PART VI: A PLACE TO CALL HOME

Chapter 60

When the first rays of dawn came through the opening of the cave, Shinji and Asuka got up, packed up everything that they had, wore very warm clothing and ventured out to go down the mountain.

They had been at the cave for almost three weeks. It had been the longest that they had ever stayed in one spot. Now they were once again trying to find something, anything to help them in their quest.

They traveled down the mountain carefully. It was rocky and the snows made the journey tough. The air was cold but not as cold as it had been previously. The sun had been shining all day long and the warmth felt good as they made their journey downward.

Nearly five hours later as they reached the bottom. The mountain all though it had looked menacing had not been too hard to go up. It wasn't as high as they originally thought.

As they were coming down, Asuka could see the view from where she was. Looking up at Shinji, she smiled happily.

"Oh my God. Do you see it?"

"Yeah." He said with the same smile. "I can't believe it. C'mon."

Quickly, the two of them tried to get down as quickly as they could as they helped one another.

When they finally reached the bottom, they took a short break and then began to walk forward through the forest, as they came out of the forest, they breathed in the fresh clean air and couldn't believe how beautiful it was,

"This is the most prettiest place we've seen so far." Asuka said as she breathed in. "It's a valley, Shinji. It's so…. green. It's brimming with life!"

"I know. It feels so alive here." Shinji said as he looked around.

As they came out of the forest, they stopped and both of them breathed in at the same time. Asuka clutched Shinji's hand tighter and they looked back at one another and they saw what greeted them as they emerged from the dense forest.

Happily, as he took her hand they walked towards it and then stood before it, amazed.

"It's a house, Shinji." She said happily.

"I know." He said with a grin as he looked at it. "Asuka, I feel like I've seen this before."

"Really?" Asuka said as she looked at the house. "I do too. I mean, its just your average everyday one level house but…. I don't know. This is weird.. It's like I know this place."

Shinji looked at her and then back at the structure as he said. "Let me check it out first before you go in there."

"Okay." She said as she watched him go towards it.

Shinji took a look at the house and breathed in deeply. He walked up the small porch stairs to the front door and then gripped the door handle. His eyes widened as he pushed in the door. It's unlocked?

Slowly, he walked inside.

He stayed in there a while and checked on the structure. Asuka sat down on the ground waiting, wondering.

She stood as she saw him stand in the doorway and smile at her saying. "It's okay. Come inside."

Asuka smiled and then walked towards the house.

The house still had furniture in it. The outside pretty much was traditional in brown shingles with a gray roof. It was a one level family home, small but comfortable.

A small couch, a chair, a television, pictures on the walls was in the living room with a brick fireplace against the wall.. There was a kitchen off to side with a large round wooden table in it and four chairs. It had lots of windows and lots of light. The walls were painted white and there was soft carpet on the floor in the living room.

For the most part, it looked like a typical family home. Shinji looked over at her with a smile and she looked back at him, returning the smile.

They both took a deep breath and then started to get to work.

The house had no electric and but oddly enough did have running water. Despite that though, it was shelter and this had been the best shelter that both of them had found in a long time.

They both were relieved after all that they had endured that they had found good shelter like this.

They spent the remaining afternoon and evening straightening up, cleaning up, and looking around. They noticed that in the back of the house was a bedroom with a large queen sized bed and two smaller bedrooms. .

Knowing that it had been a while since it had been slept in, they decided that tomorrow that they would sleep in the bed and tonight they would sleep in their sleeping bags in the living room.

When they had finished straightening up, it had been very late. Both were very tired but also both were wondering about the other.

Both had been hungry. Shinji looked through the pantry in the kitchen and laughed as he saw an abundance of canned goods. He noticed that in the kitchen was a gas stove. He took a deep breath as he turned it on and then smiled with a loud laugh as the flame came on.

He quickly prepared dinner for him and Asuka.

They ate a small dinner at the table and were silent. Both were looking at one another but neither of them said anything and both wondered, is what happened in the cave still back there?

After dinner, they lit the small lantern that they had.

Shinji had set up the sleeping bags on the living room floor knowing that sleeping in the bed in the next room right would have to wait until they cleaned up some more tomorrow.

Shinji went outside to some wood all ready chopped in a small stack. The wood was dry and he carried a few logs into the house.

Settling down beside the fireplace, he made a small fire in the fireplace. The heat began to warm the house and he took a sigh as he relaxed beside it. .

Asuka had settled down on the couch and was looking at the fireplace as she felt the heat warm the room. She removed her jacket and then relaxed as she breathed out and looked around.

Shinji wanted to say something but he wasn't sure of what to say.

Asuka equally wanted to say something too but she didn't know what to say either.

He took a deep breath and said to her. "Are you tired?"

"A little." She said as she looked at him and then looking down at her shoes. "Not…really though." She raised her eyes slowly as she looked at him.

"Oh." He said as he swallowed, then he came over to her and sat beside her on the couch. He looked at her, smiled and then asked. "So…do you want to…uh…do…. Something… maybe?"

"Do something?" Asuka asked as she looked back at him with a raised eyebrow. "Like what?"

Shinji swallowed and then stammered. "Like…. um…like…uh…well, you know?" he asked her with a smile as he moved his head towards the sleeping bag.

"What? Like what?" Asuka asked him. Oh, are we playing the I-don't-know-what-do-you-want-to-do-game again? Just spit it out.

"You know what I mean." He said to her as he turned a shade of red and again motioned his head towards the sleeping bag.

"Idiot! What the hell are you trying to say?" Asuka asked him.

Shinji looked away from her. He took a deep breath. Slowly turning his head back towards her, he said in a low voice. "Asuka…what happened between us…in the cave…I don't want to lose that. I just want to know that it wasn't…like a one time thing. It wasn't right? It was real, wasn't it?"

Asuka sighed. She smiled at him and said softly. "It wasn't a one time thing. It was something special. It's something I want. I don't' want to lose that either."

"Then why are we…. like…I don't know…awkward right now?" he asked her.

"I don't know." Asuka said. "I guess from traveling down the mountain, then finding this place, working all day, it seems strange. Its just this whole day has been…odd."

"Bad odd?" he asked her.

"No, good odd." Asuka said with a smile. "I just can't believe…we are sitting in a house. We haven't been inside a structure in so long. A house…. it seems too much like I'm dreaming. Everything we've been through has been so hard and now it seems like this isn't real but still it feels familiar and right."

"I know what you mean." He said as he looked around. "It does feel right though, doesn't it?"

Asuka nodded her head and said. "Strangely enough yeah it does."

"I know." He said as he looked at her with a smile. "Asuka, I want…"

"What?" She asked.

"Asuka, I…I meant…I'd like to know if…" Then he shook his head and growled out. "Damnit!"

"What is it?" Asuka asked.

Shinji chuckled and then said. "Just, right now…I don't know what to do."

