A couple of months later, a soft knock sounded on Jen's office door, interrupting her frantic typing. "It's open!" When the knocking persisted, she shouted; "I said its open! Just goddamn open it!" She shouted, balling her hands into fists and setting her jaw. A startled Sammy popped her head through the door. "You okay, Jen?" Her tone was nervous as she entered, her eyebrows raised. "No, I'm not goddamn okay, Sammy! Piper's killing me with these deadlines!" She screamed in response, her hands shaking as she typed away feverishly, taking a gulp of coffee, spilling it down her chin in the process. Sammy took a deep breath, making sure to close the door behind her. "Jen, calm down." She carefully stepped towards her. However, Jen only grew increasingly aggravated. "Calm down?! How the hell can I? I am fresh outta calm!" Sammy sighed, forced to resort to a tactic she would rather have avoided. She pulled Jen up by her arm and threw her against the wall as lightly as possible, pinning her there by her shoulders. She shook her, trying to use her strength sparingly, mindful of her supernatural strength. "Jen?! You need to calm down! For me?" For a moment, she stayed taught, but when she looked into those bright blue eyes, all the tension drained from her body. "I'm sorry, Sammy. I guess I'm just burned out right now, and I'm sorry I took it out on you." She bit her lip absentmindedly, her expression downcast. Sammy's grip on her loosened, but was still firmly in place. "You sure you're okay?" Sammy's breath was hot and sweet on her skin, their faces just inches apart. "More than okay, I'm with you." She murmured, leaning up to kiss her cheek.
"I'm sorry I had to do this. You just... seemed kinda out of it."
"No, its fine. I was out of control back there. But that speed was impressive, the strength too. Must be some of the perks of being a vamp, huh?" She flirted, back to herself as Sammy freed her from the wall. "Maybe I could take you for a run sometime and show you." She replied absently. After a moment, she appraised her superior. "Jen, babe, when did you last eat something?" She asked, raising a concerned eyebrow. "I, uh, had a cookie for lunch." She said with what was supposed to be a reassuring smile, but only came across as more concerning. "I mean like a hot meal..." Jen nodded and thought for a moment... and then another moment... and then again another moment. A horrified look came across their faces at the same time. "I guess its a sign I've been living and breathing this damned work for too long." Sammy stepped forward, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, its okay. I'm gonna take you out for dinner, and before you say it, no protesting about work."
"I- Okay..." She replied, leaning into her girlfriend.
Together, they snuck out the complex into the sizzling sun. Under the heat, Sammy winced, but composed herself when she caught Jen looking at her with a concerned eye. "I'm fine, don't worry. Its just a little uncomfortable." She managed a smile as she said it, causing Jen to take her hand, rubbing her thumb over her knuckles reassuringly.
After a few minutes of walking, they approached a large building with a sign saying 'Gran Via'. Sammy offered a sly smile as they entered, passing many stores before entering a beautiful restaurant. When the waiter saw Sammy, he nodded appreciatively, dipping his head in a sign of respect. For a moment, they stared at each other, a questioning look in his eyes. When Sammy nodded, curling her lip up slightly, showing a sharp, pearly fang, the muscled man ran a hand over his slicked back, pitch black hair. Before their eyes, a purple flicker of magic ran along his hand, leaving in its wake two jet black horns, curled back, almost flat against his hair. "Oh." Jen breathed, her mouth hanging slightly open. He ran his hand over his hair once again, hiding the horns, and led them to a table silently.
Once they were seated and alone, Jen raised her eyebrows. "What was that all about?"
"Just a respect thing, don't worry only we could see it. He's a warlock, so he made sure no one was able to see it apart from us. I told him he could trust you so you could see it too." She chuckled. "Sorry I know this is all still very new to you. Anyways, how's the filming coming along?" She asked after ordering them some food. "Well, we've got one filmed and edited and we're just on the editing process of the other one, but its kinda slow..." She took a sip of wine, a crease forming on her brow, weighing something internally. Finally, she sighed, taking her girlfriend's hand over the table. "Sammy... there's something I need to tell you-" At that moment, their dishes arrived, interrupting her. She smiled, gingerly taking a bite.
