A/N: Okay everybody, here is the next chapter of Never Say Never! I think you'll be happy with it but what do I know? Please R&R!
Oh and Random Kat- CGI stands for computer generated imagery. Or at least that's what someone told me.
"Checkmate." Ben announced dully.
Alvin chuckled. "You got me Ben."
It had taken a couple days but Alvin and the kids finally had settled into their new house and invited Theodore and Eleanor over to dinner. Though, Theodore and Eleanor both insisted on cooking since Alvin had never cooked anything edible outside of the forest.
"Are you okay, Ben?" Rosie asked concerned.
"Yeah, it's just not the same anymore. It was much more fun playing Uncle Simon."
"He'll be back to visit soon." Eleanor said from where she was braiding Rosie's hair.
"Will he bring Miss Denise?" Rosie asked.
Alvin nodded. "Most likely. Why, did you not like her?"
"Quite the opposite, actually." Ben said. "She was a worthy opponent in scrabble. Although she did have an advantage since it was my first time playing."
Rosie smiled. "I don't know what Ben said but Miss Denise was really nice and funny."
Jamie shrugged. "I just don't see why she's with Uncle Simon."
"Why wouldn't she be with Simon?" Theodore asked.
"She's too good for him." Jamie explained.
Eleanor laughed. "Why's that?"
"She just is." He replied.
The phone began ringing and Alvin laughed when he saw who it was on the caller I.D "It's Si," He announced before he answered. "Hello, Seville residence, Alvin speaking. How may I help you?"
"Hey Al, it's me." Simon's voice said loudly, trying to block out the background music.
"Hey Si, we were just talking about you."
"She said yes." Alvin's older brother said barely a second after Alvin finished his sentence.
Alvin was silent for a moment. "What?" He finally asked, confused.
"Denise. I asked her to marry me earlier. She said yes."
A grin split across Alvin's face. "Congrats little brother, but what happened to proposing on Wednesday? It's only Tuesday last time I checked."
"I couldn't wait. I love her so much and I can't think of anyone else I'd rather spend the rest of my life with." Simon replied.
"That's great Simon. I'm really happy for you."
"Thanks Al, I better call Theodore and Ellie. Tell the kids I say hello."
"Actually, Theo and El are over here. I invited them over for dinner." Alvin told him.
"Can I talk to them?" His younger brother asked.
"The kids or Theo and El?" Alvin asked.
"Theodore and Ellie." Simon clarified.
Alvin shrugged forgetting his brother couldn't see him. "Okay here they are." He held out the phone to his brother and sister-in-law.
Eleanor immediately let go of Rosie's hair and snatched the phone out of his hand.
"Don't rip my hand off El." Alvin said.
The blonde waved him off as she listened to Simon. "Oh my gosh! Congratulations! I'm so happy for both of you."
"What's going on?" Rosie asked.
Alvin smiled. "Guess what Uncle Simon just asked Miss Denise?"
"Why she's dating him?" Jamie asked.
"No."
"Why he lacks serious skills when he comes to chess?" Ben asked.
Alvin shook his head. "Nope."
"Why the sky is blue?" Rosie asked.
"No."
"What color his underwear is?" Jamie took a random shot.
Alvin sighed. "No. Okay, stop guessing."
"What did he ask then?" Ben questioned halfheartedly.
"He asked her to marry him." Alvin told them. "And she said yes."
A grin spread across Rosie's face. "Yes!"
Jamie leaned towards his brother. "I bet Uncle Simon's rich."
Ben gave him a skeptic look. "Yes, and that's why he's marrying a woman who owns a book shop and lives in a small two bedroom apartment with her."
"Are you a stalker or something?" Jamie asked.
"No, unlike you I actually pay attention to our family when they tell us about their lives instead of plotting ways to break into apartment buildings." Ben replied.
"What did you three do?" Alvin demanded.
"Nothing." Both of the boys chorused.
Alvin gave them a skeptical look. "Benjamin, Jameson, Rosalinda, what did you do?"
"Nothing," Jamie repeated. "Don't you trust us Dad?"
"No." Their dad told them bluntly.
