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Chapter 21: Family Teasing

--Willy Wonka's POV--

tug, tug

"Hmm?" Willy choked out barely audible as he peeked out of narrowed violet eyes, and blinking against the somewhat bright light in the room. "Alex." He noted in his half awakened state startled when something moved beside him and seemed to wrap tighter around his frame. "What in candies name?" he wondered glancing at Alex who's face was staring at him quizzically and then glancing down at Oriana who was contentedly wrapped around his frame sound asleep. "She's in my bed in my room!" his mind was on sudden panic by then, but he hesitated in moving taking a closer look at the current situation. "Clothing still in place…we fell asleep talking." He thought breathing a sigh of relief. "Good morning Alex." He managed in a whisper seeing the small man nod and smile faintly at him.

"This was interesting to find…would you like me to go fetch breakfast?" signed Alex noting the slight blush creeping across Willy's face and stifling a round of giggles.

"Yes Alex…what time is it?" Willy questioned through a whisper as the small man motioned it was eight in the morning. "Bring breakfast around ten or so." He said as Alex nodded quickly leaving the room and the still surprised Chocolatier.

"She looks comfortable." Willy noted finding himself smiling down as the form snorted slightly snuggling closer to his frame her hair falling around in a tangled labyrinth behind her. Willy played over the previous night events and found himself very relieved that things had actually went the way they did, even with the attempts Doris had apparently come up with to push them farther into their relationship. "I'm betting Sam and Doris have been working together." Willy thought annoyed only slightly, but knowing full well it was difficult for Sam to avoid his sister all the time, siblings had a way of getting information. "This is actually kind of nice." He thought closing his eyes briefly as the form shifted again.

--Original POV--

"What time is it?" I wondered peeking open one eye and then the other in slightly surprised shock. "Willy." I realized as I glanced at the form I was wrapped around and then around the familiar room, a sudden worry running through my thoughts. "I'm in his room, his bed…dressed. Thank goodness." I thought closing my eyes in relief as I listened to his breathing and realized he was awake even though his eyes were closed. "Maybe not thank goodness…never mind, bad thoughts too early." I thought feeling a flush on my cheeks before I loosened my hold around Willy's waist and noted his arm was gently resting over my shoulders. I heard a light click sound and felt Willy shift slightly and saw a cart was being led into the room with Alex and Ben pushing it toward the sitting room.

"You look much better today Ben. No more chocolate baths as of recent I hope?" Willy questioned seeing the small man give him a sour look and then motion rather quickly before disappearing from the room in a huff. I heard him chuckle and then I heard a small giggle follow. "Thank you Alex…tell Ben I was only teasing." He said motioning away the small man who nodded bowing and disappearing from the room. "Are you awake?" he questioned as I gave him a glare hearing his giggle as violet eyes met mine.

"Yes…poor Ben, you're going to give him a complex." I muttered sitting up or at least attempting to before I noted his arm was holding me in place. "Are you going to let me sit up?" I asked as he looked down at me as though pondering the question.

"Maybe." Willy retorted releasing me as I sat up and glared down at him and noted that we had shifted to the pillows in our sleep and his bed was a complete mess. "I think you look less dangerous when you're asleep." He said as I leaned across him and met those violet eyes close range.

"That's what you think." I said with a small smile. "Bad thoughts." I realized starting to sit back up startled when he pulled me into a very passionate kiss. Then he pulled back appearing to be startled with himself or at least it seemed that way.

"Breakfast?" Willy questioned nervously as I nodded and sat up watching him rather swiftly scramble from the bed and offering me a hand, which I accepted as we both went over and started to eat breakfast.

"His suit is all rumpled." I thought with a small smile staring at the same suite he had worn the night before, which was twisted and by far a lot less smooth then the night before, but I found it oddly attractive. "I bet my bed head is an interesting sight." I thought surprised that my hair wasn't as fly away as usual. Both of us after finishing breakfast sat there staring at each other as though in a contest to see who would blink first. I could sense both of us were confused and had several thoughts running through our minds at once, but neither dared speak those thoughts aloud at the moment. I heard a light tap at his door and turned away from the intense violet eyes long enough to follow his gaze.

"Morning Felix." Willy greeted as the small man came into the room with a very annoyed look on his face and wearing a blue suit again. "Now what happened?" he questioned as I observed the small man and instantly saw he had come against his own judgment to get him to help with another issue in the factory.

"Good morning." Signed Felix before frowning again. "Ben helped fix on the chocolate pipes that carry to the fudge room. The fudge room is now flooded in chocolate and the pipe won't stop." He motioned seeing an annoyed look on his face before Willy nodded.

