Chapter Three: Standstill

Twilight was well underway when the group of four returned to the house, Hammerface's antenna pricking up at the sounds of conversation emanating from inside.

They'd spent the day with Stitch, allowing him to show them the new stretch of tide pools exposed by the far end of the cove the path led to. He'd cheered up over time, but Hammerface still turned his head to the occasional sniffle and crack in his throat. He'd taken to leading Stitch back by the hand-Sparky couldn't touch him while his fur was still wet, and Nosy had gone ahead to try and see whether Heat was awake from his reprogramming. He likely was by now, but Hammerface knew he'd be out of commission for the rest of the night regardless.

Nosy opened the door for the rest of them as they approached, walking in to the sight of Lilo sitting at the table with Jumba, Pleakley, and Tigerlily. Their discussion appeared tense at first, but Lilo's smile when she noticed their arrival told Hammerface everything he needed to know.

"Is he…?"

"Waking up? 609's been awake and even better-I was able to maintain energy storage." Jumba said, smiling to the tool experiment, "He's being perfectly fine, and 601 is being with him right now."

"Both of them are in high spirits; it's a huge change from when I saw them this morning." Pleakley added, "But about that new basin…obviously we should start thinking about how to bring it back."

"There is that…" Hammerface said, "Then again, it used to be the clearing where Gantu's ship crashed. Us going in there and restoring it could give us a better opinion of it."

"But…one bridge at a time; we have a lot to do." He added, "Don't worry though, I'll send you a map of the terrain when I can."

"We were waiting for you four to get back; everyone else is already situated, so all we've got left is those two on the ship." Tigerlily explained, nodding in the direction of the hatch, "Speaking of. We bought him some stuff since he's energy-based. 'Least that's what Witch says."

"Ah; yeah. We need a lot of sugar to keep going." Sparky explained, "Back on Kweltiquan a few of us just lived on dessert."

"Wouldn't shock me; you guys proved yourselves a weird bunch even for experiments." Tigerlily said, "In any case, he seems to be doing good according to Kixx, so all that's left is for you four to give the go-ahead."

Despite the good news, Stitch couldn't help but gulp, his ears flattening in apprehension. Heat may be cured from his haywire abilities, but Stitch knew as well as anyone that said abilities were only the tip of the iceberg when it came to Heat and his chronic illness. After all, he'd been there when the four were undergoing treatment and he'd seen for himself how difficult their health problems could be. To know he'd had a hand in Heat's health going downhill made him…hesitant to see him.

He felt responsible for this, and he supposed it was starting to become obvious to everyone else. His gaze had turned itself towards the floorboards of the house, and although he could hear reassurance from the earlier series, he could still feel a knot growing in his stomach…

"Hey…Stitch?"

He glanced up at the sound of Lilo's voice, seeing her crouched down and offering him a soft smile, "It's okay; I can come in with you if you want."

"Isa just…meega…meega really did let 'em down, so…"

Hammerface and Nosy looked between each other before the former sighed, "...If it makes you feel any better, they're not angry with you."

"They are however, tired of the antics. That I will admit." He added, "But that isn't the same as being angry with you. In reality…none of us are. And those who were have enough distance from the emotions now."

"At the very least they won't be like him when he called ya after Hokū was born." Sparky said, "We're not mad…anymore that is."

Despite everyone's assurances, Stitch couldn't help but shrug, still thinking back to the reason Heat had to come to Izayoi. "Takka, isa just…"

"Can meega see them on my own? First?" He asked, raising his ears back up in interest, "So meega can get the apology out of the way? Or…"

The others exchanged surprised glances before Hammerface looked up at Jumba and Lilo, "Should he…?"

Jumba thought for a moment, "Well, 609 is being awake, I will be warning he's still tired from reprogramming. Haven't interacted much with 601, but he is understandably stressed given circumstances. Little Girl might have more input, but I'm being unsure about you going alone to see them 626."

At the mention of her nickname, Lilo nodded in agreement, pulling a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "They've…they've been through a lot Stitch. I dunno. It won't be like you and me talking about what happened between us; they're kind of nervous to interact with you."

"...So meega should go with everyone else then?" Stitch asked, but Hammerface shook his head, evidently thinking to himself while Lilo and Jumba had been speaking, "...It's not a bad idea, I'm just unsure if they'll allow it. Thing is, they don't want to hurt you Stitch; if anything, they know you're just as fragile as them right now."

"How about this." Nosy offered, "I call 'em and ask. If they say yes, a few of us set up outside for backup in case things get hairy. If it's a no, then we take you around to see Ani and Angel, then let you in in small groups."

"Sounds good or…?" He asked, and Stitch nodded, breathing a sigh of relief, "Ih-takka Nosy."

"That'll work for sure; if they know they have the others to rely on, then they'll be more open to talk." Lilo added, "Hammerface, you wanna call them or should I?"

The tool-headed experiment smiled, "I'll do it; they'll be happy to have the backup. That and you apologizing upfront. I know they'll appreciate it."

Stitch grinned and opened his mouth to speak, but was suddenly interrupted by Ani and Yuna's entrance into the room-followed by several experiments. Thresher sheepishly raised a tentacle to Stitch in greeting, but Plasmoid sauntered right up to him, pointing a leg back towards the two girls.

"So, this is your new niece, that is your new friend. They've been bouncing back and forth between you and Heat as a topic of conversation all day, I'm tired, I want to visit Heat, and you need to actually meet Ani." He listed, fixing Stitch with a raised and permanently furrowed brow as he held up fingers to keep track of the scorpion experiment's complaints.

"Plaz, I think-"

"Uh-meega's going to see Heat and Kixx first. Say soka and get it out of the way…" Stitch said, explaining for Thresher as Ani shyly waved to him. He smiled and returned it, but not without glancing towards the ship parked outside, "Aloha Ani! Meega's just gotta take care of one more thing, okitaka?"

Ani nodded, Yuna crouching down to his level and giving him a large smile, "We know; we're really happy to see this Stitch!"

"Yeah-mom told me all the stories; I knew you could make up-all you had to do was talk to each other." Ani added, readjusting her Scrump tucked in between her arms, "Right mom?"

"Well, that's the first step…" Lilo said, sheepishly placing a hand to the back of her head, "We've still got a ton of work to do."

"Speaking of." Hammerface's voice came from the kitchen as he locked his phone, "You're good to go for the next part. They both said yes to you visiting 'em before us."

Stitch took a deep breath and looked back down at Plasmoid, then up at Thresher. Hammerface had been right-more than right in fact; neither of his cousins looked upset with him-Plasmoid's furrowed eyebrows aside. They looked apprehensive, as though they were waiting for him to agree to take the next step.

Just from looking at them, Stitch could tell it'd be a long process. But…these were steps he had to take. If not for himself, for his cousins, for Ani, Yuna, Hokū and Lilo and Nai and so many others.

It was well and truly time for him to stand still.

"Okitaka," He said, looking around at the group, "meega's ready to go and see them."