Sorry this has taken so long, I haven't been inspired. But I am now. You know the drill… I don't own Hannibal or Abby, but I do own the other characters. Read and review people, please. Its what keeps me going. Also, I don't expect everyone to like the story, no problem. Read on though, because this isn't going to be a mushy love story.

GOING HOME

"Its okay," Sam said reassuringly. "Mommy and her friend are just talking. Go back to bed, Hannah…"

King's eyes widened at the familiarity between his name and hers.

Chapter 3 The Proof: Where Is It?

"You… I mean … we… I mean… wow… and you even named her after me?" he asked running a shaking hand through his hair.

"Speak much?" Sam asked, "and no… you don't, I do. You haven't been here, and no I didn't name anyone after you. I wasn't speaking to you. I was speaking to Madi," she said. "Hannah is the dog," Sam smiled. "I was explaining something," she said turning back to Madi as King sat there in shock. "Go back to bed, Hannah wakes up to early and needs out if you turn on the light, you remember right?" she asked.

Madi nodded. She hugged Sam and waved questioningly at the stranger before walking back towards her room.

Sam sighed turning back to him. "You were explaining about vampires?" she asked sarcastically.

"No, wait, this is a little more important than vampires, we have a child together," he said as if realization had come over him. "I mean, wow… this is amazing, but you named the damn dog after me," he asked shocked. "Even for you, that's pretty low. You were always so nice, I guess my leaving left you… hurt," he said.

"No shit," she said, "but no, I didn't name the dog after you. Madi did that, because her friends name is Hannah," she said. "Don't think that I ever intended to think that highly of you."

He sighed, knowing that he deserved every bit of her lashing out towards him. "I am sorry that I couldn't be here for you, but…"

"But nothing," Sam said, "I don't quite know what the hell you are talking about, and you are never going to convince me that you became a blood sucking monster for 8 years."

"5," he said softly looking down, wringing his hands insecurely. Usually, he would come up with a nice comeback, say something witty to make her fall back in love, but he was frozen.

"That's right," she said. "5, so even if you were really a vampire, you could have called after you became… alive again," she said.

"No baby, Sam…" he whined trying to think of the proper way to explain the situation. "I couldn't put you in that danger. The vampires knew me and if I would have found you, so would they. I couldn't risk anyone hurting you. I would die, for real this time," he smiled a little at that joke. "but that doesn't mean that I didn't think about you every day. I hurt, probably as much as you did. You were my life. I was taken from you, and now I am trying to right that," he said.

"And how are you going to right that?" she asked. "You can't give me back 8 years of my life." It was apparent that her hurt ran deep.

"I know I can't, but I want to be here for you now. I want to be a part of your life, a part of Madi's life," he said sincerely.

"How?" she asked. "I pretty much have things under control now. I don't need your help," she said. "And besides, you still haven't proved shit to me about before, so why should I believe that you would stick around this time?"

"I will give you the proof, but I need you to swear that you won't tell a soul," he said.

She nodded, "like I would tell anyone and let them think that I was mentally incapacitated," she said.

He smiled, "I love when you make stupid ass jokes," he said. "Okay, I have to take you somewhere," he said.

"If you have forgotten, I have a child at home. I cannot leave, and I really don't plan to go anywhere with you," she said stubbornly.

"Why are you making this so difficult?" he asked her with a sigh. "This is important to me, okay? I need you to believe me. I don't care if you will take me back or not after, I just need to know that you believe that I just didn't abandon you."

She sighed. Seeing his sincerity, she knew that she had to let him do this. First, he would not leave her alone until she gave in. He would pout and whine his way from red faced to blue. Second, she knew him still. She knew the face that he was making was one of pleading with her. He did this hardly ever back then. It was only in times of dire urgence that he would beg her for anything. "I guess I can cancel my dinner plans. And the babysitter will be here in about 15 minutes," she said softly.

