A/N: I'm planning on updating once a week, but there's been so much response to this story already and I had to give you all an update. This site won't let me view the four reviews I've already received, but I read them via the email alerts and thank you all so much! And also a big thank you to everyone who followed and favorited!

You meet the rest of the Avengers in this chapter (minus one) and I've been trying so hard to keep them in character. If you have any advice, I'm all ears! The only two who may seem especially OOC are Steve and Bucky, but there's a reason for that, and it will be explained later.

Lastly, I desperately need some nicknames Tony can call Beth! I'm having a hard time coming up with anything other than 'Blondie', and really want some Australia-related ones (you'll understand why in this chapter). Help? And if you have any names he could call the other characters too (especially Steve and Bucky), that'd be great! I really suck at nicknames.

Anyway, on with the story! I hope you like this chapter :)

Chapter Two

Soulmates

Tony just stared at me with amusement, not making a move to help me up. I refrained from giving an exasperated sigh and settled for rolling my eyes instead.

"I don't know if you think I'm a threat or whatever," I bit out, trying to stay calm. My body being this weak and useless was beginning to freak me out. "But honestly, I can barely move a muscle right now, and I would rather not spend any more time on the ground… And Pepper doesn't look like she could be of much help to me."

I glanced at the red-haired woman who stood several feet away, unsure and keeping her distance. She didn't look offended by my statement, but I shot her an apologetic smile anyway. She wasn't my favorite character but that didn't mean I didn't like her.

"Did you just insult my girlfriend?" Tony asked, eyebrows raised though I knew he wasn't angry or anything. Neither of them seemed shocked that I knew her name, but it wasn't like she wasn't well known in the Marvel world.

"No, but I'll insult you in a minute if you don't help me up."

"Well, if you were actually nice, I might've helped you up already."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot I was talking to Tony Stark." I grumbled, feeling more agitated by the second. "The nicest and most selfless man in the world, who deserves the utmost respect. My bad."

"Oh, I like her," came yet another familiar voice, as two silent figures entered my field of vision and obviously Stark's, because his head snapped up to glare at them.

"Can you two not sneak up on us?" He snapped. "It's like you both just want to show off."

The new arrivals were Clint and Natasha, the former of which just shrugged and leaned against the railing next to some stairs, while the latter stared at me with the world's greatest poker face. I knew she was assessing me, and I really hoped she would come to the conclusion that I was harmless, because I didn't want to be locked up somewhere for God knows how long.

"Sir," began Jarvis, "Mr Banner has declined to make an appearance, Mr Odinson will be here shortly, followed by Mr Rogers and Mr Barnes, who were just sparring in the gym and said they'd like to get cleaned up first."

"Okay, tell them to hurry it up. Did you locate the energy source?"

"Not yet, sir, but I believe I'll have the answer in just a few minutes."

Tony nodded absently, and I only then noticed something strange on the inside of his right wrist. It was a solid circle, the color of which was a shade of blue almost exactly like a non-glowing version of the arc reactor in his chest.

He smirked when he realized what I was staring at. "Yeah, I'm taken. Sorry sweetheart."

"What…?" I trailed off, thoroughly confused. I knew he was taken. Even if I hadn't have already known all about Tony because of the movies, he'd also mentioned Pepper was his girlfriend a minute ago. What the weird tattoo had to do with that was beyond me.

Walking back over to Pepper, Tony picked her arm up and showed me her wrist.

"Tony!" Pepper shot him a glare and yanked her arm back, but not before I saw the exact same circle on her wrist.

"See? Taken."

"I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean, but okay."

Pepper was looking at me strangely, and was about to say something when she was interrupted, much like Tony had been by Clint.

"Is this the girl? She doesn't look like a threat." A deep voice stated, and within the next second, a blonde man with a handsome face was in my view. Thor's large form was bent over at the waist, observing me with interest much like Tony had. But, more importantly, with a friendly smile. "Who are you, strange mortal? And where are you from? I have not heard an accent like yours on Midgard before."

"Well, that's probably because you've never met an Australian before." I said, smiling happily up at the man, glad someone was being nice. I lifted a hand towards him despite my muscles screaming in protest. "Anyway, I'm Beth. Could you please help me up? I feel like I've been hit by a truck and nobody else seems like they want to help."

"Of course, Lady Beth." Thor grinned, then grabbed hold of my outstretched hand and pulled me so I was standing. But when he let go, my legs turned to jelly and I started to collapse with a yelp of surprise. Thor managed to catch me, and turned to stare at Tony in question.

"Just stick her on the couch," he muttered, pointing to one of the sleek leather lounges that sat in a loose square-formation around a couple of glass coffee tables.

The Asgardian nodded, then picked me up like a ragdoll and quickly plopped me down on the couch in a sitting position. I was grateful he did, because suddenly being able to see straight already had my headache receding into a dull ache that I could easily ignore.

"Thanks, and please just call me Beth." I said, sinking comfortably into the buttery leather. I let out a hum of appreciation. "This is much better than the floor."

