Hawaiian and the Hunchback

A/N: Lucky, lucky chapter thirteen. There are some parts of this chapter that might seem awful stupid to you guys, like the whole "I can see the gargoyles move and talk" kind of thing. Forgive me. I know that it's very idiotic, but I just suspected that Lilo was more capable of seeing them than angry shudder Madellaine. So yeah, she can talk and see the gargoyles. Frollo's first appearance in this chapter! Scream or cheer, whatever my few readers choose to do, do it! He doesn't do much, just "appears", and Lilo doesn't really even acknowledge him or anything, so it isn't that momentous, but READ DARN YOU!!!! Read and Review. Pwetty Pwease?

Chapter 13

He had only two days left, and Lilo still was nowhere in sight.

Stitch scratched a distressed toe against the stone-paved floor of the great gypsy forum, growling with disdain at his luck. Lilo could be anywhere, and the minute but finalized time limit that he had been given was slowly slipping away through the inch-long nails of his bound hands. He twisted uncomfortably in his spot, shooting a nasty glance up at the old gypsy Matthias, whose fingers were busy yet again with Stitch's hair, tugging and pulling painfully on the roots. Matthias noticed the fleeting look and returned it with a clicking of his tongue.

"Little Creature should learn to respect his new master," he said. And, as if demonstrating his power over the poor experiment, he tugged a little harder than he had previously, causing Stitch to jump and yelp at the sudden sharpness. Matthias released a creaking laugh, shook another finger at his captive, and then turned to continue his work, leaving Stitch to curse him inwardly.

Stitch was tied up quite nicely (though the experiment would've bluntly disagreed that anything about the whole situation was "nice"), the whole of his body restrained, no spot of blue fur visible on his torso for the coils of rough rope. Stitch suspected he could've ripped through them if there weren't so many (Matthias had used more than one length), and besides, the Skeleton Guard would be watching for him now, and escape would be much harder. Even crawling on the ceilings wouldn't work; they were hidden everywhere, silent but ever watchful of those around them. Even Stitch had been surprised when they had pulled from the walls, perfectly camouflaged against the lining of rotting skeletons.

He had attempted escape earlier on. Matthias had suspected him tame enough to relinquish any thoughts of ever leaving, inexperienced old fool that he was, and had restrained Stitch only by a short tether tied to the wheel of his wagon and had left for a short nap. Stitch, after assuring himself that Matthias would not come back for quite a while, chewed through the rope without a hitch and rushed off to the mouth of the court without so much as a child noticing his disappearance. The catacombs were dark and maze-like, silent as the grave that it was hidden beneath. The only sound that he had picked up as he sniffed his way through the labyrinth was the splashing of his own feet through the rank sewage that seeped along the path's floors. He had seen the exit up ahead, picking up the ascending steps with his sensitive eyes, and for a moment he had thought he was safe. But, soon enough, those men had jumped from the walls, another sack was thrown above his head and the next time he found himself free, Matthias was glaring down at him as he lectured and ranted in an incomprehensible tongue. Stitch would've run then, but the sudden light was so dazzling to his eyes he had found himself rather bewildered for quite a time. It wasn't until later, when Matthias was thanking him, that Stitch had seen the costumed guard that had caught him.

Note to self, Stitch had told himself bitterly, maim him later.

Behind him, Matthias released a sudden happy exclamation.

"AHA!" He laughed creakily. "It is finished!"

Stitch lifted a curious ear to the gypsy's words, realizing the raking movements of Matthias' bony fingers had stopped tormenting his scalp. He found himself wondering just what the old gypsy was showing such excitement for. Matthias grabbed the thick binding ropes and lifted Stitch up off the uneven floor, tossing him ecstatically up into the air and catching him just inches before the poor creature collided with the cobbles. He repeated this several times, each time just narrowly saving the poor creature before he met the pain of the floor below, and once even receiving him upside down. Stitch felt himself becoming rather aggravated by Matthias' mysterious actions, not to mention quite sick (both physically and mentally), and found himself holding back several expletives as the old man twirled the animal about in a happy circle.

When Matthias had finished his nauseating little dance and half the court had turned away from their work to stare inquisitively at the aged gypsy, he drew the creature to him, Stitch doing his best to hold back any vomiting that he felt might occur, and, still grinning widely, brought him to a red jug.

