AN: Thank you guys for keeping up with the story! Hope you like this chapter. Enjoy!

I woke to the sound of birds chirping happily outside my window. I rolled over, smiling on seeing Hannibal next to me. I reached over, stroking his chest, chewing on my lip.

I felt so happy. But at what cost? He risked his freedom to be here. To be with me.

"Good morning." He murmured, opening his eyes as he rolled over to face me.

"Hi." I said, smiling.

"Thought I'd bring you up here, you went to sleep pretty quickly afterwards." He smiled, running a hand through my hair.

I blushed furiously.

"Did I really?" I buried my face into the pillow.

He began to laugh a little, lifting my head up so my eyes met his. He then brought his lips down to mine.

"Don't be embarrassed. You've had a rough couple of days."

"Paul Krendler kidnapped me." I laughed, still trying to convince myself it had actually happened. "I didn't think he had it in him to do something like that."

He sighed, stroking my hair, gazing into my eyes. After a minute or so, he spoke again.

"Clarice, I believe you have missed Miss Mapp's funeral."

I sat up in bed, frowning at him.

"I saw it on the news this morning." He murmured. "I couldn't sleep, so I got up. Then afterwards, I came back to bed."

I nodded quickly, chewing on my lower lip. Everything seemed to blur around me. I had missed my best friend's funeral.

It wasn't your fault.

But something deep inside me was telling me it was my fault. My eyes filled quickly with tears. I refused to let them fall. I had to be strong.

"I let her down." I whispered.

"You did not let Miss Mapp down, Clarice. You were there for her whenever she needed you. When you departed from the FBI, she didn't contact you, did she?"

I shook my head gently.

"But I didn't contact her either. I didn't know what to say. Everyone thought we were in love and day after day I had to prove we weren't. It was exhausting and tedious saying the same thing over and over again. I hated it."

"Did they believe you?" He asked, still stroking my hair.

"No, I don't believe they did."

"Is that why you left?"

"I left because I had had enough of their bullshit." I said, raising my voice a little. "What is this? Twenty questions?" I got up from the bed, heading into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.

Okay, so maybe I overreacted. Besides, he only asked a couple of questions. I hate being interrogated.

That wasn't an interrogation, idiot. He's just trying to help.

I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror, frowning. The dark circles under my eyes seemed bigger, I was still losing weight and my skin was so pale I looked ill.

There was a light knock on the door before it was opened. Hannibal stood there, fully dressed.

"I'm sorry." I murmured.

"There is no need to apologise, Clarice. I did not mean to offend."

"You were just testing my limits, right?"

"Something like that." He smiled briefly. "You know you're going to have to make a decision soon. I can't stay here forever."

I closed my eyes briefly before turning around. Could I leave with him? Pack everything up and go? But what would I have left if I stayed? An empty apartment and only myself for company.

"Where would we go?" I asked finally.

"I'd suggest Florence. But given the circumstances, I don't think that's a good idea at all."

"No, you're right."

"Where do you want to go?" He paused for a moment. "I could show you where I grew up as a child." He murmured.

I nodded, smiling a little.

"I think I'd like that, a lot."

"It's settled then." He stood up from the bed, and I watched him move about the room in all his glory.

"Enjoying the view?" He murmured, his back to me.

I flushed pink, laughing.

"Yes, actually, I am." I said, chewing on my lower lip, waiting for his reaction.

"Don't tempt me Clarice." He replied, pulling his shirt on.

I rolled from the bed, taking a sheet with me, covering my body as I walked towards him. He turned around as I reached him. I smiled up at him, before kissing him lightly on the lips. He returned the kiss for a moment, before pulling away. I pouted at his actions.

"Don't pout, Clarice." He said, pulling on his trousers.

I huffed, walking to the dresser, pulling out a pair of jeans and a polo shirt. I threw them on, aware of his eyes watching me.

"Enjoying the view?" I mimicked.

"I most certainly am."

He took a step forward, pulling me into his arms. I inhaled sharply as I hit his chest. He gazed down at me, his eyes dark and filled with lust.

"What are you doing to me, Clarice?" He murmured.

Within a second, his lips found mine. The kiss was hot and filled with need. I needed him. More than anything. Did he need me? I wasn't sure.

I pulled back from the kiss, my cheeks flushed as I tried to calm my breathing down. Hannibal stared down at me, his eyes dark.

"What are you doing to me, Hannibal?"

He rewarded me with one of his dazzling smiles before kissing my forehead.

"When do we leave?" I asked, running my hand through his hair.

"You're sure you want to leave with me, Clarice? Once you do, there's no going back."

"I understand." I nodded, smiling a little.

"I'll book the earliest flight possible. We will have to board separately. If anything happens, which will be highly unlikely, I don't want you caught up in it."

I nodded to him. After a few moments, he frowned slightly at me.

"Clarice, what's troubling you?"

"Where exactly did you put his body?" I asked bluntly.

"Does it matter?"

"I suppose not." I murmured, continuing to get myself ready.

I headed into the bathroom, washing my face and brushing my teeth. As soon as I had finished, Hannibal entered. He didn't say anything, he just stared at me.

You can't do this, Starling. It goes against everything you stand for.

Her subconscious laughed at her, shaking her head.

You slept with him, Clarice. It's too late to have regrets.

"Clarice?"

His soothing voice snapped me from my daze.

"Hm?"

"What have you got there?" He asked quietly.

I frowned to him, looking down at my hands. I held my trusty colt and my cuffs.

What the fuck. How did they get there?

My brow furrowed further, and before I had the chance to look up, a cloth was pressed against my face. The last thing I remember is falling into a pair of strong, sturdy arms, before blacking out.

AN: Is Clarice having moral issues? Or is she going crazy? Why did she pick up the gun? What will Hannibal do with her now?

Thank you guys so much for reading! Feeling a little rusty on the writing at the moment and having some stupidly difficult problems to deal with right now. Not too sure where this fic will go, so any ideas would be amazing! Drop me a PM if you have an idea.