AN:

Well, I was planning on holding off before posting this next chapter, but I just can't help myself. I know the last two chapters have been a bit on the short side, but from now on chapters will be a bit lengthier. Thanks to Yva J. and LA Suka for your reviews! They are GREATLY appreciated!

"Mum? Dad? I'm back!" Charlie called into the large room of the house.

"And we brought a guest!" Willy added cheerily.

The room they had entered into was small and crowded, but there was a tangible feeling of contentment hanging in the air. The robust smells of a warm stew wafted towards her, and Rowena nearly sighed aloud at the delicious scent. From an adjoining kitchen, a pleasant-looking brunette woman rushed to greet them with a smile. Her short curls were tied with a ribbon, her neatly pressed housedress covered with an apron that showed some signs of a fierce battle in the kitchen.

"Come in, come in!" the woman bade Rowena, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and drawing her towards a great table that rested in the middle of the room. Rowena was seated comfortably, finding that she was not the only occupant at the table. No less than four elderly persons sat there as well, three of them smiling warmly at her while the fourth scowled suspiciously.

Charlie and Willy both joined her at the table, sitting on either side of her. "Miss Chantilly," Charlie began by way of introduction, "this is my mum, Mrs. Bucket." The curly-haired woman smiled, waving briefly with one hand before turning back into the kitchen. "And these are my grandparents, Grandpa Joe and Grandma Josephine." The pleasant-looking couple was settled at the head of the table nearest the kitchen, happily piecing together a jigsaw puzzle. They smiled broadly at her, Grandpa Joe actually rising and extending his hand to her. Rowena took it politely, giving it a firm shake.

"And this is Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina," Charlie finished, nodding at the remaining couple. Grandma Georgina grinned toothlessly, her hands folded in her lap. The scowling man, Grandpa George, merely harrumphed, returning his hawk eyed gaze to the novel he appeared to be reading.

The rest of them were clearly waiting for her own introduction, and she hastily supplied one. "I'm Rowena Chantilly. It's a pleasure to meet all of you."

"She's my insurance agent," Mr. Wonka added to her dismay.

"Well, that's yet to be seen," she amended, avoiding his gaze.

Mrs. Bucket had returned from the kitchen, rubbing her hands on the smudged apron. "Charlie told us the factory would be having a guest today. I do hope you're enjoying yourself so far."

"Oh, yes," Rowena tried to assure her, all the while wondering if it was possible to enjoy one's self when they were hopelessly confused. It wasn't everyday that a person stumbled upon a meadow made of candy and the family living within it.

Mrs. Bucket took the remaining chair, sitting directly across from Rowena. "It must seem a bit strange to you now," she added, exuding refreshing wisdom. "Mr. Wonka's certainly created a wonderland here. It was hard for me to believe at first, but now I feel perfectly at home."

The front door flew open, sufficiently distracting the group. "Dad!" Charlie exclaimed, waving at the man Rowena presumed to be Mr. Bucket. Charlie introduced the two to each other, and they briefly shook hands.

"Would you like a seat?" Rowena asked him, noticing that she was taking up an extra place that must have belonged to him.

"Of course not!"

"You're our guest!"

"You just stay where you are, dear."

"Don't be silly!"

These phrases were all exclaimed at once by Charlie, Mr. and Mrs. Bucket and even Mr. Wonka. Rowena smiled sheepishly, interlacing her fingers over the briefcase that sat in her lap.

"Lunch won't be ready for a little while," Mrs. Bucket said, interrupting the brief silence. "But I do hope you'll join us, Rowena. You don't mind if I call you Rowena, do you?"

"Oh…no, of course not!"

Her hesitant answer made Mrs. Bucket frown guiltily and Rowena could feel Mr. Wonka stiffen in his chair beside her.

"I can call you Miss Chantilly, if you prefer," the brunette said with a gentle smile.

"No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. Rowena is fine, really. I'm just not used to people wanting to address me by my first name. I'm not even sure the people I work for know I have a first name," she finished with a warm laugh. The effect was mesmerizing on the group, for she had a truly melodious laugh. Everyone at ease again, Mrs. Bucket nodded before rising from the table and going to check on things in the kitchen.

"Darling, would you find another chair, please?" she called to her husband on her way there, and Mr. Bucket, who had been standing next to Grandpa Joe, happily acquiesced.

