The next morning, I woke up before both Lilo and my father. Since I was between them in the bed, I was basically trapped so I just stared up at the ceiling of the ship and thought.

My father had always told me I was strong. That I was the most resilient creature to have ever been created. I was the key to destruction and a literal doomsday device, having the ability to wipe out planets. Yet all it took was one little voice to tell me that if I was dead things would be better, and I gave into it. And because of that, I refused to believe that I was as resilient as I was led to believe.

Perhaps I was strong physically, but I sure as heck wasn't strong emotionally. I crumbled easily and I knew this was because I had inherited my fathers emotions. Outside he appeared strong, but inside? He was just like me. He was weak. Not in every aspect, but some. He'd declined thanks to that horrible ex-wife of his deceiving him. He had also admitted to nearly shooting himself in the head after shooting me.

Jumba had low points in his life. And Nani had even informed me that humans were suicidal sometimes. So was what I had done really that irrational?

I still believed it wasn't. Stupid, maybe – but understandable. Right?

They couldn't hold it against me. I'd suffered a lot throughout my life. If any human had to endure what I had they'd probably would have already killed themselves. I was created to be the strongest creature in the galaxy, I could handle it.

Only just.

Lilo had made me wonder what it had actually been like for her when she'd lost her parents. What sort of pain she'd actually experienced. Had it been enough for her to consider doing what I had just earlier this morning? She was only nearly nine. Could a child that young possibly feel depression to the point of thinking things would be better if she was gone?

I doubted it. It just didn't seem like something that could happen.

Like me, Lilo had suffered trauma. Our situations couldn't compare, but she understood pain and loneliness. She understood what it was like to have nightmares.

She understood me on the level my father did.

I turned to face her as she slept. She had her back to me, but that didn't stop me from snaking my lower arms around her in a hug. She twitched slightly in her sleep.

Sometimes I never wanted to let her go. She was my sanity.

Ultimately she was the reason I'd decided against going over that ledge.

It was another two hours until both Lilo and my father woke up. Lilo yawned, giving me another glorious view of her mouth. Jumba also yawned, giving me an even bigger one.

Both of them had very different teeth to me. Jumba only had a few; big and blunt. His species could devour through tough alien meats easily. Lilo was still developing some of her adult teeth. Some of the teeth in her lower jaw had grown crooked. I had always wondered if it impacted on her in anyway, but she'd never shown any signs of discomfort from it. I knew sometimes humans needed something called 'braces' to correct their teeth. It seemed like a bizarre concept to me that small pieces of metal straightened teeth.

As for my teeth? I had a mouth full of fangs. They were blunt, like my fathers, but I could easily tear through metal with them. All of them came to a point. Not one of them was flat. I had four dominant canines. I scared people whenever I growled because when I beared them I looked ferocious.

It often made me think how different I was to everybody else. I was the only member of our family with fur. With claws. With extra limbs.

They found me fascinating and often stared at me due to it. Because I was so vastly different in general, despite being a Kweltikwanian like my father. It was my make up of assorted species and genetics that rendered me different.

Sometimes I hated it. I felt so alienated.

It made me wonder what it was like to be a human, sometimes. To live in a body identical to everybody elses. To have skin and hair as opposed to fur, or even eyes that could move around. I had no control over my eyes. Even though my eyes were better than any living creature on the planet I basically just had one way vision.

Jumba had created me to be better than everybody else. Humans, aliens. But did it truly make me happy? Often I found myself questioning that.

I was fine with who I was, but I did want to belong. To feel part of a race, not just a one-of-a-kind monster.

That was why the wedding was so important to me.

"Morning Stitch..." Lilo said, interrupting my train of thought. I smiled at her and licked her on the cheek. She giggled.

Jumba scuffed my head. "Lot's to do today. Best get started."

He got out of the bed and left the room.

"Class on today?" I asked Lilo. It was a Monday morning by that point.

"Not until tomorrow, Stitch," she responded. "I think Nani has the doctor later on today. They are going out later on as well to start setting up for the wedding and have some rehearsals."

I nodded. I gazed at her.

"Lilo?"

"Yeah?"

"Stitch did not mean to scare you."