"Look how lovely you look now, rabbit," he said, holding Stitch above the rim-cracked pottery. The crimson pot was filled halfway with semi-clear water, supposedly drinking water that Matthias apparently wanted to use as some sort of mirror. Stitch glanced back at the old gypsy, still suspicious, but then glanced back at the reflection in the jug, undeniably dubious, but nevertheless curious. The light was dim and his image was a bit difficult to discern, but after a while Stitch was able to sight his reflection. Just one glance forced his eyes open wide, and Stitch found himself throwing another one of his patented Experiment 626 temper tantrums.

After growling and wriggling so badly that Matthias dropped him into the water jug, Stitch found himself sitting rather miserably, once again tethered to the wagon's wheel, but this time soaking wet. He had smashed the clay pitcher into several large pieces with his leg force alone, and Matthias, having spent all happiness on finishing his task, found himself more or less on the verge of a tantrum of his own. He had stormed out, claiming he needed a break, and leaving Stitch's keeping to a child, who watched the creature curiously from a far corner.

Stitch glared at the child, who then started and looked away, uncomfortable toward being around such a strange beast. Once the boy had gone, Stitch released an indignant sigh, and fell irritably face down onto the court's floor. A lock of blue hair fell into his face, and he growled at the glittering of gold that was attached to his indigo fur. His do, his perfectly fine hairdo, was now ruined. Gold beads and other such knickknacks now hung off of the top of his head, and sadly, because of the state that his new "master" had left him in, he wasn't quite at liberty to undo them. If it was possible, he would've ripped the hair right off of his head, ornaments and all; Stitch really hated so much ostentation (though had was undeniably a show off in certain situations), and the gold was horribly gaudy. Besides, it clashed totally with his hair.

Stitch sighed and rolled over, unable to swat the strands from his face, and growled yieldingly. He was just too tired to do anything at the moment.

"Poor creature," a fluty voice sympathized. Stitch sniffed his nose uncomfortably; closing his eyes tight for what he knew was coming up. A second later, a black-gloved hand reached out and rubbed Stitch's head roughly. Of course, the experiment had expected this, familiar with the "king's" mannerisms, but Stitch said nothing; he was wearing out his stomach just keeping his feelings internal!

Clopin placed himself beside the blue experiment, crossing his legs and looking down at Stitch kindly.

"Don't worry, my dear dog," he said, smiling. "He'll grow on you. He may be an old fool who doesn't understand fully other people's feelings and thinks he's able to do your job better than you could," Clopin's voiced turned uncharacteristically embittered at this sentence, "but, he's the type that'll grow on you… eventually."

The gypsy king's smile slowly shrunk, and he shook his head, leaning backward and balancing himself on his palms. He lifted his face up to the curved ceiling in thought, his eyes deep and fogged. Seconds later, he sighed.

"I hope."

"Excuse me?"

Quasimodo looked down at Lilo questioningly, his fingers still resting on the shelf that he had been rummaging through only seconds before. Lilo ran her hands through Scrump's yellow hair as she sat on the wooden floor, glancing up from her doll's face to repeat her question.

"Who were you talking to?" she answered.

"What do you mean?"

"This morning, when you were still mad at me for breaking your window," Lilo began, grimacing at the recent and acrimonious memory, "you were outside and you were talking to somebody. I didn't get to see them or anything, so I kind of just wanted to know… Who were they?"

Quasimodo realized what she spoke of and he nodded his head quietly, sighing and returning his eyes to the rough shelves that he had constructed himself long ago. He had been looking for string, he remembered, and his old awl for his and Lilo's project. The rainbow mobile had been, for quite a while, all that he had been thinking about for the past few moments, but now he found himself quite preoccupied with her question. Who had he been talking to? She had asked… How should he respond?

"My… friends," Quasimodo answered, obviously not without any hesitation on his part. The hunchback had become more trusting of Lilo, true, but he still was rather intent on not seeming a fool to her. After all, his master's first reaction to Quasimodo's "friends" when the lad had gained enough courage to reveal them wasn't at all a pleasant one.

