Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion or anything associated with it. I'm writing this story simply because I enjoy writing.

Chapter 4: Family

Misato came to with a start, her eyes suddenly fluttering open as she felt a warm, gentle wind carried the smell of the ocean to her. Gasping in surprise, she sat up and looked about, only to have her eyes pop out when she found herself lying on a beach. The ocean was on her right, small tides lapping near where she sat, and a grove of cherry trees on her left. The trees were in full bloom, their blossoms slowly blowing about the area, filling her nose with a fresh, clean scent. The sky above was like a perfect summer's day, with only a few puffy white clouds dotting the sea of blue above her.

"What the…?" Misato started disbelievingly, wracked with confusion as she slowly got to her feet and carefully examined her surroundings. Her confusion was only increased when something strange happened in the sky above. From out of nowhere, a dark, turbulent cloud that was crackling with lightning appeared. For a few seconds, Misato stared at the cloud, which looked like a rip in the gorgeous blue sky. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the cloud faded away, leaving only a normal summer sky.

"What in the…?" Misato tried again, only to find herself at a complete loss to explain what was happening. "Where am I?!"

Frowning intently, Misato considered the situation. The last thing she remembered was being in Unit 01's Entry Plug after she had been crushed by the collapsing ceiling. And now she was someplace she had never seen in her entire life, and…

"Then…wait a minute!" Misato gaped as something else hit her; she wasn't in pain. Looking down at her body, she patted herself lightly, only to detect no sign of her injuries. She felt none of the weakness caused by her blood loss. There were no shards of metal sticking out of her body, or any broken bones. Her clothes weren't even torn or stained.

More confused than ever, Misato dug her fingernails into her head, as if she was try to force her brain to produce some kind of magical answer to explain away what was happening. She was shaken from her musings when a familiar voice was heard.

"Misato!" Startled, the purple-haired woman looked towards one end of the beach, and saw Shinji racing through the sand towards her.

"Shinji…" Misato spoke, and though she still had no idea as to what was happening, a smile still erupted on her face. Without any further thought to her situation, she quickly dashed towards the boy. This resulted in the two of them almost crashing into each other as Misato scooped Shinji into a fierce bear hug. Soon, the two of them were laughing and crying all once, with Misato spinning about in place as she held the boy close. Losing themselves in their embrace, they soon fell painlessly to the sand as the woman lost her balance, even as Shinji let out laughing sound of pure relief.

As Misato recovered and looked into Shinji's eyes, the boy just smiled even more broadly. "Misato…" he got out around his torrential emotions. Then he gulped and continued, "You're alright! You're alive! I…"

As Shinji's words failed him, Misato's eyes narrowed in remembrance. Sitting herself back up, she pushed Shinji back just enough to be able to look him in the face. "Shinji…" she started, feeling like her mind was completely overloaded. "Wh-what's going on here? Where the hell are we?! How…?" The Major finally fizzled out, the number of questions she had exceeding her present ability to express them.

The sound of someone laughing quietly somehow broke through Misato's confusion. As she looked around Shinji, she discovered the source; a woman of about her age was standing a short distance from where the two of them lay on the sand. She had her hand over her mouth, which did nothing to conceal her tittering, her expression one of amusement mixed with embarrassment.

"Oh, dear," the woman spoke around her giggles. "Am I interrupting something?" The instant Shinji realized they had an audience, he blushed furiously and got off of Misato. As for the Major, she was more confused than ever. As she stood herself, she realized that Shinji was no longer in his plug suit; instead, he was in his more traditional shirt and pants. Then there was the woman, who was dressed in a pink kimono with white trim, something like one would envision a lady of Japan's Feudal Era wearing.

She looks a little like a grownup Rei, Misato decided. Only her hair and eyes are different, and I can't imagine Rei ever laughing!

Studying the stranger, whose presence only added to her confusion, Misato finally asked, "Who…who are you?"

"Oh, right!" Shinji started as the woman came up behind him, placing her hands upon his shoulders, much to Misato's annoyance. "Misato, this is…"

"I'm Yui. Yui Ikari, Shinji's mother," the woman spoke as Shinji trailed off. She then smiled broadly as she studied Misato. "It's good to finally meet you, Major Katsuragi. Shinji's told me so much about you."

