I sat on top of Lilo's bunk while she rummaged around in one of the drawers of our desk. After a few moments, she climbed up to me holding what appeared to be a keepsake box.

"Here..."

I took it from her and peered inside curiously, unlatching it with my claw and the lid flipped open. Inside was what appeared to be a child's wristband, and I took it out and inspected it. I could make out Lilo's name on there.

"I wore that when I was admitted," she told me. "I was there for a while when I broke my wrist. It was a bad break that needed some surgery."

I looked at her in disbelief. "Gaba eiek?!"

She nodded. "I don't remember it now, other than that clown show. But I think the time I was there was at the same time when you were being treated. I remember Nani was very scared at the time."

I gave a slow nod. "Why was she scared?"

"Because it was expensive. I think that's why we couldn't afford very much after, and the holiday we went on was the only time we ever really got to do anything. She had to use some money that my parents left us. It was a lot though."

I figured she meant their will money. Back when we went on that holiday Jumba, Pleakley and I were still relatively new to the family and adapting to being on Earth, so there was a lot I didn't understand. Of course with my memory I did remember it all, but seeing how excited Lilo had been to be standing outside of Graceland that day had made me feel something I'd never felt before. It had given me a drive to want to bring her there one day. She'd been down about it afterwards as they'd only got as far as the front entrance.

Even though I know she always appreciated the fact she was able to go, I was glad I got to bring her there in the end. After suffering so much in her short life with Mertle's bullying and breaking her wrist, she deserved it. I put aside the wristband and pulled Lilo's arm towards me, inspecting her wrist with my x-ray vision and running my paw along her arm. She was quiet.

I could see where the break had happened. There was some indents in the bones making me think she had something holding them together, like Mr Kuakini had screws in his leg. The bone where the break had occurred looked twice as thick as well, but only in that area, which amazed me a little.

Even as fragile as they were, humans had a remarkable ability to heal themselves. I let her arm go and thought to myself for a bit. She looked worried at that.

"Stitch?"

"I see it..." I told her as I switched my vision back to normal. "Break."

Lilo looked intrigued. "Oh... does it look weird?"

"Can tell it was broken," I told her. "Isa all healed up."

She nodded. "Nani told me some pins had to go in there."

That explained the indents. They must have been only temporary. I sighed, feeling absolutely awful for her. Dealing with this on top of losing her parents.

If I'd been in her life back then I might have been able to prevent it. But this was before she knew I existed. The downside to that would mean that things may have turned out very differently and I'd have a different life if I'd met her back before my time. It was weird for me to think about.

She noticed I went quiet, putting her hands underneath my chin and tilting up my head to look at her before cupping my face.

"It's okay, Stitch. It doesn't hurt at all now."

"I know..." I said. "Just makes Stitch sad it happened to you. Holiday ramid Lilo jhua shaalthabye? Ramid teecha hasik?"

She paused at that ,staring at me with an almost forlorn expression. "No... Stitch, the holiday was great. Remember? You were with me and it was so much fun. I was happy."

"Graceland. Leelo sad."

She pondered for a moment. "You noticed that? Well... even though we didn't get to go in that time, it was still amazing seeing it in person. I'd dreamed of it since I was really young. My mom got me into Elvis because she listened to him all the time so that's why I love him a lot. But now I have a new memory to treasure, and that was actually being in there. Being on the King's bed!" She smiled. "You made it possible and it was great... but it will never beat flying up in your ship and going around the moon."

I was surprised to hear that. Elvis meant a lot to Lilo. And to hear something so simple to me meant more to her than her own idol left me flabbergasted. For a moment I wondered just how much I meant to Lilo.

"Stitch, we've both had bad things happen to us..." she told me gently, seeing my expression. "But now we will always have each other, right?"

"..."

She noticed my hesitation. "...Right?"

My eyes narrowed. I quietly leaned over and drew her into a hug, wrapping all of my arms around her securely.

"Lilo? How much do I mean to you?"

"You know how much you mean to me, Stitch," she told me over my shoulder. I drew back and looked into her eyes.

"Naga..." I tried again. "How much do Stitch truly mean to you?"

"..."

She went quiet again at that, opting to rest back against the headboard and curl up into her pillow. Her head nudged against the current goodness level chart on there—which was still full thankfully.

I scooted up to sit beside her, kneading the bed-cover with my claws a little out of anxiety. I knew for sure now that I was not just an alien to her anymore so I wanted to know how she really felt.

"How much you mean to me?" she eventually spoke, and my ears perked. "Stitch, you mean the absolute world to me. I wished upon a star for a friend and I got you. I really do wish we could have spoken more when you were Mitch, but now that I know that was you I'm really happy you're here. When you were sick and died that was awful, but now you're here and better. I think back more to those times now that you told me. When I did get to see you. I'm just glad I can remember them."

I stared at her. She looked up towards the stars—our dome roof was open—before looking at me.

"Even for an alien something about you always felt different to me. I thought it was cool that you could talk. I know I thought you were a dog back then, but you just seemed so different and in a way I couldn't ever explain. Nani didn't want to give you a chance, but like I said before, I heard you cry that night and when I heard that I knew you had feelings and you were hiding something. But the more I got to know you, there were little things you did that just reminded me of what a human would do I guess."

"Huh?"

