April 7, 2040

"Mama!" she said. "Mama, look at me!"
"What is it?" Asuka asked, glancing at her. "I'm making dinner, I'm busy."
"I wanna skateboard!" Ryuko said.
Asuka looked up, glaring at Misato. The latter shrugged, leaning back in her chair. "What can I say?" she asked. "She saw the skateboard in my room and fell in love."
"You're a bad influence," Asuka said. She sighed,  then turned to her daughter. "Don't be an idiot," she said. "What if you fall and break your neck or something?"
Ryuko flashed her a gap-toothed smile. "Don't care," she said. "Wanna skateboard!"
Asuka laughed despite herself. "You're cute, but the answer's still no," she said.
"She's a kid, Asuka," Misato said.
"Yeah, so?" Asuka asked. "Skateboards are dangerous."
Misato rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Asuka! It's not like we'd be letting her ride one unsupervised."
Asuka frowned, thinking it over, then shook her head. "No," she said. She turned to her daughter. "Maybe when you're older," she said. "But not now."
Ryuko frowned. "You suck," she said.
Misato laughed at the girl, nodding in agreement as she did so. "She's right," she said. "You just hate fun." She pointed an accusing finger at Asuka. "You are anti-fun!"
Asuka turned on her. "That's enough!" she snapped. "I have a hard enough time doing my damn job as a parent as it is. You think I can handle her risking her neck every time she goes out to play on top of that?" She wrinkled her nose as the smell of burning meat hit her. "Shit!" she said. Ryuko laughed at her as she turned back to the stove, stirring the noodles and tending to the meat.
Misato sighed. The mirth was gone from her face, replaced by melancholy. "We never let you be a child, Asuka. Not you, not Shinji, either." She spared the latter a glance, then continued. "That's my biggest regret with the both of you: we made you fight, and we didn't let you be kids. But Ryuko's different. She doesn't have to fight our silly battles, so why not let her have her fun?"
Asuka scowled at the dinner before her. "You don't have to ride a damn skateboard to have fun," she mumbled.
"But it's what she wants!" Misato said.
Ryuko nodded. "Wanna skateboard! Wanna skateboard!"
"I don't care!" Asuka said. She looked at Shinji, sitting at the table next to Misato. "Say something, you moron!"
Shinji scratched his head, then said, "Actually, I think Misato's right."
Asuka closed her eyes and took a deep breath, counting to ten.
"Look," Shinji began, his voice soothing. "This isn't just some random thing. Misato did this all the time as a kid, and she knows how to do it safely. She won't let Ryuko do anything dangerous."
"That's not enough!" Asuka insisted. "She'll still fall, she'll still--"
"Of course she will," Misato said, interrupting. Asuka's eyes widened, and Misato pressed on. "But she's strong, Asuka. Yes, she'll fall. She'll get hurt. But she'll get back up. She'll keep trying. That's the kind of person she is. That's the kind of person you made her to be! Have faith in her, and in me."
Ryuko nodded. "Yeah!" she said. "Don't care about falling, I just wanna go!" She looked up at Asuka, hands clasped before her. "Please, mama?"
"I'm just trying to protect you, you dummy," Asuka said.
"You can't do that by keeping her in a cage, Asuka," Misato said. "She has to choose her own path."
Asuka sullenly poked at the ingredients for her meal. "Who's gonna teach her, anyway?" she mumbled. "I'll bet you haven't ridden one of those things in decades."
Misato winced. "Harsh, kiddo. But that's not what I had in mind. I was thinking more along the lines of--"
"Unca Heishiro!" Ryuko interrupted.
Misato laughed. "Yeah, Heishiro."
Asuka grimaced. "You've got to be kidding me," she said. "That brat, of all people?"
Ryuko pouted. "Heishiro's fun!" she said.
Misato laughed at the girl. "Say what you will about his social skills, but the guy knows his skateboards. I can't think of a better teacher."
"You better be right," Asuka said, frowning. She glared at Misato. "After all, I'm entrusting her to your care! You better be right!"
"So I can skateboard?" Ryuko asked.
Asuka smiled at the girl despite herself. "Fine," she said. "If you want it that badly . . . " She turned and glared at Misato. "As long as someone makes sure you do it safely."
"Yay!" Ryuko said, throwing her arms up as she cheered. Shinji and Misato both laughed at the girl's exuberance.
Asuka sighed, then turned back to the stove. "Dinner's ready," she said.

