"626!"

"Stitch! Wake up! Guess what day it is?"

"Gaba..?" I muttered tiredly, rubbing my eyes. Sunlight was beaming through the dome windows and it took me a moment to comprehend that Lilo and Jumba were right in front of me. I'd been having another weird dream.

"Good morning son. Happy birthday."

My ears perked slightly at that and I sat up. I was three today! My father pulled me out of the covers into his arms from Lilo's bunk. I smiled. Lilo climbed down beside me and picked up something from my bed. When she turned around I realised it was a bunch of presents.

"Come on!"

They took me downstairs to the kitchen. My leg finally felt a lot better, so I didn't use the crutches.

I hadn't been expecting very much on account of Nani, but to my surprise, the kitchen was entirely draped in streamers. On the table was a few more gifts. David and Pleakley were in there with Iwalani and they smiled at my arrival in Jumba's arms.

"I was informed it was your bithday today," Lilo's aunt said, rubbing Lilo on the head. "I helped her wrap the presents this morning. Haven't seen Nani about."

Lilo looked at her at that. "She's still not back?"

I stared at that. I wondered what the time was and looked towards the clock. To my surprise it was already nearly afternoon. I'd been in bed for ages.

Lilo noticed my perplexed expression. "We didn't want to wake you. It gave us time to set up."

I nodded.

"Happy birthday Stitch! Here!"

Jumba set me down at the table. The leg had been repaired from the other night when it had been smashed and I wondered if Iwalani had noticed the slight difference. In front of me sat a small pile of presents. I didn't know where to start, so I opted for Lilo's first and she beamed. Similar to her morning messages, she'd decorated a home-made card with stickers and stamps. Jumba read her message out to me, considering I couldn't read some of the words.

"Happy birthday Stitch. I'm so glad you're a part of my life and I get to finally celebrate this with you. I hope we can be together forever."

I smiled happily and my best friend thrust her present towards me. "Open it!" she said eagerly.

I ripped open the wrapping paper. Inside of a small box was a red collar with a type of tiki on it. I stared.

"It's Ku-Tiki," she explained to me when I looked at her for an answer. "I kept this hidden away for a long time, under my bed in a sock. It was a gift from my dad. Ku is the Hawaiian God of Strength. I know you're already strong, but I figured you could use some extra help right now. Ku kept me strong. Now he'll keep you strong too."

She smiled at me and drew me into a long hug. Taking the necklace from me, she clipped it around my neck and I looked down at it. "It's special, Stitch. Ku will help you when you need him."

I was speechless. First the medal-of-honour and now this? For Lilo to give me such personal possessions from her parents really showed a lot about how much I meant to her. I had nothing to say, but I think she sensed how I felt about it. She kissed me on the nose.

"You deserve it, Stitch. Take good care of him, okay?"

"I will..." I told her gently.

She nodded. "What do you want to open next Stitch?"

I stared at the small pile ahead of me. I decided to save my father's gifts until last, so I opened up some of the smaller ones I saw on there first. David had got me some new swimming trunks and a really cool key-chain. Pleakley had made me a sweater. There was a gift from Mr Kuakini and his family on there too. When I opened that up it was a blanket. I recognised it from the night I'd been on his couch.

I was surprised to receive such a gift from him. Even more so when Jumba read the note along with it to me – the blanket had been his son's but he wanted me to have it. I felt very touched by that and would have to pay him a visit later to thank him.

Even Aunt Iwalani had got me a gift, despite such short notice. She smiled at me when I opened it. It was a little alien bobble-head. I grinned and flicked it about.

"I found that this morning. Figured you might like it," she explained.

I did. "Dougabba."

She looked confused. Lilo smiled up at her, holding her hand. "That means thank you in Stitch's language!"

"Oh. He has his own language?" she asked, seemingly interested.

"Yeah! It's called Tantalog. He also speaks in Kweltikwanian."

"I... I see," she responded, looking a bit confused.

I saw Jumba smirk at that before he cleared his throat. "Alright, 626. Think is time for my presents yet?"

"Ih!"

Jumba's stash of presents was biggest. There was at least four on there. I was about to start opening the smallest first when I heard the door shut. I noticed Jumba tense slightly and when I realised why, I paused as well. It was Nani.

