(The Lorax and The Once-ler do not belong to me. They're Dr. Seuss' and Illumination's. Same goes for his family shown in the film. Marie and those cute baby girls are mine!) Sorry this is short and chapter-fillerish, but the next one will be long! The river will be very important later on in the story so this chapter mainly focuses on that and Once-ler...you'll see why. ;)

Chapter 19

Once-ler's Understanding

Marie woke up feeling squished in the bed and when she blinked the sleep out of her eyes she saw why. The covers were halfway off her body and Once-ler was on his back. Nestled in the bed were Natalie and Chloe and it wasn't the first time either.

Once-ler and Marie had made a habit to read to the twins at night with both of them taking turns with voicing characters while their girls were snuggled up. Usually, by the time the twins were asleep, Marie and Once-ler returned them to their crib. However, for a couple of nights Once-ler and Marie dozed off while reading and all four were cuddled in the small bed. It was safe with how old the girls were and a good bonding experience.

Also there had been some Saturday afternoons that Once-ler put a Thneed hammock up and cradled with twins against his chest while they slept. Half of the time, this made him rest his eyes. It was an image that was engraved in Marie's heart seeing Once-ler with his fedora tipped over his eyes, babies in his safe hold, a blanket over them and the hammock gently swinging.

At that moment, Chloe was stretched out against Once-ler's chest and Natalie was splayed out next to Marie. The twins opened their eyes and yawned to see their mommy first. Eagerly they awaited her salutation.

"Good morning," said Marie sweetly. She gave each baby a kiss. "Rise and shine Natty. Wakey, wakey Chloe."

With a blissful sigh at her family, Marie inched her way out of bed with the book they had read. She and Once-ler had a special day planned and they wanted to start it as early as possible. Marie got dressed and prepared some breakfast. By the time Marie was preparing some oatmeal (something healthier than pancakes for the babies) Natalie sat up and sucked on her pacifier. Chloe crawled around on the mattress and Once-ler lightly turned over in a deep sleep. When Marie had the small bowls filled of breakfast set out, she got her significant other up.

"Once?" whispered Marie. She gave a soft smooch against his hair. "Time to get up. We wanted to be on our way before lunch, remember?" Chloe crawled over Once-ler's head which surprised him enough.

"Alright," mumbled Once-ler. "Who's crawling on me?" Once-ler reached a hand up and felt a head of tiny curls.

"Even Chloe wants you up," chuckled Marie. Then Natalie joined her sister in waking their daddy.

"I'm up," sighed Once-ler, but he was obviously happy. He pried the babies off him to give their heads a kiss. "Morning Baby Girls."

"Let's get moving," said Marie tossing Once-ler's shirt on his legs.

"What got you up today?" asked Once-ler. "You're usually the last one out of bed!"

"Today's different," said Marie grinning. She put her hands behind her back and gave a bashful shrug. "I'll only kiss you "good morning" if you get ready for the day."

"What?" said Once-ler in pretend horror. "You hear that girls? Mommy's not going kiss me! That's just terrible!" Chloe nodded and giggled in response.

"It's either that or you're on diaper patrol…for the whole day." Marie turned to get the bibs for the twins. She heard the bed creak fast and knew Once-ler wouldn't take the second choice.

"Are you going?" laughed Marie, not turning around.

"I'm going," said Once-ler, but he gave a quick kiss to the back of Marie's head.

Before Marie knew it, Once-ler was prepared for the day and outside getting the wagon ready. Marie got the girls set and by the time it was mid-morning Marie went outside with their babies to check on Once-ler.

"Will you be good if I put you down?" asked Marie. Chloe and Natalie smiled to reply. "Okay, down you go. Stay where you are." Marie freed the twins on the grass and they stood still at the big world.

"Everything's almost set," said Once-ler brightly. He climbed out of the back of the wagon. "We'll leave in a couple of minutes Marie."

Once-ler had kept his promise of taking a vacation after the shop was done. No one had shown interest in coming into the shop, but Once-ler wouldn't let it discourage him on that beautiful day. It was especially a beautiful day because it was the day before his and Marie's second wedding anniversary. They would leave their cottage for two days and go deeper into the valley.

The only thing missing from packing for the couple of days was the first Thneed Once-ler had made. He still wore it for a scarf sometimes, but for some reason the day before he went home something took hold of him when he looked at the accursed article. He had locked up the new shop Little Saplings for the evening and suddenly took the material off of him. He had looked at it long and hard. Then with a smile and feeling freed somehow he placed it in the nearby trash bin. It didn't matter anymore. Once-ler didn't want to see it again and cheerfully went home to his favorite persons. It was time for a new, improved start. It looked like the Thneed was no more.

