There was a small, slightly rundown cafe down the street and Jeremy was starving. Swinging his camera bag onto his other shoulder, he headed into the little shop. He sat down at an empty table near the window and stared out the grimy window.

"Can I help you, sir?" asked a female voice in rather halting Russian.

He quickly ordered and equally halting Russian, still watching something outside the window. About ten minutes later, a steaming plate was set before him. He glanced up at the waitress and was shocked at what he saw. "Annie?!"

"Huh?" The girl took a step back.

"Annie! I had no idea that I would run into you...here of all places..."

"Who...?" She squinted. "J-Jeremy?"

He laughed. "Yes..." He started to hug her, but she stepped back. "It's good to see you."

"You too," she said belatedly.

"I thought you would have gone home already, Annie."

"My name is Ann."

He blinked a bit. "I'm sorry... Well... I thought you would have went home..."

"The place I was staying burned down. I lost my papers and they wouldn't let me leave," she stated dryly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work, or I'll lose my job."

"Ann..." He frowned a bit.

A man in the back started yelling in Russian.

"Goodbye, Jerry," she said, hurrying to the back.

Jeremy's frown deepened. He sat back down and finished his food, deciding right then that he was going to stick around until she got off that night.

"Who is that man who keeps looking at you?" asked Ann's coworker, Ekaterina.

Ann sighed. "A friend of my brother..."

She smiled. "He is very handsome."

Ann nodded and brushed the hair from her face with the back of her hand.

"Too bad about that hand, though..." Ekaterina said.

"What hand?!"

Ekaterina nodded to him.

The owner of the cafe started yelling again.

"You better leave Ann. Your shift is over," Ekaterina said.

Ann nodded and took off her worn apron. "Good night."

Jeremy stood up as she headed for the door. "Can I walk you home?" he asked.

"If you must," she said.

He frowned a bit. "What's wrong?"

"I'm just tired, Jeremy."

He nodded a bit. "How've you been?"

"I was doing well until the war broke out," she said.

He frowned a bit wryly. "Yes... that would put a damper on things. How long have you been working at that cafe?"

"About two years. Momma and Daddy don't know and I would like to keep it that way," she snapped.

"Easy, easy... I was just trying to make chitchat..."

They walked in silence for several minutes. She glanced down at the hand that Ekaterina had mentioned.

He caught her glance. "You're wondering what happened?"

She shrugged a bit.

"Nick bought an automobile...taught me to drive it. First time out alone I wrecked it..."

She winced a bit. "Ouch."

"It doesn't hurt so bad anymore...except when it's about to rain...of course it kept me out of the war..."

"What are you doing now?"

"I'm working as a photographer...and correspondent..."

"Oh..."

"Are you still dancing?"

"No, the building burned."

"Couldn't you find another company?"

"No," she said curtly and left it at that.

"Do you always walk this far by yourself after dark?"

"Sometimes. Other times Ekaterina gets off at the same time, so we walk back together."

"It's not safe, Annie. Even for two women."

"My name is Ann!"

Jeremy shook his head and glanced off.

She sighed. "I haven't gotten a letter from home since the war broke out. How are things?"

"Last I heard they had just gotten word that Jackson was injured."

She frowned. "Is Jackson all right?"

"According to Joey, Spot was trying to find out exactly what happened. But that was about a month ago. Say, did you know that Marty and Jackson got married?"

She blinked. "What? No!"

"Shocked everyone. It seems they ran off and eloped. About seven months ago. Jackson got drafted a couple days later."

"Wow... I never would have thought that."

"If Joey's to be trusted, they'll be parents in about two months."

"Oh my gosh... And I heard nothing."

"Like you said...it's hard to get mail through. The only reason I do, is because I have connections."

She nodded a bit. "That's true..."

"Is this where you live?" he asked, looking at the dilapidated building they had stopped in front of.

"Yes..."

"Annie!"

"Well what do you expect? I don't make all that much money at the cafe...there is a war going on after all. And don't call me Annie!"

He sighed. "Sorry. I'm sorry."

"Goodnight...and goodbye," she said, waltzing into the building.

"Ann..."

She paused. "What?"

"Do you mind... if I stop by tomorrow?"

"I have to work."

"All day and night?"

"Yes," she answered a little too quickly.

"Well then, perhaps I'll stop by for lunch."

"Don't bother. I won't have time to talk to you," she said, tossing her head and closing the door in his face.

