Hannibal stared down at his son who was in return smiling gleefully up at him, waving his arms around as he rocked him back and forth.
"Would you like to here a fairytale, Ichabod," he asked.
Ichabod smiled brightly in response and Hannibal continued, "Then I will give you a real one that actually came true. Let it be a fairy tale, then. Once upon a time…"
Hannibal started as he sat down in a chair that faced a balcony which spied the beautiful scene of Italy in front of them. "There was prince-a prince of darkness, you could say. He was happy with his lonely life and the fact that he wasn't as blind as most people were in every kingdom that he went to. So one day, his eyes caught a princess. She was the most beautiful princess he had ever seen and he had met many princesses before her. Now this princess didn't fall for his tricks like the ones before her, she could see right through him and he surprised himself that he liked that in her. Oh, she was a fiery princess…there was always this little glint in her eyes whenever she saw blood, murders, or something like a puzzle. So the dark prince had decided to set the largest puzzle out just for her, to see if she was truly able to see through him."
"Is that what happened," Elizabeth mused as she walked into the nursery.
Hannibal nodded. "I believe so."
She kissed their son's forehead and continued the story, "The princess tried not to fall in love with the dark prince because of another lowborn lord before her who broke her heart. She thought that she was doomed to never fall in love. The princess didn't know what to do with the prince whenever they spoke to each other. She was dark too just like the prince though she hid it just as well as he did."
Elizabeth sat on his lap, draping her arm over the chair. "There were so many people who got in the way of their love. Okay so the princess had her heart broken before, right? So when the dark princes came into her life, she didn't know what to do. He had secrets just like she did, but when she let herself love him…he challenged her. He made her have to question her beliefs and what was right and wrong in the world-her world."
Hannibal sighed as he rubbed his fingers over the open skin on her hip. "The princess had a brother, a prince as well and he and his army did everything in their power to keep the dark prince away from his beautiful princess after she gave herself to him. The Hound is what they called her brother by the way, so he told the beautiful princess a big secret about her one true love and she ran away from him. The dark prince was in despair at her departure."
Elizabeth continued the story, "When the princess was at that border with her things, she hesitated. She realized that she didn't care what the dark prince did. She loved him for him. So she ran back and betrayed her family for love. They ran away from that horrible place and found that she was with child. They were the happiest people in the world."
"The dark prince married the beautiful princess, their wedding day was truly magical and you know what? They did live happily ever after."
The scene was something out of a fairytale. It was similar to the ballroom where Cinderella danced the night away with Prince Charming. Couples were in motion with each other, gliding around the room as if they were dancing on air.
Dancing elegantly around the room were Hannibal Lecter and his "wife", Elizabeth Lecter. Also known as Dr. Roman Fell and his wife, Mrs. Lydia Fell. Hannibal looked dashing and sharp in his suit with his hair slicked back and the physical scars healed perfectly. Elizabeth wore a pure white sexy lace V-neck with beaded crystals on the chest Chiffon dress. The train on her dress was floor length. Hannibal twirled her around elegantly and she felt like she was dancing on air. Once the song ended, Hannibal whispered in ear, "Bellissima."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but still smiled at him, laughing softly, "Grazie, Bello. I like it when you speak another language to me. It sounds sexy."
Hannibal kissed her passionately on the lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Elizabeth smiled against his lips as she realized that everyone every so often would turn their eyes to them and watch. They broke apart when someone cleared their throat. Hannibal pulled away from her, but wrapped his arm around her waist protectively, answering, "Hello, Sogliato."
Sogliato was a smooth, oily Italian, and seemed to be in his late thirties and impeccably dressed.
"Dr. Fell, I hope you translate as well as you waltz," He greeted them. "And this must be your beautiful wife, Mrs. Fell."
Sogliato kissed her hand and Elizabeth told him, "Please, call me Lydia. My mother-in-law is Mrs. Fell and we frankly don't get along that well."
He chuckled. "An honest woman…I like that."
They stood with Mr. and Mrs. Albizzi, president of the museum's governing board. Hannibal snags them both two flutes of champagne off a passing tray.
Elizabeth shook her head, reminding him, "Feeding time later."
"Ah, yes," Hannibal sighed and handed the flute back to the waiter.
Mr. Albizzi said, "Our new appointee was confirmed by the board after close questioning."
"You've examined him in medieval Italian, and I will not deny his language is admirable," Sogliato replied with a hint of arrogance.
Elizabeth became intrigued at the exchange of dominance that hushed over them, she was suddenly aware of the crowd that are observing them as is Sogliato.
"Thank you." Hannibal replied politely.
