Hey, everyone! Here's an early new post! Hopefully you enjoy it and here's a little Theonore for you all!

Chapter 7

Out to Lunch, part two

June 7th, 1947

11:30 am

Theodore settled on a green tie, since green was his favorite color… and also because Eleanor had been wearing green when they had met. He checked the clock hanging on the wall and realized that if he was going to make it, he would have to leave now. His heart started to beat fast.

He grabbed his brown blazer on the way out the door. Simon had been combing his hair with more than the utmost care in front of the bathroom mirror. Alvin had left about 30 minutes earlier to go to the precinct and grab the report that Captain Seville had left from that interrogation.

Poor Alvin, Theodore sighed. He never really talked about what had happened while fighting in the war. But it was obvious to Theodore and Simon both that the things he saw still bothered him, even a couple of years later. He and Simon had talked about it, and thought that what would do Alvin good would be meeting a nice girl. Instead, Alvin focused on detective work. Sometimes he wouldn't come home till late at night, or even eat for an entire day, because he was so focussed on solving a crime. It made Theodore worried sometimes. As a police officer, he was more than aware of the dangers of this job… and sometimes running into the wrong people was literally a matter of life and death. Lots of detectives had been lost because they dug more deeply than they should.

Theodore stopped by a local stand and picked up some flowers — a nice bunch of roses, azaleas, and chrysanthemums. The sky was a bright blue, everybody he passed on the street seemed so happy, and from an open shop door a radio was playing a happy tune.

He couldn't help it, a song was rising up in him and he decided to let it out:

(Author's Note: the song is Blue Skies by Irving Berlin. There's a great version sung by Frank Sinatra if you'd like to look it up!)

By the time he finished, he spotted her standing on a corner beneath a streetlamp. Eleanor was wearing green again today, but this time it was a dress that brought out her vibrant eyes. Her hair, no longer covered by a Press hat, was the color of fresh-baked bread and was done up in a way that was stylish but also wouldn't stop her from chasing down a news story.

She turned and saw him, a smile spread on her face, and she waved to him excitedly. By the time he reached her, he was already holding the flowers out in front of him.

"Um, these are for you," Theodore said bashfully.

"Oh!" Eleanor gasped. "How sweet of you! I can't remember the last time somebody got me flowers!"

"No?" Theodore asked.

"No." Eleanor turned shyly away. "Because, well, nobody ever has."

"Well you deserve them! I mean… they reminded me of you."

For a moment, both of them didn't speak. They just smiled.

Then Theodore's stomach grumbled.

"It sounds like you're hungry," Eleanor said with a laugh.

"I'm starving!" Theodore replied.

"Me too!" She linked her arm in his. "So where are you taking me?"

"Just this restaurant I know a couple blocks from here." Theodore couldn't take his eyes off of her arm wrapped around his own. "Hopefully that's ok? The cook is a friend of mine."

"It's perfect. Lead the way, Officer Theodore. I'm sure you know these streets as well as anybody!"

Several people on the street greeted Theodore as they went along, recognizing him as one of the friendly neighborhood cop. Eleanor seemed both surprised and also happy about that.

Eventually they reached the place: a modern-looking building with the name Ian's spelled out in neon-lighting.

"I know this place!" Eleanor exclaimed. She grabbed Theodore's hand and practically dragged him inside. "Come on! There's something you've got to see!"

"You've been here before?" Theodore asked, slightly crestfallen.

"Not often, but there's something special about it. I love it here!"

That cheered Theodore up. He had been hoping for a unique experience for her, but he might still get it… somehow.

"What is it that you want me to see?" he asked.

"You'll have to wait and see," she replied as they sat down at a table. A waiter was there in an instant, getting their drink orders and placing down menues. Within moments, another face showed up — bald and glasses-wearing, but with a wide smile.

"Theodore! What's the matter? Have you been avoiding me?"

Theodore smiled. "Hi, Ian!"

The bald man, Ian, wearing a suit with a bowtie, shook his hand ecstatically.

"It's been a while since you've been through my doors, Officer. Those cops are working you too hard if you can't get out here! And who is this pretty young woman?"

Eleanor blushed. "Eleanor, Eleanor Miller, of the Los Angeles Munk."

A look of surprise crossed Ian's face. "There's not a lot of chipmunks named Miller — you don't happen to be —"

"She's my sister," Eleanor said.

Ian could not have been more thrilled. "Well in that case, anything the pair of you want is on the house! Firstly because I like you, Theo! But also because we've got the relative of a local celebrity here!"

"Celebrity?" Theodore thought. "He must mean Jeanette Miller. But I didn't know Ian was so interested in science."

