Title: The Heart of the Matter

Author: QteCuttlfish
Rating: T (just in case)
Type: Family/Drama
Summary: Sequel to "We are the Broken." Four years ago, the Chipmunk and Chipette bands broke up, and no one knows why. Now, all six have come home when something terrible happened to Dave. The Chipmunks and the Chipettes must relearn how to work together if they wish to save Dave. But can they get past their anger? Will they be able to forgive one another? Or are they destined to forever sing the blues? And how will they deal with the unknown danger stalking one of them?

Pairings: Traditional (AxB, SxJ, TxE)

Disclaimer: Obviously, Alvin and the Chipmunks do not belong to me. I just borrow them for my nefarious purposes, then return them unharmed later. Title "The Heart of the Matter" from the song by Don Henley. It seemed very appropriate.

WARNING: This fic will imply mature themes, such as sex, drug use, and alcohol use, and some instances of swearing. You have been warned. Flames will be laughed at, scorned, and otherwise saved to be made fun of at a later time. Reviews, however, will be most appreciated!

Author's Note:

I'm sorry this took me longer than I thought to get up! It was harder to start it than I thought it would be, but on the up side, you guys get an extra chapter! This chapter was not part of the original plan. It's a longer chapter, and you get a bit from everyone's point-of-view. Aren't you lucky? ^_^ I hope you guys enjoy this fic as much as you enjoyed its predecessor!

Chapter One

Back in the Saddle Again

The chipmunk rolled over for what seemed like the millionth time and groaned. He opened his blue-gray eyes and sighed. Why can't I get comfortable? He had slept very little the previous night, which was odd, considering he suffered from jetlag. There again, I do have a lot on my mind. The events from the day before began replaying in his head. He remembered the emotional roller coaster he had been on for the entire day, from the first moment he had heard Jeanette's shy voice from the doorway of his dorm. In a way, he was still in shock over having her show up at his door after so long. He knew he would forever cherish the brave image of her in his room.

She's braver than I am, he thought. I could never do what she did. He felt shame after having essentially run away from the problem. And did it do you any good whatsoever? He had to admit, if only to himself, that it hadn't. Part of why he exhausted himself with classes and homework was to forget the betrayed look on Alvin's face, the stricken look on Theodore's face...and the wounded look on Jeanette's face.

How could I have done that? he thought. I really should have just told Alvin I was thinking about going to college, as soon as it occurred to me. Then I could have helped Jeanette tell Brittany the same thing, and none of this would ever have happened. Simon sighed as he sat up. Raking over the past is such a useful past-time. Why not invent a time machine while you're at it? he thought, caustically. Ironically, he'd thought of that before. One of his papers the previous year had been on the possibility of creating a time machine, and what it would take to invent one. But even if you could, do you really think you would have listened to yourself? Simon had to be honest. Back then, he would never have believed that anything would keep them from being friends. The six of them had been so close for so long. Who knew our bonds were really so fragile?

Simon gave up on sleep and sat up. He pulled on a robe, knowing that Jeanette slept in the room next door. How in the hell did we end up in the two attic rooms? he wondered, then shied away from where that thought was going. Instead, he focused on the house. Simon had been amazed at the changes in Dave's house. But that's what comes of not coming home in two years. A finished basement bedroom, two attic bedrooms, with one bathroom on each of the two floors. It's ironic that all of these rooms are full now, he thought.

Theodore remained in the bedroom the Chipmunks had once shared. Brittany and Alvin had originally planned on returning to their apartments, but Eleanor "talked" them out of it. Well, Eleanor talked Alvin out of it, by saying it would probably be for the best if he returned to the Seville house. Everyone had looked at her like she had gone insane, especially since they all remembered what had happened the last time the six of them tried to live together. But Eleanor was right. This way, they could get rehearsals and meetings done in between Brittany, Alvin, and Theodore's schedules much easier than if they weren't living together. At least this way, they wouldn't have to deal with the nightmare of L.A. traffic all the time. Alvin finally agreed. Brittany was never given the chance to disagree. Simon did not know what Eleanor had said to Brittany, but whatever it was, it worked. Brittany was firmly ensconced in Dave's room. Alvin had the basement room. Eleanor had taken over the living room, which had a fairly comfortable couch bed in it. Theodore had tried to offer her his room, but she had insisted on taking over the living room. No one knew why.

Simon checked the clock. He could not believe the six of them had spent about nine hours together without killing one another yet.