"You're…Shinji's mother?" Misato somehow managed to get out through her slackened jaw, her body feeling numb with shock. "As in…his dead mother?!"

The woman who called herself Yui smiled shyly, the same kind of smile Misato had seen on Shinji's face. "I'm not dead, Major," she started. Then her face took a slightly saddened cast. "However…I'm not alive, either. At least…not as most people would consider being alive."

"Well, that really clears it up," Misato replied grumpily, crossing her arms as she spoke. "And where are we, anyway? And how…how can I still be alive? I thought..."

As Misato trailed off, struggling with the unreality of the situation, Shinji smiled and answered, "Mother…she brought us here, Misato." As Misato's eyes widened with even greater confusion, he went on. "We're…inside the Eva."

"Inside the Eva?" Misato repeated blankly, just before her jaw fell to the sand. "You mean…we were absorbed?!"

"It was the only way to save you, Ma- Misato," Yui explained, a gentle, mothering look on her face. "You see, sometimes when Shinji is in great need, I can spur Unit 01 on, make it take action." Then she focused her eyes on the Major, her expression one of clear compassion. "I'm only grateful that I was to bring you here in time. We almost lost you."

As everything hit Misato, how close she had come to death, that she was now inside the Eva, she found herself completely overwhelmed. Staggering a bit, the Major brought her hand to her temple as Shinji hugged her again, a supportive grasp that helped her stay standing. "Are you alright?" he asked, worry in his blue eyes as he continued to stabilize Misato, physically and emotionally.

"I…uh…" Misato fumbled as she tried to assimilate everything that had happened. "I'm sorry, Shinji. It's just that…oh, God. Ritsuko told me that somebody had been absorbed before you, Shinji. I just…never imagined it had been your mother." Trying to sort out all of the random thoughts that were careening madly about her mind, Misato slowly got herself somewhat up to speed. Achieving a greater level of stability, she gave Shinji and the woman who claimed to be his mother a weak smile. "I guess…I should be thanking you…both of you…"

"I'm just glad you're okay, Misato," Shinji smiled as Yui laid a hand on his shoulder. "It took so long for you to come, and…"

"I said that might take a little while for her to arrive," the woman claiming to be Yui told Shinji. "Remember, you were in synch with the Eva, so you came here very quickly. Since Misato was unconscious, it took longer for her soul to find its way here."

Ignoring the slight irritation she felt at this strange woman laying a hand on her ward, Misato focused on another problem. "Okay, but what do we do now?" she asked, feeling somewhat deflated at this point. "If we're in the Eva, how are we supposed to get back? Ritsuko…"

As Misato trailed off, Yui rewarded her with an even deeper smile. "Don't worry, Misato. I can send you and Shinji back now, if you wish."

"What?" Misato asked, her eyes blanked by the return of her confusion. "What do you mean…send us back?"

"Just what I said," Yui replied, a hint of sadness appearing in her eye. "The two of you aren't fully a part of the Eva. Therefore, I can send you and Shinji back at any time you want."

Misato just stared blankly at Yui as Shinji smiled warmly at his guardian. "Isn't that great, Misato?" he asked. "And Mother told me that…when we get back, your injuries will all be completely healed! So everything's gonna be…"

Shinji trailed off as Misato's eyes hardened. "So...what you're saying is that...you could send us back any time?" she wondered in a flat, dangerous tone. "That we...won't be stuck in here for a month?"

A startled look appeared on Yui's face as Misato stepped forward. "That's right," she replied, frowning in concern. "I can send you back now, if you..." Trailing off as unspent tears and outrage filled the Major's visage. "Misato, what is it?"

The Major didn't answer. Instead, without even thinking, she grabbed Yui by the wrist and pulled her hand away from Shinji. "Misato!" Shinji gasped, alarm in his voice as she also grabbed Yui's shoulder and glared harshly into the woman's face.

"You mean to tell me that you could have sent Shinji back at any time?!" Misato shrilled, drawing Yui closer as she gritted her teeth, looking a like a tigress that had been wounded just enough to make her truly dangerous. "You kept him trapped in here for an entire month?!"

