Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion. All characters and other related elements are owned by Gainax.

He had told her he loved her. Was that true? In truth he wasn't even sure what love was. Shinji Ikari sat at a park bench, watching the birds squabble over food left on the ground, sitting and thinking. He had been released from NERV's medical center about 2 hours earlier, but had yet to head home. He had defeated the creature that had attacked the city through an act of monumental desperation. Shinji knew he had been very lucky. What was worse was that it seemed to Shinji as if he had been using Asuka. Using the feelings she had shown him to save his own skin. Had he brought those feelings about? Was it what he had said that had made her kiss him? He was starting to get the notion that nothing like this ever would have happened if he hadn't told her that he lived for her. Can you fall in love with someone merely due to the fact that they express love toward you? He couldn't deny that he did enjoy being around her, but was this really her? Before she had been horrible too him, all of the time. This made Shinji feel as if it were all merely physical attraction, how could he have had feelings for such a total bitch any other way?

"God damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it." Shinji slammed his fist into the bench. It hurt a great deal and Shinji told himself how stupid he was for having done it. It was true though, she was the only thing that Shinji had to live for, which really wasn't saying much. Why had he sacrificed perfection for a girl that he had hated most of the time? He laughed, he hated himself more. Why am I even asking myself these questions? Why can't I just be happy? She is a beautiful girl that wants to be with me! Why am I having all of these thoughts? Mother…why did you go?

Shinji looked at the ground as he began to feel the tears come. Why does life have to hurt so much? He choked on his tears at this last thought, smiling slightly, laughing at himself. "For being the next step in humanities evolution I sure as hell haven't changed much."

****************************************************************************************

Toji Suzahara stepped off of the train and looked around. He could smell the wonderful fresh air again. And what a beautiful day. In fact Toji didn't think it was possible for anything to discourage him today. He had finally been released from the hospital, his leg and other injuries making miraculous recoveries. When he returned from Third Impact it was like his body had never been injured in the first place. He had left a message on Shinji's answering machine. He had thanked him for bringing him back, and said that he would like to hang out sometime before school was to start again. He, like everyone else, had viewed Shinji save humanity, and he figured he could use a friend. He had also seen the battle footage taken from the day before, but he wasn't afraid. School was still a couple of days off, and there was plenty of time for fun.

***************************************************************************************

Asuka looked at herself in the bathroom mirror, thinking about the events of the previous day.

"He loves me," she said to her image, smiling. Asuka knew that she was beautiful, as conceited as she knew that sounded, but love was more than that. Shinji had seen through all of the horrible things she had said to him, never giving up on her, not even in the twilight of his death. Is this how love is? She had rarely been nice to Shinji since they had met. She couldn't, this would show weakness, it would show need. Asuka knew that her own ego absolutely prevented her from needing help, from admitting that she wanted to be with him.

"I suppressed those feelings for so long," she trailed off, still looking at herself. If this was what love was, seeing through all the bs, accepting someone, all of them…She decided that she liked it. It had truly shocked her to here those three words from Shinji. Before she would have mocked him, calling him childish, immature. But now she could sense that he meant those words. Did she love him? It was true that Asuka had thought about him almost constantly since Third Impact had ended. Truth be told, not all of those thoughts could be dubbed "appropriate" either. She laughed at this, who would have thought that Shinji would end up together? Who would have thought that I would like it so much?

**************************************************************************************

Misato Katsuragi sat across from a very serious looking Kozo Fuyutski. They were in his office, discussing some of the analysis readings that had been done on the Black Egg. It was now apparent that it was impossible to launch an attack on it. It was surrounded by a constant AT field that Fuyutski said was likely made up of the AT fields of the humans trapped inside.

"Major, I have some news that you may find distressing, especially after the yesterdays attack," Fuyutski said.

"Oh?"

"The technicians have noticed a slight decrease in the power ratings from the egg. We believe that this was caused by the destruction of the creature. We also believe that the creature was made up of exactly 1% of the earth's former population. If this is correct, that means that the sphere now contains only 16% of humanity now trapped inside."

"That really doesn't sound like bad news commander."

"Well, Major, if what I have said is true, then that means that there is likely to be 16 more creatures, 16 more attacks."

"Oh…I understand," Misato was solemn now, "What do you think is the goal of the attacks?"

"The most likely objective would be to finish Third Impact."

"And how would they achieve such a goal?"

"I believe that third impact could be restarted if Lilith was re-summoned."

"How would they go about doing that?"

"What is left of Koaru is crucified down in terminal dogma; I believe if the creatures were allowed to reach him, they could finish Third Impact."

"We are going to need more than just Unit 01 if we have any chance Commander."

"I know. I'm working on that right now."

Misato nodded.

"Oh, I do have one more question." Misato said tentatively.

"What's that Major?"

"It's about Rei, what's her status? I know that she has yet to leave the medical level."

"Yes that is true. At this point there hasn't been any improvement, but the doctors still say there's a chance the paralysis is only temporary."

***************************************************************************************

Shinji slowly walked the stairs up to the apartment. He still felt very tired, both from the battle, and a night of bad sleep at the hospital. He reached the top of the stairs and walked to the apartment door. He stared at the handle for a moment, then reached out and opened the door. He walked inside and saw Asuka sitting on the couch. She had been reading a magazine, but upon his arrival had quickly gotten up. "God she is beautiful," Shinji thought to himself.

