Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize in this story.

Chapter Eight

"Charlie?"

Charlie didn't take any heed. He sat on the grass by the chocolate river watching the big waterfall churn up the chocolate that flowed from it. He always loved watching that waterfall; it always made him feel a whole lot calmer whenever he did.

Whoever was saying his name had sat down beside him, but still Charlie didn't pay any attention to the person. He was too much in thought right now, especially with Willy Wonka. He hoped that Wonka wasn't still planning on having Charlie marry someone. And if Wonka was planning on Charlie marry Veruca Salt or Violet Beauregarde…well, he just won't do it, is all.

"Charlie! Are you going to pay attention to me or not. If I didn't know any better, I would say that you were trying to ignore me," the voice said again.

Finally turning toward his visitor, Charlie was surprised to see that it was Grandpa George. The old man rarely got out of people, or out of the house even. But ever since their moving into the big Wonka factory, Grandpa George, Grandma Georgina, Grandpa Joe, and Grandma Josephine had been up and about, flitting from one room of the factory to another as if they were children again.

"Hello, Grandpa George," Charlie said, smiling softly.

Grandpa George gave a wide grin. "Now that's more like it. I was nearly giving up on you, you know. I thought you were ignoring me."

Charlie just shook his head. "No, I wasn't, I was just thinking."

"And deep in that at best," Grandpa George exclaimed.

"Something like that," Charlie said.

"Now, tell me, Charlie, what bug's been getting into your pants, because you never seem to be yourself lately," said Grandpa George

Charlie sighed. "It's just that Mr. Wonka wants me to marry and have an heir for the chocolate factory. But the fact is, I don't really want to get married or have any children right now."

"Well, then don't." Grandpa George gave his grandchild a meaningful look.

"What do you mean, Grandpa George?" Charlie asked.

"What I mean is, if you don't want to get married yet and have children, then don't get married and have children yet. That is up for you to decide, Charlie and nobody else's. Not even Willy Wonka's," Grandpa Joe said.

"Yes, I know, but Mr. Wonka's done so much good for us, that I can't help but being obliged to him, you know," Charlie asserted.

"Yes, but Mr. Wonka isn't family, as much as you wish him to and how much we treat him as one," Grandpa Joe whispered. "Remember what he did when he said to leave us all behind and just go with him to this factory by yourself."

Charlie stared out across the river. Grandpa George did have a point there. All those years ago Willy Wonka had said delightedly that Charlie had won the whole chocolate factory. But when Charlie had asked if his family was going, too, Wonka had said, no they weren't and to consider it an added bonus. But in the end, Wonka allowed the whole Bucket family to come and live in the factory. Charlie just couldn't brush that off.

"Yes, but I don't want him to kick us all out, Grandpa George. Could you really go back to our old house now that we've been fed, watered and kept warm and comfortable for all these years? Could you going back to eating watered down cabbage soup every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?" Charlie asked.

"You sound just like your Grandpa Joe, you are," Grandpa George muttered.

"Great minds think alike, Grandpa George," Charlie said.

"But even great minds need some time to follow their hearts."

The two of them fell into a comfortable silence, each of them watching the milky chocolate churning and swirling off into the distance, going to all the rooms in the chocolate factory.

The silence between them was soon broken when a voice cried out across the room. Standing and turning quickly around, Charlie saw that it was none other than Willy Wonka himself. Charlie wondered what could possibly be wrong this time.

Skidding to a stop, Willy Wonka was panting and waving a handful of letters around. Just watching him made Charlie feel dizzy and sick all over. But he couldn't help but feeling excited of what Wonka wanted to tell them. Perhaps he had made up a new invention that nobody in the world had ever thought of before.

"Well, what is it, man? Come on and tell us," Grandpa George exclaimed.

Catching his breath, Wonka smiled broadly at them. Charlie felt the anticipation mounting within him. What did the famous Willy Wonka want?

"I have some great news for you!" Willy Wonka declared.

"Well, what is it?" Charlie finally asked.

"I received letters from all the other golden ticket holders and just guess what they have said?" Wonka shouted.

Grandpa George and Charlie looked up at Wonka expectantly, both pushing him to go on.

"Well, they have all said they are willing to have a little get together here at the factory!" Wonka said excitedly. "How wonderful is that?"

The great chocolateer was only met by shocked silence. Stunned, Charlie turned to look up at his grandfather.

"Grandpa George?"

Grandpa George only shrugged helplessly. There was no way he could help his grandson now. That was up to him now. But Charlie's eyes only filled up with tears and shaking his head, he ran towards the door, pushing past Wonka, not caring if he was rude or not.

Grandpa George glared up at Wonka. "Now you've done it, man. You know he didn't want to see the other ticket holders, you know how he felt about them. You mark my words, Wonka, if you disappoint my grandson or put more stress onto his shoulders, you'll regret it."

With that, Grandpa George pushed past him, as well, leaving a confused and bewildered Wonka behind in his wake, wondering what he had done wrong.