If you haven't figured it out by now, I love Christmas stories. So in celebration of the holidays I figured I'd do another Christmas special. Always wanted to do something like this, as you'll soon find out, but never got around to really working on it. Schools over for me now though so I've got plenty of time to type. And for those of you that are reading Spawn of Adam, don't worry because I'll be focusing on both of these just as much. I'm not sure how long this will be honestly, and I'm hoping to get a chapter out every day or so before Christmas arrives, so we'll just see we're my mind goes from here I guess.

Shinji opened his eyes groggily as the first rays of sunlight poked through his bedroom window, though that wasn't the reason he had woken up. Blinking several times, he looked around his room for a few seconds before the heavy knock hit his door again, threatening to break it open.

"Oi, Idiot! Wake up and get breakfast started already!"

'Does she have to do this every morning?' wondered Shinji as he slowly slid out of bed.

Walking over to his bedroom door, he threw it open to reveal Asuka standing there, with an annoyed expression on her face.

"Took you long enough," she grumbled. "I've been standing outside your door for a good ten minutes pounding on it."

"Why do you do this every morning? And in the first place, school is on break till the new year."

"Doesn't mean you still wont be cooking for me," smirked Asuka.

"It'd be nice if you could cook for yourself now and then," sighed Shinji.

Asuka simply laughed at his remark, knowing that it would only annoy him. She could cook, and rather well at that, but she also hated cooking at the same time.

"Fine then, I'll get started," said Shinji as he walked past her.

"Thank you," smiled Asuka as she followed him into the kitchen. Shinji simply rolled his eyes. Though when he thought about it, he supposed that it was his fault that she stopped by everyday to eat here.

How many years had it been since Third Impact had been avoided? Five years? Shinji still couldn't believe it was that long, nor the fact that both him and Asuka were college students.

After defeating Seele and the Eva Series, Shinji was thoroughly sick of Nerv and his father, so he simply quit Nerv, which he had threatened to do many times but finally actually done it. On a whim though, he had asked Asuka to quit with him, and though he had expected her to laugh at him and call him an idiot, he was surprised when she said she would, though with certain conditions.

Of course since they were no longer employed at Nerv, that meant that they could no longer stay in Misato's apartment, so they had been forced to get there own...well separate apartments, though Asuka practically lived at Shinji's. There apartments were directly next to each other, and for the longest while, every morning at eight o'clock, Asuka would bang rudely on Shinji's front door and demand to be let in. Shinji got so sick of it after a while that he just gave Asuka a spare key so she could go in and out whenever she wanted. Which he sometimes regretted, though she never entered his room.

Thankfully, the money they had earned during there time with Nerv was significant, (and Asuka more so since she had been with them longer) that they were able to get an apartment without too much hassle. Occasionally, Shinji would get a part time job just to earn a little extra money, but it wasn't like they were ever short on it. At one point, Shinji had suggested they just get a two bedroom apartment and split the rent, but Asuka had shot that down instantly, saying it was indecent for two teenagers of the opposite sex to be living together at such a young age, and she was kinda right when he thought about it later.

High school had been much the same as it had been when they were at Nerv, even the part about Shinji having to make lunch for the both of them. Touji, Kensuke, and Hikari treated them the same as before, which they were grateful for. They never asked them much about there time at Nerv, knowing they didn't want to talk about it.

During there senior year of high school though, the question came of what they would do afterwards. Though it was never spoken of between the two of them, they both acknowledged that they would go to the same college if it came to that. Asuka of course wanted to go the highest ranking college in Japan, meaning the University of Tokyo. While Shinji was glad that she was aiming so high, he was unsure whether he himself would be able to enter; his grades had always been rather average. Though during a summer of grueling studying, in which he was reminded of how abusive Asuka could be, he managed to pass the entrance exam on his first try, surprising not only himself, but Asuka also, who admittedly never had much faith in him making it. After that, they had gotten together with there friends from high school and thrown a party in honor of both Shinji and Asuka. Even Misato had shown up, though whether it was for the alcohol or not, they weren't really sure. Since they had left Nerv, they had only talked with Misato a few times.

