Yo, the good stuff is coming soon! These chapters here are just to set a baseline for my favorite couple to follow. Plus, I love to write them just talking. It's so domestic and normal and I just think it's great!

The next day had come along with another few hours with Doctor Lecter. When she heard the doorbell, she hopped up to her feet and practically ran to the door. In Donald's absence, it was so great to have someone who actually seemed interested in her company.

"Hey!" Clarice smiled, stepping aside for her new friend. He came in, dressed to a T in dark slacks and a button up shirt, carrying a very expensive looking bottle of wine.

"Good afternoon, Clarice. I come bearing gifts." Doctor Lecter's smile seemed to genuine to Clarice. She took the wine with a smile, giving the bottle a look over to see what this man with good taste had brought her.

"Every time you come over, you bring something for me! Before you know it, I'll have to buy you gifts to make us even!" Clarice was smiling and laughing as she spoke, but something in her words caused her to stop.

Clarice kept staring at the wine, but her happy smile was gone. She could feel her brain straining to find the connection between her words and her life. The Good Doctor took notice and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Are you having a memory?" His voice was low and soothing; Clarice responding with a simple nod.

"You buy something for someone… buy them a gift in return." Clarice muttered, feeling herself being led through her home by the watchful eyes of Doctor Lecter. He didn't interrupt her or grow short with her; he simply stood there, pouring them two glasses of fine wine into her faux crystal glasses.

"You do stuff in exchange… exchanging information? Getting information in exchange for... more information. Hey," She lifted her eyes to Doctor Lecter ", what's that saying? The fancy saying for exchanging information for information?"

"Quid pro quo." He passed her a wine glass which she took, still looking just beyond him into space.

"Now why does that sound familiar…" Clarice hummed.

"Because we used to play quid pro quo when we worked together." Again, he was honest with her; lying only by omission.

"Oh. How did we play?" Clarice asked, taking a sip of the red wine. She nodded in approval and Doctor Lecter was happy she enjoyed it. They walked out onto the back porch, which faced a thin wooded area.

"You wanted information about Buffalo Bill, I wanted to get to know you. You were so… uptight and sealed off when we first started speaking, I had to get to know you somehow." Doctor Lecter seemed unashamed to admit his little tactic, which made Clarice feel more at ease.

"Nothing sinister behind it, then? You just wanted to know me?" She felt her brain slow the pace down, feeling herself physically relax. Everything seemed so frightening when you can't remember.

"Nothing sinister about it, just wanted to know Clarice Starling."

Clarice was happy with what she uncovered, taking another sip of her wine. Even the smallest memory played a part in her rehabilitation.

"How have you been finding everything, after the accident?" Doctor Lecter asked.

"I'm not really sure. On one hand, no one has come to visit me. I haven't had to get to know anyone again, except for Donald and you. On the other hand, it's terrifying. Everything I know about the people I work with is all… hearsay. I have to trust what people tell me about other people."

Clarice looked to the Doctor for a response, but he kept drinking his wine, looking at her.

"It's like… I don't have any base memories of how people have treated me, what people have done to me or others, or who anyone is. So, in return, I don't know how to behave in front of others. How I react when I'm around people is based on who they are. It's standard behaviour, be nice to your friends and ignore the people who aren't your friends. I just don't know who is on my side and who isn't."

"Are you concerned you'll end up being friendly with someone who… isn't?" Doctor Lecter used her words, finishing his wine and setting the glass on the patio table.

"Yeah, of course I am. Like I said, everything I know is hearsay. Let's use you for example," Clarice downed her last few sips of wine in one huge gulp, placing her glass beside Doctor Lecter's ", so everything you've told me about work and Florence and your family. Most people wouldn't be horrible enough to lie to someone with memory loss and all those things you've told me are probably true. But there are… people out there who wouldn't waste time taking advantage of me. And I'm at a position where I can't differentiate the two people." Clarice looked off into the woods, watching the leaves dance with the warm breeze.

"Tell me, Clarice. Do you think I'm taking advantage?"

"No, I don't think you are. There are so many factors that tribute to this thing… I don't have cohesive memories. What I have is… snapshots? Snapshots to these memories. When people tell me things that are important about them, I feel a tug in my brain. I'm trying to make the connection, it always feels like my brain is struggling to make the connection. It's exhausting."

"So, everything I've we've discussed about the time we've spent together?"

