A/N: Thank you to all read the last chapter, right now we're at 220 visitors on the dot. Right on pace for 300 at the end of the month; if I can post one more chapter by the very end of the month (Which I'm pretty sure I can), we'll be very close. Thanks to all who have read, you make this happen. As always, I own only what I write, everything else goes to their respective owners. Chapter 18 is going to focus on Dave, as we haven't heard a lot on his thoughts of everything, well...we'll find out here. So without further adu, here's the next chapter.

Chapter 18: Sins of a Father

While the kids at home were up to their "antics", Dave was on the road going to many different places getting the word out of the "Farewell Concert" coming in a month's time. Although he obviously wasn't a chipmunk, Dave was still recongized by many fans; and to his surprise a lot of them were younger kids that still knew who he was. Dave sat behind a desk and allowed kids to come up and say hi, get a picture, or let them hand him some gifts they made for the kids. A bunch of kids had come up to meet him and then a little young girl with two pieces of paper in her hand came up with her mother.

"Well hello there, and what do you have?" Dave asked the child with joy seeing the glem in her eyes as she hopped up to him and placed in his hands.

"It's a picture! I drew it myself...it's for Chipmunks and Chipettes to have." She said as Dave observed it. It was a beautiful picture, not just for a six year old, but for anyone. The picture had the six chipmunks side by side, hand to hand; it was so detailed, all the way to the fur on their bodies. Dave looked at the picture in amazement and awe as he looked back down to her.

"Well that's very nice of you; it's beautiful. I'm sure they'll really enjoy this." His words made her so happy that she had to ask him a question about them.

"Mr. Seville, what's it like living with the Chipmunks?" She asked.

He smiled and was happy to answer it for her. "Honestly, it's still a bit weird at times. But in the end, we're all like a big family, and I love them all very much."

The young child had one more thing in her hands which Dave noticed and at times kinda peeked over the table to look at it. After a bit, she notices he was too and looked at it with a smile, she then handed it to Dave as well.

"I have one more thing, my mommy got it today at work from Theodore..."

Dave looked at it with a smile. It was the autograph that Theodore had made no more than a couple hours ago, chocolate kiss and all. The mom of the girl, the ice cream lady stood right by her daughter's side to see what Dave thought of the proud work his youngest son had done.

"Wow...That was very sweet of him. And I hope you two will be at the concert." And Dave gave the autograph back for her to take and they began to go, but she turned back around to ask him one more question.

"Mr. Seville...is Theodore gonna be there? He's my favorite... and I'd really like to thank him for the gift." The question put a smile on his face knowing that Theodore was continuing to make all his fans happy, and he knew he would do the same.

"Of course he will." Dave answered.

"YAY! THANK YOU!" She cheered and she grabbed her mom's hand and they waved goodbye and took their leave as more kids approached.

After a long, grueling day of advertizing and sponsering for the concert, Dave closed the door getting in his car more than exhausting for himself as he rubbed his hands in his face to try and relieve some of the tension. It may have been a lot of fun seeing everyone, but it would still take a lot out of anyone. Though it came with the joy of seeing many of the chipmunks and chipettes' fans, there were a good portion of fans for his youngest son that were curious how life was like having five rockstars and one superstar for kids. The fact of hearing that made him feel so uncomfortable, knowing he did the one thing he said he wouldn't allow himself to do; to let his kids get consumed in the superstar spotlight. Yes, Theodore had become a superstar, the biggest thing in the music world at the time; however, with every passing day, it began to consume his life more and more. Dave's idea was to move them away from everything for a while, still do a small event to keep their juices flowing, but to stop the pressure filling arena shows. So that once being out of the spotlight, the kids could enjoy the good times more, but Theodore was going through the exact opposite now. His fame and popularity was growing and growing; would Dave or anyone even be able to pull him out of it without hurting the young chipmunk mentally.

