Disclaimer: Don't own anything except original characters. All material (c) to respective owners.


Chapter 11: Questions & More Insight

"I don't know, who do I think I am?" Willy retorted innocently enough, but there was still the slight question behind it making me pause for a moment.

"Boyfriend?" I questioned curiously not daring to look up into his violet eyes right away for fear of my face being almost as red as my shirt.

"Okay." Willy said softly not being able to sound totally like his usual self. I looked up startled for a brief moment staring at him before I felt the elevator jerk into action forcing myself to stumble into him feeling his arms wrap around me steadying me as the speeding machine made me experience another round of vertigo.

I don't know how long the elevator moved around but I felt comfortable wrapped in Willy's arms. For once I didn't feel the need to draw away from a person and found myself wondering what was happening to me. I wouldn't have ever gotten this close to anyone unless by some chance I actually socialized, which was unlikely and something I didn't like doing. If Willy Wonka hadn't insisted on forcing me into a study of the Oompa Loompa's with that stupid television report I wouldn't have ever met the man that I once thought I hated but in actuality found myself falling for. "Why does life always throw curve balls?" I wondered absently snuggling closer to him hearing his heart pounding and his breath hitch slightly at the sudden movement. "He's still awkward around people but better around me now that he's gotten to know me better." I thought wondering how my mother and cousin would react to this news. "I won't tell them right away, or at least until I know what to think about this." I thought closing my eyes listening intently to the soothing sound of Willy's breathing finding myself smiling.

"We haven't stopped yet." I said softly breaking the silence in the room as I felt Willy start and glanced up into the violet eyes watching me intently.

"That's odd." Willy replied in answer as he glanced at the elevator panel curiously. "Maybe Felix didn't fix everything." He said pulling me closer as he glanced over my head at the buttons and noticed a green light flickering. "Green light…hmm…um…oh gobstoppers, I forgot what that one means." He said as I found myself giggling and meeting his eyes.

"Oh gobstoppers…you're going to break my habit with swearing with those terms…you know." I said trying to sound annoyed but only succeeding in laughing again at the smirk that crossed his features.

"Green…uh oh." Willy said as he looked down the color meaning suddenly coming to him. "It means the elevator is stuck on moving all over the factory and won't stop." He said as I stared at him for along moment a thought suddenly hitting me.

"How are the Oompa Loompa's supposed to fix it?" I asked seeing Willy look thoughtful for a moment before his face curved into a bright what I knew was phony smile.

"I don't know." Willy replied knowing I could see through his now phony smile and allowing it to fade in thought. "I forgot the procedure for this one." He said staring around the elevator and seeing a button that read emergency stop. "Oh ye-ah…forgot about that." He said pressing the button.

The elevator made a sudden halt and for once Willy lost his footing with the force pulling me down with him with a loud yelp from both of us. I lay there after the sudden stop peeking my eyes open seeing that both of us were in one piece, also seeing Willy was staring around curiously. "That was fun…not." I thought dryly as I sat up sitting on his lap in thought carefully glancing around the room noting him prop himself up on his elbows. His hat and cane were strewn aside but otherwise he seemed unharmed.

"Constellation Candies." Willy said with a small smile as I remembered our first real fight where I wanted to literally strangle him and giggled at the memory. The familiar dark room full of sugar candied constellations was still pretty and the dim light was enough to see Willy smirking at my reaction. "Comfortable?" he questioned as I realized I was sitting on him in a very suggestive way and found myself blushing.

"Maybe." I retorted pretending to glare at him hearing him giggle at my red face and then he reached out his hand brushing aside my hair. "Are you suggesting something Willy?" I questioned smiling in triumph at his now burning face.

"Touché." Willy replied staring around the constellation candies room again and sitting up leaning against the elevator with me still sitting there watching him thoughtfully. "Now we are officially stuck." He said this with an odd note in his voice as I observed the dimly lit room and suddenly felt very self-consciously aware of where I was sitting.

"Not for long." I said reaching out to press the emergency button feeling a hand wrap around my wrist stopping me. "What?" I questioned my voice barely audible.

