Disclaimer: I don't own NGE, Gainax do and that other American company named shoot I forgot again.

Second Disclaimer: I don't own the Child of Love, Axel-sama does. If he wants this fic out of , so be it well mainly because it's really for him and no I don't love him like that I'm not gay.

Title: The Red Head

Chapter Two: Second Month

Author: Scarabeye 3000

Pre-reading done by Incognito Girl

Katsuragi Apartment

Morning

Morning was usually greeted by a yawn, a quick rub on the eye and a cat-like stretch. But not for Shinji, after opening his eyes at exactly 6:00 AM, he immediately felt a warm heavy thing above him. Looking down, he saw a fuzzy mess of red hair locks, which I may add, is breathing up and down too. His brain kicking into heavy gear, he tried to lift Asuka slowly, but as Fate put it, or rather the Author… Asuka supported herself with her two hands and stared at Shinji through sleepy blue-eyes.

Meeting her gaze, Shinji's world began to feel smaller and smaller, he didn't want to be caught, he just wanted to comfort her. He just wanted her to be safe, but that's not what our redhead is thinking just now.

Smiling serenely she lowered herself again on Shinji and whispered, "Guten Morgen, Mien Libeling."

Shinji's eye twitched, "Err… G-g-good m-m-morning Asuka… "

2 seconds later Asuka's eyes popped open and righted herself up; Shinji waved meekly at her face and immediately, soon the redhead's face was livid with anger and her cheeks were pumping blood in it in embarrassment.

"What are YOU doing HERE!?! BAKARYOU-HENTAI!!!"

SLAP

"OW! Asuka wait! I can explain… OW!!! Wait a minute!"

Outside Misato staggered towards the kitchen, shaking her head she opened a beer can. "Hey Pen-pen," she called out to her warm water fowl, "The newly-weds are up."

Minutes later

"How dare you!?! You were sneaking in my bed!" Asuka blabbered as Shinji kept flipping eggs, bacon and sausages. "I'm already pregnant and you still want to do it!"

"Asuka calm down," Misato said behind her can of beer.

"Calm down," the 2nd Child chuckled, "Calm down? That pervert tried to make me pregnant squared-root shit!"

"He was just calming you last night."

"How can I calm down like that? Boning me so hard to calm me down? That's Schiest!"

"Here Asuka," Shinji handed her a plate with 4 bacon slices, 2 eggs and 1 sausage.

She scanned her plate, "What is this?"
Shinji stared at her questioningly, "Its your breakfast, I didn't break the egg yolks and the bacon is still crispy. The sausage is still plump, I don't see anything you don't like in it."

"How can you expect me to eat this meager meal, its two of us eating here!"

Misato smiled as Shinji processed the information and sighed, "Ok, I'll cook another batch."

Returning to his space in the kitchen he saw Asuka immediately dig into the food in front of her. Misato licked off the beer taste left on her lips and observed her young female charge, 'I wonder what happened last night?' , "Asuka… about the baby."

"I'm keeping it."

"Yes, I know its hard to carry it, but you must not think to take an innocent life… abortion is not…" she stopped and rewinds what Asuka said in her head, "Wait, what did you say?"
"I said I'm keeping it." She popped another slice of egg in her eager mouth, "I decided to keep it, and no I don't love Shinji either."

Misato leered at her, 'Oh sure you don't.' , "Hey Asuka, what made you change your mind?"

"None of your business."

'Meanie… ' Misato thought and looking up, she caught Shinji hiding a smile behind his back, 'Well… I sure hope things go for the best for you two.'

Shinji was smiling outside and on the inside, thinking about it even though Asuka said she didn't love him. It's no big deal now for him, the important thing right now is that she wants to keep the baby, that she is safe, happy and… and he doesn't burn the sausages again. 'Oh shoot… '

"Shinji! The sausages are burning again!"

He snapped out of his reverie, "Yes, yes, I'm working on it. Crap! Need to focus."

Draining the oil out of the fried breakfast he decided to make Japanese fried rice to go with it. Starting on the next meal Asuka shouted from the dining room again, "I'm HUNGRY 3rd Child!"

"Coming Asuka!"