But the one thing that bugged him even more was the way it happened. It wasn't the fact that Theodore chose to go, but the fact that Dave, himself, let him choose what to do. Dave sometimes had fans that were surprising Dave's own age that questioned why Dave would put the burden on his son to choose on something so life altering, knowing he had no idea what the consequences would be for either choice. And deep down, he knew they were right; he hated being a tough parent to the kids, but it was one time he knew he should put his foot down and done what was best for Theodore and the whole family. Now it was too late, the family was starting to feel a bit down and they hadn't heard from Theodore in many weeks. All they had seen of him was on TV acting completely different from the Theodore they knew, and for the life of Dave he couldn't figure out why. He knew deep down that Ian most likely had something to do with it, but he didn't have any evidence to confront him about it. But Theodore looked to be enjoying himself and having fun, and it was too late to take Theodore out of it now or Dave would cause the very problem he wanted to avoid. They were all stuck now, the only one that would end this would be Theodore himself, but with Ian by his side it wasn't likely it would happen. All Dave and the others could do...is wait. Dave just sat in the driver's seat of his car and just thought repeatedly about everything...over, and over again. He felt he failed as a dad as he allowed his family to seperate, and he wondered how the kids could even forgive him.

Back at home, the kids were trying to forget the recent events of what just happened. The girls were ashamed and embarrassed and Simon was just dumbfounded. Alvin slowly walked into the living room dragging his feet trying not to make eye contact with the others. After standing by outside the bathroom for about twenty minutes to check and hear if Eleanor was alright. Though hearing the sickening sounds, Alvin cringed and thought he needed to keep his distance and came out to where he was.

"Well, that went REALLY bad." Alvin moaned as he walked and the others turned to him.

"You can say that again." Brittany pointed out, but quickly snapped back at Alvin..."Don't even think about saying it again." Alvin stuck his arms out at her complete contradiction of words.

"I stuffed my sister's face...willingly. I'm never going to hear the end of it." Jeanette sadly stated with her head down in shame. After a couple more minutes, Eleanor slowly walked out from the bathroom. She was still moaning some, but luckily the swelling of her stomach went down as she was able to remove a good chunk of her unwanted meal from her system. When she approached, everyone was quick to apologize again, and again which she kept shrugging it away. She didn't want to hear another word of what just happened and felt it was best for all of them to just try and forget it. She honestly felt she might go insane if she heard the word "oatmeal" again. Just then they heard the phone ring as they all depressingly sat on the couch, they sighed at the sound of it.

"Anybody want to get that?" Simon looked around asking the others to just shrugs and blank stares.

"Forget it, we're all bummed out. Let the machine get it." Alvin said out to them all, they all nodded and just stayed put, they prepared to listen in as the voice massage of Dave on the machine began to play.

-Hi you've reached the home of Dave Seville...

"And the Chipmunks?" Alvin butted in while the message was still playing. "And Chipettes Alvin." Brittany also.

-just leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible-

They waited until they heard the beep...

-BEEP-

"Hey guys! It's me!" The voice called out of the phone mail.

"Oh, hey Theodore..." Alvin not paying attention shrugged off, but then they realized at the same time. "THEODORE!" They all screamed out in unison as they all hopped off the couch and jumped on the counter, with the exception of Eleanor who sat next to the couch and then came to underneath the stool the rest jumped up on to listen in to the message.

"I've really missed you guys, but I won't have to miss you much longer; cause I got some great news. Ian has an interview in a couples days, and he's letting me come home!" Theodore said through the phone that all the other munks celebrated at the message, Eleanor's face down below lit up when she heard the news also. The message continued: "I can't wait to see you guys...see ya!" The click of the dial tone was heard and the munks and 'pettes all starting dancing and jumping up and down. It had been so long, they began to think if he even wanted to come back home, now they knew for sure...the next two days for them couldn't come any faster.

After a couple minutes, Dave came in the front door as the chipmunks were still jumping around having a good time.

"Hey guys, got some great news." Dave called out to them.

"So do we Dave." Alvin answered back as he jumped on the couch next to him.

"THEODORE'S COMING HOME!" They both said at the exact same time with Alvin's arms out in cheer until he realized what they both said and there was a slight pause with each other.

"Jinx." Surprisingly, it wasn't said but Alvin, it was said by Dave. The others laughed at what happened as Alvin looks shocked. "I've finally caught up with the times...you owe me a soda Alvin." With that they all laughed out loud as the great news had put the whole family in a great mood.

There is Chapter 18. Chapter 19, Theodore's coming home, will it be good or bad? Find out next time, thanks for reading and reviewing.