A/N: Thank you to all who read the last chapter and story all together. Can't believe we are almost to Chapter 30, 30 Chapters! Good Heavens, I never thought that would happen. Anyway, here is Chapter 29. As usual, All rights go to their respective owners. Without further adu, let's go shall we?

Chapter 29: The Last Straw

The family had gathered around in the living room as Dave sat down in a chair trying the best way he could to explain what had happened, and how it happened. Dave put his hands over his mouth as he continued to gather his thoughts which was really starting to build the Chipmunks' suspence.

"Come on Dave. What's wrong?" Alvin broke the silence as the quiet was eating him inside. Dave quickly recovered his thoughts and looked to his kids...and started.

"Guys...I don't know how to tell you guys this, but..." Dave began which caused all the kids to lean in slightly to hear in. "...the money that we were promised for Theodore's song, we didn't get." Dave told them, the gasps from all of them told their feelings. It's like everything they heard now regarding Theodore was bad news, and now this was like a punch to the stomach.

"But...what happened to it Dave?" Eleanor cried out in worry to Dave.

"That's the thing Eleanor. Ian made that story up. He was trying to take all of you back from home and used that story as a set up...but you all were grounded. Well...you five were." Dave reminding them of what happened, not that they needed reminding of course. They were well aware of what happened; it felt like yesterday when Theodore left the first time. But now knowing that Ian had planned to take soon made them come to the conclusion.

"So Ian got just Theodore." Simon concluded to Dave.

"Unfortunetly." Agreed Dave shortly after Simon's responce.

The Chipmunks and Chipettes started gathering their thoughts too at the matter at hands. While the kids looked all remorsefull at their thoughts, Brittany thought about the positive of the situation.

"You know, in a way, it's actually fortunate for us." Brittany stated aloud. Though one of them didn't see what was so positive about that little remark.

"What's that supposed to mean Brittany?" The red clad chipmunk turned to Brittany to ask as he walked up to her. Brittany though held her ground not expecting anything crazy.

"Well think about it, if we weren't grounded, we all would be with that smelly Ian. We're all pretty lucky." Brittany told them, but centered more towards Alvin who asked why. But Alvin didn't seem to share Brittany's acessment of the situation. In fact, he felt offended by her statement.

"Lucky? You think we're lucky? Theodore doesn't seem so lucky Brittany!" Pointing, accusing Brittany as Alvin ranted on. But Brittany pushed Alvin's hand off of her chest and gave Alvin the same treatment putting a finger in Alvin's face, as the others gathered around fearing the worst was about to happen. Dave wanted to calm them down, but all their emotions were ramped that nothing was going to settle them down as the two continue to go at each other.

"What makes you even think I was talking about Theodore Alvin?" Brittany pointing Alvin's nose, which Alvin did the same gesture to her that she did to him.

"Uh hello?" Alvin yelled with his arms flailed. "That's what this whole conversation has been about Britt. Trying to find a way to get Theodore ba..." But Alvin was stopped by Brittany again, but what she said set everyone back.

"Maybe I don't want Theodore back!" Brittany openly admitted.

"Brittany!" Jeanette and Eleanor yelled to her in unison, as everyone else was also taken a back. Brittany looked around at everyone's reaction, but she always said what she believed.

"I'm sorry guys, but I don't believe that Ian "brainwashed" Theodore like you say he did. He's gotten caught up in his success." Brittany told all of them with her arms crossed.

"Enough Brittany!" Alvin hollared to his friend which kinda startled Brittany's siblings. "I'm tired of you blaming Theodore for everything. Ian was trying to get all of us, he got Theodore. Put two and two together." Showing it visually putting two fingers on each paw together to make four.

"Did Theodore tell us even once that Ian treated him badly?" Confronted Brittany to Alvin and everyone else. Simon was quick to jump to Theodore's defense on that.

"Brittany, you're not looking at this in a bigger picture." Simon defended which snapped over her head to him. "Of course Ian's going to treat Theodore nice, he's all Ian has. If Ian lost Theodore, he loses everything."

"Yeah Brittany." Alvin agreeing with Simon gesturing back to Simon at the same time. But Brittany was quick to point something out herself.

"And Theodore wouldn't know that?" Brittany pointed, which stopped them all, it did make them ponder that for second. "All he'd have to say is "no". What could Ian possibly do to him?"

