Cold air hit Elizabeth's face as she stepped outside of the house and onto the porch. She glanced over at a young woman who stood on the porch with a sniper in her hands.
"Hello there," Elizabeth greeted politely.
"You know Hannibal?" She asked curiously.
"Yes, I do. We have a child together," Elizabeth explained. "But then again, I find myself not really knowing anyone these days. People tend to surprise me."
"You're Will Graham's sister, Elizabeth, right?"
"You seem to know more than you say," Elizabeth said. "Some might call that stalking, but I like to call it being smart and careful...reminds me of Hannibal actually which means that you're his family or are a family friend."
"I spent time with Will when he was planning on going to Italy to kill Hannibal."
"He couldn't kill him and will never," Elizabeth corrected.
"Could you kill Hannibal?" She asked cautiously.
"Can you," Elizabeth repeated to her.
A small smile came onto her face, taking away years added to her face when she didn't smile. Elizabeth found comfort with this strange girl who showed no emotion or gave away her true feelings. Another Hannibal quality no doubt.
"Do you love Hannibal?"
"Against my better judgement if I'm being honest," Elizabeth said truthfully.
"Chiyoh," Hannibal's authoritative tone rang out in the air.
Chiyoh turned and started to walk away with Hannibal beside her. Elizabeth turned around as well, walking back into the house to see Ichabod already eating his breakfast. He lifted his spoon to her, saying, "Coco, mommy."
Elizabeth took the spoon into her mouth, eating it, and then smiled down at him. "Yum. Coco Puffs. Did Daddy give you these?"
Ichabod nodded and smiled brightly as he took another bite of his cereal. He read the box, swinging his legs back and forth as he hummed in delight. Elizabeth shook her head and brushed back his brown curls.
Hannibal came back into the house just as she told Ichabod, "Go get dressed, teacup."
"Okay, mommy," he responded politely and then ran out of the room.
Hannibal came closer to her, both watching the other. "We can still be a family."
"We're bad for each other," Elizabeth immediately said. "I will never understand you."
"You are perhaps the only one who does understand me."
"No. I'm not, Hannibal," Elizabeth corrected with a sad look in her eyes. "I never could and I fooled myself into thinking that I ever could...that I could somehow be in your world. I don't belong there. That isn't me. It's not our son either. You will get caught."
"What if I can assure you that that won't happen?"
Elizabeth groaned in frustration and ran her hands through her curls. "By what, huh? Killing people? I won't let you and that sure as hell won't get us back, but only push us away. I know who I am and you know who you are. We can't change who we are."
"We don't get to choose who we love either," Hannibal argued.
"I never stopped loving you, Hannibal and I will never will. You were my first love-real love. I'll never forget you and neither will our son," she reminded him.
"Are you asking me to go away? To leave you all behind and defend myself? To run?" Hannibal questioned, his angry eyes betraying his true emotions.
Elizabeth paused for a moment and then she said, "Yes. Go. I can't worry about you right now. Ichabod's growing up and he needs at least one person there for him."
Hannibal eyed her suspiciously. "What are you saying, Lizzie?"
Elizabeth walked up to after she put the dishes into the sink. She cupped his cheek and kissed his lips, leaning her forehead against his. "I love you, Hannibal Lecter, but I can't be the person you want me to be. Neither can Will. I'm letting you go. Don't contact me after you leave because I can't stay up late at night, waiting for you, and worrying. Ichabod shouldn't have to either. I'm done. I will always love you. Forever."
Elizabeth turned away from him, letting him go. She sniffled a little and went into Ichabod's bedroom.
"Mommy, why you crying," Ichabod murmured as he attempted to put on his shirt.
She wiped under her eyes and helped him put on the clothes. "Daddy is going away for awhile."
"NO," Ichabod started to whine, tears in his bright eyes.
Elizabeth shushed him softly and held him close when he started to cry his little eyes out. "I know, I know. He'll be back sooner than you know it. I promise."
Ichabod squirmed out of her arms and towards the door where Hannibal stood. She couldn't watch as she saw Ichabod wrap his little arms around Hannibal's legs, stuffing his face into them.
"Daddy…" He whimpered. "D-Don't go. Please."
Hannibal bent down and held his son to his chest. "I love you. You are my only son and I love you more than anything in this world. Your mother too. So I want you to be good for her and try not to give her a hard time."
Elizabeth walked quickly out of the room, wanting to give them some time alone and to make a call. She went outside to the barn, dialing Jack.
