diff --git a/comfy/ldm/lightricks/vae/causal_video_autoencoder.py b/comfy/ldm/lightricks/vae/causal_video_autoencoder.py
index 0504140ef..f7aae26da 100644
--- a/comfy/ldm/lightricks/vae/causal_video_autoencoder.py
+++ b/comfy/ldm/lightricks/vae/causal_video_autoencoder.py
@@ -473,6 +473,17 @@ class Decoder(nn.Module):
 
         self.gradient_checkpointing = False
 
+        # Precompute output scale factors: (channels, (t_scale, h_scale, w_scale), t_offset)
+        ts, hs, ws, to = 1, 1, 1, 0
+        for block in self.up_blocks:
+            if isinstance(block, DepthToSpaceUpsample):
+                ts *= block.stride[0]
+                hs *= block.stride[1]
+                ws *= block.stride[2]
+                if block.stride[0] > 1:
+                    to = to * block.stride[0] + 1
+        self._output_scale = (out_channels // (patch_size ** 2), (ts, hs * patch_size, ws * patch_size), to)
+
         self.timestep_conditioning = timestep_conditioning
 
         if timestep_conditioning:
@@ -494,11 +505,15 @@ class Decoder(nn.Module):
             )
 
 
-    # def forward(self, sample: torch.FloatTensor, target_shape) -> torch.FloatTensor:
+    def decode_output_shape(self, input_shape):
+        c, (ts, hs, ws), to = self._output_scale
+        return (input_shape[0], c, input_shape[2] * ts - to, input_shape[3] * hs, input_shape[4] * ws)
+
     def forward_orig(
         self,
         sample: torch.FloatTensor,
         timestep: Optional[torch.Tensor] = None,
+        output_buffer: Optional[torch.Tensor] = None,
     ) -> torch.FloatTensor:
         r"""The forward method of the `Decoder` class."""
         batch_size = sample.shape[0]
@@ -540,7 +555,13 @@ class Decoder(nn.Module):
             )
             timestep_shift_scale = ada_values.unbind(dim=1)
 
-        output = []
+        if output_buffer is None:
+            output_buffer = torch.empty(
+                self.decode_output_shape(sample.shape),
+                dtype=sample.dtype, device=comfy.model_management.intermediate_device(),
+            )
+        output_offset = [0]
+
         max_chunk_size = get_max_chunk_size(sample.device)
 
         def run_up(idx, sample_ref, ended):
@@ -556,7 +577,10 @@ class Decoder(nn.Module):
                     mark_conv3d_ended(self.conv_out)
                 sample = self.conv_out(sample, causal=self.causal)
                 if sample is not None and sample.shape[2] > 0:
-                    output.append(sample.to(comfy.model_management.intermediate_device()))
+                    sample = unpatchify(sample, patch_size_hw=self.patch_size, patch_size_t=1)
+                    t = sample.shape[2]
+                    output_buffer[:, :, output_offset[0]:output_offset[0] + t].copy_(sample)
+                    output_offset[0] += t
                 return
 
             up_block = self.up_blocks[idx]
@@ -588,11 +612,8 @@ class Decoder(nn.Module):
                     run_up(idx + 1, [sample1], ended and chunk_idx == len(samples) - 1)
 
         run_up(0, [sample], True)
-        sample = torch.cat(output, dim=2)
 
-        sample = unpatchify(sample, patch_size_hw=self.patch_size, patch_size_t=1)
-
-        return sample
+        return output_buffer
 
     def forward(self, *args, **kwargs):
         try:
@@ -1226,7 +1247,10 @@ class VideoVAE(nn.Module):
         means, logvar = torch.chunk(self.encoder(x), 2, dim=1)
         return self.per_channel_statistics.normalize(means)
 
