Disclaimer: I do not own "Lilo & Stitch" or any of the characters therein.
CHAPTER FOUR
BREAKING OHANA
When Pleakley reemerged from his room fifteen minutes later with a large suitcase in each hand, he found that everyone had migrated from the living room to the kitchen. Nani, David and Jumba were sitting at the table drinking lemonade while Mr. Bubbles remained standing. Stitch was curled into a ball and rolling around on the floor while Lilo sat in the corner, her back to the others as she appeared to be working on something secret.
Cobra, busy explaining the few precious details that were not classified to the three at the table, didn't seem to notice when Pleakley came into the kitchen, or at least did not acknowledge him until he set his suitcases down with a resounding clunk! and cleared his throat for attention. Everyone turned to look at him then. "I'm ready," he announced, trying to sound as brave and as sure of himself as possible.
"What happened to your eye?" asked Nani. "It looks bloodshot." Pleakley hesitated before inventing an answer. "Oh, nothing… must be my, uh, allergies! Yes, that's it! Darn hay fever." He smiled nervously at her and sniffled for effect. Nani frowned slightly, apparently in disbelief. She knew he had been crying, and he knew that she knew, and was thankful that she did not press the matter further. Now was not the time for him to appear weak.
"Are you sure you're ready to go?" Cobra asked him. "Once you leave, you cannot come back for anything until the Federation gives its clearance to do so." Pleakley nodded firmly. Cobra nodded back. "Alright then. Let's go." As he turned to exit the kitchen, Lilo jumped up from her corner shouting "Wait! What about saying goodbye?" Cobra looked back at her, and the corner of his mouth tugged upward into a quick half-smile. "Of course," he said, nodding toward Pleakley, who took the hint and waddled toward Lilo, who jumped on him and nearly knocked him over. Nani got up from the table to pry her sister off of the suffocating alien.
"Aye-aye-aye, Lilo, you hug him any harder and there won't be anything left for the rest of us to say goodbye to!" She kneeled down and pulled him close, though not nearly as close as her sister had. "You be careful, okay, Pleak? Keep your head down and… and take care of yourself, you got it?" she added, trying to sound threatening, but her voice cracked just then as she choked down a sob. She gave his antenna a fond stroke. "And stay out of trouble. You're supposed to be the good one in this madhouse, remember?"
Pleakley hugged her back, biting his lip to keep it from trembling, when suddenly he felt himself being seized roughly from behind. Jumba grabbed him up and enveloped him in his massive arms, giving him noogies and trying to tease him about his situation. When he finally dropped him back on his feet, he had no time to compose himself before Stitch jumped on him and licked his face like a big blue puppy. After Pleakley wiped his face off, David stooped to shake hands with him and to wish him luck.
Dazed and disoriented from all their goodbyes, Pleakley picked up his bags and, without even a backward glance, headed off out the door after Cobra.
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Okay… I know that was short and disappointing, but hey, I'm working on it. Hope you like it so far… lemme know whatcha think… yadda yadda yadda… and I'll try to bring y'all an exciting update ASAP! ^-^ Oh, and extra thanx to Cousinsarky for all his/her feedback!