Epilogue

A/N – Okay, before you read, know that there is one more posting after this short addition, so don't forget about me when you finish with this! It just may take awhile for me to get it done; between work, school and personal issues, I've had –and I'm not exaggerating – no more then an hour to work on it. Please give me at least until Christmas to get it done, and I'm really sorry for the wait.

A certain red-haired beauty drove up with her family to the cemetery with flowers in hand. 'Tokyo-3 Cemetery' was written on the large metal gates of the grassy plain. When the black van came to a stop, the woman exited the vehicle alone, still clutching the flowers. In silence, she walked up in front of two specific tomb-stones. With a sinking heart, she read the first one.

Here lies Shinji Ikari

Husband, Father, Savior, Friend

"I love you Asuka, and nothing will ever change that"

June 6, 2001 – May 22, 2018

Reading this brought a small tear to the woman's eye. She had no memory of this man, she had no emotional bonds with him, yet she still came to this very spot every month out of either respect or personal reasoning. In reality, she should hate him for leaving her. Why did he have to take such a cowardly path? She could have grown to love him, but instead she grew up alone. He was supposed to be there for her, it was his responsibility, and he simply threw it away. He threw everything away. Feeling her jaw cramp up, she looked over at the tomb-stone next to Shinji's.

Here lies Asuka Langley Ikari

Wife, Mother, Savior, Friend

"I love you Shinji, and nothing will ever change that"

August 4, 2001 – May 21, 2018

Simply by coincidence they both wrote similar quotes in their wills. This reason is still unknown to anyone that knew Shinji or Asuka. Though they made their love extremely well known, even Akagi didn't know the reasoning for this. The woman had given up by now on finding out. She saw the possibility of the two sharing a secret bond that no one knew about, that even they questioned. That quote had to have some meaning to it, and she would leave that last shred of love for them to hold. Asuka was different in the woman's eyes. Asuka gave her life for the woman's, and for that, she will be eternally in debt for. Asuka was yet another missing memory of the woman. Just like Shinji, she never had the opportunity to meet this glorious young woman. Everyone she asked said that Asuka was the strongest person they knew, that she'd give her life for the ones she loved. And she did.

"You still come here every month?" Asuka nearly jumped out of her skin at the sudden comment.

"Yeah… I just wish I was able to meet them, they really sound like wonderful people…" the other woman stood tall, about the height of her father.

"Yeah, bullshit. Our good for nothing father left us with some dead end scientist. At least mom died trying to defend us," their first daughter thought very poorly of Shinji obviously. In fact, she despised him.

"Dietlinde! Don't say that! How would you feel if your husband died?" the woman instantly got fire in her eyes.

"I wouldn't leave my children to fend for themselves! He was a useless, pathetic, waste of blood and bone…" she softly kicked some dirt on his grave, "Mom was the only decent one out of the two…" Ritsuko had tried multiple times to change her mind about her father, but it has been proven to be impossible. Asuka was about to say something as she heard her own daughter running up. She obviously bit her tongue.

"Mommy! What'cha readin'?" a three year old girl came running out of the van with a smile ear to ear. She ran up and gave her mother a hug, "Hi Aunt Lind!" Quickly wiping away her tears, the mother picked her child up and faced the graves.

"Hey sweetie. I gotta go, talk to you BOTH later," with that last sour comment, she walked off.

"See those two stones? They're your grandma and grandpa," the young girl cocked her head in confusion as her mother changed the subject.

"They are? They don't look like daddy's mom and dad…" the woman chuckled at the child's nativity.

"No honey, they're in heaven," the girl perked up.

"Oh! You mean like Princess?" the woman held back more tears as she smiled.

"Yeah sweetie… like Princess…" the woman closed her eyes and let a tear fall. Carefully, the young girl in her arms reached up and wiped away her mother's tear. Her face suddenly had a concerned look on.

"Mommy? Why are you crying?" the mother gave her a sweet smile.

"No reason…" she set down her child and held her hand. The child pulled away from her mother's grip and walked in front of the flowers, looking at both graves as she did.

"Thank you for taking care of mommy when she was little. You taught her how to be a really good mom!" the woman couldn't help but shed another tear at her child's words. Actually, a simple doctor raised her from birth. It was because of that woman that she grew up how she did. Shinji and Asuka had nothing to do with it. Her child looked up at her with a smile.

"How about we go home and get you something to eat?" she regained her composure and once again picked up her daughter.

"Yeah!" the girl giggled at her mother's upbeat tone.

"Let's see, what does Yui like to eat?" she began to walk back to her van… and her husband.

"I dunno!" like most children; she put up a fight when it came to eating. She – of course – knew what she wanted, but why make it easy for a parent?

"You don't know? Really?" with a smile she set her child down in the car-seat, "Well then, looks like I'll just have to whip something up special, huh?" she kissed the girl on her forehead, "I love you Dietlinde."

"I love you to mommy!" the woman sat down in the front passenger seat with a smile and one last tear in her eye.

"So Asuka, have you found out what you needed to know yet?" her husband – Blaze – asked as he drove off. The question had become more of a routine after the cemetery then him actually doing it out of concern, so he was fairly surprised that she responded.

Blaze basically grew up with Asuka. Though Asuka was slightly older, she rarely acted it. Most said she acted like her mother, but she – of course – didn't know that to be true. He was raised by two young adults – pilots for that matter. Asuka learned most about her parents from them, apparently they were close friends.

"I think I finally have…" the happy family drove off in smiles. After thirty four years of visiting this cemetery, after countless visits she finally knew what her parents were saying. 'Nothing will ever change that' she repeated in her mind. That quote is nothing more then a feeling. It wasn't just a mixture of words making a sentence, it was a feeling that the two lovers shared, that nothing could ever take away from them. Finally feeling that she knew how her parents felt, she never visited that place with an empty heart again, only a bright smile. She looked to the sky with a smile. She thanked her parents mentally for bringing her into this existence most called life. She watched the passing hills as they drove with a feeling of satisfaction. She knew that her parents were very special people. As an adult, she knew that life would go on if she were to be struck down as is. A few people would cry, then life would resume. If one were to think about it, all life is meaningless. What has anyone really contributed to this world? Even great scientists have brought on massive deaths with their discoveries. She knew that she had contributed absolutely nothing; she was just a simple house wife with a child. And yet even so, sitting in the back seat was her purpose. Her purpose was to be there for the ones she loved. Nothing more, nothing less.

Shinji and Asuka were different though. They were the only two people in history that actually did only good for humanity. They saved the world countess times, and in the end they were destined to die before they were even adults. This would bring sadness to most, but to her it actually brought a smile. They fulfilled their purpose in this world, and then made room for the next generation to move on. They even contributed to the next generation. This drive would always make Asuka depressed. Out in the hills was the only place that she could get away from in all, and in a few minutes she'd be back in the city, and back to her life. Just as they were entering city limits and passing the last hill, she saw two young adults atop that hill sharing a passionate kiss in the clear summer light.

"I love you Asuka Langley Souryu, and nothing will ever change that"

"I love you Shinji Ikari, and nothing will ever change that"

A/N – Remember, there is more! I just have to finish it! See you all soon!