Hello! The rating will be changed to 'M' after this chapter. I may post another tonight, if I don't go see Iron Man 3. I'm excited! I am blissful over all reviews, favorites, and followers! The chapter is so short. I just didn't want a ridiculously long one, so it was torn into pieces.

-M

A silent car ride awaited him.

Tucked in the passenger seat, staring blankly out the window.

"Take me home," She demanded, simply.

Anna Astor desperately tried to regain composure. Her fingers wouldn't stop shaking, even when she balled them into fists.

It was all she had ever wanted. It was the one thing her mother had instilled in her.

"Being a woman is a difficult job, Annie. We are often viewed as the weaker sex. Maybe we are. But there is nothing more beautiful than holding your child in your arms, as she opens her eyes for the very first time and smiles at you. The day you and Margaret were born were the two most subliminal, perfect days of my existence. That is what makes being a woman so wonderfully worth it."

"An-na-"

"Don't."

The one word silenced him. The weight of it, one syllable. Chocolate eyes glanced at her. The expected anger wasn't apparent. Her jaw was slack, eyes half-lidded.

Anna Astor was tired and defeated.

"An-na, there is still a chance. There is always a chance."

"I don't want to talk about this anymore." Hannibal frowned.

"You expect me to pour myself into you, yet you push me away?" He asked quietly.

Her breath was long and strained. When Anna turned to him, Hannibal began to understand.

Blue eyes watery, rimmed red. Skin blotchy with a twisted mouth, teeth nearly bared. While her maxillary teeth were perfectly straight, gleaming pearls, Hannibal noticed the slight crampness of the bottom row. Long, pushed together. Another small imperfection that set her apart.
That made her beautiful to him.

"How would you feel if you were just told the one ability separating you from being a man or woman was taken away from you?" Anna returned. Stronger than a whisper, not quite a true voice.
Suddenly she smiled, looking away. "How could you possibly understand, Hannibal. You. As if you have ever even wanted children. As if you even have the slightest inkling of this."

"You have Lily," Anna laughed: a scoffing, cruel sound.

"Lily may live with me, but she will never be mine. She's Maggie's. Perfect little Maggie. Even in death the girl tortures me. Even buried in the ground, she will always be better than me."

The searing words slicing the air were unexpected. Hannibal slowed the car, pulling to the shoulder of road.
He watched her, caught between Dr. Lecter and compassionate Hannibal.
Streams were cutting down Anna's face, mouth a laughing grimace.

"…You were jealous of your sister." Blue eyes shot to him, lips puckering.

"Of course. I could pretend to be friendly, charismatic. And I hated every single person I came in contact with. Not Margaret. Margaret loved unconditionally, without the slightest second-thought. I can't stand people, and she loved them. Now which child would parents adore more: the introvert, or the extrovert?" Hands ran through her hair, clenched the roots. Anna's face was a tangled mess of resentment and disgust.

"I am truly a despicable human being," She spoke softly. Without thought Hannibal shook his head.

"You are not, An-na. It is perfectly normal to feel the way you do. You've just received very traumatic news. It is stirring old, minor begrudging thoughts. "

"You are telling me it's normal, being glad my sister was murdered?"

"You are not glad," Hannibal stated, stern. The look in his hard brown eyes stilled Anna. "You are distraught. You were then, and you may be now. But I am here to help you, An-na. There are doctors, surgeries, studies. You will not be alone in this,"

He watched a brunette head drop, wiping at her face, nodding. Hannibal slid across leather, catching her jaw with long fingers. He felt her face unknot with each kiss touched upon her skin.

"An-na," He murmured. Hands had dug themselves into his suit, running down his chest. Anna pulled away, calmed and serious.

The way Hannibal Lecter comforted her, reassured her mind like a storm whisperer.

It was he who was there for her, once again.

"I want to go back. I want to help you with the man in the cabin. Tonight." Hannibal smoothed back her hair, caressed the shell of her ear.

"This will not be like teasing me in public or eating off my plate, An-na. This will truly be dangerous. I cannot promise there will be no mental consequences." Anna nodded, slowly.

Her red lips spoke the most beautiful words to grace his ears yet.

"I want to help you kill and devour him."

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