Inheritance of the Beast

"Apsigyvenk, mažylis (Settle down, little one), did I not make up for it? We spent two whole days together after!" Hannibal chuckled, settling Tomas back in his arms and kissing the puffed-up cheeks, trying to bring Tomas back from a possible tantrum. "I apologize, my friends. Tomas is at the age where he is brutally honest and thinks he is entitled to anything he wants; not sure where he gets that from." Hannibal stated, making Will scoff before trying to hide it.

"I might know where he's got that from," Will mumbled against his cup, taking a sip of wine, trying not to look at the picture Hannibal made taking care of a child. "What is wrong with me? This must be a new level of fucked up." Will thought, ashamed of finding this new side of Hannibal attractive, but he couldn't help it, Hannibal was handsome, and by the way he was handling Tomas, he must be a really caring father too, a man willing to take care of his family was something that mattered to Will.

Hannibal chuckled, having heard Will's comment. That boy was always a wonder to have around, even if he had to endure Alana and Jack's presence at the table; Will was not ready to have dinner with him alone. "Soon," he told himself. "Now, last but not least, that one is Jack Crawford. I consult for him on the FBI." Hannibal pointed at the tall black man to catch the child's attention.

Jack, not shying away from the situation, gave the child a big smile. "Hey there, little man!" Jack said joyfully. He didn't exactly have experience with children, and Bella and he didn't have children; it was probably too late for them, especially with the recent distance growing between the two of them.

Tomas looked at the loud man, he was louder than Tomas was used to, but he seemed nice, so thinking that Tomas gave him a small smile and waved. "Hi." He said back before wiggling in his father's lap to be let down, already knowing what his son was up to, Hannibal helped Tomas settle on the floor and, under the expecting eyes of the child, took the baby bottle left on the table and handed it to the waiting toddler, who quickly took it from Hannibal's hand and toddled through the kitchen's door under Hannibal's watchful eyes.

"What's he doin'?" Will mumbled, confused, unconsciously focused on the child in case he needed help.

"I taught Tomas that after eating, we clean up the dishes, now he insists on cleaning up after himself." Hannibal said with a proud smile lighting up his face. "Of course, he is too young to clean up, I don't want him close to house products; for that, we came into an agreement: he leaves the dishes in the sink and I wash them." Hannibal explains, looking like a proud father showing off his son's achievements, even the small ones, like taking the dishes to the sink.

"That's impressive, Hannibal, and he's so young, too!" Jack said, impressed. He was a layman when children were concerned, but Tomas was just four, and to have this sense of responsibility at this age must not be usual. Hannibal smiled at Jack, thankful, even if his attention was still in the kitchen in case his son needed him, he could hear movement coming from the kitchen. It must be Tomas moving his stool to the sink; he was still too small to reach up to the cupboard, his mažylis (little one).

"Yes, it's good to him, but Hannibal..." Alana started saying, worry on her face as she looked from Hannibal to the door leading to the kitchen, she's been meaning to talk with Hannibal about her worries, and saw the opportunity present itself with the child's initiative to leave the dining room.