Matt set aside his final letter. He sniffed and drew his wrist across his nose before rubbing the tears from his eyes. "Th-thank you, guys."

Sy was still perched on the arm of the chair, his hand rubbing slow circles on Matt's back. He shrugged and gave him a smile. "Everyone needs some time with their family. It looked like yours must have really missed you! That was, what, seven letters?"

Matt nodded. "My parents, all three of my siblings, my grandparents on both sides, and one from Aunt Ril, but she told them to write my cousins names as well as Aunt Meia's." He ticked off his fingers as he recited the names that had been listed at the bottom of each letter.

Braxton laughed. "Sounds like how my dad does it. Signs for both him and mom, probably used to sign for me too. Not that he's got a reason to any more." He rubbed his hands together as he turned to Jim. "Now for the tasty part."

Jim rolled his eyes at his friend, though truthfully he was excited as well. "Alright, let's see what we got. 628, could you?"

The alien scampered up onto the bed and held up one of his fingers. The sharp claw on the end of his digit gleamed. He stabbed it into the top of the package and pulled, slicing clean through the seal securing it together.

"Thanks, little buddy." Braxton ruffled 628's fur affectionately.

"You welcome!" 628 was clearly proud of being able to assist. He pulled back one of the flaps curiously so he could peek inside at what Jim had been sent. A pink blur shot up out of the box and into his face.

"Ahh!" 628 leaped back and swatted at the air in front of him.

"Ahh!" The assailant whizzed through the room and buzzed past Braxton's head.

628 leaped after it with a vicious snarl. It zipped towards Matt and Sy emitting a high alarmed noise. 628 scampered across the wall trying to catch it.

Braxton was shouting for 628 to stop. Matt was demanding they watch out for his letters. Sy had leaped out of 628's way and hidden himself half behind Jim for shelter. Jim threw his arm over Sy to guard him as chaos erupted through his room.

His alarm clock hit the ground as 628 used it for a launching pad to try and catch the flying distraction. The pink thing banged into his lamp before dashing into the book case. 628 dove right in after it, knocking books asunder. Braxton lunged for them both and toppled over Jim's laundry basket in his path.

The little flying thing dove into the pile of stray laundry. There was a moment of calm as everyone stopped, staring at the mess of dirty clothes. Sy clutched Jim's arm and peeked over his shoulder. Matt had his feet pulled up onto the chair to avoid being caught in the mess. Braxton's eyes were locked on 628 who stood poised and ready to pounce.

"Got you!" 628 lunged into the dirty clothes, his hands clamping down on a lump hidden under a shirt.

"Got you!" Braxton snatched up the six limbed alien into his arms. 628 growled, still clutching the shirt and his prize tightly. Braxton ignored his protesting friend and held on. "Show us what you caught, 628. It came from Jim's box, so don't damage it."

628 pressed his ears to his skull and growled again. "I caught it."

Braxton nodded and patted the top of his head. "You did catch it. Now let us see what it is." Reluctantly 628 peeled back his hands and unwrapped his prize from Jim's shirt. The room collectively tensed as he drew back the last piece of fabric.

A pair of balled up socks toppled out of the shirt and hit the floor.

628's ears drooped with disappointment. "Aww. Didn't got you."

The pink blob that had caused the whole mess shot out from under Jim's sweater and made a beeline straight to his breast pocket.

"Morph?" Jim pulled out the front of his pocket just enough to look inside. The little shapeshifter stared back up at him with wide frightened eyes. "Awww, Morph, it's okay." He reached a finger inside to rub his head. "Why are you here? Did you sneak into mom's package to come see me? You could have been killed!"

Morph nuzzled his fingers affectionately. Slowly he drifted up out of Jim's pocket to look around the room. 628 growled at him. Morph yelped and dashed back behind Jim's neck to hide. Sy giggled and reached up to pet him gently. Morph cooed and nuzzled into Sy's fingers.

"Relax, 628. This is my friend." Jim reached back for Morph. He grabbed Sy's hand instead. The younger boy gave him a shy smile and squeezed his fingers gently to show he didn't mind. Jim smiled back sheepishly. Morph floated around in front of Jim's face.

Braxton scratched 628's ears to help him relax. "How'd he get here?"