"Misato! Wait!" Shinji protested in vain as Misato tightened her grip on Yui. The feral expression she wore frightening in a way that would make Unit 01 very proud indeed.

Drawing Yui even closer, Misato had murder in her eyes as she shook the other woman roughly. "God damn you! Do you have any idea how scared I was?!" she shrieked hatefully. "I spent every day waiting and wondering if I would ever see him again, and you could have sent him back at any time!"

Her fist trembling eagerly at her side, it was all Misato could do not to draw it back and smash it right into Yui's face. She had been pushed beyond her limits by the revelation that the thirty days of misery she had been put through didn't have to have happened. The Major was beyond angry, beyond thinking.

As her rage fought to find expression, however, Shinji somehow managed to wedge himself in between the two women. "Misato! Please! Stop it, please!" the boy begged of her as he tried to get her to back away. "It's not Mother's fault! Please!"

His voice breaking through her fury, Misato looked down…and saw the terrified expression Shinji wore, heard him pleading for her not to hurt his mother. When she saw that, enough of her anger faded to allow the Major to regain a certain measure of control. And then she saw something that banished her rage in its entirety. For when she returned her gaze to Yui, she was completely stunned by the helpless, sorrowful expression that had spread across her face. An expression of pain that Misato had seen before.

As much as Yui looked like Rei, the emotions she displayed were those Misato associated with Shinji.

"I'm sorry…" Yui stated, tears appearing from her eyes as Misato felt a tinge of horror. Feeling almost as if it had Shinji himself she had been ready to attack. As Misato loosened her grip, Yui looked at her son with such desperate loneliness and adoration that it was unmistakable. "I only…wanted to be with my son again. Just for a little while…"

Thirty days is 'a little while'?! was the venomous thought that very nearly made its way out of Misato's mouth, her anger mounting again. However, just before she spoke, something clicked in her mind. If this truly was Yui Ikari, then she had been trapped inside of Unit 01 for ten years. Ten years of isolation, completely separated from the rest of the world, of being more thoroughly alone than Misato could ever imagine.

When she realized this, Misato thought back to her own situation. Those thirty days had left her feeling more desolate than she had ever thought possible. All she could think about was how much she missed Shinji, of just how much she wanted him back. If she thought she could have gotten Shinji back by taking Unit 01 apart bolt by bolt, then she would have done exactly that, and heaven help anyone who tried to stop her.

Shinji had filled the void in her heart, and the agony of being without him had driven Misato to the breaking point, the Major slowly sinking into despair. In the week since Shinji's return, Misato's fear of losing him again, along with the knowledge that if it did happen, it would be all because he had been following her orders…these things had laid her even lower.

As these thoughts ran their course, Misato's fury collapsed entirely. Letting go of Yui, the sheer enormity of everything that had happened hit her like a fist, and left the Major emotionally drained. Falling to her hands and knees, Misato stared up hopelessly at the two Ikaris, more tears appearing in her eyes.

"I'm sorry…" Misato got out, her eyes closing shut as her sorrow coursed down her cheeks. "I…I…"

But Misato wasn't given the chance to say anything else. She was stopped suddenly by the touch of a gentle hand caressing her cheek. When she reopened her eyes, she saw Yui, the woman she had very nearly attacked, kneeling in front of her, smiling as if nothing had happened. Shinji's mother was stroking Misato's face in the tender manner the Major's own mother had used, even as Shinji looked on, smiling his understanding.

"I understand," Yui replied, rewarding Misato with a warm smile. "After all…he's your Shinji, too." Misato's eyes grew even wider at this, while Yui looked towards her son. "Isn't that right?"

In response, Shinji gave a slight nod before coming over to Misato's side. Kneeling down, he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Misato," Shinji whispered. "I know you were worried, but...it's okay. It's gonna be okay."

Misato looked from Shinji to Yui and back, all of her unspent emotion in her face. "I understand how much it hurts, Misato," Yui whispered, her voice evoking tender memories of the Major's mother as she took Misato's hands in her own. "Believe me, I do."