"Well, for one you always like to run your claws through my hair. And I can tell you like hair, you're always looking at it or brushing mine. You have fluffy fur and I don't think you really need it so why do you like mine so much?"

"..." Well, it was true. I did. I even wanted it. But I never really thought that would remind her of a human? Maybe she thought it was weird.

"Stitch weird?"

"No!" she laughed. "It's interesting! And not just that, Stitch—your emotions are very human-like. I know animals do have them, but when I see you sad it's kinda the same as when I'm sad. Not how like a real dog would be sad. You come up here by yourself and hide under the bed or go outside and sit on the roof. That's exactly what people do when they are sad."

I tilted my head. She put her finger to her chin.

"And then there is you liking music. Do aliens like music?"

I nodded.

"Maybe not that then. Do you want to be a human, Stitch? Even if you are one inside?"

That got me thinking. I did want to know what it was like to be a human, more so to be with Lilo than anything else. I would always put her first right after my father. But Mitch was a human and despite I was him I didn't know how it felt to actually be one other than what I'd experienced in my nightmares. Perhaps that was why I felt so strongly about them and wondering what it was like. Because I was formerly one, that Mitch part of me longed to go back. It certainly explained a lot because as an alien I know I shouldn't have ever felt that way. Humans were... lightly put, an inferior species. And with Jumba creating me to be so powerful I shouldn't ever have ever wanted that. I had no need for it.

Yet, I did.

I was all powerful but I wondered what it would be like to be a creature like Lilo nearly all the time. A human.

The only experience I did know of being a human was pain. But that was because my legs always refused to function in the dreams I'd had. Mitch lost the ability to walk. So why would I want to go back to that? I'd told Mr Kuakini I didn't miss being human. Mitch certainly didn't miss being confined to that chair, he wanted out of it. And now I was an alien I could do things I'd only dreamed of. Like doing handstands over cliff railings or climbing up hotel walls. A human would just die if they attempted that, provided they lost balance and fell.

I felt bad for thinking this way about humans, because Lilo was one of them and I loved her for not only what she was, but who she was. But as an alien I knew it was true. Most aliens on our side of space would look down upon them. I knew most of the UGF did. Despite they preferred us dead some of them had liked the idea of us being banished to a race they deemed as 'pathetic' and had 'backwards technology'. The Grand Councilwoman clearly didn't feel the same way about humans, and as Cobra had mentioned before, Earth had always been protected simply because he'd convinced them that mosquitoes had been endangered back during Roswell. I didn't even know the Earth existed until I crashed there during my hike to escape.

I wondered what was going to happen with them if I did end up destroying Kauai. But I also didn't want to think about it. They probably wouldn't care what happened to the humans or Earth, since it was insignificant to them and they didn't deem Earth a priority planet despite being under the protection of the UGF. Aliens our way or beyond Turo and Kweltikwan that did try to invade other planets only ever had the intentions of doing so for technological advancement or stealing ideas. Earth was too far behind in their tech and even with the protection in place, perhaps overall it wasn't worth invading.

Lilo snapped me out of my thoughts. "Do you feel human, Stitch? I know I'm talking to you, Mitch... do you remember what it was like to be him?"

"Only through dreams," I told her. "Just remember lots of pain. Jelly feeling, in legs. Hard to walk."

She looked down at the journal. "Is that why you drew these?" She turned to the page with the pictures and I nodded.

"Soka. Gross..."

"No. It's says a lot," she told me. "Nobody but you knew how it felt. It's hard to make others understand that."

Lilo had her ways of hitting the nail on the head just by being Lilo. I snuggled up against her, wrapping my arms around her waist. In turn she leaned against me.

"You get me."

A smile. "And you get me."

"I love you."

She was quiet again, before she leaned down and gave me a kiss. The longest one I'd ever had from her. My heart raced.

"I'd wait a lifetime for you, Stitch," she said quietly. "I'm not complete without you."

I knew that was her answer about how much I meant to her. My throat locked up. Demon 626 crossed my mind again at that and I couldn't answer her. Because deep inside I knew my time with her was coming to an end. I'd taken her to Graceland and I'd bought her a beautiful necklace. I'd done so many things with her to the best of my ability while I still had the chance to, but it didn't feel like enough.

Nothing ever would. Lilo deserved the world.

And that world that I was about to take away from her.

I wanted to cry but no tears would come. I'd already cried myself out enough. Even recently learning now that we had always been connected to each other wasn't enough make me any happier. I didn't want to lose her—we still had so much to look forward to together. Growing up. Nani's baby.

Our future.

It was all going to go down in flames and there was nothing I could do. Demon 626 had given me a countdown. I closed my eyes sadly. Lilo noticed my mood shift instantly and fully wrapped herself around me.

"Stitch, I know things are scary. And I have a feeling things are going to be bad, from what happened today... but even so, I will never give up on you. Ever."

She interlocked her fingers with my claws.

"So don't ever give up on me. Even if something happens and we are apart. Promise?"

"Chi-chabada..." I muttered into her. "Forever."

We remained that way for a long time. Eventually Lilo drifted to sleep as it got later into the night. I stared at her in my arms, holding her and just pouring my love into her.

I never wanted this to end. It couldn't end... I needed her so much. She completed me too. She was my everything and always would be.

