A Crown of Stars

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Part 81
A Crown of Stars

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The tingle of the portal washed over Asuka in a flash, leaving her and Shinji in the same position they'd just been on their Earth, but now in the middle of the floor of their beach cabin on Avalon. The abrupt transition from the damp-, smoke-, and dust-filled air of Jinnai's command center to the cool, dry air of the Avaloni building was a pleasant shock, as was arriving at the feet of the figure seated on the couch near them.

"I told you you'd feel that way again soon, child. See?" Empress Rayana smiled at them.

"You didn't mention all the shit we'd go through to get there," Asuka growled, still smiling at Shinji. She just couldn't break eye contact. "Or that it was literally true that I'd die before I'd admit out loud I need this baka with me forever."

"I already knew that," Shinji said tiredly, still smiling back.

"Shut up, it doesn't count until I say it."

"Yes, dear."

"Learning fast, I see," Rayana said amusedly, rising from the couch. She knelt next to the pair. "And aren't you in a sorry state. Tsk. I'm pleased to see your safety nanites held up. Let's clean up your wounds and his. My my, so many bullet wounds..." She gently laid her hand on Shinji's forehead and Asuka's shoulder.

A bolt of electricity seemed to shoot along Asuka's nerves, and the closed-up bullet wound on her chest itched weirdly. The sensation passed, and she felt refreshed. Looking down, she watched the just-patched bullet hole in Shinji's leg close up and vanish like it was never there. He gasped and sagged in relieved tension in her arms.

"The nanites would have been good to know about, too," Asuka replied.

"Would you have done anything differently?" Rayana replied, rising.

"...no. But knowing I was bulletproof would have been nice," Asuka begrudged. She blinked. "Wait, how do you know any of that?"

"The moment young Thaddeus arrived back here, we got it all from him. My husband is there now, securing your friends and giving Miss Ayanami a dry look. To help confuse her, he brought along one of her analogs that is a resident here. That ought to shift her thinking a bit, mm?"

"Great, more Wondergirls wandering about?"

"You had an interesting time meeting one of your own, no?" Rayana responded gently. "Now, I may have healed you, but you're still covered in an appalling amount of mud and your own blood, so let's see about cleaning you up before you are literally stuck with each other. I could just snap my fingers for that, but I think you'd rather do it the traditional way, as well as enjoy the time alone together. And before you ask, Asuka, your 'condition' is fine, no ill effects from all this. I checked." She made a small gesture with her left hand and a faint purple nimbus briefly flared around Shinji's body. "There. for the next two minutes, he now temporarily weighs about three kilos."

"Er, why?" Shinji said. "I'm pretty sure I can walk."

Rayana flashed a grin. "Maybe, but you're still mostly in Asuka's lap, and I think your fiancée might enjoy the chance to 'bridal carry' you to the shower." At their blush, she laughed. "You do have some things to discuss, mm?" She helped Asuka stand without letting go of Shinji. True to her word, Shinji was no burden at all to lift.

"Really, I can walk," he half-protested. He made no real move to free himself from Asuka's arms, however. His arms went right around her neck for stability instead.

"Nope, I like you right here," Asuka declared. "Mine," she said more gently, beginning to follow Rayana down the hall from the living room to their bedroom. It felt like years since they'd first slept together there, rather than the two months they'd been trapped on their world.

Rayana stopped by the bed and waved them past. "You two get cleaned up. We'll look in on you later, but I'm betting you'll need some time. Maybe dinner for your team tonight?"

"Hikari and the others will be okay, right?"

Rayana nodded reassuringly. "Daniel will have them all safe and sound back here shortly. Though we may need to strap Sergeant Bir down to keep him from charging right back in to make sure his platoon is all good. I suppose my husband can just order him to relax, in that case."

She dropped a small, square green velvet box in Shinji's lap as they passed. "A little gift you might need." At Shinji and Asuka's paling, she laughed again. "Two starblaze diamond rings, already sized. Congratulations to you both. On both counts."

She vanished.

Shinji slowly raised his free hand and pried the box's lid open. Two rings glittered within, gemstones the size of salmon roe glowing faintly in the gold bands. His gaze finally rose to meet hers. "Eep," Shinji observed astutely.