"About what?"

"Us." He told her softly as he looked at her. "I don't know what to do about us."

"What do you mean?" Asuka asked. "I thought after the cave we…"

"Asuka, listen to me." Shinji said quickly as he looked deep into her eyes and held onto her hands. He said in a gentle voice. "I just want to know that this is real now. We're together, aren't we? This isn't something you're going to want to forget about or push aside. Asuka, I want to know and I need to know that this is real before we go any further."

"Shinji, what do you mean?"

"Just tell me that this is real now." He said to her as he looked at her.

"Of course it is. Shinji, we've always been together just not at this level before."

"No, Asuka!" Shinji said in a frustrated voice as he held onto her hands and shut his eyes. "I don't mean like before. I don't just want the small moments at night and stuff!" He breathed in and opened his eyes as he looked back into hers. He said to her in the same gentle voice. "I need to know that you and me we're really finally being honest with one another. I mean, we're not hiding away from each other anymore, right? I mean that we're together now. You know what I mean?"

"I know what you mean." She said softly, as she gently touched his cheek with her palm. "Yes." She said softly with a smile. "We are."

He smiled at her and chuckled nervously as he asked in a gentle tone. "So, we're really together now? No more hiding? No more secrets?"

"No more hiding." Asuka told him gently as she stroked the back of his hair and put her forehead to his. "What happened back in that cave was real." She whispered to him as she looked into his eyes. "Our feelings are real. I'm being real with you from now on. I will never hide from you again. We're together now. "

He smiled at her and took a deep breath as he hugged her close to him. "I love you." He told her gently.

"I love you too." She whispered as she looked back to him and tucked the hair behind his ear. "Don't worry anymore. I'm not going to hide from you. Now, Shinji, I am being real. I won't ever hide away again. Everything that happened between us in that cave is because I wanted it to. I still want to. I love you with all my heart. You are my man. You are my heart. I will never push you away again. I'm not afraid anymore. Your love became my strength."

"Really?" he asked her.

"Yeah." She said in a whisper.

He chuckled nervously and then said. "I was so afraid that…. we were going to…lose it once we left there"

"Never." Asuka told him. "I will never hide away from you again. We revealed our hearts to each other. I almost lost you. I never want to lose you. I will never hide away. I want to be with you now and forever." Asuka took a breath as she looked at him and then said. "Nothing will ever change that. Nothing will ever come between us. I'm yours."

"Do you…want to…"?

"What?" She asked him softly.

"You know…. do you…. do you…."

Asuka smirked at him and then said. "Don't be shy about it."

"What?" he asked her.

Asuka smirked at him and put her hand against his chest. She smirked at him and rubbed his chest gently. "You know what…" she told him in a whisper as she began to unbutton his shirt.

"Oh…" he said as he swallowed hard as he looked down seeing at what she was doing. "Uh…." He became red in the face as he looked at her and said. "Do you want to hear something silly?"

"What is it?" Asuka said as she looked into his eyes while she continued to unbutton his shirt. "Tell me anything you want."

She finished unbuttoning his shirt and then ran her hands underneath the fabric and over his chest back towards his shoulders.

He closed his eyes and breathed in as he felt her touch. He opened his eyes slowly and looked at her as he said. "I'm kind of…. nervous."

Asuka smiled at him as she rolled his shirt back over his shoulders. "Why?" She asked him.

Shinji chuckled as he said. "This is going to sound silly but, even though we did it like crazy in the cave, it's like…I'm nervous. Can you believe that?" he asked her as he felt her slowly push his shirt down his arms.

Asuka smiled at him and gently kissed him on his neck. "It's okay." She told him in a whisper.

Shinji closed his eyes and breathed heavily as he felt her gentle kisses and touches on his body.

"Asuka…" he breathed out. "Do you…"

"Do I what?" She whispered into his ear as he ran her hands over his chest and then down his stomach. "Tell me what you want."

Shinji looked back into her face and then said to her gently. "Asuka, do you…want to make love?"

Asuka smiled as she stood up in front of him and then said. "Yes, Shinji."

She extended her hand out to him and he smiled up at her as he took her hand into his own and then stood up, standing before her.

She smiled at him as he reached for the hem of her sweater and then lifted it over her head. . He came towards her and they kissed one another tenderly.

He looked back at her and smiled at her as he drew her closer to him and felt her body against him. He gently laid her down on the sleeping bag as they kissed one another tenderly.

Soon that kiss became deeper and more passionate. They removed the rest of each other's clothes, and then laid with one another on the sleeping bags in front of the fireplace.

The wood in the fireplace burned brightly and crackled. Soft light came through the room.

As he came back to her, and her arms went around him with her fingertips trailing down his back she said. "Make love to me, Shinji."

They smiled back at one another and then as their lips joined each other, their bodies became one again. They let themselves be carried away into the night with each other. Shinji found all of his nervousness and insecurity disappear when he joined with her.

She too knew a different side to him as a lover. When he was with her, the shyness, awkwardness and fear went away. Instead, she found a lover who satisfied her every desire and wish. He made her feel amazing and her heart was beating so fast as they pleasured one another.

She wished she could have it be this way forever. She never wanted to stop feeling this way. It was ironic to her, the one thing she feared was something she needed all along. She could feel the difference in her as she had transitioned from girl to woman.

It wasn't the fact that she had sex that made her into a woman.

It was the day she became honest with herself and let down all of her walls. It was the day she allowed the love he gave her to become her strength and her life. When she stopped resisting what she felt, what she knew was the truth, she realized she could never lose her strength because as Shinji had told her: love was her strength.

Chapter 61

In the morning he woke up next to her, she was lying on her side with her back against his chest. His head had been nestled between her shoulder and her neck. His arm was around her and as he breathed in, he cuddled her bringing her closer into his body.

She woke up as he began to lightly kiss her shoulder and she smiled as she turned around to look into his face.

"Hey there." She said with a grin as she lightly stroked his hair by his right ear.

"Hi." He said to her. "Good morning."

"Good morning." She told him. "Did you sleep okay?"

"I slept great." He told her with a smile as he stared into her eyes.

"So," Asuka said as she looked up at him. ", what do you want to do today?"

He raised his eyebrow and the look on his face made it like he was pondering the question very seriously. She laughed as he made the face and he looked back to her with a grin that spelled out exactly what he wanted.

"Knowing the way you've been lately, I should have known what the answer was." She said with a grin.

"Actually, we should get up. I want to look around here and see what we can find."

"We can do that…. later." Asuka said with a grin as she drew him to her. "First there's something else I'd rather do."

He chuckled as he came back to her and found himself in an early morning activity that he had come to enjoy very much since the first time that they had done it.

When they concluded with their early morning activity, nearly two hours later, they both got dressed and ate quickly.

They went outside and looked around the property. Shinji noticed that off to the side was a shed. He went over to it and opened the door and then smiled as he saw what was inside.

