A/N: Hi all, well I finally got some time and read through this story - correcting the grammar errors and a few spelling ones. It may still not be perfect, but at least it is a bit easier to read in some areas. Please enjoy if you hadn't read this story before or you are re-reading it! Please post your reviews when you are done. I enjoy reading what you have to say. Thank you.

When Simon disappears, the Seville Family is devastated. But when the logical-minded chipmunk returns, they are shocked to see the changes he has made...

*Warning*: The story maybe offend some, certain scenes are not for younger readers. I suggest it is to be read with an open mind.

Alvin and the Chipmunks, of course, was created and produced by Ross Bagdasarian and the Bagdasarian productions. I am not doing this for profit. Basically, I just wanted to have a little fun.

Enjoy the story!

SPIRITS

I can see

They will come to me

They will come down under a cloud

They will be my masters

I can see

They will walk in Raven town

-Tlingit Vision Song, trans. David Cloutier (Spirit Spirit, 57)

TO LOSE YOURSELF

Written by RavenChild.

Chapter 1: A Typical Bad Day

SUNDAY AFTERNOON (Roughly around 12:00pm)

Simon sat at the bottom of the stairs. He had his jacket on and was looking at a flyer, waiting patiently for Dave to take him to the museum. He had been looking forward to seeing the Leonardo Da Vince exhibit for the whole week, and today was the last day before the exhibit was to be closed.

At that moment the phone rang. Simon began to stand up when he heard Dave call out, "I got it!" from upstairs. Simon stood and strained his ears in an attempt to hear the conversation.

"What...? That just can't be…! What do you mean…? Well, why don't you just…"

Simon's heart began to sink. He could sense that something was wrong, something that could possibly affect him. Then he heard Dave reluctantly agreeing with the person on the other end of the line.

"Well, okay, then.... Fine.... Goodbye..."

Simon clutched at the flyer in his hand as Dave rushed downstairs to give Simon the bad news.

"Ah, Simon?" He began, "That was Bob from productions. He says that there is an emergency. He needs me to go to the recording studio right away. Something really important as come up."

"But Dave, you promised that we would go to the museum today! I was lucky that they opened today just for this event!" Simon protested as he held up the flyer to Dave.

"I'm sorry Simon." Dave said, not even stopping to look down at Simon as he was grabbing his keys, coat, and hat. "There have been some unexpected problems with the sound on most of the song tracks. I really have to go. Again I'm really sorry."

"But Dave..."

"You are in charge of the house, Simon. Take care of everything; I might not be back until later..." Dave called out as he rushed out the door.

Simon glared heavily at the open door. He wanted to slam it shut, but thought better of it and closed it carefully. How typical that something would come along that was more important then seeing his exhibit. He took off his jacket and threw it on the floor. He stared at it for a moment. He gave a defeated sigh as he bent over to pick up the jacket again. He hung it on the coat hanger, then turned and slowly climbed upstairs and into his room.

Alvin and Theodore were sitting on their respective beds finishing up their homework. Simon did not even acknowledge them as he walked over to his computer, sat down, and turned it on. Both of his brothers watched him as he began to play a game of Solitaire. Alvin and Theodore gave each other a glance. They both knew that Simon only played that game when he wanted to forget about something that was bothering him; other then that, the game was too simple for him.

"What's the matter Simon?" Theodore asked.

"Yeah. I thought you were going to go to the museum with Dave today." Alvin added.

"Plans have changed." Simon answered in a grumpy tone as he sunk heavily in his chair. "An emergency came up at the studio, and Dave had to go fix it. He won't be back in time to take me to the museum."

Simon sighed as he placed his hand over his face. He was trying his best to be strong about this. The thought of showing weakness in front of his siblings was unheard of. The last thing he wanted was to cry; He just knew Alvin would hold it against him.

"Oh really? Hmm...?" Alvin pondered for a moment. He looked at his math homework, then back at Simon, and then said to himself 'Since Simon is not going to the museum, he could help me with my homework. Or perhaps I could coax him into doing it for me instead!'

"Oh, Simon, would you come here for a sec…?"

"Forget it Alvin, I'm not going to help you with your homework!" Simon said bluntly, his hand still in front of his face.

'How did he know…?' Alvin thought with astonishment. He then began to plea with his brother. "But Simon… you've got to help me! I need you...You're the only one that can understand this stuff!" He cried as he carelessly held up his math homework and some of the loose pages fell to the ground.

"No, Alvin!" Simon sighed when he turned he saw his brother's homework falling apart in his hand. The scene just seemed so pathetic, so much so that it just didn't seem that funny anymore to Simon. He made the decision that he couldn't be in the same room with either of his brothers. "Excuse me, I'm going downstairs. I need some time alone." He quickly turned off his computer and left the room.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

It was later that evening and Simon was staring at the open refrigerator. He was trying to decide what would be best for dinner. He knew that Dave really worked hard for them all, and that even though he had felt let down, Dave deserved to come home to a well-cooked meal. Only Simon couldn't decide what he should make.

