Disclaimer: Hey guys! Don't own the prompt (31days, on livejournal), and don't own the Illiad or Troy!

Authors Note: I know this one is more depressing, but I thought the prompt was more fitting to the bitterness that she would feel later on in life, not when she's still happy with Hector. So yes this particular vignette follows the Illiad more then the movie. So this jumps forward to after the end of the Trojan War, and is an attempt to reconcile myself with what happens after the Trojan war to Andromache. Enjoy!

…and a sky so blue that it'll eat you alive…

The morning sun dawned quickly, and cruelly shook her out of her sleep. It took her from the dreams that she now turned to for comfort. The loving eyes, and baby hands died with the sun every morning when Phoebus Apollo drove his chariot across the sky. He who she had once turned to comfort, seemed to enjoy tormenting her now. She rose quickly, and quickly combed her hair, and tied it back. When she did this she caught sight of the mark on her skin. There on the inside skin of her wrist, and the right side was a black mark. She was a slave, and this mark proclaimed it everywhere she went. The pain she felt while getting the mark was nothing compared to the pain she had went through when she had been claimed, claimed by the son of the man who had destroyed her life.

She supposed that she was lucky, he cared for her, treated her well, and yet he was not him. She didn't love him, both he knew it and she knew it. All that existed between them was a fragile sort of friendship, one that saved her. He knew who she was, he understood why she did not love him, but he still loved her. He pitied her, and she had born him 4 sons in return. That was the fragile ground that their relationship rested on, and neither one of them did anything did challenge it. Walking quietly down the halls of his house, she picked up a bundle of laundry and went to the river, today was the day that she looked forward to every week. Alone by the river, she scrubbed, wringed, and rinsed clothing; her hands had become hard and calloused from work, and the beauty that he had once told her she had was gone.

How many years has it been? she asked herself, I have kept my promise to you. I live, and I smile.

When at last the laundry was laid out in the sun to dry she looked up, and heard the splashing of the water on the rocks, and heard voices. She heard laughter and glancing over she saw a young boy, his eyes full of joy. His dark brown hair was unruly, and he had his smile. He played and laughed in the water, and turning he called to his father, to Hector. When he appeared she felt her heart breaking, he was her Hector, unmarred by the passage of time as she was.. He had an ease that he had never had in life, and she watched as he knelt down to kiss his son on his forehead. No, it cannot be.

"Astynax!" she cried, stumbling up and running towards them. She had forgotten where she was, she had forgotten what had happened. She ran towards her son, screaming, tears springing into her eyes. "Astynax!"

At the sound of her voice, she saw him turn and look to her, his eyes recognizing her. Falling to her knees before him she wrapped him in her arms, begging, and crying, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry; will you forgive me? Will you forgive mother?"

She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, and looking up she met familiar eyes. Hector.

"I'm sorry Hector, I'm so sorry. I know I failed you." She whispered, but before she could continue she felt arms surrounding her.

"Andromache, love, I've never blamed you for anything." He said, kissing her tears away. He looked at the mark on her arm, and sighed. She took her hand back, ashamed for what she had done.

"Do you blame me for the things I've done since Troy fell?" her voice faltered, afraid of his answer.

"My love I asked you to survive, to find laughter again." He held her close. "I don't feel betrayed my darling. Astynax and I wait for you at the entrance to the underworld, and we will have each other forever then. We cannot change what the fates have decided."

"Hector I never blamed you for what you did. I was happy that you didn't have to fight anymore. You were at peace at last, and I didn't resent you for it. I would suffer through much more to grant you that."

"Andromache…"

Nodding she held him close, unwilling to let him go. "I know, you've been helping me this entire time haven't you? Watching over me. I can feel you."

"Andromache, live for us." He said standing all of a sudden, taking Astynax in his arms, he turned suddenly.

"No. Don't leave me yet." She cried stumbling up.

"Andromache we're here, supporting you. We'll be waiting for you when its your turn, your brothers, Paris, father, all of us. None of us blame you for what you have to do. You family, and mine wanted you to survive, to live, to experience what's left. We'll be waiting for you."
As he started to fade she called out to him frantically wanting him to understand, "Hector! I'll only ever love you, no matter what happens. You were the love of my life."

He smiled at her, and Astynax waved to her. She felt another hand on her shoulder then, and she turned to meet beautiful deep blue eyes, that reflected pain and joy, and love. They were the color of a sky so blue that it could eat you alive. I'm sorry that this happened to you Andromache. You have always respected us, and this is what I have done to repay you. Don't worry you won't ever forget, and he will always be there waiting for you. You will never find another one, and you will never betray him. So live on Andromache, the fates have much more planned for you.

She awoke to the sun on her face, and guiltily started to gather up the laundry that was now dry. Deftly folding the fabric she smiled to herself, her strength returning if only for a little bit. Glancing up to the blue, clear sky she sighed. "Thank you."