Charlie woke up in Wonka's arms on the grass the next morning, where they had fallen asleep together the night before. "Morning, sunshine," said Wonka as Charlie stirred. The man tightened his arms around the younger boy.

"Morning," Charlie answered back. He met Wonka's gaze as he lifted his head and smiled, admiring Wonka's beautiful, flawless skin, that chocolate brown, almost shoulder-length straight hair, and those eyes. Those beautiful eyes...

They were kissing before Charlie knew it. Charlie's heart felt like it was going to burst with love and he sighed happily, wrapping his arms around the chocolatier's neck as the kiss deepened. It deepened more, and more, and more, becoming more loving. At the same time, Charlie felt someone shaking him.

Wait, what?

"Charlie," Wonka said, "wake up. It's morning."

Charlie awoke - for real this time - in Wonka's arms, but in an unfamiliar bed. "Where are we?" he asked sleepily.

"I took you to my room," Wonka said. "You seemed comfortable with me, and obviously we weren't going to sleep on the grass all night, silly."

That was when Charlie remembered his dream, and he was completely mortified. He didn't like Wonka like that! What had his dream been telling him. Grandpa Joe always said that dreams were supposed to tell you things.

Shaking his head in confusion, Charlie said, "Are we late for breakfast?"

"That, my dear Charlie, is a super duper good question," Wonka informed him. Charlie felt himself blushing. "After breakfast, I want to show you something as well."

"What?" Charlie asked eagerly.

Wonka smiled fondly. "The best kind of prize-"

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

"Nope."

Charlie rolled his eyes and laughed. "Secretive man."

"Earnest boy." Wonka dramatically imitated Charlie rolling his eyes and the boy burst into laughter. Only Wonka made him laugh like that. "Let's go to breakfast so you can see your surprise sooner."

"Okay!"

Charlie eagerly followed him out of bed. They arrived at breakfast together, the smell of pancakes wafting from the Buckets' house. The young boy followed Wonka inside, sitting down next to him instead of across from him.

"That's new," Wonka said, looking curiously at Charlie.

"What?"

"You're sitting next to me."

Charlie laughed nervously, unsure of why he was so nervous. "Mom, Mr. Wonka has a surprise for me after breakfast," Charlie informed his mother.

Mrs. Bucket smiled knowingly at Wonka. "Did he? And what is it?"

Charlie's laugh was genuine this time. "It wouldn't be a surprise if I knew, would it, Mom?"

His mother chuckled. "No, it would definitely not be."

Charlie wolfed down his breakfast so fast that his parents told him to slow down, but he didn't. He felt like he was going to burst with curiosity about Wonka's surprise. What could it possibly be? As he ate, Charlie racked his mind.

When he was finished, and when Wonka was finished, the chocolatier said, "You're gonna need your warmest coat, Charlie. And gloves. And a hat. And boots."

This didn't help Charlie's curiosity, though this gave him a clue: they were going someplace cold. Obviously they were not going doughnut tubing. "No doughnut tubing then, Mr. Wonka?"

Wonka laughed. "Nope, kiddo. Not where we're going. I stayed up for most of the night making this for you. Technically, it's your birthday present, but seeing as I have something even better for your actual birthday present, well...And besides, I can't wait any longer." Charlie's birthday was in five days.

"You only waited a few hours, Mr. Wonka."

"Oh. Right." Wonka grinned awkwardly. "Well, follow me!" he said cheerfully.

"Er, Mr. Wonka?"

"Yes, dear?"

Charlie flushed at that. "I still haven't got my winter clothes yet."

Ten minutes later, Charlie and Wonka were standing outside a closed door. He heard Oompa-Loompas working and when something fell inside the room, it seemed to echo. "This room sounds pretty big," Charlie observed.

"Wise kid," Wonka complimented, of course earning yet another blush from a very confused Charlie.

"Not as wise as you," Charlie pointed out.

"Oh, you." Wonka laughed. "Though you are right about the room being big. Ready to see your surprise?" At Charlie's eager nod, he opened the door.

"Wow!" Charlie exclaimed, stepping inside the huge room and gasping. The ceiling was so tall in this room that Charlie could barely see to the top. There was an ice skating rink and a hill with ski slopes and a ski lift. What seemed like snow but didn't look exactly like snow was covering the ground in a white blanket, with some snow falling from the ceiling.

"It's white chocolate," Wonka said proudly, "all of it - except the lift, mind you. The ice is frozen chocolate and so is the snow. I even have a pair of ice skates for you."

"I love it!" He threw his arms around Wonka, way too excited to remember that Wonka didn't like too much touching, even now.

"Suffocating me," Wonka gasped. "Can't...breathe..."

"Sorry!" Charlie pulled back. "Are you okay, Mr. Wonka?"

Wonka smiled at him. "I'm fine. I'm so glad you like it."

"Can we go ice skating now?" Charlie asked. "Are the skates chocolate?"

The chocolatier laughed. "Yes, we can go ice skating now - and no, the skates aren't chocolate." Wonka's eyes had lit up and he looked so beautiful with that smile on his face that Charlie's heart fluttered.

