Face and Francesca walked down the aisles of a nearby supermarket called Bev's Groceries. Every store around was named after someone. Face shrugged it off, realizing that the small town persona really held here.

"So… Polly said that she's kind of your guardian or something like that," Face broke the silence.

Francesca stopped in front of a row of bottles and began to scan the shelves, "Yeah, she really is. Do you see any liquid latex?"

Face wasn't listening, "Did you like living with Polly?"

"Of course, what girl doesn't want to live with her best friend?" Francesca glanced at Face.

He smiled, "I guess."

"I mean," she frowned. "That's not to say that I was completely happy. My life has been a roller coaster."

"Yeah, Polly said that as well," Face started to look at a few bottles.

Francesca raised an eyebrow and picked up the liquid latex, "And she only knows the half of it."

"Pardon me?"

"Um. Nothing, look let's just not talk about it, okay?" Francesca bit her lip, walking off down the aisle.

"Wait!" Face quickly caught up to her. "W-what do you mean she only knows the half of it?"

Francesca turned sharply to look at him, "We are not going to talk about it. Is that clear?"

"No," he shook his head. "We are going to talk about it."

She laughed cynically, "Why should I talk to you? You were the one who thought I was trying to lead you guys back to prison."

He threw his hand up, "Forget it. That's gone. Talk to me." He gave her a lady killer look with his big blue eyes.

"Goddamn you and your stupid…" she trailed off and shoved her hand in his face. "Your stupid face."

Face shrugged, "That's my name."

Francesca rolled her eyes, "What do you want to know?"

"I just want to know about you. What's happened to you in the past?"

Pursing her lips, she thought for a moment, "Fine. Fine." They walked down the aisle and she spoke quietly and sullenly, "My tragic tale of heartbreak starts at seven. My father left us. I guess I didn't really understand the situation, so it wasn't bad until my mom started to have to work really late and she wasn't around often. Tommy took care of me. He was only twelve. And my mom passed when I was a teenager. Tommy was gone and I lived with Polly and Mary. Those years were some of the best of my life. So I immersed myself in work…" They stopped in front of a makeup display. She started to shuffle through foundations. "I dated, not well, but I did. I had a lot of one night stands and then…" she stopped. "Look. This is a really touchy subject for me and I hate talking about it so just be quiet for it."

Face didn't speak, but nodded.

"When I was twenty-five or so I met this guy who was not looking for a relationship. And I didn't really care. We were both single, wanted some sex, so that was our relationship. Every so often we'd take ten minutes and just go at it. Wherever, whenever. It wasn't until I- well after a certain incident-"

He went back on his promise, "What does that mean?"

"I'm not going to tell you any more if you interrupt me," she held a case of foundation toward his face.

"Well, I just want all the details."

"You're lucky I'm even telling you this," she scowled. "Anyway, after awhile I fell in love with him. So each encounter grew into a more intimate adventure and time after time I wanted to tell him, but I knew it would screw everything up. So," she took a few cases of the foundation and threw it into the basket. "One day it just slipped out. And he ran the other way. Left me. I screwed it up," Francesca shrugged. "That was that."

Face smiled, "That's a lot."

"Yeah. I wasted two and a half years on that guy and he just takes off," Francesca growled, turning into a new aisle. "And my life hasn't got much better other than being promoted."

"Oh?"

She picked up a bottle of Vodka, "I mean not specific events. I turned thirty. That sucked."

Laughing, Face replied, "Life happens."

"Mmm, if only," she led him to the cash register. "If life was happening for me I would not be here right now. I thought that by now I'd be married, have some kids, be living in a perfect white house with a picket fence in a nice neighborhood and every so often go to a PTA meeting. Or at least have a domestic partner, a dog, and live in a cozy apartment." She paused, "With a dog."

Face smiled at her as she lowered her head, "The sex was good at least?"

"Simply inspired," Francesca looked off into space, a wistful smile on her face.

Flashback

Francesca led Hannibal down a side street to a small restaurant. It seemed quite busy, but Francesca pushed her way through the crowds and into a backroom that led to a patio. There were two people standing and looking over the patio at the slight view of the ocean.

"Ciao!" Francesca called to the two people.

