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Chapter 11: Questions Arise

After four days of working on the various scenes I had stenciled on the library walls, Ginger popped into the room and stated someone was waiting for me in the main room. I smiled thanking her and told her to show them in. Ginger being wise to the strange way the man was acting stayed in the doorway once she showed him into the room and carefully observed waiting for my reaction. I turned noticing Ginger was studying the familiar man with dark brown hair and green eyes wearing a dark red turtleneck shirt and black pants suite, instantly she noticed my face wrinkle in annoyance and instantly took a dislike to him. Ginger had always been rather fond of me and was cautiously brushing off her brown skirt and smoothing over her black blouse, she then adjusted her black rimmed glasses and carefully shut the door remaining there watching carefully through the glass. "This guy is stalker material." I thought recognizing Mr. Ramone and wishing he hadn't managed to find where I was working.

"Finally I can speak with you." Mr. Ramone stated offering me one of his smiles, which almost reminded me of a leer. "I didn't get a chance to speak with you at the dance or even offer to take you dancing…that's why I come here today discovering you worked here and was wondering if you would like to go out to dinner with me?" he questioned smoothing out his shirt and again offering me one of those creepy smiles.

"No Mr. Ramone…I'm very busy as you can see, and I am currently not ready to start dating. I just moved back home and got to see my friends again. I would rather settle in again first." I stated as politely as possible coloring in the Mad-Hatter carefully turning my attention away from him and back to my work.

"Please call me Ambrose. Its wonderful to get back into the area and dating does help getting back into familiarity with things, please do say yes." Ambrose stated his voice taking on a somewhat almost warning note, which I instantly took a dislike to.

"And this man is a teacher for students…I really don't like him, and I think he just ordered me." I noted concentrating on my painting and pausing briefly when I heard the shuffle of feet, glancing up from my work I noticed he had come farther into the room. He seemed to be looming there waiting for me to say yes and somehow I had a feeling if I again said no, something very bad might happen. I paused in my work placing my brush down and stood motioning my hand lightly noticing Ginger move her hand through her short brown curly hair and nod opening the door quietly, then she demanded that he leave and let me get back to work. With an annoyed scowl Mr. Ambrose Ramone conceded to leave, but I had a feeling he would be back and suddenly wondered why he was so interested in me and why he had my number. The words stalker again went through my mind and the odd way he seemed to be threatening me, Ginger walked into the room and sat down on one of the many odd chairs giving me a concerned look and listened to the story of how I met him. Once I finished with the story Ginger offered me a small smile and motioned for me to follow her, I did as she asked and found myself behind the counter and inside her office. The room was white walls with several bookcases full of various materials to take care of, files, boxes full of books, and much more. Ginger then sat down at her desk and motioned me to an empty chair glancing through various files she had in her computer before she glanced at me in concern and sighed thoughtfully.

"I think you should call your friend Charlie. I think you should tell him what is going on and get that nice Willy back into your life." Ginger stated watching my face flush slightly scarlet. "I've known you for years and it's about time you got out of that shy shell of yours and tried something new. I think this Willy whoever he may be is good for you and may protect you from this odd Mr. Ramone person. I don't like the man and it worries me that he has your number, he's even gone out of his way to find where you work. I don't want him to start stalking you at your own house and have him hurt you." She stated frowning thoughtfully and handing me the library phone. "Call Charlie this instant and talk to him about what's going on. I think it would be wise to get the police involved as well. I'll be right outside if you need me." She said before leaving the office to tend to some customers.

"She sounds frightened for me." I muttered recalling the gut feeling I had that Ambrose was more then he appeared and sighing thoughtfully. "Charlie isn't going to like this……I'm not even sure if Willy really was as interested in me as he claimed, what if it was just a brief infatuation?" I muttered debating over the phone for a few minutes and sighing thoughtfully. "I will just have to hope for the best." I thought dialing the number and waiting for Charlie to answer the phone.