"We didn't do anything Dad." Rosie spoke up. "Let's face it. Jamie's too stupid to figure out to break into an apartment building and Ben's too smart to help him figure how to do it."
Alvin gave all three of his children another skeptical look and Eleanor held out the phone to him. "Simon wants to talk to you again."
Alvin took the phone. "Hello."
"Hey Al, I just wanted to let you know I'm going to be in L.A. this weekend."
"You just left Sunday. Do you miss me that much?" Alvin asked with a grin.
"Uh, no. We just found out that Tyler, my nephew, has to have this surgery next week and Denise wants to go and support her sister."
"Is everything okay?"
"All I know is that he has some genetic disorder from his birth parents. Lana was too much of a wreck to go into further details."
"Where are you?" Alvin asked, annoyed by the music in the background on the other line.
Simon sighed. "You don't want to know."
"Since you said that I want to know even more. So, where are you?"
It took a moment before Simon answered, "I'm standing outside a strip club."
Alvin's eyes widened in shock as a grin split across his face. "Are you kidding me?"
"It's a long story." His little brother tried to defend himself.
"Wait, did you go inside?"
It took a moment before Simon said, "Maybe,"
"Hold on one second, I don't want the kids to hear this." Alvin told his brother as he left the living room and into the kitchen. "Okay, so please explain why you're in a strip club."
"My friend Drew just broke up with his girlfriend and my other friend Nachos thought,"
"Wait," Alvin interrupted him, "you have a friend named Nachos."
"Yeah, his real name is really long and hard to pronounce so his family just called him Nachos. May I continue now?"
Alvin shrugged. "Sure,"
"Alright, so Nachos dragged us to the strip club because that's his solution to every problem and after ten minutes I managed to get out of there with the excuse that I needed to tell you guys about the engagement."
"Quick question, does your fiancée know that you're at a strip club?" Alvin asked, trying not to laugh.
"Yes, I was with her when my friends dragged me here against my will."
"And she's okay with it?" Alvin asked.
"She knows I hate going to these things and dread it."
"You do this often?"
"Unfortunately."
Alvin couldn't help but laugh. "Wow Si, I never thought you'd ever step foot in a strip club."
"Things change Al." Simon replied. "Listen, I got to go. Drew just told me that Nachos is about to be beat by a stripper that's off duty."
"You darn New Yorkers have all of the fun."
Simon laughed. "Trust me. I wish I didn't have to deal with this half the time. Love ya Al."
"Love you too Si." Alvin said before he hung up, allowing his brother to go rescue his friend from the stripper.
He walked back into the living room. "Alright kiddos, bedtime."
All three of the kids simultaneously groaned but said goodnight to Theodore and Eleanor before they went upstairs.
"I'll be up there in a second." Alvin called after them. He waited until his kids were out of earshot before turning to his brother and the Miller sisters. "Guess where Si is?"
"Where?" Theodore asked.
"A strip club."
Eleanor sighed. "Did Drew and Emily break up again or did Nachos just drag him there?"
"Drew and Emily, I think. Wait, you guys know about the strip clubs?"
Theodore shrugged. "Simon talks about his life in New York and his friends all the time. Ever since he left for New York they became his family. He spends Christmas with them, thanksgiving, and our birthday; in fact he only comes home once a year and that's for your memorial."
"Who knows, maybe he'll come home more often now that your home and he's marrying Denise." Eleanor said optimistically.
"He's coming this weekend. Denise's nephew is sick and needs some kind of surgery."
Eleanor's hand flew to her mouth. "The poor thing."
"Two visits in one year. New record," Theodore said halfheartedly.
Alvin looked at his youngest brother. "You're a real Debbie downer, you know that?"
"Wait, what happened?" Sandra asked in disbelief.
Brittany sighed. "I told you. These three kids came to my apartment trying to sell cookies or something and when I said no they asked if they could call their dad. I said yes and while the two boys were calling their dad the little girl sat down on the couch and started questioning me about Alvin. Then she told me that if you love someone you trust them with your life and you forgive them."
"So you're going to forgive him?" Sandra asked.
"I have no idea! I'm so confused! I want to forgive him but it's been hell for me these past years getting over him. I just don't know if I can go through that heartache again. I want him back so much though."
