I split this in two, so perhaps I'll update twice today. This one is obviously vastly shorter. I love, love, love, love all reviews, favorites, and followers! I own Astors. Not Hannibals.

-M

They were back.

The nightmares.

Will Graham woke in a cold sweat, gasping. His surroundings, his conscious, came tunneling through his brain, causing eyes to close off the world. Rubbing his face, reaching for glasses. Hannibal slept on the fold-out couch, still as a corpse.

"Will, please. Take the bed. Sleep does not come as easily for you. Any small attempts I can make to further aid you will surely be called upon."

Even with the advantage of sheets and a mattress, the agent couldn't find rest. He fell back to the pillows, attempting sleep once more.

The light, quick feet of someone racing outside his door drove his mind into hysteria once again.

Will sneaked a look out of the room. The door opposite hung open just centimeters.

It was the room of Anna and Alana.

On one instance they could be in trouble. On the other, it could be nothing, and Anna might kill me by accident.

It was worth the risk. Careful steps led him to and past the door. Their couch was still in a folded position, though the bed only held one body of life: Alana.

"It's my fault, it's all my fault-"

"Shh, sh, sh. You know that isn't true. It was just a nightmare-"

"I could have stopped him. If I had just-"

"The what-if's and should-have's will consume you, Lily. You must let go,"

They were on the small porch balcony, in a single, white, lawn chair. Dark hair covered a woman's back. Long, pale legs were hanging from one side of her body, a face buried in the hollow of her neck. Bird limbs wrapped like vines around the woman. Every few moments a breeze revealed a shoulder, and the golden head of the girl in her arms.

The soft, mewing cries of Lily Astor whispered through the room as she cried into Anna's skin. Graham could just make out the woman combing downy hair with slender fingers, soothing her.

A hand touched Will's forearm, ripping his senses. Eyes found those similar to his own, on a tan, worn face.

"What are you doing?" Hannibal Lecter asked of him. Will answered with a finger to his own lips, turning again to the patio doors.

"Out of everyone in the world, why him. Why my father?"
"If she had chosen any other man, you would not be the child in my arms right now."

"How could she love someone so demented and broken? Someone so cruel and cared for her so little, he could take her away from the world?"

Anna's head fell back, allowing the first real view of herself. She was moonstone in the starlight, face a weary canvas. A blonde head rose, looking to her. Trails of tears ran over dams, dripping like dew from her jaw.

"Her heart sank into her shoes as she realized at last how much she wanted him. No matter what his past was, no matter what he had done. Which was not to say that she would ever let him know, but only that he moved her chemically more than anyone she had ever met, that all other men seemed pale beside him."

Lily sniffled, rubbed her eyes. The two men could just make out the curve of Anna's lips, smiling softly at her niece.

"Fitzgerald wrote that."

"Very good, Lily."

"But are you speaking of my mother, or of yourself?"

Hannibal Lecter stood tense, alert. Will chose not to look, feeling the change in the air. With a sigh, Anna crushed Lily's words with an embrace. Blue eyes were closed, peaceful on the girl's face, hugging her aunt back.

"I love you."

Anna murmured back into her ear, words lost to the two men. Will chose to glance at Hannibal then,

Only to find him already gone.