By and by, things were normal enough for them, and with the winter term just ending, they had two weeks to do whatever they wanted until school started back up. Though one thing was in the back of Shinji's mind throughout the last week of the winter term.

Christmas.

Last Christmas, they had gone to a party with some friends they had met at college...they would never do that again. They had asked Touji and Hikari if they wanted to come over, but the two of them would be spending Christmas together in Okinawa. They had started dating during there last year in high school, and Asuka had laughed herself silly when she finally heard the news. Apparently, it have even been Touji that had asked. They would have asked Kensuke, but he was in The United States on a military scholarship.

In other words, this would be there first Christmas together, and Shinji was rather nervous about it.

"Should we do something this year?" He probably asked that question a hundred times in the past week, though he still hadn't come up with an answer. So as he walked into the kitchen that morning, he thought about it again.

"What are you spacing out about?" asked Asuka who was sitting at the small table in the kitchen and watching Shinji stare into the open refrigerator which he had opened seconds before.

"Nothing," said Shinji hurriedly, pulling his thoughts away from other matters.

"Hmmm?" asked Asuka with her eyebrows raising slightly, "it didn't seem like nothing."

"Don't worry about it," replied Shinji as he grabbed a few things out of the fridge and turned to the counter.

Asuka tutted slightly, but didn't say anything. Shinji wasn't quite as meek as he used to be, though that didn't mean she wasn't going to stop teasing him.

Asuka watched silently now with her head on the table as Shinji started preparing breakfast, her strawberry colored hair spilling across the table. During the five years since they had left Nerv, she had grown her hair out much longer. Shinji had once asked her about this, and she had always said she'd wanted her hair longer, but that it interfered with piloting her Eva. Now though, she was free do whatever she wanted with it, though today, she seemed too lazy to bother with it.

As Shinji started cutting up the salmon for breakfast, he briefly glanced over at Asuka who was slowly opening and closing her eyes as though she was drifting off to sleep.

"Didn't you get enough sleep last night?" he asked her.

"Last night I did," she moaned, "but the nights before were rough because of finals. I'm still tired from the week, and stressing out about our grades. You realize that we have to pass the final for every class to continue to the next semester."

"I know, I know, and how many times have I told you not to worry. If anyone should be worried its me."

"Why? Did you not do well? I lent you my notes for physics so you should be fine-"

"I'm sure I'm just over thinking it," said Shinji as he opened the rice cooker to see if it was ready yet.

Asuka was silent for a minute before she said, "If you don't pass, don't blame it on me or my notes."

"Never would have dreamed of that," said Shinji with a sigh.

"Hmmm, is it almost ready?" asked Asuka.

"Not quite," replied Shinji. "The rice needs to cook longer and I haven't even started grilling the salmon."

"Ehh? But I'm hungry now," complained Asuka.

"You're the one that comes down here every morning to eat, and speaking of which..." Looking over at Asuka's figure splayed across the table, he suddenly realized just what she was wearing. She had a scarf tightly wrapped around her white neck and her hands were adorned with gloves. A large, white, fluffy sweatshirt with cotton balls at the end of the draw strings was covering her chest and from the sleeve that was poking out at the end of the sweatshirt, she seemed to be wearing a long sleeve shirt underneath. Her feet were covered with fur boots that seemed to be a bit large for her feet, and dark blue jeans that were torn slightly at the knees wrapped around her vivacious legs.

"Whats up with those clothes?" asked Shinji, finishing his sentence.

Asuka blinked several times and looked at her own figure.

"Is their something wrong with how I look," asked Asuka, her voice rising slightly.

"Err...you live three feet away from here. Is it necessary to bundle up to that extreme?"

"It's cold out," defended Asuka stubbornly, her cheeks and lips seeming to redden.