July 25, 2032

Asuka took a deep drag off of her cigarette, then blew out the smoke. "You better get going," she said. "Misato said 3 p.m., right?"
"Yeah," Shinji said, nodding. He frowned at her. "You're not coming, then?"
She shook her head. "I can't," she said. "I just--" she broke off, then sighed. "Sorry, Shinji. I just can't."
Shinji sighed. "Alright," he said. He gathered his things, then headed for the door.
"It's not like I don't realize, you know," she said.
He looked back. "Eh?" he said.
"That I'm a hypocrite, I mean. I went on and on about not rejecting her, and . . . " she broke off, then shrugged meekly.
He stared at her, indecisive. His fingers twitched. "Well, it's not like I'm in any position to judge," he said.
She nodded, taking another drag off of her cigarette.
"And you'll have other chances," he went on. "She's not going anywhere--"
"Stop apologizing for me," she said. "Just go. Do your best."
He stared at her for a moment, then clenched his fist. "I will," he said.

Misato opened her front door, only to find Shinji standing on the other side. "Heya kiddo," she said. "How ya doin'?"
"I'm fine," he said. "I'm here to--" He gulped. "--to take Ryuko for a while."
"Great!" Misato said. She stepped aside, letting him in, then poked her head through the door. "No Asuka?" she asked.
Shinji shrugged. "She's not feeling up to it, I guess."
Misato frowned.
"Don't be too hard on her," Shinji said. "She just--"
Misato waved him off. "Relax, Shinji. I've been looking after the both of you for a long time, so it's not like I don't understand. I'll look in on her later."
"Thanks," he said.
"So you're going it alone, then, eh?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Hmmm." she said. "Are you sure you're up to this?" She made a useless gesture with her hands. "Looking after her alone, I mean."
He nodded. "Yes!" he said. "I'm ready! Please give me a chance!"
Misato laughed at him, then shrugged. "Alright," she said. She jerked her head toward Ryuko's crib. "Ryuko's been changed and fed, so she should be good for a while. I'll be out for a couple of hours, but you have my cell. Be sure to call if there are any problems!"
He nodded. "Right," he said.
"Do your best!" she said, stepping through the doorway.
"I will!" he said.

Shinji stood in the middle of the room, looking down at his daughter. He picked her up. "Um, hi," he began.
She stared at him, unconcerned.
"I don't really know what to do here," he said. "I mean . . . " He frowned, thinking. "You have to understand, your mother means everything to me. If anything ever happened to her I don't know what I'd do, so . . ."
She made a grasping motion with her hand. He put a finger in front of her and she gripped it lightly.
Shinji laughed at her. "It's not your fault," he said. "I know you didn't mean to hurt her. It's just . . . "
Pen-Pen looked over at Shinji, watching as the man struggled with his daughter. "Whark," he said.
Shinji looked at the penguin. "Sorry, Pen-Pen," he said. "I don't speak bird."
Pen-Pen shook his beak and warbled, then went back to watching his program.
Shinji turned back to his daughter. "I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't . . . " He stroked her face, and she clutched his thumb with her hand.
Ryuko stared at him, gurgling happily. She smacked his nose with her free hand, and Shinji laughed despite himself. "Yeah," he said. "That's probably what your mother would say, too."
Ryuko cooed at him.
Shinji took a deep breath, then sat down next to Pen-Pen on the floor. He rocked his daughter gently, losing himself in her bright, blue eyes.