Asuka walked right up to him, not taking her eyes away from his for a even a moment. Shinji said nothing, his thoughts from the park still on his mind. Asuka said nothing either, her lips now upon his. Shinji was amazed at how wonderful it felt. Like everything was going to be fine, it was comforting. He forgot all of his pain when she kissed him, all of his sorrows, all of his reason. It was like an era of peace, for a land that had only known war.

At last she pulled away and leaned her head close to Shinji's ear.

"I love you too," she said.

***************************************************************************************

Rei Ayanami lay quietly in her hospital bed, staring at the ceiling. She was concentrating very hard, trying to move her legs, if not only for the reassurance that she would walk again. She sighed. It was no use; all the struggling only exhausted her. She wasn't sure why she wanted to leave so badly, normally she wouldn't have cared. But it was different now, she felt different. Rei had been feeling altogether changed since she had returned from third impact. She kept feeling strange urges. Urges to leave, to run around outside in the sun, to live. For the first time in her life she wanted to be out and around people, but that was impossible now. She would most likely never walk again. What was it this was called? Irony? Or was it poetic justice?

******************************************************************************************

"I'm such a fool," Shinji thought to himself. He looked across the dinner table to see Asuka smiling at him, with Misato chugging a beer to his right. "She is more than I could have ever hoped for." Shinji felt as if his thoughts had betrayed her. The kiss was so pure, so full of life. Love. Shinji hadn't had anyone that loved him around since he was five years old, before his mother died. "Why am I struggling so much with the concept of me loving her? It's either I do, or I don't. These feelings…Why else would she have such a profound affect on me?" Shinji knew how much he thought about her. Indeed he felt like being around her most of the time, she had changed a great deal since third impact. What had happened? He decided that he would have to talk to her about his feelings. "Do I even have the guts to do that?" Shinji questioned himself, "I'm such a coward."

*****************************************************************************************

After dinner Shinji helped Misato wash the dishes, while Asuka reclined on the sofa. When they had finished cleaning, Misato said her goodnights and quickly went to sleep. It had been a long day for her. She had spent much of it talking to foreign administrators about the transportation of the new Evangelions, as well as their pilots. However as soon as she hit her pillow she was asleep, leaving Asuka and Shinji to their own devices.

*********************************************************************************************

Shinji walked slowly over to the couch. Asuka saw him, and scooted over to allow him to sit. Once he had done so, she laid down again, using his leg as a pillow, watching the ceiling fan spin. Shinji sat for what seemed like hours, trying to muster up the courage to ask Asuka some of the questions that had been running through his mind. His thoughts were interrupted however when Asuka chose to break the silence.

"Shinji, did you think that you were going to die fighting that creature?"

Shinji pondered the question for a few seconds before responding.

"Not at first I guess, but once it pinned me the thought crossed my mind."

"Is that why you told me you loved me, because you thought you might not make it back?"

"Well, not exactly…"

"Don't you think it is strange that humans hide there emotions so much? You wouldn't admit to loving me until you thought you would die, I wouldn't admit it until you did it first." She laughed.

"No it's not like that, I knew I wasn't going to die."

"How?" She asked, her tone very serious.

"Because I refused to let that be the end of things, I refused to die without seeing you again."

"I think somebody up there must like you Shinji."

"Maybe so. I'm a little confused myself."

"Oh?"

"These feelings."

"What feelings?"

Shinji choked. To late to back down now. Grin and bear it Ikari.

"My feelings for you."

"I see."

She looked sad. He hated seeing her sad, he hated hurting people; his very existence seemed to bring pain to others.

"I've never really felt anything quite like this before. I really haven't had anyone close in this way since I was a small child, before my mother died."

"I know what you mean Shinji. Were actually not so different, you and I. Are pasts are remarkably similar. We just chose different ways to deal with the pain."

Shinji nodded. It was true.

"Asuka, did you always like me?"

It was now Asuka's turn to pause. What the hell? She loved him and he had said the same, what did her stupid pride have to do with any of it now?

"Yes, I suppose I did. I envied you too. My own stupid personality prevented me from showing you any kind of affection."

Shinji's heart swelled at this response. She had liked him all along.

"What about you Shinji, did you always like me?"

Shinji nodded.

"Why Shinji? I was so horrible to you."

"I guess certain things are just more powerful than words. I can't quite describe it."

Shinji knew now that he did truly love her, his questions had been answered, there were no doubts left in his mind.

"Asuka, you give me strength. Strength to live, I don't know if I would have ever found happiness if I hadn't met you."

"Really?"

"Yes. I'm not just saying that either. To tell you the truth, whenever I extend my AT field I only think of you, of being with you."

"So that's how you survived the ejection."

Shinji gave her a confused look, but she quickly explained herself.

"You told me you loved me. Did that give you the strength to protect the plug with your AT field?"

Shinji smiled at her.

"Yes."

"Love must be a very powerful thing," She said with a hint of a smile.

With that last statement Asuka sat up and faced Shinji, pulling him into an embrace. Shinji wrapped his arms around her warm body, one hand on the back of her head, the other on her side.

"Yes, Asuka, I think so too."