Disclaimer: All character belong to Thomas Harris, I'm just borrowing them.

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"Will you run with me, Clarice?"

Clarice stood there, shocked for a few moments before she found her voice.

"Really, you want me to come with you? Are you just asking because I helped you out back there, or is this another one of your psychological tests you are so fond of?"

Dr. Lecter chuckled.

"No, Clarice I would not joke with matters as serious as this." he took a deep breath and looked intently at her.

"However, I need to make clear that life as a fugitive is not as glamorous as one would think. If you come with me now, you will have to leave your old life behind forever. Not only because of the fact that society would never forgive you for allying with me, but also because once I've become attached to something...I never let it go."

Clarice looked quickly up at Dr. Lecter to see exactly what he meant.

"Yes, Clarice. I have grown exceedingly fond of you over the years. It was only because I felt it necessary for you to be able to choose your own path that I have neglected you for so long. But now come with me, Clarice, if you are ready...or..." Dr. Lecter added with an insidious tone as he looked back to the unconscious body of Jack Crawford, "go back to your old life, blame everything on me, and I will Never trouble you again. Your choice, Clarice."

Clarice looked back and forth between Dr. Lecter and Crawford quickly for a moment. It was almost saddening how easily Clarice made her choice For she thought, even if the man before her was considered a monster in eyes of everyone else, he was the one person who was most like herself, and the one person who would not leave her as her father and the FBI did.

"As you said before, Hannibal, some of our stars are the same. And I don't intend on changing mine now!" Clarice added with a mischievous grin as she looked back around to the two unconscious bodies and asked, "So what to next, I need to catch up on learning how to hide evidence, rather than just uncovering it. Maybe I should take a fugitive 101 class or something" Clarice was in a very good mood and she started laughing at her own little joke.

"Oh we have enough time for that...Later" Hannibal said with his own mischievous grin appearing as he reached out for Clarice's shoulders and pulled her gently closer to him.

"Are you sure about this, Clarice?"

"More than anything else."

He kissed her passionately then and for the first time in many years he felt complete. Hannibal's uncharacteristic display of affection surprised...and excited Clarice and in no time she was responding to him eagerly. As Dr. Lecter reflected on how this was such a welcome change to his dreams of late, he heard a low groan emanating from the foyer. He opened one eye while still kissing Clarice, unwilling to break off contact so soon.

"Hannibal, what is it?" asked Clarice as she stepped back.

"One of our guests is awakening." Dr. Lecter answered in irritated tone.

"Come quickly." he continued leading Clarice into the foyer. He knelt down to Jack, who was still unconscious. Quickly digging through Jack's trousers, he found what he was looking for, his keys.

"I don't think ol' Jacky boy will mind do you, Clarice?" Asked Dr. Lecter with a small wink. He quickly got up and went over to Ardelia, who was slowly coming out of her unconscious state.

"Clarice, know where Ardelia keeps a spare set of cuffs?"

"oh right, one second." replied Clarice as she darted off down the hallway. A few seconds later she came running back.

"Here they are." she said handing him the cuffs. Dr. Lecter took them and locked one ring around Ardelia's right wrist. He then quickly cuffed the other to Jack's left ankle.

"There, that should keep them busy for a while."

Ardelia started murmuring unintelligible noises under her breath as she started to wake up.

"Okey dokey then we should go now, before she realizes too much."

Dr. Lecter and Clarice left the house and headed towards Jack's car, parked across the street.

"Where are we going?" Clarice asked as she approached the car.

"All good things to those who wait." replied Dr. Lecter calmly with a small smile as he unlocked the passenger side door and opened it for Clarice.

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Where will the couple head towards next?? More answers to come! Reviews are greatly appreciated! thank you!