_____

Joseph Heintz the Elder
1640

_____

THERE was a horrifying, haunting and creepy aspect that covered the aurea of that dark, thunderstorming night. The lightning in the sky matched with the bumps against the pantry's door, the beat of a bleeding heart, and the madness in bloodshot eyes.

Jack Crawford had an intense bleeding in one of his arteries located at his neck, caused by a piece of glass stabbed by Hannibal Lecter, who was just a wall away, throwing himself into the door to force it open, to finally achieve his purpose and end the agent's life at once.

It was a game of no draw, it was either kill or be killed. The truth has been discovered and sooner or later, one of them would achieve the afterlife by someone's hands.

While Hannibal intended to get rid of his obstacle, he didn't pay attention to the small, careful steps that entered his home. A flashlight tried to take the darkness away, above a gun being held by a trembling pale hand.

The chest moved up and down with the intense breath, the heart almost sunk, stopping completely, as the mind tried to illude itself with fantasies and impossible hope.

The veil that covered the lies had been taken, revealing the auspicious and macabre figure that hid underneath. The house, that once was filled with love, joy and a welcoming atmosphere, now became sepuchral, pungent and suffocating.

The walls whispered haunting melodies and forgotten promises, the keys lost on the floor no longer resembled home, and the smell of blood filled her lungs.

Each step was a torture, a burning anxiety increased by the unintelligible sound she heard from the kitchen. The question persisted: was ignorance better than the truth? Was it better to believe in a sweet lie than to finally open her eyes? Took the risk and stepped towards the sound, feeling her senses shudder over the repeating loud noise that followed, increased, as she approached the area.

It was a mix of meat, sauce and blood in the air, completed with the sweat of adrenaline and fear, sweetness and horror.

The blue in her eyes for an instant become a pure white, blinking multiple times to believe the scene in front of them.

Ignorance. Now, destroyed.

She could attempt to fool herself, to believe that the aghast monster that threw himself against that door wasn't the person she seeked for. That they weren't the same. And they indeed didn't look the same.

The white striped shirt she carefully ironed on wednesday was now wrinkled and red stained. The large shoulders that served previously as her shelter, now violently bumped against the wodden structure that trembled by his frightening strentgh. And the dark hair, those same dark to grey strands covered his eyes, the only aspect that could still resemble his human appearence that disguised a blood seeking beast.

Her lips quivered and her voice failed to come out from her body. As if her organism refused to accept the real events. With all gathered strentgh to scream, she could only whisper "...Hannibal...?"

But nothing changed, and she could feel a bitter taste inside her mouth, a poison that filled her lungs...defeat, disappointment, frustration. The monster still attempted to open the door, insatiable, determined.

"Hannibal?" Her voice came out clearer than before, but that still didn't awaken him from his true nature. The tears fell uncontrollably, rolling down her flushed cheeks, her breath become hoarse, and her throat closed, her whole body shivered with a hidden and inflamable anger that burned her entire being and came out in a scream "HANNIBAL!"

The figure paralyzed. Didn't dare to turn around at first, fearing that his ears had identified the voice he adored, now filled with hatred.

But he knew. He knew by the sweet scent in the air and by the presence that invaded his soul whenever she stepped into a room, almost as a magical and unspoken connection between them.

"Look at me." She hardly vocalized. He didn't turn around. "I said, LOOK AT ME!" The yell hurt him more than Jack's previous attacks.

His feet hesitated but slowly moved, as his chest moved up and down with an unstable breath. The lips parted from each other in a gasp, the eyes widen as never before. And the assassin that was there just momemts before, now seemed to have been taken by a fragile boy's figure.

Their eyes locked in an intense, longing gaze that had sparkles, flames and could burn that house down into ashes.

Sides from the same coin, love and hate.

"Lissy..." Hannibal mumbled incredulous. That was the worst thing that could possibly happen at that moment. His whole world seemed to crack beneath his feet.

"It..." She gasped, between the tears, his eyes lingered at the pistol on her trembling hands. "You....it was.....all this time..."

"You weren't supposed to see-"

"What, Hannibal?" She dared him, now with more courage. "The truth? About who you truly are?"