There was a temptation for Misato, to just hurl herself into Yui's arms and proceed to cry, to allow herself to be the fourteen-year-old girl she had once been before Second Impact and the Angels had stolen everything from her. What made it even more tempting was the Yui would have let her; Misato could read people fairly well, and she saw the mothering look of the woman's face. The compassion she would have gladly shared with her.

But she didn't. She couldn't. Not with Shinji watching. Even if he condoned it, said it was okay for her…Misato just couldn't. She couldn't be a child again.

Dragging together all of the self-control and discipline she possessed, Misato managed to get herself back together again. When she was done, while her face still reflected some of the torments she had felt, she was able to manage a slight smile. "So…" Misato struggled, seeking to change the topic as she got to her feet. "Shinji…why didn't you tell me…that your mother was in here?"

"I didn't know," Shinji responded, drawing a look of even greater confusion from Misato. "Really, I didn't remember any of this!"

"You didn't remember?" Misato asked, looking from Shinji to Yui and back.

"As I said before, the two of you aren't fully a part of this world," Yui explained, her words reflecting the same scientific intellect and professionalism that Ritsuko had. "You're only perceiving this on a subconscious level, so when you return..."

Alarm appeared in Shinji's eyes. "You mean…if you send us back…I'm going to forget you? That you're still alive?"

"No, of course not," Yui replied, kneeling down to look her son in the eyes. "You called out for me before, remember? When Misato needed you?" When Misato saw the realization in Shinji's eyes, she knew that this was true. As for Yui, she just smiled. "You see? You may not remember right away, at least, not consciously. But in time, I'm sure the memories will come. For the both of you."

This clearly wasn't very reassuring for Shinji. "But…Mother…"

"Wait a minute!" Misato broke in, feeling out of the loop. "Can't you come back with us? If you sent Shinji back, then…"

"No, Misato," Yui woman spoke, even as hope reappeared in Shinji's face. Sighing, she took on the professional appearance of a true scientist. "You see, unlike the two of you, I am fully a part of this world, of the Eva. My mind, body, and soul have been bound to Unit 01 in ways I never would have imagined. And…" Yui faltered for a moment, a deeper sadness welling up in her voice. "It's just too complicated to explain right now."

"Mother…" Shinji whispered, looking like he was on the verge of tears.

"Now, now, don't cry, my son," Yui spoke, kneeling down to cradle Shinji in a protective hug.

As Misato watched Shinji, she saw so clearly that he didn't want to leave his mother behind, along with the knowledge that she still lived. The purple-haired woman understood this all too well; she had lost everything in the horror of Second Impact. Her mind and body still bore the scars of that nightmarish day. If she had learned that her mother still lived, or even her father, she would have done almost anything to find them. To have her family back.

She also understood what Yui was going through. The hesitation in her eyes was unmistakable. Though Shinji's mother was clearly prepared to whatever she could for her son, the truth was plain to be seen. She didn't want to give up her Shinji. She didn't want to be alone again.

Seeing these feelings, knowing them better than perhaps anyone else could, Misato looked at Shinji, saw him struggling with his situation, and answered for him. "Wait a minute," Misato started, drawing the attention of the two Ikaris. "Didn't you say that you could send us back at anytime?"

"Yes. Yes, I did," Yui responded, a hint of confusion in her voice as she released Shinji.

"So…if we were to stay in here for a day or two, it wouldn't make that much of a difference, would it?" Misato asked playfully, smiling for their benefit. Though she knew that, if she really did forget what had happened here, she would definitely freak when she found out she had been absorbed, she couldn't imagine spending a few days in the Eva making that any worse. Not after what had happened with Shinji. Thirty days without her Shinji.

Blinking a few times in quick succession, realization appeared in Yui's as she smiled. "No," she spoke with a hint of amusement in her voice. "I don't suppose it would."

"Misato…" Shinji whispered, his eyes gleaming with gratitude. But then his responsible half kicked in. "But…what about PenPen? And the Angels? And…"

"Relax, Shinji!" Misato answered before he got too much momentum. "Asuka or Rits can take care of PenPen for a day or two. Besides, it'll be a few days before the Evas are repaired, and maybe if I'm lucky, by the time we get back, somebody will have done all my damned paperwork for me!" As this little joke elicited smiles from the Ikaris, Misato added another one. "Besides, I've been promising myself a vacation for a while now, and this looks as good as place for one as any!"

