My Springtime

Author: simon(dot)seville27

Fandom: Alvin and the Chipmunks

Claim: Simon Seville

Background: This story is set in the adult life of the Chipmunks and follows the 80-90's cartoon canon. No particular knowledge of the canon should be needed, other than the fact that Simon, Alvin, and Theodore are brothers, and Jeanette, Brittany, and Eleanor are sisters.

Two chipmunks sat in their car, staring into a field. They knew why he was there, they knew who he was there to see, but they couldn't support him in it.

"I should get him now."

She put her hand on his shoulder, "Alvin… just leave him. There's nothing you can do about it. Let's just wait here for a while and let him spend some time with her, okay?"

Alvin took a deep breath, "Okay, but just for a little bit."

"He really loves her Alvin."

"I know, Brittany. But he can't do this anymore."

The field was magnificent. There were large rolling hills of beautiful green grass. The sun shone down across the fields, and the light cast from the sun reflected back from a small pond.

A tall chipmunk stood in the center of the field, and sat down on the grass. He stared into the fields for a moment, and leaned back, lying down next to a beautiful, female companion.

He turned his head towards her, "I brought you a flower Jeanette. I know, I know, I've brought you enough flowers, but what else would I bring such a beautiful woman on such a beautiful spring day?"

She smiled at him and stroked her hand against the flower. She leaned in and smelt the wonderful fragrance. "I love it, Simon. Thank you."

Simon turned his head and looked up in the air. "I love these days, don't you, Jeanette?"

Jeanette smiled, "You're so right. It's just beautiful."

"I've missed you Jean."

"And I've missed you Simon." Jeanette grabbed his hand, "But we're together now, and that's all that matters."

The two stayed sprawled across the grass next to each other, staring into the sky.

On the other side of the field, two more chipmunks stared at Simon and Jeanette.

"I knew this would happen. I know there's nothing we can do about it, but I almost would like to find a way for them to be together again."

"Elle, that's impossible." He put his arm around Eleanor. "You know why they can't be together."

She smiled, "Oh I know that, but they love each other so much. It's just not right to keep them apart. I mean… look at the two of them."

Theodore smiled, "They really are perfect together, aren't they?"

"Yeah."

Theodore turned towards Eleanor and gently kissed her cheek, "Almost as perfect as we are together."

Back in the center of the field, Simon took a deep breath, and began to talk to Jeanette once again. "You know what I just remembered?"

"What?" Jeanette answered.

Simon started to chuckle, "I never did tell you the story about what happened before that big school dance. You remember? At the dance I told you I'd tell you all about my day, and I never did."

Jeanette smiled, "I remember."

"I guess I'll just have to tell you now then." Simon smiled as he turned his head towards Jeanette.

"Let's see… I've got my wallet, my phone, my keys, my tie, my coat… what am I forgetting?"

"Your spine." Alvin came towards me laughing, "Simon, calm down about this."

I turned towards Alvin. "Alvin, it… it's… it's my first date with J-Jeanette."

Alvin shook his head, "It'll be your last date with her if you don't stop panicking. Now, calm down, put the tie on, slap a smile on your face, and let's get out of here."

I ignored Alvin, "Now what am I forgetting?"

Theodore ran in from the other room, "Simon?"

"Not now Theodore… I'm trying to remember something."

"But…"

I turned to Theo, "Theodore, not now!" I continued to pace around the house, "Now, what am I forgetting?"

"But Simon…"

I stopped, "Fine. What is it?"

"You almost forgot your bouquet of flowers, the candy, the corsage, and the teddy bear you got for Jeanette."

I ran over to Theo, "Thank you Theo! I can't believe I almost forgot Jeanette's gifts!"

Suddenly a hand touched my shoulder and I turned around, "Simon, don't you think you're laying this on just a little thick? I mean… I'm going out with Brittany today and all I got her was… oh shit."

I snickered and turned around, "Oh, she's going to flip. You didn't get her anything?"

"Simon…"

"No! Absolutely not! I picked everything out especially for Jeanette! I searched through five florists to find the perfect species of violet dianthus caryophyllus for her bouquet and corsage. I special ordered her favorite chocolates from Europe three months ago…"

Alvin interrupted, "Well, just give me the stupid bear then. Please Simon, I need something."

