Hello everyone and welcome to my newest chapter! I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's and that 2015 brings you prosperity and happiness! I apologise that this update has not come sooner, though I have been working on new chapters every day for the past several days and have finally gotten to my delicious Hannibal update. I have finally gotten back to working on multiple projects at once. So now my aim is to try and balance them all out to give regular updates for everything in between writing my new book.

Enjoy and Bon appetit!

On a stormy evening, Abigail had spent most of the day wrapped up in a comforter and researching some of the places that she may end up visiting with Hannibal. Working on her french during the afternoon, Abigail didn't realise how much time had passed until she glanced at her phone. Looking up to see the way the rain streamed down the windows, Abigail glanced down to the sleeping kitten by her legs and felt certain not even thunder and lightning would wake him when he was so contented.

Deciding it was time to think about what to make for dinner, Abigail got to her feet and felt the cold shiver as she left the warmth of her throw. Getting herself a long billowing cardigan from her wardrobe, Abigail left the room with Shadow close behind her, having stretched lazily and woken from his slumber after Abigail had gotten up.

It almost felt strange to have spent the day in her room after having spent so much time in Hannibal's company over the last couple of weeks. It almost felt too quiet in the house, but as she put on one of his selections of classical music, she felt contented as she went about her errands, thinking of her planned evening.

In exchange for agreeing to try and learn the harpsichord, Hannibal had promised her that they could spend an evening indulging in something that she enjoyed.

While she was initially concerned that Hannibal might not find it too interesting, she was looking forward too it regardless. It had been a long time since she's had a movie night, let alone felt relaxed enough to do so. Having poured herself a glass of water, Abigail had been about to look over the food in the fridge for preparing dinner and checking that Hannibal had some popcorn when she noticed Shadow's change in posture.

As he crept in, low on his stomach with a growl in his throat as he crawled behind Abigail's legs for safety. Placing the glass down, Abigail reached for a knife on the counter as she edged towards the door and peered silently around it. It was in that moment that she caught a fleeting glimpse of Will Graham. Feeling as though the sound of her heartbeat would give her away, she shrank back against the wall and realised after a few moments of listening quietly that he was there alone.

Returning the knife; Abigail took a breath and considered her situation as Will Graham explored the other rooms of the house, evidently looking for Hannibal. She knew that he had enabled Will's freedom in spite of the latter's attempt on Hannibal's life. Having seen the gun that he braced, Abigail knew that she needed to do something to intervene.

Heading out of the kitchen carefully in order to not startle him, Abigail found Will returning to the hallway and glancing into the front room, before pausing and standing in place. Waiting for a moment in silence, Will suddenly pulled his gun on her, looking into Abigail's eyes as she stood rooted in place, her expression calm while her eyes screamed fear.

'Abigail...?'

Seeing the look of disbelief in Will's eyes, she almost thought his legs might give way to the shock of seeing her before him. It was in that moment that she knew just how her death must have affected him and those who had cared for her.

'I...I don't understand...this is...'

'I know... Hi...'

She could see he was still reeling with shock as he finally lowered his gun, though she soon realised she had been hardly breathing as she felt relief at the intake of oxygen.

'How can it be…you're…'

'Dead?'

Brushing her hair aside by means of explanation, Will stepped forward, reaching out his fingertips to touch her as if he believed that she were not real.

'You're here. You're really here,' he breathed, running a hand through her hair before pulling her close to him. He felt warm, welcoming, though somehow different. His hair was different, and his whole demeanour seemed to have changed. He was no longer afraid of himself, or so it seemed.

'What has Hannibal done to you? Whatever it is we have to get you out of here now,' he remarked quite suddenly, holding her in his arms as Abigail regarded him with a sigh.

'He hasn't done anything other than protect me, I'm not going anywhere. I'm safe here. Everyone believes I'm dead. You would too if I hadn't decided to show myself.'

'Then why did you?'

'Because I want to know why you're here. I guess a part of me wanted to speak to you. To thank you…you saved me from becoming my Father's last victim. I never truly thanked you for that. But do you intend to kill the man who saved me from the FBI's arrest? Or are you going to point that gun at me too?'

'He's a monster Abigail, you don't know-'

'That he's killed people? Yes. I do know. Hannibal told me a long time ago. I also know that he helped to prove your innocence, just as he saved my life.'

'He's also the reason I ended up in the Baltimore State Hospital for the criminally insane in the first place,' Will argued in frustration, though he recovered himself, his expression softening as he reminded himself that Abigail was, at least, alive.

