WHEN FINALLY WE PART

As the sun road low in the sky casting a warm golden glow across their bed, Clarice's hunger sounded the alarm and she began to wake.

Hannibal was sound asleep nestled against her body with his face tucked beneath her hair, his cheek warming the flesh between her shoulder blades. Finally home alone with his wife and fully relaxed he was breathing so deeply the exhalations tickled Clarice's neck.

Shrugging her shoulders against the whispers of heated breath rippling across her skin the loving wife reached back to lightly rub her sleeping husband's thigh, tucked protectively behind hers.

"H…wake up, H…"

In response to her touch and the soothing sound of her voice, Hannibal shifted his body just slightly and moved to pull his lover against him. He snuggled close, his deep voice buzzing low purring pleasure in her ear, "Mmmmm."

No words. None needed. The low rumbling hum of his vocal chords reverberating his lush baritone voiced his comfort. This sensual sound of her husband's complete contentment warmed her heart and prompted an urge she knew could not be safely addressed. She wanted to feel him deep inside her, but that would have to wait.

He's perfect…our life together is perfect.

Clarice rustled the soft hairs as she brushed her hand up and down the length of the muscular arm encircling her. Hannibal's strong hands broadly spanned protectively holding her belly.

Why did I wait so long? We could have had so many more years.

She pushed the negativity aside. "H…Hey, H…I'm hungry."

Hannibal stretched against her body as he growled his annoyance at being disturbed. The moment Clarice paused, he quieted and it became obvious by Hannibal's immediate inactivity that he was perfectly content to sleep.

She patted him again, smoothing her hand up and down the strong sinews of his thigh. Distracted by his body, lean and wiry as her own, she occasionally gripped and massaged the muscles of his strong leg fueling her desire and sending surges of electricity radiating along her nerve endings.

She burned for him and she knew that he knew it. If it were any other man the knowledge would have illustrated weakness; exposed her, given away power she would have found distasteful. Disturbing even, not so with this man.

The knowledge that Hannibal understood her need, was not relinquished power. It was safety. It was comfort.

For Hannibal's part, with any other woman he might have thought it an advantage but not Clarice…his Clarice. He was as lost with desire as she. More so, the power was hers as he surrendered to her willingly, wholly and absolutely.

Even her name on his lips bared his utter adoration, "Clarice…my Love."

Hannibal's hands left her belly and moved to her hips as he pressed his growing length against her and rocked his body, guiding hers in unison.

Clarice, absorbed by the interlude followed his lead allowing her hips to sway with his. Lost in the moment she moaned very softly as her husband searched her body and whispered his need in her ear.

"Let me please you."

She resisted, stilling her body and giving him pause.

Get a handle on it Clarice or we won't be getting up anytime soon.

"Clarice?"

"H…I want to say yes, more than anything, I want to say yes, but it's late. We have to get up or we'll never sleep tonight. We have to eat."

"Man does not live by bread alone, Clarice."

"Yeah, well pregnant women need a lot more than bread."

Hannibal dragged his nose along her neck and inhaled deeply, obviously using the changes in her scent to assess her obvious arousal. He teased her throat with his teeth and sucked gently, drawing his tongue in tiny circles, as he tasted her flesh. She gasped at the contact, craning her neck to allow him access.

You know how much I want you...I know you can tell...

Within moments a smile drew across his face lighting his features, "You are saying no, but the taste of you tells an entirely different story. You are clearly of two minds on this, yes my Love? So which will overrule, heart or mind?"

"My mind, H. Save the heart for later tonight."

His disappointment resonated in unintelligible mumbles as Hannibal rolled away from his wife and settled on his back clearing his throat and rubbing his eyes.

"What time is it?" he groused.

"It's already half past four and we haven't eaten for hours. I'm really hungry."

Clarice turned her body into his and rested her head on his chest.

Relishing the sensations, Hannibal sighed the extended outbreath of a contented man as he gathered the woman he loved comfortably in his arms. I'm home. Finally, I'm home.

