Weeks went by and Mandy gradually got better, her smiles occuring more often, and her laughter no longer a strange thing. She was changing inside, and he wasn't worried for her as much as he had been before. But watching her get better only meant one thing, and he dreaded it. Soon she'd be ready to leave and go home again. In his heart, he knew she couldn't stay with him, though he was certain they would both like it that way. She was once lively and spirited. Couped up in the factory was not where she belonged, and he knew he had to accept that.

Eventually the day did come when she finally requested to leave, and he let her go, escorting her to the door of the factory, and accepting a warm goodbye hug from her. Then she left, her bag over her shoulder and her hair free of its pony tail, bouncing around at her shoulders.

Tears came to his eyes as he watched her go, and it took him a while before he finally was able to pull away and step back into the factory, closing the door securly behind him.
----

(Five years later...)

A husband and wife kissed in front of the Christmas tree, and a little bald baby crawled around in front of them, easily entertained by the loose wrapping paper on the ground. Mandy stood up, collecting her baby from the living room floor, and carried him to his bedroom, beginning the process of putting him to bed. The baby cooed and babbled at her, then fussed, and finally gave in, falling asleep on its back, a baby blue blanket laying over his chest.

She smiled, fingering his tiny fist lovingly, then kissed his forehead and whispered a sweet goodnight. Her husband went to bed a half hour later, and she was left to clean up the wrapping paper as usual. Whistling a tune and walking around with ease, she gathered up the scraps in a black trash bag, then went outside to place it in the trash can.

It was cold and windy out, not that that was unnatural for December, but that didn't make it pleasant. She drew her dark brown sweater tighter around her as she walked, and attempted to whistle outside. There was no luck, and when she reached the can, she was certain she had frozen half to death. She turned her head to the side, squinting slightly through the falling snow, then smiled at a familiar figure.

"Little cold out tonight, huh?" she said softly. Out of the shadows, Willy Wonka walked up to her, and grinned.

"A little," he said, shivering. She stretched out her arms and hugged him tightly. "I haven't seen you in forever!" he said cheerfully. "Last time I saw you to were carrying a wide load."

"It's called being pregnant, wise guy," she said nudging him.

"So where's the little guy?" he asked.

"Asleep... along with the big guy. What's that?" She pointed to something in his hands and he glanced down at it.

"Oh," he said. "This is for you. It's Christmas, right?" She nodded and he handed it to her.

"Thanks," she said with a grin, and hugged him again. "You can always drop by you know. Don't need to be so reclusive in that factory of yours."

"We'll see," he said with a nod. "I'm glad to see you're doing well. I really am, Mandy."

"I've got you to thank," she said, then shivered again with the next cold breeze.

"I'd better go. No sense in you freezing to death out here." She stepped up to him and kissed his cheek gently.

"Thankyou," she whispered in his ear, and she left back for her house, waving to him before turning her back towards him. Once she was safe inside her warm house she went into the living room by the fire and opened the package. Inside was a box of peanutbutter cups, all of them wearing a peanutbutter 'W' on the tops of them, and she ate one there, smiling contently as she watched the flames dance in the fireplace.

THE END

(A/N: After finally finishing this I have come to the conclusion that I loathe this fic. If you liked it then thanks, but if not, I'm not offended. Oh well, reviews going either way are appreciated.
-Smeagol's girl)