Destined by a fate so cruel
I'm drugged to delight
Laughing as these lies unfold
I've lost all control

Temptation
(It never lets me down)
Temptation
(One foot in the ground)
Temptation
(You satisfy my soul)
Temptation
(I've lost all control)
The Tea Party, Temptation

Missus Komeda had continued her insistence towards Hannibal hosting another dinner party to the point of annoyance, if he hadn't of respected her work so much she would have been on his table in pâté form weeks earlier. Hannibal took pleasure hosting dinner parties, telling his little cannibalism jokes and watching people enjoy his food, but he was reluctant to host another. Will was never really comfortable around other people, especially Alphas, he had made huge progress but the caution was still there. He had pushed his mate and Will was more sociable but never before had so many people Will didn't know personally been in their home. Hannibal didn't want Will remembering what had happened at The House and the same went for his daughter Abigail. In the end he decided to sit them down and get their thoughts rather than just announcing it at breakfast and seeing if they fled the house. Abigail liked the idea, much to Hannibal's surprise, Abigail truly was a strong young woman who refused to let herself be afraid of her new life. William however, was more reluctant and so Hannibal suggested inviting Alana Bloom, he would have suggested Beverly but she was nowhere near ready to be around any Alpha that wasn't the doctor himself. After a long moment of debate and a few small begs from Abigail, Will consented and Hannibal began planning one of his beloved dinner parties.

He decided on a simple menu one based on color and flavour more than fancy French words as William put it. Abigail had a soft spot for mango and so the Alpha decided almost instantly that dessert would be a mango parfait, not very skill full but Abigail adored them. When it came to his staff most were Betas with the occasional weak Alpha and so Hannibal decided that he would make sure the occasional weak Alpha wasn't amongst the staff he was sent, there would be no more Alphas than were one-hundred percent necessary.

XXXX

Eventually the evening of the dinner party arrived, Hannibal had spent days gathering every ingredient he needed to make the perfect meal; he had even let Abigail help with the last one. Will looked dashing in his tuxedo and the Omega had referred to Hannibal as sexy as hell so the Alpha was pretty sure he looked good.

Hannibal still had a lot to do before the guests arrived but he had one stop to make before returning to his kitchen. Abigail had been worried all week that she wouldn't have anything right to ware, normally she wasn't bothered by clothes but for some reason what she wore to the dinner party was of the utmost importance to her. Hannibal knocked on her bedroom door softly and then entered, present hidden behind his back. What he found in the bedroom was Abigail in her fluffy white bathrobe looking at the contents of her closet that she had strewn across the bed.

"Are you alright, Abigail?"

She sighed and perched herself on the one section of bed not covered in dresses.

"I know its stupid, and I know all these things are beautiful and I'm grateful for them I really am."

"But?"

He prompted moving further into the room, it was only then that he saw Cobalt curled up in the closet doorway.

"But...I don't want to embarrass you. I'm your daughter now, officially and I want to look like I am rather than..."

"Hobbs'." Hannibal finished for her.

"Yes. I'm being silly I know, I'll just pick something."

"Perhaps I can help." For the first time since he had entered the room Abigail looked up at him. "Here."

Hannibal moved a large black box from behind his back and presented it to the young Omega with a smile that was only for her, Will and the twins. Abigail's face lit up as she jumped off the bed and took the box carefully from her father. It wasn't heavy but there was some weight to it, she set the box down on her bed. She opened it carefully moving thin sheets of lilac tissue paper and then gasped, in split second she had her arms around Hannibal holding his tightly and pressing her cheek to his chest, he returned the hug while resting his chin on the top of her head.

"Its perfect, thank you."

"Of course. A young woman can never have too many dresses." That made her chuckle. "I'll leave you to dress, I have to finish in the kitchen."

Reluctantly the two released and Hannibal left the room. Abigail went back to the black box and pulled the dress out into the light so she could see it better, the dress was knee-length and made of a rich green satin, it had a fitted bodice and pleated skirt as well as a high cut halter neck. Perfect was all she could think as she held the dress against her body and looked in her full length mirror.

When Abigail eventually made her way downstairs with Cobalt in tow behind her Will was in the living room with the twins and Alana, everyone had guessed she would arrive first so as she could spend time with Claude and Valentina, she did love children.

"Oh, Abigail you look wonderful." Said Alana the second she noticed the other Omega enter the room. "Don't you think, Will?"

"Yes, she most certainly does."

Abigail blushed and silently begged for them to stop, she had never been very good with complements. The twins were sat on the couch each playing with their beloved stuffed toys without a care in the world and it made Abigail smile, she truly loved them.

"Has anyone else arrived yet?" She asked.

"No, not yet. Hannibal said it wouldn't be long now though so it may be time to put Cobalt in the yard with Winston."

"Oh, okay."

