#'okay visit milo during then got it.' and i was like ?!?!? HELLO and they were like. its on my calendar already

[caninecowboy]

guess what time it is!!! time to be sappy on main

[heart-strong]

Are you Miserable?

Summary: Spencers out of jail, Scratch has been caught and Aaron and Jack are back. Spencer's boys are back, so when Penelope offers to take Jack for the night they cannot resist, but the night does not go as anticipated.

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x enby Spencer Reid , hurt/ comfort

CW/TW: Sexual Assult, Childhood Sexual Assult (mentioned) prison arc (mentioned), Aaron in witsec (mentioned), intrusive thoughts flashbacks

WC: 2.3k

———

Spencer Reid was in love desperately and since they got out of prison their next goal to get their boys back. Aaron and Jack were now seconds away from them.

“They haven't arrived yet genius?" Penelope scurries through the double doors with JJ and Dave in tow.

"Em went down without me, she said they wouldn't get up here if I went down there." they bounced on the balls of their feet.

"I agree with Emily," Dave added.

With that, the elevator dings, and the three people are reviled to the team. Aaron and Jack Hotchner’s smiles matching inch for inch. Suddenly Jack is throwing his full weight into Spencer’s arms. Aaron's then squishing the boy to their chest and is kissing Spencer’s mouth in front of everyone on the level six FBI floor.

"How have you gotten hotter?" Aaron whispered.

"Prison roughed me up, babe. "Spencer answers, squatting down to talk to Jack. "What do you think, have I changed too much Jackie?"

"I think you look tough like daddy, Spencie. I'm glad we're back though daddy’s been miserable."

"Jack you weren't supposed to tell them that.” Emily giggles at the young boy.

"Sorry, dad. "Jack blushes.

"Okay, I need hugs." Penelope runs up. "I missed you boys." she scoops Jack up." Now, Jackie, you and I are going to have a sleepover. We can’t have daddy and Spence miserable for any longer."

"That sounds so fun!" Jack hugs Penelope tight as Aaron hugs Dave hello. Falling quickly back to the rhythm of the BAU and rejoining the team before he and Spencer head to dinner for the first time in a year.

---

"Ahhh Aaron," Spencer moans in complete pleasure and basking in the presence of Aaron on top of them.

"God, fuck Spence-," Aaron moans into Spencer’s neck while the pair’s legs are intertwined and Aaron works on his partner’s shirt, kissing lower to make a new hickey on Spencer’s pale collar bones. "My Pretty Spencer.” he punctuates with a bite.

While feeling Aaron once again in such a needy way after him being gone for so long, Spencer can't help being overwhelmed. 'I'm just out of practice’ Spencer thinks as they card their hands through Aaron’s hair.

"Mmm Ar, your hairs so long with a year of me not pulling on it." they laugh opening their eyes and looks to the ceiling.

"I hate it, love." Aaron breaths.

Spencer smiles at the comment but knows it won't happen tonight. They hold to the man on top of them because maybe finally having him back in Spencer’s arms it will make the inmate’s words they yelled at them lessen. From the nightmares and intrusive thoughts that Spencer has dealt with since the early days in the prison. But now they’re thinking about it and Aaron's hands are not Aaron’s hands. Aaron’s body is not Aaron’s body. And more of the air leaves Spencer’s lungs. The hips lips legs begin to envelop their body as they gasp for anything. 'But Aarons home, he needs this'.

"God fuck," Aaron wines rolling his body above them. "You are so lovely. I missed you, Spence." His hands force Spencers shirt to move up their chest.

‘This is Aaron, this is my boyfriend.’ they repeat in their mind. ‘The men are still in prison, I am here with Aaron.’ But as Aaron’s other hand is going for his belt. The jumpsuit buttons and they can feel of the stiff mattress as it floods back to them when Milo, no Aaron, unbuckles their belt.

"No," Spencer stiffens and Aaron is off their body, at the other end of the couch in the blink of the eye.

"Baby?" Aaron asks.

Spencer gasps as their chest feels the calloused fingers of Milos on their body. And as they look up to Aaron’s face, 'he'll still love you, you've watched him for years supporting victims.' they think.

"Spencer, Spence can you breath a bit better?" Aaron asks. “Darling in through your nose, out through your mouth baby."

Spencer listens to Aaron and scratches the tears off their faces. When did they start crying? After they start breathing better Aaron goes to the kitchen and gets glasses of water. Spencer accepts it and drinks the entire glass before they look back at their boyfriend.

"Spencer do you want to talk about this now?"

"I was sexually assaulted again, in prison."

"Okay first I love you and this doesn't change that, second may I hug you, you can say no if you don't want me to." Aaron is standing hesitant.