Fortunately for them, Asuka's feet kept moving automatically to the bathroom.

"Of course, we end up here for this," Asuka said, a wry grin on her lips. She lowered his legs to let him stand right under one of the jets. "Perfect. Start the water, Shinji."

"Of course', what?" Shinji said, turning the tap on and starting the powerful spray of hot water from the multiple jet heads. He turned to face Asuka. "...oh."

Asuka was on one knee the ring box held up to him. "I know I already asked and you already technically answered, but… I want to do it right. Shinji, will you marry me?" The incandescent blush on her face was impressive, but she kept her eyes locked on his.

Shinji put out his left hand. "O-of course!" he said, his voice cracking. "I can never say yes enough!" His hand only shook a little as Asuka slid one of the rings onto his finger. He stared at the glittering stone like he was afraid the ring would start talking out loud. "I can't believe this is really happening."

Asuka stood up carefully, and handed him the other ring to slip onto her finger to match. They fit perfectly.

Shinji's eyes got stuck on her chest as they rose back up from her hand. "I-... Asuka, the bullet hole!"

Her eyes dropped to her own chest. The small, neat circle where she'd been shot had been healed up, but still visible. Now it was gone entirely. "Huh… Thanks, Rayana?" Sha shook her head. "Wait, nope, not getting distracted. Worry about it later. Staying focused on the holy shit you said yes!"

Shinji gave her an uncertain smile. "Did you ever think I'd say anything else?" The spray from the showerheads haloed him in a cloud of mist. "Asuka, you've owned all of me since…" His smile dimmed as he trailed off.

"Since the day we met?" she ventured, standing up and stepping closer to take his hand.

He shook his head. "Since… the beach. The red one. When you put your hand on my face… even after all that had happened, you still showed me someone cared, you cared… That's it. I was completely gone for you then. And ever since."

He looked down at their hands. "Gods… I….hahahahaha! That's it! I get it now!"

"What?"

"'Did you ask him? Or did he ask you?' What the er… 'future Asuka' asked the night we got here. She was talking about...this." Shinji looked up, his smile back full force. "You asked me. And now… that's us, isn't it? In what… three more months, we go back and tell 'ourselves' to go through that portal?"

"And now we understand why. The ring I was wearing, the way we were acting, this…" She patted her stomach. "Yeah, I guess I can see why we'd mmm… not exactly explain that. Us back then wouldn't have believed it."

The blood and dirt were swiftly washing off them as they stood holding each other in the spray. Asuka happily pulled him closer and burrowed into his arms, nuzzling her face into his neck. "Believe it now, baka Shinji. You're mine. I may have literally had to die before I admit I love you, but I'm never letting go now that I have."

Shinji only just heard it over the spray. Or maybe felt it from her lips on his skin.

"I promise."

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"Sergeant Bir?"

Bir nodded tense acknowledgement to Lieutenant Liebshott as she ran back into the command pit, but his eyes snapped right back to the comm window in the battle table. "Go ahead, Lieutenant Suzuhara."

"I disabled that sub. Punched it right through the reactor, like you said. It started to sink, so I hit it with one of the gravity buoys. It's stuck floating in place about 500m in the air until we want it, I guess. What should I do now?"

Bir smiled slightly and nodded. Touji had had a hard time with the idea of possibly killing a sub full of people, even ones shooting at the city he was defending. Bir had quickly walked him through how to disable it with minimum casualties.

"He, Lieutenant O'Brien, and Unit-01 have landed in Berlin, according to Private Rokobungi's last transmission, so take up a defensive position northeast of the city in case there's any more missiles already en route."

He shot a look at Lieutenant Liebshott. She shook her head grimly.

Bir frowned. "And scan the floor of the bay. We still have no sign of Lieutenant Aid-"

He froze and stiffened, eyes going wide. "Lord and Lady…"

Ching's face nearly matched his own. "Oh… oh! So… so that's what that feels like!"

Bir's eyes closed slowly and his shoulders relaxed for the first time in two months. "The Emperor protects," he said quietly.

"No sparrow shall fall, Sergeant. Good work," Daniel said from just behind him. The Emperor stepped up next to the NCO and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Very good work."

The battle table lit up with a sudden glow of scores of new icons, then doubled, then tripled.

