Lilo and I sat together on the porch of the hula school once we were allowed out. Jumba hadn't arrived yet and the wind was chilly, so I huddled close to my best friend.

The three brats passed by us. I just glared at them again, but Lilo didn't ever bother looking in their direction as their parents came to pick them up. Some of the adults stared at me from out of the car windows. I didn't care. I was used to being stared at.

A few minutes later Mertle stepped out beside us. She instantly rolled her eyes at the sight of us huddling together. I snarled at her, startling Lilo slightly. She gripped at the fur on my chest again.

"Freak-lo that freakish mutt better be on a restraint the next time we have class."

Lilo didn't answer her. I let go of her gently and stood up, blocking her from the brat and crossing my arms.

Mertle looked a little afraid. Good. She needed to back off. I tapped my foot.

She did slightly, but then she just glared at me. "For a dog, it's pretty strange how you act," she commented after a moment or so. That made Lilo look up. "I thought dog's walked on all fours."

"Stitch is special," Lilo responded to that.

"He sure is," Mertle replied nasally, and I sneered at her.

Lilo looked irritated. "Leave us alone, Mertle."

"Or what, weird-lo? You'll use your voodoo magic on me?"

Lilo just sighed. She said nothing and just sat down on the porch again. I could sense Mertle was ruining her mood again. I pulled out the crumpled paper from Lilo's duffel (I'd kept it) and started tossing it in the air in front of Mertle.

"Don't you even think about throwing that at me again," she said upon seeing that.

I just grinned at her and then lobbed it at her head again. She shrieked. The door opened and Moses looked out at us. "Mertle, please wait inside here. I think you have done enough for today," he said gently.

She scowled and picked up the paper, throwing it back at me as hard as she could. I just laughed and tilted my head to the side so that it flew past me. She looked annoyed, but went back inside after Moses.

I sat back down and pulled Lilo into my arms. "Mertle brat."

Lilo sighed. "I don't know why she hates me so much."

I felt sad at hearing that. All Lilo had ever done was be kind to Mertle. Mertle just treated her like a doormat.

"Lilo have meega. Have Stitch. Always be Lilo achi-baba."

She gave me a small smile at that.

I thought about Mertle's actions and how they'd got significantly worse over the years. At first it had just been the odd name or two, but now Mertle full on did her best to make Lilo miserable. Like Lilo, I didn't know why but I did have a small conclusion in mind.

"Mertle very jealous of Lilo."

"Hm?" Lilo looked at me at that. "What do you mean Stitch?"

"Mertle bully Lilo because jealous. Lilo... have me. Stitch, best friend. We close, yes? You and I?"

Lilo nodded. She pulled her fingers through the tuft of fur on my chest again.

"Mertle no have close achi-baba like that. Is jealous of bond. Between Lilo and Stitch."

Lilo pondered on that. "You know what... I think you're right, Stitch. Ever since we became best friends, she's been super mean to me."

I looked back towards to window, only to see that Mertle was looking out at us. Thankfully the window was shut, otherwise she would have heard me talking. She stuck her tongue out at me and I returned the favour.

There was a beep shortly after that, and I flipped my ears up. Jumba had pulled up in the buggy. We stood up and Lilo paused for a moment, before turning to kiss me on the nose. I smiled at her and picked up her duffel bag to carry it for her as we headed to the car.

Thankfully it was only raining very lightly at that point.

Later that evening, Lilo explained what had happened during the lesson to Nani at dinner. Nani looked tired, but she listened intently. Pleakley and David weren't home as they'd gone to see a movie but Jumba was at the table with us, also listening to what she was saying.

"I think I should have a word or two with Mertle's mother," Nani responded. "The bullying is getting worse by the sounds of it."

Lilo gave a sad nod. She looked at me. I nodded in agreement.

Jumba had his head in his hand in contemplation. "Should I make device to... shall we say, 'alter' mind of mean girl?"

"Jumba!" Nani responded to that, sounding alarmed.

"No," Lilo responded distantly, pushing her food around with her fork. "I don't think that would even work."

Jumba just shrugged. "Is unfortunate girl is very mean. But sadly, happens everywhere. When I worked for Galaxy Defense Industries, I had very annoying bully co-worker. Called me 'Jumbo Jumba,' and made mean jokes about Jumba. Boy, I was glad when he was fired," he laughed. "My doing, of course."