As I drifted to sleep lulled by the sound of her breathing, I realised that once again I hadn't been able to tell her what 'boochibu' meant. God damn it.

I sighed. I could now, but I didn't want to wake her.

Maybe I was never meant to tell her? No... I was being silly. I had to. Hopefully I would get that chance before it was too late.

I drifted off into a troubled sleep.

Things were fairly uneventful for the next few weeks. I took each day one at a time, not knowing what was going to happen. Not knowing what day would be the day that Demon 626 gained access to the cell scared me more than anything. For now, the dumb jerkwad was dormant and I just couldn't be happy about that. I was petrified. Jumba continued to monitor me, running tests four times a day, but the cell was still idle on red. He'd given up on the fail-safe working, considering it didn't do what it was supposed to the first time round. Like me he was just taking one day at a time now to reduce the risk of over-stressing his heart. The fight we'd had before had really got to him, and he'd broken down crying a few days later, to which only I could hear. He was also monitoring my heart now too, since apparently I'd inherited his heart condition.

Mitch had wanted to be a super powered alien with no medical conditions to escape from the one he'd had, but somehow he'd still managed to get one even as another species. Ironic.

Of course, as Moses had said, I wasn't allowed back to class with Lilo when she had her lessons during those weeks. So I would sit and wait for her a-ways from the halau, or if I was feeling brave enough, on a wall directly opposite it across the street. The parents eyed me cautiously when I had been near there and it had made me feel very outcasted. There was always this thick tension in the air that I could feel when I was close so I just kept my distance. Aleka's mother really didn't like me now after what I'd done to her car despite it was repaired. I think she was more scared of me though, knowing what I was and how strong I was. Yuki's mother had also come to speak to Jumba one afternoon when we were making dinner, Yuki in tow and she'd freaked out just simply seeing me in there.

Lilo had somewhat hinted along the lines of Moses asking our secret to be respected at some stage, but of course since I wasn't allowed in I was out of the loop. She'd never told me directly that was the case though, so I could only assume it was. So while they all knew I was an alien now, I don't think it had spread outside of the Kaiaulu Halau, thankfully.

Mertle was the only one that talked to me. Sometimes she'd come out first after class, and seeing me sitting over on the wall opposite the street she'd come across and keep me company until her mother arrived to pick her up, or Lilo came out. Whatever happened first. The parents would throw disapproving glimpses at us—mostly at me—but I didn't care.

I was glad Mertle was talking to me despite she knew what had happened. She didn't view me as a threat or treat me any differently and I had a feeling she had a mutual respect for me after saving her from being hit by a car. She did enquire how my fur was at one point, where the bleach had hit it. I'd forgotten about it. The patch still remained, slightly lighter than the rest of my fur. It was only noticeable up close.

The other girls hated me, but I already knew that. I didn't care too much about it. As long as they left Lilo alone, that was all I cared about. And now they knew I was an alien they sure as hell knew to leave her alone and not bully her.

I was glad about that.

It was the afternoon of a Tuesday when I was sitting up in Jumba and Pleakley's room looking at myself in their mirror. The fur on my head had gotten significantly darker and now it was evident that hair was growing in. Even though I knew it was genetically inherited from Jumba I still wondered if being Mitch had anything to do with why it was growing as well.

Currently I was holding that big tuft I had up in my claws, changing the direction so I could inspect it better. Long strands of pure black were mixed throughout it. Enough now that I could clump them together.

The hair felt very different to my fur, but it seriously intrigued me. I wondered what I would look like when it fully grew in. It was going to look cool though, that was for sure. Man I couldn't wait for that day.

Jumba's desk was a complete mess and I wandered over to stare at it when I'd inspected my 'hair' enough. Covered in lots of notes and my case files and such. The result of his desperation to find out why Demon 626 was still active inside of me. Unfortunately he still had no answer.

I held up a diagram of my skeleton and stared at it. It was a older blueprint, showing how my extra arms folded up inside of me. When the cell had been glowing during Nani's wedding, I could see them inside and how they looked. While it had never hurt me, it still creeped me out a little. It was such an alien trait.

My skeleton wasn't that much different to a humans. I'd seen a human skeleton numerous times before. Of course the structure of mine was different in some ways, like my skull and the bones on my arms and legs being swapped around. The big difference was that my bones were lined with steel and titanium.

The humerus started at the shoulder in a human and the radius and ulna led into the wrist. In mine the radius and ulna started at the shoulder, then the humerus followed. It was the same for my legs too, those bones being inverted compared to a human. But I knew this had to do with how my extra arms retracted. We stood the same though, on two feet. We had the same ribcage and all—even though my sternum was huge, like a massive breastplate.

My expression dropped. Jumba had really wanted to protect that cell.

I put the diagram down. It still amazed me that Jumba had just... created me. That he knew so much about atoms and cells and organisms that he could just make a living creature from scratch. Not only that, but customise it too. I often wondered about his decision for my design and why I had features he didn't. I knew well I was his son, right down to the blood. But still... we were so vastly different in appearance. On his desk was that same book I'd seen before in the ship. The one about Molecular Genetics that had his drawings stashed in it. I picked it up and skim read it, before looking through the aged pictures again. I liked my father's art.

He'd drawn so many weird little designs and creatures. As I was holding up the book, one folded piece of yellowed paper fell out that I had missed before and I discovered then there was a secret slot at the back of the book itself. I picked it up to unfold it. It was another drawing, but this one I stared long and hard at.