"No, I mean, yes you can. Please Aaron, can you hold me?"Aaron sits down next to Spencer placing his glass next to the empty one and envelope Spencer’s shoulders for a few seconds and then leans back continuing. "Just like before, when you told me about your father, I do not care darling. Now I do care because you should not have had to experience that, I wish I could get your father in jail Spencer."

"Aaron don't you don't,"

"No Spencer Reid, your father touched you when you were five. You knew Jack at five imagine someone touching Jack then, that anger you feel is the same I would feel and do feel. I think about killing him."

"Aaron, you can't say that," Spencer says.

"Why not? I do, if I had known at the time and met your father, I would have killed him during the Riley Jenkins case, I would have stayed."

"Aaron, it not that I don't appreciate the thought, because I do. I really do, you cannot imagine 5-year-old me realizing that what William was doing to me was abusive and not what fathers did to their children how used and unloveable I thought I was,"

"Spencer Diana Reid, you are so very loved." They both smiled at the name. Six months after the two got together Aaron and Jack accompanied Spencer to the courthouse to change their middle name. Spencer had told the team and their boyfriend about their father, then all the hospital visits happened. And every time Spencer had to say 'Spencer William Reid’ they had to hold down bile. Aaron caught onto their discomfort and brought up the idea of changing their name.

"I know that now, but I have you and Jack and the team and Henry and Michael. Aaron, I do not feel loveless now. But, god, okay I have my boys back, and I could not let you not know that it happened again."

"And I assume the guards did nothing."

"The guards did shit, believe it or not, Calvin Shaw found me and brought me to the infirmary."

"Spencer, baby I'm so fucking sorry.” Aaron grabbed their hand and Spencer could feel his shaking. “I do have to ask, have you gotten checked?"

"Aaron,” Spencer scoffed. “Do you think I would have been rolling around with you for the last hour if I hadn't or it came out positive!? No, I would have told you immediately."

"Spencer I had to fucking ask." This is not what Aaron wanted. He honestly wanted, when the elevators opened and he laid eyes on 'roughed up' Spencer, to take the love of his life to the bathroom and ravish them. But then Spencer seemed to be a melancholy aura. And then less than 30 minutes ago they stiffened like the dead bodies they see with the job. "Baby, can we step back please."

"Yes sorry I just, Aaron I wouldn't risk your health babe, sorry I got angry there, I just want your body." Spencer blushes. "I thought, it’s you, and I've been abused and scared almost every year since joining the bureau. Like I should be fine, but that's not how this," they point to their brain, "Works."

"Spencer you do not have to justify yourself to me. How about I make some popcorn, get some tea, you get some jammies on. I will too and we just watch a movie."

"That would be very nice." Spencer grabs Aarons’s thighs and kisses their boyfriend. "I missed you and your use of 'jammies' is beyond adorable.”

"Spencer, have I introduced you to my son Jack Hotchner he's 13?” They both laugh and Aaron kisses Spencer back, carding his hand through their unruly curls.

"Mmm hum, "Spencer hums from the feeling "Touche handsome. I'll be back."

After Spencer leaves Aaron goes to the kitchen preparing the hot water and snacks, knowing how to navigate Spencer’s apartment after years of movie nights with his partner. Some time passes, he has dumped the popcorn in a bowl and two cups of tea are steeping when he hears bare feet padding into the kitchen.

"You still like peppermint and apple mixed? I saw you had them and made it without asking."

"Do you know who you're talking to, yes, may I hug you?"

"Please." before he has the chance Spencer presses their body to his back and nuzzles their nose to Aaron’s hairline. After years after real-life jump scars, the pair did not hug from behind without permission. Spencer’s slender arms wrap around Aaron’s middle.

"Did you pick out something to watch baby?"

"There's a documentary about Polar Bears that looks nice," Spencer says.

"Sounds good, "Aaron rubs Spencer’s arm as they tighten their grip." Do you want to bring these to the coffee table and I'll go change?"

"Sure babe, I missed you so much," Spencer says as he started kissing Aaron’s back.

Aaron turns in Spencer’s arms and finds them in an FBI Acadamy t-shirt too big and too worn out for it to be Spencer's. His FBI shirt.

"Did you miss me or my clothes baby?" Aaron laughs as his partner.

"Your clothes that smell like you.” Spencer blushes. “You see, I have some of your clothes but,"

"They don’t smell like me anymore?" Aaron nods as Spencer’s fluffy hair robs his neck. "If I just hold you you don't have to wear my clothes and I never plan on letting you go."

"Aaron Hotchner you are going to spoil me to death."

"No I will spoil you till the day you die, that's different." Aaron brushed Spencer’s curls out of their eyes. "I'm going to go change baby."

