Disclaimer: I only own my spankin' new laptop. ;D

AN: IT'S HERE! Wow, I can't believe it. About 38,000 words and nearly 250 reviews later, the epilogue of "Stolen" is here! However, I have fantastical news. For those who do not know...*drum roll please*...there will be a sequel! Huzzah! The name of it will be "Little Wonders" (it's not just about children, contrary to popular belief), and will be out in the next few weeks or so. It will chronicle our favorite bespectacled pair throughout their lives as they heal by themselves and together. Some light will be shed on questions that may have been raised during the trial, but it will be a predominantly happy story. :)

This story has been dedicated to all of the faithful reviewers who decided to follow Simon and Jeanette throughout this epic story and see it through to the finish. I love you all. :)

And now, what you've all been waiting for...the epilogue! You know the drill- all chipmunked versions of songs are in my profile.

Enjoy. :)

Chapter 20: Epilogue – At the Beginning

- One Year Later -

Simon gave himself a once-over in the mirror. His favorite dark blue denim jeans? Check. Navy and blue checkered button-up shirt? Check. Glasses? Of course. Rose-wrapped cross? Always.

Jeanette wheeled over to him and slipped her paw through his. "Don't worry; you look incredible," she commented, giving his paw a gentle squeeze.

"So do you," Simon replied and gave her a soft smile. And so she did. Jeanette was dressed in a purple skirt that was long enough to cover her modestly, but showed off her long and slender legs. She also wore a satin sky blue blouse with a V-neck, and her chocolate brown hair was curled and tied in an elegantly low and loose ponytail over her shoulders by her traditional purple ribbon.

Simon was now seventeen, and Jeanette was sixteen going on seventeen in only two months' time. It was the summer before their senior year, in which they were both entering as normal students. Upon their return to school, teachers kindly gave them plenty of time to catch up on the school work they missed during their "absence." They certainly proved their intelligence by completing their missed work of the last two months of their sophomore year and the few months they missed at the beginning of their junior year in only two months' time.

"Five minutes!" A stage hand yelled as he passed through the open door.

"Let's go," Simon said, and Jeanette followed him out of the room.

Thousands of people filled the stadium, cheering when a loudspeaker announced the show was about to begin. Then Alvin, dressed in slacks and a red button down shirt, stepped out in front of the curtain.

The whole stadium screamed and cheered, with numerous fangirls holding up signs and posters that read, "Marry Me, Alvin!"

"Hello Los Angeles!" Alvin said into the microphone, with a wide grin spreading on his face. The cheering grew even louder.

"Welcome to the first annual Alvin and the Chipmunks' Missing Children's Benefit Concert, featuring the amazing Chipettes!"

More screaming ensued, and grew even louder when Alvin introduced Simon and Jeanette as they came out onto the stage. Alvin gave him the mike and winked.

"See you backstage," he muttered.

"How is everyone doing tonight?" Simon said into the microphone, and there was more screaming, but they grew quiet out of respect as Simon began to speak again.

"Well, as you all know, this is our first annual Missing Children's Benefit concert. You all know what the news has told you of what happened to us. Jeanette and I are here to tell you the real story. Our story. And the way we're going to do this is through music, because it was the power of music that helped us through our ordeal. Nearly all the songs you hear tonight are what Jeanette and I sang to each other during our captivity," Simon explained, then passed the microphone to Jeanette.

"There is a screen behind this curtain, and throughout the whole show, it will be displaying the faces of missing children. If anyof you have seen any of these children, call the number at the bottom of the screen. Any small detail, even something you think is insignificant, could be vital in bringing that child home safely." Jeanette then handed the mike back to Simon.

"So for now, enjoy the show, but remember why you're here. Through the entertainment we provide, we hope that at least one person recognizes a face they see. That one person could out of bravery and the kindness of their heart make a family whole again."

With a smile and a wave, the bespectacled pair stepped behind the curtain, leaving the horde of screaming fans behind them.

Each chipmunk and chipette took their place on the stage, and the lights dimmed as the curtains opened. The soft glow of the screen behind them began to grow brighter as a dark-haired young boy, hardly three years old, came up on the screen; the first child to be shown of missing children throughout the United States.

The cheering ceased as a piano began to play a familiar melody. A small beam of light shined on each chipmunk and chipette as they began to sing in unison.