"I know... you were stressed out. It wasn't like you, but I know that you'd never hurt me. You just wanted to be with me. It was a bit scary, but it was kind of fun too I guess. I don't want to do it again though."

I nodded.

"Do you think I am selfish?"

"Of course not!" she responded, sounding alarmed. "Why?"

"Took you away. For myself."

"But we know why. It was because Nani wouldn't allow us to be near each other. You just wanted to make her see that, right? That it wasn't fair?"

I nodded. "Naga good thing," I said quietly. "To do."

"Perhaps, but it's done. Things got sorted in the end."

"Stitch not Stitch, Lilo," I told her gently. "Like this morning."

She looked away. "I didn't know what was going on until I heard Jumba start yelling. I was too tired to really make out what was happening, but he seemed really angry at you."

I blinked. "Lilo, not know? What Stitch did?"

She blinked back. "Well, what did you do?" she asked, confusion lacing her tone.

I shook my head. "Perhaps, best Lilo not know. But... you save me."

She smiled at that. "Okay. As long as you didn't do something stupid again, Stitch. I don't like it when you do those things because you scare me. I really don't know what I'd do if something happened to you."

I looked away from her at that, feeling ashamed. I felt her pet my ear gently and I hugged her tightly.

"Lilo, still be with Stitch, ih?" I asked. "Even if Stitch alien?"

"Yes," she responded. "I promise. We can figure out something."

"I hope so too."

She stroked my back. I purred against her.

Unable to help myself, I gave her a small kiss on the cheek. She closed her eyes and returned it by kissing me on the nose.

She smiled at me. "I need to go and pick up some decorations for the wedding today at the mall. Want to come with me?"

"Okeytaka."

Lilo nodded. I watched her as she shuffled out of the bed. She smiled back at me, before exiting Jumba's bedroom.

I noticed her dragging the little blue plush dog I'd won for her behind her.

Nani was in a seemingly much better mood that morning. Breakfast was very late, but at least she was acting much better than she had been over the the course of the last week and weekend. She didn't do anything to shut me down or make me feel excluded. She didn't make me feel less of an equal.

During breakfast, she gave me a big share of food. I was surprised. I think Jumba was too. He put his finger to his chin, and nodded at me in approval.

I wondered if it had anything to do with me going to the cliff. Or perhaps she was just starting to feel excited about the wedding.

When she sat down with us to eat, Jumba decided to address this.

"Pleased to see you are being respectful to 626."

She looked at him at that. She gave a small nod and brief smile, but said nothing more.

Lilo grinned at me.

Shortly after breakfast was finished, I lingered back to help Nani clean up as everybody else left. Lilo had gone upstairs to the dome to get dressed. I hesitated and the older Pelekai sister looked at me.

"Yes?"

"Uh... need help?"

"Um... sure. You can start drying those I guess."

I could hear the hesitation in her voice. It was obvious now to me that things were still bad between us, despite she was acting nicer. I picked up a tea towel and started drying quietly.

Nani kept peeking at me out of the corner of her eye. She probably thought I couldn't see her doing it since I was facing away from her slightly.

"Yes?"

She jumped slightly. "N-nothing."

"I can see you."

Whether she was embarrassed or not, I couldn't tell. Eventually she sighed.

"Look Stitch. The wedding is in a few days. Today David and I are going to be mostly setting up at the venue and doing a short rehearsal. I had a long talk with him about what's been happening lately. With you."

I narrowed my eyes slightly at hearing that.

"I know you've been excited about the wedding. But I'm also scared that something might happen to ruin it. So we've decided to hold the event indoors now as opposed to outdoors. That way the security will be there to make sure no incidents happen. This is costing us a lot of money and I want it to go smoothly on the day."

I nodded slightly.

"Of course, I'm allowing you to be there. But I also want the guards there as well. The... lizard ones? I don't know what they are called."

"United Galactic Federation soldiers."

"Yes, those. I want them there to monitor you."

My ears perked up. "Gaba? Like... supervise me?"

"Yes."

"Why?" I asked. "Because you think Stitch will change?"

She hesitated. I could see her bite her lip. She put down her towel and sighed. "Yes. Because I don't want you to cause any trouble."

