Story Title: The Sounds of Silence

Author: SidleMyIdol73

Disclaimer: I don't own the Dottore or his Darling Starling, but I am borrowing them for your amusement.

Final Chapter Summary: Hannibal leads Clarice into the woods surrounding their home. It is there that he has placed his gift for her. Clarice is worried and curious. Sorry, you'll just have to read to find out what his gift is. Evil grin…

Chapter # 3: The Gift

As their danced concluded, Clarice went over to the stereo and turned off the music, keeping her face away from Hannibal.

"Clarice?"

She turned slowly around to face him, "Yes?" she mumbled.

Hannibal walked over to her and stood close, looking into her eyes.

"Would you like to take a walk with me? I have a gift for you," he said.

"A gift?" said Clarice, "But, it's very late Hannibal, wouldn't you rather rest?"

"NO Clarice, I mean…no I would rather you discover your gift tonight," he said melodramatically.

Clarice looked a little worried, "M'kay…just let me grab my coat, it looks chilly outside," she answered.

Hannibal held the door open for Clarice, and watched her intensely as she strode into the night.

As she felt him approach her on the left she asked, "Hannibal, may I ask where we're going?"

"Ah, I'm afraid not Clarice, that would ruin the surprise," he said truthfully.

"But…"

"No Clarice...I guess you'll just have to trust me," he said mischievously.

Coming from the greatest serial killer of all time, Clarice was more than a little nervous at his mention of trust. But she followed him closely into the forest, hoping beyond hope that he wasn't going to try and kill her.

The two of them walked silently for over a half an hour before Clarice started to become seriously worried.

"Are we there yet?" she asked him childishly.

Hannibal turned around and walked towards her. He placed his hand over her mouth and her eyes tightened with fright.

"Listen. Can you hear anything Clarice?" he asked, removing his hand from her lips.

Clarice listened intently, and at first she didn't hear anything out of the ordinary. She focused harder and heardnoises in the distance.

"Yes…up ahead. There's something up there, but I don't know what it is," she said, as beads of sweat began to anxiously roll down her face.

Hannibal turned, grabbed Clarice's hand and pulled her towards the noise up ahead. She struggled a little, but knew that Hannibal was much stronger, and eventuallygave up and followed him willingly.

Suddenly, Clarice stopped. She had reached a clearing in the woods, but this was no ordinary clearing. Dozens of lambs, both young and old, were tethered to wooden posts. They bleated noisily at the sight of Clarice.

Clarice ran towards her lambs; turning into the little girl who tried to save them.

Clarice went to each one. She petted them, held them, cried with them, and even laughed with them. She was completely unaware of Hannibal's presence as he watched her closely. Hannibal engraved that moment into his 'Memory Palace' forever, and always cherished it in his later years.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but eventually, she left her lambs and walked over to Hannibal; turning back into the woman that she was.

Hannibal looked at her happily, "Clarice…what do you hear?" he asked once again.

Clarice looked behind her and listened. And then it came to her.

"The Silence of the Lambs" she gasped towards himin awe.

"Precisely," Hannibal chuckled.

Clarice came towards Hannibal and wrapped him in a warm embrace.

"Thank you," she whispered sweetly in his ear.

And it was then that Hannibal knew that he had the old Clarice back, and he closed his eyes in bliss.

After Clarice had said Goodbye to her precious lambs for the night, she held onto Hannibal's hand and walked with him back towards their home.

"Clarice?"

"Yes Hannibal?" she said, turning to face him.

"I'm starving!" he said.

"What do you feel like?" she asked, quite happy she had someone to cook for besides herself.

"Lamb Chops," he said evilly.

Her eyes widened with anger, and he chuckled sweetly. It took her awhile, but she eventually realized he was joking.

She hit him lightly on the arm and started to laugh with him; the sound of their laughter floating all the way back into the hearts of the silent lambs.

THE END

Hoped you liked my first Hannibal story, PLEASE REVIEW!

Ta-Ta,

SMI73.