I turned to him, "I made the stuffed bear by hand. I spent four weeks getting it just perfect. Did you notice it has her eyes? Aren't they beautiful?"

"Great… now what do I do?"

I turned away from Alvin as I looked down at my gifts… "I don't know Alvin… I have my own problems to deal with."

"Like what? You've got it made."

I quickly flipped back around towards him, "Are you kidding? This is my first date with Jeanette. And it's a dance. I don't even know why I asked her to a dance. She's sort of clumsy sometimes, so she probably hates to dance. And I'm a horrible dancer myself. We'll trip all over each other, and she'll be embarrassed by me. I should have asked her to a movie or dinner, but a dance? Plus, I don't even know if she thinks about me the way I do. Sometimes people just go on dances as friends. We've gone to a bunch of dances before as friends. What makes this one different? Just because it's the Spring Fling it's some sort of magical dance where we fall in love? I didn't even tell her I like her like that. I don't even know if this is a date. It could just be…"

"Simon!" Alvin yelled, interrupting my rambling, "The two of you are perfect for each other. I'm sure right now she's being just as stupid and paranoid as you are."

"But…"

"Simon… she loves you and you love her."

"You really think so?"

"I know so."

I put my arms around my brother, "Thanks... I needed to hear that"

"Simon?"

"Yes?"

"Give me the chocolates, so I don't have to kill you."

Alvin and Brittany sat in the car staring out the window at Simon.

"Brittany, I'm going to get him. It's getting ridiculous."

"He loves her, Alvin. Just leave them alone for right now. It's only been a little while."

"Brittany… we do this almost every day. He needs to forget about her and find someone else. This is…"

"Alvin, you can't expect him to just forget about the person he loves because we don't approve of it. It's not like we're his parents."

Alvin turned towards Brittany, "Save it Brittany. I'm going out to get him." Alvin started to pull off his seatbelt and open the door.

"Alvin Seville, you sit your ass back in that seat and leave them alone."

"You're sounding as bad as Simon."

"Alvin…"

"Fine."

Simon stared into the sky as Jeanette put her hand on Simon's. "That was a cute story Simon. It was worth the wait."

"You know Jeanette… I really wish we could be together forever."

"I know you do Simon. I wish the same thing."

Simon turned away from Jeanette again, "Let's just sit here for a while longer before it gets dark."

"Okay Simon."

Simon smiled and with a soft, sweet tone said an old nickname he had for Jeanette, "My Springtime."

Jeanette turned to Simon and smiled, "You haven't called me that in a long time. I wonder what made you think of that."

"I always loved that name for you Jeanette." Simon turned his head, "It was you. You always were like spring. That's why I love you."

The wind picked up slightly. "Eleanor, we need to go now. They're hardly even talking anymore… can't we…"

"I know how you feel Theo… I feel the same way… but we can't just tear the two of them apart now. Look at them together."

Jeanette started to giggle. "Well, you told me about getting ready for the dance over at your house, so I guess I should tell you what it was like over at our neck of the woods."

"Jeanette!"

I walked into the living room. "W-What is it, Brittany?"

"Do you know where my perfume is?"

"I'm sorry, Brittany, I took it. I wanted to…"

"You? Perfume? Oh you are a wreck."

"I know. We're just going as friends anyway… I'm not sure why I…"

Brittany started to laugh… actually she was laughing unusually hard. "You… you think you two are going as friends? Jean, the two of you haven't gone to a dance as friends since elementary school. When will you two finally admit you have feelings for each other?"

I sat down, "It's not me. I know how I feel, but Simon doesn't think about me like that. I'm just his clumsy old science partner to him. We're good friends, but that's all we'll ever be."

Brittany giggled and turned towards me, "Jeanette, the two of you are practically engaged. He's walked you home from school every single day since you were kids, you two spend every day together, and you're going to the Spring Fling with him. Plus, I've seen how you both look at each other, and I can tell you how you both feel."

"How's that?"

"Jeanette… for someone so smart, you are so dumb it's unbelievable."

"Anyways, I'm not sure how any of that stuff matters. So we spend time together. It's because we're friends. And he walks me home because we like to talk to each other."

