The rich blue of her dress stuck out like a sore thumb in the crowded streets and Hannibal had never been so grateful to see the woman. All of their arguments felt distant now, like long forgotten dreams. A smile pulled at his lips and the exhaustion of the journey evaporated instantaneously.

He tugged Maximus' reins behind him as he weaved through the market space towards the woman. She was busy speaking to one of the shop owners, deep in conversation. Hannibal had never seen her anywhere outside of the palace, but she looked at home amongst the bustling as if she spent just as much time here as she did at the king's side.

His breath caught in his lungs and his fingers trembled as they reached out for her, hand gently taking her forearm. She jumped, yanking her arm free and turning to face him. He could see the snarky retort die on her tongue as her dark eyes took him in.

The basket in her hand tumbled to the ground, the procured produce bouncing away and lost among the feet. He stood in a stunned silence as she reached for him, pulling him into the tightest hug he thought he had ever been wrapped in.

"Hannibal," she breathed in his ear. He circled his arms around her, hiding his face in her black hair. "Thank God."

"Beverly," he greeted in just as soft a whisper, something reverent in their reunion. Relief flooded through him, relaxing his body. He was home. He was safe. He didn't have to fight anymore. "I didn't think I would be this happy to see you again."

"The sentiment is mutual." She laughed lightly, her grip somehow tightening on him. "Will has been searching endlessly for you. We thought you went down with the ship."

"You can't be rid of me that easily." Hannibal pulled himself free and couldn't stop himself from letting his hand caress her cheek. His thumb wiped away the tear that escaped and rolled down her cheek. "There's no reason to cry. There's no possibility that you missed me that much."

"Don't worry." She laughed fully this time, her hands reaching up to take his wrist. She pulled herself from his grip. "I still hate you."

"And I you." Hannibal held back his own tears as his chest tightened. "Can I see him?"

Beverly nodded, hand slipping into his. "Let's go home."

The basket lay forgotten in the street as she led him back towards the castle, arm in arm. Her words swirled around him, making him dizzy as she explained everything that had happened since his departure and detour.

The emotions that ran rampant through Hannibal exhausted him. The truth about the blackmailing had finally come to light, the thing that Hannibal had been unable to explain before he had left. The wedding had crumbled apart, Will having clung to it desperately. The correspondence they were having with Margot who was trapped under her brother's cruelty. The death of the king turned Hannibal's mouth dry. He did his best to picture the boy he had left becoming the monster that Beverly described to him, but Hannibal was at a loss.

"...eep it a secret."

Hannibal shook his head as the words broke through his thoughts.

"What?"

"I think we should keep this a secret," Beverly repeated. "I will have Alana help you with getting cleaned up and then you can see Will."

Hannibal's heart jumped in his chest as he took in his surroundings. The stone wall outside of the palace stood tall before him, the gate creaking as it was opened. The stone beneath his feet welcomed him warmly, familiar as he strode through the gate.

"Should I have him taken to the stables?" Beverly asked, motioning to Maximus who had been happily trotting along beside them. Hannibal nodded and Beverly was swift to order several servants to take care of the horse. Servants that Hannibal didn't recognize. He had never learned the faces and names of everyone here, he didn't think it possible, but he was certain these people were new. "If you would like to retire to your room, you know the way. I will send Alana there."

Hannibal nodded. "Thank you, Beverly."

"Remember, our little secret. I will make sure Will is well distracted until you're ready." Beverly's smile put the sun to shame and Hannibal found himself surprised again at another hug, though this one was not nearly as strong as the last one. "It's wonderful to have you home."

Everything was just as Hannibal recalled it. With everything Beverly had been spouting, Hannibal had half expected the entire layout of the palace to change. But every decoration, every hallway, every stone was exactly as it had been. It swallowed him up in a warm comfort and his cheeks were beginning to hurt from the smile that clung to his face, unable to be removed.

Hannibal stepped into his room, one that held echoes of his childhood in it and inhaled deeply of the familiar feeling. His eyes slid closed and his shoulders fell slack, only further reinforcing the fact that he was safe here.

A gentle knock at the door made him turn to face Alana who went pale as if she had seen a ghost. Her mouth opened and closed several times before she was finally able to pull herself together. She strode over to him and reached out a shaking hand, taking his unshaven face in her palm.

