Chapter Text
The Pelekai House, Earth
07:00 (UTC−10:00)
The alarm went off with a resounding chime at exactly oh-seven-hundred. Jumba reached down and smacked the alarm’s snooze-button with a pillow. He knew it was a fool’s errand. The alarm was never what woke him up, anyway.
He tried to snuggle into his bedding and get some more sleep.
“Wake up, sleepy-head!” Pleakley suddenly poked his face.
“Ughhhh, am much too tired for this...” Jumba tried to roll over. “Try getting my shut-eyes…”
“Ohhhh, no ya don’t!” The bossy one-eyed noodle he called his roommate clambered up and was now on top of his chest. “It’s time to wakey wakey, Jumba! I made breakfast!”
“Why I smelling burning thing?”
“Oh…hehe, that’s-”
“Oh no! You burning dOWN HOUSE AGAIN!” That got the evil genius to pop out of bed and run for the kitchen, causing Pleakley to fall off of him in the process. “EVERYONE! GETTING OUT OF HOUSE! IS BURNING Tooooo-” He made it to the kitchen, and everything seemed fine. “-the ground?”
“Nuh-uh!” Lilo smiled Jumba’s way. “Pleakley made poi!” She ate another spoonful.
“Ih!” Stitch nodded excitedly as he licked his bowl clean.
Jumba took a frantic look over at the stove.
To his surprise, nothing was burning there. Nothing was splattered, even. Things were neatly in place and a pot of instant poi was still warm. It was actually a welcome sight once his stomach let out a rumbly growl.
“We figured you all wanted something familiar. And I added fruit!” Nani grinned as she gestured to the various cut fruits in a yellow bowl on the kitchen table. “Good morning, Jumba.”
“Good…morning.” He calmed down.
“HMPH!” Pleakley entered the room with an indignant huff. “As I was SAYING! I accidentally burnt a shirt while early-morning ironing. I’m better at cooking, I’ll have you know!”
“Yeah. He didn’t even add any dog food this time!” Lilo added.
“Oh. I’m feeling womanly today, dear.”
“She didn’t even add any dog food this time!” Lilo amended her statement.
“Thank you so much, Lilo- AND YEAH! I was reeeeally tempted to, but I DIDN’T add dog food!”
“...sorry.” Jumba, in a rare display, apologized to Pleakley with no witty remark added.
“Mmmmmmm, you’re forgiven. This time.” Pleakley eased up.
Jumba was at a loss for words when he poured his own cup of Earth coffee. He and Pleakley joined the others at the table for breakfast. Things were back to how they wanted it to be. They were back on Earth. No more breaking up the Ohana; not this time.
Nani had to go to work soon, and so did David. Lilo and Stitch wanted to get a group picture of all the Cousins. Then, she and Stitch wanted to hang out with Jumba and Pleakley.
“So? What do you both wanna do, now that you’re back?” Lilo wondered.
“Oh, long day of evil-experimenting and havoc-wreaking with my little lab assistants?” Dr. Jookiba replied with a chuckle. “Maybe repair hover-craft. As a treat.”
“What did I say about crop circles, Jumba?” Nani crossed her arms as she glared over at Jumba.
“Whaaat! I say nothing about...crop circles! BAH! Is crazy talk.” He feigned innocence as he looked away nervously. He was found out.
“You were thinking about it.” She replied. “No. Crop circles.”
“Aw, you are spoil-sport…”
“Well, you can keep them out of soooome trouble, right Auntie?” David replied.
“Of course, David.” Pleakley nodded. “I’ll try my best.”
“Should we start setting up for the picture?” Lilo giggled as she jumped down from her chair.
"Ebaka?" Stitch shifted his ears around. Now he could hear quite a few Cousins outside. "OoooOOOH! Cousins here!" Stitch scurried off. Lilo followed close behind.
"Can't keep those two still for two seconds..." Nani shook her head before standing up from the kitchen table. "Come on, everyone."
“I’ll be right there, Nani!” Pleakley waved the others on. “It’ll just take me few minutes to clean up!”
