A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I'm writing the chapters and working during my free time which is very little. I hope to get another up soon so please be patient and thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything except original characters. All
material (c) to respective owners. I write these for fun and make no
profit. They're just random plot bunnies that live within my strange
mind.
Chapter 54: Proving a Point
--Back at the Factory--
Nelly watched Addie and Fay walk into the chocolate room after their initial shock, before she tackled her two closest friends she started to fire the questions. Willy ducked behind the nearest candy tree and I followed.
"I have Hades and her spawn in my factory." Willy groaned taking his time to slide down the candy tree.
I shrugged sliding down next to him and gently kissed down his neck, watching his violet eyes focus on me. Those familiar violet orbs twinkling and a small smile slowly twitching at his lips.
"They aren't that bad." I whispered feeling hands gently clasp my face and finding myself pulled into a soft intense kiss, his tongue slowly sliding with mine.
We both jumped apart the minute Fay poked her head around the corner of the tree and cackled evilly. "Who's the quiet one?" I looked at her puzzled by her question. "The cute one with the dark hair and less obnoxious attitude?" slowly Willy caught on before I did.
"You mean the one kid that is talking with Charlie?" Fay nodded following Willy's gaze to Duncan who was trying to help Charlie and keep a straight face at his brothers' antics. "Duncan Winters." She smiled and turned to go investigate, before whirling on the couple.
I kept my giggles stifled seeing her eyes nearly bug out of her head. "Cousin." She glanced between us and then tilted her head. "Be nice Fay…
"Who said I wouldn't be?" she smiled cheekily at me, before attempting to go over to meet up with Duncan.
"Fay Alina Garret…I mean it, Duncan is…well…Duncan, sweet, timid and if you do anything I will bury you inside Willy's factory where no one will ever find you again." I warned seeing her, 'sure you will' expression. "I mean it; the last person to hurt him got a slam dunk to the concrete." Willy waved Fay off pulling me into another kiss, this time pulling me deep into our own little world again.
--Willy Wonka's POV--
"She's talking too much." It was strange that would come into his head, but at the moment Willy could care less about all their guests. He just wanted to be alone with her and off in their own world again. He was tired of the problems, reporters, and all the other things that had happened since they were together. He wanted time with his fiancé and was about to have that time.
Slowly he pulled back from the intense kiss and noticed her eyes studying him intensely. "Come on." He stood lifting her to her feet and gently tugged her toward the elevator with him.
Soon she found herself in the familiar glass elevator and felt arms firmly wrap around her, stopping her from asking him what he was up to. He leaned in tracing soft kisses along her neck and gently pulled her tighter to his body, pressing a button out of her sight.
"Willy what on earth?" She felt his warm breath near her ear and stopped.
He leaned closer and whispered softly to her. "To the stars and back……that's what you said not long ago." She started to say something, but his gloved hands covered her eyes and she felt the strangest sensation of the elevator picking up more speed then usual. "Trust me."
--Original POV--
"I trust you with my life Willy." I felt his lips brush near my neck and leaned into his arms, his hands remaining over my eyes.
There was the strangest tickling sensation within my stomach and then the elevator paused, a gentle silence enclosing us within its embrace. Very slowly his hands lifted from my eyes and he turned me to face him.
"Look down." He murmured softly watching me observe him closely before glancing straight down and feeling my mouth open in surprise. "We need to be careful out here though." He glanced down with her and smirked seeing her expression of wonder.
"We're literally in space…" I paused glancing down at the spaceship outlook of earth and the stars around me. "He literally brought me to the stars." I couldn't help but look around, the stars were like diamonds and you could swear that you could touch them. "It's beautiful Willy." I whispered grasping onto his frock coat nervously when the elevator began to move slowly around and gave me a better view of earth and other nearby stars.
"I wanted to do this for you." He cupped her face gently in his hands and pulled her into a familiar need filled kiss, one hand slowly entwining within her hair and eyes closing softly in turn.
