After spending the entire day together, Charlie returned to the Buckets' house with Wonka, exhausted from skating for so long. He ran inside and over to his mother, telling her all about his day with Wonka - leaving out his newly discovered feelings for the chocolatier, of course.

"And did you fall while you were skating?" asked Mrs. Bucket, smiling.

"I did, but Mr. Wonka caught me."

"And I'll catch you every time, my dear." Charlie turned around to find Wonka standing behind him, and he hugged the man tightly, earning a chorus of "awwwww"s from his family.

During dinner, Charlie sat beside Wonka again. "So, Willy, how is Charlie's birthday present coming along?" Grandpa Joe asked.

Wonka's fingers laced between Charlie's under the table. Charlie's heart fluttered. "It's fantastic," Wonka said, grinning at Charlie. "I'm sure he'll love it."

"I know I will," Charlie said, squeezing his hand.

After dinner was over, Charlie said, "Mother, can I please stay with Mr. Wonka tonight?"

Mrs. Bucket looked at Wonka. "I think Willy's pretty tired, Charlie, maybe we should let him rest-"

"He brought me to his room last night! Please, Mr. Wonka?" Charlie turned to the chocolatier.

Wonka chuckled and pulled Charlie close. "He can stay with me tonight, if he wants to. I like his company." Charlie flushed.

They walked to Wonka's rooms together, Charlie pressed close against Wonka's side. When they had settled in bed together, Charlie curled up against the chocolatier as Wonka read. After a while, Wonka turned out the light and they both fell asleep.

The next day, Charlie skated around the rink once more without falling. Wonka waited for him by the wall, an encouraging smile on his face as Charlie reached him and threw his arms around Wonka. "I'm so proud of you!" Wonka exclaimed, hugging him tightly.

Charlie looked up at him. "I couldn't have done it without such an amazing teacher," he said.

Wonka blushed. He leaned in and their lips touched, Wonka's hand reaching into Charlie's hair, stroking it gently. Charlie wrapped his arms around Wonka's neck and pulled him even closer so their bodies rested together. The kiss was so slow, and soft, and Charlie felt his heart about to burst with love. They kissed for a long time, so long that Charlie was warm in Wonka's arms despite the cold.

Charlie's eyes flew open and he found himself staring into the darkness. The red numbers on the alarm clock on Wonka's nightstand read 1:27 AM. Charlie's heart hurt as he recalled his dream. It had felt so real that he hadn't even realized he was dreaming. Charlie felt hot, salty tears rolling down his cheeks. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he stared down at Wonka's face. Asleep, he looked younger, and even more beautiful, if that was possible. Loose strands of chocolate brown hair hung in Wonka's closed eyes, and Charlie brushed them away, his heart filled with emotion.

He wondered what would happen if he kissed Wonka now. Would the chocolatier wake up? He didn't know if Wonka was a heavy sleeper or not. Hoping he was, knowing it was risky, Charlie leaned down and lightly brushed his lips against Wonka's, so lightly that their lips barely touched. But they did, and Charlie longed to kiss him even more.

Wonka's eyes fluttered open and Charlie's heart leapt into his throat. "Charlie?" he mumbled sleepily. "Time is it?" He didn't seem to remember the kiss.

"Not too late."

Wonka glanced at the clock and Charlie cringed. Then Wonka looked back at Charlie, who had just sniffled. "My dear boy, are you crying?"

"No..."

Charlie couldn't hold it in anymore. His grief was too much. He buried his face in Wonka's chest and sobbed, wishing more than anything that his dream had been real. "Charlie!" Wonka exclaimed, tightening his arms around the upset boy. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I - I can't."

"Yes you can." Charlie shook his head as Wonka gently kissed away the boy's tears. "It's okay, I've got you. I've got you." Wonka repeated those words a million times that night as he held Charlie until they both fell asleep.

Bright sunlight poured into Wonka's bedroom the next morning. Charlie woke groggily against Wonka's chest, his face tearstained from crying himself to sleep. "What are you doing up so bright and early?" Wonka asked him, sitting next to Charlie with a book in his lap.

"Dunno." Charlie rested his head against Wonka's shoulder, closing his eyes. "But I could fall right back asleep, if you want me to..."

They snuggled for a while before they had to get up for breakfast. When Wonka shook Charlie awake and reminded him, Charlie just held on tighter to him. "Don't wanna get up, not yet...I want to be close to you."

"You've been close to me for ten hours, Charlie." Wonka laughed.

"More..." Charlie nuzzled his nose against Wonka's and closed his eyes, their foreheads resting together.

Someone knocked on the door then and Charlie groaned quietly, but loud enough for Wonka to hear. "We have to get up, my dear Charlie."

"Charlie, Willy," Mrs. Bucket called from outside the door. "Time for breakfast!"

Their eyes opened and Charlie stared at Wonka, just inches from his lips. Wonka stared back, his expression unreadable. "We should...we should get up," Charlie stammered.

They did, in fact, get up. After breakfast, Wonka asked to talk to Mrs. Bucket outside. Charlie assumed it was about his birthday present, but as he went to eavesdrop, he heard them talking in hushed voices.

"...acting very strange, I tell you." Wonka sounded concerned. "I woke up late last night - well, early this morning, I should say - and he was crying."

"Crying? Why?"

"That's what I was trying to figure out," said Wonka. "I'm completely befuddled. He seemed so upset, and he wouldn't tell me what was wrong."

"I can talk to him, if you want-"

"No, no," Wonka said quickly. "I can talk to him myself."

The voices stopped and Charlie rushed over to the sink, pretending to be washing dishes. He didn't have to pretend for long, though, because Wonka came back inside, followed by Mrs. Bucket. "Charlie, my dear," Wonka said. "I would like to talk to you for just a sec, 'kay?"

Nervously, Charlie followed him outside. "What is it?" he asked innocently, like he hadn't just overheard Wonka's conversation with his mother.

"I want to know why you were crying so hard last night." Wonka seemed sad and it broke Charlie's heart. "I want you to tell me, and I don't want you to shut me out."

Charlie felt trapped. Wonka's voice was firm and the secret was just on the tip of his tongue...

He kissed Wonka. He stood on his toes to reach the man's lips, wrapped his arms around Wonka's neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Wonka tasted delicious, like chocolate. And then he thought, What am I doing?! I'm kissing a man three times my age!

Gasping, Charlie pulled away. Wonka's eyes were as wide as dinner plates and his mouth hung open in obvious shock. Before Wonka could recover, Charlie ran off, far away from the Buckets' house and Wonka. "Charlie!" Wonka called after him, and Charlie ran faster, praying, Please, please don't catch up to me. Please. His heart breaking, he ran from the man he loved as tears overflowed and streamed down his cheeks.

AN: Cliffhanger! Review please? :) Updates soon