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Chapter 29: Cousin Antics & Chocolate
I sat there for several hours playing games with them, reading to them and finally singing to them before I was aware of someone watching at a distance. I knew it was Willy and had somehow learned to sense his presence but that didn't stop him from catching me off guard, I could sense his presence and a deep concern lingering around him. "Something happened…will he tell me or not though is the question?" I smiled watching Gilbert stagger slightly starting to attempt walking before he flopped with a cute little plop like look and then he gurgled slightly crawling over to me using my legs in an effort to walk again.
"Do you want to talk?" I glanced up as Willy's hand lightly laced down my hair before he wrinkled his nose sitting down beside me and waving his hands fearfully at the curios kids headed his way.
"I don't want to spoil your good mood." Willy wrinkled his nose in a disgusted look when Gilbert stumbled slightly catching onto his knee to re-balance himself and then he attempted another walk only to flop on the ground.
"You don't worry about my mood, talk to me Willy." I met his violet gaze seeing the reluctance start to slightly melt before I reached out lifting a frustrated Gilbert who had tears in his eyes. "Shhh." I whispered soothingly watching him sniffle before sitting in my Indian style legs and curling up into a small ball to snooze.
"You won't take no for an answer?" He asked raising a brow and smirking at my annoyed expression. I leaned over kissing him softly in response before observing him for a long moment. I tried not to let on how annoying his gloves squeaking was, seeing he was lost in thought. "I got more paperwork from the village today…I need to discuss some things with the chief before I can really go into any details with you. I'm terrified of this discussion though." He sighed miserably aware of my arm wrapping around his shoulders and my head leaning on him.
"From my experience with the Oompa Loompa's, you don't need to be terrified." I met those violet eyes seeing a small frown on his face. "You're terrified of your own answers." I realized seeing him almost wince at the revelation. "There's more to this then he's going to share…how do I help him if I don't know the problem?" I puzzled over the situation for a long moment before hoping I come to a good answer. "Follow your heart, and listen to those around you. You're good at understanding your environment Willy and I'm sure Sam gave you excellent advice." I sighed then seeing him go off into his flash back phase.
--Flashback---
Sam sat there thoughtfully studying previous charts and became instantly alert to Willy's hasty entrance into the room. Willy frantically paced a few minutes before making himself comfortable on the familiar couch.
"Sam what do I do…those papers explained the Wonka-Vite and she didn't care and now the chief wants to know how far I plan on carrying this." Willy whined crossing his arms in a slightly childish pout before becoming aware of intent eyes studying him.
"How far are you willing to carry your relationship with the authoress?" Sam signed watching Willy's eyes narrow suspiciously at him before he closed his eyes muttering several things that were incoherent.
"Sam, your suppose to help relax me and help sort this mess out…not help the chief make my life more complicated and the…ew…paperwork on top of it all." Willy sighed squeaking his gloves agitatedly.
"That's just it Mr. Cocoa Bean. The only way you are going to be able to understand this situation is to do exactly what you've been debating with for a long time now. She's lived here for eight months and you two are now closer then ever. You can't stand the factory without her around and Charlie and the rest adore her presence. We even have grown very fond of this authoress." Sam signed watching Willy react by sitting up with a stunned expression on his face. "Again…what are you going to do?"
"I-I-I…" Willy surrendered shrugging his shoulders knowing full well he was too nerved up to get the answer he wanted out.
"When you decide…you will feel better." Sam smiled gently up at Willy who sighed in defeat nodding and realizing as usual he was right.
--End Flashback--
"You're right…smarty pants." Willy murmured snapping from his flashback daze and seeing concern lingering in my eyes for his well being. "You worry to much." He said softly leaning over and capturing her lips lightly with his.
"Comes with being me." I said softly leaning onto his shoulder again and studying the children playing several games. "Hi Emilee." I smiled watching her collect Gilbert and then saw her and Hailey start gathering the children for their naps.
"I have a surprise for you in the chocolate room." Willy whispered softly startling me when he kissed lightly against my neck forcing me to shiver slightly. "Come on." I gave him a slightly peeved look and got a grin in return before climbing to my feet and brushing myself off. I then reached over brushing Willy off observing as the last of the children were led away and pinched his bum. "Hey!" he cried startled.
I laughed at his stunned expression before taking off full speed toward the elevator hearing him in hot pursuit. Sadly the elevator wasn't being polite that day and instead of paying attention I crashed into it pulling a Willy followed by Willy himself, both of us went down with startled groans and glanced up at the jungle filled room. "Ow." I thought rubbing my forehead and glancing over at Willy who was pulling himself back together used to crashing frequently into the thing, something I wasn't quite as skilled at.
"Here." He leaned down lifting me to my feet and smirked at my frown of annoyance. "See what happens when you get cheeky?" he questioned giggling at me his smirk present as usual.
"No pun intended of course." I giggled at his now red face and stepped into the elevator.
"Funny, ha, ha." He retorted sticking out his tongue and pressing the button to the chocolate room.
"I try." I shrugged watching his smirk broaden.
