THANKSGIVING AND BEYOND

Clarice and Hannibal returned to the dining room after walking their guests to the door. Clarice circled the table dragging her index finger along the linen cloth. Hannibal watched her carefully and wondered what she was thinking. When a cheerful smile crossed her face he knew.

She is happy. It has been quite an exceptional day.

Tremendously satisfied, Hannibal carried the last of the dishes to the kitchen.

Intensely happy, Clarice followed. "H, I just wanted to thank you. Today was so wonderful! I can't remember ever having a holiday that special…not even when I was young. You put so much effort…it was unbelievable." She stood behind him and deeply massaged his deltoid muscles. He groaned his appreciation. His body was stressed from a plentiful day's effort and a not so plentiful night's sleep.

Hannibal placed the dishes in the sink turned to his wife and took her in his arms. His exhaustion was evident in his voice which was not as robust, "There is no need to thank me, Clarice. I want nothing more than to make you feel special. It brings me great pleasure to see you happy."

She held him close and squeezed him tightly. "Still…you amaze me. I'm lucky to have you."

Hannibal sighed, "I am the lucky one, Clarice. Now it is very late, my Love. I will take care of the last of the dishes. Please go upstairs and ready yourself for bed. I have but a few things to finish here. I'll be along presently."

Clarice suppressed a yawn, "I didn't do anything but eat and I'm exhausted!" I don't know how you do it H…I really don't."

Hannibal turned her around so that her back rested against his chest. He encircled her with his arms and held her belly with both hands. He set his chin over her shoulder gently touching his cheek to hers, his voice… a satin whisper in her ear. "You have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow. You must be well rested."

Clarice was in no mood for an appointment with the obstetrician but she truly had put it off far too long already. "What time do we have to leave? I hope you didn't make the appointment at some ungodly hour."

Hannibal's amusement was evident in the timber of his voice, "The appointment is at ten thirty. Not too early and not too late so no complaints from you. You have stalled long enough. We are fortunate your primary care physician agreed to prescribe your pre-natal vitamins. I will take you to brunch after the appointment. That will give you something to look forward to."

Smoothing his hands over the curve of her belly his loving tone hummed in her ear, "Off to bed my Love. The baby rests with you."

She turned her head up and reached back for him seeking his lips. Hannibal lowered his head to her and kissed her gently. "Don't take too long H…I can't sleep without you."

Hannibal watched with pride as his wife took her leave.

You are perfection Clarice.

The proud husband and father- to- be returned to the sink to finish cleaning the remainder of the holiday dishes. It had been many years since he had been a part of a family. He had not realized how great his loss had been until this moment as his thoughts were on his growing family. On the love he felt not only for Clarice but also for the child she carried. He imagined what it might be like to finally hold his son or daughter in his arms. The thought of it made a wide smile spontaneously spread across his face, his happiness reflected in the shine of his small white teeth.

Soon little one…we shall see each other soon.

A joyful and contented man, Hannibal whistled Brahms... a lullaby to the child he had yet to meet, had never wished for, yet now so desperately wanted.

THE PREPARATIONS

Emilia's flight arrived several hours later than scheduled, delayed due to inclement weather. The storm seemed to foreshadow the dark deeds that had been so diligently set into motion. She did not take a cab to the hotel but traveled to the house rented for her dubious purposes. Far too excited, she needed to see what arrangements had already been made. Nico answered the door before she had the opportunity to knock as if some supernatural force bade him to it.

Emilia stood across the threshold making no move forward, waiting to be asked inside. Nico had no such compunction toward propriety. He left her for the moment to stand outside in the cold and suffer his indignancy.

"Your plan was to go directly to your hotel. Why have you changed the arrangements we agreed to?" Nico was obviously not pleased, "This is disruptive to my preparations. I have quite a lot to do and must have everything in place. I will move on him soon."

She looked past him, attempting to see what was occurring within. He stepped in front of her and blocked her view.

Emilia was curious, it reflected in her voice, "How will you take him? He will resist."

"I will not take him. He will leave with us willingly. He will beg for us to leave with him but you must let me finish my work. When the pain begins he will not want to stay in my company. The restraints must be secure. He has the instincts of an animal. He will fight the moment he understands our intentions."

Emilia bowed slightly but moved forward. She would enter the home. Her voice was direct, "Excuse me please, Nico. I am far too excited and must see what you have prepared. I have been planning this for quite some time and at no small cost. You will indulge me."

Begrudgingly, Nico stepped aside and allowed Emilia to pass into the foyer. His voice was monotone, "The room I have planned for your wolf is down the hall. It will suit our purposes. I have insulated the walls and covered the windows. No one will see his agony and no one will hear him scream. The pleasure will be yours."

The pair walked silently down the long hallway. Nico stood outside a specific room, swung the abnormally heavy door open and gestured for Emilia to enter.

Nico's voice absent of inflection had an odd rhythm and was off putting, "You will see…it is so very near complete…it is almost time."

There was nothing in the room aside from the thick padding covering the ceiling, every surface of every wall and completely blocking each window. The only light from the room came from a large construction style halogen spot light. It was glaring directly on a large autopsy style metal table with handcuffs at four restraint points and three large leather straps located at the waist, head and neck.

Nico entered the room and tracked his hand along the channels running on the outside edges of the table.

"This is where is blood will flow. You can collect it if you wish. It will collect in the drain at the bottom of the table set between his legs. If you do not wish his blood I will dispose of it."

Emilia admired the streamlined table. It had been secured to the hardwood flooring with heavy metal brackets, the brackets having the ability to be unhinged in order to roll the table if necessary. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she spoke, "I am paying you dearly my friend. You must listen to me and prepare yourself well. My Hannibal is very strong willed…It will be difficult for you but I will hear his cries."

"I will break him…it will be no challenge. He his small and older than I anticipated he would be. I expected a monster. I am not impressed."

"He is smaller than he used to be. So much less than he was before. He was glorious and that woman has emasculated him. With your help I will restore him but do not let his appearance deceive you. He remains a dangerous and unpredictable man."

"He has a wife that he loves very much. That makes him a very predictable man. I have no such entanglements…no such weaknesses. He will soon find out that I am a dangerous and unpredictable man."

BEDTIME

Hannibal climbed the stairs slowly. His body ached. He needed rest.

Clarice was in their bed lingering in the twilight just before dreams.

Hannibal paused for a moment, sitting on the edge of the bed watching until she fully surrendered to slumber. He touched his hand on her shoulder and ran his fingertips down across her collarbone and over the curve of her breast.

The heat in his belly surged as his palm passed over the firm peak of her breast. He let his hand fall across her swollen abdomen.

Happy Thanksgiving, my Love.

Exhausted, Hannibal dropped his arm over his wife's waist and kissed her swollen belly. He meant only to rest for a moment, placing his head on the hollow of her hip. Unable to fight off exhaustion, Hannibal fell asleep listening to his child moving in Clarice's womb.

Until the next chapter my friends!

LH