Disclaimer: We went to Tim Burton's house and tried to trade our Willy Wonka action figures for the real thing, but he said that we couldn't have him. Now all we can think right now is how we have to live without Willy… (cries)

A/N: Huzzah for chapter nine! Sorry about the wait, but real life sucks sometimes. Enjoy!

Chapter 9-Happy Reunion:

The Murdock family was interrupted late one evening by a knock on the door. Kylie jumped up from her seat in the living room and ran to answer it, a habit she had developed in the past few days, hoping it would be her cousin there with arms wide open for a hug.

When she opened the door, Kylie was sad that she did not see the sight she wished, but rather squeaked in surprise. There at the door was a short little man holding a letter up to her. Bending down so that she was his height, she looked at him, an eyebrow raised in puzzlement.

"You're kinda funny looking, aren't cha?" she said, looking him over. He just cocked his head to the side and looked back up at her, waving the letter in her face.

Kylie finally got the hint and took the letter from him, looking to see whom it was addressed to and whom it was from. "Oh, my gosh, Mom! She'll never believe it! You have to come in with me to prove that this really is from Willy Wonka!" Kylie exclaimed. The small man nodded and followed her inside.

The next thing her parents knew, she was bounding into the living room saying, "Mommy's got a letter from Willy Wonka!" over and over again.

"Now calm down, poppet!" her father yelled over her commotion. Neither of the adults had noticed the strange little man yet.

"The little man brought Mommy a letter from Mr. Wonka!" Kylie said, holding the letter out to her mother.

At that time both adults looked up and saw the small man wave to them. Marian took the letter from her daughter as Geoff circled the tiny man, looking him over carefully. Turning the envelope over to the front, she saw a handwritten script she would recognize anywhere. Opening the letter, she read the slanted, curly writing.

Dearest Marian,

I know you're probably wondering why you're receiving a letter from me, especially this late in the day. I'm sure by now you're daughter has told you all about me taking your niece, Danika, and I want you to know that it is all true. I am sorry if I have hurt your family in any way; that was not my intention. I have arranged for you to come tonight to see Danika here at the factory, but you must come at midnight and leave before dawn, so no one will see you and get curious. I hope to see you tonight. Wendell, the Oompa Loompa that brought this message, will take you where you need to go.

Yours

William Wonka

As her husband took the letter from her, Marian sat down on the couch, her head in her hands. Kylie had been telling the truth…William Wonka had her niece. She vaguely heard her husband reading the letter aloud to Kylie as her mind sunk back to faded memories of her working for the mysterious man.

"Good morning Mr. Wonka," said Walter Sinclaire as he greeted his boss. "I've brought a member of my family here to work, if that's alright. We sort of need the money, what with all the family members and everything."

A shy, young Marian Sinclaire stood in awe of the chocolatier and his strange, yet youthful, appearance. She'd expected...well, she didn't know what to expect, but this wasn't it!

She wanted to laugh to herself, but kept her silence; she really needed this job, especially when the older members of the family were too old to work and her siblings kept moving back home with their spouses.

Willy Wonka inspected the red haired teenager and smiled. "Why not? I could use someone in the lollypop section, follow me!" He strode off, Marian racing to keep up.

From that day forward, Marian frequently saw the famous chocolatier. During lunch, he would stop by and they would chat about anything and everything under the sun, including how things were going in the factory.

Six months after she'd first started working at the factory, Marian (or Mary, to her friends) noticed that none of the other workers were receiving the same attentions that she was. Puzzled, Mary tried to observe those who Mr. Wonka did speak to, and saw that, although he was still pleasant, he was more formal with them then with her.

After that, she began paying attention to couples that were dating in the factory workplace, and saw that the way the couples acted was very similar to the way Willy was trying to act towards her. The thought that her employer was attracted to her made her heart sink; after all, Mary knew that to date a person higher up in the workplace than you was not a good idea for either person.

After several weeks, Mary was contemplating what to do next when she realized that she was far overdue for a dental check up. She was supposed to have gone weeks ago, but it was just now that she had enough money to do so. So, after asking for a half-day of work, Mary visited the dental office she had been, until very recently, going to her whole life. She was greeted by the same elderly receptionist as before, but was informed that a younger doctor had taken over for poor old Mr. Potts, the former dentist. Mary had simply shrugged and sat down to wait. Ten minutes later, the door opened and in walked Dr. Geoffrey Murdock, curly blonde hair and blue eyes like Mary had never seen.

It was love at first check up, and before Mary knew what was happening, the two of them were kissing in front of her front door after their first date to the local ice cream shop. Geoff wasn't the sort of stiff dentist that people expected, but was laid back and loved to do exciting things, like horseback riding and ice-skating. Mary was perfectly willing to try out those things, and soon the two of them were sharing a horse together while riding through the countryside.

Then came the greatest hardship of her life...

"Marian, could I speak to you for a moment?" Willy asked, his hands twisting around nervously. The auburn haired woman nodded and followed him from her desk down a small hallway.

