It's one-two-three and suddenly

I see it at a glance

She's radiant

And confident and born to take this chance.

I taught her well.

I planned it all!

I just forgot...

Romance...

Sido, how could you do this?

How will we get through this?

I never should have let them 'dance...'

~ Edit of Learn to Do It (Waltz Reprise) – Anastasia Film [1997]

-o-

Chapter 38: Her Kiss was the Sweetest

Her kiss was the sweetest he had ever experienced so far in their relationship.

There was so much emotion behind her embrace, so much yearning, as her lips danced against his own. His arms had tightened around her waist before she had pulled away and placed her hands over his. "Come with me."

She pulled Bruce's arms from around her waist but held onto his hands, the look of longing on her face cramping down any questions he had. She kept hold of his hands as she pulled him out of Jenn's room and down the corridor, in the opposite direction of where they normally walked to reach the kitchens. Ana knew these corridors by heart and she led Bruce down one corridor and another before she reached a heavy oak door that had no door knobs and only a security panel imbedded in the wall on the right hand side.

Ana reached out and pressed her hand against the panel. It scanned her hand print and beeped in recognition. The oak door unlocked and Ana pushed against it to show a corridor that Bruce had not seen yet. It resembled the rest of the house but Bruce knew that this was a place hardly used aside from Ana and her family. Along the walls, Bruce could see various pictures of Sido, Jenn, and Ana, all at various stages of their lives. All looking happy, sad, hopeful... Toward the end of the corridor, Ana stopped before a large portrait held in a gilded frame. It was of a family that no longer existed. Bruce could see that the handsome middle-aged couple were of Sido and Jenn's parents. The younger versions of Sido and Jenn were easily the spitting image of their mother yet had their father's eyes.

Bruce could see the sad look upon Ana's face before she turned away from the picture and pulled Bruce down a short hallway and toward another oak door. This one had a regular doorknob and it was not locked as Ana twisted the door knob with ease. It opened out and Ana led him outside to a private garden. There were various hedges, bushes and seasonal flowers that were in full bloom all around. The path Ana led him down was tiled brick and the sound of their shoes could be heard thumping against the surface.

The vegetation was becoming thicker the further they went until the villa could no longer be seen. The path curved into a little thicket of trees and the sound of gushing water could be heard ahead. Bruce was greeted by the sight of a small pond with fountain spouting water from the very center. Lily pads floated serenely across its surface, the ripples distorting the reflection of the coming dawn above.

Ana had come to a stop at the edge of this pond and released Bruce's hand. She gazed at the rippling surface of the water, not saying a word as Bruce studied her beneath the dim light of the early morning. He swallowed back the lump in his throat as he moved to stand next to her. "Ana?"

"This was my sanctuary," she began, her brown eyes studying the fountain. "Before I met you, I was always so close to the edge... One small thing could set me off in a heartbeat and Cin would react to the perceived threat." She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I was kept here during those times to protect my family and the people who worked for us... I was safe and it was quiet... But I was always alone."

She kneeled at the edge and reached out to run her fingers over the surface of the water. "This garden is enclosed from the outside world. The walls are too high for any wanderer to climb over, security had always been tight and Cin... Mon dieu, she did not want to escape..."

"You've always been on the run," Bruce said gently, frowning lightly in confusion. "Why did you leave this place if you were safe?"

Ana frowned as she pondered the answer to that. After a moment, she glanced at Bruce. "I didn't want to be safe all the time. I wanted to live. I wanted to experience a normal life." She looked away again and continued to run her fingers over the water. "Despite what I am, I still had that dream of wanting to be a regular person... Mama didn't agree but she understood. So, we traveled despite the risks, searching for a way to cure what I was. One day, I will pay the price for making such a such a selfish decision." Her fingers paused in their movements and such a haunted look appeared in those brown orbs. "Those lives I had taken... I should have remained hidden. They would have remained alive."

Bruce understood well enough the guilt she carried but he was selfish enough to feel a flare of anger at her. He crouched down next to her and took a hold of her face, turning it gently so that she could look him in the eye. "Then we wouldn't have met... We would have never-" He stopped himself from saying the words. "I love you and I'm selfish to admit that. But no matter the mistakes we both made in the past, our paths had crossed here and now. I'm thankful for each and every moment I have with you Ana."

A soft laugh escaped from her, a sob mixing in with the sound. "This is what I am talking about. You come into my life with your shy smile and kind eyes. You've been nothing but supportive and... you've done so much for Jenn. I feel as if I'm not giving you enough in return."

"Ana, you're all-"

She cut him off with a sweet kiss, her hands gripping the nape of his neck tightly. She broke away from the kiss and pressed her forehead tightly against his. "Show me what you truly want... Show me what I can give to you."

"Ana I don't-"

The grip on the back of his neck tightened and Bruce could feel the sudden intense heat coming from her touch. Several pin pricks could be felt against his skin and Bruce's heart gave a sudden lurch in response. "Ana, what are you doing?" He reached up to take hold of her hands to try to pull them from his neck but her grip was too strong.

Ana was rocking her forehead back and forth against his, her eyes moving from side to side behind her closed lids, looking as if she were reading something. It was but a moment later that her eyes snapped open and she looked into Bruce's gentle brown eyes, awe and love shining in her own. The intense heat faded from her hands and Bruce was finally able to remove them.