Of course, it's easier not to kill one another when you each have your own space, he thought. Nor does it hurt that Dave's life depends on us not killing one another. He sighed. Can we really do this? Simon thought about the last six months they had spent together in steady contact, between their interviews, concerts, and one final movie they had to film. He shuddered. This is not going to be fun. Sadly, things had not changed; if anything, they had gotten worse. Can anyone keep Alvin and me from fighting? Simon knew his patience was going to be sorely tried. He could swear not to let Alvin get to him, but he knew better. As soon as he saw Alvin, he felt his defensive walls go up. And then Alvin would inevitably say something, and Simon would respond before he could stop himself. And I know nothing can keep Alvin and Brittany from fighting.

Simon shook his head as he walked out of the room and nearly ran smack into someone else. He managed to catch Jeanette before she fell. Simon swallowed hard. The two of them stared at each other. Jeanette's cheeks turned red. Simon cleared his throat, and slowly helped her up. She finally averted her eyes.

"Sorry," she muttered.

"It was my fault," he said. She walked around him, to get to her room, which was the first one at the top of the new stairs to the attic. Her room was the first one at the top of the stairs, then his room, then the bathroom. Jeanette wore a purple terry robe, with a towel wrapped around her head. It was obvious she had just been showering. The images that realization caused made him swallow again. His palms began to sweat and his heart raced. But he didn't want her to leave right away. He searched for something to say.

"Um, good morning," he croaked.

She turned around and stared at him. It was his turn to start blushing. She smiled.

"Good morning, Simon," she said. "Did you sleep well?"

"Well enough," he shrugged. "I need to get used to the time difference."

"Me too," she said. She waited for him to say something else, but his usually canny mind had gone to sleep. Jeanette smiled again. "Well, I'll see you downstairs."

He nodded, and found himself watching her as she walked into her room. Forget it, his guilt said. You don't deserve her. Besides, her sister will kill you if you go near her again. Simon had never forgotten Eleanor's threat. And after taking his frustrations and guilt out on Jeanette, he had known Eleanor was right. She deserves better than you. He let out a sound of disgust and slammed into the bathroom.

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Jeanette quickly closed the door behind her and leaned against it. She closed her eyes, her heart pounding and her pulse racing. Her body tingled where Simon had touched it. I don't know if I can do this, she thought. I may go mad, with unrequited lust. She took in a deep breath. Calm down, she told herself. Just because you didn't get over your teenage hormones doesn't mean he didn't.

Are you sure? a voice asked from deep inside. Don't go there, Jeanette, she told herself firmly. That will only make for more trouble, and we have enough problems as it is.

That was an understatement. Jeanette shook her head. She took her hair out of the towel and began brushing it. She decided just to braid it while wet, so she wouldn't have to spend all that much time on it. Her memories of the night before replayed while she braided her hair. She remembered walking into Dave's room, once the nurses were done re-settling him. The look on his face as they told him what they planned to do was priceless. That alone made this worthwhile, and gave her the courage she needed to go through with this. She knew Theodore felt the same way. Then came the discussion about who would stay where. Even Jeanette thought Eleanor's idea was crazy. Put Alvin and Brittany under the same roof together, for who knows how long? Jeanette still wasn't sure it was a good idea. But Dave and Miss Miller had been all for it. They had convinced the others to go along with it. I mean, it will be more convenient. They're right about that. But still...It helped that Brittany and Alvin were not on the same floor, and they didn't even have to share a bathroom. Eleanor and Theodore shared the one on the second floor, while Simon and Jeanette shared the one in the attic. Now if we can just keep everyone from killing one another, I think we'll be okay. Unfortunately, at this point, it was a waiting game as to whether Alvin and Brittany would try to kill one another first, or whether Alvin and Simon would try to kill one another first. And who knew how long until Brittany went for Eleanor's throat?

Jeanette shook her head. She still did not know how Eleanor was managing to control Brittany. She would have thought Brittany would have gone out partying the night before, but Eleanor had driven her to the hospital in her rental car. Eleanor drove her home just long enough to get a bag together, and then the two of them showed up at Dave's house. Immediately, Brittany marched upstairs, slammed Dave's bedroom door, and had not spoken to anyone since, as far as Jeanette knew. Alvin had showed up not long after. I wonder if those two are scared of Eleanor, Jeanette thought in amusement. She'd heard Eleanor tell Alvin that if he didn't return that night, she would drive over to his apartment and drag him by his ear if she had to. She supposed she shouldn't laugh at the horror-filled look on his face, but he'd swallowed and said he'd be back as soon as he could. And he had. Of course, she's kept her muscles up with sports over the last few years. Alvin hadn't.

