Chapter Twenty Four
That afternoon Cameron spent the rest of the day in the library reading and after eating dinner she continued reading. After finishing her second book she asked for the day's paper which an oompa-loompa brought to her immediately. She looked through the arts and entertainment sections before she paused and turned the page, her eyes stopping on something. 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory still number three on the bestseller list and rising.' She smiled to herself 'Finally a best seller. Not bad Cameron.' She nodded approvingly to herself. She picked up the very first page. 'Mrs. Willy Wonka finally discovered...' The article read with a picture of Willy and her coming out of the doctor's office. Her eyes grew wide when she read the next part '...and pregnant!'
"That damn doctor! What an ass!" Cameron screamed out loudly as she threw the paper onto the table.
"What's wrong?" Willy asked sitting down beside her. She picked up the paper to hand to him. "How do they know?" He asked reading the headline.
"Take one guess!" Cameron said tucking her feet underneath her.
"The doctor." Willy sighed as Cameron nodded leaning back against the sofa.
Willy kissed her softly on the lips as he rubbed her stomach. "Who cares! We're having a baby." He whispered excitedly in her ear.
"We may be having a baby..." Cameron looked at him. "But I'm giving birth to it, so you best remember that Willy Wonka." She laughed.
A few months past and ever since Willy could see that Cameron's stomach grew bigger each day, he became more and more protective. He insisted on her not wondering off by herself and that she stay in bed longer then usual. Cameron, of course, told him she was perfectly fine and that he had no need to worry over her so much, but who was she to stop him. Now that her jeans wouldn't fit she had to resort to wearing sweatpants, loose tank tops, and t-shirts.
It was soon five months into her pregnancy and she could hardly see the tips of her toes when she looked down. "I'm dreading this you know!" She said to Mrs. Bucket. "I just keep getting bigger. I've never looked this fat." Cameron whined.
"Cameron your having a baby." Mrs. Bucket laughed at her as she started sucking on a blow pop.
"I know but look at me!" Cameron put her hands on her stomach as she sucked on the lollipop. "I look like I swallowed a basketball or something equally large." "Stop complaining! You can't get out of it now."
"I know!" Cameron sighed.
"Would you like to go to the market with me today? I'm sure you could use some fresh air." Mrs. Bucket suggested.
"Yes I would love to." Cameron said excitedly. She hadn't been out of the factory in months.
"Good! Let's go." Mrs. Bucket took Cameron's arm as they made their way to the front door. They both put on light jackets because it was August and the weather was moderately warm. "Isn't your birthday coming up soon?" She asked as they slowly walked down the sidewalk to the bakery.
"Yes, next week actually."
"Does Willy know? I'm sure he'll do something wonderful for you." They made their way into the small store.
"Nope not yet. I don't know why I haven't mentioned it. I just haven't been thinking much lately. I've been very out of it." Cameron watched as Mrs. Bucket picked up some bread and paid for it. As they walked out of the little shop they heard people yelling and calling to one another. They both looked up to find a mob of photographers and press cameras running towards them. "Maybe we should have taken the elevator." Cameron said trying to hide her face as they quickly walked in the other direction.
"How are we suppose to out walk them? You can't run, your pregnant." Mrs. Bucket said worriedly. Cameron quickly veered to the right into a small store before shutting the door behind her and locking it.
The clerk looked up at them. "What are you doing? You can't..." She stopped when the two people turned to her. "Your Mrs. Wonka." The women said excitedly. "Your picture is in the paper."
Cameron ignored her. "Is there a back door or something? We really need to get out of here."
"Yes, of course." The women smiled before leading them to the back of the store.
"Thank you!" Cameron said as she looked out to make sure no one was coming before she and Mrs. Bucket quickly made their way out into the small alley. When they noticed the mob had found them once more they quickly rushed through the gates of the factory and into the steel front door. "That was close!" Cameron said catching her breath as she laughed.
"Where have you been?" Cameron looked up when she heard Willy.
"I went to pick something up with Mrs. Bucket." She explained. "But then a mob followed us and..."
"Are you ok? Are you hurt? They didn't touch you did they?" Willy asked franticly "No! Willy I'm fine. Will you stop acting as if I'm a child. I sure as hell can take care of myself. Now back off!" Cameron yelled throwing her coat onto the floor and walking past him. "I didn't take those kick boxing lessons for nothing."
"Cameron! I..." Willy was cut off when Cameron turned to him.
"I'm tired of you telling me what to do! I may be pregnant but I am not defenseless. Just because your my husband doesn't mean you have the right to order me around." She yelled at him. "To answer your question of why I refused those other proposals." Cameron walked closer to him. "Because I wasn't ganna let a man take over my whole life because he thinks he owns me." She frowned at him before walking over to the elevator.
Willy stood stunned by her outburst. "Maybe I am being a little to protective." He said under his breath.
"It's normal for you to want to do that. You can't blame her she is pregnant and that will make you do strange things. She just needs some space." Mrs. Bucket patted Willy on the arm reassuringly. "You know it's her birthday next week. I thought I would tell you in case you wanted to do something for her." She continued before walking off. Willy nodded as he watched her go.