She stared at me from the doorway. I stared back at her.

"Here," she eventually said, putting a small box down on the table. "Happy birthday."

I was shocked. I think Jumba was too, but he didn't say anything. Nani left the room and Iwalani went after her. It was quiet for a few moments.

"Are... you going to open it, 626?" Jumba eventually broke the uncomfortable silence.

I stared at Nani's gift. Truthfully I didn't really want to, but at least she'd got me something. I guess even after everything that had happened between us she still respected this day was special for me. I picked it up into my paws and looked down at it.

"..."

"Only if you feel comfortable, 626..." Jumba said to me, putting his hand upon my back. He knew how I felt. I sighed, eventually opening it, much slower than the rest of the presents.

Inside was a small plush toy; a white and gold duck. It was holding onto a small plush book of the Ugly Duckling. I felt my ears drop down behind me and Lilo hugged me.

"Aw, that's cute. Your favourite, Stitch!"

"Ih..." I said gently, staring at the little plush. I felt so confused.

I really felt as though Nani hated me lately. But this said a lot to me. She understood how I felt about the wedding and wanting to be a true part of a family. It seemed like this was her way of showing she at least cared in some form.

I put the duck down, still staring at it but was quickly distracted by Jumba hinting to open his gifts. He beamed the entire time I did.

He'd got me some more CDs for my new CD player, a portable gaming device and a new type of blaster I'd never seen before. Lilo's eyes lit up and she went for it, but Jumba snatched it up.

"Ah, not until you're older. Is especially for 626."

I grinned.

"But... gaba tatchuga Nani opaka ishta?"

He snorted. "What she doesn't know won't hurt her, 626," he replied to me, however he said it in Kweltikwan for obvious reasons.

I smirked. I loved blasters. I'd used four of them at a time on my missions when Jumba had sent me out but hadn't seen them since then. This one looked unique; it was blue as opposed to yellow and much bigger in size. The other part of the present was a holster.

The final present there was a much larger box.

"Think you'll really like this one, 626," Jumba said to me, taking hold of Lilo gently and pulling her back as she tried to sneak around him to see the gun. I looked up at him before nodding, opening it slowly. Lilo had stopped trying to sneak behind him and had come to my side, figuring it was a futile effort.

I pulled out what appeared to be an outfit. It was a vest, with a black shortened tank top, shorts and boots. I stared at it for a while, pondering on where I'd seen it before.

"My original bounty outfit," Jumba said to me and my eyes widened. "Had it custom made for you."

I was ecstatic. I loved that outfit! I threw myself at my father and hugged him. "Really?!"

"Yes. Plus, you know I love you in silly outfits. Try it on!"

I grinned, pulling it on where I stood. It fit perfectly and the boots were comfortable. It had hidden pockets and compartments all over it. Lilo dragged me into the bathroom to look in the mirror.

"Wow..." she breathed as I admired the outfit. "That's wicked, Stitch! You look so cool!"

"Ih!" I grinned, twisting about to look at myself in the outfit. I loved it. I pulled out Lilo's necklace so it sat over the top of the shirt. She smiled and kissed me on the cheek.

Jumba appeared behind us. "Ready for the best surprise, 626?"

There was more?

Jumba smiled at me. Lilo gripped my paw as he led us outside to the backyard and down near the old tool shed at the bottom. Behind it was a tarp, concealing something big.

I stared. Lilo looked surprised.

"Ta-da!"

Jumba pulled off the tarp in one swift movement and underneath was the cruiser. Completely restored, as though it had never been damaged at all. I let out a scream.

"GABA EIEK?!"

My father laughed. "Spent all day and night fixing it. Promised I'd have it restored for your birthday, didn't I?"

"I... I..." I was speechless. Jumba opened up the cockpit. "Go on then, 626. Take little girl with you. You more than deserve this."

Lilo's eyes lit up. "You mean...!"

"Mhm..."

Lilo was in utter shock. She squealed happily as Jumba helped her up beside me. I ran my paws over the controls, everything rushing back to me in a blur. It felt like yesterday I'd stolen this cruiser and crashed it onto Kauai.