Nani looked at him quizzically but didn't care enough to ask any more questions about it. Lilo just sighed. I looked at Jumba and he looked at me.

"Papa talquez ni queeto?" I asked him and he chuckled.

"Long story 626," he responded, pushing his finger into the bridge of my nose and rubbing gently.

"So tell me, how was day being?" he asked me as Nani started to talk to Lilo about Mertle again. I explained to him in our language everything that happened, including the paper-throwing, to which he laughed heartily and said "Good work!"

I grinned.

He leaned over to me and whispered to me. "Next time, use ruler instead. Can be deadly."

That made me laugh and gave me possible ideas.

Once we finished our dinner, I waited for Lilo so that we could head up to the dome together. She lingered back with Jumba. Curious, I watched from the doorway, clinging to the wall, but hiding so they couldn't see me.

"Uncle Jumba? At KiKi's yesterday, what were you and Stitch talking about?"

Jumba had been reading another newspaper by that point. He put it down and looked at her. "626 was sensing something was bothering me. Was asking Jumba about it."

"Oh," she responded. "I like it when you talk to Stitch in your language."

Jumba chuckled. "Is native language on Kweltikwan. Is also being much easier to communicate with 626 in when I am needing to talk to him about important subjects. He finds English difficult."

"I know," Lilo responded. "Why is that?"

"626 is genius, like Jumba. Can understand 20 or so different languages. English was not one of them."

Lilo looked stumped at hearing that. "Stitch knows 20 languages?"

"Yes, but are being irrelevant here on Earth. Only useful in space and on certain planets."

"That's amazing. I only know a few Hawaiian words the most."

Jumba just smiled at her.

Lilo pulled out a chair and sat up beside him. "Yes little girl?" he asked her, pushing his paper aside to give her his full attention when he realised she wasn't going to leave any time soon.

"Can I see the transporter soon?"

"As I mentioned before, not while ship is being repaired. After, perhaps. Too much debris up there and little girl could easily be injured. Jumba does not wish for older sibling to rip head off."

"Okay. I can wait," she responded. "But... do you mind if I ask what was bothering you yesterday when you talked to Stitch?"

Jumba seemed hesitant. I knew it was because there were things he only liked to keep between us. Without her real father, she looked up to my father as a sort of father-figure; it was why she called him 'Uncle Jumba.' I remained hiding around the door-frame, watching.

Jumba pat her on the head. "I have been worried about 626. I still am very upset about..." he trailed off. Lilo looked sad. "It bothers Jumba."

"It bothers me too," she told him. "I'm glad Stitch was okay. But if you are sad about it, you can talk to me."

Jumba looked touched to hear that from her. He put her into his lap. "You are being only one in family that understands 626 on same level as Jumba."

She sighed. "I didn't then. I just ignored him and pushed him away. I blamed him for ruining my dance thinking he was doing it to me on purpose, but he was r-really... he was really dying."

I saw her tear up. She buried her head into Jumba's stomach and he put an arm around her. I put a paw across my chest. It hurt me to hear them both distraught over something they had no control over.

"Do not blame yourself. Will only make things worse. Trust me, I know. I have been blaming self too. For not doing more to protect 626 when police broke in. Stupid idiot police are to blame for molecules never being fully charged. Jumba has felt as though he has failed 626 multiple times. Has been scared of losing 626's trust."

I sat down on floor against the wall. Nani had gone into her bedroom by that point to do some reading, so I wasn't sure how long Lilo intended to talk to Jumba for. I would wait.

"I know that Stitch would never be angry at you about it," she responded quietly. "He loves you."

"I know," Jumba responded. He looked distant.

I wanted to go into them, but decided against it.

"Uncle Jumba?" Lilo asked, pulling back to look up at him. "Why do you always call Stitch '626?'"

"Eh... well, was name I was giving him when he was born. Is sentimental to me. I call him Stitch, but prefer 626. He is my experiment. My child."

Lilo smiled at hearing that. "You're his dad, right?"

"Yes. 626 is having Jumba's DNA."

Lilo smiled. "I know. Stitch was so happy when you told him that. You two are so alike in many ways."

"626 is what you are calling 'chip off old block' ey?"