"It will start moving again eventually…it's tied into a system and they will know something is up when we aren't at the Buckets." Willy said in answer to my very vague what.

"And will also develop ideas of their own as to why we didn't press the emergency button." I said very aware of his other hand resting against my side.

"And that's a problem?" Willy asked curiously as I stared into his violet eyes thoughtfully.

"Yes, no…I have no idea." I thought seeing his eyes trailing thoughtfully across my face and feeling my wrist released his other hand now resting on my other side holding me in place so to speak. "He's read to many romance novels." I found myself thinking but my head was starting to fog over with the strange look in his eyes. "I've never been with a guy before…what do I do?" I thought finding myself blushing brightly as he cocked his head sideways curiously.

--Willy Wonka's POV--

"And that's a problem?" Willy found himself asking her and meeting her eyes with his. He had no idea where the comment had come from, but somehow found it made her suddenly quiet.

He met those eyes trailing his across her face taking in the way her nose would twitch when nervous and finding himself releasing her wrist he reached out attentively placing his other hand on her other hip. "What am I doing…this is not one of my books and I have absolutely no idea how to act." Willy thought to himself noticing for the first time a dark red blush creeping across her face at the sudden contact as he studied her thoughtfully cocking his head to the side. "She looks as nervous as I feel…those books don't help if you've never actually been with a girl before and I've never had the nerve to be around one until she came here." He thought staring at her for a long moment feeling her hands hesitantly rest against his chest.

--Original POV--

I felt the blush slowly fading as he looked at me almost as confused as I felt and I hesitantly placed my hands on his chest trying in an attempt to let him know I was alright. "He looks so confused." I thought feeling the blush return to my cheeks again as a thought struck me forcing me to bite my lip thoughtfully.

"Why are you so nervous?" I questioned seeing his eyes suddenly jerk thoughtfully at my face and then lower a blush showing across his pale features.

"Wh-what do you mean?" Willy stammered startled when he looked up seeing her face was within inches of his a small curious expression on it.

"The novels don't explain everything do they?" I asked curious if I was right seeing his mouth part slightly in surprise as he watched me. "Like I said cheesy." I said with a giggle as I realized both of us were virgins.

"What do you mean?" Willy inquired suddenly nervous.

"I mean that you have never been with a girl anymore then I've been with a guy. We're both very new at this whole thing." I replied seeing the nervous suddenly fade allowing him to relax slightly.

"Oh." Willy replied not sure what else to say as I smiled brushing my hand lightly through his hair leaning forward and kissing him softly.

"We better get help." I said seeing that the romantic feel had been broken and had left us both in deep thoughts.

"Ye-ah." Willy replied reaching over and pressing the emergency button.

Soon we heard noise on the elevator tracks and looked up seeing Felix was busily working with the control panel's box and staring down at us thoughtfully. For once I didn't hear anything from the little man and saw him snap the lid close, before giving Willy a thumbs up sign. "That was fast." I thought seeing Willy use his cane and reach out pressing the emergency stop shutting it off. Soon we were again speeding around the factory this time making it to the chocolate room only a few minutes late for dinner.

"I need to get up." Willy said as I glanced down and slid off climbing to my feet next to him. He reached down grasping his hat and placing it firmly in place. "Let's go." He said grasping my hand without a moments thought and leading me toward the Bucket house.

"You're late…what happened." Asked Mrs. Bucket upon our entrance as she completed putting the last dinner dish on the table and noted the two holding hands.

"Elevator panel went wonky." Willy replied as I giggled slightly at his little version of the elevator incident. "Sorry." He replied making his way to his place.

"Can I do anything Mrs. Bucket?" I questioned the woman as she smiled shaking her head and offering me my seat next to Willy, which I took this time without any resentment toward the man.

"How was today for you Charlie?" I asked seeing him glance up thoughtfully seeing his mother smile and then sigh.

"It took mum about an hour to get that stuff out of my hair and three to get me cleaned up. Marty had to drop of some of the candy away spray." Charlie said sounding miserable as Mrs. Bucket nodded giving Willy a curious look.

