A/N: Sorry for the wait. Broken monitor and lack of time, butI shall try to keep this and OneDepp going again. Enjoy, DFQ xxx

The Everglott room was fit for a duchess. Candelabra-shaped wall lamps illuminated a strangely monochrome interior, every item of furniture; the queen-size bed; the dresser and stool; the wardrobe and drawers; was adorned with black and white skirting. Alice, though she still wore her white dress, felt almost too colourful to belong.

As Charlie had said, her possessions had already been brought here. Her cream coat hung on the back of the door, her suitcase waiting on the bedcovers. She sighed contentedly, tired from travelling, and seated herself at the dressing table. Her fingers unclipped the catch of her handbag and rummaged about inside. Having grasped the contours of her mobile phone, she flipped it open, scanning its screen for messages.

None, and there was hardly any reception in here.

Wondering vaguely whether Charlie was doing the same in his room or if he was already sound asleep, Alice tucked the device away once more. She began to set out various accessories on the tabletop. She didn't own a particularly large range of make-up items but it made her feel more comfortable to lay them out as though she were at home. As she reached for the handle of the dresser drawer, a voice startled her.

"I always thought mirrors to be a fascinating decoration for a room."

Alice stared at Mr Wonka's reflection. He was dressed differently since dinner; a deep plum shirt with dark Chinese embroidery on the collar, black trousers, black cloak closed to below his chest. The top hat and opaque sunglasses remained.

"Pictures that change every day," he continued distantly. "A whole other world of people mimicking our every move but never really knowing who we are on this side of the glass." He smiled to himself. "Yeah, that's pretty neat."

The young woman turned on the stool to face him.

"I didn't hear you knock," she said hesitantly, wondering if she should have added 'sir'.

"You expect me to knock at the doors of my own house?"

It was impossible to discern his tone. It didn't sound angry. Even so –

"No, I -."

"Of course you don't. No need to get in a twist about it. Now, I'll bet you're wonderin' why I'm here, aren't ya?"

Alice nodded. It seemed the right thing to do. William moved away from the bedpost he'd been leaning against and paced across the room.

"I wanted, well, that is I wanted you to know that you're very welcome here. I was worried I was a bit inhospitable what with that little spat I was having with Charlie. It didn't feel so hot actin' like that around company, ya know?"

"It's okay," Alice replied, still unsettled.

"Right," said Mr Wonka. "I just hope you know that our problems are nothin' to do with your r- your rel-." He paused. He tried again. "Your involvement with Charlie. I missed him is all, 'kay?"

"So I see."

William coughed and stopped pacing. With his cloak fluttering at his sides he appeared as some eerie street magician. He looked upon her and tilted his head pensively.

"You're a girl," he stated.

"Yes?"

"Girls like chocolate, don't they?"

Another statement, but she answered all the same.

"Most of them do, yes."

"Do you like it?" he asked.

Alice's eyes narrowed. Was this some test of approval?

"Quite a lot," she said truthfully.

"Wonderful," Mr Wonka exclaimed. "Then I'm sure you'll be very happy with your welcome gift. It's in the drawer on the left."

Alice opened the drawer she had reached for earlier and spied a small blue box. She took it out.

"You didn't have to really -," she started.

"Open it."

Alice did so. Five round pebbles of chocolate nestled in a cup of tissue paper.

"I know they don't look all that much, but just try one," Mr Wonka insisted. "Go ahead."

Not wanting to displease the man providing her with food and lodgings, Alice picked up a chocolate daintily in her fingers and slipped it into her mouth. She noticed the chocolatier was watching her closely.

"Bite it," he instructed.

Alice bit. Something happened that made her feel as though all the breath inside her was sucked into her throat. It was like someone was painting sparklers in front of her eyes. It was incredible.

"Aren't they something?" Mr Wonka chuckled as she swallowed it down.

"What was that?" she gasped, her heart racing.

"Liquor. Mostly. I'm goin' to leave you be now, Miss Alice. You'll want another of those if I'm right, so go on and enjoy. I'll see you both bright and early tomorrow so's I can show you around. Sleep tight."

Alice watched, somewhat numbly, as Mr Wonka swept gracefully from the room. When the doors had clicked shut, she staggered over to the bed, still clutching the box of chocolates. She shoved her suitcase onto the floor and flopped out across the sheets. After allowing herself to devour at least two more of the sweets, she sank happily into sleep.

From beyond the glass of the dressing table the chocolatier's reflection lingered, concealed eyes observing the sleeping woman for just a few moments more, then faded.