"It's all familiar. Everything about you; the way you speak, the way you hold yourself, and your voice… it's right there. I know, even if it's just in my heart and head right now, that we've had a relationship. I can practically see how we met, but I just can't get there."

"I'm sorry you're so frustrated, Clarice." Doctor Lecter placed his arm around her, in a brazen act he would have never dared to do before. Clarice's reaction was instant, moving herself closer to his body.

Clarice was hugging him and he was unsure of what to do.

He felt like he was in a fever dream. Any moment now, he was going to wake up, staring at that leaking stone ceiling of his little cell. But when he wrapped his arms around her, Doctor Lecter knew this was real. Clarice fit so perfectly in his arms, she seemed to melt there, head resting against his chest.

"You're helping a lot, you know. You were obviously a big part of my life. Having you around has probably done more for my memory than if I was sitting here alone, Doctor." Clarice sighed, her hands gripping the back of his shirt. Doctor Lecter ran one of his large hands up and down Clarice's back, wanting to keep her this close as long as he could.

"Okay, okay, enough with the mushy stuff." Clarice laughed, patting his chest with slender hands.

"Whatever you say," He smiled, his hands still resting on her shoulders ", I say we have another glass of wine."

"Great idea!" Clarice stepped inside and came back with the bottle, pouring themselves a nice, tall glass. They drank until the wine was gone and chit chatted until dinner rolled around. They hung out on the patio, watching the sun slowly fall from the sky. Thankfully it was summer and Clarice knew there was a few more hours of good daylight left.

"I shouldn't take up anymore of your time, my dear. I keep stealing your days away." Doctor Lecter went to stand, but Clarice grabbed his sleeve.

"No, no! It's okay! With no one else coming to see me, I was hoping we could spend more time together." Clarice confessed, giving a shrug.

"Oh, so because you're lonely, you're going to keep me captive?" A wink told her he was just teasing and he sat back down.

"Plus, you've had… four glasses of wine or something like that. We can order some food, watch a movie, and if I'm still wary of your driving, you can just stay the night." Doctor Lecter was impressed by her act of kindness, but not surprised.

"I'd rather cook for you than watch you eat some empty calorie meal."

"Well, you can cook for me another time," she laughed ", seriously. You look like you cook… super fancy food and my kitchen is stocked but boring. Come on, let's just get pizza or Chinese food." Clarice tossed her hand up to him.

When she looked back to him, a look of disgust was plastered on his features.

"What's wrong with pizza?" Clarice asked; genuinely confused.

"It's not my thing."

"Not your thing? Everyone likes pizza."

"I do not."

"You're joking."

"No."

"Then you're lying."

"Again, I am not." Doctor Lecter leaned against the counter, knowing he had already won the battle.

"Alright then, if you're going to be so stubborn about it, then we can cook."

"I'll cook," Doctor Lecter waved a hand ", you take a seat."

Clarice watched him move around her kitchen effortlessly, like he knew where everything was. Did he know where everything was? He's been here three times and he's so comfortable. Clarice wondered what the nature of their relationship was before. Doctor Lecter seemed like one type of man, but he was a different one with her. At least, she could only assume. Talking with him takes none of her energy and it's clear that their prior relationship had something to do with how he acts with her…

Clarice heard a snap and she looked up. Doctor Lecter smirked when she came out of her reverie, but he was still patient as ever. He never seemed to be exasperated with her.

"I was asking you about Donald." He said.

"I don't know a lot, except for one or two things he told me."

"Whatever you remember, whatever he's told you, tell me about him." He asked, starting to cook something clearly more intricate than her usual interests.

"Well, apparently we've worked together since I was sworn in as an agent. He was sworn in a year before me, but we became the go to team for anything in the field. He said we've always been friends, which I believe. One thing I know for sure is that he wants to go on a date with me. Donald said he was joking when he said he's been asking me out for two years, but I think he was serious." Clarice rambled on.

"Two years? That's a long time to be told no." Doctor Lecter's back was to her, but there was a hint of something in his voice; intrigue?

"Yeah, that's what I thought. But I'm pretty sure he's never been disrespectful about it. I think he asked me out for drinks just before the accident… Don said I told him maybe."

"And does that sound true?"

"I'm not sure. I mean, if he was serious about the two years… there was probably a reason I didn't say yes before."

"Knowing you, it was likely a professional standard."

"Maybe, but there's this mental obstruction. I don't think it was just that." Clarice hummed, watching his back as he sautéed the vegetables.