A Simple Night.

Stitch sat inside the restaurant, silently awaiting his hamburger. The movie had ended a couple of hours ago, 625 and Angel had gone back home for some time together. Stitch smiled, he needed some time to himself anyway...

The restaurant was mostly empty, except for a few patrons of the night, none of which Stitch knew. He sat there thinking of the family reunion that was just around the corner, 'Only the day after tomorrow,' Stitch thought.

He stared outside into the night air. Everything was still, no cars drove by, no one walked the streets, it was quite peaceful. Yet Stitch's mind continuously went back to Houdini, and the warnings that Houdini was giving Stitch. Yet Stitch eventually shrugged them off, Angel said Houdini was crazy, maybe it was true...

The door to the restaurant opened with the jingle of a bell, and Stitch turned to see a very familiar face. The experiment was a brilliant yellow, his antennae formed like lightning, and his eyes the brilliant color of blue. Sparky entered the restaurant, and turned and spotted Stitch, a smile erupted on his face as he walked over to see his old friend.

"Hey there, Stitch! Long time no see!"

Stitch stood and embraced his old friend, "Sparky, it's been too long."

Sparky shook off Stitch and got a good look at him, "Well, I can see you're still the lady killer!"

Stitch smiled, "Yep, I'm goin' down to see Clip once I'm through here."

A worried look appeared on Sparky's face, and Stitch laughed, "I'm just kidding Sparkster! I know you two are married!"

Sparky laughed and they both took a seat in the booth, "You had me goin' Stitch, but you know that I was always better with women than you!"

Stitch grinned, "Oh yeah? What about that time you tried to go with Bonnie to the Winter's festival, and she said that she'd rather go with someone with an un-fried brain?"

Sparky nodded, "Okay okay, enough, there's only one woman for me now."

Stitch stopped laughing and looked at him, a smile still on his lips, "How's it feel buddy?"

Sparky looked at him, "It feels like the best thing in the world Stitch, the best thing in the world..."

They sat there for a minute, their silence echoing their happiness. Then the waitress came by and handed Stitch his hamburger, and Sparky ordered a coffee. Once the waitress brought Sparky his coffee, the conversation renewed.

"So, Stitch, what have you been up too?"

Stitch told him of the war. He told Sparky of the deeds he had accomplished, of the tragedies he had witnessed, and of the victories he shared. He told Sparky stories of blood and grit, of comrades and tears, and of victories and defeat. Sparky absorbed it all, like a dry sponge, yearning for moisture.

Stitch finished his story and asked Sparky, "What about you?"

Sparky started from the beginning, "Well, a little while after you left, I married Clip. Life has been good to me, I've got a job at the power plant, I'm one of the chief supervisors."

"Congrats."

Sparky nodded, "Yeah, with the money I'll be able to pay for the baby."

Stitch beamed, "Baby? When's that going to happen?"

Sparky beamed right back, "Not for another eight months, we just found out. Oh, I'm excited though! He's gonna look just like his old man!"

"Sparky, you know it could be a girl..."

Sparky continued to beam, "Well, then she'll have the beauty of her mother!"

They laughed for a moment, two friends catching up on times long since passed. Then Sparky stopped and stared at Stitch, "You know, you would've been my best man..."

Stitch stared at Sparky, suddenly it hit him at how many wonderful things he had missed. The times on earth, Stitch realized, were moments he would treasure forever, that he would never forget, yet he feared he could never partake in again...

Sparky looked at Stitch, "I'm sorry man. I shouldn't have-."

Stitch shook his head, "No, no it's okay."

Sparky continued to stare at Stitch, "Have you...seen her yet?"

Stitch shook his head again, "No, no, it's going to be really hard to face Lilo again..."

Sparky reassuringly patted Stitch's shoulder, "Look man, what happened back then, it wasn't your fault. You keep blaming yourself for it, yet there is no reason to blame you, it was-."

"Stop Sparky."

Sparky nodded and stared out the window, Stitch finished off his burger. They both sat there a moment, then Sparky stood up, "Well, I've gotta go get Clip."

Stitch stood with him, "I'll go too, I want to know what she sees in you, and not me."

Sparky laughed and motioned for Stitch to follow him, and they made their way into the night. They walked along, the street lamps illuminated their path every few seconds. Finally, they came to a large beauty parlor, where sitting on a bench outside, was Clip. She looked the same as when Stitch last saw her, of course, she was now taller due to the upgrades, as was Sparky. When she saw them coming she ran to Sparky and threw her arms around him.

She laughed, "'Bout time you got here, leaving poor defenseless me all alone."

Sparky smiled, "You know I would protect you from whatever the night holds."

They kissed each other, Stitch looked away, the awkwardness coming onto him again. Sparky and Clip ended their embrace, and Clip got a good look at Stitch, then recognition appeared in her eyes, "Stitch! Is that you?"

Stitch turned and smiled, "Yep, long time no see Clip."

Clip giggled and ran over and embraced Stitch in a friendly hug. Stitch smiled, Clip was still her same old self. Clip let go and got a good look at him, "My my, how have you been, Stitch?"

Stitch smiled, "Oh, you know, alright..."

