Welcome back, my friends!

NESTING

Hannibal paced nervously about the house. The furniture for the nursery was an hour overdue. This complicated the plans for his surprise trip to Buenos Aires. There was a plane to catch from the local airport to the city, the car would be arriving in less than two hours and Hannibal did not wish to be rushed. He was growing more and more impatient by the moment. When the intercom sounded from the security gate he rushed to answer it.

"Yes, may I help you?"

"Hello we have a delivery of furniture for Doctor and Mrs. Hannibal Lecter. Do we have the correct address?"

"Yes, just a moment. The gate will open for you. Pull to the end of the drive and park beside the home. I will meet you directly."

Hannibal notified Clarice and the pair went out to greet the delivery men. Clarice was bursting with excitement. Hannibal was attempting to approximate the appropriate level of anticipation, but was far more concerned with the journey ahead than the arrival of workers into their home which seemed an inconvenient intrusion at best.

"This is exciting, H…isn't it. Doesn't it make the baby more real?"

Hannibal stood behind his wife and pulled her hips against him. He rested his chin on her shoulder and whispered in her ear very playfully.

"One would think the constant interruption of sleep due to bladder relief would have achieved that end, Clarice."

His breath tickled and she shrugged her shoulders as she laughed. "Don't be such a wise ass, H."

Again, he grabbed her and whispered low in her ear, nibbling on it playfully as he teased her.

"Your education in that area must be lacking. I would be more than happy to provide you with a gross anatomy lesson later this evening, Clarice. That particular area of my anatomy is not wherein my brain resides, nor does it control my thinking."

Not one to let his mocking comments go without response Clarice reached back grabbed his hips and moved her body against his. The low growl from the back of his throat was the only vindication she needed but she couldn't help but tease him verbally as well.

"As you can see, I know what part of your anatomy controls your thinking and believe me it isn't found in your cranium. It's about three feet south of that and it's the reason we're out here waiting for baby furniture! Just stop getting your knickers in a twist or the only action you'll be seeing this weekend will be a date with your right hand."

Hannibal laughed out loud at her response. Clarice was the only person he had ever met who had the intelligence and the nerve to confidently match wits with him and he thrived on the stimulation she provided.

"I am ever amused by your colorfully profane banter, Clarice. The FBI locker room has proved to be quite the finishing school. Were the classes offered at the truck stop and shipping yard filled to capacity, perhaps?"

"You just smile and pretend you love every minute of this!" She laughed.

Hannibal slipped his hands into the back pockets of her jeans and gently grasped her buttocks. As she leaned in, he shifted his hips against her and growled his pleasure into her ear.

"Hmmm…lovely… now I don't have to pretend. I am most definitely loving every minute of this."

Clarice shot a playful elbow into Hannibal's ribs as the truck pulled up in front of the house.
As she attempted to pull away Hannibal held her and whispered huskily in her ear.

"You might want to wait a moment before you move, my Love or I may give these young men a bit of an inferiority complex."

Clarice pulled away from her husband and wriggled forward until his hands fell out of her pockets.

"You'll survive, H."

"Of course I will survive, but it will be hard…very, very, hard."

"Funny, H…very, very funny."

Hannibal was quite pleased with the double entendre. "Yes, I thought it was quite amusing, thank you, Clarice.

"You just hold the door open and I'll take them upstairs."

"Whatever you wish Clarice."

Hannibal held the door open as the delivery men carried the large furniture into the home. Clarice slipped past Hannibal, moved ahead of the men, and led them into the room upstairs. In less than half an hour the men had carried the furniture, removed the packing materials and placed the pieces exactly where Clarice directed them.

Clarice worked in the room beside the men, adding the bedding and some of the accessories she had purchased with the furniture. When the workers finished, she escorted the men down the stairs. She called down the stairs to Hannibal, knowing he would be listening.

"H, we've finished. The gentlemen are leaving."