"I 'shimmed the door open' so Miss Ayanami can't lock us out again before the entire rest of the 791st Independent Division lands. The Soryu is already in orbit, as well. And all of your short company is getting rotated home tout d'suite. You've got some leave coming."

"Your Majesty, can you see Lieutenant Aida? He's MIA," Liebshott asked.

Daniel looked at the wall, in the direction of the riverfront. "Mmm. His mecha's a wreck, but the stasis systems on the cockpit are active. Some of the 791st will recover him." He made a small gesture. On the battle table, two icons swung out over the water.

Bir let a tired smile onto his face. "I stand relieved, Sire."

"I bet you are."

"I take it our commanders and wayward prince were successful in Berlin, Sire? What happened?"

Daniel cocked his head. "My other half is taking care of them now back home. Seems they managed to convince Miss Ayanami to drop the block by Lieutenant Soryu proposing to her beau."

Ching grinned at Bir. "So it was her. Looks like I owe you a beer."

Bir snorted. "Always bet on a redhead to make the impulsive winning move, told ya."

"Now, to have a word with our local Lilith," Daniel said, shaking his head.

"I do not require lectures from you," the former First Child said coldly from the side, appearing without a sound. "I have already had to endure the Second Child twice over at the same time today."

"How terrible," Daniel said dryly. "Still, may we talk for a bit? Your friends will be returning in a few days at most, and likely will want to talk to you. Well, Shinji will, anyway."

Rei gave him a flat stare. "Fine. Proceed."

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"Mmmm… vas…" The redheaded woman on the bed stirred and blinked her eyes slowly open. She stared blankly at the ceiling for a second, then went wide. She suddenly sat fully upright, eyes darting around. "Asuka! Wo ist Asuka‽" ["Asuka! Where's Asuka!" I…"]

The strangeness of her surroundings began to register. The panoramic view out the window of a tropical evening sunset was not the hospital setting she seemed to expect. The tall woman in green and black robes sitting at her bedside was not disturbed. "Guten Abend, Doktor Sōryū. Ich fürchte, Sie haben eine Weile geschlafen. Mehr ein Koma, eigentlich. Was ist das Letzte, woran Sie sich erinnern?" "[Good evening, Doctor Soryu. I'm afraid you've been asleep for awhile. Something like a coma, really. What is the last thing you remember?"]

Kyoko rubbed her head and shook her head slightly. "Ich... bin nicht sicher. Asuka war da, und wir... haben gegen jemanden gekämpft? Weiße und rote... Gestalten? Wir... haben verloren? Ich erinnere mich an Schmerzen in meinem Auge..." ["I… it's not clear. Asuka was there, and we were… fighting someone? Figures in white and red? We…. we lost? I remember pain in my eye…"] She reached up to touch her face. "Aber auch einen... einen Prozess? Männer mit Waffen, die mich von ihr wegzerren?" ["But also a...a trial? Men with guns dragging me away from her?"] She looked around. "Und... Wo bin ich? Wer sind Sie?" ["And… where am I? Who are you?"]

"Mein Name ist Rayana. Ich bin sozusagen ihre Gastgeberin und dies hier ist eine Art Reha-Klinik beziehungsweise Kurheim auf den Sternbildinseln der Welt Avalon." ["My name is Rayana. I am your hostess, essentially. This is a recuperation facility slash resort in the Constellation Islands on the world of Avalon."] At Kyoko's look of confusion, Rayana gestured at the other side of the bed where two more people waited with nervous expressions. "Ich bin nur zur Unterstützung hier. Ich denke, Sie würden es eher begrüßen, wenn Ihre Tochter die weiteren Erklärungen übernimmt." ["I am here merely for support. She will explain everything from here. I think you'd prefer your daughter do so in any case."]

Kyoko rolled her head over to her right as quickly as her fatigued body could manage.

A young woman with a very familiar shade of red hair smiled nervously at her, tightly clutching her companion's hand for support. "Hallo, mama…"

Kyoko's eyes widened. This woman had to be at least 20. "Meine... Tochter? Asuka? Bist du das?" ["My… daughter? Asuka? Is that you?"]

