Chapter 25: Full Circle

Already numerous balloons and flowers adorned the birthing room of the Maternity Center Associates in Bethesda, Maryland despite the fact that little Serena Clarice Graham was only one hour old. Clarice had been in labor for fourteen strenuous hours but the ending result was a beautiful, red haired girl that weighed nearly eight pounds and was just over twenty one inches long. Already the general consensus was that Serena, who had been born just after midnight, looked like Clarice although she had acquired Will's crystal blue eyes and height, being long for a newborn.

"She's absolutely beautiful," Joshua Graham said quietly as he cradled his new baby sister in his arms while she slept peacefully. He looked up at Clarice laying in bed and his father sitting on the edge of her bed holding her hand and smiled. "Good work you two."

Will chuckled. "Thanks Josh."

"Yes, thank you Josh," said Clarice and she closed her eyes. She was absolutely exhausted.

Ardelia Mapp, standing next to Clarice's bed, leaned down and gently kissed Clarice's forehead. "I'm so proud of you Claire," she whispered. "You did an amazing job. Get some rest and we'll see you tomorrow."

"Thanks Del," Clarice whispered and smiled gratefully up at her friend.

"Congrats you two," Seth Williams smiled as he took Ardelia's hand and led her to the door.

"Hey congrats to you two as well," Will said.

Ardelia and Seth turned back and grinned simultaneously. "Thanks Will," Delia smiled. "Take good care of your gorgeous girls there."

Will smiled back. "You know I will."

The newly engaged pair exited the birthing room, quietly closing the door behind them, leaving Clarice, Will, Serena, Josh, and Michelle. Will, sitting on the edge of Clarice's bed, leaned in and kissed her lips lightly. He smiled at her and stroked her still damp hair off of her forehead. Clarice leaned her head into his hand and smiled tiredly.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," she said.

"You were amazing today," Will replied.

Clarice grinned. "Thanks but I certainly don't want to do that again any time soon."

Will chuckled and kissed her again. "Definitely not," he laughed.

Michelle stood over the chair that Josh occupied, looking down at him holding Serena. "She's so tiny," she marveled. "She's just a perfect little teeny-tiny person. Ten fingers, ten toes, two eyes, a perfect little nose, and a cute little mouth. Oh and look at those tiny ears," she squealed with delight. "She's just too cute!"

"You can baby sit any time you'd like to Michelle," Will smiled.

Michelle giggled in acceptance. Clarice slowly nodded her approval, closed her eyes, and almost instantly began to doze. Will stood up, took Serena from Josh's arms, and laid her down carefully in the hospital bassinette, covering her up tightly with the blanket. He turned back to Josh and Michelle.

"Hey you guys should go," Will whispered. "Clarice needs to sleep and you two have classes in the morning." He paused as Josh stood up and they embraced in a big bear hug, slapping each other's backs. "But thanks for coming out."

"I wouldn't have missed it dad," Josh smiled.

"It's good to have you so close, Josh," Will said.

"It is," Josh agreed and smiled at his father. Josh Graham had transferred to Georgetown after his first year at UCLA. He had wanted to be closer to his father and Clarice certainly, but mostly to Michelle.

Will watched as Josh and Michelle kissed lightly, and he smiled. They were young and in love and had their whole lives ahead of them. It was a very exciting time for them but Will did not envy them in the slightest. Soon they would have to decide what they thought they wanted to do for the rest of their lives and Will was so glad to be past that point. Often, Will asked himself if he would change anything if given the chance to do it all over again. He decided that the only thing he would do differently would be to have been a better father to Josh. But he would change nothing else. He had a talent for getting inside the minds of mad men and he knew that because of it he had saved countless lives. No, if given the chance, he would not do much differently, despite all the pain, despite all the heartache, and despite all the fear it had caused him.

Michelle moved to hug Will tightly then went to Serena's bassinette and gently kissed her forehead. "Can we stop by tomorrow for a bit? Just to say hi?" She asked.

"Of course," Will nodded. He looked at Clarice and Serena both sleeping soundly. "Hey I'll walk you two down to the car," he said. "I need some air."

"Okay," Josh said.

