Rei was the first person on the runway to see her off.

"I can't believe they went through the trouble of finding me a private jet! You'd think I was a famous dignitary or something," Asuka babbled delightedly.

"Well you are the Second Child, after all."

"That's true. Without me you and that idiot Shinji would probably just flounder all over the place! Well...maybe not you," Asuka relented after a moment's pause. "That reminds me, keep him in line while I'm gone, got it? I don't want the Angels destroying this place."

"Ikari and I are perfectly capable of defending the city while you're away, Asuka. Don't trouble yourself." Rei said in her customarily cold tone.

"You better be. If a Third Impact happens, I'm holding you personally responsible!" She jabbed a finger at Rei accusingly, but she had a smile on her face. Rei merely tilted her head slightly and Asuka rolled her eyes. She was only half worried about the possibility of something happening to the other Children while she went back to Germany. Her father had fallen ill and her remaining family had called her back to help support him while the doctors continued to run tests. They assured her it would be for no longer than a few weeks. Asuka had agreed somewhat begrudgingly, partly out of worry and partly out of duty. She wasn't very keen on leaving her EVA for so long, but it seemed unavoidable.

"Hopefully my piloting won't be too rusty when I get back," she said with a sigh.

"That won't happen."

Asuka raised an eyebrow. "You seem awfully sure of that. I'd better not disappoint any of you then, at least for your sake."

"You won't. You are Asuka Langley Sohryu, after all. You can't stand disappointments so it only stands to reason that you'd never become one." Rei said resolutely.

Asuka smiled at this reasoning. "Looks like you've got some good sense in that head of yours after all, Wonder Girl."

Eventually Misato and Shinji showed up to say their farewells to Asuka, who was surprisingly civil to Shinji by not berating him with her usual insults. He gave her a photo of their class, full of smiling faces which made Asuka go silent. When Misato stepped away to talk to the jet pilot, Rei surprised Asuka by pulling her off to one side. "What's your deal?"

"You turned very quiet all of a sudden."

"Why do you care?"

Rei predictably turned to stone and Asuka sighed. "I guess...I'm just gonna miss everyone, okay?" She shook her head and looked out over the skyline, at the ocean surrounding the city. She took out the photo that Shinji had given her. She was standing between Rei and Shinji; she remembered when the photo was taken and she pulled them both close to her, and Rei had squirmed a bit in surprise. Rei wasn't used to having friends, which made her more fun to tease. Asuka had to admit she was going to miss that. She and Rei were just starting to get friendly with each other. "Kinda wish I could take you...er, one of you with me," she backtracked quickly. "It's gonna be pretty boring back home."

If Rei had picked up on Asuka's words, she didn't let it show, choosing instead to look off in the direction of the plane. Misato was waving Asuka over and calling to her.

"I'd better get going. See ya around," Asuka said.

"Wait," Rei said, quiet but with such uncharacteristic force that it caused Asuka to pause. Rei stepped next to Asuka and put a soft bundle in her hands. It was a woolen hat with a matching pair of mittens, dark purple and flecked with a white snowflake pattern.

Asuka's eyes widened at the gift. "You got these for me?"

Rei nodded. "Germany is cold this time of year, so they should be useful. The class representative supplied me with the pattern so that I could make them."

"You what?!" Asuka practically shouted, shocked that Rei had actually gone through such trouble.

"Asukaaaa, you need to get going!" Misato called out impatiently.

At the same time, Rei was turning to walk away. Asuka promptly grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her around, then wrapped her arms around her neck in a hug. Rei stiffened a bit and Asuka didn't know who she had surprised more, Rei or herself.

"You're so strange," Asuka said softly, her lips close to Rei's ear. She could feel her eyes start to well up and she cursed herself mentally. Why did she have to give her a damn gift? "I'm going to miss...you."

She felt Rei's hand touch her upper arm and she pulled away slightly, now looking at Rei face to face. She was smiling. "Don't cry. You'll be back soon."

Asuka finally smiled and broke the embrace, bending down to pick up the hat and mittens that she had dropped. "Thanks for these. This means I'll have to bring you something back now."

Rei shook her head. "As long as you bring yourself back...I will be satisfied." Her small, rare smile still had not left her face.

Asuka flushed a little before shaking her head adopting her usual haughty tone. "Like you said: when have I ever been known to disappoint?"