Soon, he was soundly asleep.

With her head resting on his chest Clarice could clearly hear the shift in his breathing. She lifted her head and seeing that he again closed his eyes and nodded off, she patted her hand on his chest and urged, "H…H…wake up! This baby of yours isn't exactly a light eater. I'm starving."

Hannibal opened his eyes slowly, "I was having the most magnificent dream of you."

Clarice pushed up from his body and sat up in bed briskly rubbing her hand on his chest. "Forget dreaming of me and feed me you magnificent man."

Hannibal laughed heartily as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.

"What would you like for supper? I'll make a trip to the market and pick up anything you'd like as long as it isn't on your 'do not eat' list."

Clarice busied herself beside her husband twirling her fingers through the hairs on his chest as she considered what his answer to her next request might be.

"H…maybe we could go out tonight. It would be romantic. Once the baby is born, we'll be kind of tied down and won't be able to get out as much."

"That's not necessarily an accurate statement, Clarice. Babies are actually quite portable and our son must be exposed to fine restaurants, museums and the like. We will constantly be out and about educating him. Still, your point is well taken we are running short on private time as the baby might arrive any day. Yes, I would be happy to escort you to dinner tonight."

Thrilled to get the answer she hoped, Clarice stood from the bed and rushed to her closet pushing hangers around in search for the perfect dress.

"This is so exciting! Let's just get in the car and drive…see where the night takes us. Time for you to stretch your legs a bit, you've been hemmed in long enough."

"That is a colossal understatement," Hannibal jested.

"Yeah and just to let you know, that's the last time we are ever going through that again! No more handcuffs for you, H."

"Oh, Clarice, that's disappointing. I was hoping for a little good cop bad cop action tonight."

"Don't be such a wise-ass! Seriously, if anything goes to shit from now on and we'll be on a flight to anywhere because I am not going to watch you go through that ever again."

Hannibal stretched out, swung his legs over the edge of the mattress, tossed the sheets from his body and stood from the bed, "It isn't exactly on my list of future plans either, Clarice."

Hannibal and Clarice continued to talk as they dressed, moving comfortably around the master suite, in and out of the bathroom and around each other. They occasionally touched or kissed briefly if they happened to pass within reach of one another.

Soon they were both ready.

Hannibal stood in front of the mirror wearing black slacks, a belt with a silver buckle and a crisp white shirt. He was tying a silver and black paisley tie when Clarice approached and stared at his reflection, admiring him.

"You are the most attractive man I have ever seen." She commented as she wrapped her arms around him and slipped her hands into his front pockets.

"Caution your hands, Clarice or I will be removing this tie rather than tying it."

She pulled herself from him and slapped him on the backside as she moved away.

Hannibal admired his wife's reflection as she walked away from him. She wore a very elegant black and white dress with silver accents.

"You look absolutely stunning my Love," he moved to the closet and reached for his shoes.

She turned to consider their appearance and smiled, "You'd think we shopped together with all of the outfits we have that match."

"Great minds think alike, Clarice. Not to mention, men's fashions are fairly straightforward and you have very classic sensibilities when choosing your clothing. It makes for very compatible wardrobes." he spoke as he sat on the edge of the bed and slipped his foot into his wingtips.

Smiling widely, she held his suit jacket up, offering to help. Hannibal quickly laced up the shoes, strolled to his wife and turned, slipping his arms deftly into the sleeves. With his wife's help he shrugged on the jacket.

"Thank you, Clarice."

Clarice brushed her hands across his chest, feeling the expanse of it as she smiled, "You're more than welcome, H. God I love how you wear a suit."

"May I say there has never been a more beautiful woman than you, Clarice."

"You are so full of shit, H…it's a wonder your eyes aren't brown."

"Your colloquial candor is refreshing as always my Love."

Hannibal offered his hand. They looked the perfect pair as Hannibal draped an elegant wrap over his wife, extended a hand and led Clarice out the front door of the home. He armed the security system then paused as he considered the vehicle choice for the evening. Clarice noticed his indecision.

