Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of Neon Genesis: Evangelion. That belongs to GAINAX and Mr. Anno. I also do not own any company related to ice cream.

(August 20th, 2015, Katsuragi Household: 5:32 a.m.)

"AAAAAAAA!"

A hideous wail slowly brings Shinji to consciousness. Without opening his eyes, he rises to an upright position, too tired to do anything else. He would have stayed in that position had a certain warm water penguin not came into his room and jumped in his bed.

"Pen Pen?" Shinji asked, finally opening his eyes.

The penguin in question was currently hiding under the blanket, covering its ears. With a sigh, Shinji got up and went into the hall. He stumbled into the living room to find it empty save for wailing that was reverberating throughout the entire apartment.

'Huh?' he thought, 'O yea, I put the baby's crib in Misato's room.'

Shinji turned around and walked up to Misato's door. When he got there he realized there was a problem. It was an unspoken law that neither Shinji nor Asuka were allowed to enter Misato's room. Shinji was thinking about what to do when the down the hall exploded open.

An early morning Asuka dragged herself out, her eyes were bloodshot and had a crazed look in them. Her hair was completely disheveled, giving off the impression that they were alive with fury. She looked ready to kill whoever woke her.

"Umm…" Shinji began weakly, "we kind of have a probl-"

He was cut off when Asuka walked over to the door and furiously attacked it, pounding and kicking it as if it had called her a bad name. The noise of the assaulted door matched that of Kiku's throes.

"MISATO WAKE UP!!!" She screamed as she head butted the door several times.

As her screaming drained her energy, she slowed down and slumped up against the door. Slowly, as if she were being turned into liquid, she slid down to the floor with tears in her eyes.

"I just want to go to sleep." She whined in a defeated voice.

Shinji began making a mental list of ways to wake up Misato as he stood watching Asuka. Suddenly an idea pops into his head.

"I think I have an idea." Shinji says before walking into the kitchen. After a few seconds, he comes back with a can in his hand. The can was proudly labeled Yebisu and happened to be Misato's favorite beer.

Asuka watched silently as Shinji held the beer as close to Misato's door as possible. With one hand grasping the can, Shinji used his other to pop the tab.

Hiss

Shinji stands still for a second and Asuka stares at him dumbly.

"You can't be serious. That's probably the dumbest-"

Asuka never got a chance to finish her sentence because the door busted open, sending Asuka stumbling down the hall only to trip and land flat on her face. The full volume of Kiku's screaming followed.

"Did you just open one of my beers?" Misato asked Shinji with a stern voice.

Her question was answered when she looked down and saw the opened can in his hand. Misato looked Shinji in the eyes before glaring at him and snatching the beer from his hand.

"Sorry Misato," Shinji said meekly, barely being heard over Kiku's crying, "but we had to wake you up. Kiku's been crying for the past five minutes."

Misato continued to glare at him as she raised the can to her mouth and took a sip. Even as she drank, her eyes burned a hole through Shinji's head.

"I'll go get her." Misato says before going back into her room, closing the door after her.

Shinji waited for a second before the door opened again with Misato holding a crying baby.

"Here." Misato says, dumping the baby unceremoniously into Shinji's arms before retreating back into her room.

Shinji sighed as Misato's door was shut in his face. He turned around and made his way into the kitchen, being careful to step over Asuka's limp body. Shinji gently set Kiku down on the kitchen table and went into the refrigerator for her formula.

As Shinji turned on the stove to heat the formula, his ears made out a groan from the hallway. Shinji turns around in time to see Asuka stumble into the kitchen and fall into the closest chair she could find.

Shinji doesn't say anything and finishes heating up the baby's drink. He turns off the stove and places the bottle on the table. Asuka looks from the bottle to Shinji as if expecting him to pick it up and begin feeding Kiku. Shinji simply sits down.

"Aren't you going to feed her?" Asuka asks.

"Well, I would but…" Shinji replies nervously, "I'm not sure how."