Will walked out of the room behind Josh and Michelle who had their arms around each other and closed the door quietly. The only sounds in the room were the heavy breathing of mother and child as they slept peacefully.

Several moments later, Dr. Hannibal Lecter slipped quietly into the room. The mingled scents of antiseptic, blood, after-birth, and sweat met his delicate nostrils. He looked around the lush birthing room with its rich decorations and furnishings and smiled. This was the place he would have envisioned for his beloved Clarice to give birth in. The entire ordeal took place in one room from labor to delivery to recovery. The birthing center allowed family and friends to remain in the room with the laboring mother if she so desired which often produced a calming effect for her. Dr. Lecter smiled gently as he watched Clarice's chest rise and fall steadily and wished he had been able to be here and hold her hand through it all.

He moved silently to her side and ran his hand over her sweat-matted hair. He leaned down and planted small kisses on her forehead.

"Clarice," he whispered and closed his eyes as he rested his head against hers. He told himself that he was here to call upon the infant and not Clarice, therefore he was not technically breaking his promise to her that he would never again call upon her.

He remained that way for a moment when a little squeak from the stirring baby interrupted him. He opened his eyes and straightened up. Dr. Lecter walked curiously to the bassinette and peered in. He gazed at Clarice's daughter and felt his eyes beginning to moisten. She was absolutely exquisite, just like her mother. Slowly and carefully, he picked up the still sleeping infant and held her closely to his chest. He peered at the name card on her bassinette.

"Serena," he whispered, drawing out the 'S' sound at the beginning of her name much as he did with the ending of her mother's name.

Dr. Lecter held the baby out from him a little way so he could better study her. He noted her little orange baby fuzz that covered her head and smiled. She would grow to have her mother's beautiful hair. He looked at her face, the high cheek bones and regal nose and smiled.

"Luckily for you, you received your mother's looks," he whispered to the baby.

Serena stirred and stretched, opening her eyes for a moment and blinking several times. Dr. Lecter was taken aback by how blue they were.

"Well I suppose you had to inherit something of your father's," he muttered. "And you're going to be tall as well aren't you love?"

Serena gurgled softly in her throat and fell back asleep. Both she and her mother were exhausted after the labor and delivery. Dr. Lecter smiled tenderly, kissed her forehead, and laid her back in her bassinette. He glanced at his watch and knew he needed to make his exit before Will returned. He bent over the sleeping baby.

"Serena," Dr. Lecter whispered. "You are the product of a woman I cherish above all things. I will always be here if you need me. I will watch over you and protect you, even from your parents if needs be, for as long as I am alive."

Dr. Lecter smiled down at Serena and then moved to sit next to Clarice on the bed. He watched her sleep for just a moment before kissing her forehead lightly. She did not stir.

"I will always love you Clarice," he whispered. "And I will always be there to assist you and your daughter. No matter what else may be going on in my life, at the moment you need me, I will be there. You are the light of my life and as difficult as it is for me, I will continue to let you believe that you are truly happy with Will." He kissed her forehead again. "I know you did wonderfully today Clarice, despite how difficult child birth is. Like every other challenge in your life, you met it head on without fear. You are an amazing woman Section Chief Clarice M. Starling."

Hannibal Lecter refused to call her by her loathsome married name. He leaned in for one last kiss, gently brushing her lips with his.

"Good bye love. Take care of yourself and your beautiful daughter."

As he strode to the door with one final look at Serena, a low sweet whisper from Clarice met his ears. It was so quiet that he almost did not here it.

"Good bye Hannibal."

The End.

Fin.

Done.

Over.

That's all folks!

Author's Note: This is it! The last chapter! I have to say how wonderful and amazing you all are faithful readers. I have had so much fun writing this story and your reviews have been great. I'm so grateful for all of your support, encouragement, ideas, and constructive criticisms. Special thanks must go to MC for your tireless support and efforts; to Morbid Angel for agreeing very enthusiastically to be the model of Michelle, Joshua Graham's girlfriend (with the exception of the cheerleader bit!); and thanks to my family and friends for putting up with listening to chapter ideas and helping me when I got stuck. Thank you all SO much and I love ya. Now please review!! Once last time!! Come on, you know you wanna!! Please, please, please!