Welcome back my dedicated fan fic friends!

Enjoy- LH

Taking a Life or Leaving It

Graham sat at the table with Ardelia as Clarice and Hannibal busied about the kitchen. He was putting the final touches on what appeared to be pork tenderloin, cooling slightly before being cut, while Clarice carried serving dishes into the dining room.

"Hannibal will plate the food but trust me, when you taste it…you'll want more." Clarice scattered the covered dishes across the table.

Graham looked over at Ardelia. She was staring at him and smiling.

Realizing he probably looked overwhelmed Will addressed Ardelia jokingly, "What are you looking at?"

Ardelia smiled and elbowed him playfully, "I'm looking at one relieved white boy who just realized he isn't going to be on the menu!"

"Very funny, Mapp!" he smiled.

Hannibal entered with a crisp white towel folded neatly over his arm carrying two plates. He placed them in front of Graham and Ardelia. Clarice followed carrying two additional plates and placed them.

She took her seat as Hannibal poured the wine. He filled the guest's glasses then placed the bottle on the table. He reached for the crystal water pitcher and filled the glasses as well. He did not pour wine for either Clarice or himself.

"H?"

"Yes my Love?" he questioned placing a kiss on her head before taking his seat.

"Why aren't you having wine?"

"Because we are pregnant and must avoid alcohol."

"We aren't having the baby, I'm having the baby. You don't have to do without on my account."

"Nonsense Clarice, If you cannot drink I will not drink." Hannibal turned to his guests and raised his water glass. "Please help yourselves my friends. There is no need to stand on ceremony this is an informal gathering."

Ardelia laughed as she sliced through the tenderloin and smiled widely, "I just can't get used to eating this well under a roof where Clarice lives."

"Very funny Dee… You knew I would have to marry a man who was good in the kitchen."

Hannibal winked, "One would hope not only in the kitchen, Clarice."

Clarice slapped him playfully and blushed. "Shut the hell up, H!"

Graham smiled watching the interaction between the two. Clarice adored her husband that much was obvious. Graham was surprised however to see how comfortable Hannibal seemed to be. He was a doting husband and proud father to be much like any happily married man. Gone was the boiling rage that seemed to simmer just below the surface. Gone were the eyes of fire that seared your soul on contact, his gaze warm and friendly now. Graham had no doubt that if threatened the fire would spontaneously combust but for now, there was calm.

Hannibal waited for everyone to begin eating before he reached for his utensils.

Unable to help himself, Graham's heart fluttered when he saw Hannibal reach for his knife.

Hannibal noticed.

"Dear Will, I cannot help but notice you are…uncomfortable. Is there anything I can do for you to set your mind at ease."

Ardelia laughed, "You could promise not to try and kill him again. He's been having a heart attack about it."

"Since when?" Hannibal inquired.

"Since forever," Clarice chimed in.

"That's ridiculous," Hannibal stated. "If I wanted you dead, dear Will you would have been dead. True I did want to incapacitate you, but kill you? No. Though thinking back it would have saved me eight years in that brutish hell hole under the esteemed care of the later Frederick Chilton. Perhaps I should have opened your femoral or your jugular and have been done with you. But then we all would have missed the pleasure of your company today and I would not be married to my lovely wife. I supposed I should thank you, Will. As such I am forever in your debt."

Will shook his head and smiled. He spoke in his most self-deprecating tone, "Don't mention it. Glad I could help."

"Clarice our dear friend Will informs me that Doctor Bloom has intentions of having me declared an unfit father."

Clarice swallowed hard and turned to face Hannibal. "What? Is that true?"

Will was taken off guard and sat perfectly still like a deer frozen in the headlights, unable to respond.

Hannibal, his mouth full of food nodded.

Clarice looked at Graham. Her eyes flashed intensely, "What the hell is going on Will?"

Graham swallowed hard- his heart felt as though it had pounded its way up his esophagus. Looking at the expression on Clarice's face, a mix of rage and incredulity, she was even more frightening than her husband. Graham carefully measured his words, "Bloom called me and asked me to come meet with him about your husband. Pearsall needed to evaluate Hannibal before your meeting. He wanted Bloom's opinion, Bloom wanted mine and Pearsall wanted it on tape."

"The camera on the exit sign." she stated.

"Yeah, I put it there because I knew that either you or Hannibal would see it. I wanted you both to know that you were under surveillance."

"That was an exceptional gesture of trust, Will. It was most appreciated." Hannibal commented as he enjoyed his food. "No doubt Deputy Director Pearsall was most irate when he discovered I relieved Doctor Bloom of the equipment."

"Yeah, I bet he was pissed!" Ardelia added, "Did Pearsall tell Bloom to assess Hannibal's parental fitness?"

Graham shook his head, "No, Bloom's taking it on himself. Thinks he's a mandatory reporter and as such is obligated to look out for the child's welfare."

"One would think he wished not only to claim parenthood but the Right of Droit du Seigneur," Hannibal mused while regarding a piece of asparagus he was about to eat.

"What's droit du seigneur?" Ardelia asked.

"It is a medieval custom allowing the Lord of an estate to claim the virginity of his serf's daughters or female members of his household," Hannibal stated before popping the vegetable in his mouth.

"That backstabbing bastard," Clarice seethed. "When we go in for that meeting H you're gonna agree to meet with that son of a bitch and you're gonna rip him a new asshole."

"Of course, Clarice I will do as you wish. It may serve our purposes better to arrange it so that Doctor Bloom is unable to judge me unfit. I am quite aware of the blunt little tools in his bag of tricks. Rest assured he will not prevail."

