Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 2 of Absolution. Thank you to those who have left reviews for this story. It really does mean a lot to me that you guys are enjoying this story. I'm going to try my best to keep updates weekly on this story and the story after to keep it going. Of course I'm still debating on whether or not to continue into Silence of the Lambs and of course into Hannibal itself. Without further ado Chapter 2. ENJOY!

Chapter 2

That evening wasn't a good sign as Dr. Chilton stood admiring some sort of horn that was above the fireplace.

Margarita sat in her chair with Mischa not too far from her, waiting for dinner to be served. She smoothed some of her daughter's hair back softly knowing that her little girl was eyeing Dr. Chilton with narrowed eyes.

Hannibal came out of the kitchen carrying four plates easily in his hands. He placed one plate in front of Mischa, Margarita, and then put Dr. Chilton's plate as Dr. Chilton moved towards his seat. Hannibal moved towards where his seat was and sat down. "Salted and ash-baked celeriac with foraged sea astra. Frederick, you have tested me. It is rare that I cook a meatless meal."

Dr. Chilton hobbled with his cane to his seat, putting his cane next to a chair before slowly sitting down. "I lost a kidney. I have to watch my protein intake."

"You didn't lose it, Frederick. It was taken from you. I remain impressed with your recovery."

"One can grow to love beets. Alana Bloom was visiting your former patient today."

"Will was never my patient." Hannibal said as he looked up at Dr. Chilton.

"The irony's that Mr. Graham is my patient, and he refuses to speak to me. Makes me feel like I'm fumbling with his head like a freshman pulling at a panty girdle."

"Will is going to be challenging for any psychiatrist."

"He is so lucid, so perceptive, he's trained in criminal psychology and he's a mass murderer. He's a prized patient. Or should be."

"You thought you'd be like Beaumont studying digestion through the opening in St. Martin's stomach."

"As it turns out, I don't think we're any closer to understanding him now than the day he came in."

Hannibal took a nearly-imperceptible pleasure in knowing that. "How was Dr. Bloom's visit?"

"He asked her to hypnotize him to recover memories." Dr. Chilton said as he took a bite of the food enjoying it. "This is delicious."

Hannibal's interest piqued with knowing that Alana had tried to hypnotize Will. "Was he successful?"

"Only in playing Dr. Bloom. It's sad to see a brilliant psychiatrist fall for such hoary old chestnuts."

"She wants to believe him. I do, too."

Dr. Chilton looked rather disappointed in that, but continued to plow on. "You do realize that you're his favorite topic of conversation. Not with me, of course, but with anyone else who'll listen." He was digging and teasing at Hannibal, enjoying himself.

Margarita pursed her lips together not liking the idea that Dr. Chilton was thinking that this was a good idea to tease her husband like this. She was wondering how long her husband was going to allow this to go on with the talk of Will. It made her feel rather nervous about the whole thing.

"He tells everyone you're a monster."

"If you believe Will Graham, then you're dining with a psychopath." Hannibal said with a smile.

Dr. Chilton smiled following suit. He raised his glass. "Wouldn't be the first time." He tipped his glass to Hannibal and then drank as Hannibal watched over the rim of his own drink.

Margarita cleared her throat causing her husband to look at her.

"Yes, Rita?" Hannibal questioned putting his glass down.

"Can we not talk about murder at the table any more please?" Margarita's eyes drifted down to their three year old daughter.

Hannibal cleared his throat softly knowing that it probably wasn't wise to talk in front of a three year old about murder. "Of course darling."

Margarita took a breath relaxing at what her husband had said. She wasn't quite ready to tell her daughter about murder and why people like killing.

HANNIBAL

Margarita laid in bed waiting for her husband to come into their bedroom. For once Dr. Chilton didn't stare at her like she was some sort of prize to be won or a piece of meat that was up for the taking. She knew that Hannibal must've spoken with Dr. Chilton about staring at her and how much he didn't like it and how much it made her feel uncomfortable. Margarita let out a soft breath as she closed the book she had been reading.

Hannibal came into the room seeing her put her book on her nightstand. "You seem rather relieved from this evening." He said as he began to change his clothes.

Margarita looked up at her husband. "Of course. Dr. Chilton didn't stare at me like a piece of meat." She said tiredly as she shifted in the bed.

"Well I did have a talk with him. He understood that I'm protecting you because you're pregnant and he made you feel rather uncomfortable with all of his staring."

Margarita hummed softly as her green eyes slid over to him watching him change easily into his night clothes. She bit her bottom lip softly enjoying watching him change his clothes. "It was a welcomed change."

"I must apologize though."

"For?"

"Fredrick and I talking about murder and Will at the table." Hannibal said as he came over towards the bed. "It wasn't the best thing to talk about in front of our three year old."

Margarita nodded her head slowly. "Yes, probably not the best topic."

"We will have to tell Mischa at some point about it."

"I know, but I'm not ready to do that when she is three."

Hannibal nodded his head in agreement knowing that his wife indeed had a point. He joined her in bed, rubbing her side softly.

Margarita turned and faced him moving closer to him. She rested her head softly on his chest. "I love you Hannibal."

Hannibal kissed the top of her head lightly. "I love you too, Rita."

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This is the end of Chapter 2. I hope that you guys enjoyed this chapter. I tried my best with trying to make it a long chapter. I think I actually succeeded in trying to make it a fairly good sized Chapter. The next chapter will be the third part of Episode 1 Kaiseki. I can't wait to show you guys what I have planned during the next part. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Reviews help me keep going when it comes to writing. I will hopefully update next week. Until next time.