Hello! Thank you for reading and reviewing the previous chapter. I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you will enjoy this one.

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

They say that a picture can hold a thousand memories. A picture can capture one moment in life and freeze it forever, should one need to go back to remind themselves of that time. A smile, for instance, if photographed, will always glisten for the world to see. It doesn't matter what became of that smile, for at that one particular moment, it was there. The smile theoretically speaking should be the memory, and not what happened next, but sometimes it can be hard not to attach other moments to one picture.

Brittany knew they kept too many photos in their house – vanity merely allowed the pair to keep collecting them. After all, why would it be a bad thing to look at a good picture of yourself? Dozens of frames were neatly displayed on the mantelpiece for all to see – from concerts to vacations. Everything was captured. Sighing, the chipette stared at them, running her fingers along the cold edges. Life was simple back then, she mused, letting a sad smile grace her lips as she saw a picture of everybody in their younger years, laughing in the backyard of Dave's old house. No worries, no stress. They had the freedom to live life to its fullest potential, whilst having the time of their lives. Whatever happened?

Her heart wrenched as the answer to her question came to mind, and her gaze shifted to a picture of herself, her sisters, and Miss Miller embracing in one giant hug. Like a perfect family. Her brow furrowed, as she noticed a slight grimace on her own face. Large displays of affection like what she saw in the photograph was something she never truly took a shine to. Must have been having a bad day when they took the photo. Although she appeared to be shrinking away from her old guardian's hug, like an embarrassed youngster, the elderly woman still smiled the biggest grin, eyes gleaming with love for her girls. Strange. This photo had always been on the mantelpiece, and yet, it felt like she was only just discovering it. Clearly, she had taken it for granted, just as she never anticipated that fateful accident…

Suppressing tears, she averted her eyes to a particularly large photo of Alvin, standing on stage, belting out a song into the microphone. Just then, she wanted to smack it onto the floor. The strawberry-blonde was seething with rage. Before the accident, they had a concert; Alvin naturally wanted to hog the limelight. He revelled in it – the applause, the screaming fans. Nothing seemed to satisfy him more than attention. She vaguely recalled arguing with him on the day of the concert, adamant that she should also have a solo. But no dice. After that, it got a little hazy. Brittany could remember, albeit not very clearly, insulting the chipmunk that night. As always, a lot of names were thrown at each other. It must have gotten to him though, as only a couple of days later, she discovered that wretched banana peel.

His way of getting payback, quite frankly, was pathetic.

With a low growl in her throat, the chipette quickly pushed the photo down face first against the mantelpiece, getting him out of sight. There was no way she could possibly forgive him for that. The memory is always there – the thought of it all never goes away, despite her attempt at moving on. It's an imprint on her mind, a curse. Her head was beginning to pound as the horrific scenes played out again. It was like a movie reel, continuously showcasing her failures. Glaring at her now was a photograph taken in Australia. It was one of her shoots as she tried to make it into the modelling industry. Sprawled across a velvet sofa in some dingy studio, Brittany was flashing her pearly whites, hair tumbling down her back. Only now, did she realise how hollow she appeared. Back then, she thought that it was the best picture that had ever been taken of her – she always made sure to show it off – but seeing it again… It was like staring at a mannequin, directly through the empty eyes and into the void. Wears a smile, but nothing's there. The chipette had gone from photographer to photographer, applying wherever she could for a chance at modelling. She thought it was making her happy, pursuing her dream. How can it, when her smiles were so blank? She couldn't possibly have had the heart required of her. Suddenly, looking at her own image didn't feel quite as comfortable.

Finally, as she dejectedly tore her gaze away from the collection on the mantelpiece, her attention was brought to the largest photograph of them all. It was hanging proudly on the wall, always there – always the first sight upon entering the room. The wedding photo. She had seen this countless times – the dazzling gown, the soft lights surrounding the pair, the twinkle of life in their eyes. Her heart thumped. After moving to Australia, she was supposed to have moved on. Her life had taken a sudden turn and all she wanted was to get past it – find a new way of living. All she needed to do was secure a new career, and make something of herself in a new country. But looking back, it seemed that all she was doing was running from the past. Running from company to company, avoiding the reality that was weighing her down. By not accepting what he did, it did her more harm than good.

And then he came back.

Oh she couldn't help it. He had an annoying charm about him; he was so convincing when he told his story. Alvin came to Australia, on what appeared to be a whim, and swept her off her feet. At least, this was the case in the condensed version. She cannot forget those confrontations she had with him, and whenever she thought about his visit in more lengthy detail, she remembered his tears. The first time – she was sure – that Alvin had cried over something he was genuinely upset about. And gradually after that, she fell into the bewitching realms of romance. There was just something about him, and Brittany could not ignore it. No amount of denial would be enough to deter her from the chipmunk. Perhaps it truly was meant to be. After all, she married him. She loved him.

