This is my favorite chapter so far. Sorry I haven't updated sooner but I haven't felt much inspired to write lately and haven't have much time either. I write chapters in advance so I actually wrote this one weeks ago but didn't posted it because I like to have at least the next two chapters ready but that hasn't been possible because of the reasons previously mentioned. Did I made anyone suffer waiting? Anyways, enjoy.

Chapter Ten: The Recipe Of Love

Marilyn woke up and got ready for work. Her unform was a simple green maid dress and matching green gloves. Green wasn't her best color but the uniform was better than the skin tight waitress dress she wore back at the cafe.

All night she beamed at the tiny fragile seed that was in her possesion. In her hands was the destiny of a rare specie of a tree. She thought about all The Once-ler revealed to her the night before and this was all he needed. This tiny seed could bring him the peace he longed for. Marilyn wanted desperatly to give it to him, but she couldn't. Something within her told her to wait. It was as if nature itself would try to stop her if she disobeyed. And so she put it in a box for safe keeping, somewhere were nobody will ever find it but her.

She left outside with a red scarf around her face. She would walk her way to work since going in a cab will only pollute the air more and she wanted to have no part in it.

On her way to The Once-ler's factory she saw a small crowd gather around in a white gazeebo. She had no time to stop by and see what the whole gathering was about but she could see that the crowd was listening to a small man. A very small man. With an odd bob hair cut and braces. As the man spoke, his listeners nodded as if in agreement. Whatever it was that he spoke about Marilyn was sure it was of no importance or interest to her.

Marilyn finally arrived at The Once-ler's mansion. She was greeted by a couple of her coworkers. She could tell they weren't excited for her but because now they had another helping hand to help carry all the burden. It was a gigantic house left to just a small staff. It was a lot of work.

Today she would be helping the cook, Mrs. Ellerbee, to prepare breakfast and clean up the kitchen plus run a couple of errands. The kitchen was filled with all sorts of food. Some familiar, some not. It was stored in a room that was probaly as big as her cousin's home.

As Mrs. Ellerbee searched in a cooking book something for The Once-ler to eat for breakfast, Marilyn stocked the groceries in their rightful places. She figured half of the food will go to waste considering the fact that the only The Once-ler and sometimes the staff will eat from it. Just as Marilyn was hard at work, the butler came in and called on Mrs. Ellerbee.

"Mrs. Elerbee, you are needed to wash the laundry!" the butler, whom Marilyn found out was named Mr. Lavasseur, shouted in the hallway.

"Why can't the newbie do it?!" Mrs. Ellerbee shouted back annoyed, as if Marilyn couldn't hear her.

"You have five minutes!" was all Mr. Lavasseur answered.

"Ugh fine!" she complained. "You! Prepare the master's breakfast!"

Marilyn nodded and quickly went searching the shelves. The only things she found familiar were flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, milk, egg and butter.

"Hmmm let's see... Aha! Pancakes!" she exclaimed in triumph. Sure it wasn't fancy but she had to work fast here and she remebered The Once-ler telling her it was his favorite. It was her favorite too.

The Once-ler was bored in his office. Breakfast was supposed to have arrived minutes ago. He wondered were Marilyn was woking. The butler was the one to decide where the servants would work and not him, so he had no idea where she would be. His empty stomach was having a serenade as he waited so he decided to check what the delay was about.

Marilyn built a small stack of pancakes and covered them in looked delicious, perfectly cooked and prepared. She was almost tempted into having a bite but resisted. She placed the plate with the pancakes and a cup of fresh coffe on a silver tray and hastily headed towards the door.

Just as she was going out The Once-ler was going in. Without one seeing the other, they both collided. Pancakes sticked to The Once-ler and coffe spilled over Marilyn while the fine china shattered in the floor.

"Oh my goodness gracious! I'm so sorry I-I... Oh my..." Marilyn stared wide eyed at The Once-ler who looked like a Christmas tree decorated with pancakes.

"We need to stop meeting like this you know" he wasn't angry, in the contrary, he was amused.

Marilyn collected the pieces of china and gathered them on the silver tray. "I am so sorry..." she said holding back her laughter. She stood up and put the tray on a nearby table.

"Was that my breakfast?" he asked holding out a pancake dripping with syrup. Marilyn nodded.

