'Dr. Wilbur Wonka D.D.S' . Willy stared at the sign for what seemed like forever. "I can't do this Emma" he whispered finally breaking the silence. He felt a reassuring hand touch his shoulder. "Yes you can. He's your father. And he's probably spent all of these years alone and missing you, just like you have" she whispered and he looked at her stunned. "I never said that I..." He started but she cut him off. "You didn't have to. I know you miss him. Because if you didn't, you wouldn't think about him as much as you do, and you wouldn't have all of your flashbacks" she pointed out and he looked at her dumbfounded. How could she see inside of his mind so easily? "Ok" he finally whispered before turning his attention back to the door, and with a shaky breath, he knocked. They waited there in silence for a few short moments before the door opened. Dr. Wilbur Wonka stood before them, and Willy noticed the man looked exactly the same as he did all of those years ago. The man seemed confused as to why the two were on his doorstep, and Willy realized his father didn't recognize him. He tried to form words, he tried to say something, but he couldn't. "Do you have an appointment?" The man finally asked and still Willy could get nothing out. "I'm afraid not sir, but he's overdue" Emma answered, realizing Willy was in too much shock to say anything. The man just nodded and led them inside.

"Well let's see what the damage is shall we" He said as Willy took a seat in the dental chair. As his father began the examination, Emma looked around the room. She saw a framed picture of Willy when he was a child and she smiled at the boy with a helmet and braces. She noticed the walls were covered in different newspaper articles all involving the famous chocolatier. She had been right. His father had never stopped loving him. "I haven't seen bicuspids like these since..." Emma turned her attention back to the older man and she saw the recognition dawn on him. "Willy?" He questioned sitting back in his chair. "Hi Dad" Willy answered softly and Emma smiled. "All these years, and you haven't flossed" and Emma gave a small laugh. "Not once" his son replied. His father leaned in and gave Willy a tentative hug. Willy didn't know what to do. It felt awkward hugging his father, but he hugged him back, and he felt a little more at ease. Emma had been right. He had missed his father. Suddenly, he felt terrible for all of the years he wasted. He finally pulled away and looked at his father. "I'm sorry" Willy whispered, and he noticed the tears in the man's eyes. "So am I" He said. His father hugged him again, and this time, there was no hesitation on either side. He saw Emma standing in the corner of the room and noticed her hand covering her smile and tears of joy were in her eyes.

"Dad" Willy said as he pulled away. "I'd like to introduce you to Emma Mason. My apprentice" he said, but he knew she was so much more than that. "And my friend" he added shyly and she smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you sir" she said as she walked over and extended her hand to the man. "It's very nice to meet you Emma, please call me Wilbur" he said taking the young girl's hand. "It was Emma that got me to come here today" Willy said and his father smiled before looking back at Emma. "How can I ever thank you?" He asked and she shook her head. "Knowing that Wil has his father back and you have your son, that's thanks enough for me" she said. "Well, uh, why don't we all go into the kitchen and have some evening tea" Mr. Wonka offered. Willy nodded and Emma smiled. "That sounds lovely" she said and they followed Wilbur into the kitchen.

"So I take it Emma is the winner from your big contest?" Mr. Wonka asked his son as he poured them all a cup of tea. "Uh yeah. And she's been great at helping me invent new candy" he said awkwardly. Emma seemed to notice he was struggling. She knew how awkward he was in new situations, and how it had taken him a while to adjust to her. "You should see the factory your son has created. He's a genius, and he's extremely passionate about what he does" she offered placing a hand on Willy's arm trying to relax him. "I always knew he would do great things" his father mused. At this, Willy felt pride swell in his heart. It was the first time he had ever heard his father say anything like that. "Willy" his father started setting down his cup. "I was extremely tough on you as a child. Losing your mother, was very difficult for me" he said and Willy saw his father searching for the right words. "I hardened my heart. And I thought by being stern with you, it would make you a strong man. But I realized, all it did was push you away" and the man's eyes became cloudy. "I wasn't the parent I should have been. And I was afraid if I reached out after all these years, you would reject me, and I couldn't handle losing you again." He said. Willy listened intently, hardly believing the words he was hearing. He saw Emma's face soften, and he saw the look of empathy in her eyes. "I just, I want you to know how proud I am of you son" his father finished, and he placed his hand on top of his son's. "I love you dad" Willy whispered. The words came out before he even processed them. He did love his father. And all he ever wanted was his approval, and now he had it. "I love you too son" his father whispered and Emma watched in happiness.

