The chanting inside the main hut stopped instantly the moment the bride appeared in her gown of petals from an orchid the Oompa-Loompas had begged Willy to import from Loompaland. The large, white petals were sown carefully together to form a toga-like dress, decorated with the lightest of flower garlands. Rosanna cast a furtive glance in Willy's direction and saw that his eyes were fixed on the priest and couple in front of them. She noted how a smile was playing on his lips and tried to commit the fuzzy, unfocused look in his eyes to memory. Clearly, he was very fond of this particular ritual. She looked back to the priest and saw that he was instructing the couple to kneel in front of the cocoa bean. As they did so, the chanting restarted and Rosanna desperately tried to remember the correct hand actions to bring blessings from the Oompa-Loompa gods rather than a cold winter.
Right arm snakes down, left hand goes up, nod twice, thought Rosanna, muddling the words of the chant as she concentrated on the actions. Peering over the forest of hands in front of her, she saw the priest bind the right hands of the couple together with a length of ribbon. She chanced another look at Willy. Far from her own, jerky, attempts to follow the dance and chant, Willy was smoothly following the routine with no sign of hesitancy. Well, he did say he's done this dozens of times before. Ack, right hand not left… She turned her eyes back to the centre of the hut and watched as the priest presented the cocoa bean to the happy couple, who held it aloft between them, albeit a little awkwardly due to the ribbon still being in place. There was a general cheer from the crowd around her and Rosanna sat back hurriedly as the Oompa-Loompas darted out of the hall in what, to Rosanna, looked suspiciously like a conga line. Bet that's something Willy introduced them to. A human-sized hand tapped her on the shoulder.
"Come on - the party's just getting started!" said Willy with a huge smile. He held out his hand to her and half-led, half-dragged her out of the hut, both of them crouching to kneeling as they passed through the doorway.
Willy pulled Rosanna forward and into the middle of the square, the two of them deftly avoiding a group of dancing Oompa-Loompas. Smiling at her confusion over what to do next, he took her hands in his and led her on a wild chase around the square.
"I don't know the steps!" cried Rosanna as they circled faster and faster, in time with the insistent beating of a drum. All around them, Oompa-Loompas were linked, hand in hand, spinning faster and faster around the newlyweds standing in the centre of the square and grinning.
"Neither do I!" laughed Willy, pulling Rosanna after him as the dance became more frantic. Rosanna gripped onto Willy's hands for fear of falling, constantly aware of the tiny Oompa-Loompas around her and trying desperately not to step on anyone. She felt dizzy - the only thing she could focus on was Willy and that was because he was moving just as quickly as she was. They continued for many dances, each wilder than the last. Rosanna looked into Willy's eyes - he was laughing to himself and seemed lost in the music. Perhaps there is something in the air in this place. As Willy tossed his head back to the music and let out a low laugh, Rosanna caught a glimpse of the wedding couple - both looked ecstatic at the frenzied dancing around them and she felt sure they were actually disappointed they couldn't join in. Seeing no alternative, Rosanna allowed the spiralling, possessed chocolatier to lead her through some of the Oompa-Loompas' most sacred and energetic tribal dances.
Just when Rosanna was sure she would be violently sick, a gong sounded and the drums abruptly stopped. The Oompa-Loompas sank to the ground in disorientated heaps, forcing themselves to look towards the high priest who had taken up position in the centre of the square with the young couple. Willy and Rosanna gratefully sank down to their knees and paid attention to the proceedings. The high priest raised his arms and said something in Oompa-Loompa that Rosanna did not understand. Whatever it was, he sounded dreadfully serious. The wedding guests stood and followed the priest back into the main hall.
"What's going on?" whispered Rosanna.
"Lunch," replied Willy with a grin. "Come on - I'm starving!"