It was basically me. I instantly recognised the 'big' ears (damn it Lilo) and four arms and 'me' was blue. I read the messy Kweltikwan he'd written on there.

Neezh'ahst Kwelsta.

'Super Kweltikwanian'?

Jumba had drew this as a child. I knew when he was a kid he was the same size as me. I pulled out the picture I'd stolen from him from my vest pocket and unfolded it to compare the pictures. And as I did so I realised something.

As a child my father actually did look almost identical to me in the drawing. The only difference was really the ears, eyes and claws. Well, and the arms and fur perhaps, but without those, it was basically identical. I could truly see now how I was his son. Because when he'd first pictured me, he'd based it on himself as a child. How he imagined his species would be as a 'super' version.

And of course, he'd grown up into an adult and his body had changed and matured compared how he looked back then. But when he created me he was obviously bringing that vision he had to life. The exception being, making it into his own child.

Did this mean that like Mitch, my father had also dreamed of being a better version of himself? Maybe it was because he was bullied. I remembered what he'd told me about his family being abusive towards him. I put two and two together, coming up with a small theory.

He wanted to be a super version of himself to deal with the bullying and bad times he had. And then he formed the gang because obviously he couldn't alter himself, wanting revenge. Not only that, he also had started making experiments to reflect what he wished he could have and using those for revenge. Especially considering what he put me through.

Maybe that was the reason why Mitch had entered into that dimensional pull. He wanted the same thing... and somehow, two minds thinking alike from both ends of the galaxy had caused it to happen.

I was stumped. I existed because not only had my father wanted to be stronger, Mitch did too. I was just the final result. And there I was, calling humans weak. Both Mitch AND my father had felt weak.

I felt a newfound respect for Jumba after that. His life's dreams and work was essentially me. I had been his 'dream' come true. I didn't recall him making any other experiments after me, because maybe I was what had made his dream fully complete. I smiled a little thinking about this, until something else caught my attention that quickly changed my mind. A piece of paper sitting off to the side. I picked it up.

It showed a blueprint of Chopsuey but there was some numbers printed along the right of it:

6-1–6-10
700+ A-D
621-A
626-B

I recognised those. The earlier experiments Jumba had created when starting out and the 700 series that I'd fought on my missions, which were those ridiculous monster crab-like aliens that would try and kill me. Myself and Chopsuey too, but there was another number on there, scribbled in black ink. I stared at it for a while before putting the blueprint down. I had no idea what it meant.

PG 272-C

"..."

PG 272-C? What the heck did that mean? I frowned, staring at the picture again. Jumba had already kept so much from me.

Great.

What the hell was I supposed to make of this now? Was PG 272-C some kind of other back-up inside of me that I had no idea about? Another program? I sure as hell hoped not. Demon 626 was enough of a piece of sh—

"626?" I was jolted out of my thoughts suddenly.

"Papa!" I flinched, throwing down the diagram. My father came forth, staring down at me holding the drawing. He looked a little shocked.

Busted again.

"Stitch... I-I— soka..." was all I could utter this time. I put down the drawing and started to leave, not wanting another pillow incident all over again.

"Stitch. Wait."

I paused, turning. The rare elusive 'Stitch'. At least it wasn't 'Experiment 626' this time... I still didn't know how to feel about that.

My father stared at me before closing the door. He took up his stool and sat down on it, facing me. I could see those distant scars from my claws on his right eyes.

"Ih...?" I asked hesitantly.

"No, I'm not mad. Come."

Thank Rofplar. I obeyed him, walking up to him. He reached down and picked me up, putting me on his lap.

"Why were you holding that? How did you find it?"

"Kinda just... fell out." I shrugged awkwardly.

Jumba rolled his eyes. "Being nosy again weren't you."

"..."

My father shook his head before looking at drawing. He sighed. "Well.. yes, is you. But you are already figuring that out of course."

I nodded. "Special drawing 'cuz hidden?"

He bit his lip slightly. "Didn't ever want family to see it."

"Aga ba?" I had a feeling where he was going with this. If it was headed where I thought it was, then my theory would be correct.

"Well, as weird as is sounding, was because I imagined it was me."

I knew it! I just gave a small smile as he continued.

"I was bullied and family abused me, as you know 626. I dreamed of creating life one day when I made silly drawings, but that one... was before all that. I wanted to be stronger, more powerful. So I could take them all on. Like my hero, who was super strong alien in old comic series Jumba read as child. Kept me going when was down due to brothers bullying me for weight. So... one night I began wondering what things would be like if I was better. Like an advanced version of my species. Would be so cool..."

I gazed up at my father.

"One day Jozhat found that drawing. Laughed at me when he figured out what it was... after having gone through my hidden journal and destroying my comic books." My father looked down. "So like co-workers at GDI, my brother found something personal and private to me, and was using it against me. Told friends, and it was even worse with tauntings. I dealt with this all of life."

I swallowed at that. I felt so sad for him. I put the thought of the number I'd seen before aside for now.

"So you see, 626. That is why I say they would laugh at you for being who you are. Even if family. Because even though you are my son, you are what I envisioned myself to be as child if I were super strong and powerful and hero that could take on evil villains and bullies. Is also why I called you Experiment 626-B, which is legal full name."

