A/n: Thank you for remembering Stitch's birthday. That was a nice surprise and I wasn't expecting it! :D

I actually wanted to have his birthday coincide with mine as I'd made it 21st of Feb - but my health and other things didn't allow that to happen so I just left it.

Thanks for the reviews. :)

Later that night, Jumba ended up preparing dinner for us both. Nani had made it a point to cook dinner for only Lilo, David and Pleakley. It was utterly ridiculous and childish, but I could only guess it was because we were a broken family now. The woman was already avoiding us as much as she could and there was an evident rift.

I sat at the dinner table with my father. My angel was in watching a movie with Pleakley and Nani was shut away in her bedroom with David. I didn't bother snooping, but I could hear them talking to their families on the phone about the upcoming few days. It was Monday evening by that point, and my birthday would be coming up very soon – on Wednesday. The wedding would be on Friday.

Chopsuey was still out there somewhere. I wondered how jealous he would be of me having a birthday celebration and if he would try to ruin it. Wednesday would either go one of two ways; a good day, or a complete disaster.

I was leaning towards the latter at this point. I must have reflected my thoughts quite loudly through my actions of lazily pushing my dinner around with my fork rather than eating it because Jumba sighed, reaching out and petting me gently on the head. He pushed my antennae back a few times as he did so, running a finger along the left one when they arched back up.

"626... I know what is on your mind."

I eyed my father but remained quiet.

"I promise, even if others do not attend, myself, Lilo and Pleakley will still be throwing you surprise party on Wednesday. You have nothing to worry about."

I just sighed. He put a finger underneath my chin and arched up my head.

"Will be having big surprise for you on Wednesday. I know it's hard to look up right now, but try to at least look forward to that, yes?"

"Whatever you say..." I muttered.

Jumba looked away. I felt bad about saying that to him, but I really wasn't in the best of moods. Thankfully he seemed to understand this, because he stood up and picked me up, putting me over his shoulder into a long, long hug. He didn't say anything as he did so, but words weren't needed.

I nuzzled against him and buried my head into his shoulder. He sat back down and gestured for me to sit back down on my seat, but I refused so instead he pulled over the plate of food he'd made for me and began feeding me. I was more than capable of eating it myself but at that point I just craved my fathers attention and love. Like Lilo, he kept me going and kept me strong.

"Open 626..."

I opened my mouth and he fed me the rest of my dinner. A smile appeared on his face and I looked at him curiously.

"Hekzi nzusi yushklz zuuki,o'hi bhatz rkils tuhk'ii. R'zh xlih ncshz looki, zneebas orts ks's stuzhi," he sung softly before poking me on the nose.

I looked at him in complete disbelief for a moment or so, before closing my eyes and smiling. He sung the tune again, and I rocked my head from side to side gently, tapping the rhythm on the table with my claws.

What he was singing to me was some lyrics from an old Kweltikwanian song from when I was baby. It was one of my favourites. I remembered that whenever I heard it on Jumba's radio as he worked I would get up and clap my paws together happily, and he would play the tune on repeat to me while I tried to sing it.

Similar to Lilo's lullaby, it often calmed me, also having been one reason I'd become fond of music.

Eventually I joined in with him quietly and that was how I proceeded to finish the rest of my dinner. It really cheered me up a bunch. My father sat me on his shoulders as he cleaned up and we sang the song over a few times together although at some point we ended up losing count.

I'd been too distracted to notice that Nani had been watching us, phone in hand, just beyond the kitchen door. For once, I didn't care what she thought; I missed the time I used to spend with my father and even if we sounded terrible, the only thing that mattered to me was Jumba.

We weren't evil. We never would be evil.

Jumba really was the best father in the world.

Shortly after, Jumba inspected my injuries as I sat beside Lilo and Pleakley on the couch. The movie they were watching was still on, but I wasn't paying too much attention to it. My leg was still sore and I hissed when Jumba flexed it.

"Sorry boy..." he muttered, but continued inspecting. "Is likely you will still be needing crutches for few more days."

"Naga bootifa."

"I know, I know, but not much else can be done."

Lilo gave me a sad smile, holding my paw against her lap. "You've sure had it rough lately. First with that power line and the hole, then that first fight and now this other fight..."

"Ih..." I muttered. "Stitch needs break."

"That, you do," she responded sadly, kissing my cheek softly. "Don't worry, things will get better Stitch."

I wanted to believe her, but I knew they wouldn't. And even if they did, it would just be short lived anyway. Jumba was watching me intently.

"Going to run tests on that fail-safe. Still cannot explain switch."

He stood up and left, and Lilo gave me a curious look. "What?"

