I had another bad dream that night. It woke me from my sleep and I sat up panting slightly. I needed a drink. I perked my ears and I could hear Lilo breathing deeply above me in her bunk so I knew she was in a deep sleep. I looked at the time. It was approaching midnight.

As quietly as I could I pushed back my covers and headed downstairs. Lilo was a light sleeper and one small noise was enough to jerk her out of even a deep sleep.

The corridor was dark. I guessed everybody else was asleep. I passed by Nani's room but saw that her light was on. She was probably up reading.

Heading into the kitchen, I climbed up to the glass cupboard, opening it up to get a glass before climbing back down to the tap and filling it up. As I headed back out to go up to the dome, Nani's door opened. She paused and stared at me. I stared back up at her.

"Oh... Stitch. What are you doing up?"

"Had bad dream..." I told her, looking away from her. "Woke meega up."

"Are you okay?" she asked me. "It wasn't because of today, was it?"

I sighed. She picked me up and brought me into her bedroom, sitting me down on her bed. I stared at her curiously as I had a drink. She sat down beside me after closing her door, taking the glass from me once I'd had my fill and putting it on her bedside table. I watched her.

I'd rarely been in her bedroom. It hadn't changed much over the past few years. I noticed a picture on her bedside table of her parents. Lilo's mother and father.

She noticed me staring at it and picked it up, handing it to me. I put my paw over it.

"What... parents like?" I asked her.

She smiled. "Well... mom loved to knit. She would sit for hours after work in front of the television knitting and getting so lost that sometimes she forgot to start the dinner. A few times Lilo tried to help her but she could never get the hang of it. She made Lilo a few cardigans and a beanie and scarf. I keep those in my closet because they are special to her and she doesn't want to wear them. She used to wear them back when our parents were alive but once they died she stopped. She put a lot of things away and out of sight, except for the hula lamp. She cherishes that."

I looked at Nani before looking back at the picture. Nani put her hand on my back, rubbing me gently.

"Our father was eccentric. He worked as an engineer for a while at the airport, fixing up the smaller planes. On the weekends he would take us out places. Sometimes to the beach, or fishing or even to the movies. Sometimes we went on bike rides. My mother worked at Kiki's for a while. My dad lost his job shortly before his death."

I perked at that. "Place we eat cake?"

Nani nodded.

"Why lose job?" I asked.

"They cut back some of the staff. He took voluntary redundancy. He tried to hide how it affected him for the sake of Lilo, but I knew he was down about it. My mother worked longer hours as a result. Eventually though she quit Kiki's and went to a new place, but that went out of business. I took up a job as a waitress to help out while dad tried to find another job, but he didn't have much luck."

I remembered Nani's old waitress job. I was the one to make her lose it.

"Both of them were stressed, so I suggested to them they take a break," Nani looked away from me. I knew where this was going.

"So a week later from that dad organised to take mom out to dinner. They were going to stay overnight at a resort. Just as a 'pick-me-up' sort of thing. They needed it. I took the weekend off work to babysit Lilo."

I put my paw on Nani's hand. She sighed.

"The weather was awful. I told dad to be careful, driving out in those conditions. They were similar to the storm we had here earlier this week. When they left, I got a bad feeling. I put Lilo to bed. Thankfully she'd told them she loved them before they left. It was a normal routine, but that would be the last time she told them so. I was falling asleep on the couch when there was a knock on the door."

"What happen...?" I asked quietly, unsure if she was up to telling me.

"I thought it was them coming back, but there were two police officers. I knew straight away. They died on impact Stitch. Apparently a truck driver was going too fast around a bend. He lost control and skidded across the road, taking out my parents car. They wouldn't let me go there to see them."

I put my head against Nani's side.

"I did have to identify the bodies though. That was the hardest moment of my life. The second was explaining the concept to Lilo. She had just turned five. She went mute for weeks and it was months before she was back to herself. Our aunt came and stayed for a while to help out while I had to sort out everything. Like my parents will money and cancelling credit cards as well as closing all their accounts. I pretty much went from a big sister to an adult in one night. The funeral was hard. Thankfully my aunt helped with that too but she had to go back home eventually. I still had to work as down as I was. I had to keep going, for the sake of Lilo. But Lilo coped in her own ways. She made that doll Scrump and called it her best friend. I made sure she kept up her hula lessons. They barely kept her happy but she still tried to put on a smile, even though I knew she was being bullied. "

I nodded.

"The night before we adopted you, I overheard Lilo make a wish. We saw something fall from the sky and crash in the woodlands. Lilo thought it was a falling star so she wished for somebody to be her friend. That's when I had the idea to take her to the pound and get her a dog. She could have a friend to take care of and play with and I knew a dog would be the one thing to lift her spirits. A dog wouldn't judge her. She loved animals."

"Naga star," I responded instantly to that. "Was my ship."

"It was?!"

I nodded. "Stitch crash to earth."

"But... how did you end up at the pound?"

I laughed. "Stitch walked onto highway. Had small interaction with a frog. I had no idea where I was. Then big lights and I was run over. Knocked out. They thought I was dog so took me to pound."

Nani nodded. "Well, that makes sense. I always wondered why it was green."

I nodded. "Very hot," I twisted my paws about in my lap. "Would parents have liked Stitch?"

Nani smiled. "You bet. Too bad you never had a chance to meet them."

"Yeah. Though Stitch tell Lilo, if parents alive, we might not have met. Become o'hana."

Nani thought about this but then she nodded. "You came along at the right time. I'm just glad things worked out how they did. Lilo's finally happy again now. You were the one thing she needed."

"I know," I smiled. "She change me."

"She certainly did!" Nani responded, hugging me tightly. I giggled before things went quiet between us.

"Naanee?" I said to her after a few moments and she looked at me.

"Yes?"

"I... soka. For everything."

She looked puzzled. I continued.

"Ruining family. Making Naanee lose job. Destroying home."

