Disclaimer: I do not own Lilo and Stitch.

Chapter 10: Wish Upon a Star

Lilo's blood boiled as she looked at her, but she said nothing. Cobra led her into the med bay, and returned a minute later.

"So, now all we have to do is find Skipper." Cobra said. Angel told him about the phone call, and he nodded. "This is good. All we have to do now is await his call, and then set up a plan."

"He won't call until about 10 or so." Angel said. "That's almost six hours away. We should just rest for now, and then we'll find him."

"We also need to find Hamsterviel." Stitch said. "If we don't get rid of him, we'll have more issues."

Lilo nodded. "While we're waiting for the call, we should try and find him. With Tiberius dead, and Skipper missing, he's going to be getting desperate, and probably move his plans up a step or two. He won't wait long, especially if he thinks Skip has turned back to our team."

Cobra looked around. "Ok, here's what were going to do; you are going to take Leroy inside. I will escort Kristy inside, and lock her in one of the rooms, watched by Kixx. Jumba and I will take the ship, and relieve Gantu so he can take a rest. All of you who are staying here should get some sleep. You've had some rough days, and it might get worse before it gets better. Pleakly will order dinner around 7:30, just in case we have to stay up late."

Victoria nodded. "Ok. I'll grab Leroy, and then we'll all head to the house for a nap. You guys can go and fly around and have fun." She disappeared into the med bay, and appeared a minute later supporting Leroy. "Let's go guys." Everyone but Jumba left the ship, and then Cobra went back. They watched the ship take off, and then they went by the beds.

"So, how do we divvy these up?" Stitch asked, motioning to the beds.

"I'll take the couch." Angel said, taking the lift down before anyone else could say a word.

"Ok." Lilo said. "Well, Leroy can have the bottom bunk, and Stitch and I will take the top. Victoria, you can go wherever you want."

Victoria looked around the room. "I'll take the sleeping bag." She said, motioning to the one in the corner. Everyone went to his or her spot, and all were asleep in a few minutes.

Three hours later

Lilo, Angel, and Stitch sat upstairs, eating their pizza. Lilo was getting a little sick of it. Pleakly was too busy cleaning to eat, while Victoria and Leroy ate down by the TV.

"So, what are we going to do after we eat?" Lilo asked. "We're still going to have almost three or four hours until he calls. We need something to do."

Stitch yawned between bites of pizza. "I think I'll go back to sleep."

Lilo punched him playfully on the shoulder. "Of course you do."

Angel looked outside. "I think I'll go out and walk under the stars."

"Mind if I go with you?" Lilo asked. "I don't feel like going back to sleep."

Angel nodded. "Sure. Once mister lazy blue is tucked in, we'll head out until I get the call."

"Hey, there's no need to insult me!" Stitch said. "I just need my beauty sleep."

"I don't think it'll help." Angel said, smiling.

"Fine." Stitch said. "I'll just tuck myself in." They all laughed, and finished off the pizza. Stitch crawled back I to bed, and Lilo and Angel took the lift downstairs. They decided not to peek in on Victoria and Leroy, and instead went straight outside. They walked down the stairs and out into the trees.

"You know, I've never really walked under the stars." Lilo said, looking up at the sky, while she continued walking with Angel.

Angel smiled. "Soon, Skipper and I will be able to do this. In a few ours he'll call, and I'll go pick him up." She sighed deeply. "I just hope everything works out ok."

Lilo put her arm around Angel. "You are such a pessimist. Just keep thinking happy thoughts." They walked in silence for a while, taking in the sheer beauty of the night. The wind had died down completely, and there was an eerie, yet wonderful silence over the trees and hills. They made it down by the ocean, and looked at the horizon. Only have of the full moon had risen, throwing an awesome array of white and blue light over the land. Angel found the silence awkward, and decided to talk again.

"So, how are you and Stitch doing?"

Lilo smiled. "Well, we're getting along just fine. We've gone on a few dates, but nothing amazingly special yet. I'm starting to kind of read his mind, and there's one question I think that keeps popping up in his head: when do we start a family."

Angel nodded. "I'm sure it is. When he and I were together, he was always asking me what it would be like to have kids, to be a father."

"I know." Lilo said. "And Jumba did say that we were both old enough to start one, but I don't think Nani quite agrees with that. Genetically, I'm twenty years old, and so is he. I'm smarter then a super computer, I'm ready to live my own life, but Nani just won't let go. It's really frustrating."

Angel turned to look at Lilo. "Maybe she won't let go because she isn't ready yet. I mean, she thought that she would have almost twenty years have you living under her rules. You've been around for twelve, thirteen years, and are ready to go and get an eternal lover. Especially right now, I think things are moving a little too fast for Nani, and she's trying to solve things as easily as possible, which is why she just said no, and didn't try and reason with you."

Lilo thought about it. "It does make sense. I mean, when she says I can't do something, she tries to compromise with me to make sure that I don't go out and do it without her knowing anyway. I think that the marriage is putting some pressure on her right now, with the honeymoon and all. Not only that, but all the changes that have come in the past half a year were probably heavy on her too. She just needs some time to adjust to all of this." A twig snapped, and they swiftly turned around: it was only Stitch.

"I thought you were going to get some more sleep." Angel said.