As Misato gestured at the sunny beachfront and the cherry blossoms, Shinji just smiled even more broadly, but it was possibly the grateful expression that Yui wore that warmed Misato's heart the most. Even if Misato or Shinji wouldn't remember their time in the Eva, somebody would. Someone who desperately needed to remember. Someone who deserved to have some happy memories.

"In that case, please, follow me," Yui spoke, turning about as she took Shinji's hand. Misato was about to follow when something caught her attention. Once again, she saw a dark storm cloud rip across the sky, rumbling with thunder.

"Again?!" Misato jolted, staring at the anomalous cloud that disappeared just as quickly as the last one. "What was that thing?!"

"Oh, don't worry about it," Yui spoke reassuringly. As Misato and Shinji looked at her, she smiled with scientific confidence. "It's just a reaction to the damage done to the Eva. It happens every time after Unit 01 is in a battle."

"Does that mean…" Shinji started, before taking another tack. "Does it hurt you, Mother?"

"No, of course not. True, the damage was severe, but nothing that won't heal in due time," Yui replied. "Please, follow me."

As Yui led the way, Misato found herself checking the sky every now and again, looking for any more of the stormy rips. It was clear that Shinji accepted his mother's reasoning without any hesitation, and Misato didn't have any better explanation. But even after everything that had happened, Misato still noticed that Yui looked somewhat unnerved. Something that didn't make the Major happy.

Sometime later, the three of them were inside Yui's home inside the world of the Eva. Much like her garment, Shinji's mother had chosen an old-fashioned setting. Yui's home was patterned to look like something a well-to-do Feudal Lord would like to call home. When Yui had explained how she had shaped the world of the Eva to her liking, she had chosen these settings as a way of distancing herself from technology, at least as much as she could when trapped inside a massive biomechanical weapon that spent most of its time housed in the headquarters of the most scientifically advanced organization to have ever existed.

The only articles of science that were evident in the Feudal manor were a big screen television and a well-equipped lab, a setting that Yui would feel comfortable working in when she was conducting research. Shinji supposed that his mother didn't really need either of these things, since she had explained that she could mentally tap into the Eva's onboard systems. She could even utilize the MAGI when Unit 01 was stored in its cage. Still, she was used to doing things in a human fashion, and ten years trapped in the Eva hadn't changed that.

After a lot of talking and explaining and being shown around by Yui, the three of them were relaxing in the dining room, having a delicious meal. Again, none of them really needed to eat, seeing as they didn't possess real bodies at the moment, but this was another of the aspects of human life that Yui had maintained over the years.

As Shinji ate his sweet and sour pork, he found himself both pleased and disturbed as he sat across from Yui and Misato, watching the two of them interact. On the one hand, the two of them seemed to be getting along fairly well. On the other hand, he was worried about them.

In the world of the Eva, Yui could materialize any food or drink she had ever had in her life, and one of those things was Yebisu. Naturally enough, Misato had helped herself. What wasn't natural for her was the fact that she only finished one can of her favorite beer, and was now slowly nursing the second.

Shinji might have given this situation more thought if it weren't for the fact that Yui, his own mother, had just finished chugging down her fifth such can of beer.

"Ahhhh…" Yui sighed in deep contentment, tossing aside the emptied can, which conveniently disappeared before it even hit the floor. She then daintily wiped her mouth with a napkin before another can appeared on the table.

"Mother…" Shinji spoke wearily as Yui took the can in hand and cracked it open.

"Here it comes…" Misato deadpanned, a hint of amusement appearing as she watched Shinji's reaction to his mother's own drinking.

"Now, now, Shinji," Yui spoke, not acting at all like someone who should be passing out by now. "It's not as if it's real beer."

As Yui started knocking back her latest beer, Shinji immediately gave it up as a lost cause. After all his failures to try and talk sense into Misato, he certainly wasn't going to try it with his own mother. Not when she was making Misato look like a piker in the booze department.

As for Misato, she almost laughed at Shinji's reaction. The only reason she didn't…was because she honestly didn't feel like laughing.

