A/N: I don't own Evangelion.
Thanks for all the great reviews. I have a lot to work on with this fic. Here's your happy ending,
as promised :)
*****************************************************************************
He Who Talks to Angels
Epilogue
By Veronica Cereta
***************************************************************************
A married couple stood over a boy's grave twenty-two years after his death. Their oldest son,
Emi, was now fourteen the same age the couple had been when they had encountered the boy for
the first time. Their other children, little Misato and Kaworu knew enough to quit fighting and
keep still on this somber occasion. Three children were a lot for a Japanese family to have, but
this couple had seen a lot of death. They loved bringing life into the world after watching so
many depart from it.
This was their yearly ritual. The red headed woman, as always, placed a white rose on the grave.
White, to remind them of the boy's life, how he had taught them patience, the value of beauty,
and how to love. The woman was a special education teacher, and one of the best in the field.
She specialized in severe/profound cases, especially autism. People across the country sent their
children to her school, hoping she would help them break free, and she usually did.
The dark haired man set a red rose beside the white one. Red, to remind them of the boy's
sacrifice, that he had died to save the woman, and the rest of humanity. The man was a
psychologist. His private practice kept the couple wealthy enough to afford the finest things for
their family. On weekends he volunteered his time at a maximum-security prison, consoling
inmates who were convicted of murder. People often wondered how he could muster so much
compassion and empathy towards criminals, but his wife never wondered. She had seen him
forced to kill twice. See knew that he had felt first hand the pain his patients were feeling.
The family stood in silence for a few moments; then the man turned to his wife. "Maybe she
isn't coming."
"Give her a little time. She's always come." The woman knew how much the man needed to
see her. The annual conversations he had with this woman gave him strength and courage to
face the coming year.
The man nodded and waited. Before long a beautiful woman nine years younger than the couple,
came strolling up to the grave. She had short brown hair and a childlike smile. Thanks to new
medications and the supportive husband walking beside her, she didn't wear a helmet any more.
The woman was a world famous paleontologist. At first she had only done research and written
books, but the requests for her to make speeches had been unceasing. Eventually she decided to
give it a try and was very glad when she did. As long as her husband came a long to help her off
the stage in the event of a grand mal seizure, she was okay. She had petit mals on stage from
time to time, but the audience always waited them out very patiently.
The woman's husband, a very handsome grade school teacher, was always at her side. Though
his job was demanding, he was never too busy to escort her to a museum dinner, or
paleontological conference. In his arms he carried their son, born just that year.
The two families stood side by side, thinking for a while about the little boy in the grave. Then
the brown haired woman turned to the other family.
"Hello, Shinji, Asuka!"
"Hi, Natsumi!" They replied.
"Is this the little one I have been reading about in your letters?" Shinji smiled.
"Yes," said Natsumi, "this is Inochi. Would you like to hold him?"
As Shinji gently took the baby, Asuka thought about what a wonderful father he was. Natsumi
and Shinji went off and talked about the past year and the one approaching. Asuka smiled after
them. They were so lucky to have each other. Shinji's wife and Natsumi's husband shared
stories and tricks of the trade while they waited for the two friends to finish.
Emi looked at his namesake's grave. He had heard many stories about this boy from his mother
and father. He knew that the child was mainly responsible for his mother's career, and partially
responsible for his father's. He also knew that without this child his parents might have never
found the love they shared for one another. He was very proud of this boy and his name.
Someone small bumping into him jarred Emi from his thoughts. He looked down at his little
sister. "I'm gonna get you, Misato," he threatened harmlessly. He chased Misato and Kaworu
for a little while, tickling them when they were captured. Asuka was going to put a stop to this,
but seeing that they were the only people in the cemetery, she laughed and let it continue.
Half an hour passed in joyful conversation before Natsumi had to leave for a conference. She
said goodbye to the couple and made Shinji promise to write more. Shinji and Asuka said
farewell to Natsumi and her husband agreeing to meet again next year.
The Ikaris were alone in the cemetery. Shinji took his wife's hand and said the words he always
said before they left, "Asuka, I love you."
Blissfully, she repeated the words that she couldn't say the first time, but said easily now, "I love
you, too, Shinji."