Sandra gave her a comforting smile. "I really think you need to listen to your heart and not your head. Don't think about what could happen if it ends. Think about how happy you'll be during it. And by your pictures I must say you won't find a better looking chipmunk."
Brittany shook her head. "I don't want to think about Alvin right now."
"Ok but one more thing, when I tell you to forgive Alvin, you ignore me. When a strange little girl tells you to forgive Alvin, you decide you just might forgive him. Tell me is there something wrong with this picture?"
"Sorry Sandra, but she was really wise like way beyond her years of knowledge kind of thing. But then she was also really creepy. I didn't even tell her my name but she knew it."
"Um, honey everyone knows your name. Your last single was number one on the charts for what, two weeks?"
"Three weeks." Brittany corrected.
Sandra rolled her eyes. "My mistake your majesty. But anyway,"
"Brittany," Sandra was cut off by Brittany's assistant Kathryn, "the people from the record company are here." She notified her from the doorway.
"Thanks Kathryn." Brittany said as she stood up. She looked herself over in the mirror one last time to make sure she looked presentable before she followed Kathryn out of the room, Sandra following behind them. "I really could use some of Stu's humor to cheer me up."
"Speaking of Stu," Kathryn began looking at Sandra, "how are things going with you two?"
"We're just friends." The stylist insisted.
"With benefits." Brittany added with a smirk.
A small smile appeared on Sandra's face. "Yeah, that too."
Brittany froze in her tracks causing her friends to look at her concerned. "Are you okay Britt?" Kathryn asked worriedly.
Brittany couldn't respond. She was too shocked. She saw Stu, an old friend of hers who worked at the record company she was currently signed to. Standing beside him though was none other than Alvin Seville. He was talking to Brittany's manager with that familiar smile on his lips. "I forgot how good he looks in a suit. No, snap out of it Brittany!"
"You alright Britt?" Sandra asked concerned.
"What is he doing here?" She hissed as she gestured to Alvin.
Kathryn looked at Alvin and smiled, completely clueless to why Brittany was so upset. "That's Alvin Seville. He's the new executive. He was in a band a long time ago and met Stu. They were going to work together years ago but then he went missing after some car accident. He just started."
"That's Alvin." Sandra said with a grin. "Wow Britt, your ex is even cuter in person."
"Shut up." Brittany snapped. She looked up and saw Alvin looking at her. "Oh crap."
"Brittany!" Her manager called beckoning her over.
She forced a smile as she walked over to the three men with her friends.
"Brittany you know Stu and this is Alvin Seville. Alvin, this is our star Brittany Miller."
"Hey Stu, good to see you again." She greeted Stu with a friendly smile. "Mr. Seville, it's a pleasure to see you again."
"Miss Miller," Alvin greeted his voice surprisingly cold.
Brittany's manager looked between the two of them. "Do you know each other?"
"A long time ago." Alvin replied briskly.
"George, why don't you show me what's going on with that girl band you haven't shut up about lately and we'll let these two catch up."
The manager nodded. "Of course. Follow me."
George left with Stu trailing close behind.
"Kathryn, I think we better go." Brittany spoke up after a couple moments of silence. "Are you coming Sandra?"
Sandra shook her head. "Nah, I'm fine. Besides we can't leave Al all alone."
"Yes we can." Brittany insisted.
"Go on without me. I'll catch up with ya later." Sandra said.
Brittany glanced between her amused ex and her smirking best friend before she turned around and quickly stormed off. Kathryn hurried behind her.
Alvin watched her storm off sadly.
"You still love her."
He turned to see Brittany's friend smirking at him. "Of course I do."
"Then why don't you tell her?"
"I'm trying to but she won't listen."
"Try harder! She's as stubborn as hell but you can get through to her if you try hard enough."
Alvin rolled his eyes. "I don't even know you."
"Sandra, Sandra Robertson. I'm Brittany's stylist."
"Alvin Seville. I'm Brittany's ex-boyfriend."
She nodded. "Oh I know. Brittany hasn't shut up about you lately. 'Do I forgive him or do I ignore him? Help me Sandra!' It's getting annoying so just ask her out already so we can move on with our lives."
