Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion and all rights got to there respective owners. Also all OC's are the creation of JimmyWolk himself.
SPOILER WARNING: This contains spoilers for the fanfic "The 2nd Try" and it's sequel comic Aki-Chan's Life" which is all done by JimmyWolk. So If you haven't read that then you should definitely stop right here and check those out first before continuing.
Summary:
On their way from picking Aki up from Kindergarten, Shinji hears a familiar tune from his daughter. Bringing back memories and many questions on his mind.
"Ode to Joy"
"And I got another gold star for making my own story. Oh and I also drew pictures for it to!" An excited Aki told her parents. She was holding both their hands as they walked back to the apartment, after they had picked her up from kindergarten.
"Das ist wunderbar, Schätzchen!" Asuka praised her daughter with a proud smile on the young mother's face. She was obviously happy that Aki was doing so well at kindergarten, something Shinji was also happy about, as well as relieved that Aki was adapting to her new surroundings.
"Yeah, that's great honey. We're soo proud of you." Shinji added in his praise to his daughter. Aki looked extremely proud of herself from hearing both of her parents' praises, given the way she held her head high and a bright grin appearing on her face. Shinji couldn't help but chuckle slightly, Aki was definitely her mother's daughter.
"Well, since you've been such a good girl today, how about a trip to the playground and having ice cream too, ok?" Shinji said and as soon as the words 'playground' and especially 'ice cream' left his mouth, Aki stopped walking. Her smile widened and her eyes sparkled before she squealed loudly and all but launched and attached herself to his leg in a vice grip.
"YAY! Thank you Papa!" Aki beamed up at him. "Can I have a big cone? Oh and a double cone with strawberry sauce and lots and lots of sprinkles too?" Aki asked rapidly, even giving her Papa a puppy-eyed look in hopes to get a bit extra for her ice cream treat.
Under that look from his little girl, Shinji couldn't help but cave in. "Ok, ok, you can have anything you want honey." Shinji said, sighing softly. Honestly, the things he would do to make her happy.
"Yaaay! Ice cream, ice cream!" Aki chanted as she detached from her Papa's leg and walked a bit further ahead from her parents.
Watching his daughter for a second before he turned to Asuka, having even physically felt her gaze on him. She had a look of disappointment while crossing her arms.
"Honestly baka, you spoil her too much." the young redhead stated to her husband.
Shinji sighed again as they both walked to catch up to the excited four year old. "I know, I know, but I just can't help it." Shinji tried to excuse himself.
Yeah, he had to admit that as of late he was spoiling Aki with more toys and treats then ever before but as a proud and loving father, how could he not pamper his little girl? Besides, it wasn't like he was giving her everything she wanted without cause or reason. Aki doing good at Kindergarten and doing good things from time to time was enough for Shinji to treat her to a toy or a tasty treat.
Asuka couldn't keep the stern look at him any longer before she sighed as well. She gave her husband a small smile. "Seriously baka, weren't you supposed to be the typical cliché Japanese strict father? You spoil her so much that you leave no opportunity for me to do so." Asuka said as she pouted.
Shinji couldn't help but laugh a bit as Asuka admitted that she too wished to spoil Aki like he did. "Well, I promise that next opportunity you get to spoil her, ok?" Shinji promised her.
"I'll hold you to that, baka." Asuka grinned at him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before taking his hand in hers as they caught up with Aki.
"Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream, icy icy creamy creamy ICE CREAM!" an excited Aki now was singing out loud. A little too excited for Shinji's taste as Aki was becoming more vocally loud with each passing second and he saw with a glance that a few of the other people passing were giving them disapproving looks.
"Aki, honey, not so loud ok?" Shinji chided her a little, though a part of him hated to do so given how happy she was.
"Ok, Papa!" Aki said with a smile clearly not bothered or even caring of being told off for her loudness. 'Probably her mind is still on ice cream.' Shinji thought.
