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Clarice stretched out in the comfort of her bed, slowly opening her eyes to the sunlight trying to peak through her pulled shades. She turned over on her stomach and closed her eyes to catch some more sleep before her alarm went off when she inhaled the musk of Italian cologne. Her eyes flew open to see the pillow beside her with a indent. Even the mattress was still warm on the other side of the bed. "Shit, Bella."

She sprung to her feet and nearly collided with the wall before opening up the door to her daughter's room. Like the morning before, the door slammed into the wall without the door jam to stop it, and, like the morning before, her daughter was in her bed. "Thank God."

Bella groaned and pulled her pillow over her head. "What the hell? There's no way it's time to get up."

"It's not. Just move over." Clarice breathed before climbing into the smaller bed with her daughter and wrapping her arms around her. "Go back to sleep." Bella didn't have to be told twice. But, Clarice was far from going back to sleep. She looked into the four mirrored doors of the closet that faced her. The reflection didn't help to soothe her. For the blanket on her daughter was only used when Bella brought it downstairs or when she was sick and Clarice pulled it out to keep her warm.

There was no doubt in her mind now. Hannibal was here.


Clarice stood leaning over the kitchen counter, looking like she was in agony. The knowledge that Dr. Lecter had been here the night before was something she needed to tell someone, but she couldn't. There were too many reasons why that was not acceptable. One of them so big that she had kept it to herself for so long. She wasn't even sure if she could utter the words. Despite her nervousness towards the prospect of the good ole doctor being back, she could feel his hands on her. It brought a calming warmness to her that was too deep to explore at the moment.

Bella ate oblivious to the fact that this could completely change her entire world - knowing a serial killer and cannibal.

Although true, the titles didn't do him justice in the least. He was brilliant and killed to rid the world of rude and evil people who weren't worth the air everyone else breathed. There was no time to waste for him. Too much of it was taken from him when he was in the asylum, in that basement where she met him. And most people would claim he was evil himself. . .she couldn't give an argument with her career position. Too many questions were raised around her and Dr. Lecter anyway. She didn't need to call back the suspicions again.

"Mom!" Bella shouted, bringing Clarice out of her fog. She snapped upright, her attention diverting to her daughter. "I've been talking to you for five minutes. Have you been listening at all?"

"Sorry, sweetie. I was thinking about a case." Clarice sighed. It wasn't a complete lie.

Bella wasn't buying it though. "What's going on? You've been acting weird all morning. You said things were fine here."

Clarice shook her head. "Things are fine. I just have a lot on my mind with the new murder victim and all from yesterday." That was a complete lie, but Bella didn't seem to have energy to call her on it. She was never so invested in a case that it caused her to act differently. She'd spend more time at work, but she didn't allow her work to come home. "I'll pick you up from school today after practice. I have a feeling we might have company tonight."

Bella frowned as she glanced between her breakfast on the counter and her mother. "Company? You haven't had time to get a boyfriend."

"An old friend might be coming by. I heard he's in town." Clarice stated before putting breakfast items away into the cupboards the fridge. "Ardelia said that you could hang out with her for the night. I can pick you up tomorrow morning-"

"I want to meet the guy. If you're hiding who he is, I haven't met him before. Every guy that you talk to needs to pass my inspection." Bella stated before standing up and slinging her messenger bag across her chest. She froze before looking back at Clarice. "It isn't a booty call, is it?"

Clarice eyed her daughter. "How do you know- never mind. I don't want to know how you know that." She sighed. "If it were a. . .booty call, would you really want to know?"

Bella smirked. "It's not a booty call. C'mon, if you loved me, you would let me come home after school."

Clarice rolled her eyes but was reminded of another time she heard similar words spoken to her. "Someone once asked if I would tell them to stop doing bad things if I loved them. I adore you, Bella, but you are not coming home after practice."

Bella frowned. "What did you say to the other person?"

"I told them not in a million years. I never wanted to change who they were as a person." She saw the confusion on Bella's face and quickly continued. "You're still going to Ardelia's." Clarice stated as if it were fact. "I will drag you there myself. Besides, Ardelia is looking forward to spending some time with you. She's hardly seen you since school started back up."

