It was morning, and Marie woke to the sound of hammers pounding on the roof. She moaned softly and placed her hand against her temple. Her head seemed to woken with an ache. She looked out the small opening and saw the chocolate factory. She sighed softly and painfully as it came crashing down on her.

Curling into a ball on her small bed, she sobbed dryly and finally tore her gaze away from the heartbreaking view. She was hurt and he was hurt. The last word his lips allowed to speak was something she wished not to hear again. She still feels the kiss that was planted on her hand. She clearly remembers how sad he looked when he walked slowly to his elevator. She knew he was trying his best to not look at her anymore, and when he did, oh! The tears blurred her gaze, she couldn't take it. She did not understand why she was feeling like the lowest thing in the world. "Marie?"

Too much into her thoughts, the call of her name startled her and she looked over and below to the ground level of her house. "Yes?" She answered. Her grandpa Joe motioned with his finger for her to join him downstairs. She nodded and slowly climbed out of her bed. She was back to wearing her mothers hand me downs; casting a sorrowful gaze towards the dress that hung limply over a chair.

"Yes, Grandpa Joe?" She smiled meekly as she sat next to him on the bed.

"Don't be so bummed out sweetheart. It was your decision, and if you think it was the best, then it was the best." He smiled softly at her.

"I'll be alright." She nodded, trying to convince herself more than him.

Days passed by quite sluggish as Marie continued to work at the sweet shop in town. Throughout the week, her mind seemed occupied; at least she tried to keep it that way, to remember any of the past events that went down.

She did try to recall what had happened to the other four children that had gone to the factory with her. She knew they were a selfish lot, but she still hoped they weren't hurt in any way. It wasn't her nature to wish such things on a person. Just when she thought of that, the hopes of getting rid of the memory of Mister Wonka came crashing down. Not in her nature to hurt a person.

"Then what did I do?" She scoffed at herself softly as she walked in the streets of the town, making her way to the sweet shop.

It was particular chilly day, and she hugged her jacket closer to her. She smiled as she saw her breathe every time she exhaled. As she continued walking, many people smiled at her, or nodded in acknowledgement of her presence. The day she returned to work, the people who recognized her, bombarded her with questions of the factory and its maker. She politely denied every question; she seemed to have no right to brag what lay inside those walls. The candy land filled with a delicious scent and a luscious view still filled her nostrils at times.

"Good morning Marie." Her boss greeted her when she walked in.

"Good morning." She inhaled softly and smiled softly. So many a times now did she try comparing the scent of the shop to that of the factory. Before she had thought of it as the best thing ever, but now, it was nothing compared to the chocolate factory.

She hung her jacket and grabbed the apron from the rack and took her place behind the counter. A daily routine since her come back.

"Hello sweetie." An elderly lady greeted her as she set a Wonka bar and a box of laffy taffy.

"Hello, will this be all?" Marie asked.

"Yes, yes it will be." Marie nodded and scanned the items before looking at the woman as she dug through her purse, looking for her money.

Marie furrowed her brows slightly as the woman now seemed familiar to her. Course she was a customer, she was in here just two days ago, and until now, it had hit her. This woman was the one that had bought Wonka bars sometime ago when the Golden Tickets were launched. This woman had given her more than she was supposed to give and never waited for the change. Marie remembered what she had done with that change exactly. The extra bill had bought her the chocolate bar that contained the last Golden Ticket; the possession that took her into an adventure she wasn't going to forget.

"Miss?" The woman had spoken confusedly.

Marie shook her head and smiled meekly as she took the money and proceeded to give the woman her change. This time, she actually handed it to her. The lady smiled at her and took her things. Marie heard the familiar ring as the door opened and closed. She sighed softly and looked about the store. Empty.

There was nothing for Charlotte to do, but wait. Wait for what? More customers of course!

She looked out the window that was closest to the counter and saw a man standing there, reading the newspaper. Marie looked at the man with curiosity, for she had been seeing him for the past few days, just there, reading the paper up to his face. From the distance, she saw he was tall and for moments at a time, it reminded of her of someone. She shook her head and frowned. Turning her back to the shop, she leaned on the counter and fiddled with the loose strings on the apron. She heard the ring of the door and knew someone had just entered the shop.

She forced her frowned into a smile and turned, ready to greet the person who entered. But, when she did, the person was walking out again. The mysterious man walked out and back to the window. Marie was surely confused with the actions.

"See you tomorrow." Her boss said as she hung her apron and grabbed her jacket. She nodded and walked out the shop, the ringing of the bell soon fading as she walked up the streets. Her small feet led her to the one place her heart longed to be. She came to accept that her decision wasn't worth it. She regretted it dearly. She's been nothing but frowns and sighs wherever she went. This place was no exception as she looked up. Her blue orbs gaze at the towers of the factory. The iron gates, once again, were stopping her from going farther in.

Snow started falling in gentle flakes as she stood there with her hands in her pockets. She turned and started walking back down the streets and towards her home.

"Thank you." The little boy smiled up as he was given the change for the chocolate bar he just purchased.

"You're welcome." Marie smiled. The store was bustling with children from school at the moment. Children of seven years of age would come up one by one to buy their treat. "Hey, put that back!" She suddenly yelled out when she saw a kid get a candy bar and slip it into his jacket pocket. The rest of the children inside turned and look at the child. The boy's cheeks immediately were tinted with red as his lower lip pushed out slightly. He jammed his hands into his pockets and walked out of the shop.

After the last boy purchased his candy bar, the group of children left and so remained the shop empty once more. Marie felt like everything was dull and not quite entertaining. Her visit at the factory certainly has changed her views on everything she laid her eyes on. Her thoughts came back to reality when she heard the ring of the door. She looked around and saw the mysterious man enter, and he didn't seem to have any intentions of going back out.

He touched around lightly, eyeing every treat inside, all and all with a nervous smile. She eyed him discreetly as she pretended to order the products on the counter. In the process she accidentally dropped a small plush purple bear. She bent down to pick it up and eyed the toy with a small smile. Even the eyes on the bear were of a violet color. Sighing lightly, she came back up and stocked the bear next to the register. In doing so, she looked up to be locked in a gaze with a pair of violet eyes that took her breath away.

He was now face to face with the blue orbs that were most deep than any ocean in the world; her milking complexion still captivating as anything and everything about her. He could no longer deny that this girl had indeed made a great difference in his life. It took him a long time to muster up the words he would say to her when he met up with her once more. And here she was, looking at him and struggling to find if he was real or not. He saw the corner of her peach lips tug up softly. My, did that make his mouth water and make his posture melt.

"Hi." He smiled at her.