Lilo laughed and rolled her eyes slightly. "Oh, I know that, especially when it comes to food," she giggled. "I guess... you're kinda like my dad now too. In a way."

"Am glad you feel that way, little girl." Jumba responded. Lilo hugged him.

I looked back in at them, only this time to have Jumba instantly lock eye contact with me and then I realised he knew I'd been there all along. I bit my lower lip. He didn't say anything though. He just stared at me.

"626 is waiting for you," he spoke up shortly after. I ducked back around the frame. "Off you go now, little girl."

Lilo smiled at him. "Okay. Thanks Uncle Jumba."

"You are being most welcome, child."

I heard Lilo start to head in my direction and jumped onto the couch, grabbing a book. She looked surprised when she saw me sitting there. "Oh. Hi Stitch."

"Hi Lilo!" I said to her. "Dome?"

She gave a nod, and we headed up to our bedroom.

I helped Lilo create a new mask that evening. Again, it was something that helped lift her spirits. While she sat quietly on the floor gluing some sequences to the front of the mask, I sat down beside her and watched her.

"Lilo talk to Jumba?"

She looked up at me. "Yeah. Sorry I took so long. He told me something really cool!"

I tilted my head. "Gaba?"

"That you can speak 20 languages. Is that true?"

"Ih," I nodded. "Naga really need use."

"I know. He told me that too," she responded. "Still though, that's so cool!"

I just shrugged. It wasn't really anything special to me. I would rather be able to speak fluent English than 20 random alien languages. It would make talking to Lilo so much easier, because I really struggled with English.

Lilo stuck her tongue out a little as she worked. Once done, she stood up and went over to the mirror. I put the mask on top of her head and folded my arms behind my back, watching her to see what she thought.

She smiled. "Wow..."

"Better than old!" I agreed. "Lilo lucha bootifa!"

"Thanks Stitch."

She walked over to her bedside cabinet and I wondered what she was doing. When she turned back around after pulling something from the drawer, she approached me and pulled out my paw, slipping a gleaming pearl bracelet over my wrist.

"Gaba eiek?"

She smiled. "These were my mom's. Nani showed me them shortly after you..." she sighed. "A few days after that. I want us to wear them during the dance. They are supposed to bring good luck and happiness."

She paused. I held her hand in concern, seeing the look on her face.

"I don't care about winning this time, Stitch. I realised that I don't need to win things for mom to be proud of me. You're so much more important than a competition. As long as we're together, and having fun... well, that's all that really matters to me."

I smiled at her. "Lilo mom proud of you for being Lilo."

She gave a nod.

"I wish you could have met them, Stitch. Mom would have loved you. Dad would have too."

I looked at her sadly. "If Lilo parents around, we might not have met." I told her quietly.

She gave a nod. "That's true."

She hugged me. I rubbed her back. "I can't imagine life without you."

"Same," I responded.

She went quiet again, staring down at the pearls. She held them in her hands, stroking them gently.

"Sometimes I wonder if mom and dad are watching over me from up there. Or wherever they are. And that they can see you and Jumba and Pleakley. They know that you're a part of our o'hana now."

I looked at her thoughtfully. "Meecha aka?"

She sighed. "I have you watching over me now."

I nodded. "Meega protect you. Always."

She sat down in front of the mirror. I sat down beside her and leaned my head against her shoulder. We both looked at ourselves.

"I wonder why Mertle hates me so much," she brought up.

I sighed. "Mertle idiot," I told her. "Senseless brat. No let me but... I would deal with."

"I wish you could deal with her. But we can't risk your identity being exposed. Kumu was a little suspicious today. I could tell. They really do think you're a dog."

I laughed. "Yeah. Stitch amaq'huet afhar."

"Hm? I haven't heard you say that before," she said to me.

Lilo knew most Tantalog from living with me for 3 years, but there were still a few terms she hadn't heard from me. I actually didn't know the English word for what I'd said. Unlike David and Nani, Lilo had seemed to have a knack for picking up the language quickly. There were words I hadn't even explained the meaning to her and she knew what I was saying. I had always figured it was because of our connection. We could always sense a lot about each other just by looking at each other.

I sat in contemplation.

"Stitch naga nota word. Soka. But... isa like... find it funny? Human's no know."

She giggled. "It is pretty funny Stitch."

