Take it easy, put the gun down and reassure her

"Look," I said with a reassuring smile, "I'm on your side. I'm here to help. I want to protect you."

Eyes wide with surprise and dawning understanding, Lucy nodded; "Yeah..." it sounded like the penny had droppped.

I removed my gun and placed it on the bedside table. "I think the expression 'make love not war' might well have been conjured up to help good people like us."

I moved to sit on the edge of her bed. Lucy didn't back away. She looked me in the eyes and said, "Yeah... maybe. Um. You're a... you're a professional? Aren't you?"

This time it was up to me to nod and say, "Yeah."

Lucy's eyes moved to my gun. "Gosh," she said, "That's real..." and she reached out to touch it.

"Careful with that," I said as she picked up the gun to examine it.