"Wow," said Shinji as they trekked back through the mountain's interior. "That was such a weird day."
"Very," Rei agreed. She let Asuka (the perfect gentleman, especially for a girl) boost her up the rocky inclines. "As strange as the Angels were, I did not suspect an extraterrestrial origin."
"I knew it all along," Asuka declared, to collective and foolish scepticism.
"Really," said Shinji dubiously.
She scowled and flicked his forehead. "Absolutely. You all heard me mention how weird it was that they didn't poop. And I've been wondering what planet Kaworu was from our whole lives."
"It's true, she has," Kaworu agreed cheerfully.
Shinji still looked likely to argue, but then they left the tunnel into the outside air, and someone screamed, "Asuka!"
She jumped. "Mama?"
Over by the base building was Asuka's mother, struggling with a pair of booster-boot sandals. Her hair was a wreck and face tear-streaked, and she threw away the boots and dashed over to Asuka and threw both arms around her.
"Liebchen! You're here, you're safe – I was so worried!"
"Huh? I'm fine," Asuka stammered. "What do you mean worried, what's wrong?"
Mama pulled back just enough to clasp Asuka's face in her hands. "You're been lost for hours," she sobbed. "Nobody had seen you, nobody knew where you went – I couldn't reach you, I called and called—"
Asuka dug her phone out. As she watched, the screen lit up first with reception (of course – no coverage inside a mountain), then with missed calls and messages that filled the screen. Also the time.
"Midnight?" Asuka yelped. "We were in there for half a day?" She glared at Kaworu. "This is your fault somehow, I know it!"
He looked contrite, for the second that Asuka could see his face before she was engulfed in Mama's hug again.
"I'm just so glad you're all right," Mama said, stroking Asuka's hair. They rocked back and forth, and Asuka blinked back tears.
From somewhere far away, Professor Fuyutski's voice. "I'll call Yui and Keel, let them know everyone's safe and sound."
"Uncle Keel was worried?" Kaworu asked, confused.
"...Well, I'll call him," muttered Fuyutsuki, and the sound of his steps faded.
Together the rest of them walked to the carpark. Mama had hold of Kaworu's hand, but her entire other arm was curled around Asuka, who found herself trembling for reasons she couldn't understand.
"Mein Schatz," Mama murmured, and Asuka melted against her, "I owe you an apology. You were onstage today – in the lead role – and I missed it. Your big day, your starring moment, without your Mama. I'm so sorry."
Asuka opened her mouth to recite her mantra, "You were busy – they need you—" but what came out instead surprised even her.
"It's not just today."
Mama swallowed.
"It's not just today," Asuka repeated, voice wobbling. "It's so many times, so many things you've missed – when I missed you – and it's just normal now." She huffed a heartless laugh. "I'm so – so used to it, that I didn't even think of trying to talk to you about Rei!"
Mama's brow furrowed. "What about Rei?" She cast a concerned look at the other girl.
Asuka clenched her jaw. "About Rei and me."
She ducked away and collected her still-best-friend, now-girlfriend. "About us."
Mama's eyes lit on their entwined fingers and her mouth made an 'o' shape.
Just to drive the point home, Asuka used their linked hands to loop Rei's arm around her own waist. They looked at each other from close range, and Rei's steady, brimming-warmth red eyes anchored Asuka to bravery.
"Oh, darlings," whispered Mama. "Oh, that I wasn't there for this..."
Then her hug was around them both, and her kisses to the tops of their heads, before she drew back to address Asuka solemnly.
"Asuka. I haven't been enough. You need me – you deserve me. Not just for your big days, for your little days, your every days. My own little girl, getting less little all the time – work will always be there, but your precious childhood and adolescence is slipping by."
"I'm not a baby," Asuka protested. Her other arm wasn't clinging to Mama's, it was – supporting. Yeah, that was it – Mama was upset, so Asuka was supporting her.
"No, you're not a baby," her mother said, "but I'll always be your Mama." She nuzzled the top of Asuka's head. "So at work today, I read them the riot act. They've gotten lazy and over-dependent, but no more. I have a month off starting Monday—"
"A month?" Asuka gasped.
"—And when I go back it's strictly standard-contract hours only, got it in writing by the CEO. Time for them to get their house in order – and for me to, as well."
Asuka's feet had stopped touching the ground. "For real? A whole month?"
"For real," Mama smiled, and Asuka buried her face in her shoulder.
"Mama!" Could this day get any better? She got to keep Rei, Kaworu, and Mama?
"Let's go home, mein Schatz," said Mama.
As they reached the carpark, something occurred to Asuka. "Mama?"
"Yes, Liebchen?"
"How did you know where to find us?"
She paused. "I … don't know, actually. Just a feeling somehow, from somewhere. Something about – 'well met by moonlight'?" She shrugged. "The important thing is that we're together."
Asuka shot Kaworu an interrogative look.
He smiled serenely, and cast his eyes back at the mountain.
Asuka followed his gaze, and hoped its hidden but caring resident could hear her grateful thoughts. "Yeah. Together."