You know the drill, I don't own any recognisable characters I'm just playing! certainly has been a while but hey it's something. do enjoy...bad grammar and all
-IQ

Chapter 4: Warmer than Chocolate

Willy was still at a loss on what to think of is unexpected visitor. She wasn't what he had expected her to be at all. But what did he think she would be like? One of the greedy bratty children he detested? Or like their parents. Unconsciously he made a sickened face at the thought of that word…parents. Not even noticing that Becca had gone quiet and was watching him intently as he retreated in to his own thoughts, being just more confused than the last minutes she spent talking to him.

Becca watched, as he looked green for a moment, as he had gone silent. The silence grew, but it wasn't an uncomfortable one she noted. But she couldn't help but study Mr. Wonka's face. He had rather sharp features. Not at all unpleasant to look at, even if he was a bit on the pale side. She could see the darkening circles under his eyes and wondered if he ever slept a full night or at all even. Breaking away her gaze she looked down at the thick blanket that covered her and smiled at the colors. Shades of dark red, and dark violet were prominent. Though matched with the chocolate brown and a golden, flowing "W" it was defiantly a style that screamed eccentric.

"Mr. Wonka?"

Becca asked softly so she didn't jar him back to present time. She waited for him to answer. But when none came she looked up at him, her eyebrows knitted together in a mix of concern and annoyance for being ignored. What she found was him, staring at her with an expression quite unreadable and still miles away.

"Mr. Wonka? Are you alright?"

Becca asked as unconsciously reached out her hand and touched him on the arm. He jumped slightly and smiled a bit wryly as he returned from his thoughts. But before he could answer one of his workers tapped him on the knee and Becca followed his gaze and stared pointedly at the little oopaloompa. She had never in her life seen a man so small before. Willy leaned down so the oompa Loompa could whisper in to his ear. Becca hadn't overheard a single word, but getting over the shock of seeing the Oompa Loompa for the first time he could only watch as Willy nodded every now and then looking more and more grave with each passing second.

Finally sitting up again Willy looked at his guest and laughed just a bit. What ever was wrong he obviously didn't think it very important. That sudden gleaming smile of his simply gave Becca a sense of confusion. He certainly was an odd man to say the least, but her intuition didn't give her any bad vibes. Though she had the sense that if she wasn't careful in her steps she may find herself being the butt of some private joke that only Willy Wonka would understand. Swallowing hard, Becca wondered what to say. She knew she couldn't stare at him for much longer as it was making her self-conscious but she couldn't help it. She had never met anyone with that gentle madness in their eyes. It was intriguing, but finally she looked away having a sense of losing herself in those glittering eyes of his.

"So…Rebecca Auburn ST. Thorne since I'm taking you in as an unexpected guest would you mind me asking you a few questions? "

Looking a little flabbergasted Becca merely shook her head slowly.

"What ever you want Mr. Wonka. And thank you. For earlier…"

Becca blushed just a bit. She wasn't used to having control of a situation taken away so easily and was still reeling from the confusion of waking up and meeting a man whose reputation was legendary. Not forgetting seeing the smallest man ever in her life, yes everything was just hard for her to fully digest mentally. He drew in a deep breath to calm her waiting for his questions; ready to answer anything he wanted.

Willy was simply worried. What his worker dressed in extreme cold gear had reported. That she was rendered unconscious and tossed like a rag doll by two men dressed in the same way as she was. Willy wanted to know her version of the story, and then he would decide what to do with her then. Looking at his worker he nodded and silently excused them all from the room he and Becca occupied at the moment. He still didn't trust the girl, even though she seemed innocent enough. After his workers had left them completely alone, Willy began his questioning. His demeanor turning cool and to the point, his hand tightened on his cane reflexively as he started.

"Now…what exactly do you remember on how you got here? What were you doing outside my gates at sundown?"

Becca looked confused for a moment as she searched her memory on what she was doing. She bit her lip as the memories were slow to come but finally she met his gaze, those brown eyes meeting Willys.

"I was supposedly sent here to escort a shipment of your chocolate to a store here in the city…I arrived and waited for my partner, but he wasn't the one who showed up…."

Willy looked at her; his eyes had gone wide with alarm.

"There are two of you? So you did come to steal my recipes!"

He jumped to the conclusion almost immediately and Becca watched as he became infuriated almost instantly. It was like watching the joy and warmth melt like an ice cube left on a hot surface. Becca shook her head and snapped back.