"Jeanette, when you were kids he walked you home because he wanted to talk. You stay two hours later than he does and we live a mile in the opposite direction of their house... that's not a friend, that's a boyfriend."

"I don't know… we're not like you and Alvin or Theodore and Elle…"

Brittany interrupted me, "Of course not. Simon'll shower you with gifts and love poems… I'm lucky if Alvin will get me anything more thoughtful then a box of chocolates."

"I think chocolates are romantic…"

Brittany rolled her eyes at me. "Maybe to you they are, but to me they're a sure fire way to ruin a week's worth of exercise and diet programs."

"It doesn't matter. Simon doesn't feel that way about me. You'll see, Brittany. We're just going as friends today."

Brittany stood up and walked away, "Jeanette, there's only one person in the world that can't see how Simon feels about you, and that's you. Just like he's the only person in the world that can't see how you feel about him. The sooner the two of you realize you're in love, the sooner you'll be able to move on with your life."

I started to cry and stopped Brittany from leaving, "But what if you're wrong?"

"When have I been wrong about something, Jeanette?"

Eleanor walked in the room smiling, "Britt, I don't think you're helping your case."

"Elle, it's getting dark out. We can't let them stay here anymore." Theodore wrapped his arms around Eleanor, "We have to stop them before it goes any further."

"I know we should. But I'm not going to. They hardly ever see each other."

Theodore squeezed Eleanor, "Only at spring. They go all year apart, but springtime comes and they always meet here, any chance they get."

"It's romantic. Theo, I won't think any less of you if you…"

"No Eleanor. I'm not talking to Alvin. It just wouldn't be right."

"But Theo…"

Theodore interrupted, "Elle… would you talk to Brittany?"

"Honestly, I'd love to, but under these circumstances, no."

"They have a few more minutes, Elle, but then we have to go and stop this."

"Okay… just a few more minutes."

Simon rested next to Jeanette, grinning from ear to ear. "You still haven't heard the best part of my story though Jean."

Theodore was sitting next to me. We were in my small car driving to pick you and Eleanor up. "That was pretty nice of Alvin to let you keep the chocolates."

I turned to Theo. "Oh yeah, it was really nice of him to give me back the chocolates and take the limo I rented for me and Jeanette to take to the dance instead."

"Well…"

I tapped my fingers against the steering wheel, "I hope she doesn't mind just driving there."

"I'm sure she won't. She's not like Brittany."

I smiled, "No. Brittany's aggressive and controlling. That's fine for Alvin, but Jeanette is so different. She's sweet and forgiving, she's calm and beautiful, she's… she's perfection."

"So are you going to tell her?"

"Tell her what?"

"That you love her."

I slammed my foot on the brake. "L-Love? You think she expects me to tell her I love her?"

"Well I just meant…"

"If Alvin's right… if she does have feelings for me, she'll expect something like that… but if she doesn't, it'll ruin everything. H-How do I figure it out, Theodore?"

"Are you asking what me and Elle did?'

"It's Elle and I."

"No it isn't. I'm dating Eleanor, not you."

"No Theo, I mean you should have said Elle and I."

"I did."

"No you didn't you said me and Elle."

"What's the difference?"

"Well if… oh… never mind, you were saying?"

"I forgot."

"You were talking about how Elle and you said 'I love you' to each other."

"Oh right…" Theodore turned towards me, "Well for us it just sort of came out. We were at dinner, and we ordered the same thing, and we said it when we were laughing about that."

I leaned back in the chair, "But what if that doesn't happen for us? What if neither of us just blurts it out? Or what if I do and she doesn't say it back?"

"Simon, I'm no expert, but maybe you should just talk to Jeanette about it. Even if she doesn't feel the same way about you, the two of you are too good of friends to have a secret like having feelings about the other."

I smiled, "Okay… I'm going to tell her."

"Tell her what?"

"That I love her."

Theodore sat forward in his seat, "Simon?"

"What is it Theodore?"

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"After the help you gave me, you can ask me anything."

"Can we go? I'm getting a headache from all those cars honking their horns."

"This is over with. He told us he wouldn't come here anymore. He told us he wouldn't come to see her again."

