Welcome back to my Lecter Saga! Thanks for following so faithfully!

PREPARATIONS

Hannibal and Clarice spent the next three weeks setting up the room for their son. Clarice purchased the same furniture for the Baltimore home as she had for the nursery in Argentina. Painters arrived and the walls were covered in a muted shade of blue.

Clarice busied herself with the baby's wardrobe folding each of the tiny outfits she had just laundered.

Hannibal, clad in casual clothing and a baseball cap to keep paint out of his hair worked diligently on a large mural. He was painting a pastoral scene with his family castle in the background. He received quite the slap from Clarice when she returned to find a very large image of herself in the foreground, resting on the grass turned toward the distant castle reminiscent of Wyeth's Christina's World.

Clarice's face unlike the Wyeth subject was visible in profile, very flattering and obviously done with great love and care. A lamb rests quietly at her feet.

Hannibal laughed, rather pleased as he painted himself in front of the castle riding the horse of his childhood, assuming a stance of protection and status.

"Very funny, H." she laughed, slapping his backside as he passed to retrieve a different brush. "I'm squatting in the grass like the proverbial farmer's daughter with an animal at my feet and you're on horseback looking magnificent and regal.

Hannibal sought to tease her just a bit more, adding a slightly metallic edge to his voice, "The child must know the history of both parents, Clarice. I cannot control my family's nobility any more than you can control your family's rather modest beginnings. Just as your looks were an accident, so too the lowly station of your birth."

Clarice took the clothing and placed it in the child's wardrobe. She closed it, walked over to Hannibal and pushed the brim of his hat down totally covering his face. "Yeah, well I'm just warning you, if you stick a trailer for my family out behind that castle you'll be sleeping alone tonight."

Hannibal used an index finger to push the hat back into position. "Understood, although it is true, I do enjoy a good wheedle now and then, you must know no insult to you was intended. Reminding myself that your birthday is quickly approaching two days prior to Christmas, I was going for somewhat of a nativity iconography. When the child is born I will add him to the mural beside you. It will be a Madonna and child imago."

"Whatever trips your trigger H." Clarice sat on the antique rocking chair Hannibal purchased and placed near the crib for nighttime feedings. She held a pillow against her belly and rocked back and forth pushing off with the balls of her feet. A question formed in her mind.

"Speaking of the nativity H, what are we doing about Christmas? I don't think any of our friends will be around. Ardelia and Logan are traveling to her parents. Lloyd is traveling as well. Have you spoken to Barney?"

Hannibal paused to consider a detail, he briefly visited his memory castle his eyes closed for the briefest of moments. When he found what he was seeking his eyes opened and he continued adding a very specific tree to the background. He spoke plainly as he painted, "Barney will be accompanying his new love interest to her family home in Virginia. It would seem that we are on our own this holiday. Not to worry…I will make every effort to make it memorable."

Clarice sat absentmindedly twirling an index finger around one of the tassels on the pillow she held. "I think I'd rather be alone for Christmas anyway. Thanksgiving was incredible but you worked too hard and we didn't get much time together. Christmas, I want you all to myself."

Clarice watched intently as Hannibal painted. He held the brush equally with both hands shifting back and forth between the right and left, the usage determined by the section of the mural on which he worked. She was impressed with his ability to remember the smallest of details and desperately wanted to ask him about the castle and the estate. He was adding details she knew were memories as each of the items were specifically placed. With Hannibal there were no accidents. Everything had a purpose. Her eye caught the rendering of a large copper cistern a flash of sunlight reflected as it leaned under the tree. She left it alone. Better to let him reveal the meanings when he was ready. She changed the subject.

"When is my next appointment with the doctor? It should be soon."

Hannibal stepped back from the mural and tapped the handle of the brush to his teeth. "Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. so that you will be well rested and well fed prior to the appointment though your brunch decision may impact your weigh in."

Clarice squeezed the pillow as if hugging her baby. "I can't wait to see him again! He's probably gotten so much bigger."