This cruiser was the reason Lilo was a part of my life to begin with, and as I looked at Lilo, I could tell that was the only thing on her mind too.

"Go, 626!"

I didn't need to be told twice. I locked the hatch, and Lilo put her hands to the glass as I started up the ship's engine.

"We're going to really fly Stitch?!" she gasped, looking at me. "Right now?"

"Ih. Right now."

I'd never seen Lilo look as happy as she did at that moment. I engaged the thrust and the cruiser took off into the sky, Jumba and our family disappearing below in a blur of colours.

"WOOHOO!"

I grinned as Lilo screamed in joy beside me. We were high up above Kauai now, soaring through the clouds. It was beautiful.

When she almost wrecked her voice from screaming so much, she went quiet, just admiring the beauty of the sky and the ocean below. Up here was like another world, just like underneath the sea. I watched her as she took in everything; straining her neck to look above and behind us, not wanting to miss anything. I was careful to avoid other planes and used the cruiser's cloaking device when we were in radar range.

Lilo sat back and stared at the controls. "So do you know all these and what they do?"

I nodded. Flying ships was easy to me, considering my super-computer brain.

"Do you think... I could fly it?"

I stared at her. I didn't see why not.

"Sit in my lap, Lilo."

She did as I asked, unclasping her seat-belt and sitting in my lap. I guided her hands onto the joystick with my paws.

"This is forward..." I explained, pushing the stick forward along with her. "Only gently. Is sensitive."

She jolted the ship a few times but eventually found the right sensitivity.

"Now back... veer left..."

Lilo was patient and listened carefully to everything I told her. When I felt confident she'd be okay without me guiding her, I let her sit and fly for a few minutes. Eventually I resumed control and she sat back in the passenger seat, buckling up again. I set the ship to autopilot for a little while so I could relax as well.

"This is so beautiful, Stitch. I cannot believe this is happening... I just flew a space ship!"

I grinned.

"Not just any ship!" she continued, and hugged me tightly. "Your ship!"

"Ih!"

She went quiet again, gazing down at some of the land below.

"Lilo?"

"Mmm?"

"Stitch... has something to tell you."

"Oh?" she turned to face me at that.

It was just us two, alone above the world now. I switched off the communicator before facing her.

"You will probably find this weird, Lilo. Is weird for me. I'm still adapting to it."

She stared at me. "Stitch?"

I smiled at her. "Listen Lilo... you know I love you, ih?"

She nodded, gripping my paw.

"Well... Jumba naga create me to do that. Stitch, not supposed to feel. To love. You change me, ih? But is another reason Stitch can. I learn this yesterday, but now I know for sure."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I'm not truly alien, Lilo."

She looked astounded, so I began to explain. I explained everything to her – from the time I'd first learned of Mr Kuakini's son and the weird coincidences he'd noticed between myself and Mitch, to the dreams I'd been having about being the boy. The thoughts and feelings that I had experienced that I'd realised were not my own.

Lilo was shocked. She stared down at the cockpit for a few moments.

"You... you're not r-really an alien?" she eventually asked quietly.

I shook my head. "Well, ih. Stitch is alien, yes. But I am who I am because I believe I used to be human."

"But... but how is that even possible Stitch?! How can that even happen? Or work?"

"Naga nota, Lilo. Stitch was never supposed to love. Never supposed to feel afraid or defy programming. Yet, I do. Feel remorse, hurt, pain. My biology opposes all of that yet... Stitch feels everything."

I looked at her. "I love you because I do. I cannot explain how or why when isa against programming."

"B-but..."

"When Mr Kuakini son die... he die as I was created. Line up. I truly think... his soul end up in me."

She was quiet. "How do you know this?"

I took her by the shoulders. "Because I have same feelings you do. Human emotions. Memories. Dreams. Nothing Jumba programmed."

"And nightmares..." she said softly. "You're not so different to me at all, are you?"

I shook my head.

"And you are sure there is no other explanation?"

"I have thoughts that are not mine," I told her. "Dreams and sensations Stitch cannot explain. I do things Mr Kuakini mistakes me for son. Like... nervous tics. Hold leg in certain position. So many coincidences."

