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"I'm afraid I can't do that Hannibal."

"I have no intentions to injure you, Ardelia. You are very dear to Clarice, and I believe it would be therapeutic to the both of you to visit each other."

Ardelia lowered her gun and looked at Hannibal as they walked back to the country home. She wondered if it was the right thing to do to trust him so easily, or even be here. After all he did kidnap her best friend.

"How have you been, Ardelia?"

"Fine."

"It's quite a ways back to the home, it'd be better if we didn't spend it in silence."

"I know damn well how far away we are from the house. My car's in the drive way." Ardelia snapped at him. She kept her eyes straight ahead, gun tight in her hand, ready for any sudden movements.

"Clarice has been worried about you."

Ardelia stopped in her tracks and stared at the figure in front of her. Hannibal turned to look at her and he raised one eyebrow as to ask why she had stopped.

"What do you MEAN she's been worried about me?"

"Well, she's feeling a bit distraught by the fact she didn't explain things better."

"EXPLAIN THINGS BETTER? EXPLAIN THAT YOU KIDNAPPED HER?" Ardelia yelled.

"I assure you, my dear, Clarice came on her own free will."

Ardelia's eyes filled with tears, as she wondered what in the world she was doing here, and what she should do next.

"I did not mean to upset you, you may stay for dinner, if that will make it up for you." Hannibal handed her his handkerchief and started, "Maybe it is better that we do stay quiet for the rest of this walk." He then turned around and continued walking.

Hannibal and Ardelia continue their walk in silence, and as they approached the house, Hannibal could smell both the adrenalin and sadness off of her. He welcomed her inside and set her up on the couch with a cup of tea before going upstairs to explain to Clarice what was going on.

"Clarice, we have a visitor."

Clarice was wrapped up in the blankets reading a book. She set the book down on the bedside table and turned around to look a Hannibal. "A visitor, huh?" She got out of the bed to retrieve some clothes from the closet.

"Yes, my dear. Your old friend Ardelia was kind enough to come pay us a visit."

Clarice froze completely in her tracks and looked at him with wide eyes.

"She's a bit distraught, though. We must keep a calm and maintained energy around her so we don't cause a ruckus." Hannibal saw the panic in her eyes. He walked towards her and cupped her face with both hands, then kissed her gently on the forehead. "Don't worry my dear. It will be perfectly fine. Even if it doesn't I'll be here the entire way to support you."

Clarice nodded and continued to get herself ready, a bit quicker this time.

"Clarice, I will be heading downstairs to start dinner and keep our guest company. I wouldn't keep her waiting too long, my dear." Clarice nodded again and Hannibal exited the room, closing the door behind him.

"Ardelia, she's getting ready she'll be down in a few minutes."

"Thank you, ."

"Call me Hannibal."

Ardelia looked around and began to question herself again. Why was she here? To see Clarice, to bring her back. Now she saw that may not happen. Why was being so damn nice? And why did he tell her to call him Hannibal? The name gave her chills. Maybe he was going to chop her up and serve her for dinner. Great, what a way to make it up to me, Dr. Lector.

"Ardelia?"

Ardelia turned around on the couch to see Clarice walking down the staircase. She immediately got up and the two stared quietly at each other for a moment, neither sure what to say. Clarice looked so fresh and lively. So much younger than she did back in her days at the FBI. Her hair was blond, and her wrinkles looked more like laughter lines than old age. Her eyes were bright and shining with joy Ardelia's never seen in them before.

"Ardelia- I." Before Clarice could speak any further, Ardelia pulled Clarice into her arms.

"I missed you Clarice. I'm glad to see your doing well."

The two parted and Clarice smiled.

"I hope you can except my new life and respect it enough to keep it to yourself."

A part of Ardelia wanted to be so mad at Clarice, wanted to scream at her and ask her why on earth she left her. But Ardelia knew Clarice was happy and she did what she did for a reason, she would be selfish and blind to not let her continue her life.

The three spent the rest of the evening indulging to conversation and a delicious three course meal. Hannibal assured Ardelia that Clarice was going to be well taken care of and she was welcome to visit from time to time as long as she never brings trouble with her.

That evening, as Ardelia prepared to leave, she pulled Hannibal to the side.

"Listen Hannibal. I'm sorry for judging you. I can't say it was wrong of me because, well, you're a fugitive, and I'm an agent for the FBI. But I can't deny that Clarice is happier than I have seen her in years, and I'd be an awful bitch to take that away from her. Don't think that you're off the hook though. I'm nowhere close to being as soft as Clarice is when it comes to people like you. If you hurt her, even once- I will crush your head in, Hannibal Lector. Thank you for taking care of her so far and I expect nothing less of how you've been treating her."

"Understood, Ms. Mapp. Clarice is my pride and joy, and we will stay in touch."

"Thank you, Lector. Clarice, I'm leaving."

Ardelia grabbed her coat off the rack and hugged Clarice goodbye.

"You be good, Clarice. You know how to get a hold of me." Clarice smiled and hugged Ardelia goodbye. Hannibal and Clarice stood outside and waved goodbye to Ardelia as she left.

"Hannibal?"

"Yes, Clarice?"

"You tipped her off on how to find us, didn't you?"

Hannibal grinned and turned around to go inside and Clarice quickly followed.