Romance That Remains Forever

by bellechat

Alternate version of "From Romance to Friendship" that I've been wanting to do. What would've happened if the girl The Once-ler loved had gone with him to Truffula Valley? Certain things that he might've missed they get to endure! How bad can it be? ;) Pairing is Once-lerxOC (well developed!) MariexOnce for you who know! Review! Rated T to be safe. GOING THROUGH EDITS AT THE MOMENT

33. Yesterday is a Broken Promise

Author's Note: Chapters may have more flashbacks then before. TheDarkestAngel2000 I noticed in your story you were going to banish Once-ler similarly to how I would so I decided to adjust mine so it'd be different. :) Angelina The Vampire Princess thanks for the story follow and reviews on my old stuff!ViolentGallifreyanScribbles thank you as well for the follow! Writers Block 420 thanks for the follow! Rose of Sharon Cassidy and Kibalover3029 thanks for the favorite and follow. Hey Beatrice Den, remember that talk we had about kid's health in that destroyed valley? ;) Condos are based off of 70s styles from La Jolla where Dr. Seuss lived! Cliffhanger at the end! Edited and some things added on 09/12/13.

(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 her growing girls are mine! P.S. Any names I use from other Seuss books aren't mine either; they'll always belong to Dr. Seuss.) Get some food/drink and your Kleenex! Sadness alert! Emotion alert! Family feels alert! Husband and wife feels alert!

Chapter 33

Yesterday is a Broken Promise

Her hair was up, mainly to prevent batter from getting in her curls. She had taken up her new husband's pajama shirt because she had longed to try it on for a long time. When he first made them out of the coziest fabric he could find she thought they looked funny with the rabbit pattern. Yet they looked so snug and the perfect thing to wear for a night in. Marie had dressed in it (she knew she wouldn't be able to tug the long pants up with it) and felt energetic. It was mid-morning and she felt eager to make Once-ler breakfast.

When she had opened the fridge she was amazed by all the food Once-ler had made the day before. She had to take some things out to reach the milk. She went on making breakfast and found herself getting lost in her memories. She was so lost in fact that she didn't hear the sound of footsteps and then was surprised to feel Once-ler hug her from behind.

"Morning Beautiful," came his voice along with him adding kisses to her neck.

"Morning Honey," she had answered with a laugh. With a passionate kiss from her head tilt she turned around to hug him. "Sorry I wasn't there when you woke up, but I wanted to make breakfast for my husband."

"Aw, I was going to make breakfast for you," he said. He pouted playfully at her to which had made her giggle.

"You can tomorrow. We have two weeks and forever for you to cook for me."

Then he kissed her again. Marie placed her head against his shoulder the best she could since she was a foot shorter than him. It didn't feel awkward or strange to be in love or connected in a new way to Once-ler. He rubbed circles in her back and nuzzled his chin over her head. Then suddenly he felt he had something to ask her.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Huh?" murmured Marie as she traced one of the green stripes in his old pajamas which had his wrists and ankles sticking out comically for they were short on him. "What was that?"

"Are you okay after…?" Once-ler trailed off. He felt it was only decent enough to ask Marie since she had nearly been taken advantage off by that awful Frankie Stanford. She had been anxious of that new level of romance and he had wondered if it was a bad idea to suggest them washing up thanks to the rainstorm.

"I had never done it before," she whispered though she knew he wasn't surprised by that. "But I'm glad I have you."

"Same here," said Once-ler who was one of the rare young men who had an extra sensitive side. Then he pulled Marie away to see her face and he trailed the back of his knuckles over her cheek. "I don't want anyone else except you."

"They're burning," said Marie abruptly after a tender pause.

"What is?"

"The pancakes Once!" said Marie and she twisted around to turn off the stove.

Thankfully she had made some more already on a plate for them. After a laugh they both sat down, chairs close so that Marie could nuzzle her head against him, and they talked with some giggling over what they would do for the day. So it began…

So it had begun indeed long ago and yet not so long ago as Once-ler stood there with memories swarming him along with his guilt. After feeling Marie's return, he was at a loss for words and he found himself thinking over what he could've done. Then it led to every wrong thing he had done in his life. Everything from that "F" on an English paper he turned in during fifth grade to when he upset one of the toddler twins (perhaps it was a cantankerous Natalie) when he accidentally dropped some silverware on the floor thanks to his sudsy hands. That did lead him to remembering that one morning. A little light in the darkness had emerged, but it didn't last for long among all the negative emotions.

