Charlie Bucket lived happily in the factory, he really did. But eventually boys become teenagers. Hormonal teenagers, at that.
Willy Wonka had no idea how to deal with teenagers, aside from having been one himself. He remembered those years being the worst of his life. At least, he figured, he could make Charlie's teenage years as happy as possible.
One day, Charlie and Wonka were brainstorming in their office. "Marshmallow flavored ice cream," Charlie suggested.
Wonka made a face. "But marshmallows are supposed to be hot, and ice cream is cold," he pointed out.
"They don't have to be hot to be good." Wonka and Charlie were tossing a stress ball back and forth across the room from each other. "Plus, it'll make the ice cream even thicker."
Wonka "hmm"ed and wrote it down, then threw the ball back to Charlie, who scrambled to catch it. "Why don't we go back to the glow in the dark lollipops?"
"But that was your idea! I haven't gotten to make something of mine in a month, at least." Charlie huffed and threw the ball a little too hard at Wonka. His mentor caught it with an "oof". "You're constantly shooting down my ideas. I thought I was supposed to be your heir."
"My dear boy, you are!" Wonka exclaimed. "But I wanted to teach you my thought processes until I thought you were ready to work independently."
"You think I'm dependent?" Charlie stood, tears in his eyes. "You don't think I'm ready? Is that what you think of me, Mr. Wonka? Why did you even pick me, then?!"
"Charlie, please," Wonka said desperately. "You always tell me not to go near things because 'they're not safe', you don't like to leave me alone in one of your workrooms, you change the subject whenever I bring up a new idea! You don't believe in me!"
"My dear boy, of course I do," Wonka said soothingly, but Charlie backed up towards the door.
"Don't come near me," Charlie warned. "I hate you."
Wonka felt his stomach drop, and tears filled his eyes as Charlie backed out the door and fled.
Later, Wonka found Charlie sitting on the swudge in the Chocolate Room. He sat down beside him, silence between them at first. It wasn't as awkward as it could have been given the circumstances. They were comfortable with each other, and very close at this point. "I don't hate you," Charlie said after a while, scooting closer to his mentor without touching him.
Wonka smiled slightly. "I'm very glad to hear that. I want you to be my heir, Charlie, and I think you have great ideas. I just think you need help executing them."
Charlie nodded. He looked up at Wonka nervously, and rested his head on his mentor's shoulder. Wonka startled, but then wrapped an arm around the boy and held him close. "I love you, Mr. Wonka."
Lilac eyes met blue ones, and despite the awkwardness, Willy Wonka smiled. "And I love you, my dear."