I grinned at her as she stared at me in the mirror. She put her hand on my paw.

"I don't care if Mertle call's me obsessed. I love you, Stitch. And I will always put you first above everything. I promise."

I closed my eyes at that. Her words filled me with warmth. I loved her too and I would always put her first. I would always support her.

I put my paw over the top of her hand. "Lilo. Stitch loves you too," I smiled at her.

She went quiet again, just gazing into the mirror. I rested my head against her shoulder again. Eventually she drifted off on the spot. I must have done so as well because I woke up to find a blanket over us. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the time. It had been Nani that had come in to us. Her scent lingered in the room.

I picked up Lilo in the blanket and placed her on my bed before sitting and stroking her hair as she slept.

I knew she would grow up one day. She would surpass me in height and become as tall as Nani. I dreaded that day but it was inevitable. Human's aged and grew old. I knew I wouldn't grow any taller. I would grow old too, but not for a long, long time. I was designed to last and I would easily out-live all of my o'hana. The thought often plagued my mind.

As did the thought of losing Lilo.

It was why I was over-protective of her. She meant the world to me and her love had been the one thing that gave me a second chance at life. Not only had she revived me, she'd given me a purpose in life other than destruction and death. I saw the world differently because of her and it was also her that had spared me from a lifelong sentence on a desert asteroid. There was so much she had done for me in my life. The only way I knew how to repay her was showing her that I would love her for as long as she needed me. I would always be there to support her and protect her.

I needed her. And I knew that she needed me.

There were times at night I thought about the future. Lilo would mature soon. In about four or so more years, she would start reaching puberty. I also dreaded that time because I knew she'd probably find a boyfriend and spend all of her time with him. I just hoped if she did so, she wouldn't abandon or forget about me. I'd never brought this up to her because I didn't want to cause tension, but it did make me worry. We really were on a time limit.

I was different. I was much younger than she was, so by the time she reached puberty I would be as old as she was when she met me. My body would always be young in appearance and I would never speak as fluently as humans do, but I was already mature. I was an alien, but I was also a genetic experiment. I would hit puberty one day too, but being what I was, it wouldn't make much of a difference to how I was now. I couldn't get wiser, or smarter. I couldn't learn as I got older, as Lilo would do so. I was created to be smart from the moment I was born. I had the mind of a super-computer, which is why I was already mature.

I often wondered about Nani and David. Now that David had moved in with us, it seemed the two were much closer. I had often heard Nani up late talking to him in the guest room. I hadn't snooped as it was none of my business as to what she discussed with him, but there had been a few times she'd talked about the day of Lilo's dance with him. Both Nani and David had been unaware of what was going on until it was too late. Only later that night had Jumba fully explained what had happened, holding me tightly in his arms. Nani was angry with him for not mentioning it to the family sooner, but she had been far too upset to hold a grudge against him about it. Pleakley had been the only one that knew. Lilo must have finally realised something actually was wrong with me after I scratched her.

I had a small idea that I was possibly starting to perish at the time. I knew something was wrong with me, but I'd brushed it off. When I had the final glitch in the ship that was when I knew it was too late. That glitch burned out my circuits from the inside. I never wanted to go through that sort of pain again. I still have no idea how my circuits were repaired simply from Lilo's love. When Jumba scanned me inside the ship after I was revived, my circuits were in tact. It was nothing short of a miracle. I always thought that maybe the Hawaiian spirits were watching over me. Or maybe even Lilo's parents.

I had a feeling that Nani and David would marry in the near future. It made me wonder about Lilo and if she would ever do the same. The thought made me happy, but sad at the same time. It would be a new chapter in her life. I was glad that wasn't going to happen for a long time yet.

I sighed and watched her as she slept.

She would always be there though, even if she did find a human to love and spend the rest of her life with at some point. And even if one day she did forget about me, as much as the thought scared me, I would respect her decision to move on with her life. I would always remember her.

For now, I just had to cherish what I had. My best friend, her wonderful friendship and her love.

She startled me a little when she woke up suddenly. I pulled my claws out of her hair. She rubbed at her eyes. "Stitch?"

I just gazed at her.

"I don't recall falling asleep," she told me drowsily before noticing me staring at her. "You okay?"

"Ih."