"Well, I think this scene will be very familiar during the next few weeks don't you think Pen-pen?" Misato asked her pet and handed him another cold beer.

The smart bird nodded its head and opened the beer with a 'psst'. Chugging it down it contentedly, sighed and looked on at his masters, "WARK!" , 'Humans… '

After breakfast Asuka headed for the bathroom to take a bath, she was looking in front of the mirror and was massaging her now sensitive stomach. 'Why is it? Why is it that I don't feel dirty… or violated when I think about Shinji doing this to me?'

"Sure he was great to be around and… and what am I saying?" she opened the cold shower and got under the splattering cold water, "I can't be like that, no, Shinji will be the last man that I might like or less love in the world."

Looking down on the drain she remembered the dream she had, "Why does it have to be Unit-01? Why does it always have to be Unit-01 and Shinji ending up saving me?"

Shaking the thought off, she finished her shower immediately and draped a towel over her 'birthday suit' and stepped outside. She saw Shinji still washing the dishes and Pen-pen scuttling to go inside the bathroom with his small towel and his basket of toiletries. She watched Shinji on the corner of her eye and a thought entered her mind.

'I want to hug him and… ' her eyes bulged out and her cheeks tinted, 'What am I thinking!?! Its Baka-Shinji were talking about here!'

Huffing she walked hastily into her room and closed the door. Shinji on the other hand felt the hairs on his neck stand on end as he felt a cold draft and a feeling that he was being watched.

Shaking it away he walked over to the bathroom and waited for Pen-pen to come out.

Meanwhile, in our redhead's room, she was trying to get her blouse to fit. She frowned as she can't button the last buttons at the bottom of her blouse and her skirt is hugging her belly quite tightly, "Misato! Shinji-no-Baka shrank my uniform!"

"What?" Misato came in and noticeably raised her eyebrow, "No, he didn't shrink your uniform."
"What? It doesn't fit nicely anymore… look its smaller…"

"Tell me, what is your waistline?"

"Why should I tell you… Gah! Can't breathe nicely… " she tugged on the button and found released her stomach, "Not good… can't breathe."

Shaking her head Misato guided Asuka to a larger mirror and pointed at her stomach.

"Eek! My stomach is fat!"

"Its not fat, it's a baby ok."

The 2nd Child frowned, "What am I supposed to do now?"
"Well, it still looks inconspicuous, but I won't take any chances. Asuka you're grounded from school from this day forth until you give birth."

"Yahoo!" she raised her hand and gave a victory dance at Shinji as he passed by, "I get to stay at home and you rot at school! Nyeh, Nyeh!" she said mocking him and sticking out her tongue to him.

"On the contrary Asuka," Misato stopped her victory dance, "You are still held responsible for your actions, and you will always have to go to NERV for a scheduled synch test."

Her smug smile didn't fade, "So what? It only happens once a week."
"Ha! I scheduled the test to be everyday, so it's just you, me, Ritsuko, and the LCL."

"Schiest!"

Terminal Dogma

Gendo and Fuyutsuki stared transfixed at the three television screens in front of them. They were projecting images from the Katsuragi household, complete with audio and hi-fi stereo.

"Gendo, is the surround system… really a necessity in this?"
The Commander didn't answer instead he stared at one video feedback when Shinji shuddered and looked directly at the camera, "That's odd, I think someone is watching me," they hear him say.

"I must comment our security personnel on installing this unnoticed last night."

Kozo grinned, "You aren't always like this, and to think that this is all because of a small incident."

"No Professor, what happened between Shinji and the 2nd Child isn't an incident nor was it fate."

The old man looked down at him and frowned, "Does this mean you have something to do with this?"

Gendo nodded, "I believe so, tell me Professor do you remember that thing Ritsuko used to mix everytime we pull an all-nighter because the spare Rei's escaped from their tube again?" Vice-Commander shuddered lightly, "You don't mean love coffee? Oh no… you didn't make them drink that didn't you?"
"Forcefully, of course not." Gendo flipped a switch and a video feed switched to Shinji's room, "It would be very suspicious, but I believe I have done much more than that."
"Feeling remorse Gendo?"

"No, not remorse," the cold-hearted Ikari shook his head, "I do not feel remorse, I only feel satisfaction. But enough on that matter, what I did was that I kept dumping the 'love coffee' at the LCL pool near Lilith."