Once Charlie did answer the phone he handed me over to his mother and I explained all that was going on, startled to hear her instructions to remain there where it was safe and someone would be there to collect me and bring me right back to the factory. After a small chat with Charlie and listening to his brief worries over the situation I hung up the phone. Ginger walked into the office listening to what had been discussed and nodded watching as I run back off to finish work in the children's wing. I had finished coloring a sketch of sleeping beauty a long while ago, but was taking my time and working as slowly as possible on the Alice in wonderland project, somehow that piece had a lot of meaning to me and I smiled faintly. It had been several hours since I had called Charlie and I become aware of a small discussion outside the door again pausing in my work standing and jumping when the door opened and closed behind a tall figure wearing a deep red suit and familiar top hat. I met those violet eyes and noticed the smirk hidden in his face and the welcoming amused look that followed.

"Are you alright?" Willy questioned walking swiftly over to me and pausing long enough to place his cane against one of the many ghost like bookcases surprising me when he pulled me into a warm hug.

"For now." I said wrapping my arms around him curling into the familiar warmth of his arms and becoming aware of the smell of chocolate and other various candy scents he was always surrounded in. "I didn't expect to get a stalker on my first time chaperoning Charlie's school dance." I murmured glancing up at the violet eyes studying me with a surprising amount of concern.

"That isn't half the strangeness going on now." Willy stated softly seeing my puzzled look and kissing me lightly. "I called the school and with the help of Mrs. and Mr. Bucket we found out something interesting. Mr. Parker pulled all of his records and such finding out that Mr. Ambrose Ramone isn't actually the same one that was hired to teach. This imposter is using the name to get around with. The real question I'm having at the moment is why pick on someone they just met?" he stated watching as my expression become very puzzled and I shrugged.

"I don't know, but he found out my number and apparently Ginger suspects he knows where I live. I don't like this and when he was here he seemed too demanding for my liking." I murmured aware of the door opening and glancing around Willy seeing Ginger standing there with a familiar warm smile on her face.

"Charlie will be back in a moment…he's talking with the police and explained that Odette is a little shaken up. I assume they're going to go to the factory and speak with you in the morning Odette." Ginger said with a small smile on her face, she then exited the room pulling the blinds to further protect the couple in the room. "I never thought she would meet someone like Willy Wonka…good for her, she's a wonderful girl and deserves a bit of happiness." She thought returning to work.

"She seems like a nice woman." Willy whispered faintly aware of a smile crossing my face. "She didn't turn into one of those strange people that seem to think I'm something to call the public on…she's actually concerned for your well being. When Charlie explained who I was I think she nearly fainted though." He remarked hearing me laugh and pulling me tighter into his arms.

"Ginger has been a protective figure for Charlie and myself for a long time. She was always one of those people who think famous people should be entitled to privacy." I stated watching his gaze pause on my Alice in wonderland half completed project and gently release me.

--Willy Wonka's POV--

Willy stood there for a long moment studying the painting and allowed a bright smile to light up his face, he then turned surprising her and pulling her close wrapping his arm around Odette's shoulder lightly.

"This looks slightly familiar…did you notice what you were doing?" Willy questioned seeing her confused look until she studied her work closer and her mouth dropped slightly in surprise. "I'll have to tell Iris she makes a cute mouse." He remarked watching Odette study the painting closer and giggle.

"I didn't realize I was making it resemble Iris, Charlie and you." Odette murmured noting Alice was taking on her appearance slightly. "I guess I'll have to be careful next time." She murmured jumping nearly a foot when the door opened rather suddenly startling them both from the painting.

"Charlie." Willy exclaimed startled by the sudden appearance of his protégée and seeing Ginger was standing there with him. "You scared the gumdrops out of us." He stated hearing Ginger stifle a giggle not used to the candy curses as of yet.

"Sorry Willy. Mum just called and is insisting that we come home and get her to safety." Charlie said pointing to Odette and seeing Ginger nod in agreement. "She also wanted to forewarn you that she had Odette's apartment practically emptied except for furniture in case that evil man tried to ransack the place." He signed making sure only the two of them understood the last part, seeing Ginger was hugging Odette goodbye and explaining that she could finish the painting once things had settled down.