"Wow!" he said as he looked at it.

She turned to him and ran over to him in the shed and then she saw what was inside and said. "Is this what I think it is?"

"Sure as hell is." He said as he went over to it and opened the door, getting inside of it and rolling down the window. "This is Matsou pick up! It's got to be a 2014 model. Its cool!"

"Do you think it works still? I mean we've seen a lot of cars and trucks but most of them had been destroyed and none ever worked."

Shinji thought for a minute as his hands gripped the steering wheel. "Do you know how to drive?"

"No!" Asuka said. "Neither do you."

He smirked at her and then said. "There was something else Misato taught me."

"You know how to drive?" She asked.

He smirked at her as he moved his hand around the dashboard and opened the glove compartment and then he remembered what most of the military did at NERV whenever they got into their vehicles.

He reached up for the visor and pulled it down and then a set of keys fell into his hand. He smirked as he looked back at Asuka and said. "Move out of the way."

"Shinji, what the fuck are you going to do? That thing probably doesn't even work. It's probably busted."

"Let's see." He said to her as he took the key and put it in the ignition. He turned the key and heard it; the engine didn't seem to be turning over.

He pumped the gas pedal with his foot and then he tried it again, turning the key once more and then he heard it.

The engine started up and he laughed as it ran. "It works, Asuka!" he yelled out happily. "It really works! Stand back. I'm taking it out."

Trying to remember, he thought back to when he was fourteen years old sitting in Misato's sports car.

"Okay, driving. Lesson one: first ignition. Turn the key to start it up. Second: shifter. Watch what I do and then you do it, okay?"

"Okay." He said as he looked at her.

Shinji watched Misato with the shifter and she demonstrated what to do. He took a deep breath as he looked ahead and gripped the steering wheel.

"Now pop the clutch."

"Okay."

"All right, shift to first gear."

"Okay."

"Now release the clutch and step down on the gas. Remember, clutch and shift. That's important. Whenever you shift, pop the clutch."

"Hey, aren't some cars automatic?" he asked.

"Yeah but those are for wimps." Misato said with a laugh. "If you drive a stick shift, you can drive anything. So you are going to learn on my car. Only one thing, if you bang up my car…. I'll knock you in the head."

Shinji laughed as he looked at her and then said. "Will you teach me on an automatic too?"

"You don't need to learn on an automatic once you learn on a stick. I told you, if you can drive a stick you could drive anything. Besides, girls think that guys who drive sticks are sexy. Now, do what I say. Let's go forward."

Shinji smirked as he remembered that first driving experience and as he looked at the truck, he saw that it was. "An automatic." He said as he laughed.

He pulled the shifter into drive and then slowly stepped on the gas and moved it out of the shed. Asuka stepped back as she looked at the truck.

"So, when we were you going to tell me that you knew how to drive?"

Shinji pulled up the truck along side her. Shinji smirked at her as he leaned his elbow out of the window and said. "How about now?"

"Idiot." Asuka said.

"Hop in. Let's test it out." He told her.

"Shinji! That truck has been sitting there for three years or more. How do we know its not going to stall?"

"It seems to be running okay." He said as he put the truck in park and cut the engine. He reached underneath the steering wheel and popped the hood, then he saw a rag lying next to him and he grabbed it.

He opened the door and got out going over to the hood and lifting it up. The engine was dirty and it looked like a few spiders had made a home in it.

"Okay." He said as he looked at it. "Why don't we check the oil, clean this up a bit, drive it around here for a while and test it out."

"You really know how to drive?" Asuka asked.

"Well, I haven't done it three years but I'm sure with practice I'll be fine."

"Who taught you how to drive?" Asuka asked. "Oh wait…. Misato did."

"Of course." He said with a smirk. "Misato taught me a lot of stuff."

Asuka shook her head at him and said. "How about fixing trucks? Did Misato teach you that?"

"No."

"Well, there's something you don't know about me." Asuka said as she went over to the truck. "My Dad's hobby was fixing up cars and I used to watch. Never drove one but I can get them to work pretty good."

"No way." Shinji said with a smirk.

"Yup." Asuka said. "So how much gas is in the tank?"

Shinji went back over to the truck and then turned on the ignition using only the battery. "It says…its ¾ full."

"Okay." Asuka said. "Now come out here and I'll teach you a thing or two about automotive maintenance. First though, you clean the spiders out. I hate them!."

Shinji smirked at her and came over to the engine. They worked on cleaning up the engine and the inside of the truck. Asuka showed him how to check the oil, transmission fluid and checked the brakes.

After an hour of analyzing the truck, she said. "Seems to be okay."

"So," he said as he shut the hood. ", Let's drive it."

"This truck has been sitting around for three years! You can't just drive it around after having it sit."

"Why not?"

"Because the gas is just like sitting there. It needs like…. new gas."

"So let's find some new gas." Shinji said.

"Well, what if it…blows up?" Asuka asked nervously.

"Then, we knew we weren't supposed to drive it now, wouldn't we?" he said with a grin.

"Idiot." Asuka said with a laugh.

"C'mon, hop in. Let me take you for a ride." He said as he got around to the passenger side door and opened it. "C'mon, it'll be fun."

Asuka shook her head at him and said. "Okay. Let's go ride around."

Asuka came toward him and got into the truck. Shinji shut the door for her and ran around to the other side. He got into the driver side and watched as she put her seatbelt on.

"What?" She asked as she looked back at him. "I'm used to putting on my seatbelt."

Shinji chuckled at her and did the same, and then he started up the truck, put the truck in drive and began to go forward.

They drove around the nearby area and laughed as they enjoyed the wind in their hair from having the windows open. The truck was driving pretty well and as Shinji looked at Asuka he said with a smile. "I'll bet there is a town nearby."

"You want to take this thing farther away from home?" She asked.

"What?" he asked her as he looked at her with a smile.

"Damnit, keep your eyes on the road." Asuka said. "I said, do you want to take this thing farther away from home?"

"Yeah." He said as he smiled. Thinking to himself, he smirked. She called the house: Home. She's never done that before. Funny thing is. I feel that way too. "Let's go exploring. It'll be fun."

"What if it stalls out?" Asuka asked.

"Then, we walk back."

Asuka again shook her head and said. "Idiot."

"Trust me. Just trust me." He said with a grin.

"Okay." Asuka said.

Chapter 62

As they drove they noticed about fifteen minutes away, by truck, there was indeed a deserted town. As they drove into it, they saw it was completely empty. They parked the truck and they walked around looking at the deserted stores.

"You know, now is a good time as any to get more supplies." Asuka said to him.

"You're right."

"Here." She said as she pointed in one direction. "You go…. that way and I'll go this way. We'll meet up by the truck."

"Okay." He said to her as he watched her walk away. "Hey?"

"What?" Asuka said as she turned on her heel and looked back at him.