Fuyutsuki's brow furrowed, "So you mean those two inhaled the LCL and drank it too."
Gendo nodded slowly and switched the cameras again, "Precisely, though I didn't expect the effect to be delayed. I also came into the conclusion that it was also triggered by a strong stimulant just to awaken their senses."

"But why wasn't Rei affected?" Gendo flinched, "Really now, she should have been affected just one bit."
"The emotion inhibitors we gave her was probably the main reason. But somehow her emotions are still being awakened by Shinji's interaction. Though it will not hinder me, it still concerns me."

"Yes, sure you are"

They looked on at the screen and saw Shinji leaving the apartment. Gendo stood up and pushed a button, "Give me the Section-02 chief."

The line cackled and a man with a deep voice answered, "Yes Commander, you need our services?"
"Proceed to surround the Katsuragi apartment, protect and eliminate anyone who threatens the 2nd Child. You have your orders, and do not be noticed as you follow her."

"Affirmative," the line cackled and it went silent.

The Commander proceeded to walk outside with the Vice-Commander behind him, "Gendo, you have a risk on your hands."

"Do not be troubled, nothing will go wrong." Gendo smirked darkly, "Have faith."

Tokyo-03 High School

Shinji walked into the classroom, and sat, slumped into his chair and table. Hikari walked over to him and tugged at his shoulders, "Shinji, where is Asuka?"

'I have to cover-up. What to say, what to say? AHA!' his eyes twinkled, "I already told you, she's in a hospital right now, she was involved in a freak accident. Umm… involving a rod and hole… NO! I mean… a fishing rod? … and uhh… a hole… I mean pole… with her EVA." , 'Jeez, that went nicely.'

"Are you ok? You're flushed quite a bit… are you hiding something from me? And you said that excuse a month ago."

He was sweating beads and was licking his lips dry, "She's in a hospital… that's all."

"Come on, she's my friend." Hikari puts her 'most charming' face, "Please tell me… "

"No," Shinji said dryly, "I have strict orders, my lips are sealed."

"You jerk! Can't you just tell me a little teensy-weensy bit."

"No."

Hikari's face flushed, "You're hiding something from me mister, and I intend to know it."

Walking away Toji walked behind Shinji and gave him a friendly jab at the shoulder, "You know you really are hiding something." Kensuke then came to his other side, "Come on man, if you tell your story, we won't publish it in the net."

Shinji looked at his two friends directly, "Guys, its top secret. If I say its top secret, you'll have to deal with my father if you know something 'so' top secret."

The other two Stooges looked a bit troubled, "Ok, so did you really 'do it' to her?"

"Will you two quit thinking about that. I won't do that to her, she's too good for me anyway."

"Oh… guilt and self-depreciation." Kensuke leered, "Basic psychology, you really do like her. Oh! Correction, you really do love her."

"Who likes who?" Hikari said joining their group again, "Is it about Asuka?"

"Yeah." Toji nodded, "Apparently we think Shinji and Asuka got really naughty a while ago and did it. He and the demon been acting strange lately and I think that's the reason."

Hikari gasped, "No, you don't think so."

The three gossiped naughty, provocative things as Shinji stood up and began to pound his head on the window repeatedly.

'Why me… '

2 weeks later

Shinji, Asuka and Rei sat inside their entryplugs filled with LCL in the middle of a synch test. Commander Ikari isn't present even the Vice-Commander, but most readers know that Gendo has many eyes to do his bidding. Ritsuko and Misato stood inside the small testing area and looked on at the test results.

"So Rits? How is Asuka's health?"
Ritsuko shook her head, "My goodness… I thought the psychological pressure of having a child might have affected her mind or better judgement. But I seem to have predicted wrong at this."

Misato nodded, "Yes, we were all surprised when she said that she would keep the baby, though we're prepared for that 'other' kind of thing."

Maya turned to the Ritsuko, "Sempai, Asuka's synch rate is going up."

"Really?" the Doctor leaned closer at the screen, "Hmm, let's see… decrease the depth of the LCL."

