Disclaimer: I do not own Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Author's Note: Wow, it's been a loooong while. I just graduated nursing school, and am studying for my boards to become a registered nurse. I failed my first time around a few weeks ago, and have been having a hard time getting back into the groove with my self-disappointment. I decided to re-read my stories and reviews, because it gave me faith that there are things that do come naturally to me, even if test-taking doesn't. And it may seem a little weird because I should be too "old" to be writing fanfictions about AATC, but it's a story I started around 14 years old, and I WILL finish it! After re-reading "Little Wonders," an idea hit me for the next chapter. It does jump a bit of time, but I just couldn't shake the idea. It works too well. I am treating the AATC crew as humanoid, so anything you read, I wrote as if they were more human than munk. I don't even know if anyone is still following my work anymore, so this may just be for me as a creative outlet. If by chance any original readers are still out there, this is dedicated you! And as a special treat, there is a long flashback, so this is pretty much two chapters in one. As always, song and link are in my profile. So buckle up, maybe grab a snack, and enjoy! :)

Chapter 5: These Twists and Turns of Fate

~*Three Years Later*~

Simon smiled down on his beautiful wife and newborn daughter, swaddled and quietly resting in her mother's arms. He sat on the edge of the hospital bed, where Jeanette was sitting under the blankets in her hospital gown, her dark auburn hair flowing and beautiful. Simon looked lovingly from his new daughter to his wife and tucked a stray wisp of hair behind her ear, and wiped some of the remaining sweat drops from her brow. Jeanette broke her gaze from the little chipmunk that just came out of her body in the form of an amazing miracle, lifting her eyes to Simon's gray blue eyes that shone with tears behind his signature black-rimmed glasses.

"What should we name her?" Jeanette asked, practically whispering.

"I was thinking - " Simon's words died in his throat as he heard the cocking of a gun.

"I told you I would find you and your children, my little belles," A familiar voice hissed, the words falling from his mouth like acid to their ears.

Jeanette screamed as Simon leaped forward to shield his wife and daughter, and a gunshot rang out.

"NOOOO!" Simon screamed as he leapt upright in bed, soaked in sweat, tears silently streaming down the matted fur on his face.

"Simon! Simon it's okay! Simon I'm right here," Jeanette reassured him, sitting upright and leaning over her huge, swollen belly, rubbing Simon's back.

"Thank God," Simon rasped, pulling Jeanette into a tight embrace, then pulling back and kissing her belly.

"Was it Duponte?" Jeanette asked, the worry clear in her tired facial expression.

"Yes," Simon choked, knowing he could never hide his fears from Jeanette.

The couple had worked very hard to overcome their past horrors, but post-traumatic stress disorder was a condition they both grappled with from time to time. It had gotten worse when Jeanette found out the happy, albeit surprising news that she was pregnant. The couple had no
real plans for having children, and had expected complications in doing so due to Jeanette's medical history. They had decided they would seek out the proper obstetrician when the time was right, as they were enjoying married life on their own. However, fate had other plans.

Simon and Jeanette groaned as they plopped on their queen bed, rolling over in the familiarity of their blue and purple striped quilt set that Dave had given them as a wedding gift just two years prior.

"That was an amazing vacation, but I am so happy to be in our own bed!" Jeanette sighed, looking over at Simon.

"Agreed," Simon nodded slightly, eyes closed as he thanked his lucky stars Jeanette was smart enough to suggest taking off an extra three days after their flight home, so that they could have a small "staycation" from their vacation to Europe where they had visited Ireland, Germany, Italy, and France for a week each. It had been amazing – the culture, the monuments, the food, the history...however, the time had come to go back to Los Angeles.

All of a sudden Jeanette's eyes grew wide as she flew out of bed, sprinting to the bathroom they shared. Simon leaned up on his elbows, eyebrows raised as he heard retching from the bathroom.

"Do you still think you have food poisoning from that filet mignon in Paris?" Simon asked, doubt lining his voice. After a moment, Jeanette's shaky voice called out.

