Title: Return To Me

Rating: K+

Warnings: SLASH!

Chapter Two

"Thats impossible!" Charlie said through his laughter. "No, really! Its true!" Melissa giggled. "I had a fear of dogs for nearly a year after that. I can't remember when I stopped hating them, but it happened. "But enough about me, what was your childhood like? Before the factory, I mean."

Charlie shrugged. "My family was pretty poor," He sighed. "We barely got by, but we loved each other so much that we survived." He glanced at Melissa, who was listening intently. "There was me, my mum and dad, then Grandpa Joe, Grandpa George, Grandma Josephina, and Grandma Georgina. Then later, we added Willy, but that was after the contest."

"Sounds like a happy bunch of people," Melissa smiled. "We were, I suppose. I knew that my parents were ashamed they couldn't provide for me like other parents, but I didn't care. Did I tell you that Willy couldn't say the word "parents" until a few years after I started living in his factory?"

Melissa giggled. "No! Thats awful!" She exclaimed, then looked at the clock. "Hey, lunch was wonderful, but I've gotta go back to work."

Charlie nodded. He waved over a waitress and pulled out his credit card, curtesy of Willy Wonka himself. "Thanks again for paying," Melissa said as she grabbed her coat. "Hey, I'm the one with the links to the billionare, right?" Charlie chuckled, and she smiled.

"Once again, you're the nicest guy I've ever met. Most of the guys I've gone out with pay half and make me pay the rest," She said, rolling her eyes.

"So are we seeing the sights tonight?" He asked, and she shook her head. "I've gotta eat dinner at my grandmother's tonight. Maybe tomorrow?" She suggested, and Charlie agreed.

"See ya later, cutey," Melissa said with a smile and kissed him on the cheek, then walked out of the restaurant. Charlie raised a hand to his cheek and smiled, embarrassed. He walked to the door alone and stared up to the sky, wondering what Willy was plotting at the very moment.

W-xXx-C

"He's dark and gloomy, waiting 'round

For Charlie to be safe and sound

Back within the fact'ry walls,

Where he cannot have trips or falls.

He doesn't eat and doesn't drink.

We're not sure if he can think!

His candy is so boring and bland,

And when we try to lend a hand,

He snaps and glares and makes a fuss.

He's getting good at annoying us!

So please return from where you are, or

We'll give him what he's asking for!"

Willy clapped his hands over his ears and whimpered. The Oompa-Loompas in most of the rooms, starting with an awfully spiteful group from Dessert Island, had been singing the same song over and over again for the past few hours, and it was starting to turn more of his precious chocolate-tinted hairs silver.

"Stop it!" He ordered, though he was drowned out by the bass. "Please stop singing that infernal song!" He screeched, but if they heard him, they didn't react. He fled the room, only to be blasted by another chorus of "We don't know if he even thinks" in the hallway.

The only place he knew that could give him peace the Bucket houseold, since his own room was beneath a major hallway and very close to the private quarters specifically set up for the Oompa-Loompas. No comfort could be found in his own room when the funny little creatures were upset with him.

"Thats no good. I'll have to change the positioning of their rooms," Willy said to himself, quickly passing a young group chanting "we'll give him what he's asking for!"

Once he threw open the doors to the Chocolate Room, it was like hitting a wall of silence. He smiled at his brilliance. He knew that the Oompa-Loompas would never even dream of disturbing the Buckets. They loved the people too much. He picked a particularly tasty looking Sugar-Daisy and plastered a smile on his face.

"Hi there!" He called cheerfully to Mrs. Bucket, who was tending a small garden of candy-based flowers. She twisted to see him and waved. "Hello Mr. Wonka. Dinner isn't for hours. What brings you here at a time like this?" She asked, wiping the chocolate dirt off on her apron.

"The Oompa-Loompas are upset with me, and they're singing a mean song over and over again," Willy whined, nibbling on one of the petals of his candy daisy. "Have you apologized?" Mrs. Bucket asked, knowing that Willy's answer would be a no.

"But I haven't done anything!" The man snapped, biting off a little of the sour candy stem. "What do they say you've done, then?" Mrs. Bucket asked with a sigh. He'd been hard to deal with since Charlie's departure.