"Which car would you like to take, H?"

Although Hannibal had a clear preference and offered it, he left the final decision to his wife.

"I assume that would depend on whether you have decided to drive, Clarice. If I am behind the wheel, my choice would obviously be the Bentley."

She pulled him close, pressed against his body and leaned on his arm as she spoke, "Why don't you drive? You haven't been able to spend very much time behind the wheel and you could use a little freedom. I know how much that car means to you."

Arm and arm they walked to the car, Hannibal quietly recounting his thoughts as they walked in step.

"It is true, it is much more than mere transportation to me. In all the years I spent incarcerated, the one thing that played on my mind most was that car. I would often remember long drives fondly and passed many sleepless nights behind the wheel driving along the Chesapeake."

As Hannibal opened the door for his wife, she touched his face before entering and questioned, "Did you really not sleep at night?"

Hannibal kissed her cheek and guided her to her seat as he spoke, "I was awake most of the night. I slept very often during the day."

Clarice continued to question him as she secured her seatbelt.

"Why?"

Hannibal reached down, lifted the hem of Clarice's dress and smoothed it so as not to catch it in the door.

He leaned into the car to check her seatbelt and kissed her as he responded, "Why not? It was quiet at night. Barney had finished the majority of his work leaving time on his hands for the occasional conversation and it wasn't as if the sunlight was keeping me awake."

He held a hand signaling he would finish his thought momentarily as he closed the door and moved quickly around the car. Clarice turned her head to watch him, but his movements were so swift and silent she couldn't even determine which way he went.

How the hell does he do that?

Far more quickly than expected he opened the door and slipped stealthily inside. Finishing his thought he admitted, "Keep in mind also my Love, that Doctor Chilton worked the day shift."

Clarice laughed at the admission, "Well if that isn't the most passive aggressive thing I've ever heard!"

Hannibal chuckled, "Yes, decidedly so, but you must consider that I had little at my disposal with which to irritate the man. Rest assured when I discovered something he found exasperating, it became my fondest pastime. He found my circadian rhythm to be absolutely maddening."

"That's what I love about you, H…you controlled that situation more than they controlled you."

"One can trap a body, my Love, but not a mind. I had far more freedom within those four walls than Chilton had with the remainder of the world at his disposal. The infinitesimal capacity of his mind was so limiting, that knuckle dragger could barely be considered sentient."

Clarice placed her hand on his, resting comfortably on the shift eliciting a smile of satisfaction from Hannibal. They were clearly happy to be in each other's company.

As Hannibal attended to his driving Clarice noted no indecision in his turns.

He obviously has a destination in mind…

Clarice questioned, "Okay, are we all dressed up with nowhere to go or do you have a plan?"

A wry smile crossed Hannibal features, his small white teeth glistening as he spoke, "Have you ever known me not to have a plan, Clarice?"

"Nope, that's why I asked. Do we have reservations or are we just winging it?"

"Winging it? That is not exactly my style. No, we are not winging it. We have reservations for dinner at The Prime Rib on North Calvert. I reserved the semi-private room."

"Why?"

"Did you not want to spend a romantic dinner together?"

"Yes."

"Now consider the press coverage of late," he paused to allow Clarice a moment to process her thoughts, "taking that into consideration along with the curious eyes of strangers and the buzzing comments as we pass, privacy would be prudent, would it not? Let us not even begin to discuss the fact that I intend to order a slab of practically still bleeding meat for dinner…"

Hannibal pulled into the lot and parked the car. The Bentley itself was getting attention but the reactions escalated when passersby noticed Hannibal walking around the car to escort his wife from the vehicle.

Clarice exited to the pointed fingers and excited drones of curious onlookers.

Hannibal attended to his wife as he qualified, "It would seem we are already drawing a level of attention."

"I see what you mean. A semi-private room seems like a useless expense, though. I mean, really if they seat us quickly how many people will even recognize you?"

