(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!) Good grief! It's been a whole year since I saw The Lorax trailer, thought of The Once-ler's past and came up with Marie. How time flies! I'll be correcting chapters with typos later.

Chapter 20

It's all So Sudden

The day before, The Once-ler family had arrived home from their little vacation. They decided they would go back someday seeing as it was a peaceful spot out of the forest. All the flower picking, hiking, and cleaning messy baby faces after eating s'mores had left the parents tired. So tired that after Natalie and Chloe were put down, Once-ler and Marie stumbled to bed. They didn't bother getting their pajamas and heavily slept in their underclothes. It didn't occur to either of them until they awoke. Marie realized her slip skirt was riding up under the blankets with one brassiere strap loose and blushed knowing Once-ler was only in boxers.

Marie had awoken to the soft sound of Humming-Fish singing off in the distance. She blinked and rolled over to face Once-ler. Both were too comfortable to leave the warmth of their bed. Marie stroked his hair and sighed. Once-ler blinked his eyes open and pressed a light kiss to her soft lips upon first sight. He ran his palm over her lower back as the sun rays danced in. Shadows of the trees stood among the tent walls. Cuddling, innocent kissing and a conversation to start off the day; it was a perfect morning.

"Hello Handsome," said Marie to her beloved.

"Hey Beautiful," said Once-ler with a groggy smile. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?"

"Once," chuckled Marie pulling him back for another kiss. Marie was always touched when Once-ler said she looked wonderful. Then she remembered something. "Are you going to be late for the store?"

"The store can wait," said Once-ler. "I have time for you."

"Good," said Marie. She thought of her parents and how they were compared to their daughter and son-in-law. "Once-ler, I don't want you to be like Mother and Father so promise me something."

"What's that?"

"Just promise me you won't let the new business get the best of you. Don't lose sight of what you have."

"I promise," said Once-ler. Marie nestled into the crook of his neck, satisfied with his word.

It was an hour later when Once-ler and Marie were up. Marie was outside picking fruit and left her husband to feed their twins. Marie was kind enough to give Melvin a spare fruit. The June weather seemed perfect in Truffula Valley. It wasn't too hot and the air was cool so the cottage door was open. Marie stood on her tip-toes to reach the lower trees.

"Mornin Waterfall," said The Lorax walking by.

"Morning," said Marie. She went on plucking the fruit down in a bucket.

"Isn't Beanpole the one who gets the Truffula Fruit?" questioned The Lorax.

"He wanted to feed the twins," said Marie. "We're trying to wean the girls and it may help if he feeds them."

"Wean?"

"Get them off the milk from me," said Marie. "They're fifteen months old right now. It's time they started having milk out of cartons."

"Humans," mumbled The Lorax. When baby creatures were done with milk they didn't have anymore. "I'll be inside tryin to forget this conversation."

He found the door open and in their bouncers were Natalie and Chloe, bibbed and food stained. The Lorax chuckled seeing them and let out a huge laugh seeing Once-ler.

"You look nice today," he laughed.

"Not in the mood Mustache," said Once-ler with a frown. He had splatters of mashed sweet potatoes, bananas, peaches and applesauce on his white shirt and vest. He yanked his desk chair to the table where his daughters awaited for breakfast.

"What is that?" asked The Lorax in disgust.

"Breakfast," said Once-ler. Then he grinned at the girls to be optimistic and spoke in a high pitched tone. "Okay. We're going to try smashed green beans Bunnies."

The Lorax watched Once-ler struggle to feed them. Chloe kept turning her head away and Natalie would spit any spoonful out. It was funny to watch for the forest guardian. Finally, Once-ler tried a new tactic.

"Come on," said Once-ler. "Daddy likes green beans. See?" He slipped a green mouthful in, but shuddered. It tasted just as bad as it did last time. He bolted up and spat the mush in the sink.

"Not very good eh?" asked The Lorax.

"I still don't like them," coughed Once-ler. "Okay. No more green beans." He got another baby food jar out.

"Well," chuckled Marie who came in. "Looks like our sweethearts are winning the food fight." She put the bucket down on counter.

"Can you please just feed them?" pleaded Once-ler.

Marie sympathetically laughed and did what he asked. After Once-ler changed his messy clothes, Marie took the girls out for a stroll. Once-ler said he would have breakfast for just the two of them when she got back. With a kiss good-bye (which earned a grumble from The Lorax) Marie pushed the carriage out with her happy babies.

