(The Lorax and The Once-ler do not belong to me. They're Dr. Seuss' and Illumination's. Same goes for his family shown in the film. Marie and those cute baby girls are mine!) Carojoy4210 and pinkminor234, thanks for the follow and alert. Thanks for the review Whiteling! I have a new fic up! A Beating Heart and Clicking Gears! Working on Friendship…I'm busy for a new year already!

Chapter 21

First Day of Work and Meetings

"Problem?" asked Once-ler to his mother. He thought the instructions he gave were simplistic and wouldn't cause trouble.

"Mm-hm," said Isabella. "See, we're not making Thneeds fast enough."

Marie leaned cautiously so as to not compress Natalie and Chloe who slept against her. She felt uncomfortable with what Isabella was saying. She remembered when she was thirteen, her father talked about how slow the machines were in packing the beer bottles for his company Shaye and Neely. The machines had gotten cranked up too fast for progress and Dashiell came home complaining that half of the bottles had gotten damaged. He blamed everyone except himself for the losses.

"Harvesting the tufts takes too long," called Ubb as he pushed the cart full of tufts.

Marie's thoughts were broken hearing him. She couldn't see what was happening where she was, but Once-ler watched from his place. He watched Brett as he took the tweezers and pinched a small piece of tuft (which was hardly as big as his hands.) He held the tweezers out for Chet to take the piece. Chet trotted to the cart and placed it among the pile as easily as a child making a stack out of toy blocks. Neither of them was working that fast and didn't take enough tufts.

"Well," said Once-ler hesitantly. Brett and Chet were not the brightest bulbs in the box and he knew it. "What else can we do?" He had a bad feeling looming over him as he asked.

"Well," said Isabella forming a smile and an "innocent" shift in the eyes. "And this just occurred to me…we could just start chopping down the trees."

"What?" asked Once-ler in concern. He hadn't chopped a tree down since the first he day showed up in the valley.

"Whoo! Now you're talking," called Ubb. "That would speed things up!"

"But-" began Once-ler to protest his reasoning. What would've happened had Marie not had jumped into action, he didn't want to know.

"I'm here!" said Marie. She dashed outside and wrapped an arm around her mother-in-law. "Isabella, the reason it's taking too long is because you need an extra set of hands! So I'm done with being inside and I'll help you out here. I'm sure when Once-ler's finished his blueprint he'll join us."

"I still think that-" Isabella was cut off again.

"No!" said Marie calmly. "Please! I insist! Besides, you can't get family bonding with cutting trees and I do so want to spend time with you! Why wouldn't I?" It had taken all of Marie's strength to shut out the voice that yelled in her mind to stop talking!

"Oh," said Isabella. She glanced at Once-ler who smiled and quietly thanking Marie for her intrusion. "Well, if you insist. I could give you some advice about how to fix this rat's nest of yours while working." She ruffled her hands in Marie's hair.

"Of course," said Marie slowly, but kept her grin plastered on her face. Marie and Isabella went off arm in arm.

Relieved by Marie's offering, Once-ler watched them walk off as if they had a terrific bond. He smiled knowingly to himself that Marie would only have spent time with his family for him; especially considering Isabella wasn't so courteous to her earlier. Marie needed a medal for what she did, but there were others ways to show appreciation and affection. He'd spoil her later on.

"Have you ever used an axe?" questioned Isabella when they were a distance away from the cottage.

"Yes," Marie lied. It was bad enough she was considered chubby, she didn't want to be considered weak.

"Then if we did chop down trees would you help?" Isabella's eyes narrowed at her.

"Well," paused Marie trying to be loyal to The Lorax like Once-ler had been. "I'd only do it if it was the only option to get the tufts. However, it's not the only option so we can just pluck."

"I still say we should chop down the trees," said Isabella. "It'd be easier."

"Once-ler doesn't want to take the easy way," said Marie. "It wouldn't be making an honest living if he took the easy route. At least that's what he thinks. Now, Isabella while we're plucking why don't you tell me how you lost the baby weight for your figure? I mean, look at you! You look great." Marie kept her grin on her face and hoped Isabella fell for it.

"Oh hush up!" said Isabella. She was pleased to have her ego boosted. "It was a special diet!" So Isabella went on with her "weight loss" and she forgot about the tree chopping.

