"There, there," Lilo said, cradling her young nephew in her arms. "It's okay, Keaton. Mommy and daddy will be back soon."
The young boy had been crying for some time now. How such a small thing could have such a big voice she had no idea. But it was starting to get to her. She couldn't figure out what was wrong and it was getting worse by the minute. She tried everything she could think of. Diaper change. A bottle. A soother. Cradling back and forth. No matter what she tried he just wasn't feeling any better. In turn making her feel worse and worse. She thought she was getting better with him, but maybe she wasn't after all.
Lilo's anxiety was starting to get the better of her. With the child in her arms, slowly rocking back and forth, she could feel herself start to shake. Her heart was running a mile a minute with no end in sight. It was just her and Keaton. Lately, she felt like she was making progress. He didn't seem to cry as much with her as he used to, and soon he should be able to start speaking. She had secretly hoped that her issue with childcare would pass or he would just grow up before anything would come of it. And it was starting to seem like it would be the latter.
What was she supposed to do? She tried everyone's advice and he was a perfect angel with literally everyone else. Either she was cursed or the small boy had a vendetta out against her.
Maybe that's a bit dramatic, she thought to herself.
But it certainly felt like it. Especially when she knew if she just handed Keaton off to Stitch he would be perfectly content and happy. No more crying and possibly even falling asleep within moments.
She had started pacing around the house. Hoping that would help calm him down. If it did she couldn't tell. At least she couldn't feel herself shaking as much this way. Eventually Lilo found her way to the living room, spotting Stitch on the couch watching TV. It was incredible that he wasn't being strained by the loud cries.
"You could help you know," she said with rising panic clear in her voice.
"Meega am helping," he said.
"Really? It looks to me like you're just watching cartoons."
Stitch gave her a smile. One that normally washed her with happiness and made her feel better. It was completely ineffective, however, when a screaming child is held in your arms. But from the moment she stepped into the living room, Stitch's eyes never once left her.
"Isa Keaton's favourite," Stitch said before finally standing. Lilo thought he was coming over to take the boy but instead he just gave her a kiss. "Meega can't take him every time. You need to handle this."
"But..."
She knew he was right. And it did bug her that it only seemed like she was a problem. Everyone was probably right. It was likely just because she was always so nervous. But she couldn't help it. That's just how she felt. Nervous and something else. A feeling that it will never get better. That she'll always be bad with children even when it comes to her own. Sure it was many years off, and as long as she had Stitch everything would be fine in the end. But if she can't even take care of Keaton now how is she supposed to do it in the future?
"Come sit."
Stitch lead her to the couch, still not taking their nephew. But at least giving Lilo a chance to sit down. While he was by no means heavy to her, it was still tiring to be up on your feet constantly with a baby. Especially when it's screaming into you super powered ear.
As they sat Stitch could feel her tremble beside him. It would be a lie if he said the crying didn't get to him as well. But he was determined to help her through this. In a more indirect way. Lilo had Keaton cradled in he arms, slowly rocking back and forth. The TV was as loud as it could be. In hopes that the sounds would distract him from crying, and Stitch had his hand on Lilo's thigh. Slowly rubbing back in forth to help keep her calm. If it took too long, or her anxiety got too high, he would take him from her. Certain that it would stop the crying instantly.
Until then he would continue to just be support.
"Yuuga got this," he said to her, not even really sure if she could hear him with everything.
"I don't know," she said. With a deep breath she looked in concern to her young nephew. "I'm just really worried that it will always be like this."
"It naga always be."
"What if it is though?" she asked. "What if I can never hold a baby? And then we have kids in the future. And even just looking at them makes them cry until I have to hide away forever? Then we would need to hire a nanny to look after them and they'll grow up thinking that's their mommy and they won't love me anymore. Then-"
"Lilo, Lilo," Stitch said, giving her a little shake. "That naga happen. Our baby will love you no matter what. Meega know it."
Lilo tried to calm down. Tried to give him a smile. "I'm just worried..."
"Meega know," he said, now rubbing her back. "Meega know."