Misato was smoking a cigarette near the incinerators when he arrived.
"Hey, Katsuragi!" Kaji called. "How you doin'?"
She waved at him, but paid him no mind.
He exited the car and then approached her, a thoughtful look on his face. "Where's the shrimp?" he asked.
"She's with Shinji," she said.
Kaji's eyes widened. "Oh?" he asked. "Hmmm. Interesting." He stared at Misato for a moment, then asked, "And how is he doing?"
She shook her head and sighed. "I have no idea. I've known the kid for eighteen years now, and I still don't get how his mind works."
Kaji frowned. "That bad, huh?"
She shrugged.
He sat next to her. "What about Asuka?" he asked.
"Who knows?" she asked. "She didn't show up today."
Kaji leaned back on his elbows. "She's never wanted children," he mused. "Ever since she was a girl. I thought her attitude might change once she got a taste of being a parent, but maybe I was wrong about that."
Misato took a puff of her cigarette. "I don't think that's it," she said.
"Oh?" Kaji asked.
"Asuka has an impressive amount of resolve," Misato said. "She never wanted children, no, but once she got pregnant . . . " Misato shook her head. "Even if she didn't want a child she was determined to do right by it. No, I think she's scared," she said. "She screwed up and she panicked, and Shinji's reluctance has her all worked up. She knows she can't handle this on her own, and she's not sure he can pick up the slack."
Kaji frowned. "They're too attached to one another," he said.
"Yeah," Misato agreed, nodding. She blew out a gusty sigh. "Damn it! They're thirty years old, this shouldn't be our problem anymore."
Kaji laughed. "I thought you wanted children," he said.
"I do," she said. "Just, you know, actual children, not adults who act like them."
Kaji looked up at the sky, smiling sadly. "We reap what we sow," he said softly.
Misato scowled at him. "You know, Kaji, no one likes a man who reveals too  much."
Kaji laughed. "Sorry, sorry. Let's just do our best, then, shall we?"
Misato nodded. "It's the least we can do," she said.

Misato didn't know what to expect when the door opened before her, but a wobbly Asuka wasn't it. The woman took a deep drag off of her cigarette before stepping aside and letting Misato enter the apartment. Misato took a look at the kitchen table, and her mouth quirked up in a wry grin as she spied a bottle of whiskey and a half-empty glass. "Guess you're pretty serious tonight, eh?" she asked.
"Bite me," Asuka muttered. She returned to her place at the table, staring at the wall before her as she fingered the glass.
Misato got a glass of her own, then joined Asuka at the table. She poured a bit of the amber liquid into the glass, then took a swig, grimacing at the taste.
"Is there something you want?" Asuka asked.
Misato shook her head. "Not really," she said. "I'm just checking up on you, that's all."
Asuka laughed in bitter amusement.
"You're really worked up about this, aren't you?" Misato asked.
Asuka shrugged.
Misato nodded toward the cigarette. "I thought Shinji didn't let you smoke."
"Shinji has his opinions," Asuka said. "I accommodate them when it suits me, but he doesn't own me."
"No, of course he doesn't," Misato agreed. She stared at Asuka appraisingly. "I expected you to show up with him tonight," she said.
"So did he," Asuka said.
"Why didn't you?"
Asuka shook her head, then took a sip of her drink. "Just wasn't happening tonight."
"I know your last effort didn't go so well--" Misato began.
"Hah!" Asuka spat. "That's the understatement of the decade. It was a fucking disaster, Misato."
Misato frowned. "I wouldn't go that far," she said. "You looked after her properly, and didn't hurt her. For a first-time parent that's not so bad."
"Stop it," Asuka sid. "The point of these little exercises is to bond with her and become actual parents, not to do the bare minimum necessary."
"You won't be able to do that if you don't practice, you know," Misato observed.
Asuka glared at her. "Thanks ever so much for pointing that out, Captain Obvious."
Misato sighed. "Asuka--"
Asuka waved her off. "Whatever, it doesn't matter. Tonight's about him, not me."
"Eh?" Misato asked.
"It's his turn, his chance to do well where I screwed up," she said. "He doesn't need me there distracting him."
Misato quirked an eyebrow. "Is that what this is all about?" she asked.
Asuka shrugged. "That, and Ryuko. She's nervous around me, so she wouldn't know how to react around him. If I'd gone tonight it would have turned into a nightmare for all of us."
Misato tapped her teeth with a nail. "I see," she said. "As reasoning goes it's not the worst, though I think you're being too hard on yourself." When Asuka didn't respond she just sighed. "Well, why don't I stay for a bit, then? It's been a while since we hung out, after all, and we could stand to catch up for a bit."
"Wonderful," Asuka said sullenly.
Misato frowned. "If you're rather I left . . . " she said.
Asuka looked at her through narrowed eyes, struck by the tone in the woman's voice. "Well," she relented, "I guess I could use the company. And like you said, it's been a while. So, I guess it's fine."
"Great!" Misato chirped. She grabbed the bottle of whiskey, refilling her glass. "This is gonna be fun," she said. "Let me tell you what happened at work the other day . . . "