The only good feeling was the warmth against each other as they stood there, still looking at the sky. Marie still pressed to Once-ler's back and his hand over hers. Both pairs of blue eyes were misty. He had watched countless creatures leave and his other dear friend despite the rivalry they had shared sometimes. She had come just in time to see the line of animals pace out. Melvin had given her one look to say farewell. Edwin had curled around her ankles and after she had knelt to hold him he wiggled out and went off. It had been hard to watch, but they had to be safe. Marie, deep down, had a feeling that it was fair for him to go. It was humble that Edwin had gone and at least Melvin had a friend with him. They just had to alright and at least they could hope.

"Mom?" called out a shaky voice.

Natalie stood there watching them with huge eyes. Marie's lips wobbled and she hurried up the steps with her daughter meeting her halfway. They hugged tightly and soon Natalie was lifted up.

"I missed you," said Natalie into her mother's neck.

"I missed you too," said Marie with that motherly affection. "I'm here now." She forgot about her purse, Betsy's suitcase or the bad news. "I'm back. I'm home."

"Chloe's sick," whimpered Natalie. "She threw up! She won't eat! Everything's bad! Chloe fell in the river like five days before and then she fell in again two days ago and-I said I wouldn't tell and-but she's-Mom I'm scared."

Natalie who had always been in control with a maturity she had at her age, had never seemed so wracked with grief. She led her mother into the office while her father still stared out. He was hoping The Lorax would come back to give a last piece of advice. Indeed the little girl wasn't any better. Chloe was all curled up in the desk chair and sweating bullets. Her body was higher in temperature and the sickening gurgling could be heard in her belly.

"Chloe," said Marie softly after she put Natalie down. "What's the matter?" She put her palms over her cheeks and forehead. "Mercy! We could cook a breakfast on you! Where's the thermometer?"

She took Chloe back to her room and found it. While she waited, Natalie and Once-ler were arriving so steadily. Natalie had waited for him to enter the office and the moment he did she took his hand in both of hers. They got up into the girls' room and Marie looked worried. Then she took the thermometer out and looked twice as worried.

"103?" she cried. "That's it I'm taking you to the hospital!"

"Hospital?" repeated Once-ler. "What else can possibly make this day go wrong?"

"Honey this is too high for just a fever," said Marie. "That's why I'm taking her."

She bundled up Chloe and went down for her car. There didn't seem to be much of a moment of reuniting with her spouse. For now, it was time to focus on Chloe's illness. Natalie padded down with a plush for Chloe to help her feel better.

"Here's Gumdrop," said Natalie and Marie tucked it with Chloe's booster seat.

"Natty," said Marie. "Stay with Daddy okay? Chloe's going to be fine." She kissed her goodbye and then got ready to jump in. "Where's Daddy at?"

"In our room," said Natalie.

"Tell him I call later," said Marie. "I love you."

"You too Mom," said Natalie. She watched the garage door open and then saw her mother and sister leave. "Don't die C."

Marie zoomed past the stumps and to the hospital again. She jumped out with Chloe and rushed in. The receptionist up front cocked one of her brown eyes to see her.

"Yes?" she said. She didn't recognize the woman.

"My daughter fell in the dirty river," said Marie feeling breathless after running from the parking lot. "She's got a high fever and-"

Marie was interrupted when the nurse buzzed an intercom. Her lips smacked since she had thick bubblegum in her mouth. The noise was almost gross to hear.

"We've got another sick one," said the first. "Let's get her back."

The two grey doors were smacked open and then they shut again with an unconscious Chloe. Marie, with her mouth agape, watched in horror as her child was taken from her and vanished.

"Sign these," said the impatient nurse at her desk.

Marie bitterly took the clipboard and filled it out, last name Finnegan for Chloe, and then waited to be called back in. Finally, she was brought up to the floor that kept the children. Chloe was changed into a hospital gown, her pink jammies on a chair, and Gumdrop in her arms. Already a hospital bracelet was around her wrist. A nurse had just finished taking her temperature and it hadn't lowered.

Marie pulled up a different chair and watched her child. Chloe whimpered and shifted. Then a doctor in a nice suit and lab coat came in with a clipboard.