"Ja, Mama. Ich bin's." ["Yes, mama. It's me."] Asuka raised Shinji's hand with her. The ring on his left hand glittered. "Und das ist mein Verlobter, Shinji. Willkommen zurück." ["And this is my fiancé, Shinji. Welcome back."]

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"Time travel?" Kyoko shook her head. "Kitten dear, that may be the oddest thing yet. Two months of giant robots, rings in the sky, this being another world, and gods and goddesses just dropping by to say 'good day!'... and my nurse is a woman with blue hair that looks like an elf! But now you say you and your Verlobter have 'to do a little time travel' before the party tonight?"

Asuka grinned. "Yes, Mama. I knew it was close as soon as Shinji found that dress in the video catalogue. And he and I knew this was coming, since that's how it started. I don't think we'd have trusted anyone else enough to follow them through the portal to here, no? I barely trusted myself." She laughed. "Ok, I admit some of it was spite and curiosity at seeing this." She raised her left hand and wiggled her fingers. The ring sparkled and gave off a faint glow. "And now I get to twit 'myself' with all the jokes I made. Now I find them very funny. Not so much then."

Shinji knocked on the doorframe of Kyoko's room before entering, followed by Mother Sriyana. The priestess just nodded to Asuka, and busied herself examining the small holoscreen readouts hovering near the head of Kyoko's bed. Shinji smiled at Asuka. "Good afternoon, Doctor. Hallo, love. Kensuke, Katya, and Kimatra send their best wishes. They'll see us at the party." His German still had a bit of an accent.

Asuka only briefly rolled her eyes. "Kimatra still trying to convince the other two 'now' is a good time to get married, I take it?"

"Kensuke's eyes do tend to glaze over in a happy way when she mentions it, at least?" Shinji offered. "Er… Rei says 'Hallo' as well," he continued more awkwardly.

Asuka tried not to frown. She really did. Kensuke, Touji, Hikari, and their families were still on Earth, continuing to help out with the still accelerating Avalon-backed reconstruction efforts. The portal to and from their world had never been interfered with again by their former-colleague-now-goddess, and she and Asuka had even managed to have a few civil conversations over the last couple months, but there was still little love lost between them. With Shinji mediating, they were both making efforts to bury things, though. "Mmm… she knows we're coming to visit tonight, back six months, yes?"

He nodded. "She said she won't bother us, since she knows it ends well."

Asuka sighed. "I suppose that's why she didn't pester us back then. Is it about time? Alright…"

She stood up, a trifle more awkwardly than she would have six months ago. She gave her belly an automatic pat as she straightened. "Oof. I swear, they're doubling in weight each week."

Shinji had practically teleported to her side as she rose, his hand already gently massaging at her lower back. "Two on two, but I still feel like we'll be outnumbered."

"Hah. Twins? We're going to be dead meat." Rayana had given them the word a week past, when Asuka couldn't stand the curiosity any longer. Fraternal twins were coming right at them, a boy and a girl. They were still too amazed to even contemplate names yet.

"I'm sure I still remember how to feed a bottle to a baby, my dear," Kyoko said with a smile, breaking off her muttered consultation with the priestess. "You will be fine. I will spoil my grandchildren thoroughly." She snorted. "And I'm sure you will be back in time for the party, yes?"

"Of course!" Asuka said cheerily. "'Gott mit uns', no? We'll be there. Everyone's coming, so we can't be late." She gave her mother a wave as they headed out the door.

The beach outside was nicely warm, Primastra already kissing the horizon in a glorious sunset. Daniel was already waiting for them at the shoreline. "Ready to give yourselves the kick in the pants to get started?" He smiled.

"Should I worry about remembering exactly what I said the first time?" Shinji asked, slightly concerned.

"Not at all. Just say what comes to mind. It will be what you remember." He clapped his hands together twice, and a pale gray portal split the air to their right and irised open. "Step through here, and you'll be back six months to the night you arrived. I'll be waiting. Then I'll open the gate to your Earth, and go through first to 'introduce' you. You talk yourselves through the portal, leave your past selves with me, and come right back here. You've got a party to attend, of course."

Asuka shook her head. "God, this is going to be fun. Shinji, I swear, you have no idea how much 'did he ask you? Or did you ask him?' baked my brain. I could not deal with the implications of that for a while. Messed with me even more than the ring or the belly, to be honest."