They both turned. They were older women who were wrinkled from the sun. One grinned, "Francesca, la mia bella ragazza."

"Zita, Isidora," she gestured back to Hannibal. "This is John."

"An American?" the other stepped forward.

"Well, yeah," Francesca went toward them. "Why?"

Zita, the shorter of the two spoke, "I just thought that you being a very young beautiful young lady that you'd be sampling the Italian… uh…"

"I don't keep my legs spread all that often," Francesca laughed and sat at the table.

Isidora examined Hannibal, but quickly turned back to Francesca, "Everyone's been looking forward to seeing you. I'm going to go get them."

She slipped past the towering man, almost frightened at his stature. He chuckled to himself.

"John, sit down," Francesca pulled a cigarette from her purse.

Zita put her hand into the purse, "Give me one."

Leaning back, Francesca replied, "Relax, I have enough."

Hannibal came toward the table and sat beside Francesca.

"Checka!" a juvenile voice called from behind.

"Cece!" Francesca took a drag on her cigarette before standing again. She turned to find a little girl with dark brown hair and bright eyes, "Dove Giuseppe?"

Hannibal watched from afar as Francesca tended to the little girl. They embraced and then Francesca picked her up, singing a tune with the little girl. Zita interrupted his thoughts, "So, John? You are with Francesca, yes?"

"No, we are just friends," he took a cigar from his pocket.

"And you both smoke!" Zita closed her eyes. "We've been trying to get her to quit. We love her to much. And now you."

"Have you known Francesca long?" Hannibal smoked the cigar proudly.

Zita nodded, "She's been coming here since she was eighteen."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, she's like part of the family," Zita smiled, looking back at Francesca and Cece. Cece screeched loudly as Francesca scooped her back into her arms upside down. The little girl looked at Hannibal in an odd manner from her position, "Chi è che, Francesca?"

Francesca turned back to look at Hannibal, "Molto stretto amico mio, mio piccolo amore."

Hannibal took in the words. A very close friend of mine, my little love. The girl continued to inspect him, wriggling out of Francesca's arms to walk up to him. He leaned forward.

Cece frowned, "Si guarda molto più Checka."

You look much older than Checka.

He laughed, "Ecco perché io sono."

That's because I am.

Zita cackled, "You don't look terribly old."

"But I look terribly young, don't I, Zita?" Francesca tossed her hair and came over to Hannibal. She gave him a seductive glance and then looked back at Zita, "Well?"

"Don't get smart with me," Zita stood up, taking Cece's hand. "We'll be back, shortly."

After they had left, Francesca silently sat down beside Hannibal and smiled at him. "You look handsome today," she closed her eyes in a lazy fashion. "You always do."

"Well, I don't try very hard."

"I know, but," her eyes shot open. "An army ranger always is attractive because… well… he's strong and so…Yum."

"Great description," Hannibal sighed with a small chuckle.

Francesca licked her lips, "Take a compliment."

"Silly, silly girl," he said quietly.

Francesca didn't reply. She sat up and leaned toward him with a small smile on her face. Stopping just centimeters from him, she whispered, "Why am I silly?"

"For… for hanging around me," Hannibal grinned in a funny manner.

"I don't think I'm silly. I'm adventurous," she giggled and then kissed him on the lips. When she broke away from the kiss, she smiled, "You're the silly one.

He raised an eyebrow, "And why is that?"

"Tommy could easily kill you for sleeping with me. Of course, I don't want to spur you away from this lovely affair. I'm having fun with our occasional romps."

"Stop talking," he laughed.

Francesca put her finger to her lips and gave a little 'sh'. Then, she leaned into him, running her hands up his chest. She pressed her lips against his ear, "So we're just friends."

Hannibal was confused. He didn't understand what she was saying or the message that she had tired to get across. But none the less, he enjoyed her soft touch and her warm breath. After she pulled away, she flashed him a smile, "We'll stay here for a little bit, go around the city, go back to my place, make some dinner, perhaps eat it if we're not too hungry for dessert…" Francesca laughed a little and bit her lip.

"You're being really ditzy right now," Hannibal inspected her stance.

"But you like it, huh?" Francesca said in a blatant voice.