"Your friends?" Lilo asked, adopting a somewhat surprised expression. "I didn't know that you had any friends, Quasimodo…" She shook her head after speaking, apologizing immediately. "Not that I don't think that you can't make any friends, because you definitely can; I mean I am your friend and that's because you're nice! So, don't think that I mean that you couldn't do that, because I really don't want to hurt your feelings, not that I'm just saying that not to, because I would never…" Lilo had already been waving her hands about animatedly, and the whole conversation had just about tired her out, even though her words were rather short despite their rambling sense. She shook her head, putting her arms to her side. "Never mind! What I mean is… is, I haven't met your friends yet, and I want to!" She looked up at him unconvincingly.

Quasimodo chuckled to himself at the little girl's attempt at courtesy, knowing that if she hadn't tried to catch herself he would've easily allowed her to say whatever she wanted without claiming offense against her. After all, she was just a little girl, and though this was his first encounter with one, he was soon realizing what they had and what they hadn't (assuming that Lilo was a quite normal girl, which even he was having doubts about at the moment). Apparently, Lilo was at an age when tact was still at a developing stage, he shouldn't expect her to understand his feelings completely. But despite this leniency, Lilo was doing a wonderful job in empathizing with him so far, even though there were certain moments when it seemed she lost herself.

"So can I?"

Lilo's voice broke through his musing.

"Can you do what?" The teenager asked, straining to glance over his shoulder at the little girl.

"Meet your friends," Lilo answered. "I'd like to meet your friends."

Quasimodo stiffened momentarily at the request, coughing unsurely into his fist. He should've expected something like this.

"You'd like to meet my friends?" Quasimodo echoed questioningly, his fingers running across the splintering shelf without a real reason anymore.

"Yup," Lilo answered, smiling sheepishly.

Quasimodo sighed, pushing a flaming lock of hair away from his face and slipping the numerous strands behind one large ear. He stood motionless for quite a while, silent, and Lilo felt embarrassment rising up again within her. Maybe she shouldn't have asked at all…

"Alright," he replied after several moments of deliberation. He turned about, quite forgetting just what he was searching for amongst the crude and cluttered shelves, reaching a hand out to assist Lilo to her feet.

"Alright!" Lilo exclaimed delightedly, taking his hand, her arm circled about Scrump's neck.

Quasimodo led her down the system of ladders and steps that formed the path down to the outer walkway of Notre Dame, out into the crisp air. They headed to the stone balustrade that they had visited the night before, though a different area of it, Lilo realized, for here, four stone figures leant over, peering into the disorganized stretch of houses and streets that was Paris.

Lilo looked back and forth along the narrow way, searching for a sign of the bell ringer's comrades, her arm tightening about Scrump with excitement. But, all that Lilo saw was the length of concrete that led across the face of one tower, the hewn railings and the quartet of chipped, stone gargoyles. She glanced up at Quasimodo inquiringly, unsure if it would be stupid of her to question the situation, because for sure she didn't completely understand what was going on.

Quasimodo seemed rather steadfast though, standing and waiting as if his friends were standing before him in plain sight.

Maybe, Lilo thought after another uncertain scan, his friends are invisible. I mean, I used to have invisible friends, until Nani told me she didn't believe me when I told her it was their fault cookies kept on disappearing from the jar…

So, Lilo, sure that Quasi's friends were imaginary, approached the area, not wanting Quasimodo to feel stupid. She smiled weakly, and took a large sigh in preparation.

"Wow, Quasi!" She said, putting on her best excited voice as she could. "They look so cool!"

Quasimodo seemed taken aback for a second, both surprised that she hadn't reacted angrily as his master had done at first and at her unusual usage of the word "cool". Whether or not it was used with a positive connotation attached he wasn't entirely sure, but he assumed it was a good thing to be "cool". After all, she had said it with such enthusiasm. She must've meant well.

"You…" he started off, clearing his throat of any astonishment, "you really think so?"

Lilo nodded her head, hiding her face from Quasi as best as she could. Over the years, she learned that the expressions on her face were usually what gave her away during any deceit she might attempt.

Quasimodo approached the stone railing, placing a gentle hand on the back of one gargoyle, its face worn, its head crowned and horned.

"This is Laverne," he said, introducing Lilo to his 'friend'.

OH, Lilo thought sheepishly. So they weren't invisible.

