Thank you for all your reviews again, you guys are so supportive!

IMPORTANT NOTE: I'm busy (like really busy) for the next five days or so, so this will probably be the last update for a little less than a week, unless I manage to write another one today. Don't count on it, though, so I hope this is enough to last for that long and I hope you'll all forgive me. Enjoy!

…

Andromache opted to only tell a few select people. Briseis and Cassandra were both thrilled for her, while Hecuba and Priam were overjoyed to hear that the two were bearing children so soon in their marriage. Paris grimaced- not willing to trade places with his brother for the world- but nobly wished Hector the best.

Hector laughed at his brother's disgust while Andromache was slightly indignant. "This is a child we're talking about," she retorted to Hector in the seclusion of their chamber.

"Paris has yet to grow up, but he will one day," Hector said easily, placing a blanket over her.

She irritably pushed it away. "It's too hot tonight."

Hector's brow furrowed. "It's the coolest it's been in ages, you'll catch cold if you don't put on something."

"I don't want it," she reiterated. "If you're so cold you wear it."

"I'm not the one that's carrying a child," he gently chided.

She made a frustrated sound and walked out onto the balcony. Hector was slightly perplexed at her bad mood but followed her anyways.

"Did Paris upset you?" he asked softly.

"No." She sighed. "I'm just being irritable."

"I noticed."

She swung at him but was amused. "Your mother told me it's normal."

"And did she happen to tell you how long it would last?" He was only partially joking.

"I assume for the duration of the pregnancy," she said absently, wandering over to the looking glass. "Am I putting on weight?"

"Andromache, you haven't even been with child for two months," he sighed. She'd asked the same question yesterday.

"Still, I think I am." She critically studied herself in the mirror. "Or perhaps I'm eating too much."

"Don't start," he warned, now very serious. "You barely touched your lunch and you didn't eat any breakfast."

"Well, you try eating when you feel like your stomach is flipping around," she snapped. "I wasn't hungry."

"Well, how about eating something now? There's some fruit here or I could send for the cook to make something."

She looked at the fruit then shook her head. "No, I'm not hungry," she said, wrinkling her nose distastefully. "Besides, I don't like fruit."

"You've always liked fruit," he replied, perplexed.

"Yes, well I've decided I don't like it now," she said, leaving no room for argument.

He stifled the urge to shake her and prayed to the gods this wouldn't last for nine months. "I'm going to check on Elpis before I go to bed, I want you asleep by the time I come back."

She made a face at him but didn't argue, knowing very well she was about to push him too far. He left- though not angry, just a little annoyed.

He intercepted his mother on the way down to the stables and opened his mouth to talk to her, but she raised a hand and stopped him.

"Yes, everything she's going through is normal. And it will last for the duration of the pregnancy," she said and then continued on her way. He shut his mouth, slightly perturbed at being put off like that, but continued towards the stables.

By now Elpis would let him touch her, though he always had to let her get used to his presence first. He stood leaning against the wall, talking aloud to her.

"I wonder if all fathers go through this," he mused. Elpis was silent, continuing her eating. "Or perhaps it's just me." Elpis continued chewing. "And perhaps you don't really care."

He slowly and calmly walked over to her, his hand outstretched. She froze but he kept steadily walking towards her and she cautiously put her nose out to smell him. This having been done she let him stroke her, though he was careful to stay near her neck. Any touch to her sides aggravated her and he was taking his time.

"No rush, right girl?" he said, giving her one last pat then taking his leave. Andromache was already asleep when he came in so he quickly changed and lay down next to her, glancing at her sleeping face.

His eyes traveled down to her stomach he gently felt it with his hand. Smiling, he rolled over and was soon fast asleep.

…

One week later- two months into her pregnancy- the two of them were ready to rip each other's throats out.

"I'm not hungry!" Andromache screeched at him. "If you want the plate cleared then you eat it!"

"You haven't eaten a proper meal in months!" Hector shouted back. "And either you clear that plate or I will make you!"

He was slightly taken aback as the said plate flew at his head at an alarming speed, and he quickly ducked. The plate smashed against the opposite wall, food flying everywhere.

"There, it's cleared!" Andromache screamed at him. "And I hate you!"

"That feeling is mutual, my lady," Hector snapped back, marching to the door. "I will soon return with another plate of which the contents will go down your throat if I have to shove them down myself."

With a slam of the door, he was gone. Just in time, for Andromache was sure she was about to kill him. Making up her mind quickly, she strode out the bedchamber, yelling out as loud as she could, "I'm going to the women's quarters, make sure you inform my lord Hector!" This having been said she promptly strode down there, her fierce look causing everyone to move out of her way. She slammed through the doors and marched into the social room, which thankfully was empty of everyone except her two friends.

"I hate him!" she screamed, her face alarmingly red.

Briseis was slightly taken aback and became worried Andromache was about to have a stroke. "I would too," she agreed, not knowing what the offense was.

"He should try eating when the very sight of food makes him sick!" she snapped, furiously pacing back and forth. "And he think he can make me!" she finished with a laugh.

Cassandra raised her eyebrows at Briseis. They both knew what this was. A showdown.

"Brilliant move on her part," Briseis whispered to Cassandra while Andromache listed all of Hector's offenses in the past month.

"A very wise retreat," Cassandra agreed softly. "Who's going to win?"

