It was the morning after Once-ler's family came crashing, literally, into the valley. Once-ler had given Aislinn his word that if his family screwed up any, that he would ask them to leave. Once-ler had gotten up that morning, leaving Aislinn and Pipsqueak in bed sleeping, and had gathered his family together and told them they were hired to help. But he made them promise that they wouldn't cut any Truffula trees down. To his surprise, his family agreed. He then went to gather his thoughts on a few things.

Aislinn had woken up to just her and Pipsqueak in the bed. She had gotten use to the little Barbaloot sleeping with her and Once-ler over the past few months. Aislinn quietly got out of bed and went and took a shower and got dressed. Since summer was almost there, the weather had become warmer and so Aislinn pulled out her dark faded blue-jean shorts and a solid teal short-sleeve top. She had wandered outside to see Once-ler's family and his mother, Isabella, actually picking Truffula tufts. Aislinn still wasn't thrilled with all this. She never liked Once-ler's family when she was his secretary, and she definitely didn't like them when Once-ler had told Aislinn how his family came and convinced him to chop 'just a few' trees.

Aislinn walked over to his family.

"Do you know where Once-ler is?" Aislinn asked, trying to be nice.

Isabella shot a quick glare at Aislinn, but then smiled sweetly at her.

"Oncie?" Isabella said. "I'm not sure where he wandered off to."

Aislinn narrowed her eyes, and bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from saying something.

"He's by the river Aislinn," came a voice to her right.

Aislinn looked to see the Lorax standing there with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Thanks," Aislinn said, turning to head toward the river. "But what are you doing standing there?"

"I'm watching them," the Lorax gestured toward Once-ler's family. "I'm making sure they keep their promise."

"Good," Aislinn said finally walking toward the river. "Someone needs too."

She glanced up and down the river and finally she spotted Once-ler sitting under a Truffula tree, staring at the river. Aislinn quietly walked up beside him and leaned against the tree.

"Solving the world's problems?" Aislinn asked, looking at the Humming Fish laying on a rock in the river.

Once-ler glanced up at Aislinn, and then went back to looking at the river.

"No just thinking," he said quietly.

Aislinn looked at him for a minute, and then sat down next to him, her arm brushing his.

"Alright," she said. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Once-ler answered quickly.

"Liar," Aislinn said, nudging his arm with hers.

Once-ler got quiet. Aislinn frowned slightly.

"Once?" she asked, leaning forward to look at him. "You can tell me what's bothering you."

Once-ler sighed.

"I've just been thinking about some stuff," he said.

"Like what?" Aislinn pressed, still looking at Once-ler.

Once-ler nervously glanced at Aislinn, then back down toward the river.

"Us," he said quietly.

"Us?" Aislinn questioned.

Once-ler nodded and looked at her and saw fear in her eyes.

"It's not bad though!" Once-ler quickly added. "It's just I started thinking that, I never really asked you to be my girlfriend or anything."

Aislinn was confused.

"I thought we were a couple," she said. "We've been acting like a couple anyway."

"Yea I know," Once-ler said, looking at Aislinn.

"What brought all this on?" Aislinn questioned.

"Well," Once-ler said, getting fidgety. "I was talking to Mom and my family this morning, and I told them that me and you talked and agreed that they could stay and help. Then they made fun of me, saying I needed my girlfriend's permission to do anything. And that got me to thinking that I never really asked you to be my girlfriend officially."

Aislinn rolled her eyes slightly.

"Once," she said. "I never really expected you to ask me officially."

Now Once-ler was the one confused.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Aislinn smiled.

"Come on," she said, leaning her head onto Once-ler's shoulder. "I know you're naturally shy. You wouldn't have the guts to ask a confident, beautiful, young lady, such as myself, to be your girlfriend."

Once-ler frowned slightly.

"Hey!" he said. "I do to have the guts to ask you to be my girlfriend!"

Aislinn smiled to herself.

"Oh but you don't have to," she said, smirking.

Once-ler leaned forward and looked at Aislinn.

"I do to!" he said, still frowning slightly. "So I'm asking you now. Aislinn will you be my girlfriend?"

Aislinn got quite for a minute.

"No," she stated.

Once-ler felt his heart drop to his feet. Aislinn leaned over and kissed Once-ler, which confused him.