They spent another hour in the cozy home. They laughed and talked, as if the past years of loniless never existed. It was like they had always been a family. And Willy noticed how easily Emma fit into that family. In fact, she was a part of it now. She was the reason he was here, and happier than he had ever been in his life. All too soon, he noticed it had gotten very late, and he knew it was time to head home. "Dad, I would love it if you would come to the factory sometime" he offered as his father walked them to the door. "I'd love that too son" he said and Willy smiled. "Great, uh, just call anytime and you can come over" he said and his father smiled giving him one last hug. "Emma, my dear, it was wonderful to meet you" He said bringing Emma into a hug. "The pleasure was mine Wilbur" she said returning his embrace. "And thank you, for everything you've done for my son" he whispered in her ear. She pulled away and gave him a soft smile. "I'll see you soon" he told her and they waved goodbye before heading out into the street.

When they had left the factory, it had been in the afternoon and they had decided to walk instead of taking the elevator. It was now dark, and it had gotten a little colder, and the street lamps illuminated the sidewalk. They walked together in silence for a moment and he noticed how she pulled her cardigan closer to her. "Are you cold?" He asked looking at her. "Only a little" She said smiling. He took off his elaborate velvet coat and draped it over her shoulders and he saw her blush. "Thank you" she said and they fell back into a comfortable silence. "So, did you enjoy your birthday?" He asked after a moment. "It was the best birthday I could have ever had" she said with a bright smile. "I'm glad" he replied. "Emma" he said and she looked back at him. "Thank you" He said. "I didn't realize how much I had missed him, until tonight" he told her. "You're welcome" she answered. "Emma" he said again and she noticed how serious he was being. He took a deep breath. He had to tell her. He had to tell her how he felt. But what did he feel? He felt happy when she was with him. He felt at ease. He felt lost when she wasn't around, like a part of him was missing. He felt like she completed him. He felt like she was the only person who really understood him. "Emma I..." He started, but he couldn't do it. "You what, Wil?" She asked curiously. "I really like your candy fish idea" he finished and he wanted to smack himself. "Oh" she said quietly. "Um, good I'm glad you liked them" she said numbly. "I want to start work on them first thing in the morning, if that's alright with you?" He asked and she nodded. "Of course Wil" she said with a smile. But her smile was different. It seemed sad, and that bothered him. Why was she sad?

When they arrived back at the factory, he walked her to her room in silence. "Thank you for your jacket" she said quietly, and handed it back to him. "Of course" he nodded taking it from her. "And thank you for the amazing day" she said with a smile. "I'm glad you liked it" he said. He looked into her green eyes and felt hyponostized by them. He just stood there, staring at her, and she didn't move. His gaze flickered from her eyes to her lips. They looked so soft and inviting. He had never wanted to kiss someone before. Not until now. He saw her gaze shifting from his eyes to his lips and back. "Wil" she whispered and he snapped out of his trance. He cleared his throat and brought his eyes back to her own. "Goodnight Emma" he said and quickly turned away and secured himself in the safety of his room. He closed the door and banged his head against the wood. He squeezed his eyes shut and balled his hands into tight fists. What was happening to him? All of a sudden, candy was no longer the only thing he thought about. The first thing he pictured when he woke up was her. The last thing he thought about before bed was her. His entire day, all he could focus on was her laugh, her smile, her eyes, the touch of her hand. His candy had been better than ever, because he was happier than ever. But he had no idea how to tell her. He couldn't even admit it to himself. He was scared and confused. These were feelings and thoughts he had never dealt with. His only love was candy. Or could I love something, someone, else he thought to himself. He shook his head. It was too overwhelming. It was too much to think about. So he pushed the thoughts away. He quickly changed out of his day clothes and put on his silk pajamas. But he found he couldn't get to sleep. He paced and paced around his room. All he could see was her.