She nodded. "That makes sense, Stitch... and his name sounds like yours too."

"Ih."

"Do... do you feel him inside of you?"

I gazed at her at that. "I've never truly felt like me... like..." I rubbed at my arm. "When Jumba tell me, have to destroy – I didn't want to. Brain tell me to do so, but I also tell myself no. Felt like... another voice there. Not bad voice, but just... different voice. Voice to tell right from wrong."

Lilo listened intently. "And Jumba never created you to know the difference between those two?"

I nodded. "Was supposed to do terrible things. In end, was forced to. All time I knew was wrong – didn't want to do it, was made to."

Lilo nodded. "Sometimes you act different to Jumba. I have noticed that. He thinks different to you."

I nodded. "Lilo?"

She gazed at me. "Do you... think any different of me, if I was human before?"

"No," she replied. "If that happened, then I think it's amazing. I know it's not right for me to like you the way I do, but if you... if you were a human, it makes me feel better. You've never truly felt like an alien to me, Stitch. More like just any other person. My best friend. Somebody that understands me more than anybody else..." she smiled at me. "You came back to me, Stitch. I always thought maybe my parents were looking out for me and helped bring you back. Because even though I got you into the fusion chamber, I was still too late. I prayed so hard for you to come back. It was the only thing I wanted because I didn't know how to go on without you. I needed you. There are so many things I haven't been able to explain, so I don't try to. Now perhaps this is something the same for you. Don't try to explain it, but maybe see it as a special gift. Maybe you were meant to be this way."

I paused at that. I looked down at my paw. "Meant to be?"

She nodded. "Perhaps you were supposed to be a human, but you became Stitch instead. You were created because I needed you."

I stared at her, trying to figure out what she meant. She put her hand to my cheek.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that my parents sent you to me the only way they knew how."

"How is possible they could do that though, Lilo?"

"By putting a human soul into you. And because of that, you came to Earth. You didn't find another planet even though there are so many other planets out there. And to top that off, it was right here you crashed," she laughed slightly. "This probably sounds so dumb, doesn't it?"

"Naga..." I told her. "If you want to believe that, then Lilo believe that."

"If Mitch died when you came alive, maybe... somehow... he wanted that second chance too. Maybe he didn't want to leave behind Mr Kuakini and his family so soon and perhaps my parents saw that up in heaven and he got a second chance, just like you did after you died. His second chance was in you. Maybe you were supposed to work for Mr Kuakini and realise that. I'm probably being dumb like I said, but I really do think everything happens for a reason, Stitch."

I stared at her at that in disbelief. "So you think...?"

"Maybe you're a messenger, Stitch. Mitch wanted to let his parents know he is okay and not in pain anymore, and that was through you."

I put my paw to my head. It was a lot to take in.

Lilo hugged me tightly. "Stitch, no matter who you are, alien or not... you're my best friend. You came to me when I needed you the most and not one day has passed where I haven't thanked my parents for that. And if you were a human in the past, him, like you said... then it just means, that I was right in that you understand me more than anybody in the world. You have the ability to."

"Did you know him, Lilo?" I asked.

"No," she shook her head. "I think I remember seeing him in the hospital that time when I was much younger and broke my wrist, but he looked very sick. He was in a wheelchair."

I recalled the dream I had. I had been in a wheelchair and I still remembered what it looked like thanks to my memory. Even minor details.

"Lilo lucha da chibtablia saiko nai?"

She stared. "I was very young, Stitch. But I vaguely remember it because it looked so different to any other wheelchair I'd ever seen. It looked really fancy. It moved by itself, with a joystick. That's why it stood out in my memories."

My eyes widened. The wheelchair I'd seen in that dream had a joystick. In the dream I'd never touched it, but it had been there for sure.

How could I have possibly known that? The wheelchair had never appeared in any of the photos I'd seen at Mr Kuakini's home that night. And if it did, it wasn't in frame enough for me to remember that particular feature of it.

"Lilo..." I breathed. "In dream, it had that joystick."

"Well, then... what if it's true, Stitch? What if you really were once him?"