Wary of the bystanders, Hannibal held his wife protectively against his body as they moved with purpose to the front door of the restaurant.

"Clarice the color of my eyes being extremely rare everyone who makes eye contact will recognize me. It isn't as if I can wear sunglasses, and I have no idea where my colored contacts are anymore."

"I tossed them in the garbage, that's why you can't find them. I hated them."

"It wasn't as if they were a fashion choice, Clarice."

It pained her whenever she was reminded of his life alone in hiding. She leaned her head against his chest and squeezed his torso as they walked into the restaurant.

"I know, H…I know."

The pair were promptly greeted by their host whom like the entire wait staff, wore an impeccable tuxedo. He was a tall, thin man, the clothing and his body frame adding to an air of elegance.

He proudly announced in a voice just above what might be considered acceptable, "Good evening, Doctor Lecter, Mrs. Lecter. We have cleared the room you requested so you'll be able to enjoy a private dinner without concern."

Hannibal nodded politely, "Thank you, so much for your consideration."

"Not at all. Though I am new to the staff I have been told that you have long been a valued patron of The Prime Rib. The manager has instructed me to tell you that he understands your recent discomfort and I am to inform you that if there is anything I can do to make your evening more pleasurable, please don't hesitate to let me know and he will see to it personally."

The host waved his arm and directed the couple to follow him to the private dining area. Heads turned as the couple followed and there was a very sudden hush in the dining room as Hannibal, his wife on his arm, regally crossed the expanse.

Whispers hissed in a trail as the pair reached the center of the well-appointed room. Someone in the back of the room started to clap. Within seconds, the room erupted in applause. Hannibal raised his right hand graciously in acknowledgment and with his left hand pulled his wife closer to his body.

Seeing how uncomfortable Hannibal was by the attention Clarice conceded,

"Okay, H…you win. The private dining room was inspired."

He leaned close and whispered in her ear, "There is occasionally a method to my madness, Clarice."

Hannibal waved away the host in order that he might pull out Clarice's chair and seat his wife himself. The gentleman stepped aside and accepted the gesture without complaint leaving the pair to their privacy.

Hannibal took his seat and spoke softly, "Though I expected a level of scrutiny, I must admit that response took me quite by surprise."

"That was absolutely crazy." Clarice acknowledged, "I'm used to you being the center of attention, I'm just not used to that attention being positive."

Hannibal concurred, "Yes, I must admit that was a bit surreal."

The waiter delivered the menus and very quickly reviewed the specials for the evening's service. He then hastily excused himself and left Clarice and Hannibal to decide.

"H…the baby is due in a couple of weeks. Can I order whatever I want? I swear if I eat another piece of chicken I'll start pecking at pebbles."

"What were you considering?"

"We're in Maryland…crab cakes."

"Certainly, Clarice. What would you like as a side dish?"

"I'll go healthy…grilled asparagus. What about you?"

"As I said, steak, extra rare."

When the waiter arrived and introduced himself, Hannibal was prepared.

"The lady will begin with the house salad, vinaigrette, add the applewood bacon as well, the entrée will be the jumbo crab cakes with grilled asparagus," to his wife, "baked potato or mashed, Clarice?"

"Mashed, please."

"I will have the mashed as well, along with the Filet Oscar. May we also have a rack of lamb for the table, the mushroom trio…"

Hannibal paused for a moment to be certain he hadn't missed anything.

Clarice spotted an additional item on the menu and interjected, "H…can we get an order of onion rings?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Going healthy, Clarice?"

"Don't be such a wise ass, H."

"Heaven forbid." Hannibal teased. He turned to the waiter, "Onion rings as well, please."

"How would you like the steak prepared, Doctor?"

"Rare. Very."

Clarice placed her hand on the waiter's arm and leaned toward him as if sharing a secret.

"When my husband says rare, he really means mooing so tell the chef to walk the cow by, slice a piece off and just take the chill off."

"Would you like a salad or appetizer as well, Sir?"