"Thank you." I whispered wrapping myself within his velvet clad arms, and closing my eyes just for a moment to take in the experience. "I love you Willy."
"I love you too Orianna." He murmured kissing her head and pressing the re-entry button. "Hang on." She nodded closing her eyes and wishing the strange dropping feeling would go away the minute they began to move.
Slowly the elevator made its way back into earth's atmosphere, and continued back to the familiar chocolate room. The first thing I noticed was Fay leaning against Duncan for support and laughing hysterically at Addie who had managed to get herself trapped around the waist and off the ground by Barclay.
"Satan's hell spawn are falling for my other cousins." I sighed tiredly and smiled at his grimace of annoyance. "They might be less hell spawn and more…heaven spawn?"
"Candy canes…doubtful, Nelly is a menace." Willy felt her arm wrap around his waist and noticed Nelly turn her head at the mention of 'menace'.
She smiled and picked up a candy apple, tossing it at Willy and knocking his hat to the ground. "I prefer Hades, Hell spawn, Satan…menace is too normal." She noticed his amused smirk when he brushed off his hat and replaced it.
"How about Nells, or Nell?" She grumbled a few less then pleasant words in his direction, tossing more of the candy apples and missing him each time. "Enough Hades, you've completely made a fool of yourself already."
"Why him…of all people?" Nelly sighed in miserable defeat seeing Addie and Fay being led off to their rooms for the night and watching Duncan and Barclay also being led off. "How long before Aunt Margo leaves?" she looked terrified she would be found.
I glanced up at Willy and then at the plane tickets I was to hold onto for Addie and Fay. "She leaves in one day, Addie and Fay will be leaving with her. Duncan, Barclay, you and Mom will be leaving soon and coming back for Christmas, more wedding plans and finally the wedding…if I don't kill the leeches first." I wrinkled another article in my hand, which Gregory had given to Willy and me both.
"Don't do that honey." I smiled glancing up at my mom and hugged her before feeling Willy's hands come to rest on my shoulders. "We'll all be leaving with Margo…I also plan to have some words with her. Good luck to you both and if you need us…well you got it hon." She smiled hugging me tightly and then turned to go off for the night.
"Your family is going to deal with those reporters long before Alastair has the chance." I smiled with an almost dark expression.
"Don't you love in-laws?" He giggled at this pulling her close to his side. "Where to now?"
"Don't make me answer that Starshine…to many walking tomatoes present." I glanced up at several red faces and felt my own tint.
I playfully smacked his arm feeling his lips against my neck again and decided against arguing with him.
I awoke with very unpleasant memories from the dreams that had been plaguing me since returning to the factory, this time though they were more vivid. I sat there breathing heavily thankful I hadn't woke Willy and focused on the familiar room, soft satin like blankets still around me and slowly rubbed my arms. The most recent of the dreams had oddly enough had nothing to do with us, it had Oompa Loompa's in it and I couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong.
I quietly slipped out of bed, tossing on my blue pajamas and dark blue robe, I then made my way to the exit and paused in the familiar candy striped hallway. I walked to the elevator and pushed the button to the village, immediately flopping on my back and groaning in surrender at the machine.
I was startled when several Oompa Loompa's run past me on my exit and followed them quickly through the overgrowth, Hailey instantly running at my side with an almost relieved expression on her face.
"Hailey what is going on?" she stopped making me follow off to the side of the path and hastily wrote a little note.
Some of the Oompa Loompa children have developed some kind of illness; I'm glad you and Mr. Cocoa Bean come.
"What?" I felt my hands drop the paper and turned back to the elevator. "Be back in a minute." Before she could ask, I was running back to the elevator, jumping various Oompa Loompa's on my way past.
I was in the familiar candy hall and literally surfed down the hall slamming into our door, running into the room I shook Willy and watched him shoot up like a rocket with a startled sound. I then explained what had happened and what I had discovered at the village, he dressed in his black pajama's grabbing my hand and we were both in the elevator in minutes.