"Elizabeth, where are they?" He immediately asked.
"He's at Will's house. I would hurry since he's saying goodbye to us," Elizabeth told him.
"If we catch him, then our deal is still on and the charges on you will be dropped," Jack informed her.
"Thank you, Jack. See you soon," Elizabeth said, hanging up quickly as she saw Hannibal striding out of the house and towards her.
She erased the calls and texts, slipping the phone into her pocket once more. "What is it?"
"I can't believe you right now," Hannibal said as he strode up to her. "Why do you want me out of here so quickly?"
"I don't actually. Stay awhile longer since you're so much more paranoid these days," Elizabeth mocked and stepped around him.
He pulled her back to him, gripping her arm tightly. "Tell me the truth, Lizzie."
"I have no truth to tell. You know me so you put it all together, Hannibal. I'm letting you go," Elizabeth reminded him. "I can't love you anymore."
Elizabeth ripped her arm out of his and started to stride back up to the house, sighing heavily. She looked to see a solemn looking Will with a crying Ichabod in his arms.
"What did you do?" Will asked.
"I let go," Elizabeth replied. "There was a switch in my mind and I turned it off. I can't keep doing this with Hannibal. I'm ending it once and for all, Will. Something that you should do as well actually. If not for yourself then for Ichabod. He's too precious-too innocent to yet know of the cruel world ahead of him. I don't want that life for him. So I told Hannibal to leave and to never return."
"I'm surprised he listened," Will added.
"He did it for his son," Elizabeth reminded him. "Not for me."
Will managed to quite down Ichabod and he soon fell asleep in his arms causing Will to lay him down on the sofa. He slipped a blanket on him and made sure that he was comfortable and safe in a way.
Her eyes caught flashing lights in the distance and saw that it was the police. Will stood up after leaning down to kiss his nephew's head, questioning her, "What did you do, Lizzie?"
"It was either me or Hannibal. I chose myself-my son over Hannibal," she explained, her eyes revealing no regret in them.
They both walked outside just as the cars quickly pulled up. Jack stepped out of the car, ordering some of the men, "Search everywhere!"
Jack came closer to them, inquiring, "Where is he?"
"He should be in the barn," Elizabeth answered.
"He's gone, Jack." Will told him at first.
A look of frustration and fury came onto Jack's face as he pursed his lips then pointed a finger at Elizabeth. "Arrest her immediately!"
"No," Will protested, but was held back from her by the men when he tried to go after her.
They shoved her to the wall, gripping her arms behind her back. She felt her heart drop once the cool metal was clicked around her wrists. They dragged her towards the back of the black SUV that was waiting in the driveway. She felt herself being pushed into the backseat, silence filling the air once they slammed the car door shut.
Elizabeth looked ahead of her and sat herself back into the seat. She saw Will struggle to get to her, but the police still held him back.
She felt tears in her eyes as she watched Hannibal come out of the shadows, holding his hands up in air. She obviously couldn't hear the dialogue between Jack and Hannibal, but she watched with wide eyes as they put him in handcuffs, bringing him over to same SUV that she was in. The door opened and they pushed him inside, same as they did with her.
Hannibal and Elizabeth locked eyes with each other as she asked quietly, "Why? You had a chance to run…I gave you a chance even after what I said."
"I couldn't let you pay for what I did, Elizabeth," Hannibal told her. "So I'm letting you go right now. I'm letting you live your life without me inside of it. You will now always know where I am. Forever."
Elizabeth felt a silent tear roll down her face as she whispered, "No. You're so foolish, Hannibal."
"I am a fool in love with a strong woman who always has to do the right thing in the end…even if it means hurting the ones she loves," Hannibal confessed. "I will never love another as much as I have loved you."
The door opened and Jack pulled Elizabeth out of the car just as Hannibal warned her, "When I get out- and trust me, Elizabeth, I will escape, I will come after you."
"I know," she whispered. "And I'll be waiting for you."
Jack took off the handcuffs just as Will came running towards her, hugging her immediately. She hugged him back and they both pulled away as they watched the SUV pull out of the driveway, leaving them all alone.
THREE YEARS LATER
"Happy birthday to you," they all sang with smiles on their faces. "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to Ichabod! Happy birthday to you!"
"Make a wish, sweetie," Elizabeth told a four year old Ichabod.
He whispered something under his breath and then blew out the candles.