Aware of Mr. Wonka's gaze on her again, Rowena fidgeted with her hands. She couldn't begin to imagine what he was looking for. If he had a question for her, he could always ask, couldn't he?

"Rowena is a lovely name," Grandma Josephine commented as she placed a piece down on their puzzle.

Surprised, Rowena's dark eyes filled with sincere gratitude. "Thank you," she replied sweetly, strangely touched by the old woman's offhanded compliment.

"However did you come by it?" Grandma Josephine continued, ignoring the puzzle for a moment.

"Well, my father loved Ivanhoe. Since my mother decided on my elder brother's name, it was his turn to decide on one for me. It's a good thing I wasn't born a boy, or I'm sure he would have named me Ivanhoe." She laughed again, the delightful sound bringing added warmth to the room. Several of the others joined her, Charlie especially amused by her story.

"And what did your mother name your brother?" he asked, provoking even more laughter from Rowena before she could answer. "Fitzwilliam!" she finally burst out and the entire table joined in the laughter. Even Grandpa George cracked a grin, though he quickly hid it behind his book.

"My mother loved Jane Austen's works. My parents were both scholars, you see."

"Does your brother like his name? Or do you tease him all the time?"

Rowena's face fell briefly, unnoticed by all except for the astute Mr. Wonka. Her smile remained, decidedly more forced than before. "My brother passed away a few years ago. But we did tease each other, all of the time. Our names were a sort of inside joke."

Looks of sympathy were shared all around, but none as extreme as Charlie's. "I'm sorry," he told her sincerely, placing his small hand on her shoulder comfortingly. She could see in this boy wisdom beyond his years, a kind of perfect innocence that would never fade. How strange it was to find comfort from the gesture of a child.

"You needn't be sorry, Charlie. Fitz lived a brilliant life. And since he always refused to live with any regrets, I know for a fact that he died without any."

Why did she feel the desire to confide such personal feelings to this group of strangers? For years, Rowena had been determined to keep her personal life to herself, never revealing any details beyond that which was absolutely necessary. Why, then, did she feel she could tell this young boy anything at all, and never fear his reaction?

"You must miss him," Charlie continued, just as Mr. and Mrs. Bucket returned.

"I do," Rowena agreed solemnly, unshed tears shining in her brown eyes. Only Charlie and Willy could see them, and she turned her attention to her hands quickly to avoid their scrutiny. Tears were silly things never shed by Miss Rowena Chantilly. She would hardly cry now, of that she was determined.

Fortunately, Mrs. Bucket presented the perfect distraction, having brought an armful of bowls and silverware to set the table. "Here, let me help you with that," their guest insisted, rising from her chair before anyone could refuse her.

"That would be wonderful, dear," Mrs. Bucket agreed, handing the bowls into Rowena's gentle hands. As she moved around the table, carefully placing a bowl before each person, she could feel Mr. Wonka's eyes following her. He'd said so little since they'd arrived, she couldn't begin to imagine what he was thinking. Had she said too much about her personal life? Was this strange, childish man unmoved by her behavior, perhaps thinking of replacing her?

She shouldn't have cared, but she sincerely hoped she had not upset him. The simple fact for this reaction, she assured herself, was that she wanted to finish her job satisfactorily for all parties involved. That was that.

Just when she was sure she couldn't bear his powerful gaze any longer, the blaring of a siren sounded from outside the house. Everyone started, exchanging curious glances. A few seconds more and the siren was accompanied by a projected voice—Mr. Wonka's voice.

"Intruder alert," the voice called in its strange tones. "Intruder alert, intruder alert," it continued evenly.

By now Willy had risen from the table, pausing for a moment to listen to the alarm. "Come along, Charlie," he called, turning for the door. "We'd better check this out. Miss Rowena Chantilly, you'd best stay here with Mrs. Bucket."

Rowena nodded, alarmed at the turn of events. Apparently sensing her tension, Mrs. Bucket came up behind her, placing her hands on the woman's shoulders in a comforting gesture similar to the one Charlie had manifested before.

"I'm coming, too!" Mr. Bucket declared, leaving the spare chair he'd retrieved stranded in the middle of the room.

Willy held the door open while Charlie and his father rushed outside. His gaze fell for one final moment on Rowena. "I'll be back for you," he promised, and then he was gone.