Once we were back at the village, Willy and I followed Jill and Lydia through the same path, finally coming to a clearing. The medicine man was frantically examining each of the probably three hundred children in his care, with the assistance from many of the other villagers. Willy proceeded to question Gregory about what was happening and I immediately walked over to a sobbing Emilee and saw Gilbert was among the ill children.
Emilee glanced up and started to cry harder, I placed a hand gently on her back and noticed Willy's attention turn to me and seeing what was wrong. He walked over to my side quickly and wrapped his arm around me, leaning near my ear.
"Something happened and now Harlow is having trouble figuring out why so many of the children have gotten sick, none of the adults have. Gilbert was the first and is in the worst shape, it doesn't look good Starshine." He whispered careful to keep it so Emilee didn't get even more fretful and hysterical.
I felt the tears instantly come to my eyes and leaned into Willy, keeping my hand firmly on Emilee in hopes of letting her know I was there. It was strange that I had the dream I did and come to find this whole mess before me. He left me to comfort Emilee and proceeded to learn more of the strange flu like symptoms of his villagers' children, and what could have caused the whole disaster.
It was hours and I noticed Willy was barely concentrating on any of his issues with touch or anything else, he even examined some of the children himself and it included Gilbert. He then went around with the villagers working on finding the source of the disaster, keeping focused on anything but slowing down.
I noticed Emilee walk over to Gilbert and sat down beside her, watching a brief smile cross his strangely pale face, before he started to cough and hiccup. Emilee was holding him tightly, the tears streaming down her face and eyes nearly vacant. "I swear if this has anything to do with reporters, Demetrius, or those twin menaces…I'll be the one they have to worry about, not Willy." I tried to help Harlow, the medicine man with some of the children, but seemed to just realize that the situation wasn't getting better and we were running out of time.
"There's not enough help." Willy paused at my side and took a deep breath. "I can't do this one my own and Harlow needs all the help he can get." He sighed rubbing his hands through his hair looking far more frazzled then I had ever seen him.
"I know what to do." I kissed him softly, watching him again run off and turned to Emilee and Harlow who were inspecting Gilberts most recent coughing fit. "I'll be back with reinforcements." She nodded with a small smile and watched me again race off.
I found myself tossed from the familiar elevator like a proverbial rag doll, and stood up staring at the familiar hall with Nelly's room and the others staying. I ran by each room rapping the crap out of each door and soon a very tired irritated group come charging out to glare at me.
"Elevator now, I'll explain on the way." I hauled Nelly who attempted to protest into the elevator and watched the others scurry in rapidly. I explained the situation all the way to the village and stopped the minute the doors opened. "Mom?" Mrs. Bucket stuck her head out of a pile of bushes and smiled brushing herself off, while mom helped her to her feet. "Willy called Charlie." I smiled and led the way to the sick bay area of the village and everyone immediately scattered to help where they could.
--12 hours later--
I could barely keep my eyes opened any longer, but I refused to give up until something helped. Gilbert was growing worse by the minute and was now on machines keeping him alive, as were many of the other children. I finally allowed myself to flop to my knees in front of one of the more snuggly children and allowed her to curl in my arms; Nelly followed beside me and closed her eyes for a brief moment.
"No idea yet." I smiled up at Duncan who had a set of twins in his arms and noticed his eyes were as dark as the rest of us.
I shook my head letting out a large yawn and noticed Addie struggling to hold herself up with three children clinging to her and two in her arms. "Not yet, I haven't even seen Willy in about…" I glanced at the nearest clock in the room and cringed. "…three hours." Just then a familiar face appeared from the back of the medical area and he too joined us, his eyes darker then any of ours. "Just discussing where you were." He smiled briefly, before glancing up at Fay; she had just lifted another one into her arms after putting two others down to rest.
"Harlow found out a little bit, he's hoping he can get the right mix and get them all safe…" He yawned using my shoulder as a head rest and sighed. "From what he's learned this came from the outside…just not sure how. He's got several Oompa Loompa's testing everything in the factory and is about to see if he can help Gilbert with the first dose of whatever he comes up with." Nelly slowly lifted the child from my arms and returned her with Taylor's help.
