Hi everyone! A little quicker on the update this time (yay!) but I'm concerned that the Block may come to haunt me as I'm starting to feel it. That aside, I do have plenty of ideas for later chapters, again it's just a matter of speed. Anyway, here's the 8th chapter. Please tell me what you think and hope you enjoy!

P.S - I own nothing, except for the plot :)


It's not out of the ordinary for Alvin Seville to be confused; it never really has been. He just masks it well. It's hidden under his ego, along with a plethora of other 'negative' traits and feelings. Normally he does well to conceal his ulterior motives, as well as his true emotions, but today was proving to be difficult. Wednesday afternoon – shopping in the supermarket with Brittany.

It should have been alright. Things were going smoothly, you see.

"Britt, look at this– twelve cans of soda, twenty-five percent off... and you get two extra in the pack!" He held up the large package of cold beverages, showing them to his flustered wife, who in turn shook her head. Deflated, the red-clad chipmunk pouted, making sure his bottom lip was trembling in character. "B-but why? It's a good deal! Come on, you can't resist a good bargain!"

The strawberry blonde chipette merely sighed and continued to push the full trolley down the busy aisles, followed by a grumbling chipmunk. People passing by would surely glance worriedly at the grown man who hasn't quite matured.

It was a casual routine for the pair. Alvin would beg for sugary snacks to fill the trolley. Brittany would self indulge and buy beauty products.

"Another hairbrush?" Alvin lifted the object out of the trolley, exasperated. "How many of these do you already own?"

"It's essential, Alvin." She took the brush from her husband's grasp and placed it back in amongst a couple of cans of hairspray and bottles of shampoo.

"Essential for what? You just bought one yesterday," the chipmunk looked down at the miniature collection of products his wife had decided on purchasing.

"I've told you before Alvin," she continued strolling down the aisle again, rolling her eyes. "A potential model must have a sizeable collection of these things. They can't expect me to walk in with no knowledge on how to make myself look beautiful, now can they?"

The male merely sighed, and allowed himself to wince at hearing about his counterpart's ambitions. He knew she really wanted this, with all her heart... but sometimes he wondered if her heart was truly in the right place. Instead of showing his mild, constant disappointment, jealousy... whatever it was, he readjusted his cap and sauntered alongside Brittany, and plastered a smile onto his face.

"Yeah, they might expect that from other models, but not you. You're pretty damn fine anyway. You'll blow the others out of the water, trust me."

The chipette made a noise of uncertainty and furrowed her brow. "If that was an attempt at a compliment, thanks... but I think I know what I'm doing, trust me."

Alvin let a soft laugh escape his lips. "Well, trust me Britt - my lungs would sincerely thank you if you cut down on the hairspray."

She stopped. "What's that supposed to mean?" A hint of venom laced her voice, the tiniest glimmer of a threat in her eyes, yet the playful demeanour she possessed was still present.

"N-nothing." Alvin gulped. "Let's just... keep shopping, shall we?"

Both continued in silence, trekking up and down the boring supermarket, filling the trolley with various items that they would eventually need over the course of the week. Eventually, they wheeled the cart into the 'family planning' section of the supermarket, making Alvin awaken from his pouting daydream.

Whilst the pink-clad chipette hurriedly pushed the trolley down the aisle she considered they wouldn't exactly need, Alvin slowed his pace, and looked at the many shelves of items couples use to prevent conceiving a child. He also spotted pregnancy tests, making him wonder.

Surely if you're not conceiving, you shouldn't need a pregnancy test?

Rather convenient that the next aisle was filled to the brim with baby essentials.

"Alvin!" Brittany hissed, getting embarrassed at her husband standing in the middle of the "condom aisle". "Hurry up! We don't have all day!"

With a start, the chipmunk hastily grabbed a couple of packages and rushed back to Brittany, throwing the items in the trolley.

"What did you get?" The chipette asked, moving onto the next aisle, a hint of pink dusting her cheeks.

"Well what do you think?" Alvin replied, as though it were plainly obvious.