"Hello Ms. Finnegan," he said politely. "I'm Dr. Wickersham and I'll be looking after Chloe."

"Hi," said Marie weakly and shook his hand.

"So from what I heard she fell in the river?" he said.

"She fell in about five days before and she didn't tell me," said Marie. She felt and looked guilty. "She asked my other daughter to keep it secret, but Chloe fell in again two days ago."

"Ooh," breathed Dr. Wickersham. "That's not good. We've been getting patients who have bad lungs from the smog and now this."

"Smog?"

"Yeah. It's tough on a kid's lungs. So what symptoms has she been having?"

"She's been throwing up, not eating and the fever. Do you think it could be fatal?"

"I hope not," said Dr. Wickersham. "I don't want any kid patients I have to die, but we'll do all we can. We'll get some tests done, including a blood sample. Does she get extra nervous around needles?"

"She screams over doctors' visits and dentists' chairs," said Marie glumly. "She'll panic over a needle."

"What does she like? Does she like ponies or stuff like that?" He pressed on with writing orders out on his clipboard.

"Mythology and animals," she answered.

"Alright then," said the good doctor. He put the pen in his coat pocket. Then he knelt down and patted Chloe's hand.

"Hey Chloe," he said in a kind voice. "If you can hear me, squeeze my hand." She lightly did and he smiled. "Alright now. I'm going to tell you a secret. We're going to do some special tests on you to help you get better. All kinds of people take these tests. Dryads, mermaids, fauns and fairies take these tests and they feel better after they do. They weren't scared when they took the tests and you don't have to be either. You're going to be a brave girl and they'll all be proud of you. Okay?"

Chloe flinched her fingers and Marie felt some warmth knowing there was another good doctor in the world besides Dr. Helms. In fact, both doctors had attended the same college and had been classmates. Not only that he was the brother of Mack Wickersham, one of the previous delivery truck drivers at Thneeds Inc., who was off drinking some root beer and adjusting his resume.

There was something with how he talked that it reminded Marie of Rufus and Will's voice combined. It was kind and rich like dear old Rufus, but with a bit of a twang of a Southern accent which Will had lingering.

She watched them take the sample of blood and Chloe only twisted a little. After some more that followed, she got up to call home. She hoped it would be Once-ler who answered. He looked so downhearted when she last saw him.

"Yes?" came his voice, very weary.

"Hi Honey," she said. "They're waiting for test results on Chloe."

There was silence. Not hearing Once-ler speak felt terribly wrong to Marie. So she tried to fill it in.

"The doctor here is nice," she continued. "That's the first time Chloe hasn't whined when going to one. So that's good. Are you there Handsome?"

"This is my fault," said Once-ler with his voice nearly breaking. "If I had been there before…she wouldn't have fallen in."

Marie paused and looked at the linoleum floor. She thought of what words she could give to comfort him, but she was worried for their Butterfly. She felt all her emotions from the previous day blend with her own fears, but she bottled them up like usual. Instead she asked another question.

"Was she absolutely playing around there?' asked Marie who had a bad feeling about what happened.

"Yes," answered Once-ler.

"That's not good," admitted Marie. "But I should've been at home. That wasn't…that was very irrational of me to just walk out like a child having a tantrum."

Marie was still debating on how to tell him about Betsy, but he seemed sadder than he should be. Besides that there was one thing she didn't completely understand.

"If I was gone two nights ago and it was storming then," she asked. "How did she get out if the river was really bad while it rained? I've seen the river when it rains and its dangerous."

"I saved her," Once-ler said with a clear of his throat. He sat on the kitchen counter as he talked. "I saved Natalie too."

"You saved them?" said Marie with a lump almost growing in her throat.

"Yeah," her faithful husband answered.

"I-" began Marie. Then she spotted Dr. Wickersham's return. "I'll call you back. We may know what it is."

She returned to the room with him and she stood with arms crossed. Dr. Wickersham checked over the clipboard and had a soft smile.

"I have a feeling it isn't the worst," said Dr. Wickersham. "We still are waiting on one result to know for sure. However, I can tell it isn't as bad as we thought. We can rule the worst case scenario."

"What's the worst?" asked Marie though she dreaded knowing.

"Typhoid fever since it has similar symptoms to what she's had," he answered.