She stared at me but then stroked my ear. "Oh Stitch... none of that matters now because everything worked out okay in the end. Sometimes the worst needs to happen before things start looking up and usually it just makes you stronger in the end. I went through that experience with my parents. But now, I have you and Jumba and Pleakley to look after. The three of you joining our o'hana made us closer than ever."

I smiled. "No hate me?"

"I could never hate you, Stitch."

I nodded. She kissed my head before putting me back down on the floor. "Alright. Head on back to bed and I'll see you in the morning."

I hesitated. She stared at me.

"Want me to bring you up?"

I nodded. It was nice Nani cared.

She picked me up again and carried me up to the dome in her arms, gently putting me back into my bed and pulling up the covers. I yawned.

"Big day tomorrow, so have a good rest."

"Okeytaka..." I responded. "Gee tu jay, Naanee."

"Goodnight Stitch," she responded, poking my nose before heading back down the stairs.

I snuggled up under the covers, finding it much easier to fall back asleep after that.

The next day I woke up a bit later than the rest of my family.

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a piece of paper taped to the underside of Lilo's bunk, above my head. It said 'STITCH!' with stars and hearts around it and I smiled.

Lilo had started sneaking good morning messages like this above me recently. I reached up and pulled it down and added it to the small stash I kept in my drawer. I could hear Lilo outside and went over to the dome window to look out. She was in the garden running circles in old car tires and wearing her sports clothes.

I discarded my pyjamas and went down to see what she was doing. When she saw me approach her she lit up and lunged at me, pulling me into a big hug.

"Good morning Stitch!" she said happily.

"Ahua shalom bye," I responded slowly before tilting my head. "What you doing Lilo?"

"Getting my game on!" she said eagerly and I laughed. She giggled.

"I'm just making sure I'm fit and ready for our big dance tonight," she explained. "I'm so excited."

I sat down and watched her as she worked out. She started doing pull-ups on a tree and I threw myself under her when she slipped and fell.

"Agabba! Don't overwork yourself!"

She pushed herself off me and brushed herself off. "I'm okay. But you're right, maybe I do need a break."

I nodded and she sat down beside me. She put her arm around me and we gazed at the river beside us. We were sitting on the bank.

"I hope everything goes okay tonight..."

"It will," I told her. "Remember, we do together?"

"Yeah," she responded. I could see her looking at me out the corner of my eye as I traced my paw in the water.

"You okay?" she asked.

I nodded. She saw through me though.

"No... what's wrong Stitch? I know something is happening... please tell me!"

I sighed. "Lilo... I am not well. I don't know why."

Her face dropped. "Your... your glitch isn't coming back, is it?"

"Hope not."

She pushed herself against me. "No matter what happens, I promise... I'll be there for you every step of the way."

"I know..." I told her. "But... Lilo. If... if something happen. I..." I looked away from her. "Pleechi-ba... remember, I love you. Never hurt you, ever."

She looked frightened. I held her hands in my paws and faced her.

"Hope nothing happen to Stitch, but I need you to be aware something might. Naga nota myself what... but... need you to know."

She stared into my eyes. "You're... you're dying?"

"Gaba...?! Naga! Naga... Stitch naga dying..." I cried, pulling her against me tightly into a hug. "Just... not well."

She sniffled. "Can Jumba fix you?"

"Naga nota..." I repeated. "Hope so..."

She sighed. "Please don't ever leave me."

"I will never leave you Lilo."

She went quiet at that. I hesitated, but I had to tell her.

"Leelo..." she looked at me. I clenched my fists.

"Stitch... so afraid of hurting you. I scratch you before... but if something happens to meega, I could... hurt you badly. No want to. But like glitch, cannot control myself. If happens... I... couldn't... I..."

I buried my head into my arms. I just broke. It was too much.

"I don't want to hurt you again!"

She was quiet, but then I heard something. She had started singing a lullaby to me. I'd heard it before... it was something Nani used to sing to Lilo.

"When storm clouds grow and I feel blue
your song comes drifting on the trade-winds

Your bright eyes shine, like sun on sand
an island dream of you..."

It calmed me down instantly. She lay me across her lap and stroked my back and head.

"Everything will be okay Stitch."

I was quiet. I wanted to be reassured by her words but I just couldn't be. I closed my eyes and just lay across her lap that way. Eventually she moved and I opened my eyes and looked up at her. She smiled at me.

"No matter what happens, I will always love you Stitch. I promise."

I sighed. We pressed our hands together.

"Chi chabada... boochita nascatakacha..."

She gazed at me before looking out at the river. We sat that way for a while and eventually I felt a little bit better enough to push myself up. She kissed me on the nose.

"Hey I know! Wanna see my costume?"

I gave her a small smile. "Shooga..."

She beamed. She took my paw and we both went back up to the house.

I sat on my bed and watched as Lilo pulled on her costume. She pulled back her hair and then put on what appeared to a black hood of some kind that covered most of her head, save for her mouth. The fake ears stuck through the sides but just enough of it covered her skin so that it looked like real ears. Whatever Jumba had made for her had the same colour fur on it too, so her head looked more like that of a werewolf.

I looked away from her as she put on the mask. I didn't want to see those eyes. I was surprised when she bent down on all fours. With her costume looking as good as it was, from a distant she probably would be mistaken for a werewolf.

She growled at me and paced over to me before arching her hands as if to attack me. I noticed the claws Jumba had put on the gloves. They looked sharp.

She hissed at me.

"What do you think?"

I nodded. "Really scary Lilo. You lucha like real scary wolf."

She grinned at me and turned around to pace again. I watched her in disbelief.

"Come on Stitch! Chase me!"

I wasn't in the mood to, but regardless I pushed myself off the bed and did as she asked. She laughed happily but tried to cover it up by acting ferocious. It didn't work for her.

"Stitch! I want to see you as a werewolf!"

"Naga."

"Pleeeeeeeeeeease?"

I groaned. "Fine Lilo!"

She sat down and watched me. I sighed.

I arched my back so that my fur stood up and beared my teeth, growling viciously. Lilo had never seen me do this before. I was pretending I was facing an enemy just to make it more authentic for her but I think I scared her.

