AATC: Territory

They've got it all. Fame, popularity, money, originality and bonds closer than family. They're at the top but now, all they've got left to go… is down. Jealousy, lies, distrust and an impending war threaten to tear them apart at the seams. Alvittany, Simonette and Theonor.

Inspiration: Welcome all to my very own 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' fanfiction. I really got into the idea after watching the series they have on Nickelodeon before reading fanfiction, done by the likes of Jake Miller, Akira Sieghart and simonseville27. Jake's responsible for inspiring me to write this fic; I 'blame' him!

Location: I've lived in Jamaica my whole life. Given what little I know about USA from the Media and research thus far (coupled with a map open in a web browser,) that's what I'm running with. I'll try my best; you won't even notice the difference, trust me.

Updates: I use a schedule. This fic will get updates every 14-21 days. (If everything proceeds normally) Each update will be 4k-6.5k long. My word goal is 50k+.

Feedback: All is welcome. Review 'till your hearts give out. Sign in, review, sign out again and review as a guest. I guess flames are fine so long as you tell me what I'm doing wrong. I know that this fandom isn't as popular as one would like it to be but that's no excuse to say, 'meh, can't bother'.

Music: I will use songs in this fic, both from artistes and poetry (From either me or my sister). I simply write the fic and achieve my word quota, then I put in lyrics. No way am I using these songs just for filler.

Size and Universe: For upcoming events and such in the fic, I'll be going with animated cartoon size (and ability to grow from the 90s.) I think this size is more down to earth and practical. Besides, this way, they won't end being underfoot all the time from CGI films.

Disclaimer: I'll say this only once. I don't own Alvin and the Chipmunks. I don't own their characters, personalities, ideas, etc. All of that belongs to the Bagdasarians and J. Karman, I believe.

I only own my unique plots, and potential Original characters. My only benefit, is that of occupying my time with something deemed as 'constructive'. (Ahem. 'Writing' a story, instead of committing arson.)

1.

"Thank you, Philly!" Alvin yelled into the microphone as all of the fans screamed their applause of the Chipmunks and the Chipettes. They were nearly giddy at the amazing concert the two trios had pulled off in tandem with one another. This one was even better than the last and as he looked out over the expansive open air audience, he could have sworn that he could see faces from their previous concerts in states they had already passed through.

Theodore and Simon let out a long exhale, seeing their brother's antics again. They supposed that they had gotten used to it. Perhaps one was 'allowed' to behave in such a manner; after all, this was a rather large concert and he carrying on like that kept the audience pumped.

It was now six in the morning.

After a few more words of farewell and some slight boasting and banter done by the lead singers of the two trios, the audience converted into a half-lingered, half-leaving state. Most headed for their various modes of transportation, some walked and yet others lagged behind, purchasing caffeinated and diabetes-inducing beverages. The six still on the stage conversed quietly while sipping their favorite sodas retrieved from a nearby ice-filled cooler set up for that specific purpose. Alvin sighed in his now depleting euphoria and the others did the same.

"That's the end of that. Didn't expect a turnout like that from Philadelphia." The red-capped chipmunk stated.

"Actually Alvin, we have three more concerts, all in other states." Simon amended the idea. Eleanor groaned a little when she heard this. She stroked her eyes and yawned.

"Are they all-nighters?"

"Uh huh." Jeannette confirmed. She didn't really feel the same way as her green-clad sister when it came on to rest. While she was also getting weary of doing concerts with the others that ran so late…right back into the early morning, she had to admit that she might be getting used to it. 'Ugh. My internal clock must now be in full reverse. Now it thinks that night is day and day, night. We really should correct this before School starts up again in the fall.'

The sun was rising swiftly now, casting its golden light over the open area. Depending on what one called luck, the stage where they were standing still was facing the east. Although in the early morning the sun's rays were 'gentle', the sextet did not enjoy participating in a staring contest with the undefeated celestial body.

A bit irritated, they all turned their backs to it. They were a bit peeved because in doing so, they were unable to keep the tradition of always being in a sort of circle, a ring if you may. It kept everyone facing each other but now, they no longer had that, albeit temporarily. The feeling was a bit foreign to the six who were so close to one another.

"So, which songs are we singing in Richmond?" Brittany asked. "Does anyone know?"

"I'm sure Dave will tell us." Theodore offered. He was now on his third soda but luckily, no one noticed that a certain flavor was no longer available.

