Josef answered the door in jeans and a tee shirt with damp hair and bare feet. He looked about 20. Sometimes Mick forgot how young Josef was when he was turned. At least it seemed young now. But 400 years ago, 25 years was half a lifetime.

Josef led the way to his home theater which really was a mini-theater newly remodeled with a dozen reclining seats complete with cup holders. There was a bar at the back with two champagne flutes waiting. Josef got blood from the small refrigerator. Mick placed two cups with covers and straws on the bar.

"What is that?" Josef asked.

"That's what I drink blood from when I'm watching a movie. I brought one for you."

"It's plastic," Josef said with distaste.

"All part of the experience."

"Maybe I should keep empty beer bottles to serve your blood."

"Great idea, but save it for when we're shooting pool. That's a beer bottle activity."

"You'll have to pour it yourself. I'm not putting fresh blood in a Big Gulp."

They settled themselves in center seats. Mick placed his cup in the holder. Josef looked at his glass and then at the cup holder which wasn't designed to balance a champagne flute. He sighed, went to the bar, and transferred his blood to the extra cup.

"What movie did you bring?"

"Underworld."

"I've seen it. It's not bad."

"We don't have to watch the whole thing. I just want to show you a few scenes." Mick was fast-forwarding. "This English actress Sophia Myles plays Erika." He hit play. "Doesn't she look a little like Beth? I imagine that's what Beth will look like with fangs."

"Very cute," Josef agreed. "But if you're so eager to see what Beth looks like as a vampire, just turn her already."

"We're not quite ready. We can be vampires together forever but now is our only chance to enjoy a vampire-human relationship. And it is fun."

"Sometimes I wish I had known Sandrina when she was human," Josef admitted. He caught sight of someone on screen. "Sandrina likes some of Bill Nighy's films."

"So does Beth. 'The Girl in the Café' and 'Gideon's Daughter'."

The movie was still playing as they talked. "You know, this is pretty good," Josef said. "We may as well watch it. But go back to the beginning. I want to see Kate Beckinsale jump off the building."

"All that black leather reminds me of a Cleaner."

"You and the Cleaners. Should I be afraid of what you're doing here in the dark?"

"I'll try to control myself until I get home to Beth."

"There she goes!" Josef was intent. "Now watch when her boots hit the street ... Oh, yeah."

"Maybe I should be afraid of what you're doing. Do you need a cigarette? I didn't know you have a thing for boots."

"I can't help it. Ever since I met Nancy Sinatra when she sang 'These Boots Are Made for Walking'."

"Did you ever ...?" Mick made a biting expression.

"No, we were barely acquainted. I was only interested in her legs and boots."

"How did I not know this about you?"

"It's nothing to be proud of. I didn't even care about her pulse points."

"What about Kate? Boots only, or ...?"

"I think she's fang-worthy," Josef said, nodding.

When the movie ended Mick said, "Sunlight kills these vamps but they stayed away from stakes and holy items. How did all that vampire mythology get started?"

"Wishful thinking. We're hard to kill. It usually takes another vampire to get the job done. But humans want us to be easier to identify and kill so they can protect themselves better."

"You think Beth will make a good vampire?"

"She'll be terrific. And she'll take to it better than you. You may not be aware of her ruthless streak."

"You mean when she asked you to kill that photographer?"

"So you know about that."

"She told me awhile ago. It was a secret between you so I never mentioned it but I always wanted to thank you. You saved me."

"Not literally. He would have tried blackmail and you would have had to disappear."

"So you saved my L.A. life."

"I saved my L.A. life. How much fun would I have on my own? If you left, Beth would have gone with you. And I might not have met Sandrina."

"You would have met her eventually."

"Yes, we were probably fated to end up with the female version of each other."

"What do you mean?"

"You haven't noticed Beth is more like me and Sandrina is more like you?"

"Maybe their gender fooled me."

"I'm talking about personality and character, and you know it. And I don't mean every detail is the same."

"I guess there are similar traits."

"You've been a PI for 50 years and Sandrina has been a shrink three times since she was turned. You're a couple of do-gooders. Always wanting to help people, liking humans way more than you should."

"Apparently you find that attractive."

"And you like a little killer instinct."

"So opposites do attract?"

"That's how clichés become clichés. They're true a lot."

"Does this mean we've been sleeping with each other by proxy?"

"Just so you know, I've never called your name in the throes of passion."

"If I ask Sandrina, will I get the same answer?"

"Remember, if I've said 'Mmm' I didn't mean it as the start of 'Mick'."

"Don't tease me like that."

"Oh, shut up."

"I will if you will."

"I mean it."

"Okay."

"I'm not going to say anything else."

"Me, neither."

Laughter ...