Brittany placed her hand on Alvin's leg, "Just calm down Alvin. He loves her. It's getting dark. Once it gets dark he'll leave."

"Brittany, we do this every day during the spring. Every single year when spring comes along, he stops whatever work or school he's doing and just spends every day here. I get why he wants to be with her, I get he loves her, but we know he can't keep doing this."

Brittany pulled off her seat belt. "Okay. We'll get him. Come on."

Alvin stopped, "Really?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I dunno. Every day we have this argument and you've never given in before."

Brittany smiled, "Oh, I'm not giving in. I'm telling you that I'll go with you, so that you don't act stupid when you get him. But I'm still upset that you won't just leave him alone about it."

"So I'm still sleeping on the couch if I go?"

"Yup."

Alvin paused for a minute, "Ten more minutes."

In the center of the field, Jeanette and Simon each began to sit up.

Jeanette looked at Simon. "It's starting to get dark out."

"Isn't it beautiful Jeanette? The sunset I mean. I could just sit and stare at it for hours."

Jeanette glanced at Simon staring into the sky and smiled. "Well, while you stare, I guess I'll tell you more about that day."

"Brittany? I-I'm ready t-to go." I walked into the living room trembling about the idea of the dance. I was so nervous about everything.

Brittany walked towards me. "Jean, just calm down, okay? I'm going to be with you all day, so there's nothing to worry about.

"But what about when we dance? You won't be there for that. Of course, I'll probably step on his foot the first…"

"You'll be fine, Jean. I…" Brittany was interrupted by a knock at the door.

I couldn't believe it... everything was going to come down to this moment.

Brittany opened the door and smiled, "Hi Alvin. We're all ready…"

"Actually, Britt, I'm just here for you."

Brittany jumped out and hugged Alvin. "I can't believe you did this Alvin. This is the most thoughtful, wonderful thing you've ever done." Brittany ran back in the house.

"What is it Brittany?"

She smiled, "He rented a limo! Can you believe it?"

"You mean you won't be there for the ride over?"

Brittany hugged me, "You'll be fine, Jean. Elle will still be with you."

"O-Okay, have a good time."

She ran out the door with Alvin and I shut it behind her.

"Where'd Brittany go?" Eleanor asked.

I turned around, "Alvin rented a limousine for Brittany."

"Really?" Eleanor walked into the room and sat on the couch next to me. "I never pictured Alvin doing something that romantic for Britt…"

"Well they're in love… it's not like…"

Eleanor stopped me, "Jean, you're not going to go off on the 'we're just friends' routine again, are you?"

"Well we…"

"Jeanette, if I told you a secret, will you promise not to tell anybody I told you?"

I sat up, "What is it?"

"I know how Simon feels about you… he's said it himself. He does have feelings for you."

"Really? Why did he tell you?"

Eleanor laughed, "He didn't tell me. He told Theo…"

"How did you find out then?"

"Like I said… he told Theo. That means ten minutes later he told me by accident and swore me to secrecy."

I chuckled, "You two are so great together."

"So are you and Simon."

"Maybe… I'm just worried."

"About what?"

I let out a deep breath and leaned back in my seat, "About…" There was a knock at the door. "About that."

Jeanette smiled, "I sure was nervous about that dance, Simon." Jeanette closed her eyes, and felt a sudden shaking on her shoulder. "What is it, Simon?"

"Jeanette? It's time to go."

She opened her eyes, "No. I'm not leaving."

"Jean, he doesn't even…"

"Yes he does."

Eleanor bent down, "No he doesn't Jean. You know that."

Jeanette started to cry, "Please, Elle, just a little while longer."

"You're trying too hard to hold on, Jean. You need to let him go."

"That's easy for you to say, Elle."

Theodore bent down next to Jeanette, "You're right Jeanette. Me and Elle are still together, but you two aren't. He'll join us soon enough."

"Just a little longer?"

Theodore put his hand on Eleanor's shoulder. "Okay, Jeanette, a few more minutes. We'll be over here waiting for you."

"Thank you, Theodore."

As Eleanor and Theodore walked away, Alvin and Brittany approached.

"It's time to go."

"No."

