For those of you who may be a little confused: Keith Swain as admitted to a mental hospital under a strict agreement. The hospital would be allowed to send Swain to psychiatrists and keep him detained during for 18 hours a day. in return, Swain was allowed to drive himself to and from his psychiatric appointments and have the remainder of his time for leisure under another agreement that he wouldn't "try anything" with children. If he violated this, he would be completely imprisoned in the hospital and, possibly, sent to jail. That's why he wasn't missed until the next morning. Okay? Good.

Also, for the last chapter, I'm athiest and I know the "God' thing may have thrown some of you off. That was there only for the time. This is supposed to be 1958, so people were still pretty religious (as I understand it). So, for anyone it may have offended, I'm just taking orders and know that I'm athiest as well.

As Hannibal had expected, the police came by the next day and asked to question him about Swain. He let them in and told Lolita to go into the attic. He knew she'd likely break down and tell them everything and, however confident he might have been, he wasn't willing to risk that.

"Do you have know anything about Keith Swain's disappearance? We were told that he came here for an appointment and wasn't seen after that."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Danvers, I don't know where he might be. We ended our appointment a bit early and he left. After that, I don't know."

"I see. Sorry to bother you so early, then."

The police left without a fuss and Hannibal thanked the sun and stars for the fact that men at Scotland Yard had gotten thicker since Inspector Popil was there when he was 18.

Before Hannibal knew it, it was Christmas day. Time seemed to pass so quickly when Lolita was around. He had a companion instead of the dead silence of his house when he was alone.

The blanket of snow that covered the ground in the early morning made everything bright and Lolita was out in the middle of it on the swing she had put up on the large oak in their yard. From a window, Hannibal watched her rock slightly back and forth, the falling snow catching in her midnight hair, looking like stars. She looked up at him and smiled sweetly.

Small displays of affection like that were often exchanged between the two of them but nothing much more than that. Hannibal silently lamented the fact that they hadn't kissed since the night that he told her about her grandfather's murder, but he understood. Swain was responsible for any problems she had with her sexuality and Hannibal cursed him for it.

Hannibal noticed the flurries getting bigger and he motioned to Lolita to come inside. She complied and made it in just in time to get out of the oncoming blizzard.

"Thank you." She said. "I like the cold, but not that much."

Hannibal took her face in his hands to warm her frozen red cheeks. Lolita giggled a little at the sensation, her eyes closed, then stopped when the feeling traveled to her lips. She returned the kiss, but stayed at half an arm's length, signaling not to go any further.

When Hannibal pulled away, Lolita's face was no longer red with the cold and she walked upstairs.

"Come with me." She said.

Both went upstairs and, by the time Hannibal caught up with her, Lolita was half buried under their bed.

"What are you doing?" Hannibal asked in an amused tone.

"Getting your present..." Lolita's muffled voice replied.

After a moment of shuffling around, Hannibal heard the "ah!" of discovery. Out came a shallow 9" by 11 1/2" box with plain brown paper that looked similar to that on a grocery bag.

"I'm sorry the wrapping is so terrible." Lolita apologized. "It's hard to wrap quietly in the dark."

"You didn't have to-"

"I wanted to. Besides, what else was I supposed to do with them? Go on, open it."

Hannibal sat down on the bed and carefully opened the package. In the box, he was amazed to see, was himself. A perfect sketch of himself stared back at him, his gloved hand resting on his chest in a respectful manner and a slight smile upon his lips. His name in an elegant script was next to it with an embellishment underneath.

"There are others..." Lolita offered after several minutes of silence.

Hannibal pulled each one out of the box. One of the sky at dawn, one of a blackbird sitting on a snowy branch, two of several creatures around a pond, but Hannibal was shocked by the last. The last sketch was one of himself as well, as perfect as the first, but it showed a quite different side of him. Next to the figure it read "Hannibal the Cannibal" with the same embellishment underneath it. Instead of the hand resting on his chest, it held a knife and his face was sinister, an expression that Hannibal, coincidentally, had never allowed Lolita to see. Yet, she had gotten everything right, down to the last detail.

"I know you think there's some hidden message in that last one, but there's not. I just wanted you to see what other people see when they find out about your... habit."

"Is that what you see?"

"No. I don't see the crime or the monster. I see the man because I live with you every day. Those who see this," She motioned to the picture in his hands. "Don't know you."

Hannibal smiled in relief as Lolita laid a gossamer kiss on his lips. Then, he remembered.

"I have something for you as well." He said, going into the high reaches of the closet where only he, at 5'10", could reach.

Hannibal handed her a small box and a larger box. Lolita opened the larger box and found that there was a beautiful blue dress with a thin black overlay and a trilogy entitled "The Lord of the Rings." She thanked him for it, but couldn't take her eyes off the small box.

"You're allowed to open it." Hannibal mused.

Lolita tentatively opened the box and was thoroughly shocked by what was in it. An understated silver ring with an onyx stone in the center surrounded by small garnets sat inside. She looked up at Hannibal unsurely. He nodded and kneeled down.

"Know that this isn't for right now since you're still a minor, but will you marry me someday?"

Lolita froze as if she didn't know what to say. But rather than replying verbally, she kneeled down and kissed him. When they finally pulled away, she said softly,

"Darling, you should already know the answer..."

"I should, indeed, but I'd still like to hear it from you."

"Yes, I'll marry you!"

And in that evening, thought Lolita knowingly bound her fate to that of a killer, neither seemed to care.

HANNIBAL HAS ABANDONED ME!!! Therefore, I need ideas as to where to go next. I can say that they may not be there forever and I will probably edit them when Hann comes back, but for the time being; can I get some help? Let me know of your ideas!!

Ravyn