A/N: It's been so long! My dear goodness. Well, I've been working on this chapter all week, and now it's laughing at me. Stay the madness. I know it's short, but please enjoy!

Anda few more things. I recently had a piece of fanart made by sakikotetsu on Livejournal forthe concluding scene of chapter 7. It's so adorable and just what I had pictured. I can't put the link here in this chapter becauseit's being stupid, but if you want to view it, email me and I'll give you the link. ;) And we are sitting pretty at 220 reviews! Thank you all :D

Jamie did not live far from the chocolate factory, making Charlie grateful. He traveled the distance by foot. Wonka had no vehicles except for the great glass elevator, which Charlie dared not venture to ask him to borrow. The chocolatier did however furnish Mr. and Mrs. Bucket with a car several months back because he could and because he was feeling particularly nice that day. Charlie could not use the automobile in any case that night though; his parents were going out themselves. So he enjoyed his walk in the cool weather with a light snow coming from the steel colored clouds. It was peaceful, and it helped to calm his nerves.

He stopped in front of the two-story house, glanced at the address on the paper, then proceeded along the walkway to the door. He rang the doorbell and let out a breath. Anxiety was killing him.

The door opened to reveal a smiling Jamie. She wore a deep fuchsia, strapless dress that reached down to her ankles. It was form fitting at the top and around her slim waist, but loose and flowing near the bottom. Her make-up was light, yet accented every perfect feature of her face. Her black hair had been pulled back into a neat bun with a few tendrils of curled hair hanging down onto her face. Charlie was taken aback by how stunning she looked.

"Hi, Charlie," she said warmly.

"Hi," was all Charlie could reply.

"You look great," she mused, sounding almost a little shocked.

"You too."

Her smile widened, and she pulled him inside. "My parents want to meet you before we go."

Wonka was bored. It did not happen very often, but when it did he became quite disgruntled. Wondering how Charlie's night was going and dreading that his protégé was having a fine time with someone else did not help matters. He was bitter and jealous, and he knew it, though he hated to admit it. Telling Charlie this was not an option; he would divulge nothing. He knew he was being somewhat selfish. The fact that Charlie even got asked was huge, and he should be happy for the little boy who was beginning to be accepted, unlike himself.

Wonka stopped pacing in Charlie's study.

Charlie was not a "Little Boy" anymore.

He was sixteen. He could take care and handle himself. He did not have to rely on his parents or Wonka as much anymore. He had even already lost his virginity with Wonka. The thought sent a shiver through Wonka as he realized Charlie did not have to wait for him. There was a wide variety of people Charlie could choose from now that he was older. It was not just Wonka and him. What was holding Charlie back from going out and getting someone else now that he had had Wonka?

Wonka strayed over to the desk and his fingers fumbled over various books and school papers. One paper in specific caught his attention. He pulled it all the way out from under a book. It was the rough draft of Charlie's English poem. Wonka began reading it, sitting down half-way through from the overwhelming blow and insight it gave him. At the end of the poem near the bottom of the page, it said in flowing cursive writing: For Willy Wonka.

Wonka held onto the page for a long moment before placing it back the way he had found it.

He then quickly strode out of the room as an idea filtered into his mind.

Charlie had made it through dinner at an exquisite restaurant. He had found that he was completely comfortable around Jamie. The atmosphere around her was a breath of fresh air; laid-back compared to the awkward and stressful mood that existed every time he came in contact with Wonka for the past week. The conversation of the night never went to Wonka or the factory, and Charlie was grateful.

The two of them sat next to each other in the back of a rented limousine. Charlie was thrilled. The closest he had ever come to these vehicles was seeing them in cheap movies when he had been fortunate enough in his childhood days. After exploring the mini-bar of soda, playing around with several buttons to see what they did, all the while with Jamie laughing at his childish excitement, he settled next to her on the backseat. She laced her hand with his, and he did not even flinch. He held onto hers tighter.

It was nine o'clock, one hour after the start of the dance.

A single figure in a black knee-length overcoat with faint white-grayish pinstripes walked confidently down the abandoned hallway. The candy-filled cane hit the floor to the beat of the booming music seeping from the cafeteria. His eyes were hidden behind large black sunglasses and the brim of a black top hat. He received odd looks from people as he turned the corner. They pointed and uttered remarks, and normally this shady character would have several rebuttals, but not tonight. He continued on his way mutely, at last arriving at the entrance to the gathering.

He made a move to go in, but paused and drew back as people exited. He let out a breath, relieved he had not come in any sort of physical contact with them. His lips curled into somewhat of a snarl as he surveyed the crowd.

He entered, shoving people with his cane to form a clear path for himself. His eyes skimmed everyone's faces as he went along. Midway, swallowed up by the beings surrounding him, he saw who he had come there for. He stopped and stood utterly still.

Charlie stood pressed against Jamie as he led in a slow dance. Her head rested against his shoulder, hand clasped firmly in his. As they turned Charlie's eyes fell to the figure in black, who was watching them from behind his sunglasses. Charlie felt those lilac eyes stabbing him even though he could not see them. The man's expression had a stoic quality, and it unnerved Charlie. What happened next took them both by surprise.

Jamie lifted her head and placed her lips onto Charlie's cheek. Charlie tried to keep his reaction subtle. He saw his mentor draw in a hitched breath through his now opened mouth. The cane was gripped tighter by the lavender gloved hands. Jamie pulled back and looked at Charlie. He glanced at her for no longer than two or three seconds and smiled nervously before returning his gaze back to a vacant spot.

Willy Wonka was gone.

Extremely sharp, large, silver scissor blades gleamed and reflected the firelight. A pale hand held the handles and remained motionless for a moment. The other hand gripped and readied the edge of the stained black blanket.

With one swift movement, the blades parted and began to feed on the cloth.

Review corner!

Clytemnon – Alright. You can kidnap Wonka for ONE night, but you must bring him back! ;)

Mrs. Granger-Weasley – Awww! Let's give Wonka some slack! LOL. :D

VeganHippie – Thank you for the congrats! LOL. I hoped you liked this chapter! Things haven't resolved fully yet……..

Devil Child Vorn – I hope you get the symbolism of the blanket in this chapter. ;)

XyBulmaXy – I kept the actual dance brief, hope that worked out ok. Surprised me that Wonka showed up! LOL

Princesskatt – Yes! I am getting married. LOL. And you can be involved somehow……….;) Um…….as for a turning point, I think it could be. I think it is. Yes…….it is.

Stacy-comedy – Yes! BAD THING! It's coming closer………and closer……dundundundun. :D

Wonkabar – Maybe you could take both Charlie and Wonka to the dance. LOL. And yes. I did promise another M chapter, didn't I? It is coming…….

Happy Little Budgie – Here's an update! Enjoy!

Jack Sparrow's Secret Lurrver – Thank you! I'm glad you found this little bit of slash. Please keep reading:D

Obasan-Kitsune – Take the update! And don't forget to review! ;)

GothicIcePixie – Yes, poor both of them…:D

Don't forget to review! Please do:D