I ran my other paw over her soft hand. "Never mind," I muttered gently. "Lilo, look! Funny movie, ih?"

She faced the television again and started laughing at what was showing on the screen, distracted. I watched her as she laughed. Her eyes looked so bright, even though she was tired. I think she was still elated from her talk with my 'cousin' before. I couldn't really adapt to the idea of Chops being a cousin. He certainly wasn't my brother – but since he was created by my father, I guess that was the closest thing to family I could call him. A cousin.

Even though I couldn't stand him.

I really hoped that he wouldn't do anything to hurt Lilo. I knew he was going to take advantage of my fear, since he knew how I reacted to him laying his paws on her. I think Lilo felt he wasn't going to do anything to harm her, but I knew him. So did my father. He was cunning and manipulative. I had no idea what he possibly had up his sleeve now that he was here, in proximity to us. There wasn't much I could do about him residing on Earth now, but I sure as hell hoped he would stay away from us. The last thing I wanted was him causing trouble.

I couldn't trust him and I probably never would be able to. I wish Lilo wasn't so accepting of him, but that was just how she is. She was the same with me, and I had to take a look at myself now; I loved her and yearned for her as a mate in the future. She was my saviour.

With how things were with Nani currently, there was never going to be a chance for me to tell the family how I felt about Lilo and that I wanted to be with her; Nani would just view me as nothing more than an animal rather than an sentient alien. I felt degraded to that level already, especially from how she was treating me. It wasn't fair. I wasn't a damn dog. I know that I didn't have the advantage of just 'being' the right species, as had that Keoni guy from my dream a while ago, but I still had a brain and one that was far more intelligent than a human brain at that. Even if my English was terrible, I could still look after Lilo. As for a family though... well...

All I could do was be myself. If Lilo accepted me for myself, then did it matter if I wasn't a human?

From how things were, Lilo seemed to accept it, and had reassured me she did – but still, deep in my heart, I knew things were likely to change when she got older. I'd been around humans long enough to somewhat understand the concept of change and growth among them. Human emotions and how they varied.

I really had no idea what the next few days had in store for me. I gripped Lilo's hand a little tighter and snuggled against her side.

I didn't focus on the movie, or even on the thought of my birthday in a day's time.

Instead I just thought about her.

Lilo was happy during our bath before bed. She splashed and played about with some toys while I just sat in the water, contemplating and staring down at the bubbles. She didn't notice straight away, but when she did she sat opposite me.

"Stitch?"

I looked up at her. "Hi Lilo."

I couldn't hide the blunt edge to my tone. She picked up on it straight away and hugged me close before putting a finger under my chin and tilting my head up. It was something both she and my father did, I had come to notice.

"Stitch... when my parents died and you weren't in my life... I didn't ever think things would get better. It took such a long time until things did, but you know what I did?"

"Gaba, Lilo."

"I never gave up hope."

I gazed at her sadly. "Lilo... Stitch doesn't have hope."

She looked crushed. "But... but why?"

I shook my head. "I cannot. Not with what Stitch did."

Clutching my paws, she leaned her face close to mine. "But what Stitch? What did you do?"

I couldn't face her.

"Please tell me?"

I sighed. "Lucha, Lilo," I began. "When I said... I was kaphong... I meant it."

She stared hard at me before shaking her head repeatedly. "No... NO... you're not, Stitch. Stop saying that."

"Neesa, naga understand. I am Lilo. Stitch was created as that."

"You keep saying that!" she crossed her arms. "But you haven't even said how, Stitch so why should I believe you?!"

She was right. I hadn't said how because I couldn't.

"Ready to come clean then? I mean... seems like an appropriate time, don't you agree?"

What a stupid pun. I growled slightly, but I accidently startled Lilo when she thought it was directed at her and she shifted back from me. I instantly reached for her.

"Naga, naga..." I said gently. "Never mad at you..."

"Then why...?"

"Stitch..." I really didn't know how to explain this without sounding like a nutjob. I sighed, clutching her hands tightly.

"I hear bad voice, Lilo. In my head."

"A bad v-voice?" she asked, looking worried. "What do you mean?"

I sighed. "A voice... another being. Naga know what is. Bribes me."

"There's plenty of other words I would use 626, 'bribe' not being one of them."

"Keeps saying things to me. I don't like it. Cannot stop it."

The voice laughed.

"Like... a demon?" Lilo asked me quietly.

I paused, mouth half-way ajar. A demon? I'd never thought of that. Perhaps it was some kind of demon. Was I being possessed?

I shook my head. "Naga nota. Meecha isa."

"Can... can you get rid of it?"

"Naga nota..." I repeated. "Has been there for while. Haunting Stitch. Making me... see things, and get mad. Naga at you, at visions."

