Young Dracula - 'fangtastic' is a great word! And yeah, I will do more Vlad/Ingrid. After this, obviously!

I am so glad even though YD is like, getting older and older and I feel alone in the fandom at times that this story still has readers and that y'all tell me you love it! Seriously, means so much to me!

-YD-

"You are so dead!"

"Nooooo! Mum! Help!"

Vlad couldn't help laughing, even as he marvelled at the vaguely surreal situation where he found himself in Ingrid's house. Again. Either sensing something there, or hoping there was and encouraging it, Sally had invited Vlad over again at the school gates. Nobody seemed to have noticed, and George had been bouncing excitedly at their side, so it might just have looked like Vlad was befriending the young boy.

But there he was, in the living room, watching Ingrid play with her little brother. She was even laughing. Vlad wondered how many people actually got to see her like that, at ease with people she loved.

"What did you do this time George?"

"Wasn't me!"

"George?"

Vlad grinned as Sally bent down to retrieve her squirming son from Ingrid, who rolled her eyes but there was fondness writ across her face. He'd never know this sort of family for himself. Not unless he married someone who wanted to love and raise children into people, not shape spawn into creatures of the night. Not that Vlad considered it likely he'd get bloodbound anyway. Hardly any vamps were like him, and the ones that were got shipped off to boarding schools to be 'fixed' or left to be outcasts of society. He wasn't sure which sounded less appealing, although he supposed being an outcast wouldn't be awful - less time with his grandparents certainly sounded good.

"Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

Ingrid lifted herself from the floor to the sofa, graceful even in what should have been an ungainly ascent. Sally had taken George with her when she left to check on dinner, leaving Vlad and Ingrid alone. With a pointed look that Vlad didn't miss, and even though she wasn't looking Vlad reckoned Ingrid knew the look was happening.

"All gooey. It's bad enough you actually turned up."

She might be a little thawed out when it was just them in his room, hidden away in the tower, but she was still Ingrid and Vlad bit back a sigh, did his best not to feel slighted.

"If you didn't want me here, you would have said so. You'd have told your mother not to ask me here again. By all means, tell me to stop with the goo but don't pretend I'm here against your wishes. You're not that accomodating."

She rolled her eyes again, but didn't argue. George came dashing in, seeming unduly excited by Vlad's presence. Or maybe he was just that energetic at home and he'd been a little shyer last time? Vlad wasn't sure, but it made him smile all the same.

"Mum says lunch is ready, come get it!"

He caught Ingrid rubbing at her jaw before they headed out, felt his face grow warm at the thought of how she usually alleviated her vampire-related issues. Ingrid's face turned curious, head turning toward Vlad and he realised she could hear his pulse rising.

"What's your mum like Vlad?"

"George!"

Offering an innocent look to his mother, George shrugged and smiled.

"What?"

"It's fine. She uh, I don't know her that well. She and my father broke up when I was pretty small, she lives in... Paris, I think? I see her maybe once or twice a year."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

Vlad offered the boy a smile.

"It's fine. Nothing wrong with being curious George."

He giggled at the joke, biting into his sandwich. Whether Ingrid had said she was more into meat than carbs or Sally had simply picked up on what her daughter gravitated towards, she had something different to the rest of them and nobody commented, which made him smile inwardly. His father always pointed out when Vlad was eating something unvampiric.

"Vlad, can I borrow you a second?"

"Uh, sure?"

Ingrid watched in confusion, then suspicion as her mother called Vlad out to the kitchen. He had a feeling he was about to get some kind of 'talk', and he was already panicking.

"Yes Mrs Giles?"

"Oh, Sally, please! I just... I wanted to thank you."

"Oh? What for?"

He shuffled uncomfortably from one foot to the other, unsure what she was aiming at.

"Ingrid. I know she can be... difficult, prickly. You must have the patience of a saint, I'm sure, but she seems... happier. So thank you."

His cheeks felt like they were on fire, flushing brightly as he looked down shyly.

"Oh. Uh. I don't know, my dad makes her look warm and cuddly. But you're welcome."