"Five-hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

Five-hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five-hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

How do you measure, measure a year

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife
In five-hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

How do you measure a year in the life…"

The chipmunks took alto, and the chipettes sang soprano as they sang the next verse.

"How about love
How about love
How about love
Measure in love
Seasons of love

Seasons of love…"

Jeanette readied herself, shaking off the swarm of nerves that had taken over before the piano began to play, knowing that this was her chance. This was the first time that people everywhere would hear her singing, by herself, with no Eleanor singing along with her or Brittany taking over.

"Five-hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

Five-hundred twenty-five thousand journeys to plan

Five-hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?"

The entire audience, who had been silent the whole time, cheered in wonder as Jeanette let Simon take over. No one had ever had the chance to hear how beautiful Jeanette sounded on her own until now.

The cheering grew louder as Simon sang his own part with eyes squeezed shut and a hand on his chest as he belted out the words.

"In truth that she learned, or in times that he cried
In bridges he burned, or the way that she died!"

"It's time now to sing out, though the story never ends," the group minus Simon sang out, then Simon joined back in as they sang,

"Let's celebrate remember a year in the life of friends!"

At this point, Simon and Jeanette were on the brink of tears as they sang with their family, remembering the struggle it had been to be positive that they would see their family again. Joy overwhelmed the both of them as they knew that they were back - for good.

"Remember the love (Oh you got to, you got to remember the love)
Remember the love (You know that love is a gift from up above)
Remember the love (Hey now, hear the love, spread in love)

Measure in love
Measure, measure your life in love…"

Jeanette held onto the last note as she gripped the arms of her wheelchair, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Seasons of love

Seasons of love

Measure your life, measure your life in love."

As the group became silent once more, the entire five thousand people in the stadium cheered, screaming things like, "I LOVE YOU JEANETTE!" and "THE CHIPMUNKS ROCK!"

The chipmunks and chipettes took their bows, and Simon was the only one who stayed on stage as everyone else went backstage. Music began to play, and Simon began to sing.

"Everybody sees it's you
I'm the one that lost the view
Everybody says we're through
I hope you haven't said it too

So where
Do we go from here
With all this fear in our eyes
And where
Can love take us now
We've been so far down
We can still touch the sky

If we crawl
Till we can walk again
Then we'll run
Until we're strong enough to jump
Then we'll fly
Until there is no end
So let's crawl, crawl, crawl
Back to love, yeah
Back to love, yeah…"

Simon kept singing over the cheers of the audience, and Alvin was dumbfounded backstage.

"I knew Simon was good, but wow," he breathed.

"He's phenomenal. Look at the crowd! They're going nuts," Eleanor said from her spot on Theodore's lap. Eleanor was wearing a lime green summer dress that hugged her curves perfectly, her blonde hair tied in a French knot.

"Well Simon doesn't do anything halfway," Theodore added. He was dressed up as well, wearing dark blue jeans and a crisp forest green shirt dress shirt.

"I can't wait to see what Jeanette's got hidden in that voice box of hers," Brittany chimed in, winking at her sister. Brittany always dressed to kill, and certainly looked that way in her bright pink chiffon dress, accented with a pearl necklace and earrings.

"Oh, it's nothing special," Jeanette blushed.

"It must be, to have kept you alive all that time," Alvin said with a teasing edge in his voice as he snaked an arm around Brittany's waist.

Jeanette blushed a scarlet hue, but didn't respond as she turned her attention back to Simon, who was singing his heart out onstage.

He neared the end of the song, pouring all of his emotion into the lyrics.

"So we'll crawl (oh)
Till we can walk again (till we can walk again)
Then we'll run (then we'll run)
Until we're strong enough to jump (until we're strong enough to jump)
Then we'll fly
Until there is no end
So let's crawl, let's crawl, let's crawl
Back to love."

Simon's chest heaved as he caught his breath, waving to the thousands of people that were cheering his name. He stepped backstage as Jeanette wheeled out. He put the microphone on her lap and kissed the top of her head as he passed by.

"Damn Simon! That was awesome!" Alvin complimented him as they high-fived.

"Thanks, Al," Simon replied humbly.

"No, you were really good Si. You shouldn't let Alvin take the limelight so often," Brittany said, teasing her boyfriend in the process.