Charlie arrived home and immediately headed for the Inventing Room, a new idea for a candy for Valentine's day burning in his forebrain. If he didn't jot down the idea - if he didn't start developing the new candy - he was sure that his head would explode. "Must write this down…" muttered Charlie, pressing the call button for the elevator. To his extreme annoyance, the "in service" light flashed twice. "Aargh!" grunted Charlie, running off to the stairwell and pelting down the corridor to the Inventing Room. Once there, he threw his rucksack into the corner carelessly and pulled out a notepad from the store underneath the desk. He titled the front "Charlie's pad" and flicked it open to the first page, scribbling down a list of ingredients as they came to mind. "Chocolate - white. Hazelnuts. Cream…" muttered Charlie. He looked up briefly - supposing someone was listening to him? He couldn't allow anyone to overhear and steal his idea… Charlie put down his pen and took a breath. Much as he was desperate to become the world's second-best chocolatier (he had a feeling he'd never surpass the great Willy Wonka), he had no desire to become as nutty as the man himself. Calmly, Charlie continued to list ingredients for his new candy and even sketched a design for the wrapper. Perfect.
Charlie rubbed his eyes and looked at his watch. Six-thirty. Plenty of time for a few preliminary experiments. He stood and crossed over to a lab bench, pulling a large mixing pot in front of him and signalling to an Oompa-Loompa to come over.
"I need these ingredients - okay?" said Charlie. "Bring them over and then when everything's here you can leave for the evening." The Oompa-Loompa read the list, his eyes widening as he read one of the ingredients. He raised his eyebrows at Charlie. "Yes, I know it's unusual, but it is necessary. Thanks," he finished firmly. He bowed to the Oompa-Loompa, who returned the gesture before scurrying off to collect the necessary items. Charlie turned back to the bench and turned on the hotplate. "Time to get inventing," he whispered, his eyes gleaming as he added chocolate to the pot in front of him.
That evening, exhausted from an exceedingly good breakfast, lunch and dinner and too much dancing, Rosanna fell back against a tree away from the main group and gasped for breath. Willy joined her, his violet eyes wide with excitement.
"What's wrong?"
"Tired," answered Rosanna quietly. She smiled wearily at Willy. "I had no idea the wedding ceremonies were so - active."
"You should see the initiation ceremony - it lasts fourteen hours and there are no feasts during that ritual."
"How do you know?"
"I went through it. A few months after first meeting the chief. That's when I was accepted into the tribe as an honorary journeyman and one of the reasons they agreed to travel with me."
"So what did you have to do?"
"I'll tell you another time," avoided Willy with a grin. He ran a hand through his hair, frowning as his gloves snagged on the tangles. Willy gave Rosanna a lopsided look as he sighed. "I suppose we'd better be going. The celebrations will go on well into the night, but I'm getting sleepy too," he finished with a suppressed yawn, standing and offering his hand to Rosanna.
"Okay. Should we say goodbye?"
"Nah, let's not disturb them," said Willy, gesturing to the still-dancing Oompa-Loompas. Rosanna and Willy walked silently, hand-in-hand back to the elevator. Rosanna stole a few glances at the few inches of neck exposed at Willy's throat - at some point in the proceedings, his collar and top buttons had been undone in order that he may dance more freely. Willy noticed her fixation as they stepped into the elevator and raised a hand protectively in front of his neck. He shut the elevator door with his right hand and tried to nonchalantly button up his shirt with his left, fumbling a little as he was right-handed.
"Did the Oompa-Loompas have a look at the elevator?" asked Rosanna, looking away through the glass into the bowels of the factory.
"Yes. But I'd hold on anyway." Willy pressed the button for his apartments and braced himself against the rail for the impending rush of speed. The elevator gave a sharp jerk - then glided slowly upwards.
"Oh - I can live with that!" laughed Rosanna, releasing her grip on the rail. Willy waited another second or so before relaxing fully, folding his hands in front of him.
"Did you enjoy yourself today?" asked Willy, curious as to whether or not he should include Rosanna in further trips to the village.
"Yes. They are a truly amazing race. I wish that I could understand them."
"I could teach you if you like," said Willy shyly, his head tilted downwards. "In return for the swimming lessons in the New Year."
"That would be - nice. Thanks," replied Rosanna. She ran a hand over the back of her neck, realising that the day's exertions had coated her skin in a patina of sweat, the briny liquid acting as hairspray at the base of her skull, the hair there stiff and damp. "Ew," muttered Rosanna.