He felt himself being thrown into another flash back, this one was just a week ago. They had finished their work early that day, and he had gone to see his receptionist about a new shipment of chocolate taffy. He decided after that he would take a stroll through the meadow of the chocolate room to clear his mind. When he arrived, he noticed her sitting by the river with a book in hand. He found out shortly after she had moved in that she loved to read, and he often saw her sitting in some corner with a book in hand. He walked up behind her quietly before making himself known. "What are you reading?" He asked and she jumped. "Oh, you scared me!" She laughed and he grinned. "Sorry" He said with a giggle. "It's Jane Eyre" she said showing him the cover. He just stared at it. He couldn't remember the last time he had read anything. "It's uh my favorite book." She continued. "A couple years ago during Christmas time, I kept talking about how I would love to own a book. One that was mine and I could keep" she said. "My father found some money on the street that someone must have dropped. And instead of using it for food or something for the house, he bought me this book" she said clutching it tighter in her hands. "And on Christmas morning, he gave it to me" she finished with a smile. "Could you read some to me?" He asked like a small child and she gave him a wide smile. "Of course" she said and patted the grass next to her. He sat down beside of her and she opened the book to a random page. "Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear. Your mind is my treasure, and if it were broken, it would be my treasure still" she read softly. His heart was pounding loudly in his chest, and he was sure she could hear it. The words of the book seemed to mimick how he felt about her. He sat there, content to just listen to the sound of her voice as she read from her beloved book.

He shook himself out of the memory. I'm hopeless, he thought to himself as he sat on the edge of his bed. He finally laid down and stared up at the ceiling, trying to stop his racing mind. Finally, the exhaustion of the day caught up with him, and he drifted into an uneasy sleep.

"Don't go" he pleaded. "I have to Willy" she said, a vacant expression on her face. "Please, I need you" he cried. They were in the pitch black. She was glowing, in a long red dress. He was normal; in his normal attire. She was floating away from him, and every time he got close and reached out to her, she floated farther away. "Do you love me Willy?" She asked in a monotone voice. "I, I don't know what I feel!" He cried. He was distressed. He was confused. The words he wanted to say were there in his heart, and on the tip of his tongue, but his mind wouldn't let him say it. "You have to tell me, or I have to go" she replied and she started to fade away. "No, no please don't go, I...I" He panicked. He could hardly see her now, she had nearly evaporated. "I LOVE YOU" he screamed, but he was too late, and he knew he was too late. She was gone. "EMMA!" He cried falling to his knees. "EMMA! EMMA!"

"Willy wake up!" His eyes shot open, and he felt himself being shook. Her hands were tight on his shoulders, and her eyes were wide with concern. "Emma" he whispered, as his body trembled. "Shhh, it's alright. You were having a nightmare" she said calmly. He tried to sit up, but she gently pushed him back down. "Easy, easy." She whispered. "I heard you screaming, so I came over" she said gently and he noticed she was still in her nightgown. It had puffy white sleeves with baby pink trim, and it buttoned down the front. He also noticed it was much shorter and more revealing than he normal clothes. He then noticed how sweaty and clamy he felt. She pressed the back of her hand to his forehead, and her cool skin felt good against his own. "Wil, you're burning up" she said concerned. "Probably from walking around outside in the cold" she mused. "I'll get some of the Oompa Loompas to get you some medicine." She said. He watched her walk outside, and in a few moments she was back with a white cloth and a basin of water. "This should help a little" She said sitting on the bed. She dipped the cloth into the cold water and wrung the excess water out. "Here" She said placing the cold cloth on his forehead. "Now you just sit here and try to get some rest. Your medicine should be ready in the morning" she said calmly. He gave her an uneasy smile. "Thank you Emma" he said softly and she nodded. She stood and walked back to the door. "Get some sleep Wil" she said softly before exiting. He knew he wasn't sick at all. He was just that bothered from his dream. "I can't lose her" he whispered out loud. And he knew that if he didn't tell her soon, eventually he would. She would move on in life. She would find someone else. The thought of her with anyone other than himself made him sick at his stomach. He would talk to her. He had to.