"Hey now-" Alvin began, but Eleanor shushed them.

"Quiet! I want to hear Jean!" She whispered in an exasperated tone.

Jeanette's voice softly floated backstage as she began to sing.

"Your beautiful eyes
Stare right into my eyes
And sometimes I think of you late at night
I don't know why

I want to be somewhere where you are
I want to be where...

You're here, your eyes are looking into mine
So baby, make me fly
My heart has never felt this way before
I'm looking through your
I'm looking through your eyes…"

Alvin let out a low whistle from behind stage.

"That's my Jeanette," Simon said with a smile as he watched her.

"She's brilliant! I never knew she had such a good voice…" Brittany said, feeling a little guilty for hogging the spotlight for so long.

As Theodore and Eleanor joined the conversation, Simon was being brought back to the house he had lived in for some time. He remembered everything- her touch, her eyes, her voice, the peaceful way she looked as she slept…everything that had kept him sane during their captivity.

"Looks like someone got bit by the loooove bug," Alvin elbowed Simon, teasing his younger brother.

"Looks like I'm not the only one," Simon responded, eyeing Alvin's paw around Brittany's waist.

"Well, when something like this happens, you realize that life can be too short," Alvin replied seriously. "I didn't want to waste any time. We grew up a little while you guys were gone."

"I've noticed, actually. Since when do Alvin Seville and Brittany Miller not fight every other day?" Simon chuckled.

"It happens, but not as often," Brittany chimed in. "Like Alvin said, what happened to you two made us realize life's too short for petty little fights."

Jeanette's voice caught everyone's ears again as her voice raised an octave.

"Just as long as you're mine
I'll be your everything tonight
Let me love you, kiss you
Oh baby let me miss you
Let me see your
Dream about
Dream about
Dream about your eyes

I, I...

Beautiful eyes…"

The crowd erupted in screams, loving every bit of Jeanette's performance. After waving for a few minutes, the bespectacled chipette made her way backstage and passed the mike to Alvin.

"You're up," she said, then wheeled over to the cooler for a bottle of water.

"You were amazing as always, love," Simon said as he walked over and put an arm around her shoulder.

"I second that! Jean, you gotta step out of your shell a little more often," Brittany winked as the music to the song Alvin was singing began.

"So I've been told," Jeanette replied after taking a swig of water, sending a smile in Simon's direction.

Alvin's unmistakable voice flooded their ears over the beat of the synthesizers, singing "Tonight (I'm Loving You)" by Enrique Inglesias. They had decided at rehearsals that they would add a few up-beat songs to keep the audience interested, and they sure were.

"I know you want me
I made it obvious that I want you too
So put it on me
Let's remove the space between me and you
Now rock your body (oh)
Damn I like the way that you move
So give it to me (oh)
'Cause I already know what you wanna do

Here's the situation
Been to every nation
Nobody's ever made me feel the way that you do
You know my motivation
Given my reputation
Please excuse me I don't mean to be rude

But tonight I'm loving you
Oh, you know
That tonight I'm loving you
Oh, you know
That tonight I'm loving you

Oh, you know

That tonight I'm loving you

Oh, you know…"

The whole audience was dancing to the music, light sticks glowing everywhere as everyone moved to the beat.

Only a few minutes later, the song was over, and it was Theodore and Eleanor's turn to go out. They sang Daughtry's "All These Lives" together, in which their voices were hauntingly unforgettable. Then Alvin and Brittany sang "No Air" by Chris Brown and Jordin Sparks, followed with Simon and Jeanette's "Broken" by Seether and Amy Lee, in which the two brought tears to everyone in the audience. The children's faces on the screen made it even worse, because you could feel the sadness and heartbreak in Simon and Jeanette's voices as they glanced from each other to the screen from time to time.

Then Alvin and Brittany sang "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat and Brittany stayed onstage for Christina Perri's "Jar of Hearts," followed by Jeanette playing the guitar and singing "Love Story" by Taylor Swift. After Theodore sang "Declaration" by David Cook and Eleanor performed "Long Live," again by Taylor Swift, Simon stepped out and performed "Yeah 3x" by Chris Brown, in which Brittany and Alvin danced to behind stage. Jeanette recorded it with a video camera, and giggled as she said, "I'm so playing this at your wedding!"