"Please, calm down, let's talk-"

"We have nothing to talk!" She shouted. "You lied to me. All this time. All you've done was lie, and lie, and lie!" Her pitch altered between violent sobs. "Where's Jack?" He didn't answer. Her eyes lingered at the door and at Hannibal's hands, still covered in blood, holding knives. "He's in the pantry, isn't he?"

"...Yes." He was finally honest.

Alice took a deep breath, still holding the gun in her hands. She clenched her teeth as she trembled with fear, her veins pumped into an adrenaline rush. Hannibal tried to take one step foward, she took one step back in response. "Get away from me." She felt her whole body disturbed by his presence.

"I won't hurt you." He assured her, the last thing he wanted was her fearing him. He just wanted to protect Alice, even if that meant as never telling her the truth. But that changed now. "You know I would never hurt you."

"But you already did." She spoke through her teeth. "You didn't just hurt me...you killed me." She felt her whole body dry, without any tears left to cry. "You killed my sister, my friends, framed Will..." Hannibal continued moving foward. "Step away from me, now." She reassured the gun's presence, targeting his head.

"I protected you." He defended himself. "I cared for you." Hannibal stopped, but not in a single moment let his guard down. "Don't do anything you might regret later, Alice" Ge observed the metal that glistened in her hands. "We both know you wouldn't do this."

"Wouldn't I?" She smiled in pain, her mouth sour because of the previous tears. "You underestimate me." She sharply responded.

"No, actually..." His glance softned, opening up his heart completely. "From everyone, I was the one who truly saw potential in you."

"Potential to kill?"

"To become what you are meant to be."

She exhaled heavily. "And what am I meant to be?"

He gave a pleased, slow smile that covered his face, a calm semblant full of certainty. "Something beautiful." There was an insane passion in his insanity, almost hypnotic and entrancing.

But that could never erase what he has done. Never cover the bleeding scars on her surface. And neither fix her broken heart.

Even at that moment, she could feel Bree's presence in that gelid air, as Alice mentally begged for forgiveness, for redemption for her sins. The ghost asked for vengeance, for payment of debts. Blood for blood. Death for death.

Behind the man she loved, she could see the woman he killed, the sister she cared and raised, and her dress stained in red, not just hers, but from all the others that stepped into his path, that lost in his game, and that paid the price for their innocent lives.

Alice Mallory never found joy in taking someone's life. Neither desired to do such a thing. But that version of her was gone, buried six feet under the ground, eaten alive by her lover, and hungrily disrupted by the pain.

"I trusted you." She confessed helpless. "I trusted you with my whole being." Her voice broke. "Do you have any idea about how I feel?" She squinted her eyes. "Is this what you wanted? To destroy me?"

"No..." He shaked his head. "No, darling, no..."

"They're dead. And nothing will bring them back." She shivered.

"Neither my death." He warned her.

"No, it won't." She realized, with a sparkle of madness between the blue. "But it'll bring them justice." She prepared the gun, a click sound echoed in the kitchen. "It'll prevent you from hurting anyone else."

"Is this what you truly desire?" He looked into her eyes, seeking for any sign of hope. "To kill me?"

Alice looked at that man, the man she adored, that she dedicated her existence to, that she made her temple, her mural and her sky, now, about to be extermined by herself. A movie passed through her mind in slow motion, as her heart continued numb to the truth, beating for him, and just for him, over and over again, endlessly.

Hannibal didn't move. He just standed there, patiently waiting for her next movement, for his death sentence proclaimed by his lover. "Do not overshadow your instincts by your morals." He suggested. "But if this is what you truly want, then, I shall accept your wish." He glanced at the gun in her hands, the gift she received from Will Graham.

Alice took a deep breath, as she felt the room fill up with a smashing pressure that made her breathless, her fingers tickled, close to the trigger.

It would be just one shot, and it'll all be gone. He would be dead, and so would a part of herself.

Closed her eyes, she couldn't face it, couldn't face him, couldn't handle, couldn't feel, couldn't touch, couldn't breath. Lost in a spiral of thoughts that continued and recreated again, and again, and again.