"What are you going to get?" he asked her.

"Uh…. medicine, bandages, maybe some towels, sheets, maybe some curtains, maybe some house stuff…. I don't know. What about you?"

"Uh…you know the usual stuff I get. Pullovers. Tools. Food. Stuff like that."

"Okay. Meet ya back here?"

"Sure." He said.

She turned to walk away again and he smiled as he called out. "Hey!"

Again she stopped and turned back to him, crossing her arms. "Yeah now what?"

He smiled at her as he said. "I love you."

She smiled back at him and giggled as she said. "I love you too. Now c'mon, Idiot! The day is wasting."

"Okay." He told her as he smiled at her and watched her walk away.

He walked along the sidewalk and looked around. As he walked, he noticed an open door frame with no door on it. He raised his eyebrow and walked inside looking around.

It was a mess.

As he looked around, he gathered at one time it had showcases of some type that were now smashed. He wondered if when Third Impact hit, had people gone into frenzy and started looting. It looked like it had been broken into and robbed.

As he looked around, he was about to turn and walk away and then something shiny caught his eye. He looked around trying to find the source and couldn't find it at all. He went to turn to walk out of the store again and then yet again, the reflection of light caught his eye again.

Curious by it, he turned slowly and saw something shining in the light on the floor. He walked towards it and then stood over the source of the light.

He looked down at it and couldn't believe what he saw.

Quickly, he bent down and looked at it. "Wow." He said aloud as he looked down at it. He couldn't' believe that with this store so completely empty this was the only thing that remained.

He reached down to pick it up and looked at in his hand. "Where did you come from, huh?" he asked the small round object as he looked at it and turned it over in his hand. He couldn't believe how pretty it was. It was simple yet beautiful. Golden. As he held it, he felt something come over him. He knew what this was.

He kept staring at the object, turning it over in his hand and as he did, he had many different thoughts. They were all good thoughts though and things he never in a million years he would ever think about at this stage in his life. Yet as he held this object in his hand and thought about how he found it, how it seemed to find him, he began to feel something inside of him.

He looked at the object and then said aloud with a smile. "Yeah."

He stood up as he stared at the object . He smiled again and then he put it into his pocket. He chuckled to himself and then walked out of the jewelry store, he walked along the sidewalk checking on the other stores and gathering some supplies.

When he came back to the truck, Asuka was sitting in the passenger side with her arm leaning out of the window. As she saw him walk up in rear view mirror, she stuck her head out of the window and watched as he put several things into the back of the cab.

He came over to the passenger side of her window and smiled at her, gently giving a soft kiss on her lips.

Asuka smiled back at him as she said. "Come on let's head back. Before we do though, we better find a gas station and steal some gas from there."

Shinji smiled at her as he went around to the other side at the truck and opened the door. As he did, he saw something sitting next to her on the seat. He smiled widely as he looked back at her.

"Is that what I think it is?" he asked her.

Asuka smiled at him and said. "It was the only one left. I couldn't believe it. It's the same type of SDAT player you used to listen to. Hey this truck I noticed has an SDAT hookup. Plug it in."

Shinji picked up the SDAT player in his hand and got into the truck. He stared at it and smiled. "I thought…. I'd never see one of these again." He said as he looked at her with a smile.

"That's why I got it for you." Asuka said softly as she smiled back at him and plugged in the adapter for the truck. She turned the ignition and then Shinji heard music and he shut the door, closed his eyes and smiled as he heard the most beautiful music emanate from the truck's speakers.

"Asuka." He said in a whisper as he opened his eyes and looked back at her with a tear coming out of his eye. "I can't believe you got this for me…you know, I'm such an idiot I should have gotten you something. I can't believe…I didn't get you anything."

Asuka came closer to him and then gently stroked the hair above his ear and smiled at him saying. "You did give me something."

"What do you mean?" He said and then he remembered what he had in his pocket and wondered if he should take it out now or wait.

"You gave me a beautiful gift." Asuka said to him gently. "You gave me your love."

His mouth parted as he looked at her and not being able to hold back, he came towards her as he kissed her long and gently and held her against him. "I love you so much." He told her with a smile.

"I love you too." She said back to him as he kissed her again.

Chapter 63

Over the course of the next few weeks, they worked on cleaning up the house and getting it in order. Even though neither one of them said anything, they were acting like they were moving in permanently but was that what they were doing? Neither one of them were sure.

Asuka had noticed that Shinji hadn't mentioned moving on and neither had she. When they had first arrived here, Asuka thought she had been dreaming. It was a great house. It was a one level home with about three bedrooms. She gathered it had to have been someone's home at one time because all the furniture still remained. She loved it though. Even though there was no electric, they didn't care. Having running water though was definitely a plus. They didn't know how that was but they didn't care.

They loved it. Both were grateful to be able to take a shower or a hot bath but they also would sneak into each other's shower sometimes and find yet another place to make love in.

Asuka especially loved the huge bed that was in the master bedroom.

When they had put clean fresh sheets on the bed and a new comforter, Asuka celebrated by jumping up and down on the bed and when Shinji saw her doing that, he laughed as he reached for her and they tested the bed in other way nearly all afternoon long.

The roof needed work and all though Shinji wasn't much of a carpenter, he did his best to fix up the patches on the roof. He liked working outside though and all though it was a big job cleaning up the house, little by little, as they worked daily it started to shape up.

Both of them loved settling down near the fireplace and just relaxing after working all day.

They were happy that they had actually found a house. It was wonderful. This place that they had found quite by accident, seemed to be an Eden for them both

Finding this place in the valley after the snowstorms had stopped and they had been able to venture out, made the whole being left alone on Earth scenario, a little more bearable.

In fact, it had been the prettiest place that they had seen yet. It looked untouched by Third Impact's disaster.

Shinji had wanted to give Asuka the object he had found and constantly tried to think of how he would ask her. With each day though, he knew he wanted to wait until the right moment and he would wait until that time.

For the remaining of the winter, they stayed there.

Chapter 64

The spring had settled in and with it, they had been able to make a home here. Shinji had to admit; he liked the idea of chopping wood every morning and tending to the fresh vegetables in the garden that they had grown from seeds that they had found in the shed.

Asuka loved it too. She liked the idea of decorating and it felt, for the first time in a long time, they had found something permanent. Both of them thought the same thing about it, this feels like home.

More so, whenever they were together they felt like they were more then just companions and friends, they even felt like they were more then lovers.

They both felt older then they were. In truth they were both eighteen, but they felt like they were older having endured the hardships of the climates and the loneliness of being the only two survivors.

It seemed funny. They were the only two alive. They knew it. The world, or what was left of it, was theirs to be reborn. Yet for three years, they had walked through the world, hoping and praying that somehow someone might have been left alive.

Their prayers were not answered.

With only each other, they went from day to day, trying to live. They had been companions. Now almost three years later, their relationship had reached a new level. They were in love.

