Leila was used to it by now so she didn't even bother commenting, instead waiting for Katherine to be done.

"I'm going to go turn Carlos into a pack mule again."

"Go ahead," Katherine replied. "I'll be ready to go soon."

Leila nodded and went to go round up Carlos again, since all her bags were ready to go. And clearly he was male so he could be used as a pack mule.

Carlos heaved a put-upon sigh as he was made to be the packmule again. At least Katherine and Leila weren't like his sisters. His sisters didn't know the meaning of 'packing light' and never packed fewer than four bags apiece. He muttered thanks under his breath in Spanish to some of the old gods when he remembered that the girls didn't have more than four bags between them.

Leila grinned and let him take care of that, going to check on Katherine again and make sure she was ready to go.

By now, Katherine was just cramming the last of her things into her suitcase.

"Two more minutes," she said as she heard Leila's footsteps. "Then we can tell Uncle we're leaving."

"Alright. I'm going to triple-check that I have everything and then I'll meet you downstairs." Because she knew she'd put some things in another room or two and she didn't want to leave anything behind.

"Meet you there," Katherine said, forcing her suitcase closed. She picked it up easily and did one last check of the room before turning out the lights and closing the door behind her. Then she went to see if Vlad was in his study.

Vlad looked over at her, none the worse for wear from his night spent with the pack.

"Getting ready to leave?" he asked, raising his eyebrows at her. It helped that he'd overheard Carlos earlier.

Katherine nodded.

"I'm betting Carlos booked a flight or two tonight," she said. "I have to admit, he's good at night-travel. It's not so easy as it used to be."

Vlad nodded his agreement. "He's learned how to make the most of his time," he agreed. "He is doing well, for a pup."

Katherine nodded.

"Old enough to sire a fledgeling of his own, if he wanted to," she commented. "I just hope it doesn't end up being Leila."

Vlad raised his eyebrows at her. "Why not?" he asked. "She wouldn't grow old and die, then. You wouldn't have to worry about that." He wasn't saying that Carlos should go turn her, he was just curious why she didn't want Leila turned.

Katherine didn't immediately reply.

"She deserves better than that," she murmured finally.

"Hmm." Vlad looked at her for a few moments before he nodded once, letting her get away with that. "Very well." He paused again.

"I believe the other two are ready to go. I assume you wish for a ride?" His lips twitched, though, betraying his put-upon tone.

Katherine grinned a bit.

"Let it be known you offered first, Uncle," she teased. "A ride would be nice. Be glad I'm not begging for the private plane, too."

Vlad snorted. "You could ask," he said loftily. "Besides, I wasn't offering. I was saving us both the whole discussion."

"I could ask," Katherine agreed. "But I'm one generation too late to be allowed to do that." She knew that it was usually only the first generation who could get away with using Vlad's personal plane outside of desperate situations. "But yes, a ride to the airport would be welcome, if we could."

Vlad nodded. "That won't be a problem," he assured her. "Go finish getting ready before they get anxious." He smiled faintly.

"Thanks, Uncle," Katherine said, kissing his cheek. "And thanks for letting us stay so long."

"It was a pleasure seeing you again, as well as your human companion." Vlad smiled a little and watched her go.

"It was good to be back for a little while," Katherine replied. With that, she went to go find Carlos and Leila again so they could leave.

Leila was lounging in the kitchen, just watching Carlos idly. Because he was having his breakfast and making sure their plans were solid, so she might as well, right?

Carlos was using his phone to double-check their flights. He'd booked two that night, and they had to get going soon to make them. Quickly, he finished his breakfast.

"AB-positive, nectar of the gods," he joked as he put his glass in the sink.

Leila snickered. "Which is your least favorite?" she asked, kind of curious now. She was already ready to go, so she was just waiting on them.