"Hi," Lilo said, waving embarrassedly at the gargoyle. How else was she supposed to react? Maybe, Lilo thought, I should just pretend. I don't want to embarrass him. So that's what she did. She imagined the gargoyle alive, its eyes staring at her, its stone limbs moving much more flexibly than usual…

Suddenly, Lilo noticed with a start and exclamation, the statue soon became animated, hopping about face to look the young girl over. It worked! She screamed in her head. For some reason, that scared her immensely.

"This is your little friend, Quasi?" She - or he, Lilo speculated, because she couldn't really tell - asked the hunchback, turning to the teenager as she asked, but continuing to pass glances at the little girl, who still stood, surprised, to the side.

Quasimodo nodded, gesturing in her direction.

"This is Lilo."

Laverne nodded but looked at Lilo doubtfully.

"Isn't she the one who broke your, you-know-what?" She said after a time. The mention of the incident seemed to upset Quasimodo for a second or so, but he shook it off, and patted his friend on the back.

"It's alright, Laverne," Quasimodo said, forcing a smile. "Everything's fine now."

"You sure, Quasi?" Laverne asked. Lilo didn't seem to notice, but the aged gargoyle's eyes didn't move from her little form. She still seemed rather skeptical about the Hawaiian's intentions, especially after the emotional blow that Lilo had given her boy, which of course the bell ringer had told her all about.

"Don't be such a wrinkled old cynic," another voice said in response to the question. "NO ONE likes a cynic. I mean, I understand the wrinkled and old part; can't help that, can you? I mean, because, MAN are you wrinkled and old, but come on, she's what, ten?"

"Five," Lilo corrected the hog-like gargoyle, which had popped into life just moments ago. She was beginning to become comfortable about the whole situation. Seconds after he began moving, Laverne had promptly pushed him off the balustrade and told "Hugo" to "stuff some hose into it," or something to that effect. Lilo turned her head, not completely understanding the expression.

"Such a young little lady," the tallest gargoyle began, springing into animation as well. He seemed the stuffed-shirt type, Lilo noted, glancing at his pompous expression as he perused her as well. "It seems our Quasimodo has finally found himself a companion, a friend, someone to hold onto and trust!"

Quasimodo nodded proudly, blushing as Lilo glanced up at him with a smile. She was proud of him too, for one reason or another.

"This is Victor," Quasimodo said, coughing into his hand.

Victor bowed his head politely and Lilo returned it with a clumsy curtsy.

Hugo got up from his spot on the floor, rubbing his nose (which Laverne had punched disdainfully) and muttering about a chipped tooth. Shaking off the pain and the wisecracks that Laverne poured onto him once he had gotten to his…erm… once he had gotten up, he hopped over to Lilo. He eyed Scrump curiously.

"What's that you got there, kid?" He asked, pointing a stone hoof at the green doll. Lilo introduced the doll to the moving gargoyles, who all turned their attention to the little rag toy, crowding about Lilo to inspect it inquisitively.

"Boy is it ugly," Hugo said, his tact leaving him yet again. Lilo frowned unhappily at his remark, but Laverne had gotten him to shut up before Lilo could say anything.

"You're one to talk, pig face," She had said. Hugo was quiet for a moment, an indignant look on his fat face.

"You're just jealous that you couldn't have a face like mine," he said.

"You can have it," Laverne retorted, rolling her eyes. "Even though it might help in getting these BUZZARDS OFF MY BACK!" She exclaimed, waving her arms about and directing the last bit of her sentence to the many birds that had perched themselves on her head and wings. Lilo laughed quietly, hiding her smile behind her hand in an attempt to be polite. Gosh these people were fun.

"I've got to go polish the bells," Quasimodo said, grinning pleased at the quick friendship that the four had developed. "Sophia's getting a little cloudy."

"Don't worry," Victor told him, saluting him. "We'll take care of this adorable little girl, won't we now?"

"Yeah," Hugo agreed. "If she's with me, you know she'll be safe!"

"As if we'd leave her with you," Laverne said.

"Yes," Victor continued. "I was leaning more toward Laverne and me, Hugo."

Quasimodo left, laughing as Hugo released more indignant replies.

"Figures the little people would gang up on the big guy," he said, meaning he was the better of all of them.

"Very big," Laverne muttered. Hugo fumed, and Lilo laughed.

"Don't worry," Victor said, patting his friend on the back. "We don't all hate you."

