Disclaimer: Willy Wonka is not owned by us (despite our many kidnapping attempts). We're only using him in the nicest way possible (thus far) for this story. (wink, wink)

A/N: Hello again to all of our wonderful readers and reviewers! We just thought we'd mention that one of the authors starts school Tuesday, and therefore, updates will be a tiny bit slower while she fights the evil creatures we call "homework" and "studying." Please be patient with us! Thanks!

Chapter 7- You've Decided:

Approaching Danika's room, Willy tried his best to make himself look somewhat presentable. He straightened his coat, tugging at the ends to make them more even, and repositioned his hat on his head. He reached her door shortly after and knocked. When no response came, he knocked again. Finally he called out to her.

"Danika, are you in there?" he asked.

A passing Oompa Loompa tugged on the tails of his coat, drawing his attention downwards. "Yes?" he asked. The Oompa Loompa whispered something in his ear and he smiled. "That's even better!" the candy man said, straightening upright. He made his way to the library, his heels and cane echoing in the empty halls.

Quietly entering the large room, he saw the woman sitting with her back to him, her nose in a book. Willy silently thanked the giant chocolate maker in the sky that he had put carpet in the Library.

Sneaking up behind her, he read a few lines over her shoulder in his head and instantly knew which book she had chosen. "The Phantom of the Opera" was a personal favorite of his as he often found that he placed himself in the role of the Phantom. Most people saw him as a freak, and tried to trick him out of his recipes because of it. Then, when he had learned of Marian's love for another man, he felt as if they had taken the corresponding roles: Willy as the rejected Phantom, Marian as the lovely Christine, and the unknown man as Raoul, the keeper of the lovely lady's heart.

In another point of view, he could also imagine how Danika related to the book, as she was being held captive in a place where daylight and the outside world seemed to ever elude her. He decided then and there that a few well-arranged visitations with her family were in order; he could at least allow her that one ray of sunshine in her life.

Deciding that it was time that his presence was made known, he straightened quietly and closed his eyes reciting a quote by the Phantom that was on the page she was reading.

"Look! You wanted to see! Now see! Feast your eyes; sate your soul with my cursed ugliness! Look at Eric's face! Now you know the face of the Voice! It wasn't enough for you to hear me, was it? You wanted to know what I looked like, you women are so curious!" he ended his act with a harsh, rumbling, powerful fit of laughter that added the perfect touch.

Nika was just about to read Christine's explanation of the Phantom's reaction when she heard a menacing voice from behind her. She turned quickly and saw none other than Willy Wonka standing behind her. She listened to him in awe as he recited the line with a great passion, as if he had been the one who wrote it. Danika felt a wave of guilt flow over her as the words spilled from his mouth.

She realized that the Willy Wonka's quote of Phantom's words perfectly described why she was trapped in this factory. Sure, she had come to rescue her cousin, but she had wanted to meet him, the man behind the chocolate, too. Those words of longing to see the great chocolatier had come out of her mouth to her cousin. She hadn't just been happy with the stories of him, she had to move in with her Aunt and Uncle, just to get closer to the man!

His laugh brought her back to reality. Once again, she realized that it sounded genuine, and it frightened her a bit.

"I love that book. I've read it so many times, I can practically recite the whole thing," he said, giving her a mischievous smirk.

"It's a very good book, no doubt," she said, nodding. He smiled down at her, though it was the first time she had ever seen him do so and mean it.

"I wanted to ask again if you would p…please have dinner with me tonight," he said, his amethyst eyes almost pleading for her to agree.

Nika sighed and made the mistake of looking into those violet eyes; the pleading in those eyes was enough to make almost any girl cave in to what he asked.

"Do you understand why I didn't eat with you last night?" she asked, somewhat calm. He raised an eyebrow inviting her to continue. "I can't be ordered around. I'm not a mindless robot; I have feelings, too, you know. I'd rather do things when I'm asked to do." She explained.

Willy nodded, his eyes showing a slight hurt. "All right, then," he said, taking her words as a rejection. "I guess I'll go back to working…" he turned his back to her and started towards the door.

"Wait," she said. "I haven't answered you." He turned around to face her, his eyes filled with hope.

"Yes, I will have dinner with you tonight. After all, it would be a shame to put that beautiful dress to waste," she said, smiling. He warmly returned her smile.

"Thank you, Danika," he said. With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the library.

Wondering if the Oompa Loompas had told him her name, Danika settled down in the chair to continue reading.

A few hours later, Danika was in her room, still reading her book, when Wendell came and gave her an envelope. Taking it and opening it, she quickly read the short note.

Danika,

I expect you at six thirty tonight for dinner. I have a surprise for you afterwards.

William Wonka

She looked up at Wendell and raised an eyebrow at him. "Did you tell him my name?" The Oompa Loompa thought for a moment then nodded.