"You idiot, you just hold the bottle up to her face, like this."

Asuka grabbed the bottle and held it up to Kiku's face. Asuka was shocked when the baby pushed the bottle away and let loose a louder torrent of crying. After recovering, she looked up to see Shinji staring at her.

"You think that's funny?!" Asuka yelled as she threw the bottle at Shinji, "You do it!"

Shinji caught the bottle with his face and let it drop into his hands. Still not sure of what to do, he positioned the bottle haphazardly in front of Kiku's mouth. The baby ignored it completely and became even louder in it's crying. Asuka crossed her arms and smiled smugly at Shinji, satisfied that he had also failed.

A door could be heard opening in the hall and Shinji and Asuka looked over to see a rather tired looking Misato grumbling as she entered the kitchen. Wordlessly, she took the bottle from Shinji's hand and held it up to the baby. Kiku gladly accepted the bottle and began to drink the formula. Misato let out an exasperated sigh.

"I wish I could lactate for her," She said, "it'd be a lot healthier than all this formula. Too bad I've never been pregnant."

"Lactate?" Shinji repeated dumbly.

"Breast feed, dummkopf." Asuka answered, "And Misato, you can lactate even if you're not pregnant if you have the baby suckle you regularly. I should know because I took a semester of biology in college."

Shinji pretended he didn't hear what Asuka just said. The image of a breast-feeding Misato would be all too creepy for him.

"Hmmm…" Misato hummed thoughtfully as she flashed the children a mischievous smile, "I'll be right back."

She set the bottle back onto the table and paused for a moment to enjoy the looks on Asuka and Shinji's faces before she carried Kiku into her room. Shinji and Asuka sat in an uncomfortable silence. Asuka was the first to say something.

"I'm going to go back to bed and forget everything that just happened."

With that being said, she quickly got up from her seat and went into her room. Hearing her door shut, Shinji sighed. He thought about what Misato was doing in her room and shuddered. He paused for a moment to think.

'Maybe I should get some groceries,' He thought to himself as he remembered he has not gone grocery shopping since the night he attained Kiku, 'Asuka would probably get pissed off if I make instant food for breakfast.'

With the matter settled, Shinji went into his room and grabbed a jacket. Quietly, he went to his desk and opened the top drawer. In it was a book and a pencil. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he picked up the book, flipping it open to find several bills of money.

'I do feel kind of bad not letting Misato know about this,' He thought, 'but this money's probably better off with me anyways. At least this way I'll be able to afford food for us.'

Closing the book and replacing it into the drawer, he pulled on some socks and stepped out of his room when he heard a creaking sound and turned to find Asuka's door slightly open.

"Shinji?" Asuka's voice called from her door, "Where are you going?"

"I'm just going out to buy some groceries," Shinji explained, "last time I bought them, the guy gave me Kiku so I had to leave the groceries at the park to carry her."

"Oh…" Asuka said, pausing for a second, "Can I go with you?"

This took Shinji by surprise.

"Uh, sure." Shinji replied.

The door closed and opened again after a second. Asuka slipped out of her room wearing some sweat pants, a t-shirt, and a rather large coat. A moment later, the pair had put on their shoes and walked out the door. Leaving the apartment complex, they walked in silence through the early morning mist towards the local convenience store.

'Crap,' Shinji thought as he started shuddering, 'I should've worn something warmer.'

Asuka caught Shinji's suffering out of the corner of her eye and sighed. She ignored the protests in her head and decided that if Shinji couldn't dress himself, she would have to help him do it.

Shinji's eyes grew to the size of plates when he felt something draped over his shoulders. Turning, he saw that he was sharing Asuka's coat with the redhead.

"Don't get too excited baka," Asuka muttered, catching the look on Shinji's face and returning it with a deadly glare, "I'm just worried that if you get sick, you'll pass it on to Kiku."

Shinji just suppressed a smiled and kept walking, considerably warmer now.

