'Ready?' asks Eric.

'Ready' responds Audrey, '... for what exactly.'

'For dinner of course, you still want me to take you somewhere nice, don't you?'

'Sure thing ... sweetie, just let me change first and we will be ready to rock.'

For a moment, a very brief moment, Eric forgot who it is or what it is that he is dealing with. Eric does not own or possess any female clothing, so he has nothing for Audrey to change into. Audrey does not need a change of clothing. That skimpy red dress that barely hides what it is covering, isn't really a red dress at all; it only appears to be a red dress. With a click of an index finger and a thumb the dress alters and becomes something much more appropriate for dinner at a family restaurant, there is also some relief in this too as Eric is glad that Audrey is not heading out in that red dress.

The dress is not the only thing that becomes altered, hair and make-up alter too, a matching pair of high heeled shoes also magically becomes part of the instant transformation. With what stands close by, it is difficult for Eric to think of Audrey as being anything other than a very attractive woman, though the whole game show host metamorphoses thing which had previously occurred ensures that Eric can keep his own thoughts and emotions in check, for the time being anyway.

Mike and his partner Ellen arrive to the restaurant agreed upon in Eric's phone call to Mike, and they arrive only seconds before Eric and Audrey do. Introductions are made upon entering the establishment soon after which Mike pulls Eric aside.

'Damn man, where did you meet her?'

'Audrey is not a her, Audrey is the house guest I have already told you about, remember?

'Say that again.'

'Audrey kinda has green fingers if you know what I mean.'

'No ...' says Mike with disbelief, indeed knowing or at least assuming to know what Eric is implying.

'Yes ...' says Eric knowing that he got the implication across.

'You're having a laugh, right?'

'If only.'

'Damn, I gotta get me one of those.'

'No, you don't, Ellen is a very fine lady.'

'That she is my friend.'

'Audrey ... well I don't quite know about Audrey just yet ...'

As the two friends speak, a vine extends out from Audrey's back and moved quickly to swipe something edible from a passing waiter's tray. Somehow this went completely unnoticed by anyone and everyone other than Eric and Mike.

'Eric, I didn't just see that did I?'

'If you doubted anything I have ever told you then I guess you have your pudding right here.'

'That's where the proof is or so they say. This evening should be fun to say the least. Hey, just a quick observational question, how do you know that this, whatever it is, hasn't gone all Invasion of the Body Snatchers on you?'

'Oh, I just know, trust me, I got this. We're safe enough pal.'

'Alright, as long as you are sure.'

'I am indeed.'

Almost as soon as the four are seated at a table, Ellen excuses herself saying that she needs to go powder her nose. Being curious, Audrey joins Ellen and the two make their way to the lady's room. Ellen and Audrey stand side by side in front of the large rectangular bathroom mirror. Audrey observes Ellen for a moment as Ellen begins to refresh her make-up.

Something taps Ellen on her left shoulder though Ellen doesn't see what it is that does this. She turns her head to the left and sees no one. As far as Ellen is concern, the tap on her shoulder couldn't have been Audrey as Audrey is standing to Ellen's right and it also appears that the two of them are alone in the room. The tap comes on the left shoulder once again and again Ellen cannot see what it is that does this.

'What was that?' Ellen asks completely turning to her left. 'Did you see something?'

'Like what?' asks Audrey applying lipstick, lipstick snatched from Ellen's handbag when she wasn't looking.

'Never mind.'

The tap to Ellen's left shoulder comes once more for a third and final time. She turns a full three sixty being completely mystified as to what had just happened. During this distraction the lipstick was returned and fairly soon the four are reunited at a restaurant table.

'I just had the strangest of experiences in the bathroom' speaks Ellen upon her return.

The guys dismiss Ellen's statement, reasoning that the strange moment most likely had something to do with Audrey, then there is a slight worry about the exact nature of the spoken of experience. When food arrives, Eric begins to worry a little more, remembering how Audrey was at breakfast time, if this meal is devoured like breakfast was then there would most likely be a bit of a scene.

With their connection being very much active, Audrey senses how Eric feels so with that Audrey once more observes for a moment before beginning to carefully dig into the culinary delights that have arrived.

The rest of the evening goes smoothly. It would be close to eleven o'clock when Eric and Audrey would begin the relatively short walk back home having parted company with Mike and Ellen.

'You miss him, don't you?' asks Audrey.

'Miss who?'

'Shawn, your childhood best friend.'

'Shawn Matthews, now there is a name I haven't heard in a very long time.'

'But you think of him quite a bit, almost every other day in fact.'

'Yeah, and if anyone knows that about me, I suppose it would be you.'

'It wasn't your fault you know?'

'I know but still ...'

The rest of the journey soon passes and as it did not another word would be spoken. Fairly soon it is once again morning. What Eric sees upon opening his eyes ... well let's just say it is quite a shocking moment to say the least.