All he'd done really was tell Ingrid she was a vampire and then fall weak to her charms... nothing he had actually done for Ingrid was something he could share with her mother, really. The VHC request, compiling vampire names and dates, explaining vampirism and the Blood Mirror.

Their clumsy, heated fumbles on his bed weren't exactly a conversation to be having with her mother either, now he thought about it. She undoubtedly suspected there was a budding romance, or at least a crush - according to Ingrid at least, it was all over Vlad's face. Although Sally probably ought to be used to male attention on her daughter. Ingrid certainly knew it was there wherever she went, boys falling over themselves just to walk in her shadow.

She was uncommonly beautiful, even for a vampire; Vlad doubted she'd notice much difference without the pheromones she now released. Helping her draw in prey...

Oh, how Vlad went so willingly.

"Vlad?"

"Sorry, I uh, space out sometimes."

"That's fine. Why don't you take this through when you go back?"

She handed Vlad a plate with cake on, chivvied him toward the door and he went, still bemused and probably still blushing. At least he had something sweet to distract George with, though Ingrid eyed him in a way that said yes, he was definitely still flushed. Vlad hid his face in the cake slice George handed him, waiting for his cheeks to cool off.

"Come on Vlad, I'll give you a lift home."

"Oh, thank you Mrs Giles."

Sally tutted, reiterated to call her Sally again, then very pointedly said she was heading out to the car, leaving Vlad and Ingrid alone as George got up to follow his mother.

"She's really not subtle at alll."

Vlad shrugged, unsure how to respond. Ingrid didn't give him much time to ponder, dragging him to her and kissing him soundly. He could only stare, dazed - it was surprising as anything that she'd done it where they could be caught by her family, and just generally left him reeling.

"Now get out of here. I'll come by tomorrow and we can do the list thing."

They'd gotten... distracted the last couple of times Ingrid had come over to try and do the list. Vlad wondered if the same thing would happen the next time, but time was wearing thin after all. They probably should get to work.

"Yeah. If my dad is sleeping, I'll show you our Blood Mirror. You should know what you're going to see. Any other vamp would have seen it a few times before they were sixteen."

She nodded, then gave him a playful shove.

"Go on. Shoo."

He smiled; it was basically affection from her now. Vlad went out and got into the car with Sally and George, ignoring the curious stares George was giving him. Well, right up until they were at the bottom of the hill up to the castle, when the little boy leant in.

"You have Ingrid's lipstick on your mouth."

Oh, bats. Vlad raised a guilty hand to his mouth, George in fits of giggles as Sally turned from the front, clearly fighting laughter herself.

"I uh..."

"It's fine. You're a nice boy, and Ingrid seems to like you."

"Yeah. Uh. She's not real comfortable with anyone else knowing, especially at school."

"I won't say anything, promise!"

Vlad smiled at the young boy.

"Thank you George. And thank you for the lift home Mrs- Sally."

"Close enough. Enjoy your evening Vlad."

"VLADIMIR!"

He winced; his dad must be up, and probably spotted the strange car from one of the towers. Either that or he'd noticed Vlad had sweets in his room again. He scurried from the car, bidding a hasty goodbye to the breathers.

"Bye Vlad!"

"Bye George."

Heading up the hill, Vlad heard the car pull away, pushing the door open and finding Count Dracula stood pale and imposing - or at least trying to be - in the main room, shutters closed against the late afternoon sun.

"And where have you been? You reek of breather."

"I was... at a girls house."

There was no point lying about it. He still hadn't wiped Ingrid's lipstick from his face. After a few seconds, his fathers face changed.

"Ah, yes, you dark horse! I suppose that's better than just out enjoying the sunshine. Perhaps we should be introducing you to some young vampiresses."

Vlad almost choked.

Oh daddy dearest, you have no idea.

"Uh, maybe in a year or so. When I might have developed some early powers?"

"Hmm. Good point, good point."

While his father was pondering to himself, Vlad managed to slip away. He hoped Ingrid didn't hunt him down and kill him for accidentally outing their... whatever it was to her mother and brother. Even if it was her lipstick that got them caught. Somehow he didn't think she would happily share the blame.

-HTTYD-

Oooft, Sally and Countie almost saw each other. Wouldn't that be terrible...