That night as Cameron and Willy got settled into bed he turned to her. "I'm sorry about today. I didn't mean to upset you. I just worry."
Cameron looked over at him and smiled. "I am too. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that." She turned over on her side to look at him. "There's something I have to tell you." Willy turned over to face her as well.
"Are you ok?"
"Willy stop it." Cameron scolded playfully hitting him on the chest.
"Sorry!" He made a nervous laugh.
"There's a good reason why I'm so worried about having this baby." Cameron said as Willy grabbed her hand kissing her knuckles. "I had a dream a few months ago about us and about the baby." Cameron closed her eyes to try and hold back the tears. She took a deep breath before opening them again. A worried look had come to Willy's face when he saw tears start to stream down her face.
"What happened?" He asked. Cameron briefly explained to him what she had dreamed of with silence following after she had spoken. "But it was only a dream. It couldn't possibly come true." Willy frowned.
"That's what I keep telling myself, but then I have this odd feeling that I'm lying to myself. I don't know how to explain it. It's just there." Willy moved closer to her as she spoke lying his forehead against her own.
"Nothing is ganna happen. I promise you. I wont let it."
Cameron kissed him softly on the lips giving him a smile. "I know you wont. I'll stop worrying about it." She snuggled up against his warmth as they fell asleep.
The next week, August the 23rd, Cameron woke to find a large white package sitting on the bed where Willy was suppose to be. She picked up the piece of paper with a note on it.
Cameron Happy Birthday! I hug you warmly, at least I will when I see you. Sorry I had to take off so early. I'll be in the invention room if you need me.
Love,
Willy
Cameron smiled down at the note before shifting herself so she was sitting Indian style and looking down at the package. She slowly opened the top of the box lying it to her side as she moved the tissue paper away from the object with in. A huge smile came to her face as she lifted it out of hits box. It was a long red suede winter coat. The ends of the arms, around the neck, and the inside were a black wool. It looked exactly like Willy's but his was made just of wool, at least it looked like wool. Cameron got to her feet as quickly as her swollen stomach would let her and put it on. She pulled it tight around her. It was so warm. She walked over to the doorway into the walk in closet and looked at herself in the mirror. It was a bit long on her but she could work with that.
She took off the coat and changed into a light blue empire waist dress that stopped at her knees. Willy had insisted she go out to find some other clothes to wear instead of her usual sweatpants and t-shirt. Mrs. Bucket had picked it out and Cameron reluctantly bought it. She had never really liked wearing dresses before but decided that it did look rather nice on her except for the fact that her stomach was more noticeable. She quickly put on some sandals and after brushing her teeth and hair which she decided to keep down, she made her way to the invention room. As she walked she sucked on yet another blow pop. Ever since she had become pregnant she had this craving for blow pops. I mean she loved them when she wasn't pregnant but now she eats at least two a day; it's like she's become addicted to them. When she got to the invention room she walked up behind Willy hugging him around the waist.
"How did you know about my birthday?" She laughed.
Willy turned to face her when she loosened her grip. "I just knew." He said matter of factly.
"Thank you for the coat." She gave him a quick peck on the lips. Cameron took his arm as they began walking.
"Do you remember that time when you told me you wanted a wardrobe like mine?" Cameron nodded in response. "Well I thought that giving you the coat would give you a head start."
"You mean it's yours."
"Yes, but you didn't think that was all I was ganna give you, did you? That was just the appetizer." He laughed. When Cameron said nothing he stopped to look down at her. "You can't tell me you don't like it. I know how much you like dressing up in my clothes."
Cameron blushed."I can't help it. They look so darn good on me." She laughed.
"I would have to agree with you on that one." Willy smiled. That night Willy had set up a candlelight dinner in their room and after they ate they cuddled on the sofa to read. Cameron looked up at the book Willy had started reading.
"Your reading it again?" Cameron looked up at him like he was crazy.
Willy looked down at her nodding. "Why not?" He said in a kiddie voice.
"Because you've read it like four times already." She laughed shifting through the stack of other books she had brought from the library.
"You need a new book. Let's see!" Cameron read the titles of each one she picked up. "Here we go!" Cameron picked up a thick book called Eragon, which was a fantasy book. "Read this!"
"But it's huge."
"Exactly! Then you wont want to read it again." Cameron laughed. He starred at the book before looking back up at Cameron. "Go ahead. It's a good book." She settled herself back against Willy's side going back to reading her own book.
"Why don't we trade." Willy offered.
"My book is just as big." Cameron said not taking her eyes of the pages.
"No it isn't." Willy whined before she looked up at him. "I wanna read yours."
This made her laugh. "You wanna read about ancient philosophy? You don't even know what that is."
"Yes I do. Philosophy is an idea." Willy smiled to himself.
"No its history about people like Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates."
"Oh! Never mind." Willy made a nervous laugh as he opened the book she had given him and started reading.