"They did prepare it a lot rarer than I'm used to, but I don't think so anymore. It's been a week since that dinner..." Jeanette paused before more retching was heard. "I'm sorry honey, you can close the door if you want," she said meekly.

"Never," Simon said, having walked into the bathroom and knelt down beside her. He gathered all of her thick, wavy hair and held it for her in one hand as he rubbed her back with the other. "We made a vow, through sickness and in health, remember?"

Jeanette gave him a small smile. "I remember. I think I'm okay for now. Still a little nauseous, but the tingling in my nose is gone. Maybe I just caught something during our travels. We have been on a lot of public transportation."

"Even so, why don't I run to the store and get you some nausea medication while you take a nice hot shower," Simon offered as he passed her a tissue to wipe her nose and mouth with.

"Are you sure? It's awfully late, I can make it through the night okay," Jeanette paused, knowing Simon was just trying to help.

"I'm sure. The pharmacy around the corner is open until ten o'clock, and we both need a good night's sleep after all that traveling, especially with you not feeling well. A European tour is amazing, but thoroughly exhausting!" Simon coaxed her.

"Okay," Jeanette replied, and began stripping her traveling clothes as Simon turned the dial on the shower.

After Simon was satisfied Jeanette was all settled into her shower, he donned a coat and knit hat, then walked the short five minutes to their local pharmacy, with a wind chill that was unusually bitter for the end of November. Once inside, he walked to the correct aisle and selected the generic anti-nausea medication. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the item conveniently stocked right next to his quarry.

Pregnancy tests.

Could she be...? Simon thought to himself. They did say the bullet missed all her major organs...

On a hunch, Simon also selected a three-pack of pregnancy tests.

Once home, he found Jeanette in her bathrobe and her hair wrapped up in a towel-turban, waiting for him as she sipped on a cup of tea and reading the book she had started on their flight home. When she heard her husband open the door, she perked up, a bright smile on her face.

"I made you a cup too, it's still hot on the counter!" Jeanette beamed.

"Thank you honey," Simon replied uneasily as he took off his hat and coat. "Um, here you go." He placed the pharmacy bag next to her on the couch.

"Thank you so much Sim - " Jeanette's voice died in her throat when she saw what else was in the bag, and looked up at Simon with wide eyes.

"It's just to rule it out," Simon said defensively, holding up his hands. "They were right next to the anti-nausea medication, and it made me think maybe...maybe it's explanation as to why you've been feeling so...moody."

"I have not!" Jeanette burst out, then clamped her hand over her mouth. "I was supposed to get my period yesterday, but when I didn't I thought it was because we were in a different time zone than usual...do you think...?" Jeanette faded off.

Simon said nothing, and instead took the pink box out of the bag and handed it to her, giving it a "why not?" shrug. Jeanette slowly stood up, and walked to the bathroom, and closed the door behind her as she took the towel off her wet hair.

Simon slowly sipped his tea, trying not to realize the anxieties taking place in the back of his mind. What if we're not ready, what if her past injuries cause complications, what if...what if Duponte finds out and makes good on his threat...Simon shook his head, trying to rid himself of negative thoughts. He took another sip of tea, and then opened the bottle of anti-nausea pills, taking out two and placing them on the coffee table for Jeanette to take once she came out of the bathroom. He checked his watch, and realized Jeanette had been in the bathroom for almost fifteen minutes.

"Honey? Are you okay?" Simon asked, knocking on the bathroom door.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Jeanette had her arms crossed, biting her thumbnail as she stared at the three positive pregnancy tests sitting on the counter, unwittingly thinking the exact same thoughts her husband was having. His knocking broke her out of her reverie, and she instinctively placed a hand over her belly, excitement growing as her fears began to melt. Simon leaned back in surprise when the bathroom door swung open. Jeanette stood there with her hands behind her back, beaming – no, glowing. She slowly brought her hands out, displaying the three positive tests.