"What's up?" asked Willy.
"My hair is horrible - must have been all the dancing. I need a shower." She raised an eyebrow as Willy leaned forward experimentally and sniffed her hair.
"You're right - you do."
"You're not so fresh yourself," teased Rosanna. "Mr. I've been dancing for the last three hours non-stop after eating spicy food."
"I'll have you know that I smell only of peanuts. Grandma Georgina said so herself." Willy gave an arrogant snort and looked out of the elevator, sneaking a quick sniff under one arm as Rosanna turned away shaking her head. Hmm, maybe she was right…
"What time is it?" asked Rosanna with a yawn. Willy pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at the dial.
"Eight-thirty. I was hoping we could have a chat." Willy suddenly became very interested in his gloves and it was Rosanna who broke the silence.
"About what?"
"I'd rather not discuss it in here."
"Why not?"
"Too open," said Willy, looking at the walls of the glass box they were standing in.
"Fair enough." Rosanna sidled slowly up to Willy and ran a hand around his waist, stroking the damp fabric of his shirt as she looked up to his face. "No rush," she purred. Willy swallowed as a rush of blood to his head made him feel a little dizzy.
"Don't hug me - I'm icky," said Willy, more concerned about the fact his heart was hammering at double-speed.
"I don't care," whispered Rosanna, reaching up and pulling Willy's face to hers. As she kissed him, she ran her hands over his back, knowing that tomorrow he would be clad once again in waistcoat and overcoat. His ribs were apparent even through the fabric and Rosanna felt Willy squirm as she playfully tapped those at his waist, tickling him. Willy pulled away and drew breath.
"You're icky too," said Willy, his hands still resting on her waist as he inhaled her scent. "Rosanna, I…" Willy stopped himself. Now wasn't the time to ask her how she felt about him. That was far too serious a discussion to start in the same breath as the word 'icky.' He dipped his head down and put his forehead to Rosanna's, licking his lips as he did so. The salty tang he tasted stirred an instinct too long ignored and he pulled Rosanna sharply to his chest as he kissed her again. Willy groaned softly as Rosanna ran her nails down his back, the tingling sensation running up and down his spine.
"Rosanna," moaned Willy softly as the kiss was broken.
"Yes darling?" She looked up at his pained expression and knew that her ploy to get him to enjoy her attentions was starting to pay dividends.
"W-W-What was that?" stuttered Willy, suppressing his racing heart and struggling for breath. The elevator was suddenly far too hot and Rosanna's proximity was not helping matters. He pushed her away gently.
"Just a hug," replied Rosanna innocently. Perhaps she'd have to calm herself a little. Willy was clearly not in the mood to play. Rosanna and Willy, now a respectable distance apart, maintained searing eye contact.
"It was a nice hug," said Willy. "I like your nails." For a few minutes neither spoke, the whooshing of the elevator on its rails as it continued on its way the only sound. Soon enough, the elevator arrived at Willy's room. "Oh, I did this in the wrong order - I should have taken you back first." Willy reached over to hit the button for Rosanna's guestroom, but was stopped by Rosanna as she laid a gentle hand on his arm.
"You said you wanted to talk." She lifted her hand and stroked Willy's face gently. "No excuses tonight - I want to know what's wrong." Willy nodded and led the way into his room. Rosanna hit the light-switch as she passed and walked over to the sofa to take a seat. Willy, on the other hand, walked over to the window and rested his head gently against the cold glass, his hands clasped firmly behind his back.
"I have come to a decision, no, that's not it at all," muttered Willy, fading into incoherency. How was he to ask Rosanna how she felt about him without revealing his feelings for her in the process?
"A decision about what?" asked Rosanna, standing and crossing to Willy's side.
"Not a decision. A realisation," covered Willy as the gears of his mind whirred into overdrive. "I suddenly realised that I've been allowing you to kiss me - and stuff - and…" he scrunched up his eyes as he fought for the right words. "And I don't even know how you feel about me," he finished. Don't ask any awkward questions, please, he added mentally.
