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HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARICE

Hannibal rose before the sun in order to cook a large breakfast for Clarice to begin her birthday celebration. He squeezed orange juice, made blueberry pancakes, home fries, bacon, a frittata with baby spinach and cheese, and a large fruit salad. He was careful to remember her favorite breakfast foods, aside from the sausage and egg sandwich at the local fast food restaurant which made his stomach wretch to think of his wife's palate was becoming more discerning.

For her birthday, she would have what she loved. What she loved was Hannibal.

Never one to wait until the last minute, thankfully the ever prepared husband had purchased a gift for Clarice and needed only pick it up. Not trusting his body to drive as of yet, after some cajoling the jeweler agreed to deliver the gift for a fee. The florist had arrived as well. All was ready.

Clarice woke with the sun expecting Hannibal to be sleeping soundly beside her. He had been through so much. She assumed he would sleep in.

The scents wafting from the kitchen filled Clarice's nasal passages and drifted over her taste buds. Her now watering mouth having been teased active by the permeating aromas. Sizzling bacon beckoned Clarice from the bedroom. Upon entering the kitchen she smiled. Hannibal had filled the breakfast bar with dozens of flowers and had set up a buffet along the glistening granite counter top.

"Happy Birthday my Love," Hannibal exclaimed as she entered. He approached his wife, arms wide.

"It's only happy because you came back to me," Clarice spoke gently as she filled his arms, "I was terrified." She was obviously still very disturbed by the events of the last several days and Hannibal understood she would need to process the experience. He had hoped it would not have to be today.

"It wasn't as if I enjoyed my time away from you Clarice," Hannibal teased. "Not the most pleasant of experiences I assure you."

Clarice placed her arms around his neck cautious of the various injuries to his body. "I hope you'll talk to me about what happened. I want to know what you went through… to help if I can."

Hannibal nuzzled his wife's neck, smoothing her hair back with his nose as he searched the soft skin with his lips. Upon mention of his recent trauma Hannibal pulled back momentarily, disconcerted by the thought.

"Clarice the only thing I need is your arms around me. Nico is dead. Emilia is dead. There is nothing more they can do to harm either of us and that is all I care about. You are safe and we are together and nothing will change that. What more do you think need be said?"

He returned his attention to the area where her pulse throbbed just below her jawline. He teased it with his tongue and teeth.

Clarice continued, "I just thought you might like to get some things off your chest."

This time choosing not to cease his pleasure, he talked against her skin creating a humming vibration that tickled her. "There are a few things I'd like to get off your chest," he growled playfully as he reached for the clasp of her bra.

"Don't you think talking helps?" Clarice pursued, though Hannibal was obviously not at all interested in the topic.

Seeing that his wife had hold of the topic and would not let go, Hannibal sought to appease. He was not going to discuss the matter, especially not on this day though he would have to phrase it differently.

"Talking helps some people not all. If I have need Clarice, I will most assuredly avail myself of your loving offer." Hannibal guided Clarice to the table and pulled a chair out for her. "Sit…please."

Clarice took her seat allowing Hannibal to push her closer to the table. He picked a linen napkin and with a flourish snapped the fabric to unfold it. He then placed it across his wife's lap and in doing so, brushed a whisper of a kiss across her lips. A shiver of desire danced up her spine at the contact. She reached for his tie before he could move fully away.

"Not so fast H. You can't get away from me that easily!"

Hannibal returned and smoothed his hands over her shoulders. He trilled his fingers across her collarbone, reached around and tenderly kissed her throat.

"I don't recall saying I wished to get away. I had believed that you might have a bit more energy if I provided a well-balanced breakfast. Being a bit under the weather I will rely on your physicality in the bedroom as I will be somewhat restricted. As you can see my motives are purely mercenary."

Clarice's voice was filled with concern though she sought humor to make her point, "No this week the bedroom is for sleeping only. You'll have to holster that weapon for a while."

Undeterred, he pursued her throat, teasing now with his teeth. He whispered low in her ear, "I don't keep my weapon in a holster Clarice. Currently it is in my pants."

Clarice shrugged him off and laughing slapped him playfully, "Yeah is that the Harpy in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?"

Hannibal wrapped his arms around her and continued the off-color banter, "Both. You can easily distinguish between them as the Harpy is quite a bit smaller…getting smaller by the minute actually."

