BONDING
As Hannibal held Clarice, he inhaled deeply, memorizing the scent of his son. The child represented the joining of his body and his life with Clarice's and he needed to learn the baby's aroma. This task was intricate as the blood of his wife mixing with the amniotic fluid added additional notes to the fragrance. Hannibal nuzzled his face between the baby and Clarice. He slowly trailed his nose along the top of the baby's head breathing intensely as he concentrated on separating the additional scents. Though he enjoyed the blend of Clarice on the child, Hannibal wished to identify that which was specific to the baby.
His task complete, he straightened somewhat though he continued to hover protectively as he nudged his baby's hand with his index finger causing his son to grasp the digit, holding tight. Hannibal bent to his child, lifted the tiny arm slightly, and kissed the baby's hand.
Stirred to sensitivity by the contact he whispered, "This moment will remain with me until I draw my last breath. I promise, Little One, no one will take you from me and no harm will come to you or your mother as long as I live."
Understanding how emotional Hannibal was and realizing he had little experience dealing with such powerfully raw feelings, Clarice allowed her husband the freedom to bond with his son. She thought she should attempt to nurse, but it was obvious Hannibal was committed to a course of action and felt it best to acquiesce to his needs.
Are you learning the scent of him, H? Finding another way to identify your baby? You need to know you can recognize him without sight, don't you? Do you know how special you are? I love everything about you…everything.
When Hannibal was certain he had committed the scent of his child to memory and the baby released his hand, he rested his palm for a moment on top of his son's head. He then kissed his wife and sat quietly beside her.
When it became apparent he wasn't going to speak, Clarice worried, "Are you okay, H?"
His voice was soft, "Thanks to you…magnificent, my Love."
Touched by the moment but careful not to intrude, Lora busied herself as the family bonded, keeping a careful eye on the clock as the placenta had yet to be delivered. She waited, patiently.
They deserve time.
Aware of the time as well, Hannibal, though he wanted anything but, stood from the chair and forced himself from his wife and child. He was not only the husband and father, but the physician as well, and as such, had duties to perform. He reached for a clamp and closed the umbilical cord from the baby to Clarice, then placed a small white plastic clamp closer to the baby.
Understanding the significance of severing the bond between mother and child, he sought to lighten the moment.
Hannibal flashed a charming smile and with a flourish of the scissor joked, "Do you want an innie or an outie, Clarice?"
Smiling widely at Hannibal's irreverent reference to what might be her preferred appearance of the baby's belly button, Clarice countered, "He's your son, so, like you, an innie, H."
"Your wish is my command."
Hannibal gripped the scissor, and, breathing deeply, closed the halves of the tool over the fibrous flesh of the umbilical cord thus severing the tie from mother to son. He set the scissors down and extending his arms, very gently removed the baby from Clarice.
Reaching for the child she missed already, Clarice dolefully enquired, "H? Why?"
Sympathetic to her feelings, Hannibal explained tenderly, "The child has yet to be cleaned and you must deliver the placenta, Clarice. Lora will weigh and measure the boy as all the vitals must be accurate for the birth certificate."
The overwhelmed mother protested, "But I haven't nursed him yet. The baby has to eat, H."
Speaking as he walked across the room carefully cradling his son he responded, "You may begin nursing the moment he's returned to you though I wouldn't worry about rushing the process. It is thirsty work, my Love; he will feed every one to two hours."
"Still…hurry, H."
"You have my word, it won't be long."
Hannibal handled the baby very carefully and proudly presented his son to Lora.
"When you've finished, the anxious mother would like to begin nursing."
"Absolutely, I'll get this done quickly, I'm sure the new mom doesn't feel like sharing him for long." Lora, smiling from ear to ear, held the baby close and reassured, "Don't worry, Clarice. I'll take good care of him. After he's clean and I have the numbers for the paperwork I'll bring him back to you."
Clarice and Hannibal finished the final stage, birthing the placenta as Lora washed and measured the baby. Watching the intimacy of the couple and knowing Hannibal's past, Lora had a thought and wondered whether or not it would be appropriate to share with the couple. She thought it best, for now, to hold her tongue. Still, the idea intruded her thoughts as she attended her duties.
After urging a final push from Clarice, and receiving the organ that had nourished his child, Hannibal placed the placenta in a surgical bowl and moved it to the table beside him.
