"Was she right?" I asked myself as I looked up at the familiar ceiling. Three years of being married end up like this. Normally we'd fight, I'd sleep on the couch, and we'd be fine the next day. It's never gotten this bad before. I looked at her ring, now in my right hand as I thought back to that day.
(Four years ago)
"Okay, you can do this!" I smiled as I tapped the box in my pocket. Ever since the Angels were defeated and we stopped Third Impact, life has been normal. Asuka and I finally revealed how we felt about each other and have dated since college. Now that we're graduated, I was ready to take that next step. I saw Asuka waiting in my car. "You weren't waiting long, were you?"
"Yes!" Asuka stuck her head out the window, wearing that yellow dress I loved so much. "I almost got in the driver's seat and drove off! How could you leave your girlfriend waiting so long!?"
"Sorry." I smiled as I scratched the back of my head. "I forgot something and needed to grab it."
"Ehh! Let's get moving already!" She rolled her eyes and sat back down. I kept smiling and got in my car. "So, where are we heading to?"
"You'll see." I turned on my car and started driving.
"Oh, something secret?" Asuka smiled and looked over at me. "I sure hope it's not one of those sleazy love hotels."
"Asuka, you know me better than that." I sighed.
"Oh, I don't know about that." She giggled. I rolled my eyes as I kept driving. Things stayed quiet until we got to our destination. Asuka looked out the window. "You brought me to a dock with warships?"
"Don't you recognize it?" I unbuckled my seatbelt. "That's the ship where we first met."
"Oh, taking me to our first meeting place?" She turned and looked at me. "Do you have a special dinner set up for us on the ship?"
"You'll see." I got out of the car and started walking to the ship. Asuka was right beside me as we took each other's hands.
This ship was a draw because it was the one that transported Eva Unit 2.0 with Asuka. Today, the Evas are gone because there weren't any more threats. However, people were still interested in the history behind them. Because of that, this ship became more of a museum.
"Well, this was where I first met you." I looked at Asuka as we stood on the deck.
"Yep, right where you were a perv, and looked up my dress!" Asuka looked away from me.
"It wasn't my fault that the wind blew, Asuka." I sighed.
"You could have looked away!" She turned to me and pointed at me.
"Of course." I sighed again and facepalmed. "I really wish you'd stop acting like you're angry."
"Why? It's so much fun." Asuka stuck her tongue out at me and giggled. I just shook my head and smiled. "So, what are we doing up here anyway? I don't see anything set up."
"Well, I wanted to do it here because this place means so much to me." I smiled as I took her hands.
"Do what?" Asuka raised an eyebrow. "Admit I'm the best thing in your life, and you can't live without me?"
"Asuka," I sighed.
"Oh, you know I'm just..."
"That's exactly what I wanted to say."
"I'm sorry, what?" Asuka's looked at me with a blank stare on her face.
"You're the best thing in my life, and I can't live without you." I let go of her hands and reached for my pocket. "That's why,"
"Shinji, are you..." Asuka covered her mouth as I got on one knee and pulled out the ring.
"I want you to marry me." I smiled as I looked up at her. I saw she began to tear up as she looked at me. "Asuka, will you be my wife?"
"You moron." She sounded choked up as she grabbed the ring. "I told you a long time ago to stop asking stupid questions."
"So, I take it that's a yes?" I stood back up.
"Of course, you idiot." Asuka put the ring on and wiped her eyes. "I can't believe you went out of your way to do this. How much did it take to rent out the ship for just that?"
"Who said it was just that?" I pointed over one of the planes on the deck. All our friends came out behind it, clapping.
"You got everyone here too?" She looked back at me.
"Well, I thought they'd like to know too?" I smiled as Misato ran up and hugged both of us.
"Oh, my two babies are grown-ups and ready to get married!" Misato squeezed us as she cried. "I always knew you two would make a perfect couple!"
"Yeah, yeah." Asuka sighed as she hugged Misato with me. Kaji, Touji, Hikari, and Kensuke were walking to us as well and congratulated us.
(Earlier today)
Since we got married, things aren't as easy as I hoped. We still occasionally see our friends, but things feel different. I don't see Asuka as often because of our work schedules, and I feel like our relationship is suffering. While she helped work at NERV, I took a boring office job.
NERV now works on exploring human genetics and has made several medical breakthroughs in recent years. They even helped Misato get pregnant. We got the news last week that they were finally expecting, and we told them how happy we were for them. Sadly, I wasn't there in person as I was at work.
Even though my father wasn't in charge, I had no intention of returning. Besides, my job was okay. It was boring, but at least it paid the bills. That's all that matters anyway. After another long day in the office, I got home and opened my door.