She pushed up her mask with wide eyes and she backed up slightly.

I stalked towards her slowly and raised my paw with my claws outstretched. She stared at them. I lunged at her and she screamed but I just laughed and hugged her tightly. I heard her heart racing.

She calmed down and laughed. "Wow... that was pretty scary Stitch! I wasn't expecting that!"

"Try make it good for you!" I told her. "Happy now?"

She nodded. She instantly tried to copy me. I just smiled and shook my head at her.

"No scare me, but you will scare Mertle!"

She grinned. "RAWR!"

Once she had her fun, she sat down beside me on my bed. I tilted my head at her. "Lilo really like being wolf."

She smiled. "It's fun. I feel so powerful. And scary."

I nodded. "You like that?"

"Yeah. I do."

I gazed at her. "Why?"

She faced me. "Well... for so many years I've been picked on and bullied. I've felt so small and outcasted. When I'm like this, I feel like I'm the big and powerful one and that people will cower from me and be scared of me. That's why I want this to work. I want to see Mertle scared for once. Not scared of you, but of me."

I nodded slowly. "I understand."

"I'm glad you do," she smiled at me. "If you did that to Mertle though... she'd probably leave the island!"

I laughed. "Bye bye!"

Lilo giggled beside me. She settled down and gazed at me.

"Stitch?"

"Ih?"

"Do you... think of me any different for liking this?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Why would Stitch do that?"

"Well... because, you know," she sighed. "Other girls like tea parties and dolls."

I blew air out of my mouth. "Who cares."

She just looked at me so I elaborated.

"Lilo, just be yourself. No try to be someone you not. I love you for being Lilo. I like what you like."

That made her look at her lap.

"If Lilo like to be werewolf, then Lilo be best werewolf on island!"

That really picked her up. She hugged me. "Thanks Stitch. You're the best."

I licked her across the cheek. She looked disgusted but laughed. She pushed me down on the bed and started to tickle me.

"Naga, NAGA!" I cried between laughs. She didn't stop. I had to curl up into a ball and she tried to pry me back open.

Finally she stopped and I uncurled. She poked my nose.

"Silly..."

"Blech," I responded. "How we hide costumes?"

"Nani has a big backpack in her closet. It will fit everything. When that dance party happens later on, we can sneak back into the halau and change, then go find Mertle."

"Okeytaka."

She jumped off the bed. I watched her as she ran towards the stairs. "I'll go get it now!"

I nodded and she disappeared.

I could understand why Lilo had asked me if I saw her as any different for liking to be such a scary looking creature. It was because the other girls always judged her because of what she liked. Mertle and the other three brats thought she was weird because she liked voodoo and horror movies, but I wasn't like that and I hoped she realised that. I thought it was a cool costume and it did startle me to see my best friend that way, considering how creepy and realistic her costume looked, but if she enjoyed doing it and having fun then that was all that mattered.

She really wanted to get Mertle back. It was something she was looking forward to. I would be there to support her every step of the way on that. For years Mertle had berated and belittled her. She had this coming.

I looked towards the window. The weather was slightly better today and actually a little warm. I hoped it would be like that tonight, but I had a feeling another storm was due to hit soon.

I wondered how tonight would go. I just hoped nothing happened to me while I was dancing with Lilo. This time we'd be dancing in front of a lot of people, not just Moses and the girls. I wasn't nervous but I knew Lilo would be. I didn't care what people thought about me.

My best friend returned carrying a large backpack. It was nearly as big as her. I took it from her and set it down. Everything would fit in there easily.

"I think we should practice a bit more and then finalise our costumes. I found some things to add to yours," Lilo said to me. "We won't have time to later on."

I nodded.

Lilo and I did just that. We practiced for an hour or so, making sure our dance was absolutely perfect. We got our timing down so that our movements were in sync.

I felt her put her hands on my hips and pull me sideways a little more. "Swing to there... that's it."

Once we finished practicing we fixed up and finalised our costumes. Lilo made me some wrist bands to wear and also a piece that went across my chest, with red flames and ribbons across it, representing lava. She also made me a mask to wear across my face. We spent the rest of the afternoon putting everything together.

Once I was dressed up, she brought me over to the mirror, pulling off some of her clothes across it so that I could see myself.

I looked a bit like a Hawaiian warrior. It was very different from her original idea for my costume, but I thought this was much better. I grinned.

"Morcheeba!" I grinned. "Boo TI fa."

She laughed. "Cool indeed!"

I spun around and the ribbons trailed around my body. I was impressed.

Lilo smiled at me. "You look great, Stitch. I hope we do win... but even if we don't, I'm really going to enjoy doing this with you. The way it should have been before."

I nodded. I put my paw to her cheek.

"We win. Okeytaka?"

She gave me a small nod. "Okay Stitch."

I smiled at her. She turned and started to pack her own costume into the backpack, as well as the costumes we were going to be scaring Mertle in. I took off mine and set it aside for her before sitting down on my bed and watching her idly.

Lilo had it tough. She'd been through so much before I became part of her life. Watching her move about, I sighed and put my head into my paw.

I really wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to me that I wasn't able to control and I ended up hurting her. I'd already hurt her enough on top of what she'd already been dealing with in the past. Back then I'd felt like a monster and I hadn't even been running my true destructive programs. How Lilo had tolerated me and accepted me, after all I'd done, still baffled me tremendously.

She glimpsed up at me for a moment and smiled at me as she started packing my costume into the bag. I waved to her.

The fact she'd accepted me when nobody else would made her my saviour. I idolised her and the thought of losing her scared me more than the thought of drowning. She had saved me from myself.

She really was the best thing about my life.

As the day faded into dusk, my family piled into the buggy ready to head to the Kaiaulu halau to begin the dance ceremony.

I sat beside Jumba and Pleakley in the back. Jumba was clad in his formal wear, which just barely fit him. He was wearing glasses with a fake mustache and it made him look rather spiffy. With the addition of his new hair, he could easily be mistaken for a human.