She gazed at me for a while at that, and I gazed back at her. "I got you back without explanation, so it really doesn't seem that out there... when you think about it in this sense at least."

I nodded. I really had no logical or rational explanation as to how I knew about that wheelchair, or how I had those dreams. How I could so easily defy my programming.

"What matters is that you are you..." Lilo told me, putting her arm around me to hug me. "I have you in my life. And I don't want that to ever change."

"Neither do I, Lilo."

She kissed my nose and sat back to look out of the window again. I sat back as well, trying to process everything. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense, even as out there as the idea seemed.

I did like the idea. Because it made me feel less alienated; not so different from Lilo after all. And now that she knew this was a very real possibility, she would accept me even more. That's why we had clicked so well, right from the start. And why I'd crashed here, and not anywhere else on the planet despite how big it was. Everything had lined up. It was fate.

Perhaps it was my true destiny.

Lilo and I flew for another hour before I returned back home, landing the ship back behind the shed.

"Lilo?" I asked her as she unbuckled her seat belt.

"Yes?"

"Keep this a secret, okay? Between us."

"I will. I promise," she responded. She took my paws into her hands. "Maybe you could talk to Mr Kuakini about this too."

"Lucha cha," I responded. "Might be a lot for him to deal with."

Lilo nodded as my ears perked up to Nani's crying. We looked out to see her running towards the ship, Jumba right behind her.

"LILO!"

Lilo looked a little irritated. Nani picked her up out of the cockpit. "DON'T EVER GO OFF LIKE THAT AGAIN WITHOUT TELLING ME! What if something happened?! What if you had of crashed?! You could have been killed!"

Jumba snorted loudly at that. Nani glared at him.

"Bah. Is federation police cruiser. From one of the most advanced generations of fleet ships in entire galactic armada piloted by most intelligent being in universe – not puny piece of cheap plastic like your earth vehicle is."

The older Pelekai sister scowled at him. "I don't give a darn if it's the most advanced ship in the universe piloted by God himself, my little SISTER was joy riding with him up in the clouds without my knowledge!"

"And now they are back."

Nani went quiet at that.

"Is 626's day. Do not be ruining it. Little girl was wanting this, is special to her."

"Why?" Nani cried at that, facing Lilo. "You have the hovercraft! Can't you use that instead?"

"Because it brought me Stitch, that's why!" Lilo cried at her. "You couldn't even begin to understand what this means to me and you wouldn't even try to!"

"..."

Lilo scowled. "What did you think was going to happen, Nani? You WENT in the ship with us before, remember? Into space?"

Nani was quiet. She had no response.

"Besides don't tell me you actually think the hovercraft is safer than this?!" Lilo exclaimed. "Gosh, just let me have fun for once Nani! Stitch even let me fly it!"

"What?!"

"Yeah! And it was easy too!"

Lilo tried to jump out of her arms and Nani eventually put her down. She stared at me, looking me up and down. I realised it was because of the bounty outfit.

"Why didn't you tell me!"

"Maybe because you've been so mean lately, or is it not obvious?" Lilo replied snarkily. "Come on, Stitch. I think we should light up the cake and sing happy birthday now."

I jumped down beside Lilo, looking back at Nani as I followed my best friend back to the house.

I lost focus as my family sung to me. It didn't feel real, but it was. I blew out the candles of the biggest coconut cake I'd ever seen. Bigger than the one Nani had bought for me that time.

I had one wish; to be with Lilo forever.

My birthday had actually been a success and it had happened – my family cared enough to hold one for me. These thoughts buzzed around my brain as Jumba cut up the cake. Nani was absent, but everybody else was there, and that's all that mattered to me. Aunt Iwalani was celebrating something for me and she barely even knew me; it made me happy and I felt appreciated.

It had been a wonderful day. I felt so relieved that Lilo had understood what I'd admitted to her. She hadn't mocked me, or laughed at me over what I believed. She understood me on such a level she even believed her parents had played a part in it.

I felt happy that I was able to relate to Lilo on a human level. Very happy. It meant I truly wasn't so different after all. It was still sinking in but I'd already accepted it. I'd accept it a hundred times more if I could. It was one of the best things to ever happen to me.