"Where the hell were you!?" Asuka got up from the couch and stomped towards me. "You used to call when you were heading home or if you'd be late, and you didn't do either today!"
"I'm sorry, Asuka." I lowered my head as I took my coat off. "It was another long day, and it must have slipped my mind."
"That's what you said the day before and the day before that!?" She crossed her arms, standing there in jeans and a t-shirt. " You told me you'd be home at 6:00, and now it's 9:00! I bet you forgot that we were supposed to go get a gift for Misato and Kaji today, didn't you?!"
"Oh shit." I facepalmed. "I'm so sorry. I forgot all about..."
"I'm sick of you just automatically apologizing again!" Asuka got in my face. "You're not fucking 14 anymore, so stop acting like a kid!"
"Asuka, can't you give me a..."
"No, I can't give you a break!" She cut me off. "I've tried everything to work around your schedule! I worked my hours around, turned down projects to lead, and you can't show the damn courtesy to show up and be with your wife?!"
"Asuka, we've been through this before!" I snapped and looked at her. "If you want to work at that hellhole, that's fine! But don't expect me to feel bad that I don't want any part of NERV anymore!"
"If that's really the case, then fine!" She pulled her ring off and threw it at the wall. She then turned to look at me. "Find someone else who wants to be with you because I'm not that person! I'm the woman that works in a hellhole that helped someone that's been a mother to us finally have her own baby!"
We were both frozen for a second. Asuka turned away and walked out the door. I watched her slam it as she didn't look back. I got choked up as I realized I might have finally done it. I screwed up the one good thing in my life. I saw the ring and went to pick it up. Once I saw it in my hand, I felt the tears coming out of my eyes. I fell on the ground, curled into a ball, and sobbed for what felt like hours.
(present)
I looked at my clock, and it was 1:00 a.m. I was still on the ground, wondering if our whole marriage was a mistake. Asuka never left me before, but I also never called her place of work a hellhole. This was all my fault, and because of me, the best part of my life was gone.
"Damn it!" I wiped my eyes as I got off the ground. "She's not going to come back if I'm just laying here!"
I threw on my coat, grabbed my keys, and headed for the door.
"Asuka, I don't know where you are, but I promise I'll..." I opened the door and saw Asuka was now standing right in front of me. She looked like she was reaching for the doorknob as I stood there starring at her. "Asuka?"
"Listen, about earlier," Asuka tried talking, but I hugged her before she could continue.
"I thought you left me for good!" I cried over her shoulder. "I'm sorry I called NERV a hellhole and ever acted like you're not important!"
"You moron!" She hugged me back and started crying. "I came back to apologize for yelling at you earlier!"
"I'd take you yelling at me every day if it meant you'll never leave me like that again!"
"Idiot." Asuka giggled as we broke the hug and looked at each other. We kissed as I led her inside. She shut the door, and I began taking off my coat. I pulled her to our bedroom as we kept kissing and left a trail of clothes along the way.
After making love for what felt like hours, we laid on the bed, side by side. We were both under the covers as we looked at each other.
"You know, if that's how you apologize, we may need to fight more often." Asuka giggled as she smiled. "It felt like how it was back in college."
"Yeah, I remember those nights." I smiled as I closed my eyes. "I miss how we used to be back then."
"You mean younger?" Asuka turned on her side to face me.
"I mean back when we loved each other so much." I turned and faced her. "There's so much we used to do together, and I miss that."
"Like what?" Asuka frowned.
"The late-night beach walks, the showers together, watching the stars," I saw her start to smile as I listed things off. "I used to do so much for you to show how much I loved you, and I hate myself for stopping all of that."
"Look, I know it's not your fault." Asuka sighed. "You want to do your own thing, and that's fine. I'm sure we can find a way to..."
"I want to work at NERV."
"Wait, seriously?" Asuka's eyes grew wide.
"You're right. It's helping people all over the world, and it's time I help with that."
"Are you sure, though?" Asuka looked down. "I know you're not for the idea, and I shouldn't force you to do anything."
"It's my choice and means I'd get to see you more." I took her hand and smiled. "That's more than enough for me to go back to NERV."
"I'm happy to hear that." Asuka smiled as she kissed me. "You still have more apologizing to do, though."
"Of course." I smiled as I kissed her back and got on top of her. "I never want to lose you again."
"You won't." Asuka smiled as she kept kissing me.
A/N: Been a while since I talked to you guys on here. So the idea for this one-shot came from the cover image, and a song I've always wanted to write a story about. Don't forget to check out my current Eva series Underneath. Always love hearing what you guys have to say about my stories, so please send me a review. Don't forget to check out my Eva articles on which include why I love Asuka, and matching everyone's plugsuit to a race car.
Song inspiration: I Lost It by Kenny Chesney