It was a late stormy night on the island tonight, virtually everyone sleeping. All except for two. Ruben, who was up making himself a 3 am snack, and Lilo, Who was having a horrible nightmare.
Ruben walked back with his sandwich to his shared room with his cousin Stitch and Lilo.
He was about ready to settle and enjoy it, when he heard crying and soft mumbling. He walked over, Setting his sandwich down on his nightstand, walking over to the troubled little girl. Stitch was still sleeping.
"Lilo..." Ruben whispered, gently trying to shake her awake.
The little girl woke up quickly, panting heavily as she let out a scream, luckily no one being able to hear her. She saw Ruben, hugging the yellow experiment tight, sobbing in his arms.
Rubin, startled by this, caught her quickly, wrapping his arms around her, including his extra ones to comfort her.
"Shhh," Rubin shushed, rubbing Lilo on the back comfortingly. "It's okay kiddo, I gotcha...Shhhh." Ruben soothed.
Rubin repeated what he was saying to her a couple of times until she calmed down some.
Eventually, Lilo found her words. "I had a horrible nightmare Rubin! "She sobbed.
Ruben nodded understandingly. "About your Ohana?" Rubin asked softly.
Lilo nodded, starting to cry again.
Ruben squeezed her tight, rubbing her back again.
Rubin knew about what happened to Lilo's Ohana, Nani told him, after he witnessed Lilo in one of her depressive moods. She didn't show him the picture that was taken of them, that was for Lilo to do in her own time, and Ruben respected that. He would happily wait as long as it took her to show him.
"It was rainy, and they went for a drive..." Lilo said, unable to finish, as the memories were still so vivid.
"I'm sorry, Lilo..." Ruben said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why don't you look at your special picture? That makes you happy, right? "He tried, and Lilo smiled, getting the picture from underneath her pillow, showing it to Ruben.
He smiles at it forlornly, seeing the picture of the family together with happy little Lilo.
Ruben wonders if life would be the same had her parents still been here.
"Hey, how about I make you a sandwich? Peanut butter and anchovies, with extra anchovies." Lilo smiled. "Would you? "She asked.
"Of course, Lilo.." Ruben said gently.
Together, Lilo and Reuben walked in the kitchen, Ruben carrying his sandwich he'd yet to eat in one hand, gripping Lilo's hand with the other. They eventually made it to the kitchen, Lilo sitting on one of the chairs, keeping guard of Reuben's sandwich, while he went to make hers.
Ruben hummed mindlessly as he prepared it, trying to make the little girl he was preparing it for laugh, it worked, as she giggled a little. Ruben giggled too, quickly finishing up before he presented it to her. "Here you go, Lilo! One peanut butter and anchovy sandwich, with extra anchovies for my favourite gal!" He says, sitting down next to her and beginning to dig in to his sandwich, which was 10 times bigger than hers.
Ruben wondered just how damaged this family was. According to what he'd witnessed so far, he'd assume very. From what little tidbits he'd learned from Nani, to her little sister being almost taken away by social services, at least five times, to the amount of complaints from the neighbours about Lilo's dubbed 'Strange' activities, to so much worse, Ruben was very surprised that they were still somewhat functioning, but happy they were nonetheless.
Both of them had finished their sandwiches now, Lilo getting sleepy. Lilo let out a tiny yawn, rubbing her eyes tiredly. Ruben grabbed her hand, guided her back to her room, and helped her into bed. She was scared to go back to sleep, he could tell, so he gently snuggled up with her, allowing her to cuddle him. He gently started to stroke her hair, she turned to him looking sweetly at him. "Can you sing to me?" She asked softly.
Ruben wasn't much of a singer, he sang a little bit, but nobody had asked him to sing willingly. But, if it was for Lilo, he would gladly. He knew the perfect song to sing to her, too.
"Aloha ʻoe, aloha ʻoe.
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo.
One fond embrace.
A hoʻi aʻe au.
Until we meet again..." Ruben sang softly, stroking Lilo as he did so. Ruben kissed her forehead gently, snuggling her deeply. "I love you, Lilo." He said softly.