A/N - Since this is the Chipmunks, I will be using bits from songs. Don't hate me. Credit where credit is due. (Linkin Park's In The End. Not mine)

I've put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
For all this
There's only one thing you should know
I've put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
For all this
There's only one thing you should know

I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn't even matter

And the small crowd broke into applause. Some whistled and others tossed coins into Alvin's old cap. The three boys gave out high fives and knuckle bumps. They thanked the money throwers and the crowd slowly dwindled. Dave approached them as Simon was counting and systematically storing the money in separate pockets.

"Boys, that was really impressive."

"Thanks, sir." Theodore spoke up first. Simon nodded, not wanting to lose count.

"Of course." Alvin said haughtily. He never expected anything less than the best. Dave dug into his pocket to find one of his cards. He threw his change from dinner into Alvin's hat, which amounted to $2 and change. He decided to hand the card to Simon.

"When you boys get home, be sure to bring this to your parents." Simon took the card without really looking and Dave smiled and walked away. There was no way these boys would turn down an opportunity like that.

"What did he give you, Si?" Theodore asked when his brother was done counting. Simon rubbed at his sore eyes and finally took a good hard look at the card in his hand.

"The print is too small, I can't make it out." He handed the card too Theodore.

"Dave SeVille. Musician. JETT Records." He read slowly.

"What?!" Alvin shouted, making a few passersby jump and quickly scuttle away. "A musician for JETT Records?" He snatched the card from Theodores hands.

"Ow, Alvin." He whimpered, but Alvin didn't hear him. The only thing Alvin could hear was himself singing on stage, screaming fans, and the distinct sound of money: Chi-Ching!

"We have to catch up with that guy." He said insistently, pocketing the card and putting his hat back on.

"He left a card, Alvin, we have his phone number." Simon tried to explain, but a part of him knew it was useless. Simon followed Alvin as he raced through the crowd. He had a brotherly duty to be his voice of reason. Theodore followed Simon out of fear of being left behind. Theodore hated thunderstorms more than anything, and just his luck, it had begun to rain.

Dave settled down at home by his piano. He thought about how great it would be to get a phone call the next morning from the boy's parents. The boy's would be thrilled and the parents so proud. Dave started jotting down note after note. He had a head full of ideas and there was no way he was going to get to sleep tonight. Not to mention that it had started to thunder.

"Alvin, let's just go home." Simon asked of him.

"Simon, I'm cold." Theodore shuffled next to Simon absolutely drenched.

"I know, Theo." He said sympathetically.

"No, one of these has to be his." Alvin stated as they walked down the street peeking in windows from the sidewalk.

"Alvin..." Simon was almost ready to beg.

"Shhh, listen." Alvin through up a hand and turned his ear towards one of the houses. The rain dripped off the ends of his hair and the ends of his shirt. "I hear a piano."

It was almost midnight when Dave decided he should try to get a few hours of rest. He started to shut down his equipment when he heard what must have been his neighbors being a bit too loud.

"Thunder"

Lightning flashed as Dave turned off his office lights.

"Thunder"

The voices got louder.

"Thunder"

Dave headed towards the front of his house and looked out the peep hole. Thunder crashed.

"Thunder"

It was the three sidewalk singers from earlier that evening. 'How did they find me?' Dave wondered. 'And what are they doing here?'

I was caught
In the middle of a railroad track
I looked round
And I knew there was no turning back
My mind raced
And I thought what could I do
And I knew
There was no help, no help from you

Dave had opened the door. The boys faces lit up when they recognized him as the musician, but they didn't miss a single beat.

Sound of the drums
Beating in my heart
The thunder of guns
Tore me apart
You've been
Thunderstruck

"Wait wait wait. Stop." Dave shushed them quickly. Any more and his neighbors might start to question what all the noise was. The boys stopped and looked hopefully up at him. Alvin hoped that he had chosen the right song for him and his brothers. "What are you doing here? I gave you a card to bring to your parents so they could call me tomorrow."

"Well, we want to start as soon as possible." Simon said, almost as a question.

Theodore ran his hands over his light hair to try and prevent more rain from falling into his eyes.

"It's nearly midnight!" Dave exclaimed. "Go home." he was about to close the door on the three when he heard the shortest one speak.

"We don't have one." his small voice matched his small height. Dave wished he had been faster closing the door and had not heard that. He sighed, his conscience nagging him. There was a long silence in which the boys stared up at him with large brown eyes. Dave sighed again.

"Alright, get in here and dry off. I'll call someone for you." he said finally, knowing he was going to regret his final decision.