Everyone was happy.

"Move your body out on the floor
Put your troubles aside, start livin'
Anybody can let go
Throw away all your troubles, 'cause right now it's party time
Girl don't feel outta place
'Cause I, I'm in love with this feelin' now, now, ah
Hope that this will last a while, we should make it last a while…"

Alvin gave Brittany a showy smooch for the camera, and Jeanette giggled in embarrassment.

After the song, Simon announced a short break, and some soft Snow Patrol played over the loudspeakers, most notably "Hands Open" and "Signal Fire."

"Thanks Danny," Simon said to the stagehand who took his mike in exchange for a water bottle. He unscrewed the cap and took a few gulps as he headed over to the group.

"Awesome, dude," Alvin said as he gave his brother a man-hug.

"Simon, you have to come see this video I got of Alvin and Brittany while you were singing!" Jeanette said to Simon.

Simon put one arm on the back of Jeanette's wheelchair, and chuckled at the footage Jeanette showed him. "Classy," he smirked.

"Always," Alvin said oh-so-smoothly.

"You two should get ready," Theodore commented on his way back from the buffet table, a handful of grapes in one paw as he used the other to push up his sleeve to check his watch.

The curtain had closed, and the stagehands had wheeled out a large classic grand piano. Simon walked and Jeanette wheeled herself to it, where a stagehand waited with Jeanette's guitar. Jeanette locked her wheelchair, then pushed herself up so that Simon could get his paws under her. He lifted the chipette up and kissed her forehead gently before sitting her on top of the piano. The stagehand gave Jeanette her guitar and took her wheelchair off the stage as Simon sat down at the piano. Out of the opposite side of the stage, Dave came running in.

"I only have a few minutes guys, but I wanted to check on you to make sure everything's alright." Dave had been in the sound booth all night, trusting the two sets of triplets to behave themselves. However, he had asked the stage manager, Chris, to keep an eye on Alvin just in case. Miss Miller was in the front row of the audience, because "her old legs would find something to trip over."

"We're fine, Dad. How's it going up there?" Simon asked.

"Just fine. Clara almost put on the wrong record for "Declaration," because someone forgot to label that one along with "Long Live." Figures, right? Luckily there wasn't too much of a difference of the notes in the beginning for anyone to notice before we made the switch," Dave explained, a hurried tone apparent in his voice.

"Three minutes!" Danny yelled.

"I need to go check on your brothers and the girls. Good luck kids; you've been doing great," Dave smiled warmly.

"Thank you," Simon and Jeanette said in unison.

Dave ran off to check on the others, and once he was gone Jeanette cleared her throat.

"Simon?"

"Yes?"

"Could you do me a favor?" Jeanette said in a small voice.

"Sure," came Simon's quick reply.

"Can you cross my legs for me?" Jeanette asked meekly.

"Of course, but…why?" Simon responded, completely perplexed, as he stood and came around in front of Jeanette.

"I…I can only move my feet," she began, moving her ankles in circles to prove her point, "so I can't do it myself. I want to look semi-normal, because it would look awkward if I was just dangling my legs during the song."

"They're not going to judge you, love. You're paralyzed, for Christ's sake," Simon reasoned with her, tilting her chin up so that her downcast emerald eyes met his piercing blue-gray gaze.

"Just do it for me. Please."

"Alright."

Simon lifted Jeanette's right leg and slowly bent her knee, then gently lowered it onto her left leg. The chipmunk stood back to inspect his handiwork. If he hadn't known, he would've never guessed that she was paralyzed.

"One minute!" Danny called again.

"Thank you," Jeanette said with genuine sincerity.

"Any time," Simon replied, and gave her a quick kiss before he had to sit back down at the piano.

The curtains spread wide open just as he sat down. The stadium erupted in cheers at the sight of the couple onstage together, because they knew what that meant- a duet.

"Alright guys, who enjoyed themselves tonight?" Simon asked into the microphone that was attached to the piano as he positioned his fingers into the right place over the piano keys.

He audience cheered yet again, and Simon spoke after they quieted. "This is the last song of the night-" he began, interrupted by the unanimous groan from the audience, "-but we've had a blast, and thank you all for coming out. We want to make it clear that ninety percent of the money earned tonight will be going to charities responsible for searching and rescuing missing children. The whole other ten percent is going to the men and women who work here at the stadium. They worked very hard to put all of this together. Please, give them a hand!"