She almost trusted him again.

Now here she stands, in the midst of another betrayal, her trust in Alvin once again broken. Brittany never did forgive him for that accident. Who knows how long this could take to heal? She had more than enough reason not to trust him, but for the chipette it just wasn't enough to wait around like this, unsure of where they were heading. Space was what she needed, but was she really using it wisely? In the time they had spent apart, a job had been offered to her. Naturally she was going to seize that opportunity with both hands, but now as haunting memories of her days in Sydney swirled around in her mind, she could only wonder what for. From any perspective, it would look as though she was making something good of herself – building a fresh start. But on what? What exactly was she building on? It has already been made clear to her that she was running from her crazy past, so how – how – can she claim to be starting anew when wounds are still open? These shaking foundations weren't going to support her much longer. She had to do something.

Fastening the buttons of her light pink jacket, she tried to do what she always did. Go somewhere else. A walk around town could just the cure. Blinking back tears, and trying to disregard her fears, she left the house.

The photographs were displaying vivid truths, and she knew it too well.

There was still light outside – night had not yet cast its blanket over the city. Many people were also walking, going about their daily business. The wispy clouds were blending into the blue sky, but sunshine forewent its blessing today. A cold sky over a bustling city. Trees whispered with the wind, lamenting for the withered souls passing beneath them. The suburban area was always a little more subdued than the chaos of the streets downtown. Despite the chill of the air, Brittany saw children playing in the street, laughing carelessly and haphazardly running down the pathways. She continued to walk, but the image of their happy faces remained. That used to be her.

The chipette couldn't help but scowl at the wind blowing her hair out of its style, stray strands flying. The wind was also heading straight into her eyes, making them water as a bitter sensation struck her. For it being summer, this was unusual weather. She was thankful that she had chosen the waterproof mascara.

The further she walked, the more her thoughts compressed themselves into a tight little box in her mind; out of sight, out of mind. She had a new career now, and that was what she wanted to focus her energy on. Not some little punk who calls himself a 'grown-up' and all of his mistakes. Despite this, Brittany still wondered how he was spending his time. Her cell phone's inbox was relatively empty, aside from a brief message from Eleanor telling her everything was fine, and that Theodore had been discharged from hospital. Hearing this had allayed her wracked nerves a little. She didn't want to think that things could get worse than they already have – she didn't want her sisters above anybody to go through anything traumatic again.

As another corner was turned, Brittany couldn't help but notice a street sign. It stole her attention, forcing her to stare perceptively. The name… she had seen it before. Her jaw clenched as she tried to decipher which place in her foggy memory it belonged. And then it clicked. Gasping, her head turned to look down the row of houses, and her eyes instinctively stopped at a particular building. There it was, still standing proud, was the place she once called home.

Hesitantly – almost reluctantly – she edged towards it. Her head said no, for it was in the past now, and was where it should always belong. But the daring curiosity in her heart told her to visit once more. It was painted the same colour, and despite it chipping slightly, it looked eerily the same as it did all those years ago. The fence somehow managed to detach the house from reality, making it an untouchable utopia. The chipette found her hand reaching out towards it, yearning to be there. Although the majority of her life had not been spent here, it still held the warmest memories. The only catch, was that it was no longer the Miller residence. Her arm dropped as the thought of Miss Miller disconcerted her. This place belonged to someone else now; the house stored new memories. Through her eyes, Brittany could almost still see her sisters running around in the garden, gesturing for her to come over. Their loving guardian would watch from the kitchen window as she washed the dishes. It hurt immensely. All that that was gone now. They moved on.

The chipette was overwhelmed to think that whilst the house had undergone very little changes, she and her sisters had been forced through many. From the news of Miss Miller's passing, to the struggle of adolescence. Not to mention love… Perhaps it was chance, Brittany thought, that Jeanette and Eleanor would end up reunited with their counterparts, just as she had. Surely they went through the same thought process as she? Could the past really be that easy to forget? Of course, neither of the two were in love with the perpetrator. They too had lives before meeting the Chipmunks again, so how were they ever able to move on? One complex web of past, present, and future, and it felt like she was caught in the middle of it with Alvin.

Just what would it take to detangle it all, and free herself?

She was about to walk away, until suddenly the front door opened. Frozen in her place, struck with panic, she saw an elderly man step out of the house. Spectacles were perched on the end of his nose, wispy tufts of grey atop his freckled head. She was ready to turn back and avoid being seen, but the man looked across the yard at Brittany and waved.

"Hello there dear, lovely day isn't it?" His voice was full of merriment yet frail. She inwardly groaned, but nonetheless waved back. Chuckling, he continued. "Couldn't help but notice you admiring the house. It's quite a place, isn't it?"

"Y-yes," she said, making sure her words were loud enough, but wishing she didn't have to say anything instead. With a smile on his face, the bespectacled man supported himself down the porch steps and approached the gate, where the chipette was standing.