"'Be you later', I said. Guess I am now?" Shinji replied. He took her hand and they stepped into the portal.

Daniel was already standing on the other side, in the now moonlit early night. "And right on schedule. Alright, hold on a moment, kids, and we'll get you face to face with your sad old selves. Just tell them what happiness awaits on this end, and walk them through."

They nodded, and he snapped his fingers. The portal looked like a black pool of ink standing on its side. Daniel took one last look back at them. "Just wait for my wave, then come through." He stepped into the portal and vanished.

Asuka automatically took Shinji's hand as they stood waiting. She laughed nervously. "No wonder we looked so tense when 'we' showed up, eh? This is going to be so weird."

"At least we know it has a good end?" Shinji smiled weakly. His eyes dropped to her growing belly. "I can't believe I'm about to make jokes at 'myself' when I ask about this."

"Just what a baka needs to get moving, love," Asuka grinned.

Daniel's hand emerged from the portal and gestured for them to follow.

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Shinji cocked his head at Asuka as they came back out of the portal from their Earth. "You were right. That was as weird as we expected."

Asuka glanced back over her shoulder at the pair following them. That Asuka was stunned, staring up at the blazing night sky. She shook her head at her younger self's expression. "God, I looked so small and… scared. It feels like another world."

They swiftly walked down the beach a bit, to put some space between them and their counterparts. Daniel was already waiting next to where the second portal to their own 'present' would open. Daniel raised his hand and a pale grey disk flared in the air before them. He smiled. "And now you know why I didn't mention some things right away, eh?"

Asuka wiggled her head in acknowledgement. "Ok, yes, messing with myself was fun, and did get me thinking about 'certain things' in a way I would have mentally veered away from automatically if not. Still feels weird, a bit."

Shinji snorted. "Love, if we had told our younger selves half of what we've done, they'd have panicked. Just us wearing the rings alone…"

"Speaking of which…" Asuka turned back down the beach to their past selves. "Oy! We're going back up to when we're supposed to be. There's a party waiting on us! You have fun. And try this one out, 'me'; did he ask you? Or did you ask him?" she shouted.

Shinji waved to himself, too. "Remember, you can change things. Take the chance! 'Be' you later!"

Daniel gave them a small grin. "See? Fun. See you both later. Have a good time at this party."

The cool sensation of the portal washed over them as they stepped through, and then it was now again.

Asuka looked at Shinji. "So… party time?"

"Let's go."

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Asuka blinked at her friend. Her fiancé blinked too. "You're getting what?!"

"Married," Ching grinned. "It's just a five year trial contract. Since a lot of us are functionally immortal, we don't just dive into a ''till death do us part' permanent deal. But we've decided since we kind of like each other a bit, we'd try it out for a bit."

Asuka and Shinji shared a look for a moment, then returned to a dual 'wut' at their older friends. "Can… can you just… do that?" Shinji asked.

"We're both theoretically sufficiently mature and cognizant adults," Bir said with a slight smirk at Ching, "and yes, we can do that if we want to. As a bonus, the Lord and Lady themselves said… ah…"

"'Sure, it'll be hilarious for the Army-Navy jokes alone,' is what she said," Ching completed. "And His Lordship said 'you two will be fine, and happy.' And who can resist a blessing like that? Also, Dalren is cute and I like him." She punctuated her assessment with a peck to his cheek.

The party was in full swing. Misato and Ryouji's baby shower, that is. Misato had finally thought to ask for a check herself, and Doc Leibshott had been only too happy to confirm the former NERV Operations Manager was indeed in a family way. Asuka hadn't stopped laughing at her for days, in between congratulations.

She had been only too pleased to inform Rayana. The Empress had decreed it a good excuse for a celebration and party for the rescuees from their operation, a good chance for those still working on their Earth to return for an evening of rest and mingling with those no longer on constant duty there.

Which had led them back to the party they'd always sort of known they'd attend the night this all 'started' for them. If you'd asked Shinji at any point before this, he'd probably have agreed it shouldn't be a surprise. And while the party itself might not have been, a lot of the content had turned out to be.