Brittany put her hand on Alvin, "Be nice, Alvin."

"I know you still love Jeanette, Simon, but this has gone too far."

Brittany interrupted, "Alvin, I told you to be nice about it."

"No. He's right, Brittany." Simon stared into the sky. "It's just… I can almost feel her sometimes. It's almost like she's still here."

"I know the feeling, Simon." Alvin sat down on the grass next to his brother, "Sometimes, I swear Theodore's sitting in the room with me… but he's not. He's gone. Just like Jeanette and Eleanor."

"I still love her."

"I know you do, Si. It was a horrible day."

Simon smiled at his brother, "No. It was a wonderful day… with a horrible ending."

The dance was amazing… well the two of you know that much. We danced every dance together, and it was magnificent, but we never had the talk I wanted to. We talked about all sorts of things, but I never had a chance to tell her I loved her.

It was when we were heading home, that I knew I had to talk to her.

We pulled up to your home, Brittany. Elle and Theo were asleep in the back of the car, and I thought it'd be a chance to talk to Jean alone.

"So Jean, can we talk for a minute?"

She smiled at me, "Sure thing, Simon. Well this is as good a place as any to talk at."

I started to giggle, "You're so funny, Jean."

"What did I say?"

"Oh it's nothing. I just never thought I'd hear you end a sentence with a preposition."

"I did no such thing."

I looked towards her and continued to laugh. "Yes you did. You said 'this is as good a place as any to talk at'. Don't try and deny it."

Jeanette blushed, "Well… it was an accident. I get tongue tied around you, Simon."

"It's okay. I just thought it was cute."

"Good."

I sat there for a second. I wanted to tell her how I felt, but it was so hard.

"Well if that's all, I guess I'll go. I had fun on our date."

I grabbed her arm, "So it was a date?"

"Not if you didn't want it to be. I didn't mean to say that. I just…"

"No… I want it to be one."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Why didn't you just say so sooner?"

I smiled at Jeanette, "I didn't think you thought it was a date. Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't think you thought it was a date either."

"So, we're dating?"

"I guess so, unless you don't want to."

"No, I do."

"Okay. We're officially dating."

I leaned back in my chair. There was still something else I had to tell her. She knew I had feelings, but she didn't know what those feelings were. She had to know just how strong my feelings really were.

"Jean, I…" I felt a firm grasp on my hand and began to turn my head. Everything happened so quickly. A car was barreling down the road towards us. Jeanette squeezed harder. I knew I couldn't move the car fast enough, so I did the only thing I could. "Everybody get out!"

Eleanor and Theodore woke up quickly. "What's going…" Theodore stopped. He saw the car and knew what was going on. Theodore and Eleanor both quickly began to try and get out of the car.

I pulled at my seatbelt but it was stuck. I don't know if it was just because I was nervous or if it was actually stuck, but for the life of me, I couldn't get it off. Then I turned my head. Jeanette hadn't moved. As the car approached I realized she wasn't going to leave me. "Go Jeanette!"

She started to cry, "I love you, Simon."

She said the words I had waited to hear since we first met. I wanted so much to tell her how I felt, but I needed her to be safe. I couldn't stand the thought of anything happening to her. "Go! Please!"

She started to open the door. As I looked out the window, I saw the car coming towards me even faster than before. I heard the back doors of the car open and Theodore and Eleanor started to climb out of the car.

I felt another firm hold of my hand. She still wasn't leaving.

"I love you, Jeanette. But I can't…"

There was a loud noise. I was violently tossed in my seat. I flew from side to side, back and forth, and soon after, everything went dark.

"So that's what happened?" Alvin asked, "You've never told us before. We knew there was an accident, but…"

Simon looked up with tear soaked cheeks, "There's more."

I woke up in a cold bed. I didn't know where I was. The room had white walls, a white ceiling, and one small window. As my vision cleared, I noticed machines, that's when I found out I was in the hospital.

"How are you feeling, Simon?"

"Why?"

The man bent down, "You were in a car accident."

"Where's Jeanette?"

"Simon, I need to talk to you."

"Where's Jeanette?"