Even though Shinji and Yui were present, Misato felt alone. She wasn't Shinji's guardian here. He had his mother again, and watching the two of them getting along so well, talking to each other…Misato felt superfluous. Unneeded.

Another thing troubled Misato as she looked at Shinji. Did you know about this, Shinji-kun? she wondered as she remembered the day she had brought him face-to-face with Unit 01, perhaps not for the first time. Is that why you were so scared of the Eva? Did you somehow know…that it was the monster that took your mother away?

Even more disturbing for her was the world inside the Eva. It was a beautiful place, that much was true. It had every amenity imaginable, and even through it's connection to NERV, Yui had access to every television broadcast and movie, every book ever written, every game ever made. In theory, a person's soul could live on here forever, free of the frailties of the flesh. Everything a person could ever want was to be found here.

Except for other people. Except for companionship, friendship, loyalty, love, and the other emotions that were to be found in the interactions of flawed human beings.

Hell, Misato decided, didn't need fire and brimstone. It could be a beautiful, peaceful, and yet still be hell.

As for Yui, she was having her own difficulties. She knew that, despite Misato's kindness, it would soon once again be time for her to say goodbye to Shinji, to be a helpless, distant witness to her son's life, a life she could no longer be a part of.

She also considered Misato, whom she had only just met, and yet felt like she had known forever. Yui hadn't mentioned it, but whenever someone synched with the Eva, she could read their minds effortlessly. In that way, she had learned everything that had happened to her son since Gendo had abandoned him. She had also seen the tragedy of Rei Ayanami's existence when the 1st Child had synched with Unit 01 in a compatibility test, and knew the horrible plans her husband had in store for her. Plans that she had explained to Shinji before, and could only hope his memories of them awakened in time.

That was why Yui could replicate the Yebisu beer when she had never had it before; when Misato had been absorbed, Yui had seen into the purple-haired woman's mind, and thus knew everything that the Major knew. Perhaps even better than Misato knew it herself. But Yui had been careful not let this fact slip; she knew Misato would never be able to bear it if all her faults, true or false, were known to another.

Yui had been aware of Misato well before she had given herself over to Unit 01. As a scientist working on Project: E, she had naturally heard of the sole surviving witness to Second Impact. And she was aware that Misato wasn't exactly the most ideal guardian in most people's eyes.

But the fact was, Misato had done her best for Shinji. Yui had seen through Misato's eyes every tragedy she had had to endure, everything from Second Impact and her long, painful recovery, to the crushing responsibilities she had to deal with as a commanding officer of NERV. And she had seen this woman take a boy she had never met before into her home, give him a place to live and a purpose in life, as well as an emotional stability he had not had in ten years.

All these things were thought in silence, a silence that became so loud and oppressive that Shinji became desperate to break it. "Misato…" he started, looking at the clearly distraught Major. "Is something wrong?"

The Major looked at her ward, her first impulse to try and deflect his question with an attempt at humor. However, nothing even remotely funny came to mind, and she wasn't up to trying to lie. And so the truth came out. "I'm just…feeling kind of down, I guess, Shinji-kun…"

"Why?" he asked, seeming a little surprised. "What is it?"

Yui banished her latest can of beer as she looked at the Major with concern. "Misato, please. If something's wrong, then please, tell us."

Misato fumbled a bit as she slowly gathered her courage. Then, when she could no longer stand the expectant gazes upon her, she looked at Shinji right in the face. "I just…feel so horrible," she admitted, much to the other's surprise. "You risked everything to save me, Shinji. And the thing is…I didn't deserve it."

"What?!" Shinji yelped in disbelief while Yui just watched what was unfolding between the two of them with a look of sadness. "What are you talking about, Misato? If you'd died…!"

"But, Shinji…don't you get it?" Misato asked plaintively. "I've been making you pilot this monster! It's what took your mother away, it's what caused you so much misery! And I've been making you get in it and fight the Angels, and…and…!"

"Misato, stop. Right now," Yui spoke, her words gentle yet forceful at the same time. When Misato turned her attention to Shinji's mother. Once Yui was confident she had Misato's full attention, she took on the firmness that she had cultivated as a scientist and as a mother. "Did you know about happened to me? Could you have known about it?"

