I do not own anything related to Hannibal, either thru television, or written books. Everything belongs to Thomas Harris and Bryan Fuller. I do own all the created characters. I do not own any songs, or literature mentioned. They are included to enhance the written words. Please read, review, and enjoy!

Chapter 4

Song(s): Pale September (Fiona Apple)

November 19th

5 SE Hurlburt Road, Gresham, Oregon…

9:23pm

Three days until my due date

Staring out of the kitchen window, Oliveah sighed as she watched the heavy snowflakes cascade down and onto the ground as her ears picked up on the growing whistle of the kettle.

Snow storm warning in effect since yesterday

Glad to see it held off a day to give us a chance to batten down the hatches

Moving across the wooden floor boards, she grabbed a hand towel and removed the stainless-steel kettle before filling up a chipped mug to the brim, watching the pieces of ginger bobbing against the porcelain sides. Breathing in deeply, Oliveah closed her eyes and savored the powerful smell as she bent over slightly feeling the rising steam against her face. Hearing the crack of the logs in the fireplace, she took up her cup and sat it gently on the floor of the open living room, pushing the blankets and pillows away with her foot. Furniture had become too uncomfortable to sit on, and the only relief she had found in the last three weeks, had been to stack up the throw pillows against her back before shoving a rolled-up blanket under her right hip.

"You'd better be, not even one day late" she spat, settling down amongst the other blankets as Winston pushed his cold wet nose against her arm.

"You're cold too buddy? Or just cuddles?"

Pulling the edge of the blanket up, she felt Winston settle in beside her just as the wooden door blew open. Watching Will Graham shaking off his gloves and removing his snow-covered toque, she caught the rosiness of his cheeks as Buster jumped up from his blanket to snap at the falling clumps of snow.

"That's definitely not going to stop overnight" he breathed, shaking off his plaid lumberjack sweater before moving towards the fireplace. Spreading the garment out on the drying rack, he tossed his toque on the last free peg before running his hands through his hair.

"How are you feeling?"

Wincing as she rubbed along the tight skin of her bump beneath the blanket, Oliveah breathed out deeply as she reached for her tea.

"Like tonight would be the night if any for me to suddenly go into labor."

"Isn't that an old wives' tale? Associating weather phenomenon with mood behavior and birthing?"

I wouldn't know

Hearing the wind picking up outside, she could feel a slight coolness in the room through the small cracks in the wooden log siding as she couldn't help but shiver.

Moving towards the healthy stack of split logs, Will built the fire back up before brushing his hands against the sides of his jeans.

"There is hot water in the kettle if you want tea?"

Watching Will striking a long match beside the handcrafted wooden table, she watched as he neared the flame against the wicks of the three large beeswax candles that sat in the middle of the wood.

"Anticipating a power outage?" she joked as she remembered back to a similar stormy environment that found them sitting cross legged on her bedroom floor in the dark eating fried nuggets out of a bowel.

"Funny."

Making himself a cup of instant coffee, Will walked over the pile of blankets as he took a seat beside Oliveah. Feeling the young woman nestling in against his side, he raised his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders before rubbing the edge of his thumb against her arm. Placing a soft kiss against the side of her head, he felt her melting against him as a pop sounded from the logs in the fire.

"Still no names?"

"You know, I never really understood how someone could decide on a name for a child before even seeing it, meeting it" Oliveah muttered as she rubbed her stomach.

"You think something will just come to you?"

I hope something will…

…

November 20th

1:19am

Staring up at the dark ceiling of the nursery from her single bed in the corner, Oliveah moved her eyes around the framed children's pictures as she heard the power of the wind slamming against the wall of the room.

Rising slowly to her feet, she breathed out deeply as she felt slight cramping along her pelvic region.

"Almost time little baby…almost time."

Almost time to meet you

What kind of temperament are you going to have?

Are you going to look like him?

Are you going to look like me?

Feeling the cold floorboards beneath her feet, she grabbed her wool cardigan and swung it over her shoulders as the ends fell to just above the hem of her cream coloured night gown. Pulling open the bedroom door, she softly padded into the living room and stacked up three new logs amongst the dying flames. Rubbing her stomach, she felt a sudden thirst for milk and as she moved across the floor to the small cold storage box that held their meagre supplies of dairy, she slammed the palm of her hand down against the table top before letting out a deep growl followed by a guttural scream.

Shutting her eyes tightly as she felt another searing pain in her lower abdomen, Oliveah felt another scream in the back of her throat as she fell onto her knees.

"WILL!"

Moving her hand down against her thigh, Oliveah winced as she felt a sudden wetness running down the inside of her thigh. Wiping her fingers against her skin, she brought them up towards her eyes and spied the clear liquid dripping.

My water broke

"WILL! PLEASE!"

