Chapter 54

Asuka sat on her bed, folding away clothes and putting them into her suitcase. A knock on her bedroom door was heard and she raised her head saying. "Come in."

"Mom?"

"Hi, Hope." Asuka said with a grin as she stood up and went to her daughter giving her a hug. "So, I hope I didn't leave it too much of a mess for you?'

Hope chuckled, settling down onto the bed as she said. "Mom, you didn't have to give it to me at all. We could have bought our own place."

"No." Asuka said with a smile. "This was the house you were born in so it shall be the house you will inherit. It's yours, Hope. The title was transferred yesterday. As of tomorrow morning, this is your home."

"I hope Souke and Reina aren't too upset." Hope said. "I mean, I get the house and they get…"

"They are fine with it." Asuka said. "I talked to both of them. I gave each child something that they needed. For Reina it was a roundtrip ticket to New York City, with a fully paid hotel room for a week, as well as a new car, and your Daddy's cello. For Souke, it was that beautiful office set he wanted and your father's boat. They couldn't be happier for you."

"Mom, I don't know how to thank you for this. These gifts they must have set you back somewhat."

"Not really." Asuka said. "Let's just say it was a nice retirement package. That money seemed best spent on the three individuals whom I love with all my heart. I wanted to do that for all of you."

"Mama, you don't have to go." Hope said to her as she smiled. "You could stay here. You know…this house is still a nice size. This is your room, Mom. You love this house. You could stay."

"Yes. I do love this house." Asuka said as she looked around the room. "When your Daddy and me first came here, it wasn't much. It only had a kitchen, a living room and two bedrooms. Your Daddy spent nearly his entire life building up this house. From the first moment I told him I was pregnant with you until nearly his death, he did just that. The year when Reina was born, your Dad threw himself into making this house huge and exactly the way we wanted. Shinji loved to work on this house and so much of him is here. He expanded this house so much from the basic rooms to an upstairs, a den, a beautiful outside deck; he added the garage and the driveway later. He spent hours planning the layout of the property and it was no wonder people gravitated to him as a carpenter. In all of his work, he loved it. Then at night, he would play the cello. You, Souke or Reina would be right by the fireplace listening to every note he played. Those memories are here. They will be here forever."

"You miss him so much, don't you, Mama?" She asked.

"Every day of my life." Asuka said with a smile. "Hope, " Asuka as she smiled at her. ", I know its been a year since Operation Sandstorm but I've always wanted to ask you a question and I've never been able to ask it."

"I think I know what it is." Hope said.

"Hope," Asuka as she smiled. "…. Was he really there with you?"

Hope smiled at her mother as she nodded. "Mama, Daddy saved me. I believe with every fiber of my being that if Daddy hadn't been there, I would have died. Daddy helped me to defeat Angel 20."

"Maya said that it was a harmonic echo." Asuka said.

"Harmonic echoes can't heal your wounds, or wipe away your tears, Mom. Harmonic echoes can't hold your hand when you're scared or guide you to know what's inside of you to be successful." Hope told her as a tear came out of her eye. "Mama, he was there with me and I have no doubt that Daddy took care of SEELE."

"I believe that too." Asuka said with a smile. "I wonder how he was able to though?"

"Mama, from what you told me of when you and Daddy used to fight the angels when you were younger, you found out the angels were actually human who shed their human form for a better way of life. Mama, we were the aggressors first. SEELE actually provoked the angels into an attack and made them our enemies.. Mama, Daddy said to me that he was an angel."

Asuka looked at her strangely. "What?"

"What if Daddy was able to become an angel?" Hope asked. "Daddy though wouldn't be malicious or cruel but the power I saw, Mama. He handled it like it was nothing to him and he used it for one purpose only."

"To destroy SEELE."

"That's right. I mean what I saw, Mom. I can't even begin to put into words. What he did…it was amazing." Hope said with a smirk.

"It was funny." Asuka said with a smirk. "When Harris and arrested and then detained, he kept rambling about this white energy that beat him up. He kept saying, Ikari did it, Ikari did it."

"Do you think Harris will be sane enough to attend his own trial?" Hope asked.

"Where Harris is going, with his mind so fouled up, that man will live within his own torture for the rest of his days, and I'm fine with that." Asuka said with a smirk. "At his last exam they said he's basically confined within his own mind and living in insanity. I think that's a fitting end for one who was so evil. From what I understand, the US may just let him rot. I think that's better. To live in insanity in one's own torture would be the best punishment I could imagine for him.".

"Justice was served then." Hope said.

"Yes, it was." Asuka said. "Now, it gives me a chance to relax."

"Mama, I am going to miss you so much." Hope said with a smile.

"Honey." Asuka said with a grin as she sat down next to her and held her daughter's hands. ", I haven't been back to Germany in so long. I haven't lived there since I was a child and you know, I figure that retirement isn't so bad. I mean, living in Germany again will be great. I have more then enough money to get by. I have quite a large nest egg. Not to mention, I still have the hefty retirement package from the army."

