Chapter Text
Everyone agreed that little Will's First Annual Valentine's Day Party was a tremendous success.
Hannibal had rented a tank of helium, so when little Will entered the music room the morning of the party, the ceiling was already covered by heart shaped pink, red, and purple pearlescent balloons.
It was such a pretty sight that little Will just gazed and gazed, and Hannibal slyly captured his sweet, whimsical expression in a photo.
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Frederick brought Matty and Alana over a little after lunch and all three children worked diligently; setting places, decorating tables, and more often than not, getting underfoot of the adults.
Frederick had made a delicious tapenade to share and managed to drink several glasses of Hannibal's exemplary wine as they worked.
Guests were scheduled to arrive at 3 PM, for this was a children's party, and none of the adults wanted children made cranky from staying up past their bedtimes.
Mommy Bedelia is the first guest to arrive, bringing a teddy bear for each of the boys and girl .
Bedelia had dressed each bear to reflect the little peoples' interests: Will's is dressed in little cargo pants, Keds, and a shirt with a fuzzy puppy appliqué on it, Alana's is dressed in a Hello Kitty costume, complete with frilly underwear slit up the back for its furry tail to poke through, a detail the little girl much admires. Maddy's bear is dressed as Batman and has a mask, gloves and small utility belt that can really hold things.
After thanking and hugging Auntie Bedelia, the kids run into the music room with their booty, and are soon absorbed in a raucous game of, " Hello Kitty Undercover Batman Hunter," during the course of which Matty stuffs his bear's utility belt with olives, calling them, "bombs you can eat."
Uncle Jack comes next bringing with him, Beverly, Jimmy, and Brian, three grownups Will already knows, who are happy to join in the planned games; tirelessly playing with and entertaining the little boys and girl.
The only invitees who did not attend, much to little Will's relief,were little Mason and his daddy Dr. Cordell.
Dr. Cordell had phoned Hannibal the morning of the party sending their regrets; Mason was suffering from a severe case of impetigo.
Matty had overheard Uncle Hannibal tell his dad that Mason and his father would not be attending the party because the boy was at," an extremely contagious stage of 'impigtigo'".
The little boy ran to tell Will and Alana the good news.
The three children laughed and joked about the pig boy's "impigtigo" which prevented him from coming to the party.
"Good riddance to bad rubbish, says Matty with relish, repeating a saying he has heard his dad use many times but doesn't truly understanding the meaning of.
"Ha, ha, serves him right," little Alana smirks, "nasty, mean, dirty boy."
Little Will was happy too, but he says nothing, other than laugh along with the others; his recent switching having made him more cautious than usual.
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By seven o'clock Hannibal and Will's home has been returned to its normal, peaceful state.
By eight o 'clock, Will is snug in his bed, his little head nearly splitting in two from his yawns, though he declares to his daddy that,"I'm not tired at all."
Hannibal knows better however, and strokes his little one's head singing him a song until Will's lashes lie in dark crescents against his rosy cheeks.
"Good night sweetheart," Hannibal says, kissing his little boy's cheek and watching as Will brings his thumb up to his mouth.
"Goo' nit' daddy," little Will says, around his thumb, already rocking on the fast approaching waves of velvet sleep. "I love you."
"I love you too Willypoo," Hannibal says, pulling the quilt up and kissing the little face one last time.
" I have you fast in my fortress,
And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
In the round-tower of my heart."
Hannibal quotes quietly, and closes the door.
THE END