Jeanette finished getting ready. She pulled on jeans and a lavender T-shirt. Why is everything I own purple? she thought, giggling. She found it funny that none of them had really outgrown "their" colors. Oh, they wore other colors, but…Brittany mostly appeared in shades of pink. Alvin was still seen in mostly red. Even when he had to wear suits and tuxes, his tie was usually red. Every time she saw Theodore, he was wearing something green. Even Eleanor had worn a light green blouse the day before. Of course, none of them wore their colors exclusively, but still. Jeanette shrugged. I guess that's what comes of them being our favorite colors, she thought. I don't even think any of us does it on purpose.

She studied herself critically in the mirror. Already, strands of her brown hair pulled out of the braid. She sighed. Why can't I ever look tidy? Ever? she wondered, then started thinking about how all of the others looked tidy, and how at one point, a certain chipmunk had found her untidiness cute. I wonder if he still...Jeanette! Stop that! Jeanette shook her head. She turned around and walked out of the door, to see Simon walking out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel. Everything in her froze in that moment. At first she found herself staring at him. Wow. He's managed to keep in shape, she thought, her pulse beginning to race again. She quickly averted her eyes as she realized how far down her eyes were looking, and practically ran down the stairs, hoping that she could explain that she owed her red cheeks and being out-of-breath toward running, rather than from extreme lust. She paused briefly on the stairs, her hand over her heart. Her eyes closed, and every detail of Simon's body appeared. Her hands went up to her flaming cheeks. Oh, god, I am not going to survive this without having a heart attack, she thought. But oh, what a way to go! Jeanette laughed out loud. I think I've been spending way too much time with Anna. She continued heading down the stairs.

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Eleanor cursed the fact that this bathroom was so small. How did Theodore and Simon survive sharing this bathroom with Alvin? Unlike everyone else in the house, Eleanor had to get ready in the bathroom, after taking a shower, while everyone else could get ready in their own rooms. She shrugged. At least this arrangement keeps Alvin and Brittany out of trouble. Theodore wondered why she hadn't taken his room. But she had a good reason. I have to keep an eye on a certain sister of mine, she thought. Eleanor knew her plan was probably going to make the next few weeks harder, but...As long as I have anything to do with it, Brittany is not going to drink a single drop of alcohol. That's what destroying her life. And I'm not going to stand around and watch it.

She had another reason, of course, for not wanting to stay in Theodore's room. It was Theodore's room. A part of her got very tingly at that thought. Stop that! You have a boyfriend, remember? she said. She sighed. Chip's nice, she thought, but lately...I don't know. The past month or so, things had been growing more distant. She didn't understand it. Maybe I'm as spoiled as Brittany. She shook her head.

Eleanor remembered the looks on everyone's faces when she suggested the six of them live together until this was over. She giggled. Priceless, she thought. She had known that Miss Miller and Dave would be all for it. She'd counted on it. A part of her felt rather smug at how well it had worked. Though she had had to use a bit of...persuasion on Brittany.

"If you think I'm living with that arrogant hound who can't keep it in his pants, you're nuts!" Brittany had hissed to Eleanor.

"Who said you have a choice?" Eleanor said, with steel in her brown eyes. "You are going. I don't care if you like it or not. I don't care if you hate it. You're going. I know I can't trust you off by yourself. Our two lead singers need to be reliable this time, and if you can't do it on your own, then it'll be done for you. You and I are going to go to your apartment. We're going to pack a few bags, enough for you to live on for a month, and then we are going to the Seville house. End of discussion."

"Well, if you have to follow me around, why can't you just stay at my place?" Brittany whined.

"Now you're the one who's nuts! You forget. I saw what that place looks like. I wouldn't stay there if you paid me! And if I'm not staying there, you're not staying there. You are not leaving my sight until this concert is over. Do you understand?" Eleanor said.

Brittany pouted. "But I need my own ro-om! Not to mention my own bathroom!"

Eleanor sighed. "Ask Dave if you can stay in his room. After all, he's going to have to stay in the hospital until this is all over. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"I couldn't ask him that! It would be weird!" Brittany exclaimed.

