Luna welcomed the next morning.
It was glorious and it matched the way she felt which was great.
Last night was a lot to handle for one person but she did well.
She knows that each revelation had a corresponding change requirement with it.
She was not ready for any of it, but she'll have to adapt.
Heck when was she ever ready?
For the past few weeks, all she did was go along with life's every push and pull.
She remembered committing to calling Alana; what should she tell her?
Her thoughts were disrupted by Hansen's knocks on her door.
They're still here? they stayed... this is one of the changes she was dreading.
She wanted to stay in bed a little longer.
But the smell of breakfast changed her mind...
She jumped out of bed and went straight for the bath.
She showered, got dressed and headed out of her room.
Hansen just finished fixing the table; he was alone.
Was her aunt still in the other room?
Hansen sensed she was searching for her. "She left right after you fell asleep"
He set 2 mugs on the table beside each plate.
"She'll be okay Luna, Let's focus on getting you healthier so we can start planning our family trip home"
Luna's eyes grew wide "A trip?"
"Is it too much? too fast?... (Luna stayed quiet) Corina and I are just excited about us being together"
"You and aunt are planning a trip?"
"Yes... we haven't booked anything yet don't worry, the idea just came up last night"
Luna didn't know what to say.
She sipped warm chocolate from the mug that was set in front of her.
"We need to grieve the lost of your Dad and Fascio"
That did it for Luna; he was right.
She hasn't really had the time to stop and mourn.
"I think we have to go through some hoops with the FBI before i can go anywhere"
"Don't worry about that, we'll take care of it" he assured her.
"Now eat up, i want to see you finish everything before i leave"
Luna smiled; being around family does make a difference.
A simple breakfast turned into a special meal.
Alana sounded alarmed "You're going on a trip?"
"Yes! that's all i can say right now"
"Have you spoken to Jack?"
"My aunt will take care of that i think"
"How long will you be away?"
"I'm not sure yet, there are no actual plans yet"
Alana stayed quiet on the other line...
"My aunt just asked me if i was okay with going on a vacation with her; so we can properly mourn my father"
Luna didn't think it was the right time to tell everyone about her uncle.
She heard Alana let out a breath of acceptance.
"You have an appointment with Dr. Lecter... don't forget okay"
"Don't worry i won't..."
"We'll see you for Lunch tomorrow! Let's discuss this some more!"
They ended the call.
Sunset was throwing paint-balls at the sky again; Luna always saw it as some kind of Art.
She reveled in it every time.
The city succumbed to darkness at 6:30 pm,that was her cue to leave for her 8:00 pm appointment with Hannibal.
Should she tell him?
He's been keeping his hands open around her lately, it's kinda hard to hold on to that.
She'll let him lead the conversation she decided.
She arrived at his office 5 minutes early.
Hannibal let her in.
It felt as if it was her first time in the office.
It's been a while yes... but it's not that.
This is the first time she's actually seeing the place.
An eeriness was making it's way through her but she had her guards up.
"This is where i fell right?" she asked Hannibal pointing at the black single couch.
"Then i scrambled my feet until my back hit this" she extended her arms as if she was hugging the red wall.
Hannibal was seated at the edge of his desk.
He just smiled in acknowledgement when she turned to look at him for answers.
She knew he was remembering what she was like back then.
It pleased her that the memories are making him smile.
She walked toward the couch and took a seat it was time to start the session.
"Are we going to do hypnotherapy today?" Luna asked to break the silence.
He sat directly in front of Luna "If you want to..." he answered.
"I'm not up for it" she said with all honesty; she can't afford to bare her soul tonight.
"Do you think you still need it?" He asked.
"I'm not sure, do i?"
Hannibal smirked.
"Do you feel comfortable with the memories you've gathered so far?"
That made Luna think a bit... "I guess so"
Hannibal went silent; it made Luna wonder if he started one of his waiting games again.
As excruciating as it seems; She's not backing down this time.
Not today! I already lost last time she thought
He looked at her intently; He enjoyed her... every fidgeting part of her.
She gave up "Are we going to talk about something tonight?"
A brief moment of triumphant expression on Hannibal's face.
"What do you want to talk about Luna?"
Annoyed Luna released a deep sigh and crossed one leg over the other.
"I hate you" it just came out. Her brain filter failed her but she kept her calm.
Hannibal's face went dark and she sensed it; he leaned forward.
"I mean i hate this... late night appointments" Luna said in an attempt to recover from her slip.
She stood up to move away from the danger that emanated from Hannibal.
She didn't notice when Hannibal followed behind her.
"I'm mostly too tired to think of anything to talk about... We can just say we finished right... I can go home early?"
She turned to face his direction, but hit his chest instead.
His scent invaded her consciousness, she closed her eyes hoping he'd step away voluntarily.
But he did not; he stayed where he was... a few inches from her.
"Do you need this?" Hannibal asked with a composed exterior.
"Need what?" she managed to ask shakily.
"Affirmation" One word and her heart broke.
"Can someone like you provide it?"
Hannibal stepped back to admire her transformation from bashful to feisty.
"Always" he gave his answer
Luna was confounded by how absolute and straight forward his answer was.
Luna didn't realize she was shaking.
Hannibal wrapped her in an embrace and all her apprehensions were put to rest.
"We are okay" Hannibal said kissing her forehead.
Luna couldn't sleep.
Hannibal said he can make everything official if that's what she wants.
She'll have to change psychiatrists though.
Too fast she thought.
She did not tell him about the trip.
