Spread across the sofa in the Boarding House, Ana sighed when she heard Damon open up the front door, his deep voice groaning "What do you want?"

"We didn't finish our conversation." The familiar voice of John could be heard by Ana's vampire hearing, and she shoved her face into a pillow and grunted, hoping the older Jonathan would just go away.

Ana didn't hear what Damon replied, only hearing the heavy footsteps of Jonathan Gilbert as he marched into the house, towards where Ana was splewed comfily in the lounge, a glass of whiskey in her hand. "Hello, Jonathan, how horrible it is to see your smug face again." Ana greeted sarcastically, not looking around to the man and, instead, continuing to sip on her alcohol.

"Ana." John greeted, turning back to Damon with professional manners, a little unusual for the Gilbert. "I've been thinking-"

"Ooh, how dangerous." Ana chuckled, laughing at John's frustrated look and Damon's light smirk.

Huffing deeply, John continued, after giving the youngest Petrova a pointed look, "Personal feelings aside, Damon, I think you Stefan and, as difficult as it is for me to admit this, Ana will do all you can to protect Elena."

"I agree with that statement." Damon added, narrowing his eyes, trying to figure out what Jonathan Gilbert's plan was.

Happy with that response, John replied "So I come bearing gifts."

At the sound of gifts, Ana leaped from the armchair with a grin, looking at some items that John unwrapped from a cloth. A frown covering her face, Ana muttered "Wow, John, you shouldn't have. Really."

"What the hell is that?" Damon demanded in agreement with Ana, squaring his shoulders at the mysterious weapons that John had shown them.

A smug look on his face, John said "This is how you kill an Original. In this vial is ash from a white oak tree that dates back to the genesis of the Originals. The dagger must be dipped into the ash and then plunged into their heart."

Snatching the weapon from John, Damon raised an eyebrow at Ana as he inspected the weapon, like he was asking for advice with whether Jonathan was really telling the truth. Ana just shrugged.

"How do you know all this, John?" Damon demanded, handing the weapon to Ana to temporarily keep a hold of.

"Isobel." John responded, smiling slightly. "She's very good at finding out things. But of course you know that."

Looking at John with an intense gaze, Damon asked "Where is Isobel?"

"Let's just say if she accomplishes what she's attempting, Klaus will never set foot in Mystic Falls." John looked between both vampires, seemingly pleased with whatever Isobel's trying to do. "Where Elena's concerned, we are on the same side."

As John turned to leave the Boarding House, Ana turned to Damon, mischief glinting in her brown eyes.

★·'¯'·★

"Cheers, partner." Ana clinked her glass with Damon's led across the lounge sofa with him only inches away. "It seems we've had yet another win."

"I suppose you could say that." Damon mustered, smirking at Ana. The eldest Salvatore put his glass down and leaned towards Ana, his blue eyes glinting as he whispered "You know, you're not half as bad as Katherine. Has anyone ever told you that?"

Shaking her head with a coy smile, Ana breathed "Well, I've got a confession, too. Has anyone ever told you that you're the better Salvatore?"

"Many people, actually." Damon murmured, sliding towards the youngest Petrova and snaking his arm around her waist, their faces so close that Ana could feel Damon's hot breath against her face, making the female vampire's cheeks flush.

"Damon." Ana began, clearly very deep in thought. "I can see you like Elena, it's no secret. So why haven't you made a move yet?"

Smirking down at the black-haired girl, Damon whispered "And I know you still like little Klaus, so why haven't you made a move yet? Huh?"

Feeling defensive at the mention of her ex-fiance, And stiffened slightly, about to sit up on the sofa. "That's not your business."

"Please Ana, it's no secret." Damon chuckled, toying with Ana's words from earlier. "But, face it, you're an official member of the Scooby gang. There's little chance of you running back to Klaus after being with us for so long. Just admit it Ana, you might actually like us."

"I have no loyalties." Ana lied from the tip of her tongue, though relaxing into the half sunken couch. "But, as much as I hate to admit it... I don't quite mind the Scooby gang."

"Good." Damon whispered, "Because it's my intention to make you stay here. In Mystic Falls. I haven't met anyone for quite some time that seems so careless, yet protective at the same time. You amaze me, Ana Petrova."

And as much as Ana wouldn't admit it, she was slightly tempted by his offer to stay. If not for the idea that Klaus was on his way and that she might finally get her happily ever after, after all.

★·'¯'·★