"I'm very attached to you Willy, you know that. I care for you deeply. You're a very attractive man and can you really blame me for wanting to spend my time with you?" asked Rosanna, running her hand up Willy's chest. He looked down and saw a cheeky smile playing on Rosanna's lips. Gently, Willy raised a hand to cup Rosanna's chin.
"Thanks for being honest." Willy cuddled Rosanna to his chest and fought tears. I don't believe it - she doesn't love me, thought Willy. That was the perfect opportunity for her to tell me and she didn't! It was her idea to get together and she - she… He drifted off, eyes closed, listening to his own enraged heart beating strongly against the unfairness of it all. So engrossed was he in his own misery that he did not notice Rosanna's contented sigh.
Rosanna was in her own private heaven. She clung to Willy's shirt and for once felt that here they were at last, a man and a woman, locked in an embrace and a moment that should end only in a night of passion. Or at least a lingering kiss, edited Rosanna's inner pedant. She breathed in Willy's scent and nuzzled further into his shirt. She felt the last of her tension ebb away as Willy's arms tightened around her shoulders. I'd forgotten. Thank you, Willy, my darling. I'd forgotten how wonderful it is to be in love. She smiled and looked up at Willy, shocked to see he'd been crying.
"What's up?" asked Rosanna.
"Nothing sweetheart, nothing," said Willy, forcing a smile.
"Don't lie."
"Ros, I'm just tired."
"Willy please!"
"Good night honey." Willy regretfully pushed Rosanna away and looked down into her eyes.
"I am not leaving until you tell me what you wanted to talk about tonight." To emphasise her point, Rosanna plunked down on the end of the sofa and crossed her arms at Willy.
"Then I will," said Willy, obtrusively, walking over to the elevator. Rosanna was too quick for him however and caught his arm before he could escape.
"I'm not letting you get away with this, Willy Wonka. You will tell me what's wrong!" Willy's eyes flicked to Rosanna's face and he saw that her eyes were blazing, anger apparent behind her calm mask.
"Now why would you want to know a thing like that?" asked Willy quietly.
"Because I…" Rosanna was interrupted by a wail of a siren and she clasped her hands over her ears to block out the noise. She looked up to an otherwise inoffensive small, brown box stuck above the portal for the elevator that was currently emitting the high-pitched, insistent sound. Willy, protecting his ears in a similar fashion, crossed over to a painting on the wall and lifted it gingerly with his right hand, leaning his head into his shoulder to protect his unshielded right ear. Behind the painting, Rosanna could see a panel with flashing lights. Willy keyed in a code and the siren stopped, but the lights continued flashing.
"Inventing Room," muttered Willy. "I have to go."
"I'm coming with you."
"No - get the Bucket family out. There's a fire. We'll use the stairwell - come on!" Willy reached for Rosanna's hand and dragged her out of the door, heart hammering as he raced for the stairwell. Fire. It wasn't the first time of course, but it was the first time a fire had broken out when he hadn't been there to start it. Perhaps one of the Oompa-Loompas had had an accident, or maybe one of the machines had malfunctioned. Countless theories ran through his mind as he pulled Rosanna down the spiral staircase. As they ran past the other rooms, Rosanna heard the same siren sounds from within the rooms - obviously, Willy had turned the speaker off in his room in order to talk to her.
"Can't we use the elevator?" shouted Rosanna over the siren.
"No - the portals seal when a fire occurs and can't be immediately controlled by the sprinkler system. If we take the elevator down to the Inventing Room and open the portal, the flames will shoot up the shaft and be drawn upwards like in a chimney fire. Must get there by stairs…" Willy drew breath and quickened his pace. Damn these heeled boots! Need to get there faster! Rosanna trotted along after Willy as best she could, not entirely sure where she was. She was so intent on moving quickly that she did not notice Willy stop at a junction in the corridors and slammed straight into him. She hauled herself to her feet and looked up apologetically at Willy.
"Where now?" she asked.
"Straight down that corridor, then take a left, right, then left onto the main hallway. Get the Buckets out and do not come back inside until I call you."
"Willy - will you be alright?"
