Bright and early the next morning, an Oompa-Loompa came into Wonka and Charlie's office to clean. The Oompa-Loompa gasped, quickly running out of the room. He swore one Oompa-Loompa to secrecy and told them what he saw, the news quickly spreading like wildfire to the Buckets' and to their guests.

All of this unbeknownst to Wonka and Charlie, they both stirred at the same time and woke up. "Did we really fall asleep here?" Charlie asked.

"We must have," Wonka said. "We did have some rather...exciting activities last night," Wonka said, and Charlie blushed deeply, remembering the night before.

"Ouch." Charlie grimaced. He was sore between his legs, and he rubbed the area gently.

"Ouch is right," Wonka said. "My back is killing me. Are your muscles okay?"

"Most of them," Charlie said. "You're like a pillow."

"I am not a pillow," Wonka declared, but he was smiling. So was Charlie.

The next stop for the day was the Buckets' house. They had made plans to eat at the Buckets' for breakfast. "Charlie, can I talk to you for a second?" Mrs. Bucket asked. "Outside?"

"Sure," Charlie said, following Mrs. Bucket outside. "What's going on?"

Mrs. Bucket bit her lip. "The Oompa-Loompas started this outrageous rumor," she said. "They said, well, um…"

"What, Mom?"

"They said that you and Willy had sex on his desk," Mrs. Bucket said very quickly.

Charlie's face went as red as a tomato. "It was...it was nothing," Charlie lied. "We just - we fell asleep there last night, and-"

"Charlie...this isn't true?!" Mrs. Bucket exclaimed, putting her head in her hands.

Charlie tried really hard not to smile at his mom's reaction. Nothing about this was funny - in fact, it was quite humiliating - but it was just a nervous habit. Wonka stepped outside then, rescuing him. "Is everything okay?"

"The last thing we need is for this to get out to the press," Mrs. Bucket said.

"For what to get out?" Wonka asked, concerned.

"That you and Charlie had sex on your desk!" Mrs. Bucket exclaimed, and Wonka winced.

"Oh good, Mom, be really quiet," Charlie said. Wonka let out a loud laugh, and covered his mouth with his hand, shaking his head at himself.

"If word gets out-" Mrs. Bucket started.

"That, what, a couple was having sex?" Wonka said. "I know, what a scandal."

"It's your best hope then that this stays inside the factory," Mrs. Bucket said.

"What happens in the factory stays in the factory," Wonka declared.

This was so funny to Charlie that he started giggling uncontrollably. He couldn't stop himself even when Wonka and Mrs. Bucket turned to look. He had to force himself to stop, and even then he was biting his lip so he wouldn't laugh, but giggles still escaped sometimes.

"What are we going to do?" Mrs. Bucket fretted.

"Nothing to be done about it now," Wonka said. "Let's give them something to talk about then." He kissed a surprised Charlie full on the lips, a weak-in-the-knees Willy Wonka kiss.

"Willy?" Mrs. Bucket said when they pulled back.

"Yes ma'am?"

"Kindly don't ever do that in front of me again," Mrs. Bucket said, and Charlie hid a smile.

Charlie and Wonka decided to eat breakfast with their guests, because Mrs. Bucket didn't want Charlie in the house right now. News of his and Wonka's...adventures the previous night had spread to the Buckets', and Mrs. Bucket knew Charlie would be embarrassed. Despite Wonka's kiss, he had been embarrassed as well, discussing the whole ordeal with Mrs. Bucket.

But they didn't get a break from their guests, either. When Wonka and Charlie walked in, Mike said, "Hey man, good for you!"

"What?" Charlie asked.

"About you and him," Mike said, nodding to Wonka.

Charlie sighed. So the news had spread to their guests. Wonka took his hand under the table, and Charlie squeezed it. Wonka squeezed back.

After breakfast, Wonka and Charlie hung back to talk alone. That was the first time they'd really been alone since the whole thing had gotten out. "How are you feeling about...you know, all of this?" Wonka asked.

"I don't want you to think I'm not proud to be with you," Charlie said, "it's just...embarrassing."

"I completely understand," Wonka agreed.

"Let's just own it, then," Charlie said. "I'm proud to be with you, and what we did last night was amazing." A pause. "We should do it again some time." He whispered this last part in Wonka's ear, and his husband shivered. Wonka couldn't help his body's reactions to Charlie's words.

