Rebekah pulled over in front of the old house settled in the Garden District that Anna shared with a few other younger members of her coven. Taking a deep breath she looked at Rebekah, "I'll uh… be right back…" and Anna stepped from the vehicle.

Taking the steps two by two Anna entered the house. It seemed only one of her roommates was home, "Anna, where have you been?!" Serena stepped out from the kitchen to take a look at who was home.

"Uhm… I…. that's a long story," Anna wimped out and headed for the stairs towards her bedroom.

"Anna!" Serena called after her. Anna could hear her footsteps reach the stairs just as she swung her bedroom door open.

"Anna – what the hell?" Serena demanded, still with a dish and drying towel in her hand.

Anna reached under her bed for her duffle bag.

"Are you leaving?" Serena was desperate for some answers.

Anna nodded, "Yeah…for a bit," she said, throwing her closet doors open and selecting the wardrobe that was to leave with her.

"Where?" Serena asked.

"Uhm…the Mikaelson's?" she replied, not daring to turn around and look her roommate in the eye.

"The MIKAELSON'S?!" Serena grabbed a hold of Anna's shoulder and swung her around, "Anna, tell me you're joking…I mean like, what the hell?!"

But the moment of silence between them answered Serena's question, "Oh my God…. Vincent doesn't know… does he?" Serena's face fell.

Anna shook her head. The rest of her packing went rather quietly – neither knowing what to say to the other. Swinging her fully packed bag over her shoulder, Anna headed for the door.

Serena grabbed her arm, "Anna….don't…you can't go live with vampires…"

"It's too late," Anna admitted, pulling her arm from her friend's grasp. When Anna reached the stairs again Rebekah was waiting on the porch just in front of the door's threshold, "Everything alright?" she asked, looking over Anna's shoulder to her roommate.

"Yeah, I'm ready to go," Anna agreed. And without a look back Rebekah took them from the witch's residence.

"I'm not ready to tell the elders, "Anna said, her stomach churching, a hand to her forehead.

"That's all right then… I wasn't taking you to them anyway," Rebekah took a hard left.

"Where are we going?"

"Shopping. There's a party on Friday and you're to come with us," Rebekah explained.

"Do you think that's a good idea?" Anna inquired.

Rebekah smiled, "Of course I do… Besides, anybody who is anyone around here will be there… all manner of supernatural creatures… it's going to be a blast," she said fondly.

Anna nodded, "I don't think witches are expressly invited… I would've remembered if there was a big party this Friday…"

Rebekah smirked, "Maybe not but you're with us now, sweetheart. And we're always on the guest list."

"Now that I'm sure my coven won't talk to me… it's probably best that I accompany you to the party… who wants to spend their birthday alone anyway?" she mused.

Rebekah's head snapped to her, "It's going to be your birthday?" she asked excitedly. Anna could tell she must not have many friends. Anna smiled kindly, "Yeah…but I'm just turning 23…it's not a big deal…"

"Well we are going to find you the most spectacular dress and you are going to kill it!" Rebekah said surely.

"I would normally doubt it … I mean, I know we just met and all but I'm pretty sure if there was anyone in this city that could make it true… it might just be Rebekah Mikaelson," Anna smiled. If things continued this way, she knew she had a friend in Rebekah and she trusted Elijah…it was just the one she was linked to that remained the wild card.

Rebekah smirked, "Oh sweetheart, you have no idea…"

Anna quickly came to find out that she had never truly been shopping in her life. She'd been doing it wrong. Rebekah worked the stores like she owned them and the staff treated her like she did. Anna tried on some of the most spectacular dresses and it was a few hours until Rebekah chose what Anna could only guess was the perfect dress.

Anna's head was spinning.

As an attendant loaded their purchases into their car Anna looked at Rebekah, "I've barely known your family for 24 hours and you've already bought me a dress that's worth more than everything I own…"

"Better get used to it…. We Mikaelson's have a very high standard for everything we do…" Rebekah and Anna climbed back into the car.

Anna's stomach gave a low rumble.

"Oh my God I've totally forgotten… you should eat something… we'll go to the grocery store…" Rebekah put the car into reverse.

"No, please don't spend anymore of your money on me… if you want to just swing by a fast food joint I'll grab something quick…"

Rebekah gave her a you've got to be kidding me look, "First of all – if I CATCH you eating something so disgusting I swear I'll lock you away in our attic until you swear to never do it again…. And secondly… do you really think I'm doing all of this with my money?" she asked. Her hand dexterously dipped into her purse and pulled out a credit card, flashing it at Anna. The name on the card read Niklaus Mikaelson.

Anna laughed, "Remember that time I have to get your brother to like me? I'm not sure this is going to help…"

"Oh sweet Anna," Rebekah laughed, "You don't realize the advantage you have…. Your witchy spell made you a part of my brother…. And there's no one in this world that Nik loves more than himself."