They were their only companions; each other's best friend and now each other's lover. They had grown so much in three years time.

Now they were adults. . She had watched him change basically from boy to man within that time and he in turn saw her change from the loud-mouthed boisterous beautiful girl to the woman he loved.

All though by the end of the day, they were both very tired, when Asuka laid with him in the dark of the same room, she was usually in a session of lovemaking with him instantly.

Since the first time at the cave, and after that, their sex lives had become hot and passionate. Nearly every single night, they made love to one another. It had become their newfound joy with each other, something only they could share with one another and they couldn't get enough of it or each other.

Asuka loved being with him here. She used to think that the bar could have been a place that they could have called home but she had been mistaken. When Shinji told her that they needed to go over the mountain and that something was waiting for them, he couldn't have been more right.

It couldn't have been a better ending to a hellish winter. It was ironic, in the harshest and darkest time of their lives, more so then Third Impact; they had found the most peace and joy that they had ever known.

They had discovered their love for one another and their desire to be with one another. Despite the hell and hardships that they had endured, they came out of the ashes and found that they were deeply in love with each other and they were happy.

They sat together on the couch of the living room. His arm was around her and she enjoyed the intimacy after a long day of fixing up the house.

"It's getting late." She said as she looked over at him and cuddled with him on the couch.

"Yeah." He said as he kissed her head "We'll go to bed in a little bit."

"Good." Asuka said as she rubbed his arm. "That's my favorite part of the day."

He looked over at her once more and then took a breath. "I love you." He whispered to her as he held her and then covered her hand with his own.

She smiled and rubbed his chest, saying gently. "I love you too."

"Asuka?"

"Mmmmmm?"

Shinji took a deep breath and then said. "I've been thinking about things lately. We've been here for a while now. I'd like to ask you if…how would you feel about making this place …our home?"

She raised her head and looked back to him as he stared into her eyes and ran his hand through her hair. "Our home?"

"Yes, our home. Let's stop wandering. Let's live here. "

"Live here?" She asked with a smile.

"Yeah." He said to her. "How do you feel about that?"

"Do you mean to say that you want to stay here? No more wandering? No more searching…. just staying here now?"

"Yes." He told her. "What do you think about that?"

Asuka smiled at him as she said. "I love that idea. I love it here. I would love to make this our home. Shinji, you sound like…."

"What?" he asked her with a smile.

"You sound like we're married." Asuka said with a grin as she blushed.

Shinji smiled at he looked at her. "It's funny you say that. Asuka, we're adults now and I've been thinking a lot about us too. Asuka, this may sound odd to ask but…. I want to ask you something. This may even sound silly to ask being we're the only two left alive but there's something I want to ask you."

Her eyes widened when she heard that. "Yes."

Shinji smiled at her and then got up from the couch, staring down at her he smiled and then knelt before her on one knee. He reached for her hand, holding it gently and took a deep breath as he said gently with a smile. "Asuka, will you marry me?"

"Marry you?" She asked as he looked into his face.

"Yes." He whispered to her. "Will you? Will you become my wife?"

"You're…. wife?"

"Yes. I want to make you my wife officially. It's true we could just be together and live together and have it be the same but to me it wouldn't the same. Call me silly for feeling this way, but I wouldn't feel really married to you that way. I want to marry you. I'm in love with you and being here with you is like we're married. I feel like you are my wife but I feel myself wanting more. I don't want to feel like you are my wife; I want to know that you are my wife and I want to be your husband. It's true we could be like…poof, we're married but I want it to be special. Its like I want to have a ceremony with you and make it official between us. I want to marry you, Asuka."

"You really feel that way? You feel like I'm your wife?" Asuka asked.

"Yes, I do. Do you feel that way too?"

Asuka nodded and said. "Yes, I do." Tears fell from her eyes as she looked back at him.

He nodded at her and said. "Will you marry me, Asuka? Will you have me?"

Asuka looked back at him, smiled and then she whispered to him. "Yes, I will marry you."

He smiled widely and he held her in his arms and kissed her gently. "I love you so much."

She gently placed her palm against his face. He closed his eyes as he felt her touch "Shinji…." She said as she kissed his lips gently. "Let's go to the bedroom."

He stood up with her and looked at her as she looked back at him and smiled. She took the lantern from on top of the table and then with her hand clutching onto his, walked down the hall, leading him to the back bedroom.

She walked into the doorway and then released her hand from his. He stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, looking back to her as she placed the lantern on top of a dresser. Then she turned to face him and walked towards him, taking his hand and leading him closer to her. She reached up and lightly placed her palm against his cheek, he drew her closer to him and then kissed her lips gently as he held her.

He laid her down on the bed locked in a passionate kiss and a tight embrace, as he laid her head against the pillow, she pulled back the covers and he threw the covers over them as he positioned himself above her and parted from her lips, breathing heavily.

Each time that they had made love to each other it was never routine even though by this time, they had done it almost every single night and nearly every single morning.

For both of them, it was still like that first time. His heart was beating strongly for her while her heart was beating just as fast for him. Every single touch, every moment was electrifying. Each time that they kissed each other, red-hot passion raged like on the night of the storm when they had first been intimate with one another.

It never felt routine,

When they had concluded, they were lying together in bed. He was leaning back against the headboard with her in his arms, both of them had been sweaty but neither of them cared.

Shinji looked at her and smiled. "You know it was a miracle finding this place."

"Yes. It was." She told him as she hugged his body.

"I can't wait to marry you." He told her.

Asuka smiled as she looked at him and said. "Neither can I. How are we gonna do it though?"

Shinji smiled at her as he kissed the top of her head and then said. "Any way you want to. Any time you want to. I'll marry you right now. I'll marry you tomorrow. We can do it anyway you like."

Asuka smiled at him and said. "I love you."

Shinji held her close to him as he turned over on his side whispering. "I love you too."

His lips met hers again and then as he turned her over onto her back, their arms wrapped around each other tightly and they began again.

Chapter 65

In the morning, Shinji got up and stretched. He stood up and picked up his jeans off of the floor and put them on. Asuka woke up from the sound of clothes rustling. She smiled as she saw him. He turned and saw she was awake as he put on his shirt. He sat on the edge of the bed and Asuka chuckled as she looked at him.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought I'd chop some wood." Shinji said with a smile as he looked at her.

"Chop…. wood?" Asuka asked as she propped herself up on one elbow and smirked.

"Yeah." He said as he smiled at her.

"You're going to…go chop wood now?"

"Yeah." He said with a smirk. "Why?"

"Come here first." She said with a smile.

Shinji smiled and then leaned down on the bed and kissed her gently. As he looked back to her and smiled, he closed his eyes and kissed her again, it turned into a deep passionate one and as he looked back to her he said. "Nah, I'll chop wood later."

