Let's hear it for the last chapter! Woohoo! Thank you all SO much for sticking with me and being my inspiration. I'm so glad that I'm done...but this has only made me even MORE addicted! But I guess this is a GOOD thing to be addicted to. You get to use your imagination. Yay for imagination! Okay, here goes nothing...
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Several years had passed since Clarice's decision. Some, such as Jack Crawford, would come to regard it as a fateful decision. No matter what it was to be called, Clarice was happy. They had lived in Florence for quite a few years now, and Clarice couldn't remember a time in her life that had been happier for her. Needless to say, the accident involving chocolate ice cream and Lecter's bright white shirt was long forgotten.
Clarice remembered the nightmares. But now, that was exactly what they were: a memory. Her sleep was wonderful and peaceful. Her home was one she could only have dreamed of. It was huge, with a library and her own private study. Although she loved Lecter, he understood that she needed her time alone. She came to him when she was ready.
Their lives were filled with joy and happiness. They attended parties, went to the most expensive restruants, and enjoyed the opera and symphony weekly. Lecter purchased expensive gifts for his darling Clarice. He loved to buy her things; jewelry, clothes, you name it. But one piece of jewelry was always Clarice's favorite: the diamond and ruby earrings. There was just something special about them. To her, they almost represented the beginning of this relationship. They were very special to her. Although they used the aliases of Dr. Arthur Stroud and Mrs. Carol Stroud, they always addressed each other by their real names in privacy.
But one thing seemed wrong. Lecter had detected a change in his darling Clarice's behavior. He pressured her to make a doctor's appointment, and after several days of nagging, she consented. One thing she requested, however, was that she be allowed to go alone. Lecter agreed.
On the day of her appointment, she left early, allowing herself time to go for a walk. Lecter became concerned when she didn't return several hours later. He was about to call her cell phone to check on her when he heard the front door open. "Clarice?" he asked as he came out of his study. She looked radiant. A smile formed at the corner of her lips, though she fought to conceal it. Lecter looked at her quizzically. "Clarice?" he said, now very curious. "Where were you?"
"The doctor's office." It sounded to him as though she were trying to omit something from this truth.
"After that."
"I went shopping." She still was not giving him the full story, and he hoped that his patience would not fail him.
"Where are your purchases?"
"My car." She smiled and looked toward the floor.
"Clarice," he said in a mockingly cheery voice, "What is it you're not telling me? Hm?" Her hands went to her stomach. There was no use trying to hide the smile now. His eyes lit with excitement.
On November 10, Clarice gave birth to Laura Elizabeth Stroud. Clarice knew that there could never have been a father more proud of his daughter. Laura Elizabeth would come to have silky, sun-kissed auburn hair like her mother, as well as her mother's beautiful ivory complexion. The thing that Lecter seemed to be most proud of, however, was his daughter's beautiful maroon eyes. Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling gave new meaning to the phrase, "...and they lived happily ever after." But, then again, they always were a unique couple.
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Okay. I told you one more chapter and I meant it. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you SO much for all of the reviews. I wouldn't have continued without your support, so thanks for letting my imagination run wild. I'm feeling so inspired that I'm starting on a new story right now! :) Allegretto Emily
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Several years had passed since Clarice's decision. Some, such as Jack Crawford, would come to regard it as a fateful decision. No matter what it was to be called, Clarice was happy. They had lived in Florence for quite a few years now, and Clarice couldn't remember a time in her life that had been happier for her. Needless to say, the accident involving chocolate ice cream and Lecter's bright white shirt was long forgotten.
Clarice remembered the nightmares. But now, that was exactly what they were: a memory. Her sleep was wonderful and peaceful. Her home was one she could only have dreamed of. It was huge, with a library and her own private study. Although she loved Lecter, he understood that she needed her time alone. She came to him when she was ready.
Their lives were filled with joy and happiness. They attended parties, went to the most expensive restruants, and enjoyed the opera and symphony weekly. Lecter purchased expensive gifts for his darling Clarice. He loved to buy her things; jewelry, clothes, you name it. But one piece of jewelry was always Clarice's favorite: the diamond and ruby earrings. There was just something special about them. To her, they almost represented the beginning of this relationship. They were very special to her. Although they used the aliases of Dr. Arthur Stroud and Mrs. Carol Stroud, they always addressed each other by their real names in privacy.
But one thing seemed wrong. Lecter had detected a change in his darling Clarice's behavior. He pressured her to make a doctor's appointment, and after several days of nagging, she consented. One thing she requested, however, was that she be allowed to go alone. Lecter agreed.
On the day of her appointment, she left early, allowing herself time to go for a walk. Lecter became concerned when she didn't return several hours later. He was about to call her cell phone to check on her when he heard the front door open. "Clarice?" he asked as he came out of his study. She looked radiant. A smile formed at the corner of her lips, though she fought to conceal it. Lecter looked at her quizzically. "Clarice?" he said, now very curious. "Where were you?"
"The doctor's office." It sounded to him as though she were trying to omit something from this truth.
"After that."
"I went shopping." She still was not giving him the full story, and he hoped that his patience would not fail him.
"Where are your purchases?"
"My car." She smiled and looked toward the floor.
"Clarice," he said in a mockingly cheery voice, "What is it you're not telling me? Hm?" Her hands went to her stomach. There was no use trying to hide the smile now. His eyes lit with excitement.
On November 10, Clarice gave birth to Laura Elizabeth Stroud. Clarice knew that there could never have been a father more proud of his daughter. Laura Elizabeth would come to have silky, sun-kissed auburn hair like her mother, as well as her mother's beautiful ivory complexion. The thing that Lecter seemed to be most proud of, however, was his daughter's beautiful maroon eyes. Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling gave new meaning to the phrase, "...and they lived happily ever after." But, then again, they always were a unique couple.
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Okay. I told you one more chapter and I meant it. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you SO much for all of the reviews. I wouldn't have continued without your support, so thanks for letting my imagination run wild. I'm feeling so inspired that I'm starting on a new story right now! :) Allegretto Emily