He grabbed my hand, "Simon, when the other car hit you, Theodore and Eleanor were still getting out; they were thrown from the car…"

"Where's Jeanette?" I didn't want to sound cold, but at that moment, I could only think of her. I guess that's why I've felt so bad about that day later on… I didn't even think of Elle or Theo at the time. I just wanted to see the person I loved.

"Simon, you were the only one with an airbag in that car. Jeanette is still alive, but she doesn't have long."

"And Theodore and Eleanor?"

"I'm sorry, but they didn't make it to the hospital."

I started to shake. "I need to see her."

"You're still in…"

"Take me to her now, or I'll find a way to go myself."

"Okay, Simon."

They put me in a wheelchair, and took me to Jeanette's room. Then they left us alone. "Jeanette?"

She didn't respond. As I wheeled myself closer, I saw her eyes were closed. I grabbed her hand, and sat next to her bed.

I talked to her for a few minutes, and finally told her what I had wanted to tell her my entire life. I told her I loved her. More importantly, I told her why I loved her.

As I sat next to her crying, I felt a short, weak tug on my hand. Then she passed on. I always saw that faint tug, as a sign. I think she heard what I told her. I think she knew it was me. Someday, I'll be with her again, but until that day comes, all I can do is hold on to the memories I have.

"Simon?"

Simon turned towards his brother, "What Alvin?"

"What does it mean?"

"What?"

He grabbed Simon's hand. "I've always wondered what that thing you had us write meant."

"You mean, 'My Jeanette, My Springtime'?"

"Yeah."

Simon rolled his hand over the large stone, "Only one other person needs to know that, and they already do."

"Okay, Simon. You need another minute?"

"That would be great, Alvin. I'll be along soon."

Alvin and Brittany walked away, leaving only Simon and Jeanette by the large stone. Simon continued to roll his hand across the epitaph. "I'll never forget what I told you in that hospital Jeanette. You know, I never prepared that poem." Simon began to laugh, "That's probably why it was so terrible. I still can't believe the best thing I could think of saying to you when you were dying was that horrible poem I wrote. You were always the poet, Jean."

Jeanette walked towards Simon, "I wish you could hear me Simon… but I loved the poem."

"You remember it Jean?

Not cold and harsh like a long winter night,

Not overbearing like summer's warm rays,

Not strong and fierce with autumn's fright,

But as loving and beautiful as spring in ways.

Our love is strong, and full of might,

My Jeanette, my springtime, for all days."

Simon began to laugh, "You know Jean, I always knew how you felt about poetry. The only reason I never wrote you one before, was I was afraid of what you'd think about it. If someone else wrote it, you'd probably have a million criticisms, but I just wanted to tell you how I felt. I wanted to tell you that I loved you. And I still do love you"

"I love you too, Simon."

Eleanor and Theodore approached the couple.

Eleanor put her hand on Jeanette's shoulder, "It's time to go, Jean."

"Okay."

"Jean, why do you only come here in the spring?"

Jeanette smiled at Eleanor, "I don't know. But around spring, I always start to think of him, and I just have to come here."

"Why here?"

"Because I know it's where I'll find the man I love."

As they left, Simon began to walk towards them. He bent down to the two adjacent stones and set a flower on each. "I hope you're both doing well. Take care of Jean for me." Simon stood up from the ground and walked away. "I really miss all three of you."

"We will, Simon." Theodore whispered, "We will."

With tears in his eyes, Simon stood and walked through the rows of graves towards his family. As the group drove away, Simon stared out the window of the small car into the cemetery.

"You know, Alvin..."

"What, Si?"

"It's silly, but sometimes I really do know Jeanette is standing there."

"How do you know that?"

"I don't know… but it's only in spring. In spring I know she's there by my side. Laughing with me, talking with me, telling stories with me… I can feel her there. I know people think I come here in the spring because I get depressed around the time they died, but that's not it. I'm depressed all year, because I'm away from Jeanette. All year, I think of the spring, when I can be with her again. Out of the entire year, that's the only time I'm truly happy… when I'm able to be with Jeanette. Even if I can't see her, or speak to her, or feel her hand in mine, I know she's there with me, and that's enough. It's enough to simply know that she still loves me. I only get through the rest of the year, because I know when winter fades, and springtime comes, I'll be with my Jeanette again."