Hannibal winked flirtatiously at Clarice. "As have you, my Love."

She did not take her husband's comment as the compliment it was intended and her voice reflected her irritation, "That ridiculously expensive couch downstairs will be calling your name at bedtime if you keep this up, Doctor."

Hannibal was very amused at her reaction. "Doctor… Not even Hannibal? Quite upset are you?"

She was pouting. "Quite."

Hannibal walked behind the rocker, draped his arms around his wife and rubbed her belly.

"If you were not getting larger the baby would not be growing. Another thing you might wish to consider before you put me out of our bed is that you are getting rather curvy and I must say my Love you wear it well. I actually find it exceedingly attractive. Therefore when I comment on your size I am not being derogatory and you must not take it as such."

Clarice was not convinced. "That's easy for you to say. You're not as big as a house."

Hannibal put his arms around her and kissed her gently. "Neither are you, Clarice. The amount of weight you have gained is quite average…" he whispered the rest of the sentence, "…you on the other hand are anything but average."

Hannibal held his wife closely to him. He had been feeling sentimental as of late and hugged her tightly to him. He felt compelled to speak, his voice took on a somber tone, "There will come a day Clarice when we will part from one another and I want you to know that had you not come into my life, I would never have felt the love of family again."

Clarice was moved and stroked his cheek with the back of her hand. "I feel the same way, H."

Hannibal kissed the mark of Courage on her cheek. "You have brought me that which I prayed for as a child but never dared expect and had given up hope for. It had been a long time since I felt the presence of God…if there is a heaven I have found it in your arms."

Hannibal moved from behind Clarice and took a place at her feet. She took his face in her hands and kissed him gently. "Please, Hannibal…don't talk about leaving…I know it will happen but…don't talk about it. I love you too much…I can't face it."

"Hannibal…not H?"

"No…H isn't this serious…Hannibal is…I want H back."

Hannibal gathered her to him and whispered in her ear. "Don't worry my Love…I won't be leaving anytime soon. We will be together for many years to come."

NICO'S PREPARATION

There was a need for two rooms of sleeping quarters. One Nico designated for his quarters was spartan yet utilitarian to his needs being no more than a bed and a place to store his clothing. The other room was designed for Hannibal and Emilia and housed a large king sized bed. There was bedding available in a trunk at the foot of the bed though the mattress was encased in a thick plastic protector. Blood on a mattress would be evidence of a crime. Plastic could be cleaned with bleach removing the evidence.

Nico would sleep each night when he was finished with his ministrations to Hannibal. Emilia would then take over and nurse the wounds. She was convinced if she cared for his body she could change his mind. She believed she could make him want her again. She would see him dead if she could not.

THE CAPTURE

The doctor's appointment went well. Clarice was thrilled as she clutched the sonogram image, her pony tail bobbed happily behind her as she walked up to the front door of their home. She wanted to place the image in a baby book Hannibal purchased. She reached for the doorknob but heard the squealing of tires and turned, her heart still filled with happiness, her hand still on the doorknob.

Emilia pulled up alongside and called out, "Hannibal…I would love you to join me."

Hannibal turned to her. "I think not."

Suddenly he heard Clarice call to him, her voice panicked, "Hannibal!"

Hannibal spun see Nico with Clarice, a blade at her pregnant belly. "It is your choice, Doctor. You may leave or you may stay. There will be consequences to either choice."

"What are the consequences attached to the choices? I would like to make an informed decision." Hannibal's heart pounded. Though it was not noticeable to anyone but himself, terror strangled him. He took a deep breath and spoke very softly showing little reflection of the concern he felt for his wife and his unborn child. Though his countenance remained impassive, his heart rate shot well above his normal limit of eighty-five beats per minute. Hannibal's body trembled. There was a throbbing at his temples as his brain tripped through hundreds of possibilities, dozens of scenarios. His eyes flashed as he decided on a plan. Clarice's safety, the safety of the baby was all that mattered. He would have her safe.