"I wish it were that simple." He said with a sigh.
They stood in silence until Sandra spoke up, "I can help you if you'd like."
He gave her a skeptical look. "How?"
She pulled out her cell phone. "Let me make one quick phone call."
Sandra began walking in the direction Brittany left until she stopped and turned back to Alvin. "Are you coming?"
He nodded before he quickly followed her.
"I can't believe he's here." Brittany exclaimed as she collapsed on the couch in her dressing room.
"It's not that big of a deal Britt." Kathryn told her. "I just don't see why you can't," She was cut off by her phone ringing.
Brittany watched her answer the phone and talk for a minute before turning back to Brittany. "Sorry, George needs me. I'll be right back, I promise."
"Go ahead, leave me. Just like everyone else has." Brittany said dramatically as she gestured to the door.
Kathryn rolled her eyes. "You are such a drama queen. When your contract's up you should go into acting."
"I'll consider it." Brittany told her.
Brittany watched her assistant leave the room as she laid back on her couch and closed her eyes, hoping to get some sleep before she had to deal with Alvin again.
The lights suddenly turned off causing Brittany to sit up.
"What the," She heard a familiar voice exclaim as its owner fell on the floor. Her dressing room door slammed shut.
"Who's there?" She demanded.
"Britt?" The voice asked groggily.
"Alvin?" She asked in disbelief.
"The one and only currently in this building." He replied.
Her eyes widened. "What are you doing in here?"
"I have no idea. Your stylist turned off the lights and shoved me in here. Hold on one second,"
The lights were turned on and Brittany saw Alvin standing by the light switch. "Thanks Al."
"No problem." He replied.
They stood in silence before Brittany spoke up, "You can go now."
He shook his head. "Can't we're locked in."
"How do you know?"
"I already tried to open the door." He told her.
"Oh," She said simply before they fell into silence once more.
"Why won't you listen to what I have to say?" Alvin finally asked
"Because nothing you have to say is something I want to hear." She snapped.
"I didn't kiss her Britt."
She rolled her eyes. "There's something we haven't heard before."
He sighed in frustration. "Why on earth would I kiss her? I loved you Brittany, I still do."
"You don't even know me Alvin."
"I don't know you?" Alvin asked in disbelief. "How can you say that I don't know you?"
"People change Alvin. I know I have." She retorted bitterly.
He shook his head in disbelief. "No, I don't believe you have. I still think you're the same Brittany I loved and still love. The same chipette who isn't afraid to speak her mind, who is as stubborn as hell, and who is the most beautiful chipette I have ever met."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't waste your time sucking up Alvin. What you did was unforgivable."
"I didn't kiss her Britt." Alvin exclaimed.
"Why should I believe you didn't kiss her? Why should I believe you love me instead of her? Why should I believe any of this crap you've been saying? Why, why should I?" She asked.
"If I didn't love you then why was I planning on proposing to you the night of my accident?" he yelled.
Brittany froze. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Alvin was going to propose? "You were going to what?"
He sighed. "I loved you Brittany, I still do. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. After the accident I spent six years constantly thinking about you. I missed you so much Britt it hurt. And then,"
"Shut up Seville."
He looked at her confused. "What?"
"Stop talking, I believe you." She said quietly.
A smile across his face. "Really?"
She nodded. "I might regret this later but yeah, I believe you."
"I got it!"
Brittany stepped back right before the front door opened to reveal Alvin. "You're here."
"You sound relieved." She replied with a grin.
He chuckled. "I will admit that I was getting worried you wouldn't show up for our sort of date."
"I wouldn't do that to you Al. Besides, I'm looking forward to meeting your kids." Brittany said. "May I come in?"
"Of course. I hope you're hungry because tonight we will be dining on dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets with curly fries."
Brittany smiled as he took her coat. "Sounds delicious." She walked into the house while Alvin hung up her coat. "Where are the kids?"
"I don't know about my brothers but I'm right here."
Brittany turned to see a little chipette. She instantly recognized her as the little chipette who gave her the advice. "Posie,"
A grin spread across the chipette's face. "You must be mistaken Miss Brittany, my name's Rosie."