"Have you told Jumba about this?"

I paused again. "Sort of. Is more complicated than you think."

"Will you ever tell me?"

I sighed. "You will find out, one way or another, Leelo."

"Even if I do, you aren't a monster Stitch."

"To be young and oblivious."

I closed my eyes and pulled down my ears. "SHUT UP!"

Lilo looked shocked. "Oh..."

Damn it. How many more times was this going to happen?

"Naga! Not at you, Lilo! Voice taunting me!"

"I see..." she said softly, although after that she kept her distance from me. Eventually Nani entered and pulled her out, wrapping her in a towel this time as opposed to me doing so like we usually did. Lilo didn't make eye contact with me as Nani dressed her into her robe and led her out. No words were spoken.

I was left in the bath alone.

The longer I sat there and stared at the water, the more tempted I was to put my head under it. I had to fight against myself not to. Deep down I still believed dying was the only fix for this and as much as my family disagreed with me, I couldn't convince myself otherwise. It was either destroy everything they loved and force the Earth into an apocalypse, wiping out nearly all of humanity – or just cut my life short and not allow it to happen.

This was why the latter was more and more tempting to me.

I lost track of time as I sat there, but eventually willed myself to get out. I couldn't hurt Jumba again. He'd nearly lost his voice screaming at me last time – trying to drill it into my head death wasn't the right answer. I wasn't going to rebut it when I knew he was right.

I had just put my foot over the edge when a searing pain shot through the base of my neck and I let out a cry, clenching my teeth together. I could feel my fur bristling; every muscle in my body seizing up. My body was on fire.

My paws stretched out in front of me, claws lengthening to the size of scissor blades – I was getting taller again, like I had in the motel room. Slowly looking up to the mirror before me confirmed my eyes were red again. I didn't look away this time; instead I just opted to silently acknowledge the horrible sight before me. What I truly was. I had to accept it at some point or another considering the alternative to not accepting it was death. I truly had no choice anymore.

On longer legs I shakily stepped out of the bath and wrapped my towel around me, quietly closing and locking the bathroom door before closing the curtain, trying to remain calm and not freak out.

They couldn't see me like this.

I sat and waited for the flare-up to pass. It took longer this time; it was at least twenty more minutes before my fur bristled again and my form started to shrink. My claws returned to normal and I went back to being short and stocky.

Twenty minutes. I looked at my paws.

The next time would probably be even longer and then at some point I probably wouldn't revert. I'd continue growing and the Earth would be no more. My ears flipped up when a knock rapped on the door and the door handle tried to open. I could tell it was Nani.

"What are you doing in there? Why is the door locked?" I heard her shout in to me, prompting heavy footsteps as my father ran to her upon hearing that.

Oh great.

"626? Stop whatever it is you are doing right now and open the door, you hear me! So help me if you are– "

"I'm fine." I said bluntly, but also calmly although it probably sounded like more of a threat because I'd heard them go quiet.

Geeze. I couldn't even be alone now without them questioning what I was doing. Sure I was unstable, but I wasn't stupid.

"Open door."

"Naga."

"OPEN DOOR OR I WILL BREAK IT OPEN!"

"DON'T YOU DARE!" I heard Nani scream in response to that at him.

For heaven's sake.

I went forward and unlocked the door to shut them up however almost instantly it was violently flung open by Nani, hitting me squarely in the face and forcefully slamming me back into the wall. The impact left a small hole where my head had collided with the surface.

I wasn't hurt but I really wasn't in the mood for this. Nani would no doubt blame me for breaking the wall despite she caused it. The adults ran in, both staring in shock at me slumped against the floor.

Sure enough – "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" the woman bellowed. "AS IF I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR AS IT IS ALREADY!" I held down my ears as her voice pierced my eardrums.

Jumba sneered at her. "Since this one clearly has no intentions of asking – 626, are you alright?"

Nani growled at him.

"I'm fine," I hissed, pushing myself up. "Now if you'll excuse me."

I went past them to head up into the dome, but Nani grabbed the towel. I faced her.

"What about that?" She gestured to the wall in the bathroom.

"What about it?"

"WHAT ABOUT IT?!" Nani almost blew her top. "FIRST THE TREES, THEN THE WINDOW NOW THIS TOO?"

"What am I supposed to do?" I asked her calmly. "Naga Stitch fault. You slam open door 'cuz you think I try kill myself again. You hit me in face, knock Stitch back."

She really was trying to blame me for everything. She stared at me. I stared back at her.

"Can I go now?"

She just grunted at me, crossing her arms. I sighed.

"Say sorry."

"What?!"

