Don't own anything except original characters. All material (c) to respective owners. I write these for fun and make no profit. They're just random plot bunnies that live within my strange mind
Chapter 11: They Snap
Another two months passed by with the slow tour of the factory, sharing his life with me and more unpleasant encounters at the Raven. Galen had put up signs excluding Lena Prodnose, Zowie Slugworth and that had been only half of it. I was sure the others would get involved soon enough. We got close but nothing past hand holding or simple gestures of warmth, I was beginning to wonder if he didn't understand what fiancé meant and was growing more distressed by him keeping such a distance.
One morning I lay in bed staring around the room and saw Delphine come in with another woman at her side. I was so happy to see another familiar face I landed on the floor from my tangled linens with a sharp thump. Painfully looking up from my half on the floor and half off my bed I smile despite my stupidity glad to see her.
"Hi Doris," Groaning I did manage to get back onto the bed. "I am so happy to see you, thank you for bringing her for a visit Delphine." I see the small woman bow before tending to my room and her usual duties.
Doris watches Delphine with interest before her dark eyes focus on me looking worried. "You've been engaged for more than two months. Why haven't you tried to further your relationship with Mr. Cocoa Bean?"
"Because he isn't ready and I don't want to scare him." Doris eyes me for a minute before shaking her head and actually giggling at me.
"You and I both know he isn't as innocent as the world thinks, what is holding you two back?" She asks watching as I study my fingers and twist my hand so I can see my engagement ring. "Don't you love each other?"
"I love him," I argue seeing her expression turn solemn before she struggled to climb up my high bed and sat flopping down at my side. "He's pushing me away without meaning to. I don't know if he loves me or if he feels safe with me or both or neither or-" Doris waves her hand stopping me from my rant and gaining my attention.
"Slow down!" she directs in a no nonsense manner. "Have you talked with Mrs. Bucket about her thoughts?"
"No."
Doris nods eyeing me closely. "Have you told each other you love one another, talked with him about your worries?"
"No."
"Perhaps you should talk before freaking out." Doris suggested crossing her arms and seeing Delphine walk out before seeing the look and making a quick 'u' turn to my closet. "Go out on a date and talk about your future together, being a fiancé is part of it. The next step is marriage and it would be strange marrying someone you don't love."
"I do love him, I always have but I get the feeling he doesn't understand that." Doris and Delphine both exchange knowing looks before one frowns and the other feels like smacking their benefactor upside the head. "Dress and go to his room."
Taking the suggestion as more of an order I move quickly about taking a shower and emerge throwing around my clothing before finding something I found comfortable. I slip into a pair of worn green colored pants that fall down around my flip flop shoes and slowly pull on a black t-shirt with a giant character picture of animal from Muppet babies, the pink and orange hairball one of my favorite characters.
I move out into the striped hall nearly falling on my face forgetting that they wax the floors really well. I gingerly make my way to the stairs that lead to Willy's office and begin my long hike to the upper floor.
"Aren't we supposed to be sharing a room and sleeping together now?" I wonder shaking aside the thoughts and avoiding a collision with some steps.
Willy Wonka's POV
Sitting up he looks around his room before making his way to the bathroom and coming out half dressed. His shirt and vest are open and he's searching for his watch. All the while Doris gets to his rooms before Arctura does and forces him to pause long enough to nod in greeting before he finds his missing items and begins to search his closet for a frock coat.
Doris follows him silently about his routine before he gets mildly irritated with her hovering and stops. Turning sharply he indicates 'what do you want' with a conveyed look and hand movement. Doris waits a minute considering her words before nodding convinced it was something that needed saying.
"Arctura is in love with you but I don't think you know that." His jaw drops slightly before Doris goes about his closet eyeing his collection carefully. "Do you love her?" she signed reaching out and indicating a deep scarlet frock bringing it to his attention.
"I asked her to marry me." Willy said crossly before taking her choice and slipping it on while he struggled with the fastens of his shirt.
