A/N: Not quiet yet ready for the romance. But then...neither are our characters. They have to get ready to know each other first. Enjoy!

peace, love and lipgloss,

Mlle.Fox

I had a date with Willy Wonka.

No, it wasn't a date...at least...not to me. It was just trying to get a straight answer out of Willy about his mysterious past. But what if it wasn't just dinner for Willy? And why had I spent the better part of my morning scrounging around my dressing area trying to decide on an outfit for tonight?

I'm such a girl.

Just then, a knock came on the door and I called out with a sigh,

"Come in!"

"Freddy? It's Kara? Where are you?" she asked stepping into the room.

"Take a left at the Vera Wang." I told her. She stepped into the walk-in, looking on in amusement.

"Lord...I've never seen so many nice clothes." she said.

"Well one of the perks of working for a magazine that covers high fashion for the young working woman is getting a little of that high fashion for yourself. Besides after dropping the weight I treated myself to designer." I told her.

"Dropping the weight? You've lost weight?" she asked.

"Yeah...a pound or two...or...eighty..." I admitted.

"Eighty pounds? Oh! You mean you've lost about...Five stones!" Kara said.

"Okay I know we're both technically speaking English, but we're talking two different languages." I said with a laugh. She shared my laughter,

"Sorry...a stone is about fourteen, fifteen pounds of weight as you Americans call it."

"Learn something knew everyday." I said returning to my rummaging.

"Well you look wonderful...Oh! Is this you?" Kara asked seeing my family pictures. She picked up one in her hands and I pointed out my loved ones.

"Yeah...that's my Dad...that's my brother Jack...and that big one without the saddle is...or rather...was me."

"My word! You really do look amazing!" Kara declared.

"Thanks...Still have about a "stone" to go though..." I said.

"No...no I think you look about right...Is that the reason why you won't take any desert?" Kara asked. I hesitated...but I couldn't tell another lie. I just couldn't.

"Yeah...It's nothing against you...I just can't have any sweet right now or I'll have to borrow a tent around here to wear." I confided in her.

"Oh come on now! That's silly. Look at me! I live in a chocolate factory and I'm thin as a rake aren't I?" Kara said.

"Yeah but you're probably one of those annoying people who can eat anything and not gain weight." I said folding my arms and thinking of a certain annoying candyman.

"Heaven's no. When I was pregnant with Charlie...before we fell on the rough times...I gained sixty pounds. Took forever to knock off the weight. And when we were poor, I would always balloon up a little whenever we got something extra to eat. I don't know I guess I just learned portion control." Kara shrugged. I nodded contemplating her story, before finally saying,

"So you're just one of those annoying people who lose weight and keep it off huh?"

She giggled,

"Relax...I have a feeling you'll be one of those people. You just have to find something you enjoy more than eating. That's what I did."

"Thanks Kara." I said truthfully. It was such a relief that someone knew what I was going through. And Kara Bucket amazed me. She actually had done for five years what I was trying to do in three months. Keep her figure in a chocolate factory. She nodded and said looking around the room,

"So...what are you up to in here anyway? You missed breakfast."

"Sorry...just...I'm trying to figure out what to wear for this business dinner I have with Mr. Wonka." I said. She got a gleam in her eye.

"Dinner...with Willy?" she asked.

"Yeah...just business." I said.

"Then...why are you worried about what to wear?" Kara asked.

"Because Willy is taking me to some Italian place in town and my Triple A tour guide book says it's five star." I told her.

"Since when do you call him Willy?" she asked with a grin. I gaped my mouth open a bit. Did I just call him Willy? Oy vey...

"Don't worry. Whatever you'll pick out will be fine." Kara assured me turning to leave.

"Why's that?" I asked. She paused and grinned at me saying,

"Because I'm rather convinced Willy doesn't want you to lose another stone either."

To my indignation...she just left the room with at self satisfied look on her face. I sputtered my lips, still trying to decide what to wear.

Meanwhile, I wasn't the only one standing in my closet trying to decide what to wear for that night. Nor was I the only one to be visited by a Bucket either.

"It was so perfect Charlie! She mentioned the word date and I hooked her right in! And I never felt so confident! Sure there's that whole tell her about my past thing...but if I'm lucky she'll forget about it!" Willy told his young friend who was hopelessly holding an armful of loud, colorful clothing Willy had inspected then thrown into his arms.

"I don't know Willy...I mean...That is the reason she came. To talk to you about your past for the magazine and my coming of age." Charlie said. Willy stopped and looked at Charlie with panicking eyes,

"You mean...she really doesn't want to go out on a date with me?"

"Sorry Mate. She's probably calling it a business dinner." Charlie shrugged.

"But...I don't want it to be a boring old dinner...I want...I don't know...more." Willy said quietly.

"Well then...you better do something to make an impression." Charlie said.

Willy then puffed up with pride saying,

"So I shall. Now Charlie my dear boy. I'm counting on you. How does one conduct themselves on a date? Or as the case would be...a date where one's date isn't calling it a date."

"Um...I don't know." Charlie admitted.

"What!? What do you mean! You know everything!" Willy exclaimed.

"I'm not even sixteen years old Willy! And...truth be told...the girls at school...I just can't talk to them." Charlie said.

"Why not?" asked Willy.

"Well...girls are a mystery my Dad says. Their scent drives a man batty, the way they look up at you feels like your on top of the world, and..." Charlie said.

"And their eyes are so pretty you feel like they're staring straight into your soul and you can't help but let them." Willy added his voice trailing in wonder.

"You said it." Charlie said releasing a breath. Willy looked up at Charlie and said,

"Guess we've both got to learn about women huh?"

"Hey you're the mentor. You have to go first." Charlie said.

"Something to make an impression huh? Well...better start with a proper outfit huh?" Willy said riffling through his racks again.

Later, I had finally settled on the tried and true Little Black Dress. Dressy, but also appropriate for business. I was putting on a strand of pearls only to pause at my reflection in the vanity mirror. I cast my eyes to the framed photo I had of my mother, wearing the exact same pearls that graced my neck. A year ago they couldn't even fit because of my double chin. Now they hung loose. I almost got all teary eyed wishing my mother could be here. I was snapped out of my musings by the sound of a conga beat on my door. I got up, grabbed my coat and purse, and made for the door.

I almost didn't recognize him. He wore a gray duster coat over a red silk vest and a black shirt and cravat. Neat gray slacks, but still the same top hat, gloves, cane and shoes. I suppose this was what he wore outside his factory walls. So not to get recognized. As if everyone in the world wore top hats and carried canes like Mr. Peanut. He gave a nervous smile and offered his arm,

"Miss James."

I took his arm,

"Mr. Wonka..."

And that was how my date with Willy Wonka began.