Abigail did as instructed and took Cobalt out to the yard, it was a warm evening and Winston had no problem playing with the young pup. Winston was still a puppy himself at heart. When she returned to the living room Hannibal was there with a sleepy Claude in his arms while Will held Valentina, it seemed it was their bedtime and the twins were both tired enough not to complain. Suddenly the doorbell rang and faster than seemed possible Hannibal was pulling the door open.

"Mister and Missus Komeda, its nice to see you again. Please come in."

A short female Alpha with a bob entered followed by a greying male Omega, she looked just as Will remembered only her dress was black rather than red.

"I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to this, Hannibal."

"I'm glad to create a sense of anticipation." He responded as one of the Beta staff, a woman with long blonde hair tied back in a high ponytail took Mister and Missus Komeda's coats.

"You remember my mate, William." Hannibal gestured to Will who looked a little nervous.

"Yes, its lovely to see you again." Will accepted the hand she held out and shook it for a split second before releasing it and moving his arm back to help hold his daughter. "And who are these beauties?"

It was obvious she was referring to the twins and so like the gentleman he was, Hannibal made introductions.

"These are our children. This is Abigail, and the twins Claude and Valentina."

"Oh, they're so beautiful. I love your dress, Abigail."

"Thank you."

Abigail couldn't help but smile as Missus Komeda looked over her emerald green dress.

"This is Alana Bloom." Hannibal added.

"Its a pleasure to meet you, I've read your books, they're truly fantastic."

"Why thank you, Miss Bloom."

Will and Hannibal soon managed to put the twins to bed and the rest of the guests arrived. First was Doctor Gergor De Voil, an Alpha that worked at the Jefferson Art Museum and had a phD in both art history and art conservation, he and Hannibal had begun a friendly debate over a Monet around five years previous and ever since they had been on civil terms, well that was what Hannibal was on, De Voil was convinced they were friends. Hannibal didn't have friends and if he did they would be Jimmy Price and Abel Gideon, not Gregor De Voil. Next to arrive was a Beta by the name of Lila O'Hara. Lila was an aspiring opera singer and Hannibal was certain that she would go far. He had never heard Voi Che Sapete from Le Nozze Di Figaro sung with such perfection before, Lila truly had a successful career ahead of her. Rylan Henderson and Nathaniel Torode arrived last and together, the two Alphas bickering over clients as usual. Rylan and Nathaniel were fantastic lawyers and great friends with a highly successful firm Torode and Henderson but the fact that they were cousins also meant that they argued constantly.

As the evening went on Will emerged from his shell a little, answering questions with actual sentences rather than single words, and even asking a few of his own questions. Hannibal was proud but it was obvious that Will was most comfortable with Missus Komeda since he had met her before and she wasn't overly dominating. All agreed that Hannibal's Spring Duck Tartare with Oceanic Salad was to die for. He, Abigail and Will had shared a look that said oh, if they only knew after that comment left Lila O'Hara's lips.

It was as the main course was served, Fillet of Continental Cross Beef with Agria Potato and Black Truffle, that conversation turned to Alana, who was seated by Abigail. Alana seemed to be in the same frame of mind as Abigail and was determined to enjoy herself, she wore a long deep blue chiffon dress with three-quarter sleeves and everyone had to admit that the dress showed of her eyes wonderfully.

"So, Miss Bloom. How is it you know Hannibal and Will?" Asked Rylan Henderson as he looked up at her with hazel eyes.

"We work together, Mister Henderson." Alana said softly.

She didn't know how to answer the question, she couldn't tell him yeah, I was kidnapped and locked in a room by a sadistic Alpha that let people pay to rape me until Hannibal killed him, that would not have gone down well at the dinner table.

"Oh? Hannibal, I thought your worked privately?" Said De Voil, his mouth half full of child abuser.

Hannibal thought quickly, he couldn't deny The House now Alana had said they worked together but he couldn't tell the truth either, a version of the truth it is then Hannibal told himself.

"I and Will recently set up a charity for abused and mistreated Omegas. Many who come to us are uncomfortable around Alphas and need therapy sessions to help them come to terms with the things that have happened to them. I have my own patients to see and like I said many are uncomfortable around Alphas, so Alana acts as a therapist."

"So you're Doctor Bloom, not Miss? " Said Nathaniel as he pushed a loose strand of longish blonde hair behind his ear.

"Oh no. I'm not a doctor. I'm still working on my degree, but the work Hannibal lets me do is so pleasing and really helps with my learning."

"Hannibal, why did you keep this little charity of yours a secret. It seems so very selfless and such a good cause." Spoke Missus Komeda.

"I and Will believed that it would be best not to publicise The House. The Omegas that come to us are grateful for the...low key...aspect to our operation."

"You and Will?" Began De Voil. "It must be nice to work with your mate."

"It is." Said Will, the Omega really didn't like De Voil, there was just something about him that didn't sit right.