"That doesn't mean you love her, at least not necessarily. We know you Mr. Cocoa Bean and this is unlike you. You show little emotion, you haven't even slept with her…or kissed her." He froze feeling his cheeks flame at the accusations before glaring downward at his small friend and advisor. "That is what people in love do."
"I hold her hand, I am around her all the time and-"
"You can act very profoundly but do you love her?" Doris once again avoided his movement and saw his cane lying neglected near the door. "Or is this a way to keep your world in order?"
Willy barely avoided tripping over his own feet seeing Doris didn't look at all pleased with the way he was evading her questions. He looked down twisting his watch to stare at the time before seeing Doris wasn't just going to walk away, they knew what he was doing without him saying it aloud but he was all muddled on what to tell her.
"Do I know how to love? If I did know how I would want it to be the girl that likes me no matter what. Arctura would even if I didn't know what it meant." Doris found her expression softening realizing that in his world he wasn't positive he knew the emotion. "Do I love her Doris?"
She looked up at those worried eyes watching him finish his ensemble and adjust his coat to fit better. Staring at him for the longest time she didn't have an answer to give, even she didn't know how he felt inside but she knew that Arctura would be hurt badly if she knew that he didn't know for sure where their lives were headed.
"I hope so; she cares for you so deeply I think it would kill her if she knew you didn't mean to love her before you married her." Doris signed both of them looking up hearing a light knock on his door before she sighed already knowing who it was. "Break it to her easy."
His eyes bugged before Doris excused herself allowing Arctura into the room. Willy said nothing watching her step in, he saw her hair brush across her eyes before she smiled seeing he was having some difficulty getting his 'W' pin situated.
Original POV
I look up seeing his eyes move to me before watching him flinch shaking his hand realizing he must have pricked his fingers. "Let me help." I say walking over watching him pause feeling my fingers gently touch his before taking over the task of fastening the pin. "There we go."
I see him eye me like I caught him in the headlights of my vehicle or something. It was almost like I had come in at a bad time and I had seen Doris didn't look at all happy. I hoped something hadn't gone wrong in the factory. I brush his hair gently out of his face seeing it is more fly away than usual and feel his hands catch mine.
He looks down studying the ring on my finger before his face turns down in a look between upset and frightened. I wonder what is going through his mind. Twisting my hand with his he gently kisses my fingers which is something I hadn't experienced before, he smiles though there is still that dark look inside those violet eyes.
"Can I do anything?" Shaking his head he relaxes his hold looking much more troubled than I originally thought. "Willy you can tell me anything, I wouldn't think badly of you. I love you very much despite popular opinion that has been banned from the Raven recently." He blinked astonished I finally said those three little words. (Well five words.)
"How do you know? I don't know if I feel anything anymore." He surrendered letting Doris rule his conscience, it was easier than hurting his only old or real friend.
A song hit me then called 'Heart of Stone' but it didn't apply to him, I felt he was capable of emotion it was just very slow going and a long process that I would have to wait out. He backs up seeing my expression falter before sighing miserably.
"Arctura I-"
"You asked me to marry you on a whim or thinking you could pretend to have something real?" Lena's words come back full force. "He's using you!"
"It isn't like that. It's…I'm not sure what it is." He reluctantly stood there feeling like an idiot and worst of all knew very well I wasn't going to buy any of it.
A person unemotional like he was claiming to be wouldn't be a good romantic choice. He wasn't innocent and I wasn't a fool, he was afraid I would think he preferred all those idiots out there, the ones he pretended for just because that's all he knew how to do.
"I don't want to pretend." Willy said startling himself.
"I know that, I knew that someplace deep inside when you pulled this ring out in the car. I just know that I cared enough to let it slide because you can care; it's just a process that takes time. You've been hurt so much I didn't expect a fairytale or white Knight, I know what I am attempting." He relaxed watching me with doubt in his eyes. "You asked me because you do trust me; trust is what leads to love."