The others headed outside to round up the remaining Cousins.
“See you out there,” Pleakley waved behind her.
“...no no, am helping clean up.” Jumba walked closer.
“What’s this?” Pleakley turned around in shock and awe. Jumba started ladling leftover poi into a reusable container. “Dr. Jumba Jookiba, evil genius extraordinaire, is helping clean? Call the presses!”
“Haha, funny… ”
“You missed your Aunt Pleakley, admit it!”
“Uncle Jumba was missing you very much…” He brushed his large fingers along her cheek. “Shhh. Telling no one, though. May start rumors, ehehehe!”
“!!!” Pleakley dropped what she was doing and hugged as much of Jumba as she could. “I MISSED YOU SO MU-huh-huuuuuuch!!!”
Jumba realized she wasn’t just being her normal levels of dramatic; Pleakley was actually crying!
Oh no… NOT GOOD!
“Eh…Pleakley?”
“Wahhh-mmmmm!!!” She nuzzled her face into his chest and continued to sob.
“Oh. Uh…?” On instinct, Jumba wrapped his arms around Pleakley. “I saying something wrong?”
“N--wwww!” She replied 'no' into his shirt he’d slept in.
“Shhhh shh shh…is ok.” He lifted Pleakley up into his arms. “Here. I am being here.”
“Don’d Leeb!”
“Am not leaving. Shhh, am not leaving.”
They stayed like that for a while. Pleakley was held close, wrapped up in Jumba’s arms. He could feel his dear one-eyed one shaking from hard crying. It brought some water to his own evil genius tear ducts. Jumba had only tried to make Pleakley laugh, not cry! He would make it up to her. He had to. As much as Pleakley had missed him, Jumba truly had missed her just as much. Arguably more.
She eventually stopped crying. That just meant Pleakley was back to her normal drama-levels.
“Oh no! SEE?!? My eye’s all red now, I can’t go out like this!”
“Nonsense. Is barely noticeable!”
“I look ugly!”
“Nooo, you don’t.”
“Yes I do. Don’t look at me, Jumba! I’M HIDEOUS!”
“Oh sweet Nebulas…” Jumba rolled all four of his eyes at that. Then he leaned down to whisper. “Not letting you think yourself hideous, boojiboo.”
“Oh the horror! The HORROR- wait what-???”
Pleakley froze as she felt her head and quark flange getting kissed. It tickled a bit. Jumba ended the kiss to her head with a loud lip-smack.
"mmmmM-MWAH."
“Heheheheh…wow,” was all the smitten Plorgonarian could muster up at the moment.
“I am wondering…are you wanting to...resume romantic relationship, Pleakley?”
“…mm-hmm!”
“Good. So does Jumba.”
Pleakley started kissing him. Jumba was kissing her back. He twirled her around in the kitchen. It was the best news either of them could hope for! They were together again, and nothing could erase the goofy little smiles on their faces. Except, of course, being watched.
They finally got interrupted by a chorus of ooohs and awwws.
“Whaat?!” Jumba looked out the kitchen window. No less than fifty of his experiments were gawking at the happy couple.
“OooOOOOH!” Nosy shoved his way through towards the window sill. “I’m gonna tell EVERYONE! Hey guys! Guess whaaaat! Jumba and Pleakley got back togetherrr!” He started running off to tell more cousins. “In FACT?! They both cried themselves to sleep cause they missed each other so much!”
“NosYYY!” Jumba started getting flustered beyond all belief.
“Aw, that’s real sweet.” Bonnie giggled.
“Hehe, yeah.” Clyde agreed. “Real sweet.”
*tw-eeeet* Yaarp hopped up onto the sill as Slugger landed more gracefully.
“Oh gee, looks like the rest of the Ohana is happy.” Pleakley would have blushed if she could. Instead, her quark flange bent back a little sheepishly. “H-hi everyone!” A chorus of hellos seemed to swarm the house.
“I heard the news.” Lilo smiled when she and Stitch entered the house again after the Big Ohana photo. “I knew you two were meant to be!”