"How can I say yes," Aislinn said. "When I already was your girlfriend."

Once-ler blinked, and then slowly broke into a huge grin.

"So you already thought of yourself as my girlfriend?" he asked, still grinning and
leaning back onto the tree.

"Yes," Aislinn answered, laying her head against Once-ler's shoulder again. "I already thought I was your girlfriend. But it was nice to hear you ask me."

Once-ler glanced down at Aislinn, before grinning even more, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and looking at the river.

Then he thought of something.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Once-ler said, looking down at Aislinn. "You tricked me into asking you!"

Aislinn grinned and looked up at Once-ler.

"I did no such thing!" she said. "I merely gave you a little push in the right direction."

Once-ler mumbled under his breath, which caused Aislinn to laugh.

They both sat under the tree for awhile, just enjoying each other's presence.

"Oh Oncie!"

Aislinn groaned.

"And there goes a nice romantic moment," she sighed, standing up and turning to see

Isabella walking toward them.

Once-ler frowned and stood up as well.

"What is it Mom?" he asked.

"Oh we just wanted to talk to you," Isabella smiled sweetly.

Aislinn crossed her arms over her chest.

"We?" she asked.

"This is family matters," Isabella sneered at Aislinn.

"She is family Mom," Once-ler frowned.

Isabella smile vanished.

"Oncie," she said. "What do you mean?"

"I mean she's my girlfriend," Once-ler said. "What you need to say to me, can be said in front of Aislinn."

Isabella frowned, as Aislinn grinned in trumiph.

"Of course dear," Isabella said slowly. "I was just wondering why you made us promise not to cut these dumb old trees down. We can cut a few and production could go so much faster."

Aislinn narrowed her eyes.

"He made you promise that," she said. "Because if we cut the trees, we will destroy the valley."

"Nobody asked you, you little brat!" Isabella snapped.

"Mom stop!" Once-ler begged. "And Aislinn, don't even start!"

He saw Aislinn had opened her mouth to say something, but as soon as he said something, the girl closed her mouth.

"Why are you asking about the trees?" Once-ler asked. "I made it pretty clear not to cut them down."

"Well Oncie," Isabella said. "We sorta-."

"BEANPOLE!"

The trio looked up to see the Lorax stomping down toward them.

"I thought you said you weren't going to chop anymore trees down!" the Lorax shouted.

Once-ler was confused.

"I said I wouldn't!" Once-ler defended.

"Then explain why six trees are cut down!" the Lorax shouted again. "I leave for a few minutes and come back to find them cut down!"

"Lorax," Aislinn said, kneeling down to be eye-level with the Lorax. "Once has been with me. He hasn't cut any trees down."

"Then who did?" the Lorax demanded.

Aislinn glared up at Isabella.

"I bet you and your family did it!" Aislinn said, pointing a finger at Isabella. "It's not even on whole day and you've broken your promise!"

"Those trees were already dead!" Isabella snapped, getting in Aislinn's face. "We just helped them down!"

"Those trees were healthy!" the Lorax said.

"See?" Aislinn said. "You broke your promise! You need to leave this valley now!"

"You are not the boss of me!" Isabella hissed.

"STOP IT!" Once-ler shouted.

Everyone was silent. Once-ler had heard enough.

"If the trees were dead like you said," he addressed his mother. "Then that's fine. But don't do it again! Don't cut ANY trees, alive or dead."

"You're defending them?" Aislinn asked. "After what just happened you are defending them?!"

"Ais please," Once-ler begged.

"No!" Aislinn shouted, her voice full of hurt. "They broke their promise! And did you not hear Lorax say those trees were healthy?"

"He must have been mistaken," Isabella said.

"No comments from an overgrown brat!" Aislinn snapped.

Isabella gasped and glared at Aislinn.

"Aislinn, it was an honest mistake on my family's part then," Once-ler said. "They won't be doing it again."

Isabella dramatically nodded her head.

Aislinn couldn't believe it. She threw her hands in the air, turned and walked back to the tent.

"Ais wait!" Once-ler said, going after her.

Isabella watched the two go into Once-ler's tent and close the door. She didn't like that girl. Aislinn was making Once-ler have free will, and Isabella wasn't going to let that happen. Not after she trained Once-ler to do everything she said, all the while giving him the false hope that one day she would really love him.

