Welcome back everyone for the next chapter of this story. Sorry for a longer delay then I wanted, but the chapter is ready. As always, all rights to these characters go to their respective owners. Let's go.

Chapter 42: "I Have a Wish"

The car trip from the heart of L.A. back to the outside suburbs was quiet and chilling. The seven people in the ride couldn't even bare to start a conversation for risk of it turning into worry about Dave, whether or not he could find Theodore or not. Even after several hours, there was still no response back from Dave regarding anything. A usual trip in the dead of night would have left all the kids asleep before returning home, but they were all too worried and adrenaline was still high from concert to even be able to close their eyes, much less doze off. After the long drive, the family returned back home. They entered the driveway under the pitch black sky, the house was as dark and empty as it was when they left it. Dave's car was no where to be seen either, which obviously meant he never returned home.

The walk into the house was slow and trudging, the door was unlocked to their surprise and they slowly pushed it open.

"Well, we're home..." Grandpa Dave said, flicking on the light, showing the deserted room before them. The kids peeked in looking around, seeing the house the same from before, nothing was different. No Dave, no Theodore, ...no hope.

"Dave?" Came an quiet call out, just hoping for something...anything, to which was followed by deafening silence.

"He's not here Alvin..." Brittany pointed out the obvious.

The kids were devastated, they knew what they should do, but Dave's message was clear. But one of them couldn't take it. Her best friend was out there, she couldn't just do nothing waiting for potentially bleak news.

"We have to look for them, we just have to!" Eleanor broke down, about to cry.

"I'm sorry Eleanor, but Dave said not to rush to something. We don't want anyone else to go missing too."

The words from Grandma Janice were strict, but stated in a peaceful tone. The matter was serious, the kids were worried for obvious reasons, but everyone just needed to believe everything would turn out good.

"Have some hope Ellie. Dave will find him, I know he will." Brittany assured her sister again, who sniffled at her words.

"I know Brittany...it's just...I miss him so much." Eleanor told her. None of them answered to share their similar opinion...but one voice did answer to them.

"I know you do..."

The kids all perked up. The grandparents were even curious to where the sound came from. They all looked towards the hallway where Dave's room was, it was completely dark in that corner of the house. But it wasn't about what they saw, it was what they heard. It was that voice, a voice they all knew, they all remembered. There was only one who had that voice.

Just then, they slowly saw a figure come out from the dark, a small figure, they same size as the chipmunks and Chipettes. He walked out towards them until his body began to be hit by the light they stood in. Then he became visible to them.

It was him...the kids were all stunned and speechless. Until, they all said the one word they wanted to say.

"Theodore!" They all cheered and ran as fast as their legs could take them. All with the exception of one, her best friend no less. Eleanor stayed motionless where she stood, was it a mirage, was it really real? Theodore though didn't seem to feel happy about the reunion, he had a frown on his face despite their warm embraces, he didn't feel any better about the treatment.

"Stop...stop please.

The group backs off confused as to why Theodore would say to stop, upon closer inspection, they gasped, he looked a sight. He was still a muddy mess, with his clothes near ripped to shreds.

"Theodore, you look a wreck..." Simon spewed out the obvious, making Brittany gag out loud.

"Great...I got mud all over my brand new dress." She spat out, trying to wipe off the grit on her arms and clothing. Theodore just shook his head in shame. "But how did you get here Theodore? Dave said he was looking for you." Jeanette asked.

"That's right, and I found him." Came a second voice from the dark in front of them. And then, Dave then walked to greet them. "...just like I promised." They were home the whole time, of course they were brought home by the cab, eventually Dave would have to return to the city to retrieve his car that left at the arena. The joy on Alvin and the other's faces, still except the one who the recipient of all the exuberance.

"Guys, I'm sorry." Theodore told them, in a sad, apologetic voice. "But, I don't deserve to be hugged, I don't deserve to be welcomed back. I let you all down, I promised all of you I would come back and I didn't. I promised...Eleanor I would never leave...but I did." Theodore cried to them as he buried his face in brother's chest, Alvin looked to the others, wondering what he should do or say, as the others looked on sad as well.

The look on Theodore's face nearly brings Eleanor to tears. At that moment she knew what she needed to do.

"But you did come back Theodore." Jeanette assured him, getting no feedback from him to even know if he heard or not.

"Of course, you didn't break your promise. Well you almost did..." Brittany's remark was quickly followed by an Alvin elbow to her arm which any other time would be done the other way around. Just then Eleanor walks up through the company of her peers walks up to Theodore with sad look on her face, Theodore has as sad a look on his face also as his counterpart. The others separate from and give the two a chance to speak their minds to one another.

"Eleanor I-I'm so sorry. I'm sure you probably never want to talk to me again, or see me again, or...or..."

But Theodore didn't get to finish what he wished to say, for he was cut off as Eleanor puts her finger across Theodore's lips as if she was telling his to shush without saying another word. All she does is gently shake her head, then he slowly came closer and started to grow a smile on her face.

"I'm the one who should be sorry Theodore. I'm sorry I didn't believe you...

Theodore slowly nods as he gently pulled Eleanor's finger off his lips. "It's alright, I understand." After a slight pause and a sudden glowing blush in his chubby cheeks, after a sudden silence, he asked her a question. "...So, did you like it?"