Shinji sighed slightly at her stubbornness but went on cooking as though he hadn't noticed the slight blush that had formed on her cheeks. It was likely from the cold...or something else...

After ten more minutes, he finally finished breakfast and laid it out on the table.

"Is this it?" asked Asuka as though she was expecting more.

"Thats it," sighed Shinji as he sat down across the table from her. Asuka looked down at her breakfast and pouted slightly. Unwillingly against his will, Shinji had to admit that her face was rather cute.

"Okay then, I'll make something different tonight since finals are over after all."

"Really?" asked Asuka looking up suddenly.

"Yeah," nodded Shinji as he looked down at his own plate, and he had to admit, something different would be nice. Maybe he should make German food? He hadn't made that in a while, and he was sure that Asuka would enjoy it.

"What to make though?" he wondered out loud.

"Huh?" asked Asuka as she looked up, her fork half way to her mouth. Shinji had to hold back the laugh that threatened the burst forth from his mouth as he saw the face Asuka was making.

"Sorry," said Shinji, "I was just thinking what I should make tonight. I was thinking German food, since I haven't made any in a while."

"Hmmm...that would be good," mumbled Asuka with the fork in her mouth.

"You don't sound that excited."

"Do I? I suppose its just because I got used to Japanese food during these past five years. And you are a good cook," she reminded him.

"Thanks," mumbled Shinji feeling slightly embarrassed. Though he always was glad when she complimented him on his cooking. It made it feel more real in a way, almost as though they were living-

'Oops, best not to think about that," Shinji reminded himself.

"Well if you want...you could come with me to the market and you could pick out what you want me to make."

Asuka thought about it for a minute before she smiled and said, "I like that, and its been a while since we went shopping together."

"All right," said Shinji as he stood up, taking his half eaten plate with him. "Just let me clean up here and then we can go."

"Err...actually," started Asuka, "I still need to take a shower, so afterwards I'll be right back-"

"Just take one here," said Shinji, "it'll be quicker that way." Not once did he think about what this would imply.

Meanwhile, Asuka was silent as her mind rotated over what Shinji just said. She stared at his back for the longest while, not believing what she had just heard from him.

"You sure about it?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yeah," said Shinji, clearly preoccupied over washing the dishes. "You spend so much time here, the only thing you really do at your own apartment is sleep."

Asuka stuck out her tongue at him, though he didn't see it.

"Well, if it doesn't bother you, I guess its fine."

"Why would it bother me?" asked Shinji. "Misato's apartment had only one bathroom so we were always stuck sharing it."

Asuka was silent, remembering only two well the troubles that had caused.

"Alright then," said Asuka, her voice more high pitched then normal. Picking up her plate, she placed it on the counter where Shinji would be able to grab it. Feeling slightly uncomfortable about the situation, and Shinji's lack of embarrassment, she was about to ask him again if it was okay when she stopped. Thinking about it for a moment, she concluded that he was right, and that there wasn't any difference between now, and how it had been at Misato's apartment.

Noticing a shadow standing behind him though, Shinji turned to his left and saw that Asuka was just turning around.

"Anything wrong?" he asked.

"Not at all," she replied with a slight smile.

Shinji watched as she walked down the hallway and turned left into a doorway right across from where his bedroom was. Finally hearing the snap of the bathroom door as it closed, he turned back to washing the dishes.

'Hmmm,' he thought. 'I suppose that while we're out, I should pick up a few essentials. We're running low on eggs and rice-

The sound of Asuka rummaging around in the bathroom could be heard.

-and I'm sure we ran out of coffee a few nights ago when we were staying up late for finals. I should also look to see what the price of beef-

Running water from the bathroom could be heard echoing off the walls.

-is, because I think I'll be cooking stir fry soon. Then again, Asuka may want to stick with German food after tonight so-

A certain low hum suddenly illuminated the apartment as Asuka starting humming softly in the shower.

-maybe I should put off picking up the beef until a...later...date..."