"I will make you fresh stack just give me a few minutes" she headed back into the kitchen and Once-ler followed her.

"Need help?" he asked as she gathered all the ingredients.

"Oh no, no, you shouldn't. I want to earn my money here and it wouldn't be fair." she answered.

"Alright, I'm just saying, I make the best pancakes in the world" he gloated.

"Are you challenging me?" She eyed him.

"No, not at all." he said smiling. "Unless..."

The two started off. Running to different ends of the kitchen, collecting their ingredients. It has been a long time since The Once-ler cooked pancakes, or cooked at all, but he knew this recipe by heart.

Marilyn watched The Once-ler cook. She had to admit he was good. Very good. So she had to bring out some secret ingredients.

As her back was turn to him, The Once-ler grabbed a mass of egg and flour and threw it at Marilyn. She squealed in surprise and delight.

"So this is how you wanna play huh?!" she grabbed a cup full of flour and threw it at him. The Once-ler looked like Casper the friendly ghost. Marilyn laughed until her stomach hurt. Soon after the two started to throw flour at each other. When she was out of flour, Marilyn threw eggs at Once-ler who couldn't defend himself against a wall.

"Ha ha sucker!" Marilyn stuck her tongue out at him.

"Not so fast!" he grabbed the milk cartoon and chased Marilyn around the kitchen spilling the milk on her head.

"Stop! Ha ha stop! No! Please!" Marilyn walked away from him backwards, covering her face with her hands. Suddenly Marilyn slipped. The Once-ler also fell down on top of Marilyn, legs tangled. His elbows were pinned to the ground on each side of her face. They could feel each other's cool breath. The Once-ler could feel her heart beat fast against his chest and her warm belly against his. Her blue eyes searching for his. This would've been a charming sight if it wasn't for the fact that they were covered from head to toe with pancake mix.

Marilyn was thankful that her face was covered with flour because she was blushing wildly and couldn't help it. She was never in this position with a man before. She wanted to move but was paralyzed. Time stopped. The only thing that seemed to move was the flour falling around them like a beautiful winter wonderland. She wanted him to kiss her then and there in that moment. He, too, wanted to have a taste of her lips, the only feature in her face not covered in white. The temptation was strong and could only be broken by one's hesitation. They wanted one another, but they failed to communicate it. It was as if both came to an agreement that they didn't understand this language when they pulled apart from each other, breaking the magnetic connection that bonded them together for that unforgettable moment.

The Once-ler got up first and held his hand out for her to take. She accepted it and got up avoiding his eyes. The awkward silence that followed was broken by The Once-ler whose stomach was grumbling.

"So um, wanna taste those pancakes?" he asked.

"Mhm, sure" she said and the two turned around to their workplace ready to cook the pancake mixed they had prepared.

Marilyn and Once-ler sat in a table, plates of towering pancakes before them.

"Are you ready?" Once-ler asked. Marilyn nodded and took a bite from Once-ler's pancakes. She chewed for a couple of minutes the swallowed. They were good, she had to admit. They were really good.

"Mmmm..." she said after a couple of more delicious bites.

"Told you. I make the best pancakes." Once-ler exclaimed in pride.

"Not so fast. You haven't tried mine yet." Marilyn pointed at the stack of pancakes she made. The display was simple, nothing too extraordinary. The Once-ler expected just the typical taste of pancakes as he took a bite, but he was greatly surprised.

After almost eating half of the stack in three minutes he stopped to ask.

"Is this... marshmallows?!" he said between more bites.

"Mhm. My secret recipe. Marshmallow pancakes." Marilyn smiled at Once-ler who ate like a five year old.

"Nobody ever told me we could add extra ingredients" Once-ler said pretending to be mad.

"Hey, you never asked." Marilyn laughed when Once-ler finished his plate.

"Seconds?" Once-ler extended his plate to Marilyn who put it on top of the other dishes.

"I would but we wasted all the flour and eggs in that epic food fight. Which reminds me, we should go get cleaned up." Marilyn said as she cleaned the dishes.

After the too went to get changed, Mrs. Ellerbee came in and fainted upon seeing the mess the too destined hearts had left behind.

"A kiss is a secret told to the mouth instead of the ear;

kisses are the messengers of love and tenderness."

Ingrid Bergman

I dedicate this chapter to anyone who, at one point, doubted my writing skills.