Asuka laughed as he quickly undressed, grabbed the comforter and threw it over them both. He rolled her onto her back and kissed her. As they started to enjoy their morning activity, Asuka breathed in as she saw he was staring deeply into her eyes. .

"What is it?" she asked as she looked to him.

"Don't move." He whispered to her as he kissed her gently and held onto the kiss as long as he could.

As they parted lips, Asuka looked into his face and couldn't quite describe the feeling she had with him like this. :"Shinji…what…"

"Shh." He told her gently. "Don't move." He whispered to her. :"I feel like I'm apart of you. I feel like we're one like this in body and soul."

"We are." She whispered as she kissed him gently and placed her hand on his cheek. "You are a part of me, just like I'm apart of you. You're my heart, Shinji."

"I love you." He whispered to her.

"I love you too." She whispered back as he kissed her once more and then she felt him move and hold onto her body. .

Asuka felt like this was their home and more so, she had another feeling growing inside of her. She couldn't describe it. It was strange. It had made her wonder about what was happening to her. However, she didn't fear it as much as she used to. As she made love to the man she loved, she wasn't afraid of anything. Soon he would be her husband, to her he all ready was that, but like him, she had wanted them to truly commit to each other. She wanted to have an official marriage ceremony but how to go about it?

As she looked into his eyes, she suddenly had an idea. She smiled as she drew him closer to her.

Everything in her life felt right. This house was to be her home and the place where her and Shinji would build a future together. She wanted to stay here forever with him.

Shinji felt the same way as he looked at her. She was to be his wife, his life and his future. This house was now their home and they were one with one another.

Chapter 66

Shinji worked until dusk.

As he came down off of the ladder and looked at the house, he breathed out and smiled.

He felt like he had so much energy as he worked.

He had to admit, when he was young he was lazy about chores, but when he worked on this house and the yard, he loved it.

He felt a sense of accomplishment.

When he walked into the house after his long day of work, he was sweaty, dirty and tired. As he walked into the kitchen to get a drink, he had noticed that on the kitchen table was a large dinner with candles burning. He looked around the kitchen and wondered what was going on, and then he saw a note on the table with his name on it.

He picked it up and read it then he laughed as he read it aloud. "So, idiot? Do you feel like getting married today? Go inside, take a hot shower and then come out here and make me your wife."

Shinji laughed and put it down as he said. "Okay. Be back in a little while."

Shinji smirked and then walked down the hall. He walked into the bathroom and quickly disrobed, he took his shower, relaxing while he washed himself.

He tried not to linger too long and then once he felt he was cleaned up, he got out of the tub, with his towel wrapped around his waist. He shook his head as he saw the clothes that were laid out on the bed for him.

He smirked and then changed into the clothes that Asuka had laid out for him.

He wore a simple long sleeved white button shirt with black pants and shoes. He checked himself in the mirror and took a deep breath. He had this outfit for a while, since they had found the town.

Asuka had said to him. "Why don't you grab something nice to wear just in case… I don't know…. we feel like dressing up one night?"

He found that a little strange but now standing in front of the mirror, he realized why she had said that.

He put on the black jacket that had been lying on the bed and then straightened it out. Taking another deep breath he thought about what he was about to do.

Standing in the bedroom, staring at himself in the mirror, he took a deep breath as he ran his hand through his hair and swallowed hard. Suddenly, he was feeling nervous that he was about to take the most major plunge of his life.

As he looked at himself, he thought I look so different. When did this change come into play? Hell, I'm grown up. When did that happen? Now I'm about to take a wife. Wow, who would have thought?

He checked himself in the mirror, making sure he was clean-shaven enough and that he looked good. He breathed out and then nodded his head. Taking another deep breath, he cleared his throat.

He went to the bed and kneeled by the headboard and then reached underneath the mattress. He had hidden something under the mattress and had hoped Asuka wouldn't find it too soon. Then he smiled as he pulled it out and looked at it in his hand.

It was small and simple yet beautiful and glorious. He knew why he had found that and when he made the decision that was leading to what he was doing now.

"Shinji!" Asuka called out from the kitchen. "Are you getting cold feet?"

Shinji smirked as he got to his feet. He tossed the object up in air, caught it and then stuck it in his pocket. Then he took a deep breath as he walked over the bedroom door and then smiled as he walked down the hall, towards the kitchen.

Chapter 67

As Shinji walked into the kitchen, he looked over by the window and breathed in as he saw her.

As Shinji walked over to her, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. His mouth hung open as he looked at her and he said only one phrase. "You're beautiful."

She smiled when she saw him. She stood in a white dress and she had flowers in her hair. He couldn't stop looking at her.

He took a deep breath and walked over to her.

She smiled back at him as she looked at him. He looked so handsome standing there. His shirt had the first two buttons undone and looking at him, she couldn't have imagined a more handsome groom. His hair was neatly combed back and as he smiled at her, she took his hands into her own.

She led him into the kitchen and stood with him, looking into his face. She smiled at him and he smiled back at her, his eyes never leaving hers.

As he looked at her, he felt nervous.

Asuka smiled at him and then said softly. "On this day I will be your wife. One thing I want to do is marry you with my own words and just tell you what you mean to me. I want you to do the same, okay?"

Shinji nodded at her and took a deep breath as he looked at her. "I'm ready." He told her.

"Let me go first." She said as she looked at him.

Shinji nodded and then looked at her with a wide smile.

"Today we celebrate the start of our new life." Asuka told him softly. "Before I do that I want to tell you just how much you mean to me. When you asked me to marry you I thought to myself, how? We're the only people alive and it would be easier just to live with you and just have it be like that. When I thought about it though, I really wanted to have a wedding ceremony and commit to you. So today, I take you to be my husband. When I first met you, I thought you were so cute but I couldn't tell you because you were my competition…"

Shinji chuckled as he remembered how loud and overexcited she was and he smiled at her as she continued.

"…. I was so jealous of you because of your power and your strength. At the same time, you were always there for me and I always fought you because I never wanted to be weak. I realized though that you were the reason for my strength always. I am grateful to you for everything you've ever done for me. Shinji, you have loved me, protected me, sheltered me and just have been with me. I can tell you I love you a thousand times but what I really want to tell you is that you are a part of my soul. You are the man I am supposed to be with and I never want to lose you. Had Third Impact never occurred, I would have wanted exactly what we are doing right now. I have always loved you and I will always love you. I am your wife. Now and forever."

He didn't know what to say to her. His heart was touched in a way he hadn't felt before and his eyes were welling up with tears. He also felt she had probably been practicing what she was going to say and he honestly had not thought that today they would be doing this.

He swallowed hard, as he looked down at her hands and then suddenly he raised his head to look into her eyes. He didn't know exactly what to say as he stood there with her. He thought about the first moment he saw her.

When he first saw her on the ship, her hair was blowing in the wind, and the way she looked at him when he first met her had done something to him right then and there.