Once the two of them reached an isolated space away from prying eyes and ears, Willy cleared his throat. Twisting his gloved hands around; he saw Marian trying to keep a straight face. A small smile escaped, and Willy couldn't help but notice what a nice smile it was...he loved it when she smiled...

Taking a deep breath, Willy gathered his nerves and spoke. "Marian, I've been wanting to talk to you about something for quite some time…" he said, his gloves squeaking every now and then from the movement. The woman looked up at him, her eyebrows raised, inviting him to continue.

Taking another deep breath, Willy continued. "Marian...I'm sure that this goes against many rules of the workplace, but...I'm very much...attracted to you, and was wondering if...well, if you would consider…."

Marian looked uncomfortable as she interrupted him. "Mr. Wonka, if you are asking that I see you as something more than a boss, I can't. Mr. Wonka…I just, I'm seeing someone right now, and I have a feeling I'm very much falling for him. I'm sorry…." The bright-eyed woman looked up at him, her eyes filled with unspoken apologies that she could never form into words.

"Oh…Alright then…" His mask of happiness fell for a split second, but was soon back in check. "Well, then, um I guess I should get back to work then…." He turned and walked down the hall stiffly, his cane hitting the ground a little harder than usual.

Willy snapped out of the flashback with a wounded heart. He hated that memory, almost as much as the one about his f-f-f-...

"Better stop that idea right there," he said to himself.

Straightening his coat and vest, he began to pace his bedroom. Marian and her f-f-f-family... oh, great candy clouds, she had a family! She had a h-h-husband and a ch-ch-child! Gosh darn it, even his thoughts were stuttering!

'I need to do something,' Willy thought, grabbing his hat and cane and walking towards the Inventing Room to try and keep his thoughts busy until tonight

That night, at half past 11, the Murdock family headed towards the Wonka Factory, quietly following the…Oompa Loompa?

"Is this a good idea?" Geoff muttered to his wife. "I mean, the man's been locked up in a factory for 20 years! Why would he write to someone now?"

"Mr. Wonka is perfectly sane in mind, Geoff," Marian whispered back. "Believe me, I'd know if something were a little off about him. I did work the man, after all."

Soon they found themselves at the gates, which were slightly open so they could get by. The tiny man led them up the front walk, through the doors, up a staircase, and into a small sitting room that was comfortably furnished.

Sitting down, they looked around the small room. It was all done up in deep reds and purples, accented by a few white and black pieces here and there. While they were still looking around, a door opened and Nika came running into the room. Kylie squealed as her cousin picked her up in a hug and swung her around. The older woman held her tight, afraid to let her go. When she finally did, Nika moved to hug her aunt and uncle. Sitting them down into chairs, she briefly explained what had happened thus far, from the moment Kylie had snuck in to the help she'd just recently given Mr. Wonka.

"So, then he thanked me for helping him with the…uh, the idea, and told me that he was inviting you here as a show of thanks," Nika babbled on. "He's steadily become nicer to me. He's invited me to eat with him several times, given me a nice room, plus he has the Oompa Loompas make me new clothes all the time. It's almost like I'm not being held against my will, he's just been so nice…."

As she said this, the door behind the Murdock family opened and a tall figure stepped in, hearing her words. An emotion somewhere between guilt and flattery fell like a lead weight in his stomach.

"Oh, um this is Mr. Wonka." Nika said, gesturing behind them. The Murdock family stood and Kylie raced to her cousin's side, still frightened by the sight of the man who had treated her so roughly.

"Well…uh…hello Mr. Wonka, I'm Geoff Murdock, and this is my wife, Marian, and our daughter Kylie." Uncle Geoff stood there uncomfortably, trying not to shift around.

Mr. Wonka's amethyst gaze narrowed at the blonde man. "You, sir, are the only person in your family I haven't met until now," he said. There seemed to be an icy tinge to his voice that no one could really pin down. "It's nice to see you again Marian," Willy said, his voice becoming overly chipper, "You're niece is a spitting image of you."

"Yes, well, she never did look like her mother," Marian said, shifting her weight from foot to foot nervously, much like her husband wanted to.

"Well, this is a visit for you and your niece, I merely came to see if you needed anything," the chocolatier said, sending a small, false smile towards Danika and her aunt.

"No, we're quite alright, than you anyway," Nika replied, smiling a truly happy and thankful smile back towards him.

With a curt nod, Willy turned on his heel and left the family to themselves.

The Murdock family left in the wee hours of the morning with a sleeping Kylie in her father's arms. As Nika watched her family trudge off toward home, she decided that it was time to talk to Willy. There was something wrong with him tonight, and she was going to find out what it was.
A/N: We have a wonderful announcement everybody! The two Oompa Loompas that help us with ideas for the story have gotten together. Sally and Bob are officiallya couplenow! But not to fret; they have agreed to help us as much as possible around their busy schedules together as a couple! Also, we would like to thank every one that has reviewed, we love you! You make us write more everyday, even though school and work suck for us both. Thanks, and don't forget to review, because every review goes to the Bob and Sally Fund to keep them giving us plenty of ideas! Wendell will be collecting them at the end of each chapter, so leave your review with the Oompa Loompa! Thanks!