"Go now!" shouted Willy, turning on his heels and heading up the corridor in the opposite direction. Rosanna hesitated for a brief moment before following Willy's instructions.
Willy found the expected group of Oompa-Loompa fire officers clustered around the door as he reached the Inventing Room. Ordinarily, if a fire broke out, the sprinkler system would extinguish it in seconds. He had installed the siren system just in case the sprinklers ever failed in order that the factory would be cleared as soon as possible in the event of a truly catastrophic fire. The sirens in the rooms behind him continued their mocking warning. His Inventing Room… There would have been workers in there… Willy lay a hand on the Inventing Room door and felt the heat through the metal. He withdrew the hand quickly. His life's work… Supposing the whole factory went up? Panic took hold and Willy turned to the Oompa-Loompas who were even now suiting up in heat-proof uniforms.
"Anyone in there?" An Oompa-Loompa holding a tiny fire-axe shook his head, but then a shriek from the far end of the corridor pulled Willy's attention to the top of the corridor. An Oompa-Loompa dressed in the silver Inventing Room uniform was racing towards the room, shrieking as he ran and waving frantically to Willy. The Inventing Room Oompa-Loompa caught Willy's trouser leg and pulled it frantically; the chocolatier leaned down and lowered his head. His eyes widened as the Oompa-Loompa whispered in his ear. Willy stood up and lay his hand back on the door.
"Charlie…"
Outside the factory, Rosanna helped Mr Bucket to aid Grandma Georgina in descending the factory steps. Grandpa Joe and Grandpa George were already outside, huddled in their winter coats against the chill December night. Mrs Bucket was helping her mother to stand, clinging to her as she bit her lip in worry.
"Charlie," whimpered Mrs Bucket. "Where are you?" Rosanna looked back worriedly at the factory - black smoke was pouring from the right hand side out of the air vents for the Inventing Room. A door opened and a stream of Oompa-Loompas poured out in a variety of coloured jumpsuits. Still more were dressed only in furs or leaves and Rosanna picked out the wedding couple still dressed in white. Only the fire crew was still inside the building - and, of course, Willy and Charlie.
"Please be okay," whispered Rosanna. "Both of you."
Willy took shelter as the door to the Inventing Room was broken down, a roar of flames spurting out of the doorway as the oxygen mixed with the inferno. The sprinklers in the corridors and surrounding rooms had started automatically to prevent the fire spreading and the water rained down on the corridor floor, splashing in deep puddles all around the chocolatier. Willy heard the all-clear and poked his head around the corner in time to see Oompa-Loompas in breathing gear head into the Inventing Room with large fire hoses to quench the flames. Cautiously, he walked forward to the doorway, but was beaten back by the heat. He sank to the floor and put a hand to his forehead. How had this happened? A clink of glass indicated that something else had broken inside the Inventing Room. Sodden from the sprinkler system, Willy cried out as a muffled thump from inside the room ahead of him sounded out. The flames were dying out, steam and black smoke taking the place of the orange glow in the hall. An Oompa-Loompa tried to tell Willy he needed to get out into the fresh air.
"No - get me a mask." The Oompa-Loompa shook his head. "I'm going in there regardless - so if you want to help, get me a mask!" The Oompa-Loompa scurried off, returning endless minutes later and handing Willy the largest oxygen mask he could find. Holding the tank in one hand, clutching the mask to his face with the other, Willy headed into the Inventing Room.
A charred and mangled room greeted Willy. The fire had destroyed every machine and all of the notebooks, but those were material things easily replaced as far as Willy was concerned. He peered through the gloom and tried to find Charlie. There was no sign of the boy. Willy spied something huddled in the corner under a fallen desk and ran over to investigate, dropping his mask and the oxygen tank as he did so. Willy pulled at the scrap of cloth visible underneath the desk and Charlie's rucksack flew into his hands. Willy held it to his chest and started sobbing.
"Where are you squirt?" cried Willy. "Where are you?"