"I'm on my way…I need to change first." Willy said disappearing from the sitting room and into his bathroom after explaining to me what Felix had said.

"Ben…you little pain." I thought irritably remembering early that morning I had felt sorry for the little man. I glanced down at the gentle tug on my jeans and saw Trish who was signing to follow her, which I did down the hall into a familiar bathroom. Later I emerged wearing a green and lighter green striped sweater and black jeans. I then walked down the hall just as Willy was exiting his quarters. "Green suite and red everything else." I noted with a stifled giggle as he paused outside the elevator and stared at me a long moment.

"Want to see what kind of mess Ben left more me?" Willy questioned hesitantly not really sure why he was so hesitant at the moment.

"Do I dare…I don't want to be dragged to a random room again." I teased seeing him smile at this and shrug the smirk still ever present in the corner of his mouth. "Coming." I said as he stood there almost as though impatient for my answer, but not impatient.

I stepped into the elevator and held onto his arm as we went again in more directions than I cared to count and paused outside a room with blaring horns and red lights flashing. "This does not look good." I thought seeing Willy looked as though he was thinking the same things as both of us stepped out of the elevator and I noted a strip of chocolate running from the room. Willy opened the door hesitantly jumping back as more chocolate flowed from the room and stared around at the mass of chocolate and in the middle of it all stood a very agitated signing Ben. "So much for avoiding his annual chocolate bath." I thought with a smirk seeing the little man notice both of us watching him and give Willy a dark look. Both of us made out way into the room which was painted various shades of brown and currently was flooded maybe toe deep with chocolate but it continued to rise as the machine kept bringing more into the room.

"I thought we agreed you were going to avoid this situation?" Willy asked the small man as he stepped through the chocolate to the machine dropping off more of the liquid and started to mess around with buttons and knobs.

I saw the small Ben glaring at Willy his hands moving violently and rather quickly, which reminded me oddly of the day Race had hurt his finger on the elevator. "Apparently he's cursing Willy out." I thought seeing Willy had stopped the flow of the chocolate easily and was now facing the little man his face twisted into an amused look, before he wagged his finger at the agitated little man.

"Now no need for such violent and fowl words Ben." Willy answered as the small man suddenly huffed crossing his arms and glaring at the room and down at his now chocolate covered frame.

"If you weren't so busy with your authoress this wouldn't have happened…sleep with her and get it over with Mr. Cocoa Bean." Signed Ben before sloshing through the chocolate room in a hastier than usual exit.

I saw the small man make several hand gestures before looking somewhat surprised at what he had signed and then he quickly rushed from the room as fast as he could. I saw Willy's face turn nearly crimson and then saw a very dark look pass over his face for a brief moment seeing Ben speed up and literally dash down the hall. "He must have gone too far." I thought seeing Willy glance at me a moment his eyes going from surprise, embarrassment and back again.

"Willy…are you alright?" I asked seeing he was staring after Ben as though he was going to chase the little man down and give him a piece of his mind.

"Yes." Willy squeaked nervously as he stared around the chocolate disaster of a room and sighed. "Felix is going to have his work cut out for him." He noted staring intently at the door. "Little devil…he pushed it that time. I should really lay off the teasing." He thought thankful that I had yet to learn the language.

"What did Ben say?" I inquired noting his reactions since the little man had left. I noticed his eye suddenly twitch at the question and got the feeling that I probably wouldn't find out, but I couldn't help but wonder. "Curiosity is not a good thing." I thought seeing Willy turn about ten different shades of red at the question.

"I don't want to repeat it." Willy finally said after what seemed like a very long pause. "Really I don't." he thought feeling his face heating again at my inquisitive look.

"Alright." I said with a smile as he stepped from the room and was greeted by several Oompa Loompa's who instantly took to cleaning off our shoes. "Where to now?" I questioned thoughtfully as he smiled as though hiding a secret.

"I need to go to the inventing room. So I think I'll leave you and Nelly to get into your own mischief." Willy said as I gave him a curious look. "Rita will show you the way." He said pointing to the remaining woman Oompa Loompa at my feet and then he disappeared into the elevator.

"Working on Christmas day too…does he ever take a break?" I wondered staring down at Rita who smiled brightly and shook her head yes. "When?" I questioned thoughtfully as the small woman reached into a pocket of her outfit of violet and started to scribble on a small pad, before handing me the note.

He's working on Christmas presents for everyone and he takes many breaks with you since your stay in the factory. He also has lots of new candies in the works with Charlie and I think you're part of that as well. Follow me and I will escort you to the chocolate room.

"I'll just agree with you Rita…I have no idea what to think." I said with a giggle following the small woman up one tri-colored painted tunnel after another.

