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CHRISTMAS EVE

Hannibal and Clarice woke late the morning of Christmas Eve. Clarice had no idea that Hannibal had already risen and had returned to bed when his task was finished. He had arranged to have a live tree delivered and custom decorated by a local shop. All that remained would be for Clarice to add a few selected ornaments and the star on top. Hannibal wanted this holiday to be memorable.

You can't have Christmas without a tree.

Clarice, in her concern for Hannibal during his abduction had of course not considered preparing the home for the holiday. They had also mutually decided to forgo large gifts, as Hannibal had recently been quite extravagant. The spouses decided their Christmas would best be spent quietly enjoying each other's company.

Clarice rolled over, believing she had risen first. She placed a hand on the center of Hannibal's chest, feeling the rise and fall of his ribs with his breath.

You've finally gotten some peace and quiet, H. At least a couple of hours were restful.

The heat and pressure of Clarice's hand stirred her husband to consciousness. Hannibal twisted comfortably on the bed. Waking slowly he yawned deeply, spread his arms to span his chest muscles, arched his back and stretched his limbs until they reached their maximum extension.

"You look like a big lion waking up from a nap," she joked rubbing a hand along his body massaging his muscles, "talk about a satisfying stretch!"

"When I am in bed beside you I am the most satisfied man on the face of the earth, Clarice."

He then lifted Clarice and pulled her on top of him. Hannibal's thumbs had slipped beneath her armpits causing Clarice to emit an uncharacteristic giggle as she twisted her shoulders from his grip.

"C'mon H quit it…that tickles!"

He pulled her to him and nuzzled his face along her neck nipping at her ear playfully. He whispered low his warm breath soothing on her skin, "My apologies Clarice, I wanted to hold you close and that method seemed the most expeditious way in which to achieve that end."

"You could have asked. It's not as if I've ever denied you," she teased as she settled her small frame comfortably along the length of his body.

Clarice kissed his neck, searching with her lips along his shoulders and across his chest expecting Hannibal to respond in kind. She reached for him below the covers though instead of the welcoming response she expected from him he stayed her hand. Instead he placed an obviously platonic kiss on her forehead and pulled her tighter to his body avoiding further sexual contact.

You still won't let me touch you...what's going on H?

"We must rise from our bed Clarice and therefore I must not if you take my meaning. There is much to prepare and when we go downstairs you will find that I have a surprise for you."

"You promised you wouldn't buy a bunch of gifts H…You've been getting really carried away lately. I know you're financially secure but you won't be if you keep your spending at this pace."

"It is nothing of the kind, my Love. I merely wanted to share some of the traditions my family enjoyed during the holidays. My mother particularly loved Christmas and passed on several traditions from her native Italy. I would also incorporate some of the Lithuanian influences as well. If there are any special items or foods you would like me to include from your childhood celebrations you need only say so and I will attend to it."

"We didn't have much money H. Christmas was a little anti-climactic for me most years. I'm sure your plans are much more extravagant than anything I have ever experienced."

"I have not been extravagant at all merely attending to family traditions and preparing to spend time with my family as Christmas should be. We have much to prepare and very little time in which to complete our tasks."

Clarice groaned, rolled from her husband and stood up from the bed grumbling under her breath, "You are a tough man Hannibal Lecter."

"Ah, not H…not even Hannibal, this time my full name? To what do I owe that distinction?"

"I'm very upset with you right now."

"And why would that be?"

"That would be because I am very d, i, s, appointed! I was looking forward to a little… Christmas cheer to put it delicately."

Hannibal laughed at how she spelled the first three letters of the word disappointed as if doing so stressed the emotion. He jumped up from the bed and began to remove the sheets, "I promise you Clarice I will be extremely attentive at a later time. Right now, I must attend to my work."

As her husband busied himself with the sheets, Clarice was confused he would choose this day to do the laundry. "What's up, H? Why are you stripping the bed now?" she questioned thinking it quite odd.

Hannibal snapped the clean sheets across the mattress and moved quickly around the bed. He efficiently began to make hospital corners, hurried in his response to his wife, "It is a custom in Lithuania to change all the linens before dinner on Christmas Eve. The home has already been thoroughly cleaned, we have only to bathe and dress ourselves. Our dinner will be of Italian influence as I don't believe the 12 courses of the traditional Lithuanian Christmas meal would be appealing to you. My mother refused to follow the custom as she found the foods unappetizing and preferred the feast of the seven fishes traditional to Italian households."