Charlie kicked out with his legs and felt what was possibly a riverbank underneath his feet. He raised his head and gulped the sweet, chocolaty air above the river and half-staggered, half-swam to shore in the chocolate room. Pulling himself onto the bank, he rolled onto his back and gasped for air. He was exhausted. When the pot he'd been experimenting with had started spitting, Charlie had turned the hotplate off but for some inexplicable reason the mixture had continued heating up. Just as the mixture went critical Charlie, who had backed away and was now pressed against the door to the chocolate river, threw open the door and plunged into the river. He was vaguely aware of the dull thud as the blast slammed the river-door shut as he hit the warm chocolate and started to swim for his life… But that had been several minutes ago. Possibly hours, given how tired his legs were. Charlie spread-eagled on the soft swudge and, despite the wailing siren overhead, passed into a dreamless sleep.
Rosanna paced up and down outside the factory, worried sick for both Willy and Charlie. The sirens had summoned a crowd from the town outside the walls and she was aware of the curious faces pressed against the metal gates. Occasionally, someone would comment on the Oompa-Loompas, who were now huddled in small groups against the cold, but for those who had just evacuated from the factory, there were more important matters at hand. An hour had passed since Rosanna had last seen Willy - suppose something had happened to him as well? And what about Charlie? She looked over to the now hysterical Mrs Bucket clinging to her husband's chest and suppressed a terrified wail. She couldn't allow herself to lose control now - that would not help anyone.
Ten more minutes passed. The local press had got wind that something was amiss at the Wonka factory and were gathered outside the gates, camera flashes firing in the night as reporters tried to capture their own take on the events. The factory doors opened and Willy ran out, looking blackened and exhausted. Several of the Oompa-Loompa fire crew ran out and headed to the Oompa-Loompas gathered outside, gesturing that the fire was out and that they could all go back inside. Willy ran over to Mr and Mrs Bucket and caught them in a hug before starting to cry.
"What is it?" asked Mr Bucket in a hollow voice, suspecting the worst.
"He's alright - we found him wandering in the Chocolate Room. He had been experimenting in the Inventing Room and it went wrong. He got out before the fire started. He's in the house - go to him." Willy backed away, his hands covering his face. The Oompa-Loompas helped the Bucket family back into the factory as Willy kneeled on the cold pavement and heaved into sobs. Rosanna crossed to him and slipped an arm around his back. Willy shrugged it off irritably.
"Not now," he growled.
"What did I do?" asked Rosanna.
"Do you know why Charlie was in the Inventing Room on his own?"
"No."
"He told me just now when we found him. He was trying to do my job. Because I haven't been." Willy looked up at Rosanna with accusing eyes. "Because I've spent all my time with you instead of in that room coming up with new ideas, he thought it was time he took over. He was jealous of you," spat Willy.
"Willy, I'm sorry." Rosanna wasn't quite sure that this was her fault, but now was not the time to argue her case. "Let's go inside."
"Fine," said Willy coldly, standing and striding off towards the factory door. Rosanna followed him, slipping in through the door just before Willy slammed it shut behind him.
"Willy please - listen to me - it's not your fault."
"Yes it is," hissed Willy, heading for the Chocolate Room door. "I should never have abandoned my work for so long while I wasted time on a whim." He carried on up the corridor and paused after a few moments when he realised Rosanna was no longer following him. He turned to see Rosanna standing forlornly in the middle of the hallway, tears already pricking at her eyes.
"Is that all I am to you? A whim?" Willy blinked slowly and reconsidered his previous statement.
"No."
"Then why did you say that?" cried Rosanna.
"We don't have time for this - I need to see Charlie. I'd appreciate it if you went to bed." Willy turned and headed into the Chocolate Room, a lump in his throat. Rosanna felt stabbing pains in her stomach as Willy's callous words echoed in her head. Wasted time. Whim. She ran towards the stairwell and headed upstairs, tears blinding her as she tried to remember the route Charlie had led her on during her first night at the factory.
Charlie sat up in his grandparents' bed, being hugged from all sides by members of his family. He sipped at the hot chocolate his mother handed him and grinned gratefully at her as she checked his temperature for the hundredth time.
"Mum, I'm okay," said Charlie.
"I have to be sure," mumbled Mrs Bucket. The door clicked open behind her and Willy entered, looking bedraggled and worried. He walked directly to the bed and kneeled down, resting a hand on Charlie's knee.