"Why, thanks, Victor," Hugo smiled.

"So why don't you go play with Marie as we take care of Lilo?" Victor said, pointing to the final gargoyle that had remained motionless on the balustrade. Lilo looked at her quietly, at her slouched back, and wondered silently just why she chose to remain alone while the others didn't.

Hugo seemed rather angry at the suggestion and voiced his opinion to Victor and Laverne rather loudly. They both shushed him, clapping two sets of hands over his snout and shaking their heads angrily. Lilo watched their peculiar behavior with a lifted eyebrow.

"You imbecile," Victor hissed, glaring at Hugo. "No doubt she's heard you; you know how she'll react!"

"What are you talking about?" Lilo asked. Her voice was far from a whisper and all three jumped.

"That's Marie," Hugo said, gesturing to the gargoyle.

"Why's she sitting there all alone?" Lilo asked. Marie, still lurking on the ledge, turned her head and glanced over one deformed shoulder at the whispering group. It was a rather ugly creature, Lilo admitted to herself, but it would be rude to say so. "She looks sad," Lilo said, watching as the gargoyle sighed and supposedly returned its attention to the thriving city below. "Why don't we invite her over?"

"Look, kid," Hugo said, shaking his head wildly, looking at her as if she was crazy. "She isn't what you'd call a 'nice goyle'."

"And, in my opinion, she isn't sad as you suspect," Victor said, taking a fleeting look at the crouched stone creature. "She always looks like that… and it's of more a malicious nature, I think."

"How do you know?" Lilo asked, always willing to give people chances. "Have you asked her about it?"

The three gargoyles shared a three ways glance, an incredulous look on their stone facades. Could she actually be protecting Marie? The three huddled together, excusing themselves from Lilo, who waited, wondering just what they were discussing that she wasn't able to hear. Probably adult problems, she thought in annoyance. She shook her head, and then placed her attention back to Marie, who seemed to feel the weight of Lilo's eyes on her back. She turned and stared back, that same expression on her deformed face. Lilo continued her gaze with curiosity. What about her made the other gargoyles so reluctant to hang out?

"Why is she doing that?" Hugo asked his two comrades. "No one EVER wants to talk to Marie. She actually kind of scares me, really. Crazy kid."

"Don't think she's crazy just because she wants to give someone a chance," Laverne said. "Just think. Because of her, Quasi isn't that lonely anymore. Besides, she hasn't met Marie before, so she shouldn't know."

"Yes," Victor agreed. "We should just make sure that she never gets to meet her. I wouldn't want to let the poor girl suffer…"

"HEY! OVER HERE!"

The three nearly flaked from Lilo's sudden beckoning, and they turned to see her calling as Marie turned yet again, this time hopping to face the quartet. They stiffened in foreboding and they all three leapt to silence the girl. Lilo fought back in annoyance, wriggling as best as she could away from their stone fingers.

"What? What do you want? What are you…?"

"That's not a good idea, kid!" Hugo exclaimed, his arms around her waist.

"What are you talking about? I just wanted to…"

"Oh dear, it's too late," Victor said, and he let go, moaning and rubbing his temples. Everyone turned and saw the skulking Marie approach, her fists banging against the walkway as she moved.

"That wasn't very smart," Laverne told Lilo, and they all backed away as Marie made her approach.

"You called?" She said, staring at Lilo with her sunken eyes.

"Yeah. I'm Lilo," she said, sticking out a hand to receive the other's. Marie just stared at her outstretched palm incredulously, unmoving.

"What do you want?" She asked rudely, a growl in her voice. Lilo was a little surprised; after all, she was trying to be nice.

"Just a handshake," she said, a little confused at Marie's hostility.

"I'll give you a handshake," Marie said after several moments of consideration. The three gargoyles seemed a bit taken aback as the slouched figure reached out a large hand and took Lilo's, shaking it hard. Lilo withdrew her wrist after a moment, cringing at the slight pain.

"Thanks," Lilo said, rubbing her hand gently.

"So, I've given you a handshake," Marie said, a malicious look coming onto her ugly face. "Now I'll take your doll!"

With that, she snatched Scrump from Lilo's arm, the little Hawaiian just barely able to hold on as Marie backed away suddenly.

"Hey!" She exclaimed angrily. "That's mine!"