"What exactly caused that mess?" Mr. Bucket asked seeing his wife was about to ask the same thing.

"A candy mixture that went all fizzy and made a funny noise." Willy replied giving them one of his phony smiles, which I now called them when he was uncomfortable.

"It went bang." I said softly as Mr. and Mrs. Bucket looked at me curiously. "I was there but had the sense to duck behind something. I had to help the Oompa Loompa's get Willy here to his room so he wouldn't stick fast to a wall or something." I said realizing I slipped when I called him Willy instead of Mr. Wonka.

"Figures…crazy loon I knew you would get into trouble." Said Grandpa George in his usual retort to Willy's weirdness as I glanced over hiding or at least hoping I was hiding my scowl with the napkin I was currently using.

"Dad!" warned Mrs. Bucket as he grumbled something else and suddenly was quiet again. "Sounds like you've had a busy day. Would you mind helping me dear while Charlie and Willy discuss more work?" she questioned as we finished up dinner and I nodded watching everyone scatter.

I slowly collected the dishes assisting Mrs. Bucket in washing and drying them knowing she had something in mind to ask me. I had a feeling I knew what she was going to ask but hadn't been really dreading it like I would normally. Soon the dishes were cleaned and the food was put away, the table was also cleaned and everything back in place. I helped with tucking in the grandparents for the night smiling faintly at Grandma Georgina's random "I love roses" before I joined Mrs. Bucket out front of the house seeing Mr. Bucket was currently attending to a machine in the back of the chocolate room with a very rapidly hopping Oompa Loompa and Willy was busily chatting in the distance with Charlie.

"Willy is it now?" Mrs. Bucket asked as I found myself blushing again and turned to look at the woman who was eyeing me with a pleasant smile and spark in her eyes. "What happened?" she questioned as I thought about it carefully and shrugged.

"I'm not entirely sure…we're still working on it." I said seeing her smile at this and then tilt her head in thought. "Hmm?" I questioned her.

"Working on it…what do you mean by that dear?" Mrs. Bucket inquired curious about this girl who appeared to be wise to the world and yet still as innocent or nearly as innocent as a child.

"Um…we came to a conclusion that neither of us have…er…um…" I couldn't finish the sentence I was too embarrassed, but not ashamed just very shy around the subject. I mean I was twenty-three and still clueless about most intimacy around men.

"You are still innocent." Mrs. Bucket said observing the deep crimson I had turned which nearly matched my shirt. "As is Mr. Wonka." She said somehow reading my expression as I nodded nervously tucking my hands into my jeans pockets. "It's nothing to worry about, if you two are meant to be…then things will happen within reason." She said as I nodded thoughtfully with a smile.

"You sound like my mom back home in America." I said as she smiled at this and for a brief moment hesitated so it seemed, before she reached out wrapping me into a warm hug, which I gladly returned.

"You should have your mum visit us sometime…if all this works out." Mrs. Bucket replied careful not to put too much pressure on the still blooming couple. "I bet she would like Mr. Wonka very much." She said as an after thought.

"Most likely…she would say we are perfect because we're both odd in our own ways. My cousin Nelly would adore him and purposely tease us every chance she got." I said thoughtfully. "She's currently in culinary school and isn't so good at experimenting as of yet. My mom runs a small out of home computer business and tends to collect some of the oddest things you could image." I said with a giggle and then I heard the voices behind us looking around.

"Enjoy your chat?" Charlie asked as his mother and I nodded. "I need to go to bed early tonight have a long day at school tomorrow." He said hugging everyone even the suddenly awkward Willy goodnight.

"Goodnight you two. I hope to see you in the morning for breakfast." Mrs. Bucket said before following her now tired husband into the small house leaving us out under the artificial light of the half moon in the chocolate room.

"Interesting night." I said aloud feeling an arm hesitantly wrap around me. "Now where too?" I questioned thoughtfully as Willy glanced down at me almost lost in thought.

"Where would you like to go?" Willy asked for a moment this caught me completely off guard. I was so used to him telling me where we were going and be himself that I hadn't expected the question.

