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Two jobs, three aliens, and one rambunctious 8-year-old; Nani had her hands full. She knew she needed to find time to relax soon, but with her busy schedule it seemed impossible.
While Tiana didn't have aliens or an 8-year-old to take care of, she did have an elderly mother who she was paying the rent of while she was trying desperately to save up to buy a building nearby to start her own restaurant.
Nani admired Tiana. So when Tiana's best friend insisted that Nani join them for drinks that she assumed Tiana was being dragged to enjoy as well, she gave in. She told Pleakley and Jumba not to wait up, but judging by the expressions on their smooth faces she was sure she would come home to them pretending to be disappointed parents; not that she minded their antics too much. It was nice, actually, getting to pretend she was a young adult with a normal home life, even if just for a night.
However, her night with Tiana and Lottie was far from normal; when she arrived at the small tiki-themed bar near Kona's Coffee, she was aa bit alarmed to see the alien that her sister referred to as 'Big Dummy' and his little yellow alien monster perched on his shoulder. Apparently, Charlotte had forgotten to mention that she was now dating Gantu.
Never before had a night been more awkward, even for Nani; and she had endured Jumba's experiments interrupting important brunches with Mr. Jamerson at least a dozen times. Now, she wasn't trying to just schmooze up to some lolo boss, she was trying to get to know Tiana better.
"Sorry about Lottie's new... prince," Tiana motioned to Gantu with thinned lips, and Nani found herself amused as she stared up at the 12 foot whale-like alien.
"No need for apologies. I've known Mister... Gantu for a while," She slowly said his name, fighting the urge to refer to him as Big Dummy for Lilo's sake.
"Oh no," Lottie gasped with her dramatic southern charm, "please don't tell me Gantu is your ex-boyfriend!"
Nani snorted and smirked up at the socially awkward alien, who was clad in a hastily put together disguise featuring an over-sized pink Hawaiian shirt with pale pink flamingos and green leaves all over it, a pair of swim shorts, a fishing hat and a pair of undersized sunglasses. "No, nothing like that. We've got history, but not that kind."
"Ugh, she's tryin' to say that Blubberbutt here used to try and steal all the other experiments like me while her little sister was tryin' to do the same thing. Our old boss really wanted all of us." Reuben cut in and explained, and Nani only gave an awkward smile in return.
After a moment of silence, Lottie cut through it. "Isn't Reuben here the cutest dog you ever did see, Tia? And look at his little belly!" She chirped, effortlessly scooping the experiment up in her arms, not phased in the slightest by his interjection. While Reuben tried to squirm out of Lottie's grip and Gantu laughed at his attempts, Nani turned her attention to Tiana.
"So, uhm... mahalo for letting me tag along." Nani said shyly, and Tiana's tense expression melted and formed into something softer.
"Trust me, the thanks is all mine. Not sure I could handle third-wheeling with Lottie and her new prince on my own," she joked, and Nani found herself laughing, letting the nerves bundled in her belly untangle.
"It's not the strangest time I've been a third-wheel, trust me." Nani replied, and Tiana's eyes lit up.
"Really? Tell me about that, Nani."
And Nani did. She found her nerves becoming less and less evident as the night continued; whether it was from the amount of ʻŌkolehao she was drinking or the intoxicating sound of Tiana's snorts she wasn't sure. She started with the story of the time that she had third-wheeled on one of Pleakley and Jumba's 'fake dates' which in actuality were absolutely real dates that Pleakley was too high-strung to admit to; on the night mentioned she had been dragged along, as well as Stitch, and the fluffy blue alien had attacked a child at a nearby table because he had tried to turn down a slice of coconut cake. If she closed her eyes, she could still hear the sound of Pleakley's dramatic gasps and she could still see him smacking Stitch so hard with his purse that he passed out; she later discovered that it was because Pleakley had considered bringing an entire lobster in his purse as essential, just in case there were 'lobster emergencies'.
In turn, Tiana told Nani about the first time she was introduced to Gantu; Lottie had invited her out to dinner and had brought her to Gantu's ship that was settled by the same waterfall it was settled for years before; he was apparently here on vacation, she later discovered, and Lottie had introduced him as her new tall, dark, and handsome Samoan boyfriend. He had tried to cook them dinner, but it consisted of a radioactive turkey and potato salad. They tried to eat the radioactive meat but couldn't, so Reuben had to make impromptu bologna sandwiches, which is when Lottie found out that she was allergic to balogna.
