A/N: Still all CiceroGuided. I'm slowly working on my own additions to the story. Patience!

peace, love and lipgloss,

Mlle.Fox

Chapter Four

Willy was still laughing over Charlie's question the next day. He was surprised that Charlie would ask him of all people about that. But he was also pleased. Best friends usually shared stuff like that. So Charlie must think of him as a friend! He was so excited at the thought he went skipping in circles on his way to the Inventing Room.

Throwing open the door to his destination he stopped in shock. "It looks like a Snoz-Wanger came through here!" Pointing to an Oompa-Loompa he spoke, "What happened?"

After listening to the little fellow's response Willy lifted an eyebrow, "The Everlasting Gobstopper machine blew up? Why?"

The Oompa-Loompa shook his head and shrugged, he didn't know.

Sighing, the tall man went over and surveyed the effort made by his workers. Rubbing a hand across his face the Chocolate Maker sat down on a hunk of metal from the machine that blew up. Now there would be a loss in Gobstopper sales! Oh wait, I haven't put them on the market yet. Getting up and pasting a smile on his face, Willy headed for his drawing board.

After staring at the huge, blank, chalkboard for about ten minutes he just had to sit down. What candy to make now? As he sat in his big purple chair Willy's mind drifted back to his earlier conversation with Charlie. Charlie had said girls liked getting flowers… He sat bolt upright in his chair. Why hadn't he thought of it before? Chocolate flowers that actually bloomed! And Valentines Day was in a few weeks, perfect time to make them!

Leaping from his chair he went to work.

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Charlie tossed his school books down on the kitchen table and headed for the door.

"Charlie?" He froze at the sound of his mother's voice.

His mother turned away from the sink, drying her hands, "Have you finished your homework already?"

Charlie suddenly became very interested in his shoelaces. "Um…"

Mrs. Bucket frowned, "Charlie you know you have to finish your homework before you go help Mr. Wonka."

Charlie sighed and sat down at the table, "Yes Ma'am."

After wadding through three chapters of Social Studies, reviewing twenty-five spelling words, and working fifteen math problems, Charlie was free to go. Waving goodbye to Grandpa Joe, Charlie hurried through the front door.

As he raced across the Chocolate Room to the boat, Charlie noticed a new flower blooming next to the path. Pausing a moment Charlie stared at it. It was a real flower. A real-life-non-edible-unless-you-were-really-weird flower! Squinting at it suspiciously Charlie bent over and sniffed it. Lilacs!

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Willy smiled when he saw Charlie. Noticing the frown on the boy's face he asked, "Uh, Charlie? What's wrong little buddy?"

Charlie crossed his arms over his chest and gave Wonka a grim look. The Chocolate Maker shifted nervously, "Charlie are you okay? Would you please not look at me like that. It makes me nervous."

"There is a flower in the Chocolate Room."

Willy grinned with relief, "You scared me Charlie, I thought something bad had happened."

Charlie's expression didn't change and Willy's smile faded. The boy spoke again, "The flower is real." Willy lifted an eyebrow so Charlie explained, "Meaning it's not candy."

The tall man laughed and waved a hand, "Don't be silly. It's impossible for a 'real' flower to grow in the Chocolate Room. The 'dirt' in that place is made of cocoa powder."

"Yeah well it's there."

A frown creased his brow, "Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure."

Willy sighed and headed for the door. When Charlie didn't follow him the Chocolatier waved his hand in a come-hither gesture, "Come on, let's check it out."

It didn't take but three minutes to get to the Chocolate Room using the Great Glass Elevator. During those three minutes Charlie desperately wanted to ask Willy about the lilacs, but restrained himself. Now was not the time. He would ask him about it after his friend had seen the flower.

Stepping out of the Elevator, Willy looked around, "So where is this flower anyway?"

"Over here." Gesturing, Charlie walked off in the direction he had pointed out, the Chocolate Maker drifting along behind him. The pale purple flower seemed to have grown taller since the last time Charlie had seen it. Frowning slightly, Willy crouched in front of it. Charlie watched the tall man's expression. At first he just stared at it, than, after the lilac sent had reached his nostrils a strange look came over Willy's face. Charlie couldn't figure out what it was. Fear? Or maybe it was a look of pain? The poor little boy didn't know what it was.

Willy suddenly looked angry. Standing up he pulled a small silver flute out of his breast-pocket and played a short tune. An Oompa-Loompa appeared as if like magic. Scowling, Willy pointed to the flower. The Oompa-Loompa looked from the man to the flower and back again.

"I want you to get rid of it." Charlie stared in shock; he had never heard such irritation in his friend's voice before. Not even when an Oompa-Loompa had spilled a vial on Charlie that had turned him purple.

The Oompa-Loompa looked from Willy to the flower and back again as if to say "How?" His boss waved a hand impatiently, "I don't care how. Dig it up. Pull it up for all I care! Then burn it. And check this Room everyday, I don't want to see any of those ever again."

He turned to go back to the Elevator and stopped, swinging back around he pointed to the Oompa-Loompa, "And check the Wintergreen Forest also."

After the irate man had left, Charlie turned to the Oompa-Loompa, who by now held an uprooted lilac plant in his fist, "What's wrong with lilacs? What's so special about then anyway?"

The Oompa-Loompa shrugged.

Charlie frowned and glanced at the way Willy had gone. "He's gonna sulk in his room for the rest of the day isn't he?"

The Oompa-Loompa nodded wisely and walked off with the plant.