Willy laughed regardless of my words, it wasn't right for someone like me to give him this opportunity. Maybe Lena had been right, sometimes a fake was more convincing than being real. He felt my hand reach out and straighten his jacket into order before dusting off his vest and finishing the last buttons. Looking down I smile despite the irony of the situation and see he doesn't look at all convinced by my forgiving him so easily. Even I'm struck by the easy way I am dealing with it.
Taking a chance is how love is supposed to happen and that is why I am having this conversation. I don't want secrets or pretends, I want him because deep down I've always had a warm spot for Willy which grew into a deeper respect and love for my dear friend.
"Don't you know best friends make the best ones to love?" I smile feeling his hands hold mine still looking doubtful. "You are the closest thing I have to something real, Charlie pulled me back and this is where I belong. Now let's go see how he's doing with your newest creations and hope he doesn't look like a mess due to something going wrong." I tug hard finding him staggering forward and feel his arms reflexively move around me so we don't go colliding to the floor.
The closeness isn't new but the strong feel of emotions running high and wild are. Feeling possessed in a fashion I want to kiss him in the worst way but refrain leaning in and hold him close. Slowly will always be the better way to do this, it is easy to love someone but harder to prove you do without trying.
"Oh dear," Willy murmurs sounding mildly alarmed, I look up seeing his expression is gloomy to say the least.
"What?"
"I think we were working on the werewolf cookies for Halloween." I look at him puzzled before remembering that not all candies or things made in the factory actually worked out safe during test trials. "I'm not sure if we got the ginger right so they would stop snapping."
"Oh brother, we better get a move on." I grip his wrist tugging him along to the hallway; he just catches his cane on the way while I grab his hat with my other hand.
Walking to the elevator I find it much easier to skate with my sandals and laugh softly at Willy who is curiously watching me move. I get inside the elevator and put his hat into place catching his arm reflexively when the elevator speeds off. It isn't long before we are at that wonderful work place he creates inside and I look around the intricate room of wonder finding it's his turn to tug me along.
We move along the lower floor past tables of rich colored work bottles, tubes and other machines before coming to a normal looking kitchen like room. Charlie is standing there with a spatula waving it around frantically at a fresh batch of cookies he had just pulled from the large very long oven ahead of him. I watch Oompa Loompas slam the massive door shut before all turning to their young master who is still Willy's protégée but much more skilled than he once was.
"Still not the right amount of ginger!" Charlie stated smacking one of the werewolf shaped cookies that tried to bite his hand. "Help!" he cried ducking when one flew at his face.
Willy reacted snatching the flying cookie out of the air and clamped his fingers over the mouth glaring at the squirming cookie his violet eyes narrowing. I release my hold watching him move to Charlie's side before putting the cookie with the others and snapping each one on the end of the nose. I stifle giggles seeing each of the cookies react by pausing their jaws and all looking upward at the chocolatier.
"That isn't nice, shame on all of you." Willy scolded, I move slowly up to his side watching all the cookies look between themselves before a strange crackling sound is heard.
"Their whimpering," I look at them awe struck once again by my fiancé and his interesting creations. "They are kind of cute when they not trying to eat the consumer." He rolls his eyes giving me an unimpressed sort of look before Charlie glances sideways at me and smiles in agreement.
"So we know the ginger is a bit off still, can they be eaten?" Charlie shrugs watching one of the Oompa Loompa taste testers come up and reach down to sample one.
I react already seeing where this is going and move swiftly around behind Willy gripping his coat hearing a tiny squeak before all the cookies turn attacking the Oompa Loompa. Again the spatula comes out and Charlie's deflecting their attack while the Oompa Loompas gather the merciless sweets into sacks to be taken to a room for further tests and a rewriting of the recipe. Charlie indicates he will be back and assists collecting the other few dozen out of the ovens and leads a small parade of little people holding squirming sacks of werewolf cookies all growling, snarling and barking away.