Pipsqueak came in with his brood of Bar-ba-loots. They all looked hungry. Swomee-Swans joined and roosted in nooks. Once-ler didn't mind the invasion anymore and sometimes made pancakes for the valley's inhabitants.

"You want to help?" asked Once-ler to Pipsqueak. The cub giggled and climbed onto the counter. Once-ler tied on his apron as The Humming-Fish waddled in crooning for a treat.

Once-ler made more than he expected. One of the Humming-Fish couldn't stop eating and literally became round! Pipsqueak helped with serving and Melvin peeked his head in the window earning a few sugar cubes from his master. It looked like an extra perfect day.

"Alright I've got eighths," said Once-ler putting another stack of pancakes out for his neighbors. Eagerly the breakfast was devoured and Once-ler started another batch.

"I'm gettin full," mumbled The Lorax. He patted his stomach and fell back on the bed which suited as a table for all. Crumbs were already on the covers.

"You'll want more," smirked Once-ler. The Lorax could eat a lot and even he knew that.

The only sound was Once-ler humming, the sizzling of batter in the frying pan and the content mutters of creatures. Pipsqueak wobbled with the plate as Once-ler flipped the cakes with the spatula. There weren't any sounds outdoors and every few minutes Once-ler checked out his window for Marie. Then suddenly there was a faint rumbling. It became strong enough that it made everyone stumbled and become wide-eyed.

"What?" said Once-ler. "What's going on?" He tossed the spatula down and took his apron off. He hurried out of the door and shaded his eyes. By that time, the houseguests had followed him out. What came over the hill made everything change for Once-ler.

"And when we get home we're going to make Truffula Fruit Pie," said Marie unaware of the change at that moment as she chatted with her babies. "It's going to be really fun." She continued pushing the carriage and she found they were in their area. She noticed something askew among their inhabitance. A crowd of people were walking off, looking pleased, over the hill and vanished out of sight.

"What?" gasped Marie. "What are all these people doing here?" She hurried to the cottage where Once-ler was kneeling on the ground. Much to Marie's astonishment, all around him where dollar bills, many tied in rubber bands. Once-ler had a few tucked in his vest and plastered on his face was a huge and triumphant smile.

"They changed their minds!" he shouted in jubilee. He started laughing and leaped up to hug Marie.

"About wh-" started Marie. She didn't finish because Once-ler passionately connected to her mouth, dipping her down. "What happened?" she asked when she caught her breath.

"They love the Thneed!" said Once-ler. "We're in business Baby!"

"They like it now?" Marie was glad to see Once-ler succeeding, but she was shocked that after almost two years Thneeds were now popular. It was all so sudden!

"Yeah!" laughed Once-ler ecstatically. He was so giddy he couldn't think straight. "We're gonna be rich!" He planted kisses on his daughters' heads thinking of all the things he could buy for them.

Suddenly he raced inside and fumbled to find the radiophone. Marie held the twins as she came in. Then she had a bad feeling of why Once-ler was using it. He carried on with spreading the good news.

"Mom?" he said chatting away. "Hey! It's me! Listen, you need to bring the whole family down here right now!"

After Once-ler hung up he served Marie the last batch of pancakes, which she knew had been huge portions. Once-ler seemed extra peppy after getting praised and literally raised up by the people who once scorned him.

"Who is up for ninths?" he asked enthusiastically. He gave a quick smooch to Marie's head giving her a plateful.

"I didn't even have firsts," laughed Marie knowing their animal company had left. She watched Once-ler busily clean the kitchen and grinned knowing how happy he was. Having Once-ler happy meant the day was twice as blissful. The bad feeling she had earlier with him calling his mother began to fade.

The next day, it all went downhill when Marie heard the sound of that blasted RV come crashing through the trees. Chloe and Natalie were in their crib playing with toys. Marie felt apprehensive of Isabella seeing them just yet and asked for Once-ler to keep them back until his family was settled in.

Once-ler had rested in the patio chair with the curious animals and grim Lorax for their arrival. Marie crawled on the bed and watched at the impending doom that had entered their paradise. She saw Once-ler get up and wait excitedly for the RV to pour out his relatives. Pipsqueak hid behind his ankles at the large, metal transportation device. Marie glanced out of the stained glass seeing the RV open its door. Always looking like her intimidating self, Aunt Grizelda stepped out.

