Shinji took a deep breathe as he stood at the door at Misato's apartment. He steadied his hand to knock until it flew open revealing the fiery red-head that inhabited the dwelling.

"Well, I knew you would come crawling back to me. Now if you beg enough I-" started Asuka with a cocky smirk and hand on her hip. Rei chose that moment to step out from behind Shinji. Asuka's face immediately turned bitter, "What is she doing here?"

"I came to help Ikari retrieve his belongings."

Asuka looked at Shinji for confirmation. When he looked at the ground, she growled, "You get started in his room; he and I need to talk." She then ushered Rei towards Shinji's room. When she shut the door she spun around and looked at Shinji, "You ran to Wondergirl?"

"I didn't know where else to go."

"You could have not left to begin with," stated Asuka as she slowly walked up to his swaying her hips. When she was within arms reached she reached out and took his hand and lead him to the couch. She forced him to sit on the couch before sitting in his lap. She placed her arms around Shinji's neck and smiled when she saw that he was completely hers.

Shinji struggled to stay with his choice to move. He started to push her away when she moves her arms and placed one on his chest before placing her ear over his chest. "Asuka-"

"Shhh, I can hear your heart beat."

Shinji closed his eyes and leaned back against the back of the couch, "Please stop."

Asuka sat up and met his gaze when he opened his eyes. She gave him the same pout she would use when she really wanted something, "Can't I show my fiancé a little intimacy?"

Shinji choked, "Fiancé?"

Asuka held her ring finger up slightly and showed Shinji the ring he had bought, "You remember this right?"

"But you said you found someone else."

Asuka scoffed, "No one could replace my little Baka."

Shinji's eyes lit up and pushed Asuka off. He then stood up, "Don't call me that?"

Asuka's eyes lit up, and she shot to her feet. It was moments like this one where one would forget that Shinji was almost a whole foot taller than Asuka. "What did you say Baka?"

Shinji clenched his fist, "I said, don't call me that."

Rei walked out of Shinji's room to see what all the noise was.

Asuka reached back and was ready to unleash a slap when Rei ran up and caught her wrist. Asuka was angry now, "What are you doing her Wonderslut? Try to pick up the pieces that I left behind? Well, I'm not done with him yet."

"You shall not harm Ikari anymore."

Asuka smirked, "Is that emotion I hear? Has our little Ice Queen finally thawed?"

"I am not ice," stated Rei firmly. "And Ikari is not a Baka."

Asuka yanked her arm away from Rei's grasp, "So, you do have a crush on Shinji. Well, you can't have him. He's mine."

"Ikari is not an item that can be possessed," argued Rei.

"You still can't have him."

"It was a game wasn't it?" asked Shinji.

Asuka spun around to Shinji, "What?"

Shinji clenched his fist staring at the ground, "I was nothing more than something else that you could beat Ayanami at."

Asuka scoffed again, "Are you actually standing up for her? Well, you can consider us over with."

Shinji started off for his room, "I considered us over yesterday ago when I walked out."

Rei quickly followed him. When she got there she saw Shinji had already picked up a bag and had started to shove his belongings in it. 'He is injured emotionally?'

Shinji held back his tears as he shoved things into a bag, 'Stupid Asuka. I was nothing more than something she could play with. She never loved me at all. All those times I said I loved her and she said she loved me too was nothing more than a lie.' He put down the full bag and started on a new one. 'Why does everyone do this? Why does everyone act like I'm nothing more than a little bother?' He stopped when he felt two arms wrap around his chest and a head burry itself in his back. "Rei? What are you doing?"

"I am comforting you."

Shinji tried to free himself but found it rather impossible.

"It is acceptable if you wish to cry Ikari. It is a reasonable response to this situation."

Shinji shook his head, "I'm fine Rei, let's just finish packing and leave."

Rei reluctantly released Shinji, "If that is what you want." She quietly went to the other side of the room and started to pack.

Shinji watched her for a second, "Um…Rei?"

Rei looked at him, "Yes Ikari?"

"Thanks you for standing up for me. No one has ever done that for me before."

Rei smiled a nodded, "You are welcome."

"One more thing."

"Yes?"

"We're going to be living together now, so….it would be okay if you want to call me Shinji."

Rei blushed slightly, "Very well Shinji."

The two packed the rest of Shinji's room and left after about an hour. They then lugged Shinji's stuff to the elevator and into their new apartment. Shinji then fixed then a small dinner. They sat at the table eating when Rei finally broke the silence.

"Ika….Shinji."

Shinji looked up from his meal.

"What is this 'crush' that Pilot Soryu spoke of?" Shinji quickly choked on his food. Rei jumped to her feet to his assistance, "Are you okay Shinji?"

Shinji took a drink of water and then nodded that he was okay, "Sorry, you just kind of surprised me with that question."

"Why did you find the question surprising?"

Shinji smiled, "It just doesn't seems like something you would ask."

"But I am confused by the meaning of the word. If I crushed you, would that not cause you physical harm?"

Shinji laughed at the thought of him being stepped on by a 20 foot tall Rei.

"You find this amusing? I would not like to hurt you."

Shinji shook his head, "That's not the same kind of 'crush' Rei. When you have a 'crush' on someone, it means that you like them."

"I do like you Shinji. You are a very acceptable person to be around."

Shinji bowed his head in the realization that this would be a lot harder than he thought, "Not that kind of like Rei."

"There are too many meanings to these words," stated Rei as she tilted her head to the side.

"When I say 'like' someone, I mean 'like' them in a romantic way. You wish to spend a lot of time together just the two of you."

"But we do spend a lot of time together."

Shinji sighed, "When you 'like' someone, you feel different when they are around. Almost like you are complete. And when they are gone, you feel like something is missing."

Rei was silent as she thought this over, "Do you feel like part of you is not present now that Asuka and you are no longer dating?"

Shinji nodded sadly, "Yeah."

"Then you should try to make amends."

"Why? You were the one saying I shouldn't forgive her."

"True, but if you feel incomplete without her, then you should try to regain that piece."

"It's okay. I've gotten used to not feeling complete."

Rei scowled, "That logic is flawed. One should strive to become complete in order to fulfill their purpose."

Shinji nodded, "Some people do. Then there are others that simply wish to survive day-to-day without worrying of their purpose or being complete." Shinji then stood and took the dishes to the sink and cleaned them. Rei stared at him as he did his usual routine of cleaning.

'I shall help Shinji become complete again.'