Hannibal had been in the bedroom, packing for their surprise trip. He quickly walked to the foyer, retrieved his wallet, gave each man a one hundred peso note and thanked them.

Clarice was thrilled. She waved her hands, beckoning him excitedly. "Come on, H. Come look at the furniture now that it's all set up. It's adorable."

Hannibal took her by the hand and allowed himself to be lead up the stairs. His head lowered, he was getting frustrated and was obviously concerned about the time.

"We have a time constraint that you are unaware of Clarice. My surprise for you begins soon. We must be ready within the hour. Very soon the car I hired will arrive."

Clarice stopped on the top step causing Hannibal to stop on the step just below. She lifted his chin so that she could look directly into his eyes.

"Hannibal Lecter…two minutes of your time to look at the baby's room won't make us late for… whatever."

"Using my full name Clarice? Have I been naughty, my Love? Are you going to give me a time out in our child's room?"

Clarice laughed as she visualized Hannibal sitting in a corner. "Shut up, H."

They entered the room and Hannibal marveled at how Clarice's eyes danced with anticipation. The furniture was very traditional with deeply carved wood. The wood was bright white and the curves of the sleigh style crib had the appearance of a lyre. The changing table had equally deep scrolling curves. The armoire and crib side table finished the room giving it an almost musical appearance.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Hannibal looked into her eyes. She is heaven.

"It is actually quite lovely… very beautiful, Clarice. You have done an amazing job."

He watched his wife as she moved around the room, smiling widely and immediately understood her need to enjoy the space. She visited each piece and ran her hands over the scrolled wood. Hannibal quietly followed behind her, silently sharing this experience with her.

The new mother is nesting. She needs time…if the driver arrives…he can wait.

Hannibal waited patiently for Clarice to have her fill of the room. He would not bring up the plans he made.

Clarice reached for Hannibal and held his hand as they moved around the space together.

Hannibal was touched by his wife's maternal instincts. It wasn't something he had ever considered. Not something he had imagined, but here…now…to him she had become the image of motherhood.

Nothing is as important to her as this moment in time…it is not something to rush. Everything else is secondary.

When Clarice had circled the room several times, it dawned on her that Hannibal had plans. "I'm sorry…I almost forgot about your plans. Where are going, H?"

"I have arranged for a weekend in Buenos Aires, my Love. The Teatro Colon is having a Rachmaninoff program tomorrow night. We have a private suite at the Four Seasons and I have booked time for you at the spa after breakfast tomorrow morning. It will be a wonderful weekend. I have already packed for us, though I have one question for you, my Love."

"What's that, H?"

"My contact lenses...what is your preference, in or out, Clarice?"

"Out, H…definitely out. When your eyes are covered…I miss you."

"There will be stares…comments made. Are you certain?"

"I can handle it if you can, H."

"Very well, Clarice. Freshen up if you have need. The driver will arrive within the hour. I will bring our bags to the door."

Clarice reached for her husband. There, in the room of their future child, she was feeling very emotional. She held him tightly and smoothed her arms back and forth across his shoulders and back.

"Thank you, H."

Hannibal held her close and kissed the top of her head. He was touched by her tenderness. "You are thanking me for what reason Clarice?"

"For taking such good care of us…me and the baby. I know you have plans…you didn't rush me. It was very sweet of you, H. It means so much to me!"

"You have no need to thank me. You are my life, Clarice."

"And the baby… H…you never talk about the baby."

Hannibal held her close, holding his cheek against hers as he spoke. He placed both of his palms on her belly as if he were cradling the baby.

"This life is a part of us, Clarice. I love this child now every bit as much as I love you. I apologize if I have not made that clear. Rest assured, neither of you will ever want for a thing. It is now my life's work to love and protect you both."

Clarice linked her arm through Hannibal's arm.

"Come on, H…it's your turn to lead me around."

Until the next chapter, my friends!

LH