THE CHILD OF LOVE...
Written by Axel Terizaki  ICQ # 34301980
ASUKA's Notebook  

Proofread/retooled by Dave Watson  from an 
early draft, 1999 5 18.
Final draft by Terizaki shortly afterwards.
Retooled further by Watson, 1999 6 08, 13 & 21, 7 10 and 2000 1 13.
Version 1.4.

-=EXTRA=-
-=BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?=-

---

CAPTION:  THE NINETY-NINTH MONTH
CAPTION 2:  Their Fifth Anniversary!

---

It seems that we are in Misato's apartment.  A door opens, revealing a 
little girl with long red hair.  She's wearing a cute dark blue dress 
with a white ribbon around the collar.  She walks silently into the 
kitchen, as if she's sleepwalking.  She then pushes a chair up to the 
fridge, opens it, and moves the chair in front of it.  She then climbs 
up onto the chair, takes a can of orange juice out of the fridge, 
climbs down onto the floor, pushes the chair back to the kitchen 
table, and closes the fridge door.  She then jumps into another chair, 
puts the can on the table, opens it, raises it to her lips, then 
drinks half of it in one gulp.  After that...

...the whole house is woken up by a loud "YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" 
coming from the little girl.  She hears a couple of muffled voices and 
some rustling from another room after that.

Little girl:  "Oops..."

Soon, the door next to the little girl's room opens and reveals a 
young woman with fiery red hair.  She enters the kitchen.

Young woman:  "Teri-chan!!!!!!!"

The little girl takes the orange juice can and tries to hide it in the 
sink.  Of course, the woman sees her doing it.

Teri:  "Hmmm...y-yes, okasan?"

Asuka:  "Never do *that* again, okay!?"

A young man appears just behind Asuka.  It's a still-sleepy Shinji.  
Teri rushes up towards him and jumps into his arms.

Asuka:  "Teri-chan!  Are you listening?!"

Teri:  "Hey, let me at least give otousan a cuddle..."

Asuka:  "'Otousan' is mine, Teri-chan!"

Shinji is still very unresponsive to the scene in front of him.  He 
never could get the hang of mornings.

Teri:  "Maybe, but for now, he's mine!"

Teri sticks out her tongue at Asuka.

Asuka (fuming):  "Hmmmmmmrrrr........!"

Shinji (realizing):  "Hm, Asuka-chan, you're not gonna be mad at your 
own daughter just because she wants to give me a cuddle, are you?"

Asuka:  "Well...you're right.  I shouldn't be jealous of my own 
daughter.  It's bad."

Teri:  "Okasan is bad."

Asuka (reluctantly):  "Yeah, yeah, I am."

Shinji:  "You know, Teri-chan...imitating grownups is bad, too."

Teri:  "But Auntie Misato is a good person!"

Shinji:  "Of course she is, but drinking like her is bad.  Especially 
first thing in the morning, understand?"

Teri:  "Yes, otousan.  I won't do it again."

Shinji:  "Good girl."

He fatherly strokes her auburn hair.  Misato chooses this moment to 
make her appearance.  She is already in her NERV Commander uniform.

Misato:  "Thank you, Teri-chan, for waking me up..."

Teri then jumps from her father's arms to Misato's.

Misato:  "Hey, hey, hey!  You're in good form, as always!"

Teri:  "Oh yes, Auntie Misato!"

Asuka (to herself):  "Grrr...she only acts like a nice and innocent 
little girl when there's other people--"

Teri:  "Oh, okasan.  Don't say that I'm not a good girl!  I always 
am!"

Asuka (softly):  "I forgot about that...damn..."

Shinji puts his hands around Asuka's waist from behind and plants a 
kiss on the back of her neck.

Shinji (whispering):  "At least I'm a nice husband, aren't I?"

Asuka:  "Hmmm..."

Shinji:  "Something wrong, Asuka-chan?"

Asuka:  "No...nothing at all, my love..."

She then turns her head back to him and kisses him tenderly on the 
lips.  Teri looks at them carefully.

Teri:  "Otosan and okasan are kissing again!"

Misato:  "Heh heh.  Your parents are in love, Teri-chan.  That's 
normal."

Teri:  "In love?  What does that mean, Auntie?"

Misato (giggling):  "Well, you'll find that out when you've grown up a 
little, Teri-chan.  Don't worry."

Teri:  "Ah."

Misato puts Teri back down.