Three and a half months later Willy insisted that he stay with Cameron as much as possible considering the baby was due any day. The rest of her time was spent with Mrs. Bucket and Charlie. All though she couldn't chase Charlie around the factory as she had before, Charlie was fine with just walking around with her talking. They were both startled by Willy who was quickly walking towards them.
"I've been looking for you guys everywhere." He said giving Cameron a kiss and ruffling Charlie's hair; a habit he had gotten from Cameron. "I have a surprise for you." Willy grabbed Cameron's hand and pulled her with him and she in turn grabbed Charlie's hand pulling him along too. "Well it's not really for you, I guess it's more for Little Willy." He explained as they walked towards a white door right next door to their room.
"Little Willy?" Cameron looked confused. "How do you know it's ganna be a boy?"
"The doctor didn't tell you?" Willy stopped in front of the white door and turned to her.
"I didn't ask!" She said softly. Cameron looked up when she saw him open the door from the corner of her eye.
"This is so cool!" Charlie said as he peeked in around Cameron.
When she heard this she looked into the room herself. The whole room was light blue and white with a white crib against the right wall along with a chest of drawers and toy chest against the left wall. In one of the corners was a huge mountain of stuffed animals that included a huge giraffe and tiger. Clouds were painted on the walls and on the ceiling.
"This is perfect." Cameron said excitedly hugging Willy as much as she could considering her stomach.
"Mrs. Bucket helped me decorate it." Willy smiled down at Cameron who was leaning against his chest.
"I love you Willy, but we can't name our kid Willy. That would be way to confusing and I don't think that I could put up with two of you." She laughed.
The next couple of weeks went by slowly. Cameron was at the end of her nerves. She became even more cranky then she was before and would snap at people before she thought. Of course, everyone understood and Mrs. Bucket kept reassuring Willy that it was normal for Cameron to be on edge since the baby was due at any time.
Cameron sat down at the small table in the Bucket's house. "I can't take this much longer."
"Stop worrying yourself. When the baby comes it comes. You need to be patient." Mrs. Bucket sat a glass of ice tea in front of her and took a sip from her own.
"I know! I just wanna get it over with." Cameron sighed taking a sip from the glass. Cameron slowly got to her feet and began walking for the door but she suddenly stopped. Her hand immediately went to her stomach.
"Cameron!" Mrs. Bucket got to her feet immediately when she saw her nieces face scrunch up in pain. "Cameron!"
"My water..." Cameron gasped as another pain shot through her.
"Come on! We gotta get you to the hospital. Noah! Cameron's having her baby." Mrs. Bucket screamed to her husband as she helped Cameron to walk to the elevator and they quickly took off.
Meanwhile Mr. Bucket had made a run for the invention room. It took him a few minutes to get there since he didn't have the elevator and he got lost a considerable amount times. He ran over to Charlie and Willy who were quietly arguing with each other over a new candy.
"Cameron's having the baby!" He called out as he ran to them.
"No she isn't! You kidder, you!" Willy waved his hand at him laughing.
"I don't think he's joking, Willy!" Charlie said worriedly. Willy looked down at him then back at Mr. Bucket who was still breathing hard
from his run to get here.
"They took the elevator?" Willy asked running over to Mr. Bucket.
"Yeah! We gotta go." Mr. Bucket said grabbing Charlie's arm and running after Willy.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Bucket wasn't allowed to stay by Cameron's side when she first went into the delivery room. She breathed a sigh of relieve when she saw Willy running toward her clearly out of breath.
"She's in the delivery room." Mrs. Bucket met him half way before they both headed in the direction. When the nurse stopped them at the door Willy spoke up.
"I'm her husband." The nurse nodded letting him go pass but asked Mrs. Bucket to please wait in the waiting room.
Cameron closed her eyes as another pain shot through her making her cry out. "Cameron!" Willy ran to her side grabbing her hand as she looked over at him.
"I hate you!" She said gritting her teeth. "You did this to me." She cried out from another pain.
"Well I must say Mrs. Wonka, it takes two to tango!" Willy laughed trying to lighten the mood.
"Shut up!" She yelled at him squeezing his hand tighter. Willy looked up at the nurse.
"Don't worry. They all say that at this point." The nurse gave him a reassuring smile.
"I can't do this. I can't!" Tears were streaming down Cameron's cheeks as she looked at Willy.
"Yes you can! I'm here." He whispered to her. He winced when she squeezed his hand even tighter. He couldn't believe how strong she was.
"One more big push Cameron." The doctor said.
"I can't!" Cameron could feel herself start to panic; the pain was unbearable as her body gave her no choice but give one last push. She screamed as she felt the pressure slide from her body, the cries echoing in her ears. Something was wrong, she could feel it. "Willy!" She turned to him. Willy smiled at her before looking over at their son. Suddenly a falling sensation overwelmed her; a draining feeling. Willy looked up when he felt Cameron's hand fall from his own.
"Cameron!" He watched as her eyes closed. Suddenly Cameron found herself in darkness as the pain slowly faded away..
A/N: I know you guys hate me at this point but don't panic. Don't loose your heads. Stay perfectly calm. All is not lost.