Notes: I do apologise for the delay on this one! I started this chapter earlier in the week, but the document didn't save. Anyway, thanks to everyone who is reading this. There will be two more chapters in this piece, but there will be a third and final story in this series.

Will finally said the words after his bath the next morning.

Abigail had a meeting with Freddie Lounds, so Hannibal and Will had the place to themselves. Hannibal had dropped Abigail off, then returned to bed, where he and Will had spent two beautiful hours writhing deliciously in the sheets.

Afterwards, Hannibal had filled the bath for him and left him alone to relax. He had returned to retrieve Will exactly forty minutes later.

Will was naked and dripping, his hair soaking, his hands curled around Hannibal's suit jacket. When he said the words, he was leaning against Hannibal, his crutches forgotten in the bedroom. Hannibal was smiling tenderly down at him.

This was a changed man. Even though Hannibal would never admit it, Will had changed him- he was still manipulative, still cold and calculating, still a killer... but he was something more now.

Will reached up and stroked Hannibal's smooth jaw; the fact that he could so easily touch Hannibal like this was still an amazing novelty.

Hannibal's smile widened, revealing a flash of slightly pointed teeth. These were his rarest smiles. They made him look young and mischievous. They made him look carefree and- although Will would never dare admit it- adorable.

Will knew he could never leave this man. He would never feel as happy as he did in these moments; he felt almost painfully alive. The world was a vivid place now, not a vague blur he flailed helplessly around in.

This was where he belonged.

"I love you," Will said.

Hannibal's eyes widened, and he turned his face so that his lips brushed Will's palm. Will saw his Adam's apple bob up and down.

Hannibal closed his eyes; his heart was racing, his rapid pulse visible in his throat.

This had been a mistake. Will should have known that love was not part of the agenda with Hannibal. As the moment stretched out, Will felt sick and horrified. He had made a terrible error in blurting those words out.

Then he noticed a tear roll down Hannibal's cheek.

Hannibal grabbed him gently, lifted him against his chest and walked back to the bedroom without speaking. He sat down on the edge of the bed, gripping Will, still crying silently.

Will couldn't imagine a stranger sight than those tears rolling down Hannibal's face. He wiped them away with shaking fingers.

"Please say something. I didn't mean to make you cry. I just- it just came out, I didn't-"

"Do not say that you did not mean those words," Hannibal said, his voice rough.

Will said nothing, merely stroked Hannibal's hair.

Hannibal looked down at him, and he smiled shakily, reaching down to trail his fingers through Will's beard.

"I love you," Hannibal said.

They fell together back onto the covers, limbs tangled together. Will stared at Hannibal, unable to believe that this was happening.

Will kissed Hannibal's tears, and Hannibal kissed his.

"I wish I had known you before," Hannibal said.

"I wish I had known you before."

"It is hard to imagine what I might have managed to mould you into if you had stumbled into my life before you were ready for me."

"What makes you think I was ever ready?" Will asked, smiling.

Hannibal purred against his neck. "I think that you are glad I came into your life. You know you shouldn't be, but you can't help it."

"What makes you think you have moulded me?"

"I have. Sometimes I wish I could give you back your freedom, but I think it is lost forever."

Will inhaled. "Forever?"

A smoky chuckle. "If that is what you wish."

The following moment was fragile and important. Will could feel his heart beating, hear Hannibal's short, nervous breathing.

He smiled. "Yes. Please."

Hannibal's laugh was warm and happy. "I promise I will try not to be cruel," he said seriously when it died away. "I cannot say I will always be successful. I will do what I can for you and Abigail."

"I love you," Will repeated.

Hannibal rested his face against Will's wet hair and Will felt him inhale deeply. "I love you."

Will felt like he was floating when Hannibal left to go to a meeting with Jack. He lay very still in the empty bed, face pressed into the sheets.

It was hard to imagine how they could make this work. Hannibal was a complex person, but at the heart of it, he was a murderer. Will knew he would never fully accept that; it went against his instincts to protect and help people.

Will knew he wanted to help bring Hannibal into the light, and he was very sure that wasn't possible. He was setting himself up for a lifetime of pain.

Oh, it would be beautiful and delicious and fun, because being with Hannibal was all of those things, but it was also bittersweet and heartbreaking.

He breathed in deeply. There was no way to go back now.

And there was Abigail to consider. Together, they had a chance to give her a good life, although Will suspected he would have to try to stop her following Hannibal's route in life.

Right now, he was content to just lie still. His heart was still racing. Hannibal loved him.

They would find a way.

He heard the door open, heard Abigail ask if anyone was home. He didn't reply; he wanted to enjoy his perfect moment a little longer.

He was smiling into the pillow when Abigail started to scream.