Misato (to herself):  "Damn, she looks so much like her mother..."

Teri:  "Auntie Misato, why are you saying that I look like okasan?  Do 
I look *that* much like okasan?"

Misato:  "Yes, you do, Teri-chan.  Have you ever looked at yourself in 
a mirror?"

Teri:  "Yes, but...oh, you must be right, Auntie Misato."

Asuka and Shinji finally break off their seemingly endless kiss.

Asuka:  "Oh, before I forget, Misato..."

Misato:  "What?"

Asuka (shouting):  "DON'T DRINK YOUR BEER IN FRONT OF TERI-CHAN, 
OKAY?!"

Misato:  "Oh, well...sorry..."

Teri:  "Why?  Is drinking bad?"

Asuka (tenderly):  "Oh no, Teri-chan...drinking's not really bad.  
Just the way that Misato does it."

Teri:  "Oh...tell me, okasan..."

Asuka:  "What?"

Teri:  "Where's Axel-chan?"

Asuka:  "Ah...your brother is at Auntie Wond...Rei's house."

Teri:  "Why?"

Asuka:  "Well, because..."

Seeing that her wife is hesitating, Shinji takes the initiative.

Shinji:  "You see, Teri-chan, you're now almost eight..."

Teri nodded:  "Yes!  Auntie Rei said that I'm a big girl now!"

Shinji:  "Exactly.  And it's now five years than your mother and I 
have been married..."

Asuka (lovingly):  "Five years in a few hours, baka Shinji..."

The calendar shows that it is November 19th, 2024.  Exactly five years 
ago, Sohryu Asuka Langley renounced her maiden name in favour of her 
new husband's one, Ikari.  It somehow makes her feel free when others 
call her 'Ikari Asuka Langley'.  She is now free from her mother, free 
from her past.  She feels...even better than before.

Shinji:  "And so, tonight, I'm taking your mother to a secret place, 
just the two of us..."

Teri (giving him one of her best kawaii looks):  "Can't Axel-chan and 
I go with you?"

Shinji:  "No, Teri-chan...it's only your mother and I tonight."

Teri (pouting):  "Otousan's evil!"

Asuka:  "Maybe, but 'otousan' is right for now, Teri-chan."

Shinji smiles and takes his daughter into his arms. He then whispers 
something into her little ear.

Shinji (whispering):  "But I'll give you and your brother presents 
when we come back.  So be a good girl with Auntie Misato and Auntie 
Rei, okay?"

Teri:  "Okay, otousan."

Shinji:  "Your brother is at Auntie Rei's house because he has to get 
used to her and her new home...understand?"

Teri:  "I think."

Shinji:  "Good.  So why not join him while otousan and okasan are 
celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary, hm?"

Teri:  "Yes, yes!  When are we leaving?  I want to see Auntie Rei!"

Shinji:  "We'll leave soon, don't worry."

Teri:  "Don't do silly things with okasan, otousan."

Shinji (stunned):  "Huh?"

Teri (grinning):  "I don't want another brother or sister now, okay?"

Shinji and Asuka are now turning deeply red with embarrassment.  
Misato can't help but laugh.

Asuka:  "By the way, Misato, where's Kaji?"

Misato:  "He's at HQ."

Asuka:  "Oh...doing 'things' again?"

Misato:  "Well, sort of...we're seeing if we'll accept the UN's 
proposition about helping them in the war in this country...well, I 
can't remember its name..."

Shinji (sarcastically):  "What a wonderful commander we have here..."

Asuka:  "You know perfectly well how we feel about this, Misato.  
Neither Shinji nor I want to be involved in a conflict and killing 
people."

Misato:  "I know that, don't worry.  I just want you to...scare them."

Asuka:  "What, like destroying some little things with our young 
innocent hands in order to show them how powerful we are?"

Misato:  "That's it!  And you have to accept it.  They wanted to trade 
you-know-what, Shinji, for our help in this war."

Shinji:  "Then, I guess I have no choice.  Don't worry, Misato-san.  
Asuka and I will take our places in Eva Unit 01 and 02 then."

Asuka:  "But what are you talking about?  What are we 'trading' with 
the United Nations for this?"

Misato (grinning):  "Oh, you'll find out sooner or later, don't 
worry!"

She looks down at Teri, who is listening carefully to the adults' 
conversation.

