I do not own anything from Charlie and the Chocolate factory. All rights and likenesses belong to Roald Dahl, Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. Good news folks, looks like Mr. Wonka upped my bounty to a cool 250.00! All I did was sign him up for a bunch of internet offers for male enhancement products and personal ads. I'm doing the man a favor… really! – Stealth Phoenix
Chapter 16
He was warm and pressed against cool sheets. Head aching head throbbed in time with his heartbeat. Various bruises announced their presence as he gently shifted in position trying to return to sweet dreams.
God I must have tied a good one on last night, he thought to himself, preparing for the inevitable assault of instant migraine when he opened his eyes.
Funny how he couldn't hear her moving around the kitchen – she must have already gone to work.
No used procrastinating anymore – time to face the music. He braced himself and opened his eyes.
Darkness.
Where the hell am I? He asked, only slightly worried. Highly unusual, but this wasn't the first time waking in someone else's bedroom.
He tried to roll over, only to be hampered by something wrapped around him. After struggling for a moment, he realized that it wasn't a blanket as first figured.
He was covered in some goo and he was mostly stuck to a wooden floor.
Jake Mansfield managed to push himself over with his one free arm and took in his surroundings. It was starting to come back to him now - the favor for Victor, staking out the apartment of the tasty redhead and then… He groaned as he realized what had happened. What kind of seriously fucked up individual used candy as a burglar alarm?
Willy Wonka
He remembered Victor's ravings on the woman and how she had managed to land a lucrative contract with the reclusive candy maker. This had to be his doing.
A cold chill ran down his spine as he started to understand the trouble he was in - the gig was up and he needed to haul ass to get out of there. Jake looked around with desperation. He wasn't going to jail because that prick Vic got his Marks and Spencer Y-fronts in a twist.
Wonka's reputation for legal prosecution was legendary – between what had happened to those competitors who stole his recipes and the lawsuits that had followed the winners of the golden tickets and their ignominious expulsion from the factory – he was ironclad if not highly unusual in his pursuit of justice.
Jake spotted some equipment on the cabinet above his head – something that looked like a small blow-torch or something like that. He stretched out his arm and managed with some fumbling to grab the dangling black cord and give it a good yank. The device tumbled down and thumped him painfully on the back of the shoulder.
No way in hell was he crossing Wonka. He was ditching the job and ignoring Vic for the next couple of years to let things cool down. Jake regretted not being able to get one-on-one with the redhead, but he loved his freedom more than anything else.
The device turned out to be a heat-lamp. With some rather difficult wiggling and practically dislocating a shoulder and defiantly ripping a bicep, he managed to plug the lamp in and set it on the floor on by his other hand to soften the toffee that encased him. They'd find the mess, but at least he wouldn't still be there.
Gritting his teeth against the heat and burning sensation, he set to work.
--
The ceremony had gone off without a hitch. Guest had cleared a path and the two men walked arm in arm up the aisle. Spencer was splendid in his peacock blue suit and Reggie had changed into a dapper suit of similar cut in black, white and silver. Veronica was breathtaking in her cream colored gown, during the processional, striding up to where a man in a white robe awaited at the front of the room. She carried a small bouquet of lilies wrapped with plum colored ribbon and watched the proceeding with benevolent impatience.
Willy stood quietly in the back and watched the official conduct the ceremony. He couldn't hear the quiet words, but instead read the protective expression on her face. When the ceremony completed, there was applause and the happy couple embraced and kissed while the crowd closed in to offer congratulations.
Willy pondered the strange scene – two men just got married. He half expected Spencer to jump into Reggie's arms to be carried across the threshold.
Veronica worked her way through the crowd to stand by his side and regard the scene as well. Willy noticed her out of the corner of his eye and said nothing.
"If he kicks up one heel as they kiss next time, I'll have to throw the book at him for encouraging cliché," she murmured to him.
"Or twirl his hair," he replied on a similar wavelength.
"Dear god….the garter," she groaned.
"Please tell me they skipped it,"
"They wouldn't tell me - which tells me one of them is wearing one."
They both shuddered with that particular thought.
Tearing his mind away from horrifying thoughts, Willy commented, "I think it's going to take a lot more alcohol than I'm currently capable of drinking to make it through that particular scene."
She nodded, "I love them to death, but sometimes they get so wrapped up in each other that they forget other people are around. I mean its one thing to be alone, but it's something else to have something like what they have flaunted in my face."
