AN: I managed to read what I believe is the final volume of the NGE Manga. I felt sad that it was over, but felt that the ending not only stayed true to the story, but also finished it without a cliffhanger. The only thing that made it so that I wasn't 100% satisfied was that it felt like something didn't happen in spite of the hints towards it, so I decided to add it in my own extension of the ending.

Usual legal disclaimers apply.


Shinji Ikari continued to make is way through the crowds and the snow towards the school and dorms where he would be staying. The winter sun glared, but he enjoyed the warmth it offered, lifting his already high spirits. Taking a cut through a park, he ducked and dodged a nearby snowball fight, almost escaping before taking one to the back of his head. Laughing it off, he made his way over to a bench and put his bag down before working to remove the melting snow from his hair. The cross from Misato glinted slightly as someone approached him.

"Let me help you with that."

The soft voice made him freeze, barely even feeling the other person's hands as they raked through his hair and extracted clumps of compact snow. He had, much to his surprise, seen Asuka and Kensuke at the station, but he never dared hope to see her again. Not when he had seen her vanish in front of him when he tried to catch her. When he finally turned, he saw a girl his age, hardly recognizable in her coat, except for her eyes, hair, and skin that seemed to glow with the same color and intensity as the sun-kissed winter wonderland around them.

"Are you heading to Tokyo High?"

He nodded dumbly at the question, still in awe. Could it really be possible? Or was it just an illusion? Perhaps she was someone else, someone who just looked like her. Or maybe she was another one, like the last time he had tried to save her, and failed.

"Do you want to walk there with me?"

"How?" he finally asked back, unsure of what else to say. He only knew he needed to know if it was really her.

She smiled at him knowingly, a glint of wisdom and power beyond human knowledge in her red eyes as she held out her hand.

"May I hold your hand, Ikari-kun?"

And then he knew. Pure joy rushed through him as he bypassed her hand and enveloped her in a hug, tears of joy streaming down his face.

"Always," he hiccuped. "I will always have a hand to reach out for you, Ayanami."