Misato:  "So...Teri-chan.  I'm bringing you to Auntie Rei's house.  
Okay?  Go take a bath and we'll leave after that."

Teri:  "Hai, Auntie!"

Teri then heads towards the bathroom.

---

Some minutes later, Shinji and Asuka are eating their breakfast at the 
kitchen table while Misato waits for Teri.

Misato:  "Oh, by the way...Asuka, Shinji...you're now 22 and...Kaji 
and I decided something."

We can suddenly hear a loud squawk coming from the bathroom...

Teri (from inside the bathroom):  "Come on, Pen-pen!  Don'tcha want to 
take a bath with me?"

Asuka (to Teri):  "Teri-chan!  I already told you that Pen-pen's too 
old for you to play with him now!  And you're too big to bathe with 
him anymore."

Teri (disappointed):  "Awwww!"

Misato:  "Don't worry, I'll take him with me..."

Shinji and Asuka (surprised):  "Huh?"

Misato:  "I'm going to live with Kaji.  So, we decided to give you 
this apartment.  I've taken care of all the administrative problems.  
This apartment's now under the name of the Ikaris.  This is our 
present for your fifth wedding anniversary."

Asuka:  "You...you're leaving?  And...we won't see you anymore?"

Misato:  "Of course you'll see me, just not as often as usual.  I'm 
just going to live in Kaji's apartment. And besides, you'll soon need 
one more room for Axel-chan.  He can't sleep in your room forever."

Shinji (sighing in relief):  "That's good.  We'd really miss you if we 
never saw you again."

Misato:  "Not as much as I'd miss all of you.  But I'd like a little 
more, uh, space to ourselves, you know?"

Asuka:  "That's a really big present you're giving us, you know...I 
don't know how to thank you..."

Misato:  "Don't worry, it's the least I can do for you two.  You saved 
our planet, and you continue to fight for mankind's safety.  I don't 
see why you shouldn't have your own piece of happiness, too..."

Asuka:  "Misato...I'm still happy being here with you and Shinji.  As 
long as I'm with him, I feel good."

Misato:  "I know that, Asuka.  I really thought that your wedding day 
would never come, because of Ikari Gendo, and because of your 
behaviour when you were together, always arguing...and even now, I 
almost feel as if it's a dream.  My two roommates married, and with 
two children of their own.  I feel like a grandmother when I see Teri-
chan, because I lived with you and I've been your guardian for many 
years, and Teri-chan is the fruit of my efforts to bring you together.  
So, thank you, Ikari Shinji and Ikari Asuka Langley, for being the two 
children I never had."

Asuka:  "Hey, stop that!  You're making it sound like we'll never see 
each other again!"

Misato:  "Yeah, you're right, Asuka.  I'm giving away too much of my 
feelings..."

Shinji:  "Misato-san, thank you too for all the great moments 
together.  And I hope that you'll come here to visit our family 
often...and I wish you a happy life with Kaji-san."

Misato (brightening):  "Thank you, Shinji-kun!  Of course, I'll visit 
you, and I'll live as happily as I can!"

The little girl finally comes out of her bedroom, washed, dressed and 
ready to leave.

Misato:  "Okay, time to go."

Teri says goodbye to her mother and father, who have just stood up 
from the kitchen table, and gets ready to leave with Misato...

Asuka:  "And Misato, please drive carefully this time...I don't want 
Teri to get used to driving fast, okay?"

Misato (reluctantly):  "Yeah, yeah..."

She looks down at Teri.

Misato:  "Sorry, Teri-chan.  No more stepping on the gas.  It's your mother's orders."

Teri (disappointed):  "Awww..."

Misato (to Asuka and Shinji):  "Okay, you lovebirds.  Have a happy 
anniversary!"

They then disappear behind the front door of the apartment.  Asuka 
continues to glare at the door.

Asuka:  "Sometimes our daughter scares me."

Shinji walks up behind her and puts his arms around her waist.  He 
stands half a head taller than her now.

Shinji:  "I know...and she isn't aware of what's inside her...the 
power she really has."

Asuka (closing her eyes):  "You think so?  I don't.  I think she does 
know, but tries to hide it."

Shinji:  "Maybe...I hope she'll make good use of it, anyways."

Asuka:  "According to Ritsuko-san, Axel-chan doesn't have the same 
skills as her."

Shinji:  "Then the things my father did only affected Teri-chan.  
That's good to hear."