He grinned and got up, going to her. "I am going to hug you, I am just letting you know in advance. Please do the same if you are planning to hit me when I hug you," he said. He picked her up in his strong arms from the chair.

She struggled at first to get away, but as he held tightly to her, she stopped and just stood there, limp and unwilling to hug him back. She had made up her mind a long time ago to not show him affection, if he should ever choose to show his self again.

"Okay, thanks for not hitting me," he said as he pulled away. He sat back in the chair waiting silently.

The silence was unbearable, and obviously Sam refused to start any conversation with him. He played with his hands finally looking up. "So, are you seeing anyone?" he asked her softly, afraid of what the answer might be.

"No," she said shaking her head. "I actually just haven't had the time. I have been working and in school. Plus, with having Madi, there is no time for that."

He smiled relieved. "I am not either. I mean, there is this chick that I work with. We are just friends, but you know…" he said. He stopped himself biting his tongue. He could not believe that he just did that. Stupid fucking moron, he thought.

Sam must have been thinking the same thing. "So you work with this chick that's hot. You like her and you are here why?" she asked. "Are Madi and myself just closure for you?" she asked.

"No," he sighed, yet again, frustrated at himself. "She is amazing and a great friend, don't get me wrong, but she knows about you. She knows that you are the one that I want to be with. She is happy for us," he said relieved to hear the doorbell ring.

Sam got up to open the door. "You should probably check with her on that," Sam said. "Women are pretty good at hiding feelings that they have for male friends and co-workers. She might have done this… reunited us, I mean, as a means to get you to realize that it is her you want," Sam said as she let in the babysitter. Sam couldn't believe that she was comfortable giving him relationship advice. She missed that aspect of having him around. They had always been very comfortable with each other. They always had good, no, great conversations.

She stopped speaking to him and explained what she could to the babysitter. "My dinner guests will call," she said. "Explain that I had a family emergency come up," she told Rachel. As Rachel nodded, she continued, "I am going out with an old friend," she pointed toward Hannibal. "Call my cell phone if you need anything," she smiled. "Madi is asleep and Hannah is in her cage, so you should be good to go for the evening."

Sam grabbed her bag and keys. "Okay," she said as Hannibal stood. She followed him silently to the car, where he opened the door for her. "I see you haven't lost your manners, at least," she smiled.

"No ma'am," he said tipping a pretend hat towards her as he closed the door and walked around to the driver's side. He started the car and drove off towards his destination. He was surprised that she had actually gotten into the car with him.

After 10 minutes of silence, Sam was tired of looking at the same scenery and playing with her hair. "So you said that all the vampires were dead," she thought out loud. "How exactly can you prove their existence to me then?" she asked looking towards him. She almost gasped at his profile. She had completely forgotten how beautiful his features were.

"That is a good question," he smiled, "and one that is easily answered," he said. "However, you must wait until we get to our destination to find out the answer, oh enlightened one," he smiled. "But a good question, it is…" he said having to sneak in the Star Wars reference.

She rolled her eyes, "still playing with that light saber?" she asked.

He looked at her, "you mean the toy… or my…"

"You know exactly what I mean. And it is sad that you, a grown man are still into that stuff," she said. "I mean, I know the new movies…"

"They are awesome. And don't give me that too old thing, because you still twirl your hair like you were 5," he said.

She rolled her eyes. She looked out the window, seeing his playfulness change in an instant to seriousness. She saw why he became serious, shuddering at the dark and cold building before her.

"Okay," he said softly turning towards her in a somber tone. "this place.. brings back bad memories," he said softly. "I just want you to know. I don't want you to be afraid if my emotions completely explode. This is the first of 2 field trips," he said softly.

She nodded, a softness shown on her face that she had not meant to be there.

He climbed from the SUV and walked over opening her door. He helped her out, holding tightly to her hand. He squeezed it gently, glad that she had not pulled away. He looked down at her, took a deep breath and then walked her towards the building that had taken away 5 years of his life with her.