Clip smiled and hugged him tighter, "It's so good to see you again!"

Stitch looked at Sparky and winked, Sparky made the decapitation motion with his finger.

Stitch and Clip stepped back from each other, Clip simply beamed, "Oh, I can't believe your finally back!"

Stitch smiled, "I can't believe you and Sparky are married, and you're going to have his child!"

Clip smiled, "Well you know, he is the most handsome devil on this island."

From behind Clip, Sparky stuck out his tongue at Stitch, Stitch smiled.

Then Clip turned to Sparky, "Honey, we should really get home, it's very late..."

Sparky understood, "Stitch, you need to get home too, be sure to get in after midnight."

Stitch stared at them, "Why midnight?"

Sparky smiled, "Well, then my dear, you'll turn back into a pumpkin, hahaha!"

Clip shook her head, "Seriously Stitch, it is better to get in before midnight."

Stitch began to wonder, "Does this have anything to do with what Houdini told me today?"

Sparky and Clip seemed to freeze, Stitch stared at them, 'What's wrong?' he wondered.

Sparky walked over to him, "When, when did you see Houdini, Stitch?"

"Just...earlier...why? What's-."

"Go home Stitch, and don't talk to Houdini, please, he's just...got some problems."

With that, Clip and Sparky left Stitch. Stitch turned and began to walk towards Angel's, his mind was racing, but he kept turning back to the family reunion. He thought of Lilo, he remembered the times they had together, and even some of the times, she spent with someone else...

Stitch was sitting on the couch, his favorite show was on, 'Cops', Stitch loved it. He sat glued to the T.V., watching as the good guys continued to triumph. He heard the sound of laughing outside, and he knew it was Lilo, and her new boyfriend Ricky. They had been seeing each other for a long time now, and Stitch often found himself sharing his time with old experiment friends like Sparky and 6-2-5, other times he would help Jumba train the new experiments.

Lilo came in, and Ricky shortly thereafter, he was tall, his hair a vibrant red, he always wore the same leather jacket and boots. Stitch stared at him, and when Ricky noticed Stitch, a look of haughtiness appeared on his face. Stitch knew Ricky from town, he had seen him from time to time, Ricky was always poking fun at the experiments, because he knew they couldn't legally do anything against him. Human's were not to be injured or threatened in any way, or the experiment would be dehydrated, and stored away.

Lilo saw Stitch and gave him a hug, a look of disgust filled Ricky's eyes, Lilo smiled at Stitch, "What are ya' doin', tiger?"

Stitch pointed to the T.V., "Eetsa new show!"

Lilo smiled, then Ricky said, "How do you understand what that...thing says?"

Stitch hadn't received his new enhancements yet, Lilo turned to Ricky, "He's Stitch, and it's easier for me because I've lived with him most of my life."

Stitch sighed, Lilo didn't know about Ricky's other life, she only saw the good side, she never saw the bad. Stitch didn't want to tell her, it would only hurt Lilo.

"Oh," Lilo said, "I've got to get my phone!"

Lilo turned and walked towards the elevator, Stitch got up and followed. When they got to the room, Lilo flopped on her bed and giggled, "Isn't he great?"

Stitch brushed aside her naivety, "Uhh...ih. He, not like Stitch?"

Lilo looked at him, "Ohh, he's just a little nervous about experiments and all, don't worry! He'll grow to love you!"

Stitch nodded, "Wega, gonna do, someting?"

Lilo smiled at Stitch, "Oh of course. Don't worry, I'll hang out with you too, I've just...been wrapped up right now."

Stitch nodded, he sat down on his bed, Lilo grabbed her cell-phone and headed for the elevator, "Don't worry Stitch, everything will be fine!"

Lilo descended back down to Ricky, leaving Stitch to think. 'What's wrong with her? This isn't like Lilo! Doesn't she know? Can't she tell? What's he have that I don't?'

Stitch flopped on his bed and stared at the ceiling, the nostalgic feeling of being alone, settled in...

Stitch was brought out of his revery when he noticed where he was. In his constant thinking, Stitch had taken a wrong turn. He looked around, and realizing where he was, turned down a side street and headed for Angel's.

On his way there, he saw no sign of life. The moon hung full in the sky and a chilling wind blew. Stitch shivered under his T-shirt, and he noticed another traveler on the road.

This figure, was clad in an entirely encompassing black cloak. Stitch could see nothing of the man's features except for his black boots, silently thumping against the concrete. Stitch watched him on the other side of the street. The figure turned and looked at Stitch, yet Stitch could not see his face, only the darkness inside of the cloak.

Stitch began to walk faster, something about the cloaked man...disturbed him. He began walking faster, trying not to let his fear escape. Yet when Stitch looked behind him, he saw the man, standing still and staring at him, the figure did nothing but stare at Stitch. Then the figure turned away, and disappeared into the night. Stitch couldn't control his panic, for some reason the figure frightened him greatly, he turned and ran until he reached Angel's, and upon entering, he locked all the doors back.

Stitch caught his breath and settled down. He rationalized that the stranger was nothing more than a rag-tag bum, roaming the streets. Stitch settled down, and crawled into bed, thinking about the reunion the day after the next.