Although Emily was happy Mary had found a new hobby, it had, like virtually everything Mary took an interest in, quickly turned to obsession. Emily kept quiet about it only because Mary was distracted enough by her training to stay out of Emily's personal life.

Emily: "Mary? Why is it so dark down here?"
Mary: "Gotta train the eyes along with the rest of the body. Vampires don't tend to strike in broad daylight like your usual serial killers."
Emily: "Oh. Right. Listen... Andy wants to know if you're going to his Christmas party. It's on Saturday. He sent you an invitation, but..."

As Emily's eyes adjusted to the dark, she was able to make out another figure standing across from Mary.

Mary: "Yeah, sure, I'll be there. I already got him a gift."

Emily narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out who the other person in the basement was, and what explosive device Mary could've gotten for Andy. Suddenly Mary lunged forward, stabbing her guest in the chest with some kind of pointy object.

Emily: "Mary!"

Emily unmuted the phone and brought it back to her ear.

Emily: "Andy?"
Andy: "Yes Angel?"
Emily: "Nothing, I'll call you back."

Emily hit speed dial 7 and waited for an answer.

James: "Hello?"

Emily hung up the phone without answering, then scrambled for the light switch. As the basement flooded with light, she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that the second person was merely a dummy covered in a plum colored sheet. It was hanging from one of the rafters, it's 'feet' weighted down by a barbell tied around it's ankles. There was a wooden stake embedded in its chest.

Emily: "Jeez Mary, I thought..."

Emily froze as Mary pulled the wooden stake out and she saw that it was covered with blood. She began backing toward the stairs, certain she must be in the middle of a nightmare. Mary turned around, her expression turning to one of concern when she saw the look of horror on Emily's face.

Mary: "Em, what is it?"

Emily opened and closed her mouth a few times before she could think of anything to say.

Emily: "Mary, I know you've been under some stress lately, but..."

Mary looked from Emily back to her training dummy and burst into laughter.

Mary: "Emily, it's okay. It's just pigs blood. Or possibly cows blood if my aim was on. I needed a realistic dummy."
Emily: "Right... and why is that, exactly?"
Mary: "Remember that giant blue elf vampire in the cemetery a couple months ago?"

Emily nodded.

Mary: "While I do still applaud your valiant attempt to stake it, all you really managed to do was piss it off and give yourself about fifty splinters. So I designed a few stakes with really awesome grips and had Al whip them up for me."
Emily: "Grandpa Al?"
Mary: "Yeah. Then I got some pork ribs from the butcher, and some other gut-like stuffing and wrapped it all up."
Emily: "And you couldn't have found anything a little less... gross?"

Mary shrugged and started cleaning up.

Mary: "This was way cheaper than the 3 punching bags I destroyed."
Emily: "I see. Mary, I have to tell you, I'm not exactly sure I want you out in the night pissing off vampires."
Mary: "They'll only be pissed off until they're dead."

Emily nodded and made a mental note to butter James up and ask him to accidentally on purpose run into Mary whenever she decided to go on her next vampire hunting trip.

Emily: "So... you've been in high spirits lately."
Mary: "I guess. It must be the holidays."
Emily: "Are you sure it doesn't have something to do with a certain man who's name starts with a 'J'?"
Mary: "Jesus? No, I'm into the purely commercial aspect of Christmas."

Emily sighed and rolled her eyes.

Emily: "You know who I mean."
Mary: "Ridiculous question, ridiculous response."
Emily: "I don't think it's so ridiculous. You two have hardly been hostile at all for a few weeks now."

Mary stepped onto the treadmill and turned it on.

Mary: "You don't really want to start talking about relationships with me, do you?"

Emily felt her heart sink. She did want to talk, and she didn't understand why it was all or nothing with Mary. All she wanted at that moment was a friend who would listen to her and not judge, not make demands.

Emily: "No, I guess not."