A few quick types and Asuka's synch rate change slightly and returned to its score of 88. Nodding her head in satisfaction, Ritsuko drained the Children's plug and lets them out. The 3 Children slid out of the entry plugs with Shinji helping Asuka out for a brief moment. They all walked into the briefing room for their assessments.

The briefing room's door opened and in came a smiling Misato, "Congratulations Asuka, you're still number 1 Pilot."
The 2nd Child's face glowed with a smile, "Ha! Take that 3rd Child!"

"Well done Asuka-chan," Shinji said with a smile and suddenly, realizing what he said, his smile faltered, 'Did I just said… Asuka-chan?'

"Thanks Shin-chan," she replied and blushed a bit at what she said, 'Why did I say that?'

Three floors down, where the testing area is, Commander Ikari was talking to someone on his cellphone, "Has the 'container' been dumped in the LCL?"
"Yes sir!" a technician from the other line said, "But sir, what was that black liquid? It looks so much like coffee."

Gendo Ikari clicks his cellphone off, "Very observant, very, very observant."

Back to where the Children are, Shinji, Asuka and Rei are inside a conference room sitting together waiting for the Commanding officers. Asuka had one of her arms cushioning her head from the table and was looking at Shinji as he listened at his SDAT. Rei on the other hand was reading her little red pocket handbook. The 2nd Child rubbed her stomach and sighed, "Hey Shinji… "

Shinji didn't answer; he just kept on bobbing his head up and down in tune with the music. Growing a bit irate, Asuka called him again, more loudly this time, "Hey Shinji…!"

This time he responded with a little jerking motion, more like when you are surprised.

"Yes Asuka… "

".. You want to kiss me?"

The 3rd Child blushed, "W-w-what? But why?"

"I don't know, I'm bored you know."

"That's your reason?" Shinji sweat-dropped, "You really are weird."

"You know me when I get bored," Asuka said softly and looked directly at Shinji's face, "Or are you scared… don't be scared Baka-Shinji, you've done more than just kiss me anyway."

"No, I'm not scared," Shinji stood up indignantly, "Pucker up!"

"Right," Asuka also stood up, Rei, though present in the same room, seemed to be unconcerned at the exchange of words, or the exchange of slurping noises later on.

"Shinji, did you gargle mouthwash?"
He nodded, "Yes why do you ask?"
"I hate LCL… "
"Me too… "

Asuka inched closer and was about to pinch his nose again when Shinji backed away a bit. She frowned at him, confused, frustrated (ooh frustrated) and surprised, "What is wrong with you?"
"Umm… could you not pinch my nose?"

"Fine," she inched closer and shuts her eyes to let instincts guide herself.

Shinji kept eye contact, though her eyes was closed, he can see every detail of Asuka's face now. They were so close that he was the one beginning to get tickled by Asuka's breathing, mere millimeters apart Shinji's mind blanked, 'Aim at the center and switch… '

Their lips met lightly and soon, as if pulled by a magnetic force, they were hugging each other tightly, with Asuka's arms around Shinji's waist and his one hand around hers and his other hand supporting the nape of her neck.

The two of them were so deep into the kiss that they didn't notice Commander Ikari and his whole Commanding staff behind him. They stared dumb-struck at Shinji and Asuka, Rei, who was oblivious to what was happening, stared at the two kissing children and whispered, "Oh my… "

Their reactions were different from one another, Ritsuko just shook her head, Fuyutsuki and Misato's mouth gaped open while the three senior bridge techs giggled and smiled silently at the scene in front of them. Gendo twitched and cleared his throat, 'Apparently 'love coffee's' effect is well displayed in this scene, but to hell with it if they don't stop now.' , "STOP THIS SWAPPING OF SPIT!"

The two Children snapped out of their rather 'pleasant' reverie and stared at each other dumbly. Seating themselves, they began to proceed with their meeting, Gendo Ikari stood up to discuss today's topic.

"In the recent turn of events, one of our able-bodied Pilots is now under maternity leave."

Of course that would set off Asuka's temper, "But why? I wasn't even informed about it! I was even going to those stupid synch tests and then this comes! Schiest!"

Shinji leaned to her as he was sitting beside her, "Asuka, calm down… "
"But Shinji… oh… " she looked down frowning.

