Disclaimer: I still don't own anything.

Asuka ran out the door looking both ways, 'Come on, he's crippled dammit. Hr couldn't have gotten that far.'

"Um, Ms. Asuka?"

Asuka whirled around, "Suki! Have you seen Shinji?"

"No, is he missing?"

"Yes."

Suki thought for a second and smiled, "You two had a fight didn't you?"

"Why are you smiling about that?" growled Asuka.

Suki grabbed Asuka's arm and ran off, "Cause I know where to find him."

They ran for several miles before stopping at a park. Suki jumped onto a tree branch and then over the locked gate. Asuka scowled and climbed the gate. She jumped to the ground, "Show off."

"Shinji taught me that one. Now, come on."

"Wait, how would Shinji get through a locked gate?"

Suki moved to the side and moved a bush. There was a hole just big enough for Shinji's wheelchair.

Asuka scowled, "Why didn't you tell me about that before I climbed the gate."

"You didn't ask," teased Suki. She then started down the path. Asuka followed. They got to the middle of the park when Suki motioned for Asuka to stop. She then pointed at a little figure sitting in a wheelchair by a pond. She then turned and started to leave, "I'll leave the rest to you."

"Wait-"

Suki stopped and looked over her shoulder.

"Um….thanks."

Suki smirked and waved it off, "Just be there for him. And don't worry about what he says, he care for you very much." She then put her hands behind her head and walked off.

Asuka took a deep breathe and walked up beside Shinji. She sat down beside him.

"Hey," greeted Shinji without even looking at her.

"You know when a beautiful girl like myself kisses you, the last thing you want to do is question the validity of their sincerity."

"Well you know when a beautiful girl like yourself mocks a homely little loser like myself day in and day out, it kind of make that loser think the girl hates them."

"I never hated you."

"Really?" chuckled Shinji.

"Really."

"When you found out that an untrained pilot actually synched with a EVA?"

"Figured you got lucky or something."

"How about when I had to save you from the volcano?"

"I thought that was one of your redeeming moments."

Shinji smirked as he played his trump card, "How about when I outscored you on the synch tests?"

Asuka mock grimaced, "Close one but not quite"

Shinji bowed his head in shame, "How about when you were in the hospital and…."

Asuka looked away, "Okay that one was weird, but any other guy would have probably done the same thing."

"But it was horrible and disrespectful. I have regretted that one moment my entire life."

Asuka nodded, "We were all going through some tough times then. You reacted to a situation."

"But-"

"DAMMIT SHINJI! NO MORE BUTS! I'm forgiving you. Do I have to put it in writing and laminate it?"

"Laminate?"

Asuka waved her hand, "Some pre-impact thing. Put this plastic stuff around paper so it would preserve longer."

"That's a good idea."

"I guess if you think about it. Now that we're done talking about everything other than the reason I'm here," Asuka punched his arm playfully, "The next time I kiss you, you better not run away again."

"Wait…the next time? You mean-"

Asuka blushed, "Yeah, I was hoping we could do that a bit more often."

Shinji blushed too. He shook it off, "No, you're just playing games with me still."

Asuka bent down and was face to face with Shinji. She reared her arm back and slapped him with all her might. "I dare you to say I'm playing again. I will put you in such a bad coma you will be fully healed when you wake up."

Shinji held his cheek and looked up. That was the first time he looked in Asuka's eyes since the kiss. He saw it. The one thing that proved she was telling the truth. She looked honestly, genuinely hurt. Like someone had killed her last chance for hope. He gasped, "Oh my goodness. You mean it. You mean it all."

Tears started to fall from Asuka's eyes, "You stupid baka-" She stopped when she saw Shinji reach up. She turned her face away, then felt the gentleness of a touch. She opened her eyes to see Shinji actually standing there. Not sitting, standing. He was out of his chair. "Shinji-"

Then Shinji did the bravest thing he had ever did. He took the lead. He brushed a few tears aside and bent down planting a soft kiss on Asuka. His greatest dream was realized when Asuka linked her arms around his neck and returned the kiss. He opened his closed eyes to see Asuka completely focused on the kiss. He pulled away and smiled. He then brushed his finger over her cheek wiping away the remnants of the last tears. Asuka leaned her head against his hand. She had never had this kind of attention before. Everyone else had bee out of pure lust, but Shinji…he was almost treating her like she was fragile. Like she was going to break.

Shinji finally broke the silence, "Asuka, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you"

She smiled, "It's okay." She looked him up and down, "Since when did this happen?"

Shinji sat back down in his chair, "About a week ago. They're not strong enough to walk yet, and I can only stand for a few minutes."

"That's great!"

Shinji blushed and rubbed the back of his head, "Just trying my best."

Asuka sat down next to him again, "How did-"

"Suki know where to find me? I used to run here when the two of us would get in fights, or I would disappoint Sensei. It's just a place I go to think."

Asuka smiled and leaned her head against Shinji's chair then hummed happily, "It's nice here."