Isabella walked back to her family. They were all standing inside the RV, so she walked in and closed the door.

"That girl is a problem," Isabella sneered. "We have to get rid of her."

"How?" her aunt, Grizelda, asked.

"By any means," Isabella responded. "But I like the idea of 'permanently' dealing with her."

"You don't mean -?" Grizelda asked.

"Yes," Isabella said. "I want that girl dead!"

Back in the tent, Aislinn was giving Once-ler the silent treatment. When they had gotten in the tent, Once-ler tried talking to Aislinn, but all she did was put her hand up, and say she didn't want to talk to him right now.

Aislinn had went and sat in the living room area on the couch, grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it. Once-ler went and sat on his bed, threw his fedora at the wall in frustration, and ran a hand through his black hair.

"You've royally screwed this up Beanpole," the Lorax said, standing on the counter in the kitchen.

"Go away," Once-ler groaned, falling back on the bed.

He draped his arm over his eyes, trying to think of a way to get Aislinn to listen to him.

"I can't believe you defended them," the Lorax said, jumping off the counter and walking toward the bed.

"Not you too," Once-ler groaned again.

The Lorax jumped on the bed.

"I just know what happened last time they were here," the Lorax said, sitting next to Once-ler.

"And you think I don't?" Once-ler said, removing his arm from his eyes, and turning his head to look at the Lorax.

"You are acting like you don't," the Lorax said simply.

Once-ler frowned.

"Well I do," he said. "I have the nightmares to prove it."

Once-ler averted his eyes to look at Aislinn. She had her face still buried in the pillow, and he could see her shoulders shaking slightly. Aislinn was crying, and it was all his fault.

"Some boyfriend I am," Once-ler muttered. "Not even an 'official' couple for a few hours, and I've made her cry."

The Lorax turned to look behind himself, and saw Aislinn. He frowned and turned back toward Once-ler.

"Well," the Lorax said. "Go talk to her."

"She doesn't want to talk to me," Once-ler said, still looking at Aislinn. "I've already tried."

"Let her calm down," the Lorax said. "She'll listen to you. You two have been through too much to have your family destroy what you have."

Once-ler was silent. He thought about what the Lorax was saying, and he realized the Lorax was right. Once-ler wasn't going to let his family destroy what he had, and he was going to tell his family just that.

Once-ler got up off the bed, with a determined look on his face, and made his way to the door.

"Where are you going?" the Lorax asked.

"To do something I should have done a long time ago," Once-ler said, opening the door and walking toward his family's RV.

Once-ler noticed that it was almost completely dark outside, but he didn't care. Right now, he had something important to do. He didn't even bother to knock on the door to the RV; he simply opened it and saw his mother and his great-aunt talking. The two women jerked and looked up when they heard the door open.

"Oncie?" Isabella nervously asked. "What are you doing in here?"

Once-ler took a shaky breath.

"I came to say a few things," he said, looking mostly at his mother. "I know you cut those trees down, and that they were perfectly healthy."

Isabella frowned.

"But Oncie," she said. "We swear they were de -!"

"I don't believe you," Once-ler interrupted. "And I wasn't finished!"

Isabella clamped her mouth shut into a thin line.

"I don't appreciate you talking to Aislinn like you do," Once-ler continued. "I can handle your words, but don't use them on her! I also know that you are just hoping to get a free ride off of me! You never believed I would make it, and when you heard I did, you came with open arms and praises."

Once-ler saw his family cower, but there was fury in his mother's eyes.

"You always thought I was a dreamer," he said, letting years of builtup emotion out. "You made me think if I did something with myself, you would actually love me! And you nearly had me fooled. You never really loved me or even liked me! I was just a mistake to you! I can't believe I actually thought you would change if I gave you guys a chance."

Once-ler turned his back on his family and stood in the doorway of the RV and looked at the tent.

"I don't need you anymore," Once-ler said, looking over his shoulder at his stunned family. "I have all I need here. All I need is the animals, Pipsqueak, the Lorax and most of all, Aislinn. She actually loves and cares about me, whether or not I'm rich or poor. Aislinn and everything in this valley is all I need, and it took you guys coming here to show me that."