The audience cheered for the hundredth time that night, clapping up a thunder storm. Once it had quieted yet again, Simon simply said, "Enjoy."

The chipmunk's digits gracefully skimmed over the piano keys, playing a gentle melody as Jeanette placed her paws in the right position on the neck of the guitar so that she would be ready when it was time to begin playing. After the piano intro, Jeanette began to sing with a voice so divine it made every teenage boy in the audience swoon.

"We were strangers, starting out on a journey
Never dreaming what we'd have to go through
Now here we are, and I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you…"

Simon kept playing the same soft melody on the piano and began to sing while Jeanette started strumming her guitar.

"No one told me I was going to find you
Unexpected, what you did to my heart
When I lost hope, you were there to remind me…"

Jeanette's voice joined Simon's as he finished the last line of the verse and began the chorus.

"This is the start…

Life is a road and I want to keep going
Love is a river I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever
Wonderful journey

I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you…"

Both chipmunk and chipette kept playing their respective instrument, stealing glances at one another throughout the song.

Jeanette sang brightly,

"We were strangers
On a crazy adventure,"

Simon finished the verse,

"Never dreaming
How our dreams would come true,"

Then once again, their voices joined in a melodious harmony that brought goose bumps to most of the fans in the crowd that were now holding up their cell phones and lighters, waving them slowly back and forth.

"Now here we stand, unafraid of the future
At the beginning with you

Life is a road and I want to keep going
Love is a river I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever
Wonderful journey

I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you

I knew there was somebody somewhere
Like me alone in the dark
Now I know my dream will live on
I've been waiting so long
Nothing's gonna tear us apart…"

Jeanette took the singular high note as Simon sang the chorus.

"Life is a road and I want to keep going
Love is a river I wanna keep flowing…"

Jeanette finished and joined Simon's once voice again.

"Life is a road, now and forever
Wonderful journey

I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you

Life is a road and I wanna keep going
Love is a river I wanna keep going on..."

The song paused for a brief moment, in which Jeanette sang out softly.

"Starting out on a journey…"

With a song in their hearts and love in their eyes, they finished the song, looking at one another all the while.

"Life is a road and I wanna keep going
Love is river I wanna keep flowing
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning..."

Jeanette stopped playing her guitar, and only the piano was heard once again as they both sang softly,

"With you."

As Simon finished the last of the notes, the captivated crowd was completely silent.

But not for long.

There was an absolute eruption in the crowd. Fans cheered louder than they had all night, which was nearly deafening. They were still cheering as Simon stood from his place at the piano and gave a bow, with Jeanette staying in her spot and gave a half bow – the best she could do for being seated. Then Alvin, Theodore, Brittany, and Eleanor came out and joined them as Simon waved at the backstage, gesturing for them to come out. The audience gave them a standing ovation as all six of them bowed together.

The curtain closed, and all six teens cheered and hugged each other over the screams that could still be heard. Simon picked up Jeanette from the piano and twirled her around once, hugging her tightly and fully. He held her high enough so that her feet weren't touching the ground, and kissed her fully on the lips.

"I love you Simon," Jeanette told him as they broke apart for air.

"I love you too, Jeanette," Simon said softly, brushing a wisp of hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear.

Jeanette leaned in to kiss Simon again, and all was right in that one moment.

A lot had been stolen from them. Their family, innocence, sense of righteousness; and for a time, each other.

But a lot had been gained as well. A new bond stronger than steel had binded the two. Utter adoration, love, and appreciation for each other grew during their captivity, and continued to grow during their recovery.

The only important thing that had been stolen was their hearts. But their hearts had only been stolen by each other.

Life goes on. Despite the trials and challenges we face, life goes on regardless. The best we can do is make the most of it, and do what we can to heal. This way, we learn that life is not just to live. It is to be lived.

"And from the ballroom floor we are in celebration
One good stretch before our hibernation
Our dreams assured, and we all

We sleep well, sleep well…

…You have stolen (my)

You have stolen (my)

You have stolen my heart."

-from "Stolen" by Dashboard Confessional