She took a deep breath. Letting the soothing rub bring her back. She started rocking Keaton in motion with Stitch, and for a moment his crying was starting to let up. Perhaps things will get better. It'll just take time. And a little help. She will still be worried until she could handle it by herself. But for now, with Stitch's help, she could manage to make some progress.
Notes. Countless pages of notes. Keoni's wrist ached with each stroke of his pencil. This special surprise of his was probably taking far longer, and becoming a lot bigger than he initially planned or expected. But that was okay. A quick shake of his wrist was all it took to get it back into shape.
"Hmm," he said to himself, looking over the writing. "No. That's not quite right. She'll expect something once the clown comes in."
Paper crumpled. Paper tossed. Joining the large pile near his garbage pail. He wasn't normally an indecisive person. If anything he was usually the most sure of himself. Always had a plan. Always worked towards it. The moment there was even a small chance that Victoria could get a free chance at college he instantly jumped on it. He did everything he could. And he had his cousin to thank for a lot of it.
It was just really unfortunate that he wasn't able to get a scholarship himself. For once he wasn't actually sure what he was going to do. Sure his dad had a fair amount of money. It was easy to help out all the shops in town that needed it for the experiment's sake. But Keoni wanted to get through life on his own.
"My dad was able to make it and so will I."
It was almost time for him to graduate, and he would need to focus on that and what comes after. But that would come later. Much later if he couldn't settle on how to announce the news to his girlfriend.
"Okay. Start with the walk down the beach-" his pencil scratched furiously "-then we grab one of her favourite drinks."
A small cry came from his bed.
"I know, buddy," he said to Jam. "Victoria's going to be starting hula soon. You'll have to wait to see Snooty."
Jam just gave another small cry. Clearly unhappy with the situation. His ears perked up once he heard Keoni's phone vibrate. Hoping that maybe class was cancelled. Or that Snooty would be able to come visit them instead. With a quick flap of his wings, he was hovering over his friend in hopes to get a look at the text.
Keoni looked over the message for a few moments before responding.
I dont no wat 2 do.
"I've already told you," Keoni said. He typed up the response he's said time and time again.
Just tell her. She would want 2 no.
It was a few minutes before he got another response. Jam had already settled back on the bed, eyes set strongly on the window.
Ur right. Ill tell her after class. Thx. 3
All the while Keoni's pencil still continued to fly across the page. He wasn't sure if this one would also end up in the bin, but he was going to do his best with it. As much as this was not like him, he needed it to be perfect. Perfect for her. Because it's what she deserved. The best. It felt like he was maybe on the right track. Getting the small details here and there right. Making sure it just seemed like a normal day. One where she wouldn't suspect a thing until it was too late. Then bam! Scholarship. Coming out of no where like a slap to the face. It would be perfect.
"Alright," he said with a smile. "Just a few more things and-"
Slam!
A loud crash made him suddenly jump from his seat. He quickly turned to see Jam pressed against the window. Desperately trying to get through. His wings flapping frantically as he tried to will himself through the glass. Keoni quickly threw his stuff to the side as he rushed to Jam's side. It took a few moments but he finally managed to get hold of the wiggling experiment.
"Jam!" he said while trying to console him. "Jam, Jam, Jam. It's okay. What's wrong?"
The experiment just motioned towards the window. Slightly whimpering in need to be out.
"You want to go outside?"
Jam nodded.
Keoni sighed.
And then he smiled.
"Alright," he said as he gave Jam a hug. "I could use a break anyway."
Victoria tucked her phone away. She found herself much earlier to class than she initially anticipated. But the nerves were just getting to her too much. How do you tell your best friend, one who is dating a genetic experiment and is the Ambassador of Earth no less, that someone you maybe consider a friend hates aliens? Like absolutely hates hates. Is there even a way? Or do you just come out and say, "hey. That person we're hanging out with is racist." Honestly the whole thing made her sick to her stomach and she was glad no one was here yet.
"You can do it. You can do it," she repeated over and over.