"What did you wish for, buddy," Will asked as Molly stood beside him with her son, Wally.
"I can't tell you," Ichabod protested with a wide smile on his face. "Or else it won't come true."
"He's right, you know," Molly agreed, ruffling her nephew's hair.
"Come on, Ichabod, let's go play outside with the dogs," Wally said, going towards the door.
"YEAH!" Ichabod called out, jumping from the seat and running to where Wally was at.
Molly shook her head. "Boys."
"Boy, you aren't kidding," Elizabeth laughed.
"Mamma," a soft voice called out from the high chair, rubbing her eyes with her tiny hands.
"Come here, my baby," Elizabeth cooed as she lifted the two year old baby out of the high chair.
Her name was Valentina Lecter. She had golden blonde hair just like her mother and had more similarities in appearance to her mother than she did to her father except she did possess his maroon colored eyes. She was born as quite as ever. While Ichabod was loud, Valentina was a silent baby. She never cried when she was born, only just stared at anyone who came in front of her. She was still a happy baby, but rarely voiced her frustrations.
Everyone called her Valerie for short in case they didn't know how to pronounce her name or were just too lazy to. Elizabeth smiled down at the little girl in her arms.
"Are you going to see him?" Will asked suddenly.
"I promised him that we would. You know this. Besides they're both excited to see their father tonight," Elizabeth argued with a tight smile.
"Daddy?" Valerie questioned, her chubby cheeks puffing out a little as she pouted, tears appearing in her eyes. They all knew that look too well.
She was about to bail her eyes out.
"Shhh, don't cry, sweetheart," Elizabeth soothed. "We're going to see him right now, okay?"
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Valerie calmed down and then laid her head onto Elizabeth's shoulder. Valerie was mostly attached to Hannibal than to Elizabeth. She was Daddy's Little Princess, according to Will and Molly. Hannibal always called their children by royal titles like Hannibal was the King, Elizabeth was their Queen, Ichabod was the Prince, and Valerie was the Princess. She knew that eventually their daughter would ask questions about why Hannibal was always behind a glass wall just like she questioned everything in sight now.
"We have to go right now, mamma," Valerie whispered.
"Can I have a hug first," Will asked and then bowed. "Your Highness."
"You may," Valerie said with her usual soft and shy voice.
Will lifted her out of Elizabeth's arms, swinging her around as she giggled loudly.
"Yes, my Princess, you are the fairest of them all," Will called out to her then hugged her.
"I am," she agreed and wrapped her arms around Will's neck.
She had a tiara on top of her head with a ballerina costume on that she wouldn't take off today since Hannibal got them for her. Her curls weren't as wild as Ichabod's, but still considered a little messy since she didn't like people brushing her hair.
She was a very picky child according to most of their friends and family, but she didn't care about their opinions since it was her little girl that they were talking about and she loved her no matter what.
"Come on, get her things together, Will," Elizabeth told him as Molly went outside to bring the boys in.
Once they got their things together, they stepped inside of the car, waving goodbye to Molly, Will, and Wally. Elizabeth drove for two hours to the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. She parked the car and turned to see that her children were actually wide awake.
Elizabeth held Ichabod's hand as she carried her daughter on her hip when they walked inside. Alana Bloom smiled at them.
"It's all set up for you guys in there," Alana informed them.
"Thank you so much again, Alana. I know that it wasn't easy doing this for three years now for us," Elizabeth said politely.
"Go right on in," Alana told them.
They traveled to the door, Ichabod pushing it open quickly as he ran inside. Valerie squirmed in her arms and so Elizabeth set her down. Immediately, she followed after her bother, grabbing his hand as she sucked on her pacifier which was still in her mouth.
"Daddy," they both yelled.
The doors closed on Elizabeth and it was though she couldn't go inside…even after three years, she still couldn't face them. One of her good friends which was the guard that was always posted outside of Hannibal's door, Bill, put a hand on her shoulder.
"I've got this, Lizzie," Bill said to her, assuring her worries. "You take your time."
"Thank you so much, Bill," she whispered. "I just can't-"
"We all understand," Bill replied. "I'll watch over them while they're inside."
"Thank you."
Bill walked inside as Elizabeth sat quietly outside near the door, staring at the double doors.
Am I coward for not having the courage to face him even after three years? I didn't even go inside to tell him about Valerie when she was still inside of me…I had Bill or Alana go in there with her to meet him. So does this make me a coward?
TBC…
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