Epilogue

"SQWAAK!"

Shinji bolted out of bed, smacking his head against the nearby wall.

He came to, several minutes later to see Rei kneeling over him and cradling PenPen, who was enjoying the attention. "Shinji, are you hurt?"

"...Probably, yeah..." He dazedly groaned out and stumbled out of his room to see Misato awake early and making toast, eggs, and bacon.

"Misato! Get away from the kitchen!" Shinji was panicking.

"Oh shut up you wimp. I've been practicing my cooking, it's only breakfast. Tell Rei that she needs to eat a couple of eggs, she needs the protein. Oh, by the way, I left really early to pick up PenPen, and I saw you had a sleepover last night!" She smiled mischievously and rooted through her cabinets for a can of sardines for her bird.

"MISATO! We didn't do-"

"I know you didn't. I just wanted to show how cute you two look when you're snuggled up together! But, if you do get any funny ideas..."

"Rei and I have agreed. Nothing yet, not for a while."

"Shinji, that's very mature and responsible. Trust me, when you wait until you have a meaningful relationship with one special person, the physical part becomes much more satisfying. Kaji and I didn't understand that until we got old...You two don't seem to have that problem."

"Shinji...It's crowded..." Rei apprehensively stated as she was wheeled through the aisles of Tokyo-3's super mall, Shinji deftly manoeuvring around scattered clusters of people, soft pop music playing over the various conversations they would overhear.

"Hey, you said you wanted to visit this place, today."

"Asuka said I needed to make you take me shopping for clothes and other things she said I should have."

"Rei, that's just Asuka being shallow. You can do whatever you want...If you want to leave, we can."

"No, she was right when she stated that I don't have enough clothing or belongings, but I do not like the looks that I'm receiving from the other shoppers..."

"That's just people's sympathy, Rei. They see you in a wheelchair and they want you to get better, even if they don't come up to you and say it. We're in a city of millions, we'll never even see any of these faces again."

"Yet you've protected them all..."

"So have you, Rei. Don't start labeling yourself as the bad guy again, I'm not going to let you. You know, if you don't want to go clothes shopping, we could go to the bookstores here-"

"No, I have plenty to read. I decided to go back through all that I already had when you had my library brought to Misato's. I really do need new outfits, though, and I want you to like what I buy."

"Rei, you look like a knockout while your wearing your ordinary school clothes...You'll look great no matter what you find."

"Are you sure you're okay on your own?"

"I can stand, Shinji. I only lack the strength to travel long distances." She emerged on foot from a dressing room, Shinji waiting patiently outside, until Shinji was stunned to the floor.

She was wearing a light blue sleeveless blouse, a dark blue pencil skirt that curved to her knees, violet stockings and buckled shoes. Shinji approved.

"You like it, then?"

"Re-Rei...uhh...buh...wha?"

"Misato once told me to be proud of my ability to reduce a boy to a stuttering wreck...I almost feel sorry for you, Shinji." She went back in and got changed...into a pure white one-piece. She had to give Shinji stomach blows to stop the choking.

"Shinji, Shinji!"

"I...you...so good..."

"Male hormones." Rei stated in sarcasm. She changed back into her regular clothes after leaving Shinji splayed on the ground.

"Are you certain you aren't the one who should be riding the wheelchair, Shinji?"

"It wasn't funny, Rei." Shinji brooded as he pushed her out to a waiting NERV vehicle.

"Well, maybe not for you, but I find some intriguing irony in watching the one who killed over a dozen towering extraterrestrials be defeated by a girl in a swimsuit."

Shinji blushed. Rei's hidden sense of humor was equal parts demented and brilliant.

"Okay, you evil woman. We're going to be late for our plane."

An old man wearing a suit and tie stepped from his car as he returned from a long day of educating when a jet engine roared over head and centered over the suburb road outside his old, historic home. The tilt-engine vehicle settled onto the ground and the large NERV Identification came into view.

