That morning, Mahina woke to Jumba's snoring. Her bed was far enough away that she didn't have it in her ear, but it was still annoying. Thankfully Pleakley's snoring was more like bubbles popping than actual 'shake the whole house' snoring.

Mahina wondered how she was so lucky. She had gotten Jumba and Pleakley to go along with her bribe-excuse. She couldn't believe they'd gone along with it. Granted, they believed Earth was a sanctuary for mosquitos, so maybe it wasn't too far a leap. Still falling for the money thing...it was a chance bet.

More than that, Mahina was aware that it was Pleakley that was more convinced than Jumba. Jumba was using Mahina, as she was using them. Mahina was their street-knowledge. The know-how of Earth to finding Lilo, of blending into the background to keep them from being hunted. Mahina though...she was using them for different reasons, than just sticking close for the plotline. She wanted the attention. She had been desperate for socialization.

She was a child. Could she be blamed?

Mahina set about packing up her small sleeping space. A simple roll up of her blanket, and she was gone. The sun was just over the skyline so there was still time before anyone got about with their day. Especially for the Pelekai's, as they were still job-hunting for Nani and where they went, Jumba followed. Mahina had time to run back 'home'.

It took her an hour to get to her box, and back to camp. It would have been shorter only she had stopped to stare at the box. The temporary home she had found herself in, when appearing in this world. The box which, for these past weeks, Mahina had called home. The box walls were still upright. Everything inside seemed untouched by damage since Mahina was here yesterday. Yet the box felt...lesser. Mahina had the sense that she'd outgrown it.

It made no sense.

Mahina couldn't describe it any other way.

She grabbed another blue dress- changing into it quick as she was able. After quickly grabbing some supplies she would need that day, Mahina ran back to the makeshift camp.

Once there, she saw Jumba had woken up some time in that hour. Moreover he did not look happy at her return. Mahina made sure to beam extra wide.

"Good morning!" She cheered, mindful of the still sleeping Pleakley.

"I was hoping you wouldn't come back." Jumba sneered.

"Which is exactly why I did." Mahina stated back.

Jumba scoffed at that remark, going back to tucking away much of the campsite into what luggage they had. He didn't want to admit it- but that remark actually impressed him.

"Is he gonna wake up soon?" Mahina asked, pointing at Pleakley.

As if knowing he was being addressed, Pleakley snored loudly before turning in his sleeping bag. Still asleep though.

Jumba shrugged. "Don't care."

"I'll wake him up." Mahina cheered. She walked up to Pleakley's side. Taking a deep breath, she began. "WAKE ME UP!"

Pleakley yelled. He leapt out of bed, limbs flailing about.

Jumba was trying very hard not to laugh.

"WAKE ME UP INSIDE!" Mahina was practically screaming. "I CAN'T WAKE UP! WAKE UP INSIDE! SAVE ME!"

Pleakley clapped his hand over Mahina's mouth if only to shut her up. Jumba was laughing now- the big laughter that made your shoulders shake and you dropped down to the ground. Which he did, with a heavy thump. But Pleakley didn't notice because now the singing had finally stopped.

"There we go, Earth child." Pleakley patted her on the head. Mahina smiled sweetly beneath his hand. "No more singing that song. Correct?"

Mahina nodded. Innocent as a child could be.

Pleakley smiled. "Good." He moved his hand.

"IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL-"

Pleakley put his hand back. He glared at Jumba. The giant alien was rolling on the dirt, laughing at Pleakley's expense. Mahina was smiling like the little shit that she truly was.

She was a child. Could she be blamed?

Pleakley narrowed his eye at her. "Jumba. Why is the- ah- little Earth person still here?"

"You are still under the obligation of money." Mahina lied on the fly. She shrugged. "Sorry. Them's the rules."

Pleakley groaned, flopping against the ground.

Mahina beamed. Great- now she'd successfully annoyed two people, and gotten one to laugh. Her day is going from mediocre to great!

"So. Has Nani woken up yet?" Mahina walked over to the telescope- which Jumba hadn't put away. "I doubt Bubbles will like that Nani lost her job last night. Social services likes it when the guardians have jobs."

Jumba scoffed in disinterest. "I don't care. We go after 626."

"Well then you better be ready to do a lot of walking." Mahina told him. "There are a lot of jobs around town. Nani will be searching all day. Best get on your best walking shoes."

Pleakley laughed, waving his hand. "Oh I'm sure it won't be all day-"

==M&J==

Mahina was, once again, right.

They had been walking all day, trying to follow Stitch again.

They lost him a few times. Mainly because Jumba ignored Mahina's suggestions out of spite. Pleakley had seen some outfits he'd liked, so that dragged them off course too. He had tried to get Mahina something- well tried to get Mahina to get herself something, since it was her money they were using- her 'money' being stolen, so someone's money-whatever- else to wear besides the blue dress. But Jumba had put his foot down because he saw Stitch walking up the road.

They stopped for lunch. Jumba really liked chicken. Pleakley was more towards fish. Mahina was just entertained watching them stomach Earth food.

All in all, a good day.

Which ended at the beach.

As they weeded their way through the screaming crowd, Mahina found herself humming Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride.

