“And you invited her in anyway.”

“Well yeah it was awkward! I didn’t wanna have to explain why I just stabbed her date with a pointy wooden stick and why the date then blew away in the breeze.”

“So your not worried that maybe Faith is going to be dinner soon as she leaves here? If she’s not already been someone’s dinner.”

“I never said I thought it out. I’ll deal with it, lets just get dinner over with. Anyway Faith’s not been turned yet so I got some time, better not leave them alone too long though.”

“You’re the slayer.” Alex smiled as Buffy kissed her cheek and returned to give her guests the tour of the rest of the house.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The four of them made it successfully through dinner making idle chit chat and general conversation. Tension came periodically in waves from Buffy and Saskia as they stared across the table at each other, smiling politely when caught in the silent standoff. Saskia’s paranoia getting the better of her she had to be excused to the bathroom to collect herself.

Buffy took the opportunity to move her seat and sit next to Faith. “I’m not sure how to say this in the short time we have but your date Saskia? She’s not human.”

Faith put on her best puzzled face “What?”

“Saskia she’s… a vampire.”

Faith laughed “Like in the movies vampire, I want to suck your blood like vampire?”

“Yes.” Buffy looked to Alex for help.

“Trust us, she’s a blood sucking, night walking vampire.” Alex offered.

Faith looked between the two “You’re serious?”

Buffy reached out to Faith gently touching her arm “I’m sorry.”

“How’d you know?”

They all heard the toilet flush and the bathroom door unlocking “I’ll explain all of it soon trust me, this is what I do. I wont let anything happen to you.”

Saskia rounded the bottom of the stairs entering the dining room “I love what you’ve done with the upstairs.”

Buffy moved swiftly from her seat catching Saskia by the throat with one hand she forced her back against the wall. “Games up.” With her free hand she pulled the stake from her boot.