"What a dump!" she said in disgust.

"How nice to see you to," Marie mumbled to herself.

"Hey Aunt Grizelda!" said Once-ler being his usual upbeat self.

Brett and Chet jumped out and immediately started playing football…with a Bar-ba-loot! Marie watched in horror as Brett (it was Brett right?) flung the poor animal and she assumed Chet ran after it. Chet smacked into a tree with the frightened creature landing on him.

"He totally ran into that tree!" Brett laughed. He gave a high five to Once-ler and ran off.

"Owww!" groaned Once-ler. He gripped his hand in pain. Brett and Chet had more muscle though Once-ler was capable of dragging a Truffula Tree.

Then the mother of all worst mothers stepped out. Isabella used poor and aging Uncle Ubb as a stepstool to get down. Once-ler locked his hands behind his back and smiled seeing her. Marie furrowed her eyebrows as she watched the devious woman step up to her son and pull his squished face down to kiss it. The Lorax looked just as horrified of Isabella noticing the faux fox Isabella always wore.

"We always knew you'd make it Oncie," said Isabella. Then with a glint in her eye that made Marie nervous she glanced to the rest of her brood. "Right?" she added in an odd tone.

"Hey!" said Ubb. "I love this guy!" He jumped up to give his great-nephew a hug.

"But you always said I wouldn't amount to anything." said Once-ler feeling confused by his family's actions.

"Oh hush your mouth!" said Isabella sweetly in her Southern drawl. "I was just trying to motivate you!"

Marie bit her lip and shifted on the bed. She overheard what Once-ler said about how it had hurt him for a long time with Isabella's downgrading. Only Marie knew the truth. She knew how Once-ler had always felt about it; he only told her.

"Anyway," said Once-ler after his quick confession to his mother. "Everyone's here! Marie's been here for a long time." He gave a quick glance to the window knowing Marie was watching. He gave a reassuring smile to his wife. She was a Once-ler now so she counted as his family.

"Time to face the music," said Marie getting up. She stopped at the door and took a deep breath. Once-ler would look out for her no matter what could be said to offend her.

Marie peeked out of the door shyly to see her in-laws. She felt a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach seeing them and an ache in her heart. It looked like those perfect days with just Once-ler were gone. Her biggest concern was that they'd be living in the forest in their little RV. Next door neighbors for in-laws… She sighed and tried to find courage to step out.

"So where's my great-niece-in-law?" asked Ubb. "I've gotta give her a hug!"

"She's putting-oh! Here she is," said Once-ler cheerfully as Marie stepped outside.

"Hey!" said Ubb loudly. "I love this girl! How've you been Sweet Cheeks?" He pulled her into a hug and Marie had to lean a little since Ubb was a bit shorter than her.

"I've been great," said Marie politely and giving Ubb a pat on the back. "Thanks." She wasn't sure if she wanted to be called Sweet Cheeks.

"Ah! Moira!" said Isabella. "There's my favorite daughter-in-law!"

"Marie," corrected her "favorite" daughter-in-law. Marie was pulled into a hug and multiple pecks on her cheek by Isabella, but there was something wrong in her grip that Marie noticed. It didn't really affectionate, it seemed forced and tight.

"I'm so glad Oncie found you," said Isabella.

"Really?" asked Marie. "I thought you weren't very fond of me."

"Oh!" gasped Isabella. "Now what gave you that idea?! I've always adored you."

"Really Isabella?" thought Marie dryly. "Really?" She kept her tongue quiet and clung to her patience. She knew Once-ler would be gracious to his in-laws and there was no excuse for her to act differently.

"So we're all here," said Once-ler pleased to see his mother and wife getting along. "We can get to work."

"Brett! Chet!" yelled Isabella. "Set up the RV!" She turned to see them playing football. "Will you stop throwing that bear?"

Brett and Chet raced back, dropping the poor Bar-ba-loot. One of them pushed a button on the side of the RV and much to Marie's and The Lorax's horror it pulled apart and biggered over the cottage. A pool with a slide, a patio swing, a clothes line, a satellite dish and a pink flamingo suddenly stood out like a sore thumb over Truffula Valley. Once-ler seemed fascinated, but Marie and The Lorax looked concerned. Only The Lorax reacted vocally.