Kensuke appearing on the arms of both Kimatra and Katya with a slightly dazed look had been expected, though not the matching look on theirs. "She… agreed. And… we agreed, and... I think we're ok?"

"Agreed to what, Ken-man?" Touji had prodded, his arm around Hikari.

She had nodded beside him. "You didn't get married, did you? That would be just a little wild at our age and your short time together."

Asuka gave her a look.

"What?" she rebutted. "Not everyone is as crazy as you two, Asuka. And even you two waited a good while."

"Mostly because I was a nearly psychotic ball of trauma, and he was a neurotic mess of regrets," Asuka drolled. "But spill, nerd-Stooge. What's got all three of you looking like stunned gophers?"

"We… have options. On each other." At their confused looks, Kensuke looked helplessly at Katya.

The Russian girl snapped out of her daze long enough to explain. "Ah, we… are not getting married. At the moment. More or less." Her Japanese was now as smooth as Shinji's German. "None of us will ask anyone for at least three years, and then we each get first ask. Mutually."

She got more confused looks. She pouted slightly. "What? I was in school to learn how to do accounting and finance for my family's business. It makes sense to us and is a compromise with Kimatra's desire for 'tomorrow or sooner'." She shot a tiny smirk at her second partner.

"Kensuke insisted he wasn't ready and didn't want to rush in. I am willing to wait for you both," the Indian girl noted crisply. "I know who I want, and am patient."

"And modest," Katya snarked back.

"I will seduce you too, Russki," the brunette said calmly. "Resistance is futile."

Kensuke let out a snort and pulled them away to the dance floor, waving a farewell at Shinji and Asuka.

Asuka shook her head again. "This place is weird. I'd swear there's something in the water, but those three have been spending their time on our Earth, so it must be in the air."

"I can't complain," Shinji said with a small smile.

"Well, of course not, you get to swan about on the arm of the most kick-ass Pilot in the world," Asuka said airily. "I do approve of how many redheads this place has. It feels-"

A petite hand with cold fingers touched her shoulder.

Asuka stiffened and whirled around.

Rei Ayanami stared flatly at her.

Silence held amid the chattering crowd of the party. The atmosphere of the tropical beach pavilion suddenly felt chilly. Shinji nervously darted between the two women. "Ah…"

"First things first: Are you the Rei from our world?" Asuka suddenly began. "I've learned to ask around here."

"Yes. Greetings, Soryu-san, Ikari-kun. Your," Rei's lips pursed, "older friend convinced me this 'party' was a good moment to… apologize." She gave off the air of someone shuffling their feet while standing perfectly still.

Asuka stared right back at her. "I am twenty percent convinced you're a different Rei Ayanami trying to pull off a bit. But I'll bite. An apology?"

"I allowed my mortal animosity towards you to overly color my actions, when I should have been more detached and dispassionate. I had the souls of most of humanity under my sight, and evidently had not learned to separate my own feelings for Shinji and antipathy for you despite having the breadth of all hearts to watch and learn from." She shifted her feet, managing for the first time to look awkward more than icily remote. "In my defense, you were still…"

"'Being a raging bitch'?" Asuka suggested, one corner of her mouth curling up.

"Acting overtly quite hostile to Shinji, I was going to say," Rei concluded.

"Fine, I'll say that part: I was a bitch. A terrified, arrogant, barely functional bitch. So… almost as bad as you," Asuka grinned.

Rei's eyes narrowed. "Daniel warned me you would try to provoke me. And vice versa."

"Is it working? I've still got plenty of negative feelings about you to work out."

"No, because I am smarter than… that, and will control myself."

Asuka's grin sharpened. "You were about to say 'you', weren't you?"

Rei stared at her, silent.

Asuka's smile didn't diminish. It did gain a sharp curl on one side. "Fuck you too, bitch. You're still going to be family, so… truce? I'll love and hold this baka for as long as we live, and you and I get along?"

Rei stared for another moment. "That is… acceptable. If you fail or leave him alone, I will not only take him to protect him myself, I will stuff your soul into a gerbil as well."

"I would expect nothing less," Asuka smiled, taking Shinji's hand.

"Do I get a vote in this?" Shinji asked dryly. He just grinned when Asuka stuck her tongue out at him.

"Also, I have peace offerings," Rei continued.

"Eh?"