"They say I'm being unreasonable and grumpy," He grumbled, proving the Oompa-Loompas right without realizing it. "No offense, Mr. Wonka, but you are being unreasonable and grumpy," Mrs. Bucket said, turning back to study her garden.

"Am not!"

"Are too."

"I am not, and you're just being a mean old whizzlebunger for saying so!" Willy snarled.

"You're just being immature," Mrs. Bucket said, seeming bored as she dusted her cherry geraniums with a little more powdered sugar. "You're just being immature," Willy imitated her in a high-pitched, annoying voice. She just sighed.

"Ha! I win!" Willy exclaimed, clapping his hands. "What do you think Charlie would say if he saw you acting like a child? A spoiled, bratty child?" She asked, and Willy sobered up immediately at the mention of the boy's name. "He'd say you were acting just like the four other children that you sent away when you held that contest," She said when he was silent.

"I am, aren't I?" Willy admitted, shocked. "I'm being selfish and mean, just like the Oompa-Loompas are saying! Oh, I have to apologize right away!" He concluded, then turned and sauntered back down the hill, this time turning towards the hall that led to the glass elevator. "Thank you!" He called over his shoulder.

Mrs. Bucket laughed and shook her head. He was an odd, slightly creepy man, but she'd grown to love him and his quirks. If the occassional talking to was all she had to dish out to keep him happy and out of trouble, that was perfectly fine with her.

W-xXx-C

Charlie hesitated and pulled his hand back, then decided once again that he was going to call the factory. He quickly dialed the number and pressed the receiver to his ear, waiting for Doris to pick up.

"Wonka Chocolate Factory, how may I help you?" The familiar voice asked, and Charlie grinned. "Hey Doris! Its Charlie!" He greeted her. "Good to hear from you, Charlie. The boss has been acting strange lately, with you gone," She sighed, and Charlie noticed a loud beat in the background.

"Are they singing over there?" He asked. He missed the songs that the Oompa-Loompas sang, accompanied with their interesting dances. "Mhm. Have been for a few hours straight now," She grumbled. "Angry with him again, huh?" Charlie sighed. Willy always seemed to do something to upset the Oompa-Loompas.

"Yes. Do you want me to put you through to your family?" The receptionist asked. "Yeah. Thanks, Doris," Charlie affirmed and waited for someone to pick up in his family's house.

"Hello?" Grandpa Joes picked up. "Grandpa Joe!" Charlie exclaimed. "Oh, Charlie! How are you, my boy?" The old man asked. Charlie quickly recounted the events of the past days, conveniantly leaving out the parts about Melissa. He wasn't ready to tell anyone about her.

"Why, that sounds wonderful, Charlie! Your mother wants to talk to you. I'll talk to you later, then?" His grandfather asked. "Most definitely," Charlie said with a nod, though his grandfather couldn't see it. "Goodbye until then, I suppose," Grandpa Joe said, then there was a soft shuffling noise and the phone was passed between people.

"Charlie?" His mother's voice came from the phone. "Hey mum," Charlie said softly. "You sound terrible." Quickly, his mother marked it off as allergies, but as the entire room was make of candy, that was nearly impossible. Charlie decided against pressing the matter.

"How is everything there?" She asked, nervously. "Its great. I'm having a wonderful time," Charlie said, his knuckled white from clutching the phone so tightly.

"I met a girl, mum," He finally blurted out what was on his mind. "You did! Whats her name?" She asked, sounding worried but trying to seem happy for him. "Melissa Campbell. She's almost 20, attending to LaFayette University, majoring in art, and adores Wonka. I really like her, mum," He rambled.

"Do you?" She asked, doubt it her voice. "You've never had a girlfriend, Charlie. What if you only think you like her because she's your first?" Charlie tensed. "I just know I like her, and she likes me too. She says I'm the nicest guy she's ever met," He said softly to hide the anger.

"And she likes you for you, not for the fact that you can buy her things left and right?" Her mother asked, not missing the icy edge to her son's voice. "Mum! Please, just give her a chance!" Charlie erupted. He didn't like it when people judged others, especially when they hadn't even met yet.

