Chapter Five:

*I've forgotten my disclamers. Sorry. I don't own any of them, all that bull goes here. I wish I owned them, but i do not, Im borrowing them, for the purposes of my own amusment.

This Chapter and all those before it are dedicated to the one and only person who can make me feel as safe as Clarice feels in this Chapter. I love you.*

I look at her, wrapped in my arms, sleeping soundly. The cruise liner travles its course, unaware that anything had happened, unaware of how she's changed me. Or how I've changed her life--forever. In one night, she's changed my whole way of living. I suppose, however, that she has done this before this night, for I have never felt this way in my entire life.

How is it, that one person can change me forever? How can I be seen for anything else than a monster by the one who knows me best? She's studied my case files, she's studied me, and yet, she sleeps, wrapped in my arms, unafraid...She stirrs now, and I watch her face closely. She is not crying in her sleep like she has done many times before...

Those who have seen my profile, or even those who have merely read articles of me, are scared by the mere name that crosses those headlines. Yet...she sleeps...I see her, my darling little Starling as I have always seen her...but now...the light that shines around her glows brighter than is has before.

Is it possible...?

I love her?

A man like me is not supposed to love...at least this is how society sees it. This is how I see it. Until now. I've made love before, but never like this. Never with emotion..and I am surely not the type to stick around in the morning, when all is done. Yet with her, I can not leave. I can not even blink, in fear I will miss any little look, or even any little sound that comes from her. I can not move in fear I will awaken her slumber, and displease her in anyway. I do love her.

A man like me is not supposed to love.

Clarice Starling stirrs in the bed, while Hannibal looks down on her face, as he has done for hours, and awakens. Her eyes open, and she lookes up, deeply within his eyes. A sense of calm floats over the room, hovering, sticking to every wall. Words are exchanged, yet, we are not meant to hear them...A kiss is passed between the two lovers...and nothing else matters. Only these two lovers, alone in her room, smiling simply at each other and the bond that was just made.

Chapter Six:

Krendler sits in his office, drinking coffee, and looks over the travel records. He looks over where Clarice Starling has gone, and looks over the passangers who are with her on her journey. A name pops out to him...Dr. Fell. The mans passport photo is then seen on the screen, and Krendler drops his coffee. He smirks...

"Well Dr. Lecter, or should I say, Dr. Fell...I knew you couldn't leave her alone."

Chapter Seven:

The trip in Rome lasted only a little while before it was time to go back to the United States. I look at my darling Clarice, as she thinks of what to do next...

"I won't leave you Hannibal. It's not an option. I will go with you-- Anywhere. I swear it. Tell me where, and I will go."

She is close to tears...I've told her that she needs to go back to the United States alone, and that I will send for her when I'm ready. She does not believe I ever will send for her. I wish I could make her see....

"Clarice, "I take her face in my hands. The candle light reflecting off her eyes, "we need to think about this my darling. By now I'm sure they already know that I was on that cruise with you...they must be expecting me to come back with you. My darling, I will send for you. I swear it. You need to go back, alone...get your things, and leave when I send for you."

Tears spring into her eyes, as I kiss her lightly.

"And I will send for you."

After thinking for a moment she smiles at me, telling me all she needs to with her eyes.

I walk her to the gate where she gets on to go back to the United States. I kiss her lightly, and watch as she lightly cries, like I had expected her to do. I look into her eyes and from afar, I smile. She sees me, and walks onto the plaine.

Clarice sat through the plane ride, tired, and alone. The plane finally lands, and she gets up. Walking off of the plane, she is greeted by the FBI and SWAT teams...she lookes around, confused, and they grab her by the arm.

Krendler comes up to her and looks her in the eyes, "Where is he Clarice?"

She pretends to be confused, "Who Mr. Krendler?"

His argression increases as he drags her from the airport out into the streets. He takes her to his car, where they ride in silence back to his office.

She sits now, in a Cold office, alone, waiting for him to return.

The door creeks open and Krendler walkes in.

"Clarice, I'm going to lay this down for you."

She looks into his eyes, distaste gathering and becoming apparent.

"I checked over who was on that little cruise of yours. Guess who was there Starling. Dr. Lecter. No doubt you know he was there..."

"Mr. Krendler, with all due respect, if I had known he was there, don't you think he would be in custody right now?"

He bent over, so he was mere inches from his face, "You are too close to him...mentally Starling. I know that if you saw him and were away from the FBI you wouldn't have told any of us. I'm sure you saw him there Starling, and I'm sure you let him go. Only because you hold such...emotion for him."

"Krendler, I have shown nothing but loyalty to the FBI. I have given you everything he has ever sent to me, and have given you every little piece of information I have on him. I wouldn't let him get away from me if I had seen him."

He looked at her, and for a moment, showed willingness to believe her...he turned around and walked out the door.

The newspaper headlines show it all...my Clarice has been captured by the FBI...they want to know where I am. I know they will not rest until I have come to justice...I can not leave her there....

Clarice sleeps in her home, the FBI waits outside, waiting for anything to happen. For him to come, or for her to leave. Her phones have been tapped, and her house videocamered. She has no hope to tell him not to come, for she knows he will. She has no hope to ever see him again...but she knows she will....even if it means in chains. She knows he will come.

Hannibal walkes cautiously up to Clarice's home. Fully aware of the people who are waiting for him. He waits for them to rest, to let their guard down, and to be unprepared for him to stike. Like an ally cat, he walkes to the car...which is parked in the ally near her apartment, and knocks on the window. The window rolls down, and Hannibal asks for a word with the gentlemen inside. Dressed as a Police officer, they get out willing to explain why they are there. As the men approach him, each one meets with a knife in their stomach. No sound or screaming came from them, for their vocal coards had been slashed seconds after. Traces of blood left on the car, Hannibal walks on.

Quietly entering her house, he wakes her. Her eyes widen as he pickes her up out of bed, and askes her to get dressed. Seconds later, they are fleeying the building.

Waiting outside, is a Cab ready to take them to the airport. They get inside, and he hands her, her passport with a new name. Reaching the airport, they get out and walk to the door.

Getting on the plane together, hands entwined, and smiles radiating on their faces, they sit.

The plane took off and their fight to freedom was won...

Paul Krendler gets news that the Agents waiting infront of Starling's house have been killed. He jumps up and rushes to the Airport. Getting there, he knew he was too late. Running around the Terminals, looking for familiar faces, he found nothing. Waiting for an answer to come to him...he stood.

"I hope you're happy Clarice..."

*Four Years later*

The FBI had never stopped looking for Hannibal and his Clarice...but they knew they would never ever find them as long as they were alive.

Clarice looked into her new face, and smiled at Hannibal.

"Well Mr. Adler, where to now?"

Taking her hand he smiled, "Anywhere we wish Mrs. Adler...the stars belong to us now...and no one can ever take that from us."



*End Note*

Look at me! I didn't kill them! The ending that was origionally here was much better I think...but I decided that since I do not like having my stories be so predictable, I wanted them to live...So, enjoy! I didn't make you cry! Be happy because the last ending was tragick....and well...It would have made a lot of you write hate mail to me telling me that I need to write an alternate or I would face certain death! If anyone wishes to see the origional ending, tell me, and I will be glad to post it. Ta Ta- J*