While Aaron is changing Spencer turns on Netflix and pulls up the documentary and bundling up in a blanket. Aaron joins them letting Spencer curl to his body as if the two were magnets to the other. This is what Aaron needed when he saw Spencer, his partner at his side and warm on his body. Over the years after the two got together Spencer would fold to Aaron’s body and sometimes Jack would sit in between them. While the loss of Hailey was painful for everyone on the team, Aaron was happy with Spencer and it made it easier to love them when Jack was also with the two, having fun and calling Spencer ‘Spencie’. Jack would explain to his teachers that ‘My Spencie is picking me up today’ and while it was confusing at first they quickly came to realize that Jack’s father’s partner was nonbinary. And Aaron of course did not care, just about having Spencer at his side and being able to love them.

Spencer ends up falling asleep, their fist clutching Aaron’s shirt and it has been years since Aaron could carry Spencer to bed. So he runs his hand through the beautiful curls atop their head and stops once Spencer's eyes flutter open.

"Hey," Spencer rubs their eyes." Did I fall asleep?"

"Yes, baby. You are so pretty you know, my pretty Spencer." Aaron smiles down at the crinkles in Spencer's cheeks.

"And you, my darling boyfriend, are comfortable."

"Okay my pretty one, brush teeth and bed."

"Aaron you know I am your partner, not your son?"

"Give me a break, the past year I have mostly only hung out with my son."

- - -

Aaron exits the restroom and finds Spencer with a book and their glasses on. "Hey Spencer before we go to bed can we chat?"

"Yes of course, but also I am quite sleepy you know."

"yes, I'll be quick," Aaron laughs and sits at Spencer’s feet. "I know we started that conversation and I feel like we dropped it quickly."

"Babe, you don't need to," Spencer sits up grabbing Aaron’s hands.

"Spence, for my brain I do need to, so can I?"

"Of course Aaron go ahead.” Spencer closes his book. "Can I snug while?"

"Come here baby," Aaron reaches out for them, and Spencer crawls into his lap and wraps their legs around Aaron’s hips. "Okay seriously though, you are my everything and your father did not deserve having you. And I hate thinking about if he had stayed. I love you so much and the shit that happened to you in there doesn't change a thing."

"Thank you for saying that babe." Spencer blushed. "I can't imagine not having my boys back."

"I'm very glad having you back too, I really was fucking miserable."

"Are you miserable now?"

"No."

"Then can we snuggle for the rest of our lives?"

"That sounds fantastic baby.”

Spencer kisses Aaron with a nod." I will say Ar, I want Jack back and I want us to move in together, we've been together for years and I love Jack. Jack loves me. Not to toot my own horn, but like I get to love and receive love from the Hotchner boys."

"Spencer Reid, you fucking beat me to the question.” Aaron fakes disappointed hitting his forehead on Spencer’s shoulder. “Jack asked if we could move in when we came back. But I think it’s a bit too late to go get him tonight though. So for now, snuggles?"

"I like snuggles!"

Spencer pulls Aaron on top of them and catches his mouth. Aaron Hotchner was the person or man for them. Aaron thought the same for Spencer, Spencer loved his kid and his kid was the person Aaron loved them most in his life. The pair fell asleep intertwined in the sheets. And when the sun rose the first thing out of Aaron’s mouth was, "Hey my pretty Spencer, do you want to go get our boy?"

"Our boy? God, I love the sound of that, yes."

[aliypop]

Amongst The Roses

Word Count:3,165

Character count: 17,430

Warning: ususal Hannibal Stuff 

A/N: This is part 5 I hope you guys enjoy it

“Mammina, mammina!” Shanel nearly shouted from inside the manor autumn leaves present in her hair,  " Mio dolce bambino invernale,“ Rose shook her head. Displeased with the appearance of her daughter, she was adventurous wild, even some would agree to a girl who couldn’t be tamed. “You are 16 going on 6 Shanel..” her mother grumbled, watching the way her daughter reacted. “Forse I want happiness… ” she sighed, grabbing her foil from off the side of the wall, Miles who was a butler walked towards the duo, when he wasn’t up to his duties, however, he was usually teaching Shanel something new, whether her mother liked it, however, wasn’t his issue,  

Sitting in Hannibal’s office like usual was Shanel. This time a bit more relaxed then she had been in the past few months that they had started. “What more do you remember that was good from your childhood..” he asked writing every word that she had mentioned down, “Well, there.. was the time where I used to play piano with Milo,  I did everything with him, singing lessons, dance, you name it.” she smiled for a moment as a thought then popped into her head.

“What about you, any good memories?”  she asked him, now that therapy for the two of them felt more like an allotment for a date. “There were some,” he smiled,

“Want to tell me about it?” she asked.

“If you must know, I suppose..” he gave her a playful sigh as his mind traveled back to a semi-simple time.

Winters in Paris were different than in Lithuania, they weren’t as harsh, but they were dreary and colder. Hannibal, who had been sketching once more, had stopped when he heard the sound of distant singing from his door. Poking his head out to listen, he had caught a glimpse of something beautiful. Walking by was a girl with dark brown curly hair and vibrant brown eyes. Who seemed to be carrying around a big stack of books in her arms, she had to be one of the prettiest girls he had ever seen, even though they did share quite a few classes he never bothered to say hello to her. Something about never really finding her interesting was what got him to stay to himself. Besides, he had his internship to worry about rather than the womanly ways of a songbird.