I decided to take a few moments to look around. Close to wear I sat were sculptures in glass cases, and there some lamps scattered on side tables between the lounges. To my left was what looked like a lab behind a glass wall, straight ahead was a bar and elevator, and to my right were floor-to-ceiling windows that showed the most gorgeous city view.

But what really made this room stand out were the random stairs that lead to and from platforms of different heights. It was all open, so anybody on the higher platforms would be able to have a good view of whoever was in the living area below. Right now, that would be me.

Thor nodded, his smile still in place. "You're welcome, Beth." He turned to Tony, and I noticed that Pepper had left the room. "Tell us what happened."

I perked up, interested in what Tony had to say. I knew what had happened to me, obviously, but I had no idea how it looked to anyone else.

"There was a flash of light in the middle of the air, and she fell from it." He pointed to where I'd been laying just a minute ago. "Right on her face."

The assassin and archer listened quietly to what Tony said, as did Thor, who turned back to me. "Now, you tell us what happened. How did you get here?"

Opening my mouth to reply, I quickly shut it when I realized that not everyone was here, and I didn't want to repeat my story more than I had to. "I can wait for Bruce to find out later if he's not coming, but shouldn't we wait for Steve and Bucky?" I glanced down and looked at the metallic shield on my hoodie, and was hit by the sudden realization that I wasn't wearing a bra.

Yep, just socks, underpants, and my hoodie. And I was meeting the Avengers. Horrifying, really.

"Why do you talk about us like you know us?" Clint questioned. He sounded more curious than concerned, but Natasha was still silent beside him and that unnerved me.

"I guess I can tell you that too." I muttered. I wasn't entirely sure if I should tell them, but I'd already slipped up and they were bound to find out eventually. "But only when the others get here."

"We're here now." A voice announced. "Who are you?"

"Beth, also known as the 0-8-4 that just appeared in this room." I turned my head to the left to see two tall and incredibly well built men make their way over from some stairs: one blonde, one brunette, and both with striking blue eyes.

And when those two sets of gorgeous blue eyes met mine, something in me seemed to click into place, like I was a puzzle that had just been completed for the first time. And then there was a burning sensation on my right wrist, making my eyes snap away from their gorgeous faces.

"Ow, what the fuck!" I cried, clasping a hand over my burning wrist as if it would make the pain go away. I looked up to see everyone staring at me in shock, except for the two super soldiers, who were also looking down at their own wrists with an emotion I couldn't quite identify.

The burning started fading away, and examining my wrist, I almost choked at what I saw. There, like the circle on Tony's and Pepper's wrists, was a solid star that was white rather than sky blue.

Steve and Bucky held their wrists out, staring at the same white mark, then at each other, and then at me. Everyone else was still as a statue, unsure of themselves.

"Okay, can somebody tell me what the hell just happened?" I demanded, my voice wavering slightly. I'd just been painfully sucked into what could only be the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and now a white star tattoo had burned itself onto my wrist because I made eye contact with two men who were definitely more attractive in person.

What. The. Fuck.

Hearing my distress, Steve and Bucky came rushing over, sitting on either side of me on the lounge. Steve brushed some of my messy blonde bangs away from my face, while Bucky held my right hand in his human one, observing the new mark and comparing it to his own. Their behavior was confusing, to say the least.

Why was Steve being so affectionate with a woman he'd never met before? And Bucky as well, for that matter.

"It's okay, Beth, we're here. You're safe." Steve reassured me, and while I did strangely feel safe and comfortable near him, I was still confused and starting to get freaked out again.

I shook my head softly and bit my lip. "You don't understand. I have no idea what's going on and I need someone to explain it all before I go insane."

"She's right," Natasha said, speaking for the first time. "She had no idea what Tony and Pepper's marks meant. I'd say that wherever she came from is somewhere soulmates don't exist."

"Soulmates?" I shrieked. My head snapped between Steve and Bucky too fast, my neck muscles protesting the movement.

Bucky gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Yeah, soulmates. Never thought I'd get one, to be honest."

"But you did." Steve stared intensely over my head at his best friend, before smiling down at me. His smile widened when he saw his shield on my hoodie. "It was definitely meant to be."

Following his gaze, Bucky smirked. "Definitely."

Okay. Wow. This couldn't be happening. Could it? I mean, everything was far too good to be true. And then it hit me - it really was too good, and I must've been dreaming. This whole time I thought it was real, when it was just my subconscious concocting an ideal situation to cheer me up from my real life woes.

I started laughing, the movement hurting my sore ribs but I didn't care. "This all makes so much sense now." I breathed out through the giggles, and looked over at Steve with a grin when he playfully tugged on a lock of my hair.

"What makes sense?" He asked, eyes alight with amusement at my sudden outburst.

My giggles faded, but I kept a smile on my face. "That this is all a dream, of course. A damn good dream."

He and Bucky shared yet another glance over my head, before turning back to me. Both of them had their eyebrows drawn together and lips pursed, staring down at me with concern.

"Beth, this isn't a dream."