Hearing the banging of Will's bedroom door slamming against the wall, Oliveah screwed her eyes shut tightly as she heard the rushing of footsteps across the floorboards. Glancing upwards through her tear-soaked eyes, she stared up into Will's face as she noticed his shirtless chest and half done up jeans.

"Oliveah?"

…

Three hours later…

Leaning her forearms painfully over the side of the bathtub, Oliveah clutched at the white hand towel between her hands as she felt the sharp pain radiating deep down and over her entire body.

Contractions

You are coming baby…

Breathing in deeply as she tried to spread her thighs in the lukewarm water to take the pain out of her lower back, Oliveah closed her eyes as she let out another long cry.

It's not like women haven't had to birth their own babies before

"Jesus, the storm has knocked everything out. Power, cell service, nothing. I can't get a call out to the midwife or your doula" Will spoke nervously as he slammed his mobile phone down onto the basin edge of the sink.

Tonight, would be the night the baby would come

During a storm

"What day is it?"

Hearing Oliveah's panting breath as he frowned at her unexpected question, Will looked down at his watch and rubbed at his exhausted eyes.

"It's the twentieth."

No

No, little baby you are early

Hannibal's birthday isn't until the twenty-second

Letting out another scream as she pushed her breath out hard, she felt like pushing and fainting at the same time as she realized her child would not share the same birthday as it's cannibalistic father.

But that is a good thing

A good start, right?

Feeling the warmth of Will's hands cupping her cheeks, she opened her eyes and could barely make out Will's eyes as his entire face made her feel dizzy. Kneeling down in front of her, he moved his hands out over her shoulders and kneaded her skin hard as the high shrill of the kettle whistle sounded from the woodstove.

"More hot water, I'll be back."

Feeling Will's lips against the side of her temple, Oliveah felt the tears falling from her closed eyes and into the water of the tub as she heard him walking away.

What did you read Oliveah?

What did Stella tell you about birthing positions?

About water births?"

Feeling another contraction building up, the young mother to be groaned deeply as she moved a hand between her thighs.

Had I left America with Hannibal; he would be here instead of Will. Guiding me, urging me to push, telling me to hold steady

Tasting her tears as they ran down her cheeks, Oliveah hear Will's footsteps as he re-entered the bathroom carrying a jug of half hot half cold water, all the hand towels, and three large beeswax candles.

"Another contraction is coming…" she breathed as the young man got down on his knees. Settling in front of her, he felt Oliveah's fingers strongly gripping his bare forearms as she lowered her head and fought through the pain with half steady breaths.

"JESUS!"

This isn't how it was supposed to be

I was supposed to have a midwife

What if something goes wrong?

"You're doing so good Oliveah, come on, so good…." Will soothed as Oliveah buried her face against his t-shirted shoulder. Letting out another scream as she felt Will holding her tightly, she couldn't imagine the amount of her pain coming close to anything he experienced at Hannibal's hand or guidance.

You've suffered Will

Yet you have lived through it

Bearing down as she felt another contraction quickly approaching, Oliveah looked down into the water around her and moved her hand between her thighs as she felt her breathing becoming rapid.

"I feel it…I FEEL IT! WILL!"

Quickly cupping the sides of her face with his wet hands, Will steadied her eyes with his as he felt his lips twitching.

"You are so beautiful Oliveah. You can do this, one push, one push…"

Sitting up on her hunches, Oliveah kept a hand down between her thighs as she held her breath and pushed hard. Feeling a sudden rush against her hand, she opened her eyes and immediately scooped the small naked infant up from the bloody water, holding it tightly against her chest.

"OLIVEAH!"

Letting out the breath she had been holding, she could feel the weight of the quiet child against her chest as Will reached forward and pressed his lips hard against hers.

"Open your eyes, and meet your daughter Oliveah" he breathed against her ear as she felt her breathing hitch.

Daughter

I have a daughter

Hearing a low cry from the infant against her chest, she slowly opened her eyes and immediately noticed sparse dark brown hair.

She has dark brown hair

Just like Hannibal

Feeling the warmth of a small blanket against the back of her hands, Oliveah moved her fingers as Will started to gently wipe off the child. Bringing a single finger up, she lightly touched the tip of the child's ear as it nuzzled its face against her sternum. Wrapping the blanket around the baby's body, Oliveah felt her stomach lurch as the infant started to cry.

Cry little baby cry

Let it all out

Pulling the child back from her chest, Oliveah stared into her daughter's wrinkled face and felt more tears pooling in her eyes.

I am a mother

…

November 21st

2701 Strada Spatarului Bucharest, Romania…

11:58pm

Standing on the balcony outside the master bedroom of the half run down villa, Hannibal brought the rim of his wine glass up against his lips as he took a deep sip of the merlot. Hearing the distant beeps of car horns from the city center, he let out a low sigh as he felt the beginnings of rain drops that had not been forecasted for that day's weather.