I brushed my hand over my eyes tiredly and took a deep breath. "Thank goodness…we're all about to drop." I found myself being pulled into his arms and leaned into his chest closing my eyes for a minute.
"I sent the grandparents to bed…soon we can all go there, I hope." Willy growled slightly at Nelly, who decided to flip his hair and smile in an amused fashion. "Satan. Go. Away." Slowly his gaze met Nelly's.
"Groucho." Nelly used Taylor to support herself and noticed Addie laying tiredly in Barclays lap, eyes closed and hands lazily resting at her sides. "Addison Alina Garret…don't you dare go to sleep before I do." She walked over playfully kicking Addie, who flipped her off and called her a few colorful words.
Willy glanced down at the tugging sensation on his arm and watched Emilee signing excitedly, a relieved smile on her face and her tears now appearing to be happy ones.
"What is it?" My mom smiled at the rest of us, yawning slightly and watching Mrs. Bucket, Mr. Bucket and Duncan all join us.
"Harlow has a suitable anti-biotic…the children are getting better, and Gilbert is going to be fine. Orianna and I can't leave just yet, but the rest of you are free to go." With this I received several hugs and goodnights, before finding myself staring at Willy with an inquisitive look. "We need to see the chief." He climb to his feet helping me to mine, I felt a bit dizzy and closed my eyes a minute before nodding I was good to go.
I followed Willy deeper then I had ever been within the jungle village in the deepest part of the factory. The trees grew thicker and thicker and houses seemed to become more common, soon we would probably be in the center of the village itself. Finally after what felt like an hour walk or more, we come to a huge house and step ladder. "Up there?" I glanced up at twinkling violet eyes and moaned tiredly, all I got was a soft kiss and a gentle nudge to climb.
Finally I slipped into the dome house and sat cross legged watching him crawl in beside me with a tired expression. The chief was wearing what appeared to be a Japanese style robe at the moment and was immediately in a deep conversation with Willy. I could occasionally feel his eyes on me, but was always greeted with a small smile and noticed Willy flush on occasion.
Finally the chief tapped my arm and proceeded to sign to me. "Hmm?"
Willy flushed pink, but sighed with an effort of keeping his tint to a minimal. "He's pleased I've chosen such a kind mate…er…fiancé." He felt the blush move to the roots of his hair and silently cursed the little man before him. "He's also thankful we're the guardians of the children and come so quickly…" he studied me intently for a minute and then proceeded to ready himself to translate, but stopped his eyes widening slightly.
"What is it Willy?" I was concerned we had relaxed to soon and something had happened to one of the children.
He turned violet eyes scanning my face and felt a small smile twitch at his face. "He said you have the dreaming gift…something I sort of turn off when I'm in rather interesting or intense dreams…" He started to say more, but suddenly felt his skin burn seeing my brows quirk with an almost knowing smile. "Don't…
"I'll have to ask you about those sometime so they become reality." I smirked seeing his face darken in color and noticed the chief was laughing hysterically at his expense. "My cousin is Hades…I've had practice." He snorted in response a smile hidden within his eyes.
"He's thanking us and insists that we join in Gilbert's birthday celebration." I rose a brow at him in a question way and as if reading my mind, he nodded in confirmation. "Yes…Emilee is the chief's wife and Gilbert is his only son as of the moment. We all saved him and their very thankful." His fingers laced with mine, violet eyes watching my expression of shock slowly fading.
"Ok…now can we go to bed?" I rested my head on his shoulder, seeing the chief signing some more and stifling a yawn.
"Yes." He smiled at my half lidded eyes and slowly helped me down the ladder, both of us dragging to the elevator.
I hadn't been that happy to see our bed in ages and easily cuddled into the mass of reds and blacks, feeling him snuggle in beside me wrapping his arms around me and closing his own eyes.
Knock, Knock, Knock, Knock
"GO AWAY!" I yelled, before rolling into familiar arms, and lifting a pillow over both our heads.