“Stitch know, too!” Their blue friend added.
“Thanks, you two.” Pleakley smiled as she hugged them both. “What do we wanna do with Aunt Pleakley and Uncle Jumba, huh?”
Stitch and Lilo looked at each other and thought. They came to the same conclusion.
“Beach Day?!” The two asked in unison.
“Yes! Perfect! Ehhh… In little bit. I have suuuper secret plan.” Jumba grinned. “NOT dangerous. And…sadly, is not making crop circles.”
“Oh yeah? What’s your super secret plan?” Pleakley asked.
“Is super secret! Cannot be telling you!”
“Hmph. Well if you’ve got a super secret to keep from me, then I need a super secret to keep from you!”
Pleakley and Stitch left the house once their Auntie got herself more put together. She wore her favorite brown wig, a nice sundress, and one of her big hats. Stitch drew in his extra arms and antennae. It was Disguise Time!
Lilo joined Jumba back to the makeshift lab. They looked around the more busted interior after the crash a while back.
“What’s the super secret plan, Jumba?” Lilo asked as she admired the scientific equipment in the beat-up ship.
“I am wanting to say sorry to Pleakley, Little One. Sorry for metaphorically breaking her heart chambers..." he turned on his computer and sifted though files until he found what he was looking for.
"Ohhh, so you wanna get a gift? Or we could make one." She looked at the big screen in the ship. "But that doesn't look like a gift.
"Eh...no." His face looked more and more bashful. "This is not gift. No gifts. Jumba needs something more special."
"Hm. Maybe a nice card? Ooh, a loooove letter?"
"NO! I-i mean... no, not that either."
"A...song?"
"I don't know..." Jumba gulped. "None of these seem right."
"...how about a date night?"
"Ehhh, perhaps..." Hope returned to his features. "Maybe, after day at beach, we can going to primitive Earthling dining facility, the two of us? Pleakley does like to spending time together..."
"That sounds perfect, Jumba!" Lilo walked back to him and patted his large hand. "And I know just the place! Pleakley will love it!"
"How do YOU knowing perfect date night location, Lilo? You are little girl."
"Well...Nani said she likes it. And she's not so little."
"Well-played."
~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Pleakley waddled into town with Stitch next to her. They crossed the street, and Pleakley waved to the driver that had waited to let them cross. The man waved back with a smile. Then he looked further down at Stitch and made a scared face.
They kept walking until they reached Mrs. Hasagawa's fruit stand.
"HELLO MRS. HASAGAWA!!!" Pleakley practically screamed.
"...huh?" The nearly blind, nearly deaf old lady looked around. "Oh! Hello, Mrs. Jookiba! How are you, my dear!"
"OH, CAN'T COMPLAIN.... YOU?!"
"I am doing very well!" She walked closer and reached down to pet Stitch on the head. "Awww, good doggy."
"AND HOW ARE YOUR CATS? DOING WELL?"
"Oh, they are so good!" She pointed over to Cloudy. "See? And so helpful!"
"Oh choota..." Stitch whispered as he scuttled back to Pleakley. Cloudy followed him and tried to start down-pouring on his Cousin again, like he had earlier that morning.
"Ah ah! FEAR NOT!" Pleakley whipped out her umbrella and opened it just as Stitch scrambled up into her arms.
"Skittish little doggy. Poor thing... Mr. Fluffles doesn't bite!"
"Grrrr..." Stitch growled up at Cloudy. They got the hint and wafted away to water more fruit at the fruit stand.
Pleakley made it quick for Stitch's sake. She bought some of the mixed fruit preserves that Mrs. Hasagawa canned herself. Then, they were off once more.
"...Pleakley. Thanks." Stitch spoke softly while they walked between tourists.
"Of course, I've always got you, Stitch." Pleakley whispered back. Stitch rubbed up against her legs before they continued.
They continued into the supermarket. Cart: acquired. Stich: placed in the child seat.
"Alright, fella! What are we gettin'?"