"It really is you," she muttered. Her other hand took his face as well and tipped it from side to side, taking him in. "My God. Where have you been? He has been restless without you at his side."

Hannibal's heart thudded painfully in his chest. "Will?"

Alana nodded. "He has been spending night and day searching for you." Before Hannibal could speak, Alana pressed on. "Why don't we make you presentable for the king?"

Hannibal's fingers lingered against the softness of his clean shaven face as he followed the halls he knew well. Beverly had somehow gotten Will sequestered to his room. It was just a matter of finally seeing him again. Seeing how much he had grown in their time apart and Hannibal hoped it was very much in the same way Will had grown up before their first reunion. Into a head strong, but kind man.

When he turned the corner, the first things that came into view were his friends. His smile grew and he broke into a run down the hall until he could capture up the nearest one into a hug.

"Brian." He laughed as the man struggled against him.

"Who the hell do-"

"Jimmy." Hannibal released the first man who was left in a confused stupor to hug the second. Armor clattered in the movement and Hannibal stepped back to allow the men to fully see him. "You both have no idea how contented I am to see you again."

Slack jaws and wide eyes came from both men.

"The fuck?" Brain gasped. His hand grasped Hannibal's shoulder, a familiar sense of checking his solidity in the grip. "You're supposed to be dead."

"You-you went down with the ship," James stuttered out, pointing at Hannibal.

"Or in the Americas."

Hannibal chuckled. They hadn't changed so much. They still finished each other's sentiments. It was endearing and a breath of fresh air.

"You're not real." This time James' hand took him, the grip bruising. "Does the king-"

"No. Will doesn't know." He licked his lips nervously. "How is he?"

Hannibal was released by both men. James shrugged the best he could under his armor and Brian simply shook his head. Hannibal frowned, trying to find the answer on his friends' faces and coming up empty.

"I've never seen him like this," James explained.

"He's not himself," Brian agreed. "I've barely seen him complete his homework in his studies, but he works night and day now."

"Beverly often has to force him to bed, but I don't think he sleeps."

"He has stepped into king just as he was meant to. Probably too well."

Hannibal always knew Will could be a wonderful ruler if he sunk himself into the job, but perhaps this was too much of a good thing. Maybe now that he had returned, he could be another guiding hand for Will. They could fix everything, make it work smoothly. Hannibal would be at Will's side every step of the way from now on. Nothing would send him away again.

"Can I see him? I promise that we will talk soon."

There didn't need to be a spoken answer. James motioned to the door and Hannibal opened it. His palms went damp as nervousness flooded him. He let himself into the room and silently closed the door behind him. What would Will do? What would Will say? Everyone else had treated him with disbelief and surprise. Would Will be the same?

Will's room looked like Hannibal's memories of it. Put together, clean. A sitting area near a fireplace. A washroom behind a half open door. A bed, uncreased as if it hadn't been touched in years.

The double doors to the balcony were wide open, allowing the wind to blow the light curtains about and cast the person Hannibal had been fighting his way across Europe for in a halo of golden rays. Will's curls caught the sunlight, making the color a warm cinnamon.

As Hannibal stepped closer, the breeze brought the scent of old books to him. A smell that had recently become Will's. Will hadn't had it when they were children, but with the amount of time Will spent in the library since then, it was a comforting scent. A shiver traveled Hannibal's spine and his knees shook as he stepped closer.

Hannibal took his place beside Will. Will was propped up on his arms against the railing. His blue eyes, those winter stormy eyes that Hannibal had dreamt of, flickered over to him, boredom deep set in them.

"I haven't seen you for a time." Will's tone was dull and lifeless. "I thought you had left me like she has."

Hannibal's breath caught in his chest as he took in Will's words and his face. Two new and healing, painfully etched scars graced his cheek. The first jagged and uneven line ran from Will's left eyebrow, down the length of his face and ended at the corner of his lips. The skin was pulled taut, giving the illusion that Will was eternally smirking.

The second scar was contrasting in its nature to the first. It was a smoother, more delicate mark, a thin line cutting across the cheekbone and intersecting with the larger. Beneath the new found glory sat an older scar from Sanford's rings. Had these come from the same rings? Why hadn't Hannibal been there to help Will? He had promised to never let Sanford touch his son ever again and he had failed.