A gelid morbid breath whispered at her ear, with the melodic voice of a previous beloved sister. "Close your eyes, embrace the darkness... Pull the trigger."

▫️

12 Weeks Earlier

There was something meaningful in that ocasion, from the tones of amber and yellow in the sky, to thee boxes full of belongings already at the entrance of the building, awaiting to be taken to somewhere miles away, far from known eyes.

The smell of coffee was still in the air, and Colin Mallory heard a melody in his earphones, quietly waiting for his sister to come downstairs, as thoughts slowly told a story inside his mind.

Will Graham had been arrested for murder, not just any murder, but his sister's one. Alice didn't tell the full story, it has been some months since it happened, but she didn't tell Colin the truth about it. She seemed fragile, scared, and traumatized. But something still managed to calm her, she seemed less affected by it than when she lost Bree.

And it seemed to be because of her new partner, who he particularly despised.

His ears shifted to the shound of the gates being opened, as those red shoes walked onto the sidewalk, her expression was gentle with a bit of sadness, but she wouldn't throw a fit, neither cry a river. Somehow she appeared...prepared, for that moment.

A large, warm hand guided her, delicately touching her back, a touch that instantly could calm all her senses and take all the pain away. He was an anchor at that moment, helping her to get through that storm together.

As much as Colin disliked the two together, and had his own suspicions about that man, no one could deny how formidable and pleasing Hannibal and Alice looked together, as if they were promised to each other since their birth.

As she had finally met her brother, she hugged him tight, embracing him as she sunk her head into his shoulder, holding back the tears.

"I am so proud of you." She whispered and Colin felt his heart flutter, his eyes became watery. His hands clung even more into her sweather, as a scared little kid, finally ready to leave home. "I know that high above, Bree's happy for you too."

That's when he couldn't hold it any longer, Colin sobbed, attached to his sister, as the tears were absorved by the fabric of her clothing. Alice smiled bitterly, silently crying.

The taxi had arrived, he'd be off to the airport, where Colin would get into a flight to the other side of the country, in California.

They aparted from the hug even not wanting to. Alice organized the messed strands of his hair, as her brother tried to clean up the tears, taking a deep breath.

"Maybe I don't need to go to Stanford, I can study here in Maryland, and-"

"Colin." Alice called him out. "You dream about Stanford since you were a kid. I don't want you to not follow your dreams just because of me." She brushed away some invisible dust off his shoulders.

"But...but what if I don't fit in? What if I can't do it?" He stuttered nervous.

"You will be fine." She cupped his face. "You are a strong person, Colin. Look at how far you've come. How you passed through all of this and still survived." It was almost as she spoke to her own self. "You can do it and you will do it."

Colin inspired air in a shaky breath, as he nodded quietly, trying to smile. She tapped his shoulders, as he chuckled softly. "Ali." He called her suddenly, her eyes met his chocolate ones. "Thank you. For all you've done to me."

Alice trembled by his words. "You don't need to thank me-"

"Yes, I do. To you and Bree." He assured him. "I thanked her yesterday at the graveyard. Now I thank you." He looked down for a moment, thinking about what to say. "Thank you for doing all you've done, for caring as no one else did. You didn't have the obligation to, abidcated on much for it, but still raised me better than any so called mother ever would." Alice could feel the water run down her flushed cheeks. "You are my sister and the person I love most in this whole world. Thank you."

"Aw, your dummy!" She pulled him into a tight hug again and chuckled within the tears. "You'll make me cry."

"That's too bad, you'll look uglier than you already are." She tapped his back with a bit more strentgh. "Ouch" he chortled.

Alice finally managed to let her brother go, only to let Hannibal embrace an arm around her. They watched Colin put his bags into the car, and slowly wave at them goodbye.

"He's a good kid. You raised him well." Hannibal spoke softly at her ear, as Colin closed the car's door. "He will be alright." Alice raised her eyes to his figure, sighing at how mesmerizing, understanding and surreal he was. The more she spent time with that man, the more she was falling for him, the more she became dependent to him. "You will be alright."