'You were sick Will…you scared me that day back in Minnesota. You even scared yourself,' Abigail countered, 'you said back when we first met that you'd do anything to help me…'

'Abigail…'

'I don't think you realise just how it has felt to believe that you have no where to run. Like you, I was being chased over murders I didn't commit because I was trying to stay alive,' Abigail stated, an edge in her tone as she recalled just how frightened she had been back then.

'I knew what my Father was. Deep down, I knew it was him. But I had no choice. I had to be a monster just to stay alive.'

'You are not a monster Abigail.'

'Hannibal told me the same thing…he said he knew what monsters were and that I was not one of them.'

'Hannibal is a danger to you Abigail.'

'I am asking you…if you care for me and care about what happens to me, do not hurt Hannibal. He saved my life and he saved yours.'

'He's just manipulating you…like he manipulates everybody.'

'No. You're wrong,' Abigail insisted. 'Do I look drugged to you? Do I look like I've been chained up or neglected? No. Because I haven't. I have a home here.'

'Has he been treating you to his therapy?' Will challenged

'No.'

Looking at her evenly, Will asked her to recount to him everything she knew, to determine if she had gaps in her memory and found himself unable to point out any flaws in her story.

'Listen to me Will; this is not going to resolve anything. What do you intend to do? Shoot Hannibal and go back to the Baltimore State Hospital? Or prison? Say what you want about Hannibal but he has saved my life and given me a life. I am no longer haunted by the shadow of my Father's past. I have a chance to start again and after everything I have been through, I do not want to lose that chance for a third time. If you pull the trigger on Hannibal, you pull the trigger on me either way.'

As Will began to realise just how complicated his situation was, he looked into Abigail's eyes and saw the tears that threatened to fall.

'Will; I care about him…Please don't take away the one thing I have left in this world.'

'You think he is the only one who wants to keep you safe?' Will asked, taking her hands as Abigail shook her head.

'No…and that is why I am asking you. Don't hurt him…please…'

As they conversed, both of them were entirely unaware of Hannibal observing the situation from a distance, having entered the house at a different entrance upon smelling Will's awful cologne at the doorstep.

It surprised him to hear the way Abigail spoke with such conviction. Locking her words away with the intention of repeating them later, he returned his attention to their conversation as Abigail began to back away.

'If you want to confront Hannibal, I cannot stop you. But you aren't just taking him from this world. You are taking the only solid foundation I have had in my life for a long time. He helped me through the nightmares and the trauma I suffered…he has given me a chance to feel as though I can have something of a normal life. I have missed you Will. I've thought of you every day, just like I think of Alana. If there is one thing I can ask of you other than this, it's that you let her know just how much of an impact she had on my life.'

Picking up Shadow in her arms, Abigail went to walk past Will, his hand catching her arm and bringing her to face him as he stepped forward and placed a chaste kiss on top of her head.

'You have my word, for your sake…I will make that promise.'

Looking at him with tears shining in her eyes, Abigail dropped her gaze as one slipped down her cheek and finally returned his gaze with such overwhelming gratitude that Will found himself catching his breath at her expression.

'Then I am in your debt. Thank you…' she whispered, being enveloped in Will's arms once more before she stepped back and headed for the stairs.

Walking away from Will, she offered him a glance back, with an effusive smile before disappearing from sight, though she did not return to her room. Sliding down the doors outside Hannibal's room, Abigail tried to fight back the tears at having just seen Will Graham once again. She knew that he and Hannibal would never have the same relationship again. They would never be friends. But it provided her with such comfort to have been in his presence again. To have seen him and be held in his arms. It warmed her heart. She felt as though a weight had been lifted.

Believing that Will would somehow get her message to Alana was such a comfort. She could never reveal herself to Alana too, but she could let her know just how much help she had provided her.

Hearing the front door, Abigail leaned forwards and saw Hannibal in the entranceway, his eyes glancing up to her through the railings and bringing a finger softly to his lips. Nodding silently, Abigail watched as he descended further into the house, going into the kitchen and waiting with baited breath. She couldn't stand to listen.

Heading upstairs for her room, Abigail shut the door and sat on her bed with her knees pulled up to her chest. With Shadow hidden beneath her legs, Abigail remained in that position for what felt like an eternity until she could hear footsteps coming up the stairway.

Feeling as though her heart would stop with fearful anticipation, Abigail was almost afraid to look up as the door opened, though as she saw Hannibal stood before her with a smile, it felt as though time stood still.