There was another round of knocks, and the sound of someone yelling through the pillow. It wasn't muffling enough and finally with reluctance we both slid from the safety of the pillow.
I crawled slowly from the bed and over Willy and padded my way to the door. I opened it with a bang against the wall and saw Nelly frozen with surprise on her face. "What?"
"Hades…she's tired." He murmured from the bed, violet eyes barely cracked open to greet the gray light sneaking into our room.
"Doris needs you in the office, and we're leaving." She smiled seeing my expression turn to surprise at everyone waiting to say goodbye to us.
--Three Hours Later--
Willy shut the bedroom door with effort, wishing the day hadn't started yet. "Long goodbye." He slowly slinked across the room toward the bathroom, letting out a startled sound when arms wrapped around him and forced him to pause.
"Only because you wouldn't stop harassing Hades and her hell spawn." He wrinkled his nose and sighed prying my hands from around his waist. "I wonder what's in the office." His violet gaze rested on mine, before he recoiled at the possibilities and disappeared in the bathroom.
I started to sneak off back to bed, but his hand firmly locked around my wrist pulling me after him. Apparently I had no choice in the office visits and was already missing my amusing cousins and mom."Did I mention I hate mornings still?" his amused smile didn't waver at the frown on my face, and the chuckle that followed indicated I had no final say in the matter.
I struggled my way in an oversized blue sweatshirt and tan jeans, watching Willy emerge wearing a maroon suit with a lighter red trim. "Do you think this is going to be bad?" I was indicating our office trip and the look between 'evil' and 'annoyed' said everything. "Ew." I wrinkled my nose in a less then pleased fashion brushing my hair out of my face.
Without more discussion I found myself within a familiar glass elevator and whisking across the factory. Familiar rooms, bright lights, and activities passing me quickly, a dread slowly stirring within the pit of my stomach. Something was most certainly not going to go well during this visit with Doris; I could almost feel the foreboding seeping into the normally fun factory.
DING
It was the first time I could remember hating that sound and wondered briefly what was awaiting us within his familiar office. He gently tugged me into his lap, seating himself in his familiar chair and waiting for Doris to appear with problem in hand.
I felt my brows furrow in confusion when a tall thin man in his later years stepped into the room. His thin gray hair was neat, every hair in place and black suit finely designed. He looked nearly as serious as Willy's father had and then it hit me that this was probably Alastair, the lawyer friend.
"Morning William." I covered my small smile at the look of frustration on Willy's face; he really didn't care for his full name. "You must be Ms. Winters." I nodded hesitantly before seeing a small smile grace his ever stern face. "I trust your visit with Dr. Wonka was comfortable?" Both Willy and I nodded a brief smile crossing my face at how much honest fun we had had, even if things weren't the best at the moment.
"Alastair…what is going on?" I could sense a cloud of tension building in the room and got an incredible sinking feeling something had really sunk our wedding plans, so to speak.
I noticed the stern man seat himself, a slow frown creasing his smile lines and dark blue eyes scanning his briefcase briefly. "It appears that Demetrius Hart has some interesting friends in high places." I wanted to retort to that opinion but kept my mouth shut for the time being. "I had to meet with his lawyers today in regards to the slander lawsuits and such…it appears he's appealing with his own form of revenge in this matter though I'm afraid." He rifled through his case before handing a paper to Willy and waiting for his reaction.
Willy regarded my curious gaze before rapidly reading the document, eyes pausing at the end of it and narrowing dangerously. "That look is bad…very bad." Slowly his black gloved hands crushed the letter with familiar graceful fingers, and define crunch echoing around us.
"I would think you two would wish to discuss this…" Alastair stood brushing himself off in a professional mannerism. "…I will be outside waiting for your ok to further discuss these issues." Willy nodded violet eyes never fading from dark dangerous slits.
--Willy Wonka's POV--
"This is too far…I won't allow him to do this to us." She steadied her blue gaze on the crumpled paper in his fingers, and with considerable effort managed to pry it from his fingers. She was well aware of his temper and hesitantly smoothed out the document to read it over.