"I will endeavor to incarnate Kaworu Nagisa, and separate him from my awareness, and... I will discorporate 'Don Barcelo' and Jinnai and keep them under reformatory supervision for a few decades at minimum."

Shinji's eyes widened. "You'll-... Rei, I…" He looked at Asuka, then back to the bluenette. "I don't know what to say. Thank you?"

Asuka opened her mouth to reflexively argue or make a counter-offer, but stopped. "I... thank you, Wond-... Rei. That's… quite an offer. On both parts."

Rei almost glared at her, somehow without changing expression. "...I expected you to argue," she admitted. "Or worse."

"This baka has been a bad influence on me."

"You mean a good influence, correct?"

"Whichever."

Rei's non-expression did not shift. "..."

Asuka relented. "Ok, fine, I'm being serious. It's a… really kind offer, Rei, and will make him happy. And at this point, yes, I'd chew off a leg for that alone. If you can take those assholes off to ...I don't know, spiritual prison for us, that will be a load off both our minds, and getting to see the Fifth Child again will be a bonus. So yes, I mean that 'thank you'."

"I do not make this offer lightly, Second Child. Nor will I make it a habit."

"What about the rest of the people in the Ring of Souls, Rei?" Shinji asked.

"I will begin to…," she pursed her lips. "Allow and encourage them to either reincarnate as they were like you did, or let them re-enter the cycle of rebirth, now that the world is being restored enough to let them. I have determined your actions are enough of an inflection point to make that option viable again."

Shinji almost sagged. "That's… more than I could have hoped for a year ago, Rei. Thank you."

Rei stared at him, her face losing it's blank expression. For the first time, it seemed almost sad and lonely. "...I will always care for you, Ikari-kun."

Rei's face scrunched up like she'd bitten a lemon. "...and through him, I will also watch out for you, Soryu-san, for as long as you two are… one."

Asuka and Shinji shared a look. "We are?" Asuka said carefully.

Rei nodded. "You always have been, in a way. It was the denial and almost willful destruction of that which I hated you for. Now… it is hard to deny that you are united."

"Wait, 'always'?!" Asuka hiccuped. "What do you mean, 'always'?!"

Rei gave the ghost of a smirk. "I must go. I cannot leave our Earth for too long. Goodnight." She began to fade back into the mass of partygoers, heading for the portal to their world.

"Oh no you don't, Wondergirl! Get back here, you…"

The bluenette was already gone.

"Fuck, how did she escape that fast?" Asuka growled.

"That was honestly kind of amazing," Shinji admitted.

Asuka glared at him. "'Always'?!" she demanded at him.

Shinji gave her a slanted smile. "Asuka, is it that hard to believe we've kind of had some kind of bond for… well, since Rei knew us?"

"I am going to stab her in the head next time we see her!" Asuka fumed. "Yes, it's…" She tried to glare at his open, loving smile. "Ok, fine, no, it's not that hard to say you and I were some kind of thing from the moment we all met! But GOTT, am I going to stab her in the face with a fork when we see her again for saying that out loud in public!"

Shinji just smiled at her. "Oh?"

"I need years to work up to that kind of admission! You know that!"

"I love you. Always have."

"Shut up, you idiot! And you know what?!"

"Mmm?"

Asuka grabbed him and kissed him hard. "Our children are going to be beautiful. Now shut up and dance with me. We'll worry about your incredibly annoying sister in the morning. Right now, we dance."

She took his hand and pulled him towards the bonfire outside on the beach, and made him dance with her. He went willingly.

'Our children will be beautiful…' she thought with a smile, and kissed her fiancé as they whirled around the fire in the light of many moons.

And all was right with the world.

- 30 -

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Author's Note, 28APR21: And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done."

December 2017 I posted the previous chapter on its first forum. The fic has been languishing ever since. But now, thanks to half a bottle of Aviation Gin, a shot of Midori, a shot of whipped cream vodka, and no sleep, I did it. I finished it.
Pieces have been written over the last few years, but now the last last last scene is done, and we can officially say A Crown of Stars is a complete fic.

Thank you very much to everyone who held on. Here's the end our two Pilots have been waiting for and deserving for so long. There might be epilogues, or other appearances, but for now, their story is told.