Marie remembered hearing about that in science of senior year and how it had made her feel queasy. There was a history of people dying from it. She sat back down and took Chloe's warm hand. The child sniffed and turned her head over until her nose was almost buried in the soft coat on her plush sea lion.

"So we'll have a diagnosis soon, said Dr. Wickersham. "Even if she doesn't have it, I still want to keep her for a while. We have other children who are sick and we want to make sure we know what he can do to cure it completely. It's likely it's because of the air. We haven't had one yet who fell in water."

"Good," sighed Marie in relief. "How long will she have to be here?"

"I'd say within a week," he answered. "If you want we can get a roll out bed for you so you can stay here."

"I think I can do that," implied Marie. "I think I should um, at least go home and say goodnight to my other daughter and husband. I think I'll stay until Chloe feels alright on her own."

This was highly encouraged and after more waiting they knew what was wrong with the little girl. She did not have anything that could kill her. It was a sickness called Yersiniosis, something Marie hadn't heard before.

"Thankfully its treatable," said Dr. Wickersham. "Its usually from drinking contaminated water. I doubt she was actually thirsty and went on drinking it, but if she fell in the river then certainly she must've accidently swallowed some. From what I know symptoms develop four days after exposure and they can last for three weeks." He wrote out some more on his clipboard. "At least its not as deadly as typhoid fever and she can breathe properly compared to other patients we have. She's pretty lucky Ms. Finnegan."

It was true. The worst was only the fever and churning stomach. Upon learning that Chloe had refused to eat Dr. Wickersham had some feeding tubes in her button nose. Marie hoped that Chloe wouldn't awaken while she was gone and nearly broke the speed limit to get home.

The factory looked terrifying as it stood in the darkening evening. The horrible smog lingered over and the sun's last light was barely seen. It had never been so quiet and it was an awful quietness. Before when the valley was beautiful it had a quietness that was welcomed. It had been sweet and inviting with the idea one could hear the trees' tufts swaying. Now it was cold and haunting with the stumps like tombstones.

It wasn't any better inside. It was felt lonesome though two people were already there. Natalie was in her room pushing marbles around in the fence of her legs. She had put on some socks since Marie had left. Her mother came in softly and knelt beside her.

"Sweetie," she whispered.

"Mom," whimpered Natalie and hugged her very tightly.

"It's alright," comforted Marie. "Chloe will get better. Doctors are taking care of her."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. She's going to stay there for a while until she's completely better, but you can visit her later. Oh!" She looked up to see all the stuffed animals scattered around. "Why are Chloe's toys all over the floor?"

"I threw them," answered Natalie roughly. "Send me to the chair."

"You don't have to go to the chair if you do one thing," offered Marie pulling back her daughter's long hair. "If you will please pick up all of Chloe's toys and put them where you found them. Can you do that?"

"Yes Ma'am," said Natalie sulkily.

"I expect to see this room clean when I come back," said her mother gently. "Now I have to get some stuff packed for me right now." She carefully got up from the floor.

"Are you here for tonight?" Natalie sounded near pleading. She bit her lips anxiously.

"To get some stuff then I'll go back," answered Marie. "I'm spending the night there."

"I don't want you to go," whispered Natalie as if she was embarrassed with her feelings. "I'll be alone."

"You won't be. In fact you can do a sleepover of some sort. I'll set up a little bed for you on the loveseat in our room so you can be near Daddy. Oh by the way! Where's he at?"

"His office," sighed Natalie. "He's got the chair at the window and he's staring."

"You can get a treat from the snack jar after you clean up Cutie," said Marie and then she went to talk to Once-ler.

The office space looked like the place of despair as she came in. Long shadows crept across the floor and walls. His hat was on his desk along with his sunglasses. Once-ler had his chair facing the windows and from where she stood she could only see his long legs stretched out. One arm dangled over the armrest and clenched. Slowly she approached.

"Hi," she said softly. She patted his shoulder. "It's been a long day for you. Hasn't it?"

"Unless," he whispered. He barely seemed to acknowledge her. "Unless."

"Unless?" Marie knelt next to him. "What are you saying?"

"He left something," said Once-ler. "I don't understand it."

"The Lorax did," said Marie to herself. She had noticed it when she saw the valley inhabitants leave.

"What does he mean? That pile of rocks with the word."

