David stood outside Nani's door again, waiting for her to come back down after putting Lilo to bed. He sighed, running a hand through his hair and looking up at the starry sky. Tonight, he vowed, he would tell her.

Nani emerged quietly from the house, gently pushing the door closed as David hastily straightened up. "Nani," he began to fumble for just the right words. Maybe confronting her was a mistake; maybe he should just try casually asking her out again. "I was thinking…"
He could see the rejection on her lips already, and he faltered. "Nani, please." Please don't…his heart whispered.

"David," she sighed, and despite himself he dropped his head in resignation, unable to look into her face and hear her reject him again. "I can't do this. I need to give all of my time to Lilo. I need to be there for her."

"Like I'm there for you."

Nani was taken aback, and even David was that he'd said it. For a moment they both stopped; silent, startled, and hurt but David seized the opportunity while he had it. "I'm sorry," he muttered first, unable to leave her feeling so poorly. "I just want you to see me. I'm here, Nani. I always have been."

Nani brushed her hair behind her ear, and then looked up at him. "No, I'm sorry." It wasn't a rejection disguised as an apology; he could sense that there was something different about her meaning this time. He didn't need to hear more, but she continued anyway, "You're right. I've been…" she couldn't seem to find the right words and he didn't know if there were any he wanted to hear. Instead, she stepped forward, her arms gently encircling him, and laid her head on his chest. David drew a small breath of surprise, but calmed into quiet contentedness. Gently, he kissed her forehead and wrapped his own arms around her, drawing her tightly against him and rested his head on top of hers without another word.