"She said she'd come to my ballet concert next Friday. She wants to take us out to dinner after the show at some fancy French place downtown." Bella reminded Clarice. She huffed out a breath, her shoulders dropping. "I'll go pack a bag, but I'm not happy about it."

Clarice chuckled watching her daughter mope upstairs. "I wouldn't expect anything else from you."


The drive back from the school felt like hours. Her palms were sweaty and her stomach twisted in knots with anticipation. But, there was no fear. No compulsion to take out her gun. No instinct to run away or call the authorities. She walked back into her townhouse and felt the difference in the air. Felt his presence near her. Her heart drummed against her rib cage and pounded in her ears.

She removed her gun from her hip and placed it on the foyer table alongside her FBI ID, badge and phone. It was a message. She wasn't taking him in. Her heels clicked on the floor as she walked into the living room and sat down in the armchair, crossing one leg over the other and facing the front door. It was only a moment or two when she heard the footsteps on the staircase. A large hand slid down the railing as the steady rhythm continued down until the bottom landing by the front door.

His silhouette blocked the sunlight pouring in through the windows of the front door. With the shadows, she couldn't see his face, but it didn't take long for him to move into the living room with her and sit down on the coffee table. His knees bumped against hers, his eyes boring into hers. She yearned to reach out, but she didn't dare show him how much she had missed him without knowing what he was feeling.

"You're senses are as sharp as ever, Clarice." Hannibal spoke as if he were far away. "What was it?"

"Your cologne in my bed." Clarice breathed. She played with her fingers, but she didn't dare remove her gaze from his. "I see you met Bella."

Hannibal gave a small smile. "Is that the little bird's name? Yes, I have seen her. I haven't had the pleasure of being introduced yet. Moves with grace though. I caught a brief sample of her ballet routine." He spared a glance down to her hands. No wedding ring. Not even a tan line. "May I assume you are not with the father?"

Clarice nodded her head once. "I want to be. I don't think he knows she's his daughter. I never had the chance to tell him. I was pregnant before he left." She felt a small amount of relief when his finger gently stroked her knee over the fabric of her slacks. "Not to sound rude or unhappy with your arrival, but why are you back?"

"I heard about the Beer Can Killer case. Stellar name by the way." His voice dripped sarcasm. "I wanted to lend my services if you needed them. Not that you'd need them, but if you wanted them."

"Thank you." Clarice smiled, smirking at his slight stumble of wording. "Is that all you came for? To help me with my case? I know you've come back to the states before. Why break and enter into my home this time."

Hannibal's cheeks flushed the slightest, but his composure remained purely platonic. "The little bird made me curious as what life you have led since my last visit. I made my intentions clear the last time we spoke though. They have not changed. Have yours changed? Do you wish you had left behind the politics of the FBI and joined me? Even though that means your daughter would not exist."

Clarice bit her lip. "I wish I had run away with you, yes, but Bella would still exist even if I had left with you." She reached out and took his hand into hers, her thumb grazing the rough skin where his second middle finger was missing. "I would've told you if you had shown up earlier."

"She's mine." Hannibal breathed, not a question or shred of disbelief in his voice. He accepted it like no one else would. Like she knew he would. She let her fingers push on further, gently applying pressure to his wrist and upper arm. He turned his palms to up her and wrapped them around her elbows, pulling her closer to him. His lips barely skimmed her forehead before his forehead pressed against hers. "You hid her well. I didn't realize she was here until yesterday."

Clarice managed a smile, resting her hands on his sides. It felt so good to be this close to him again, and not a single part of her wanted to remove herself and turn him over. "I always felt when you were near. She usually stayed with Ardelia or at one of her friend's while I stayed around my office." She caressed his cheek, feeling his warmth soak into her hand. "When I saw the blanket on her last night, I knew you had been in there. It was time for you to know. She's ready to know."

"You hid her to give her normalcy, a choice in her life." Hannibal pressed his lips to hers, elated when she didn't hesitate to reciprocate the affection. He pulled back after a moment, slightly lost for breath. "I'd like to discuss this further, and I hope this isn't too forward-"

"Yes, Hannibal. We can go upstairs." Clarice breathed before kissing him again.

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