"Uh, ma'am?" A fellow shopper walked up to them. "Are you...? Putting your dog in the seat?"
"Well, uh...don't you?" Pleakley smiled nervously. Then she leaned closer. "He's got separation anxiety."
"Oh, poor...thing." She grinned awkwardly as she walked away quickly.
"...woo. Close one." Pleakley started wheeling Stitch and the cart in the opposite direction as the other shopper.
They got peanut butter to appease Pudge the fish. Then some premade sandwiches for the beach.
Stitch suckered Pleakley into getting him a lollipop. So of course they needed one for Lilo, too.
At one point, Pleakley got a call from her mother. Stitch wasn't paying attention. He'd smelled the deli section. The blue-furred cutie was thinking up ways to sneak a whole ham into his mouth, but Pleakley pushed the shopping cart farther away. Plus...stealing ham wasn't very nice. Blitznack! Lilo had gotten to him, yet again. Maybe someday, Stitch would get to eat a whole ham again. Someday...
They brought the purchases back to the house. It was a miracle. Pleakley hadn't stopped into any clothing stores!
"Welcome back!" Lilo was already dressed for swimming.
"Hello again!" Pleakley grew excited. "I just need a moment to change. Then we can go."
"Good. Don't take too long." Jumba put his straw hat on and fake moustache. Now his own disguise was complete.
"...ok." Pleakley winked. Or maybe she just blinked. It was hard to tell. She only had one eye.
~~~~~~
Lilo stayed still in the sand while Stitch shoveled more sand onto her legs. In no time flat, he was carefully patting and etching and carving.
"What'cha doin'?" Pleakley looked up from her fashion magazine. "Ooooh! What a pretty little mermaid you make, Lilo!"
"A Zombie Mermaid." Lilo nodded. Part of the sand-made tail looked skeletal. "I was converted by a school of zombie piranhas. They're my pets, now."
"Yeah." Stitch nodded too. He pointed to the more scrappy looking piranhas he'd added to the side of Lilo's fake tail. One was still biting her.
"Fascinating...!" Pleakley got up and quickly snapped a picture.
"Little One, you say there are fish-human hybrid beings on stinky water planet?" Jumba asked after taking a sip of his water. "But we never seeing them."
"Who knows? We don't know even half of what's in our oceans." Lilo replied. "I bet there's whole cities of mermaids. Maybe they look after Pudge on the other days of the week... Hm..."
"Now, if Jumba could getting genetic samples-"
"NO." Pleakley waddled back. "NO SAMPLES!"
"Not even teensy tiny bit?"
"NO."
"Ughhhhh, fiiiiine...."
They soon got Lilo back out of the sandy mermaid tail and dusted her off. Lunch was sandwiches and shaved ice from the nearby stand. They swam or waded in a bit here and there. Instead of hunting for seashells, Lilo and Stitch went Tourist-Spotting. They shared a pair of binoculars and pointed out sun-burnt visitors. If they found a really good specimen, they would sneak up and snap a picture. Pleakley needed to hand over a new roll of polaroid blanks for the two rascals to continue.
After work, Nani and David joined the group. The two surfers and two youngsters headed out to surf for a while. Pleakley and Jumba watched them catch some choice waves, as most of the tourists headed home for their Happy Hours and what not.
"Pleakley?" Jumba offered his hand.
"Yeah, Jumba?" She took hold of his index finger.
"...I can telling surprise, now."
"Ooh ooh, tell me tell me!"
"Alright! Alright." He chuckled. "I have reservation for primitive Earthling dining facility. For two. Tonight." He leaned closer. "Will you going with Jumba on...date?"
"Yes! Oh, Jumba!" She began to hug him. Then her facial expression dropped. "Waaaait...where?"
Blue Hawaii Bar & Grill, Earth
19:00 (UTC−10:00)
"Jockey-buh for two? Party of Jockey-buh? For two?" The nearest hostess asked aloud.
"Ugh..." Jumba raised his hand despite the butchering of his proud, evil genius surname. "Us."
"Oh, good. Your table is ready. Please follow me."