Lora, her task complete, swaddled the baby carefully, placed a tiny knit hat on his head and returned the baby to Clarice. While Clarice attempted the process of breastfeeding, Lora turned her own attention to Hannibal, now closing the episiotomy.
Still preoccupied by her thoughts, Lora reached to remove the bowl containing the placenta. As she picked it up and passed beside Hannibal, Lora noticed his nostril's flare, gathering the scent. This action interrupted her movement, stopping her for a moment. Though her hesitation was but a brief stutter in her step, from the shift in Hannibal's eyes from the sutures, to Lora and back again, she realized the pause had been obvious to Hannibal. Though his attention returned to his task, she could feel the remnants of his intense, yet fleeting gaze.
Should I? Maybe he'll be angry or worse yet, insulted or hurt…or, maybe he doesn't know how to approach the topic with me here. What are you afraid of? Just ask!
Lora inhaled deeply, girding herself for any and all responses as she asked as dispassionately as possible, "What do you want to do with the placenta?"
Lora had more to say but was still short of the confidence needed to complete the thought.
As intuitive as he was brilliant, Hannibal delved, "It is exceedingly obvious you have something on your mind, Lora. Please, enlighten."
Still unsure, she responded, "I don't want to hurt you or in any way offend…"
Tying off a suture, he spoke plainly, "Please, you are among friends. Speak your mind and I assure you no offense will be taken."
Approaching slowly with the bowl still in her hand, she began, "About the placenta…"
Hannibal pursued, though he was certain he understood, "Yes?"
Lora, holding the bowl that inspired her thought, continued, "…there are rituals in many cultures…some people take the placenta and bury it with a newly planted tree, and others…"
Clarice was preoccupied, attempting to encourage the baby to latch on and feed, unable to figure out how to make the baby find the breast. She joined, "Others what?"
Hannibal smiled knowingly as he responded, "She's speaking of the proverbial elephant in the room, Clarice."
Having attended to the baby, Clarice was out of the loop. The direction of the conversation escaping her, she quizzed, "Elephant? What elephant? What the hell, H?"
Hannibal asserted, "I am the elephant in the room, Clarice."
Realizing that Hannibal understood her meaning, Lora atoned, "Like I said, I meant no offense. I thought there was a possibility it might interest you."
Having finished repairing the incision, Hannibal placed the suture material and instruments to the side. His voice was passive as he spoke honestly, "Much as the thought appeals to me, I promised my wife that I would refrain."
Clarice was half-listening to the conversation, her attention more with her son as she sought clarity, "Refrain from what? H, what am I missing?"
Hannibal smiled, not at his wife's ignorance, but her innocence, "Lora is referring to the practice of placentophagy, Clarice."
His wife, no stranger to Latin, processed quickly, "Eating the placenta? Is that done?"
Hannibal very gently lowered each of Clarice's legs from the stirrups and placed them on the body of the bed. He cleaned her body as he spoke, "It is common among mammals. Not as common in humans though it is not entirely unheard of."
Not wanting to anger Clarice, Lora cautiously leant support to the idea.
"You can find techniques to clean and recipes for cooking one all over the Internet. It isn't considered taboo, just alternative."
Hannibal moved from the stool to the chair beside Clarice. Watching the baby struggle to locate the nipple and latch on, he reached across and stroked the child's cheek, closest to his wife's breast. The baby turned toward the finger and finding the breast began nursing quietly.
Clearly impressed, Clarice commended, "You are amazing, H."
"No more so than you, my Love."
Clarice watched her husband, his eyes lit with obvious activity, as he no doubt processed the proposed topic. She considered what he might be feeling. The idea of consuming something that had been a part of her body might be tempting to him.
He might think I would find it distasteful or repulsive…do I?
Reaching for his son's foot and running his thumb across the tiny toes, Hannibal was pensive as he considered Lora's proposal.
Needing to see where his head was at with this, Clarice questioned, "What are you thinking, H?"
Organizing his thoughts, Hannibal explained, "As the placenta not only supported the life of my son, but was a part of you as well, Clarice, consuming it would be something I would consider akin to a commemoration. That said, I promised upon our marriage I would forgo my cannibalistic tendencies and refrain from ingesting human flesh. Regardless of my attraction to the prospect, I shall keep that promise."