Pleakley was in his best outfit – which of course was a dress. He had on piles of make up and a brunette wig. Jumba and Pleakley played the role of Lilo's 'uncle' and 'aunt' when we were out in public. Pleakley really enjoyed cross dressing for some reason. Nani wasn't too keen on the idea (Pleakley often had tried on her clothes behind her back and I'd seen him) but she'd gradually accepted it was just how he was. He was very flamboyant.

Nani was wearing a beautiful floral two piece and had a flower pinned in her hair. David was in the same attire he'd wore for Lilo's original dance.

Lilo was in her casual clothes and I was just myself. We were going to get dressed up there.

"What are you guys going to do for an hour?" I heard Lilo ask in the front seat beside David and Nani reversed out of the driveway.

"We'll head to the mall for a bit. It's open late tonight," Nani told her.

Lilo turned to look back at me and reached for my paw. I raised it to her and we held hands for a moment or so before she turned around again. I heard her playing on her game boy as Nani drove to the school.

I really appreciated how much she cared about me. Her affection towards me now was far stronger than it used to be. The rest of the family had noticed this but they never said anything about it.

Jumba was looking down at me and soon enough he took my paw into his hand. In response I rested against his side and he put his arm around me.

"Make Jumba proud tonight, ey 626? Looking forward to this... considering... well... what was happening last time."

I nodded without looking at him. Last time he wasn't able to watch me perform because Lilo hadn't wanted me to dance with her and he was too busy trying to save my life.

I knew this meant a lot to him.

"I will..." I told him quietly. "Y'ekzih hiar tns."

"Zneebas," he responded.

Nani and David both looked at us at that and I heard Lilo pause her game. None of them said anything though. Pleakley didn't seem to care. He'd heard my father and I converse in Kweltikwan many times but I knew this was the first time Nani and David had heard our other native tongue.

Jumba rubbed my head as I looked out of the window.

Nani finally pulled up in front of the halau. I climbed over the front seat and Lilo and I both exited the car. David handed Lilo the backpack.

"Good luck you two. We'll see you soon!"

Lilo and I waved goodbye to our family as Nani pulled away.

Lilo faced me and put her arm around me. We looked up at the school entrance. She sighed, but then she smiled.

"This is it."

Holding hands, we entered the building. Moses and the other girls were in there. Everything was being finalised.

Rows of chairs lined the hall for the audience. Tables were set up along the side with the beverages for after. The stage was being decorated by Mertle and Aleka, while Yuki and Elena were putting up decorations around the hall.

"Lilo! Stitch! You're here!" Moses said happily. "Alright then, come up and help."

I saw Mertle roll her eyes at that but thankfully Lilo hadn't noticed it. She put aside our bag and went to join them up on the stage.

"You get that one," Mertle pointed to a large ribbon.

Lilo just nodded and I helped her string it across the front platform of the stage.

Moses instructed the other four girls to set up the front porch before walking over to us as they went outside. He pointed to the ceiling.

"We need to get this piece up there. I'm just waiting for my friends Kimo and Keiko to arrive for that."

While the other girls were outside I answered him.

"Across ceiling?"

He looked at me. "Yes."

Lilo and I grinned at each other.

"Stitch and I can do it!" she told him.

Moses stared at us at that. "Uh... what Lilo? How?"

"We'll show you!"

"Ih! Ready?"

"Alien super powers, activate!" she cried in response.

I raised my arms and extended my extra arms. Lilo climbed onto my back and gripped on as I ran for the wall. Moses's jaw nearly fell off as I casually walked up the wall to the ceiling, supporting Lilo with my secondary arms.

"Right! Prop!" she cried.

It took Moses a moment to compose himself, but he quickly went to fetch it before the girls came back inside, handing it up to us. We strung it up. It turned out to be a banner. I had just climbed back down with Lilo and hidden my extra arms when the other girls stepped back inside. Moses was still beside himself.

"Well... uh. Thank you for that."

"No problem!" Lilo beamed.

I grinned.

For the remainder of the hour, we finished setting up. I ensured the raffle tickets were ready to go by the entrance while Lilo helped set up some more chairs. Aleka ensured the music was ready to go, while Mertle, Elena and Yuki finalised the decorations. Moses's guests arrived, as well as his friends Kimo and Keiko with their drums and they helped us finish setting up. They would be in charge of the traditional music.

As the first few families started to arrive, Moses instructed us to go and quicky change into our costumes and head backstage. Elena and Aleka were already in theirs, but Mertle and Yuki headed into the toilets before us. Lilo went to follow with me but Mertle turned around and put up her hand.

"Ew! Lilo! Your loser dog can't come in here! This is the girls toilets!"

"But... I need to help Stitch put on his costume!" Lilo retorted to that.

"Then you go in there!" she pointed to the male toilets.

Thankfully Moses overheard this. "Lilo, you and Stitch can get dressed in the kitchen. Come on..."

Moses led us to the other side of the stage and to the corridor leading to the back of the school. He opened up the kitchen door and turned on the light. We both went inside and Lilo quickly pulled on her costume as I handed it out to her, before she helped me into mine, tying up the back of the chest piece after I pulled it over my head. She helped me fix my mask and head piece in place before slipping the pearl bracelets that belonged to her mom on my wrists.

I straightened up her head piece for her as it slipped down slightly. She had a pearl beads around her waist.

She hid the backpack in a cupboard once we were ready to go back out. "We can come here to change into the costumes after too," she grinned at me. "It's perfect!"

"Ih!" I agreed as she straightened my hula skirt. She hugged me tightly before we headed out to the back of the stage.

The girls all stared at me as I stepped forward with Lilo. They were surprised by my costume. Lilo just smirked.

We all listened as the families started to pile inside. It was getting busy out there. I walked over and peered through the curtain, Lilo right behind me. Our family was sitting in the front row. Jumba was looking right where I was looking out and I saw him wink. I saw a bunch of raffle tickets in his lap.

Lilo looked after I did, before we both sat down again. Mertle stared at us while the other three girls chat amongst themselves. She wasn't in a colourful hula costume this time but in a princess costume with pink and blue beads around her neck and what appeared to be a troll type of doll in her pocket.