"My best robe says Andromache; she has taken refuge in a place she cannot be forcefully brought out of."

Cassandra shook her head, "I'd be a fool to take that bet, of course she'll win. Mother will calm Hector down and he'll apologize to her."

But she was wrong. When Hector stormed back into the room only to find his wife missing he promptly yelled at all the servant girls, who quickly informed him of the whereabouts of his wife. He stormed over there and the guards who were attending the door cast nervous glances at each other.

"Stand down now," Hector ordered quietly, rage on his face. Wordlessly, they stood aside. Any other man would be refused entrance, but they'd not been raised fools. And only a fool would cross Prince Hector when he was like this.

He shoved open the doors – which flew open and hit the side walls with a loud bang – and strode into the social room.

Briseis gasped when she saw him and Cassandra jumped up, fully believing that he was about to beat Andromache right in front of them.

Apparently she thought so too, for her face was deadly pale and she'd frozen on the spot.

"Heaven forbid I ever drive you out of your own quarters," he snapped at her, striding over and grabbing her wrist in a painful grasp. He marched back to his quarters and she hurried to keep up, wincing at his strength. "If you have the desire to escape from me, just say the word and I'll leave you." They had reached his quarters and he marched her into their chamber, flinging her in and shutting the door behind them. She strategically retreated behind a small table but he stood by the door, not approaching her.

"Do not ever go into the women's quarters again when we're in the middle of a fight," he ordered, anger in his eyes. "And as to the food, the gods kill me before I make you do anything you do not wish to do, Andromache." He almost spat out her name. "If you choose to starve our child, so be it. I wash my hands of it." This having been said he strode out, slamming the doors behind him.

Andromache promptly burst into tears and threw herself onto the bed. She cried herself into a slumber, full of horrible dreams. She dreamed a giant platter of food was beating her and she could actually feel the pain of the blows. Gasping, she jerked awake only to find herself in another nightmare.

She was covered in blood.

Her heart stopped and she froze, willing herself to wake up. But she wasn't dreaming. Her mind was numb and refused to think, but as if in a trance she quickly stripped off her dress and threw another one on instead, and then quickly stripped the sheets, throwing them into the fire and quickly placing other ones on the bed.

This having been done she sat down, feeling sick. She was about to pass out and she tried to regulate her breathing. All evidence of her crime had been disposed of but she still knew the truth.

I just killed my baby, she thought, horrified. I killed Hector's baby.

The tears started flowing, gently at first, but then grew into a flood. She was sobbing, covering her face in her hands and grieving. Sinking to the floor she cried, hating herself for her crime. She started wailing, and the servants who heard her simply assumed she was regretting her harsh words against Hector.

He'll never forgive me. She felt her heart breaking and she broke into fresh sobs. In her grief she didn't hear the door creep open.

"Andromache," said the soft voice of her husband. She jerked up, startled and horrified, but he continued. "Andromache, I'm sorry."

He walked over and gently pulled her up, tilting her head up to look at him. "I know this is a difficult thing to go through, and I realize that my being pushy won't help." He sincerely regretted his earlier actions, especially when he saw the tears marks on her face. To his surprise she dropped to her knees in front of him, sobbing into his hands.

"No, no," she sobbed hysterically. "You were right. I- I- I," she choked, not able to get the words out.

He dropped down to the ground, tilting her face again so he could look into her eyes. Fear was written in them, and Hector's heart constricted when he thought that he'd made her afraid of him.

"My love, I'm sorry I hurt you," he said, trying to pull her into a hug. She shoved him away, shaking her head.

"Don't," she gasped, as the tears started flowing again. "You were right, it's my fault."

"What's your fault?" he asked, confused.

"I killed-" she stopped, dropping her gaze. She couldn't bear to see the disappointment she knew was coming. "I killed our baby," she said, barely audible. This brought a fresh bout of weeping and she covered her face, sobbing uncontrollably.

Hector crouched next to her, stunned. Her words registered in his mind and though he didn't blame her, he was shocked. Then he remembered his words to her.

"If you choose to starve our child, so be it. I wash my hands of it."

He could have killed himself right there and realized what she must be feeling.

"Shh," he whispered, pulling her into his arms. She pushed away but he persisted, and finally she melted against him, sobbing her heart out. "It's not your fault," he said, stroking her hair.

She shook her head against his chest. "Yes- yes- yes," she sobbed.

"No, it's not," he murmured gently. "You had no control over it. These things happen, it is the will of the gods. Nothing can change that."

"But I wasn't eating enough," she whispered, her sobs subsiding but the tears still flowing.

"You were fine, I only said that in anger. Andromache, you could have done nothing to prevent this. Look at me." He waited while she slowly forced herself to look at him. "This was not your fault."

She leaned against him, not quite believing him but immensely relieved he wasn't angry. He held her close, both of them grieving for the child they would never know. And if Andromache still blamed herself, Hector knew that would change in time.

"What will everyone-" she began softly.

"They're not important," he interrupted. "Don't think about it."

And he waited until she'd cried herself to sleep, then gently carried her over to the bed and set her down, then joined her. He drew her close and- though still asleep- she snuggled close to him, enjoying the secure feeling he gave her.

"There will be other children," he whispered softly, knowing she couldn't hear him. "But there would never be another you, Andromache."