"I don't know Once."

She rested her head at his arm. Once-ler sighed and thumped his head back. He didn't want her to see he had shed some tears and lolled off to the opposite side. She didn't see yet. Marie didn't like the silence and decided to change the subject on how bad things were.

"Chloe doesn't have anything fatal," she said solemnly. "She'll live and they want to keep her until their very sure she's cured and to watch for other things. She has Yersiniosis. They'll be monitoring her diet, she has feeding tubes right now and she'll need plenty of fluids. It's going to be alright." There was a long pause until she spoke again. "Once-ler? Once?" she added.

"It's my fault," he said. "They could've died because of me. I ruined everything. I'm a failure."

"Honey," began Marie.

"Don't go easy on me," said Once-ler grimly. "I'm a monster."

Marie swallowed and inched around. Only then did she see the moisture around his eyes and how red they were getting. She didn't want him to be sulky all day and especially when Natalie was upset.

"Once-ler you know better than that," she said. "You are not as bad as your mother!"

"She said I let her down," he continued. "I did. I let you all down. I had to give up a jar of seeds that Natalie had to get them back!"

"Them?"

"Mom tried taking the twins."

"Our twins?" corrected Marie to be sure. She widened her eyes. "Our girls!"

"Yes!" shouted Once-ler. He bolted up and Marie nearly stumbled back from his height. "She did! Ask Natalie!" He watched the horror cross over Marie and then she was quiet.

"Speaking of Natalie," Marie cleared her throat after a pause. "Is it alright if she sleeps on the loveseat in our room tonight?"

"Why?"

"She's upset like you are and she misses her sister."

"Fine," sighed Once-ler bitterly. "Tell Chloe I love her and I'm sorry for her sickness."

"You did save them so I don't think that makes you bad," added Marie kindly. She got up to her toes to kiss him. "Hey down here."

Once-ler didn't notice and only stood like a dying tree. Frail and lifeless was the only way to describe him, but there was a fire burning in his eyes. Anger at his actions and all his resources to blame were gone. He had nobody else except himself to blame. Marie wobbled up, gripping his arm and managed to kiss the corner of his mouth.

"You are a good man," said Marie. "You saved them." She gave a stroke to his face and he took hold of her wrist.

"Tell that to Thneedville," said Once-ler and he let go of her wrist. "I'll be in the Lerkim."

Marie sadly watched him head off for the stairway that led to the Lerkim. She thought that if he saw Chloe he'd be content. Alas, she knew he'd want their identity to be safe, but the only good thing was that the city hadn't picked up on it. She went back to pack a small suitcase and was pleased to see Natalie was true to her word. All of Chloe's toys were piled back in their place on her bed. Marie wrote a note out for Once-ler telling the sad truth about Betsy's passing. When she left though, she felt terrible about doing it. She wasn't sure if it was best to write it out when he already felt bad enough. Saying it to him could've been better.

Marie returned and found Chloe was still asleep. At least she seemed to be asleep. She had a pitcher of water on a table for her. A rollout bed was brought out for Marie and she only kicked her shoes off for the night. She wasn't hungry for a dinner and she went right to sleep. By the morning's dawn she awoke and found Chloe stirring.

"Chloe?" she whispered and leaned from her bed to touch her face. "Can you hear me?"

The child's eyelashes fluttered and her eyes slowly opened. She saw the ceiling above and then her stare averted down to where she lay. She saw Gumdrop, her sea lion, at her left with her arm around him. She squeezed him tighter. She finally saw her mother who was smiling hopefully.

"Where's…" she croaked. She snuffled and sniffed. "Where is…"

"It's alright," shushed Marie. She climbed out of bed and kissed her forehead. "You got really sick so we're in the hospital. You're going to get better. How do you feel?"

"Mmm…" answered her youngest. She finally yawned like a cat just awakening.

"Are you hungry?" continued Marie who was happy to see her child awaken. "Thirsty?"

"Where's Daddy?" Chloe finally asked. "Natty? Where's Natalie?"

"At home," answered Marie. "I'll bring Natalie out later to see you. Daddy's…something very sad happened and he's trying to fix it."

"What?"

"I'll have to tell you another time when we're at home. Do you remember anything?"

Chloe pressed her dry lips in thought. She couldn't remember every detail, but something had happened. She remembered smells of food and that it didn't feel good. She remembered drinking something cold.