"What B?" I questioned.

"Was name of route, but also stands for 'Beta'. Because what I envisioned was 'beta' version of species at time. You are a kind of 'prototype' of advanced Kweltikwanian."

I was stumped. I looked at the drawing again, pondering on what he said.

"I know. Being better silly dream of Jumba's," he muttered at my silence. My ears perked up.

"Naga silly..." I told him. "Guess who wanted same."

"Who?" he asked me, sounding surprised.

"Mitch."

He looked at me in disbelief. "Child?"

I nodded. "Meega. Mitch come back as alien, 'cuz not want to be weak and in pain. Bullied. Like you. Ended up being Stitch... who was your vision of wanting to be powerful, ih?"

He rubbed at his eyes. "How bizarre."

I nodded. "'Cuz you long for and 'cuz Mitch long for, somehow, come together. Mitch go into me."

He stared at me at that. "You really are being human boy?"

"I am..." I told him. "One being. He me. Saw go into me, like said. Met for real."

"But you are 626," he seemed a little irritated. "Kuakini-man is not your father."

"He is..." I told him, holding his hand. "But means you are Mitch's father too."

That completely dumbfounded him.

"Pa... lucha. I know you not like it, but I accepted it. 'Cuz means being here 'n with you. Even if you his father, like mine. His father mine, like you."

Jumba just raised an eyebrow at me. "Good grief, 626. How am I supposed to just accept something like that?"

"Don't have to," I told him. "But, sure it would mean a lot to Mitch."

"Who... exactly is this boy anyway, 626? If he is you then who is he?"

"Wait..."

I ran back up to my bedroom and then returned to him with the photos I'd shown Lilo. I handed them to him and he inspected them.

"So. I'm supposed to believe that's you?"

I sighed. I felt a little hurt. It was all true...

"Not believe me?"

"No, is not that. I do believe you, like said, you do not have melanocytes yet you have the freckles all over you I see here on this Mitch child. I cannot explain that, even with science."

I gave a nod.

"And now I realise something else..." Jumba showed me the photo he was looking at. "Looksie, even your fur sits same as his hair."

"Ih."

Jumba sighed, running a hand through his own hair. "626, is nothing inherently wrong with you being human, as you say. It's just something that will take me a very long time to come to accept. You are pure Kweltikwanian alien, like myself. I've never thought of humans as anything other than just other simpler life forms. Never even knew what were until we were banished here and when learning I had chance to capture you instead of execution, but I was able to develop respect for them thanks to sisters taking us in. With exception of police, of course, who as you know I universally do not tolerate."

I gave a nod.

"Suppose... I can give shot at accepting. For your sake," his eyes softened. "Would make you happy, yes?"

I smiled. "Yeah."

"And as I was mentioning before, it makes you closer to little girl. You do not have to focus so much on being different species if you want to proceed into relationship with her in future."

My father understood so well. I beamed.

"All I want is you to be happy," he told me. "And I will always support you, 626. No matter what. Promised that to you and will keep that promise up until day I die. Only I want you to promise me that you will not ever put man before myself."

"Naga..." I said softly. "I won't. Promise."

"Likewise, I'm sure Kuakini-man would feel the same. Would not want Mitch to put Jumba over him."

"He just want to be able to see me. Spend time, is all." I told Jumba. "Was his before, now yours. Is hard for him knowing I'm here."

Jumba just stared at me at that for a long time.

"626. As father myself, I do understand. But my stance remains same. You are my son now. And as long as Mitch can accept that, then I can accept you spending time with other man."

I gave a nod.

"Beyond bizarre concept. Even has me wondering what you may look like as human yourself if one is your soul. But many strange things about universe that are still not understood. Though... I am glad you turned out as you did, 626. As Stitch. You were greatest success."

I hugged him. He held me tightly in his arms.

"Am proud of you and will always be so."

"Dougabba... papa."

Jumba scuffed me on the head before putting me down. He picked up the drawing again before putting it back into the slot in the book. "Please. Do not be telling anybody, even little girl, about Jumba's wishes. Is personal thing to me but brings back bad memories of abuse and bullying."

"I won't tell," I told him. "I like your idea."

"Ey?" He turned on the chair to face me.

"Me..." I pointed to myself. "Was what you wanted to be as kid. Advanced."

"I just wanted to beat up bullies and be cool," he told me. "Favourite superhero was blue. Was why I made you so powerful. Too powerful if anything."

I nodded. "Soka."

He frowned. "Huh? What are you being sorry for?"

I paused. My ears lowered. "Well... for Jumba having bad childhood. Bullied and hurt. By famalee."

"They saw me as big ludicrous dreamer," he explained. "That was frowned upon, but as they didn't like me for being smarter, they used to make fun of me. So anything I created was considered dumb, or anything Jumba said not ever taken seriously." He looked down at his book. "Fuelled me to succeed. And I did because I have you. Made all the long hours of pain worth it."

"Was I your dream?"

He stared at me at that. "Yes, 626. You were."

"Fulfilled?"

He gave another nod. "Life's work."

I pondered on that for a moment. "But... if I'm 'advanced' version of Kweltikwanian, why illegal? Why they not like idea?"

