"I have candles, but..."

Yui stared at the dinner waiting for her and almost started crying. "You did this for me?"

"Of course I did. I wouldn't for anyone else, and you deserve it, instead of just eating something instant before bed."

"Why didn't you just say something?"

Gendo scoffed. "That wouldn't have mattered, and you know it." He removed the lab coat she was still in, and then the pull-over sweater. "Sit down. I'm sure it's still warm. I was stupidly thinking you might be back early tonight, without me having to get you."

Yui nodded and sat at the table, watching Gendo hurry to the kitchen in the dimmed lamplight. She swallowed nervously, not sure why.

It was simple, but it was hot and it wasn't instant, and that was good enough for Yui. There was candlelight, just enough steaming sake for two, and hot tea for after the ice cream.

Gendo leaned back, sipping his tea, against the small couch. Looking at Yui over the lip of his glass, he rubbed his thigh in invitation.

Yui went to him and sat against him, his arm going around her waist. They sat quietly that way, drinking their tea and just gazing at the flickering candlelight.

"The time is right, isn't it?" she whispered, holding her now empty glass tightly.

"I can't answer that, Yui. Only you can, but... it doesn't matter to me what you decide. I'll still love you. That's why I did this for you." He kissed the side of her head and set his glass on the floor.

"It hasn't been very long in this apartment. Does it feel like home to you?" she asked, now staring at the glass in her hand while her other held Gendo's hand tightly.

"Only because you're here."

Yui sighed. Setting her glass down first, she stood and tugged Gendo's hand. When he stood, she led him back to the bedroom. "Just so you know..." she started to say.

"Don't say anything like I think you were just going to," Gendo said, stopping in the bedroom doorway.

"Can I just say... I think it's... right?"

"If that's what you think."

"You're not helping me at all."

Smiling softly, Gendo shrugged. "I can't help you. In fact, I don't want to help you. This is your decision, but... I'll go along with whatever you want."

"You're infuriating."

"Just like you."

Yui pulled away from Gendo and crossed the room to lean against the wall next to their shared sleeping space. Her mouth was very dry as she watched him approach, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it off. Nervousness, but no fear.

For some reason, she expected him to say something, to play the movie-style romantic predator, but there was none of that. He just leaned forward and kissed her, using the distraction to begin removing her shirt. It was finally time that she wasn't going to hold back.

As Gendo pulled her shirt off, her hands blindly worked at his belt. Yui's mind was in a pleasant haze of... nothing basically as Gendo didn't stop with her shirt, and she got his pants the rest of the way undone.

She went so far as to help him when he started on her slacks, and before Yui even realized it, she was, along with Gendo, mostly naked.

"Still the right time?" Gendo whispered, breathing heavily as he moved his hands over every portion of her bare skin he could reach.

Yui, eyes half-lidded, nodded. Stopping, at that moment, would probably be something she would hate herself for. "Still right," she said and laid down on their sleeping mats. "So what are you waiting for?"

"One last thing." Gendo laid down next to her and pulled the blankets over them before removing the final obstacles between them.