"Well, I gotta know! I nearly panicked when we had to switch songs midway through the chorus! It's kinda embarrassing when you're still singing the previous song when someone changes to the next one." As she implied the emphasis, she leveled a mild glare at Alvin, who had the decency to chuckle in (very) slight shame, knowing it was mostly his fault.

"Well, I was trying to make sure we kept their interest. We have to be kinda spon…spotanus?" He stumbled a bit.

"Spontaneous?" The blue Seville offered.

"Err, yeah! That!" His brother exclaimed when he received the amendment.

"Well…not everyone's on the same page as you, Alvin!" Brittany argued. Jeanette was in full agreement, having getting caught up in the error as well. "Right guys?"

"Well, to tell the truth, over the years I've grown to expect when Alvin is going to change songs. I guess Theodore and I have gotten used to it, Brittany." Simon slightly pushed up his glasses back up his nose. "If it's any consolation, he tends to change songs during the Bridge."

"The…wha?" Eleanor asked.

"The instrumental passage that links two sections of a musical composition."

"Again…wha?" She raised an eyebrow with her mouth slightly agape in her incomprehension.

"He means during the instrument solos." Jeanette stated, 'dumb-ing' down the definition so the others who hadn't caught on to the meaning knew what the bi-spectacled chipmunk meant.

"Oh. Well, a little warning would be nice." Brittany said, folding her arms.

"Maybe we can work out a hand-signal or something." Alvin replied, now a bit anxious to please.

"Good."

A man around the height of six feet tall came up on stage, wearing a blazer with a C&C logo on it along with a matching cap. He strode up to the sextet and half-smiled, half-grinned.

"Amazing concert, you guys."

"Thanks Dave." They chorused. The action slightly put off the man, wondering how they could do that, as if they were all attuned to each other in their minds to pull off something like that.

'Perhaps it's because they're that close.' "Anyway, you guys can go to bed. I'll wrap up things here so we can get everything settled for later, alright?"

"Sure." (2)

"Okay." (2)

"That sounds affable." (2)

The man cocked up an eyebrow. 'Now, only twin counterparts did it this time, like the usual Simon and Jeanette, Alvin and Brittany along with Theodore and Eleanor. I wonder if they've already realized it. They're practically tailor-made for each other. I suppose they will eventually, if they haven't already.'

The sextet yawned collectively before walking off the stage to the right and made their way to their bus. They all filed in and told their driver 'good morning.' The stout man nodded while touching his cap and soon, he drove back to the hotel where they were staying. Although upon arriving, he had to wake them up and inform them to go to their rooms and sleep there instead, properly and more comfortably.

Now yawning uncontrollably, they did not put up any protest. To do so would mean contradicting one of the body's most basic needs and right now, their most appealing priority. Their eyes lidded in a halfway droop, their sugar-highs wearing off and leaving them weary.

They filed into the elevator jadedly, with Eleanor the closest to the panel of buttons that indicated the floor numbers. "Who remembers which floor we're supposed to go?"

"Um…is it sixteen? Eighteen, maybe?" Theodore answered with a yawn.

"I think it's seventeen." Brittany offered.

"Ugh! Which is it?!" Jeanette was slowly but surely losing her fight against crankiness induced by missing sleep and this 'discussion' about floor numbers was not helping.

"I believe it's eighteen." Simon argued. He was about to make his way to the panel to punch the number in when the elevator started moving on it's own accord, no doubt because of someone 'calling' it. Everyone realized this and groaned.

"What floor is it going to?"

Eleanor gazed at the reading briefly. "Twenty-nine."

They all sighed, trying to keep consciousness. They waited and soon, the elevator arrived at its summoning and a burly man stepped inside, almost crowding and hogging all the available space in the elevator. Without even missing a beat, the man punched the ground floor button, making the two trios head back to their original space.

Upon arriving, Jeanette nearly exploded when Simon's head sagged unto her left shoulder when he nodded off, still standing. She was about to shrug him off but thought better of it and roused him with a tap on the shoulder.

"Huh? Wha?" He looked up with a savage jerk that nearly had the chipette worried he might have broken his neck. Looking back to the buttons, he quickly pressed eighteen and slapped himself in the face lightly, trying to keep himself awake. They finally stepped out, only for someone to realize that the usual six was in fact, five.

"Wh…where's Alvin?" Brittany asked.

They all looked back to the elevator and saw said person sprawled out in the back corner of it with his back against the wall, asleep. They probably would have laughed, if they knew that it would never happen to them.

The doors of the lift started closing and they all slightly panicked. "Quick! Someone grab the door!" Simon half yelled.

