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"Fucking hell." Bella groaned as she opened the door. "Can't you take a hint. We don't want you here."
Delia rolled her eyes and pushed past the seventeen year old. She moved like it was still accepted for her to be in their house. "Thank you for that warm welcome, Bella."
Clarice grumbled her frustration under her breath as Bella came back to help with their breakfast. "What do you want now? We're not going anywhere today. We're planning on staying home and watching movies. You don't need to come babysit us."
"Chet Krendler is missing." Delia announced to the two, gauging their reactions when she spilled the news. Both of them stopped what they were doing, but they quickly went back to the tasks at hand. "You two don't seem worried or concerned."
"Chet tried to get down Bella's pants every chance he had, even if she said no. Paul has been doing the same to me since I caught Buffalo Bill." Clarice stated honestly. "Chet can stay missing for all I care. Bella would be a lot safer in that school if he wasn't there gloating to his buddies about how he was going to sleep with my daughter."
Delia bit back a smile, looking at them both under eyelashes. "Well, you might just get your wish. He told Paul that he was going fishing last night. The boat was floating down the river this morning, but no Chet. There hasn't been word from him since."
Clarice stared back at Delia for moment, waiting for her to continue. But, she never did. "What does that have to do with us? The serial killer is after us, not Krendler." She grabbed one of the two plates she had set out for herself and Bella. "Did Paul point his finger at us? I was on lock-down with you guys all night, and Bella was with Joe at that party until the two agents outside raided the house looking for her."
"Yes, they told me where they found Bella." Delia mentioned, casting a disapproving glance to Bella. "We talked to the boy who threw the party - Ray Thomas. He said that he saw you come shortly after the ballet performance, and he didn't see you leave until everyone was fleeing."
"Joe and I grabbed some food and drinks and headed upstairs. We had a lot to discuss." Bella stated before taking a full plate from Clarice and handing her the empty one. "Like you said, the two agents outside found us. Don't worry about anymore little Lecter's running around. We used protection."
Clarice snickered despite Delia's obvious distaste for the comment before kissing Bella's head. "I'm not ready to be a grandmother, so thank you for that." She waited until Bella seated herself at the island before looking back at Delia. "What exactly are you here for, Delia? Are you accusing us of going after Chet because of a grudge or are you trying to tell us the killer targeting us decided to break his MO?"
Delia leaned against the island next to Bella. "You two were both in places that have been verified by witnesses. There's no evidence to suggest that our serial killer has suddenly switched his tactics. But, we've got a father missing his son who will most likely point his finger at the two of you." She glanced between the two Starlings. "And, we both know that Paul isn't against doing shady things under the table to get his way."
"Bella and I will deal with that if the situation calls for it. As of right now, I think Paul should focus on finding his son before he starts pointing fingers." Clarice explained calmly. "Our stories are air tight with plenty of witnesses. You've got statements, and you already have probable cause to search his financials because of his history with me, if he tries to frame us for something against Chet." She grabbed a carton of juice from the fridge, setting it down between the two glasses at her and Bella's breakfast settings. "I don't believe there is anything else to discuss."
Delia's eyes widened. "Nothing else to discuss. How about the fact that Bella snuck out last night as is being targeted by a serial killer? We still have no clue who the killer is. He could've snatched her up last night and killed her. Then, we'd be looking for two teenagers. People would probably conclude that they ran away together."
Bella gagged. "Excuse me, I'm eating here."
"Let me mother my own daughter, Delia." Clarice butted in, raising up her hand. "You are not a parent to her, so you don't get to scold her about running off or tell her what she did was wrong. Now, I would like a peaceful day with my daughter. I think it's time you go and find that killer you are so worried about."
Delia ran her hand down her face slowly, staring down at the counter when she opened her eyes again. "Clarice, I know what I said the other day hurt you. It was wrong to say, and you know I didn't mean it the way you are making it out to be. I've said sorry, and I'll say it again. I'm sorry. Can't we just move past this?"
Clarice turned off the stove and began washing her hands in the sink. "You said that Bella should've died when I was stabbed in that parking lot. You might not have meant what you said, but you said it. You said it, being there as a witness to my stabbing. Knowing the pain and guilt that I went through. Knowing that, despite the knife not cutting deep enough to kill her, we still almost died from the infection it caused. You knew how excited I was back then to have her, even without her father. You know how much I love being her mother now, even if she does run off to do stupid things in dangerous situations. I don't care whose DNA she has. I would never wish that, much less think it, for my daughter."
"You need to go, Dee." Bella breathed, meeting her eyes. "It's time."
Bella rummaged through her bag from the night before to throw her clothes in the washing machine. She could hear the treadmill going in Clarice's room, the machine usually folded up in her closet wanting to be forgotten. Throwing clothes into her basket, she paused when she saw the white box and card that had been delivered the day before wishing her good luck in her performance. She sat down on the floor between her bed and bag and pulled out the box. Gingerly lifting out the golden chariot and horses, she opened up the jewelry compartment to pull out the tape.
It wasn't long before the earbuds were in her ears and she was listening to Hannibal's voice once again.
Ah, my little bird. Although I feel compelled to stay with you, I know that this time apart is necessary, even if you don't quite understand it. The majority of your life has been spent without me, so it may raise a few questions as to why this time is different. I will elaborate.
