Nothing Will Ever Change That
Chapter 59: Shower
NERV Hospital
"It looks like…" she was doing that on purpose! "It looks like a girl to me." Asuka let out a soft whine, "Looks like a kicker too!" I tried not to laugh.
"So… it's a girl?" Asuka spoke, trying to ignore the pain. Akagi nodded, "Say hello to Dietlinde…" Ritsuko tilted her head a little.
"What? Oh, is that the name? I thought that it would be German! Anyway, the baby – Dietlinde – is progressing just fine. Its growth is normal, and you should be giving birth with no complications," I was hoping for that.
"So… is that it? I'm getting cold," Auks spoke up. Akagi laughed a little and began to wipe off the gel. When she was done, Asuka pulled down her shirt, "Shinji? Why haven't you said anything?" mainly because I was speechless.
"Sorry… it's just that… sorry," a few thoughts crossed my mind at that moment. Seeing Asuka there with a baby was just amazing.
"It's not like you didn't know!" that wasn't it, "But you're right, it is amazing. I actually think I'm ready for the birth now," that was relieving, Asuka has been stressing about it for the last month.
"Good, but you still have two months to go. I do need to know something for when you do give birth; if it comes down to it, do you want a C-section?" we all knew the answer to that…
"Hell no! I don't care what happens, do not do that!" She was upset about just a few scars on her back; I can't imagine her with a huge line going across her stomach.
"Heh, should have seen that coming. Okay, we will TRY not to do it, but there are some circumstances where we might have to do it. I doubt that it will happen with you though, so don't worry," Asuka crawls out of bed and comes over to me.
"So, is the name still okay with you?" she is asking me! Normally when her mind is made up, you couldn't change it for the world.
"Um… yeah… sounds good to me," it really did too. I liked the name.
"Good, me too. I need a shower to get all this crap off of me, see ya later," with that, she headed off to her room.
"Shinji, have you even thought of throwing a shower for her! I thought you already did it!" a shower? Ah crap! I forgot about that!
"Well… no," Asuka is going to kill me!
"Well you'd better hurry! Look, I'll send out for all of the invitations, you just get the party together. We'll have it tomorrow, so we obviously can't do much, but at least try to make an effort. God, Shinji, how could you forget?" well, I HAVE had a lot going on lately.
"Sorry, I'll go get all of the stuff now." I start to run out of the room, but she stops me.
"Whoa! Wait! Here, go to this address, they specialize in this sort of thing. Remember, nothing too fancy, it'll take too long to get. Also, take this; it's basically like a credit card, but with NERV's account on it." Why has NERV been doing that lately? They have been giving me this like it was candy, "Well go on! You don't have much time!" I run out of the room without a word and head to my room. I wasn't too sure where Gahiji was, but I just ignored it. I go into the bathroom and – as Asuka had asked – shaved and got ready. Now fully clothed, I jump into my car and drive to the address Akagi gave me. When I got there, I saw that the building was a huge, white structure. I walk in just to be greeted with a mob of salesmen.
"Well hello sir! How may I help you?" One man in a tux said after shoving all of the other men out of the way.
"Um… I need to plan a baby shower, but it needs to be really fast. We need it to be for tomorrow," he jumped a little at that, "I know that its short notice, but we need it that way." He put out his hand.
"Well, I will do what I can. My name is Hito, nice to meet you!" I shake his hand.
"Nice to meet you," he takes me to a quiet room and takes out a single piece of paper.
"Okay, so, are you looking for anything in particular?" I shake my head, "No? Well then, do you just want the normal? We can make a pretty nice party with all of the basics, does that sound good?" how was I supposed to know what the basics are?
"Anything would sound good at this point. One question though, I have absolutely no idea what to get, so can you tell me?" he laughs a little.
"I'm sorry, it's just that I'm normally dealing with adults here," hey! "Look, what we'll be getting for you is a reservation at the beach. That day, no one except for the guests will be allowed on the beach. We will also provide a small band, a cake, and all of the normal food. I'm sorry that it's not much, but on such short notice, it's all I can do. Sound good?" that actually sounded nice.
"Yeah, that's great. Now, how much is it going to be?" like it mattered to me, I wasn't paying!
"Well, sorry, but I need at least one of the parents of the child to sign for the party. Why don't you go get them and we'll be done." I always hated when people did that.
"Well that's nice. Can I pay now?" he gave me a confused look, "I'm the father! Now where do I pay?" he jumps a little.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! Here, just sign this, and then I'll need 250000 Yen." That was pretty cheap in my eyes. A private beach, a band, food and a cake would be more then that normally. He hands me a piece of paper with all of the information on it and I sign the dotted line, then hand him the card the Akagi gave me. "Um… sorry but, what's this?" I take out my NERV ID.
"You can just charge it to the NERV account." He damn near fainted, "What is it?"