“Aren’t you the one who interns at the hospital..” her accent thicker than his,

“šitai.,” he mumbled under his breath, looking at the girl who seemed close to his age, “Who’s asking.”  

“Just a girl who wants to learn about anatomy ..” she stared at his vibrant eyes, “Spiacente..” she began walking away. Her bow flopping behind her as he tapped her on the shoulder,

“I suppose I could let you join in..” he smirked, “But no touching anything..” he looked at her. She nodded,

“Maybe we could talk this over during how do you say..pranzo.”

“Lunch,” he winked, kissing her hand, “ I would be delighted  to.”  

“Sometimes I wonder where she is,” Hannibal sighed, shaking his head. As he looked back at Shanel, it had him confused as to why she was laughing at him, almost like a maniac escaping bedlam asylum. She couldn’t help but hide her excitement as to why he. Had felt familiar to her, “Well, I could tell you, but you wouldn’t believe me..” she nearly cheesed, a bit worse than Franklyn, who he had an appointment within a few moments. “I think I could get around to it,” he replied, nearly hating the anticipation, he wanted her to spit it out to say something, “We’ll see about that..” she smiled, watching as he began growing impatient on the answer.  

“Well, tell me ?”

“You’re looking at her..” she smiled, watching the utter shock on his face, “And my times up, I should get going..”   She walked towards her office, someone sneaking up behind her as everything around her surroundings went black.  Franklyn sat down tears in his eyes, a bit heavier than usual. Hannibal, who usually knew the drill had already set the tissues out for him.

“ He ignores my.. calls, and .. lately he’s been very annoyed with me, I think he’s hurting people,”  he said in one breath as Hannibal tried to speed up his writing,

“What makes you say this, Franklyn.,” he asked him, knowing that earlier that da Will had called him about the brutally slaughtered opera singer,  "Today he said he was going to kill someone..“ crying harder as Hannibal passed him the garbage can to discard his used tissues in,

Hannibal smiled to himself, knowing exactly where Tobias was, but not exactly who he was trying to kill.  Franklyn continued to cry, and Hannibal kept supplying him with tissues. Shanel woke up with a funny taste in her mouth, which was violin string polishing oil, and if her thoughts were correct, she was next to be a violin.  Shanell looked around in the basement of what seemed to be his shop surrounded by the smell of human guts turned into violin strings. A sigh then left her mouth, hearing footsteps pitter-patter on the hardwood floor she could tell that whoever was the killer wasn’t exactly good at being discreet their steps made so much noise they could alert the police in seconds.

"I see you’re up.. ”  her vision a bit foggy from whatever else he mixed in the polish. She could smell the scent of Tobias sweat, depression, and Franklyn? She had questioned her thoughts. Still, non-the-less Shanel sat there tied up like the Bride of Frankenstein, and Tobias was the doctor.  "What else would I be..“ she laughed, seeing double, "Dead..” her sarcastic wit always got her into trouble when she was younger, but that was just who Shanel was and who was she to change it now. Taking a look at her neck, he loved everything that he saw. He could tell she was a singer, her cords were healthy and just the perfect type he needed for his instrumental experiment.

“Your friend and I are just alike..” he smirked, getting a few surgical tools. Shanel gave out a small laugh, if, he was comparing himself to Hannibal, then he was dead wrong.

“Hannibal would find you sloppy, which by him is just about everyone who tries to be like he is, creating a new God in his head.”  she turned to look at the darker-skinned man watching him become angered by her remarks.

“And what do you think of me?” he smirked.

“ Pitchy, and Bitchy..” she smirked, “I know women who are far better than you are at killing..”  she looked at him rather boldly, “ And if you see Hannibal..”

“Yes..” he smirked, trying to hide his anger.

“Give him this!” she gave him an uppercut blow to the jaw knocking him out cold for a while, crawling up the steps to find Will Graham standing there like a deer in headlights.  

“And where were you..” she growled, seeing Jack by his side.

“The concert Hall,” he said, as the two heard a car leave from the back, Shanel sighed trying to sturdy up her strength to get up. Jack, who helped her up, looked at her he was suspicious as to why she wasn’t so deep in hysterics but instead calm. Hannibal, who was now sitting with Tobias, was enjoying a nice glass of wine something, that he didn’t often do with all of his patients.  Their conversation had lead them in quite a turn of events.

“ I could use a friend, someone who could understand me, who thinks as I do, who can see the world and people in it the way I did.” Tobias smiled as Hannibal nodded along with him, looking at the bruise on his jaw.

