Lottie Morgan decided to visit her Uncle Andrew and his family at Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Little did she know that she was about to enter a magical, delectable world and capture the heart of the sweetest of men.

"All that is gold does not glitter; not all those that wander are lost."

J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, 1954

Based on the 2005 Tim Burton film, starring Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.

Willy stood in front of his bedroom mirror, sheepishly turning to view his coat jacket at a profile. Did it look alright, he wondered? The lush, soft velvet burgundy coat was a favorite of his. Was he dressed up enough? Too dressed up? Willy sighed and gazed over to his dresser, where two tickets for tonight's performance were lying. Oh, what could he have been thinking, trying he could court Lottie? Who was he trying to fool – himself or her? She was like a beautiful, rare jewel and he…well…he was Willy Wonka – hardly a heartthrob.

Lottie. Willy looked down again and smiled in spite of himself. He distinctly saw in his mind's eye Lottie's waltz in the pine tree glade. How beautiful he'd thought her then – how graceful. How much more beautiful he thought her now…

"You look nice, Willy!"

"ARRR!" Abruptly startled, Willy jumped and peered down at Charlie, who was standing in the doorway with a small smile on his face.

"Uh, ya think so?" asked Willy cautiously, turning back to his reflection in the mirror and biting his lip and exhaling.

Charlie crossed over to the candyman, touching his sleeve to feel the soft velvet.

"It's very soft, isn't it?" said Charlie.

"Hmm? Yes, it is, I suppose." Willy stepped back, glancing at Charlie, and swallowed hard, his eyes devoid of mirth. "Look. Charlie, do you think this is a good idea? Tell me the truth."

"You mean, you wearing this coat?" asked Charlie with a confused expression. "It looks very nice! The color…"

"What? No, no, no!" exclaimed Willy.

"No, what? You look nice in burgundy, Willy! Honest! You see, you're a 'winter' and…"

Willy sighed and stared at the floor, his face slightly red. He covered his eyes with his hands, willing himself to get the words out. "No, Charlie, I mean if the circumstances under which I'm wearing the coat is a good idea…"

Willy gulped. He was certain Charlie would disapprove. He didn't want his protégé to disapprove about anything concerning him or the factory. He was ashamed to admit it, but Charlie Bucket was his best friend.

"You and Lottie, you mean?" asked Charlie, peering up at the chocolatier in surprise.

Willy nodded and waited apprehensively for the boy's answer.

"Why, Willy, of course it's a good idea! You two have a lot in common…" Charlie stopped for a moment. "You do like her, don't you, Willy?"

Willy paused for a moment. He replied in a thoroughly adult voice, without a hint of the clownish exterior, as he stared at his reflection, "Yes, I do like her… very much." His tone was serious, masculine.

"You'll be okay, Willy!" exclaimed Charlie, smiling, finally understanding his friend's trepidation. "Lottie is getting dressed up, too! She's very pretty!"

Willy felt his knees become weak and he thought he might faint or vomit or something. He leaned against a chair for support.

"Willy, are you sure you're alright?" asked Charlie, with a concerned look on his face, noting that Willy had gone slightly green.

Willy looked up at the boy, feeling a bit embarrassed at his panic and determined to overcome it – or at least to hide it better. He straightened up and said, "Why, oh course, my dear boy!" said Willy in a sing song voice, "Why wouldn't I be?"

Charlie looked up at Willy's forced smile and sighed, taking his friend by the hand to lead him down the corridor to the chocolate waterfall – and his cousin.

Lottie sat on a chair upstairs in Charlie's bedroom, studying herself in a little mirror on the wall. Her pearl-drop earrings swayed gently as he moved her head to examine her almond-colored hair. Was her upswept coiffure too much? It was, after all, only a play, and not the opera or something else exceedingly grand. She bit her lip and gazed at her reflection. How could she ever hope Willy Wonka could ever think of her as more than a friend? After all, he was this year's "most eligible bachelor" and the owner of the most famous chocolate factory in the world. What was she thinking…a little mouse like her?

"Here, Lottie, try this necklace" said Mrs. Bucket, coming up from behind. "It matches your earrings." Lottie looked down at the delicate pearl choker as it was fastened around her neck.

"Oh, Aunt Emma, this is too fine for me!"

"Nonsense!" said another voice, "nothing's too fine for my granddaughter!"

Lottie looked around to see her grandfather sitting on the top step of the stairway. He must have scooted himself upstairs, once step at a time.

"Oh, grandpa!"

"Don't 'oh, grandpa' me, young lady!" replied the old man, pointing to her jewelry. "I bought these for your grandmother when we were courting. She'd want you to wear them tonight."

Lottie smiled, knowing it was impossible to reason with the old man when he was so determined. "Okay, grandpa. I'll wear them."

"Good girl," he replied, satisfied.

Lottie gulped and looked in the mirror. Her nerves were getting the better of her. "Come on," said Aunt Emma cheerfully, "let's do your nails…"

Lottie walked to the chocolate waterfall, taking small steps. She was unaccustomed to heels, and she hobbled slightly. When she reached the waterfall, she paused and took a deep breath. She could do this…of course she could do this! Why was she so nervous? Why? It's not a big deal and…

"Hi, Lottie!"

Lottie jumped a good two feet into the air- not highly recommended for a lady wearing heels. She peered around.

"Mr. Wonka?"

"None other!" he replied with a gleam in his eye. "Who else were you expecting to meet at the chocolate waterfall at six o'clock tonight?"

Lottie smiled and giggled along with Willy. Willy stopped and studied her for a moment.