"Mr. Wonka I am not here to steal your damned candy recipes! I was here to guard it while it was being sent to its destination! But I was ambushed by a coworker who worked in the same company I do! I am a security guard, I guard what I am paid to guard, not steal it! Besides I am not at all fond of chocolate so this can't be at all very comfortable for either of us!"

Becca was angry now. Normally she had the patience of a saint, but being accused of thievery, was enough to make her reckless in her words and her thinking. She threw back the covers not noticing that Willy had flinched at her quick movements. Willy closed his eyes; again this wasn't going the way he had planned. When she threw back the covers he hadn't bothered to stand up he merely watched her as she pulled on her boots and zipped them, not needing to tie any boot laces and headed towards the large metal gate leading to the outside world

Becca didn't even notice that she was without her coat, her anger kept her warm as she hurried found her boots and put them on. Seeing that metal entrance many times it was easy for her to recognize that it was her way out. When she approached the massive door she searched for a doorknob of any sort. Finding nothing she reached out and touched the door it was merely cold, finally her last nerve was snapped and Becca began to panic. It was just like that horrid day, when she was trapped in a soundproofed storage bunker for three days when she was a young girl.

Her fear was overriding any rational thoughts Becca had and she began to pound on the door. When that proved ineffective, she began to claw at it. Finally in a desperate attempt Becca rammed her shoulder against it hard enough to leave a bruise. The pain shocked her back in to her right state of mine and she slumped against the door and slid to the floor unaware of the tears streaming down her face or the mantra like mumbling as she pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them tightly to try and comfort herself.

Willy was horrified, He had never seen anyone act as she had, Willy stood up as she collapsed. This was not a good turn of events, again he had only read of such occurrences in medical texts that his father showed him to get him interested in any sort of medical field if he didn't want to do dentistry. Swallowing hard Willy made his way and kneeled by the girl who was sobbing quietly as she held her knees. What ever happened to her it traumatized her for life. Unsure of what to do, he touched her gently on the shoulder, at least to get her unwound from such an uncomfortable position.

As he touched her Willy could feel that she was trembling and an unconscious manner Willy simply gathered her in his arms and comforted her in an uncharacteristic hug to calm her anguish. Gently he caressed her head as she rested against his chest. Slowly her sobbing ceased and her trembling stopped he looked down at her trying to gauge her emotional state.

Becca's anxiety attack faded at last and she found herself wrapped in Willy Wonka's embrace. The beating of his heart as she rested against him was slowing down, and it crossed her mind that she must have given him such a fright in her panic. But his nearness and comfort was greatly appreciated. She closed her eyes and inhaled his scent, which was a pleasant mixture of chocolate and something else, perhaps some other ingredient that escaped Becca's mind, but didn't seem unusual or out of place on him. It added to his mysterious personality.

But Becca was becoming self-conscious in his hold and she leaned away from him, slightly and looked up at Willy. She noted that only concern and worry had filled his eyes.

"Are you ok now?"

Willy asked gently and Becca nodded not trusting her voice to have its usual strength. At first Becca expected Willy to let her go immediately as he confirmed she was all right, instead he continued to hold her protectively. Giving up after a moment of Becca simply accepted his warmth and continued to rest. But the question of why he was doing so remained in her mind an unvoiced and unanswered question.

In truth Willy felt responsible for her breakdown. He didn't think about what reaction he would receive. All he was concerned about was the fact that there could have been another person outside his factory doors besides her, and that frightened him. He hadn't thought about it either but his fear was forgotten when she attacked the door trying to get out.

"Good…I think we should go someplace a bit warmer. Do you think you're strong enough to walk?"

"Yes…"

Becca answered softly and prepared herself to stand up. Willy easily helped her up and finally released her from his hold. He looked her over and seen that she didn't receive any other injuries from his door. Feeling satisfied Willy offered her his arm to help steady her and led her away from the chilly gate. Thinking he was going to take her back to where the bed set up Becca allowed him to lead her. She was still in shock and it would be a bit longer before she would be back to the old self that Willy had met.

Becca did not notice that they had passed the bed but when she heard the jingle of keys on a rings she looked around and seen a small door that he was unlocking. The door was rather small and she wondered how they both would fit thought it once it was opened. But that question was answered as she heard the click and stopped and she looked at his before he pushed it open. It was as if he wanted to ask her something, but the look on her face probably made him reconsider it. He would remember to ask her a favor later, after she recovered her strength in the tasting room. Besides he figured they may be something that would cheer her up that wasn't made of his lovely chocolate.

"Welcome to my factory Becca."

Willy smiled gently at her and led her into the room that housed his chocolate waterfall and river.