"For a straniero," Sogliato added. "And his very, very young wife. Your customs must be different from where you are from."
"Age is nothing, but a number. I'm sure you're aware of this," Bedelia defended as she walked elegantly to stand beside them.
"And you are?"
"I'm Lydia's sister. Older sister," Bedelia explained and held out her hand. "Monica, Signor Sogliato."
"I can see the family resemblance, but still you must not understand our customs here."
Sogliato smiled at the audience now ear-wigging shamelessly. Both women are watching Hannibal, the way his eyes go dead for a second at the insult before he smiles.
Sogliato continued, "Are you familiar with the personalities of pre-Renaissance Florence? I think not."
He gave a smile for Bedelia and then opened his mouth once more, "Dr. Fell might hold in his hand-in his non-Italian hand- a note from Dante Alighieri himself. Would he recognize it? I think not."
Oh, no…so this guy is going to die tonight, huh, Elizabeth thought. Well, I would let Hannibal cook him into a meal if given the choice. I hate it when people look at us and judge just because he is much older than I am. I don't give a damn about his age because I love him, I could care less about that minor detail.
"Professor Sogliato, would you do me the honor of a dance?" Bedelia asked him, offering her arm, very keen to lead him away. They both knew that this man was already on Hannibal's list or should she say, recipes.
As they turn away, Hannibal recites,
"Allegro mi sembrava Amor tenendo
meo core in mano, e ne le braccia avea
madonna involta in un drappo dormendo.
Poi la svegliava, e d'esto core ardendo
lei paventosa umilmente pascea;
appreso gir lo ne vedea piangendo."
Some of those listening applaud loudly at this stirring recital, but Sogliato hates it. Elizabeth couldn't help, but smile proudly at him and feel a sense of victory over the situation. She loved it when Hannibal protected her.
"Dante's first sonnet. It fascinated Cavalcanti. The eating of the heart is a powerful image." Hannibal continued and she could see that Hannibal doesn't have to be smug; Signor Albizzi is smug for him.
"If he's such an expert on Dante, let him lecture on Dante, to the Studiolo. Let him face them. Extempore," Sogliato replied with a hint of irritation in his voice
Hannibal merely inclines his head. "I'm happy to sing for my supper."
He holds Sogliato's gaze. Battle met and won.
"Professor Sogliato." Bedelia repeated with a small smile.
Bedelia looks to Sogliato who takes her hand to dance. Hannibal smiles at Bedelia who doesn't return his smile. Elizabeth kissed his cheek and said lowly to him, "God that was really hot."
Hannibal looked into her lustful eyes and warned, "If you keep on looking at me with those eyes then…then we will miss the entire event."
"I would greatly enjoy that and so would you."
"I love that dress," Hannibal murmured, running a finger down the valley between her breasts.
Elizabeth nodded slowly and took his hand, replying, "I think that this dress will look better on the floor of our bedroom, don't you think, Dr. Fell?"
Hannibal gave her an amused smirk.
Hannibal groaned in pleasure as she bounced on top of him, his mouth latching onto her hardened nipple. The top half of her dress was pulled down to her hips as his dress shirt was torn open to reveal his chest. Her arms were wrapped around his neck, pulling him close to her body while they say on top of their bed.
"Oh, Hannibal," she moaned.
"This dress," he murmured. "You should keep it."
Elizabeth chuckled breathlessly, nodding. "Okay."
They both groaned as they heard Ichabod crying on the baby monitor that was planted on their nightstand.
"Feeding time," they said in unison to each other.
Elizabeth groaned as she got off of Hannibal, pulling her dress up and fixing it. She padded down the hallway and towards the nursery. Elizabeth picked up a red-faced Ichabod in her arms, calming down when he was in her arms. She gently patted his back and rocked him a little. Elizabeth smiled down at him and then carried him into their bedroom.
Hannibal raised an eyebrow at the sight of their son and his "wife". "What's wrong?"
"He won't sleep unless he knows I'm holding him. He's attached to me just like his father," Elizabeth joked.
Hannibal stroked the soft hair on top of his head as he stuffed his face into his mother's neck. "Then he's sleeping with us."
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I really wanted to continue our alone time together."
Hannibal shook his head. "It's fine, Elizabeth. Let's go to sleep."
She kissed his lips with a peck and then attempted to multi-task in order to keep holding the baby and change into her pajamas. Hannibal laughed the entire time, but helped her all the same.
TBC…
THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS, FOLLOWS, AND FAVORITES! Sorry for the late update, I've been super busy so I will try to update more often. I hoped you liked this chapter.
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