“I see you’ve encountered Shanel..” he made a gesture to his thigh and his face, “A feisty woman… I don’t see why you don’t kill her.” Tobias laughed, having yet another drink as Hannibal stared blankly at him. Tallying him for every rude thing he could think of, “So did you do it?”  he asked, trying to change the subject. Tobias had already known that Hannibal was the Chesapeake Ripper, but as friends, no one else needed to know that,  

“Do you have to ask..” he laughed, confirming that he did it, “You and I aren’t so different..” he smirked, laughing as Shanel walked into their little session, throwing her razor at Tobias as he ducked striking Hannibal with a few violin strings,

“And to think I was going to kill him first..”  he looked at Shanel as he got back up, knocking Hannibal down. Shanel, who had sprung into action, took Tobias by chance, her other razor in hand as she bobbed and weaved, waiting for the right moment to strike. To her, this was just like fencing, and she was merely using a short foil. “ En garde..” she whispered to herself, going for his legs, “Hannibal, he’s all yours!”  she growled tossing him over to the library ladder, she watched as Hannibal tricked Tobias to punch him through the ladder, in her many years of fighting experience that was the first time the woman saw a ladder as a weapon,

Hannibal took Tobias by the arm as he broke it, leaving him quite crippled to try to fight back, still swinging his strings in the other hand he was no match for what was behind him, Shanel who took a left hook blow to the face gave him a right hook jab her eyes still watering. She blinked away the tears as he tried to strike her, but her kick to the ankle made him fall over, “NOW!” Shanel shouted, watching as Hannibal took the stag sculpture as he bludgeoned him to death with it right in the adam’s apple.  Will Graham came in through the door, Looking tired like the most days he’d come to visit. The rest of the FBI came to check on what would have been considered the crime scene.  

“Will you’re okay,” Hannibal said, a bloody gash on his nose and lip.

“Did he attack you?” Will asked, watching as Hannibal nodded, Shanel who had seen Jack from across the room, she only sighed as the FBI questioned her and tended to her wounds.

“So, you killed him..”  Jack stared at Hannibal,

“It was self-defense, he, did kill Franklyn, my patient, he snapped his neck..”  Jack walked away, keeping his eye on Hannibal and watching at Shanels reactions, she seemed to be in a type of shock that he had never seen before.  Calm, although he couldn’t tell who, he knew that someone was lying and they were doing it quite well.  Shanel looked at Will, who only gave her a nod as he exited out the office, a signal of he’d talk to her later. Night had fallen, and Hannibal had been prepping for the return of his dinner parties. Shanel, on the other hand, had already started getting herself to get ready, besides she wanted it to be a surprise to everyone who was coming if she were to be playing the lie of Hannibal’s fiance then why not make an entrance.

Guests began to appear one by one in the humble home of Lecter, some not knowing that it could be their last time. Plates of beautifully garnished victims danced around the table as everyone oohed and ahhed over it, although the food was a crowd-pleaser they had been waiting for the morbid Jay Gatsby, Hannibal Lecter who had worn his best suit for the occasion that he would be returning to his pompous social circle gathering parties, everyone around him sounded almost like a chattering lamb nearly screaming for his attention,

But there was only one woman who held it, promenading down the stairs was Shanel in a deep red mermaid gown that graced her figure beautifully and had the finest golden trim jewels around it. In her hair were diamonds that accented every curl in her updo. All eyes were on her, but she only cared about one set, Hannibals. Walking gracefully down to him, she took him by the hand escorted to the dining room where everyone was breathless of her.  "Sorry, I’m late everyone, do forgive me..“ she gave them a small chuckle of a laugh something from charm school that she kept with her.  Standing there was the grace of her mother and the fire to succeed in his little test.  "Shall we begin our fest?” she looked at Hannibal as he gave her nod.

“Though I must warn you, nothing here is  Vegetarian .”  a curl to his lips as he kissed Shanel on the hand.  The night had seemed to last almost an eternity. She had never felt so drained around people in her life, but when you get asked the same several questions, repeatedly, it could most certainly wear you thin. Sitting on the edge of his bed, she noticed just how much she was changing to the person she had wanted to be.

“What you said back there,  did you mean it?” She asked wiping, the last bits of makeup off her face.

“Every word of it.” he kissed her forehead, unzipping her dress for her, “You, my dear make me smile.” he took in her scent.  She turned towards him laughing,

“Just weeks ago, the lamb and the lion hated each other, and now the lion loves the lamb.”  she kissed him softly grabbing him by the side of his face, moonlight shining above them from the window, she had it bad for Hannibal, and there wasn’t a thing she wouldn’t do for him, nothing at all.  