The whole session felt like an out of body experience; how could she?
She needs time; Get her ducks in a row...
Wait who said that again? was it Alana?
That idiom has been thrown at her a lot lately.
She wrapped her arms around one of her pillows.
She made a mental note...
Talk to Corina and Hansen.
Then to Alana and Will.
One step at a time.
Luna woke up to the sound of Corina and Hansen laughing; It gave her a sense of peace.
"We have good news!" they greeted her as she walked out of her room.
Jack Crawford said you can leave the country anytime you want.
They are down to two more missing bodies and they have what they need to find them.
"Really?" The excitement she felt made her tear up.
"We already booked our flights for this weekend"
"Wow! that's fast. This weekend?"
"Yes! aren't you excited!" Corina asked
"I am of course! I'm literally flying off to my hometown with my new found family"
How about my ducks she asked herself... I need to put them in a row fast.
Luna dialed Hannibal's number.
It routed to his voice mail - she left him a message.
"Hello, Luna here... please call me back as soon as you hear this"
She called Alana and Will next... setting up their Lunch date.
She gave them the news...
"Good news = Celebration!" Alana clapped her hands.
"So where are we going?" Will asked.
"Fish and Chips" Alana answered.
They laughed at their inside joke!
Hannibal thought it better to surprise Luna with a visit.
He's been trying to call her but her line's been busy all day.
Luna opened the door; She was surprised all right but not positively.
"Hello... Hannibal" Luna greeted with confusion.
"You have company I see" Luna answered with an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry" Luna tilted her head to the side; Hannibal reassured her everything was good with a touch of his hand on her cheek.
"You wanted to talk to me?" she nodded and reached for her coat then closed the door behind her.
"Let's walk" she suggested.
It was one of those chilly nights.
"I am going away on vacation with Corina"
A chill ran up Hannibal's spine. "Corina? I don't think that's a good idea"
His protective character overpowering all the others.
"She's changed Hannibal" Luna explained.
"I'm doing this with her so we can mourn our loses together"
Hannibal understood her need to grieve, but not with Corina.
She can do all the grieving she wants right here.
"Jack already approved, Alana said i can do face time consults, Will he's always okay with anything"
Luna blocked all the loophole Hannibal enumerated.
"What's really bothering you Hannibal?"
"You killed her son... she needs to avenge him, i don't trust her around you"
If only Luna can tell him Hansen will be there; that he will keep them off each other's throats.
If only she was ready to trust anyone with that information.
"She's forgiven me, she knows i had to do it"
"And the proof of that is her word... just her word Luna"
"I'm not changing my mind Hannibal; I just wanted you to know"
Hannibal's demeanor changed; The Narcissitic personality taking over.
"I see... now that was a waste of my time Luna... if all you wanted was to inform me, my voice mail was at your service"
Hannibal gave her an awkward kiss on the forehead got into his car and drove away.
That was definitely a slap on the face... very unlikely of Hannibal.
Then again it was her fault... he had a point.
She tried to call him, he did not answer; she took that as a sign he wasn't ready to be talked to.
She'll do it tomorrow. She still has tomorrow.
Friday passed by and Hannibal remained unreachable.
She left him messages as he instructed her to.
But he did not return any of them.
She's hurting and maybe it's better this way.
She just got her family back, they were her priority.
He looked broken and betrayed the last time they spoke.
If Hannibal needed her to stay, he did not make the real reason known.
Maybe she would have considered it if she knew what was really bothering him.
She finished packing her luggage.
Hansen is picking her up tomorrow; so they can meet up with Corina at the airport.
Alana already gave her a list of things she wants Luna to buy for her in Milan.
Will has been hanging around with Jack a lot lately.
He's too busy so she wasn't able to get his list; Alana will email it to her once she has it.
It's already 2 a.m. in the morning.
She was hoping against hope that Hannibal will come by.
The heavens may have been listening; because there was someone at her door.
Relief, excitement and nerves took turns with rattling her body.
She opened the door and her smile faded.
"Not who you were expecting?" Will teased.
"I'm sorry... was i that obvious?"
"Yes... Hannibal hasn't reached out yet i assume"
He shook her head to answer no.
"You'll be okay... actually you might be better off"
Luna smiled "Huh!? What's with you today?"
"Nothing... i just want you to enjoy your trip..."
"You came by to tell me that?"
"No, It's Alana..." he rolled his eyes.
Luna giggled "Where is it?" Will handed her his list.
They laughed... "You are totally smitten Will"
"You are too... Luna" She nodded.
Will graham sighed.
"Just enjoy your trip okay, you need this... Do not think of Hannibal
He's too evolved not to survive this distance for a few weeks"
"Months" Luna corrected him.
"...Or months..." he recovered.
Luna went in for a hug... "I will miss you Will, and Alana too"
Hannibal immersed himself in work.
The thought of Luna being unreachable was torture.
He needed time to adjust and prepare for it.
He used all the self restraint he could muster.
He stayed in his car and watched her laugh with Will Graham.
He wanted to go out and engulf her in an embrace that would have broken her bones.
He kept his phone on silent, so he won't be tempted to answer her calls.
God it was childish; It was all imature but he needed his sanity and his control.
She was a spiral staircase that lead to an ocean of emotions he wasn't ready to drown in.
She served as his solid ground, He was starting to depend on her too much.
He can't allow it to go any further.
He stepped on the pedal and drove away defeated.
He's prepared to bear through it.
He is after all Hannibal Lecter.
Nothing can break him.