Quite pleased with his contribution to the reparte' Hannibal kissed Clarice then reached for her throat and let his hand rest stroking his thumb over her pulse point to test her resolve as he escalated the contact. He very tentatively moved his tongue across her lips pressing gently at the joining.

Clarice kept her lips still tightly closed in faux defiance.

Considering her refusal a challenge, Hannibal teased at her lips with his teeth, grazing across the tender flesh. He probed with his tongue, not attempting to enter her mouth instead pressing and sliding his tongue tasting the flesh at the separation of her lips. Feeling her pulse begin to thump quickly he pulled away for a moment, his eyes remained closed as smile of deeply felt satisfaction emerged, "Hmmmm, you are delicious my Love. It is a pity that we will be unable to pursue this further."

Again she reached for him. "Okay…I give up…you win. Come back H."

Hannibal lowered his head to his wife, claiming her mouth with far more fervor than moments before covering her mouth fully with his.

Leaning over his wife was not conducive, the `location of his injuries pulled causing discomfort so he reached with an arm backward to locate another chair. Pulling it toward him, without losing contact with his wife's lips Hannibal took a seat and positioning the chair so that one knee was in between one of Clarice's legs and his other leg on the outside. He pulled her into his body.

Clarice settled against him reached under his arms, and rested her head on his chest. He covertly slipped a hand into the pocket of his trousers and retrieved a small box neatly wrapped.

Hannibal then turned her face to his, "Happy Birthday Clarice."

Clarice was surprised that he had a gift for her after all he had been through. "When did you get this done, H?"

"I had it designed especially for you more than a month ago. I don't know why you are surprised. It isn't as if I haven't known the date for many years. How could I miss my first opportunity to share it with you? I would never forgive myself if I had."

He placed the box in her hands. A small tag was attached written in flawless copperplate. To my wife Clarice on her birthday with all my love, H

Clarice very carefully opened the wrapping paper and removed the small velvet box. She held her breath as she flipped open the lid. Her mouth dropped open when she saw the contents. It took her a moment to realize she was still holding the inhalation.

She gasped, "Oh my god, H this is spectacular!"

Within the box a ring with a 3 carat princess cut diamond in center, the band had channels that alternated similarly cut diamonds, garnets and topaz all ringing the platinum band.

"Allow me my Love."

Hannibal removed the ring from the box and placed it on Clarice's right hand kissing the hand before releasing it.

"What is the significance of the stones? Are they birthstones?"

"The garnets represent my birth month, January. The topaz is your month, December and the baby will be born in April, thus the diamonds. The center diamond is three carats signifying that our family has three members. I hope you like it. I wanted our first celebration together to be special."

Clarice reached for his thighs and massaged the muscles. "Every moment I am with you is special, Hannibal…you are a wonderful husband and the best thing I've ever done was let you into my life."

"Hannibal? Not H? One would think you would be happy, not angry with me."

"Not out of anger…I wanted to hear the sound of it. I wanted to remember the first time I called you by your Christian name…do you?"

Hannibal remembered asking her to call his name at the moment of her rapture… the night of their first joining…the night when he ceased to be alone. He thought of it often. In the company of Nico, it was the memory he called on the most. He offered that fact to her.

Leaning closer he whispered huskily in her ear. "That will be the moment I will call to me when I close my eyes for the last time. I will never forget it. I want you to know how often I have thought of it these last days. It saved me then…it saves me now."

Clarice leaned over and kissed him. "That means so much to me…I wanted to be with you."

"You were with me Clarice…you are with me always. Now you must allow me to serve you and we will begin your day. I have much planned."

Hannibal served Clarice and the pair enjoyed their breakfast, Clarice occasionally paused to spin the ring around her finger with her thumb as she accustomed herself to its welcome presence on her hand. Even more than her wedding ring, this ring represented his love and the completion of their family. He had put great thought into it. It was significant to them both.

The day went as planned. Hannibal did not miss a single detail even arranging for a large dinner at a restaurant in Baltimore with their friends as they would not see them over the Christmas holiday. The day and evening had been perfect.

Clarice and Hannibal returned to their home, retiring to the bedroom. Hannibal had started a fire in the fireplace and stoked it until it roared, adding a smoky warm glow throughout the bedroom. Hannibal was still dressed when Clarice returned from the bathroom dressed in a silk robe. Her hair spilled over her shoulders.

Hannibal looked up from the conflagration awestruck, "Clarice…you look beautiful."

"Prove it," she challenged flirtatiously.

