Andros woke the next morning smiling. He had his sister back. He hugged her as she came into the bridge, chatting with T.J. and Cassie, who checked the scanners and left to fix the lasers. The other rangers had all been skeptical of her at first, thinking that Andros was so desperate to have Karone back that he would have believed anything. Ashley and Zhane had managed to convince the others to give Karone a chance.
Ashley and Zhane came in together. Ashley looked like she was trying hard not to laugh. Zhane looked guilty.
"Morning," Ashley said. Andros got up from the table to kiss her. He noticed Karone watching them.
"Oh," he said. "Ashley is my girlfriend."
"I figured that out weeks ago," Karone said. "It was obvious that you two liked each other."
Ashley groaned. "Was it obvious to everyone except us?"
"Probably." Karone smiled. "Um . . .if Andros gets a girlfriend, do I get a boyfriend?"
Andros opened his mouth to say "No!" but he noticed that Ashley was shaking with silent laughter. "What?"
"You know?" Karone asked Ashley. She nodded.
"It was obvious."
"Not fair!" Karone grinned.
"You already have a boyfriend?" Andros asked.
"Yup." Karone did her best to look innocent.
"It's not some evil demon-prince, is it?" Andros asked, deciding he'd really rather not know.
Karone did her best to look insulted. "He is not. I have better taste than that."
"Who is it?" demanded Andros.
"Well . . ." Karone said. She stepped quickly around Andros to kiss Zhane.
Andros stared at them, his expression unreadable.
"Uh, Zhane?" Ashley said. "I think he noticed."
"You're going out with my sister?" Andros was glaring at Zhane.
"Hey, I didn't know she was your sister," Zhane said hastily, shoving Karone and Ashley between him and Andros. "I thought she was Astronema."
"That's not helping," Ashley hissed at him, convulsing in hysterical laughter.
"You're going out with my sister?" Andros repeated.
"Yes?" Zhane guessed.
"Wrong answer." Zhane bolted as Andros came at him. Ashley and Karone collapsed in laughter.
"Deca, tell us when he catches him," Ashley said, gasping.
"Of course," Deca said. "Would you like to watch the chase?"
"Yes!" they said together and settled back in their chairs.
After about fifteen minutes, Andros finally cornered Zhane. "Are you going to marry her?"
"I don't know," Zhane said.
"She's not pregnant, is she?" Andros demanded. Ashley and Karone laughed at Zhane's expression.
"No!"
"Do you love her?"
"Enough, Deca," Karone said before they could hear Zhane's answer. " I'd rather hear it from Zhane first."
Ashley nodded. Karone was looking thoughtful. "Do you love my brother?"
Ashley looked at Karone. "Yes," she answered without hesitation. "More than anyone else in the world."
