Nothing Will Ever Change That

Chapter 61: Broken

A/N- You know what I noticed? Shinji just got done proposing to Asuka, and not a single one of you acknowledge it! 170 pages have been working up to this moment, and not a one of you said a word! Whatever, here's the next chapter, enjoy!

NERV – Command Center

"All Evas ready for launch!" I feel the G-forces pull at me as I rocket towards the surface. Asuka was with us, but I begged her not to fight, and she accepted. Even though Gendo seemed happy about us, he still forced her into combat. It was just me, Sam and Gahiji against an Eva at least four times the size of us.

"How the hell are we supposed to fight this thing?" Gahiji was looking up at its head. This monster was a seriously ugly one. From legs that only extended about fifty feet came a cylinder-like abdomen. Two arms that looked like spaghetti were on either side of it. The abdomen eventually came up to a stub of a head that had two tiny red dots for eyes. Large dots of blue and red freckled its white body, every now and then; one would shine bright, then fade back to a neutral. The short legs only moved it a few yards a second, compared to normal Evas being able to run a good 400 miles per hour.

"Just charge!" Gahiji runs towards the giant.

"Gahiji! Stop!" I couldn't get him to stop running. One of the red lights sprung to life and shot a blinding beam in his direction.

"AHHH!" when the smoke cleared, only half of his Eva was revealed. With only one leg, he tipped to one side onto the ground. Blood was pooling around his body. The screaming stopped, and I think he passed out.

"He's fine, but don't pull what he just did! Use the weapons!" I grab one of the SMG's and fire away. The 'arms' smacked away each of the bullets as they came close. After my clip was empty, I simply threw the gun down.

"How the hell are we supposed to…" one of the tentacles extended and wrapped around my neck.

"Shinji!" Asuka came running, but I look at her with serious eyes. She keeps on running and grabs a hold of the arm. Asuka pulls at it, but that only tightened the grip on my neck. "Let go!" she kicked at the monster's body, only to be thrown away by the other arm.

"Get off of him!" Sam came running and sliced the arm off with a dagger. The Eva howls in pain, and now that I'm able to breath, I yell.

"Asuka! What the hell are you doing! I told you to… what's wrong? Asuka?" her eyes were the size of dinner plates, "Asuka! What's going on?" still no answer came.

"Shinji! You need to kill that Eva now! Asuka needs help!" that's all I needed to hear. I charged at the giant Eva, all the while dodging its beams, and landed on top of it. I shove my blade in its skull and push as hard as I can. The thing soon falls over, and it was dead.

"How's Asuka!" her eyes were still wide.

"She's fine, but we need to get her to the hospital now!" if she's fine, then what's the problem? Why does she need to go to the hospital?

"My…" she finally spoke up "my… water broke…"

---

NERV Hospital – One Hour Later

I was in a room with Asuka and a few doctors, including Ritsuko Akagi. Asuka was gripping my hand as she closed her eyes.

"Damnit! Why did that thing have to come now?" Akagi was keeping an eye on Asuka and Dietlinde's heart rate, "Ugh, two month premature birth! I think it will be okay though, she has the right size, length, and has the correct brain functions. She should be fine." That was mildly calming, "Basically the only bad news is that Asuka is entering labor."

"Gee, do ya think!" Asuka tightened her grip on my hand, "God this sucks!" just then, I remembered her request about me in the delivery room. I decide not to say anything.

"I know that this is stupid, but you need to remember to keep up the breathing during labor. Many women pass out because of this," I really doubt we could have said anything to calm her at this point.

"You think I'm going to forget to breath! Come on! All I need is- Uhhh!" one of the machines started to beep and the grip on my hand was to the point of being painful… really painful!

"There's the first contraction!" one of the doctors said from across the room.

"Damn! That sucks! How long does this normally take!" I've heard of birth sometimes taking three days, but I pray it doesn't take that long, "Shinji, remember our deal, you have to leave!" I couldn't if I wanted to! Her hand was still crushing mine!