"Tell me, Hannibal. Who do you employ, what are the staff requirements?"

It seemed that The House had really caught the attention of Missus Komeda and once something ha d her attention she wouldn't stop until she was sated. Hannibal had no choice but to answer without being rude.

"I am the only Alpha, one is more than enough. I am in charge along with William. The rest of our staff is made up of Omegas and Betas. James Price and Abel Gideon are my right-hand men, they oversee everything and are both Betas. Barney Matthews, Clarice Starling as well as Joshua and Kari Banks are also Betas, they keep things running along with Mister Price's mate Brain Zeller. Rain Gibson tends to The Houses garden ensuring there is a quiet and peaceful place for the Omegas while Rex Jones has become an art therapist of sorts. Alana and Beverly Katz as well as Abigail on occasion act as traditional therapists."

Everyone seemed impressed and rightly so, they had gone from abused and tortured individuals to strong people ready to help others. It had taken some time but they had gotten there and Hannibal was monumentally proud every single one of them. Dinner continued with occasional questions about The House until Hannibal managed to turn the conversation onto Lila's opera career, she and Missus Komeda could talk for days on that subject Hannibal was willing to let them just to get away from the subject of The House, it made Will, Abigail and Alana uncomfortable. Talk of the opera lasted till the end of the main course, thankfully. Upon the serving of desert, Mango Parfait with Coconut Sorbet, that conversation took a darker path leaving the sunlit meadow and heading into the dark unknown. Abigail didn't notice at first, she was far too lost in the Mango Parfait, it was her favourite after all.

"Did you read about the new killer that's stalking the streets of Baltimore?" Started Nathaniel Torode. "Sounds like some sort of copy cat for The Chesapeake Ripper if you as me."

"Maybe The Flag Killer and The Chesapeake Ripper are the same person." Suggested Mister Komeda.

"Why do they call him, The Flag Killer?" Asked Lila.

"Oh, you don't know." And that's a new topic for her to go on about thought Hannibal. "He skins his victims, and then sews it together attaches it to a flag pole and spears it through their chests. Monstrous." Explained Missus Komeda.

"That sounds horrible." Alana seems disgusted while Abigail, who had realised what was going on, was intrigued.

"Yet highly skilful." Added Abigail.

"Abigail is correct. To flay the flesh so perfectly would take a tremendous amount of skill and patience."

Hannibal didn't thing such a conversation was appropriate for a dinner table and Alana looked a little green but he had been making cannibal jokes all evening so he decided to indulge his family and guests.

"The killer is most likely an Alpha, I don't think there has ever been an Omegan serial killer and most Betas wouldn't have the courage or patience to carry out that design." Said Will as he neared the end of his parfait.

"William makes a good point. The ritual of The Flag Killer takes time and a steady hand, he is unlikely to be of Omega or Beta dynamics. He is also likely to have some kind of medical training."

"Isn't that what they say about The Chesapeake Ripper though?"

Conversation continued long after the meal was over and eventually moved from The Flag Killer to Abigail's adoption. No many teens were adopted and especially not so quickly. It turned out that Hobbs had told people Abigail had run away and to be honest it worked in Hannibal's favour. He'd called the police after the Hobbs murder hit the front pages saying he knew where Abigail Hobbs was and proceeded to explain how she had been at The House for six years and had never told him her surname until seeing the story, all lies of course. Po lice wouldn't look too far into what Hannibal told them , they just wanted her out of their hair, an unclaimed Omega not of mating age was something no one wanted to deal with, so when Will and Hannibal had offered to adopt her no one had really ask any questions or thought twice. Hannibal knew a member of the adoption panel, Sharee Langford, she had waisted no time telling the rest of the panel how good a man Hannibal was and that was before he even knew she was on the panel.

There case seemed to have been pushed through without much work from Hannibal, adoption services didn't like having to deal with teenagers much so after a quick inspection of Hannibal's home and seeing that he and Will already had children, they were approved and Abigail was officially their daughter. It had been Abigail's idea for her to take Hannibal's surname, she thought Abigail Lecter sounded much nicer than Abigail Hobbs. When she had suggested that Hannibal had grinned ear to ear, not caring about his mask.

XXXX

"Oh, I'm so glad they're gone." Said Will the second the last of the guests were out the door.

"Come now, Will. It wasn't that bad." Remarked Hannibal pulling Will into an embrace and kissing him passionately.

"Okay, if you two are going to get all lovey dovey I'm going to get Cobalt and go to bed."

"Then you may want to go to bed." Chuckled Will.

"Night."

Abigail pressed a kiss to both men's cheeks and then went off to get Cobalt, appearing a few seconds later with the puppy in her arms only to climb the stairs. Winston padded into the room a few moments later.

"Winston, I think you should stay down here tonight. Things are going to get a little PG."

With that Will pulled Hannibal off upstairs to their bedroom.