"You feel left out?" Willy asked, tipping back the remains of his drink.
Willy wondered, where did that come from?
Wow! It really is easier for me to get out when you get lubricated, commented Bob.
Veronica, ignorant of the ongoing internal dialogue replied, "Yes, I do feel left out quite often. They do their best to include me, and I do have a few friends of my own as well, but it's something else altogether when everyone else is paired up and you realize you're standing on your own."
Bob decided that this was the time to commandeer control of the mouth. "I'm sorry to hear that, but I know what you mean. I feel the same way around the Buckets."
Shut up Bob! You're making me sound pathetic! Willy whined, horrified.
Hey I call it like I see it, Bob sneered.
Bob seemed to be on to something when Veronica half-turned to him to grab his free hand in her own and give him a sad smile. "I guess we left-overs ought to stick together, Hm?"
There was a cough by the DJ at that moment as he announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Reginald Carmichael and Spencer Talbot in their first dance as life-mates."
The disco ball that Reggie insisted on lit up throwing multi-colored sparkles around the room, and "Unchained Melody" started to play. The two men moved together gazing deeply into each other's eyes.
Veronica tugged Willy's hand, "Care to dance?"
Willy nodded and ditched his glass next to some sort of potted plant – an orchid perhaps, and followed the woman through the crowd and onto the open floor to join several other couples swaying to the music.
Willy stiffly held one hand and with the lightest of touches, rested the other on the small soft swell of her hip. He jumped slightly at the warmth of her body through the dress. She looked expectantly up at him for a moment.
"What?" he asked nervously.
"You're supposed to lead?"
"Oh! Right! Well, here goes nothing," he sputtered before moving into a classic waltz. Veronica followed his lead carefully, sensing his unease.
Bob meanwhile was throwing his non-existent hands up in disgust. She's a beautiful woman, not a hand grenade – hold her closer you loon!
I don't have a clue what I'm doing here, cut me some slack, he snapped back.
Yes you do, that's why I'm here – I'm you, remember?
Willy gritted his teeth and Veronica looked at him in alarm, "Are you alright, you seem to be in pain?"
"No – I'm fine. Just a disturbing thought," he said in a voice slightly higher than normal.
One slender arm slid up to rest around his neck and cool fingers played with the hair on the back of his neck. She pulled him closer and whispered in his ear, "Relax! I've got your back."
The combination of her breath on his highly sensitive ear and the warmth of her body were too much for Willy to ignore. He mentally handed the reigns over to Bob and prayed that his slightly-evil inner self wouldn't humiliate him too much.
Willy relaxed into her grip and allowed his arm to snake more fully around her waist to rest his hand against her bare back, he felt dizzy for a moment with the warmth of her skin under his glove-clad hand. For one wild moment, he wanted to tear off the single protective layer between them, but controlled that impulse.
He pressed her hand into his chest and leaned forward to rest his top-hat clad head against hers. He gazed deeply into her eyes and saw them sparkle in amusement.
"Much better," she whispered. "I was beginning to worry that you didn't like me."
"Never," he breathed back. Her hair felt like wild silk on his face and smelled like that heavenly combination of peaches and warm amber. His heart gave a hard thump of sheer happiness and Willy closed his eyes to try and adsorb the multitude of wonderful sensations that was Veronica Carmichael held close in his arms.
Okay Bob, you win this one, he admitted.
--
When Willy relaxed and pulled her closer, Veronica felt the knot sitting on the back of her neck at the base of her spine loosed and relax. For the first time in a very long time she felt relaxed and happy. His body moved in time to the music and she felt safe. His hand cradling her back felt warm and comforting and oddly protective.
She noticed Reggie and Spencer twirl by and give her a double thumbs up and huge grins, but she settled for flipping them the bird before returning her attention to the amazing depth of Willy's magical violet eyes. They lightened and darkened with his unreadable thoughts - darkening to a velvet midnight hue and lightening to a beautiful amethyst. Veronica felt she could get lost in those eyes.
Several songs began and ended without their notice. Those who shared the dance floor learned to steer around the two oblivious dancers. It was only when the slow music slipped away to be replaced by something more upbeat and vigorous that they slipped from each other's arms.
"Thank you. That was wonderful," she whispered.
"Indeed it was – one of the best moments of my life." Willy replied, reluctantly releasing her hand.
"Care for something else to drink or eat?" she offered, trying for a graceful transition.