"I don't know…everything here is wonderful and so confusing." I answered truthfully seeing an all too familiar smirk light up his violet eyes. "Alright what's up your sleeve smarty pants?" I questioned turning in his arm and giving him one of my annoyed looks which I could tell he had seen many of, because all it did was deepen his smirk.

"Why should I answer that?" Willy asked playfully as I pulled away and stepped right up placing my finger into his chest trying to be threatening, but finding myself laughing at the reproachful look I was getting. "I thought we were past the poking?" he asked as I shook my head still laughing.

"What would make you think that…poking can be and sometimes is fun." I said with a giggle noting his blush at this comment clearly understanding where I was coming from even if he was trying to act innocent. "Again what are you up too?" I inquired raising my brows thoughtfully before poking at him again noting his roll of the eyes.

"Can't make me answer." Willy said with a stuck out tongue before he stepped away from my poking finger and twirled his cane thoughtfully.

"Bet I can." I quipped with my own mischievous smirk as he gave me a curious look and I shrugged thoughtfully.

"You think you can." Willy said before turning on his heal and heading down the bank toward the chocolate falls which were almost dark chocolate in the darkened room.

"Hey wait for me." I said hearing his giggle and scrambling after him, before I cocked my head to the side noting a steady beat coming from somewhere deep in the factory. I realized I was within inches of knocking him over and paused. "What's that noise?" I questioned seeing his mischievous smirk and eyeing him curiously.

"Oompa Loompa drums." Willy answered carefully which I became very alert to the change in his voice and crossed my arms in thought. "What are you thinking?" he asked as I became aware of intent violet eyes staring at me and stepped back a step startled I hadn't noticed him come so close.

"I know you're up to something…what else do I have to think about?" I asked seeing his eyes were twinkling with something, and it made me curious and nervous at the same time. "What?" I questioned as he tilted his head the opposite angle mine was looking as inquisitive as I felt at the moment.

"It's a surprise…you like them don't you?" Willy inquired worried that she might lash out at him about surprises were bad or something similar. He hadn't quite decided on his feeling toward her other than he liked her. He was still confused and was worried he would do something to again bring about her anger.

"Very much so." I answered meeting his eyes finding myself smiling faintly at the quiet sigh of relief. "It's been a long time since I've been around them or acted like a kid though." I said seeing that ever inquisitive look in his eyes.

"When was the last surprise you enjoyed and you felt like a kid?" Willy questioned as I thought about that for a long moment, trying to retrieve the memory.

I stood there thoughtfully tapping my fingers against my crossed arms. It had been a long time since I had been home or around my family, since I had started writing and traveling and I had lost that child feeling I had cherished from them. "The last time was Christmas at home with my cousin and I working in the kitchen baking treats for everyone…the flour fight." I thought finding myself giggling and staring up at Willy for a long moment decided whether or not I should share the memory.

"Do you really want to know?" I questioned seeing him nod his head as I heard the drums growing closer. "My cousin Nelly and I decided to go into the kitchen to do the Christmas baking. My mom and aunt were doing all the present wrapping. We in the process of making cookies, cakes, and other goodies, we sort of got into a flour fight…it was the biggest surprise to us both when we ended up spending the night cleaning the kitchen. She's currently in culinary school back in the states and still not overly great at her experimenting." I said hearing him giggle apparently amused by my story, and as an after thought I remembered how long ago it had been. "That was two…no three years ago. I haven't been home in a while for the holidays." I said finding myself saddened by this but shrugging it off startled to see a large pink seahorse ship coming down the chocolate river and pausing against the bank.

"That's the answer to the drums." Willy whispered as I jumped aware his arm was gently placed around my shoulders and he was very near my ear. "Care for a ride on the chocolate river?" he questioned as I met his eyes seeing my story had left his normally mischievous eyes a little less bright then usual.

"Down the rapids too?" I questioned remembering my brief view of the tunnels through the factory from the night before and feeling excited by the prospect.

"Of course." Willy said with a chuckle as I followed him in the boat and noticed for once no giggling coming from the Oompa Loompa's as he gently clasped my hand and we were off.