"He'll have the oysters on the half shell," Clarice volunteered.

"Clarice?"

"We're alone tonight, H. You'll need them."

The waiter lowered his head attempting to hide his smile as he asked, "Half or full dozen?"

"Full dozen." She stated unabashedly as she reached a hand under the crisp white tablecloth and gripped her husband's thigh.

The waiter pretended not to notice. "Have you chosen a wine?"

"No wine, my wife is pregnant," Hannibal answered quickly.

Clarice argued, "You don't have to do without for me." She turned to the waiter, "What's your best red wine?"

"By the glass that will be a Cabernet Sauvignon, Buehler Vyds, Estate, Napa Valley."

"How about by the bottle?"

"We have a Bordeaux that would pair well with the beef and lamb selection. It's a Palmer Margaux."

"Clarice, you are normally much more fiscally conservative than 4oo dollars a bottle."

"And you haven't had a decent meal and a good glass of wine for weeks. Don't worry about drinking too much; I can drive us home. I think you deserve a little pampering."

She turned and addressed the waiter, "The Bordeaux would be marvelous, thank you."

The waiter smiled and moved from the table. Hannibal lifted Clarice's hand and kissed it.

"I'm beginning to think you have ulterior motives my Love. Oysters…a four hundred dollar bottle of wine? What am I to think?"

"You are to think happy thoughts until I get you home tonight, then…once the oysters have kicked in, you're all mine!"

"I have been all yours for years, Clarice. It just happened to take you some time to realize it."

Clarice looked away for a moment pushing her forks around as she responded pensively, "I think I always realized it. I was just too afraid."

Hannibal was surprised by the admission. "Of me?"

Still looking down at the cutlery Clarice continued, "No, I've never been afraid of you."

Seeing a momentary flash of vulnerability Hannibal pursued, "But you are afraid, Clarice. You are afraid and I am the cause. Is it a secret that you hesitate to share? Shall I guess?"

Clarice looked into his eyes, hers truthful and open, his, though loving, were intense and unrelenting.

"I don't have any secrets from you. Even if I tried to keep one, you'd sniff it out in a second anyway. Go ahead, guess…if you get it right, you win."

"What do I win?"

"Anything."

"I don't want anything. I want everything."

"That too."

The waiter returned with the wine. Hannibal tested the taste and bouquet, nodded and allowed the waiter to pour. He waited for privacy before continuing.

"Could it be that you did not want to accept me because you knew you would eventually lose me? Perhaps in your mind, it was easier to deny the possibilities and distance yourself from me than to grow close, join, and suffer the loss."

"Yeah, well, you can't miss what you never had…something like that. You're much older than I am so odds are I won't grow old with you…"

"Barring unforeseen circumstances it is true you will eventually have to say goodbye to me, though hopefully not in the near future. I will be another family member you will bury, Clarice, but unlike those who left before, I will leave a part of me behind. I will eventually leave this life, but together we have created life. My love for you will be evident every time you look at our child…hopefully, our children. I would not be able to say that if not for you. You have given my life meaning I had not even considered. We, both of us, are part of a family again. This is a bond I take very seriously."

"I do too, H…just promise not to leave me too soon."

"Whenever it is that I am forced to part from you, my Love, I assure you it will be too soon."

"Hannibal?"

An eyebrow arched at the use of his name, though he did not draw additional attention to it.

"Yes, Clarice?"

"When the time comes and we're parted…however it happens…whenever it happens…know how much I love you."

"And know that when I am taken from you it will be exactly that as I will fight to remain by your side. I love you with a passion that is unparalleled. There is no other woman alive more loved or desired than I love and desire you."

Seeing his wife's response, Hannibal reached over and dabbed a crisp white handkerchief at the tears threatening to spill over her eyelids.

Just before he drew back his hand she grabbed his wrist and kissed his pulse point pressing his hand against the side of her face as she spoke, "You win, H."

"Yes, Clarice. More than you know."

Until the next chapter, my friends,

LH