Shinji finally turned towards the direction of the running water and the low murmur of Asuka's voice as she softly sang in the shower, realization seeming to dawn in his mind, and with what he had just let happen.

"Did I really just tell Asuka to take a shower in my apartment?" asked Shinji into the empty air. He had to back track to earlier when she had asked, realizing that he had done just that.

"I'm an idiot," he thought.

There really hadn't been any change with their relationship during the course of this somewhat cohabitation, even though Shinji had wondered if anything would ever happen. Sometimes he caught signs of Asuka maybe being interested with him during the long night study sessions in which they usually did in her apartment. Her apartment seemed always to be more spacious, but maybe that was just because hardly anyone went in and out of it ever. But whenever they studied together, they were normally close enough to bump elbows.

Did he like her? Well...he supposed he did, but to what extent? That was what he didn't know. He was always glad to be around Asuka, and she had of course followed him in his own selfishness. He would always be grateful to her, but did that extend into love? He just didn't know.

But knowing that she was showering in his bathroom right now...Shinji tried not to imagine it.

'Forget it,' he sighed. 'This was bound to happen eventually, and of course its not like we never used the same shower before. Although...that was when we're much younger...'

Shinji frowned slightly at his predicament, but shook it off. He didn't want to let something as little as this spoil today. Turning back to the dishes, he continued washing them until they were all put away in the cupboard. Sitting down at the kitchen table, he then waited for Asuka to be done.

After many more minutes of waiting in boredom, Shinji finally heard the sound of the water being turned off (and Asuka's subsequent humming which grew louder). Knowing that it would still take her several more long minutes with her long hair needing to be dried, he rested his head on the table and rested for a few minutes, though all too quickly, he felt a gentle hand pushing against his shoulder slightly.

"Hey...Shinji, I'm ready."

"Bout time," grumbled Shinji as he lifted his head off the table.

"What? Don't tell me to use the shower if you don't expect me to be in there a while. A girl has certain needs that must be fulfilled everyday."

"I bet," mumbled Shinji, hoping she wouldn't catch that.

Asuka paused for a second as she looked at Shinji before turning around and saying, "Idiot."

Shinji sighed and shrugged his shoulders as he started following her retreating back, all too aware of the small water molecules still glistening on her strawberry colored hair.

"You should put on a jacket Shinji," Asuka said as she bent down to put on her shoes. "Its cold out there."

"I'll be fine," said Shinji. He had always been quite comfortable in the cold when most people would be bundled up like Asuka.

"C'mon, don't be stupid," smiled Asuka as she opened the closest beside the door and dug through a bunch of coats, some of which were hers.

"Oh fine," groaned Shinji, knowing that she would get him to wear one if she had to force it on him herself.

Laughing lightly, Asuka opened the door and they both stepped out into a Tokyo-3 that was only ever seen in Christmas cards. The entire town was covered from top to bottom in snow, making it look like a gingerbread town with icing on the roofs.

Shinji's mouth opened slightly as he saw the whiteness and walked up to the railing in front of his apartment and brushed the snow off it, before placing his hands on it.

"Pretty, isn't it," whispered Asuka.

"Yeah...it is," replied Shinji with a smile as he turned towards Asuka.

Asuka looked up at him, and for a moment, Shinji thought he detected something in her eyes before she blinked, extinguishing whatever it was almost instantly.

"C'mon," she said as she grabbed his hand. "Lets go shopping and then walk around for a bit. We haven't had snow for a few years and I want to look around at the city."

"Sounds good," nodded Shinji as he let himself be pulled ahead by Asuka, her eyes twinkling brightly like that of a child's on Christmas day. He had to stop himself from laughing. But he was glad to know that he could still laugh, that they could still laugh after everything that had happened. But it seemed like a distant memory now, and everything that had happened since Nerv seemed to eclipse the former. They were themselves now, and they would enjoy the best Christmas ever.

Together...

Christmas Together