"Because genetic experimentation is illegal in space, 626. Messing around with genetics and life is unorthodox practice. Playing Rofplar essentially and creating new species unnaturally. If my brother did not take seriously, why would other aliens?"

I just looked down. He stood up and came over to me, bending down to my level and tilting my head up similar to how Lilo had before.

"Listen. I do not care about banishment, or being exiled here. Or even being exorcised from own race. Or that death warrant is out for me should I go back to Kweltikwan... because here I can be with you and is all that is mattering to me. If Metamorphosis does activate, then I would just take it because it means being with you till very end. Not ever separated. Would much prefer that. Understand?"

I gave a nod. "Pa. I do not think is silly you wanted to be better," I reassured him. "If you think is, then idea of meega being human is too, okeytaka?"

He just stared at me at that for the longest time before smiling. "Jumba loves you, 626. You were everything I envisioned..." He smiled. "Perfect."

I smiled.

"Now scoot boy, I have things to do and figure out..." he told me, sitting back at his desk and sifting through his files.

I watched him for a moment. Jumping up and planting a kiss over his right eyes again before turning to leave.

I heard him sigh and he put his hand to his eyes as I closed the door behind me.

What Jumba had told me played on my mind a lot after that. I was not just his son, but an alternate version of his own race that had stemmed from his imagination. But since he was a child when he dreamed me up, I remained small because that was how he had envisioned himself at the time.

I thought about this as I was walking to wait for Lilo at the Kaiaulu Halau the following week. Her lesson would be ending in another half an hour or so. There was still no signs of Demon 626.

I did want her opinion on it, naturally, but I promised I wouldn't tell. And I wasn't ever going to for the sake of my father. It was a personal thing to him.

As I'd been leaving I noticed Nani and David had been getting into the buggy to go somewhere, Nani looking a little scared. They hadn't said anything to me as they'd got into the car and left though so I hadn't questioned it. Probably wasn't any of my business anyway.

I was walking past Kiki's when I looked up to see a familiar face after hearing laughter. I saw Kalia there, with two other girls, briefly remembering one of them from the time her friends had pulled up in a car that first day I'd spent with Mr Kuakini after the wedding and she was going to school. They were sitting on a table near the entrance of the café so they didn't see me straight away. I wondered what they were talking about.

From the sounds of it, something about the graduation. I'd forgotten about that. From what I remembered Mr Kuakini had said it would be on Thursday.

My 'other' father hadn't really talked to me much lately. The only time I'd seen him was when I'd been at the store getting things for Nani. Since Nani worked there herself now, I had no reason to go there unless I needed to. There was also somebody else helping out. I wondered what was going on and admittedly it had bothered me a little when he'd drove away last time and had not so much as even looked back.

Kalia stood up. I was nearly past Kiki's so she noticed me at that point. She'd walked over to put some rubbish into the trash can.

"Oh... hi Stitch."

I gave her a small wave.

"Hold on a sec, I'm just leaving."

I watched her as she went over and talked to her friends for another minute or so before coming back over to me. I could see them both looking from the table but we walked away.

She was quiet for a little while, before looking down at me as we walked. "Dad's been a bit weird lately. Something's bothering him. Would you know anything about it?"

Huh? I looked up at her at that. "Naga..." I shook my head. "Haven't heard from him."

"Are you still helping him at the store?"

Again, I shook my head. "Gave my job to Naanee. I was helping her out at time."

"Nani?"

"Stitch famalee," I said.

"I see..." she said. "Mom did end up telling me you're an... alien..." I paused at that, looking up at her. "If you were wondering about that."

I was. "Okay."

"That's pretty cool. It does explain an awful lot about you. I just uh... hope you weren't too offended that night. Because I know you understand what I say."

"Night?" I asked.

"When I said I didn't think you should be at my graduation. Dad went weird about it."

Oh. I instantly knew why that was.

"..."

"And he keeps slipping up and calling you Mitch now too I've noticed. He corrects himself but it's happened a few more times since that day you came over."

I wondered at that point if Mr Kuakini had told them the truth about me. When Kalia mentioned how he was acting it was already clear to me he was having difficulty with it. I'd told him it might be hard for him, knowing who I was and not being able to talk to her and Alanna about it. Maybe that's why he was being distant. He was pushing me away to protect himself from being even more hurt. Just like I'd tried to do with Lilo until Jumba made me realise how dumb it was.

I didn't know what to say. I wasn't going to say anything to her unless Mr Kuakini was okay with it. But as Mitch I was a bit torn too. I could feel deep stirring conflict about it inside. He missed his mother and sister even though they'd accepted his death.

"I don't like he does that," Kalia continued. "Something's really getting at him but he won't say what. Perhaps it's because Mitch won't be at my graduation and it'll feel like an empty space to him. I don't know..." she sighed. "Things bother him more than he lets on.

I just rubbed my arm. She looked at me. "What do you think?"

I shook my head as I didn't know either. "Should Stitch talk to him?"

She suckled the tip of her finger slightly in thought. "Yeah... yeah, maybe you should. For some reason he seems to be quite fond of you. Talks about you a lot."

I shrugged awkwardly.

"It's weird, almost like he's much happier when you're around. When you go, he's quieter. Mom has noticed it too but right now I have to worry about Thursday."

We reached the halau by that point and I stopped walking, pointing. She looked in the direction as well.

"Oh... you have to go here?"