Being the closest to the elevator, Brittany needed no second urging and immediately grabbed one of the closing suicide doors and prevented it from closing. The lift started reopening and she grabbed the chipmunk by the shoulder and armpit and tugged him out of the elevator as best as she could. Hardly were his feet clear of it when the doors closed again and the lift was back again on its merry way, consisting of only 'up' and 'down' choices.

The remaining Seville brothers promptly went up to their brother and relieved Brittany of her responsibility of helping her counterpart. They quickly took each of Alvin's arms around their necks and soon spotting their rooms by their numbers, they hurried to them. They were right across from the hall from each other. One shouldn't be surprised at this fact.

Jeanette hurriedly opened the door and was about to just head to her bed pronto but an instinct stemming from common courtesy forced her to turn her head to look at the boy trio who were just heading through their doors as well. Simon was also in the process of doing the same, looking back. All the others, (minus Alvin) started doing the same and Jeanette was the first to speak.

"Goodnight." She stated, with a slightly sad-looking smile.

Simon mirrored the smile but his soon grew wider and rather happier-looking. "Good morning."

The purple-clad chipette's smile became markedly improved and she was soon followed inside by her sisters. The boys did as well and both doors were shut at the same time. No sooner was it shut were sounds of the six sleeping soundly in their beds, completely 'unequipped' for bed.

With Dave, two hours later. (8:30 a.m.)

He sighed as the elevator doors opened and he stepped out from among the other users of the lift. Easing his way from around a sweaty, portly jogger and taking great care to avoid touching the woman before the doors closed behind him, allowing the others to ascend or descend to their own respective floors.

He was now on floor eighteen and he suppressed a potentially gaping yawn, heading straight for the room that he shared with the boys. There were two double beds and a queen size bed in there and he knew that the same was with the girls.

He allowed only a single tear to flow down his cheek as he accidentally delved into the memory of that usual arrangement. He feared of what would happen and tries to whistle a tune while wiping away the salty liquid from his face. He was unable to even whistle properly, for his lips kept puckering incorrectly as he choked back a small sob.

Secretly, he wondered if the kids were any better off than he. 'I wonder how they've been holding up.'

He stopped in front of his room and dug into his pocket, searching for the key he had gotten for the door afore him. Finding it quickly, he pushed the key into the receiving knob and turned it. Satisfied at hearing the click, he now turned the doorknob and stepped inside. All of a sudden, slumber threatened to crash down unto him like a (full) cement truck and then kiss him as gently as-

"Keep it together, Dave." He muttered to himself, trying to keep himself awake. What had happened to the times he pulled consecutive all-nighters? 'Am I getting old or something? Hmm. The boys are now all fourteen, soon fifteen and the girls are the same. I guess that means…uh huh, I'm not gettin' younger.'

He unconsciously went to the bathroom first to alleviate the uncomfortable feeling of a bladder running out of storage space and washed his hands. He hesitated while in front of the mirror and looked over his reflection. He took off his cap and looked at his black hair. He could only see two or so white hairs and he plucked them out, gritting his teeth in the stinging pain that arose. He then looked at the corners of his eyes and smiled when he saw the absence of any sort of crow's feet. He then pinched his cheek to test his skin's elasticity and it snapped back a bit slowly.

The man frowned a bit. 'Huh. I wonder if it's 'cause taking care of them as well as being their manager that's stressing me out?'

There was no answer. Only silence.

Even though he had spoken mentally, he wondered what it would have been like if someone had answered him back.

He walked out of the room and headed back to the bedroom, noting how large the suite was. As he entered the bedroom, he saw all of his sons on the still-covered beds, still in their clothing they had had on the night before.

He wanted to get upset but decided that he could forgive them this once. 'After all, this is a Hotel, not their beds at home.'

He went to Theodore first and took off his shoes. He wrinkled his nose a bit and made a mental note to tell the boy to change his socks. He then rolled up the sheet from the side right up until he reached the chipmunk still sleeping. He then rolled Theo over that part of the sheet horizontally and finished rolling up the sheet, with all the skill of a motherly figure. He repeated the process with Simon, (minus the smelly socks) and took off his glasses, setting the spectacles down on the bedside table. He then went to the bed that he shared with Alvin (Queen size) and took off his cap that threatened to fall off his head. After doing so, he proceeded to remove his shoes as well and remove the top sheets.