Danika smiled down at the Oompa Loompa. "Well at least he's not writing 'Dear guest' anymore," she said. The Oompa Loompa chuckled and ushered for her to get ready.

Willy sat at the table, waiting for Wendell to bring the young woman to the small formal dining room he had near the guest rooms. He slid down in his chair. Willy knew he wasn't a "people person". In fact, he never had been one in the first place. He was perfectly happy talking with the Oompa Loompas, especially since they weren't complicated and didn't judge you based on something you said.

Just then, one of the said Oompa Loompas came in and stood next to him. "Yes?" he asked. The Oompa Loompa gestured that the girl was outside. "Then bring her in," he said, standing up and straightening his coat.

When Danika walked in, he made a note to let the Oompa Loompa women make her clothing from now on. The dress she wore looked almost medieval style. It fell to her ankles in forest green folds that made her look even taller, drawing close to her form around the waist and upper arms. The neckline formed a 'v' in the middle of her chest, making her look almost innocent. The sleeves were bell-shaped, with the top edge stopping at her fingertips and the bottom edge stopping somewhere just below her knees. It was beautiful, yes, but the way it clung to her form it showed how thin she really was. He wondered how such a fragile creature could stand there and not break from the weight of the heavy material surrounding her form.

She smiled slightly as he motioned to the seat across from him, and sat down as their food was brought out. Not much was said during dinner, just a few awkward sentences, really. Finally, Willy stood up and motioned for her to follow him. "It's time for that surprise I told you about," he said.

His surprise was to take her on a tour of the factory. He showed her most of the rooms in the factory, and her eyes lit up every time they stopped at one. It was priceless when he showed her the rooms where he kept his hair cream and all other candy creams. The greatest reaction was the way she understood why he made whipped cream the way he did. As they came to a room labeled 'The Inventing Room,' Willy tried to divert her attention away from it.

"You wouldn't want to see this room," he said, tugging on her hand.

"Sure I would," she said, craning her head around so that she could try and see what was inside through a crack in the door.

"No you wouldn't," he replied, blocking her path. "Besides, I told you in my first note to you that you wouldn't be allowed into some of the rooms of the factory, and this is one of them."

"But you let me see all of the other rooms!" Nika protested, hands on her hips. "Why won't you let me see this one?"

"I have my reasons," Willy growled, his violet eyes narrowing. "Believe me when I say that I have them."

"And what would those reasons be, Mr. Wonka?" Nika replied, trying to keep a sneer off her face. She swore that this man was getting more stubborn and rude by the second, and it was seriously annoying her.

Willy did his best not to snap at the girl; after all, she didn't know any better about what happened so long ago, so he might as well tell her and get it over with.

"You want to know why?" he said, trying to keep his temper in check. "It's because I find that not all people are worthy enough to see what goes on behind the wonder of my chocolate factory, that's why!"

Nika simply stared at him, her mouth dropped open in disbelief. "Not worthy?" she said, unsure as to whether she'd heard right or not. "What do you mean, not worthy? Did you even consider the notion that there might be people out in the world who probably deserve to see this factory and that inventing room more than I ever will? And you're standing here, belittling me because you're concerned about whether or not I'm worthy of seeing it!"

Willy's eyes met hers. "No one is worthy after what they did to me," he said, eyes turning hard as gemstones.

"And what exactly did they do to you?" Nika asked, not believing a word he said. When he didn't answer she sniffed disdainfully at him. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you," she said, mockingly using his own words from the first time they'd met.

"Because the people I trusted most, my beloved workers, betrayed me!" Willy yelled forcing her to take a step back in alarm. " I trusted them and they sold my secret recipes to candy-making cads like Slugworth!"

Nika found herself at a loss for words for a brief moment. After a few moments of silence had passed, she found that she felt sorry for the world's most amazing chocolatier. He'd trusted people to work for him and to keep his secrets secret, and to have them do such a thing… no wonder he's lost faith in humanity.

"But surely there must be at least one person in the world that you find worthy of that room," she quietly said. "I mean, besides your Oompa Loompas."

Wily was silent for a moment, as though lost in thought. "There was…one…person…"

"Who?" Nika asked, wanting to know.

"Marian…Sinclaire," Willy whispered, looking deep into Nika's green eyes.

Marian Sinclaire? No, that couldn't be…but if the look Mr. Wonka was giving her was any indication, then yes, he most certainly meant and was speaking of…

"You're talking about my…aunt?" she squeaked, her hands suddenly going to her face. Aunt Marian?

"Yes," Willy replied. "She worked for me, a long time ago."

Not being able to process any further, Danika's mind and body shut down, and she fell forward. The only thing that stopped her from cracking her head on the floor was Willy Wonka catching her unconscious body.

AN: How much do each and every one of you envy that girl right now? (Raises hand) We do! Anyway, please leave a little review to let us know how we're doing, it means a lot to us…and it makes us write faster!