"No, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" said The Lorax. He stepped in front with hands up. "Time out! Back up! Stop! Don't move an inch! Nobody's movin in here. You've gotta go! Good-bye."

"So who invited the giant, furry peanut?" asked Grizelda with her rough voice.

"You callin me a peanut huh?" demanded The insulted Lorax. "I'll go right up your nose!"

"Ha!" sneered Grizelda. She shoved her purse into Ubb as she went forward to battle. The Lorax pumped his fists preparing for punches.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" said Once-ler trying to keep the peace. "You wouldn't hit a woman?"

"That's a woman?" asked The Lorax in surprise. Marie had to bite her lips to stifle her laughter.

"Okay," said Once-ler kneeling between the opponents. "Everyone cool it. Let's not get off on the wrong foot here." He made introductions. "Family, this is my friend-"

"Acquaintance," said The Lorax gruffly.

"Acquaintance," corrected Once-ler hiding the bit of hurt in his tone. Marie noticed it too and she wondered if Once-ler truly saw The Lorax as a friend. "Very good acquaintance; the Lorax. He speaks for the trees."

"That's right and on behalf of the trees," said The Lorax with venom in his words. "Get out!"

The Once-ler family seemed offended, expect for Marie. Once-ler shoved The Lorax back to talk one-on-one with him.

"Be nice!" he said. "This is my family! And I'm going to need their help if my company's going to get bigger."

"Bigger?" asked The Lorax worriedly. "Eh. Can't you and Waterfall do it on your own?"

"No," said Once-ler. "It's too big for just the two of us." He went into dramatics with his hands to explain the vastness of his ideas. "This isn't some rinky-dink operation anymore. I've got plans! A vision of a world filled with Thneeds! It's going to be huge!"

"Which way does a tree fall?" asked The Lorax after a pause and a sigh.

"Uh…down," said Once-ler thinking it was the obvious answer.

"A tree falls which way it leans," said The Lorax solemnly. "Be careful which way you lean." And with that he sadly walked away.

While Once-ler had tried selling his idea to his friend, Brett and Chet greeted Marie with bone-crushing hugs. It had actually been nice of Brett and then Chet to greet her that way. It seemed genuine compared to Isabella and Grizelda barely regarded her.

"Hey!" said Brett cheerfully seeing his new relative. "How's my little sis?"

"Great," said Marie inhaling deeply after being freed.

"Say," said Ubb. "Where are those cute little great-great nieces? I've been dying to see them!"

"They're napping," said Marie quickly. "You can see them later. I don't want them cranky right now. They'll cry if their woken up." She felt overprotective of Natalie and Chloe thinking of her new family. She had fears of them being dropped, bumped or jostled by any of the Once-lers, save one.

"Twins!" said Isabella. "I remember when Brett and Chet were babies! So precious!" She gripped Marie's shoulders and then looked her over with a critical eye. "Oh! Still carrying that baby weight Sugar?" She patted Marie's lower stomach with her back hand.

"No," said Marie shaking her head and comprehending that Isabella had just called her Sugar.

"Oh," said Isabella. "You don't have to lie. It took me time to lose weight. No need to be embarrassed."

"Mom," said Once-ler coming to Marie's aid after pondering what The Lorax said. "She's not lying. She's back down to her old size." He wrapped his arm around Marie's waist and kissed her hair. He was proud of Marie for her weight loss and still content with her curved figure.

"Oncie, you don't have to lie for her," said Isabella. She flipped her hand and smiled.

"I've lost forty pounds," said Marie downheartedly. "Forty and a half, really." She pressed a hand over her belly which used to be a bulge from pregnancy. Her self-esteem went down a notch. All that walking for exercise and cutting out sweets had meant hard work and discipline.

"Oh well," said Isabella. Her voice dripped with sweetness, secretly accusing Marie. "There's always room for progress." She turned back to the RV with a sly grin.

Once-ler was surprised to hear the accusation, but Marie felt her blood boil. She tore away from Once-ler and started seething. After all that year of dropping pounds and people thinking her fat since her body matured, someone had the nerve to tell Marie that!

"Why I-" began Marie with irrational anger rising. She clenched her fists and took a step.

"Whoa!" said Once-ler lifting her at the waist and turning a 180. "Don't get your breast milk in milkshake Marie," he said softly. He took her hand and headed for the cottage.