"Nevertheless," Gendo continued, "If and only if the operation calls for all Eva's to participate, then Unit-02 and its Pilot shall activate."

Upon hearing the Commander's statement, our redhead's face received sunlight.

Gendo sat down as Fuyutsuki stood up and spoke, "The next part of this meeting does not concern the Pilots. You may leave if you wish… "

The three Pilots stood up and left, meanwhile Gendo stood up again and flicked a switch open.

"Now, this will be the schedule of the one that will monitor the 2nd Child's behavior." His staff looked at him questioningly, "Mainly, of course, is that I do not wish to deal with another 'incident' concerning the 2nd Child. As I said before, the child must survive."

The other people in the conference room sighed. 'Oh man… not again.'

Meanwhile, at the location of Shinji and Asuka, they were walking towards Misato's apartment after taking the monorail back to the suburbs. Silence reigned between them as they passed another street towards their destination. Their thoughts however were still lingering on the 'incident' that happened at the conference room just a while ago.

'Why did I… kiss him?'

'Why did she… kiss me?'

The two looked at each other and they were absorbed with each other again. Ocean blue eyes meets dark blue ones as they continued to walk forward until…

"OW!"
Asuka almost toppled over if Shinji hadn't caught her as she misplaced a foot and twisted her ankle, she bit her lower lip in pain as he helped her up and examined her foot. He shook his head, "It looks bad Asuka, are you ok? What about the baby?"

"I'm ok Baka, but my feet… I can't walk."

Much to her surprise at the rare occasion that Shinji shows his gallantry, he stooped low and positioned his back in Asuka front.

"Hop on."
She blushed, "WHAT? Hop on? Where?"

"Come on Asuka, your smart enough. I'll give you a piggy-back ride."

"You mean your not gonna carry me 'like' that," Asuka motioned her hands in the other fashion male people carry the descendants of the first female. "Your not very romantic, you know that?"
"Yes, I know that," he nodded his head, "But you also know I'm not that strong yet, and considering your weight now… OW!"

Frowning down at him, she hits him on the head, "Don't ever say that I'm fat!"

"I'm not saying your fat… I'm just saying… that, well… you're a little heavier now."

Thinking he was right in some ways, she reluctantly clambered on Shinji back and hugged him from behind, clasping her hands together at his shoulders and his hands supporting her behind. He slowly stood up and adjusted Asuka to a better position, "Are you comfortable back there?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Look 3rd Child, I may have accepted your help but this doesn't prove anything. Got that?" Asuka said behind him, "… and that 'kiss' well… it was just practice ok?"

Shinji frowned slightly but somehow smiled later on, "Sure Asuka, whatever you say… "

He started to walk and found out something very important about Asuka.

'She… IS… H-E-A-V-Y! OOF!!!'

Grunting and panting he made an effort every step to not sound very tired for her. Though looking unconcerned, Asuka feels Shinji's heartbeat going faster and faster as it worked to desperately pump blood to give him oxygen to sustain his strenuous work.

'So what? It's not my idea he wants me to give a piggyback ride. Anyway, it's the husband's job to… ' her cheeks taking blushing to the next level, she buried her face in Shinji's back in sheer embarrassment at what she was thinking, 'Why did I think of him like that? Snap out of it will you Asuka!?!'

They finally arrived at the apartment gates and Shinji carefully lets Asuka slide down on the elevator floor. Wheezing and panting a bit, he looked at Asuka through tired eyes, "You sure are heavy, you know Asuka."

She frowned and stroked her belly, "Its all Axel's fault, he's not born yet and he's already giving me trouble."
"Axel?"
"Yeah, since I decided to keep it, I already decided a name."
"So you'll name him Axel if he's a boy, but what if he's a girl?"

"Well, I was thinking of… well, Teri I guess."
"Teri?"

DING

Asuka clambered again to Shinji, "I don't like Japanese names ok, I'm part-European you know. I don't want my child to have a Japanese name like everyone else."
Nodding his agreement, he stopped at their apartment door and swiped his card on it. The door slid open and he stepped inside, walking over to the couch he let Asuka slide down to take a rest. Although he really ached for a nice lying down, he also had to cook dinner.