For now…

In the meantime, Once-ler had put Natalie and Chloe in the crib. (Marie had them safely propped in his bed when she left.) With a quick kiss against their dark hair, Once-ler took the baby monitor and stuffed it in his pocket. When Once-ler arrived outside, he took a burlap sack, pulled his garden gloves on and gathered handfuls of tufts from a short Truffula Tree near the cottage. It was the same one he used to hang the hammock for the girls. The rest of his brood moved to the other side for more trees. The only sounds that hit his ears were his babies breathing over the baby monitor. Once-ler hummed and scatted to himself as he worked. The smell of the trees and the comfortable warmth of summer made the day seem idyllic.

The only thing that made the day seem awkward was the RV. Once-ler didn't plan on having Isabella, Grizelda, Ubb, Chet and Brett living next door. If anything, as soon as they made enough, he planned to buy them a home in Greenville. As much as Once-ler loved his family, whether they belittled him or not, he had his own now. He wanted it to just be him, his lovely lady and two precious girls out in the valley. The forest was better than the city.

Once-ler stopped picking and suddenly looked at his surroundings. If they got rich, then they didn't have to stay in the cottage. They could get a bigger home. Perhaps he could build one?

"And what about that factory idea?" Once-ler thought as he shaded his eyes to view his surroundings. "Where could that go?"

About two hours later, Marie was glad to leave Isabella's side and go back to Once-ler. After listening about Isabella's diet and getting critiqued about how she could fix her curls, Marie needed to see a loving face.

When Marie entered the cottage, Once-ler had Natalie and Chloe on the changing table. He was putting little pink headbands in their hair with a bow nestled on their sides. They had on white sundresses and were barefoot.

"Hello Bunnies," chuckled Marie. "Don't you look cute?" Natalie held her arms up to her.

"Let's go see Grandma," chortled Once-ler taking Chloe. "She can't wait to see you!" Chloe giggled in response. Once-ler turned to Marie. "Ready for this?"

"I wish," admitted Marie. "If Brett and Chet get rough, take the girls!"

"I will," promised Once-ler as he tugged down on the hem of Natalie's dress since it was riding up.

The walk to the door felt long as Marie thought of all the things Isabella could say to degrade their daughters. Natalie and Chloe were oblivious of all the changes around them.

"Here they are," said Once-ler excitedly as he burst out. "Here's Chloe and Natalie!"

The family watched Once-ler give a quick spin as he approached them and Marie slowly paced. The reactions were very much according to their personalities.

"Hey there!" said Ubb. He grinned and gave a quick tickle to Chloe who buried her head in Once-ler's vest. "Look at you! Don't you look just like your dad?"

"My grandbabies!" squealed Isabella as she came up to Natalie. She lifted Natalie up, letting her tiny legs dangle. "Ohh! You're as cute as a button!"

Natalie looked confused at the new woman who held her. She blinked her eyes and began flailing her arms. Natalie shaped her hands into fists and started to fuss. Isabella looked a little disappointed, but smiled giving Natalie back to Marie. Ah, her baby was safe in her arms. Until…

"I wanna hold her!" yelled one of Natalie's uncles. Brett raced up and held out his muscled arms.

Marie unwillingly let Natalie go. She was quick to judge that Brett would toss Natalie in the air. When Once-ler did it, Marie was confident he'd catch the girls, but Chet and Brett didn't know how to handle babies! Much to Marie's surprise, Brett was very kind, wiggling Natalie in his hands and rubbing noses with her. Natalie didn't seem too pleased. Her expression still refused change when Chet came in and tried tickling her. Natalie wasn't ticklish. Altogether, Marie felt sorry that she had misjudged them for handling their nieces.

Grizelda didn't approach and looked grimly at the girl twins. She never liked kids and her new family members were no exception. And Once-ler, who had gotten his wrist spanked by her a couple of times in his youth was relieved she didn't come near.

"Oh, let me hold her," said Isabella who had turned to her other grandbaby while her sons tried entertaining Natalie.

Uncle Ubb seemed reluctant since he hadn't gotten Chloe in his arms yet, but he did what Isabella wanted. Isabella swooped Chloe up and held her up close to her face. Once-ler smiled seeing two generations connect.

"Hello, hello," cooed Isabella. "Aren't you as cute as a button?"

Chloe was terrified of new people, even if it was a family member. The poor baby's face crumpled up and she bawled. Isabella looked shocked and held her out an arm's length. She managed to disguise the disgust in her eyes. Once-ler took a hint and brought Chloe back to his hold, gently shushing her.