"Maybe Ian could find a way..." Alvin trying to find any possible reason of defense.

"Or maybe he's just changed...Alvin." Brittany straight up told him as serious as she could. But Alvin's blood began to boil.

"He has not changed!" Alvin yelled out.

"He has to!" Brittany rebutted. The tension between had started to escalate and Dave knew he needed to get involved before it was too late.

"Guys that's enough!" Dave scolded them, but neither of them were listening. They were too at each other to even hear their dad's words.

"Guys, please stop fighting." Pleaded Jeanette as she grabbed Brittany's left arm in worry. Alvin wasn't ready to give Brittany the last word though as Dave kept trying to contain them.

"Maybe Theodore changed because "You" changed Brit. You're the one who called him a "jerk"." Alvin pointing at the accused which made Jeanette gasp at her.

"Brittany? You really called him that?" Jeanette asked confused. Brittany slowly turned to her sis and then back to Alvin nodding slightly.

"Yeah I did." She voice starting to crack slightly. "It's not like it wasn't true though." The words coming out of Brittany's mouth were just dumbfounding to Alvin, he then turned to the youngest of them, Theodore's best friend.

"Eleanor...you hear what your sister just said about Theodore? I can't imagine what you're thinking." Alvin consoled her. Eleanor was sweating bullets though, which Alvin and Simon noticed, not sure why though. "Eleanor what's the matter?" He asked her.

Her voice stuttered as she tried to come to. "Actually...I-I kinda...called him a jerk too." She admitted. The boy's jaws dropped as did Jeanette's, but Brittany just turned to Alvin.

"You see? If Eleanor out of anybody called him that, then it must be true." Brittany said in a confident voice, as Eleanor tried to talk in a weak, soft voice. "But I..." But it was so soft that none of them could hear her.

"I can't believe you guys!" Alvin bellowed out. "Theodore's not changed!"

Brittany was tired of Alvin trying to defend his brother, they were all starting to make a case against him, and she was ready to put her foot down. "Fine Alvin. If you think he hasn't changed, then why don't you just go find him and see for yourself." She said pointing to the door, as if almost daring to leave and find him. Alvin's face and eyes squinted as her words and insults were the last straw to him and his brother.

"You want me to find him Britt? Fine I will." Alvin yelled out...

And then as fast as he could he ran out the cat door and clear out the door and disappeared, putting shock on all their faces, including Brittany.

"Alvin? Alvin! Where are you going?! Come back!" Dave hollared out running to the door.

"Come back." Simon called out also. Dave ran to the door and opened it as fast as he could and looked around, but Alvin was no where in sight.

"Alvin." Dave called out to his son hoping for an answer as Simon jumped on the porch railing looking down in the plants around the house calling out to him also. ALLLLVINNNNNN!" Dave yelled out as loud as he could, but not in anger, in desperation. But it was no use. Alvin was gone, run off, with no where to even start looking.

Meanwhile, Eleanor and Jeanette looked at Brittany who had a face of shock. She was frozen in place as she realized she had done something horrible. She had been upset at people before, but never to the point that anything like this had happen. Eleanor shook her arm shaking her trying to get something out of her.

"Brittany, why didn't you stop him!" Eleanor panicly told him. Brittany's paws, her whole body was shaking at what happened.

"I...I didn't think he'd actually leave." Brittany panting in a panic, still unable to move from the sheer surge of adrenaline that went through her being completely sapped away.

"Well it's a little late now." Eleanor yelled to her. Dave and Simon came back in after no luck of finding Alvin. Dave ran to the kitchen as quick as he could and grabbed his car keys and pointed to all of them.

"Guys that's enough, no more arguing." Dave in a strong demanding order to his kids. "I'm gonna to find Alvin. None of you are to leave this house. Do you understand?" He said in a strong, stern, voice.

"Yes Dave." They all weakly acknowledged. And with that, Dave opened the door back up and ran out the door. As fast as he could, he started up his car and pulled out of the driveway. The kids all looked on as Dave attempted to find Alvin, who could be anywhere by now.

There is Chapter 29, Alvin has run away to try and find Theodore. Will Alvin find him, will Dave find Alvin? What will happen next? We'll find out together! Until the next chapter, thanks for reading. Take care. :)