“Ms. Mahone..” Crawford said, looking over at the shorter woman who had seemed a bit pissed at him, reason being was Bloom had called her at precisely 1 in the morning to tell her that Jack had not only brought in Abigal to identify the body of someone who he had presumed she killed, but he had questioned her without the sight of her lawyer,

“Crawford..”  she snarled, “You asked my client, a minor who is also facing trauma to identify a body..” she sighed her hand on her temple, “And on top of that questioned her!”

“An attorney doesn’t have to be present for either of those.” he smirked, “Or did they not teach that Ms. Mahone,” his eyebrow raised, looking at her. Most people were intimidated by Jack but not Shanel,

“No, but as her represented voice, it would be best not to push me, Crawford, I am something not to reckon with.”  Shanel took the pencil, stabbing it right into his desk, “That’s not a tone you want to carry with me, Mahone.” he jerked back, watching the smile on her face, “Then don’t ever question me.” getting up from his desk walking towards the morgue.

She had passed a classroom with gruesome pictures displayed on the projector screen listening in on what was said. “Now The Hunter is a difficult one to catch there’s, never a trace of footsteps barely any DNA left from the victims, but we know one thing he has a vendetta .. a cry in the murders,” Will said, looking over his shoulders only to find that no one was there.  Shanel, who had a pleasant grin on her face, had always loved the sheer fact that the FBI could never trace the fact a woman was behind the murders, and it pleased her. Walking down to the morgue had become a relaxing pastime of hers the more times that she had begun to do it.

“Morning, Brian morning Jimmy.” she winked, sitting her briefcase down. Grabbing a pair of goggles and gloves Shanel, couldn’t believe her eyes as to what she was seeing.

“Morning Shanel,” Brian smiled, “Wanna see something interesting,?” he asked as she nodded, walking over to him she could see the rope burns the discoloration but not exactly how long they had been dead. Taking her finger and pressing it on the forehead and then to her tongue, she nearly heaved.

“Well we found-”

“1977..” she looked at Brian, then Jimmy.

“What?”

“This ones been dead since 1977..” She looked at the state of the others, “Where did you find them? ”

“On a beach,  pieced like a totem pole,” Beverly said, ushering her towards the pictures, Shanel stopped and stared at them remembering Will talking about something to the extent of this crime in Hannibal’s office but, she didn’t remember too much or if all that he had said, looking at the pictures she was generally impressed with what she had seen, everything had seemed to mostly be done in post mortem,

“Doesn’t look too bad?” Shanel smirked, looking at the disembodied jigsaw puzzle, “But if I were your third opinion … I would say the killer doesn’t have a motive .” she then looked at the three examiners,

“Gotcha.,” Beverly smirked, finding a bit of DNA attached to the fighting dead body, “Well, I should get going..” Shanel smiled, walking away back to her car. Opening the door in the early morning fog, she felt hands grab her waist. Shanel then bent over as she leaned to the side, breaking away from grasp stabbing him right in the eyes as she then slit his throat open, tossing him in the trunk, another present for Hannibal as she liked to put it.

“Hannibal I’m home and I-” Shanel paused, walking into the kitchen as her eyes had gazed upon Alana Bloom drinking an ice-cold beer, the two giggling and carrying on about psychology as they both cooked.  She could feel something in the pit of her stomach boil and a bad taste in her mouth form. “You ?” Hannibal looked up, waiting for her to finish her sentence, “I’ll tell you later it’s great to see you, Doctor Bloom..”  she nodded, walking up the stairs.

“Would you like to join us for dinner?” Alana asked a slight smirk on her face.

“I wouldn’t want to interrupt a teacher and his student.”  She laughed, walking back upstairs, a bit upset about everything she had just seen, and right after she had trusted someone confided into someone, there would be nothing left but the slow ache from her heart. She would convince herself that nothing was going on between them, but it would have been fine if they didn’t look so in love with each other.  Sitting the tub, she could hear them laughing and talking about the good days when he was a professor and how everything he taught her she used. For Shanel, it made her practically sick to her stomach.  

“I don’t think I can love you anymore..” Shanel said, looking in the mirror, rolling her hair.

“I wish every day to hold you.” he held her by the waist.

“Let go of me, You don’t love me like I love you.”

[nobleclover]

Together in Death

Milo was busy in the miniscule undertaker’s office, typing up invoices for bereaved customers that availed of his services. It had been in his family for two generations since his grandfather, Patrick McCreary had first set it up in the picturesque village of Great Willow that rested beneath Herth’s Hill. It was found near the edge of the village close to the graveyard that held the deceased residents.

Suddenly, he heard a knock at the tiny office door, prompting him to get up from the tedious work. Upon opening it, no one could be seen. Most folks would just shrug it off or get concerned that someone had broken in, but needless to say it was a very common occurrence for him, odd but common for him. He turned around to find a very familiar soul behind him, her hollow eye sockets gazing back at him with great worry.

“Oh, hey Rose,” he awkwardly greeted her, “what do you want?”

“Sorry for bothering you, but I was wondering if you could ask me a favour, please?” she meekly asked, gently wringing her hands.