Perhaps…

Marie and Once-ler went back to fetch the soft part of their bed, unaware that curiosity was getting the best of Natalie and Chloe. Bar-ba-loots were frisking about, Humming-Fish springing out of the riverbank, and Swomee-Swans soared overhead. Tiny flowers blossomed and the trees swayed faintly in the mid-morning breeze. The Lorax showed up and smiled to himself as he began to stroll about. Pipsqueak trailed behind him nibbling on Truffula Fruit.

They both sat down watching the twins toddled about in the distance. They weren't too threatening after all. It seemed like the Forces of Nature act had been pointless. Chuckling to himself at the babies who were as charming as Pipsqueak, The Lorax kept an eye on them. Moments later, Marie and Once-ler came back out heaving the mattress together and slipped it into the back of the wagon.

"Where are you two goin?" The Lorax asked.

"Nowhere," said Once-ler. He didn't want any of the valley's inhabitants to follow his family on that day.

"Just around," said Marie. "It's just for us four, so don't stalk us."

"You're takin' your saplings?" asked The Lorax.

"No," said Once-ler sarcastically. "We're leaving them here to fend for themselves." He rolled his eyes at the stupid question.

"Well they're going without you," said The Lorax and pointed to the river.

Natalie and Chloe had run the best a baby could run towards the water. With horrified shouts the petrified parents raced down to catch them. It was a little amusing to see the babies act completely blissed while their panicked mother and father raced after them. It wasn't amusing to Marie or Once-ler who were extra cautious around water with their twins. Of course, both were disappointed they hadn't kept a better eye on the girls. However, nothing bad had happened, nobody drowned or went over a waterfall so shortly after that Marie and Once-ler were relieved. Once-ler gave a nod of thanks to his friend before they departed from their cottage.

The incident was almost forgotten when got on their way. Down the hill of the waterfall and past the rapids Melvin trotted. The moment Once-ler saw the rushing waves he was hesitant to continue, but vowed inside that the twins would not get close to the river again without him around. The family went farther down into the forest and into a thicker area where the river became calm and (at a safe distance) formed a pool which trailed off into a gentle stream. The trees were bent slightly over giving the area shade. It wasn't commonly visited by animals since it was closer to the rapids. Marie found it intriguing and saw they were a good distance away from their home.

It did take some persuasion to Once-ler that they'd be more watchful with the girls, but eventually they settled down. They spent most of the day trekking around which Marie was thrilled to do. She felt at home in Truffula Valley just like she did back in Thrush Towne. Homesickness wasn't such a great force anymore. The adventure of day came to a close when a naptime came in order.

If anyone had ventured out far enough, they would've found the little group huddled up in the wagon. Three of them were sleeping, but Once-ler didn't sleep and gazed at what he had been blessed with.

Marie looked like a figure out of the storybook they read at night with her hair falling over her shoulders and face. Natalie and Chloe's eyelids fluttered while dreaming. Once-ler brushed a fingertip affectionately over each face. Then he peeked out over the end they rested against and cringed seeing the river though it wasn't as threatening.

Perhaps if Once-ler hadn't become a father he wouldn't had fretted over it so much, but with the experience he had he feared greatly of his daughters being in any danger. He didn't want to seem overprotective, but honestly if there was anything he feared the most it was losing sweet, little Natalie and Chloe.

"Just because it happened you, doesn't mean it will happen to them." He kept that thought over in his mind.

It was true, but Once-ler still thought of things that could happen. He didn't want Marie to worry about it and she seemed more open to nature. She'd want the girls to explore one day. Besides, the concern was a little personal to Once-ler when it came to consideration of drowning.

Once-ler wasn't only thinking of that. He was also thinking of Greenville. He didn't want the town to treat Chloe and Natalie like it treated him. He couldn't find any reason why someone would fling tomatoes at a child, but the city had left him in wonder. How was he supposed to keep his girls safe from terrible people? He couldn't lock them away in a tower; they had to live their lives.

"I'm pretty sure Mom didn't think of this," thought Once-ler. He rested his chin against his palm as he stared out into the beauty. Once-ler knew he had a responsibility with his twins and he wanted to fulfill it. He was a different young man after seeing those little beings for the first time.

A snuffle from Natalie broke his chain of thought. Marie said she had a feeling Natalie would snore when bigger. Once-ler chuckled seeing Natalie's nose wiggle and her fist clench. Suddenly she whimpered and a sob shook her. Her pacifier had dropped out of her mouth when her head was turned. Easily Once-ler gently placed it back and Natalie settled down.

Putting his thoughts aside for the time being, Once-ler slunk back down to their cot. He lay face-to-face and felt sleep take over. Before he dozed off, Once-ler allowed his legs to tangle with Marie's like always and one thought lingered towards his daughters.

"I'll always be here for you."