Wonka kissed him, hard, and they stumbled against the dining room wall. Charlie gasped into his mouth, clutching Wonka's red-purple jacket as he nibbled Wonka's lower lip. The older chocolatier groaned, his hips pressing into Charlie's-

A yelp startled both of them and they came face-to-face with an Oompa-Loompa. "Fabulous," Wonka said.

The Oompa-Loompa said something that sounded suspiciously like "Get a room!" and walked off. Charlie bit his lip as he looked at Wonka.

"We'll continue this later," Wonka said, pulling Charlie out of the room and back to their guests.

When they caught up with their guests, Violet caught Charlie's arm. "Hey, I just wanted to say I'm so sorry for my mom's actions. None of this would have happened if she hadn't been so...manipulative."

"Thank you," Charlie said. "The part where she kissed him? Yeah, that sucked. The part where the rumor about me and Willy started? Honestly, it was only a matter of time before that happened anyway."

Violet laughed. "Well then, I feel a little bit better," she said.

"None of it is your fault," Charlie said.

"I second that," Wonka said, looping his arm through Charlie's. Charlie flushed at his sudden closeness, warmth spreading through his chest. They were definitely still in the "can't-keep-our-hands-off-each-other" phase of their relationship.

"Can I talk to you?" Charlie asked Wonka, pulling him aside again.

"Of course," Wonka said.

"I don't feel comfortable having Ms. Beauregarde in the factory anymore," Charlie said.

"But this was your idea," Wonka said. "You wanted all the original Golden Ticket winners and their p-p-p-"

"Parents," Charlie supplied. "Yes, but that was before she kissed you."

"What is this really about?" Wonka asked him, taking his hands and moving closer to him.

Charlie's breath hitched. "It's - it's that I'm worried if she stays here, you'll realize she's right there and perfectly available to be with, and that you'll leave me for someone your age."

Wonka sighed. "I love you, Charlie Wonka. I love you. I thought what we did last night proved that." A pause. "Tell ya what. Why don't you lead the tour today?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you. I have something I need to take care of."

"What?"

"The best kind of prize-"

"Is a SUR-prize," Charlie finished. "You're not going to tell me."

"Nope," Wonka said. "I'll see you later."

"Okay," Charlie said. Wonka gave him a swift kiss that left him breathless, and then he was gone.

After dinner, Wonka and Charlie left together to have some alone time. "Come with me," Wonka said. "I have something to show you."

They got into the Great Glass Elevator and sped off, the momentum sending Charlie crashing into Wonka. "I'm so sorry!" Charlie gasped, but Wonka just wrapped his arms around Charlie's waist and steadied him. Wonka didn't remove his hands from Charlie's hips, and Charlie knew he wasn't imagining the hunger in Wonka's eyes. A shiver ran through him, but he cleared his throat and stepped back.

"Um, t-thanks for catching me," Charlie stammered.

"I'll always catch you," Wonka said, taking his hand. With the other, he pressed the Up and Out button, and suddenly everything around them was the night sky. They were surrounded by stars.

"Willy," Charlie said. "This is beautiful." They'd never been out on a clear night like this, and it was breathtaking.

"Wait," Wonka said. He turned them around so they were facing the edge of town. Suddenly, fireworks started, and across the sky were the words "I LOVE YOU CHARLIE WONKA" written in the most beautiful colors.

Charlie's breath caught in his throat and tears filled his eyes. "Willy…"

"I love you," Wonka said, taking his hands. "I love you. I may have loved and kissed someone other than you, but damn it, I've never loved anyone as much as I love you, and I don't want you to be insecure around me and-"

Charlie kissed him, effectively cutting him off. The kiss was soft and deep, and Charlie marveled at how soft Wonka's lips were, and so gentle against his own. Wonka licked his bottom lip, once, then twice. Charlie opened his mouth, which was then filled with Wonka's tongue, caressing his own tongue before moving farther back into his mouth to explore. Wonka's hands found Charlie's hips, and Charlie found himself being pressed against the Great Glass Elevator. His heart began to race as Wonka's hips pressed into his. "We should...we should stop," Wonka gasped, peeling the younger man off of him before things got too heated. But Charlie rested his nose against Wonka's, still breathing heavily from their kiss. "So do you believe me now? That I love you?"

"Yes," Charlie breathed, and kissed him again.