"He'll want to record it. You'll have to be prepared for every contingency. If you lose it…they'll have you dead to rights," Graham offered.

"I'd rather let you gut the little prick and eat his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti." Clarice teased.

Hannibal leaned over, nuzzled his nose near her ear and directly against the flesh of her neck and made the dungeon hissing sound she clearly anticipated. The contact tickled so much that she reflexively shrugged her shoulder turned and slapped him playfully, "Even though it tickles I love it when you do that!"

"That is not all you love, Clarice," Hannibal taunted flirtatiously as he claimed a quick kiss.

Ardelia nudged Graham and rolled her eyes in mock irritation, "Get used to it. This goes on all the time. They just can't keep their hands off each other."

He nodded, "Yeah, I can see."

Hannibal paused, appearing pensive.

Clarice noticed and questioned the sudden change. "What's going on, H?"

He took a long drink from his water glass and sighed, "I was considering contingency plans in the event the situation with Bloom does not go in our favor."

"What sort of contingency plans?" Clarice questioned with concern.

Hannibal smoothed his hand across the linen tablecloth as if brushing away confusion, "There are several. None ideal, a fewI am certain you will dismiss out of turn."

"What do you think I will dismiss?" Clarice was clearly curious, "You do know that I will do whatever it takes to keep our family together."

Hannibal reached for another piece of pork from a silver chafing dish as he began to relay his thoughts. "I considered returning to our home in Argentina though I also have property in Italy and Lithuania."

"Lithuania?" Ardelia gasped, "Isn't that one of those Soviet Bloc disasters. I mean don't you have to wait in line for toilet paper there?"

Clarice spoke up vehemently, "Lithuania is not happening, H. Ancestral home or not…I enjoy indoor plumbing."

"Don't be so droll Clarice. Would you imagine I would own a home that was so…rustic? It is a lovely country and the property is quite luxurious. When the child is old enough to enjoy it we shall spend time there as well. For now I have a lovely elderly couple maintaining the estate."

"Estate?" Ardelia questioned.

"Yeah…Hannibal's a Count. They can't just live in regular houses like us common folk!"

"Well pardon me for living!" Ardelia laughed.

Graham smiled. He was actually enjoying his time with Hannibal and was glad he worked up the nerve to contact him. He decided he would offer to be of more direct assistance.

"Hannibal…"

The appellation seemed to fumble from his mouth though outwardly there was no misstep. He had referred to Hannibal by his first name in the company of others but somehow the name seemed foreign coming from his lips in front of the man.

"…I'd like to help you prepare for the interview with Bloom. I can try to find out what he's thinking and where he's going to take this. It might be useful to have as much information going in as possible. See how far he's willing to take this."

Hannibal nodded, "Yes…that would be prudent, thank you Will."

Graham smiled. Many years earlier, when he was a young ambitious agent, he sought out the advice of Doctor Hannibal Lecter. He was thrilled when Doctor Lecter, the brilliant psychiatrist took an interest in him and was willing to collaborate. He often looked forward to their meetings, even feeling comfortable enough to arrive unannounced, late at night with questions. He felt welcomed and secure in his presence.

Until the linoleum knife opened his abdomen.

Will flinched at the memory.

Hannibal noticed the twitch and the emotional shift that followed. "Are you quite all right, my friend?"

Graham shook it off, "Yeah…I'm fine thanks."

"No you are certainly not fine, Will. Your respirations are increasing and judging by the dilation of your pupils and your flushed cheeks, I would say that your heart rate has escalated."

Ardelia reached for Graham's wrist and checked his pulse. "Yeah, heart's goin' a million miles an hour."

"No doubt it is a bout with anxiety. I fear I have given you just cause for trepidation in my presence though you did pump several bullets into my body and I am no worse for the wear."

"Don't forget the arrows!" Clarice cajoled.

"Ah…yes the arrows, an entire quiver full if I am not mistaken. Thank goodness my tetanus shots were up to date. They were not exactly hygienic."

"Yeah, sorry about that I had to make do with what was on hand. Beggars can't be choosers."

Hannibal laughed heartily and the sound of it took Graham by surprise. Even before he knew of Hannibal's predilection for murder and cannibalism he had considered him a thoughtful but never a jovial man. Now, in his own home beside his pregnant wife, Hannibal was just that.

Hannibal noticed Will's attention to him and raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong Will?"

"No not at all. You seem like such a happy man."

"Look at my wife. She is perfection. No, I am more than merely happy Will. I am ecstatic. If ever there was a more contented man on this earth I would like to meet him."

Graham was pleased, "Well…I'm glad for you both…you wear it well."

"Thanks Will." Clarice was genuine in her appreciation. She was thrilled that Hannibal was finally surrounded by people he trusted. She understood more than anyone how difficult it was for him to offer his trust. For the first time in his life her husband had no secrets.

Everyone knew exactly who and what he was and those within his circle of friends fully accepted him. There hung above him no cloud of suspicion, nor threat of discovery. He was comfortable.

Comfort warms a man. It also weakens him. Hannibal Lecter was about to be tested. Somewhere deep inside, Clarice knew this to be true and she was mortally afraid for him.

Hannibal too knew the test would come. And as he had done so many times before when given the choice between taking a life or leaving it- he alone would choose. He hoped Clarice would understand.

Thanks for reading! Review and let me know what you think then drop me a pm and say hi!

Until the next chapter my friends!

LH