"Thank you!" Eleanor said.

"In that case, order up, you two! I'll get back there and personally make it myself!" Ian declared.

Theodore and Eleanor grinned broadly.

"What do you recommend?" Eleanor asked.

"For you? I'm thinking a breakfast special: waffles, eggs, bacon, the whole nine yards. Hey, it might be lunch, so why not have breakfast?" Ian chuckled. "As for you, Theodore my friend, how does a nice big cheeseburger with fries sound?"

Both Theodore and Eleanor felt their mouths watering. "All of it sounds amazing!" both said.

"Then I'll get that coming right up!" And with that, Ian was on his way to the kitchens.

"You know Ian Hawke?" Eleanor said.

"Yeah, my brothers and I did some work for him a while back. He had a chef who was stealing from him. I was on call and my brothers were the detectives who took over the case." Theodore shrugged. "It was really just part of the job. But he was really grateful."

"That's wonderful!" Eleanor said. "Golly, who knew being a police officer got you in so many doors. What I wouldn't give to have your contacts as a reporter. You get to have your eyes all over the city, in all the nooks and crannies I can't go."

If Theodore was honest, he wasn't sure weather to be flattered or a little uncomfortable with how interested his contacts as a police officer made her.

"So… uh, how do you know this place?" Theodore asked.

"You'll see…" Eleanor said, and the lights in the room started dimming. "Right… about… now!"

A spotlight appeared on the stage at the far side of the room. A man in a suit stepped out, a smile on his face. "Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to Ian's!" There was applause. "Let's welcome the leading lady of this venue, put your hands together for the Chipmunk with the voice of an angel: Brittany Miller!"

Theodore's jaw dropped as a pretty chipmunk with auburn hair and clad in a pink dressed stepped onto the stage. A knowing smile was on her lips.

"That's my other sister, Brittany!" Eleanor whispered to Theodore. "She's the main act here!"

"Good afternoon, everyone," Brittany said smoothly. "I think we all need a little music, don't we?"

There was more applause.

"In that case, here we go!"

The music started playing from a band stationed behind Brittany. Her gloved hands held the microphone, and she sang.

(Author's Note: the song is "Uptown Girl" by Postmodern Jukebox. Really worth a listen!)

Theodore had to admit she was an amazing singer. But he kept his eyes on Eleanor and saw the way they shone. It was obvious she admired her sister. She leaned forward, resting her chin in the palms of her hands.

When she finished singing, both chipmunks noticed that the food had been placed in front of them, but neither had noticed. They ate and chatted, the conversation coming easily.. Theodore's burger was delicious and Eleanor's waffles were fluffy and warming.

Theodore found how much he enjoyed being with her. She was fun to be with and was very lighthearted.

"So tell me about your family, Theodore," Eleanor said. "Is it just your brothers and you?"

"Yeah," Theo said. "My brothers and I have been on our own pretty much our whole lives. I'm the youngest. There's Alvin…"

"The war hero, right?" Eleanor said.

"Yeah, he — how did you know that?" Theodore's eyes widened.

"I'm a reporter, I do background checks. He was an officer, he got the Purple Heart, and more."

"Wow," Theodore said. "I didn't even know that…"

"He never told you?" Eleanor seemed interested.

"No, he doesn't talk about the war."

"Did you serve?"

"No, I was too young to enlist."

"And you have another brother: Simon?"

"Yeah, he's the middle."

"He likes Jeanette, my sister."

Theodore nodded. "That's right. They're on a date right now."

Eleanor smiled. "She told me that!"

"You know everything, don't you?"

"It's my job as a reporter. We dig wherever we can."

Theodore didn't say much. It was off-putting that somebody knew more about aspects of his brothers' lives, like Alvin's war strive, than he did.

She must have sense what he was thinking, because she reached for his hand. "Hey, I promise I'll respect all your boundaries. If you don't want me to cross a line, I won't."

Her smile comforted him. "Hey, I still have time. Do you want to go see a movie at the cinema?"

"I'd love to!" Theodore said, his spirits rising. "I'll pay for the popcorn."

That's it for this chapter! Next chapter, we'll get back to the case of the stolen necklace! And we'll even start to see some Alvittany!

BIG NEWS: I'm going to start posting a new story next week! The prologue to the story is being written right now and I hope you'll enjoy it!

Feel free to guess what you think it's going to be. Here's some hints: Fedora, world-travelling, action-adventure. Any guesses?

Just a reminder: I do NOT own Alvin and the Chipmunks and DO NOT claim to. ALL RIGHTS AND CREDIT goes to the original owners and creators.