"Some smell and drink," she finally said. She kept clearing her throat. "Can have some water please?"

Marie gladly gave her a cup from the pitcher and Chloe chugged it down. After she had about two cups her room's door opened and Dr. Wickersham came in. Seeing the brawny man was almost a shock to her.

"Good morning," he said politely. "Well look at that! The little fairy woke up." He knelt by her side after checking her over. "How do you feel?"

"Funny," answered Chloe as she looked into the earthy brown eyes of her doctor.

"Does anything hurt?" he asked.

Chloe shook her head.

"Pardon the feeding tube," he added. "We'll take it out eventually."

"What tube?" asked Chloe.

"The feeding tube to help you get better," said Dr. Wickersham. "We put it in your nose."

On cue Chloe touched her nose and felt the plastic and tape holding it. She didn't feel hungry or sick. She nestled back down as Dr. Wickersham discussed things with Marie.

"She's looking better than yesterday," said Marie with hope. The good doctor nodded.

"You were very brave with the tests we did," added Dr. Wickersham before he left. "I bet those dryads and mermaids are proud of you right now."

"Really?" perked up Chloe.

"Really," he chuckled. "You're a good kid. I'll be back later."

"So when can Natty come here?" asked Chloe when he left.

"When she's awake," said Marie. She glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's still pretty early. She may still be asleep."

Natalie was indeed still asleep except she wasn't on the loveseat. Her little bed had been some tucked in sheets, a quilt and Kitten at her side. She had a hard time sleeping and finally crawled out of the little bed that was made for her. She had made herself comfy on the foot of the big bed while Once-ler had a fitful sleep. He was haunted with nightmares with sludge, green mists and huge wolves licking their chops. The terrifying thing was that they had his blue eyes. When he awoke he could already see from the French doors that the landscape hadn't changed from yesterday. A broken promise.

By then it was past dawn and it was the usual time Natalie got up. When Once-ler rolled over she was standing by him all dressed up for the first time in days.

"Mom called minutes ago," she said. "She'll come for me to see Chloe."

"Say hello to her for me," said Once-ler softly.

"What are you going to do?" questioned Natalie. "You have no work. Are you coming?"

"No," replied Once-ler as he sluggishly got up. "You'd be in worse danger if anyone saw you with me."

"That's not fair," thought Natalie. "That's crummy."

An hour later Marie was there and she changed her clothes. Natalie was too energetic to see her sister. She had whipped up a card for her that morning.

"She's going to love this," she squealed.

"She may be tired so don't get too excited," warned Marie. She poured herself some tea before going back. Once-ler slowly passed the kitchen while she did. "Good morning to you."

Once-ler only sighed. Marie realized she needed to tell him something else. Something good.

"Once," she called out. He paused and looked over his slumped shoulders. "While I was gone, my parents met with me. They wanted to make a deal with you."

"Won't matter now," said Once-ler.

"So I told them to leave for good," said Marie. She crossed her arms with her chest heaved out. "I-I had been...I decided to not worry about them anymore. For real this time. I have people who love me."

"Then we both have," said Once-ler solemnly.

Marie strode up and tried kissing him again. He didn't kiss her back. She was a little annoyed by that and frowned.

"I have a note for you to read," she added. "Its really...im-important." Then she felt tears engulf and quickly turned away.

"A note?" asked Once-ler.

"Just read it when you can," breathed Marie. The hurt feeling of Betsy's loss came back and she knew she'd break down if she talked about it. She listened to his footsteps depart into the hallway.

"Whenever you cheer up," she thought. "I would like you to at least kiss me back when I kiss you."

Natalie's eagerness was the highlight of the cloudy day. She ran down the hall with her card and her shoes clacking against the floors. The moment she rushed in all the stillness in Chloe's abode ended.

"Chloe!" shouted Natalie seeing her sister sitting up with eyes open. She ran right in and jumped on the bed.

"Natty!" yelled Chloe. "Oof!"

Natalie had plummeted on her sister and Chloe was nothing but arms and legs sticking out with Natalie hugging her. Poor Gumdrop had gone tumbling out of the bed.

"Ooh! I missed you!" said Natalie so cheerfully.

"Nafulee geb poff!" came Chloe's muffled voice.