Lilo held my paw and was humming 'Aloha 'Oe' to herself. She had her eyes closed. I'd seen her do this before and knew this was her way of calming her nerves.

The other girls didn't seem as tense as Lilo was. Lilo was a special case though.

Finally we heard Moses address the audience and the hall went quiet.

"Welcome everybody, to our King Kamehamaha Day annual dance celebration. Once again, the time has come for one of our girls to be chosen alaka'i. They have all worked exceptionally hard and I am proud to present to you all the result of their hard work. First up, we have Mertle Edmonds... doing the dance of the 'Lonely Princess'."

The audience clapped as Mertle stood up and went out. She poked her tongue out at us as she passed by.

Lilo sighed and I just returned the favour.

"We win, Lilo. We do together!" I encouraged her. "Mertle baka dance... she lose!"

She smiled a little at that. I could hear her heart pounding. The other girls performed their dances.

Finally our time came. We were last.

"Wonderful, Aleka! Quite a unique twist on your original version of 'The Dance of the Pineapple' and beautiful additions to your costume. Well done!"

The audience clapped and Moses continued. "And for our final individuals performance, we have a very unique dance by Lilo and her friend Stitch. Their dance is about an ancient Hawaiian friendship."

I smiled. In the past Moses had only ever addressed me as Lilo's 'pet' so hearing him address me as her friend meant a lot to me. Lilo gripped my paw tightly as we stood up.

"You'll be great...!" I said to her, but instantly regretted it when she teared up. I quickly ran my wrist across her eyes so that my fur dissolved her tears.

"Naga... naga cry! I'm here... we do together, as Lilo always wanted. Go get em, Wolf-Girl!"

"Right!" she responded, gripping my paw with both hands before she headed out.

I heard her announcing our dance to the audience.

"Our hula is about an ancient friendship, that proves love... really is more powerful than death! The great goddess Hi'iaka, that's me! And the brave and handsome mortal, Lohiau... that's my best friend, Stitch!"

Her tone to the audience was one that was strong and proud. I had a huge smile on my face as I waited my cue.

I prayed to the Hawaiian gods that nothing would go wrong and stepped out. I walked out to my angel and we began our dance. I could hear a few murmurs among the audience about my costume and also about the fact I wasn't human. Some of them knew who I was and I recognised the other girls parents, but most of the faces of the audience I didn't recognise.

Jumba caught my attention instantly. He had the biggest smile I'd ever seen. Nani was tearing up a little and David was beaming. Pleakley was also dabbing his eye with a hanky.

Lilo and I preformed our movements, swaying in time to the music. I only broke eye contact with her to look out at our family. Finally our dance came to an end. We arched our hands up in a big rainbow before leading into the final bow.

"That's my boy!" Jumba roared and stood up and whistled. We got the loudest applause of the night. Lilo was beside herself.

"Stitch! We did it, we did it!" she cried into me as we hugged.

Moses smiled warmly at us. "Thank you, Lilo, Stitch. A beautiful performance from you both."

I grinned at my best friend as we went back stage. I'd never seen her so happy. It filled me with warmth.

Mertle looked angry and had her arms crossed, but Lilo's joy was overpowering. She didn't matter. Lilo danced about with me before hugging me again.

"You hear how loud they clapped?! We got the loudest!"

I grinned at her and gave her two thumbs up.

Moses finally announced the final dance. All of us headed out and got into position on the stage as the music began. Lilo and I danced in the middle, the girls on each side of us. I nearly tripped but caught myself at the last moment. I noticed that Aleka almost tripped too so I didn't feel so bad. Once our dance ended, we all bowed and that was it for the dancing. We sat on the stage as Moses gave the final speech and announced the raffle winners, who each came forth to collect their prize.

But then the big moment came – the winner of the night.

Lilo and I looked at each other. The other girls were gripping their hands tight and looking nervous.

"Okay everybody... first I would like to say, I am proud of all your hard efforts. All of you deserve first place tonight, but there can only be one winner, so that being said I am proud to announce that the winning dance goes to..."

He put his arms behind his back and faced all of us.

"...Lilo and Stitch!"

Lilo actually screamed. She dived at me and I laughed happily. Our family stood up and Nani hugged Lilo tightly. The audience all clapped for us and Jumba thumped me on the back. Nani handed us the family camera and Lilo took a photo of us.

I cast a glimpse at Mertle. She looked furious. I just laughed.

The other girls were just clapping for us. Everybody was, except for her. It didn't matter though, because Lilo was over the moon. We sat back down and Moses announced the dance party celebrations before thanking his guests and friends. The lights were dimmed and disco lights were put on, alongside dance music.

Jumba picked me up into his arms as we approached our family.

"Am so proud!" he said, hugging me over his shoulder. "626 was amazing, as was little girl!"

"Yeah, you and Stitch did a really great job, Lilo!" Nani told us, Pleakley nodding in agreement. David had gone to get a drink, but he was equally as happy.

Moses stood beside us. "Yes, they were wonderful. They deserved to win first place, honestly."

Lilo beamed. "Thank you Moses. This means a lot to me," she told him as she hugged his leg. He put a hand on her back.

"You're very welcome, keiki. Well done to both you and Stitch. Enjoy the dance, you two!"

He went off to talk to the other adults. Lilo and I moved away from our family to talk at the edge of the stage for a while. The adults around us talked and drank punch, but then the music changed into a much slower paced rhythm and I noticed some of them dancing with each other romantically.

I looked at Lilo. She had her chin in her hands just gazing out at seemingly nothing. I hesitated, but then I put my paw on her hand. I wanted to make this night special for her.

She looked at me.

"May I have... this dance?"

Her eyes went wide at that and I swore she blushed, but a delighted expression crossed her face. I noticed Nani and David dancing in front of us.

Lilo smiled. "Yep!"

I took her hand and we stood up. We joined hands and I waltzed around with her. I honestly had no idea how to dance, so I was just copying the other adults. Mertle was watching us from a bench by herself. Her expression said a lot. Yuki, Elena and Aleka were dancing together and chatting.

