Author's Note: I thought I'd try my hand at Charlie and the Chocolate Factory even though I haven't read the book in years and I haven't seen the newest movie in months, but I'm going to try. Don't get mad at me if I get the facts wrong, my memory's a little rusty, but I don't think I am, but whatever. Read, review, and enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that Roald Dahl does. I only own the things that come from the figments of my imagination and are clearly mine and not from the author. If I owned anything except from said above, I would be rich by now.

Chapter One

Charlie Bucket had hardly believed it when the greatest chocolate maker of all time, Willy Wonka, had told him at the end of that fateful day that he, Charlie Bucket, would own the whole chocolate factory franchise as soon as he was old enough. And to top it off, Charlie Bucket and his family would be able to live the rest of their lives at the factory.

It was lucky enough for him that he had even found the golden ticket at all. Charlie's family had been the poorest of the poor and barely had enough money to buy supplies to survive, let alone chocolate bars. But on that cold winter day, Charlie's life changed forever when he found extra money in the street gutter, thus running excitedly to the chocolate shop and buying two Willy Wonka bars, one of them containing the last golden ticket in the world.

Now here he was, Charlie Bucket, twenty years old, and co-owner of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, standing in the middle of the huge factory, watching the activity go to and fro about their business. He loved spending whole days just watching the Oompa Loompas going about making sure everything was going smoothly.

As he stood in the middle of the big field made of candy in which Charlie saw the for the first time many years ago, Charlie saw Willy Wonka himself walking towards him, stopping every now and then to pick a blade of grass or reach up to the trees to pick a chocolate apple and eat it.

Charlie smiled broadly. Even Mr. Wonka himself couldn't resist eating his own candy. Finally Willy Wonka reached where Charlie was and held out the chocolate apple that he picked. Charlie thanked the man and took the apple, biting deep into the apple. It was chocolate with caramel in the middle.

"It's good, I like it," Charlie stated between bites.

"Good. The Oompa Loompas just thought of it today," Wonka said, pulling another one off the tree above them and bit into it, "it had taken a while to perfect."

"Why's that?" Charlie asked, finishing his apple and taking a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping his mouth.

"Because the apples would get too mushy with the caramel in them and now they've finally perfected it. Great, no?" Wonka asked.

Charlie nodded. "Excellent as usual."

Wonka nodded. "I'm so glad that you're my heir, Charlie Bucket. I wonder what happened to those other four children?"

"Probably back to their usual snotty lives," Charlie said bitterly.

Though Charlie was a kind-hearted person by nature, Charlie had a hard time with people who were so geared into getting what they wanted that they would do anything. That's what he had seen in Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Mike Teavee and he didn't like them at all. Oh, he was sure they had learned their lessons when they came to Wonka's factory, but Charlie still remembered their subtle sides as well.

Wonka looked at Charlie curiously. "Are you alright, Charlie?"

Charlie smiled and nodded. "I'm alright. I was just thinking about those other children that came here with me."

Wonka nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, they were rather fiendish, weren't they? But I'm sure they've all learned they're lessons. Maybe we should invite them all back to see how they all are."

Charlie made a disgusted look. "I don't ever want to see them again. They were a bunch of brats."

"Yes, but you're just remembering them before they're falls. I so sure that they're changed," Wonka insisted.

"Well, if you insist to see them again, then by all means invite them, I'll make sure I'll be in a different part of the factory," Charlie assured the man.

Wonka shrugged. "If you wish, Charlie. But there was something else that I wanted to talk to you about."

Charlie sighed. Though he loved Wonka as a family member, the man could get so weird and annoying at times. Maybe it was because he never really had a normal childhood, but then again, Charlie didn't really have one either, and look how he turned out—normal.

"What is it?" Charlie finally asked, wanting to get it over with.

"I've been thinking about this for a long while now, so don't get mad at me. You don't have to answer right away," Wonka said.

"And?" Charlie pressed on.

"I was wondering if we should find you a wife. I know how hard it was for me to find an heir because of all the greedy people in the world and I thought it would be easier if you had a wife and had children. Then you wouldn't have to worry about finding another child," Wonka said rather quickly.

Charlie stared at Wonka in shock. This couldn't be possible. Willy Wonka, the greatest chocolateer, wanted him to be married even though the man himself wasn't? It was ludicrous.

"But, Mr. Wonka, I don't think—" Charlie began.

"Oh, don't answer right away," Wonka interrupted. "I just thought it would be easier on your part and everything. And I can do a golden ticket type of thing like last time and we can show them through the chocolate factory and if they prove themselves to be as kind hearted as you are, then you can marry them."

Charlie shook his head. "I really don't think that's going to work. Not all things in life work that way, Willy Wonka."

Immediately Charlie felt bad as soon as he said it. Wonka was visibly upset and dejected. It was as if his whole body had deflated. Walking over to him, Charlie placed a hand on Wonka's shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Charlie exclaimed, "I shouldn't have said what I did, Mr. Wonka."

"I know, you're right. I was just being stupid," Wonka said. "I was only trying to help you and I got carried away."

Charlie smiled slightly. "I'll tell you what. I'll think about it and if I come to the conclusion that there's no other way, I'll try your idea. How about that?"

The effect on Wonka was immediate. His whole face lit up and he seemed to be vibrant. Grabbing Charlie by the shoulders, Wonka hugged the boy tightly.

"I always knew you were a great boy, Charlie," Wonka exclaimed happily. "Thank you."

"Err…you're welcome," Charlie said.

Finally pulling away, Wonka grinned at Charlie. "Well, I've got to be off. There are several new chocolates and candies in-making that I need to oversee. See you later, Charlie."

"See you." Charlie watched as Wonka disappeared into the depths of the factory as he stood thoughtfully. He wondered why Wonka would think up such an odd question to ask him. And why was he so worried about whether Charlie was married or not? And even if Charlie needed an heir one day, that was years off and he could always adopt or do the same thing that Wonka did, couldn't he?

Charlie didn't know, but it was something to think about the next few days. Little did he know that it would change his life for the rest of his life.