Asuka:  "Hmmm...I think we can trust Teri-chan, Shinji.  She's really 
a good girl, and would never do any harm to anyone. After all, she 
inherited more than 90% of my genes, according to Ritsuko-san."

Shinji:  "We'll make sure she learns not to hurt anyone."

Asuka (sadly):  "When I think about what your father did to me...and 
to her..."

Shinji hears a sniffle coming from his wife.  He unlocks his arms, 
steps in front of her, and puts his hands on her shoulders.

Shinji:  "That's all in the past now, Asuka..."

He looks into her beautiful blue eyes.  They're full of tears.

Asuka (crying):  "But...she'll never be normal!  She'll always be 
bothered about that!  And what will people think of her when they find 
out?  They'll think she's some kind of monster!  Ritsuko-san talked to 
me about this!  Shinji!  She can read minds!  She can move objects 
just by looking at them!  And who knows what powers she'll have by the 
time she's grown up!?  Oh, Shinji..."

She buries her head in his chest.  Shinji wraps his arms around her 
again.

Shinji:  "...I know, Asuka.  I know that Teri-chan is...not a normal 
little girl.  But she's our daughter.  That's what's most important."

Asuka (sobbing a little):  "Sniff...and we can't do anything...if only 
I'd kept taking those pills when I was carrying her, none of this 
would be happening!"

Shinji:  "Don't say that, Asuka.  It's not your fault.  It's my 
father's...no.  It's the former NERV Commander's fault."

Asuka (now just sniffling a bit):  "Hmmm...being in these strong arms 
feels so good, Shinji...please, hold me tighter..."

He doesn't need to be asked twice.  Asuka takes a deep breath and 
slowly recovers.

Shinji:  "Come on, Asuka-chan.  Today is our fifth wedding 
anniversary.  I'll make you happy today, like I did five years ago.  I 
will never forget that smile you gave me when you said 'I do' in front 
of the priest.  And it may take my entire life to repay you for that 
smile, but I'll do it."

Asuka (softly):  "Shinji..."

Shinji:  "Hm?"

Asuka (whispering):  "Where are we going tonight?"

Shinji:  "Tonight?  That's a surprise..."

Asuka (softly):  "Oh come on, tell me..."

Shinji:  "I'm gonna take you where I should have told you that I love 
you from the beginning..."

Asuka:  "That doesn't answer my question, baka Shinji..."

Shinji takes a piece of paper from his pocket and shows it to Asuka.

Asuka (surprised):  "Oh!!"

Shinji smiles at her.

Asuka (happily):  "A boat ride!  My sweetie baka Shinji!"

Shinji:  "Ha ha ha!  Misato-san prepared everything for us...it's only 
for us.  There'll be no one else there...except for the working crew, 
of course..."

Asuka (smiling warmly):  "Well, I don't think that a United Nations 
aircraft carrier is very romantic, but it'll do!"

And with that, she kisses him passionately...

---

THE END

Author's notes:

Okay, I needed to write that, mostly because a part of myself was 
willing to do it, but also because many of my readers wanted to see 
how Teri-chan would be as she grows up.  Now that you know, leave me 
alone, okay?

Ahaha, I'm kidding, don't worry.  I have a few ideas for her teenage 
years, like the relationship she has with her brother and mother in 
particular, the evolution of her state, etc.  I just have to write 
them down onto disk.  But I don't know if I'll write that.  Please 
understand, I need a good plot in order to write a good story, and 
unfortunately I don't have one for Teri's teenage years for now.

Special thanks to all of my pre-readers:  Al-l-Bus, Alain Gravel, 
Borderline Case, Dave Watson, EBJ, Eva_Pilot00, Greg Thomas, DJ 
Lesser, Kaoru Nagisa, Jon Byram, Pheaton, Readiosys Fisher, Sammy Sy, 
Shinji The 10 O'clock Assassin, Sudhoda'ya, and Sushi Boy!

(I hope I got you all! :-) )

Note that some authors wrote things featuring Teri-chan, like 
"Ayanami's Lesson", "A Pilot's Day Off" and "Teri's Romance"!  They're 
available on ASUKA's Notebook (and on other archives too, depending on 
the author's will).

Anyway, thank you for reading this far.

See ya soon!
Axel Terizaki

    Source: geocities.com/aa_chan01/archive/tcol

               ( geocities.com/aa_chan01/archive)                   ( geocities.com/aa_chan01)