Author's Note: Okay this is going to be a long one, my dear readers, so please bear with me. Firstly I'd like to thank everyone who has read this fic, especially Dr. Katy, Lectermate, Broken Silence, Italvision, Allison Velikaya, Lady Katherine, Hanniballover1181, Panther Angel, Morta, MandaPanda2, Mrs. Delarge, CM, xmusecliox, Starling-Scully, and, last but certainly not least, Kristin1228. I hope I've got everyone who reviewed! If not, then my humblest apologizes! You guys always made my day with your reviews. Thanks so much for all your support and great comments! I hope you guys will read my other stuff when I get down to posting it! Please note that the names are from both and the Studiolo. Tell me how you guys like this one!

Chapter Fifteen: The End

Dr. Schrader did, indeed, find out what happened the next day. All the local news channels were reporting that the infamous Dr. Hannibal Lecter had kidnaped Special Agent Starling. The F.B.I. released this statement: "We are trying our best to find both Lecter and Special Agent Starling. We cannot comment on anything else at this moment, thank you." The F.B.I. did not disclose how three of their agents were shoot, one very severely. Nor did they ever say that Starling had been kidnaped. That was only what the press was led to believe and had been reporting. Starling knew they wouldn't say that they had a rogue agent. It would be embarrassing. Clarice got to know Dr. Schrader better that day. Dr. Lecter was still resting in the other guest room. She found out that Dr. Schrader had lived in the United States and had practiced medicine as an emergency room doctor in the same hospital in Maryland as Dr. Lecter. That was how they first met. He knew about Dr. Lecter's murderous past but he did not care about it. "I do not care if he killed those people as long as he doesn't kill me. They vere probably avful people anyvay." She had told them that most of them were, but there was no reason to kill them. He just waved the answer away.

The days were long and bright those couple of weeks that Dr. Lecter and Clarice stayed with Dr. Schrader. Dr. Schrader loved the company. Dr. Lecter healed fairly quickly but still had his stitches in. His shoulder only hurt when he awoke in the mornings from the cold. The F.B.I. were still in Munich but they hadn't the faintest clue where to look. Dr. Lecter, Clarice, and Schrader kept up with the news and saw how they were blundering around. They didn't have to worry at all. Winter was coming quickly along with the larger groups of tourist. Dr. Lecter thought it was the perfect opportunity to leave the country unnoticed.

"Clarice, have you decided to come with me?" he asked on a very cold morning.

The window was frosted but Starling could still see the snow falling. It was quiet beautiful to look at. She was lying next to him under a very heavy quilt. She was silent for a couple of moments.

"Yes," she said, "I've decided to go with you, but on one condition..."

"Name it."

"I want to be able to leave whenever I want. I'll be careful and I won't be caught. Also, I want to be the only one in your life. I'm extremely jealous and will beat the shit out of any woman who tries to take my place. You can expect the same fidelity from me."

"That was two conditions."

"Shut up."

Five Years later...

Former Special Agent Ardelia Mapp was found relaxing at a quiet café in Florence. The summer sun was shining brightly through the awning. The air was warm against her dark skin. Every summer for the last five years she had come to this place full of hope of glimpsing her lost friend. The F.B.I. had stopped looking for Special Agent Starling about three years ago. Most assumed she was dead. In her mind she could hear Jack Crawford's voice reminding her that, "If you assume something, you make an ass out of u and me." And in this instance he was right. She did her own scouting on her free time but could find nothing. She knew that she had to be lucky to find Clarice. If Clarice didn't want to be found, she wouldn't. She was with Hannibal Lecter also. The man was like a chameleon. He was untraceable. Both seemed as if they had fallen off the face of the Earth. Ardelia sighed at another hopeless attempt. The only good these trips did for her was get her out of the States and way from the bureau. She had retired the year prior but they still nagged and bugged her. When Clarice was "kidnaped" she was brought in for questioning. She would have resigned right there and then but she knew she would need access to the bureau's files. She waved to a passing waiter and asked him for the bill.

Another young waiter walked up to her and asked for her name. She gave it to him and he left a folded note on the table. She looked at it, puzzlement spreading across her face. She picked it up and noticed that a certain perfume lingered on it. She opened it up and gasped. She knew that handwriting. There were only four words on it.

Look across the street.

She scanned the area quickly and saw a man and woman standing next to a Mercedes Maybach. Her eyes widened and her heart beat out of control. The woman across the street waved and then got into the passenger side of the car. The man tipped his hat to her and flashed a smile in her direction. She shuddered. Ardelia sat there and watched them drive away numb. All the years of waiting and watching seemed useless to her now. A voice in her mind screamed at her to get her ass up and start running after them. But a softer and stronger voice told her to stay. All these years Ardelia had imagined Clarice shackled and miserable with her captor. The woman she saw across the street was radiant and blissful. She looked healthier than Ardelia remembered her. The man, no doubt Dr. Lecter, looked well, too. Though getting on in his years, he still gave the impression that he was taller than he was and stronger than he looked. She felt someone tap her shoulder to get her attention. It was the young waiter again. He held a box with another note taped to it. She opened the box first and was surprised to find Clarice's emerald ring. In the band it read CS to AM. She palmed the ring and opened the note.

Ardelia,

As you saw, I'm fine and happier than I've ever been.

Don't look for me anymore. You have your own life to live.

Never forget that I love you. You're the sister I wish I had.

Clarice

Ardelia folded the note and stuck it in her purse. For years after, she still visited Florence, but now for different reasons.

Clarice Starling, ex-Special Agent and now "kidnaped" person, did not recognize herself. She was a different woman from the one of five years back. She was carefree and happy. She had no stress what so ever. She traveled where she wanted to go, when she wanted to go. Sometimes Dr. Lecter accompanied her; sometimes she went alone. Both gave each other their privacy and respected the other's wishes. They owned a home in Buenos Aires and ingratiated themselves into Argentinian high society. The servants of the house were well disciplined and trustworthy. They knew their place. They were not allowed on the second piso after six o'clock to until noon the next day. Sometimes they find the dinner the Senor cooked still sitting on the dinning table. Sometimes they find the plates broken and smashed next to the table. Every once in a while a maid will find a smashed tea cup.

Clarice Starling and Dr. Hannibal Lecter live as best as they could. They needed each other though will never admit it. Neither stayed away long if they traveled separately. We could go farther into their personal life yet we risk discovery. Our couple could be seen at this moment gently swaying to music in the background.

We can only glimpse so much and live.

Fini

Author's Note: And so ends my story. I hope all of you guys liked it. I'm starting to work on another one that popped into my head and hope you guys check that one out when I finally get it posted. I don't remember reading a story with the same plot line I will have...

Well thank you again.