"To meega," I pointed at myself. "You hit me. Say sorry."

Jumba was staring at her in fury at this point. Nani's mouth flapped like a fish.

"B-but..."

I tilted my head. "Well?"

"SORRY," she seethed but I knew it was forced. I had no idea why it was so hard for her. "But you're fixing all the damages! BEFORE tomorrow afternoon!"

"Meega?" I asked. "Naga have money, all went to you when I work for you."

I could see her shaking. I was more than certain from her body language at this point she was going to hit me.

She did. She went for me and pushed me over.

Jumba lunged at her but I stopped him while Nani stood there, shaking.

"You're crazy," I said to her. "Get help, Naanee."

She shook. She turned and bolted from us, and I heard the front door slam shut.

Jumba looked at me. I looked at him.

"Why is she doing this?" he started to ask, but David poked his head out from their bedroom. He approached us and sighed.

"Stress. She is starting to have a mental breakdown."

When we stared he elaborated. "Her car is about to be repossessed. She hasn't had enough to pay it off lately so she stopped. One of the letters she opened today. Not just that – she just lost her job. Mr Wong had a sudden heart attack. The hut had to be closed. She told us about it when she stayed with my parents. Nani has a bit of debt she's been hiding."

Jumba looked utterly shocked. I was in complete disbelief.

"She didn't say anything because she didn't want to make it worse, but... that is why she's so angry. Except she's taking it out the wrong way – on you guys," David looked at me. "On Stitch."

"Well then... what is she going to do?" Jumba asked.

David shrugged. "I'm still trying to get a job. I have an interview tomorrow afternoon. If I do not land that then... I really don't know. I might see if my parents can help out."

My father looked at me before looking at David again. "So you are needing money? Is that it?"

He nodded. "Her car will be repossessed after the wedding if she doesn't have the money for it."

"Hmm. Well then... I think I have an idea. I'll be back soon."

Jumba looked at me before leaving to head outside to the ship again. I looked at David.

"Stitch, I know Nani hasn't been the nicest to you as of late. It's simply the stress making her this way. If there is one thing about humans – stress destroys them in the worst ways. It makes them do crazy, crazy things."

I looked down.

"It isn't your fault. Don't worry about the hole in the wall, or the window. Just focus on the trees. I will talk to my parents. Hopefully we can borrow some funds. You did the right thing by working for Nani and she did appreciate that. Don't forget it."

I nodded.

"You are still invited to the wedding, even if you don't wish to come."

David turned and left and I stood there for a moment, staring after him.

I really didn't know how to feel anymore.

Lilo was quiet above me in her bunk that night. I wondered if she still felt as though I had told her to shut up. Maybe I looked and sounded more vicious than I realised when I snapped at the demon in my head.

I truly didn't want to scare her, but like many other things now, that was just one thing that was going to continue to go wrong as well. If she felt threatened by my voice, I couldn't imagine how she'd react to seeing me taller with red eyes and spines growing out of my arms.

I curled into my pillow, feeling tears leak out of my eyes again. It seemed all I did now was cry. I felt like a baby. Was I a baby?

No. I wasn't. This was destroying me, it was normal to be so upset about it. Just because I was the strongest creature in the universe didn't mean I wasn't susceptible to a breakdown. Just like Nani. A will of steel did not equal having the emotions of a rock.

Lilo had changed me, too – I couldn't forget that.

She had her class tomorrow afternoon. I wasn't going to go with her. Instead, I was going to see Mr. Kuakini again. I was going to beg him to give Nani my job.

It probably wouldn't work but I had to try, right? I had to do something to put us on better terms, even if she was the one taking her anger out on me. Another probably would have given up on her but I just didn't have it in me to do so; I was too loyal.

I missed Nani caring about me. Being nice to me. Spending time with her. Now she couldn't even look at me.

She made me feel like a monster. I hated her for that.

Lilo had fallen asleep without saying goodnight to me. I could hear her snoring softly above. Sitting up, I stared across to some crayons and paper on her desk.

Climbing out of bed quietly, I snuck across the room. Using her crayons and paper, I created her a message. Once completed, I crawled up to her on the top bunk, setting the message down beside her when my eyes came across a new goodness level chart taped above her head above the older green one.

This one was orange, however this time, there was no 'permanently good' like the last one had displayed. It was half empty.

My ears fell. I stared at the message I had made for her. Picking it up I scrunched it up and threw it at the bin, before climbing back down and leaving the room through the window. My angel was already loosing faith in me. What was the point anymore.

I didn't realise was that my shot had missed, bouncing off the side of the bin and falling beside it.

Heading up the driveway and into the night, I didn't look back at my home.