"Sure, I'll try another one of those ridiculous suggestively-named drinks."
"Shirley Temple then?"
"Yes, Please."
She excused herself to the wet bar to replace the Zinfandel she had been sipping with another and to fix a drink for Willy. She had switched to flavorful but non-alcoholic drinks unknown to Willy since his reaction to the Slippery Nipple. No use getting the poor man plastered.
Reggie slid up and immediately began the cross-examination, "Getting rather cozy with Mr. Wonka, weren't we?"
"Push off – aren't you supposed to be wrapped up with your blushing bride?" she asked, sipping her wine.
"Spencer's more curious than I am. I'm not going to even mention this crowd. Everyone's wondering what he's doing here…or rather, they were until you two started dancing."
She choked momentarily; she used the cocktail napkin to mop the wine that escaped from her chin, "Excuse me? It's not like that."
"Whatever you say, Cleopatra."
"Pardon?"
"You know, Queen of Denial?"
Veronica just shook her head and spotted Willy and Spencer talking across the room. Apparently it was something that invoked a lot of arm waving and what looked like random muscle spasms – how very curious.
"Reggie. I like Willy. I feel safe with him. I refuse to try and categorize what I may be feeling for him into any particular niche. He's a unique man who refuses to be buttonholed, and I'm just not up to figuring out why that is until after the project is done. Besides, once I'm done working for him, he'll move on to other things and I'll be left alone again – why get attached?"
Reggie was flabbergasted, this much disclosure from his sister? Normally, he had to pry the time of day out of her with a crowbar. "Whatever you say, Darling. I just want to know if you're alright with it for now. I mean - we don't want to abandon you for a honeymoon in the middle of an emotional breakdown."
"I am. I'm a big girl Reggie - no need to worry about me on your holiday. I'm sure Spain is beautiful and I can learn to live without you for two weeks," she said trying to follow Spencer and Willy's movements from across the room – it looked like they were attempting to stomp ants to death now…
"Okay – I give. What the hell are those two up to?" Reggie asked exasperated after following Veronica's confused gaze.
They crossed the room to where the two stomping men were gathering a small crowd of amused onlookers. "Reggie!" called Spencer who paused in his dance of ant death. 'I was just telling Willy about how you were the choreographer for that Fatboy Slim video with Christopher Walken."
"I loved that one. I don't get a chance to watch much television, but one of my workers recommended it to me." Willy admitted looking a bit more animated.
"I had to change a lot of the choreography from what I first envisioned since Chris is a bit up there in years and not a dancer to boot," Reggie said smoothly. "I was thinking of something more along the lines of the dancing from "Singing in the Rain" with the footwork."
"Really?" asked Willy excitedly, "That's another of my favorites." He did a quick shuffle, double step slide to demonstrate.
Reggie's eyes lit up. "Excellent. How about this one?" he completed a lightning fast set of steps.
"Sure!" Willy copied him and added a quick twirl to finish.
"Dance off!" someone from the back of the crowd shouted. The DJ nodded and shot a questioning look at Reggie. Reggie turned to Willy with a challenging look in his eye, "You willing?"
Emboldened by alcohol and the affections of a lady, Willy bowed and grinned at the Groom. "It would be my honor. I shall do my best to keep up and not embarrass myself – you after all are the professional."
Looks like the years of dancing with the Oompa Loompas are finally paying off, Willy thought to himself.
According to Neville, dance master of the tribe, anyone over five feet couldn't dance and was merely satisfied that his employer wouldn't embarrass himself in public. Then again, he'd never met Reggie either.
Reggie returned the bow and raised a fist to the DJ. The crunchy beat of "Weapon of Choice" started on the speakers.
--
Veronica could only watch in slack jawed amazement. The two men faced off – both wearing old-fashioned suits, one in black and one in blue. Reggie started with a relatively short combo. Willy quickly returned with a flourish as if challenging Reggie for something more difficult.
Back and forth they went, increasing in difficulty each round. Willy's face was creased in excitement and his body moved smoothly under the formal clothes. Spencer pulled Veronica to his side at the front of the crowd and said, "I thought you said that Willy was a recluse. Where did he learn to dance like that?"
Veronica was an old pro at this – it was a game that she and Reggie used to play. She analyzed the dance for a moment and shot back, "Singing in the Rain, the combination of the scene with Gene Kelly and Danny Kaye as they do "Moses" and the fancy footwork from "Make 'Em Laugh."