-    def decode(self, x):
+    def decode_output_shape(self, input_shape):
+        return self.decoder.decode_output_shape(input_shape)
+
+    def decode(self, x, output_buffer=None):
         if self.timestep_conditioning: #TODO: seed
             x = torch.randn_like(x) * self.decode_noise_scale + (1.0 - self.decode_noise_scale) * x
-        return self.decoder(self.per_channel_statistics.un_normalize(x), timestep=self.decode_timestep)
+        return self.decoder(self.per_channel_statistics.un_normalize(x), timestep=self.decode_timestep, output_buffer=output_buffer)
diff --git a/comfy/sample.py b/comfy/sample.py
index a2a39b527..e9c2259ab 100644
--- a/comfy/sample.py
+++ b/comfy/sample.py
@@ -64,10 +64,10 @@ def sample(model, noise, steps, cfg, sampler_name, scheduler, positive, negative
     sampler = comfy.samplers.KSampler(model, steps=steps, device=model.load_device, sampler=sampler_name, scheduler=scheduler, denoise=denoise, model_options=model.model_options)
 
     samples = sampler.sample(noise, positive, negative, cfg=cfg, latent_image=latent_image, start_step=start_step, last_step=last_step, force_full_denoise=force_full_denoise, denoise_mask=noise_mask, sigmas=sigmas, callback=callback, disable_pbar=disable_pbar, seed=seed)
-    samples = samples.to(comfy.model_management.intermediate_device())
+    samples = samples.to(device=comfy.model_management.intermediate_device(), dtype=comfy.model_management.intermediate_dtype())
     return samples
 
 def sample_custom(model, noise, cfg, sampler, sigmas, positive, negative, latent_image, noise_mask=None, callback=None, disable_pbar=False, seed=None):
     samples = comfy.samplers.sample(model, noise, positive, negative, cfg, model.load_device, sampler, sigmas, model_options=model.model_options, latent_image=latent_image, denoise_mask=noise_mask, callback=callback, disable_pbar=disable_pbar, seed=seed)
-    samples = samples.to(comfy.model_management.intermediate_device())
+    samples = samples.to(device=comfy.model_management.intermediate_device(), dtype=comfy.model_management.intermediate_dtype())
     return samples
diff --git a/comfy/sd.py b/comfy/sd.py
index df0c4d1d1..1f9510959 100644
--- a/comfy/sd.py
+++ b/comfy/sd.py
@@ -951,12 +951,23 @@ class VAE:
             batch_number = int(free_memory / memory_used)
             batch_number = max(1, batch_number)
 
+            # Pre-allocate output for VAEs that support direct buffer writes
+            preallocated = False
+            if hasattr(self.first_stage_model, 'decode_output_shape'):
+                pixel_samples = torch.empty(self.first_stage_model.decode_output_shape(samples_in.shape), device=self.output_device, dtype=self.vae_output_dtype())
+                preallocated = True
+
             for x in range(0, samples_in.shape[0], batch_number):
                 samples = samples_in[x:x + batch_number].to(device=self.device, dtype=self.vae_dtype)
-                out = self.process_output(self.first_stage_model.decode(samples, **vae_options).to(device=self.output_device, dtype=self.vae_output_dtype(), copy=True))
-                if pixel_samples is None:
-                    pixel_samples = torch.empty((samples_in.shape[0],) + tuple(out.shape[1:]), device=self.output_device, dtype=self.vae_output_dtype())
-                pixel_samples[x:x+batch_number] = out
+                if preallocated:
+                    self.first_stage_model.decode(samples, output_buffer=pixel_samples[x:x+batch_number], **vae_options)
+                else:
+                    out = self.first_stage_model.decode(samples, **vae_options).to(device=self.output_device, dtype=self.vae_output_dtype(), copy=True)
+                    if pixel_samples is None:
+                        pixel_samples = torch.empty((samples_in.shape[0],) + tuple(out.shape[1:]), device=self.output_device, dtype=self.vae_output_dtype())
+                    pixel_samples[x:x+batch_number].copy_(out)
+                    del out
+                self.process_output(pixel_samples[x:x+batch_number])
         except Exception as e:
             model_management.raise_non_oom(e)
             logging.warning("Warning: Ran out of memory when regular VAE decoding, retrying with tiled VAE decoding.")
diff --git a/comfy/sd1_clip.py b/comfy/sd1_clip.py
index d89550840..0eb30df27 100644
--- a/comfy/sd1_clip.py
+++ b/comfy/sd1_clip.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class ClipTokenWeightEncoder:
         out, pooled = o[:2]
 
         if pooled is not None:
-            first_pooled = pooled[0:1].to(model_management.intermediate_device())
+            first_pooled = pooled[0:1].to(device=model_management.intermediate_device())
         else:
             first_pooled = pooled
 