Clarice helped Hannibal to replace the pillows on the bed. She paused for a moment, her curiosity piqued, "What types of foods are traditional in Lithuania?"

He was brief in his response, "Fish, herring, dried fruits, and sauerkraut…that sort of thing."

Clarice crinkled her nose and shook her head as if an unpleasant smell had filled the room. "I don't blame your mother …it sounds gross. What are we having?"

"Within Italian families Christmas Eve is much more celebrated than Christmas day itself. Food is the focus, followed by the setting up the nativity and culminating in the Midnight Mass. The meal itself is meatless therefore we will be enjoying a fish and seafood menu. A variety of seven fishes is the tradition therefore there will be seven varieties of seafood available. I have already baked anginettes and an assortment of cookies for dessert. Perhaps you would like to leave a plate of them for Santa Claus?"

"Don't be such a smart ass. What I want tonight has nothing to do with Santa that's for sure."

"Sounds charming," Hannibal smiled a wicked grin, "arrangements can be made if you are not on the naughty list."

"I would think you would prefer the naughty list. You're not exactly a good boy yourself you know."

"Touche' Clarice."

Clarice watched him intently as he moved around the room gathering the stripped bedding and placing it in the hamper in the bathroom. He continued to move about the upper floor preparing the home for the holidays. She was genuinely surprised by his obvious anticipation, "So whatcha got planned H? What types of fish and seafood? I'm not a big fan of gills you know."

"Of course we begin with the antipasto, followed by baked stuffed clams, freshly made linguine with crab sauce, baked stuffed shrimp, scallops, hand-picked lobster, risotto, steamed broccoli with garlic, lemon and olive oil, and the traditional capitone sautéed with olives and capers."

"What is a capitone?"

"It is a rather large eel, Clarice…very delicious. No self- respecting Italian would serve a Christmas Eve meal without including it, though you may pass on it if you wish. There are enough options from which to choose."

"Yeah, I think I'll pass on the eel."

"Considering your stance on fish I decided against the baccala'. I didn't think you would find it palatable."

"What's baccala'?"

"It is a dried piece of salted cod."

"Good idea to leave that off the menu. The eel is enough of a stretch. Why can't we just have something like chicken parm?"

"Because it is meat thus off limits tonight also that particular dish is not a traditional Italian recipe. It is Italian American, though I do believe a majority of Italian Americans also serve fish on Christmas Eve. It is a traditional fast for the ethnic group."

"Sounds like a lot of food to be considered a fast."

"This type of fast merely refers to the avoidance of meat."

Hannibal finished his preparations in the bedroom and turned to Clarice opening his arms to her. She smiled widely as she entered his embrace. He hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear, "This will be the first Christmas I have shared with family since I was a boy. I know it has been quite some time for you as well therefore I have been making every effort to make it special for you, Clarice."

"If you hadn't worked so hard on that bed I'd make you prove that to me right now."

"Later Clarice…later, for now I have to set the table and finish preparing the meal."

Satisfied that the bedroom had been adequately addressed, Hannibal rushed from the room, taking Clarice by the hand. Hannibal bounded down the stairs with Clarice in tow. His voice was filled with excitement as he relayed the traditions that meant so much to him as a child.

Clarice had an additional question and reached for Hannibal's hand grasping his pinky, "You mentioned attending Midnight Mass as a child. How do you feel about attending a Christmas Eve Mass tonight, H? The church around the corner has one on their mass schedule posted outside. It's supposed to be a lovely night. We could walk."

They arrived in the dining room where Hannibal was searching for something he had placed earlier in the week. He continued to talk as he searched, "Clarice, I would enjoy that very much but do you not think my presence would be a bit of a distraction?"

"Not in a Catholic Church. They don't go off book; the ritual of the mass is set. If it were a Protestant Church depending on the denomination if could get crazy with testifying and such. No, I think the parishioners would be respectful. They might stare a bit though if that matters at all."

"It doesn't matter to me Clarice. It is you I am worried about…it may be uncomfortable."

"Well we will have to pick a church eventually so now is as good a time as any. Unless you don't want the baby baptized?"