Jeremy huffed. "Well then..."

Ann hurried up the stair to her fourth floor room and glanced out the window. She was surprised to see Jeremy still standing there. She huffed and turned from the window. If he wanted to stand there all night, it was his own business.

Jeremy stood in place for a good while. How could she be so stubborn? And so bitter?

"Women!" he muttered. Sighing, he shoved his hands in his pockets and walked away.

Moments later, Ann glanced out the window again and watched him leave. Feeling lonely, she threw herself on her bed and cried herself to sleep.

The next day was gloomy and rainy, making business sluggish at the little corner cafe.

Annie was washing down the tables when the door opened and a man rushed in out of the rain. She called out a greeting in Russian.

The man nodded. "Hello to you too."

She huffed. "I thought I told you not to bother?"

"What? I'm not allowed to eat?"

"Why won't you just leave me alone?!"

"I'm hungry! What's your problem?"

The man in the back of the cafe started yelling in Russian. Annie turned and yelled back in her limited Russian. After a few minutes she turned and glared at Jeremy. His brow lifted. "What was that all about?"

"You got me fired!" she snapped, tossing her apron aside and heading for the door.

"Aren't you going to get your jacket?"

"I don't have one!"

Jeremy shed his. "Here. Take mine then."

"I don't want it," she said, heading out into the rain.

Jeremy ran after her and put the coat around her shoulders.

"Will you stop it!?" she trilled.

"Do you treat all your customers like this?" he asked.

"I haven't had any customers that get on my nerves the way you do..."

"You got yourself fired, you know. You could have just showed me to a table and brought me a glass of water, but no- you had to scream and carry on like you were five years old."

"You could have stayed away like I told you to."

"I was hungry, it was near!"

She sighed. "Come on. I've got some stuff up in my room."

He gave her a surprised look. "You mean you're actually letting me come up?"

"Momma would have my hide if she knew how I was acting..."

Jeremy nodded in agreement. He followed her up four flights of steep, dark stairs. "You live... far up," he wheezed.

"It's cheap," she said, unlocking a door at the front of the building.

"So how has Russia been for you?"

"It was wonderful until the fire. I got to meet the Tsar and Tsarina...and the Grand Duchesses..."

"And you can't get out because your papers burned... hmmm..."

She opened the door and walked inside. He hesitantly followed her, taking in the room in a single glance. In the corner was a pile of quilts and pillows that he assumed was her bed. Three crates near the wood-burning stove served as table and chairs. He pulled his eyes away so she wouldn't notice him staring.

She moved over to the stove. "I don't have much. Just some bread that's starting to get stale...and some ham..."

"It's fine."

As she put together the simple meal, he noticed the clothes she was wearing. They were little more than rags. Another dress hung on a nail on the wall and it was in worse shape than the one she had on. Her shoes looked about ready to fall apart. Her beautiful hair was matted and filthy. He frowned slightly. He reached out to her and then stopped.

She turned and set the single plate on one of the crates. "Eat up."

He sat down and ate politely.

"I bet Sammy and Joey are giving Momma and Daddy fits..." she said.

"That's what I heard last," he said with a smile.

"Promise me that you won't tell them about this in your next letter..."

"They deserve to know, Ann..."

"I'm doing alright on my own, thank you."

"It doesn't look like it," Jeremy said bluntly.

"I'm getting by!"

Jeremy harrumphed.

Ann stood and busied herself around the little room.

He watched her for a while, frowning faintly. "I don't mean to upset you, Ann... but they all miss you back home. They really do."

"Don't you think I miss them?!"

"Well of course you do!" He paused. "Why... don't I help you get home?"

"I've asked around. It takes more money than you or I can make in ten years."

"Well, I'll think of something. I'll smuggle you out if I have to."

"Thank you, but no. You don't need to be doing anything to get yourself in trouble..."

"What if I want to?"

"If you can find a way to do it without getting yourself into any trouble...I'll think about it..."

He smiled. "There's a girl."

She gave him a slight smile.

"Ann..."

"What?"

"I have to leave town for a couple of weeks...but I will come back for you."

She frowned a bit.

"Be careful," she said, softly.

"I will." He cast a wistful glance at her and then headed out the door.

She sighed and walked over to the window.

"Sleep tight," he called from the ground below. She lifted her hand to wave at him. He returned the wave and, turning, shuffled off through the rain.