It had been a month since Laura and Carmilla had gotten engaged. Carmilla waited a week to surprise Laura with her ring, promising her a forever whenever she was ready.

Since finding out that Carter was in fact a dhampyre, Carmilla had been spending a lot of time with JP and LaF. They figured out together that Carter could decide whether or not to stay a dhampyre or become a full vamp once she was older. They also found out that she would soon be able to turn into a panther too. The animal part was specifically made to each bloodline and personality, but because Laura had been human and still iwas/i human, Carter was most likely going to be a panther just like her mommy.

Laura was at work and Carmilla was in her study, finishing up the final pages of a book she was editing. She had set Carter up in the kitchen with her schoolwork for the day. Carmilla had started homeschooling her two weeks after they pulled Carter out of class.

Typing up the last few things she needed, Carmilla felt something smack the back of her leg, followed by what felt like a cat weaving in and around her feet.

Carmilla smiled, shutting her laptop and looked down at a small black panther staring right back at her. "Well hey there bumblebee, I see you figured out how to morph."

At a quiet meow, Carmilla chuckled, standing to her feet and left the study, Carter at her heels. "Finished your homework I hope?"

Carmilla shut the door to her office and grabbed her book from off the kitchen island, making her way up the stairs with Carter right behind her on all fours.

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Laura shut the front door and slipped out of her shoes. The house was quiet, which wasn't all too common. Normally when she came home Carmilla was starting on dinner while Carter talked her ear off at the kitchen table.

She put her bag down and headed up the stairs, hearing the sound of someone talking in her and Carm's bedroom.

Entering the room nearly melted her heart entirely.

Carmilla lay on the bed, reading from her book aloud to a baby panther sucking on Carmilla's hand.

Carmilla didn't even notice her fiancé coming in; she was slowly falling asleep when she heard Laura speak.

"Oh this is one for the photo album." Laura said, holding out her phone to show Carmilla the photo of her with her eyes closed and Carter in her panther form curled into her side.

"It's alright I guess." Carmilla said, downplaying the fact that she actually loved it.

"So she's a panther now." Laura said, leaning over Carmilla to scratch behind Carter's ear, hearing the little girl purr almost immediately.

"It would appear so." Carmilla said, closing her book.