His words sent a chill down her spine. They had been spoken so solemnly, so nobly, the woman was left reeling, trying to decipher their meaning. Of course they had been meant literally—he was going to investigate a situation in his factory, and then he'd return to continue their tour. Then why did it seem that his words had held some other wordless, powerful meaning?

She was losing her mind. One hour in the factory, and already she was becoming a mad woman. Mrs. Bucket ushered the woman back into her chair, sitting beside her in the chair Charlie had abandoned.

"Interesting character, our Willy," she said with a soft smile, propping her elbow on the table and resting her chin in the palm of her hand.

Should she share her thoughts with Mrs. Bucket? Rowena wondered, sure that the friendship shining in the woman's eyes was genuine. The situation she found herself in was anything but ordinary, and perhaps under the circumstances it would be acceptable to speak candidly.

Her decision made, Rowena turned in her seat so that she faced Mrs. Bucket. "I've never met anyone like him!" she confided, relief instantly filling her.

"I'm sure you haven't," Mrs. Bucket laughed, glancing at the two elderly couples. They appeared to be serenely unaware of the conversation, each devoting their attention to anything other than the two young women. Mrs. Bucket knew better, sure that they were hanging on every word being spoken, but at least their guest would be at ease.

"Don't you let your first impressions fool you. There's much, much more to William Wonka than you may think."

"That, I think, is what unnerves me the most," Rowena said nervously. "He acts so strangely, but his eyes…they're anything but childish."

Taking one of Rowena's hands, Mrs. Bucket patted it gently. "Willy is a wonderful man. Just look at what he's done for my family. Before Charlie found that golden ticket, we were facing ruin. Imagine eating watered down cabbage soup every night in a cottage that invited the cold in more than it kept it out."

"How terrible!"

"Yes, well, we did the best we could. Of course, my husband had his job back soon, but it was still difficult to make ends meet. When Willy had us all moved into the factory, that's when our luck really changed. Everyone was rejuvenated, everyone! Charlie found in Willy a true friend, and I'm sure that Charlie brought some humanity back into Willy's world. And for a family that loves chocolate, we couldn't ask for a better neighborhood!"

The two women, bonding in a way Rowena never thought possible, laughed together. "I heard so many strange things before I came," Rowena admitted, shaking her head at the silly rumors. "It seemed that everyone at my office had something to share. Some said he was mad, another said he was some sort of an evil genius with a factory. There was even a rumor or two that he was deformed, or some silliness like that. Clearly, none of them are true."

Mrs. Bucket shook her head. "What people don't understand, they fear. Willy's not one to welcome the world into his factory. It's not that he's truly unfriendly, but he's certainly not used to large crowds. I'm surprised he's welcomed you the way he has."

"Why's that?"

"Well, the way I understood it, he was planning on showing the insurance agent plans and schematics for the factory rather than giving them an actual tour. There are many secret recipes and new ideas within these walls, secrets that, if his competitor's discovered them, could take away his edge on the competition."

"I'm…flattered," Rowena said slowly, sincerely. "I wonder what made him change his mind."

"Well, it may not seem like it, but Willy's a master of human character. He must have seen right away that you were a woman he could trust, someone who would truly appreciate the wonders of his factory."

Rowena didn't truly believe that, but she said nothing. From the beginning of their awkward introduction in the factory's entry, she'd been all business. She couldn't recall any way she'd acted that even hinted at warmth or understanding. Surely he must have changed his mind about the tour before she'd arrived. She just couldn't believe that she appeared to be anything special at all to the man.

"I've got to check on the stew," Mrs. Bucket said apologetically as she rose from the table.

"Can I…can I help you?" Rowena asked cautiously, hopefully.

"Of course, I'd love it if you would!" Mrs. Bucket said happily, guiding the blonde into the kitchen. "We'll just find you an apron…ah, here we are." She handed a soft and frilly floral creation to Rowena, nodding approvingly at the way it complimented the woman's fair skin tone.

"Can you chop vegetables?"

"Yes, I can!" Rowena couldn't hide the tone of excitement in her voice. For a moment, she'd wondered if she'd actually be able to help Mrs. Bucket at all, but now she was unaccountably pleased that she could. Taking position beside her, Rowena began to expertly slice several crisp carrots. The two women laughed and chatted, content in their work.

And Rowena felt happy. Happier than she had felt in a very, very long time.