I could tell Lilo was elated. She put her head over my shoulder as we danced. "Thank you Stitch..." she said into my ear. "This has been the best night of my life..."

"Still have to scare Mertle... will get better!"

"Yeah..." she responded. "But for now, I just want to do this with you."

I understood. I let her dance with me for as long as she wanted. I could see Pleakley trying to get Jumba to dance but he wasn't having it and I snorted. Nani and David were just as content as Lilo and I. For a little while, I just got lost. With Lilo in my arms, nothing else really mattered. My best friend was over the moon. I was too.

Finally we broke apart as the song concluded. Lilo kissed my cheek and it was my turn to blush. It was a bit longer than usual. I smiled.

"Come on Stitch. Let's go change!" Lilo grinned at me.

"Ih!"

She pulled me back towards the stage so we could head to the kitchen. Mertle had watched us both the entire time.

"Close your other eye!"

I complied as Lilo dabbed the face paint over me. Once she was done, I helped her into her costume as I was all set to go.

"How we going to scare?" I asked.

"Mertle's by the entrance," she told me as I helped her buckle on the tail. "We can sneak out the window and head around to the front entrance. Hopefully she goes outside or something."

I snorted. "She has this coming!"

Lilo laughed with me. "Sure does!"

Once Lilo was in the rest of her costume, I put the black on her face before she put in the fangs. She pulled the cover over her head and put on the mask. Wrapped up in the events of tonight, I'd honestly forgotten about that part of her costume. I ended up staring directly into the eyes.

"Come on Stitch!"

I stood frozen. Lilo turned back to look at me. "Stitch?"

"I-ih..." I followed her slowly.

Lilo went ahead of me and pushed open the window. I felt like I was in a trance. But then an overpowering thought hit me... the same one I'd had when I'd first seen the mask. My instincts were telling me to attack. I began to quiver. Lilo stared at me in shock as my eyes went green.

"S-Stitch...?"

"Ogata!" I clenched my teeth and held my head in my paws. "Naga... naga!"

She came towards me and went to hold my paw. Thankfully whatever was effecting me seemed to dissipate. My eyes returned to normal but then a loud laugh filled my ears and that same black thing I'd seen before materialised behind Lilo, lunging at me.

I screamed and pushed Lilo to the ground to protect her, looking around me but as fast as it had appeared, it had gone.

Lilo was shaking. "Stitch... what's going on?"

I composed myself and helped her up. "Where it go?!"

"Where did what go?" she cried.

"Black thing!" I extended my claws, looking around frantically. "Attack me!"

Lilo held my paws and cooed at me.

"Shh... Stitch... there is nothing here besides us..."

"G-gaba...? But!"

"Stitch. I don't know what you saw, but there is nothing here."

She hugged me tightly and hummed that lullaby again to me she had before. I felt my body relax and that thought of attacking fogged over. I was relieved.

I sighed against her as my ears went across my back.

"This has something to do with you being unwell, doesn't it?"

"I... I..."

"Shh... it's okay..." she soothed me. She sat down with me in her lap, cuddling me. We remained like that until I felt better enough to stand up.

She gazed up at me. "Still up to scaring Mertle? If you don't feel up to it, we don't have to."

I shook my head frantically. "Naga, we still scare! Not want let you down, want you happy Leelo! Like you smiling!" I babbled to her like a complete idiot.

I was on the verge of crying. It was always because of me that things got screwed up for her. No matter how hard I tried, something always had to get in the way.

She seemed to realise this was what was bothering me. We could read a lot about each other just by looking at each other.

"Stitch... please don't beat yourself up over this. I'm happy, honestly. Because of you, this has been the best night of my life, as I've said... I love you so much and whatever is going on, we'll get through it together. As long as you're not dying... please promise me that Stitch... please!"

"I'm not Lilo. I promise. I'm really not dying... just unwell."

"Okay... I trust you, Stitch."

She placed her hand on my cheek. "Come on... there's still time!"

I nodded. I helped her out of the window. We walked around the back of the school to the front and peered around the wall to the entrance. Luck was on our side. Mertle was outside, sitting on the porch by herself. She looked miserable.

For a moment or so I felt bad, but then I remembered how much turmoil and pain she'd caused Lilo over the past two weeks and sneered. It wasn't just two weeks. It was over two years and from what Nani had told me recently, even longer than that.

I looked back to Lilo. "She there... haibas da tacha."

Lilo peered around the corner and smirked. "Perfect!" she grinned. "Me first, or you?"

"Stitch go first. I sneak up behind her and distract her. Lilo creeba na hachoo jai... real scary werewolf, ih?"

"Sounds like a plan!"

We laughed and high-fived. I quickly clambered up the wall and crept around to behind Mertle. I snuck up behind her, making a slight hissing sound. She perked up and looked around in fright.

I folded my ears back and raised my cape up above my face, making sure my fangs were visible. She finally sensed something behind her and turned around slowly. She screamed loudly once she saw me and tried to bolt forward from the porch, only to come face to face with Lilo, looking very much like a real werewolf, on all fours and giving the best snarl she could pull off.

Mertle screamed so loudly I thought my ear drums would burst. But best of all, she actually did pee herself. Once I realised this, I roared laughing. She stood in shock and then her entire face turned red. It wasn't evident and only a little, but it was obvious to me. I was disgusted.

I darted over to Lilo and whispered to her what had happened and she also roared laughing. We couldn't breathe. Mertle finally realised it was us and screamed in anger.

"I HATE YOU SO MUCH! I REALLY REALLY HATE YOU!"

Lilo held her sides from laughing. Once we settled down, we realised Mertle had gone.

"Ah.. Stitch, that was amazing. This really has been the best night ever."

I was about to respond when Mertle came running up behind Lilo and tackled her to the ground. She raised her fist and punched Lilo square in the face.

And then it happened.

My instincts flooded my brain. I lost control of myself. It was like a veil had been put over my conciousness. I was paralyzed, like I'd lost all control of my limbs. I couldn't stop myself.