“No problem! Is it something about your grave? I’ll finish up these invoices and go down to clear the crap off –“

“N-no, it’s nothing like that,” she replied, “it’s just that my friend Clive Maxwell hadn’t been down to see me recently.”

Milo thought hard for a bit, trying to recall who this Clive Maxwell was. Sheepishly, he turned around and asked, “Sorry, I can’t remember, which man was he again?”

“You know, short man with a bushy white beard? Wears a plaid cap and dark brown jumper?” she articulated.

Milo gently tapped the side of his head in realisation and exclaimed, “Ahh yes! Him! Yeah, come to think of it, I hadn’t seen him around lately either, wonder how he’s getting on.”

The timid soul looked down at the ground in worry, stuck on what to say while wringing her hands. Milo noticed her behaviour and, out of concern asked, “Do you think it’s something bad?”

Rose sighed and responded, “W-well, it’s just that I remember him talking to me about pretty much everything in his life, and he mentioned this new medication he’s given for his heart. He once suffered a heart attack a few years prior and was advised to take it easy.”

“So, you want me to find out what’s going on with him then?”

“Yes, please, Milo! We’ve been friends since the second World War and we’ve always looked out for each other…until that day…”

Milo wasn’t sure on what to say. He had a mountain of paperwork to get through, not to mention a funeral to be organised at the end of the week, nonetheless, her desperate, gaunt face just made his heart ache and he was considering whether or not to say no.

“I…guess I can see what I can do…although I’ll be rather busy b-but I’ll try and…”

“Oh thank you so much! I greatly appreciate it!” she exclaimed.

Milo politely nodded, quietly dreading the amount of work he’d have to cram in by the end of the week.

***

The next morning, Milo was walking up the town, gingerly rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He’d been up pretty much all night writing up invoices, death certificates as well as a stock take of all the embalming chemicals that he’d been recently low on.

Now, he was stopping in the town hall to look up records for Clive Maxwell’s address. When he got what he needed, he was stopped by a couple of OAPs that were passing through. Much to his dismay, he was realised they were none other than Mrs. Fisher as well as Ms. Harte, two senior denizens that liked to pester him for his “clairvoyance” as they put it.

“Oh, hello, Milo! You out for a little walk?” Mrs Fisher croned.

“Yes, yes! Just needing to fill out some paperwork here! Nothing too exciting!” he nervously chuckled, eager to get away from them as soon as possible.

“Would you like to come by for another tea – leaf reading?” she asked, to which Ms. Harte chimed in, “It’ll be my house this evening, as always!”

Milo expelled a fake disappointed sigh, answering, “Ohhh, I’d love to, but I really have to take care of a funeral that’s going on at the end of the week. Plus, I’ve got some family members visiting as well as other stuff to be taking care of, so I don’t think I’d have the time!”

The first half was definitely the truth, however, he hadn’t had many relatives visit him for a very long time. He just wanted to get away from them quickly and certainly didn’t want to be showing off his gift to a bunch of batty old ladies in some miniscule cottage.

“That’s alright, lad! You take care now!” Ms Harte assured him, both she and her companion each giving him a frail wave.

Milo returned the wave with a smile and watched as they walked further down the town. With the two old biddies thankfully on their way, Milo finally headed off to Clive Maxwell’s house, address in hand.

After another mile of walking, he came to the amiable – looking suburb of Rose Manor, that had a patch of green adorned with clusters of wildflower with some dandelions sneaking in for some space. All the houses had this rustic, red – brick aesthetic with polished roofs with not one ounce of bird’s mess…except the one near the road.

Milo looked down to check the address one more time: number seven was the door he wanted to look for. He edged closer to the front gates of house number one and began walking right towards number seven, checking each door intuitively as he passed by. It was when he reached number seven that he just stopped in his tracks.

The driveway was overcrowded with two cars, one of which was a small black compact car. He wondered how long they’d be visiting and decided to wait until they had departed. Furthermore, why were they visiting? Still, would he need to feign being a member of Clive’s family, or ask his guests how he was?

Just then the door opened, upon which a middle aged blonde woman and her heavyset husband stepped out with crestfallen expressions.

The man raised his arm, gesturing hello to Milo, which he returned. It was then he decided to cheerfully greet, “Lovely day isn’t it?”

The woman looked up, smiling as best as she could despite her worn, tired expression, replied, “Yes, it is thanks. We were just visiting my dad today.”

“Oh, yes, Clive! I hadn’t seen him in a while! How’s he doing?”

The couple looked at him morosely but still remained polite once the man answered, “Well, he’s still cheerful as usual. He’s always been resilient even during the worst of days. Good day to you.”

Milo felt guilty for being nosy and lying, politely waving goodbye to the couple as the car travelled out of the driveway and left the estate. He looked towards the ivy – covered doorway of Clive’s house and decided to confirm his suspicions.

