Disclaimer- I in no way own the original characters.
Chapter 1: Amore
Dr. Lecter sipped his coffee and flipped through the World Today newspaper , occasionally looking up at the Eiffel Tower that was standing tall with all it's glory. His wrist still bared the scar where he had cut away at the hand cuffs that that daring redhead had slapped on him back in America. He would have cut off his own hand if he had been any shorter on time.
The air was filled with different scents, everything from the sweets of the café he was sitting in front of to the smell of perfume by young women that passed by. How he loved France, a perfect place for his final retirement. Though, out of all the things he loved about Paris there was still one thing missing. Something that he had thought about every day for the past seven months. After all, Paris was the City of love.
His attention was averted to a couple who had recently sat down in the table ahead of him. The woman couldn't have been more than a day over thirty and she was sitting beside an older gentlemen who was obviously in love with her. The young woman, Lecter observed, appeared to be madly in love with him as well only she was playing hard to get.
"Ah my love," The man's accent was strong, obviously he was French. "Please accept my apology. Work is work, I promise you this will be the last trip I make overseas."
The woman, who looked to be a sun worshiper for her skin was dark brown, crossed her arms and looked away. "I don't believe you."
"It will only be for a month Sarah. One month. I'll come back and I'll retire.…"
Sarah shook her head and looked crossly at her man. "You promised me last time." The woman stuck her hand in front of the man's face. "Do you see a ring on this finger?"
Lecter began to laugh which brought the attention of the arguing couple.
"Forgive me," Dr. Lecter began when he caught his breath, "I couldn't help but over hear your conversation."
Sarah looked down rather embarrassed.
Dr. Lecter tilted his head slightly to one side and smiled. "It is obvious you two are madly in love yet neither one of you want to admit it. Why deny your feelings for one another when you will find refinement in each other's arms." Dr. Lecter began thinking about his own feelings. "Love over labor, sir. Work is only temporary but the love of a woman," he smiled as he thought about Clarice, "especially a hard headed woman, is boundless."
The couple looked at Dr. Lecter and then glanced at one another in a smile.
"He's right." The French man took the hand of the woman. "I think I'll take that early retirement." The two shared a kiss.
Dr. Lecter folded his newspaper and finished the rest of his coffee. As he pushed his chair in and began to pass the couple's table they stopped him.
"Your words are those of a man who is in love himself. Yet you bare no woman on your arm." The man said.
"Oh I am in love." Dr. Lecter replied simply. "She just doesn't know it."
The tan woman giggled. "What are you waiting for then?"
Dr. Lecter looked down at his scarred wrist and thought about that night. The night that he had kissed Clarice. The night that he wanted to last for a lifetime. A lifetime with her. "Her." He said so rather softly. He smiled at the lady exposing his pointy white teeth and then tipped his hat at her. "If you will excuse me."
"Of course Mr.." The man went to shake Lecter's hand.
"Dr. Jonathan McKay." Lecter lied.
"Thank you Dr. McKay." Sarah called after Lecter as he began to leave.
Dr. Lecter continued walking down the street lined with specialty shops and tourist booths. "Thank you." Dr. Lecter quietly spoke to himself.