He was relieved and then surprised to walk inside and find Deanna sitting at a table, talking to two officers taking notes. He waited until they got up to leave before joining Deanna at the table.

Officer Chase: "There's only one place I can think of that has ice cream this time of night."
Officer Foreman "Good. I could use an omelet, let's call it in."

James: "Deanna?"
Deanna: "No."

James: "Ooookay."
Deanna: "I'm trying not to be me anymore."
James: "Oh? Why's that, then?"
Deanna: "My life sucks. No pun intended."

James: "What's with the cops?"
Deanna: "Crazy guy came in, I was just giving a description. However, I'm sure they thought I was the crazy one. Idiots. Have you been watching the news?"
James: "I try very hard not to. So, you're not going to be you anymore? Good plan."
Deanna: "You have a better idea?"

James: "Don't read any sarcasm, I'm completely serious. This is one of those things that people, human people, never get these days with all of their navel contemplating and self-esteem building nonsense. The truth is that if your life sucks, it's your own damn fault and you're the only one who can change it. Can I get you a drink?"
Deanna: "Please."
James: "What'll you have?"
Deanna: "Bud Light, please."

James: "You can't be serious."
Deanna: "Like I said, I'm trying not to be me."
James: "Now you're being ridiculous. No need to take things to extremes. One martini it is."
Deanna: "I sincerely doubt they even have martini glasses here, let alone gin."

James: "Ah, that's where you're wrong; the Hat Trick's martinis happen to be the best kept secret in Deception Pass."
Deanna: "Regardless, I hate gin."
James: "Not tonight, you don't."

James: "One Bombay Sapphire dusty martini for the lady please, stirred, and a Kilkenny."

James: "So."
Deanna: "I suppose you're going to ask me where Tristan is."
James: "I have a pretty good idea."
Deanna: "So you know. It's really over this time."
James: "Yes, and it's about time. I'm the one who talked him into breaking up with you."

Deanna didn't blink as she stared at James. She didn't even pause to make eye contact with the waitress who set down the martini in front of her. She simply picked up the glass up and took a sip.

Deanna: "That's lovely. Thanks."
James: "See? You do like gin."
Deanna: "I wasn't talking about the martini. You may not be in a sarcastic mood, but apparently, I am. Why are you even talking to me?"
James: "Because I like you. Be serious, you and I both know that you two crazy kids were never going to make it work."

Deanna: "Right. On account of your best friend being in love with Emily."
James: "Yes, that. And the fact that you obviously have a few issues of your own. No one in their right mind with an ounce of self-worth would cling to a relationship with someone who's so obviously in love with someone else."
Deanna: "I swear to god, if the words 'he's just not that into you' leave your mouth, I will stake you through the heart with this toothpick."
James: "Why would I say that? What an asinine thing to say."
Deanna: "You'd think so."

James: "If it's any consolation, I don't really believe Tristan and Emily will work out, either."
Deanna: "Why not? And if that's what you think, why would you tell him to break up with me?"
James: "Do you really need to ask me that? Tristan is a vampire, Emily is a mortal -- there's no future for the two of them. Of course he can't see that yet. All he sees are black picket fences in the moonlight with his one true love. But sooner or later, reality will come crashing down on the both of them."
Deanna: "And then what, he'll come back to me?"

James: "No. Well, maybe. But not for a good long time. Hopefully long enough for you to realize how pathetic you're being."
Deanna: "Way to kick a girl when she's down."
James: "Obviously someone needs to. Don't you have any self-respect? Tristan was stringing you along, hoping that his feelings would change. You know who behaved the worst, though? You. You let him do it. And I can't quite figure out why. You're beautiful, smart, patient, charming, funny… and you have a hell of a voice. You could have anyone you wanted. Why chase after someone who doesn't want you?"

Deanna: "James, have you been on the dating scene lately? Have you seen what's out there? The pickings are slim enough among mortals, let alone our kind. Tristan was the first vampire I've met in at least ten years who doesn't make a game out of hunting mortals. And I can't exactly date a normal man who keeps reasonable daylight hours. When I met Tristan, everything seemed to just fit. Things were fantastic right up until we came to Deception Pass."
James: "This town does have a way with sucking the fun out of things, doesn't it?"

Deanna: "It's not the town. It's Emily. And who's to say she'll even want a relationship with Tristan? The girl's not exactly stable, you know. Though the jury's still out on who's more unstable - her, or her friend Patty Hypothermia. The two of them have enough issues to keep a fully staffed insane asylum working overtime."
James: "Sweetheart, the jury came in on that one a long time ago. Emily didn't mean to off herself. Mary Jo… she's just cracked."
Deanna: "True. Although she did accomplish what she set out to do. I'm not sure very many people can say that."