He thought about how later on how he became closer to her.

He remembered the look on her face when she thought that he was dying.

Then suddenly, he found the courage and the words he needed to say. He took a deep breath and then said to her gently. "There aren't enough words in this world to describe my love for you. You have been everything in my life that I've ever wanted. You've given me love, joy, courage, strength and helped me to define who I am now…"

Asuka could feel tears of joy in her eyes as she looked back at him. As she held onto his hands, he continued to speak gently.

"…You were the only one I've ever wanted. I love you with all of my heart. You are the other part of me. I couldn't imagine my life without you. There is something that a man gives his bride when he takes her as his wife. Asuka, I want to give you this as a symbol of our love…."

Shinji reached into his pocket, her eyes widened.

"Oh my God, Shinji…" She said as her voice trailed off, when she saw what he held in his hand, and she stared into his eyes.

He smiled at her and then reached for her left hand and said to her. "There is one phrase that I think is tradition at all weddings, " he said as he looked into her eyes. ", with this ring I thee wed." Then he placed a small gold band upon her third finger on her left hand.

"Where did you get that?" She asked as she looked at the ring on her finger.

He smiled at her and then said. "When we took the truck out, I noticed an old jewelry store. I went inside and the only thing left in there was that single ring on the floor. When I saw that ring, and bent down, I picked it up and held it. I imagined standing with you, marrying you, placing that ring on you and living my life with you. I imagined the children we would have, growing old with you and being happy forever. It was like it was waiting for me to find it so I could give it to you."

"How long have you had that?" She asked as she looked at him.

"Two days after we came here. I held onto it and hid it under the mattress. I was waiting for the right moment to ask you and then that moment came." He told her. "I've known that I have always loved you. I loved you when we were piloting together. You took my breath away. I could never tell you because I was so afraid of my own feelings. I was afraid you'd…reject me. I knew though that you felt the same though and you always wanted to appear strong and confident and never let anyone know the real you. . I know the real you. I know the woman you are. You were a feisty red head with a smile that was brighter then the sun and you still are. I thought I knew the real you but I didn't know for real until I was sick during the snowstorm. During that time, I saw the real you. I saw you cry, I saw you worry, I saw your determination and I saw your strength.. I saw everything that I loved and everything you were. I saw the real Asuka. I heard you say to me that you loved me and that you didn't want me to leave you. When I heard that, I didn't want to die. I wanted to be with you forever. Even when I did die, you brought me back. It was your love that brought me back. During that time, we had no boundaries and no walls. I saw the woman who sets my heart on fire and makes me filled with desire. I saw the woman who loved me. I want you to be with me forever. I've loved you since the first moment I saw you. From the first minute you said hello you had me. Every time you call me an idiot, it makes my heart beat so fast. Standing here with you now, every dream I have had has come true. Once I was weak and not sure of myself and now, I'm as strong as I've ever been. I feel like…. I'm a man now. I'm a man that can take care of you, protect you and love you until you're old and that's what I want. I want us to build a family and build a life. So I take you, Asuka, to be my wife. I am your husband now and forever."

Asuka looked at the ring on her finger and then back to him. "Shinji…." She whispered, as there were tears in her eyes.

Shinji stepped closer to her and placed his finger under her chin and then asked her. "May I now kiss my bride?"

Asuka smiled and then he drew her close to him and then kissed her gently on the lips. As she looked back to him, she smiled and he kissed her again. He couldn't describe the feelings going through him at that moment. He knew that his life had changed and she did as well.

Asuka couldn't have ever imagined that in her lifetime at eighteen she would be someone's wife but then again, standing here with him now, she couldn't have been happier.

He looked at the food on the table and then at her as he said with a smirk. :"What should we do now?"

"Pervert!" She said with a smirk. "Well, I did go through all this trouble to make us this dinner."

Shinji sighed as he looked at the table and then back at her.

"Just remember that good things come to those who wait." Asuka said with a seductive grin.

Shinji smirked then as they looked back to one another; she walked over to the table and sat down. He followed and sat down opposite her then they ate the dinner she had prepared.

He couldn't stop looking at her the whole time. The food was delicious but more so, he couldn't stop looking at her and she couldn't stop looking at him.

After the dinner was done and she took the dishes off the table, with him helping her as well, she stood at the sink and he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her on the back of her neck.

"So when does the honeymoon start?" he joked as he kissed her on her neck and shoulder.

"Shinji…." Asuka whispered as she closed her eyes and put her hands over his.

She turned to face him and then he kissed her lips. She put her arms around his neck and he held her tighter to him. "How about right now?"

Shinji smirked at her then scooped her up into his arms, she smiled as she looked at him and laughed. He carried her out of the kitchen and down the hall to the bedroom.

He sat her down on the bed and then laid over her and there they continued their deep kissing and touching of one another as their clothes started coming off and soon their bodies were combined into one.

He had a contented smile on his face. He felt so…. different and it was a good feeling to have.

He no longer felt like the way he used to be. He felt stronger and more confident. He felt like he had the strength of one thousand men and, as he looked at her asleep in his arms, he wanted to be with her forever.

She acted like she was asleep but she wasn't. She loved the way he touched her and held her. She felt safe and warm. She felt like he would protect her and love her forever. She felt like she no longer had any reason to cry and that all of her fear was gone.

She cuddled up closer to him and he held her against him as he closed his eyes. He kissed her shoulder and whispered to her. "I love you, my beautiful wife."

Then sleepily, she replied in a whisper. "I love you too, my husband."

They both went to sleep holding onto one another feeling only happiness and love.

Chapter 68

Asuka saw Shinji working on the broken fence, she smiled devilishly and then came up behind him, wrapping her arms around him and kissing his back.

Shinji smiled and chuckled as he put the hammer down and turned to look at her. He smiled at her as he looked at her; she was wearing her favorite yellow sundress. Asuka stepped away from him with a smile and then continued backing away never leaving his eyes.

Shinji smirked at her and then started to walk forward, then he saw her run and laugh and he equally took off running and laughing calling out. "I'm gonna get ya!"

She ran out towards the field in the back laughing as she looked back at him. He was equally laughing as he chased after her.

It seemed as though a day didn't go by that they weren't happy. They had changed this house into their home. They decorated it as best as they could and frequently, Shinji tended to the repairs on the roof or in the garden that they had created with seeds that they had found in one of the deserted stores in the town.

Shinji found himself to be, for the first time in his life, truly happy and loved. He hadn't felt loved by anyone since he was a child and frequently, he had closed himself off. When his father had rejected him and abandoned him to go work for NERV, Shinji felt lonelier then he had ever been.

All he remembered was his father's back to him, walking away from him, from life, from his responsibility. Yet, as Shinji discovered, his father's purpose was much greater and all though, he had felt a great deal of remorse when his father died, the anger at his father had still been there but now he longer felt that anger or pain or loneliness.

