Tristan lay on the floor, the two small puncture wounds on his neck oozing slightly. Anne leaned over him and carefully wiped away what little blood remained.

Anne: "Perfectly normal. You were out for three days after I changed you, and it was another two before you were functional again."
James: "Really? I hadn't realized."
Anne: "Help me get him off the floor."

James moved to help Anne, but made no more than two steps before a large crash and bright flash of light from outside startled both of them. They froze, staring at one another in confusion.

James: "What was that?"
Anne: "I don't know."
James: "Should we go see what it was?"
Anne: "Let's go look out the front window first."

They ran to the front window and looked out through the frosty glass. The street in front of the house was empty, a few sets of footprints the only sign of disturbance in the otherwise picture-perfect snow cover.

James: "Should we go out there? Find out what that was, perhaps?"
Anne: "I don't think we should really leave Tristan here on his own. Whatever it was is gone now. We should tend to him now."

James: "Anne, thank you. I just… I wanted to share this with him, to give him the same chance you gave me, but I really didn't want to risk killing him by trying it myself. I'm just far too new at this whole vampire thing…"
Anne: "I'm glad I could do this one last thing for you. The two of you have an amazing bond- I wish you only the best."
James: "I'm going to miss our adventures."

Anne: "You've been a great companion, James. It's just… Cedric… he's the jealous type. And he and I go so far back-"
James: "I understand."
Anne: "I'll stay through tonight and then I really must be getting back to Rome. Now, let's get back to Tristan."

James smiled, a warm sense of comfort and satisfaction beginning to blossom. When Anne had first told him of Cedric's return, he'd been crushed. Cedric wouldn't take well to James' being turned- he'd already tried to kill him during their first brief meeting in the Alps over the summer. It was best that he and Anne part company.

Anne: "James? Where's Tristan?"