"Not anymore!" Marie snarled. "It's an even exchange! I gave you what you want, so you give me what I want! And I want your ugly doll!"

Lilo frowned vehemently and tugged Scrump's arm as hard as she could in an attempt to pull it back. She was suddenly beginning to realize that Marie was NOT a very nice person.

"Give it back!" Lilo screamed. "It's not ugly, and it's mine! Let go!"

"NO!" Marie returned, and she hopped up onto the balustrade, her height increase making it even more difficult for Lilo to hold on. Marie pulled harder, her stone muscles slowly starting to overpower Lilo's little ones. The Hawaiian strained harder, near tears. It was unfair! She couldn't just do that, stealing her doll!

Victor, Hugo, and Laverne, not able to stand back and watch this happened, grabbed Lilo's waist and assisted her, telling Marie to cease here discourteous effort and let Lilo be. But Marie, holding a big grudge against the trio for out casting her for so long, refused fervently and her yanks becoming stronger by the moment.

Just when Lilo felt she could no longer continue this venture and the hot frustration flowed down her cheeks in tears, she fell back suddenly onto the three friendly statues, a loud rip breaking the air. Marie was nowhere in sight, and Lilo felt a sense of foreboding for the single second that silence reigned. And then, out sounded a large crack of stone against stone, and screams from below floated upward. Lilo felt the color draining from her cheeks and she glanced at the arm that she still felt her fingers curled around. She gasped.

That was all that was there. An arm. The rest of Scrump had disappeared with Marie.

Lilo rushed over to the balustrade, glancing over the edge at the city below. The broken remains of Marie was scattered about the cobbles, a speck of green evident among the rubble. People below, luckily none hurt, surrounded the pieces, chattering, excited and frightened.

"What was it?" Lilo heard one say.

"A gargoyle," another answered. "It must've fallen off of Notre Dame."

"Fallen? Impossible! Someone must've tried to kill the judge! See, it almost crushed his carriage!"

Lilo noted a metal coach to the side, a startled black horse towing it.

"Who would've pushed it? There's only the bell ringer who lurks up there, and he wouldn't dare!"

"Yes," the other mused. "He's his foster son after all…"

"A GYPSY!" Lilo heard the exclamation, seeing a young girl below pointing up directly at her. "I SEE IT! A GYPSY, UP THERE!"

Everyone looked up and started exclaiming that they saw it too (all save a single man in black, who just stared up at her with out a heard word). Lilo paled and withdrew, pushing herself against the tower wall.

"I think I killed Marie," she told the three gargoyles. Not surprisingly they weren't at all concerned about that. What bothered them, though, were the screams of gypsy sightings. Lilo shrugged her shoulders at their questions, but looked away in fright, remembering that little girl and her point.

"I think I'm in trouble," she said.

She didn't understand how right she was.

A/N: And… finish. Not really an introduction to Frollo really, I'll admit, but there's more later. Sorry I couldn't just cram it all into one thing, but hey. Okay, Mrs. Yaarp16 or whatever… THANK YOU FOR YOUR REVIEW! AS YOU SEE I DID GO BACK TO STITCH! I had almost forgotten about him, to be truthful… And as for Arwen… You read the whole darn thing in one day? Dude! And thank you so much for your insights; they were rather helpful. And I guess I won't beat myself up anymore… I mean, I don't want you yelling at me… Just Kidding. I liked writing this chapter, especially the part about Stitch. And really, Seamless? You think? Wow. Thanks! New Chapter coming up in… A month maybe? I dunno. It's gonna be a good while, probably. It depends on how many people want to read it (which turns to be more people than I thought)! Um… It's either in a week or in a month. No more. Hopefully. Well… REVIEW! PLEASE!

And just for the hell of it…

FUN FACTS! WHERE I TELL STUFF ABOUT WHEN I WAS WRITING THIS STORY!

Fun Fact #1: Hawaiian and the Hunchback, though still in production, had gone through quite a few dramatic changes! One very big change that could be named is Quasimodo's age! Originally, Lilo came into Paris when Quasimodo was only about ten years old and a lot less understanding of the world below! I don't know when it changed, but there was a complication… I think it was that Lilo's influence on Quasi as a ten year old would change him too dramatically. So I made him nineteen instead! So, now you know!

-Guille van Cartier