Hannibal rushed to her side, removing articles of his clothing tossing them aside as he walked. "I will make it my goal to prove it several times tonight in honor of your birthday, my Love."

By the time he reached Clarice, he was down to his trousers and belt. He stepped out of his shoes as he stood before her. Clarice reached for his belt and tugged the metal fitting from the leather. She then reached for the fastening of his pants, pausing for a moment.

Hannibal's crimson eyes blazed in anticipation. She met his gaze. "Are you certain this is okay? I don't want to hurt you. The wounds are…"

He interrupted, "The wounds are superficial, Clarice. You needn't concern yourself. If we avoid direct contact, I will be no worse for the wear. You cannot hurt me."

"If you're sure…" she spoke tentatively as she reached for the clasp of his trousers.

He grasped her hips and moved against her, dropping his chin over her shoulder as she slipped his trousers and boxers over his hips letting them slide to the ground. Hannibal side stepped the clothing and reached around his wife, clasping his hands together and resting them on the curve of her back just above her bottom. He shifted his hips against hers molding their bodies together.

Hannibal began to nibble and suck at the soft curve of skin where her neck and shoulder curved. He bit down and held a small bite of muscle in his mouth, sucking hard against the flesh.

A soft moan escaped her throat and Hannibal groaned against her skin at the sound of it. The anticipation of their coupling combined with this soft inflection caused a shudder to move through his body. The vibration of this response, combined with his now more than obvious arousal pressing against her body caused Clarice to smile.

"Am I getting to you already, H?" she taunted as she undulated her hips against him.

"Uhhh huuhhh…" was all he managed as his mouth worked from her neck to the divot of flesh centered at her collarbone. He drove his tongue into the indentation, swirling it at the center capturing her breath from the pressure.

"Mmmmm, H…bed."

"Unnhhhh Uhhh…fire."

Clarice looked at the area in front of the fireplace. Hannibal had placed a two large down comforters and several oversized pillows before the hearth. He lifted Clarice, carried her to the center of the bedding, lowering her carefully. He covered her with his body.

Hannibal and Clarice spent the next hour exploring each other's bodies searching for sensitivity, probing.

Clarice had been facing her husband lost in his eyes as he caressed her breasts and continued over her belly, swelling with his child. He bent his head to place kisses over her belly causing her muscles to twitch. She clutched his head and ran her fingers through his hair. Her scent signaled her readiness.

Hannibal moved lower on her body kissing the very underside of her abdomen and trailed kisses lower still.

Clarice arched her and sighed as he moved between her legs, his mouth reflecting his hunger for her.

He relished the sounds so sweet and airy as she sang her pleasure to him. He rewarded her response with attentiveness. He allowed his hand to follow his mouth and searched her flesh swirling his thumb within until her breath quickened and her body tensed. As the waves of her pleasure began to roll over her, Hannibal once again covered her with his mouth drawing his tongue over the hypersensitive flesh.

Clarice rocked gently against him, breathless from the attention. She pulled at his shoulders.

"H…now…hurry."

Hannibal moved quickly as she grasped for his shoulders. He clamored quickly over her body, centered himself and pressed himself within.

The sigh that escaped her drove him to distraction. Feeling the pause and too near her end to care why he hesitated, Clarice pulled at his hips.

"Don't stop…not now, H…"

Hannibal focused on Clarice, "Tell me what you want…what do you need Clarice?"

"More…just…more."

Hannibal drove himself against her. No longer in the moment himself, flashes and fragments of torment bleeding into his consciousness, he now sought only her pleasure.

Clarice responded to his movement, meeting his rhythm, not noticing his mental absence. Her finish came soon after.

Hannibal waited for her breathing to return to normal. He moved from her and pulled her against his body and held her tightly. She had been so engrossed in her own ecstasy that she did not notice he had not released.

Hannibal clutched her belly hoping to feel the child within her move. He needed the child to move. Hannibal wanted desperately to feel the life. He attempted to shift his mighty mind back to life…his only thoughts now were centered on death.

Hannibal Lecter struggled within himself waging a mighty battle between life and death. Hannibal's war within raged as he attempted to shift his mind from the utter destruction of the last few days.

Clarice drifted to sleep within his arms unaware of the anguish as he attempted to shut from his mind the darkness overtaking it. It was a battle of life and death, an ancient and mighty battle.

It was a battle that would put everything he loved at risk. Thus far…it was a battle he was losing.

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Until the next chapter my friends!

LH