By the time the crowd thinned, Mahina was far enough into the song that she had started dancing to it.

"What are you doing?" Jumba asked, grumpy.

Mahina stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm singing, you meanie head!"

"You will get their attention!" Jumba

"Then let it be gotten!" Mahina twirled in place. "There is no place I'd rather be, than on my surfboard out at sea." Mahina continued dancing around the beach.

Jumba grumbled.

Pleakley stopped him. "We can't make a scene! If they notice us we'll be toast!"

With a grumbled complaint, Jumba obeyed.

Mahina continued on- dancing from a distance as the family out there began to surf.

Hours passed. The sun was beginning to set. It cast an orange glow on the sky, out onto the beach.

All the while, Mahina was singing to herself. Jumba and Pleakley were spying on Stitch, pointedly ignoring her. At one point Mahina stopped to get herself an ice cream. It was her stolen money, she could do what she wanted with it!

Unfortunately...in that time...everything went wrong.

Really, Mahina can't leave these people alone for five seconds!

"Oh, can't complain, Mom. I'm camping out with a convicted criminal and, uh... oh, I had my head chewed on by a monster!" Pleakley complained, while on the line with his mother.

Jumba- looking out a pair of binoculars- paused, extremely puzzled. "Wait...something is not right. Willingly to water." He mused, seeing Stitch excitedly jump around the surfboard.

Pleakley's communicator buzzed. "Oh, hold on, Mom... another call." He answered it. He squeaked out at seeing who it was. Seriously, wasn't caller ID a thing for aliens?

"Mr. Pleakley, you are overdue. I want a status report." Grand Councilwoman stated.

"Oh, uh, things are going well." Pleakley lied so blatantly that he almost grew a nose.

"He cannot swim!" Jumba remarked, more to himself than to Pleakley or Mahina.

Neither alien had noticed Mahina had vanished.

"Things are going well. Jumba, aren't they going well?" Pleakley pleaded him to go along with the lie.

"Why will he risk drowning?" Jumba mumbled, continuing to watch as Stitch ventured out to sea with the humans.

"Jumba? Jumba, help me out here." Pleakley begged.

"I would have expected you back by now, with 6-2-6 in hand." The Grand Councilwoman stated, her disappointment clear.

"Just a few things left to pack and, uh, we'll be-" Pleakley continued to lie.

"Hang up." Jumba hung up the call. "We are going swimming."

"Huh?" Pleakley asked.

Then they went swimming.

And the rest, unfortunately, happened as it did before.

==M&J==

Mahina looked sadly out towards the ocean. They weren't back...

She had only been gone five minutes.

She heard someone walking up behind her. Walking calmly across the sand without missing a step."

"Mahina." Bubbles greeted.

Mahina watched the shore line. "Bubbles."

At the beach, Nani was bringing Lilo to a safe distance. David took Stitch, who wasn't moving.

Mahina's heart went out.

No sign of Jumba or Pleakley.

"Lilo? Lilo, look at me. Look at me, baby. Are you hurt?"

She couldn't see any of the equipment they used.

"No."

She couldn't see his binoculars or Pleakley's phone.

"He's unconscious, but I think he's alive."

She missed the scene? How could she have missed the scene? She wasn't gone that long!

Stitch shot awake, coughing out ocean water. Nani yanked Lilo out of his reach. David pulled Stitch away. Stitch deflated when he realized they were hiding from him.

She was supposed to stop things like this.

Nani finally noticed Mahina, or rather Agent Bubbles standing stoic behind her.

"David, take Lilo." Nani requested. "This isn't what it looks like. We were... It-Its just that..."

"I know you're trying, Nani but you need to think about what's best for Lilo... even if it removes you from the picture." Bubbles advised her. Nani's eyes were watering. "I'll be back tomorrow morning for Lilo. I'm sorry."

Mahina had another bite of ice cream. It had started melting onto her hand. She may be struggling internally but she had her priorities straight!

"I'm sorry, Mahina, but I need to take you too." Bubbles explained, in his sympathetic tone. "I'll pick you up in the morning."

Mahina frowned, looking back to the ocean. They were okay. They would wash up to a beach, and meet a shark. They were gonna be okay.

But deep down she knew...they weren't coming back for her.

Maybe if she hadn't been so annoying-

Maybe if she had actually helped for once-

Maybe if she had bought them some ice cream-

Mahina pushed down those emotions. She turned to Stitch, walking up to the poor blue experiment.

He was watching Lilo, a haunted look in his all black eyes.

Mahina could understand a look like that.

She'd been on the other side too often for her short years of life.

Mahina patted Stitch on his head. "Don't worry. Things'll be okay. I know they will." She assured him, because that was all she could do. "You'll be okay, Stitch. I promise."

Then she turned around before Stitch could say anything- if he even wanted to say anything- to walk to Bubbles' car.

By the time Jumba or Pleakley noticed she was gone...it was too late.

==M&J==

AN: Oooooohhhhhhh it's gonna get a lot sadder from here, folks...a LOT sadder...hehehe.

Thanks to nightmaster000, Aurora the Void Dragon for favoriting

Thanks to Irrelevant86, Aurora the Void Dragon for following