@@ -63,16 +63,16 @@ class ClipTokenWeightEncoder:
             output.append(z)
 
         if (len(output) == 0):
-            r = (out[-1:].to(model_management.intermediate_device()), first_pooled)
+            r = (out[-1:].to(device=model_management.intermediate_device()), first_pooled)
         else:
-            r = (torch.cat(output, dim=-2).to(model_management.intermediate_device()), first_pooled)
+            r = (torch.cat(output, dim=-2).to(device=model_management.intermediate_device()), first_pooled)
 
         if len(o) > 2:
             extra = {}
             for k in o[2]:
                 v = o[2][k]
                 if k == "attention_mask":
-                    v = v[:sections].flatten().unsqueeze(dim=0).to(model_management.intermediate_device())
+                    v = v[:sections].flatten().unsqueeze(dim=0).to(device=model_management.intermediate_device())
                 extra[k] = v
 
             r = r + (extra,)
diff --git a/comfy_api_nodes/apis/gemini.py b/comfy_api_nodes/apis/gemini.py
index 639035fef..22879fe18 100644
--- a/comfy_api_nodes/apis/gemini.py
+++ b/comfy_api_nodes/apis/gemini.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ class GeminiPart(BaseModel):
     inlineData: GeminiInlineData | None = Field(None)
     fileData: GeminiFileData | None = Field(None)
     text: str | None = Field(None)
+    thought: bool | None = Field(None)
 
 
 class GeminiTextPart(BaseModel):
diff --git a/comfy_api_nodes/nodes_gemini.py b/comfy_api_nodes/nodes_gemini.py
index 8225ea67e..25d747e76 100644
--- a/comfy_api_nodes/nodes_gemini.py
+++ b/comfy_api_nodes/nodes_gemini.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ GEMINI_IMAGE_2_PRICE_BADGE = IO.PriceBadge(
       $m := widgets.model;
       $r := widgets.resolution;
       $isFlash := $contains($m, "nano banana 2");
-      $flashPrices := {"1k": 0.0696, "2k": 0.0696, "4k": 0.123};
+      $flashPrices := {"1k": 0.0696, "2k": 0.1014, "4k": 0.154};
       $proPrices := {"1k": 0.134, "2k": 0.134, "4k": 0.24};
       $prices := $isFlash ? $flashPrices : $proPrices;
       {"type":"usd","usd": $lookup($prices, $r), "format":{"suffix":"/Image","approximate":true}}
@@ -188,10 +188,12 @@ def get_text_from_response(response: GeminiGenerateContentResponse) -> str:
     return "\n".join([part.text for part in parts])
 
 
-async def get_image_from_response(response: GeminiGenerateContentResponse) -> Input.Image:
+async def get_image_from_response(response: GeminiGenerateContentResponse, thought: bool = False) -> Input.Image:
     image_tensors: list[Input.Image] = []
     parts = get_parts_by_type(response, "image/*")
     for part in parts:
+        if (part.thought is True) != thought:
+            continue
         if part.inlineData:
             image_data = base64.b64decode(part.inlineData.data)
             returned_image = bytesio_to_image_tensor(BytesIO(image_data))
@@ -931,6 +933,11 @@ class GeminiNanoBanana2(IO.ComfyNode):
             outputs=[
                 IO.Image.Output(),
                 IO.String.Output(),
+                IO.Image.Output(
+                    display_name="thought_image",
+                    tooltip="First image from the model's thinking process. "
+                    "Only available with thinking_level HIGH and IMAGE+TEXT modality.",
+                ),
             ],
             hidden=[
                 IO.Hidden.auth_token_comfy_org,
@@ -992,7 +999,11 @@ class GeminiNanoBanana2(IO.ComfyNode):
             response_model=GeminiGenerateContentResponse,
             price_extractor=calculate_tokens_price,
         )
-        return IO.NodeOutput(await get_image_from_response(response), get_text_from_response(response))
+        return IO.NodeOutput(
+            await get_image_from_response(response),
+            get_text_from_response(response),
+            await get_image_from_response(response, thought=True),
+        )
 
 
 class GeminiExtension(ComfyExtension):
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 0ce163f71..ad0344ed4 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-comfyui-frontend-package==1.41.20
+comfyui-frontend-package==1.41.21
 comfyui-workflow-templates==0.9.26
 comfyui-embedded-docs==0.4.3
 torch