I wondered if it was possible to access more of the human's memories. If he was part of me, then there had to be some way.

Later that afternoon, Mertle rang me up. I was surprised at first, but then remembered her memories had been cleared of the incident. Even so, that didn't stop my heart from racing. She wished me happy birthday before having to go and help her mother with something. I was just glad she'd rang me up to wish me a happy birthday at all.

"So... how does it feel being three?" I looked up to see David beside me. I'd been sitting on the couch.

I waved my paw back and forth. I honestly didn't feel any different.

He smiled. "I'm glad it was a good day for you. The ship looks fun. Jumba worked very hard to have it finished."

I nodded. David sat down beside me.

"Look Stitch, I know it's been hard with Nani. But even with everything, she does still care about you. I know her better than anybody so that's why I can tell you that."

I looked at him.

"I really hope you'll be at the wedding. It would mean a lot to me if you were. I understand, it will be hard for you. But you just gotta try and make the most of it, okay? These things only happen once, Stitch and you have to appreciate them for what they are."

I lowered my ears. David put a hand on my back. "And even if she doesn't act it, it will make Nani happy."

I watched him as he stood up and left. I looked out into the kitchen at the presents on the table. Nani's duck was sitting where I'd left it. Quietly, I slinked down from the couch and went over to pick it up, holding it in my paws.

"..."

I loved the duck itself, I just didn't like what it was tied to. When I stared at it, it reminded me of all the fighting. The yelling. The tension. Blaming me for things well beyond my control.

But then I remembered who had stopped me from going over that cliff. It wasn't Jumba or Lilo – it was her.

I put the duck down and headed outside.

I had a lot to think about.

I decided to visit Mr Kuakini. I had informed Lilo and Jumba where I was going so they didn't worry. As I approached, it was drawing evening. The sunset was a blazing pink and purple and I could only imagine how it would look up in the sky now if I was up there in the ship with Lilo. A night flight would beautiful – we could watch the sunset together.

Mr Kuakini was starting to close up shop when I entered. He stared at me for a good while and I couldn't figure out what he was looking at when I remembered what I was wearing.

"Well that's an unusual outfit," he remarked. "Birthday gift?"

I nodded. "From pa."

"Nice, nice..." was his response. "Suits you I must say. Oh, do you mind doing me a favour while you're here? Just put those crates out the back, in the far right corner. The off-limits one, near the back entrance. Don't need 'em so may as well go there."

I nodded. I picked up the crates and carried them out to where he asked. I had to climb over a few stray cartons and boxes as this area was more packed up than usual. I put the crates down in an empty area right beside the doorway and turned to step away when my foot hit something soft. I looked down to see I had stepped on a dusty sheet, covering up something.

Looking back to see if Mr Kuakini was there, I took a peek underneath in curiosity. I ended up yelping and falling backwards instead at what I came across.

There it was. The wheelchair.

The same one from my dream. And it was right in front of me.

After catching my breath, I pulled off the sheet and studied it; it was exactly how it had appeared in my dream. I had never seen this wheelchair in my life, yet I knew it like the back of my hand.

It was dusty and upon disturbing the sheet I saw a spider scurry away. Clearly it had been here for more than a few years by the state of it. I could see rust lining the handles. I wondered why it had been discarded here. It could have been returned to the hospital for another disabled child to use.

I must have been staring too long because I heard a tap of a footstep behind me. I turned to see Mr Kuakini staring silently. His arm lowered down by his side.

"..."

"I-I– " I stuttered. I'd been caught. "Soka..."

I really had no idea what to say.

He was quiet for a while. I saw his eyes gloss over slightly before he picked up the sheet and covered it back up. I helped him quietly. After that he went back out and sat down at the staff table. I didn't realise I was opening and closing my paws repeatedly until I felt my claws dig into my skin. I looked up at him.

"..."

I went to say something, but he finally sighed.

"I'm not angry with you Stitch. I forgot that was there."

"Forgot?" I asked. "But the entr– "

"I don't use it for that reason," he cut me off in a snappy tone. "There's two!"

I went quiet at that, my ears lowering. He was mad, I could tell. I could always tell when a human was lying. But I understood why. I felt tension from him and figured it was best for me to just leave at that point. He stopped me however, and I turned to face him as he tugged on my vest. I was surprised.