"How are you?" asked Willy.
"Fine Mr Wonka - I'm so sorry! Mum told me that everyone had to leave the factory. How's the Inventing Room?"
"Utterly destroyed."
"I'm sorry, Mr Wonka," said Charlie, biting his lip. "I bet you must hate me for blowing it up."
"What happened Charlie?"
"I thought it would be interesting to see what fizzy lifting chocolate would be like and I added some fizzy lifting drinks to the candy I was making. I don't know why it went wrong."
"Fizzy lifting drinks aren't stable at high temperatures. I must have forgotten to tell you," muttered Willy. "I'm sorry Charlie. I've been concentrating on Rosanna too much - I should have spent more time with you."
"No - don't blame her, Mr Wonka, it's my fault. I was feeling jealous and that's why I was in the Inventing Room trying to impress you."
"You don't need to try and impress me Charlie. You've already done that."
"I know. Tell Rosanna I'm sorry - it's not her fault and I bet when she finds out she'll think it is." Charlie hung his head as he realised his behaviour over the last week or so had been completely irrational. "I'm sorry if I've messed anything up."
"You haven't. Just helped put things in perspective that's all." Willy stood up. "I have to make one thing clear though Charlie."
"What?"
"You are never, under any circumstances, to work in any of the factory rooms alone again, is that understood?"
"Yes, sir." Willy nodded and stood up.
"I have to go. I don't wish to intrude." He backed out of the house and walked over to the elevator portal, not altogether surprised when the "out of service" light flashed up. Reluctantly, he walked to the door and headed into the hallway, intent on apologising for one very stupid and hurtful comment.
Rosanna tore open her wardrobe and pulled her clothes out in between violent fits of tears. She'd thought that they'd been making progress, that he was starting to feel the same way about her. She loved him - had for some time now - and yet he considered her a waste of time. Perhaps their moment had ended. Rosanna punched her clothing into her tattered suitcase on the bed and angrily wiped her tears. A tentative knock at the door interrupted her.
"Go away!" shouted Rosanna, aware that the words sounded strained.
"Rosanna, it's me, please let me in," begged Willy's voice. "I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. We need to talk."
"We always need to talk Willy - and you never do!" shouted Rosanna, walking over to the door and gesturing to it wildly as she spoke. "You never give me the chance to get close and help you, then you have the nerve to blame this mess tonight on me."
"Open the door!" demanded Willy.
"No!"
"Fine," answered Willy, a dull thud indicating he'd hit the door in temper. As Rosanna stormed back to the bed, the door opened behind her. She turned, her tear-streaked face regarding Willy.
"How did you do that?"
"It wasn't locked," answered Willy. "I just thought it would be polite to ask first." He walked forward and closed the door behind him.
"Yet you still barged in."
"You were obviously not in the mood for being polite," said Willy with a shrug. His calm demeanour healed some of Rosanna's angst and she took a steadying breath before continuing.
"Why are you here?"
"To apologise for implying that you were next to nothing to me."
"Thank you."
"You didn't deserve that - I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."
"That was quite clear," snarled Rosanna. She regarded Willy's hurt expression and checked herself. "I understand it's been a long day," said Rosanna quietly, the last of her anger draining.
"It's my fault - I think that I need to be sensible and limit the amount of time we spend together - or at least build in some time for Charlie."
"Of course, if that's what you want."
"He's special to me Rosanna - obviously in a different way than you, but I need to pay him some attention as well. He's my heir and apprentice - he needs to feel included. Not shut out. Maybe you should spend some time with him too," added Willy, looking down at his sooty gloves as he finished speaking. He'd blurted out everything he had prepared to say to her on his way upstairs - the rest would be up to her now.
"If you think that would help," said Rosanna hesitantly.
"I do," replied Willy with a small smile. He walked over to Rosanna to pull her into a hug, but stopped when he saw the luggage on the bed. His smile froze. "Going somewhere?"
"I… You offended me, so I..."
"Thought you'd leave me forever," said Willy, his head turning to one side as he stared blankly ahead. "Now why is this familiar?"