She smiled to him, resting her head on his large shoulder as they waved with their hands, watching the taxi drift away, disappearing into the horizon with the last reamining part of Alice Mallory's previous life.

The woman in his arms had her heart shattered, she was vulnerable, drown into him, so weak that a wind breeze could vanish her away. His lips gently touched her head, feeling her silky dark brown hair strands, in a warm kiss. "Let me prepare dinner for you." He whispered softly. "What do you think?"

She looked at him, unable to contain a smile. "I'd love that." She embraced an arm around him as well, he loved to feel her touch at his back, almost as she showed to everybody else that he was hers, and hers only. "Let's go."

▫️

"How are you feeling today?" The blonde hair strands perfectly feamed her charmy neutral expression. "After what happened to Will Graham..."

"Colin Mallory is gone." He interrupted, his eyes sparkled with that declaration. "He is on the other side of the country, and now Alice is alone." He wouldn't tell that he was responsible for Colin's admission only to fullfill his romantic purposes.

"And how do you feel about that?"

"Well, she is not entirely alone. I'm there for her most of the time." Hannibal defended. "I just wish I could more."

"I'm sure you are doing enough." Bedelia said carefully, analyzing that possessive man's posture. "And how is she? Specially after Will Graham's arrestment and the truth revealed..."

"She is...vulnerable, fragile." He said with a bit of sadness. "Since Colin's away and Will's in prison, she has no one else to rely herself on."

"Except you." She concluded.

"Except me." He spoke with great satisfaction.

She looked deeply into his mysterious hazel eyes, wondering what passed inside his mind. Noticed a slight annoyance, discomfort in his stance.

"The situation seems to be in your favor, yet, you don't seem so pleased." Dr.Du Maurier pondered.

Hannibal realized he let his feelings transparent for a mere second. "She...has a strange wish." He told her.

"And what would that be?"

"She wants to see Will." He spoke conflicted. "To talk to him... apologize."

"That's...good, isn't it? So she can move on from what happened."

"I do not believe she is ready for that."

"Alice is the one who should determine that by herself." Bedelia interfered. "You should accept her wish."

"I just want what is best for her."

"But you shouldn't decide that." She insisted. "Alice is an individual of her own, with thoughts and desires of her owm. Controlling these thoughts and denying her of what she wants is manipulation, Hannibal."

He reflected on her words for a moment." What if I go see him instead?"

"That shows that you're manipulating both of them." She affirmed. "That you are the one making choices instead of Alice."

"I care for her."

"You are obssessed with Alice Mallory." She declared, hesiting to say the truth in front of that twisted mind.

"I'm intrigued." He adjusted himself on the chair.

"Obssessively." Bedelia added. "And that is not healthy." She shaked her head. "At some pont, Alice might have a conflict of interests with you."

"We won't."

"You can't assure that."

"She said she's falling for me."

"Love is not enough motive to establish peace, actually, it is a rather stronger impuse to war." She affirmed calmly. "Why are you so intrigued by Alice Mallory?"

He thought for a moment, the expression changing just by the brunette image in his mind. "She finds herself a common, average person, but there's a...blaze of life and energy inside of her. She sees the best in people and is an optimist. On the other way she can be impulse, and almost dangerous. She can't deny her true nature, neither change who she is. There is an honesty in it that I truly admire."

"I imagine there's an honesty in that you can relate to." She analyzed him "What can't you repress, Hannibal?"

It took a moment, but he slowly, gradually formed a creepy smile in his lips, frightning his doctor for a mere second.

"Poor Alice Mallory." She realized.

▫️

Her silhouette in his kitchen was a delightful sight for him. He loved to see her that way, wearing his apron and tying her hair into that falling, scattered bun on top, while humming one of those crazy songs she listened to.

The house smelled like chamomille, ina a constrast with the serious aspect of the residence, the kitchen was bright, joyful, and he seemed to gain life just by approaching her figure.

The kettle in her hands rest on the counter for a momemt when he arrived behind her, as Alice chuckled by the tickles on her neck caused by his kisses. "You're back." She smiled.

"I am. Happy to see me?" He mumbled sotly, squeezing her lightly in his strong arms.

