I can't help it. I'm on a roll!

Tiphanie: I know. She's all contradicted. Her soulmate is closer than she realizes.

Hannah: I actually like this AU better than the other soulmate AU's. It feels more personal. It's more fun to play around with. Don't get too attached to Anna. She doesn't like that. But she's definitely different than the others I've written. Thanks hon! Love you too!

Enjoy!

Anna didn't sleep. She sat on the couch, staring out the window, watching the lights dim as the sun rose over the horizon. She'd been in the tower for a day, and she already wanted to leave. She didn't like staying in one place for long, and being surrounded by Earth's Mightiest Heroes, plus a few, people who had once been on her hit list was horrifically terrifying. She could have run, but they'd probably just find her. Then she'd have two groups on her tail. That was more dangerous than just one. She moved to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water.

She'd spent the day mostly by herself, except when she was filling out paperwork with Tony, making her officially his lab assistant. She was a little scared of what that meant, but maybe things wouldn't be that bad. She might even have fun...if she could remember what that was like.

"Who are you?" Anna nearly jumped out of her skin, whipping around to face the intruder.

"Stark's new intern...apparently." She said, relaxing slightly.

"Apparently?" He asked, moving towards the kitchen.

"I came to help Bucky, then leave." She said, staring down at her glass. "But apparently Stark won't let ya leave 'is tower, despite bein' unwelcome." She took a drink of her water.

"You sure you're unwelcome?"

"Cap was rather keen on lettin' me stay." She shrugged. "Though, he don' like me that much."

"He does like taking in his strays."

He smiled at her, and she felt herself melt a little inside. No. No feelings. No getting attached. But he was nice looking, and seemed sweet. But you'll destroy him.

"I can tell."

It was silent between them for a moment.

"I'm Sam. Cap's friend, and Bucky's pseudo-therapist. I mainly help with his PTSD." Yeah. Definitely destroy him.

"Anna."

"So." He said, sitting down across from her with a glass of orange juice. "How'd you sneak in, exactly?"

"How'd ya know I sneaked?"

"Because I can put things together. You said you're unwelcome, meaning you probably broke in somehow."

"I climbed forty stories." She said, shrugging.

"How the hell did you do that."

"I'm special." She shrugged again, offering him a small, dimpled grin.

No. No feelings. You'll destroy him. Her smile fell and she went back to drinking her water. Sam noticed the change, but didn't say anything. She was a mystery alright. He'd give her that much. Maybe...no. He shouldn't think like that. His soulmate was adamant to keep herself a secret. But he was determined to find her, show her they could be together. But she had told him to find someone else. He didn't even know if Anna had her soulmate yet, or not.

"Have you met anyone yet?" He asked, breaking their silence.

"Just Cap, Bucky and Mr. Stark." She shrugged. "And now you."

"Well, stick around here long enough and you'll probably meet everyone else. They just kind of do their own thing. The only time we really see each other is when we're on a mission. Even then, most of the time, it's not all of us. You'll meet everyone eventually. No one's gonna force you to meet everyone at once. That might be a little overwhelming." Her head shot up, staring at him with squinted eyes. "I know PTSD when I see it. It's my job." He said softly. "You know you can always talk to me, if you need to. I don't know much about you, but I know you've been through a lot. I can see that much."

Damn. She had to work on her poker face. He chuckled a little and she felt herself melting again. No. She couldn't do it. He probably had his soulmate...hell, he could be married for all she knew. She couldn't let him in too much. She'd destroy him.

"I gotta head out, but I'll see you around Anna." He smiled at her, leaving her stunned in the kitchen.

Her heart was pounding in her ears, her fingers shaking slightly. She slid out of her stool, heading towards the elevator. She needed to clear her head. She took a cold shower, letting the water slow her heart rate, cool her burning skin. She was there for a reason. She couldn't get distracted now. She needed to play along. Get them to trust her, then maybe she could leave. Or maybe they'd be merciful and see she didn't want to be there. She could only hope.

She sat on her bed, flipping through page after page of clothing on a tablet. Tony said she could get what she wanted, and not to worry about price. She hadn't ever had that freedom. To choose what she wanted. To choose. Everything had been dictated for her. It was strange. She felt...weird.

'How are you?' She spotted on her arm as she looked through another page of clothes.

She reached over, grabbing the pen off her nightstand. Good. Was all she wrote.

'What's wrong?' He always knew when something was wrong. It was like a sixth sense for him. 'You're not sleeping again, are you?'

No.

Baby girl, you gotta sleep. Do it for me? Even if it's just an hour.

She smiled a little, heat rushing to her cheeks. She liked it when he called her "Baby Girl." She wouldn't tell anyone, but it made her feel warm inside. Something she had severely lacked over the years.

Okay. An hour. Just for you.

She shut the tablet off, putting it on the nightstand. Shopping for clothes could wait. She curled around her pillow, sinking into the soft mattress.

'Sweet dreams, baby girl.'

She smiled softly, closing her eyes, trying to get sleep to come.

1998

She'd stolen a pen from the doctor. She kept it hidden between her matress and the metal frame, and she'd write to her soulmate every so often. He wrote a lot to her, telling her about his day, about what he was doing. She didn't always answer back, but when she did it was short, to let him know she was still there. He'd asked for her name, but she refused, and told him not to tell her his. It was safer that way. If she didn't know him, HYDRA wouldn't find him.

'It's my 16th birthday today.' Showed up on her arm. His handwriting was a little sloppy, but still legible to her. Typical teenage boy handwriting.

Happy Birthday. She wrote back, slipping the pen back into hiding as a guard walked past her cell.

'I think I'm going to join the Air Force.' That took her a little by surprise. She knew he had a kind heart and wanted to do the right thing. But, if he joined the military, there was less of a chance of him trying to find her. He wouldn't be able to.

I think you'd do really well. You should go for it.

It was silent on his end for a moment. She thought maybe he'd gotten distracted by something, or he'd fallen asleep.

'Will we ever get to meet?'

She had been expecting that question for a long time. She was surprised he was just asking it now. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to so badly. He was a light at the end of this dark tunnel for her. That maybe someday she'd be free, and she could be with him. But in the end, she knew that wasn't an option. It was too dangerous...she was too dangerous. It was a small hope for her. He was a small hope, but she knew she couldn't taint him like that. She knew she couldn't bring that fate on him.

Maybe some day.