"Well, eh, you look kind of pretty, now don't ya!"

Lottie blushed. "Well, come on," she stammered, "let's get going." Willy held out his arm and escorted Lottie to the Great Glass Elevator.

Her grandpa and Joe were watching from the cottage window. Grandpa George turned around to his friend.

"Ya owe my five bucks, Joe!" said Grandpa George. "Pay up!"

"Oh, alright, George," replied Joe, smiling and reaching into his pocket. "Mr. Wonka did ask Lottie out, didn't he? I used to work for him, you know, on Cherry Street…"

It was all Charlie's fault, really – because, once you've opened your gates to one person, anyone was liable to come in.

Willy and Lottie were sitting in their seats at the theater, waiting for the performance to begin.

"Oh, look!" said Lottie at a little boy a few rows ahead of them who was wearing a duckie shirt. "Isn't he so cute!"

"Hmph!" Willy grimaced and crossed his arms.

"What's the matter?" asked Lottie worriedly.

"Well," he replied, "you think that kid sitting up ahead is cute, and Charlie's cute, and the Oompa Loompas are cute, and your kitty's cute…"

"So?" asked Lottie.

"So?" he pouted, "Don't you think I'm cute, too?" he asked her, almost too softly to hear.

"Yes, Willy, I think you are very cute." A small smile danced onto Willy's face.

"So…" said Lottie, "Do you think I'm pretty?"

You're so exquisite I can scarcely breathe, thought Willy.

"You are very…umm…aesthetically pleasing" is what he actually said.

The orchestra stopped playing, and the lights dimmed.

"I think it's beginning…"

"Yes," said Willy, glancing at her, "I think it is beginning…"

When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies.

It was the middle of the play, and Willy wondered the name of the actress who placed Tinkerbell. He thought she looked slightly familiar, and wondered if she was the same person from a television show. He bent down to get the program…

And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be one fairy for every boy or girl.

Ought to be? Isn't there?

There was someone passing in the row ahead of them. Lottie looked at the program on the floor, and hoped it wasn't getting dirty. She bent down to get the program…

Oh, no! Children know such a lot now. Soon they won't believe in fairies, and every time a child says "I don't believe in fairies" there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead!

Simultaneously, they both reached for the program, and their hands met. After five seconds of mutual shock, during which they were both perfectly still, hands slightly touching, they both moved away. Their eyes met for a brief moment. Both Lottie and Willy were silently grateful that the lights were low, masking their deep blushes.

Lottie and Willy sat by the shores of the sea, charmed by the unspeakable purity and freshness of the air. There was just enough heat to enhance the value of the breeze, and just enough wind to keep the whole sea in motion, to make the waves come bounding to the shore, foaming and sparkling, as if wild with glee.

Willy sighed, looking out at the horizon. He spied a small lighthouse in the distance, its searchlight slowly moving back and forth, searching for what he knew not. Feeling particularly poetic, he murmured, half to himself…

Charm'd magic casements opening on the foam

Of perilous seas, and fairylands forlorn.

Lottie, startled out of her reverie, quickly peered at the chocolatier.

"That's Keats, isn't it?" she asked.

Willy nodded his acquiescence. "Ode to a Nightingale."

"Strange to find a candymaker quoting Keats!" she exclaimed.

Willy got up and walked a few steps, the sprightly gales gently tousling his hair. He searchingly gazed out at the ocean, listening to the mournful sound of the wind.

"Oh, life as a candymaker can be slow at times," he finally stated, "there's plenty of time for reading while you're waiting for chocolate to boil."

Lottie laughed and looked over at him, her courage building. "You know," she began, her eyes dancing, "you're quite an extraordinary man, Willy Wonka…"

Willy sighed, looking down. He slightly trembled, his lavender eyes gazing into the sand. He was curiously disconnected from himself.

"No, Lottie, I'm just an ordinary man…"

Lottie mused a minute, considering his words. She moved in front of him, until it was impossible for him to avoid looking into her mesmerizing eyes.

"Mr. Wonka," she simply said, "it's hard to imagine you being an ordinary anything!"

Willy smiled at her. He seemed to reveal his entire soul when he smiled like that. She was certain she felt warm rays of sunshine, regardless of the darkling sky.

Willy stared at Lottie's eyes. Her green eyes were bright and stormy like the ocean, crashing like boisterous waves over the landscape of his soul. The perfumed zephyr blew over her strands of hair in measured motion. She looked at him, animated, as if she was a wind harp that suddenly burst into song.

"Hold me," Lottie whispered, coming closer to him.

"I…can't," Willy said simply.

Lottie reached over and gingerly took Willy's hand. "I understand, Willy," she whispered.

Willy stood straight ahead, looking stiff and conflicted. Human contact, he thought to himself, yikes. Then he thought to himself, she's holding my hand – wow! Willy slowly gazed down at her and studied her face. There was no mockery to be found there, no pity.

He grimaced. He flinched. He squeaked his purple gloved together. He grimaced some more. He did not, however, pull away his hand. He just stood there, staring straight out at the ocean.

After about two minutes, Lottie rested her head on his shoulder.

Willy grimaced. He flinched. He grimaced some more. He did not, however, move away.

After about two minutes, Willy, drawn by warmth of her hair as she rested her chin on his shoulder, slowly felt his arms go around her and hold her. He breathed her in and held her close.

"Yes, you can, Willy," said Lottie simply. Yes, you can.

Author's Note: Two more chapters are planned before this story is complete. Sorry for the delay!