"I couldn't sleep." He said. "But if you really want me to leave…"

"No, stay here." Lilo said. "We could always use your company." Stitch joined them by the tide line, and the three of them sat in a semi circle, with Stitch and Angel on either side of Lilo.

"So, how do you think this'll all end?" Stitch asked.

Lilo sighed. "I hope it ends well."

Angel elbowed her. "What happened to being optimistic?"

"I'm trying to be, at least about Skipper. But Hamsterviel is a completely different story." She replied. "He'll find out soon that Skipper is coming back, and he'll either accelerate his plans, or go into hiding for a bit and make a new plan. I'd hate to say it, but our window for catching him isn't very big."

"We have to go after him as soon as we can." Stitch said. "Say, two days, and by the time we catch up to him, Leroy should be in ok shape to fight. If all goes well, Skipper could be also."

Angel sighed. "I hope so. This could all go wrong."

"Well, what does your heart say?" Lilo asked.

"That line is getting a little old." Angel said, smiling. "But, it's worth another shot, I guess." She closed her eyes, only the sound of the waves lapping up and down the beach breaking the silence. Stitch put his arm around Lilo, and they waited for Angel to say something. After almost five minutes, she slowly opened her eyes, and stared out at the moon, which had risen most of the way over the horizon.

"We're going to have Skipper back, but he'll be… changed, somehow." She said. "For the better or worse, I'm not sure."

Lilo smiled. "Well, at least he'll be back, right?"

Stitch nodded. "Ih!"

Angel looked back at them. "Thanks. I just hope I'm right." They all looked out at the moon. Stitch glanced up at the sky, and smiled.

"Hey, I can see Mars." He said, pointing to an exceptionally bright, red looking star. Lilo and Angel looked at where he was pointing, and smiled.

"Yeah, it is." Lilo said. "Do you think that it's a good sign, or a bad one?"

"Why do we keep going back to that?" Stitch asked. "There is no such thing as luck, karma, signs, or any of that stuff. There is only the illusion, held up by belief in it. If you keep telling yourself that bad things are going to happen to you all the time, it will. I'm not sure why, but that's how it works."

"So, it's more the belief then anything?" Lilo asked.

Stitch nodded. "Yep. But let's get off this subject of luck and omens and bad guys. Let's talk about something else."

"Like what?"

Stitch thought for a moment. "Like what we're going to do when Nani and David have a baby. Lilo's going to be an aunt then."

Lilo smiled. "No offense to anyone, but that is going to be one messed up kid by the time he starts school. I mean, he'll grow up around experiments, aliens, and all sorts of things, and then go to school where they say none of that stuff really exists."

"Why not just home-school him then?" Angel asked. "I mean, with all the knowledge of Jumba and the experiments, he should end up being a wiz in math and science. Nani and Lilo could teach him stuff like history, manners, and all that stuff."

Lilo laughed. "You really think Nani is going to let Jumba and Stitch teach her kid? She'll probably sell him to a circus before she lets us do that."

"Huh, you might be right about that." Angel said. She looked at Stitch and Lilo, and asked a question, before she even could think it through. "So, when are you two going to start a family?" Stitch and Lilo both turned a deep magenta, as did Angel after a moment. "I'm sorry, it just came out. I really shouldn't have asked that."

Lilo smiled. "It's fine. I guess that it's a good question. I'm not really sure where I stand on that. What about you Stitch?"

Stitch thought for a moment. "A family would be nice, but I think that Nani will end up having a say in it."

Lilo shook her head. "Not a chance. When I want to have a family with you Stitch, we're going to have one, whether she likes it or not. I'll build my own house if I have to."

Stitch rubbed his head against her stomach. "Whenever you decide, I'm ready."

Lilo caught Angel's eyes, and roller hers. "That's very nice to know Stitch. Hey Angel, when are you and Skip going to start a family?""

Angel shrugged. "We never really talked about it much. I hope that we do soon after he comes back, but I won't rush it. Especially after all he's been through, and what he might still go through."

"That's probably a good idea." Stitch said, his head still unmoved from Lilo's stomach. "Just give him a few days, and then bring it up." In the distance, a wolf howled.

"I didn't know there were wolves on Hawaii." Angel said.

"I believe Jumba might be the reason. I've caught him once or twice trying to bring animals onto the island that don't normally live here." Stitch said. "I'm not sure why, but he did. He likes to experiment too much, I guess."

"Yeah." Angel said. "He's probably going to be the one that somehow destroys the island, by putting the wrong animal or something on it. But until that happens, just let him. Unless you would rather he flies around the world to study these animals."

Lilo shook her head. "No, it's safer for him to do it here where we can keep an eye on him, and some of the experiments can keep an eye on the animals." They continued looking up, and suddenly Angel pointed to something. "Look, a shooting star!" Lilo and Stitch followed her finger, and saw the star shoot over the horizon.

"We each need to make a wish." Lilo said. They closed their eyes, and thought hard.

I wish that I would find Skipper safe and sound. Angel thought.

I wish Nani would let Stitch and I start a family. Lilo thought.

Stitch wondered what to wish for, and then smiled. I wish that everything that's happening now would end happily for all of us here on Earth. He thought. They waited several more seconds, before they opened their eyes.

"Will it work?" Angel asked.

Lilo nodded. "It did for me, as long as you don't tell anyone what you wished for." A quiet ring rang out in the darkness. Angel snatched up her phone and looked at it.

"It's him." She whispered.