I giggle softly stopping aware of Willy moving slowly and half turning. I see him giving me an odd look that reminds me of a few times where things went haywire. His eyes have that glint of mischief and laughter which had always led to interesting things in the past. I start to move back already worried at where this might go before stumbling over something.
Willy Wonka's POV
Reacting in instinct he reaches out stopping her fall and steadies her back on her feet looking down seeing her eyes squinted up ready for the fall. After a minute one eye opens then the other before she looks up and smiles gratefully. Grace had never been her thing, she often found herself tripping over her own feet and finding things the hard way.
Literally falling for him the first day she met him when she wiped out on the floor of his first shop.
"I haven't changes; still have two left feet and two right ones on an off day." She laughs seeing him smile a true one, a rarity since she had been back in the factory. "Thanks."
"I don't think I want you broken," Willy said guiding her slowly forward to avoid another attempt to collide with the floor.
It brought her close once again in his arms; he looked around to make sure there was nothing more for her to fall over not seeing her study him intently.
Original POV
"He doesn't want me hurt." The true worry in his voice I don't even think he was aware of; he was showing concern which was emotions. He still felt like a heart of ice beat inside but it wasn't true, his worry for me was starting to show. I watch him take care to make sure there is nothing else for me to go splat over; managing to be drawn closer and wonder if I even dare attempt to let my instincts take over.
What would happen if I kissed him? I wasn't quite sure but I did find the thought much harder to ignore this time around. The moment was lost when I heard chaos from above somewhere which forced Willy to look up.
"Oh candy canes!" He swung me around both of us avoiding a giant spill of liquid candy in the rich color of blue; it splashed missing the majority of us but not my feet or his.
I make a face feeling the warm sticky goo ooze over my feet seeing him look down at his own feet and then over at me. I see his lip curl upward before groaning shaking off the sticky mess and sigh looking up a floor above where Charlie stands calling down an apology. It appeared the werewolf cookies still had more bite than bark.
"Yick," I glance up hearing Willy attempt to stifle giggles before eyeing the sticky gunk around our feet.
"You like the flavor, blue raspberry." I sigh not finding my favorite flavored candies appealing when having to wear them. "Though I didn't think of candied slippers, it could become an interesting fad."
"Except for the sticky mess," I attempt to pull out of the mess and almost fall; luckily he's once again swift and rescues me. "Thanks and that was too close." I try to lift my feet and swear failing to get loose. "Um,"
"You're stuck." He said seeing me give him a 'yep' look before again that knowing smile lights up his face. "Do you love your shoes?"
"I have others…why?" Here is where another change occurs and I'm actually glad for the mishap in the inventing room.
I feel his arm reach down to my knees before finding myself snatched out of the sticky trap at my feet and held bridal style in his arms. Looking around us he carefully makes his way past the sticky goo before finding a clean area and gently sits me back on my feet. Despite still having candy on my feet at least I am no longer stuck. He eyes the mess making his own face before glancing upward watching some of his workers sign to him.
"They're going to get the mess." He yells aloud in surprise glancing up as something very cold washes down above us soaking us both, I glance upward seeing Charlie again calling down in apology. "Icy cream, cherry flavor…maybe I should lose the ginger and try something a little milder."
I nod shivering in agreement before shaking out my wet hair and seeing him wring out his jacket to the best of his ability. I get the impression that things like this happened more often than he wished to say, I walk slowly across the floor hearing my bare feet slap the ground before he calls out stopping me. I look up again finding myself scooped up and carried slowly from the room of noise, sweet smokes and strange loops leading to all kinds of pipes and gizmos that make magical candies for kids all over the world.
He walks us to the elevator and presses a button with his elbow before looking down seeing my hair laying limply and smirks. I shake my head pouting; I don't know what he finds so entertaining so far all I feel is sticky, wet and uncomfortable.
Being carried was fine, I could live with it but the teasing and the twinkle of laughter in his eyes told me everything. I felt like a drowned animal that smelled of cherry and raspberries, I didn't find it as amusing as he did but he did get wet too so it wasn't all bad.