Meanwhile, after receiving an orange juice from Shinji, Asuka laid her head back and opened the TV, but after going to a certain channel, she was hesitant a bit. She was afraid to see the horrifying commercial again, and she doesn't think she can see it again without Shinji beside her.

When dinner finally came, Shinji together with Asuka, sat down for some miso soup and fried fish. But Asuka just took one sniff at the fish and threw it away.

"Eew, I hate smelly fishes."
Cocking their heads in surprise and wonder, Misato smiled knowingly, "Oh no… here it comes."
The 3rd Child began to feel nervous, "What do you mean here it comes?"
"Well, women like me. Tend to get very picky when we eat and do during pregnant. For example, it might be very cold, but actually for a pregnant woman, it's so damn hot."
"I don't get it… "

"Well, you better get it soon." She looks as Asuka looked into the freezer dreamily, "Because I think her appetite is gonna take a turn for the worst."

"Shinji!"

"Whoops! There it goes Shinji," Misato smiled at them grabbing a six-pack to go her room, "Good luck staying awake ok."

"Shinji… come here will you!"
He obliged walking right behind her as she stooped down at the fridge, "What is it Asuka?"
"Shinji-kun," Asuka puts her 'can't say no to me' eyes at him, "Can you please get me some mangoes."

'Mangoes? Where the hell am I supposed to find that?' he nodded slowly, "I'll see what I can do."

"OH! And get me one of those little bubble-gum thing on sticks!"

"Bubble-gum on sticks? Where am I supposed to get that Asuka?"
"Just do it and go!" Shaking his head in disbelief he walked outside the apartment and dialed a number at his cellphone, "Hello? Kensuke? Is Toji with you?"

Moments later in a forested hill near the outskirts.

"Honestly, why do you need mangoes Shinji?" Toji asked irritably as he pointed a flashlight on a tree, "Shit! I thought that was a mango tree."

"Keep looking, Misato might initiate 3rd Impact if she didn't get her mangoes," Shinji said as he clambered down another tree, 'More like Asuka's gonna do it more than Misato though.'

"Misato? Why would she look for mangos when it's off-season!" Toji brushed some leaves off his jacket, "Man, if I didn't like Misato. I wouldn't do this!"

"Why would Misato order you to find mangoes anyway?"

"Well, umm… Misato wanted to make some new kind of drink… " he reasoned, "So I kinda was talked into getting it."

"You know, you bend to fast for a man, right Kensuke?"
"Yeah!" Kensuke said as he came down a clearing, "Hey! I found a mango tree here… OUCH!!! DAMN ANTS!!!"

Katsuragi Apartment

10:00 PM

Shinji steps into the living room only to find Asuka lying down and flipping channels, once she noticed him she got up excitedly and laid out her hand.

"Well, where are the mangoes?" she asked expectantly
Shinji's lips curled, "The mangoes are off-season Asuka. I only managed to get one fruit… from one tree actually… in all of Tokyo-03."

But to his surprise, Asuka smiled at him, a real genuinely contented smile. He felt as though his anger, frustration and tiredness from his little expedition with the other 2 Stooges was worth it. But so sudden was the smile to vanish that Shinji reeled back as Asuka glared at him after noticing that something was missing from Shinji's requirements.

"Where are the bubble-gums on those pretty little sticks Shinji?"

'Oh schiest… '

To be Continued

Please watch out for Chapter Three of The Red Head

Author's note:

Thank you everyone from the reviews you give, you are one of the reasons I keep going. Though I must apologize to fans of Cold Heart and Temptation Island for the long updates and delayed reply to my e-mails. Sorry, I'm very sorry really.

December 3 is Asuka's birthday, how did I know. Just read Axel-sama's fic The Child of Love 4th Month and you'll know or was it the 3rd Month.

Incognito Girl: Actually Scarab, Asuka's birthday is December 4th, I believe. (I know this because Dec. 3rd is my B-day)

Moving on I tried to contact Axel-sama, but somehow he hadn't replied my e-mails yet. Alain Gravel a.k.a. Rakna once said to me that he was writing a book about psychology (I think) right now that's what I heard at least. Well I guess he was just too busy with his work and all.

Thank you for reading,

Scarabeye 3000