Charlotte and the Once-Ler faced each other, both with a look of determination on their face. The bed separated them where they stood, a chipped bedside lamp the only thing illuminating the room. Charlotte puffed out an angry breath, blowing a stray hair out of her face. The rest of it was tied back in a loose bun for sleeping in. She rolled up the sleeves of her clothing, a pair of pajamas the Once-Ler lent her, and continued to stare.

"I'm not kicking you out of your bed again!" she exclaimed.

"Well then neither of us get it," he replied.

"Just sleep in the freaking bed!" she yelled, throwing her hands up in the air.

"'Freaking'?" he smirked.

"Yes, freaking!"

"You're being childish," he smiled at how red her face was getting.

"I'M being childish? Get in the bed, Once!"

"Hm," he spoke, tapping his finger to his chin,"No."

Charlotte growled, "Bed. Now." The Once-Ler held up his hands in surrender and inched his way onto the bed on his knees. Looking satisfied, Charlotte turned around to retrieve the blankets for her bed, but before she could reach them, the Once-Ler grabbed her waist and pulled her onto the bed with him. She sat down with a plunk and bounced into his chest. Even though she was a little annoyed, she couldn't help but giggle.

"What are you doing?" she asked, exasperated.

"Making sure neither of us are happy," he answered. "Are you happy?"

"No. Are you?"

Yes "No."

"Good."

"Good."

Charlotte crossed her arms, snuggling against him tighter without meaning to. She could feel his heartbeat. She noticed it was a little fast, but blamed it on the work it took to get her on the bed. She felt him settle into his pillow before flicking off the bedside lamp and closed her eyes.

"Charlie?" he asked the darkness.

"Hm?" she replied.

"Friends sometimes sleep in the same bed, right?"

"Yeah," she confirmed, her eyes opening a little. With careful consideration, she moved away from him to her own side of the bed and turned towards the wall. She couldn't risk making him uncomfortable.

Charlotte stretched out and embraced the light filling the room. She rolled to her back and was almost surprised to see that she wasn't alone. The Once-Ler slept quietly beside her, gentle features showing no sign of what he might have been dreaming about. One arm was tucked under his head and the other was hidden beneath the blankets. She sat up slowly and stretched her arms above her head, sighing lightly as she let them fall.

"How'd you sleep?" the Once-Ler asked, startling her for a brief moment.

"Well," she answered, "you?"

"Just fine, actually." He sounded surprised, but Charlotte couldn't place why.

"What's the plan today?" she inquired. The Once-Ler groaned, burying his face in a pillow. He mumbled something incoherently and she shook her head at him.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. At once, the Once-Ler was out of bed answering it. "Hello?"

"Hello sir," Charlotte heard an unfamiliar voice say. The door was blocking her view of them. "Are you the inventor of the thneed?"

"Yes," he said quickly, "Yes I am. Hello."

"I want to put it in my store," another voice stated enthusiastically.

"I need 10 of them by Friday." People were talking over each other, trying to get his attention.

Charlotte listened closely, trying to decipher just how many people there were, but the only thing she could focus on was a small child singing in the crowd. "Ya everybody needs a thneed, a fine thing that all people need. The thneed is good, the thneed is great..."

"Alright! Alright, I'll need everyone to fill out a form..." the Once-Ler spoke, but Charlotte tuned him out. Her mind was at work. The mass production of any product was harmful to the environment by means of factory pollution, but this... This would be utterly destructive if someone didn't keep his promise. Charlotte looked at the Once-Ler, who was simply elated as he spoke. He blinked quickly and made enthusiastic gestures with his hands. She could only hope...