She was quite surprised by his insatiable appetite.

Hannibal Lecter was the most formal, chivalrous man she knew, and yet he showed no restraint when it came to pleasuring her body.

There were the tender times of simple love making,
And then there was the ruthless, primal fucking.

This, the next morning, hidden behind a bedroom, a bathroom, and a shower curtain, was fucking.

"I…need…coffee," Anna Astor panted, rising to gelatin legs and smoothing her hair. It was satisfying to see the always-calm doctor breathing just as heavily, swollen mouth open and eyes lightly closed. Anna smirked. "I wouldn't say that was a very bad wake-up call."

"I would prefer it for future reference," Hannibal answered with a wicked grin of his own. It was that boyish charm, always so hidden, that struck her. A wave of hair sent rain against him, bent at the waist and wrapping a towel around the sopping mass.

"An-na," He groaned, drawing closer. "do you believe bending over like that is helping your cause?"

Startling eyes rose, curled lips sneaky. "I can't spend anymore time in here, Hannibal, I simply cannot." She backed into the counter, cornered by his six foot height. Anna stood on pointe to kiss him. "I have a Doctor's appointment. Hurry and start the coffee while I figure out where I've left the clothes you brought before,"

She admired his backside as he sauntered away, only a towel covering precious goods. Anna was still in a daze over the perfect way his shoulders rippled with each step when a soft vibration caught her ears.

I presume we will meet at the same time as always, Hannibal.

With no signature, Anna had to check the contact information.

Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier.


"She keeps the coffee beans in the refrigerator."

A tall, impeding man with damp hair slicked immaculately, froze.

Turning to find a pale, rabbit-faced girl grinning madly.

Cerulean eyes looked him up and down, flicking amusedly back to his.

"Hello, Uncle Hannibal."

The unaccustomed male cleared his throat. While taken by surprise, Hannibal Lecter seemed disturbing calm. "Good morning, Lily. Does An-na-"

"She knows I'm here. The fact that you didn't, however, only makes this morning much more grand." Lily pushed a waft of yellow hair from her forehead with one hand and popped a raspberry in her mouth with the other. "I'd also appreciate some warning next time, though. While I don't understand your Lithuanian, I got the gist of your ecstasy-fueled moans."

"Yet An-na's did not bother you?" Hannibal showed no embarrassment, fluidly filling Anna's coffee pot and beginning the brew. "Does that mean you've grown accustomed to hers, making this a usual occurrence?"

"I've spent most of the past few years in France. Just because I go to an all-girl's school doesn't mean I don't get out," Lily answered with a smile. "And no. Having men over isn't a usual occurrence here, at all. Anna's only ever dated two men seriously-"

"Thank you, Lily, but that's enough of my life." A blur of red and white breezed in, dark hair pulled tight in a chignon, hands piercing an earring through her right lobe.

"Auntie! You're already dressed," Lily frowned, looking up to the older Astor while nimble fingers stole fruit from her plate. "I thought we were going to work on the wedding today,"

"I have a doctor's appointment, and some other things to deal with. I've made you a list of what to buy, and three locations I've scouted online for the wedding. Hannibal can take you, can't you darling?"

A coldness slated her eyes as Anna smiled, taking the warm mug of coffee from his hands. Brown eyes watched her, mouth quirking south. Anna looked back to Lily. "Just make sure he's back in time for his…previous engagements. Alas, I have to go. Behave! Get everything on that list. My credit card is in the envelope,"

Lily gave Hannibal a blunt stare as Anna Astor fled the room, moving like storm clouds.

"Are you going to go after her, or what?"


"An-na,"

Catching one woolen limb with ease, slowing her steps out of the great stone house. A long coat had engulfed her sheer white top and red pencil skirt and leathery gloves absorbed the early morning sun. Anna turned slowly to reveal her lifeless expression.

"Who is Dr. Maurier? And why, may I ask, are you meeting her at your usual time?"

Anna watched his sharply-edged face for signs of emotion, guilt. Hesitant red lips opened before closing once more.

"Is she a patient of yours?"
"No."
"A colleague then? You've worked together, perhaps?"
"Something like that."

"Something like that," Anna repeated. Hannibal had not released her arm and she felt his fingers slowly tighten.

Gaze stern and intense, he commanded, "You will not look for or investigate her, An-na. Dr. Maurier is neither a threat nor a concern to you,"

"Is that so,"

A sarcastic tone colored the brunette, at last ripping her arm away. "Curious that you even have to disclose that, Hannibal. What are you meeting her for?" The familiar silence met her ears and she noted the vein becoming apparent across his temple, jaw clenched. Why can't he just tell me?

"I'm going to be late, I can't stand here waiting for you to-"

"Do you trust me?"

Startling eyes returned to him, mouth parted. Hannibal Lecter held the gaze with impervious calm, standing in her home with nothing but that same fucking towel.

Anna Astor refocused, calmed, swallowed.

"Yes."

"Then trust me when I say Dr. Maurier is no more a threat to you than any other typical woman off the street. She is an acquaintance I meet with once a week, for an hour. However, I cannot permit you to endanger her life."

"She's too important to you," Anna spoke, simply.
Hannibal did not object.

"Dr. Maurier is nothing compared to what I feel for you, gana An-na." Long fingers caught her face, tilted up to his. Her eyes remained closed for a second more and she inhaled deeply, shoulders falling back, tension slipping away like water through a current.

