It was a calm, quiet night in L.A. The city slept soundly. Well, save one famously adorable chipmunk. Theodore was having a nightmare. And not just any nightmare, but the worst one he'd had yet.

In it, Noah, Theodore's new step-brother had figured out a way to raise his family from the dead. After completing the spell, Noah looked behind him at his brothers.

"See ya, suckers!" He sneered.

Theodore grabbed Noah's arm. "Please, Noah, don't leave. We're your family, aren't we? Please stay!" Theodore begged, tears in his eyes.

Noah shoved Theodore back. "Screw you guys! I've got my real family now." He snapped, vanishing in a blinding green flash.

Theodore woke up with a shout. Surprisingly, Alvin, Austin, and Simon stayed asleep. But unknown to Theodore, Noah, a light sleeper by nature, opened one eye. "Wassat? Wass goin' on?" He mumbled. The sound of crying reached the Irishmunk's ears. Sitting up, he noticed Theodore hugging his knees, tears flowing like twin rivers. Looking at Theodore's current state, a feeling grew inside Noah, a feeling he hadn't felt since before the forest fire that took his family away: brotherly love and concern.

Noah got up and walked over to Theodore's bed. "Theodore, what's the matter? Bad dream?" He inquired

"Uh-huh." Theodore whimpered. Noah sat down on the foot of the bed. "What about?" He asked.

"Promise not to laugh?"

Noah looked at his brother. "Cross my heart, little guy, for your honest older brother am I." Noah promised, tracing a cross over his heart.

Sighing, Theodore told Noah about the nightmare. When Theodore finished recounting the horrid illusion, he burst into tears again. Noah, wrapped his arms around Theodore and pulled him into a comforting hug.

"Theodore, when I came here to live with you, I promised myself that I'd never abandon you, Simon, Austin, Dave, or even Alvin! I love you guys very much." Noah said.

Theodore looked up at Noah. "You do?" He asked.

Noah ruffled Theodore's head fur. "I do, little bro. Even if I could resurrect my family, which is impossible because no amount of sorcery can raise the dead, I wouldn't. I have the perfect family already. You and the rest of the family are my entire world. Now, try and go back to sleep." Noah yawned. He started to get up, but something held him back. Turning, Noah saw Theodore clinging to Noah's nightshirt, his green eyes pleading.

Noah smiled. "Still frightened, huh, Theo?" He questioned. Theodore nodded. Noah smiled as he got into Theodore's bed. "Just go to sleep, kiddo. I'll be right here." He said. Theodore smiled as he snuggled up against Noah's taller frame. "I love you, Noah." He said, drifting off to sleep.

"Love you too, Theo. sweet dreams." Noah replied, draping his arm protectively around his brother. As sleep overcame the Irshmunk, he took one last look at his sleeping brother.

"Right here, Theodore. Always."