Nico's voice remained his normal monotone, "If you leave with Emilia, my stay with your wife will be brief. If you chose not to leave with Emilia my visit will be prolonged and you will be forced to watch. Emilia has given me the gift of your wife. I am actually not interested. Pregnant women are not good karma to injure, but I will make an exception if you force me."

"May I make a counter offer?" Hannibal suggested passively, "If you will leave with me and allow my wife to enter the home and arm the security system I will not only be more than happy to accompany you I will offer absolutely no resistance. Emilia can leave simultaneously and we can follow each other to whatever destination you desire. There is no need for you to remain in my wife's company. I am fully willing to comply."

"H…no! You can't go with them! They want to kill you!"

"No Clarice…much like Mason, they just want to see me suffer in some unimaginable way."

"H…PLEASE…NO!" Clarice was holding her belly and doubled over, sobbing uncontrollably.

Nico was intrigued. "You will offer no resistance? Even into the building? You will make no move to escape in the transfer or call out in warning? You offer your word in this matter?"

Hannibal nodded, "I offer you my word…no resistance…no calling out…If she is safe in our home, I will go with you willingly."

"I accept your offer." Nico walked away from Clarice and moved quickly to his car. Clarice slipped to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. Her body shaking so violently that Hannibal feared seizure. He called to her, desperate for her to enter the home and arm the system. "Clarice…please we have little time. GO! NOW!"

Clarice leaned against the door and slowly used her shoulders and her arms to walk her body up the door allowing her to stand. Her legs wobbled like a new born foal. She was forced to lean on the door knob for support. "H? H? I can't…not without you…I can't!"

"My Love…for the sake of the child…for my sake…go into the home…for me, Clarice…please…please, go home." Hannibal's eyes burned as he struggled to fight off the tears. He would give nothing for Emilia to feed upon.

Her hand trembled violently as Clarice slapped down the doorknob and pushed open the door. She looked back at Hannibal her eyes pouring anguish down her cheeks. "H…don't leave me…don't…"

"Lock the door and arm the system Clarice." Hannibal spoke quietly. "Remember what I have told you…you are my Heaven. No matter what happens…never forget that."

Nico pulled his car alongside Hannibal, got out and moved beside him. "Get in Doctor."

"Not until she is safe." Hannibal stood his ground. To his wife, his eyes pleading, "Clarice...now."

Clarice entered the home, locked the door and wept uncontrollably as she armed the security system certain that she had just sealed her husband's fate.

Satisfied that his wife was safe, Hannibal allowed Nico to cuff his hands. He then stepped sideways into the car and sat quietly, awaiting his fate.

Clarice watched as Nico attached the handcuffs to Hannibal. Nico then moved quickly back to the wheel.

Though restrained, Hannibal placed his hand on the glass of the window. Clarice matched the gesture, placing her hand on the beveled glass of the front door to their home.

She watched until she could see the car no longer. Bent at the waist, in hysterics her body collapsed in on itself, her heart whirlpooled within her rib cage and sank to the depths of her chest cavity. Clarice believed she would never see him again. She pounded a fist against her sternum. Her cries were so deep and mournful that had anyone heard them, they would have believed the pain to be unbearable, the anguish infinite. She threw herself onto the couch she shared with Hannibal the night he held vigil to protect her from Nico. She screamed her rage into the cushions, her ribs bellowed as her tears absorbed in the down.

Hannibal sat impassively as Nico drove him to his fate, only mildly curious as to what was in store for him. There was no panic now that she was safe. Nothing else mattered. His mind moved to particle physics and string theory. He found the calculations pleasurable in the extreme and passed his time considering the properties of time as it was precious to him now. He had hoped for more of it.

Clarice called Barney. He was on the way, Ardelia as well with Logan. Lloyd would be there within the hour. For the first time in many years Hannibal had friends. They would look for him now. With luck…if and when they found him, he might still be alive.

Thanks for reading! Drop me a review and tell me what you think! Until the next chapter my friends!

LH