--Willy Wonka's POV--

Willy watched as the familiar rooms and tunnels came to view seeing the woman beside him was watching her eyes widening in glee as they hit the rapids. He found this amusing and watched as the tunnels and colors became a whirlwind of familiarity for him. For a little while he watched as her face seemed to stare around in wonder and then in delight as they hit another one of the chocolate rapids. His thoughts were starting to edge into his amusement at her giddy looks and frowned thoughtfully. "That was two…no three years ago. That's too long to be away from them, I mean granted I just sort of got my family life back on track…thanks to the Buckets. What can I do?" Willy wondered finding himself in an oddly perplexed problem. He was growing very fond of the authoress and the Oompa Loompa's had apparently succeeded in their mission because of this, but somehow Willy was still unsure of how he was suppose to act or feel. "I need to talk to Sam…he's a good therapist maybe he can help me sort this mess out." He thought suddenly aware of giggling beside him and staring over at Oriana who was staring at an Oompa Loompa.

"Ben how many times do I have to warn you not to lean too far to the side?" Willy playfully scolded laughing in turn at the now chocolate covered rowing Oompa Loompa who looked thoroughly agitated by giggling around him. "Stop off at the inventing room on the way back." He said as the little heads all nodded in agreement.

--Other POV--

"Way back?" I questioned seeing Willy's dazed thoughtfully look had been replaced by the familiar mischievous smirk and he was staring at my puzzled expression.

"This goes in a full out circle…sort of like an amusement park ride." Willy answered as I blinked in surprise but only for a moment before laughing and shaking my head. "What?" he questioned at my reaction worried he had said something wrong.

"I wish amusement park rides were half as fun." I said giggling again startled when the boat suddenly swerved left down a tunnel forcing me to slide almost overboard.

"Gotcha." Willy said reaching out his hand and quickly catching my arm forcing me to stop rapidly. "Forgot about that sharp curve." He replied as I nodded not caring what reaction I would get, before I wrapped my arms around his slender frame clinging tightly just in case there were more turns he had forgotten.

For once Willy didn't flinch or react like he usually would have, with an effort he relaxed and allowed her arms to remain clinging to him. The ride was a colorful spectacle of colors as we slowed outside a door that was labeled inventing room. I was sad to know we were done for the day but gently released Willy and climb from the boat watching as the chocolate covered Oompa Loompa joined us growing slightly stiff with the now hardening chocolate. I followed Willy into the inventing room and giggled faintly at the little men who were still apparently cleaning up the candy disaster that was still stuck on various objects in the room.

"Here Ben." Willy said handing the little man a bottle of chocolate off and watching him disappear from the room. "I should really make that stuff into candy glue." He said smiling faintly around the room until I pointed above us to an Oompa Loompa who was currently stuck to the ceiling and signing vehemently. "Henry how on earth…."

"Wait!" I called as another Oompa Loompa without thinking about it sprayed the little man. "Oh no." I thought running full tilt under the little man who let out a terrified squeak of a yelp. "Oomph." I grumbled as the little man landed safely in my waiting arms and looked up hesitantly peeking out one eye and then both smiling in relief. "That was close Henry." I said as the little man nodded and climb off stumbling slightly as he bumped into a concerned looking Willy Wonka, whom was peering down at me thoughtfully his mouth frozen in surprise.

"Are you both alright?" Willy finally asked catching his breath feeling his heart start to return to normal.

"Yes." I said nodding as Henry too nodded and sighed wiping at his forehead. "Why didn't he react?" I questioned pointing to the Oompa Loompa who had sprayed Henry.

"He's been sick…I didn't expect him back on work today." Willy answered before walking over and signing to the man who dropped the spray in horror and nodded running over to help Henry to his feet. "He's going to take Henry to the medicine man and get himself some more help before coming back. He feels horrible over the incident." He said softly as I lay there nodding and staring back up at curious peering violet eyes. "Are you going to lay there all day?" he questioned as it dawned on me I hadn't moved as of yet.