That sinister laugh flooded my ears again. It was dark and disturbing. I felt trapped.

I watched through my own eyes as I lunged at Mertle growling ferociously. My claws ripped into her costume and hair. Lilo went into shock. She knew this time I wasn't pretending.

Mertle screamed and I drew blood. My teeth went for her arm, about to clamp down savagely and likely turn her into an amputee but Lilo somehow managed to push me off. She kicked me in the head.

'Get control, get control!' My mind screamed at itself as I was forced back. The overriding thoughts wanted me to kill Lilo for that but I forced myself to gain control. The exertion made my eyes light up a brilliant green and then it was over. I could move my limbs again.

I sunk to the ground. Mertle was the most frightened I'd ever seen her. She was visibly shaking.

Lilo was quiet, in a state of shock.

Tears filled my eyes and flooded down my face like a river. I cried. Mertle was crying.

"626..." I heard a voice behind me. I was in too much shock to move.

I barely comprehended what happened next. Jumba pulled something out of his pocket, tilted up Mertle's head so she was looking into his eyes and then put the device to the side of her head. There was a beep and a flash. She became very dazed. Jumba quickly pulled out another device and held it to her skin, shining it over her flesh. Her skin healed over and he patched her up. Now she just looked a little scruffy.

My father tapped the side of her head shortly after and she seemed to come around.

"Ugh... what the?" she stood up quickly. "What happened to me?!"

Lilo looked up at her and Mertle seemed to realise she was there.

"Weirdlo?! What are you doing here? Why am I so dirty?! UGH! I bet you did this! You FREAK!"

She stormed away from us, seemingly as though nothing had ever happened to her. Lilo remained as she was, staring at me. She let out a breath. Jumba crouched beside her.

"Lilo..." he said gently, tilting her head towards him. "626 is most unwell right now. But please understand, I am working as hard as I can to figure out problem with him. Please do not be mentioning this to anybody. Is very hard for us right now."

Lilo remained silent for a few moments, before putting her hand on my fathers.

"I... I know. I just... hope you can fix it..."

Jumba nodded. He picked me up and put me over his shoulder. "Shh..."

"Naga kaphong..." I cried into him. "Stitch soka..."

"I will not allow you to blame yourself for this, 626. Hush, my little one..."

I curled into him. Eventually I settled and he put me back down. He stroked my head and Lilo gripped onto me.

"Stitch... why did you get so mad with Mertle?" she asked me quietly. Jumba sat beside us on the grass.

I looked at the ground, before looking at my best friend. My saviour.

"I... lose control. I don't know why. Could not control body."

I would never tell her what I'd thought during that moment. Jumba looked scared and stressed. The door opened behind us and Nani and David suddenly came out.

"What are you guys doing out here?" Nani asked, but upon seeing my face she gasped. "What on earth?! What's going on?"

I looked away.

"Mertle girl attacked little girl. 626 a bit upset about it, nothing big." Jumba quickly said.

Nani looked furious. "She did? That little..."

Jumba stood up. "Everything okay larger girl. Come on, Lilo, 626. Come back inside and let's just try to enjoy rest of evening, yes?"

He pulled out a tissue and wiped my face.I sighed. Lilo just gave a small smile and put her arm around me and we headed back inside.

Neither of us cared that we were dressed up anymore.

A few people commented on both myself and Lilo's outfits. They thought it was unique and creative and that we were just having fun. Mertle had changed out of her outfit and was keeping to herself beside her mother. Elena, Yuki and Aleka didn't seem to realise that anything had gone on outside of the halau and were still chatting away and having fun.

Everything was the same as it had been. Lilo started to get annoyed when people kept hitting against her bouncy tail. We ended up just sitting down on some chairs, watching everybody around us. I'd wiped off my facepaint as had she. The mood was solemn between us.

"Stitch?" she eventually spoke up. I looked at her sadly.

"I don't know what's happening, but I will never break my promise to you. I will help you through this. No matter what happens."

I stared at her.

"I know you... I know you'd never hurt me and what you did before wasn't you... was it?"

I shook my head.

She sighed. "Hopefully Jumba can get to the bottom of this... I won't tell anybody."

"Okeytaka..." I muttered. I sighed before drawing in a breath. "Leelo? I need to tell yuuga something."

"What is it?" she asked, gripping my paw.

"I think... something about your mask, does this to me."

"Huh?" she was confused.

"When Stitch see eyes... gets clouded mind. Bad thoughts..."

She looked alarmed. "My mask was what caused you to get green eyes?"

"I... naga nota... but something about it, does something to meega."

"Why didn't you tell me?!" she screeched. "Stitch!"

I looked away from her. "I... not want to ruin night for you..."

She looked as though she was going to cry. I just leaned over and hugged her.

"I won't wear it anymore. I'll throw it away if I have to! You should have told me!"

"Not want to scare you!"

She sighed. "You come first Stitch! Nothing else! You hear me!" she shook my shoulders. "Nothing else!"

I lowered my head. She held me against her tightly.

We didn't talk much after that. We just tried to enjoy the rest of the night, having a few beverages and walking around and talking to some of the adults. They were interested in me. Lilo cheered up enough to proudly show me off to them. She told them all the same thing Nani had told her boss. That I was a 'blue-furred ectoplasmic detection dog' that was extremely rare. It made me smile.

Not once did we leave each others side.

Eventually the night drew to a close and people started to head home. Our family bid Moses goodnight and we headed to the buggy. Lilo had taken off her costume and was back in her regular attire. I still had my vampire outfit on, but had taken the cape off.

"I want to stop at Macki McCaw's on the way home," Nani told us. "We'll get some celebratory cake. It's open until eleven."

I really wasn't in the mood, nor was Lilo. We sat huddled up to each other in the backseat with Jumba. Pleakley sat in the front with David and Nani. I wondered why Nani wanted to do this, then it hit me. She was going to announce her pregnancy.

I felt my heart skip a beat. As worried as I was, I knew I needed to be supportive. I had told her I would and she was counting on me. So, for her sake, I tried to perk up.