In the car, Brittany brought up the fact that Eleanor could not possibly follow her everywhere. Eleanor had kept quiet at that point, because, of course, Brittany was wrong. Leslie had already been informed to keep an even closer eye on Brittany, and that Brittany was not allowed to attend any parties without Eleanor along until after the concert. Eleanor had known that Leslie could be trusted with that information. Leslie had also been told to inform Monty that he would be picking up Brittany from the Seville house, and that she was not allowed to go anywhere other than work and home. No parties. No bars, clubs, or anything thereof. No liquor stores. No guy's apartments, not that Brittany ever remembered who she hooked up with. Eleanor shook her head. What made you this way, Brittany? Brittany had always been a flirt, but she had never been the type for anonymous sex. But there again, Alvin had never been the type to be sleeping with a harem. They really need us. And I wish I knew how to reconnect, she thought. Yes, she could boss Brittany around. But that didn't mean there could be anything else there. And hell would freeze over before Alvin and Simon started behaving like brothers again. There was also a distance between Eleanor and Jeanette that Eleanor had no idea how to cross. She knew it was her fault. Jeanette had reached out to her, until she was rebuffed one too many times. Right after that, Jeanette and Theodore had made up. Deep down inside, that still bothered Eleanor, that her ex-boyfriend and her sister had managed to reconcile before her. Eleanor shook her head. I have enough problems to deal with. I'll just take this one day at a time. She wondered how Brittany was finding Dave's room.

In the end, Eleanor had asked Dave if he would mind Brittany staying in his room. He had generously agreed. But he knew as well as she did that keeping Alvin and Brittany apart in the house would be a good idea. So that had put Brittany and Theodore on the second floor, and Eleanor on the first floor. Alvin took the basement, because it meant he would get his own bathroom. Simon and Jeanette, both blushing I might add, she thought, had agreed to take the attic rooms. What is going on between those two anyway? She had seen the looks on both of their faces when they thought no one was looking. Every time she saw those looks, Eleanor winced inside from guilt. Maybe I was a bit…hasty in telling Simon to leave Jeanette alone, she thought. Maybe they would have found a way to make up.

Maybe, maybe, maybe! You'll drive yourself crazy with maybes! Stop it! she told herself.

Eleanor finished getting dressed and walked out of the bathroom to the smells of cooking. She closed her eyes. Oh, home-cooked meals! Heavenly! Only Theodore could cook as well as she could, and probably better now. She smiled. At least one good thing will come out of living here. No dorm food!

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Theodore felt like an acrobat, mixing with one hand, testing with another, and pushing the refrigerator shut with his foot. He had made everyone's favorite breakfast foods, as he remembered them. He had a bad feeling at least two someones would awaken in really bad moods. He wanted to break that as best he could. Theodore worried about Brittany staying there. She really needs to go into rehab, he thought. I hope Eleanor knows what she's in for. As soon as he realized that Brittany was staying in the house, Theodore had poured out every drop of alcohol in the house. Poor Brittany! She really doesn't need more temptation. I really hope Eleanor is up to this challenge. But I think she is.

His green eyes glazed over at the thought of what an amazing woman Eleanor still was. Still as caring and feisty as ever. He had loved watching her stand up to his brother and her sister. I'm sure some of Brittany's arguments to Alvin originated with her, he thought. She's really as beautiful as she ever was. Theodore shook himself. Don't do that. You are not like your oldest brother. You don't date people who are involved with others. Eleanor has a boyfriend which puts her as off-limits…if past history didn't already do that.

Theodore sighed. How are we going to keep everyone from killing one another? He hated how his brothers behaved towards one another. I mean, they've always been more on the butting heads side, but never like this, he thought. He was glad that Eleanor seemed to have a good hold on Brittany's behavior, but he didn't like how Jeanette's sisters treated her. I wonder which is worse? To be treated as a non-entity like Brittany treats Jeanette or how Alvin and Simon treat each other? Well, at least with the latter way, both sides had a chance to defend themselves. Jeanette didn't know how to handle Brittany's behavior. And Eleanor wasn't much better. She kept blowing hot and cold Jeanette's way.

Jeanette and I, we really need to support each other. We only have each other, he thought, returning to his cooking.

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Brittany rubbed her hands over her eyes. Where am I this time? she thought. But then she realized there was no one sleeping beside her. She sat up quickly, and noticed the lack of a hangover, which surprised her. What the…oh, she thought. She remembered the events of the night before...especially how her sister bullied into the Seville house.

When did my baby sister get so scary? she wondered, shuddering. I can't believe how she talks to me! She felt angry, but deep down inside, a tiny part of her was glad. It showed that Eleanor still cared about her. Maybe I'm not so worthless after all, she thought.