And then all the pieces clicked into place.

He had a crush on Willy Wonka! He, Charlie Bucket, was falling for a man at least three times older than he was.

Charlie felt his heart shattering into a million pieces and he gasped out, feeling his eyes widening. Wonka was looking at him, concerned. "Charlie, are you okay?"

"F-fine, Mr. Wonka." He bit his lip to keep the secret in and composed himself. "Ice skating?"

"Ah. Yes." Wonka disappeared out of the room for a few moments and came back with a small pair of skates. "I asked your p-p-p-"

"Parents?" Charlie supplied.

"Yes, your p-p-"

"You can do it," Charlie said softly, reaching for his hand. "I know you can."

"Parents," Wonka managed with a gasp.

Charlie felt a swell of pride. "I knew you could do it!" he exclaimed.

Wonka smiled, looking almost shy. "I asked your parents-" here Charlie grinned with tears in his eyes- "-your shoe size. So these should fit." Charlie hugged Wonka again, tightly, earning a laugh from Wonka as he hugged the boy back. "Why so clingy today, huh?"

Charlie pulled back and was startled to find Wonka giving him a tender look. "Because I care about you," Charlie said softly. He tried not to look at Wonka's lips as he wondered for the first time what kissing Wonka would be like. Charlie would be willing to bet that he tasted like chocolate.

And then Charlie found himself blushing brightly. He was dreaming of kissing Wonka! That kind of scared him a little...

"I care very deeply for you, Charlie," Wonka told him. "I hope you know that." A warm feeling grew in Charlie's chest.

"I know." Charlie smiled at him, Wonka's comment meaning a lot to him, especially afterwhat the younger boy had just discovered about his feelings for the chocolatier.

"Shall we ice skate?" Wonka suggested enthusiastically.

"Right," Charlie cleared his throat, "ice skating." He had to admit he'd forgotten.

Wonka helped Charlie laced on his boots, explaining that his father had taught him how to skate when he was as young as Charlie, perhaps a bit older. "You can trust me," Wonka said softly. "I would never let you get hurt."

Gosh, he's so sweet, Charlie thought, his heart swelling with warmth. "I already trust you," Charlie said. "I trust you so much."

Wonka looked up from Charlie's shoes, his eyes wide with surprise and...something else. He wrapped Charlie in a warm, strong embrace. They stayed like that for a long time, and when Wonka finally pulled back, he said, "I'm the luckiest man in the world."

Oh, how Charlie longed to kiss the man! Instead of kissing him on the lips, Charlie kissed Wonka on the cheek, which surprised the chocolatier. "And I'm the luckiest boy in the world."

Tears filled Wonka's eyes and they hugged again, clinging to each other as Charlie inhaled Wonka's smell - chocolate. "Let's go skating," Wonka said, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Take my hands, Charlie."

Charlie did not hesitate. Wonka's hands were warm and he loved his touch. The chocolatier made Charlie feel incredibly safe.

Wonka skated backwards onto the ice, pulling Charlie with him. Charlie squeezed Wonka's hands tighter as he felt how slippery the ice was. "Aaaaahhhh!"

"You're okay," Wonka reassured him, pulling him closer as he slowly skated backwards. "You're okay, I've got you. I'm here." His voice was soft and gentle. "All you have to do is move your feet side by side - take a few steps and then glide across the ice. Do you want me to show you?"

Charlie shook his head, terrified that Wonka would let go of him. "Don't let go of me, Mr. Wonka."

"Never," Wonka promised. Charlie's heart swelled with an emotion he knew now was love as Wonka skated backwards while he skated forwards. "You're doing super duper great so far, my dear Charlie."

Charlie blushed. They skated around for a while so Charlie could get used to the ice and how to move his feet. It felt like a long time before Wonka said, "Do you want to try on your own now?"

The young boy hesitated. He knew how to skate now, but he didn't know if he could do it all by himself. "I..."

"You can do it." Wonka squeezed his hands reassuringly. "I have so much faith in you."

Charlie felt himself falling deeper in love as he let go of Wonka's hands. His heart leapt into his throat as he wobbled a bit, but Wonka quickly caught him. "I've got you," Wonka said as Charlie gasped into his chest. "I'll be right behind you to make sure that you don't fall, okay?"

Charlie nodded. With Wonka following him from behind, Charlie carefully skated one lap around the rink without falling once. His heart pounded and he felt a rush of happiness and pride as he turned around to face a smiling Wonka. "I did it, Mr.. Wonka!"

"You certainly did! And I knew you could." Wonka pulled him into a tight hug. Charlie sank into his arms, forgetting that they were on ice - and then they fell down together .

Charlie lay with his head on Wonka's chest, laughing. "See? Falling isn't horrible, Charlie."

Not that kind of falling, Charlie thought, but another kind was even worse, especially if the person Charlie fell for would never fall for him.

AN: Whoa, this chapter was long. I'll try to keep them this long in the future. Hope you guys liked it and please review! :) Updates soon