Now though, he had found love in another person. Asuka. She had set him on fire like no one had ever done before. She was his wife. . He wanted to be with her forever. She made him happy. She made him actually enjoy the fact that they were possibly the only two people left alive on planet Earth.

Asuka, though she would never admit it, had been very lonely inside when she was young. She put up an image of a tough girl who no one could shatter. Her walls were so high that no one could climb them. Yet when she met Shinji Ikari he saw right through her. He had actually frightened her.

There were times when she would see the deeper more emotional sides of him, like when he played the cello or when he would risk life and limb to save her. There was a time when she resented him for his power of the Eva Unit 01. She had been jealous because he had this amazing power and control and she had tried with everything she was to be the best.

Now with him as her husband her life was different, she wasn't lonely anymore. She didn't need the brave fronts; she could be anything she wanted to be. He had crashed right through those walls she put up and given her a new reason to find strength. In Shinji, she had found comfort, safety and love.

This was their life and their purpose. They were meant to be with one another. They were meant to live together forever and be happy even in the aftermath of seeming like they were the only two left alive.

Was it true though? Were they really alone in the world?

She didn't know if there were still others left alive but the only thing she cared about was she was with Shinji, he was with her, and they were happy.

Shinji was chasing her around the field, both of them laughed and teased one another. Asuka ran around a tree, he went after her trying to catch her. Then as she ran out, she smiled back at him and as he looked at her he breathed in deeply.

She was standing in the middle of a wild flower field, her long hair blew in the wind and she smiled back at him. It took his breath away as he watched her.

He came up to her and looked into her eyes as he put his arms around her and gently kissed her lips.

Then with a wide smile and a loud laugh, he picked her up and swung her around. She laughed loudly. He lost his footing though and fell down onto his back. Both of them laughed hysterically, and then he watched as Asuka laid over him, leaning on one elbow.

It seemed as though not a day went by that they didn't know happiness or joy. They felt like the world was theirs for the taking and they could do anything. They were so deliriously happy and both of them had never known this before. There were days that all they did was play together in the sunlight and simply enjoy being together, laughing and being close with one another.

In fact, she couldn't recall a time before that she had ever seen Shinji smile or laugh so much. It seemed like he laughed more times now then he ever had before. She knew now that he wasn't alone and he was a different person now.

She had seen a strong man come out of the ashes of a once shy, lonely boy. He was a man she loved and adored and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

It seemed like it was perfect.

Soon the two of them were locking lips in a passionate kiss. As he looked back at her and smiled at her, they kissed again and then they smiled again as they threw off their clothes and went into intense throes of passion in the middle of the day.

Both of them as they looked into each other's faces felt deliriously happy and joyful and even though they knew work had to be done, they were also newlywed and therefore, such practices like this were not uncommon for them.

Usually, during the day, they worked on the house to make it stronger and better. At night after they ate dinner, they would take a walk together and talk for a while. Sometimes, they would stop and watch the sunset. They would sit together as they leaned up against a tree. Shinji would hold her in his arms.

As nightfall came sometimes they would lay together looking up at the stars. Shinji would tell her stories of the names behind the constellations. Sometimes, they would sleep together underneath the night sky since, for the past two years, they had been used to sleeping outside.

There would be moments when they would engage in their chasing game where Asuka would do something to get Shinji to chase her around and then catch her. When he did catch her, he would hold her and swing her around in his arms and they would laugh.

Everyday they found something to do and they laughed like never before as they enjoyed the first year of their married life.

For both of them it was a wonderful time, they never felt so happy or so joyful before. The days of NERV, of Eva, of their lonely childhoods seemed so long ago and they were now finally, for the first time ever, happier then they had ever been before.

Sometimes, for no reason while Asuka was busy outside with laundry or Shinji had been working on the house, one of them would sneak up behind the other, which would usually lead to a romantic kiss.

Of course, their favorite activity to do with each other was sex. It seemed whenever they had a free minute; it ended up with the two of them having sex any place they wanted whenever they found the mood strike them.

Sometimes, they purposely tried to concentrate on other things but whenever the mood struck them, they would follow up on it.

They also knew that their love was something very special and everyday both of them made sure that the other knew it in some way.

Sometimes, the two of them would sit together and enjoy the music that Shinji used to use as an escape but now, instead of it being an escape, it was something he could share with Asuka. It was something that made him happy.

Other times he danced with her in the middle of the living room while the two of them listened to the SDAT player. He would spin her around and almost always; they would be laughing and having fun.

It seemed like all the sadness in their lives that they had known before no longer existed and that they were new people. They felt alive and happy. They wondered how it was it came to this but actually, they didn't care – they were just enjoying life.

Since his birthday was before hers, Asuka had wanted to make his birthday a memorable one. It was his nineteenth birthday and therefore, she felt it was a very special birthday for him. In all of them that they traveled neither of them had celebrated each other's birthdays mostly because they never said anything to the other. Now though, Asuka was determined to change that.

She had made him a cake and then her present was something he could not believe. Asuka had done her best to be sneaky about getting this for him because quite honestly, she wasn't sure if the deserted town would have one…but she did find one.

Utilizing the truck and doing it at times when Shinji was busy with the house, she snuck out and looked for this object.

She had found one through trial and error.

On his birthday, Asuka led him into the living room and then smiled as she made him shut his eyes and bought out her present for him.

When he opened his eyes, they were wide as anything as he stood up and went over to the object.

"Where did you…" he asked her with a smile as he looked at it.

"Happy birthday." She told him gently. "Do you remember how?"

Shinji smiled at her and he took a chair and sat in front of the object and then took a deep breath. "I think I can manage." He told her. He took a deep breath as he looked at her and then said. "I never thought I'd see one of these again."

"Surprise." Asuka told him. "Hey, why don't you play something?"

Shinji looked at her and then said. "I think I remember something." He took a deep breath as he held the bow and then began to play.

Asuka put her hand over her chest as she recognized what it was immediately. It was the same song he had been playing that day she had kissed him the first time. She smiled at him as he played and then as she wrapped her arms around his neck, he smiled as he continued to play with his emotions bursting out of him.

Then after he was done, he got up from the cello and went to her as he held her in his arms and said. "I love you."

Then he kissed her with all of his love and all of his passion as he picked her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom.

As Asuka laid in the bed with her husband over her, she smiled at him and gently stroked his hair as she stared into his face. "I love you so much." She whispered to him.

He gently caressed her face as he looked back into her face.

"I'm glad you like your present." She said to him.

"You are the best gift I have ever received in my life." He told her.

Asuka smiled at him and then drew him back to her for another kiss which became fueled with passion and ended up with them making love.

Their lives were perfect. They were so much in love with each other and the happiness that they knew seemed to be all around them. It seemed like there was nothing wrong.

Nothing could come between them.

Or so they thought….