Kaji entered his apartment. "I'm back!" he called.
"Welcome back!" Shinji replied.
Kaji entered the living room, then crossed over to Shinji. He squatted in front of the younger man, peering at him closely. "How did it go?" he asked. Ryuko appeared to be sleeping in her father's arms.
"Um, okay, I guess," Shinji said. "She didn't cry or fuss much, which is what I was worried about."
Kaji grinned at him. "That means she trusts you," he said. "It's a good sign."
"Pen-Pen tried to tell me some things, but I can't understand him," Shinji said.
Kaji laughed. "I think Asuka's the only one who can." He frowned. "Katsuragi acts like she can sometimes, but I think she's bluffing. I think Pen-Pen just plays along because it amuses him."
"That sounds depressingly plausible," Shinji agreed, nodding. He handed Ryuko to Kaji. She stirred, but didn't wake. "Where's Misato?" he asked.
"She stopped by to see Asuka," Kaji said.
Shinji wrinkled his nose. "She'd busted out the whiskey and cigarettes even before I left."
"Does she do that often?" Kaji asked.
Shinji shook his head. "No, not at all. She rarely drinks, and she knows I hate the cigarettes. But when she's really stressed she just does what she wants to do, and if I don't like it too bad."
Kaji chuckled. "She can be a real handful like that, I guess," he said. "But don't worry; once she hears about how you did tonight I think her mood will improve considerably."
"I hope so," Shinji said.

Shinji opened the door to his apartment. "I'm back," he said.
Misato grinned at him. "Welcome back, Shinji dear," she said. "How did it go?"
Shinji frowned at the slight slur in her voice, then sighed and let it go. "Fine, I think," he said. "No major problems at least."
"Ha!" she said. "I knew it!" She turned toward Asuka. "See, Asuka dear? You were worried over nothing!"
"Figures," Asuka mumbled. She glared at him. "You always gotta one-up me, eh?"
He stared at her deadpan. "Says the woman who's fluent in three languages, has two Ph.D.s, and does guest lectures at MIT and Harvard and other places on a regular basis."
Asuka waved him off. "Not the point," she mumbled. "'m talkin' 'bout the important stuff. Y'know, like Piloting, and getting recognized, and parenting, and . . . " she trailed off, losing focus.
"Asuka," Misato said, frowning, "you're being mean. And besides, wasn't this your plan from the beginning?"
Asuka's eyes widened, and she held out her hands before her in alarm. "Quiet!" she whispered, a bit too loudly. "Don't blow my cover!"
Shinji laughed lightly. "You mean it was supposed to be a secret?"
Asuka glared at him, then decided putting him in his place wasn't worth the effort. She rested her chin on her hand and closed her eyes.
Misato sobered a bit. "She's been tied up in knots about it all night," she said.
He put an arm around Asuka's shoulders, squeezing gently. "Well, I did okay," he said. "When we go together next time I'll know what to do, so you'll be okay."
She looked up at him, then leaned against him, wrapping an arm around his waist. "Good," she said. "I like it when you're useful." Her grip slackened, and her breathing began to even out.
"Time to put her to bed," Misato observed, smiling at the girl. She stood. "I'll get out of your hair, then." She made her way to the door, then turned back and smiled. "You did a good job today, Shinji. We'll make a decent father out of you yet!"
He smiled at her, helping Asuka up as he did so. "Thanks," he said. "I'll do my best!"

June 25, 2032 - pt 2

Shinji and Asuka stood before Misato's door, both of them tense and nervous.
"We can do this," he said to her. "We've faced down Angels and . . . and horrible things, and she's just a baby. She can't do anything to hurt us."
She scowled at him. "Idiot. I'm not afraid of her, I just . . . " She twitched nervously. "What if we hurt her? What if she doesn't like us? What if--"
He caught her fluttering hands in his own. "She'll like us," he said.
"How do you know?"
He smiled. "Hey, I like you. Why wouldn't she?"
Asuka rolled her eyes. "Stupid Shinji, just knock on the door."
He balked. "Why do I have to do it? You're the impetuous one, you do it."
She flushed, irritated. "Damn it, Shinji . . . "
"Hey," he said, "I'm just as nervous as you are, you know!"
"Tch," she said. "Coward."
Shinji's brows knit. "I am not!" His fist clenched in determination, and he raised his hand and knocked on the door. He glanced at her sidelong. "Why does that still work?" he grumbled.
She raised her arms. "Who can say?" she asked, smirking at him.
The door opened, to reveal a beaming Misato. "Hiya kids!" she said. "Come on in!"