"We're pregnant, Simon," Jeanette whispered, trying to gauge his reaction. For a moment, he did nothing but stand there silently, staring at the sticks in Jeanette's hands that had the power to change their lives.

"Simon...? Simon, please say someth – " Jeanette started, then was cut off by Simon's lips crashing on hers, and she began to giggle mid-kiss.

"I hope that means you are excited too," Jeanette murmured against his lips, as Simon refused to pull away.

Simon said nothing, but smiled as he continued kissing his wife. The mother of his unborn child. He scooped Jeanette up off of her feet as she giggled again, and carried her into the bedroom, where they celebrated their new chapter in life the same way they had created it.

Jeanette kept rubbing Simon's back as he practiced deep breathing exercises, as taught by their therapist to cope with PTSD nightmares. All of a sudden, Jeanette's warm hand was gone and he heard her breathing through pursed lips.

"Jean?" Simon asked with trepidation.

"Don't worry, they're probably Braxton-Hicks contractions," Jeanette explained through deep breaths. They had a scare the previous week when Jeanette was having pains, but they turned out to be faux contractions, called Braxton-Hicks.

"Have you been up and moving?" Simon asked, recalling all his knowledge from the pregnancy books.

"Yes, and I went to the bathroom too. The contractions still won't go away, but I do not want to go to the hospital until we know for sure," Jeanette explained just before another contraction took over.

"Well, let's time them then. Tell me when the next one starts," Simon stated, all thoughts of his nightmare gone. He held up his watch and watched the seconds tick by as Jeanette gave him starting and stopping times for about fifteen minutes.

"Jean...your last eight contractions were exactly sixty seconds apart. You know as well as I do that Braxton-Hicks are irregular, and usually go away after moving around or emptying the bladder. Honey...I think you're in true labor!" Simon jumped out of bed, scattering around their bedroom, getting dressed in the clothes he had laid out for work the next day, putting his phone and wallet into his pocket, and grabbing the baby bag they had put together a month prior so that
they could be ready at any moment.

"I am going to have to agree with you," Jeanette said matter-of-factly as she pulled the covers off of herself, revealing a pool of watery liquid. "My water just broke," she stated, almost dumbfound. "Simon...we're having a baby..."

Simon turned around excitedly, glad that his presumptions had been validated, when he found Jeanette slumped back onto the pillows, her eyes closed and body limp.

"Jean," Simon said, shaking her as he threw the baby bag over his shoulder, keys in the other hand.

"JEANETTE!" Simon yelled in panic, looking down at the fluid between her legs. It was no longer clear, it was red. Blood.

The black form fell on the floor as Simon heard hot metal meeting the flesh. Blood. Lots of blood. No green eyes. The green eyes were closed.

Simon was thrown back years in time, remembering vivid details, as if he was there again. He could smell the gunpowder; he could see her lying there…the sheer panic that had gripped its hands around his throat returned. He couldn't breathe.

Jeanette.

Simon shook his head violently, forcing deep breaths into his mouth, fighting through the deathly panic that had controlled him a decade ago. He ran to the bathroom and back, tucking a towel in between Jeanette's legs as he scooped her limp body into his arms, swaddling her in the bed sheets so that she wouldn't dip further into the shock. Simon ran out the door and kicked it shut behind him, not even bothering to lock it. He gently slid Jeanette into the passenger seat of his blue Kia Soul and buckled her in, threw the baby bag in the backseat, and ran into the driver's seat. The car's engine roared to life as if it knew the severity of the situation, and Simon dialed
9-1-1 on his cell phone. As it rang, he placed the phone on his ear, threw the car into drive, and barreled out of their driveway; the only sound in their neighborhood in the dead of night.

"9-1-1, what is your emergency?" A female voice answered.