"What was that?" he asked, a part of him panicking slightly. Of course, he knew a part of Ana was truly alien. That had never bothered him but the feel of those pin pricks against the back of his neck. It was like she was trying to merge with him. "Ana?"

"I'll try," was all she said as she reached up to brush his hair from his brow. "I'll try. I can't promise it will work."

"Ana, I don't understand," he said. "What are you talking about?"

"Hulk," whispered Ana and she pushed Bruce back to the ground, knocking him over from his crouched position. "He needs to be aware. Cin needs him. I need you. We need you both. Maybe it will work this way..."

The tightness in his chest at the sound of the Hulk's name meant that the Other Guy had heard his woman's call. Bruce tried to clamp down on the sudden possessive conscience that was emerging from the depths. "Ana I can't change here so close..."

"Not change," said Ana as she began to kiss him, her nimble hands already working on the buckle of his belt. "Just be aware of him." She pulled away to look at him and Bruce could see the slightest yellow glow in her eyes. The red veins in the sides of her neck had darkened but there was no anger or rage there, simply the purest love that Bruce had ever seen in her eyes. "Can you feel him? Is he aware?"

Bruce closed his eyes at the feel Ana's hands undoing his slacks, his body was already responding to her touch. He did not see the slight patches of green that appeared on his hands or the sides of his own neck. When he opened his eyes to look at her, they were that beautiful shade of green when the desire became too much. "He's... there. He's not trying to come out but... I can feel him."

Seeing the patches of green on his skin, Ana pulled away to pull off her shirt and bra, glancing at the red veins on her abdomen that were glowing with subdued heat. She could always sense Cin when she was close to Bruce. This time though... This time was different. She could feel the heat pulsing in her womb, a different sort of heat that was in no way connected to want...

This time their joining had not been a mad desire or a calm love. This was completely different. A merging of the two in the hopes of forming one...

-0-

A month had passed since that unexpected joining in the private garden of the Dupont Villa.

The group had returned to Stark Tower with Sido and Jenn in tow. She was enjoying her new-found freedom in her own suit and the moment she had connected directly to JARVIS it was as if had been meant to be. Jenn had never been more in love with a computer than she had at that moment. The sheer power of Jarvis' system was immense. For a hacker like Jenn, it was heaven.

Shortly after that, SHIELD had then been contacted directly by Jenn as a way of introducing herself, Sido, and the corporation that they ran to protect Ana. Now that things had changed drastically it was time to come out into the open. At least by SHIELD's standards.

Fury had not been happy when he found out the reasoning behind the mysterious blank spots that had been in regards to Anamaria Brandt. He would have taken it as direct breach in national security and demanded the arrest those women. If Agent Coulson had not kindly stated that if it were not for those people, he would not have been alive today to continue enjoying his job.

Hesitance was all there was on Fury's part but the fact that Jennifer Dupont was willing to offer her services to SHIELD should they be in need, was what kept him from acting on anything. Since she was now contracted with Stark Industries, who was the reason for current state of existence, her obligation was to them first.

It took some delicate negotiating but eventually the two separate parties were able to come to an agreement.

And it was at this stage in the game that Thor, Bruce and Ana were making preparations for their trip to Asgard...

-0-

"My friend, we will be leaving soon. You will be by your mate's side. Why do you seem so sad? This is a happy occasion!"

Bruce looked at the large blond as the Asgardian slapped a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not sad," said Bruce in reply as he glanced back at his woman, who was talking to Betty and Pepper. They were all standing in the living area of Tony's personal apartments in Stark Tower. Everyone had gathered together to see Bruce and Ana off as they prepared for their trip to Asgard.

"I'm just... worried." He frowned lightly, unsure about where these feelings were coming from. Ever since that day in the garden, he'd been feeling more attuned to Ana's state of being. There was something... different. She didn't look different, act different or sound different. But there was something...

"You worry too much," said Thor, slapping another hand down on his shoulder as he let loose a hearty laugh. "Things will be fine. To be honest my friend, I cannot wait to return to Midgard after this mission is complete. I will finally be free to find my Jane."

Bruce allowed a smile to appear at this, glancing back at Thor, whose blue eyes were gazing off into the distance. Every since they had returned from France, Thor has spoken nonstop of finding the woman he had fallen in love with over a year ago. He had promised he would come back for her and now he would keep that promise...

He was distracted by the feel of a very warm body against his, warm arms wrapping around his waist. He returned the embrace and lightly kissed the copper brown curls that were currently tucked against the crook of his neck. "Hey."

"Hm," was all Ana said in reply, seeming content to just be held. Thor smiled at the two of them before leaving them to their privacy.

"Are you feeling all right?" he asked, moving his head slightly to try to get a look at her.

"I'm... happy," said Ana, not looking at him though her arms tightened around him. "I'm very happy... and scared." She laughed at this and finally pulled away slightly to look up at the good doctor. "This trip is going to change things, isn't it?"

Bruce studied her face before sighing heavily and planting a firm kiss against her brow. "It will," he said in agreement. "But you need to know about Cin's past. If this is the only way to do it then I'll be right there with you."

A small smile played on her lips before she hid her face within the crook of his neck again. She held him firmly and sighed heavily, wondering if the changes she was already feeling were hinting at something to come.