Hannibal bent low for a moment and reaching to the back of a drawer, found the small bag he had placed in the sideboard. He removed it, pausing to assess the question Clarice posed.

Hannibal had not consciously entertained the subject of the child's religious training though the thought had stirred in his mind. He now stood seriously considering the topic.

"It is the tradition of my family that all children are baptized before the end of their first month. Italians are very superstitious people. My mother was no exception and would not take her infants out in public until they were baptized. I must admit that I had only passively considered the subject. You have decided that you do not want the child to be raised Lutheran? I had expected to discuss this topic with you at a future time."

"No, I was taught as a child that God chooses some for heaven and some for hell. I don't think all Lutherans believe that but my pastor had some Calvanistic leanings and it never really sat right with me. I mean if there is a God why would he predetermine that. Catholics believe in confession. If you confess to the priest and are truly penitent you can still go to heaven. It's your religion, H. It's the way your mother wanted you raised. I think it's the way we should raise our son. What about that Midnight Mass, H? I'd really like to go…Will you take me?"

"If you would like to attend Mass, I would be honored to escort you."

Clarice followed Hannibal around the dining room. He opened the bag he had just retrieved and spread a thin layer of hay on the large mahogany table. He then covered it with a crisp white linen table cloth.

Clarice watched closely and questioned the process, "Is that an Italian tradition as well?"

Hannibal began adorning the table with pine boughs and placed large candlesticks down the center. He smiled, "No, this is a Lithuanian tradition. The hay represents the lowly station of Christ's birth, the manger where he was placed. Have you discovered my surprise yet?"

"No. What and where is it?"

"Go in the living room and see for yourself."

Clarice left the dining room and headed for the living room. Hannibal followed closely behind anticipating Clarice's reaction. She did not disappoint him.

Clarice's eyes lit up, "We have a tree!"

"Yes, my Love. I hope you like it. I chose traditional colors. I hope you like the white lights. I didn't like the look of the colored lights, too garish for my taste. They delivered it and set it up very early this morning."

"Do we have a star to finish it off?" the obvious thrill in her voice pleased Hannibal greatly.

"Yes, go have a look. It is in the box on the mantel," he watched her reaction as she turned toward the fireplace. He wanted to witness her excitement.

The large spruce just to the right side of the fireplace, Clarice turned slightly to face the mantel to see that Hannibal had placed richly brocaded stockings each embroidered, one saying Clarice, the other Hannibal.

Clarice approached the stockings and pinched the rich fabric, rolling her thumb over the material.

"This is just…it's just so special H."

"I have a matching stocking for the baby as well. We will hang it for him next year. The star is in the larger box on the mantle. Begin with the smaller box of the two."

Clarice reached for the box and opened it. Within the velvet box there were contained within three delicate filigree ornaments. Each were engraved, Hannibal explained the significance.

"The ornament you hold is engraved with our original wedding date and the initials M & C representing our aliases, the next ornament, the date we renewed our vows taking our actual names thus the engraving, Hannibal and Clarice, and the third, the date yet to be added as it represents the birth of our child engraved with the name of the baby, Hannibal IX. You may use the ornaments to finish decorating the tree Clarice. The star will be placed after dinner when we set up the nativity."

Clarice reached for a bough to hook the ornament. She was surprised to find the tree was not artificial. "H…it's a real tree! It's so perfect I thought it was a fake. I don't think I've had a real tree since my mother was alive. Once she passed…well, my father tried but…" her voice trailed off.

Hannibal could see the sadness in her eyes, "My holidays lost their luster when my mother died as well Clarice. We will make every effort that our child does not suffer as such. Place the ornaments representing our family, my Love."

With tears in her eyes Clarice hung the ornaments one by one finding a special placement for each. She then turned to Hannibal. "That was so very, very special. I love you so much H…I am speechless."

"I love you more, Clarice." he stated as if it were a fact not up for discussion.

Hannibal spent the rest of the day cooking. He and Clarice assembled containers of food and both visited their elderly neighbors delivering the hot meal. After a respectable visit they bid the couple a Merry Christmas and returned home.

Hannibal served each course to his wife taking great pleasure in Clarice's enjoyment of the meal. They laughed and joked, enjoying the pleasure of each other's company. Hannibal was secretly and somewhat selfishly thrilled they were alone.