"I need you to call the Saint Vincent emergency department, and tell them I'm driving my wife in. She's 38 weeks pregnant and woke up half an hour ago with consistent sixty second contractions. Her water broke, then she began bleeding and became unconscious. I believe she may be in hypovolemic shock. She has a history of a fractured L5 vertebrae from a bullet ten years ago, with an acute spinal cord injury that has since healed," Simon spit out as fast as he could all the pertinent information that he could think of.

"Understood. An alert has been sent to Saint Vincent ED. Where are you now?" The dispatcher asked.

"On Hawthorne Street, I'll be there in five minutes," Simon said, determined.

"There is a police unit at the end of Hawthorne Street who will escort you the rest of the way to the hospital. What is the make, model, and color of your car?" The dispatcher asked.

"Blue Kia Soul, I'm the only car going twenty miles per hour over the thirty speed limit, so he should spot me soon," Simon explained, grateful for whatever guardian angel placed a patrol car on the very street he was barreling down.

"The information has been dispatched. Please be wary of other cars, and I know it may be hard but please try to slow down until you have an escort. Is your wife still unconscious?" The dispatcher asked. Simon looked over at Jeanette. Her eyes were still closed, her breathing ragged and shallow. Blood was starting to come through the sheets he had wrapped her in.

"Yes," he choked. "Her bleeding is getting worse." Tears began to fall at the thought of losing Jeanette, again.

"Sir, you are doing extremely well. Take a deep breath. You're almost there."

Blue and red lights made Simon jump. He flashed his lights so that they would know it was him. The patrol car sped out in front of him, and raced through the red light. Simon followed and pressed "end" on his call. Three streets later, a glimmer of hope shot through him as he saw the hospital. He followed the patrol car to the ambulatory entrance, where he saw hospital staff waiting for them with a stretcher and resuscitation tools. He came to a stop and unlocked Jeanette's seatbelt as medical personnel opened the door and carried Jeanette onto the stretcher. Someone in scrubs told him where to park, and as he was about to just park in a handicapped space right out front, deciding he would worry about consequences later, one of the police officers tapped on his window. Simon rolled it down.

"I know I would be going crazy trying to be with my wife if I were you. Would you like me to park your car for you? I can leave your keys at the front desk," the officer offered. Simon immediately opened his door and handed his keys to him, noting that his name plate said "Officer Telgran."

"Thank you Officer," Simon said breathlessly. "I won't forget this."

Not waiting to hear his response, Simon ran into the hospital, the automatic doors swinging open. He saw Jeanette's feet in a hospital bed turning a corner and ran after her. The nurses and doctors were forming a plan, loudly but collectively. Simon caught up just as they entered an elevator.

"What's going on?" Simon asked breathlessly as they rode the elevator up.

"My name is Dr. Burke, I'm one of the obstetric medical residents here. We are going to get her upstairs and figure out what is going on." The elevator dinged and Jeanette was wheeled into an empty room. Simon stood silently in the corner as they examined her. He broke away for just a moment to call Dave and his brothers, who would bring Jeanette's sisters with them. They made a promise to rush there. "You're not going through this alone, Simon," Alvin told him, which was probably the most sincere sentiment Alvin had ever said to him.

The doctor interrupted him. "She has what is called placenta previa, when the baby's placenta is over the cervix, blocking the baby's exit during birth. This causes a lot of bleeding from constant contractions, and we need to go the operating room immediately for an emergency C-section. The nurse will give you a gown, booties, and hair net to accompany us into the OR. We are giving her fluids and she should come around soon."

Simon gave a sigh of relief, and choked when he heard a familiar voice calling his name.

"Simon?" Jeanette called out weakly. She was confused, there were so many people moving around her, beeping, commotion...were they in a hospital?

Simon rushed to her side and kissed her forehead, tears threatening to spill over again.

"You're okay Jeanny bean, you're okay," He smiled at her through the worry.

"The baby?" Jeanette cried. "Tell me our baby is okay," Jeanette demanded.

"We are going to get your baby out now," the nurse told Jeanette, placing a hairnet over her head and tucking her hair inside. "The doctors are going to give you an epidural, which will numb you from the waist down. They'll be sure to avoid your previous injury, and you'll be awake for when your baby is born."