"Waiting," I told her. "Lilo."

"Lilo? Oh, that little friend of yours, yeah?"

I nodded.

"Okay Stitch. I'll tell dad I saw you. But I gotta run..." she looked at her watch. "Just realised I'm late for something. See you around."

"Bye."

She went to cross the road in a hurry but then I noticed a car pulling out right in front of her and leaped up to grab her back. She hadn't looked properly.

What was it lately with people I knew not looking before crossing the street?

She shrieked. The driver had to slam on the brakes. He looked at us startled, before pulling away. Kalia was holding her breath and had her hand to her chest.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

"Yeah... sorry. I should have been paying more attention."

I nodded. I walked across the road with her this time. I could tell she was embarrassed. To be fair, with all the roadworks going on the streets were a bit more crammed with cars than usual, making visibility harder. Still though.

"Thanks Stitch..." she said to me, looking a little hesitant about something. She didn't walk away and I knew something was on her mind.

"What is it?"

"I... I guess I owe you for that, huh."

I was stumped. "Uh... naga really," I told her. "Just look next time, ih?"

"I know, I know..." she said. "But... I honestly wouldn't mind if you wanted to come to my graduation. As a thanks."

I just stared at her. She sighed.

"I know I said animals wouldn't be allowed there, but turns out that some others are bringing their pets now as well as it's an outdoor thing. My friends are."

I frowned at that. "I'm not an animal," I told her flatly.

"Sorry..." she said, seeing my face. "But dad's been bringing it up again too. I'm sure he'd like to know about what you did today as well. And I'm sure it would make him happy. Kinda my way of owing you a thanks. What do you think?"

I was perplexed. I hadn't expected this. "Oh... Um. Sure."

She smiled. "Cool. I'll uh... let dad know then."

I nodded.

"But I really gotta go now. Bye Stitch."

She ran off up the street, and I watched after her as she disappeared from view. I went back across the road and sat down on the wall opposite the halau.

I knew Mr Kuakini was going to be happy about this considering it was what he'd wanted. He'd have Mitch there after all this time. Finally being able to participate in an important family event.

I could also tell that Kalia was starting to get a little suspicious of how her father was acting. I'd known it would become apparent eventually considering it would be hard for him to keep his son from his own family. I figured one way or another the truth would have to come out eventually.

Or they'd think he was crazy, of course. That we were both crazy.

I laughed a little at that. I'd have a hard time believing it too if I was on the other end of the situation. But, I knew I was Mitch. And despite not being so now, Kalia had been a sister to me in a previous life.

I would go to the graduation for the sake of Mitch, who wanted to be there as much as Mr Kuakini wanted him to.

I just wondered how it would play out.

Lilo eventually finished her class, running over to me. I was glad she stopped and looked.

"Hi boochibu!"

I fell off the wall hearing that, startling her. She ran forth and helped me back onto my feet. My face was on fire.

"Stitch! Are you okay?"

I nodded, embarrassed.

"Lilo..." I said quietly, unable to help but give her a quick kiss. She giggled and kissed my nose in return before holding my paw.

"Class was fun today," she spoke as we walked up the street. "We've started making this cool little city out of cardboard. Moses is teaching us about population and city life. We made little people out of toilet rolls to go into it as well. I gave mine orange wool hair and called him Mitch."

"Meega?" I asked, laughing slightly.

She nodded. I wanted to see this 'city' now.

"Take picture for me?"

"Already did..." she responded, pulling out a polaroid. She'd taken Nani's camera again.

She handed it to me.

The city was just a bunch of tissue boxes and cardboard with squares drawn on it. Some of the boxes had squares cut out for windows. I could see toilet roll trees and what I guessed were cars made out of orange juice cartons with sticky tape rolls for wheels. I stifled a laugh.

It was very creative.

"It's a big project we are doing that's gonna go on display soon in the town hall. A bunch of other halaus and elementary schools are making stuff too. Once done we get to invite our families to see it all."

"Morcheeba..." I commented. "Where am I?"

"There you are!" She pointed to the photo before pulling out another one and handing it to me. "Here's a closer one."

I gazed at the cardboard 'Mitch'. He was made up of a toilet roll with coloured straws for arms and legs. The face and body was stuck on coloured paper and he had the orange wool hair. She'd put dots all over him as well to make freckles.

I giggled.

"I'm making a chair for him too. That made Moses really happy and he said I'd get extra points for it. None of the other girls thought of that idea."

"Good one Lilo..." I told her. She put her arm around me after putting the photos back into her duffle bag.

"That okay with you?"

"Of course," I told her. "Tiba morcheeba yuuga."

She smiled. She was quiet for a bit as we walked before looking at me.

"I really like knowing that you're Mitch..." she told me.

"Ih?"

"I hope you don't mind that. It makes me feel like now we can be friends because you said you wanted to see me again in your journal. But you're Stitch too."

I nodded.

"What do my parents think of it?"

"They know Mitch me..." I told her. "Used to be with him when he there with them. Lilo mom say she missed having you. Then Mitch disappear 'cuz he go in me when pa create me."

"I'm still happy they accept us, Stitch."

"Me too," I told her. "Made Stitch very very happy." I smiled at her but then faltered. She noticed.

"What is it?"

"Naanee..." I told her. "Will she accept?"

