They spent the rest of their morning admiring the tree and sharing stories, mostly of Christmases past though the relative calm did not last long.
“How is your stomach?” Hannibal asks, rubbing a circle at his back.
“Surprisingly okay,” Will sighs, leaning back against him, “Maybe I should only eat fruit for the next eight months.”
Hannibal kisses his cheek and scents along the back of his neck.
“That would be counterproductive and not very good for the children’s development.”
Will laughs. “I was joking. I’m sure we’ll find a system.”
Hannibal kisses his ear. “Yes, we will.”
He feels when Will tenses up in his arms. “I think I want to make that call now. It’s gotta be past ten now, yeah?”
Hannibal reaches behind him and picks up his cell phone. “Yes, it’s a quarter after. You’re certain you wish to do this, despite knowing he may be less than enthusiastic?”
Will takes Hannibal’s hand and puts it on his slightly protruding belly. “Yeah, I really do.”
“Do you need to get your cell phone or do you know the number?”
Will scoffs. “It’s been a long time, but yeah I know the number. He’d never change it.”
Hannibal hands Will the phone and kisses the back of his ear while he dials.
The ringing sounds much louder than it is while they wait and Will settles back against him with a sigh. “Your favorite Christmas song?”
“Silent Night.”
“Was your family religious? I–”
The phone ringing cuts off and a gruff voice interrupts their discussion. “Yeah?”
“Hey Dad, it’s me. Will.”
“I knew it was you,” Will’s father says, “It ain’t like I have any other folks who call me Dad.”
Hannibal feels Will grab his hand tightly.
“Yeah, I guess. I was just calling to say Merry Christmas and…I have some news.”
“News? You decide to quit that damn job of yours and come home? I got lots of work clogging up the garage you could do, you know.”
Will laughs. “No, not that. I…well I got mated.”
The other end of the phone is quiet for a moment before Will gets his answer.
“Have you lost your mind, boy? Did I teach you nothing about that shit? You know that letting yourself become dependent on some goddamn alpha will bring you nothing but–”
Hannibal grabs the phone before WIll can protest, his anger rising by the moment.
“Hello, Mister Graham. My name is Hannibal Lecter and I am Will’s alpha. I would appreciate it if you did not sour my mate on our union, especially today of all days as we are celebrating our first Christmas together. If you—”
“Now what just a goddamn minute! This is none of your business, alpha. I’m talking to my boy and he needs to listen to reason. Not think with his wet pucker and pant after the first alpha who smells fancy enough. He’s in for nothing but—”
“Hannibal, just give me the phone,” Will says, holding out his hand.
Hannibal’s lip curls as he hands it over and feels bereft when Will gets up from the couch, leaving the room to continue the conversation.
The lack of his immediate scent in the room is distressing and he resists the urge to follow. Will’s departure makes it perfectly clear he wants to be alone in this and he must respect that.
He sighs and gets up from the couch, walking to the tree and finding a small black gift box hidden at the base. It’s unwrapped but still quite ornate with the letter L embroidered on the lid.
Perhaps today was not the day for this particular gift.
Continued in:
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