"Are we being silent today?" Will asked with a huff of air. His gaze returned to the courtyard where servants were busy bustling about with their chores.

"N-no," Hannibal managed to get out, throat dry. There was a curious flicker of Will's eyes back to him for a mere moment before they shot back to the world around them. Hannibal's hands rested against the railing and his fingers tapped the stone. This was not the welcome that Hannibal had been expecting, but perhaps the others had been right. Perhaps Will had changed. "I am simply at a loss of words."

"Then perhaps it is better that you remain silent." The toe of Will's boot was kicked against the railing several times before Will straightened himself up. "I did look for you."

Confusion encompassed Hannibal and he stared at the courtyard, mind scrambling for something to do, something to say. It was as if he wasn't there. As if he was still missing. He almost began to doubt that he was there. Perhaps the heat of the sea had made him begin to see shadows and figures.

"I went to the Duke and found out what happened to your crew. I had each of them returned." Will nodded as if he was checking off a list in his mind. "Proper funerals for those who had passed. I returned everyone to their families. But I could not find you." Blue snapped to Hannibal, something sharp in them, something accusing. "I don't want you to think that I gave up on you."

The sentiment sent Hannibal spinning. He struggled with something, anything to say.

"I would never think that of you," finally found its way into the air between them.

"I had Jack search for you when I could no longer do it physically myself and you have vanished." Will lowered his head into his hand, rubbing at his eyes. "No letters, no body, and I have exhausted all of my possible avenues." Will pushed himself from the railing and stepped away from the sun, leaving Hannibal oddly empty and dumbfounded. "And now you're here to haunt me!" There was a nervous laugh. "If you happen to have any suggestions as to your whereabouts," -something broke in Will's voice and Hannibal turned to catch Will wiping a tear from his cheek- "I would much appreciate it."

Will straightened himself upright, brushing his hair from his eyes and fixing the crooked fabric of his collar. He cleared his throat and gave a noncommittal wave to excuse himself.

"I do not have the strength to continue these games and I have far more important matters to see to."

It took everything in Hannibal's being to propel him after Will, and he captured Will's arm up in his hand, bringing Will back around to face him.

"Look at me," Hannibal ordered as gently as he could, holding tightly to his frustration. Wide and bewildered eyes danced around Hannibal's being and down to his hand as if shocked by the touch. "Is almost dying not enough to deserve your attention now that you're king? You have more important meetings to attend?"

"Who are you?"

Hannibal fought back the laugh that tickled his throat and he licked his dry lips. "It's me, Will." He let his hand find Will's cheek and he caressed over the new markings in the king's fair skin. Breathing stifled, caught deep in lungs. "I'm here."

"No." Will shook his head, taking a single step away from Hannibal. The air between them immediately fell cold with the lack of closeness and Hannibal ached for it to return. "You're not here. You're not real!"

"Do you often speak to my shadow when I am not present?" Hannibal closed the gap between them, his hand slipping from Will's arm and to his waist, pulling Will closer. Will's palms burned as they slid up Hannibal's chest, cautious, curious. Will nodded and Hannibal let the chuckle go. "I told you I would come back."

"You're supposed to be at the bottom of the sea." Disbelief kept a tight grip on Will's words. "Or lost to the Americas. There was no body. No records. Nothing."

"I couldn't let our last conversation be a fight."

"What fight?" Will teased with a weak smile.

Will's head rested against Hannibal's, his hands kindly exploring Hannibal. There was no hunger in the touches, they simply existed, their souls finally able to collide once more. Their breathing fell into a steady rhythm, the silence around them comforting.

Hannibal's eyes closed as his fingers slipped into Will's hair, enjoying the way the curls felt like silk against his skin. Old books was the only scent in the room and the heat from Will's skin eased the tension in Hannibal's muscles.

The kiss Hannibal received was soft, barely a whisper against his lips. It stole his breath away just as their first kiss had and Hannibal wrestled with the want to push this further. There was another time for that. In this moment, this was simple. This was perfect.

"I missed you," Will said when he lowered himself from his tip toes. "My God, how I have missed you."

"I missed you too, Meilė."