When the Children entered Misato's apartment, they found Kaji waiting for them in the living room, a small bundle in his arms. "Hey you two," Kaji said. "Come on over."
They approached him nervously, fearful of the tiny person who awaited them. Kaji held the girl up in front of Asuka, indicating she should take hold of her. Asuka shook her head. "No," she began, "I can't, I--" Shinji stopped her with a hand on her back, giving her a gentle push. She looked at him, and he nodded at her. She gulped, squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them and hesitantly reached out to take the girl in her arms.
"Easy now," Kaji said. "Just rest her head in the crook of your arm . . . there you go, that's perfect. Don't worry, you're doing fine!"
Asuka looked at her daughter, and found that, for a moment, she couldn't even breathe. "She's beautiful," she whispered. Her eyes were a deep blue, like her father's, and she had a shock of light brown hair. She looked curiously at this strange new person, the perfect picture of innocence.
Shinji stared at the two, then looked away, unable to maintain eye contact. Misato frowned, then came up behind him and pushed him as he had Asuka moments before. "Go on," she whispered. "She's your daughter, say hello!"
He shook his head. "I can't," he said. "I just--"
"She's just a baby, Shinji," Misato said, interrupting him. "She doesn't know how to blame people. She just wants to be loved. All you need to do is take care of her."
Shinji hesitated, then once again clenched his hand in decision. He approached Asuka. She looked up, smiled at him, then back down at the infant in her arms. Shinji followed her lead. "H-" he began. He coughed, then continued. "H-hello," he said. "I'm Shinji. I'm, um . . . I'm your father.
Asuka nodded. "And I'm Asuka. I'm your mother." Her eyes began to water. "We can't . . . we can't take care of you like we'd like to," she said. "We're not . . . " She broke off, swallowing thickly. "But we love you very much!" she went on.
"Yes," Shinji agreed. "And we'll make sure you know, always! We'll never ignore you, or make you feel unwanted!" He stroked the girl's hair. "And we . . . we--" Tears were flowing down his cheeks, matching Asuka's.
"We'll never forget you!" Asuka burst out. "We'll always do our best for you, and when we can't, Misato and Kaji will . . . will . . . " Her shoulders began to shake.
Kaji took the girl back, and Asuka all but fell into Shinji's arms. The two held one another, crying openly.
Kaji shared a sad smile with Misato, who embraced the two. "It's fine," she said to them. "You did fine. Just take it easy, you did fine."

Kyoko frowned as she took a bite of her chicken, chewing thoughtfully.
"I suppose they're meeting their daughter now," Akira said.
Kyoko nodded, distracted.
"It's funny," he said. "Despite all they've been through, they seem to have embraced their child in a way we never could."
Kyoko looked up. "Speak for yourself," she said, indignant. "I--" He arched an eyebrow, and she trailed off. "I always loved her," she mumbled.
He nodded. "Of course you did. But that's not what I said, is it?"
Kyoko lowered her hand to the table, chopsticks idle. "She was everything to me, and yet . . . my work, it was so important. It was about saving the world! That was so much more important." She grimaced. "Or at least, that's what I told myself."
He took a bite of rice, but said nothing.
"Do you think this plan of theirs will work?" she asked. "I mean, they're essentially giving up their child--"
Akira shrugged. "As Kaji said, he can afford to stay at home these days. I think it's less giving her up than it is making raising her a joint effort. And keeping her in one household gives her a sense of continuity that she might otherwise lack." He smiled mildly. "Plus, I think Kaji and my daughter just want to raise a child together. It's as much for their sake as it is for the Children's, I think."
Kyoko shook her head. "Those two . . . " she said. "They humiliate me and humble me, even now. Even after all they've been through they continue to highlight my failings and rise above them at every turn. How do they do that, when it's all they can do to keep their lives on track?"
Akira smiled at her. "We've always known they were rather extraordinary," he observed mildly.
"Tch. Is that supposed to make me feel better?" she snapped.
He shrugged again. "Well, it's your doing, at least in part."
"Hmph."
Akira chuckled, then returned to his rice.

November 21, 2031 - pt 2

Shinji looked up at the sound of Asuka's retching. "That's the third time this week," he observed.
"Gah," she said. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't even feel sick, just . . . " She flushed the toilet, then exited  the bathroom.
Shinji frowned. "You should see a doctor," he said.
She scoffed at him. "Why?" she asked. "I don't need--"
Shinji just folded his arms,  staring at her.
"Look," she began, "It's fine, I--"
Shinji said nothing, continuing to stare at her.
"I don't even see why you're making a big deal of this, it's just --"
Shinji's stare intensified.
Asuka gave up. "Fine!" she exclaimed. "I'll see the damn doctor! Quit badgering me about it!"
Shinji rolled his eyes and sighed, then turned back to making lunch bentos for the both of them.

