Willy trudged down the street, hiding behind his large sunglasses that looked like goggles (or so Reya had teased him), heading to Starbucks to buy a powerful expresso. "Well well," said a voice, and he looked over his shoulder, ready to collapse from exhaustion. "If it isn't the great Willy Wonka." He squinted but couldn't see very well, so he took off the glasses, revealing the large dark circles around his eyes. "My, you're not looking very well at all."

"Who are you?" he asked.

"Don't you recognize me, old friend?" He looked closer and thought for a moment. Then it his him like a bullet between the eyes.

"Slugworth," he muttered. "What do you want?" He turned and started walking, trying to ignore him.

"I saw you on the news last night. You looked like a wreck, if you don't mind me saying." Willy didn't answer and started to pull the door to the Starbucks open. "Heard about your little girl. Sorry to hear about that." He stopped and looked at him.

"We'll find her," he said darkly. "We won't give up."

"I never said you would," he said, raising up a hand in surrender. "Just thought I'd offer you my sympathy."

"Well keep it to yourself, I have no use for it."

"My aren't we snappy today. Not that I blame you. Makes you wonder what sort of monster would steal something that valuable from you." Willy let go of the door and faced him.

"What are you suggesting?" he asked.

"That a man who would do that to a child is a monster, that's all."

"You think I did it?" he asked defensively. "You think I kidnapped my child?"

"I most certainly do not," he said, getting defensive himself.

"That's my baby! I love her so much. I would never ever do anything to her! Ever!"

"Now calm down, Mr. Wonka! No need creating a scene in the middle of the city."

"It was you," he said suddenly. "You took her!" Slugworth look furious now.

"I did no such thing!"

"You're lying! Where is she!" he shouted. "Where's my daughter!" Slugworth turned around and tried to walk away, but Willy grabbed him by the arm. "What did you do with her?"

"I haven't laid a hand on your child!" he snapped. "There are certain levels I will stoop to in order to become better than you, but I would never sink to the point of getting a child involved! Now get off my back before I call the police." Willy let go, but sneered at him.

"I'll find her, and if I find out you had anything to do with it... you had better hope you have good protection in your home because I'll kill you!"

"Don't make promises you can't keep," snarled Slugworth, and with that he left.

"I know it was you!" shouted Willy behind his back, but he was gone.

When he got home, he received a phonecall from the police. Tyler Chapman had been released from prison a year ago, and his current location was unknown. They said it was very clear that wherever he was, he was on the run. Reluctantly, Willy called up Slugworth and apologized.
-
(One and a half years later)
Willy tapped the hammer on the nail one last time, and then stepped back, staring at the sign. On the bark of the first willow tree his daughter had ever climbed was a sign that read, "In loving memory of our daughter Jessica Alexandra Wonka. 2009-2013." Growing in front of it were forget-me-not's which were Jessica's favorite color. He stood there for a long time, watching with tears in his eyes. Even though, physically, he hadn't done it, it felt like he had just buried his baby. No parent should ever have to do that, a fact he had known for years. He had lost loved ones before, but never saw a child die. Children weren't supposed to die. They were still new to the world, lively and plenty of years that they should be able to live. Four years was too soon.
As he finally turned away and walked back into the house, he thought of how he would never be able to hold his little girl again, hear her laugh, see her smile, pick her up when she had fallen. He felt like he had failed her by not saving her, but didn't blame himself half as much as Reya blamed herself. In both their hearts, they knew it was never their fault, but the pain built around that truth was a lot thicker and easier to believe.
"Rest in peace, sweetheart," he said softly, and walked back into the house.
-
(A/N: I just wrote this after I took my last regents exam for the year. YEAH! My friends and I went out for pizza, and shopping to celebrate. It was good fun, but now I'm feeling a little icky from eating too much... and very very very very very very hyper from drinking too much Mt. Dew. Wait, too much Mt. Dew? There's no such thing! G2G!
Oh, one other thing, It's sad that I have to warn you of this, but my dad likes to sneak onto the comp. when I'm not looking and type in random lines in my stories, hoping I won't notice before I post it. He's always teasing me and doing stuff like that, which makes me grateful that our family isn't so boring. It's usually funny, but anyway if you see a line that doesn't seem to fit in, chances are my father did it and I'd appreciate it if you'd point it out if I miss it.

Examples:
And they all cried, "Boogie woogie"
And they all jumped up and danced the undie dance.

I have a very bizarre family (but fun none the less) So if something like that appears, I didn't put it there and let me know if you see one. Thanks! -Smeagol's (tsk tsk tsk "Let's boogie!") girl)