The other end was silent for a moment. "Alright, Charlie. I can't protect you anymore. I've got to go. Your father is here. He wants to talk," She said softly, hurt. "I love you, mum," Charlie said quickly, but it was too late.

"Hello, son," His father's voice came softly, timidly. "Hey dad," Charlie replied, just as shyly. "Did you guys get my letter?"

"Yeah, thats actually what I wanted to talk to you about," Mr. Bucket said quickly. "We do need to have a talk. I'm sorry I stopped trying to help. I'm sorry I started ignoring you. I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye."

Charlie sniffed. "Its alright, dad. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you and didn't say goodbye either," He said quietly, ashamed that he'd neglected this relationship for so long.

"I still love you. I always have. I just didn't think you wanted me to," Mr. Bucket sighed. "Of course I wanted you to! I just didn't have anything else to scream at when I failed time and time again!" Charlie exclaimed.

"You never failed, Charlie," His father protested quietly. "Yeah, I did. I've known for years that I don't have the gift that Willy has. I was never the perfect heir. I can only make candy well if I come up with the recipe myself," Charlie said, angry with himself.

"Willy's proud of you for that," Mr. Bucket pointed out. "Besides, most of his candy is made by machines, and you'll never have to make it yourself." Charlie sighed. "But I want to make it by myself. I want to know that I can do it like he does it. I want it to be perfect," He whined. "Nothing is perfect, Charlie. Not even Mr. Wonka himself can make something the same every time," Mr. Bucket reminded his son.

"But on another subject, your mother tells me that you've met a girl," He changed the subject. "Yeah," Charlie sighed. "She's really great, dad. I hope you'll be able to meet her one day. Perhaps I could ask Willy if I can bring her back to the factory?" He suggested. "That would be nice. Its time for dinner anyway. He should be here in a matter of minutes," His father informed him, and Charlie looked at the alarm clock. Suddenly, there was a lot of chatter on the other end of the phone.

"Speak of the devil! Want to talk to him now, Charlie?" His father asked. "Yeah, sure!" Charlie answered. Hearing the chocolatier's voice would probably cheer him up a little.

"Charlie?" The child-like voice asked. "Hey Willy!" Charlie greeted the man. "Wow, I didn't expect you to call so soon. I thought it would be a few more days at least!" Wonka said. "Did you think of something tasty?"

Charlie laughed. "No, I wanted to ask you a few questions. First, what did you do to the Oompa-Loompas?" He asked, and there was a pause. "I upset them. They said I was being mean, and I apologized, so everythings hunky-dorey now!" Wonka said cheerily.

"Good. Second, how are you holding up without me?" Charlie inquired, hoping everything was really "hunky-dorey" like Wonka said. "Wonderfully. Everythings a little slower, but its all good," Willy answered.

"Wonderful. Now for the biggest question. I met a girl-" Wonka's heart stopped beating. "-and I really, really like her, and I was wondering if I could bring her to the factory so my family could meet her," Charlie asked, his fingers crossed.

For a few moments, Willy was silent. He had this odd feeling in his chest, like he'd been torn open. He felt like lying down and just sleeping for as long as he could keep his eyes closed.

"Um.." Wonka managed. "Um what?" Charlie asked, worried. "Um...sure. Yeah, when are you coming home?" Willy finally answered. "Whenever Melissa can get off work, I guess. Thanks for letting her come," Charlie thanked his mentor. "No..no problem, Charlie. If you like her, I like her. You were always a good judge of character," Willy complimented him with a weak smile.

"Dinners ready, Mr. Wonka," Mrs. Bucket called. "You can call Charlie back later." Willy nodded.

"Hey Charlie, I gotta go. Your moms cooking smells really good. I'll call you back later, 'kay?" He asked, with a little giggle. "Yeah, I'll talk to you later. Take care, Willy," Charlie sighed. "Bye," Willy replied, then hung up the phone.

He fiddled with the cord for a moment, a grimace set on his face.

"You alright, Mr. Wonka?" Grandma Josephina asked first. Willy turned, attempting a fake smile. "Yes, thank you!" He answered cheerily, placing the receiver back on the cradle. "I was just worrying about Charlie. Why, this smells heavenly, Mrs. Bucket! It looks amazing too," Willy changed the subject, sinking into a chair, heartbroken.