As they performed a particularly difficult combination, Spencer shuddered and hissed in Veronica's ear, "Your brother knows what his dancing does for me. He's playing dirty." He continued to stare with lust-filled eyes.
For once she had to agree, the strong graceful movements of Willy's body pulling a base response of her own, "Oh yeah. I know what you mean."
Spencer shot her a look and smiled.
Someone behind her muttered to his friend, "Please tell me you're getting this on your phone."
The friend nodded, "Oh yeah! No way I'm missing this. It'll be up as soon as I get it home."
She couldn't bring it in her to object. In fact she turned around and quickly shot off her e-mail address with the terse instruction to send her a copy ASAP. Willy and Reggie were amazing!
They'd progressed to dancing off table tops and wonderful spin kicks. Both men were smiling and having a good time. They quickly came together and stopped on the last beat of the song as if planned, arms crossed and regarding each other in the same position as they had started in.
They shook hands as the crowd howled and clapped its approval. Together they turned and bowed to the cheering people and Veronica threw herself forward to be caught in a triumphant hug by first Reggie and then Willy. Laughing she kissed him on the cheek, "That was fantastic! Oh Willy, you were great!"
He was grinning at the surge of adrenaline from both the dancing and Veronica's kiss. "Thank you. It's nice to know I didn't embarrass you too much." He took the drink from her hand and took a long sip – dancing after all, was hard work.
"Are you kidding? I'm going to have to keep you very close to me for the rest of the night. The ladies of the crowd are eyeing you with predatory interest," she said, slipping her arm around his waist and leading him toward a cracked window to cool down.
Willy looked around in astonishment. Holy cow! She was right. He shuddered at the calculating heated looks and leaned closer to Veronica.
"It was fun thought. The Oompa Loompa mostly think I'm a lost cause when it comes to the fancy footwork. You should see what they usually come up with."
"I find that rather intimidating. If that's the basics…" she trailed off as she glanced out the window to see big fluffy snowflakes falling from the dark night sky. 'Willy look, it's snowing!"
"First snowfall of the year. Running a bit late this time around, it usually shows up around the beginning of the month." He commented, leaning his head to rest his cheek next to hers. Ignoring the crowd, he felt relaxed and happy next to this wonderful woman who appreciated him.
Slow music began to play again and they took the opportunity to curl into one another and resume the dance they had to abandon earlier. Veronica rested her head against his neck and shoulder, breathing in the sweet peanut brittle scent of him. His arms were warm and strong around her and the primal part of her purred in satisfaction.
They swayed together for a long time, the party continuing unaware around them.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked, the vibration of his voice rumbling pleasantly against her cheek. His breath puffed against her hair in tantalizing fashion.
"You feel good. I'm glad you came with me," she murmured, snuggling closer.
"Me too."
She raised her head to look up at him, and he gazed down on her with a soft expression in his eyes. Unasked she raised her chin and leaned in closer to meet his lips in an eiderdown soft kiss. It was as if the universe exploded behind her eyes – his lips so warm and soft caressed her own and she found herself responding with long forgotten ardor.
This is what she had been missing all those years, this is what she was craving and couldn't admit to. This is what had been robbed from her for surviving Marcus's attack.
And this is what she vowed to reclaim with this wonderful man who kissed her now.
He made a small soft noise in the back of his throat and it went straight to her libido. She deepened the kiss slightly and groaned at the wonderful sensations running through her.
Willy's arms tightened around as they parted for breath and they stared at each other in wonder.
"Wow!" he breathed, feeling as if he'd just tried candy for the first time.
'Wow!" she replied, her heart tap-dancing with joy and hope at rediscovering these wonderful feelings not tied to anything that attracted a panic attack.
It was then that they noticed the crowd of people pushing toward the windows, Willy jumped. He didn't think they were attracting this kind of attention. Surprisingly, they were largely ignored as people gazed out the window toward a bright light outside.
Veronica gasped and he quickly followed her gaze out the window toward the source of the illumination. There was a large fire burning in one of the buildings a few blocks away. Flames rose high in the sky , black smoke billowing to merge with low lying fluffy snow clouds. "Huh! That's one hell of a fire!" he exclaimed.
Veronica stiffened in his arms and he glanced down at her to see her face twisted in horror and shock.
"That's my building!" she gasped and was gone, sprinting out of the room.
"Wait!" he yelled, pushing unseeing past the people to chase her.