"More than ever." She pulled him close and kissed his lips softly, as he savored their honey flavor. "I made you some tea. How was your session?"

"Thank you." He whispered watching the kettle in front of her. "Normal. Nothing much happened." He spared her the details. "But I did reflect on an important matter."

He let her go for a second so she could pour the tea into two fancy teacups of his property. "Did you?"

"Mhmm." He nodded, taking a sip. Her tea was wonderful. It tasted just like London's when he first experienced it.

"Oh, right, I wanted to give you something!" She exclaimed clapping her hands. "Wait a second!" She ran towards the living room and came back with a package. "It's for you."

His eyes lingered at the box and then at her, confused by the sudden gift. "Is it a special occasion of some sort?" He asked, fearing to have forgotten anything, which of course he wouldn't forget. He realized that when it cane to dates, anniversary or special events, he was the one to remember then, Alice just enjoyed the moment, Hannibal preserved everything in his memory.

"Oh, no, I just passed by this store today..." Dhe tilted her head "...and I thought about you. I mean, you like these stuff so much so I decided to buy it."

His heart melt by knowing that she had remembered him. But didn't want her to spend her finances in trivalties. He knew that Alice struggled everyday to pay her bills. "You didn't need to-"

"Open it, open it!" She gave little jumps as he chuckled, unable to say 'no'. "I don't know if you'll like it...I wanted to make it special, you know? With a little touch of mine."

"Oh, I wonder what is it." He smirked charmingly removing the papers that covered the prize.

Suddenly, he grabbed it on his hands. A dark blue in a silk, thin fabric, containing small colorful patterns. "If you think it's...dorky, or something it's okay too..." she muttered as he observed closer the piece. Small drawings painted on it, perfectly shaped, excessively adorable figures in red and orange.

"Are those..."

"Carrots and tomatoes." She completed, fearing his reactions. "A tie." She added. "And I painted on it."

"You painted small carrots and tomatoes in a tie-"

"And they have eyes....and a smile."

"Smiling carrots and tomatoes in a tie."

"Yes."

"For me?"

"Yeah."

"To wear it around?"

"....yes?"

There was an awkward pause in silence. He couldn't deny it, it was dorky, nothing appealing, and looked like child's clothing. No one would take him seriously in that tie, it wasn't ugly, but too 'cute', too 'lovely', and just by staring at that carrot's smile would make anyone laugh.

"It's fantastic." He complimented her.

"I'm sorry- wait, what did you say?" She blinked twice, not believing his words.

"It is very...vegetarian, of course, but I am glad and grateful for this gift." He looked at the tie in his hands, giving a half comforted smile. "After all, it is exclusive, made by your talented hands."

"Ah, Hannibal..." she chuckled.

Do you know the worst part of it all? He actually did like it. Not the pattern, or the colors, specially not those vegetables, but adored the fact that she thought about him, that made something for him, and that, whenever he stared at that stupid tie, he would catch himself smiling remembering her. He would use that weird tie whenever he had that chance, only so he could show the whole world that she gave that to him, and would be proud while using it.

She barely could speak when he suddenly hugged her tight, with a wonderful smile tht made her tremble. "Thank you." He replied grateful.

"Do you really like it?" She asked surprised.

"I do." He nodded, still unable to let her go, getting high on her perfume and the warmness of her body, as if she was a fluffy teddy bear.

She gripped a bit on the back of his suit, closing her eyes for an instant, once again he managed to make her smile. She could never get tired of that, of that smile.

"Oh, your tea will get cold!" She exclaimed as they aparted and sat side by side at the table.

As they drank, exchanging conversations about common interests, Hannibal Lecter finally opened up.

"About what I reflected on today..." He made a pause, thinking wisely about his next steps. "Do you really want to visit Will Graham?"

Alice stopped, rest the cup in its' place delicately as her lips aparted in a small gap. "I...well, I shot him." She said feeling slightly awkward. "I should at least say that I'm sorry, right?"

"You did that to defend me."

"I did, but he's my friend..."

"Alice." Hannibal set his hand above hers, tenderly. "Will was arrested for multiple murders, including your sister's."