"Oh... okay." She resorted to silence as they went down said baby aisle, the redhead completely oblivious to the gears turning in her red-clad husband's head as he looked in admiration at the plastic potties and baby baths.

Then he saw the price tags to go along with these items.

"Say, Brittany..." He cleared his throat before continuing. "Don't you realise how much money we're spending on your beauty essentials?"

"What of it?" She asked, eyes fixed ahead.

"Well, could you imagine the money we could save if we... for instance... cut down on the spending?" He nervously lingered over his point, awaiting the instant fierce pounce of her reply.

"I still don't understand."

"Mmmph Mmph Mmph Mmmph." He was muttering again.

"What?"

"I think we should invest our money elsewhere."

"Excuse me? We? It's my money, and I'll spend it on what I like!"

"I thought we were a team! What's yours is mine!"

"No, we're not having this discussion Alvin. Drop it. We're finished in here anyway."

Alvin didn't even realise they'd left the baby aisle, and before he knew it, both were at the checkout paying for this week's groceries, and loading them into the boot of their car.

That left room for an uncomfortable car ride home.

The silence was so thick, you could cut it with a knife...


Brittany was used to days like these. Alvin would say something out of place, she'd react loudly, and both would end up arguing until the cows came home, the end result always being a fragile silence with sheepish apologies. She couldn't question her love for him – she knew she loved him regardless of anything. She just wished that the love they shared would be constant, never fraying at the ends on a bad day like today. One day it's bound to be ripped to shreds... through no fault of her own of course. She shrugged it off and grabbed her cup of coffee, heading for the living room. They truly were a married couple, bickering just like they should. That's all.

Taking a sip of her hot, milky coffee, she opened the door wider, only to nearly spill the entire drink on the floor when she drank in the sight before her. On the sofa, sat Alvin gazing intently at the television screen of which currently displayed images of clothing for babies. The shopping channel.

"Oh, hi Britt, did you make me a coffee?" He turned around to smile at her, almost as though the events of earlier today didn't transpire. Astounded, the chipette walked further into the room and gathered her thoughts together. Why was he watching this?

"Alvin... why are you watching the shopping channel? Didn't you tell me earlier to be a little more careful with our budget?" She took a seat on the sofa next to him and rested her mug between her hands.

"Oh relax Britt! There was nothing else on, so I guess I ended up watching this... whatever it is." He made a calming gesture and fished for the television remote, holding it up proudly. "You can change the channel if you really don't wanna watch it. I wasn't that into it anyway"

Something in the back of the chipette's mind said otherwise. He looked so keen... so engrossed with the screen just there. Alarm bells rang furiously in her head. What if he was thinking about- no! He wouldn't. He doesn't seem the type... Feeling a sweat coming on, she took the remote from his hands.

"I want to watch America's Next Top Model. I missed last night's episode." She turned to face the television and changed the channel, hoping that Alvin wouldn't detect her unease. That considered – he's less dense than water.

"Better than the shopping channel I suppose." He feigned a laugh. "Pretending that babies are wonderful things and that you should shower 'em with gifts. All they do is cry!" The knowledge that the chipmunk didn't appear to be in love with the idea of having kids caused a small sliver of relief to creep onto her face, and contentedly she replied.

"Yeah." Her 'mutual' disinterest in children sparked a flame of disappointment in Alvin. He didn't know why – he knew she wasn't planning on babies anyway, he just hoped that somehow he could win her over so that it's not as bad when she finds out the glorious news. That is, of course, when they – he – attempts to get her pregnant again.

"Yeah." He forced a smile one last time before exhaling and settling down for another episode of that god-forsaken programme, the opening theme already giving him a headache.


I was going to add an extra event (a shocking dramatic plot catalyst) into this chapter but I think it'll be better left as a chapter on its own. Can I just say THANK YOU SO MUCH to the people who are reviewing this - you're giving me the motivation to continue writing through my little slump at the moment and to those who haven't - please review! You have no idea how much your review will mean to me!

Peace, love, and COOKIES! ~ MissSteph22 x :)