"You know if she eats now, she'll never have room for dinner." Asuka reminded Shinji.
"You sure about that?" Shinji questioned back. "I'm pretty sure that she'll still be hungry after." Shinji stated and it was true. As of late he had seen Aki eat more and more and a part of him was slightly worried that his little girl was becoming overweight.
As if reading his mind, Asuka tightened her grip on his hand and was giving him a slight warning glare. "Baka, are you implying that my baby is getting fat!?"
"Wha..what, no, of course not!" Shinji managed quickly say. "I'm just saying that she's quickly burning off the calories playing and running around a lot." Shinji finished, hopefully that his explanation would save him from his wife's potential wrath.
Fortunately it did, as he felt Asuka ease up on her vice grip on his hand. "Well good." Asuka said as she walked on and pulled Shinji along, almost making him trip himself before he finally got his footing.
Having caught up to Aki, who thankfully didn't venture too far ahead and out of sight from them. The little girl's curiosity made her stop and look into the opening windows from passing stores, wanting to know what was inside.
As the three continued on towards the nearby park, Shinji heard Aki humming a tune but as it continued he felt an odd familiarity to it. It hit him like a ton of bricks upon realising what it was, the 'Ode to Joy' and promptly stopped in his tracks. Asuka was confused on why Shinji stopped all of a sudden.
"Hey, what's wrong?" a concerned Asuka asked her husband, especially when he had a look like he had seen a ghost.
"It...it couldn't be...could it be possible?" Shinji mumbled to himself. His words confused Asuka even more, but before she could ask him for clarification, he called out to Aki.
"Aki, come here please."
Aki stopped and turned back to her parents before obediently walking back to them and looking up at her father. "Yes, Papa?"
Shinji got down on to his knees to talk to Aki. "Honey...where did you learn that?"
"Learn what, Papa?" a confused Aki asked, not understanding what her father was asking. Shinji realised that he would have to be more specific towards his daughter.
"Learn that song you where humming a moment ago." Shinji clarified with him humming the same song to help Aki remember.
Hearing it Aki face brightened up. "Ooh yeah that one! I remember I heard it from someone a while back."
At that answer, Shinji grabbed Aki's shoulders, making her jump slightly. "Who was it Aki, do you know who it was!?" Shinji asked a bit urgently. Needing to know the truth.
"It was…it was…I can't remember?" Aki said looking like she knew the answer before becoming very confused herself, looking at her Papa with a now sad face. "I'm sorry Papa, I don't remember who taught me that song."
Now Shinji was very confused himself. He knew that his daughter had a very good memory even for someone her age, so the likelihood that she couldn't remember where or from who she heard that particular song was low.
"Papa?" Aki's voice broke him out of his thoughts. He saw Aki looking a bit guilty, making him believe that she maybe thought she disappointed him with not remembering. Without saying anything he just smiled at his daughter, letting go of her shoulders before ruffling her brown locks of hair for a moment, making her giggle as he stood up.
"It's ok honey. It's fine that you can't remember. It wasn't that important anyway. Now let's hurry to the park and get that ice cream," Shinji said as he held out his hand to Aki, which she quickly grabbed before the three continued walking towards their destination.
Still, despite the words he said to his daughter, Shinji's thoughts still continued on. Was it possible that it had been Kaworu after all? Had he really planned out everything that happened to them, from the time travel to Aki returning?
Before Shinji could think of anything more he felt a hand on his shoulder, making him look back to see Asuka. Her warm comforting smile that she was giving him said everything and reminded him that in the end it didn't matter how or even why.
But still, Shinji couldn't help but think that Kaworu must have played a crucial hand in giving back his daughter to him and Asuka.
'Thank you, Kaworu, for everything. For being my friend, for telling me that you loved me, for giving me a second try to make things right and most of all thank you for bringing my daughter back to me,' Shinji thought as he took his family to the park.
End.