"Oooh, I like all the lights! It's so...festive!" Pleakley admired the outdoor dining space. She held Jumba's arm as they were lead further onto the patio. Once they were seated, they were given their menus.
"I can go get waters for the table while you look at the menu?"
"OH! Before you go-" Pleakley began.
"hmmm." Jumba put a hand on his forehead. "....here we are going."
"What are the specials tonight? I'm curious."
"Oh, sure." Their server smiled at the question. "The fish of the day is flounder, and the soup of the day is crab chowder."
"Ooooh, fascinating."
"...thank you." Jumba smiled as best as he could until their server walked off to get the water. Then, he whispered over the top of his menu. "Why do you always asking for special?"
"Well, it's not like you ever ask."
"But, Pleakley. You never ordering special."
"You do, though. Sometimes."
"...I saw special on big menu board. Behind you?"
"Huh?" She turned, and her wig swished with the movement. She saw the huge 'Today's Specials' board behind her. "Heheheh..."
"I can reading it like you, now." Jumba tapped his sunglasses he kept perched at the end of his round nose. "Has translation software installed."
"Oh, but...sometimes there isn't a big menu board. So I'll keep asking." Pleakley went right back to perusing the menu and playing with the soft ends of her wig. Every once in a while, something was deemed fascinating.
After they ordered drinks, Jumba got the soup of the day. Soup went down easier, with minimal chewing.
In similar fashion, Pleakley ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of mashed sweet potatoes. They were nutritious and easier to ingest than most crunchy, fried foods.
"Thank you, sweetie." Pleakley reached out and placed a slender three-fingered hand on top of her partner's own. "This is a very nice date."
"Yes. Is good date." He smiled back at her with no lack of admiration.
Now, they were getting back to their normal, after being parted for far too long. (Ok, it was two weeks at best. They were just dramatic.) Unfortunately, this meant that the other factors of their lives were returning to some semblance of normal, too.
Pleakley's communicator began to ring.
"Pleakley..." Jumba warned. "Do not taking that call. Is date."
"...ok. Yeah! I can, uh... I can hold off." She turned it on silent. There was a moment of relief, that was then ruined by the communicator vibrating on the table.
"Noooo."
"You're right. Here!" She handed the circular phone-like device to Jumba nervously. "Who is it?"
"Who else? Is Mother Pleakley..."
"...maybeeee, if you answer, she'll be more understanding? And call back later?"
"HMPH." He raised the device to his ear. "Hello?" He immediately had to keep the device away again after the shouting that piped through. Oops! Mama Pleakley was initiating a video call. "Good. Pleakley call you back." He hung up. The phone started ringing again moments later.
"...if I don't answer, she'll just keep calling." Pleakley sighed.
"I know. She must learning to give space."
"...yeah, ya know what? You're right."
Jumba let the infernal device buzz away in his shorts pocket, until Mother Pleakley gave up.
"What were you saying?"
"OH! So, I had this idea." Pleakley began to talk again. "You know how more major life events are coming up? Well, I can make you a suit or two for those occasions!"
"What is wrong with Earthling male disguise?" Jumba gestured to his current outfit of cargo shorts, Hawaiian button up t-shirt, and sandals.
"Well, it's nice, but you still need something for fancier events."
"I add tie. Is good enough."
"No. It's not..." His partner frowned and crossed her arms. "You can't wear that to say...a graduation! Or, or a wedding! I won't stand for it!"
"I wear to Galaxy-Saving Award Ceremony..."
"That's different! I'm gonna make you more clothes, and you're gonna like it, Mister!"
"Ugh, pleeease, do not get so-"
"Excuse me?" Their server walked over.
"Yes?" Jumba turned to face her.
"There uh...someone on the phone is calling for Mrs. Jockey-buh? They said it's urgent."
Both Jumba and Pleakley looked at one another. Without a word, Jumba motioned for Pleakley to finally go answer her mother. She rushed over with their server.
