Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.

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During the night it had snowed, covering much of the mountain in the white powder. Luckily, the tree that Hannibal and Clarice slept under had kept most of the snow from covering them.

Not surprisingly, Hannibal was the first to wake. He almost started to get up before he realized that he was not alone. He looked down to see Clarice nestled in the crook of his arm.

He was about to rouse her before a sly smile crossed his face as he thought of a much more entertaining method. Several flakes of snow had drifted and settled over Clarice's face while she slept. Hannibal bent down and flicked his tongue over several of the snow flakes. The cold ice quickly dissolving after coming into contact with his warm mouth.

Clarice barely had a chance to wake up fully before her mouth was captured in a passionate kiss. After a couple of moments, the two broke a part. Clarice looked up at Hannibal mischievously.

"Someone's in a good mood this morning."

Hannibal only looked down at her.

"Would you rather a different scenario, Clarice?"

"Oh no. I like this scenario very much thank you." she responded, delving deeper into the blankets.

Hannibal smirked as he watched her close her eyes once more.

"Clarice, we should get moving."

"hmm? Just a couple more minutes..."

After giving a totally oblivious Clarice a reproachful look, Hannibal tried to summon that voice that could scare the wits out of anyone.

"Clarice...if you don't get up this instant. I assure you, you will regret it." Hannibal almost pulled the voice off too, if it wasn't for the small fact that he couldn't help but keep a pesky note of happiness from his threat.

Clarice only smiled, keeping her eyes closed.

"What are you going to do, kiss me again? Sorry to disappoint, Hannibal, but that isn't a very good deterrent"

"Fine have it your way, Clarice."

Hannibal reached behind him and grabbed a fistful of snow. He then deftly lifted up the blanket that was covering them both and quickly dropped the cold ice down the back of Clarice's shirt. It only took a moment for her respond.

Clarice jumped up. The blanket falling off of her as she tried to get the freezing snow away from her skin. She threw an angry look back at Hannibal only to see him curled up on the blanket...laughing.

Clarice almost started laughing as well before she remembered that Hannibal's little stunt could not go unpunished.

Clarice walked over to the clearing, where the snow was more abundant and gathered up a good sized snow ball. Luckily for her, Hannibal was too busy laughing to notice. She swiftly turned and threw the snow ball. Her good aim followed through, causing the lump of snow to connect solidly with Hannibal's face.

He looked up at Clarice, the look of amusement gone only to be replaced with a predatory grin.

Clarice looked at him, thinking that maybe throwing the snow ball wasn't the best idea. She whipped around and dashed across the clearing.

Unfortunately, Clarice's head start didn't give her that much of an advantage. In a matter of seconds Hannibal was up and bounding after her effortlessly. Hannibal saw her disappear in the trees lining the opposite side of the clearing and slowed to a walk as he entered after her. Opting instead to listen for Clarice's movements rather than chasing after her blindly, Hannibal stopped near a particularly large tree and began his hunt.

Although Clarice wasn't really worried for her life at all, she was still loath to lose this little game of cat and mouse.

"Come out, Come out where ever you are, Clarice..." Hannibal hissed from somewhere to her left.

Clarice jumped and almost started to run before she realized that that was what Hannibal was expecting and hoping for. If she ran, she would surely make enough noise for him to follow. No, it was better to slowly walk away. She stopped and hid behind a tree when she heard Hannibal walking from somewhere behind her.

After listening for a moment, Clarice realized that he was too close for her to be able to escape unnoticed. She would have to stay put and hope he followed in a different direction.

But no such luck was present for Clarice that day. Hannibal had seen her hair whip around that tree before disappearing. He walked up directly behind the tree, knowing that Clarice was standing on the exact opposite side. Hannibal stood there quietly, waiting for Clarice's curiosity to get the better of her

Clarice, for her part, knew that Hannibal was somewhere close by. She had heard him walking not far off until suddenly all she heard was silence. It didn't take long for her caution to turn to curiosity. She slowly started walking forward, looking around quickly for any sign of movement.

Suddenly her arms were pinned behind her and a voice whispered in her ear

"Tell me again why you didn't just wake up the first place?"

Clarice smirked

"Wasn't it you, Hannibal, that told me I should get more fun out of life?"

Clarice then swiftly turned and maneuvered her arms out of Hannibal's grasp and stood facing him.

Hannibal stepped towards her and grabbed Clarice's chin between his thumb and forefinger.

"Just remember that, Clarice, next time when we play a game of my choosing..."

Clarice involuntarily shuddered with anticipation as she replied

"Why wait?"

Hannibal chuckled darkly.

"Clarice, believe me, if it wasn't for the fact that we are fugitives in the middle of a forest filled with snow, I would definitely take you up on that offer."

"Hmm. Well we'll just have to remedy that situation, no won't we. Lead the way to our next destination, I say."

Clarice made a mocking bow.

Hannibal sighed.

"I've been trying to get you to agree to that for the last past half-hour."

"Yes, but this was ever so much more entertaining, don't you think?" Clarice didn't wait for an answer as she trotted back to their camp site and began to gather up their few belongings.

Hannibal shook his head while thinking that if there was one thing he knew, it was that life with Clarice would never be dull.

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O.k. I swear next chapter will actually have a plot! But I couldn't help writing this little exchanged into the story. So tell me what you think, thanks for reading!