Disclaimer: Again, the usual things. Thanks again to the brilliant Mr. Harris.

Book II
Part I

"FBI Beauty to put Beast Behind Her and Wed After Years of Therapy" read the National Tattler headline in 72 point railroad gothic. Lecter sat at his dinner table for a full fifteen minutes before moving after he read the headline. There was a split picture on the front, the left half held a not-so-flattering picture of Clarice Starling, and on the right was Lecter's mug shot from his capture. Still using that old picture. My, my Clarice. What have you gotten yourself into this time?

After another fifteen minutes, Lecter turned in the paper to the rest of the article. It entertained the theory of the a possible "Beauty and the Best" relationship between Lecter and Clarice. Somehow they knew the truth, but luckily no one believed supermarket tabloids anyway. The article went on to tell of Clarice's three years in therapy because of Lecter and her loss of the FBI job causing the move to the bank security job. Lecter at that moment began to make arrangements for travel to the states. He didn't intend on speaking with her, but he had to see her and make sure her life was satisfactory and that she was emotionally all right. Besides, he had to meet the lucky man and didn't want to miss her wedding for anything in the world.

Part II

For the next week, Clarice kept mostly to herself, silently reflecting on her dreams. They all pointed to one thing: the mistake she had made in her life. While she truly only loved one man, she forced herself to believe that if she upheld the image of a normal and happy life that her life would eventually become just that. So far it wasn't working that well, but Clarice was never a quitter.

With only five days to go now until the wedding, Clarice began to slump down more and more on herself. She sat alone and drank most of the time, hoping the drunkenness would numb the pain, or the lack of.

Part III

It was now Clarice's final night as an unmarried woman. This should be her most happiest night yet, knowing she would be wed on the next day. Against heavy opposition, Clarice chose not to have a bachelorette party and instead stayed at home, thinking and drinking. Unbeknownst to her, she was not alone though, for someone was lurking silently in the shadows of her apartment, watching and waiting.

Silently in the darkness sat Hannibal Lecter. He watched helplessly as he realized how much that Chesapeake Bay incident had destroyed Clarice's life. At first he was angered with her for her decision, but now, sitting in her apartment, re came to understand everything that was wrong in her life, but was convinced it was best to stay away from her and let her work it out on her own. If he, himself, was what she desired, then Lecter had no doubt that Clarice would search him out.

As Lecter sat, watching Clarice's beauty in her sleep, her body began to stir. Lecter's eyes followed as she rose from the bed and walked to the bathroom, stumbling from the drunkenness. How he wished to hold his Clarice at thus vulnerable moment and assure her that everything would be all right, yet he didn't dare move.

Clarice stood in the bathroom, staring into the mirror with her back to Lecter. After a few moments, when Clarice turned around, Lecter was shocked and amazed at the sight before him. A trail of blood followed Clarice as she went to sit down on the couch. Her face was so pale, her figure so emaciated. Clarice now sat only five feet from Lecter and the urge was too much to resist. How could he let her kill herself knowing he would have himself to blame. Living half way around the world from her was one thing, but to loose her all together was damnable torture.

In one swift motion, Lecter was sitting next to Clarice on the couch. Looking deeply into her eyes, he took her wrists into each of his hands. Clarice's reaction was hardly one at all. She looked at him in desperation and acted as though she had known he was there all along.

"Clarice my dear....." Lecter said as he began to apply pressure to her wounds. Nonchalantly he pulled a syringe out of he coat pocket and inserted it into her arm. Within one minute Clarice had slumped over into Lecter's arms. Working quickly, Lecter found acceptable needle and thread and sewed the wounds with small straight stitches. In two hours Clarice had awoken. They began to talk, mostly Clarice, and she told him about her therapy sessions and how subconsciously she had been waiting all those years for him to come and rescue her from this life. Lecter in turn gave Clarice the truth about her life, and while it stung deeply she accepted it and began to feel better. For the rest of the night, Clarice sat on the couch in the arms of a killer, never once thinking about the crimes he had committed.

Part IV

As the sun began to rise, Lecter rose to go. He had wanted to invite her to go with him, but felt that she must come to the realization of a life with herself. As Clarice watched Lecter walk toward the door a sadness overcame her the superseded depression. Quickly and hastily, she blurted out, "If you love me, you'll stop."

Those words unleashed symphonies of joy all over and in throughout Lecter's body. But this was no time to act foolish.

"Are you sure this is what you want? There's no going back." Lecter questioned and warned.

With that, Clarice arose and walked over to Lecter, placing her arm around his and said," Let's go Hannibal."

Part V

Two months later, Clarice sat with Hannibal outside a coffee shop in Florence as she read the latest issue of the National Tattler. The headline read in 72 point railroad gothic, "Search for Clarice Starling Abandoned as Letter Confirmed to be Authentic". With the reading of that headline, Clarice felt the closing of a door in her life and the opening of another to her new life. No longer did she need therapy, as everything she had ever needed was right in front of her. Clarice was relieved to know Shawn has received her letter. She hoped he would understand.

Dear Shawn

I am hoping you'll understand, even though it's likely you never will. I'm sorry to have led you on. Somewhere in the world is the right woman for you and I am not it. I know you'll find her. I am now truly happy. Don't worry about me. It's so odd that one can know what it is one wants all along, yet never be able to realize it and believe that it is true until you finally have it. All the best of luck and love to you in life.

Sincerely,
C.L.

PS Yes, the initials are accurate, and no I haven't gone out of my mind. I finally found the peace for it and my mind's now in the rightful place for which it belongs.

FIN
I know guys that this scenario is over done. And the ending didn't materialize as I had though it would, but the paper wrote its self. I know it's not that great, but I just had to get it out. I encourage constructive criticism, just don't get bitter or rude. We all know what happens to the rude ones..........