When those bright orbs opened, the mask had returned.

"Will you be here when I come back?"
"Yes, of course,"

A peach face nodded, leaned up to kiss him gingerly.

Anna Astor pulled away, stalking off to her car,

A thick cotton towel gripped tightly in her right hand.


"No, Abigail. The loose pearls are for the cylinder centerpieces. Those are for the bouquets. Anna has to deliver them to the florist."

Lily Astor was matter-of-fact; a keen combatant in her field of expertise. Both girls pushed carts, Hannibal leisurely following, calling out every item on the cursive-written list. Anna had been just as precise, calculating expenses and discounts with every purchase she marked down.

"We've picked the place, met with the photographer, and bought all the decorations Anna's asked for. Is there anything else you can think of?" Rounded teeth nibbled the top of a pen, sat between the two at a small restaurant table. An untouched helping of shrimp pad thai sat before her while the duo ate fluidly. "We've accomplished a lot today. Anna will be happily surprised."

"What's her doctor appointment for, anyway?" Abigail didn't raise her gaze from her meal, though voice curious. Lily sighed.

"She wants to make sure her body can take dancing again. We don't want her to hemorrhage or something. I hope the doctor clears her, because she'll do it anyway if not."

"We wouldn't allow her to," Dr. Lecter spoke simply.

As if you'd be capable of that.

"You would stop her from something she loves, if it brought harm to herself?"

"Yes."

"What if she was chosen for a dangerous FBI case? What is worse than chasing down the Chesapeake Ripper?"

"She is never alone on the case. Will and Jack are most assuredly always near, as well as an entire FBI team."

"What if she became pregnant?"

A sharp take of breath blew in before he could restrain himself. Lily was an attentive predator, head tilting with his slightest movement, face an unreadable mask.

She chose her words with the utmost care, knowing just how damaging they could be molded into. Hannibal Lecter's eyes cooled, mouth a firm spiraled line.

"In An-na's current state, her body would not be able to handle such an event. If she insisted on remaining pregnant, I would have no choice but to do everything in my power to either change her mind or end the pregnancy."

She didn't know whether to appreciate his severe protectiveness of Anna,

Or be frightened by it.

"I have to use the restroom. Excuse me." The wiry blonde abruptly stood, gliding through the restaurant as if she knew it by heart. Abigail watched her plate interestedly. It was the first time of the day that she found herself alone with Dr. Lecter. The young woman at last spoke what she itched to say since last night.

"Will Graham's in love with Anna, you know."


"Would you calm down? It's going to be fine."

"Hospital's freak me out."

"You won't die, I promise."

"You might, though. Then what'll I do?"

An exaggerated sigh escaped pink lips, adjusting the hospital gown she found herself in. A shifty-eyed, nervous, plaid-wearing man paced the length of the room, arms tightly crossed and glasses reflecting the florescent light above. Anna cleared her throat.

"Why don't you sit down? I brought you to comfort me," She spoke with a crooked smile. Instantly Will Graham stopped, quickly turning to her.

"You're right. Please, forgive me-"

"How are we today, Ms. Astor?" Dr. Bedell's deep voice rang suddenly throughout the room. The woman, blonde and middle-aged with eyes the color of soft denim, averted from her patient and hung on Will for a moment. The two women exchanged a look and Bedell's tone changed.

"We would like to try a new epidural steroid, injected into your spinal chord. You might suffer from a slight light-headedness and mild confusion after, but it will help in the long run."

Will stood, useless, as his colleague and friend lay on her side, back revealed to a tall doctor iodizing her back. Aqua eyes rose and Anna smiled, holding her hand out to him.

Her fingers were cold in his, clenching when a two inch needle dug into her skin.

"All finished. The effect is nearly immediate; by the time she's dressed to leave, Lucy will already be in the sky with diamonds."


"Pardon me?"

A teenage girl with sleek dark hair shrugged her shoulders, masked with useless disinterest.

"He had dinner with us last night, and sat right next to her. He even helped her cook and serve. She laughs when he's around and Will glows like the Northern Lights."

A festering tick pulsed his temple, jaw clenching. Ambivalent eyes darted furiously from his sharp face to picking at her food, having noticed a dreamy blonde heading their way once more.

"What's wrong with you? Find a bug?" Gossamer fingers brushed his arm before Lily Astor fell into her chair. Her blue eyes had cleared out the uncertainty of before, now tranquil and calm, drained. She looked to Hannibal.

The man seemed to be having an internal battle, or either really needed to vomit.

"Uncle Hannibal?"

Lily felt a pang of fear when he looked at her.

Instantly she recoiled like a serpent, coldly glaring instead at Abigail. "What the fuck did you say to him, you stupid girl?"

She choked. Gasping for breath as a careless girl watched before losing interest. Her language, Abigail's sudden incapability to breath easily, hadn't affected Lecter in the slightest. The pristine doctor looked rather amused. Cerulean eyes viewed him skeptically.

"Judging by your rigid posture, it was about Anna. What else could make the ever-reserved Dr. Lecter so on edge?" It was a silky, sneering tone never heard from the slender young woman. Abigail shivered, still in shock at the nearly instantaneous change within her friend. The two seemed oblivious of her.

"And, from your expression trying to fight it, you're jealous."

Her face dipped momentarily, smoothing her golden hair.

The cynical, entertained face of an Astor returned to him, a contradicting smirk upon her lips.

"So, you've been told about Will Graham."


Lily.

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