At the end of the document she narrowed her eyes, a curse escaping her lips briefly. "He can't be serious…that's an invasion of privacy." She noticed Willy had developed a pissed of twitch and gently placed her hand against his cheek getting his attention. "What he is asking is illegal Willy. My mother was a correctional officer at one time." She paused closing her eyes in thought. "If I agree he will leave us alone." She watched the paper snatched from her hand and crumpled again into a ball.
"He won't Orianna and you know this." I knew that tone from our recent battle on the cruise ship; he was trying to exclude me from this situation again. "I won't let him…
"Willy…" he paused in his verbal rampage meeting her softened gaze. "…I know you won't let him, but I won't let you do anything rash. I also am not going to allow him the pleasure of his stipulations. I will go to one of my choosing and will have both you and Alastair present if I have to. It's just a bit of blood…a little prick no more or less." She steadied her gaze on his deepening scowl and removed herself from his lap.
--Original POV--
"Alastair." I noticed Willy giving me a very agitated look, but he knew I was right and I could see it in his gaze. "I do love you." He met my gaze with the briefest of small smiles, before nodding in understanding.
Willy noticed Alstair glance between us before wrinkling his nose in a thoroughly displeased expression. "She's willing to do the test…but her doctor is of her choosing." He noticed a small smile cross Alstair's face and furrowed his brow curiously.
"I had a feeling she would…and it's a good idea, Demetrius could buy the doctor out before hand." I smiled knowingly at this concept and nodded. "Who is the doctor?" I offered an impish grin knowing full well the doctor would be confidential if chosen to be and there was ways of guaranteeing this privacy that even Demetrius couldn't manage to get out of anyone.
"Dr. Harlow." Alastair rose a brow in confusion, while Willy let out an amused giggle his expression mischievous at my devilish scheme. "You'll meet him…I plan on doing this right now to satisfy that ignorant, insufferable, manipulative, bastard Demetrius once and for all." I flushed slightly at the curious expression I received for the trouble.
A few minutes later Alastair nearly jumped out of his seat watching a curious looking Harlow sneak into the office with a familiar medical bag in tow. The curious little man talked with Willy waving hands in a familiar fashion, I observed Harlow's less then pleased expression but could see him nod in agreement with whatever Willy had stated.
"I am glad there's legal ways of keeping this out of court. I would loose my job, or they may think I've lost my sanity." Willy stifled his amused giggle at his father's closest friend and shrugged at my amused expression.
"We've all doubted our sanity at times." I retorted bemused before I realized I was about to be stabbed by a needle. "I hate this part." I winced feeling the slight prick, before the blood needed to prove none of the illegitimate children were mine.
I hated to resort to this measure, but Demetrius wasn't about to stop and he had hoped I wouldn't allow this to happen. He now had nothing to stir the fuel for the fire so to speak, which meant a brief break in press attacks unless he found something new to use. I wouldn't put it past that man to come up with something even more conniving, but for now things might settle down. "I hope all settles down…I have a wedding to plan." I twitched my nose remembering the rest of the wedding dresses I had yet to try on and mentally kicked myself for again agreeing to it all. I wanted to marry Willy with all my heart, but the Oompa Loompa's dress designs would eventually be the death of me, or at least close to it.
I watched Willy walk off talking with Alastair and answering his own questions, while getting his answered in turn. I smiled warmly at the almost sad looking Harlow and reassured him I was fine and I wouldn't have wanted a better physician to do the task I had requested. I waited patiently in Willy's chair, before dozing still tired from the previous day's events and the chaos with the sick Oompa Loompa children. I didn't know how long I had been asleep, before I felt hands gently scoop me from the chair and start me awake.
I smiled snuggling into his arms, feeling those violet eyes rest on me in concern before we were in the elevator and soon after snuggled close together in the confines of bed. Nothing would disturb us for a while and I was very glad for that aspect.