Alice lowered her eyes to the table feeling upset. She didn't forget it, of course not, but she couldn't help but question why, to wonder how could he have done such a thing. Maybe, she believed that talking to him was a way to escape that nightmare, to wake up in a world of no pain.

"Do you think...I shouldn't go?" She asked for his opinion.

"Please know that I respect your choices, if you do wish to see him I will not forbid you from doing it." He elegantly established. "But, if you'd like for me to be honest...I do not believe you're ready for that."

"It's too soon..." She believed blindly in her lover.

"Yes. It will affect your mind deeply, the trauma of loosing Bree, the episode in Minnesota with Will...I'm afraid that it might cause you damage, love." He looked into her eyes and she deceived herself by thinking that he was geunily being honest. "I worry about you."

"I know." She gave a weak half smile, intertwining her fingers with his. "And I'm very grateful for that." She said "maybe you're right, I...I believe I wouldn't even know what to do if I faced him now." Hannibal nodded, agreeing with her. Alice shaked her head, cleared her throat and delivered gentle taps on his hands. "Anyway, are you hungry? I prepared some toasts too."

"Hm...I am indeed hungry." He leaned towards her direction. "But I don't crave for toasts..."

Alice didn't understand at first, staring at him confused. He almost laughed at her innocence.

"Well, um, what would you like then?"

"You" He whispered softly as she felt her heart almost stop, choking on her tea.

"You, what-" her sentence was interrupted by his lips against hers into a rough, thirsty kiss that consumed and controlled her whole body.

When he aparted, he licked his lips as an irresitible devil. "You taste like chamomille." Alice smiled shy, as he pulled her again by the chin, deeping themselves into that kiss.

"The tea will get cold" She teased against his lips.

Hannival smirked with deep satisfaction "Forget the tea, it is time for dessert." He savored her neck with kisses. "But I'm taking this meal to the bedroom." He joked and Alice giggled, as he lift her up into his arms and led her more into the house, landing her softly into his bed, and loving her once again.

▫️

"Hello, Will."

Will Graham opened his eyes, revealing into that dark asylum, behind the metal bars that separed him from his freedom, Hannibal Lecter standing outside his cell. "Dr. Lecter." He greeted him in a somber, non enthusiastic tone. His eyes lingered ob his suit, where a contrast of colors outstanded beneath the shadows. "Nice tie." Both the men exchanged blazing glances, already knowing the responsible for that art.

"Thank you, it was a gift." Hannibal mocked, changing the subject. "Lost in thought?"

"Not lost. Not anymore." He shaked his head, still sitting on his cold bed in the cell. "I used to hear my thoughts inside my skull with the same tone, timbre and accent as if the words were coming out of my mouth."

Hannibal couldn't deny his hungry curiosity towards his mind. "And now?"

"Now my inner voice sounds like you." He looked into his eyes. "I can't get you out of my head."

"Friendship can sometimes involve a
breach of individual separateness."

"A blurring of self and friend?" Will didn't believe him.

"Yes."

"You're not my friend." He denied. "The light from friendship won't reach us for a million years. That's how far away from friendship we are." He growled merciless.

Hannibal did surprise himself a bit with his statement, but attempted not to sound affected by it. "I imagine it's easier to believe I am responsible for those murders than it is to accept that you are." He replied on his level.

"Sure is."

"Your inner voice can provide a method of taking control of your behavior. Accepting responsibility for what you've done. Giving those thoughts words encourages clarity."

"I have clarity." Will affirmed through his teeth. "About you."

"Our conversations, Will, were only
ever about you opening your eyes to
the truth of who you are."

Will got up from the bed, stepping closer towards the cold bars, closing the distance between them. "What you did to me is in my head and I'll find it." He declared "I'm going to remember, Dr. Lecter, and when I do, there will be a reckoning."

Hannibal smiled and nodded at him, almost proud of his attitude.

"I've got huge faith in you, Will." He affirmed. As he prepared himself to leave. "I always have..." He turned around, taking steps away.

Hannibal directed himself towards the exit when his voice interrupted him "How is she?" The doctor stopped. Turned around and met Will. The inmate didn't need to explain about who he was talking about.