(August 20th, 2015, Tokyo-3 Apartment C902: 6:19 a.m.)

A rather sinister looking man sat at a table drinking a soda.

"Hitaku, where'd we put those Nerv agents we found in the park?"

"I don't know, I think they're still in the car."

Tanako, bolted up into a standing position, spitting out a mouthful of soda.

"WHAT?!"

The two other men in the apartment cowered into the corner.

"Well, you didn't tell us where to put them!" Hitaku defended.

Tanako would hear none of it. He threw his half empty can of soda at them and began looking for more things to throw.

"YOU FUCKING MORONS! IF THOSE AGENTS ARE DEAD WHO THE HELL ARE WE GOING TO QUESTION!?"

Hitaku and Kiyashi just continued to cower as they tried their best to block the onslaught of chairs, newspapers and magazines.

(August 20th, 2015, Katsuragi Residence: 6:59 a.m.)

Misato yawned and sat up on her bed. As she did so, she felt something warm slide off her body. Looking down, she found that she had fallen asleep with Kiku on top of her. With a smile, Misato looked around her room and, picking up Kiku, calmly made her way out.

Upon exiting her room, Misato was nearly struck dumb by a smell. She followed it into the kitchen where she saw her two uncharacteristically quiet charges and a bored looking penguin. Furthermore, Asuka was without her traditional morning scowl, in fact, she even had a grin on her face. Misato was even more surprised when Asuka greeted her in a friendly manner.

"Good morning Misato," Asuka said cheerfully, "we're making Brotchen for breakfast."

'More like I'm making Brotchen for breakfast.' Shinji thought irritably while trying to keep a polite smile on his face, 'So that's why Asuka wanted to go grocery shopping with me, she wanted to make sure I made her German food,'

By this time, Kiku had woken up in Misato's arm and was studying its surroundings curiously. Misato let her down next to Pen Pen and took her seat at the table.

"So, making Brotchen huh?" Misato said slyly, "Sure that was all you two were doing while I went back to sleep?"

Asuka's smile was replaced by an angry frown and Shinji was blushing a deep red.

"Hey?!!? What's that supposed to mea-" Asuka began yelling before she noticed something missing, "Wait… Misato… why aren't you drinking any beer?"

"Well, since I'm going to start breast feeding Kiku," Misato replied, "I figured it'd be best to stop drinking beer."

Shinji sputtered something incoherent. Asuka ignored him and began saying something.

"That's crap," Asuka said blatantly, "you know you'll cave in after a week."

"Oh yea?" Misato replied, "Want to make a bet on it?"

"You have nothing to bet with." Asuka said with confidence.

"Oh yea?" Misato began, "How does 5,000 yen sound?"

Much to Misato's surprise, Asuka yawned and gave a bored expression. Asuka simply glanced at Shinji then back at Misato.

"Sorry," Asuka said, "not interested."

"What do you mean you're not interested?!"

"When it comes to money, I'm set for now."

Shinji cringed at this statement. He still had quite a lot from the night he got Kiku, however Asuka could easily run him broke.

"Fine," Misato said with a sneer, "how about if I don't drink beer for a week, you and Shinji have to hold hands with each other for an entire day."

"What?! How'd I get into this?!" Shinji complained.

"Shut up third!!!!" Asuka roared.

Shinji's mouth refused to close so he stood dumbly next to the oven. Asuka looked up and thought about it for a second.

"Fine." Asuka spat at Misato, "But if you even take a sip of beer before the week's up, we trade bedrooms."

"Deal." Misato said quickly before she could change her mind.

Shinji just sighed, accepting the cruel reality that he had no say in this matter. Asuka smile sinisterly and got up from her seat. Walking up to the fridge and grabbing a beer, she slammed it down onto the table and took her seat.

"Wow," Asuka began to say, "this nice frosty beer sure does look refreshing."

"W-what are y-you d-doing?" Misato stuttered.