Our time together has been brief compared to the length of time you have imagined your long lost daddy coming in to be your Christmas present. I fear that the imagination you have created around me has clouded your judgement. After all, you are jumping head-first into a world you know nothing about, into a world that will despise you just for the very genetic material you possess.
You told me that you feel as if you don't belong in this world you are growing into, that you are only yourself when you are home with your mother or around myself. While I understand that painfully empty feeling, you are still in high school. There is still so much for you to explore before you give up on the non-criminal side of society. For instance, you have not had the chance to enter a career field with peers who you can connect with. While this can be attainable even with a false identity, some things cannot.
As you've probably gathered, your mother and I did not have the normal standards of a relationship. There was no courting, in the traditional sense, or marriage. We got our baby girl, but I did not know about you until now. Even if she would have run away with me all those years ago, your childhood would've been an endless cycle of hiding behind closed doors and waking at all hours of the night to flee to the next country. We would have sheltered you from that as much as possible, but there certainly wouldn't have been any soccer games or lifelong childhood friends.
While I've never pictured that life for myself, I wonder what you have pictured. Did you imagine yourself as the mom driving the minivan from the carpool to the office? Maybe have the family portrait done every year to hang above a mantle. Have the wedding, birthday parties, graduations. The white picket fence life. If that is the life you wish for yourself, then I must let you go. If you even think that you may want this life, I cannot, in good conscience, take you away from it.
If you change your mind about wanting to leave, I completely understand, my little bird. I support whatever will make you happy, and I'll be part of your life either way. You've made me a father, first and foremost, and I will be one to you in any circumstance that is set, even if it means watching you from the shadows.
Bella hit the stop button on the walkman, staring down at the now frozen tape. He did pose a very good question, one that she had thought about for years. If she were being honest with herself, the future she had always pictured for herself was the quiet suburban life. She wanted the title of psychiatrist and to come home to a husband and kids where her husband was the father to her kids. A life where her kids grew up with their father. She wanted that core, but there was never a life built outside of those four walls. The view from the living room window could be anything anywhere.
Her future was family.
And, she wanted all of her family.
Scrambling up off the floor and pulling the earbuds from her ears, she rushed out to the railing that looked over the foyer like a bird's nest and turned to Clarice's door. "Mom!"
Hannibal sat perched on his rooftop again, waiting for agents to vacate Will's apartment building. Another government vehicle had pulled up just a few hours earlier to collect the last of the evidence it seemed. The amount of paperwork and files that were carried out was somewhat alarming, but he found himself curious as to what Will Graham was onto if he really was helping with a local case.
His attention to the vehicle was interrupted though when his burner cell erupted into a fit of vibrations. Lifting it up off of the cement roof, he pressed it to his ear. "Clarice?"
"No, the other Starling of your life." Bella's voice reflected a small smile, and it brought one to his face as well.
"Bellona, my little bird, I have very much been looking forward to talking to you." Hannibal said, a lilt to his usual metallic ring.
Bella curled up by Clarice on her bed, welcoming the comforting arms behind locked doors. "What about?"
Hannibal grinned. "Your performance, of course." His heart swelled hearing her chuckle in the speaker. "You were magnificent. My Bella, I wanted to give you a standing ovation when you had your big finale. You moved as graceful as a swan, but with the strength of a lioness. I couldn't have been prouder of you. When it was over, I just wanted to wrap you up in my arms and tell you how wonderful you were."
"Thank you." Bella whispered.
Hannibal felt the turn in the conversation before she could change the subject. "I have a feeling that's not why you called though."
Bella sighed closing her eyes. "I listened to your tape. The one in the jewelry box I got yesterday." She bit her lip, playing with the blanket that was laying over her and Clarice's legs. "You asked me what I saw for my future. You said you would let me go if I wanted the future of picket white fences and backyard barbecues."
"Well, I don't think I mentioned barbecues, but, yes, I remember." Hannibal hummed. The hand not holding the burner pressed hard against the concrete he sat on, his fingertips protesting against the rough texture. "My word is still good."
Bella felt Clarice start to stroke her hair, gently grazing her scalp with each pass. "The only thing I've pictured for myself is having a family, having a place where I can go home and be myself." She flashed back to the tape, to her childhood. "Mom told you that every year I'd only ask for one thing, for one person. You. Dad, that hasn't changed."
Hannibal felt a weight press down on his chest. "I'll be there for you no matter what. I will make arrangements to stay here as soon as I can-"
"No," Bella smiled, "I want a family, but I want my family. That includes you and Mom. You have your memory palace. I have an imaginary one that has no view yet. I don't care where I am or what I'm doing. I just want my family. That's the only thing I've ever wanted, and I've chosen that future for myself by leaving."
Hannibal ran down the scenarios in his head. "What about Joe? You seem to really care about him."
Bella nodded. "I do, and we'll be together somehow if we're really meant to be together." She let out a relieved chuckle. "You're not going to change my mind. I'm not letting you go anywhere without me, so no more planning to change plans. There's no one backing out on this end."
Clarice gently took the phone from Bella and pressed it to her ear. "I'm sorry, Mr. Bachelor. Looks like you're stuck with us for the rest of your life."
Hannibal laughed and closed his eyes. He tilted his head up to the sky, feeling the sun warm his face. "I gladly welcome the life sentence."
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