Soon we were walking by the chocolate river passing several of the familiar rooms and I glanced over seeing the boat rushing by as several Oompa Loompa's waved at their passing, I waved in turn pausing outside the chocolate room door moments later with Rita waving to me on her way off. I stepped into the chocolate room and was greeted by a rather rough tackle hug from Nelly who was giggling madly followed by Charlie. "Morning to you too." I thought stumbling back from both of them briefly before I spotted my mother and Mrs. Bucket laughing merrily in the chocolate room around one of the many trees. Mr. Bucket was playing cards with the grandparents and I saw Emilee was visiting with Gilbert who had taken an apparent liking to one of the candy trees in the room, and was playing with it gurgling madly.

"Morning honey." Mom called as I glanced up from the forms still stifling me in a hug and waved. "Come on Nelly give her some breathing room already." Mom called as Nelly and Charlie both released their hold and followed me down to join the others.

I gave my mother a hug before hugging everyone else, which I had grown accustom too since living in the factory, then I went over and picked up a startled Gilbert who let out a tiny squeak and then glanced up face brightening in a big grin. I greeted the small baby and waved to Emilee as Nelly and I made out way down over one of the many banks leaving Charlie to play cards with my mom and Mrs. Bucket. We sat down under a few of the hanging trees of candies that reminded me of very brightly colors weeping willows and relaxed for a little while. I could sense Nelly about to ask me something and had a feeling I knew exactly what it would be about.

"What?" I questioned as Gilbert shifted into my hair entangling himself and closing his eyes with a satisfied snort.

"What?" Nelly asked sounding innocent staring at me and smiling at Gilbert running her fingers through her curled brown locks in thought.

"Is there an echo…I meant what do you want to ask." I answered giving her a look, which she was all too familiar with and it meant don't mess with me it's still too early in the morning.

"Oh." Nelly replied still attempting to sound innocent as she observed me for a long moment trying to decide if anything was different about me or not. "I went to visit your…ick…pink room last night, but you weren't in." she said carefully as I felt my cheeks flush at this announcement, but reminded myself that nothing had happened, yet. "I asked one of the little people…I mean Oompa Loompa's and they said you were with Willy last night. I assumed you would rather not be bothered after that." She answered noting the blush creeping across my face.

"Don't even go there…nothing happened, we talked about movies and books, fell asleep that is it." I said seeing an accusing twinkle in Nelly's eyes. "I'm serious Nelly…I swear to you nothing happened." I said truthfully as she cocked her head to the side being about the only person other then my mother that could tell when I was lying or not.

"Yet." Nelly answered with a giggle as my face reddened even more at her observation. "I bet you wanted something to happen…I haven't, I mean I didn't think you would ever find somebody…he's cute, but a little off the wall for my tastes." She said as I gave her an odd look and saw she was teasing me again.

"Will you knock it off." I muttered hearing her giggles start at this and then I heard rustling above us and heard thumping feet running across the candied grass. "Hello Charlie." I said as the small boy stopped sitting down between us with a bright smile on his face. "What's up?" I asked glad he had interrupted the teasing for the moment.

"You're mom wants to talk with you." Charlie answered giggling as Nelly poked at his ribs and he pushed her back watching her laughing hysterically. "Mom and Dad are working on dinner and my grandparents are walking around. Nelly would you come walk with me?" he asked a bit hesitantly with a flush to his cheeks.

"Sure Charlie." Nelly said as he smiled brightly and went off briefly to get something.

"He has a crush on you…let him down easily." I said as Nelly giggled and nodded seeing Charlie return carrying what I recognized as a Frisbee. "Don't play to rough on him…he's still learning." I murmured as she giggled running off after Charlie.

I stood with a bit of effort because I was comfortable and made my way halfway up the hill only to bump into my mother on her way down the hill. I smiled as she laughed slightly and then followed her back down to the spot I had moments ago been giggling with Nelly at. "I bet mom has a hundred questions." I thought seeing her brown eyes were watching me intently and she was waiting for me to start.

"Yes?" I asked hearing my mother laugh again, before she settled against one of the candy trees and smiled warmly.

"It's nice to see you're in love." Mom said as I gave her a playful glare and then shrugged. "Are things as complicated as I'm guessing?" she inquired giving me a curious look as I flushed scarlet under her gaze.

"Mooom." I whined hearing her laughing again at my embarrassment. "It's not that, well maybe…we're both in the same boat ok, it's a bit odd." I muttered seeing her nod with a small smile on her face. "You spoke with Mrs. Bucket." I accused seeing her smile again and nod.