"Well, what is it?" Sammy asked, her hand still in Jen's.
"We're not going to be here for much longer, and its got me thinking about this whole thing and what's important to me and what I really, truly want... The truth is I'm tired of killing myself at this job every day. Being with you has given me a different perspective. I don't just work for the band, I'm an asset to the band. Its given me a whole new lease on life... In short, I'm thinking about resigning." She played with the tablecloth in her fingers as she spoke, but now, she looked up at Sammy, waiting for a response. "Wow. That's a big commitment. But I don't hate it. Jen, you need to figure out what's best for you and if this is it, then I'm with you one hundred percent, but if you want to go back to the States, I also support you. I guess what I'm saying is think about this for a while and make sure its what you want to do. And whether you go back or not, we'll be together. Long distance would be hard, but we could make it work. So just think about it and whatever you decide, I'm with you. If you want any advice or anything, though, I'm your woman." She said with a smile. "But you don't have to think about any of that right now. I appreciate you telling me, though."
"Of course. Anyway, I'm surprised you can actually eat this." She said, changing the topic and gesturing to the pasta on her plate. "Yeah I can eat it, it just doesn't sustain me, ya know." She smiled, taking a bite to prove her point.
From there, the conversation eased onto lighter topics, flowing freely between the two of them, until Jen caught a gleam in Sammy's eye. "I know that face. What's your idea?" She asked with a laugh.
"You'll see." She replied with a wink, calling for the check. After it was paid, she offered Jen her hand. "Shall we?" She giggled as they both rose from their seats in unison. Hand in hand, they walked out of the restaurant and into the shopping complex. They walked past a few shops, pausing to casually look in the windows. But one shop caught Sammy's eye. Her lips curled into a mysterious smile. "Why don't you go ahead and get us some coffee? I just wanna check something in here. I'll meet you at the coffee shop in five." Jen nodded with a quizzical expression, peeling off to the shop ahead.
Not long after, Sammy offered a shy smile as she sat down opposite Jen. "So did you get anything good?" She asked after a long sip of coffee. A light blush rose to Sammy's cheeks as she looked down, staring at the cup in front of her. "Well why don't you tell me?" She murmured, biting her lip and taking a box out of her pocket and handing it to her girlfriend. Her slender fingers opened the box, revealing a gleaming silver necklace. The chain held a dainty four leafed clover. Each leaf was embedded with a beautiful fern green stone. Her eyes glistened as she took it from the box, cradling it in her hands like it was the most precious thing in the world. "Sammy... its beautiful... You have no idea how much this means to me." The tears spilled over the edge as she clasped it around her neck lovingly, grinning from ear to ear. "Its not much, but you've been under so much stress lately, I just wanted to give you something to make you smile. Think of it as a going away slash not going away present." She smiled, taking her hand.
"Thank you so much... As sad as it is to say, I can't actually remember the last time I received a gift like this."
"Well, I'm just glad it makes you so happy. I just figured everyone could use a good luck charm... And I already have you." She blushed, leaning over to meet her halfway in a passionate kiss. When they both leaned back, Jen noticed something strange about Sammy.
"Sammy... you're, uh, smiling." She chuckled, miming fangs with her fingers. Her eyes opened wide in realisation as the vampire clapped a hand over her mouth. "Sorry, I, uh. Sometimes I just lose myself in the moment."
"Its not cos you're, um, hungry, right?" She asked, suddenly nervous.
"Nah, I ate this morning, don't worry, hun." Jen visibly relaxed back into her seat.
"How do you... you know, anyway? I mean like do you have humans, or...?"
"Blood bags. The hospitals give us a percentage of them."
The conversation continued down the supernatural path as they spoke in hushed tones throughout the evening.