Howdy and thanks to all! I appreciate the reviews. Really. I apologize that it's taken me so long to get this whole story posted (one more chapter to go!), and I appreciate your patience. :)
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Lecter spent the whole night watching over his precious Clarice. She finally belonged to him. No, she would never fully belong to him, or anyone, for that matter. But she was his. She had surrendered to his charms and was ready to give herself fully to him. He thought about these things during the night. He had drifted to sleep several times during the night, but never fell into deep sleep.
About 5:00 that morning, he began preparing for the day. As he went about his tasks, he was careful not to wake Clarice. He gathered their travel papers and changed into a different suit. It was a simple one, specially tailored for him. The jacket and trousers were a soft black fabric, while the shirt was a vibrant forest green. The colors complimented him wonderfully. He had selected a comfortable silk dress for Clarice. Its color was ocean blue, one that would look beautiful with her hair and complexion.
After dressing himself and packing his things into their car, he decided he must wake her. Lecter approached the bed, not wanting to disturb her peace. He knew that she constantly faced demons in the daylight. He wished for her to have as much peace as she could. She moaned softly as he grew closer. It was about 6:00 now, and she needed to be ready for their 7:15 flight. "Clarice," he said sweetly, "Clarice, it's time for you to get up. You need to prepare for our day."
"Mmm . . . please don't make me get up, I'm so tired."
"I know, dear, but if you don't, I'm afraid we'll miss our flight." Her eyes opened.
"Flight?" She was suddenly excited. "Where to? Somewhere in Europe?" His only reply was a smile. "Is it? Oh, Hannibal, is it?" He noticed two things immediately. She was very excited, just like a little girl. He thought it was terribly sweet to see her this happy. And she had used his name in a normal conversation. Not his title, but his name. It pleased him. He took her hand and helped her out of bed.
"I've taken the liberty to select something for you to wear." He went to the closet and pulled out the dress. Noting her expression, he added, "You're most certainly not obliged to wear it, Clarice." She was silent for a moment.
"No, I love it! I was just thinking about how sweet you are to do this for me; to find my clothes and everything." He smiled.
"It is my pleasure." He nearly lost himself in the sweet thoughts of what numerous tomorrows would bring.
"I'll just get dressed in here," Clarice said as she entered the bathroom and flicked on the light.
"Of course." Lecter once again sat in the comfortable chair he'd spent the night in and waited for Clarice to dress. As he heard the door open, he stood up. She gingerly stepped out of the bathroom, as though she were suddenly self-concious. Lecter immediately inscribed her image into his memory palace. She would stay there forever. "Clarice," he breathed. She looked to the floor. "You look beautiful," he whispered. He was having a difficult time finding his voice. What was happening to him?
"Thank you," she said in a tiny voice. Why was she so self-concious? She looked absolutely stunning. Perhaps it was because she'd never worn something so feminine. That must be it. It certainly was not the way she looked. It could not be. "Well, don't you think we should get going? Wouldn't want to miss that flight." He sighed contentedly.
"Yes, we should." It was still dark out as they left the hotel. The happy couple departed for Florence that morning.
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One more chapter! Special thanks to chameleon302, Nanci, Memor Sol Solis, Steel, and Dark Shadow for supporting my futile efforts at fanfic...hehe. I appreciate ALL of you. :)
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Lecter spent the whole night watching over his precious Clarice. She finally belonged to him. No, she would never fully belong to him, or anyone, for that matter. But she was his. She had surrendered to his charms and was ready to give herself fully to him. He thought about these things during the night. He had drifted to sleep several times during the night, but never fell into deep sleep.
About 5:00 that morning, he began preparing for the day. As he went about his tasks, he was careful not to wake Clarice. He gathered their travel papers and changed into a different suit. It was a simple one, specially tailored for him. The jacket and trousers were a soft black fabric, while the shirt was a vibrant forest green. The colors complimented him wonderfully. He had selected a comfortable silk dress for Clarice. Its color was ocean blue, one that would look beautiful with her hair and complexion.
After dressing himself and packing his things into their car, he decided he must wake her. Lecter approached the bed, not wanting to disturb her peace. He knew that she constantly faced demons in the daylight. He wished for her to have as much peace as she could. She moaned softly as he grew closer. It was about 6:00 now, and she needed to be ready for their 7:15 flight. "Clarice," he said sweetly, "Clarice, it's time for you to get up. You need to prepare for our day."
"Mmm . . . please don't make me get up, I'm so tired."
"I know, dear, but if you don't, I'm afraid we'll miss our flight." Her eyes opened.
"Flight?" She was suddenly excited. "Where to? Somewhere in Europe?" His only reply was a smile. "Is it? Oh, Hannibal, is it?" He noticed two things immediately. She was very excited, just like a little girl. He thought it was terribly sweet to see her this happy. And she had used his name in a normal conversation. Not his title, but his name. It pleased him. He took her hand and helped her out of bed.
"I've taken the liberty to select something for you to wear." He went to the closet and pulled out the dress. Noting her expression, he added, "You're most certainly not obliged to wear it, Clarice." She was silent for a moment.
"No, I love it! I was just thinking about how sweet you are to do this for me; to find my clothes and everything." He smiled.
"It is my pleasure." He nearly lost himself in the sweet thoughts of what numerous tomorrows would bring.
"I'll just get dressed in here," Clarice said as she entered the bathroom and flicked on the light.
"Of course." Lecter once again sat in the comfortable chair he'd spent the night in and waited for Clarice to dress. As he heard the door open, he stood up. She gingerly stepped out of the bathroom, as though she were suddenly self-concious. Lecter immediately inscribed her image into his memory palace. She would stay there forever. "Clarice," he breathed. She looked to the floor. "You look beautiful," he whispered. He was having a difficult time finding his voice. What was happening to him?
"Thank you," she said in a tiny voice. Why was she so self-concious? She looked absolutely stunning. Perhaps it was because she'd never worn something so feminine. That must be it. It certainly was not the way she looked. It could not be. "Well, don't you think we should get going? Wouldn't want to miss that flight." He sighed contentedly.
"Yes, we should." It was still dark out as they left the hotel. The happy couple departed for Florence that morning.
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One more chapter! Special thanks to chameleon302, Nanci, Memor Sol Solis, Steel, and Dark Shadow for supporting my futile efforts at fanfic...hehe. I appreciate ALL of you. :)