Clarice's eyes shifted to the side as she considered a topic that, five minutes previous, she had never even heard of. She thought for a few moments, quickly taking an inventory of her feelings.
I didn't have a problem when he tasted my blood and really, this isn't any different. I think it would mean a lot to him. It would be my way of offering him not only my full acceptance of his nature, but my unconditional love.
Clarice clarified, "H…I meant not to eat human flesh from someone you killed. If you're interested in this, please, accept it with my blessing."
"Clarice?"
"H…I'm serious."
Hannibal's eyes shifted to Lora.
"Hey, I'm the one who raised the topic. I sure as hell won't tell if you don't. It's no one business but yours."
Seeking consent, Hannibal confirmed, "Clarice? Are you certain? I don't want to go against your wishes. Please be clear on this point."
Her eyes beginning to close, Clarice yawned, "How do you feel about it, H? Really."
Hannibal spoke plainly. "I would consider it an honor, Clarice. If you have no moral issues with it."
Clarice attended to the baby as she reassured irreverently, "It would honor me, too, H. Just don't serve it to me. You get placenta, I want bacon…as a matter of fact, make that a bacon cheeseburger!""
Placing a hand on his wife's knee, he agreed, "Fair enough, my Love. I shall take it into consideration."
Hannibal finished closing his wife's wound. He turned to the nurse, now busy transferring the information to the vital statistics form. "That was exceptionally considerate of you, Lora. Now, as in the prison, I appreciate your discretion."
"Not at all, Doctor. Would you like the stats on the baby?"
Clarice excited, "Yes, all of them."
Lora ran down her list, "Hannibal Lecter IX, born at 12:31 a.m. on April 26th weighs 8 pounds 9 ½ ounces and is 21 inches long with dark brown hair and blue eyes. Born to mother, Clarice Starling Lecter and Hannibal Lecter VIII in Baltimore, Maryland."
Hannibal mused, "I hadn't realized the midnight hour passed changing the date. Marcus Aurelius was born on this day."
Lora added with a note of melancholy, "So was my mother, Evelyn. I miss her very much."
The poignancy of the moment touched Hannibal. He walked over to Lora, gently gripped her shoulders and spoke quietly. "I'm proud to have my son share your mother's birthday, Lora. I have a something I wish to give you to mark the day."
Hannibal reached into the drawer of the bedside table and removed the gift he picked up at the jewelry store just before he killed the intruder. He had retrieved the package when he fetched the ice chips earlier, storing it for just the right moment. Now was the perfect time. He handed the small box to the woman who had offered nothing but kindness and sensitivity in the short time he had known her.
"This was my errand, earlier today. Clarice and I designed it together."
"For me?"
Hannibal nodded, gesturing for her to open the present.
"You wouldn't allow me to pay you. You have been an invaluable gift to us, Lora. This is but a small token."
Clarice leaned forward, wanting to see the expression on Lora's face when she received the gift. "I really hope it looks the way we imagined. If it does, you'll love it!"
Lora opened the box to reveal a 24carat solid golden heart with an L in script engraved in the center dangling from a delicate gold chain. The art deco styled heart ornately edged in diamonds.
"In honor of the birth of my son, and your mother. A heart of gold for a woman with a heart of gold." Hannibal embraced her as he spoke softly, "Thank you, Lora. I couldn't have done this without you."
Overwhelmed by the gift, Lora spoke graciously, "I wouldn't have missed it. I have to say that aside from the blue eyes, your son is the spitting image of you. It was a privilege to watch you work, Doctor. You truly are a gifted physician. Your son could not have had a better start in life."
"That's kind of you to say. Thank you."
"I think it's time we all got to bed." Clarice suggested, her eyes half closed.
Lora retired to her room, Clarice and Hannibal to theirs, the baby sleeping in the joined arms of his mother and father.
Later that evening, as the baby slept soundly in a cradle beside them, Hannibal, Clarice, and Lora sat down to a meal. Clarice and Lora enjoyed bacon cheeseburgers, the patties made with a mix of freshly ground beef and Italian sausage meat, topped with Wisconsin cheddar. On the side, freshly cut sweet potato fries and homemade coleslaw.
For his part, Hannibal enjoyed a rich, glossy ragout, the constituents not determined.
Until the next chapter my friends!
LH