'I'm sorry I'm a little later home than expected,' he remarked calmly, his expression becoming one of surprise as Abigail got up from the bed and practically threw herself into his arms. Holding her close Hannibal breathed in her welcoming sweet aroma, the reminder of Will holding her in a similar manner only making him pull her closer as he felt a pang of something.

Jealousy?

Kissing her softly on the forehead, Hannibal looked over her and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks as he offered her a warm smile.

'Where is Will?'

'He left. Though I don't think he'll be returning with a gun anytime soon,' Hannibal assured her. 'I was aware of his presence when I got to the front door.'

'I'm glad…' she responded, a frown knitting her brows when Hannibal lifted her chin with his hand and looked into her doe eyes.

'You should smile Abigail. Someone so beautiful always looks best when they smile. Everything is alright,' he remarked, his accent and voice so soothing to her as she nodded and composed herself.

'Now then; seen as we were interrupted, I will go and make us dinner and then we will have our planned evening.'

Nodding with a small smile, Hannibal's eyes lit up in a way that made her blush. He really was so incredibly handsome.

Looking back on her as Hannibal went to leave the room, he couldn't help but find her presence so refreshing. Seeing the way she sifted through the films she had ordered, Hannibal considered the way in which Abigail had stood up for him. She had a chance to flee. Yet her actions and words had spoken so much about her feelings towards him. He almost felt indebted to her for such kindness. It was a rare quality.

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

After Will had left Hannibal's home, he sat in the car and wondered if everything he saw had been real. It was so much to wrap his head around. Hannibal hadn't been responsible for Abigail's death. He had kept her alive and now he had freed Miriam Lass.

But why?

Driving away after some time had passed, instead of heading home, Will drove to Alana Bloom's house, knowing that he still had something he needed to do.

Pulling up outside, Will remembered the last time he had been there. Abel Gideon was determined to kill all of his former therapists and Will had tried his best to stop him, even in his weakened state.

Trying to put that memory out of his head, Will headed for the front door and heard the barking behind it as he rang the doorbell. Being reminded of his own dogs, Will couldn't help but feel so much gratitude for Alana having watched over them for him. Without her they would have been without anyone to look after them. He could never thank her enough for that.

As the door opened slightly, Alana looked round and seemed mildly surprised to see Will stood on her porch as she regarded him with curiosity.

'Will, what are you doing here?'

'I, well I came to thank you.'

'For what?' she asked, opening the door more and finding Alana's dog wrapping herself around Will's legs, making him chuckle as he fussed her.

'For looking after my dogs and giving them a home…You'll never know how much I appreciated that.'

Offering him a slight smile at his remark, Alana responded with honesty.

'They probably helped me just as much as I helped them. Then I found Applesauce as well and I thought…what's one more?'

'It's funny how animals can impact on you isn't it?' he responded, making Alana smile at the way that he handled Applesauce. His love for his dogs was something she had always found endearing, though as he rose to his feet again, she felt compelled to invite him in.

'No, I don't want to disturb you. I know that you still haven't forgiven me…'

'For trying to arrange to have Hannibal killed. No. Not really,' she replied with a colder edge to her tone, Will sighing as he looked into her eyes with more sincerity.

'The reason I came here is because there was something that Abigail once told me before…well…' finding himself unable to finish his sentence, he could see the pained look in Alana's eyes at the subject and knew he had to tell her. He had promised Abigail he would and she needed to know.

'She told me how much you had meant to her. She told me that you gave her a feeling of some normality after everything else had been torn apart. I know Abigail cherished you and I guess after everything that happened, it all got lost until now. I just wanted you to know.'

As Alana fell silent, clearly feeling conflicting emotions at what he had just told her, Will apologised for disturbing her evening and made to leave when Alana spoke out.

'Will.'

Turning around to face her, Will could see the emotion shining in Alana's eyes as he resisted the urge to reach out to her.

'Thank you…really…thank you so much…' she breathed, offering him a smile in gratitude before calling Applesauce inside and bidding him goodnight.

'Sleep well,' he breathed gently, not seeing the tears that began to flow freely as Alana closed the door.

~x~x~x~x~x~x~x~

As they sat down together later that evening, Abigail put in a movie that she had chosen and sat back on the sofa with Hannibal, a bowl of popcorn between them and a glass of wine each as she started up the movie.

