Disclaimer: CatCF does not belong to me. It belongs to Roald Dahl, Tim Burton, etc.

AN: I really like how this edited chapter turned out. c: It really shows just how much he's starting to care for her and I LOVE IT! :D

Chapter 4

Ellie stepped out in to the open air of the chocolate room. She sighed, and ran a hand through her hair. Well that was mentally exhausting. She thought bitterly and frowned.

"You know, it takes more muscle to frown than to smile." Willy said, suddenly popping up next to her. Ellie yelped in surprise and jumped away from him.

"Jesus...You scared the hell out of me!" Ellie said, placing a hand over her heart. He smiled and tilted his head to the side.

"Sorry." He said and chuckled. Ellie gave him an awkward smile and rubbed the back of her neck.

"Its alright." She said. There was a short pause, before Willy spoke.

"Well I think we should probably get you home." he said, looking to his pocket watch.

"Yeah…..that sounds like a good idea." Ellie said and they began across the chocolate room. As they walked in silence, Ellie couldn't help but glance over at him from the corner of her eye. I can't believe this. I'm being walked home by Willy Wonka. Willy freakin' Wonka!

"So, if you don't mind me asking," Willy started, breaking Ellie out of her thoughts. "How do you know the Buckets?" He asked, his tone genuinely curious. Ellie looked over at him.

"Oh, there just some old family friends. I've known them my whole life it seems. There like family." She said with a small shrug. Willy nodded and held the door to the entrance hall open for her.

"Well, I would imagine so, they seem very found of you." he said, Ellie nodded.

"Yeah...my dad works with Charlie's dad and their really good friends so...were all pretty close." she said as the came to the end of the hallway. After they slipped on their coats, they walked out of the factory and down the street. "It's weird though. I haven't seen them in so long and they still welcome me with open arms." She said, looking to the ground. Willy tilted his head to the side and looked at her.

"Well isn't that a good thing?" He asked. Ellie said nothing and kept her eyes on the sidewalk.

"Well yeah...but...its just, "She paused and sighed, wrapping her arms around herself. "Its...complicated..." she trailed off, her voice growing quiet.

"Well, I like complicated." he said quietly, shrugging. Ellie looked up at him. Her heart jumped up into her throat. The way he was smiling down at her, suddenly made her very nervous. She blushed and opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath.

"You're a very strange man Mr. Wonka." she said, quickly looking away. "But in a good way." She said, a small smile playing on her lips. Willy smiled.

"Willy." he said. Ellie looked up at him. "Call me Willy." Ellie pondered this for a moment, before she spoke.

"Alright, Willy." she said, his name rolling of her tongue. Hmm...I like it. she thought. There was then a long awkward silence between the two. Willy scratched the back of his head and decided to speak.

"It sure is creepy out here at night." He said, his eyes wandering along the empty streets.

"You get used to it after a while." Ellie said with a shrug of her shoulders, shoving her hands in her pockets. She looked up at the darkened sky and sided happily.

"You must like the night-time then?" Willy asked with a small smile.

"Oh yes. It's the only time I can feel close to my mother." Ellie said, her face losing its happy glow.

"Your mother?" Willy asked, frowning his brow.

"Yeah, every night when I was a young girl, my mother and I would go into our backyard to watch the stars. It was my favorite thing to do with her. She was my everything." Ellie said enjoying the happy memories.

"What happened?" Willy asked. Ellie sighed and looked to the ground, her eyes glossy.

"She died when I was 11." She said, her face blank and emotionless. Willy took a deep breath and looked down at her, a sad smile on his face.

"I never knew my mother." Willy started. Ellie looked up at him, her face showing sympathy. "I never had memories of my mom like you do. You're very lucky." Willy said. Ellie smiled up at him.

"Yeah, I guess I am." She thought aloud. The stared at each other for a moment, before Ellie realized they were standing in front of her apartment building.

"Well, here we here." She said, looking back to Willy, "Thanks for walking me home." she said with a small smile, her cheeks going pink.

"You're welcome Ms. Wallace." Willy said. Ellie crossed her arms over her chest.

"Now wait a minute, if I can call you by your first name, you have to call me by mine." she said, poking him playfully. Willy laughed and nodded

"Fair enough, Ellie." Willy said, smiling sheepishly.

"So, I guess I'll see ya' around." Ellie said looking up into his eyes. She hoped she'd see him again. She rather liked his company.

"Yes and I will be looking forward to it." Willy said with a tip of his hat. Ellie smiled and made her way up the steps that led into her apartment building, Willy watching her go. Once she was up the at the door, she turned around and gave him a small wave, before walking inside.

Slowly she walked up the flight of steps that led to her apartment. Sighing, she unlocked the door and walked in, throwing her coat and bag on a nearby chair. Leaning up against the door, Ellie slid down to the floor and put her head in her hands.

She couldn't believe this was happening. She had only just met the chocolatier and she was starting to have feelings for him! And the last time something like this happened, things got out of hand, Ellie thought to herself. But there's just something different about him, I can feel it. She thought. Ellie then looked through her fingers when she felt her large gray tabby cat rubbed up against her, purring happily.

"Hello Finnegan." Ellie said tiredly, a small smile on her lips. Finnegan, or Finn for short, meowed in return and purred loudly. Ellie scratched the back of his head and stood up. She then slowly walked to her bedroom where she got ready for bed. As she did so, she couldn't help but think about all that had happened that day. Maybe….maybe this time things will be different, Ellie thought as she climbed into bed. Maybe I can finely be happy.