Disclaimer: I do not own Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or any of its characters. I only claim the characters and story I create amongst these chapters.

Please read and review.

Thanks!

Tinkerbellxo

A/N: The plot for this story popped into my mind during a short drive and I had to try it. I will not be abandoning my POTC: La Vida Eterna story. That will take precedence.

The story begins right after the 2005 Tim Burton film ends and the first chapter covers the essential background information.

Chapter 1

An Unexpected Surprise

Times had been good for the Bucket family. So good in fact, that Mrs. Bucket didn't notice her increase in appetite or fatigue a few months after Charlie had been named as heir to Willy Wonka, millionaire and chocolate magnate. Now the family had nothing to worry about financially. But Mrs. Bucket had insisted on doing her own errands and cooking dinner every night for the family and Willy.

On this particular day she bundled up and made her way out onto the streets of London, a pink umbrella shielding her from the torrential rain. Her first stop was the farmer's market where she picked up fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives as well as some vinegar to top the salad she had planned to make. Then it was off to the butcher's to pick up a few of their finest cuts of steak.

As she placed her order, Mr. Sadie, the butcher, made pleasantries, "It's a right rotten day out there today, isn't it Mrs. Bucket?

"Ah, yes Mr. Sadie," she said faintly, "it's bloody awful."

"Are you okay Mrs. Bucket? You're looking rather pale."

"I'm just a bit tired, but thank you," she said as she tried to lift the wax paper packaged meat.

Noticing she was weak, Mr. Sadie said, "Maybe I should send that home with a messenger Mrs. Bucket. No extra charge."

Now usually, Mrs. Bucket would never take anyone up on such an offer. She had always worked hard for whatever little money they had had. She was a proud woman. But she knew that she had enough to carry all the way back to the factory. And she really didn't want to waste the money on a taxi.

"That would be very nice of you Mr. Sadie. I think I'll take you up on that offer," she replied with a small smile.

She left the address with him and made her way out the door. But just as she stepped out onto the slippery street, she began to feel faint and collapsed onto the pavement.

Mr. Sadie noticed the commotion outside and immediately went to see what the matter was. He saw her huddled in a ball and panicked.

"Mrs. Bucket?" he asked as he immediately scooped her up into his arms.

When she didn't answer him he tapped her face gently, "Mrs. Bucket!"

He took off for the hospital, just a few blocks down the way, running as if his own life depended on it.

Cold and drafty. That was the next thing Mrs. Bucket felt. Slowly she opened her eyes and found herself curled up on her side in a plain white room with harsh, yellow lighting.

A hospital, she thought to herself, that must be where I am. What did I do to land myself in here?

She went to move but moaned in pain.

Ah, I fell down. Now I remember, she said stroking her aching head.

She looked down at herself and realized why she had felt a draft to begin with. She was in one of those ridiculously complicated and revealing hospital gowns. Her cheeks turned red and she turned over on her back ever so slowly to cover her bare backside.

Just then, a rather tall bald man in a white coat walked in.

"Ah!" his face held a genuine smile, "you're up. I'm glad to see that. Mrs. Bucket my name is Dr. Cosette."

"It's nice to meet you."

He noticed her attempt to sit up so he ran over to help her.

"Thank you Doctor," she replied.

"Well, I suppose you're wondering why you're in here, eh?"

"It would be nice to know, yes. Unless you figure I just needed a vacation," she attempted a weak laugh.

He laughed with her, it was warm and deep. But then he turned serious again.

"Do you remember anything before you passed out Mrs. Bucket?"

"I was at the butcher's," she replied.

"Do you remember how you felt?"

"A little tired, but everyone has been so busy at the factory."

"I see," he replied, marking something down on the chart she had just noticed.

"Am I going to be okay Doctor?" she asked nervously.

He took a deep breath and looked her straight in the eye. Finally, he spoke.

"Well, you're going to have to take it easy for a while. And no more trips to the butcher's by yourself. After all, a woman in your condition needs rest and relaxation."

"And what exactly is my condition, Doctor?" she held her breath.

Now we must take a second to pause and acknowledge that this is not where happy stories usually begin. In a hospital, after an accident, isn't exactly a promising foundation. But for Mrs. Bucket and the entire Bucket clan, it turned out to be one of the happiest days of their lives.

"Oh my dear Mrs. Bucket," his smile grew wide, "you are two months pregnant."

Everyone rejoiced at the news of the new addition to the Bucket family. Every one that is, except for Willy Wonka. Another Bucket child meant change, and it was well-known that Willy Wonka did not deal well with change.

But the minute that little Cosette Sadie Bucket, named after the two men who had saved Mrs. Bucket's life that happy day seven months ago, Willy Wonka fell in love for maybe the first time in his life.

Although Cosette was generally a happy baby, she did have the occasional tantrum and the only one who could calm her down was Willy. Even in the middle of the night, Mrs. Bucket would have to get up and make her way to Willy's room. He would bounce her gently in his arms until she calmed down and make funny faces at her which made her giggle. It was music to his ears.

"I don't know how you do it Mr. Wonka. Cosette just loves you," she'd say to him right before she took back her pink bundle of joy and left his room.

He would just smile in return.

This connection between Cosette and Willy was indicative of the years to come. She would spend hours with him, running up and down halls, exploring the chocolate factory and asking questions. She was a curious child and Willy was more than happy to indulge her curiosity.

The day she turned seven, Willy, whom she affectionately referred to as Uncle William because Willy was too silly, took her to Carnaby Street. They spent the day eating ice cream and checking out the outrageous fashions. At the end of the day, when the sun's last rays were fading over the city, he bought her a mood ring she had been admiring at a small stand. As he put it on her finger she looked up at him.

"Uncle William?" she asked.

"Yes Sadie?" he was the only one who referred to her by her middle name.

"Do you think you'll ever get married?"

"How can I get married when I don't have a heart to give away?" he smiled at her.

"Explain," she pouted.

"Well how can I give my heart away, when I've already given it to you?"

She giggled and threw her arms around him. The rest of the day had been a blur.

Her attachment to "Uncle William" and all the time she spent in the factory gave Charlie the chance to bond with his little sister whom he worshipped. She was so beloved and so charming that her parents never noticed how much of a trouble maker she could be. She was constantly getting into things, constantly rebelling. But she was so sly, so charismatic that she never got in trouble. The only one who noticed her spiraling out of control was Charlie.

So when it was time to find an appropriate secondary school for Cosette, he insisted that she attend an exclusive boarding school in Paris. Charlie wanted his little sister to have all the opportunities that he had never had at her age. And so, with minimal parental persuasion, Cosette was sent off at 14 years old to get her life in order.

Cosette was not upset with her brother; she knew he only wanted the best for her. So she took advantage of every opportunity life presented her. Cosette thrived at school and ended up staying in Paris to attend the Sorbonne to study art and philosophy. Her life revolved around school and her work and it made her happy. It made her happy because she knew she made her big brother proud.

She rarely had the chance to return home and if she did, it was only to attend the funerals of her grandparents. Grandpa Joe had been the last to pass away. The funeral had coincided with her 18th birthday.

That same day she had boarded a plane back to France and wouldn't return to England until the week before her 22nd birthday.

Which is where our story really begins . . .

A/N: It's a slow beginning, I know, but believe me, things are going to move a lot faster in the next chapter.

Thanks for reading and please review!

Tinkerbellxo