"I... don't know..." Lilo responded thoughtfully. "Even if she didn't that won't stop me from being with you."

"Maybe knowing I'm Mitch will help? Not entirely different."

She sighed. "I've never considered you different enough that I wouldn't want to be with you, Stitch. You know me... I don't care about that. I think you're handsome. I don't care if others think of me as weird for that. For liking somebody that's not human."

I smiled at her. She gripped my paw tighter.

"People are mean anyway..." she told me. "They never accepted me. And even though those girls leave me alone now that they know you're a powerful alien nothing's really changed... well, except for Mertle who talks to me in class now. But it's not the same without you."

I sighed sadly. I wanted to go back to class with her, but for now I had no choice in the matter. They deemed me as dangerous.

"Don't worry," Lilo told me, noticing my expression. "I'll keep at Moses until he allows you back. We all know that none of this is your fault."

"Dougabba..."

She gripped my paw tighter as we walked up the street and headed home.

Later during dinner that evening the phone rang. Nani stood up to answer it. She had been mostly quiet during the dinner, but surprisingly enough 621 had joined us and I think she was a little apprehensive of him.

Chopsuey had been around more often now as well. He'd started living nearby. Not exactly in the ship or house, but he slept in the woods across the river. While he still mocked me repeatedly for my weight and taunted me, he was far more tolerable than he used to be. I relaxed a bit more about him hurting Lilo because it became apparent he had no intentions of it, and still referred to her as 'hatchling'. And due to this, I did begin to notice a considerable difference in Jumba's attitude towards him as well—they could barely speak to each other before but now they could hold brief conversations.

He'd stolen more clothes too apparently. Now he always wore some jeans and a tank top, with this black leather jacket with a few metal spikes on the shoulders. With his mohawk it made him look like a punk.

I had to admit, it suited him. Nani and the rest of the family didn't really know what to make of it, or him, but they seemed accept he was here now and would likely continue to remain. Nani gave him some food and currently he was picking at it, occasionally tasting it. He'd never had a meal like this before.

Perhaps my father was making an attempt to mend their relationship. I didn't know how, but the fact that Chopsuey joined us for dinner spoke a lot. Maybe even he was too. Or maybe Lilo had somehow got through to him, as she had me.

"Stitch," Nani addressed me and I looked up. She held the phone towards me and I took it from her, excusing myself from the table and heading outside.

"Hello?"

"Hello Mitch," Mr Kuakini spoke. "Kalia talked to me today. Said you stopped her walking in front of a car, I was shocked. You really did that?"

I paused. "Ih."

"Well... I'm glad. But she brought up her graduation again to me. And she said this time, she does not mind if I invite you along. Which made me incredibly happy. So, are you going to join us?"

"I will." I told him. "Have you told them yet?"

"No. But it has been eating at me. I don't know how much longer I can go not telling them."

I was quiet at that.

"Well... how do you feel about it?"

"Meega?" I asked. "I think... if makes you happy tell them. I told Jumba today. Bout Mitch being his son now too. Like Stitch being yours."

He was quiet at that. "What... what did he say?"

"Can accept. Just does not want me to start putting you over him. Likewise, I know you'd want the same. Not want Mitch prioritising Jumba over you."

"..."

"Isa okeytaka?" I'd taught him what that meant last time I saw him so I knew he understood.

"Yes. Very well. It's just weird to think about still. Maybe Jumba and I can work on things."

"Gaba eiek?"

"Getting on good terms with each other."

"Not already have? Gave money?" I asked, sitting down on the porch. It was a little chilly and I wrapped my arms around me as I held the phone.

"He's apprehensive of me. But I know he probably felt I was going to 'steal' you, Mitch. Steal you back."

"Naga. I would not allow to happen, he is my pa."

"I know. I... it's been on my mind a lot what you said."

"Gaba?"

"When you called me dad," he explained. "It's been on my mind the entire time. Made me feel torn."

I remember Kalia had said about him acting weird. Maybe that was why. I'd said it to make him happy but it had caused him even more turmoil.

"Soka..."

"No, don't be sorry. It did make me happy, Mitch. But it's just hard. If Jumba wasn't your father then of course, you'd have a home here again with us."

I went quiet at that. My home was here with Lilo. "Just how is..."

"Yes. I know. Anyway... the graduation won't be till Thursday evening. Come dressed as you like. They are allowing pets there now too so hopefully you won't feel so out of place. It's a small drive, probably about fifty minutes away. You okay with that?"

"Ih."

"Can spend the night if you like when we get back."

"Can I bring Lilo?" I asked. He went quiet.

"I don't see why not. Probably not to the graduation though. When we get back I'll pick her up."

"Okay."

"I'll see you on Thursday then, Mitch. It will be wonderful to have you there."

"Ih. Bye."

"Goodbye."

He hung up. I stared down at the phone blankly for a moment or so.

I still had a bad feeling about things that I couldn't shake off, as much as I wanted to. Something was going to happen soon, I just didn't know when. There was a chance that Demon 626 could spring into action. Me though? I just had to make the most of things until then.

Thursday, I decided. That would be the day I would sit my butt down, no distractions, and tell my angel the truth about the term 'boochibu' and what it meant. I'd make something special for her before then as well, considering she'd given me those nice messages and drawings that I treasured dearly.

I stood up to go back inside and tell my family about the call.