He took the time to consider what she had said. It wasn't that he didn't like what Pleakley made. Far from it. She was getting very skilled with that sewing machine. He just felt that wasn't necessary. They had plenty of costume components already. Either they could salvage those, or he could just add a tie. Whatever ended up being more comfortable.
He looked around. Pleakley was taking a while. Maybe this was an emergency? Now, Dr. Jookiba felt a small pang of regret. That regret compounded when he finally saw Pleakley returning. She'd been crying...
"Pleakley? What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing!" She tried to smile through it as she wiped away the remainder of her ruined mascara and readjusted her wig. "Now! About those new suits-"
"Boojiboo..." Jumba leaned closer and gingerly wiped away some leftover mascara. "Please telling me?"
"...not here." She whispered. "Not now, please?"
"...alright."
"Thank you, sweetie." She sighed, scratched at her neck, then continued. "If I did make you a suit, you'd wear it, right?"
"...yes."
"I promise to use fabric that's not scratchy! Honest!" She rubbed at her arm. "And fun colors. Not just the plain black tux."
"Oh no..." Jumba grimaced as he realized what was going on.
"What?" Pleakley scratched at her other arm.
"You do not smell horrendous."
"Well, I sure HOPE not!"
"It means you did not applying Earth insect repellant..."
"Of course I..." She looked down. Another four mosquitos landed on her. She could finally hear the rest of the swarm closing in. "...J-J-JUMBA?"
"We go home now!"
Pleakley slapped down twice the amount of cash their meal had cost, then they ran off for home.
The Pelekai House, Earth
20:40 (UTC−10:00)
"You alright, Pleakley?" Nani walked into the ship in their backyard. Pleakley had most of her disguise removed so she could be wrapped in the affected areas with ointment and bandages.
"...no."
"You will feeling better soon." Jumba answered, now donning his lab coat. "This is special formula. Has cooling effect, to reduce itching."
"Hmmm...."
"Hey, it happens to the best of us." Nani tried to reassure Pleakley, but wasn't sure if she could pat her on the shoulder, or back, or anywhere really.
"That's easy for YOU to say, Nani! Mosquitos don't find you as delicious as they do me!" She raised her arm. "Ow. Owowow..." She lowered her arm again. "You don't blow up like a balloon animal, either..."
"I think humans are just used to mosquitos, by now." She winced. "But hey, we've got you now."
They worked as a team. Jumba applied the ointment, and Nani wrapped the areas up. Two out of three legs. Both arms. Neck, head, and hands.
"I look like a mummyyyyy!" The one-eyed one whined.
"No complaining." The four-eyed one replied.
"I ruined date niiiight!"
"Not possible. Jumba had very nice time."
"Where'd you go? That grill I recommended?" Nani wondered.
"Yes. Was very nice food-service facility."
"Ooh, it was lovely, Nani." Pleakley replied too. "And then I ruined it all!"
"SHH." Jumba leaned closer. "Nothing is ruined. If anything, Mother Pleakley ruin date night for you."
"Noooo, I wouldn't say that!" Pleakley tried to cross her arms, and found it was too painful to attempt it.
"She making Pleakley cry."
"Aww, what happened?" Nani joined in the questioning. "You ok?"
"What is this? A galactic tribunal?!" The more Wendy Pleakley fought against it, the harder it became to hide it.
Her mother had in fact made her cry, but not on purpose! Mrs. Saash'lana Pleakley had great news to share with Wendy!
But she kept calling her Wendy. And Son. And the news had very limiting factors attached, as well. Something in Wendy had just...snapped.
"I DON'T WANNA BE A BEST MAN!" Pleakley finally blurted out. "I don't even think I wanna be a man! AT ALL!"
"Oh boy..." Nani cringed. "Can't we just...I don't know, lie to them?"
"LIE? To my FAMILY?!"
"Hasn't stopped you before..."
"And I feel AWFUL about it!"
"Why do you worry?" Jumba put away the ointment. "We have whole Plorgonar Year to decide. Is...10 Earth months from today, yes?"
"You say that like that's enough time..." Pleakley frowned harder.