"Guards naga human," I spoke. "Naanee not wish to risk identity, yet want obvious aliens there?"

"The family knows about you three."

I shook my head. "Not staff. Minister. Other humans. In venue, ih?"

She paused at that.

I shrugged at her. "Aga bata? Annibo Cobra agents?"

"Because they need to guard the house while we are out."

I put down the towel I was holding. "You are going to let me talk, though... right?"

She just stared at me at that.

"Right?" I repeated.

"I don't know, Stitch. I'm just really scared of you changing again. I feel like there will be a risk of it during those hours."

I went quiet at that. "..."

She sighed. "I really don't–"

"Why did you save me?" I interrupted her, climbing up onto the counter so that we were face to face. I saw a little fear in her eyes and her heart started racing slightly.

"You are scared of me, ih? So why?"

"Because you're family, Stitch!" she responded. "I already told you why! How it would affect Lilo!"

"If so scared of me, then why even want me at wedding? Think risk I change, why allow meega at all?"

She went quiet.

"Scare guests more with alien soldiers there, ih?"

"Maybe but– "

I leaned closer to her. "Remember... Stitch changed last time because Nani make Stitch angry," I drew out slowly. "Kept picking on meega. Iga na coota ni dabita?..."

"W-what?" she asked softly, but I could tell she was terrified from her body language. Her heart was racing harder now and I could see perspiration form discreetly upon her forehead.

"Isa simple. Naga anger me... I not change."

"Good job! Put her into her place, 626! She deserves this!"

Does she really though?

"Naanee naga want to... anger Stitch, right?"

She leaned back from me, eyes wide. I saw her begin to back away. "N-no!"

The voice laughed loudly. I tried to block it out. I jumped from the counter to the table beside her as she turned to leave the room.

"Because... right now, Naanee IS angering Stitch..."

She backed up against the wall. One of the guards had stepped forward at this point. I eyed him and he backed off. If he went for that damn gun I would rip it from his hands and break it in half in front of him.

"I do not want guards at wedding, okeytaka?" I said to her. "Stitch not some prisoner. Will do that for Jumba – nobody else. Not want me change then do as I say. Agabba trying to ruin wedding for me."

"O-okay..." she rasped.

"Look at how scared she is. Isn't this exhilarating, 626? Seeing how these pathetic little humans cower in fear? Surely you must miss this. Being in complete control."

I growled. I don't miss anything. Leave me alone.

"Oh, but how she has angered you. Why not just let go and act on your anger? You'll feel so much better!"

What the heck? No! I wasn't going to do that!

Nani and the guard noticed my inner argument. I must have looked insane to them but this stupid voice was really starting to get on my nerves now. I knew I wasn't changing but a part of me was aware that I wasn't myself again and for some reason I couldn't find myself caring at that point.

As much as I wanted to, I just couldn't.

I saw the guard go for the gun suddenly. Within seconds I'd ripped it from his grasp and broke it in half in front of his face. He looked shocked. Nani had her hands to her mouth in shock.

"I TOLD you before!" I sneered. "NO GUNS. STITCH NOT BAD."

He put up his hands. A few more guards came up from behind.

I turned and ran from the kitchen.

This was getting worse. The monster inside of me was starting to come through now and I knew it was because of the cell. The voice was becoming more frequent and it was getting harder to clear my thoughts. I was losing myself.

Anger had started to plague my mind. My ability to remain calm was diminishing. I knew Nani was going to tell the others about this and I'd officially screwed up any remaining chance of being at the wedding now.

She was utterly terrified of me. How long until Lilo was?

This was wearing me down. I wanted to cry but no tears would come. It felt as though my own mind was locking up on me. I had no idea how things would go down now once I faced Nani again. I wasn't afraid of the guards, but I was afraid of being kicked out the family. No matter what I did, somehow I made things worse because of my anger, even though I had no reason to be as angry as I was. It was starting to consume me.

The voice was finally starting to win. It was only a matter of time now until I truly gave into it... and I was deathly scared to think of what the outcome would be once that happened.

"Stitch! There you are!" I heard my angel's voice break through my thoughts and looked up. I'd been sitting on the front porch. "I need to go now! Ready to go?"