"I won't…" Asuka glares at me, "I mean… I can't… sorry…" she releases my hand and pushes me a little. I see a few sweat drops form on her forehead as I unwillingly walk off. "Good luck Asuka…" I mutter as I walk away. In the waiting room I was able to faintly hear Asuka grunting. Hearing her like that was killing me. I never liked to hear people in pain period, but with her, it was different. She rarely showed any sign of weakness, but when she would, it would always be serious. I heard another scream from her. hated to hear that with a passion. Trying to ignore it, I think back to today. The look on Asuka's face when I proposed was priceless. It wasn't more that it was funny then it was shocked, which was another rare emotion from her. My heart literally sank when I walked off, I felt so empty, so alone – again – and, defeated. My mind then went to when the Eva came. Seeing Hikari like that… God… it was horrible. She was always so fragile, so sweet. I had never known her to hurt another being, and when I saw her on the ground, for a second I questioned God. How is it that such an innocent girl would die in such a horrible way? She had a daughter, she was young, and she still had a purpose. There was no reason for her to die other then just out of pure wrath. My whole life I've heard the God was a vengeful being, but then what was the reason for her to die? I feel a tear run down my face. "Damnit…" I bury my face into my hands and try not to cry. After a minute or two, my mind wandered to the car ride here. Asuka was ready to kill me, and she tried to punch me. The things she said… they were like knives. Everything she said was true aside from not caring. I did do all of those things. Did she really think that I didn't care? Did she really think that I was that heartless?

"So, soon you'll be a father. How does it feel?" I hear Sam sit next to me.

"Right now? Not too good. I hate hearing her like that," another loud grunt echoes through the waiting room.

"Me too, but she'll be fine. So, you two are getting married now, huh?" she was trying to relax me, but I just can't.

"Yeah…" she turns her head towards me.

"Well you sound excited! Come on Shinji, buck up! Look, let's just go out for awhile, maybe that'll calm you down." I wasn't going to leave!

"No… I'm not leaving Asuka," Sam grabbed my hand.

"It's not like you're doing her any good out here! Really, what will you accomplish by staying here?" she pulls at my hand, but I thrust out of her grip.

"I said I'm no leaving! You can go if you want, but I'm staying!" she froze in place. The look on her face was blank for a few seconds, and then she finally got some emotion.

"You think you're the only one that cares for her! You think that it's not hurting me too to hear her like that? Don't be stupid Shinji!" I just look back at the ground, "Say something!"

"If you care so much for her, then why don't I see it?" the sound of the contacting flesh echoed through the room.

"Asshole!" she storms off. I feel my cheek starting to turn red, but I didn't really care. I wanted nothing more then to just go in there with Asuka, simply to be with her during this. Knowing that this wasn't going to happen, I lean my head back and close my eyes. By some miracle, I was able to fall asleep with all the grunting and random noises going on.

---

6 Hours Later – Morning

"Shinji! Wake up!" I wake up to a person nudging me. I open my eyes to see Akagi standing there with a rushed look on her face. "Shinji, get up!" I leap out of my chair.

"What? Is something wrong? How's Asuka?" she takes my hand and leads me to the delivery room.

"Nothing is wrong, she has just been asking for you to come in… and she is almost done…" she was asking for me? She's almost done! That was really quick!

"Wait, she's almost done? As in giving birth?" she nods as the door swings open. I see Asuka with a beat-red face and sweat drenched clothes… that was horrible. I have never seen her so helpless, so weak, this was not the Asuka I knew.

"God damnit!" Asuka screamed with her eyes closed. I slowly walk to her side and take her hand… forgetting what happened last time.

"Asuka? How is it-ah!" her hand was crushing mine! Damn, I never knew she was so strong!

"Come on Asuka! One more push!" with a scream, one of the doctors sighed, "And you're done!" Asuka closed her eyes and was breathing heavily. The grip on my hand loosened and then she spoke.

"Bout… time…" I couldn't help but laugh at this.

"Oh shit! Give me her now!" Akagi took Dietlinde and rushed out of the room.

"Hey! What the hell! Come back here!" Asuka shot open her eyes and was yelling. What was going on? "Shinji! Follow her!" she shoved me and I went running to find her. I eventually see her in a room with a large plastic box on a pedestal… with a baby in it.

"Ritsuko… what's going on?" she looked back over at me with puffy red eyes.

"Shinji… I'm so sorry…" my heart sank.

"Sorry… what happened?" she walked over to me and hugged me.

"Premature births don't always go well…"

A/N- Seven months have been working up to this moment, what will happen? Is Dietlinde okay? Find out in the next chapter; Please Sing, until then, keep on keepin' on!