Chapter 7

Scarves of fuchsia tinted clouds trailed across the sky in the west, trapping the last rays of sunset. Lengthening shadows darkened the green of the grass, the light and heat of early spring day slowly fading. From the raised scene in the middle of the large park came the strains of Beethoven's "Violin Sonata" as deft and artful fingers coaxed evocative sounds from old wood and strings.

Alana sat on a corner of a striped Indian blanket spread on the grass near enough the stage to have the best possible sound but not near enough to have permanent headache.

The park was full with people, young and old, families with children and handholding couples, singles and groups. Some picnicked from baskets like them; others sipped wine and munched on canapés; some tossed Frisbees; others chased runaway toddlers; some stood by the stage; some strolled aimlessly; some snoozed. Movement. Everywhere there was movement.

Hannibal shifted his position on the blanket and leaned back on his elbows, hooking one leg over the other, the movement drawing Alana's still disbelieving glance. Clad in sneakers, blue jeans, and a polo shirt, with dark glasses shielding his eyes, he looked like any other music lover.

"Enjoying yourself?"

He asked with a smile. Alana returned it.

"I'm still in awe of you sitting on grass, having a picnic and most importantly, not wearing a three piece suit"

Alana teased.

"I come here every year. You simply did not know about it"

He teased right back catching the yellow tennis ball Applesauce nudged with her nose at him and threw it away again. The cream dog ran after it followed closely by a shaggy white one. He had told Alana how much he despised dogs, and it was the truth, yet he somehow found himself not appalled by Winston and Applesauce even though neither dog liked him very much. It was a work in progress.

"How are you fairing without the rest of the dogs?"

He asked Alana noticing her watch the dogs.

"My house feels empty but I couldn't keep them all. Will agreed to let Margo Verger take them but Winston wouldn't go so..."

Alana shrugged one shoulder and Hannibal grinned knowing full well why Margo wanted Will's dogs. During a session he had told her what happened to her brother and how Will's dogs had eaten his face. Forcing Mason to interact with the dogs that tasted his flesh was a constant torture.

Sometimes Hannibal felt like a proud mother at the actions of his patients. Refilling their plastic cups with wine he raised one arm so Alana could curl herself on his lap

"Do you like the music?"

"I do"

"I can't believe I didn't know about this festival. Thank you for showing it to me"

Alana spoke in Hannibal's ear or her words would be drowned either by the music or the gurgling laughter of a toddler and the distant hum of street traffic.

"You're welcome"

He responded and tightened his arms around her content. Alana looked up at him, warmth bubbling in her.

"Would you like to dance?"

Startled, she wasn't sure she understood what he meant.

"Here?"

He nodded.

"Here. Now. With me. In my arms."

There was something dreamlike and slow about the way Hannibal sat up, drew her to her feet and he drew her against him, his gaze holding hers, his hand and arm folding over hers and carrying it to his chest. They danced close, their clothes brushing, with each shifting step. Her cheek was centimeters from his jaw, her nerve ends tingling with awareness of him.

She pressed closer to him, needing to feel the warmth of his body, needing to be reminded that he was alive despite the more than enough times he almost met his maker in the past six months.

His encircling arm tightened to keep her close. Hannibal rubbed his jaw against her cheek breathing in her soft floral scent. She closed her eyes for an instant, and then smiled.

"Do you realize that this is the first time we've danced together?"

"It's not going to be our last."

His lips lightly grazed along her eyebrow, his breath warm against her skin.

"I want to court you, Alana. We bypassed that the last time."

"I guess we did."

Did she regret that? She didn't know.

"I want to do it right this time. Candlelight dinners, roses, and soft music"

"I'd like that"

He took her lips in a kiss that was both tender and full of longing. She answered it with equal fervor until they were interrupted by the two dogs.

"Go home with me?"

"With pleasure"

The end