Web hosting Custom Email SiteBuilder

Disclaimer: Andros of KO-35 and Ashley Hammond, plus anyone else in this fanfic, are the registered property of Saban Enterprises; no copyright infringement is meant by this, and I am not, nor do I desire to, making any profit at all on this. Author's Note: This fanfic deals with everyone {well, some people's} favorite space-faring couple, Andros and Ashley. It's after "Before It All" {WAY after!} in the "Rangers in Romance" timeline, and in the PRiS timeline, is the date that Andros asked Ashley on at the end of "Red With Envy".

And it hadn't been that easy of a date for either of them to ask the other out on. Andros had been alone for two years, mourning the near-death of his best friend, and hunting endlessly for his sister. Ashley had been dating Carlos, until just after they'd become Rangers. After they received their Turbo powers, things had changed for both of them. The mutual attraction had relaxed into a friendship that they both felt they were the better off for.

Ashley had known the moment she saw Andros for the first time, however, that this different. This wasn't a passing infatuation, or someone who would just be a friend, like T.J. and Carlos were. This was it. This was love.

Who would have ever thought I'd fall in love with someone from another planet? she chuckled to herself as they walked along the path. But ever since I saw him, I felt. . .something. . .

A slight tremble ran down her spine as she thought of that first moment. He'd been morphed, and she'd been a powerless former Turbo Ranger, half-terrified at the strangeness of the past few hours, from the destruction of the Power Chamber to how they had found themselves on this strange ship. But something about him had caught at her mind and her heart, and when she had seen him unmorphed after the battle, she'd been even more impressed.

Her eyes danced a little at the thought of how she'd acted, and how she'd tried to cover it up. You're human! Well, I didn't know, he could've been a giant lizard!

Cassie had teased her for two weeks about that, but Ashley hadn't minded. The Pink Ranger was using that to deal with her own heart's dilemma. The crush she'd had on the Phantom Ranger had faded, but something was taking it's place, something far more lasting, with someone else. Ashley decided she'd think about that later. Cassie was a big girl, she could deal with her own love life. The Yellow Astro Ranger wanted to think about her own.

"It's a beautiful night," she said, more for something to say than much else. "Excellent for looking at the stars." and other heavenly bodies, she thought a bit wickedly to herself, sneaking a peek at Andros' well-muscled shoulders and arms.

Andros nodded, trying not to betray how nervous he was. This wasn't just his first date in two years, this wasn't just his first date with Ashley, this was his first date ever. He didn't have the foggiest idea of what he was doing or should be doing. All he knew was he liked Ashley more than he'd ever liked any girl that he had ever met in his entire life.

"We're almost there," he said, glancing at the Observatory on the hill they were fast approaching. They could've seen things just as well or better from the MegaShip, but since they stayed there pretty much all the time, it wouldn't mean that much to still be there for a date.

A flicker of thought moved through his mind, wondering what was wrong with Zhane. The newly awakened Silver Ranger was being just a bit evasive about something, and his best friend didn't like that very much. He shrugged mentally; whatever it is, he'd find out about it in due time. It wasn't like secrets could be kept on the MegaShip for very long.

Though I HAVE managed to keep it from everyone about how much I like Ashley, he thought, smiling as he looked to the brown-haired girl bouncing along next to him. I almost fainted when Zhane told me she was asking about me. I wonder what she wanted to know. . .

"Andros," Ashley paused for a moment, causing him to stop and look at her, the very faintest hint of curiosity and worry in the back of his eyes. "Um, I know you were sort of upset at Zhane earlier, cause you thought I liked him. . .more than I like you," the last words came out in a rush, and she couldn't meet his eyes when she said them. "I asked him to help me with the telekinesis for a reason, though."

Andros wasn't used to touching other people. He hadn't in a long time, and habits as ingrained as these were in him were the next thing to impossible to break. But going against everything his instincts were trying to scream at him, he reached out to touch Ashley's cheek for a moment, then lifted her head to look into his eyes. They were twin pools of deepest brown, like pure amber, and every time he looked into them, he felt the long years lift from him and a spark of hope glow in his soul.

"Why?" the simple word covered almost everything, without either of them knowing how. Was he not a good enough teacher, did she not think she could do it and just couldn't tell him, what was going on?

Ashley's lips bent just the slightest bit, and she brushed his hand with her own fingertips. "I asked him to help me because every time I got near you, I couldn't focus one little bit on what you were trying to teach me," she smiled. "I kept getting distracted by my teacher."

He smiled softly as they stepped just a little bit apart, then headed into the Observatory. Andros' step was lighter than it had been in years as he digested what he'd found out. I felt the same way she does. I still do. The only reason I've ever been able to do anything telekinetically when I was around her was because I've had more years of practice than she has. If it were the other way around, I swear that I wouldn't be able to concentrate for two seconds.

No one was at the Observatory that night, except for the usual guard. Halley's Comet's passage was something unusual, but most of the crowds had come earlier in the day. It was their time now, and the two of them were going to enjoy it to the hilt.

"It's amazing," Ashley looked up through the telescope at the passing comet. "To think we've been to places that comet will never go, and will keep going. . ."

Andros nodded, peering through it as she stepped back. "We could've seen it clearer from the MegaShip, but I like coming to your world. It's not home. But. ..it's nice."

"Well, KO-35 is a nice place, too," Ashley reminded him, smiling. "And I really owe it."

The Red Ranger frowned a little, not quite certain what she meant. "It gave me you," she said quietly, reaching forward to touch his hand. "It gave me a great friend." and maybe more one day. But what more. . .we're going to have to wait and find out.

Andros smiled and glanced back to the comet, and the stars beyond it. "Friends," he whispered softly. And more one day. He looked back up at her. "You see those stars?" he gestured up to the burning orbs beyond the telescope. "For two years I was as lonely as they are. Thousands, millions of miles in between me and everyone else. Then you and the others came into my life. . .and now Zhane is back. . ."

"The loneliness went away," she said softly, knowing even as she spoke that it wasn't fully a lie, yet wasn't truly the truth. He didn't correct her, though. "The reason that we came into space was a sad one, and it hurt to lose our old powers. ..but I think it's for the best in the end, because I met you.