Willy nodded smiling faintly at Charlie's caution not to worry her any further and gently took her arm wrapping it with his, the three of them exiting the library and to Odette's mild surprise ducking into a mini van. Charlie was up front with the driver and a window blocking the back and Willy was sitting in back with Odette carefully leaning on his arm taking deep breaths, thankful to once again be safe and among people she knew and trusted. Willy was still puzzling over the mystery of Ambrose Ramone when he become aware of soft breathing and saw Odette had dozed off lightly on his arm, he hated the fact that somehow she had gotten in the middle of something, what was worse he got the feeling somehow he was tied into the mess she got into. Willy couldn't understand what was going on at the moment but he found himself as angry as he felt when he found out he was being betrayed by his own workers long ago and was even more annoyed that someone was now trying to hurt him a second time by getting to him through this strange girl, whom he had taken a fondness too. Willy realized then that his fondness for the girl was more then just some random infatuation he was starting to care very much for her, it was the first time Willy could admit to himself he felt safe with a girl and didn't feel strangled by her presence.

"Willy." Charlie said softly watching his violet gaze meet his as the window from the front slowly come down. "Do you know what's going on?" he questioned noting she was sleeping on Willy's arm and smiling at his long time friend.

"No…but I get the sneaky feeling it has something to do with us and the factory." Willy stated seeing Charlie nod already having the same suspicions. "I just didn't think any of the other candy companies would carry it this far." He said softly watching Charlie's eyes widen slightly at that before he allowed the window to return to place. "I hope for their sake they stop…no one wants to see me angry, not even Charlie has seen me get really mad." He murmured glancing at Iris who had just barely shifted knowing that during all the chaos at the factory only Willy had noticed her in the van. "Iris…I am going to protect her." He said seeing Iris nod her dark eyes glittering faintly with anger as well.

"We will all help you do so too." Iris signed seeing Willy allow a brief warm smile watching her situate herself on the seat across from the couple and observe the sleeping girl. "She's been far nicer then any girl you've ever been with…she treats all of us as though we are humans with feelings, instead of things…its nice to be treated like that from others." She said smiling slightly at the amused twinkle in his eyes.

"Charlie was right…this girl is most certainly unusual. She's probably the first not to faint at the sight of you Oompa Loompa's either. The last few were…ah…forget it. I don't even want to remember." Willy signed aware Odette had settled into his lap and was now sound asleep.

"One called us little monsters, one nearly fell in the chocolate river, and the other you thought about dumping down the garbage shoot, with the furnace on." Iris signed knowing he wouldn't have gone that far, but giggling at the images anyway.

"Thanks for reminding me." Willy signed wrinkling his face in a disgusted look and rolling his eyes.

--Original POV--

I was aware of a gentle prodding sensation and started awake sitting up. Willy smiled at me his violet eyes somehow darker in the van and I realized we were outside the factory, he stepped from the van and grasped my hand on my way out starting inside the factory with me close at his side. I noticed Iris for the first time and smiled down at the strange woman waving slightly with my free hand and noting her wave in turn. Mrs. Bucket was standing at the end of the familiar optical illusion hall almost looking frantic until she noticed Charlie come running down the hall and saw I was walking along side Willy. Mrs. Bucket waited until we were a few steps away and come running wrapping me into a warm hug watching Willy release my hand and wait for her to release me satisfied I was safe. Once Mrs. Bucket was reassured she and Charlie went into the chocolate room and left me to Willy and Iris's care. Willy noticed Iris smile faintly and motion to the elevator before disappearing into a hidden stairwell.

"Oddly enough I think I missed that thing." I murmured softly when Willy grasped my hand and led me to a familiar glass elevator. "I didn't miss the freefalling effect it has though." I mumbled watching him pause and open the doors before stepping in pulling me with him.

"Mumbler." Willy retorted with an amused chuckle watching my eyes narrow slightly. "It's perfectly safe, you know that." He pointed out as I nodded sticking my tongue out to make it clear I didn't care if I knew or not. "You shouldn't do that." He said wagging his finger in my face and laughing when I missed my attempted grasp of it.