"Once upon a time…"

Whispering into the night as he stared up into the cloudy midnight sky, his ears picked up on the light shuffling of feet coming from the bedroom behind him. Looking down to his wrist watch, he took in a deep breath as he watched the minute hand move slightly off the number twelve.

"Happy birthday Hannibal,"

Ignoring Bedelia's wishes as he felt her coming to stand on his left side, he felt her arm grazing his as she pulled her bathrobe tighter around her waist.

"I've never celebrated birthdays. Not since I was a child" he spoke as Bedelia seized on the opportunity to open communication.

"Birthdays are reminders that we are continually aging every day. They make us think of the year before. Some think of regrets, some think of lost time, some wish to relive those past three hundred and sixty-five days. Some, are just…happy to be older" she added, catching a flash of lightening in the distance.

"Are you happy, Hannibal?"

"Happiness is a fleeting emotion Bedelia. No man or woman is completely…happy" he spoke, hearing a rumble of thunder as it spread out over the sky above the city.

Today is your due date Oliveah. Though this being your first pregnancy, you very well may be late

Tightening his grip along the iron wrought railing of the balcony, the cannibal raised his eyes and caught sight of the moon's edge peeking out from behind a dark cloud.

But I know, you have delivered our child

…

November 23rd

5 SE Hurlburt Road, Gresham, Oregon…

Poking through a box of children's books that her birth doula had brought over the day after the storm, Oliveah sighed as she heard Winston's whimper from his spot on the rug beside the cradle.

"Shhh Winston…"

Moving towards the animal, she reached down and scratched behind his tan colored ear before peering at the sleeping face of her still unnamed daughter.

Nothing is coming to mind for you

Reaching a finger out, Oliveah lightly brushed the back of her thumb along the baby's still lower lip as she watched the child's closed eyes flutter with deep sleep.

I have no experience with babies or children, so I apologize in advance for my oversights

"Like, giving you a name," she muttered, watched the baby's eyes fluttering open as it clenched its tiny fingers into fists.

"Good afternoon baby girl, you hungry?"

Carefully picking her daughter up as she cradled her soft head, she moved towards the hand built wooden rocking chair and took a seat. Freeing herself from her tank top, she felt the baby latch with ease before resting her head and closing her eyes.

"She's beautiful Oliveah,"

Hearing Will's whisper from the open doorway, she hummed as he stepped up beside the chair, reaching out and tenderly touching the baby's finger nails with the tip of his index finger.

"She's half of Hannibal."

"She, is ours Oliveah."

Nodding her head, she felt him leave her side and watched as he started to look through the few books she had managed to stack on the edge of the wooden dresser. Pulling out a dog-eared copy of a hardcover book that had seen better days, Will flipped it open and started to read the first few words as Oliveah froze in the rocking chair.

"In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines…"

(Flashback)

Sheppard Public School, 1430 Sheppard Ave W, North York, Toronto…

"Have you chosen your library book yet?"

Hearing the voice of her teacher standing directly behind her, eight-year-old Oliveah wrung her hands together as she stared at the shelf directly in front of her.

Too many choices

"I can't decide Miss. Lem."

Feeling the woman's hand settling on her shoulder, Oliveah ignored the snickers of laugher from a few of her classmates as she kept her eyes focused on the rows of books.

"What are you interested in Oliveah? Have you read Pippi Longstocking? Or Swiss Family Robinson?"

Shaking her head, no Oliveah angled her eyes and caught sight of a sketched Eiffel Tower amongst tall green trees. Moving her eyes down, she counted eleven little cartoon girls dressed in bright yellow before focusing on a singled out little girl with red hair peeking out from beneath her yellow hat.

"Well, what does your mother read to you?"

Ignoring her teacher's question, she reached her fingers out and picked up the book, gesturing that this was her pick.

"Madeline. Very good choice Oliveah. I hope you'll like it…"

"In two straight lines they broke their bread and brushed their teeth and went to bed. They left the house at half past nine, in two straight lines in rain or shine…"

Turning around as he heard Oliveah speaking, Will held the book steady in his hand as he watched her look down and into the face of her now slumbering three-day old daughter.

"The smallest one, was Madeline."

…

Thank you to DandelionDani, Foxtrotscar, Americanlatinajapansegirl, Mara-Lethe for leaving reviews!

Please read, subscribe and review! I will be updating this story every other Saturday just like before with Part 1.

P.S. Madeline is owned by Ludwig Bemelmans. I own nothing, and included his written words with no intention of copyright. Please enjoy!

DandelionDani – I thought about that! Thanks for reading!

Foxtrotoscar – The wait is over for baby Lecter! I always knew I wanted it to be a girl. Names on the other hand, were hard!

Americanlatinajapanesegirl – Thanks for reviewing and reading!

Mara-Lethe – First, congrats on expecting! I know nothing about pregnancies, so I was having to watch some youtube videos and googling some things in order to properly describe. I've probably made Oliveah's birth experience sound easy!