When I woke up, you were there chapter 2

A few days later, Simon was cleared perfectly healthy and could go home.  He first had to deal with the press and the TV reporters, who were eager to have the story about Simon's recovery. And then there were the expected questions. How did he feel? If he still wants to sing with his brothers? If the rumors about his relationship with Jeanette were true. After all that was finished, Dave took Simon home by car.

Simon looked outside the window, at the changes that happened in three years. Some of his favorite stores were closed and replaced with other stores. On the other hand, he saw some new technologies that he sure was going to like. As they drove into their new street, Simon's jaw dropped. Their new house was at least one-and-a-half times bigger, if not bigger, than their old one. Jeanette was waiting at the door, jumping up as she saw the car. She yelled for her sisters and Simon's brothers and they all welcomed him home.

"Home." Simon said. "This is not the home I remember." Jeanette laid her head on his shoulder. "But as long as you are here, Jeanette, it is my home." He said to her, kissing her cheek. She giggled.

Simon turned to Dave. "Dave, there is something I certainly want to do today."

"And that is?" Dave asked.

"I want to visit Miss Miller's grave and tell her I'm all right." Simon said. He couldn't believe that that lovable old lady was gone. The woman that had taken care for the Chipettes, a person you could always count on.

"We all go visit her." Alvin said. "But first you need to check out your room."

"I have my own room, then?" Simon asked as he stepped up the stairs.

"Off course, Silly." Eleanor said. "You didn't think that we wouldn't make a room for you?"

Simon shrugged. Alvin guided Simon towards a door. A sign said 'Simon's room. Please do not enter before he ever does'. "You came up with that, Alvin?" Simon asked

"Yep." Alvin said. "And still, I'm breaking my own warning. Came into your room lots of times."

Simon opened the door and gasped when he saw his room. All his stuff that stood in the room where they all three once slept was moved to this room. His bed, his notebooks, his books, even his secret photos of Jeanette.

"Ahem, you found …those?" Simon asked, taking one of his photos of Jeanette.

"They weren't really hard to find." Alvin said. "They were at the place you keep every single item related to Jeanette."

"I think it was sweet." Jeanette said, wrapping her arms around Simon's waist.

"A secret crush that wasn't that secret, eh?" Simon said, wrapping his arms around Jeanette.

"No kidding." Eleanor's voice said outside the room.

Jeanette giggled, kissing Simon on the cheek. "Want to be alone in your room for a while?"

"I think I'll never want to be separated from you ever again." Simon said, stroking a lock of hair out of her eyes.

"Don't make me barf." Alvin whispered as he left the room. The sound of a slap against the back of a head. "Ouch. Why did you do that, Eleanor?"

"You know why." Eleanor's voice said.

"Finally alone." Jeanette whispered. Simon locked his lips on hers. Jeanette tightened her grip around Simon, who deepened the kiss. The hugging became tighter and the kissing wilder. Jeanette suddenly pushed Simon of her.

"I think we're going too fast." She said, mostly out of breath.

"Maybe a bit." Simon, also out of breath, said. He took her back in his arms and gave a gentler kiss. "After all, I just woke up and we just got together."

"I waited three years for you, Simon." Jeanette said, stroking his cheek. "I can wait a bit longer. Until we're truly ready."

"I will count the days." Simon whispered in her ear.

Later that day, they all got to the cemetery, to visit Miss Miller's grave. Simon fell on his knees in front of her grave. Jeanette kneeled next to him, with the rest of the family behind them.

"Hi, Miss Miller." Simon said. "As you can see, I finally woken up. First I want to say, I'm sorry I wasn't there when you died, to be at your funeral, to comfort Jeanette. But I know you won't be angry, that's what makes you the wonderful person you were during your life."

Simon remained silent for a while to let his tears run free. He finally took a deep breath and continued. "Don't worry about the girls. They're in good hands and I will personally look over Jeanette, keep her save, to love her no matter what. I'm sure to visit you again, Miss Miller. Goodbye."

Next to Simon, Jeanette was letter her tears run free and held on to Simon, who kissed her on the cheek.

A few weeks later, Simon was still trying to get used to a new life. Both his brothers had a job, next to their singing career. So did the Chipettes. They wanted to earn enough money themselves to get into college. Alvin worked in a garage, fixing motorcycles and Theodore worked, off course, in a restaurant, together with Eleanor. Brittany worked in a beauty shop and Jeanette worked as an assistant in a laboratory, which Simon found a dishonor of her talents. Jeanette did a good word for Simon and he had a job there too. He had to work his way up from the bottom of the ladder, but his excellent performance and high intelligence made sure he stood in the same lab as Jeanette after one week.

Simon, like his brothers, also wanted to go to college, but there was this little problem. He hadn't finished High School, like his brothers and the Chipettes. But the school, also happy to hear that Simon, their top student, had woken up, gave him a solution. He had to study for the exams of the final year and make them with the rest of the students. Off course, he succeeded with flying colors and now wanted to go to the same college Jeanette was going and for the same course.

"And you're sure that it's not for Jeanette you want to go to the same college?" Dave asked teasingly.

"No, it's a good college and the fact that Jeanette wants to go there too and follow the same course is entirely coincidental." Simon said, writing his letters for the college. Jeanette was helping with him.

"In other words, HE WANTS TO GO FOR JEANETTE!" Alvin yelled from the kitchen where he was helping Theodore and Eleanor with the dishes. The sound of a slap against Alvin's head. "Ouch! ELEANOR, stop doing that! You're gonna give me a concussion."

"You can't shake what you don't have, dear brother." Simon yelled to Alvin.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Alvin yelled from the kitchen.

"You figure it out." Simon said, winking at Jeanette, who had trouble not laughing about the subtle joke.

"Stop teasing your brother so much, Simon." She whispered against him.

"I've just awoken after three years of coma, Jen." Simon whispered back. "I have A LOT of catching up to do."