At meal's end he carried a tray of cookies and coffee to the living room setting the dessert up on the coffee table in front of the fireplace. He then removed a large box from a nearby closet.

"What's that H?"

"It is an antique nativity I purchased many years ago. It has long been in storage. I have never had occasion to set it up until now."

He opened the box and one by one extracted very intricately carved pieces representing each of the participants in the nativity, animals included. He set them all in front of a very detailed wooden crèche. Hannibal then placed the empty manger between the statues of Mary and Joseph.

Clarice watched carefully and questioned, "Where's baby Jesus?"

"We are not allowed to place him in the manger until after the midnight mass, Clarice."

Hannibal took his place at his wife's side. "Just before we leave for mass we will place the star on the tree. When we return from church you may place the baby in the manger."

"Given this a lot of thought have you, H?"

"It is tradition, Clarice."

"That's really important to you isn't it H?"

"Tradition is all I have left of my childhood family. I must pass that on to my new family. It is extremely important to me. Also, being that I am much older there is a very high likelihood that my children will be without a father much younger than most. I will therefore make every effort to make each holiday special as I have no idea which will be my last."

"Don't say that H."

"Not saying it will not prevent the inevitable."

"Still…don't."

Hannibal reached out a hand and Clarice joined him. The pair watched the fire and cuddled holding each other close.

At ten thirty Hannibal nudged Clarice.

"My Love if you still have the intention of attending mass we should place the star and freshen up. The church will no doubt be crowded."

Clarice rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands, "I'm a little tired H. Put the star up for me."

Hannibal stood, removed the filigree star from the box and placed it atop the tree. He then helped Clarice up and after the pair freshened up and Hannibal was certain his wife was warm the pair began the walk to the church a few blocks away.

Hannibal wrapped an arm around Clarice, their similar body types suited to walking in sync. Though he was taller by several inches she had long legs allowing their strides to match quite well.

The snow began to fall and the blanket forming insulated the atmosphere muting the sounds. It was a quiet and peaceful walk. Hannibal was careful to hold his wife's hand, worried that the large stone steps leading up to the church might be slippery.

As the pair entered the church Hannibal dipped his fingers in the holy water and crossed himself. Clarice, unfamiliar with the procedures watched Hannibal and followed his lead. The pair walked up the center aisle, the church decorated with poinsettias and a tree on the side of the altar. There were gifts for the poor left under the tree and instead of decorations children had draped mittens for the needy on each of the boughs. Initially the church was quite empty as they had arrived early to insure a seat for Clarice. Hannibal chose a pew in the center of the church and genuflected, as he had been taught as a child. He allowed Clarice to enter first placing him on the aisle.

The parish priest was making his way along the rows greeting the churchgoers. When he reached Hannibal and Clarice he extended an unknowing hand.

Hannibal could see the precise moment the priest recognized him. It was as if the man's heart skipped a beat. Hannibal's maroon eyes flashed crimson in the low light and reflected the candles dancing around him. He grasped the priest's hand and smiled warmly, "Hello Father, Merry Christmas to you. I can see by your expression that you are already familiar with my name. Please then allow me to introduce my wife, Clarice."

Clarice extended her hand, "Pleased to meet you Father?"

"Peter…Father Peter. I am pleased to meet you as well Clarice. I didn't know you were Catholic Doctor Lecter."

"Well…lapsed obviously though I am interested in discussing the matter further. I have a child on the way and must attend to my own soul before his birth."

"The Prodigal Son is always welcome Doctor."

"Please Father…Hannibal."

"We will speak again…Hannibal. Come by anytime. My door is always open."

Hannibal stood and shook the priest's hand. "Thank you, Father Peter. We will see each other soon."

"I look forward to it. It was a pleasure to meet you both, a very Merry Christmas to you."

Clarice smiled, "You too, Father."

The priest moved to the next pew and Clarice reached up taking Hannibal's hand. She whispered, "That wasn't so bad was it, H?"

"That was the easy part Clarice. If we decide to go through with this it will get very interesting."

"What do you mean H? He was a pussycat."

Hannibal flashed a devilish grin and teased, "Yes, well…he hasn't heard my confession yet."

After mass the pair returned home, exhausted and exhilarated. Clarice placed the baby Jesus in the manger and kissed her husband.

"Thank you H…this has been…magical."

Hannibal smiled.

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Until the next chapter my friends!

LH