Once-ler stepped outside, turned to face his family and placed his hand on the door.

"I want you to leave by tomorrow morning," he said, coldly. "And I never want to see your faces around here again. Actually, you know what would be even better? I don't want you coming near me, Aislinn or this valley ever. Go home and stay there. You won't control me anymore!"

And with that, Once-ler slammed the door in his family's faces. He then walked back up to the tent and saw Aislinn, her gold eyes red from crying, standing at the door with her mouth gaping open at him. Once-ler gently pushed her back in the tent, closed and locked the door, then ran around inside and closed and locked all the windows. Once-ler then collapsed onto his back, on the bed.

"I can't believe I did that," he said, shocked by his own actions.

"It seems you were pushed in the right direction again," Aislinn said, finally coming out of her trance and sitting on the bed next to Once-ler. "But I don't know what pushed you."

Once-ler looked at Aislinn and gave her a shaky smile.

"Would you believe me if I said it was you?" he said.

Aislinn frowned in confusion.

"Me?" she said, laying down next to Once-ler. "What did I do?"

"I saw you were crying," Once-ler said, looking at Aislinn's tear stained face. "And the
Lorax was talking to me and he said I shouldn't let my family destroy what me and you had. And I decided I wasn't going to let them do that."

Aislinn smiled.

"That took guts to say the things you did," she said, moving over to where her arm was touching Once-ler's. "I heard everything you said."

Once-ler felt his face turn red.

"Everything?" he stuttered.

"Everything Beanpole," the Lorax said, from his pillow bed on the floor.

"I didn't think you could hear me," Once-ler said.

"I got up after I heard Lorax ask where you were going," Aislinn said. "I was worried you were going to do something stupid."

"Like what I just did?" Once-ler asked.

"Actually no," Aislinn admitted. "I just was thinking something stupid, not suicidal."

Once-ler frowned, then chuckled a little.

"I guess I can surprise even you," he said, sitting up on the edge of the bed.

Aislinn sat up and smiled at Once-ler.

"Yes you can," she said, kissing him on the cheek.

Aislinn then got up, and went and changed into her pajamas and came back to bed. Once-ler followed suit after Aislinn and just put on his bunny pajama pants. Once-ler and Aislinn got into bed and laid down next to one another. Once-ler laid on his back with his arm wrapped around Aislinn's shoulder and she laid on her side facing Once-ler, with her head on his shoulder and an arm draped over his bare chest. They both laid there awhile in silence. They had noticed that Pipsqueak had managed to get in the tent and was now sleeping with the Lorax on his pillow bed.

"Are you still upset with me?" Once-ler whispered.

Aislinn glanced up at his face.

"A little hurt," she said. "But not upset anymore. You're too nice to stay upset at. And after hearing what you said to your family, I couldn't be upset at all."

Once-ler smiled a little.

"I still want to say I'm sorry," he said, squeezing Aislinn's shoulder.

Aislinn snuggled closer to Once-ler.

"I know," she said, leaning up and giving him a kiss. "You're forgiven."

Once-ler smiled, then yawned.

"I believe that means it's time for bed," Aislinn said, snuggling even closer. "Good-night Once, I'm proud of you."

"Good-night Ais," Once-ler said, kissing Aislinn on the forehead. "I'm proud of me too."

Aislinn giggled, then closed her eyes and went to sleep, and Once-ler wasn't far behind.

What the couple didn't know, was that Once-ler's family, at that same time, was executing a plan.

"Looks like we'll have to forget the girl for now," Isabella addressed her family. "We are going to cut as may trees as we can by tomorrow morning. Then we'll take the plans on how to make a Thneed."

"How will we get those?" Grizelda asked her niece.

"We get Oncie to give them to us," Isabella responded sweetly.

"What if he doesn't give them willingly?" Grizelda asked.

"Well then," Isabella responded, taking out a handgun from her purse. "We'll just have to MAKE him give us the plans!"

Author's Note:

I don't own The Lorax or the Once-ler or his family or the animals

I DO own Aislinn, Melody, and Grann

So...It's kinda cheesy I'm sorry!

And sorry it's so late for this! I'm at work uploading these (shame on me) and it's been busy till just now!