James: "Yes, Crazy is definitely the severest force of nature. Do you know anything about physics?"
Deanna: "Not much."
James: "First you have gravity. Then there's the weak force and electromagnetism, which are rather a bit stronger than gravity. Then you have the strong force, much stronger than any of the others. That's the force that binds all of the bits of an atom's nucleus together even though they're meant to repel each other. Finally, you have Crazy, the strongest force of all. Crazy is a force that, pardon the cliché, cannot be reckoned with. Light can't escape a black hole, and a black hole can't escape Crazy. Then there's Mary, and I'm quite certain that Crazy can't escape Mary."

Deanna: "You like her, don't you?"
James: "What? Are you mad? Why do people keep asking me that?"
Deanna: "You've essentially just said she's stronger than gravity."
James: "Yes, but in a psychotic way."
Deanna: "Got it. Black holes can't suck you in if they're psychotic."
James: "Exactly. You remember that on your next mission to outer space, and you'll be just fine."

Deanna: "I still think you like her."
James: "She's a fantastic artist and the most determined person I've ever met. But even if I did like her, it wouldn't matter."
Deanna: "How come?"
James: "She human, me vampire."

Deanna: "I think we're still human. I prefer to think of this more as a disease than some sort of demonic thing."
James: "A disease? We get to live forever. Isn't that the ultimate goal of everything on this silly little planet? How is that a disease? This is the cure."
Deanna: "As long as you don't ever go out on a sunny day."
James: "There's that. But I've always preferred the night life."
Deanna: "Is that all there is to it, then? You won't get involved with humans? Because I could've sworn the girl I saw you with last weekend looked awfully tan."

James chuckled and took a sip of his beer.

James: "That she was. Nice girl."
Deanna: "So? What gives?"
James: "Deanna, have you ever just… gone out? Had fun? Enjoyed someone else's company with no strings attached?"
Deanna: "James, that's not exactly why I choose to spend time with a man. I want more than that."
James: "Maybe that's your problem."

Deanna: "I really don't see how a few one-night-stands are going to cure my love life."
James: "It'll give you some perspective. You just need to learn to sort out the people who are good for a little while from the people who are good for the long haul."
Deanna: "I'm pretty sure I've got that down already. I'm not exactly stupid. Tristan is the sort of person I can see spending the rest of my life with. He's a good man; anyone would be lucky to have him. I just don't understand why he couldn't see the same in me. I think he's the one who needs to learn how to sort out who is and isn't long-term material. Emily? Nice girl, but I'm sorry, she's got some issues. Don't get me wrong, I like her, I do. But she's still a child. And I'm right here. I'm ready."

James threw back his head and laughed while Deanna looked at him crossly.

Deanna: "What's so damn funny?"
James: "The fact that you gave that entire speech without any sense of irony. Deanna, yes, Emily is still a child. So is Tristan. This seems to be the piece of the puzzle you can't recognize. Wake up."
Deanna: "But…"

Deanna was unable to finish her thought. Suddenly everything seemed to click. Tristan may be older than her in years, but she suddenly realized that her attraction to him had a lot to do with the fact that he made her feel like a sixteen-year-old girl again. So why was she surprised when his heart turned out to have the passion and uncertainty of a sixteen-year-old boy? Why was she surprised that he wanted to be with someone like himself? She could never be that girl. She didn't even want to be that girl.

James smiled at her over his mug, watching as the expression on her face went from protest to puzzlement to understanding.

James: "Feel better?"
Deanna: "You know, I kind of do."
James: "My work here is done."
Deanna: "Oh no, it's not. I've still been recently dumped, and regardless as to whether it was for the best or not, it's still depressing, and since I'd feel much better if I blamed you the rest of the night instead of blaming myself for being so stupid, I think you'd better stick around."

James: "Fair enough. Fancy something to eat? I'm starving."
Deanna: "Yes, but I find their menu a bit suspect. Want to grab a bite at Bellie's?"
James: "Did you know Mary's waiting tables there now?"
Deanna: "On second thought, I'm not really that hungry."
James: "Sure you are. Come on, break-ups call for doughnuts, and there's a Krispy Kreme on the way to my place."
Deanna: "Your place?"
James: "I promise I'll be a good distraction. Besides, I'd love to run a few songs by you that I've been working on if you don't mind."
Deanna: "Doughnuts and music. All we're missing is a bottle of good wine."

James: "Oh, did I not mention the wine cellar?"
Deanna: "You have a wine cellar?"
James: "Of course. One of the perks of being this old is a fabulous collection of very fine wine."
Deanna: "Why on earth do you come to places like this for drinks, then?"
James: "The vastness of my collection may also have something to do with the fact that I don't really care for wine, let alone sitting around in the dark and drinking it all by myself."

Deanna: "Got it. I'm more than happy to relieve you of some of your collection; however, I refuse to believe that anyone 'doesn't care for wine.' I think we could remedy that with a proper introduction to wine tasting and pairing with the appropriate foods."
James: "If you say so. What goes with Krispy Kreme, anyway?"
Deanna: "Make fun, but I know just the thing. There is a wine for everything, and for everything a wine."
James: "Isn't that redundant?"
Deanna: "Hush, you. I think the gin is going to my head. Let's get out of here."