"She mourns for the lives that were taken." He declared, Will felt a huge weight in his back. "And feels betrayled for your revelation."

"I didn't kill Bree." He denied. "You need to let me talk to her."

Hannibal shaked his head in disapproval. "I do not control her, Will." He said in a serene, almost annoying tone. "She does not wish to see you. All I can do is respect her choice."

And with those words vanished into the air, Hannibal Lecter left, letting Will even more destroyed than before.

▫️

"Oh, Katia he's so...so..." Alice closed her fists unable to express herself without a huge smile. "He is understanding, and kind, he even cooks!" She exclaimed, and her friend laughed. "He's that type of old fashioned romantic, the guy of my dreams." She sighed, resting her head onto her hand above the table.

"And in bed?" Katia opened a mischievous smirk and lifted one of her eyebrows, as she attempted to sew a soft and small pink dress.

"Oh my God, is that all you think about?" Alice blushed embarrassed.

"Ay." Katia pushed her with her elbow and Alice chuckled. "Spit it out." Alice looked down, giving funny gestures and lifting her eyebrows, Katia instantly felt a connection. "Doctor Caliente!" She teased gasping and Alice bursted laughing.

At that afternoon, Alice visited her friend, since what happened to Will, it was good to remind herself that she wasn't alone. She loved to spend time with Katia, they had the same thrilling energy, sthe samd ynch into that energetic rythm.

Katia's house was crowded with people, counting with her, there was her brother Antonio and his wife Celia, her niece, their daughter, Isabel, besides the two cats and the 50 year old turtle that belonged to her grandma María, who also lived there.

She was trying to fix one of Isabel's dress at that moment. Her family wasn't rich, but neither poor, since Katia was a well paid nurse and Anthonio had his own bussiness with clothing. The situation could be difficult sometimes, since they were the only people that worked in the house, but they always managed to find a way out as a true family.

Alice admired that in them, loved how they were so close and cared for each other. It reminded herself of her two siblings, and then, immediatly made her sad. She was alone now.

"And little Colin?" Katia asked with that singing voice of hers. It was incredibly addicting.

"He seems great, sent me some pictures from the campus, which is amazing." Alice showed some of the pictures on her phone. "And seems to not be so sad over his break up with his girlfriend."

"That girl is an idiot." Katia shaked her head. "Why did she break up with him anyway?"

"She couldn't keep a long distance relationship, Colin even offered to write her letters, emails and messages everyday." Alice rolled her eyes. "But she couldn't accept it." Katia sighed in disapproval. "But it's alright, he seems better now, and that's what matters."

"Yes, and do you know what else matters?" She pointed to Alice.

"Uh...the dress?"

"No, the dress is done." She set the fabric above the table, her hands had a formidable skill in that. "I'm talking about you."

"Me?"

"Don't pretend as if you don't know." She insisted. "Colin is following his path, it's time for you to continue yours."

"Katia..."

"You stopped painting and signing with Galleries once Bree died. And we both know she wouldn't want that." She affirmed, Alice agreed in silence. "Your life is not over yet, mi amiga."

"I know but-"

"No 'but's." She shaked the needle in her hands into a negative sign. "You are 32 years old, alone, with no children or relatives to keep you from moving foward." Katia exclaimed. "Do your thing. Quit that stupid restaurant and work on your art!"

"That 'stupid' resturant pays my bills." Alice defended.

"We both know that if you signed with a gallery you'd get much more money than with delivery."

"To get in touch with a gallery I need a successful collection, Katia. And I lack both requirements." Alice became grumpy, resting her head at the back of the chair. "They won't sign with me."

"Not if you think that way." Her friend insisted. "Come on, what happened to that same Alice I've met when she arrived in Baltimore? That one who used to go to places and draw people on the street, dance with hipsters and fill herself with fast food?"

Alice almost smiled at the memories, it was a good life back then, she felt free and alive. But things were different now.

"She lost people she cared about." Alice replied with sadness. "I don't know if I'll ever see her again."