"I was very lucky to get the house, actually. My wife and I moved in about twelve years ago. Just on the market. We thought it was beautiful, and it was perfect for our retirement."

Twelve years. Brittany was pretty sure that was the exact moment they moved out. With a feigned smile, she replied.

"I'll bet it's the best house you've ever owned." It wasn't an assumption. It was fact. Just seeing it again brought a mixture of happy memories. In fact, those very words struggled to escape her lips. She had to fight the tears. However, the man hummed in response, stroking his chin.

"It's certainly better than most places I've lived in my life. But there's something about this house I can't for the life of me shake. You see, when Betty and I moved in, there was a letter. It wasn't for us though. It was addressed to a group of girls. For the twelve years we've lived here, we often wonder if those girls will ever appear on our doorstep looking for that letter. Maybe they don't know."

"A…a letter?" Brittany's eyes widened, heart skipping a beat. She paled slightly. A group of girls… that could only be-

"A letter indeed. I think it's from the former resident, but I don't know. I always wished that I could give that letter away for the sake of living peacefully, but I've kept it here in the slight chance that one day the girls come looking for it."

Stunned, the strawberry-blonde stared at the man, processing his words. Surely this wasn't real? She was dreaming, right? This only ever happens in dreams. A letter? Her head was swimming, but desperate to seek the truth, she blurted out:

"I used to live here!" Slapping a hand over her mouth, she reddened. The elderly man raised his eyebrows. After a moment's recovery, she tried again. "I'm sorry. It's just that… I used to live here twelve years ago with my sisters. W-we were just kids, a-and I didn't mean to intrude, o-or even come back… Is there really a letter for us?"

"Goodness gracious," the man exclaimed, shock spreading across his wrinkled features. "You mean to say you didn't know? Say, what's your name?"

Feeling like this situation was slipping further away from reality, Brittany played along and told him her name – she made sure to call herself Brittany Miller. She was promptly told to wait as the man retreated into the house, and quickly returned, envelope in hand.

"I never thought this moment would come," he breathed, just as surprised as she was. "Well young lady, here you go. This is for you. You said you didn't intend to come here today, but well, something obviously brought you here."

He winked, and gave her the envelope. Mouth agape, she took the envelope, and stared at the writing. To my girls, it said. It was a little bizarre that something like this could happen – maybe the elderly man was just desperate to get rid of the envelope, and so would readily give it away to anyone claiming it. She didn't care. This was truly a letter for her. Looking up, she thanked the man, and watched as he went back indoors. A small moment passed with the envelope sitting in her hands. The wind picked up in speed as the sky progressively got darker. She wasn't afraid to open it, just anxious. Her sisters really should have been there with her to read it, but dismissing the thought with a simple they could read it later, she tore it open and started to read.

Girls,

I'm cooped up here at home with a nurse watching my every move. Luckily my little fall hasn't left me completely incapable, so I'm going to write this letter to you whilst I still can.

You may be well aware that I'm getting older, and I don't have much longer. This accident has made me realise that I need to let you grow up now, and be the mature young ladies I know you can be. I won't be here forever, and right now I don't know where you are. I hope you're at David's – I would like for you to read this as soon as possible – but nobody will tell me so no matter what the outcome is of this, I would like you to know this: I will always love you. You mean the world to me, and wherever the world takes you, I hope that you know that. I tried my best to provide the best upbringing for you that I could, and even though we may have had our little moments, I still loved you no matter what. Yes, that includes you too Brittany.

In the eventuality that I must leave you girls behind because of this, please don't despair. I wouldn't like to think that you shall spend the rest of your lives dwelling on this. Just remember the good times we shared. I know it will be hard, but with the boys and David there to support you, I'm sure you will be fine. Always remember what I taught you, and always hold your head up high, even in dark times. Show compassion, trust your heart, and don't be afraid to move on. It's what I want you to do as your parent. You'll understand this one day when you become parents too. You will learn to love, and forgive others for their mistakes. I know you will make me very proud when you grow up, even if I cannot be there.

Keep smiling through, and should any worries come to mind, read this letter again to reassure yourself that everything will be alright.

With all the love in my heart, Miss Miller.

The pink-clad chipette couldn't see her guardian's signature, as a solitary tear splashed onto the paper and smudged the ink. And then another, until eventually Brittany realised she was crying.

This was authentic – it was real. Brittany had much to take from these words, and she couldn't be more thankful for this beam of light in her world of shadows. Finally, advice that she could wholeheartedly accept.

She may be gone, and the chipette may be sorely missing her, but she was certainly going to make Miss Miller proud.

This was heartbreaking to write. I hope you can see why. I wanted to make this a poignant chapter in the story (in other words, one of the most important ones) but yeah, hope you liked it. Feel free to tell me what you thought :)

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