Once safe in the familiar arms, Chloe's tears stopped and she waved her arms trying to get the funny thing her father wore on his head. Her fingertips managed to tilt to over his eyes. Once-ler smiled and put his fedora over her head.

"Sorry Mom," chuckled Once-ler. "Chloe's a shy, little violet."

"It isn't good to have a shy violet for a baby Oncie," said Isabella. "She'll never have proper socializing." She already didn't like the twins and her reasons were secretive.

"I think she's fine for now," said Once-ler shrugging. He perked up seeing his brothers play with Natalie and Ubb joining them. "Besides, Chloe and Natalie have each other."

Marie had watched Isabella's reactions to the twins and it made her suspicious. Isabella's coos didn't seem realistic like Ubb's Brett's or Chet's. Maybe Isabella disliked the twins because they were hers.

"Well that's her problem," thought Marie remembering that phone call Once-ler made on their birthday to her. "It's her issue if she doesn't like me. Still, I'll be nice to her." Marie did her best to not worry about certain comments for the rest of the day.

By the time it was dusk Once-ler was starting to wish his family would go to Greenville and stay in a hotel. Brett and Chet's ginormous appetites left him and Marie stressful. While Ubb had played peek-a-boo with the twins Marie and Once-ler raced around the cottage making meals of potatoes, mixed vegetables, chicken and Truffula Fruit pie. Of course, this was done after their fridge had been raided by Grizelda, Brett and Chet who didn't ask if they could eat! They took small plates, piled on cookies, crackers and two jars of baby food and sat outside in the fold-out table from the RV. Knowing they were something of hosts, Once-ler and Marie had to eat with them. Hosts has to be polite to their guests whether they were pests or not. They were family. That word was growing annoying!

Marie had been appalled by the family's manners except for Ubb and Isabella's; mouths chewing open, shoving globs of food on spoons, elbows on the table, burping contests and never using napkins. Marie did have to keep in mind that she was raised in a different social class so she couldn't be too hard on them. Once-ler was different from them, so he wouldn't act like them.

Poor Once-ler looked so embarrassed during dinner. He nearly lost his hunger watching chomped food in his brothers' and great-aunt's mouth. Natalie and Chloe were less messy eaters and they were babies! There was nothing he could do so Once-ler and Marie tried to be polite and smile for the rest of the night. They did have a big day tomorrow of knitting Thneeds while Marie looked after her girls.

"That's it," sighed Marie as she dried the last plate. Her hands were pruned after washing plates, silverware and glasses from dinner. "No more dishes!" She felt Once-ler, who was feeling better after the chaotic meal, hug her from behind.

"I know it wasn't easy today, but-" said Once-ler. "-thanks for putting up with your in-laws." He felt Marie's curls tickle his cheek.

"I know you'd do the same," said Marie. She tossed the mini Thneed for a dish towel on the counter.

"I've been thinking," said Once-ler slowly. "Two things."

"What exactly?" questioned Marie. She leaned back against him in the shadows of night.

"I've been thinking of building a factory," said Once-ler hesitantly.

"A factory?" Marie felt nervous hearing that. "That's a lot of a building for a few people."

"If we get more workers they need a place to work." Once-ler turned her around and clasped her hands in his. "And if we have a factory running, we'll earn more and we can afford anything we need! We could get the girls a pony!"

"Don't let your imagination run away with you," said Marie gently. "We don't need to be millionaires."

"I know," said Once-ler after a pause. "I just want Mom proud of me and I want to give our Bunnies the best. Is that so bad?"

"No," said Marie shaking her head and reaching up to brush his bangs. "There's nothing bad about that. I just don't want Thneeds changing who you are."

"They won't," said Once-ler confidently. "I wouldn't change for anything!"

"Now what was the second thing you were considering?" asked Marie after smiling at Once-ler's vow.

"Second thing-oh right," said Once-ler. Then a look on his face that Marie knew well showed. He drew her in an embrace. "What you did today…plucking tufts while listening to Mom's advice for your so called "rat's nest-" Once-ler's slid his fingers through the whirling waves of Marie's hair, feeling them spring lightly back into shape. "-I think you deserve a reward."

"I accept whatever it is Handsome," chuckled Marie.

With a quick tilt of her head and a lower from Once-ler's their lips met, slowly becoming passionate. Once-ler pressed his wife against the cabinet, and she suddenly, but tenderly pulled him down to the warm floor. The only light was the stove which gave a comforting glow. All alone, in the summer night, secluded in their bedroom/kitchenette, the thoughts of knitting, in-laws and factories vanished.