"You must tell me everything." The excitement that laced Will's tone brought the slightest of smiles to Hannibal's face. "I died the night the letter came."

"It seems like we both have quite the stories to tell, don't we?" Hannibal's index finger trailed the scar down Will's cheek. "I'm sorry I left you for so long."

"You're here now." Will grinned brightly, his smile putting Beverly's own sun to shame. "Do the others know? Of course Brian and Jimmy must. They wouldn't have just let anyone into my room."

Hannibal nodded. "I found Beverly in town and spoke briefly with Brian and Jimmy. I am sure I will have longer conversations with all of them in turn."

"Nonsense." Will pulled almost fully from Hannibal, waving his hand to dismiss the comment. One hand tugged on Hannibal's, leading Hannibal towards the door. "We need to have a celebration."

"I don't need a celebration." Hannibal laughed and pulled Will back to his side. "I need only your company until the end of my days."

The blush that dusted Will's cheeks was lovely to say the least. It brought a warmth to Hannibal's chest and his heart pounded painfully in his chest as if it had finally come to the realization of where it was sitting.

"I love you," Hannibal whispered, kissing Will softly. Will's arms circled around his shoulders and fingers tangled into Hannibal's hair. Hannibal's arms wrapped around Will's waist and he pulled Will from the floor, spinning them around. Will laughed dazzlingly, foreheads pressed together.

"I love you too." Hannibal let Will's feet touch back to the ground and stared into blue storms. "I love you." There was another swift peck to Hannibal's lips before Will pulled from him, his hand once more being dragged towards the door and Hannibal went willingly. He would follow Will to the ends of the earth willingly.

Hannibal opened the door and allowed Will to slip by him first, out into the hall, where the small group of their friends were waiting, expectant expressions on their faces. A heat crept into Hannibal's cheeks and he looked down towards his feet.

"If I find out the three of you are keeping any more secrets from me, I will end you," Will warned teasingly.

Hannibal glanced up at the uneasy shuffle of feet. James was staring off towards a portrait on the wall instead of at Will. Hannibal's nose scrunched up curiously. He would need to ask about that later when he had the chance. Though, he was certain he would be rather busy for the next little while as he and Will became acquainted with each other once more.

"Beverly, tonight is going to be a celebration."

"We don't need-"

"Of course we do," Beverly cut into Hannibal's sentence and Hannibal shot her a dark look that she returned with a playful grin. "We need to start this off right. A celebration and then you and I can start hating each other again, Commander."

Hannibal felt his annoyance slip into a chuckle. "Alright." He inhaled deeply, allowing the breath to fill his chest completely before he fully relented. "Dinner tonight, and then everything goes back to normal. I don't need the fussing."

"Brian, Jimmy, you both can be relieved tonight. I will have Jack watch the door so you both can rest," Will continued on. "Thank you for being with me the last few nights. I know I've been a nuisance."

"You're no such thing, Your Majesty," Brian assured.

"Will, a nuisance?" Hannibal squeezed Will's hand and smirked. "I've never known him to be such a thing. Not even as a child." Will rolled his eyes and leaned into Hannibal. Hannibal wanted nothing more than to soak in Will's warmth. He didn't need dinner or a party. He had everything he wanted right here in this moment. His home, his friends, his Will. "Not even as a child did he pose any sort of stubbornness to his character."

"Oh, never any," Beverly agreed in deep sarcasm, hands going to her hips as she nodded. "Jimmy, do you recall any sort of pig headedness from the king?"

"Well, there was the time that he-"

"Never," Brian swiftly interrupted with a laugh, nudging James with his elbow, their armor clinking as it touched.

"Alright." Beverly clapped her hands. "There is time to discuss everything later. I shall head to the kitchens and get everything ready for dinner."

"And you two may be dismissed," Hannibal added, motioning to Brian and James. "Come to dinner with us. I will look after the king until then."

"I'm sure you will." Brian winked and Hannibal felt Will's hand tighten on his and Will hid slightly behind his arm. "Jimmy, let's go clean up. Come on."

Hannibal watched as the three of them set off on their respective tasks and once the hallway was empty, he looked down at Will who was still partly behind him. "Are you afraid of what our friends will think we're up to?"

"I do not care what they think of us," Will muttered. "I just want to be close to you."