Eleanor's ears perked straight in confusion, she didn't know what he could be talking about. "Like what Theo?"

"The song..." Theo's answer made his friend's mouth open, as well as the others. "...did you like it?"

Eleanor began to sputter and stutter like a classic motor to his friend's question. "B-B-But how did..."

Her question was stopped Dave behind them, who was now along side his parents. "We heard it on the radio on the way home." They all turned around when replied, Dave then looked over to his eldest son. "You did a great job Alvin, I'm proud of you."

Alvin chuckled to the remark and thanked Dave for the flattering remark, Eleanor then looked back to Theodore, who for the first time, wore a happy smile while looking into her green eyes. "Uh, Theo. Can you do something for me?"

"Sure. Anything, anything you want." Was the quick response for Theodore. After a brief pause...

"Can you...can you sing the song for me?" She asked him, his face peaked with interest and delight. "So I know, how it really sounds?"

A warm smile formed on her friend's face, he reached for her hands and pulled her in for a hug, Before, young Theodore would have been so afraid to sing to Eleanor any song, much less a song for Eleanor directly. But this was the best thing about what he did since he left to go on his own; he grew and gained the confidence to do what he wanted, he now felt proud to sing what he believed...and now, he was ready. With that, Theodore then started to hum lightly as he closed his eyes, he swayed back and forth, softly moving Eleanor around like they were in a slow dance. The others gathered close, watched and more importantly listened.

"I Have a Wish"

Original Song by Me (JTH)

Sang by: Theodore Seville

I have a wish

That we can be together

Give me a kiss

I hope it lasts forever

Verse 1

I wish that you will always be by my side

I wish you say "Yes", so I don't have to hide

I wish so much that this could be a reality

Until then, I know it's just a fantasy

It's just a wish (Ooh, ooh ooh, ooh ooh)

My only wish

Verse 2

I have a dream that you'd be with me

But it seems, that it's just not meant to be

But if I close my eyes and dream about you.

Then there's a chance that all my wishes come true.

I have a wish (Ooh, ooh ooh, ooh ooh)

I have a wish

*Instrumental*

This is my wish (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh ohh)

This is my wish

Verse 3

But as the years go by, my wish fades away

Because I never had a clue what to say

I have just one more chance to say how I feel.

Fulfill my wish to make my dream become real.

You are my wish (Ooh, ooh ooh, ooh ooh)

Please be my wish

Verse 4

And as you come to me, I wish I might

Say all the things, that I have on my mind

And when I say to you my wish, you come close

This is the moment, that I wished of most

This is my wish (Ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh)

This is my wish

Closing

I got my wish

To always be together

This is my wish

Together Forever

I have a wish

Together Forever

This my wish

Together Forever

I got my wish

Together Forever

I have a wish...

XXX

When the song was finished, Eleanor just had nothing short of amazement looking into her friend's bright green eyes. Everyone in the room was so moved and had a deep warmth rushing through them as the melodies were heard. The young chipmunk then looked to the female Chipette he was in an embrace with, smiling widely.

"Well? Did you like it?"

She was so awed by the feelings poured out that Eleanor couldn't even give an answer, but there was one way she could show Theodore what she thought without words. With that Eleanor leaned in and then closes in on Theodore's lips and kisses him which sends Theodore eyes wide open, which is followed by a slight gasp of others in the room on first contact. Then slowly, Theodore's eyes close and returns the feeling of the moment. What better way to have their first kiss she thought. After a long delay, the two separate, Theodore's eyes looked more glazed than a donut, still partly in shock to what just happened.

"Does that answer your question?" She giggled with a smile.

Theodore looked blank in the face, his mouth was partly open, but he still had the where-with all to answer his friend's question. "Yeah..." He replied with an exhale, which got a warm glowing grin from Eleanor. Theodore's attention suddenly snapped back to reality as he looked behind Eleanor at everyone else.

"Um, Eleanor." Theo started. "Everyone is looking at us..."

"Are they bugged eye with their mouths open?" Ellie asked him, Theo looked to see just that. His brothers and her sisters just as she described. With Grandma and Grandpa with a smile on their faces holding hands.

"Uhh...pretty much." Theodore said with a smile, but as soon as he answered, Eleanor moved his lips back to her.

"Good, let'em watch." She responded back before giving him another kiss. This time, Theo was ready and was completely in the moment, in complete disinterest for all that were around.

Alvin then puts a paw over Simon's shoulder.

"Our little bro's all grown up." He told his brother.

After the two look over...Simon put his shoulder onto Alvin's.

"So when do you plan on growing up Alvin?" Alvin just smiled at the comment and just shoves his head away.

"Way the kill the moment Simon..." Alvin blurts out which gets a laugh from the group of chipmunks. Theodore and Eleanor just look over with smiles.

"Some things never change..." Theo commented about his brother's continued banter. Eleanor then turns his friend's head back to her.

"And hopefully...one thing never will."

Theodore and Eleanor look back at each other again and kiss each other again on the lips looking as if they never want to let go. And the family was all very happy with the looks that the family from now on would be together forever.

XXX

So there's that chapter. I hope you enjoyed the chapter as well as the song. It's a song that I thought of that I believed fit. There actually was another song that I created myself that I originally planned to use here, but once I thought of this one, it fit better I felt. Perhaps I'll still use the other song at the end. Until then I hope you enjoyed this. Thanks for reading. :)