"I knew I've seen you before! You're Shinji Ikari, pilot of Unit 01!" why was my name always attached to that machine? "If you don't mind my asking, who is the lucky lady?" should have seen that coming.
"Yeah, I am, and if you have to know, it's Asuka Langley Souryu." Now he was on my face.
"The pilot of Unit 02! She's pregnant!" I nod slightly, "Wow… well congratulations. Let me just ring this up and we'll be done. The party will be at North Beach starting at twelve PM, so try not to be late!" after he was done he handed me the card and I simply left without a word. I drove to a store that I have had my mind on for awhile now.
"I'll take that one, thanks," I handed the casher my bank card and left. I felt that I had to pay for this one.
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Akagi's Office – Same Day
"Oh, you're back! Look, I need the time and place. I have all of the cards written up, I just need that." She was buried in a pile of envelopes, cards, and pens.
"Wow… you did all of this? Thanks… really," she nodded with a smile, "Anyway, it'll be a North Beach at twelve."
"Okay, sounds good. What do you got there?" she points to my pocket, which was filled with a fumbling hand.
"N- Nothing…" I fiddle with the black box.
"Okay, you don't have to tell me. Here, grab a pen; I need to finish these as soon as possible." I do so and we finish the cards in about ten minutes. She invited everyone; Kensuke, Toji, Hikari, Sam, Gahiji, a few of the NERV employees, and to my amazement, Gendo. I doubted that he would show up, but I sent it out anyway. When we were done, I went to Asuka's room.
"Oh, hey Shinji, where did you go?" she was lying down on the bed watching TV. I go over and sit next to her.
"No where. Look, do you want to go to the beach tomorrow?" getting her there would be the biggest challenge, "You don't have to wear a bathing suit or anything, I just want to spend some time with you."
"Okay, sure. I've been bored to tears lately, so maybe this'll help. What time?" that was easier than I thought it would be.
"How about we leave at twelve?" I grip the object in my pocket.
"Sure, sounds good. Hey, you want to hear something funny? You know how Dietlinde has been moving lately?" she was already referring to it by its name, "Well, in the shower, I had to set it to cold water. When the warm water would hit me, she would literally move to one side, and damn near make me fall!" I couldn't help but laugh at this.
"She definitely has your personality! So, tomorrow we go to the beach, don't forget. It'll be fun, I promise," that was a promise I knew I could keep.
"Okay, thanks. I'm going to take a quick nap, I don't know why, but I'm really tired. You can stay if you want," I decline and head off to my room. Gahiji was playing that damn game again. I think he was getting somewhat addicted to it.
"Hey Gahiji." He leaps up out of the chair.
"Holy crap! What happened! You were out for a month!" an explosion from the video crossed the room.
"Two things; one, Lust attacked me and yes, she is dead, and two, watch your language. You're too young for that," I knew that when people talked about his age it pissed him off, so I try to do it often!
"So… no more sins? Cool. Also, you have to stop calling me young. I'm a teenager now! My birthday was last week!" he was still a kid in my eyes. I just shrug and head to my bed. Last time I laid down here, I went out for a month, so I didn't go to sleep. I just lay back staring at the ceiling thinking about tomorrow until I had to go to bed.
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The Next Day – Asuka's Room – 11:30 AM
"You almost ready?" Asuka was in the bathroom getting dressed while I waited.
"Keep your cool! Its not like we don't have all day!" actually, we didn't. I wonder how she was going to handle this… how she was going to handle the… "Hey Shinji, see that shirt on the bed, can you get it for me?" she cut off my train of thought. Taking my hand away from the black box in my pocket, I grab the pink shirt and slide it through the small crack in the door, "thanks!" after a few more minutes; Asuka came back out wearing the loose shirt with a pair of jeans.
"You look nice, are you ready to go?" I offer my hand and she takes it.
"You're a bad liar Shinji, but thanks." We walk out to my car and I start to get in, "Hold on, I haven't gotten to drive my car yet, and I know that I can't really drive right now, so can we take my car?" that was pretty funny, her actually wanting to take the van.
"Sure, if you want to. You got the keys?" she throws them over the car at me, and land on my chest, and then it bounces to the ground.
"Oh, sorry," I pick them up as I remember how she would have reacted to this not even two years ago. Before, she would have either laughed or insulted me instead of apologizing. It really was amazing how much she has changed through the years; she has gotten more mature, more caring, and more likable.
"Don't worry about it, okay, let's go." We walk across the parking lot to the bright red van. "Wow, not bad. I like it in here, it's really roomy." Actually, anything would seem huge compared to my car.
"Eh, it's okay," as I watched her get in I realized that there was no way she would have been able to get into my car. "Well come on! Let's get going!" I start up the van and drive off. We arrived at the beach right on twelve, "Damnit! The beach is closed! Let's just go to the… what are you doing? The sign says that the beach is closed. It looks like a private party, we just can't go in!" I open her door and offer my hand.