"What?" Asuka asked, feigning innocence, "You never said I couldn't tempt you."

"T-that's ch-cheating!" Misato screamed.

Before a full argument could erupt between the two female housemates, Shinji arrived at the table with some German bread rolls.

"Let's eat."

With that, the members of the Katsuragi household began stuffing their faces.

(August 20th, 2015, Parking lot of Tokyo-3 Apartment C902: 7:30 a.m.)

A man laid in darkness, long since passed the point of claustrophobia. Starving and dehydrated, he looked around his surroundings for an escape though he knew he would find none. All he remembered was that he had been inside the trunk of a car for what seemed like eternity. A tear managed to find it's way out of his eye as he remembered his family. One that he would most likely not be seeing again.

Suddenly, a blinding light entered the confined space the man was in, followed by a gust of fresh air. His lungs inhaled the breeze greedily and he felt as if a great pressure in his head had been relieved. However, not being used to sunlight after days spent in the dark of his confines, the blinding sunrays began sickening him with a throbbing headache. His eyes desperately trying to adjust to the light, he managed to make out the mangled forms of two other bodies in the trunk he was in.

Just as suddenly as it appeared, the light was gone and the man was once again plunged into darkness, draining the last of the man's strength. The air became stagnant once more and the man would have begun sobbing if he had the energy. The last image in his mind was of his wife and his daughter. The memory faded as he closed his eyes.

The man could no longer think. His last bit of hope had been sapped away by the light. A dull pain registered to him when his head bounced off the bottom of the trunk. Then, realization hit him. The car was moving.

Omake:

(August 20th, 2015, Parking lot of Tokyo-3 Apartment C902: 7:30 a.m.)

"Alright you idiots, one of you open the trunk and see if any of them are alive."

Hitaku nodded obediently and walked over to the trunk of a black sedan. Jamming the keys into the lock clumsily, he unlocked the trunk and opened it up. He cringed as he was met by the blank stare of a dying man.

"Well?! Any of them alive?" Tanako shouted.

"Umm… sort of…" Hitaku replied as he closed the trunk, not wanting to look at those eyes any further.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, one of them is alive but he looks like he could kick the bucket any minute now."

Tanako groaned and smacked his forehead. Now he only had one agent to interrogate. It would take two to determine whether or not they lie.

'Well,' He reasoned to himself, 'one Nerv agent is better than none.'

Flashing a maniac smile, Tanako ordered his men to get in the car.

"Kiyashi, you drive. Hitaku, get in the back."

With a grunt apiece, the two henchmen got into the car. Stepping into the passenger seat, Tanako began to reassure himself.

'I'll make this bastard talk,' he thought, 'this is going to be fun."

He chuckled as the black sedan left the parking lot and headed towards the Tokyo-3 docks.

Author's Notes: Thanks to anyone who's reading this fic. I'm planning on giving shout outs to all my reviewers at the end of the fic. Only reason I'm doing that is because… well there is no reason. Anyways, this chapter wasn't one of my favorites but I had my first case of writers block. It took almost a week till I stopped procrastinating and finished up the chapter. Yes, I know this entire chapter went pretty much nowhere, and wasn't very well written, but it sets up things to come. Also, I changed the rating from T to M because I'm going in a different direction than I was planning. Expect action and plenty of it. Anyways, keep reviewing. The support makes me want to write while the critism helps me improve.

Author's Rant (Completely optional): I took a lot longer to update than I usually do. I'm sure part of it has to do with the fact that I recently got addicted to Ranma ½. Btw, writers block is a pain in the ass. I was literally stumped. I would be at football practice running laps but all I could do was think of things I could write about. I must've gotten flat backed (In other words 'knocked onto my ass') 10 times because I was so distracted by this fic. Even in summer school I hardly listened to what my teacher was saying (Not that I listen to him anyways.). If anyone has any suggestions to how to beat writer's block, please let me know. Thanks again to all the reviewers.