"Willy, obviously I'm not going to leave now..."
"No, please, don't let me stop you," Willy went on with a polite tone. "If not today, then it will happen another time I speak without thinking."
"Willy, it won't - I'm sorry, I was just being dramatic. I'm not going anywhere."
"But you will one day."
"I won't - I promise."
"You've said that before." Willy walked over to the bed and gently folded a blouse into the suitcase. "You need to pack more carefully - you'll ruin your clothes like this." Rosanna darted around the bed and took Willy's hands in her own.
"Stop it."
"Why? I want you to have clothes - these clothes - wherever you are. I don't want them spoiled," his voice was quieter now, and a higher pitch - almost childlike - and his eyes were wide open, staring blankly ahead.
"I'm so sorry - I'm not going anywhere!" Rosanna tipped the suitcase upside down, spilling the contents over the bed. "See! Willy, please…" begged Rosanna, holding Willy's forearms. "I'm sorry."
"I don't want you to go."
"I won't."
"How do I know that's true?" asked Willy. "I can't keep waiting for you to walk out every time we have a spat."
"I won't."
"How can I be sure?" Willy's eyes misted up and he looked back at Rosanna.
"I love you," whispered Rosanna. "And because I love you, I can't go anywhere." She pulled Willy into her chest and snaked her arms around his back. "I'd have probably stopped before I got to the main doors anyway," she added with a forced laugh. Probably sooner, she thought, if you hadn't come in, I doubt I would even have finished packing. She felt Willy's hands on her shoulders pushing her gently away and looked up at his grimy, soot-smutted face. "What's wrong?"
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"What do you mean?"
"You waffled on about caring and attachment and attractiveness, but you never said..."
"Never said what?"
"That you… that you love me," said Willy, a faraway look in his eyes and a gentle smile on his lips.
"Didn't you guess?"
"Nuh-uh." Willy permitted himself a broad grin. "Even geniuses are allowed to be a little dim sometimes." He stroked his hands down from her shoulders to her elbows and back again.
"Only sometimes?" asked Rosanna with a shy smile.
"Yep." Willy hesitantly lowered his head and nipped at Rosanna's bottom lip. He smiled as Rosanna's head tilted upwards anticipating the kiss and pecked at her lip twice more before backing off.
"Don't tease." Rosanna pouted and fluttered her eyelashes at Willy.
"Rosanna."
"Yes?" Willy paused to take a steadying breath in order to steel himself for what he knew he had to say.
"I love you too." Willy ran a hand through Rosanna's hair and pulled her to him, kissing her. As they parted, Willy looked down into Rosanna's eyes and smiled. "I shall see you in the morning, darling"
"Hey, you don't get away that easily," giggled Rosanna, pushing Willy backwards until he fell onto the bed. She jumped up and straddled him easily, plunging down and pressing her lips to his as he tried to protest.
"Want to bet on that?" replied Willy as Rosanna moved away, pushing her off and grabbing at her hands, prising them off his shoulders and rolling her onto her back. He rolled with her, pinning her to the bed with her arms above her head, his nose only an inch from hers. Rosanna's eyes flicked from Willy's eyes to his lips as a few moments passed. Nervously, Rosanna licked her lips, Willy following the movement with his eyes. Impulsively, Willy kissed her - softly at first, but with increasing intensity as the kiss continued. Suddenly aware of the movement of her body underneath his, Willy sprang to his feet with a nervous laugh.
"Well, goodnight!" said Willy, nodding briefly to Rosanna and darting to the door.
"Goodnight Willy," called Rosanna, watching as the chocolatier fairly ran from her room. She sighed and relaxed back on her bed, a smile playing on her lips.
Read it? Please review it! I'm sorry it's been a while between updates, but I'd love to know how many people are still reading! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and to the wonderful Wonkamatic for beta'ing. Go read her fic- Why Does it Feel Like it's Raining? - for a fantastic take on Willy's psyche.
Now that you've read this chapter (and posted your review ;-)) go and read Hard Candy by Martian Aries, which ended today to rapturous applause. It's rather good.