The elevator took of rapidly in an intricate fashion of turns, zigs, zags, and various other directions before a familiar ding announced our destination. Willy and I were too busy giggling from attempting to tickle each other to notice the stop until we both fell out of the elevator laughing harder at one another. I lay there across him staring down at his highly amused face before brushing away candy grass and standing, I then helped him to his feet both of us hearing an all too familiar giggle before turning in the direction of the sound. "Oh no, not again." Nelly and Charlie both come charging down across the chocolate room straight for Willy and myself, luckily this time Willy had the sense to move and we both dodged the pair watching them both smack into the elevator startled by our swift retreat and flop to the ground in surprise.
"Serves you right." I glanced down at Nelly who was rubbing her head vigorously while Willy helped Charlie to his feet. "No dog piling." I warned watching her wrinkle her nose in a disgusted look before she started giggling madly.
"You did that on purpose Willy." Nelly accused before climbing to her feet and giving him a once over. "Orianna has never been that fast…you helped." She brushed off her blue jeans and violet turtleneck sweater before shaking out her curly brown locks.
"Mumbler." Willy smirked hearing me burst out into laughter watching Nelly's mouth gape in surprise.
"That isn't a word." Nelly retorted sticking out her tongue at both of us.
"It is in his book." I retorted back giggling at her offended look before she burst into laughter.
"Keep it up Willy and I swear I'll throw your hat into that chocolate river of yours." Nelly noticed an odd look exchanged between Willy and myself and frowned curiously.
"I know that wouldn't be wise…he has a nice spot of chocolate for those that threaten his river." I knew my riddle had confused Nelly, but Willy got the point and giggled almost wickedly making both Nelly and Charlie exchange nervous looks before each shrugged.
"That's just creepy." Nelly muttered watching Charlie nod in agreement before the four of them started across the chocolate room and listened to Nelly's excited chatter about school, my mom, and her boyfriend.
--Willy Wonka's POV--
Willy just watched both girls chatter away amused at how they seemed to never need to take a breath and occasionally would finish one another's thoughts or sentences; this intrigued him in several ways. Charlie had long since grown bored with the conversation and had taken to suggesting things for various candies to Willy and eventually Willy got into his own conversation with Charlie somehow managing to keep track of both conversations without much effort.
"He's multi-tasking." Orianna whispered softly to Nelly who had paused in their conversation to watch Charlie rapidly talking with Willy over various candies.
"How can you tell?" Nelly giggled noticing Willy's violet gaze shift hesitantly back and for the between both conversations. "Never mind." She shook her head noticing a smirk at the corner of his mouth.
"His eyes give him away." Orianna laughed at the amused giggle she gave her and then saw Willy stick his tongue out in response. "Charlie…what are you doing?" She noticed he wasn't really paying attention at the moment and appeared to be up to something. "Nelly and Charlie planned something." She realized seeing a thoughtful look aimed over at Nelly before he concentrated on Willy again.
--Original POV--
"He ran out of ideas momentarily…give him a minute." Willy retorted chuckling at my 'right' look. "Hmm?" he noticed my suspicious look and finally caught on that something was definitely amiss. "Oh something's up." he realized studying me thoughtfully before noting the odd exchange going on between Nelly and Charlie.
"Nelly…I swear you aren't going to like the outcome of whatever you're up too." I warned knowing full well there was a chocolate pond hidden in the room and Willy would not hesitate to use it in this current situation.
"What makes you think I'm up to something?" Nelly sounded far too innocent even by my standards.
"You're always up to something." Willy chimed in seeing Nelly give him the finger without Charlie noticing. "That wasn't too nice." He smirked at my amused look and walked over beside me wrapping his arm lightly around my waist. "She's as bad as Orianna is." He noticed my arms were crossed.
Nelly and Charlie both exchanged a knowing look with each other and that was all it took, Willy ran one way and I ran the other. Willy was heading straight for the chocolate pond with Nelly hot on his heels and I was making my way in a run about way to the other side, we were going to lead them both to the pond and dodge to the side in time for Charlie and Nelly to have a rather sticky experience. As planned Willy and I dodged at the last minute, he lifted me quickly and twirled before allowing me on my feet and then we both heard the sound of an odd splash.
"SHIT!" Nelly yelled startled as both she and Charlie found themselves wading in a pond full of chocolate.
"Nelly!" I scolded thankful Charlie was just coming up from the chocolate pond. "Looks to be a bit of a sticky situation for you two." I giggled at Nelly's chocolate covered scowl.
Charlie glanced between Willy and me hearing us both laughing at their predicament and was very thankful his very red face was hidden underneath the layer of chocolate. Nelly climb slowly from the chocolate pond and lifted Charlie out beside her, both of them managed to brush enough off their face to reveal very unhappy expressions. Those expressions again made Willy and myself go into a fit of giggles before we turned seeing several giggling Oompa Loompa's coming over to assist our chocolate covered friends.
"For once I'm not wearing the chocolate." Signed Ben eyeing the pair with a highly amused expression on his face.
"I think we better run." Willy remarked thoughtfully studying the pair curiously.
I did plan on asking him 'why' but the expression on Nelly and Charlie's face was more than enough reason for me to agree with him. Both of us bolted quickly across the chocolate room just managing to slip into the safety of the elevator before both caught up and glared at us through the glass. Willy waved sticking out his tongue in response to Nelly's annoyed expression and pressed a random button sending us off into the elevator so rapidly I forgot to catch onto him and flopped ungracefully to the floor.