"That's the point, just come on," with wide eyes, she takes my hand and gets out.
"Shinji? What did you do?" I smile, but not about the party.
"Just come on," she starts to walk with me to the music filled area. Everything was pink, the banners, the three-foot-tall cake, and all of the wrapping paper.
"Shinji… did you…?" it was finally getting through to her.
"Hey Asuka! Come join the party!" I heard Hikari yell from across the beach. She comes running over and stops in front of Asuka, "How do you like it? Its all for you!" Asuka's face lit up a bright red.
"Is this… a baby shower?" I nod, "You did all of this? Really? Thank you!" she latches on to me.
"Awww! Look at the two parents!" Of course Toji had to make a comment. "Ow!" I saw five people simultaneously whack him on the head.
"Serves you right you ass!" Asuka turned and yelled at him.
"Forget him, just have fun. This day is all about you Asuka, so just relax," Akagi came over to us.
"Really… thank you," Asuka's cheeks were still ablaze.
"Don't worry about it! Now, you have about ten gifts with you name on them. Why don't you open a few?" I knew that this was a fairly small shower compared to what I've seen in the past, but I think Asuka was okay with it.
"Sure!" Akagi rolls the table of gifts over to us and hands one large pink box to Asuka, "Here, open this one first, it's from me." Asuka takes off the red bow and opens the box to reveal a huge collection of children's books. I knew Asuka would use these every night with the baby.
"Thanks, you know we'll both be using these," I would want to, but I doubt Asuka would skip a night to read to Dietlinde.
"I hope so; children learn better when they are read to as infants," should have seen that coming, "anyway, here's a gift from Toji… I swear, if it's a joke!" she glares at an awkwardly smiling Toji. Asuka tears off the hot-pink paper to show a surprisingly serious gift. Inside of the box was a diaper bag full of the 'essentials'.
"Wow… you bought this? Didn't think you could be so serious!" I couldn't help but make that comment!
"Hey! I can be caring sometimes!" I look over at Hikari and smile, "Oh shut up!" the whole party – including Hikari – laughs.
"Here's the next one, its from… ah crap… Kensuke…" he has been freaking out about this whole pregnancy thing since the beginning. Him and Asuka weren't exactly on good terms.
"Why don't you let me open this one?" I take the small box from her, "Kensuke, I'm giving you one warning, you hear me?" he just smiles. I open the small box and throw it at him. "Asshole!" the contents went flying everywhere. Now he was covered in his gift, about five condoms.
"Oh come on! It's a joke!" Even Toji glares at him. Nobody was laughing.
"Leave… now…" Asuka was really pissed "You see this as a bad thing, but none of us do. I'm sick of your attitude towards us!" truthfully, so was I.
"It was a joke!" he walks over to her… big mistake.
"Fuck off!" she knees him in the groin, and he stumbles off, "Now that the pest is gone, we can get back to the party!" her face was now a smile, and a few people were laughing.
"Um… well… here, this one is from Sam," the box was huge! Asuka took the long ribbon and pulled, and the paper followed. Inside was a white crib.
"Sam! You bought this? It must have cost you a fortune! Thank you!" Asuka went over and hugged her.
"I knew you would need one, so I just got it. Hope you get a good use out of it!" Asuka released her and was handed another gift from Akagi. The rest of them were typical baby gifts, clothes, shoes, the usual. After all of the gifts were opened, I saw a car pull up to the lot. A tall man with brown hair and tinted glasses walked towards us… Gendo.
"Oh… hello Commander…" Akagi spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Good afternoon. Asuka, can you come here please?" She slowly walked over to him and he took out a small box, "Congratulations…" Everyone nearly fainted, including me. Asuka took the box from him and began to open it, "Hold on, wait until you get home." Those were the last words he said all day. Asuka followed his order and walked back over to me.
"Well, that's it for the gifts! Now let's cut the… wait… Shinji? Why didn't you get Asuka a gift?" my heart began to race as I fumbled with the black box in my pocket.
"I-I did…" I motioned the band to stop playing and they did. I walked over to Asuka as everyone stared at me, "Asuka… when I first met you, I have to admit that I never thought I would end up having a child with you. After you moved in, we would battle on a daily basis, and for a short time, I really did hate you, but after the fourteenth angel, I began to get closer to you." I take her hand in mine, "From then on, our relationship only grew. That day at the beach was the first time I was able too sum up the courage to tell you how I felt, and at first, I thought it was a mistake. Once again I was wrong; in fact, it turned out to be the beginning of us. We have shared our fears, our dreams, our nightmares, a child, and I hope to share much more. I love you Asuka, and nothing will ever change that." I take out the box and get down on one knee.
"Shin… ji…?" My hands were trembling as I opened the box…
A/N- Feel the power of suspense! Sorry, once again, I can't really say anything. Just read the next chapter; Will You, until then, keep on keepin' on!