Feeling uncertain as to how she should sit with him, Abigail settled for simply being beside him, her slender fingers taking some popcorn and eating it with a cheerful smile.

'Sweet popcorn is the best…' she muttered, more to herself than anything else, though it made Hannibal chuckle.

'I couldn't agree more,' he concurred, taking some for himself as Abigail got to the menu.

'Are you sure you're happy with a movie night?' she asked before pushing play, seeing Hannibal glance to her with an endearing smile.

'Do you not think I wouldn't enjoy a couple of movies with you?' he asked with a teasing smile.

'It's not that, I know you promised we could do something I wanted to do tonight, but I was awful at learning the harpsichord.'

'Not awful, just learning. It was certainly amusing to watch though,' he admitted, finding himself chuckling again at her expression. 'Honestly, I like this. Very few people I interact with are ever this relaxed.'

'I'm not sure relaxed is the right word after today,' Abigail admitted, pressing play as she leant back and looked at her hands.

Though as she saw one of his rest on hers, Abigail looked up at Hannibal and kept eye contact as he intwined his hand with hers.

'I find you wholeheartedly different from anyone that I have come across in many, many years,' Hannibal told her with honesty. 'Do not doubt yourself.'

Bringing their attention to the movie that was playing, Abigail didn't realise that Hannibal occasionally glanced to her, the contentment in her features satisfying him as they enjoyed the film together.

Hannibal rarely had an occasion to indulge in such simple pleasures, but he found himself doing and experiencing things that he hadn't previously believed possible. He had to be cautious though. Alana had already noticed something of a change in him. That was becoming more apparent.

With Will's freedom, Hannibal knew it had begun the countdown, signalling that they would soon have to depart from America. He knew while Will had been good to his word with Abigail, he would want to find away to take Abigail away while also settling the score between himself and the Doctor.

As Abigail brought her legs up onto the sofa quietly, Hannibal placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her gently closer to him. Lifting the bowl of popcorn, Hannibal encouraged her to lie against his chest and felt the slight tremble in Abigail's body as she did so.

So pure… he thought to himself as she rested her head against his chest, her hand gripping slightly onto his dark jumper as she settled in his arms and continued watching the movie. Settling the popcorn down in his lap, Hannibal idly stroked Abigail's hair, eliciting a peaceful sound from the doe that lay against him. She trusted him. She had faith in his ability to keep her safe and she believed without a doubt that he only had her best interests at heart.

That simple gesture had him thinking. He wanted to do something for her. Something that showed his appreciation of her trust, without expressing that he had heard her conversation with Will. No, he would keep that to himself for now.

As the rain continued to fall outside and the wind howled, Abigail curled up closer to Hannibal, breathing in his cologne and feeling settled. She didn't want that feeling to ever leave her. The feeling of safety. Unbeknown to Abigail, Hannibal was almost as overwhelmed by their situation as she was. Though she never would have believed it with his calm demeanour.

It was another example of their shared enjoyment at spending time together. They didn't have to always speak. Often enough their actions spoke more than words ever could. For Hannibal, he wondered what he had done in life to have fate cast him such a chance. He by no means intended to ever have emotional attachments. It had been a long time after all. Musing over the things he still had to do, Hannibal knew that things were not about to get any easier.

But he had come through much worse without anything to live for. He thrived on the idea that death could take him at any given moment. He almost welcomed it.

However, now he had something to fight for. He would fight. He would go to the ends of the earth to keep Abigail safe from harm. He had made a promise to himself without realising it when he saved her life back in the Hobb's household.

That moment her hand first reacted to his touch, his curiosity had sparked. He desired for her to live. It was the first time that he had been thankful to feel the life form within someone since Lady Murasaki. Contenting himself to simply enjoy the movies that Abigail had chosen, knowing that they would not always have the chance to be so at ease, Hannibal found himself holding Abigail closer to him, his doe responding with a sweet smile as she gazed up at him.

Taking that moment, Hannibal leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, feeling her shift in his arms as Abigail met the kiss with fervour. Pulling her onto his lap, Hannibal's hands found their way around her waist as he captured her lips once again with his own and realised that it was Abigail who had truly, captivated him.

So there you have it! Chapter fourteen is now finished! I will hopefully be bringing Chapter 15 in the next couple of weeks and until then, I hope you are all having a wonderful start to the year and that you enjoyed this chapter!

For all those who review, favourite and follow this and my other fanfictions, thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means the world to me!

Much Love!

~x-xMasqueradeAngelx-x