"Yes, you will, you know why?" Katia pointed to her chest. "Because she is there." Her friend gave great advice. "I know she is, I can feel her."

"Katia.."Alice sighed. "I have no idea how to find her again."

"Have a slow start, paint your stuff, get out of that stinky restaurant."

"I don't have money for that."

"Can't Doctor Caliente help you out with that? He seems pretty wealthy from what you said about his house."

"I can't ask Hannibal that. We have been dating for barely some months now."

"But you speak of him as if he kisses the ground you step on. Lending some dinero doesn't seem like a big deal if that is the case." She suggested.

"I won't ask that to him." Alice's pride spoke louder. "But...I do agree with what you said. About painting again."

"Yes!! That's what I'm talking about!" She lifted her arms in the air excited.

For a moment, Alice Mallory let herself immerse into those dreams and hopes for the future. Could she be that free, that joyful again? With Hannibal, she could feel that part of herself again, always helplessly cheering up, awakening from the ashes with his carings.

What she didn't know is that even if she was a bird born to fly high, someone would cut her wings and let her fall into a cage.

▫️

Alice asked for many things, such as "can you help me change this light bulb?" Or "do you want to have dinner here today?" Or even "let's watch Muppets together the whole day!"

Hannibal Lecter, on the other way, also asked for many things "Can you call me once you get home? And 1 hour later too?" Or "Let me prepare you lunch before you go to work" or even "don't you want to sleep here tonight? I'd hate to see you leave already."

Within this multiple requests, one thing was clear: Alice Mallory was constantly at Hannibal Lecter's house. She barely spent time in hers now, and actually, she didn't want to.

She couldn't help but keep remembering about Bree, or visiting Colin's empty room, only so she could drawn the flat into tears once again and force her brother to skype her.

So there they found themselves multiple times, in situations like the current moment: they were sitting by the tiny table at Alice's dining room. Something smelled great, and the atmosphere was warmer, more welcoming than before.

But Hannibal couldn't get these thoughts out of his head. No matter how many times he would go see or text Alice through the day, it still wasn't enough. He wanted everything. To be with her most of the time and guarantee that she was safe while he was gone. To have her close, watch her closely, keep things under his control.

"Alice, daling." He muttered as Alice continued to eat, his expression was troubling.

"Um?" She mumbled, her cheeks were stuffed with food, like a squirrel with nuts in the snow. He contained himself not to laugh.

"I was thinking...about what we are doing."

"What?"

"You know these...excuses, we create so see each other."

"I like to call it unofficial dates." She joked, he smiled.

"Well, I mean, today you called me so we could eat noodles."

"Which was a great idea, if you didn't insist about doing...what do you name this again?"

"Instant noodles are not a proper meal. And this is called Inari Sushi" He informed. "Which was quite hard to prepare due to the lack of food you have inside your fridge. Are you feeding yourself properly these days?" Hanibal knew that after Colin left she didn't care much about herself of buying stuff for her home. Which quite concerned him.

"I have you for that." She joked. Alice was in an exceptional funny mood that day.

"Very funny. You have quite a salty tongue today, don't you?"

"Maybe. Wanna try?" She teased showing her tongue in a face.

Hannibal blushed instantly. She wasn't aware but those simple gestures made him embarrassed, delightned, and definetely lusty over her. He Took a deep breath, feelong his cheeks heated. "Maybe later. I'd like to establish my point first."

Realizing he was being serious, she didn't joke anymore. "Oh, okay. Sorry."

"Anyway, I was thinking...I know it might sound too soon...I mean, it is quite normal for couples nowadays to do this, isn't it?"

"Don't talk like that, makes you sound like a grandpa." She joked, Hannibal couldn't help but smile. "I knew you'd find that funny."

"Unfortunetely your smile is contagious." He commented. "As I was saying, we've only been dating for a few months, but...I've been thinking about something very important about our relationship."

"Oh, I know!" She lifted her hand excited. "Matching T-Shirts." Hannibal didn't even reply this time. "Bummer."

"What I want to say is..." He took a deep breath, felt unconsciously anxious, afraid if she refused his idea, but decided to try it anyway. "What do you think about moving in with me?"