Before too long, and not long enough, her friends started showing up one by one. The usual small talk just passed her by. Mind too preoccupied with with what she was going to say. Playing a whole conversation with Lilo in her head. No matter what she thought, the conversation always ended up with Lilo being hurt or angry. Usually both. But what else was there to do? It's not like she could just suddenly change Caitlynn's mind on things. And like Keoni told her, she can't just keep it from Lilo. She wouldn't want that.
"I need some advice," she said before she even noticed.
By now everyone but Lilo and Caitlynn had arrived. And her sudden outburst instantly killed the conversation the others were having.
"Oh," she said looking at everyone. "Sorry."
"No worries," Mertle said. "What's up?"
It took a while before she was actually able to form the words. Mostly just recounting what had happened between them before Caitlynn ran off. Everyone was upset to say the least. Mertle especially looked like she was about to explode. They all had their suspicions. Perhaps not about this in particular, but something was definitely up with the new girl. This just solidified what they were already worried about. More trouble.
"You just gotta tell her," Teresa said, with nodded approval from the others.
"I know that already," responded Victoria. "But how? Like, what do I say?"
Yuki looked between everyone as they went silent. She contemplated it for a moment before saying, "just tell her what you told us."
"Tell who what?" asked Lilo as she finally joined the group.
The girls froze as they turned and saw Lilo had finally arrived. With Stitch in hand. The two stared at them, curious at what was going on. They quickly passed it off as nothing. Victoria was planning to tell Lilo after class. And this was just too sudden for her. She felt sick before, now her stomach was actually turning into knots.
"Are you able to stay this time, Stitch?" Victoria hoped that she didn't sound as nervous as she actually felt. She was never the best liar, and usually wore her heart on her sleeve. If either of them thought something was up though, they didn't show it. "It feels like forever since you were here."
"Isa been very busy," Stitch said as he lowered his head. "Meega miss it."
"He's going to go help out Jumba," Lilo said. "Something has been happening in the lab I guess and wanted someone that can actually handle it."
"Pleakley offered but he naga the best at it."
Getting to talk like normal was helping Victoria calm her nerves. Everything and everyone has just been so busy lately. Maybe it had something to do with growing up. They all were getting more responsibilities. More things to do and take care of. No one more so than Lilo and Stitch, but still. Mertle had baby experiments at home. Teresa was nearly working every night at her family's store. Elena even had a part time job now. What was she doing with her time? Mostly photography. She made sure to always have her camera with her. But it's not the same as the others. And she really needed to start thinking about her future more.
"Meega see you later," Stitch said. He gave Lilo a quick kiss before heading out.
"Love you!" Lilo called after, gaining a few giggles from the other girls.
Right after Stitch left Caitlynn came in. Victoria froze once she saw her, and the others were instantly on edge. There was absolutely no way she could have missed Stitch on her way in. Which was very apparent by the look on her face. Either she was having a bad day, or Victoria really wasn't imagining things.
"Was there an alien in here?" she asked as soon as she joined up with the group.
"Oh yeah," Lilo said. "You haven't had a chance to meet yet. Sorry you keep missing him."
Caitlynn's initial disgusted look quickly faded to curiosity. The wheels were already turning in her head and everyone noticed. Everyone except for Lilo.
"I think I told you before," continued Lilo. "he usually watches class. But everything has been so busy lately he just hasn't been able to. Hopefully you'll actually get to meet soon."
"Who is he?"
The air felt tight around everyone. It felt like something was about to happen. There was an energy in the air. Like sparks cracking around. And soon something would strike.
"It's Stitch-" Lilo's smile grew greatly "-my boyfriend."
"Your... boyfriend?"
Caitlynn still wasn't entirely sure what extent of mystery was around Lilo. But she finally found out one piece. A big piece. Enough gossip to fuel her for a while.
"Oh my god," she said. "You're a xenofreak."
Slap!
The movement was quick and hard. Sending out all the pent up energy that was storing up. She moved without even realizing it. But her breath was ragged and her hand stung fiercely. All eyes were on Mertle, ready to hit again should it be necessary.