"No, but…"

"I don't want to hear 'but', Misato," Yui intoned in the perfect Mother voice. Taking a moment to sigh, Yui took Misato's hand in her own. "Now, I know about your duties at NERV. I know how hard that job must be for you. And…I know from Shinji that are some things in your life…that you're not proud of. But the fact is, all of us have things in our lives that we're ashamed of."

There was an awkward moment before Shinji asked, "Even you?"

The disbelief in his voice was clear. It was compounded when Yui replied, "Especially me, Shinji."

While Shinji was struggling with this, Yui returned her attention to Misato. "Even more that, Misato, is that we all have things that we have to do in order to stop the Angels, to ensure a future for humanity. The burden you've been forced to bear is a terrible one, and I know it must hurt, sending children into battle, when you would do it yourself if you could." Yui paused for a moment before continuing. "You would give your life to protect Shinji, wouldn't you?"

This wasn't really a question, and even if it were, the hardening in Misato's eyes was all the answer Yui could have ever needed. "Misato, you've done more for Shinji, our Shinji, than you could ever imagine. You helped him find his courage. You helped him smile again. And for that, I can never thank you enough."

"That's right, Misato," Shinji added, and before Misato's eyes, the boy who was already more of a man then most men ever got to be stood from his place at the table and came to kneel at her side. "I...I don't ever want to be without you, Misato. Because…you're my family, too."

Stunned by these words, Misato stared at Shinji for a moment before turning to look at Yui. Shinji's mother was smiling even more deeply as she moved from her seat to drape her arms around both Shinji and Misato's shoulders. "That's right, Misato," Yui smiled reassuringly. "Thank you for being there for Shinji. Thank you…for being a part of our lives. Of our family."

Swept along by the emotions of the moment, Misato couldn't restrain herself any longer. To hell with it! she thought as she hugged Shinji and allowed Yui to embrace them both. Allowed Yui to mother her, to make her feel a sense of comfort and home she hadn't known in fifteen years. Allowed Shinji to reassure her that she was wanted, that she was needed. That her life had value to not only him, but to all the people around her.

Eventually, Yui withdrew her embrace, and looked at Shinji and Misato, who were still hugging each other. "What is it, Mother?" Shinji wondered when Yui finally smiled in an amused fashion.

"It's nothing, Shinji…" she giggled. "I was just thinking that…as proud as I am to have you for my son…I would dearly love to have daughter as well. Officially, that is."

It took a few minutes for the two of them to process this comment, at which point they looked at each other. Upon realizing that they were still holding tightly to one another, Shinji turned redder than a tomato, while Misato blushed lightly. "Hey, wait! It's not like that!" she protested, waving her hands in negation.

Yui just giggled even more. "Isn't it?" she asked, resulting in the other two blushing even more deeply.

Author's Notes: Thanks for all of the reviews, everyone! The feedback is most definitely appreciated. Always feel free to criticize me, as long as its constructive criticism!

Now, it's time to for reader feedback. I'm glad everybody's enjoying my story, and I've still got a lot planned. I just hope you all enjoy it!

Mr. Lee, I realized that it was make or break time for this story. That's one of the reasons I took so long with this chapter. I just hope that I made it, because I didn't want to break it! By the way, I made some tweaking of that scene, as you recommended. To be honest, I was having some trouble, wrapping up this chapter, so thanks for the imput.

By the way, gunman, you were half right about Asuka, but only half right. It's true she wants to be number one, but she also wants to be independent, to be able to stand without assistance. When Shinji wished her luck in the first chapter, she got mad because she doesn't want assistance from him in any form, even good wishes. Also, I had thought about having Misato making a joke about the LCL tasting like blood, but then I thought, since she was already coughing up blood and somewhat out of it, she might not even realize that it was the LCL she was tasting. When I realized this, the urge to have Misato try to be funny at this point died a quick death.

Now, I know Yui is probably a bit OoC, but what can I say? I was suffering an attack of the cutes when I wrote this chapter. Besides, she probably hasn't had much variety in her beverages for ten years, so she'd probably enjoy something new.

As for what happens next…you just going to have to read the next chapter to find out! I hope you all enjoy!