Jim shrugged. "Dunno. Musta snuck into mom's package. You guys can't let anyone know he's here. I'll find a way to get him home safely. Gray'll be furious if he finds out I'm hiding a pet."

Matt was the first to speak up. "You know I won't say anything. We'll help you hide him if needed."

Braxton nodded. "It's a good thing he's a shapeshifter, though, that'll make it easier to hide."

628's ears perked forward at that. He tipped his head curiously. "Shapeshifter?"

Morph spun around into an image of 628. He spread out his claws and bared exaggeratedly sharp fangs. He snarled viciously and attacked the air. The real 628's eyes went wide before he burst into giggles.

Jim let go of Sy's hand so he could grab Morph. "Alright you, that's enough of that. You're in trouble, you know." He tucked the shifter not unkindly into his pocket. "Stay there until I figure out what to do with you."

Sy leaned forward to take one last peek at Morph. "I like him. I've never seen one before. He's cute."

Jim focused his attention on opening his box. "Silver gave him to me, the last time I saw him." Sy set his hand gently on Jim's knee for comfort. Jim shrugged, trying to deflect the emotions he felt. "Let's see what mom sent." He pulled his letters from home off the top and set them to the side with Mr. Golds'.

Braxton swiftly moved over to help. "Great idea! I'm starved." He grabbed the overturned wastebasket and pulled it closer. Pulling out handfuls of the straw used to pad the package, Braxton shoved it into the trash. "Looks like some glass jars on this side."

Jim eagerly pulled one out. "Purp jelly! My mom always makes batches of jelly and pickled purps when they come into season! Look, there's the pickled ones! She's the best."

Braxton pulled out two loves of fresh sweetbread. "And here's what I was looking for! Smells like apple cinnamon!"

628 instantly perked up. He leaped up onto the bookshelf and seated himself politely. "Yum yum!"

Matt reached for one of the loves. "I'll get this one divided up. Jim you'd better hide the other or Braxton will be taking it back to his room tonight."

Jim laughed. "He can try." He slid the box to the side to give him and Sy a bit more room. Matt started handing pieces of bread around the room. Jim slid a few crumbs into his pocket for his troublesome pet.

Sy stood up and flashed the gathering an apologetic smile. "I have to head out a little early, guys. I'll see you at breakfast?"

Jim caught his wrist before he could make it across the room. "We've still got a while before curfew, are you sure you can't stay?"

Sy nodded. Carefully he extracted his wrist and started to edge his way towards the door. "It's kinda time sensitive. I need to talk to him before-" he cut himself off as he seemed to think better of his words. "I'll be back if I can. Promise." Matt was frowning as he cast quick looks between Sy and Jim.

Jim moved to follow him. "Well what if-Woah!" Jim went sprawling. His shins ached where he'd banged them against the metal rods that had not been there moments before.

"Sorry, Jim," Braxton retracted his leg. "I was trying to get bread crumbs out of my gears and accidentally activated the extension." He stood up and walked over to offer Jim a hand up. "C'mon, I'll walk with you and, oh. Sy's already gone. Sorry, man."

Varian was the only one left in the doorway, confusion etched across his face. Sy's swift exit had been convenient timing for him, but had raised a significant number of questions. "Is everything okay?"

Jim sighed and waved it off. "It's fine." If he was talking to Braxton, Varian, or both was up to their interpretation as far as Jim was concerned. He trudged back over to his bed and plopped back down. "Matt, make sure you save Sy another slice for when he comes back tonight."

Matt exchanged a grin with Braxton. "Sure, Jim. Here Varian, Mrs. Hawkins sent sweetbread."

AN: Hey guys! So, to answer the comment I got earlier, I actually have a head canon about that stitch doll in Jim's room! It's so fun that this question came during the chapter I'm introducing Morph!

Anyway, I'm assuming you mean the one shown briefly in the beginning of the treasure planet movie. My thoughts are that the intro takes place about a year, maybe two, after the events of Lilo and Stitch. So Stitch is a well known figure in the galaxy, due to all of his various actions, both legal and not. Jim, being an adorable 3 year old that he is, begs his mom for a Stitch doll, so Sarah makes him the one we see on his shelf.

Let me know if you have other thoughts on the matter!