Nani parked the car shortly after and we went inside. Lilo was tired and leaned on me for support as we went in.

"Table for five?" The waitress asked us, eyeing me. I really wasn't in the mood to be treated like a dog right now. Jumba knew this instantly though.

"SIX," he said loudly, making people in the diner stare and embarrassing the waiter. "Six members. You can see six of us, therefore a table for six will suffice."

Nani put her hand to her forehead. The waitress looked a little nervous.

"I do apologise sir, we normally do not allow pets... as long as he's well behaved."

Jumba looked furious but Nani put her hand on his arm. "Uncle Jumba, it's okay really."

She looked at the waiter. "Don't worry, he'll behave. He's a very sweet and well mannered dog."

Jumba eased up at hearing Nani call me that. He looked surprised but I also knew that Nani was aware of how much it offended him that I was always treated like dog considering I was his child. It insulted him. The waitress just quietly led us to a table. Lilo and I climbed up into the seats.

The poor girl was about to drift on the spot.

The adults conversed for a while. I looked over towards the stage but the curtains were closed. I knew there was some type of attraction behind there but it always seemed to be out of order whenever we came here.

I tapped Lilo on the shoulder, having an idea.

She opened her eyes and looked at me. "Yeah?" she said drowsily.

"Come with me."

I helped her from her chair and took her over to the games area. I brought her over to the arcade claw machine that was in there filled with plush toys. Her eyes widened as she put her hands to the glass.

"Wow! They have new ones!"

I grinned, pulling a quarter from my pocket. She looked delighted when I showed it to her.

Putting the coin into the machine, I directed the claw over a plush toy she pointed to through the side window. I actually managed to get it and directed it over to the chute. Easy done!

I picked it up from inside the chute and handed it to her.

"For you Lilo!"

She hugged me tightly. "Dougabba Stitch! I love it!"

I giggled at her use of Tantalog. "No problem."

We hung around the games area for a little while until Nani called us over for cake. Despite it was coconut cake, which was my absolute favourite, I couldn't shake what had happened earlier from my mind. As we ate, Nani finally cleared her throat. She looked at me. The time had come.

I went around to her side and she picked me up and sat me before her.

"Jumba, Lilo, Pleakley... David..." she smiled. I could tell she was nervous. She gripped my paw. "I have something to tell you."

The family was surprised. They listened eagerly. David seemed the most surprised.

"I guess by now you've noticed I haven't been too well lately. I know, I said it was due to stress. Stitch has really helped me out by supporting me. You know, like when he stayed home with me?"

Everybody bar me nodded.

"Stitch so far has been the only one to know about this. But that's because well.. he is Stitch. He can pick up things normal people can't, so I've confided in him about this because of not only my stress and concern about my job and David's job, but... I've been a bit afraid to tell you all."

"Why?" Pleakley asked. David agreed. Jumba was tapping his chin.

She sighed. "I... I just. It's kind of a big thing. For us all."

"So... what is the news, Nani?" David asked.

She paused and looked at me. I nodded.

"Everybody... Lilo... David..." she said. "I am going to have a baby."

Lilo's eyes widened. She stood up on her chair. "WHAT?!"

David yelled out and pumped the air with a fist. "NANI! Oh my GOD!"

He raced around and hugged her. She smiled happily. "Also, David and I are getting married. He has proposed to me."

Pleakley, Jumba and Lilo all cheered. Lilo ran around and hugged her tightly. I noticed Jumba grinning.

"I knew it!" he said to me and I nodded.

Once the commotion settled everyone sat back down. They were all in high spirits. Even Lilo. Nani looked at me as they talked amongst themselves about the prospect of a new family member.

"Stitch... thank you so much. Your support has meant the world to me."

"You're welcome Naanee..." I said, hugging her. She kissed my nose and I went back to sit down beside Lilo.

"You knew?" she asked me.

I nodded and she smiled.

"How did you know?"

I tapped my nose. "Nani smell different for while. Meega sensed changes to her body."

Lilo looked intrigued. "Oh... cool. I guess Nani made you keep it a secret."

"Stitch offer to. But yeah, Nannee not want Stitch to tell."

"I can't believe I'm going to be an auntie! And I'm only eight and half years old!"

I grinned at her. "Lilo make great auntie to baby!"

She clutched the little plush I won for her lovingly. "Yeah..." she smiled.

We eventually all called it a night and headed home. Lilo leaned against me again as we headed out. The waitress that had tried to pass me off as a dog stared at me as I headed out with my family. I ignored her. I knew Jumba was giving her the evil eye.

Still though, spirits were high as we climbed into the car and went home. Lilo and I pretty much went straight to bed. She refused to let go of the plush. It was a little blue dog and I knew it reminded her of me. I joined her in her bunk this time and we chat for a bit after Nani said goodnight and congratulated us on winning again.

Lilo faced me once the light was off. "Well... I'm so glad we won, Stitch."

"Me too Lilo."

"Too bad Mertle won't remember it, but... at least she pee'd herself."

I snorted. "So gross!"

I was glad Lilo didn't bring up anything about me attacking Mertle. I knew she didn't want to for the sake of both of us. She cuddled me close under the covers.

"You've changed my life so much Stitch. In so many ways. I can't imagine life without you."

"Same for me, Lilo."

"It... it was really nice dancing with you..." she blushed slightly.

"Ih..." I agreed. "Wanted to make you happy."

"You did," she kissed my nose. "I love you Stitch. You're my o'hana. You always will be."

"Lilo Stitch's o'hana," I responded. "Love you too. Always."

The bond between us had never been as tight as it was at that moment and nothing was going to shatter that. Not my past. Not my programming.

Nothing.

Lilo gripped my paw as she fell asleep. I put my other paw over her hand, feeling our physical differences. Her four fingers interlaced in my three.

It didn't matter if she was a human and I was an alien. I would always support her and protect her. I cherished her above anything. Seeing her as happy as she was tonight made me feel as though I'd truly been given a purpose in my life after all. It wasn't to destroy or kill.

It was to make my best friend's life have a purpose too.