"Um…I don't know…it is kinda comfy." I said with a giggle as Willy rolled his eyes staring down at me looking highly amused at my current position. "Besides it would be all night smarty pants." I said giggling again as he tapped his cane thoughtfully before poking at my side with it forcing me to giggle again. "Poking again…jeez what are you getting at man?" I questioned finally sitting up and turning to look up at his offered hand with a small smile.

"It's getting late." Willy said as I nodded seeing his eyes were lowered in thought before he cocked his head to the side as though observing something for a moment. "Would you rather be in a different room then the bubblegum room?" he questioned seeing her eyes widen slightly in surprise before she shook her head at the suggestion.

"No…I think it's growing on me." I said with a giggle as I wrinkled my nose at the thought and followed Willy toward the chocolate river and started up the sloping pathways allowing his hand to rest with mine.

We walked and walked for what seemed like a long time until we finally came into a familiar room. "Finally the chocolate room." I noted with relief frowning thoughtfully as Willy lead me back to an all too familiar glass object. "Pinball high score round whatever." I thought loosing counts of how many times I had felt like a pinball in the darn thing. I stepped in and without another thought slid down to the floor smiling faintly as Willy sat down beside me and used his cane to push a button. We were off zigging and zagging through the hundreds of rooms and sounds until finally coming to a familiar room.

"Goodnight Willy." I said stepping out of the elevator and watching him curiously as he stood there fidgeting.

"Goodnight Oriana…if you need anything just ask." Willy said before stepping back into the elevator and disappearing from sight for the evening.

"Pink…I'm home." I mumbled sarcastically, finding myself smiling thoughtfully remembering I had refused moving to another room. I then jumped startled as a small hand tugged on my pant let. "Oh Alex…hmm…thank you." I said accepting to my surprise my mail from home realizing Willy must have sent someone to fetch it for me. "Oompa Loompa's…had to be they're the only ones small enough to get by without being noticed." I said allowed closing the pink door behind me and turning on a dim light to find my way to the familiar pink desk placing the mail on the desk looking through them. "Junk, junk, bills, junk, Nelly, and Nelly again." I said with a smile opening the first envelop to find several pictures of her silly culinary disasters and new found friends inside their dorm. I opened the second one surprise to find a very long or what seemed long letter.

Dear Oriana

Hey it's been so long…um three years last I counted. The flour incident reminded me of ours back home during your last visit. I sent you a bunch of pictures of that one…me and Ginger were having a blast when she managed to dump a bowl of flower over my head and it brought back those missed moments we've always shared. I wanted to write and see how my big sister/cousin has been doing…I miss you and never get the chance to talk with you except this or emails. I was thinking of visiting you for the holiday like your mom, but wasn't sure if you planned anything this year or not. I know Christmas won't be the same and hope that maybe we can plan a week together or something. I wish you were still in the states then it wouldn't be so hard to see you. Have you found any one of the handsome foreigners to talk to me about…I want to be the first to know so I have lots to tease you about. Love and hugs always.

Love,

Nelly

"Oh Nelly you have no idea how much I miss you, mom and even Aunt Margo at times. I just haven't had time to come to the states or the time to have you guys over. My house doesn't even look like I live in it." I said aloud sniffing slightly wishing I had a phone to call home right then. "I wonder if Willy would mind me using a phone to call them?" I questioned aloud and sighing thoughtfully.

I placed the letters and pictures safely in one of the desk drawers and made my way into the bathroom hoping in the shower allowing the warm water to hide the tears I knew were going down my cheeks then. I couldn't understand how I could feel so sad and excited at the same time but both seemed to be a habit for me as of recent. "What was that?" I wondered hearing tiny shuffling feet in my room and hearing a tap at the bathroom door. I quickly climb out of the shower and grabbed a towel firmly wrapping it around myself carefully making my way to the door and opening it only to find Doris staring up at me, a concerned frown on her face. "Doris…now what?" I wondered thoughtfully before following her out into my room. I made a retreat into my walk in closet quickly dressing into a pair of red pajamas and joining the small woman who was currently sitting on my bed Indian style and watching me curiously.