As far as Naomi was concerned, what they had was nice enough, especially for a Third who'd never thought that she could live like a human woman would.
She finished cleaning up their kitchen, and smiled to herself as she noted how spotless it looked. It had taken her some time to get used to it all, but she was happy to be having a real home life. Living like this gave her a stable base, and was like a warm bed that she just wanted to bury herself in, never to come out.
But she did come out to the family room to join her husband and daughter. "Both of you are really busy, I see."
"Already finished my homework, Mom," Yoko happily piped up. "And put it away, too."
"That's good. I was concerned about that."
"What? Why?"
"I thought that you might have been distracted by that mess in the market today."
"Oh, that. It wasn't anything really big. They were just some big morons."
"That's the spirit, sweetheart," Ross commented from his chair.
Naomi frowned thoughtfully. "I'm not sure that she should be so...."
"'Much like you were'? Don't worry. She's just taking after her mom. Right, Yoko?"
"Right, Daddy," the little girl agreed with a nod.
"See? But Yoko, you go get ready for bed now. You've got school in the morning, and unlike your mom, your strength's in your head. So, you've got to rest it up. Okay?"
"Sure."
"That's a good girl," he told her as she hurried to go use the bathroom.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" his wife asked, planting her fists onto her hips.
"Something the matter?"
"Yes! If I don't use my brain, then what am I supposed to be good for then, hmm?"
"Plenty of activities. You were a damned good cop, remember? And I could never complain about other things," he told her, yanking her to sit on his lap. Holding her so that she leaned against his chest, he smiled down at her. "Trust me, I won't forget."
"Is that so...."
"Absolutely."
"Then I guess that I'm still someone that you really want with you," she murmured softly.
"Always."
"You can't know how much that means to me."
"And how good living this life with you is good for me."
"It's good to hear that once in a while," Naomi told him... before jabbing him in the side with her elbow. "But don't think that seducing me will get you off the hook, big guy."
"Got it."
"Good. Don't want you to forget it."
"I sure won't. Who would have thought that being married could be harmful to a guy's health?"
"You're the one who picked the 'terror in hot pants' to be your wife."
"That is something that I'll never regret."
"I know, and I'm sure that we'll be together forever," she commented.
"There is one thing that I might like to make it even better."
"What could be better?"
"Seeing if we can't give Yoko a baby brother or sister," Ross whispered as he leaned in to kiss his wife.
"Ohhhh.... Ohhhh...."
Rei turned at the sound of the approaching footsteps and nodded at the older woman as she entered the sitting room. "Hello, Major Katsuragi."
"Hello, Rei," Misato replied, and gave her an attempt at a smile. "How are you doing?"
"I have been feeling well, and am attempting to follow through with all the doctors' instructions, as you told me to. Though I have also kept myself from falling into the 'embarrassing and possibly perverted' moments that you warned me about."
"Good. Good. But what about yourself? How are you doing?"
"I feel fine. The counselors and the psychiatrists do inform me that I should be more... relaxed and open, but I'm not certain as to what that means," the blue haired girl admitted.
"I understand. It means that they see you as needed to show your feelings more."
"But what reason would I have to do so?"
Misato put her hand on one of the clone's shoulders. "You have plenty of reasons. I've told you before, and I'll tell you again. There is no 'Human Instrumentality Project' any more. You're free to be your own person, to choose your own directions."
"And yet I am an artificial being who is kept isolated from the world at large," Rei stated, sounding rather matter of fact about it.
"Only because of what might happen to you. You don't have the same abilities that we have for emotion. Those doctors say that they don't want you to go out and be used by some creeps who would have you as a weapon. You're not the first Rei, or that one that would have followed you."
"I know. It is just difficult without a purpose. In NERV, I had my... direction laid out for me. Now, the reason for my existence is no longer viable, and I have no authority as to inform me as to which directions are the correct ones."
"Sure you do. You have you. It's high time that you made your own choices. And if you need help, we'll be right here with you. Okay, so maybe I won't be able to stand physically here...."
"Hmmm?"
"It's the reason for my visit. I've been given a posting," the major informed her.
"That is welcome news."
"Yes, but you should know that it'll also mean that I won't be able to visit as much as I'd like anymore."
"Your absence will be understandable."
"I won't be 'absent'. It's just that I won't be able to come as often. But the others won't have to change. Asuka and the others will still be coming the same as always. And you know that Shinji won't be able to stop himself from visiting."
The look in those red eyes softened. "I shall continue to look forward to Shinji's visits."
"I know that you will. Though.... Hey, maybe I'll be able to take you with me soon."
"Oh?"
"If you ever manage to get out of this place, and I get some good quarters, I want you former pilots with me."
"Your choice is...."
"Yes?"
"Something that would likely be accepted," Rei whispered, uncertain of why she did so.
Major Katsuragi looked at the girl's expression and felt her hope for the clone grow just a bit more, while:
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(Posted Sun, 05 Mar 2006 04:23)
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