End Flashback

"We're back!" Francesca and Face walked into the house to find Murdock reading more of his report.

"Hello!" he looked up, grinning.

"How are you guys holding up?" Francesca leaned over Murdock.

He smiled, "Fine."

"Where is everyone?" Face joined Francesca.

"Polly is upstairs sewing, B.A. is creating some mass destruction, and Hannibal… I don't know where Hannibal is, actually,"

Francesca smiled, "Alright, well I'm going to go do some work in the kitchen."

She went to work, making molds and creating the prosthetics they would need. Face followed her into the kitchen, "Need any help?"

"No, what I need you to do is-" she continued on a list of things that needed to be done.

Face listened intently, watching her bright eyes waver in the light of the kitchen.

Hannibal entered midway through her list. She glanced over at him and smiled. When she had finished, Face replied, "That's all you want me to do?"

She laughed, "Yes, that's all. You could enlist one of the boys to help out."

"Alright, I suppose," Face groaned.

Francesca smiled, "Come on, be a sport."

Hannibal observed them quietly, his head in turmoil. What was happening between the two in front of him? The animosity had disappeared almost completely. He didn't understand their giggles and punches.

"Alright, Hannibal! Wanna do some stuff for me?" Face waggled his eyebrows.

"With you," Francesca hissed.

"With me?" Face corrected.

Francesca and Face. It seemed like a little celebrity couple or something. Frace, Fancesca. Hannibal's eyes darted between them. Both looked worriedly back. "Hannibal?" Francesca stopped working.

"Boss, you okay?" Face laughed slightly in the uncomfortable moment.

Hannibal shook his head, "Fine." He turned and walked out the backdoor.

Face and Francesca exchanged a glance. Pursing her lips, Francesca walked outside, "Hey!" A strong breeze gave Francesca a shock, "What's going on?"

He turned back to her, eyes narrow, "Nothing."

"What're you talking about? You look like you're about to succumb to the plague or something."

Hannibal sighed, "I'm fine, okay?"

She followed him around the side of the house where it seemed that he had set up a small workshop for assembling weapons where B.A. was lounging. B.A. suddenly perked up, "Hey, Francesca."

"Hi," she turned to him and then back to Hannibal. "This isn't helping anyone."

"What isn't helping anyone?" Hannibal looked to her with a frown.

"Your bad attitude!"

B.A. held up a hand, "That's my job."

"Shut up," Francesca glared.

"You seem to be taking everything so lightly, it just is so frustrating. I-I don't understand you like I used to," he said, stuttering.

Francesca became quiet, lowering her eyes. B.A. raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"I've changed a lot, Hannibal."

B.A. stood up, "What the hell is going on here? Are you guys having a moment or something?"

Hannibal shook his head, "You should've seen her with Face earlier."

"Oh my God," Francesca screeched. "Unbelievable!"

"Woah," B.A. stepped away.

"I mean, it's clear that there is-"

Francesca turned and began to walk away, "I am not going to deal with this. I am not going to listen to you rant about what I can and cannot do because I am my own person."

"Sure you are, you've got Polly! How could you have survived without Polly? Or your dead grandmother's house or your stupid agency car, sobbing about your brother's cancer and how you don't have anyone else-" Hannibal stopped midsentence, realizing what he was saying.

Francesca had no expression her face. Her eyes were wide, her lips sealed together. She turned quickly and went back into the house, rushing past Face and Murdock who both looked at her.

"Francesca, I was thinking about the-" Face began, but stopped when she didn't turn back. "Francesca!" he ran to the foot of the staircase.

Murdock turned to the kitchen to see Hannibal running through. He looked at him and shook his head. Hannibal sighed, walking to the stairs and climbing them. Face followed, "What happened?"

"Nothing," he was quiet as he watched her walk into a room at the end of the hallway. He rushed to try and grab it before she could lock the door, but no such luck. He slammed his hands down on the door, "Francesca."

Francesca leaned back on the door, tears pouring from her eyes. She slid down the door and buried her face in her hands.

Hannibal could here her crying. He dropped his hands and took a deep breath. Face stood next to him, "What the hell did you do to her?"

A lot more than you know, Hannibal thought.