She looked at the alarm clock on my bedside cabinet. It was only a little after our usual bedtime. She looked back at me again and I yawned after she did.

That made her giggle. I smiled.

"Are you tired?" she asked me a moment or so later, and I shook my head.

Lilo pushed back the cover and stood up. She made a noise of surprise when she realised she'd stepped on something. I peered down curiously to see what it was as she picked it up. I'd never seen her face drop so fast and I instantly pushed myself off the bed to see what she was looking at.

It was my old badness level chart with the big red cross I'd put through it.

I put my paw on her shoulder as she stared at old and damaged piece of paper. I wondered where it had come from and figured it must have shifted from under the bed or something when Nani had put the blanket over us before. I always thought it had gone in the bin. Maybe not.

She was quiet. Her voice cracked when she finally spoke. "Stitch... I never asked you why you d-did this."

I pulled the paper away from her hands and set it down on my bedside cabinet. I held both her hands and looked into her face.

"After Stitch scratch Lilo. No more goodness. Cancelled out. Had to leave. Stitch too dangerous."

She teared up, and I instantly picked up a tear with a claw. "No. No crying," she looked away from me and I arched my head over to peer at her. "Green chart good chart now, okeytaka?"

She didn't answer me. I sat her down on the bed and picked up her brush, combing it through her long black hair. I needed to get her mind off it.

She sighed.

"Lilo have pretty hair," I told her. "Nice and long."

She was just quiet. I continued to brush it gently. Finally she spoke.

"I don't deserve you."

I put a paw to my heart at hearing that. I pushed my forehead against her back. "I think you deserve me."

"But... I was so obnoxious. I was so mean. I shouldn't have acted like that."

I knew where this conversation was headed. I sighed. I didn't mind her venting, but I did wonder when she was going to start to allow herself to move on. I would never push her though. I would give her as much time as she needed.

"Mistake. Lilo naga nota. Stitch has made mistakes too. Ochamba bad."

"It still doesn't excuse what I did to you."

"Ih meecha. But Stitch still forgives you."

She reached around her hand for my paw and I instantly put it into her hand. I continued to brush her hair. I'd always found her hair very interesting. I recalled Jumba once having black hair too. I wasn't entirely sure when he'd lost his hair, but I did remember seeing pictures of him with it.

Lilo had gone quiet again. I stroked my claws through her hair.

"Lilo feel better?" I asked.

"Only a little."

I stopped what I was doing and went around and sat in front of her. I peered up into her face.

"Why so sad today?"

She eventually looked at me. I tilted my head slightly.

"It's Mertle, Stitch. I'm scared she's going to ruin our dance on the night of the competition and embarrass me in front of everybody."

"Won't if Stitch has anything to do with it," I responded lowly. It made her give me a curious stare.

"Not hurt," I told her. "Won't let ruin dance."

She gave a slight nod at that. "I guess I'm just tired of her being so mean to me. I've had enough to deal with," she paused slightly. "Wh...what are you going to do?"

"Not let ruin dance, or hurt Lilo any more."

She seemed hesitant. I knew why.

"Okay..." she said softly. "As long as you promise me you won't risk yourself. Do you promise?"

"Chi chabada," I promised and offered her my pinky. She looped hers around mine again in promise. I smiled at her.

She simply reached up and pat me on the head. When I did it back to her she laughed.

"Silly Stitch," she said, offering me my nightie. I took it from her and pulled it on. She handed me my turtle plush and I snuggled it happily.

It was my favourite plush. Nani had bought it for me at a yard sale one afternoon. Turtles and ducks were my favourite animals. I often saw ducks outside in the small river that went behind our home. Sometimes mother ducks with babies. They always reminded me of the 'Ugly Duckling.' Lilo seemed to know what was on my mind and pulled over the book, opening up to the picture where the ugly ducking's family finds him. I smiled and ran my paw over it.

Out the corner of my eye I saw Lilo swat the old badness level chart onto the floor in one swift agitated movement. Almost similar to what I'd done when I'd swatted Lilo's pictures of me into the river.

After that, she put her arm around me and rested her head against my shoulder as we looked at the book together.

As she fell asleep beside me, I gazed across to the picture on the floor.

"Never again..." I muttered against her shoulder as I drifted off to sleep.

If only I'd known then how wrong I was.

A/n: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review and let me know your thoughts!