Within ten minutes, they were in the OR. A blue sheet was clamped up from Jeanette's waist down, and Simon sat on a stool by Jeanette's head. He kissed her forehead. "This is it honey, here comes our miracle baby," he whispered. Jeanette's tears spilled over when they heard a loud cry.

"Here is baby number one!" The doctor exclaimed. "A healthy baby girl!" He handed the crying infant to the nurse to be evaluated.

"Baby number one?!" Simon and Jeanette exclaimed at the same time, looks of bewilderment on their faces.

"Yes, there are three of them. Didn't you know?" The doctor explained.

"No!" Simon and Jeanette exclaimed at the same time, then burst out laughing.

"They are so close together that the ultrasound must have looked like one large infant, rather than three small ones," a nurse speculated.

"Well, triplets do run in each of our families, I supposed we should have expected this," Jeanette laughed. Simon laughed with her, the worry lines in his face ceasing as Jeanette seemed to be more her normal self, and less the unconscious wife that scared him wholly.

"Baby number two! Another healthy baby girl," the doctor said, handing the second infant to another nurse.

"Wow, are we going to have all girls?" Simon asked out loud, almost scared.

"Four women, Simon Seville you are in for a world of hurt!" Jeanette giggled.

"And last but not least, a healthy baby boy," the doctor concluded, handing the squirming infant to yet another nurse.

"Looks like you have the stronger end of the gene pool," Simon laughed as he kissed Jeanette.

"Here are your daughters," a nurse placed each tiny bundle in one of Simon's arms as Simon stared on in astonishment.

"And this is your son," another nurse leaned down to tuck the third bundle next to the second.

"They're beautiful," Jeanette whispered, a few tears escaping the corners of her eyes.

"Just like their mother," Simon broke his fixated gaze on their newborns to look at Jeanette. She looked exhausted, but still beautiful herself.

"You can relax for a few minutes while the doctors finish stitching you," the nurse informed the new parents. They nodded without breaking their eyes away from their little newborns.

"What should we name them?" Simon asked.

"I have always liked the name Charlotte," Jeanette said, and their firstborn cooed. They both laughed.

"Charlotte, you already know your name," Simon kissed her on the forehead, ever so gently.

"Anastasia. I've always loved that name too," Jeanette said aloud, after a few moments of deep thought.

"Perfect," Simon said, smiling down at Anastasia. "How about Benjamin? For our strong boy," Simon suggested, nuzzling noses with his son.

"I love it," Jeanette beamed. "Can I...can I kiss them?" Jeanette asked, turning her head to the side as much as she could allow. The nurse explained she couldn't move her arms because of her many fluids that were infusing.

"Oh, of course!" Simon turned himself in the stool ever so slightly, and gave Jeanette the opportunity to look over each one of their new children up close.

"We will take you to a postpartum room now," the nurse explained. "Although, I do believe there are some anxious guests waiting outside. Why don't you show off the triplets while we settle Jeanette in her room. It will be Room 54, right around the corner."

"Are you okay with that plan, Jean?" Simon asked, looking down at her sleepy face.

"Yes, that's fine. Tell them I'm okay, please," Jeanette said, peering through half lidded eyes.

"Of course. I love you," Simon said as he kissed her.

"I love you too," Jeanette smiled softly.

Meanwhile, just down the hall an impatient Alvin was pacing back and forth. Brittany and Eleanor were leaning their heads together, yawning. Dave was reading a magazine, and Theodore was thumbing through a cookbook.

"Sit down Alvin, the doctor said Jeanette is fine," Brittany called out, exasperated by his constant back and forth.

"I can't!" Alvin retorted. "I get fidgety."

"We know," the whole group said in unison, rolling their eyes.

The door to their private waiting area was pushed open, and everyone jumped up to their feet. A figure was pushing the door open with their back, then turned as they entered the room. There was an audible gasp as a beaming Simon revealed the three little bundles.