"Where are you going?" asked Chet. None had overheard Once-ler's comment.

"Just a minute," said Once-ler. "We-have things to do, but I'll be back out to show you what to do with the trees." He slipped back inside with his wife.

"She had no right to say that," said Marie when the door was closed and pointed to herself. "If I still have weight, it's because I'm still feeding two babies and-and I have a child-bearing thighs. I carried twice as much! I can't help that!"

"I know you have," said Once-ler taking her hands back in his. "Mom's never lost weight since she had Brett and Chet. She never went back to her figure from high school so she's one to talk."

"But she-" Marie started to whine. She inhaled and dropped down on the bed. "I didn't mean to start getting mad. I'm sorry."

"What?" asked Once-ler calmly. "I'm not mad at you. I've felt that way with Mom and what she's said about me. She loves me, but she-" He moved his hands trying to find the right definition. "She doesn't know how to show it."

"I'm-I'm just nervous," said Marie messing her hair.

"I thought you were okay with this," said Once-ler. "That's what you told me or-"

"I was," said Marie. "Then I saw them coming in their RV and now I'm nervous with them all here. I feel like I have to be this perfect image now…like at home."

"They don't know you like I do," said Once-ler sitting next to her. "It's going to be different with them here, but they're here to help. We can't do it on our own if Thneeds are taking off."

"I just don't want them to invade everything we do," said Marie. "You, me and the girls."

"I know," said Once-ler. They had discussed it the night before. "They won't be a part of everything. I'll make them live in Greenville and we'll stay out here." He hugged Marie close. "I know they're crazy, but if you can put up with me, you can do the same." He formed a teasing smile. "I'm just as bad as them right?"

"No," said Marie smiling at Once-ler's joke. She tilted his fedora over his eyes. "Well, I've had years of practice dealing with you."

"What do you mean?" asked Once-ler pretending to be wounded by her. They both laughed and Marie hugged him back. "Okay, I'll get them going on harvesting the tufts and afterwards we'll introduce the next generation to them. And don't worry. I won't let Brett and Chet hurt them."

"Agreed," said Marie. She glanced at the clock. "Actually, can you get the next generation? They'll want their milk now."

After Once-ler helped Marie get Natalie and Chloe, he went back to give instructions. There would be no axes, just plucking with the tweezers he made and they had to go in the wagon. It seemed simple enough and everyone went to work. Pleased to see things working out, Once-ler decided to finish a sketch of his. It was a store and factory in one. He felt more confident in his work after the sudden Thneed success. How it came to be was beyond imagination.

It turned out that the lone Thneed Once-ler had tossed in the trash had been flung onto a young girl and it had been shaped into a hat. Of course, the public, who could be very, very fickle, loved it right then! (Unbeknownst to Marie and Once-ler that was after an incident which involved a stray cat rummaging in the trash, who accidentally got thrown with the trash in the garbage truck. The poor cat got caught in the Thneed and when a strong wind blew the cat went flying with the Thneed shaping into something like a parachute. The cat smacked into a motorcyclist, blinding him and made a wrong turn on a ramp. The motorcyclist went flying in mid-air, through a doughnut shop sign, over four school buses and earned applause for his surprise stunt. He flung the Thneed off and then it hit the girl.) One had to see it to believe it!

Greenville's residents had searched for where the lanky gentleman lived. To their dismay, he wasn't in Greenville. It only took them time to piece together that he lived outside of the town and found him. They were so busy chattering about buying, they didn't see The Lorax behind Once-ler. (Neither wanted to admit they hugged each other from fear moments before.)

Now, with Once-ler drawing away, Marie settled on the bed with a pillow in her lap, babies resting against it and nursed them. She could forget about Isabella's harsh words for the time being and focus on better things. Once-ler got his desk chair pulled out, easel adjusted and started drawing. Marie listened to the faint scribbling of pencil against paper. By the time Once-ler was done drawing, the twins were content and dozed off.

"It's amazing," said Once-ler to himself looking at his drawing. "I am so proud of me." He leaned back easily thinking of how perfect everything was. Perfect career, perfect woman, perfect children, what more could he ask?

"Oncie?" asked Isabella. She peeked her head at the window and broke her son's thoughts. "We've got ourselves a little problem.