'One thing is for sure,' he thought to himself as he closed the refrigerator door, 'I could use some help with dinner.' He turned to go get Alvin and Theodore when, right on cue, Theodore came walking through the kitchen. Only, he was heading to the door.

"See you later, Simon." Theodore said as he reached for the doorknob.

"What do you mean 'See you later'?" replied Simon. "I was just about to ask you to help me make dinner for when Dave gets home."

"Oh." Theodore said with an almost guilty look on his face as he turned to meet Simon's gaze. "That does sound nice and all and I'd like to help, and all, but...."

"But?"

"Well, you see..." explained Theodore "I promised earlier today that I'd go over and see Eleanor right now. She says that there's something very important that she wants to show me."

"Well, a promise is a promise." Simon sighted as he slumped his shoulders forward. "Are you going to be out late?"

"I honestly don't know. Eleanor didn't tell me."

"Okay then. Have fun."

"Bye, Simon."

"Bye." Simon watched Theodore leave then started to look for Alvin. He wanted a helping hand with dinner, and now that Theodore was gone, Alvin was the last available person to help.

Simon walked up the stairs. "Alvin?" He called out. "I could use some help in the kitchen with dinner! Where are you?"

"I'm in here." he heard Alvin call out from their bedroom. Simon walked in, where he found Alvin combing his hair in the mirror. He was dressed up in what he called his 'Mr. Irresistible' suit.

"And just where do you think you are going, Mr. 'Miami Vice'?" Simon asked with a smirk on his face.

"Are you kidding? I make this look work! Don Johnson ain't got nothing on me!" Alvin chuckled. "I have a date tonight with Angela Parkerson!"

"You do?" Sarcastically remarked Simon with an eyebrow upraised.

"Well," said Alvin as he put down the comb, "She doesn't know about the date yet."

Simon started to laugh. Alvin shot him an angry look.

"I'm on my way to tell her now. She'll be very pleased, I'm sure." Alvin said as he walked out of the bedroom and started down the stairs.

"But, Alvin," began Simon as he followed Alvin down the stairs and to the front door, "I need you to help me make dinner."

"I'm sorry. I have a date tonight. I can't keep Angela waiting! I'm sure you can handle making dinner on your own!" Alvin opened the front door and walked out.

Simon stared at the open door. Only this time, he went ahead and slammed it shut. "Why is it that everyone expects me to do things on my own? Just because I might be capable of doing things by myself doesn't mean I *want* to do it by myself!" He yelled out as he stormed back to the kitchen to make dinner.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Hours went by and Simon sat in the dark kitchen all by himself. The meatloaf with mashed potatoes dinner he had prepared was already cold. Nobody had gotten home yet. Simon had waited patiently, and was now drifting back and forth between sleep. What was to be a good day for him had unexpectedly went sour, and all he wanted now was to have dinner - the dinner he prepared on his own - with his family.

Suddenly, Simon heard the kitchen door swing open. A moment later, the room was flooded with light, and Simon rushed to cover his eyes.

"Oops. Sorry, Simon." Theodore said as he closed the door behind him.

"That's okay." Simon replied tiredly as he rubbed his eyes, trying to let them get used to the light again. "Are you hungry? Dinner's ready."

"No thanks. I just ate." Theodore shook his head.

"You did?"

"Yes. It turned out; Eleanor wanted to give a new recipe a try." Explained Theodore with a smile and rubbing his now full tummy. "We spent the evening cooking and eating. It was fun!"

"Oh, I see." Simon frowned. He was a bit saddened that his brother chose someone else to cook with when he needed a hand earlier.

"Well, I'm going to bed now." Theodore announced. "Good night."

"Good night." Replied Simon in a monotone expression as he eyed his untouched meal he worked hard in preparing.

A few minutes later, Simon heard the front door open and close. Alvin staggered into the kitchen and headed right for the fridge.

"If you're hungry, Romeo, dinner is ready." Simon chirped.

"I'm not hungry!" Quipped Alvin as he poured himself a glass of milk. "I'm going to bed."

"The date didn't go well, did it?" Simon asked. Alvin didn't answer. He simply finished his milk quickly and walked out the kitchen.

"Okay then. Good night." Simon said as Alvin left.

"Whatever." Alvin said back.

Another thirty minutes passed. Simon was about to doze off again when he heard the front door open and shut again. Simon got up and started heading over. "Dave?"

"Yes, Simon, I'm home." He heard Dave say then he heard him mutter, "Boy, what a day." as he started up the stairs.

"Dave. I made dinner!" Simon said as he addressed the dinning room table.

"Thanks, but Bob got us some Chinese food." Dave replied. "I need sleep. Could you lock up the house for me? Thanks!" Dave went into his bedroom and closed the door behind him.

Simon let out a defeated sigh and finished off with an irritated groan. It was just a bad day he tried to tell himself. He locked up the house, put all the uneaten food away, and went to bed himself. This was a day that was thankfully over, and he had school tomorrow.