Thanks for all the great reviews. I have a lot to work on with this fic. Here's your happy ending,
as promised :)
*****************************************************************************
He Who Talks to Angels
Epilogue
By Veronica Cereta
***************************************************************************
A married couple stood over a boy's grave twenty-two years after his death. Their oldest son,
Emi, was now fourteen the same age the couple had been when they had encountered the boy for
the first time. Their other children, little Misato and Kaworu knew enough to quit fighting and
keep still on this somber occasion. Three children were a lot for a Japanese family to have, but
this couple had seen a lot of death. They loved bringing life into the world after watching so
many depart from it.
This was their yearly ritual. The red headed woman, as always, placed a white rose on the grave.
White, to remind them of the boy's life, how he had taught them patience, the value of beauty,
and how to love. The woman was a special education teacher, and one of the best in the field.
She specialized in severe/profound cases, especially autism. People across the country sent their
children to her school, hoping she would help them break free, and she usually did.
The dark haired man set a red rose beside the white one. Red, to remind them of the boy's
sacrifice, that he had died to save the woman, and the rest of humanity. The man was a
psychologist. His private practice kept the couple wealthy enough to afford the finest things for
their family. On weekends he volunteered his time at a maximum-security prison, consoling
inmates who were convicted of murder. People often wondered how he could muster so much
compassion and empathy towards criminals, but his wife never wondered. She had seen him
forced to kill twice. See knew that he had felt first hand the pain his patients were feeling.
The family stood in silence for a few moments; then the man turned to his wife. "Maybe she
isn't coming."
"Give her a little time. She's always come." The woman knew how much the man needed to
see her. The annual conversations he had with this woman gave him strength and courage to
face the coming year.
The man nodded and waited. Before long a beautiful woman nine years younger than the couple,
came strolling up to the grave. She had short brown hair and a childlike smile. Thanks to new
medications and the supportive husband walking beside her, she didn't wear a helmet any more.
The woman was a world famous paleontologist. At first she had only done research and written
books, but the requests for her to make speeches had been unceasing. Eventually she decided to
give it a try and was very glad when she did. As long as her husband came a long to help her off
the stage in the event of a grand mal seizure, she was okay. She had petit mals on stage from
time to time, but the audience always waited them out very patiently.
The woman's husband, a very handsome grade school teacher, was always at her side. Though
his job was demanding, he was never too busy to escort her to a museum dinner, or
paleontological conference. In his arms he carried their son, born just that year.
The two families stood side by side, thinking for a while about the little boy in the grave. Then
the brown haired woman turned to the other family.
"Hello, Shinji, Asuka!"
"Hi, Natsumi!" They replied.
"Is this the little one I have been reading about in your letters?" Shinji smiled.
"Yes," said Natsumi, "this is Inochi. Would you like to hold him?"
As Shinji gently took the baby, Asuka thought about what a wonderful father he was. Natsumi
and Shinji went off and talked about the past year and the one approaching. Asuka smiled after
them. They were so lucky to have each other. Shinji's wife and Natsumi's husband shared
stories and tricks of the trade while they waited for the two friends to finish.
Emi looked at his namesake's grave. He had heard many stories about this boy from his mother
and father. He knew that the child was mainly responsible for his mother's career, and partially
responsible for his father's. He also knew that without this child his parents might have never
found the love they shared for one another. He was very proud of this boy and his name.
Someone small bumping into him jarred Emi from his thoughts. He looked down at his little
sister. "I'm gonna get you, Misato," he threatened harmlessly. He chased Misato and Kaworu
for a little while, tickling them when they were captured. Asuka was going to put a stop to this,
but seeing that they were the only people in the cemetery, she laughed and let it continue.
Half an hour passed in joyful conversation before Natsumi had to leave for a conference. She
said goodbye to the couple and made Shinji promise to write more. Shinji and Asuka said
farewell to Natsumi and her husband agreeing to meet again next year.
The Ikaris were alone in the cemetery. Shinji took his wife's hand and said the words he always
said before they left, "Asuka, I love you."
Blissfully, she repeated the words that she couldn't say the first time, but said easily now, "I love
you, too, Shinji."