The sun has long been an object of facination to our world. Numerous cultures find themselves mistified by this god , so far away , so silent , yet too powerful. It travels throughout their lands , seeing every sight and meeting every person , but as soon as it has come , the winter's cold follows. And they find themselves longing every moment for the spring , when the Sun returns to them , and embraces them in it's warm arms.

Furthermore , it mystifies them. Warriors , heros , the greek dieties , and even such forces as the F.B.I. rise and fall in power , reaching their climax of rule and then falling straight for the earth once more. The Sun does the same , but it does not let itself become defeated. It rises once more , the next day , to become the true hero of all , and the people rejoice right until the cold Moon ascends to reclaim the earth for just one night.

So it was with much respect , one can imagine , that Clarice Starling watched the sun this evening. It's marvelous descent , otherwise breath taking , was jaded by the harsh air pollution and towering forms of building it the distance , but nonetheless. It was amazing.

She pondered there , in the fading moments of twilight that graced her porch , just how this creature , this inanimate creature , does this. Every day. Whereas she , the might Clarice Starling , Warrior of the F.B.I. will peak so soon , and yet never see her moon , the ravenous F.B.I. , come up and envelope her. Toss her aside to another face of the earth , her life. And she did not rise.

"Damn you , Sun. The object of my jealousy and admiration is just one , big , ball of gas."

Clarice sighed deeply , closing her eyes and massaging her eyelids momentarily , a small groan apparent from deep in her throat.

"A Beer , few hundred advil , and a bubble bath. Fun , fun , fun." She hissed to herself , ufolding herself from the cheap , spray painted wicker chair.

Clarice turned to the screen door , wrapping her coat around her slightly , to step back into her home and shut the heavy oak behind her.

"What you need , Starling , Is a good psychiatrist." she mumbled to herself , and immediately smirked. "Oh yes , I'd go in and explain to the doctor 'I don't really need you , you see , I already have a world-class psychiatrist living in my head. He speaks to me , you know.' Oh , I can just see the papers."

Clarice , a small shadow of a smile apparent on her face , strode down the hallway , shedding her coat as she went along to let it fall onto the hallway floor , unnoticed.

She turned into the kitchen , the grocery bags from her earlier shopping spree still shed over the table like she left them. Clarice ignored them , so she didn't notice the extra , white shopping bag that laid on the table amongst them.

"What to eat , what to eat..." She muttered to herself , padding over the lime flooring to the freezer , where she opened the door and peered inside carefully.

Clarice stared into the snowy depths of the freezer , reaching in to brush frost off of a frozen bag of fries , considering momentarily when she was suddenly alert to the unnatural jumping on the hairs of the back of her neck.

They prickled as a shiver ran up her spine , and she jumped. Hand immediately drawn to the .45 at her side , she began to turn before sighing darkly.

"It's a freezer , Starling , not the fucking bahamas." she muttered

And Clarice loosened once more , reaching back up to push something out of the way and extract the fries from the back. They were a solid , irregular block , and heavy in her hand as she swung the freezer door shut and looked down to read the directions. As she turned , the first thing she was aware of was shoes.

Those shoes , black running and sleek , ran into a pair of expensive black slacks , and her eyes stopped at their knee level as Clarice quivered there.

"Good evening , Clai..." The silk voice began calmly , so very cliche , and she took her moment to pounce.

Clarice snapped from her stupor immediately and , disregarding her gun , lept at him , throwing her full momentum into the move.

Doctor Lecter , strong but still an aged man , struggled backwards at first as his Starling's angered face threw into his , her hands grabbing at his arms and trying to shove them backwards.

He quickly regained composure and growled at her in frustration , much like before , throwing her back into the kitchen counter.

Clarice groaned softly as she hit the counter , head falling back at first but it came up once more to look at him. Doctor Lecter was standing in front of her , holding her elbows to the counter behind her.

"Clarice , I was simply greeting you. No need to Attack already." He hissed to her , and she refused to blink.

"Hello , Doctor Lecter. I must say , it was quite a surprise to find you standing in my kitchen."

He smiled very lightly , a ghost of a true expression clouding his features.

"You're getting better ,Clarice. Please , sit down." Hannibal instructed , swinging her up from the counter and around to ease her into a chair. Clarice did not resist him this time , she simply sat there with a look of defiance clear on her face , hands falling into her lap as he let her arms go.

"Clarice , I will inform you , any escaping will be the demise of your dear old Mrs. Whitney..." Watching her confused look , Hannibal quirked an eyebrow and continued. "Your neighbour , Clarice."

She frowned in thought , and then a look of realization came over her face...Clarice gasped.

"Oh , no , Doctor Lecter..."

He smiled. "Clarice , you didn't even remember her name. Now , settle or with a flick of my wrist , goodbye Mrs. Whitney."

She nodded deftly , and Hannibal smiled continuously.

"Yes , Good girl , Clarice. Now , for the first matter of business..."

He turned to the floor , and bent down. Clarice had the urge to jump again , but he looked up to her with a small grin and then back down , picking up the bag of fries from the floor.

"Supper. Frozen french fries , Clarice? Now really..."



Hannibal Lecter looked over the table to Clarice , regarding her with a kind glance as she sat bolted , though not litterally this time around , into her seat.

"Clarice , I'm assured that you've seen these murders?"

"What murders , Doctor Lecter." She snapped , accent defiant in her voice.

"Clarice." He warned

"Yes , Doctor Lecter , I have." Clarice corrected , eyes aimed straight for his face though focusing on his nose rather than eyes. She couldn'tbring herself to look up.

"Then you know , Clarice..." He purred out , eyes pulling hers up to his. "That it was not me."

She nodded solemly.

"Yes , doctor Lecter , I know. They were definentally not your style."

Hannibal smiled lightly , and Clarice had the intention to move her eyes down , but kept them steady.

"I've taught you well , Clarice." He replied gently.

"In what , Doctor Lecter?" Clarice snapped , ever defensive.

"Now , Clarice , let's not do this again. Eat your supper first , before it gets cold."

He gestured down to the rice and chicken he had found in her kitchen , currently cooling , untouched , on their plates. She ignored it.

"Do what again , Lecter? Tell me ,I'm so curious to know."

"Clarice," he intervened, "My name is Hannibal. And you have not listened to me tonight. You need to calm yourself."

"You're only going to kill me , aren;t you? Hannibal?" She whispered , eyes boring into his in that moment of ferocity.

Hannibal stopped smiling , and stood , his chair scraping back against the floor eerily.She jumped slightly at this , but jumped right out of her chair as he rounded the side of the table to her.

Clarice gasped as his hands jumped to her wrist , and she was back against the wall once more in a flash. His head hovered close to hers , eyes dancing , and she was sure she saw the angel of death in those eyes...Starling's last stand.

"Clarice , listen to me."

Her breath came out raggedy as she exhaled , and shook her head.

"No , kill me already , Lecter."

"Clarice," Hannibal mumbled to her. "We must work together. It is imperative that we do so. Will you work with me , Clarice? Many , many lives will end if not...many more than will end while we spend time bickering. In this time that we fight , someone may have died. An innocent , if you will , Clarice."

She quivered under his gaze , nodding just twice in deft.

"Yes...Doctor Lecter...I will help you."

He smiled gently down upon her , and his head bent down to meet her lips with his softly...

A.N.- LOL , couldn't resist it...I'm just a true romantic at heart...Don't worry , the next chapter will be gore! No problems , right? Bring cameras...