I nodded anxiously. It seemed like Nani hadn't told her what had just happened. I grabbed her hand and quickly left with her before anything else could go wrong that morning.

I waited for Lilo in the mall as she went inside to collect the decorations. People stared at me, but I didn't care at that point. I didn't want to be angry again and become that horrible version of myself I'd turned into before.

Why was I so accepting of it? I couldn't understand. It was like my ability to recognise good from bad was being stripped away from me. I would never had done that to Nani in the past, but I had no control over what I was saying. It was like the words were coming out of my mouth before I could register them and this stupid voice encouraging it wasn't helping.

I was getting sick of this now. I wanted to know what this voice was and why it was haunting me. Where it was coming from.

Was it some kind of ghost that had entered my mind-scape? Was it a virus in my system that had corrupted my circuits? I had no possible explanation for it. It was doing my head in.

I was gritting my teeth and pulling down my ears hard when Lilo approached me again, a box in her arms.

"Uh... everything okay Stitch?"

She snapped me out of my thoughts. "Ih, ih..." I said quickly, putting my arms behind my back.

"Okay," she said softly. "I have some money left over. Want to get some shave ice on the way home?"

"Okeytaka."

I carried the box for her as we walked away from the mall and headed down towards the beach. While she walked over to Luki's to get us the treats, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned quickly. It was Mertle.

"Uh... hi..." she said quietly.

"Hello." I responded.

She hesitated, gesturing before sitting down beside me upon the bench I was sitting on. I didn't mind if she sat there.

"Can... can I talk to you about something?"

I shrugged. Lilo wouldn't be back for a little bit but I could still see her over at the man's cart. I was keeping an eye on her.

"Sure."

"Remember how Aleka lied about what we did and was ignoring me? Well..." she sighed. "I overheard them at the park a few days ago. Her, Yuki and Elena. They didn't know I was there."

I tilted my head at her, perking my ears up slightly. "Ih?"

"Aleka wants to get some kind of revenge on me. She is still angry about being told off by Moses, but I think she's also mad that I like you guys now. I don't know what she is planning with those two, but I'm scared Stitch. It feels like she really hates me now."

I stared at Mertle upon hearing this. I didn't want to feel sorry for her for how she had basically treated Lilo the same way, but I also knew she was doing her best to make it up to us by this point. After seeing how badly Lilo had been bullied by those girls in the past it almost felt right that Mertle would be in this position now, but I could also tell she was suffering. Maybe she deserved it, but she was just a kid. She was learning her lesson.

She was alone as Lilo had been before I'd entered her life.

I sighed. "Want Stitch's help, ih?"

She nodded.

"Feecha. I can help you," I told her. "But you need to be Lilo's friend now and mean it."

"I..." she started, looking at me before smiling. "I'd like that."

I was surprised to hear that, but it made me feel happy for Lilo. Mertle still had a ways to go, and I still felt as though I couldn't trust her, but this was a start. What she'd done to Lilo was terrible, but I knew it would be just as bad for her to end up as Lilo had before I'd entered her life. After experiencing bad depression myself, I truly didn't want to see it happen to her.

Even the monstrous side of me would not have control of that.

"Good."

"Stitch!" I finally heard my angel call, and stood up to greet her.

I truly hadn't thought that things could get much worse at that point after what had happened between myself and Nani before. I really hadn't.

Boy was I wrong.

As my angel reached out to hand me the shaved ice, a set of sharp claws were suddenly at her neck.

Mertle screamed in shock beside me, standing up swiftly. Bystanders screamed in fright and fled as hulking figures made an appearance, stirring up the normally calm beach.

Two sets of strong arms wrapped around Lilo, securing her. Seeing those razor sharp claws pressed against her throat made me lock up instantly. The shaved ice fell to the sand below, forgotten.

I should have been keeping a closer eye on her. I wanted to smash my head into a brick wall over and over for my incompetence and I wanted to rip that monster's head clean from his neck for having the gall to even put his hands on her.

Behind the monster stood two hulking cloaked Kwelkwanian's, guns aimed directly at me. This was my reality now, and I had to face it.

Chopsuey and the 6-26B's had finally come out of hiding.