And maybe Jeanette would show that caring too if you gave her half a chance, a ruthless voice said.

What? she thought.

Hey, I'm, like, your conscience. You're usually either too drunk or too hung-over to listen to anything I have to say, the voice told her.

Oh, Brittany thought, well, you can go away. You have nothing to say that I want to hear.

What-ever. You've only been reacting to me for about three years now, her conscience told her.

I have not! Brittany denied.

Oh really? Not even over the fact that your taking something you didn't really want just because you could sparked this entire mess? her conscience pointed out.

Brittany shook her head. You have no idea what you're talking about, so just go away.

Brittany jumped out of bed and ran into the bathroom. Anything, anything, to forget what that voice said. She groaned. I really need a drink, she thought. I wonder if I can sneak one under Eleanor's nose? But she knew that she couldn't. Her sister would know. Brittany didn't know how, but she knew Eleanor would know. Besides, she had a houseful of spies. And I'm damned if that arrogant jerk will see me weak! Her blue eyes shot fire, then sighed. Damn you, Eleanor, for dragging me into this! she yelled in her head, before slamming into the shower.

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Alvin stretched out on the bed. How did I get myself talked into this? he wondered. He shook his head. Eleanor really is a shrewd negotiator. In spite of his hatred of all three former Chipettes, he found himself admiring her. Somehow she is able to control that out-of-control sister of hers. Alvin ignored the voice deep inside that worried about Brittany Miller. He would rather have died than admit it, but he followed her press. He also sneaked information about her out of Dave. Alvin hated all of the men she slept with, every last one of them, almost as much as he hated Brittany. And why is that? an inner voice asked him. But Alvin shrugged that voice off.

Delicious smells wafted down from the kitchen. Hmm, Theodore must be cooking for everyone, he thought. Well, better not let it be wasted.

Alvin walked into the bathroom, and turned the shower on. He yelped as it came on cold. Damn it! We really need a system for this! he fumed. I was not looking forward to a cold shower this morning!

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Dave had not slept much the night before. Hospitals really weren't the best places for sleep anyway, and he had too much on his mind. He couldn't believe that somehow, Theodore had done it, had brought all six of them together into one room since their disastrous graduation party. And they'd behaved themselves! Granted, Dave had noticed the tension among all of them, but they had been polite to one another, mostly by ignoring one another. Dave was just so grateful that they had come to see him, especially Simon. He had seen Simon only once since Simon went to college, and that was during a week Dave had gone to visit him at Cornell. Dave had still been reeling from the reality of having all six children with him, trying to convince himself that it was reality…when the specialists came in.

I'm dying, he thought, trying it out. This shocked him even more, and felt even more unreal than his children being there. Insurance sucks, he thought. He had felt incredibly angry at how unfair everything was. He still had a lot of life in him. It's not fair!

And then the children had come in and offered their solution. Bless them! he thought. Dave was well aware of what a sacrifice this was for his children. He had watched them that last year they were forced into each other's company. He may not have known what happened, but he knew very well how hard this was going to be on them. But he was grateful they were even willing to try it. He hoped, though, that not only would it work, but that somehow, they would solve whatever problems were among them, and they would reconnect. Dave wanted his family back, but he wasn't willing to push them for any more than they were willing to give. I just hope they all come back to one another, he thought.

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Miss Miller hummed to herself as she got her breakfast together. She still lived in the same old house she had lived in for many years. I suppose I could have taken some of the children in with me, she thought. But she felt the same way Dave did, even more so, now that she knew what exactly had happened among them. Those children just need to start talking again. And this offers the perfect solution!

She approved of Eleanor's plan completely. It will be good for them to learn how to live together without parental supervision. She smiled. I wonder if Eleanor really believes her own motives. Miss Miller believed that deep inside of Eleanor, she wanted things reconciled as badly as Jeanette and Theodore did. And if she does, it's good as done, she thought. Besides, with the way poor Simon stares at Jeanette, it wouldn't surprise me if something happened there sooner rather than later!

Oh! I still need to tell David! she thought. Long ago, the two adults had agreed that if one ever found out what happened among the six, that they would tell the other. I'll just tell him when I go see him this afternoon, she thought. I also need to remember to find somewhere to book the Chipmunks and the Chipettes, and to tell someone the reason why they're getting back together. I wonder if David will have any ideas?

Miss Miller laughed. This will be great fun! And we'll be getting our musical family back! She was the most hopeful of them all, having no doubts in the world that her family would soon return to normal.