A ramp lowered from within and a girl wearing a high-school dress and blouse rolled down, being pushed in a wheelchair by a boy with messy brown hair. The old man recognized him instantly, but was surprised by the strong stature and confident expression he never expected Shinji to offer.

"Well, he's grown quite a bit...and who's this companion of his?"

The pair wheeled their way up to him.

"What do you think of my new ride, Sensei?" He motioned back to the VTOL, the nearby pilot going through postflight inspections.

"I assume your father knows you took one of his expensive aircraft for a joyride?"

"About that, we've got a lot to talk about."

"Well, first I think you have a guest to introduce, Shinji." They were situated in his well-decorated living room, artifacts from Second-Impact devastated areas displayed with care.

"Sensei, meet Rei...She's the one I had you send my cello out for."

The old man smiled. "I worked very hard to impress a girl at a time in my life, looks like the tradition hasn't changed."

"She's amazing, Sensei." Shinji swooned over her. "She's a teen prodigy: She's 15 and she's going to Tokyo University when it opens back up. She's been training longer than I have and she can kick my ass, and she enjoys my music even more than I do..." Rei was blushing. Hard.

He took her hand and bowed. "But, you brought her all the way out here in the condition she's in?"

"I assure you, sir, I'm well on my way to recovery...I just rely on this thing because I tire easily."

"And you let him convince you to fly out to this small Tokyo-2 suburb to meet an old man?"

"He speaks very highly of you; being here, I can see why. It's my pleasure to meet you." She looked to the examples of art and history placed around his home. "Your collections are most impressive."

"Yes. Quite a few of my fellow teachers tease me about living in the past, but I believe in setting a good example for the children I teach, hence the three piece suit I wear for my students, every day. It shows that I care for them enough to appear as a gentleman." And he was right, he was dressed to the nines in gentlemanly elegance. "You said you were recovering, my dear, may I ask how you found yourself in this condition?"

"She was...injured in the last attack on Tokyo-3, Sensei."

"Allow me to offer my apology, then. I'm sure it must have been terrible. Shinji," He turned to the young man. "You told me your father had you working for him, and you're using his equipment to visit me out here, can I assume that you're in each other's good graces?"

Shinji's eyes fell and Rei held his hand. "No...Dad was killed. One of the projects he started to...defend against the attacks backfired, it killed him when it was activated..."

"Shinji, I'm sorr-"

"I've already accepted it, Sensei. It was beyond my ability to help..."

"But, if my guess was correct, I'd say you did quite a bit of 'helping'."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I may be old, but I do know how to use the Internet. I've read the stories about the Angel attacks and NERV's fight against them, especially the teenage combat pilots, including a frail girl with blue hair..."

"Sensei, we still don't have permission to discuss it-"

"And there's no need. Call me paranoid, or a conspiracy nut, but the official reports have nothing on the civilian stories. The fact is, Shinji, along with your friends...You've made yourself into quite the legend."

A/N: Hooray! The Legend has been told!
First, I've got an idea brewing for a sequel: Stay tuned.

Second: I'd like to thank my regular readers and especially my regular reviewers:
Fanus and Hermes77: You guys have been following for a long time and your comments are equal parts brilliant and hilarious.
Kaizer and Fleight: Even when you only wrote things like 'great chapter', you two've been following from the start as well, and I appreciate it to no end.
Thaeonblade, Dr. Dude, and Akuma: We've done most of our communication via private message, and your insight has genuinely shaped this story! Take a bow, you three.

Third (And I'm sorry to have to do this): I'm going to address the multitiude of flaming PM's that I've recieved from butthurt Asukashippers. I actually didn't treat her as bad as I could have. My dislike for Asuka stems from the fact that: Your Girl. Is. A. Criminal. The things she does to Shinji and Rei throughout the series make her guilty of multiple counts of physical and sexual assault. I could have (and I wanted to) written her into a jail cell for this story. And in response to one message, I don't fantasize about Rei. If I had anything to do with Eva, Shinji and Rei would be together and I'd be running off with Mari. Now, for those of you who've politely disagreed, thanks, I welcome more of your comments.