This is the sequel to my first fic Shattered Life - it's going to be a more fluffy humorous piece with some more angsty scenes coming later I think. I'm still not sure where I'm going with this piece at the moment but any suggestions as well as reviewsare very warmly welcomed.

Disclaimer: The story is mine but the characters belong to Thomas Harris.

I would like to thank my brilliant beta JetNoir for helping me with this fic as well as my other new fic The Fire That Burns In The Night (If there are any Mask of Zorro fans out there go to my bio to read more)

Katy

Life's New Reflection

Chapter One – Mirror Image

"Hannibal?"

"Mmm?" The Doctor raised his head sleepily but Clarice saw his eyes were still closed.

"Hannibal," Clarice sounded more urgent this time and began gently tugging at her lover's arm.

Hannibal propped himself up on an elbow and his other hand rested protectively on his wife's rather large stomach.

"What's wrong Clarice?" Hannibal scanned her face quickly with his eyes but his body was still protesting from this early wake up call. A quick glance at the clock confirmed his suspicions that it was barely 3a.m. in the morning.

"Cheese."

Hannibal tilted his head slowly to one side and raised an eyebrow before he repeated her request.

"Cheese, Clarice?"

"Yes, I need some now. Please."

Hannibal sighed before gracefully rising from the bed. There were sometimes even his very patient demeanour was pushed to its limits.

After a leisurely stroll down to the kitchen Hannibal ascended the stairs carrying with him a plate of his wife's desired food. When he re-entered the bedroom he found Clarice sitting up expectantly. She eagerly grabbed the plate and ignoring the crackers on the side began to immediately eat the cheese. Halfway through her third slice Clarice seemed to remember her husband who was still standing by the bed watching her intently.

"Would you like some, Hannibal?" she questioned, although it seemed a half hearted offer.

When the Doctor merely rolled his eyes and climbed back into his side of the bed Clarice appeared to show no disappointment and simply went back to wolfing down her late night snack.

Hannibal's mind briefly wondered if he should add a small sign to the dinner table, 'Beware: pregnant woman. Keep an eye on your food'. At meal times now he only had to leave the room for a minute for something to mysteriously vanish from his plate.

After finishing her cheese, Clarice licked her fingers before depositing her plate on the bedside table. She settled back down next to her husband and promptly fell back to sleep.

Hannibal looked down at his wife and wrapped his arm back around her. He had been able to understand many brilliant psychological theories over the years but pregnant women and cravings were sadly not among them.

It was a bright Saturday morning in Buenos Aires, and the sun was already climbing high in the sky. The light was reflecting off the many windows of an exquisite mansion, which nestles safely between a small hill and line of trees far away from any prying eyes.

Hannibal and Clarice slept on while another member of the household slowly crept towards the bedroom door. Turning the knob as silently as possible she pushed open the solid oak door. Stepping into the room she observed the sleeping couple who were curled up together on the near side of the bed.

The intruder edged closer to the bed, and when she was within arm's reach, gently shook Clarice's shoulder.

In response to this, Clarice turned her head towards her husband and mumbled sleepily, "Han..bal? What time's it?"

The figure next to the bed did not seem to appreciate this reaction.

"Mamma, wake up, mamma. It's the weekend… it's not time to sleep."

Clarice opened her eyes to regard her daughter, who was smiling expectantly up at her. She had her favourite teddy bear clutched in one hand, and the other was still gently nudging her mother's shoulder.

"Marietta," Hannibal's words were half-muffled by a pillow, "What are you doing up so early?"

"Morning papa," The little girl climbed up onto the bed and then moved to sit next to her father. "Morning baby," She turned her head to direct her last greeting towards Clarice.

"What are we doing today papa?" Marietta asked Hannibal who was glancing at the clock noting it was indeed 9:30 in the morning.

"Your mother and I were planning on sleeping for a little while longer but since you have woken us up I suppose we could get up."

"Get up now papa, please," the little girl added the last word hoping her father would agree to her request. Although approaching only her fourth birthday she had been instructed in the importance of good manners since she could talk; and from one parent in particular.

"Marietta, would you like to go shopping today? We need some things for the baby, and I'm sure you need some new clothes." Hannibal was still surprised as the rate by which his daughter was currently growing and no sooner had he bought her something she had grown out of it.

"Oakie doakie, Papa," with that Marietta hopped down off the bed, and ran around to the other side, next to Clarice who was still dosing; "Mamma, wake up. We're going shopping."

Clarice kept her eyes closed but mumbled back to her daughter, "I'll get up in a minute, sweetie. Why don't you go and play in your room for a bit, and I'll be there in a minute."

Marietta nodded, and skipped off dragging her teddy bear behind her.

Clarice sighed and drew the covers tighter around her. "We have to get up Hannibal,"

"Hmm, we do," the Doctor affirmed whilst running his fingers lightly up and down his wife's arms. He leant down and trailed a line of kisses down Clarice's neck.

"You're distracting me from getting up you know."

"I know, but you don't really want to get up right now do you Clarice?"

"Children have short attention spans Hannibal; she'll be back in a minute,"

"I'll lock the door."

Clarice laughed before swinging her legs over the side of the bed and standing up. She turned to face her husband, and noticing his slightly crestfallen expression gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"Marietta may have a short attention span Hannibal, but she sleeps for fourteen hours or so now. You may not be able to accost me in the morning but you have all evening and all night love."

Clarice walked towards the door and twisted, adding with a grin, "You'll have to just exercise some of your famous self control!"