The two found solace in their shared strange experiences, enjoying each other's company when they heard a loud gasp come from Lottie. Turning their heads hesitantly, they watch as Lottie raced off to a nearby karaoke machine, somehow dragging Gantu along with her, with Rebuen taking Gantu's phone and preparing to record it. "Come on, we have to sing our song!"
Tiana and Nani shared an amused grin, watching as Lottie and Gantu started to sing a duet version of Wannabe by the Spice Girls, with Reuben being dragged into it, Lottie taking her bright pink hat off and slapping it onto the yellow experiment's head.
After a few songs, the trio made their way back to the table, with Lottie stumbling. "I think somebody has had too many Mai Tais," Tiana teased, watching as Lottie flopped down dizzily against the table. "Maybe we should call it a night."
Nani nodded in agreement, glancing at her phone and seeing that it was only 7 pm. "It's a pity, though. It's my one day off this week and I'm gonna go home already," she grinned, already feeling herself growing tired. Maybe she could watch a movie tonight before heading to bed?
"Let Tia join you!" Lottie cheered, jabbing her finger in Nani's direction. "She's been wanting to ask you out for foreveeeer now!"
Tiana's face burned as she shyly looked up at Nani. "Well? Whaddya say?"
Right away, Nani thought of everything that could go wrong. Pleakley and Jumba were still surely awake and would harass them, and with it not even being 9 Lilo and Stitch would both still would be awake. But, her heart raced faster than her inhibitions. "That sounds like a great idea."
And so, Tiana and Nani made their way to the Pelekai household while Lottie, Gantu, and Reuben went to Gantu's space ship for more karaoke.
As soon as the front door opened, Nani watched in horror as Stitch crawled into the living room on the ceiling, with Lilo hanging off of his back. Upon seeing her sister, Lilo whispered something to Stitch and he crawled down the wall, sitting and wagging his stubby tail innocently.
"Welcome home, Nani! And you're... Miss Tiana, right? You're the friend of the Big Dummy's new girlfriend, right?"
Tiana stared in shock for a moment before recovering, reaching down and offering her hand to the small girl. "That's me. And you must be Lilo. I've heard you're very brave."
Lilo smiled widely at the words, wondering briefly what stories Tiana had heard about her adventures. Did Nani tell her about all of the experiments that she had caught? Did she tell her about how Lilo had escaped jail, been to space, or met the ground councilwoman of the galaxy? "Nani usually just says I'm lolo, not brave, but I like to think I am."
"You're both," Nani teased, glancing around the living room. "Where's Aunt Pleakley and Uncle Jumba? They were supposed to be watching you."
Lilo shook her head. "Uncle Jumba said not to tell, buuuuuut... he's working on a new experiment. Not a living one, I promise! But he borrowed the toaster. And Pleakley said he had to make sure Jumba isn't gonna blow their room up again."
Tiana considered asking for more information when a loud boom was heard from upstairs, and Lilo and Stitch shared a shocked expression.
"Well, that's our cue to go stop Pleakley from killing Jumba. The living room is yours for now!" Lilo insisted, as if she were the one in charge. Stitch lifted her up and the two raced up the stairs, leaving Nani staring tiredly after them. She loved her little ohana, but they were still lolo. Very lolo.
"She's precious, Nani. Reminds me of some of the neighborhood kids I used to cook for back home." Tiana commented with a soft smile, before making her way to the couch. Nani hurriedly picked out an old Elvis movie that Lilo had left sitting out on top of the TV stand, with Tiana following her into the kitchen. They made buttery popcorn on the stove (which Tiana added parmesan to, insisting it would improve it -- after trying it Nani agreed and decided never to question Tiana's choices again) and settled in on the couch and starting their film.
After thirty minutes, Tiana yawned, and Nani found her own eyes growing heavy. She wasn't sure at what point she had fallen asleep, or laid down, or when Lilo had written booger breath on her forehead, but when she woke up, Tiana was resting her head on Nani's chest, still fast asleep.
With a soft smile, she fell back asleep, promising to herself that she would have to punish Lilo and probably Stitch by association; but right now, she was too tired to think of ideas.