Completing his fatherly duty, he went to the foot of the beds and regarded his sons. His growing sons. At the age of fourteen (& a 1/2), they were roughly four feet tall with the exception of Simon, who was always in the lead by a few inches. He suspected that the tallest they would ever grow to was five feet but he didn't care. Perhaps it was good for his ego and self respect if they always had to look up to him, both respect-wise and literally.

He was tempted to just go to sleep next to his red-clad son but he had similar duties to do next door. He had to.

The person to do this wasn't around, and he had to step in.

He left the hotel room and crossed the hall to the room next door. Soon, he unlocked the door to the Chipettes' room with another key and entered heading straight for the bedroom.

He had to do nearly the same exact process with the Chipettes, who had also neglected to remove their footwear in their haste to get to bed before exhaustion had fully taken effect. Although the only real difference was that Eleanor's socks was…more tolerable and the fact that Brittany did not have any headwear. And he wasn't sure how to remove her earrings without waking her up, so he let them be.

Finally completing the task, he left their suite, trying to avoid looking back lest he remember and partially succeeded. Soon, he went back to his room and sat at his desk.

He removed a planner from a briefcase on his desk opened it at the back to reveal a large map of the USA. Based on the colour scheme, it was originally all white, but several states were still white, some were yellow…

And the rest were red.

He marked an 'X' over Pennsylvania with a pencil strapped to the top of the planner and sweated a bit when he eyed New Jersey. He shook his head, noting that the state was shaded in a red colour and looked at the next state and recalled the location for the next concert.

The number of X's on the map had gained a brother in Philadelphia and before this was all over for the summer, two more will complete the list. Only…two…more…

His head drooped unto the desk and on the departing wings of consciousness, he pushed away the planner, making room for him to lay his head to sleep.

=X=X=

"Ms. Miller? Did we sound good?" Eleanor asked.

The pink-wearing chipette started staring around wildly around. The leathery upholstery, the overpowering scent of pine air freshener, the breeze constantly streaming in…

She was here…again.

"Could you close the window, Brittany?" Jeanette asked. "It's messing up the bun in my hair."

Without a second thought and moving as if she had no control over what she was doing, she grasped the now-worn rotating handle on the door clockwise, making the window slide upwards until it closed.

"Thanks."

Brittany nodded and looked into the rearview mirror, gazing deeply into the reflection of her adoptive mother's eyes as she spoke, still staring at the road ahead of her.

"Your singing was top notch tonight, girls. I'm sure that everyone loved it."

Brittany couldn't help but smile. No matter the reality, or how many times she heard it, she loved hearing the Miller woman compliment them. Perhaps that in an early version of her life she would have let the compliment go to her head but not here.

Not now.

Ms. Miller looked up in the mirror and saw Brittany looking at her. "Something the matter, dearie?"

Brittany remembered what came next as the woman said this. She gazed out past the woman and saw glaring bright headlights that penetrated the front windshield and assaulted her vision. As she started to yell, muffled sounds were all that were heard as her mouth refused to open.

Her eyes exploded open and all that filled her vision was white, and a steady stream of waterworks.

'White? Am I… am I… dead?'

No.

She blinked and slowly came to realize that she was lying on her side. As she dug her hand beneath her and pushed herself up, she saw that the 'white' was merely that of her pillows on her bed. Her arm strength waned as she finally forced herself up into a sitting position and allowed her legs to hang over the edge of the queen sized bed.

Realizing quickly where she was, what she had done and the time that had passed, tears ran anew down her face as she recalled that whenever her adoptive mother and her sisters were abroad from home, she would share the largest bed with her.

But she was all alone in this one.

She brought up her arm to her face and wiped away the bereavement water with the back of her wrist and got off the bed. She tried to stand fully erect but she had to stretch fully first. After completely doing so, she stood 'tall' and straight, finally achieving a steady physical compass and gathering her bearings.

'Right. Food. And… my sisters.' She looked behind her and saw her fellow Chipettes snoring soundly in their beds. Using her better judgment, she decided to let them sleep for a little while longer. It had been a long night, after all.

She felt the ground under her feet and for the first time noticed that she was barefooted. 'Wha? I don't remember taking off my shoes before we just…dropped…into…bed.' She could feel apprehension dawn across her face as she thought about it. 'Dave. He must have taken them off. But what time is it?'

She glanced to the 'Classic' style clock on the wall. It was now 2 p.m. Feeling that some (late) lunch was in order, she found her bed slippers nearby and slipped them on. Soon, she was on her way to the nearest phone. Without further delay, she was calling for room service.