"Triplets?! Again?" Dave almost groaned through a big smile he couldn't hide, and everyone laughed.

"Everyone, this is Charlotte Brittany, Anastasia Eleanor, and Benjamin David Seville. Kids, this is everyone," Simon grinned, his proud father persona already shining through.

"Can I hold Charlotte?!" a delighted Brittany squealed, not even waiting for an answer as she took the eldest triplet into her arms and began cooing at her.

"Oh and I wanna hold Anastasia!" Eleanor exclaimed, and Simon carefully handed her over.

"May I?" Dave held out his arms for little Benjamin.

"Sure, Dad," Simon smiled as he placed his son in Dave's open arms.

"I'm honored, by the way. And so proud!" Dave told Simon, before looking down at Benjamin.

"Thanks Dad," Simon beamed.

"We're really happy for you, Simon," Theodore piped up, giving his older brother a hug.

"Yeah, Mr. Dad, this is gonna be our wildest adventure yet," Alvin smirked at his younger brother, then came over to join their hug.

The hustle and bustle came and went, and Jeanette finally had the opportunity to hold their little miracles. Lots of photos were taken, and then came time to let the new family rest. After a nap, Jeanette attempted breastfeeding, which was not easy. Simon stayed the entire time, only leaving to get something from the cafeteria for lunch. When he came back, he paused at the doorway, memorizing the scene in front of him. Jeanette was in bed, holding each of the girls in her arms, and Benjamin was nestled safely on top of her legs. She was made to be a mother, Simon thought, smiling as he observed the scene. Jeanette looked up at him and smiled.

Simon walked over and gingerly picked up Benjamin, cradling him in his arms as Jeanette was doing with Charlotte and Anastasia, and sat on the bed next to her. They were exhausted – drained mentally and physically – but happy. They looked down at their little wonders, then up at each other, and at the same time said,

"I love you."

They both gave a small laugh, and Simon leaned over to kiss Jeanette. She then nestled her head onto his shoulder.

As it was, Simon wanted to add just a little more to their moment. He had the perfect song to sing for his children's first lullaby, and it was a song he knew that Jeanette had sung before. So he began to sing, in a soft melodious tone.

"Let it go,

Let it roll right off your shoulder

Don't you know

The hardest part is over

Let it in,

Let your clarity define you

In the end

We will only just remember how it feels…"

Jeanette smiled, loving the idea Simon came up with. Their children clearly did too, as they stopped making noises of any kind when their father began to sing, fixated on the strange but wonderful sound coming from him. Their mother joined him in the next verse.

"Our lives are made

In these small hours

These little wonders,

These twists and turns of fate

Time falls away,

But these small hours,

These small hours still remain…"

Jeanette took over, singing to Simon as she looked him in the eyes.

"Let it slide,

Let your troubles fall behind you

Let it shine

Until you feel it all around you

And I don't mind

If it's me you need to turn to

We'll get by,

It's the heart that really matters in the end,"

Simon felt his eyes well up again, admiring the strength and beauty that was his wife. He joined her again in singing,

"Our lives are made

In these small hours

These little wonders,

These twists and turns of fate

Time falls away,

But these small hours,

These small hours still remain…"

It was Simon's turn to look at Jeanette, practically whispering the words but still made them sound like notes from heaven,

"All of my regret

Will wash away some how

But I cannot forget

The way I feel right now,"

Jeanette and Simon smiled at each other, then looked down on Charlotte, Anastasia, and Benjamin, to sing to them once again; even though they had already drifted to sleep from their parents' duet.

"In these small hours

These little wonders

These twists and turns of fate

These twists and turns of fate

Time falls away, yeah but these small hours

These small hours, still remain, yeah

Still remain

These little wonders

Oh these twists and turns of fate

Time falls away

But these small hours

These little wonders still remain."

Jeanette nestled into Simon's shoulder again. And for a moment, all was right with the world.