"You'll be fine…I'm just glad you happy. It's nice to see the old you peeking out of your shell again." Mom said staring me in the eye and reaching out playing with the hair around Gilbert who was blissfully unaware of the attention I was receiving. "Nelly start's school in January and I have to go back to work next week, so we'll probably be leaving after tomorrow…If you need me you will call right?" she asked as I nodded realizing that this visit was going to be briefer then I wanted.

"Oh…Nelly will still be staying with you right?" I questioned seeing Mom nod in answer. "Good…Margo keeps sending me letters, but the fire in my room is a very convenient place to keep those." I answered seeing Mom roll her eyes and sigh at this information. "Nelly can kindly explain to her friends that I had nothing to do with the woman too…they keep hanging up on me." I said a bit snippily as my mother nodded with a start.

"I had a feeling something was going on. I will be sure to tell Nelly when she can't tease you constantly again." Mom said with a giggle as she leaned over hugging me and standing stiffly to her feet. "I'm getting old." She murmured before I waved at her settling back down on the grass and dozing with Gilbert who was contentedly snoozing in my hair.

--Inventing room--

"Hello Charlie." Willy said from a pile of recipe's he was still perfecting noting the familiar boy finally joining him that afternoon. "How was your morning?" he questioned seeing Charlie looked flushed and appeared to be very happy.

"Fun…Nelly and Oriana are so much fun to be around." Charlie said with a laugh at the curious look on his mentors face. "Nelly played Frisbee with me and Oriana told me one of Nelly's most ticklish spots…so she wouldn't keep beating me all the time. "Oriana also said to tell you hi and to make sure there were no more emergencies or ringing ears." He said as Willy gave Charlie an annoyed look and turned back to the recipes hiding his smirk.

"I still need to perfect that hot candy…it's not spicy enough." Willy muttered as Charlie sighed and joined him working long into the afternoon.

Charlie soon left around noon to eat lunch and waved to me as I entered into the inventing room carrying lunch for Willy. I motioned for Charlie to keep quite because I was going to surprise him. I then quietly went over to the sitting area of the inventing room and spotted Willy working on jotting down some notes and to my surprise mumbling to himself. "And he calls me the mumbler." I thought with a small smile as I went over and observed things over his shoulder hearing him shuffling papers and clinking glass together finally sighing and turning around with a smirk on his face.

"I half expected a random boo." Willy said as I smiled up at him and shrugged.

"Yeah…then an explosion and another sticky mess or worse…both of us with ringing ears." I retorted pointing to his lunch seeing him give me an inquiring look before walking over and sitting beside me.

We sat there enjoying lunch talking some more about movies and books. I listened as he described some of the cheesy romance novels, but the way he seemed to describe them they didn't quite sound so cheesy anymore and almost enchanting. "Maybe some day I will attempt to read one…then again maybe not." I thought. Soon Charlie had come back into the room and both were busily back to work, but I remained and watched in delight as both of them moved about talking avidly Willy's hands flying around excitedly as they worked. "They're both overgrown kids." I thought with a small smile finding myself standing and sitting over on the stool watching them more closely.

"Alex…try this one." Willy said handing the little man one of the familiar looking red candies that I had seen being made to weak for his liking.

"Ok Mr. Cocoa Bean." Signed Alex taking the candy and popping it into his mouth and waiting for something to happen. It wasn't long before Alex's eyes widen in surprise and he started panting waving his hand frantically in front of his mouth tears stinging his eyes.

"Water." Willy said as Charlie handed the small man a glass of water watching him empty the glass in a matter of seconds and sigh still fanning his mouth. I could have sworn I saw smoke coming out of his small mouth and ears, but kept the thought to myself. "I think we fixed the problem." He noted as Charlie nodded smiling from ear to ear seeing Alex sort of hobble from the room still fanning his mouth. "Next project is to get those lemon-butterscotch candies to taste good instead of bitter." He said as Charlie again nodded and started to work with Willy on the next candy to perfect.

I never seemed to get bored watching the two working on one idea after another, they managed to get the lemon-butterscotch to taste better but not quite right. Charlie excused himself to head home to get cleaned up and start helping his mother with dinner preparations, which left Willy and me alone in the inventing room. I was watching as Willy collected things to be put away and saw Alex come back into the room, seemingly much better carrying a rather too large box for his small frame. He carefully placed the bright colored box on the floor and left the room. I observed the box thoughtfully, it was long and flat, wrapped in emerald green paper and literally covered with hundreds of bows. "What on earth?" I wondered hearing shuffling behind me and jumping in surprise when Willy's arms wrapped around my arms, his chin resting lightly on my shoulder.