"You're pregnant," the doctor said.
Asuka stared at her, stunned. "That's impossible," she said.
The doctor quirked an eyebrow. "Your body seems to disagree," she said mildly.
"You don't understand," Asuka began. "I'm on birth control, for my periods. I can't even get pregnant."
The doctor shrugged. "I can show you an ultrasound, if you like."
Asuka shook her head. "It's impossible," she said.
The doctor sighed. "Fine," she said. "Let's find out, shall we?"

The doctor grinned. "There it is," she said, indicating the ultrasound. "Everything looks normal."
Asuka's eyes widened. "Impossible," she said.
"Nine weeks along, I'd say," the doctor went on. "Congratulations!"
Asuka closed her eyes. "Shit." she said. "Shit shit SHIT!"
"Is there a problem?" the doctor asked, taken aback.
Asuka glared at her. "Of course there's a problem!" she exclaimed. "I can't even manage my own life, let alone a child's." She slammed a fist into the table. "God damn it!"
The doctor smiled at her. "I'm sure you'll manage," she said. "Lots of women feel overwhelmed at this stage, but most--"
"Most women haven't had their minds raped by Angels!" Asuka snapped. "Most women haven't died. Most women . . . " she trailed off, incoherent with helplessness and rage.
The doctor grabbed her by the shoulders. "Hey!" she said. She gave the woman a shake. "Hey!" Asuka faltered, then met her gaze. "Take it easy," she said. "You are not alone, remember? You have friends, family! They'll help you through this."
Asuka scoffed at her. "Like they know anything about raising a child," she said.
The doctor smiled mildly. "Nobody's born with that knowledge, Ms. Soryu. It's a process, you know? As long as you have people willing to help you out you should do fine."
Asuka glared at her. "You don't  understand," she said. "You don't understand anything at all."

June 25, 2032 - pt 1

Asuka entered the living room, drawing her robe around her. Moonlight trickled into the room, illuminating its sole occupant standing a few feet from the window. "What are you doing?" she asked, yawning. "Why aren't you in bed with me?"
Shinji jumped at the sound of her voice. "S-sorry," he said, looking at her. He turned away from her, looking at the floor. "Sorry," he repeated.
Asuka frowned. "What's wrong with you?" she asked. "You haven't been like this in years."
He shrugged.
Asuka crossed the room to stand beside him. She crossed her arms and glared at him. "Well?" she asked.
He winced, then relented. "You almost died, Asuka!"
She sighed. "Yes, I'm aware. I was there, remember? But I'm fine now."
"You don't understand," he said.
Her brows knit. "And just what exactly don't I understand?"
"You were screaming!" he yelled. "There was blood everywhere, and you were screaming, and nobody would tell me what was going on, and, and . . . " He broke off, on the verge of hysteria.
She grabbed his shoulders, giving him a shake. "Hey!" she said. "Calm down, will you? I'm right here! You don't have to worry about anything anymore, alright?" She drew him close, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Just relax, will you? I'm fine, I'm not going anywhere."
He buried his face in her neck as his arms closed around her. "I . . . didn't handle it well," he said. "I yelled at Misato, and the doctors, and . . . everyone, I guess. I felt like I lost my mind."
"Well, that's only natural," she said. She stroked the back of his head, holding him close. "I'd be the same way, probably worse."
"Yeah," he said, laughing. "You'd be screaming at everyone. But I'm supposed to be the nice one! I'm not supposed to be . . . to be going crazy like that."
"Tch," she said. "When someone you love is in danger you panic, it's beyond your control. Anyone would be like that."
"Yeah," he said. "I guess you're right. But . . . "
She pulled at him. "Come on," she said. "Come to bed. We have to see Ryuko tomorrow, and I don't want to be sleepy when we do."
He fidgeted. "I'm so nervous about that," he said. "What do I--"
"You can't possibly be more nervous than I am," she said, exasperated. "That's why I need you with me now. So stop moping and work with me here."
Shinji closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Right!"
With that she led him back into the bedroom, to sleep as best they could.