=X=X=

Jeanette's eyes opened slowly, as did the eyes of Eleanor. The girls awakened themselves more efficiently by immediately getting up and standing. One yawn and a stretch later, their clouded 'sleep' vision cleared up and they saw their aqua-eyed sister with a medium sized pizza in her lap (on her bed) and she was eating straight from the box, as the tradition and practice had demanded of it.

They practically teleported next to her, their stomachs making noise akin to a monster's growl. As Brittany regarded them, she gestured to two more boxes that was sitting on a table close by. Now knowing where they were, they still hadn't left her side.

"Green peppers?"

"Extra cheese and pepperoni?"

"Yep and yep." Brittany answered her sisters' one-worded questions. "As if I'd forget your favorite toppings."

Not even five seconds had passed properly when the fleeting time found the two standing chipettes in their beds with their pizza in their laps, leaning against the top of the bed. "So what time is it?"

Without even looking up, Brittany answered. "It's three fifteen, Jeanette."

The sounds of chewing pervaded the room as the three girls ate their fill of their pizzas, all of them stopping with only a quarter remaining. With a 'lady-like' burp, they ended the meal, and Eleanor graced it. In order to save space, they put all the remaining pizza in one box and discarded the other two in the garbage chute in the hallway before going back to their room.

"So." Brittany asked. "What's next?"

"I dunno." Eleanor answered.

"Maybe we should go do some running. Exercise if you wish. We need to tire ourselves and go back to bed. It's the only way to correct our internal clocks." Jeanette took off her glasses, cleaned them with a corner of her shirt, and put them back on as she said this. The whole gesture made her look very intellectual.

And geek-ish. In a good way.

"So…running?"

"I suppose that should be effective. As soon as the food digests, we can run at five p.m., settle down for dinner at eight and go to bed by say, ten p.m. That should be good enough." Jeanette replied.

Eleanor nodded. "So, what can we do 'till it digests, huh?"

Jeanette shrugged. "I don't know everything."

Brittany's eyes wandered to the 'living room' area of the suite, where she saw a gaming console setup underneath the rather large high-def television. Her eyes widened a bit as she recalled the memory of Alvin saying that he had had the hotel setup the console should an inconvenience prevented them from leaving the hotel. She was never a gaming fanatic like the red Seville but for now, she was grateful that he had thought ahead. Perhaps it might even prove to be an occupying distraction from…that.

"…Hey. I think I know what we can do."

Next Door

His first emotion, was that everything was foggy. His mind was in a sleep-induced grogginess and he hated the feeling. One of the reasons why he was never a morning person.

Come to think of it, the elevator shouldn't be this comfortable. At least he knew that much.

'Uh…I…I… leaned against the wall inside the elevator. That's…that's what I did. But if that's what I did…where am I?'

He inhaled deeply as white surrounded him. Suddenly, the scent of vanilla assaulted his nostrils, the smell reminding him of a lotion that she tended to use more often than not. But… he had smelt this before. It was in his…

"Pillow?" He muttered, lifting his head. As he did so, he took in the features of where he was and realized that he was in his bed in the Seville's suite. With that noted, he came back 'down to earth' really quickly and shook his head, clearing all cobwebs from his consciousness.

He quickly rolled out of bed and made a beeline for the bathroom to relieve himself. Soon after, he took a brief and cold shower and he retreated from the room, sporting jean shorts and a red sweater-shirt complete with a hood with a large 'A' on the front. He decided that wearing a full-on sweater would have been impractical in the summer and wearing something thinner would be more practical. Regardless, a red sweater with his first initial was something of a trademark and even if he had to be immensely uncomfortable, he was going to wear it despite what weather or climate.

His stomach growled suddenly and felt as if it were trying to tie itself in knots. He glanced to the clock and saw that it was four p.m.

"Four?" He mumbled under his breath. "I feel like I could eat several dinners, but the time is only suitable for a snack." He suddenly grinned as no one had ever specified how light- or heavy a snack could be.

He was soon at the phone and calling for room service.

First chapter…finished.

So… how did I do? Well? Poorly? Too much dialogue? Not enough intrigue? Good start? Poor development?

Tell me! In a review that is.

I've got this whole story plotted, all key points and all that jazz. All I need to do is to flesh out the characters, and extrapolate certain ideas and points. So writer's block? What's that? Don't have the disease, infection, virus, whatever it is.

Should the chapter ever be late, it's because life got hectic. If I ever update late, I'll make up for it with more words.

Valete omnes,

MRAY 4TW.