Nobody Dies/Heartwarming

"This is certainly now a nightmare scenario for everyone involved. And it would have happened and would have been the way the chapter concluded- if Shinji didn't go into her room at the end of the chapter and settle things with her. The problem is, Asuka has three pillars her life is built around, and Kyoko managed to kick out two of them in just two minutes. And now Shinji's built one of those pillars so high she can see her apartment from the top of it."
 * Pretty much any major Shinji / Asuka scene.
 * In particular, Chapter 21. The chapter itself is nothing but It Got Worse for Asuka. Then the ending rolls by, and as the author put it (After someone described an alternate, intensely depressing way to end the chapter):

""Yeah," Shinji says, "I could see this being Hatchi's idea, but Nana would put together the weapons. But Kei really thought out the design. Normally, the girls wreck Kei's stuff, but they really did miss her."
 * "I can fix this."
 * Just their first kiss, after Asuka was slipped a roofie and Gendo and Shinji stepped in to save her. Shinji insists to her that he doesn't "put up" with her and she's worth it all, proceeding to list all the reasons why until Asuka...shuts him up.
 * Chapter 13, when Shinji threatens a pilot's strike if Asuka isn't released from the hospital. Which would've meant no active Evas. For Asuka's sake, Shinji effectively put a gun to the head of the world.
 * In her own strange way, gets one in chapter 28,
 * Ch. 36. Misato and Asuka. Kaji and Shinji. 'Nuff said.
 * In Chapter 38,
 * Chapter 40. ND!Gendo is struggling with the idea that and is contemplating suicide, but tells himself that everybody else is counting on him, and if
 * Ch. 42, when
 * Later on, . This doubles as a CMoA for.
 * Ch. 44, when
 * Chapter 45, in particular
 * Believe it or not,.
 * Crossed with a Crowning Moment of Awesome, the end of Chapter 46 is one
 * Also a Crowning Moment of Awesome for Gregg Landsman himself, as.
 * Chapter 48 has
 * Ch. 54.
 * In Chapter 55, Over Angel slaying, of course.
 * Also from Chapter 55, this scene:

"How d-do you know all this?" Asuka asks.

He shrugs.

"I'm trying to be a better brother.""


 * Ch. 61 has . It was LONG overdue.
 * User:Earth Scorpion's side story Ichi's Birthday Party, especially its last chapter or two.
 * Shinji's encounter with the apparent Stalker with a Crush cosplaying as Asuka in ch. 63.
 * Kaworu . That fact that he's so stupidly naive to the whole thing makes it even cuter.
 * It's quickly ruined by Makinami, but Kyoko trying to make up for her vicious insults towards Asuka while chaperoning the school dance by recreating the night for her and Shinji is a very sweet gesture.
 * Gendo meets Ichi for the first time, and tells her that he may come with Yui during her next visit.
 * In chapter 69, where . What follows is a Crowning Moment of Awesome.
 * Yui to Kei: "You were Naoko's project. You were Naoko's experiment. You are my daughter. Nothing ever changes that." Followed by Kei calling her "Mom."
 * Chapter 18.
 * From the same chapter,

"Uri: And if you ever hurt her, I will break you like plate glass.
 * Chapter 72, for all its hilarious awesomeness, also has a moving scene of Kyoko explaining just why she got so upset over Pieter saying Shinji and Asuka were just like them, and Pieter apologizing and assuring her that she isn't her mother, no matter how long it took her to realize her mistakes.
 * And the next chapter reveals that
 * Chapter 80:
 * Pieter laying into Claire for her treatment of Mari, also a Crowning Moment of Awesome: "Claire, it's one thing to suspect, but you went too damn far. It doesn't matter what the Hell Mari is! Because she's still my daughter!...I was there! I was there when I thought she died. She could have come back as a big floating...thing...and it wouldn't have mattered because I got my little girl back."
 * After the funny explanation that, Shinji points out how hard it's going to be, but that Asuka is worth it.
 * All of Asuka and Pieter's scenes in Chapter 84, as they truly start to bond for the first time.
 * Shinji and Uri finally apologizing to each other and putting their differences behind them.

Shinji: If I ever hurt her, I will let you."

"Unit 01: i am scared.
 * Shinji and Gendo interface with Ichi, and finally assure her that it doesn't matter that she's not really the unborn Rei, and they still consider her family. A Crowning Moment of Awesome follows.
 * What really cinches this is how Gendo Ikari, who had spent years bitterly hating Ichi for, fondly states "That's my girl!" as Ichi powers up. It truly shows how far he's come, and how different he is from Canon!Gendo.
 * Rei, after spending a whole chapter trying to form a sibling rivalry with one of the other Ree, decides to instead pour that boundless energy into
 * Annette letting Omega look after her horses.
 * Rei in couples therapy with Go-Kun, learning that in some ways she is in a normal situation.
 * Shinji and Ichi's talk about her missing years.
 * This exchange between Shinji and Unit 01 in Chapter 17.

Shinji: I'm here. Don't be. He won't harm you while I'm alive, got it? If he wants to get to you, he gets through me!"