about to say something when the door swung open again. A nurse came in while whistling softly. She carried a clipboard. She came to Ashley's side. She checked the monitor as it beeped softly. She looked down at her, her eyebrows raising.

"Let's see how you're doing," the nurse said while adjusting the oxygen mask back into place. She touched the patient's forehead. She blinked three times. "How's the pain, hon?"

"I hurt quite a bit," Ashley replied in a strained manner. She emitted a very painful groan. "It's… not great."

The nurse nodded at her. "Okay."

The nurse pressed her lips together as adjusted the IV line in a very careful way. Ashley sniffled softly as a tear fell from her eyes. Her breathing turned to shudders as she swallowed hard.

"I'll up the pain meds a bit. It should help soon," the nurse said. She turned to the group. "Would you all like to see the twins in the NICU? They're stable, and I can take you to the window."

"That'd be nice," Ashton said, looking up. "That'd be real nice."

"For sure," Gerald agreed.

"Yeah," Raylene added.

Andros glanced at Ashley. "I'll stay with you. You need me here."

Ashley shook her head weakly. "Go see them. I'll sleep… want you to see Gabriel and Jessica."

The nurse gestured toward the door as she tucked her clipboard under her arm. She made her way toward it.

"All right, folks. Follow me," the nurse said and cleared her throat. "Andros, you can join whenever you're ready."

The nurse led Ashton, Anna, Zhane, Karone, Raylene, Gerald, Kinwon, and Tykwa out of the room. Their footsteps echoed down the hall as Andros watched Ashley's eyes flutter shut.

00000

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit hummed with a quiet intensity. Its corridors were lined with soft blue walls and the faint beep of monitors filtering through glass doors. The nurse guided the group to a large observation window. Its surface was cool and slightly fogged from the sterile air inside. Ashton, Anna, Zhane, Karone, Raylene, Gerald, Kinwon, and Tykwa stopped before it and looked inside.

The NICU glowed with dim lights. Three rows of four incubators in each one cradled tiny lives. Gabriel and Jessica lay in the first and second units in the first rows. Their small bodies were dwarfed by the plastic shells. Tubes and wires crisscrossed their fragile forms. Their skin was a delicate pink in which it was almost translucent. Their chests rose faintly with each assisted breath. Tiny knit caps covered their heads. Gabriel wore blue while Jessica had pink. Ashton pressed a hand to the glass, his breath catching as he stared.

"Damn. They're so small," Ashton whispered, his voice showing awe mixed with fear. The weight of the day seemed to crashing down on him. "It is so unreal."

Anna stood beside her husband. Her eyes filled with tears as she clutched his arm. Some fell down her cheeks, merging with each other.

"They're perfect," Anna murmured. "They are so tiny but perfect."

"They look like little fighters," Zhane said softly. "All those tubes…it's intense."

"They're beautiful," Karone said, her voice cracking on the last word. "I can't believe they're here after everything."

Raylene wiped tears from her eyes. She let out a shuddering cry before shaking her head in disbelief. She bit her lip, her heart beginning to beat a little faster. She sniffled in a soft manner.

"Gabriel and Jessica… they're really ours, aren't they? Look at them just hanging on," Raylene cried.

"They're miracles," Gerald said quietly. "Pure miracles."

Kinwon stepped closer to the glass with his hands clasped together. He tilted his head as he studied the incubators.

"KO-35 has units like these," Kinwon said thoughtfully. "They are of similar design. They keep the little ones stable. Ours are a bit bigger, though."

"Ours have those too," Tykwa said while motioning toward the portholes. "It lets parents touch them. They reach in and feel their hands. It's… comforting. I guess."

Just then, Andros came down the hallway. His red sneakers scuffled the floor. The group parted as he stopped before the window. He felt a sob rise in his throat as he took in Gabriel and Jessica. He saw they were so small at four pounds each. He shuddered at the sight of tubes snaking from their noses, chests, and arms. Tears welled in his eyes before spilling down his cheeks. He pressed a hand to the glass.

"I can't believe it," Andros. "They're so little… my babies…"

"Let it out, son," Ashton said, coming to the young father's side. "No one expects you to hold it together—not after today. You're their dad now—feel whatever you need to."

Andros nodded in agreement freely as he leaned into Ashton's support. He started crying in a loud way. He put his hand over his eyes.

"They're here. They made it," Ashton said in gentleness.

"Yes, they did," Gerald agreed.

Raylene licked her lips. "They will—"

Approaching footfalls caught the group's attention. It turned to see TJ, Cassie, Carlos, and Justin rushing toward it. The teens' faces looked rather flushed. They stopped short of it.

"How are they doing?" TJ asked urgently as he scanned the window.

"See for yourselves," Ashton said, stepping aside along with the rest of the family. He motioned toward the window. "Gabriel and Jessica—our little warriors."

The quartet moved up to the window, gasps rippling through them. Cassie moved her hand to her mouth, her eyes widening with shock.

"I've never seen babies that small," Cassie whispered, her voice trembling. "They're… incredible."

TJ nodded in agreement. "My cousin was born at thirty weeks. Her name is Mae. She was three pounds. She spent ten weeks in the NICU, but she's a healthy ten-year-old now. These two got a shot."

"Kayla's deplorable. She embarassed us all at the graduation. Then this happens," Carlos said bitterly and crossed his arms. "She's got no shame whatsoever."

"You got that right, Carlos," TJ agreed with a snarl.

"Screw her," Justin snapped. "She's not worth our time anymore—let her rot."

Tykwa hissed fiercely. "Toxic people like her have no business near kids, especially babies. They fill their heads with horrific garbage. It's lies and control. She doesn't deserve them."

Andros wiped his tears and breathed deeply. This released most of the tension from his body. He curled his hand into a fist.

"She's banned permanently," Andros declared as he focused his attention on Gabriel and Jessica. "Ashley's grandmother won't see or touch them. If I see her, I'll tell her myself."

"Damn right," Ashton said while squeezing his soon-to-be son-in-law's shoulder.

"Agreed," Anna added. "You've got our backs on that one, Andros."

Andros sighed in relief as the others voiced their agreement. He touched the glass once more. He narrowed his eyes at the twins as their chests rose and fell with every assisted breath.