"Mom, its so far away." Hope said. "Daddy didn't want you to be alone."

"I'm never alone, Hope." Asuka told her with a smile. "Besides, its not so far I think. Your husband's business is taking off quite well. I am sure that Gaijin-Sawyer could let you use one of his planes to fly the family over to see his mother in law once in a while."

Hope chuckled. "Of course he would! Really though, Mama, why leave? You could be closer and we could visit more. Mom, is it because of Daddy?" Hope asked.

"No, Honey." Asuka said. "It could never be because of Daddy. I love your father, Hope. I always will. Now and forever, I am his wife. Daddy is with me everyday but Daddy asked me to promise him something and that was to live for the both of us. We talked of moving to Germany when I retired."

"Daddy did?" Hope asked. "That's surprising."

"When we went to Europe for our second honeymoon and renewed our vows in the town where my family is originally from, your Dad loved it. We talked of moving there together and leaving the house to one of our children. When he got the cancer, I promised your father, I'd live all of all our dreams for the both of us. Its what I need to do. It's what I promised I would do. Hope, your father is always with me."

"I can see that." Hope said. "I just can't believe what you've given me."

"Honey, if you only knew what you gave me." Asuka said with a gentle smile. "I love you, Hope. You changed my life from the first moment I knew I was carrying you. Seeing you happy like this, I can't explain to you how wonderful it makes me feel. Granted, he's Gaijin-Sawyer but he's a good guy. The day you married him, the only thing I wanted was for your father to be there. Souke did a good job of walking you down the aisle. All in all, your father would have been so proud. I know I was. Hope, I want to give you this house. This house holds so many good memories. You were born in this very same room. From first moment your Dad held you, I never saw a look of so much love on one person's face before. It made me so happy and I was so grateful for you. That's why I gave you that name. You are the hope of our world and you will always be that. So, it seems only natural that this should be your home."

Hope smiled at her mother and hugged her, holding back a tear as she looked back into her face. "I just…. I'd wish you'd be closer, Mama."

"Honey, whether its Germany or here, I'm always close to you. Never forget that. I just hope you and Gaijin-Sawyer get cracking on grandchildren soon."

Hope smiled and chuckled as she looked at her mother, biting her bottom lip and turning a shade of red.

Asuka immediately caught it. "What?" She asked as she leaned in and studied her face. "Your hiding something, young lady."

"No I'm not." Hope answered with another smirk.

"Oh yes you are. Spill it. Now." Asuka told her as she looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "This is no different from when you were a little girl or a mischievous teenager, Hope. I can always tell when you're hiding something."

"Mom, we've all ready started." Hope said with a smile. "I found out a week ago. I found out…I'm almost eight weeks to the day."

Asuka laughed as she looked at her saying. "When were you going to tell me? Don't tell me you would have allowed your mother to board a plane and keep this a secret! Hope, how could you not tell me this?"

"Well, Mom, we were waiting for the right moment to tell you. Sawyer and me thought about telling you around Christmas so it would be extra special. You know we wanted to make it really special for you. It's your first grandchild. It should be like a gift."

"It is a gift. Oh, Hope. I am very happy for you." Asuka said to her as she hugged her daughter once more. "Yet, I'm still leaving for Germany today but I will be back for Christmas."

"We will be more then happy to have you here."

"A grandchild. Wow." Asuka said with a smile as she continued to pack. "Have you thought of a name?" Asuka asked.

"A few." Hope said. "Sawyer and me both liked Asuka Amanda."

"Asuka Amanda?" Asuka asked. "After me? Where did you get Amanda from?"

"Oh, that's Sawyer's mother's name. Sawyer and me really wanted to name the baby after you if it's a girl and if it's a boy we want to call him Shinji David. After our fathers."

"Wow." Asuka said proudly.. "I'm so touched!" Asuka covered he hand over her chest and then said. "However, I like Amanda Asuka much better. Amanda Asuka Dell. Yes, good sound to it."

"Mama, we wanted your name to go first."

"I know." Asuka said. "But Amanda Asuka sounds much more prettier and happier. Trust me on this. You don't want another Asuka running around. I know. I was one. If you had an Asuka running around here, oh boy! Trouble! Major trouble! My namesake, trust me, will be just as devilish as I was!. Having an Amanda it would temper having a middle name like Asuka. Asuka's can be trouble. I know that from experience." She said with a smirk.

"Maybe your right, Ma." Hope said with a smirk.

"Now, go call your idiot brother and tell him to warm up the car."

"I will, Mama." Hope said as she stood up and walked out of the door, calling out. "Souke! Baka, warm the car up!"

Asuka laughed to herself as she heard her daughter and then said under her breath. "Amanda Asuka Dell. She's to be our first-born grandchild, Shinji. Wow, can you believe it? We're going to be grandparents.." Asuka smiled widely and then raised her eyebrow as she answered. "I know, Baka. I think it's wonderful too."