"What is it?"

He pointed to the chair opposite him and I sat down.

"I saw you. The way you were staring at it Stitch – you just looked so shocked. Have you never seen a motorised chair before?"

I gaped at him. That wasn't...

He continued. "Figured you probably haven't, considering you're an alien."

I shook my head. "Is not that."

"Then what is it? I was behind you for a minute before you realised I was there... I know you well enough that you would have heard me walking up behind you sooner than that. You were really distracted and that's not like you at all."

Mr Kuakini was sharp. I had to give him credit for that.

I sighed. "Well..."

"Yes?"

"I... I had a dream," I admitted, and he looked confused.

"A dream?"

"Ih. Of that exact chair. I know it."

He looked at me strangely. "How? That's the first time you've ever seen it. It was there for a long time before you started working here."

"I know. But... I just know it. Cannot explain how."

I could. But I didn't feel quite ready to tell him that just yet. He'd probably think I was crazy. This wasn't Lilo I was talking to either.

"Why would you dream of that chair? Because I told you about my son?"

I shrugged.

"But as far as I recall I never actually told you he became disabled. Mitch actually lost use of his legs. Two years before he died."

My eyes widened at that. No wonder my legs had felt like jelly in that dream.

"That chair..." I said. "Has a big scratch on the back handle, ih?"

He looked dumbfounded and stood up slightly. "But... how do you know that? I saw you the entire time Stitch, from the moment you pulled off that sheet. There is no way you could have seen that with the angle the chair is facing. You didn't even touch it!"

"I saw it. In dream."

He looked freaked out. Really freaked out. He stood up and went over to the chair. I followed him quickly, tripping over a box due to my clumsiness. I stood up and dusted myself off.

He stared. "You mean this?"

He pulled up the sheet and pointed to the scratch. It was exactly how I remembered it in the dream even though I'd only seen it briefly in my head, and as he'd said, I'd personally never seen this chair in my life.

"Ih."

"Have you been back here before?"

"Naga."

He looked unable to believe it.

"I haven't! I promise!" I said.

"Then how?"

"Dream!" I repeated.

He shook his head, throwing the sheet back over the chair and then going back to sit down, head in his hands.

"I put that there to forget. I couldn't even look at it once he died. I didn't have the heart to get rid of it, so I just pushed it aside. That's how I forgot. I became oblivious. And now..."

I felt terrible.

"I'm sorry..."

He sighed. "No. Maybe it's time I face reality. Stop running from the past and learn to deal with it. Move on."

"..." That hit home FAR too hard for me. I shuddered.

"Cold?"

"Naga..." I shook my head quickly.

He coughed. "Well... don't go back there anymore. I should have realised where I was sending you."

I looked at him. He stared hard at me for a moment or so.

"Darn it Stitch!" I flinched at that sudden outburst, shrinking back. "How is it that you just... are so much like him?"

"G-gaba?!"

He took my paw up into his hand. "This!" He flexed his hand, opening it and closing it. I realised then I'd been doing it non-stop once I saw that and stopped.

"Eh..."

"..." He stared at me. "Maybe I'm losing my marbles. Overworking myself too much. I need to go home and sleep."

I nodded quietly.

"Happy birthday, Stitch. I hope you liked the gift."

That's right... the blanket. I'd come here to thank him.

"Ih... but... why give me that? Special blanket?"

He rubbed at his head. "Because you've done a lot to help me out and I wanted it to be clear I appreciate it. It sat there, on that chair for years, up until the time you visited. My wife insisted on giving it to you. She moved on and let go. Seeing that chair just reminded me I haven't. I eventually agreed it would be good for you and you'd make use of it instead of... it just sitting there for years on end. "

"..."

"You'll take good care of it. I trust you will."

I nodded. It was a kind gesture.

Mr Kuakini ushered me out to the front of the store. "I'll see you at the wedding, Stitch."

"O-okeytaka..." I muttered. "Bye..."

He looked at me with an unreadable expression, before shutting the shop door. I stood for a moment, rubbing my arm, before finally turning and venturing home.