He walked up to the door and gently knocked on it, upon which a young woman dressed in a pastel blue uniform and white, holding a container of medicine answered. She pushed the container into her trouser pocket while casting a wary glare at him. Who could blame her since she wasn’t expecting anyone else just three minutes after the last pair of guests had left?

She leaned the back of her hand on her hip and curtly asked, “Yes, can I help you?”

“Oh sorry! I was just wondering how Mr Maxwell was doing. I live down the road you see and –”

“Well, he’s not very well and can’t see anyone else. Now, I have to get back to him, so if you’ll excuse me…”

“That’s okay, I’ll just –”

Before he could finish, the nurse abruptly shut the door. Milo then exited the driveway, at one point he could see her watching him leave. He didn’t really question as to why she behaved that way to him, he guessed that she was afraid of him trying to scam the old man out or something. When his father was dying, he was very reluctant to let any friends visit him as he was afraid of the same thing happening. That, and his father’s weakening immune system meant that other people couldn’t be in contact with him. Still, at least he had answers for Rose when he came back.

***

“So…he’s ill?” Rose asked worriedly.

“Yeah, she definitely looked like a nurse and was pretty hesitant of letting me in, sort of like she was suspicious of me. I don’t know how bad he is but, hopefully he isn’t in too much pain.”

“Yeah, same. He’s always been there for me, even after I died. I remember when he said goodbye to me at my wake, I was right beside him and could see him holding back tears when he left some flowers on my grave. We’ve been friends since we were teenagers, and we basically did everything together! I didn’t want to admit it at the time because he was seeing Ida Marlowe, but…I loved him,” she uttered, her voice wavering.

Milo let out a heavy sigh, as he understood how difficult it must’ve been for her to keep that all to herself. He’d been dealing with similar feelings for Yvonne Hughes that moved into town 18 months ago. Since they met, she’s been really nice to him but he resigned himself to the fact that she was out of his league and kept his feelings about her quiet.

“Sorry to hear that,” he uttered, “if he does…go, I’ll see where he’s buried and tell him what you said.”

“B – but he has a family! W – wouldn’t it be awkward to t – tell him considering he’s been married?” Rose stammered.

“I don’t know, but I don’t think it would do any good for you to keep it secret for long. Plus, he’s your friend, so I’m sure he’d appreciate it. I don't know about his wife but if he's been down to see you a lot, I'm sure she probably understood how close you were,” Milo assured her with a smile.

Rose’s shoulders relaxed a bit and she replied, “Okay, Milo. Thanks, and yes. Hopefully I'll find the courage to tell him when the time comes.”

***

Three weeks later, Milo plodded down the steep hill to Rose’s grave to give it a scrub. He’d been pretty exhausted lately as he had to deal with another funeral just after the one he’d been dealing with around the time he’d been doing Rose that favour. Still, nobody else had died and Milo was now had some free time to deliver some news to Rose.

After scrubbing off the tufts of moss growing on her tombstone for a good few five minutes, he checked to see if anybody was around and quietly whispered, “Rose” to the overgrown patch of grass beneath it. To his delight, she slowly materialised against the soft pink clouds of the evening.

“I thought I’d see you around here, sometime soon!” she laughed.

“Yeah, well, I’ve been busy so I couldn’t come see you right away. Still, I expect everyone’s treating the newest resident here well!” he beamed.

“Oh, yes! It’s just so wonderful having to talk to him in person again, even if in death. I…I also told him everything and…you were right, he did understand. His wife, who's buried over in Long Durrow, had long since passed on but from what I gathered, she was a lovely woman. Plus, he even mentioned me to her at some point when they were alive so, I think she knew that we were close friends, probably. I was scared when I told him but I was happy when he told me how he appreciated my honesty!” she rambled

“There, you see? I was right!” Milo affirmed, giving a confident shrug.

“He also tells me about his grandkids a lot. Did you know he had about nine of them, and three great – grandchildren? When he was alive, he would take them up to Winston’s Hollow to go birdwatching or fishing.”

“Same with mine, although he’s long since passed. Still, I’m glad you’re together again,” Milo smiled.

“Thank you so much again. Maybe you’d like to come up the hill and say hello with me?”

Milo glanced at the brush and bucket full of soapy water and replied, “Maybe when I’ve finished. I think a few graves around here are in need of some scrubbing.”

“Not a problem, and…thanks again,” she articulated before joining the other ghosts further up the graveyard.

Milo watched from a distance as the faint turquoise hues of the ghosts illuminated the top centre of the graveyard, where Clive was buried. The whole place seemed to be abuzz with their new friend, which honestly made him happy. Despite his abilities being problematic for him on some occasions, he was glad he could use them to bring some peace to kind souls like Rose and Clive.

Moments like these were what made having these abilities worthwhile.

The End