"Natalie she can't breathe!" said Marie and pried her away.

"I was so worried about you," continued Natalie. She was very different from the kid her family knew.

Chloe still felt crushed by her. She had never known Natalie to be the hugger. More often she was the hug-ee and hated it.

"Here," said Natalie and shoved the card to her. "I made it today!" On the purple paper were drawings of hearts and animals by Natalie. Not professional, but it certainly came from the heart. "You like it?" asked Natalie.

"Yeah," replied Chloe. "Thanks."

The rest of the visiting hours had Natalie talking animatedly about what she did while Chloe was out of it. She left out the trees and valley exodus. She didn't want her to cry about Melvin or Edwin leaving.

"How's Daddy?" asked Chloe when the conversation finally came to a lull.

"He's…" began Natalie. "He's…tired!"

Tired could describe how Once-ler felt at the soul. He felt tired with stress and shame. When they had gone Once-ler was left with his thoughts. He didn't have breakfast and found the note Marie had written. That didn't make him feel any better. He knew Betsy's passing wasn't his fault, but he still felt like he was responsible. It was really just all his sadness meshing together with his conscience. He'd miss Betsy. After all, she was the one who taught Marie all about cooking and was why he had been fed so well.

All the while he had to answer his ringing telephone which was nothing but complaints and rants about what he had done. The worst one was when one old employee said how selfish he was. That comment nearly made him explode in a fit.

"I'm selfish," he griped after he hung up. "I did the right thing!"

He went outside and looked at the gloomy pile of rocks with the one rock inscribed with the word "Unless." What that meant he didn't know.

"What are you trying to say?" he whispered and hoping The Lorax could hear him. "I don't know what to do here!" he added with frustration.

No answer. He tried imagining the forest guardian's voice, but his mind went blank. He turned to face the direction the exodus had gone. Before he knew it he was slowly trudging in that direction and didn't realize it until he noticed the factory was a couple of yards away.

"We can't live here," he said aloud. "Not with Chloe in the hospital."

The decision was made final and he gave Marie the message when she dropped Natalie back home. They had to be closer. It wasn't like the city had a barricade around it.

"So we should stay there temporarily?" offered Marie late that night.

"In any of their apartments," finished Once-ler as he meant his relatives' fancy homes that he bought for them. "It has to be healthier for them."

They both knew that the girls needed good air. They needed to be safe and try to get on with life. What had happened was too much for children to understand and go through. Everything was changing.

They knew the town would go on with its changes. Once-ler knew all too well they'd continue construction without him, but they'd take one thing out! His new headquarters; that one building on that little model of his that was striped in green and stood tallest from the rest. They'd trash that and it'd be scrapped from memory.

In the meantime they had a "vacation home" as Natalie thought of it, but it was the one that her great-great aunt had owned. The condo was fairly new and quite beautiful. The parking lot was on the side, facing East. The condos had a big pool in the center of the plot and had grass all around. There was shrubbery by the front porches. The top floors had balconies of iron bars in elegant designs. They had staircases that were very narrow, but paved with fine tile. Facing the street and into the rest of Thneedville was where Grizelda had lived. (Isabella's was far more beautiful and in a different part.)

Grizelda's condominium was on the first floor and had a sidewalk in front which she would hobble on, intimidating children who lived nearby. Inside were two bedrooms, one she had filled with old junk that was pointless, and two bathrooms. The living room flowed with the kitchenette and the backdoor exited to the green grass out back. The pool was only a yard away with a fence running around.

Once-ler decided it wasn't safe to stay in the factory for now. It wasn't a good idea to be a whole hour and about another twenty minutes in to the hospital with a sick child. Grizelda's condo was closest and only half an hour away. It seemed better. Once-ler packed old boxes and loaded up his car to deliver them at night with the city asleep. He had always had copies made of his family's keys. Brett and Chet had been known to lose their keys. Finally, a whole week to the day the last tree had fallen, he moved his healthy daughter and tired wife in.

Natalie would have her old mattress without its bedframe. Once-ler decided it wouldn't be too important since they were staying temporarily. She liked it though because it wasn't a great fall if she groggily fell out. The clothes were put away in the closets and half of their toys brought. Once-ler left the cookery at the factory seeing that his great-aunt never took hers or used them. He had given them to her for her birthday two years before, but she had wasted her money on fast and greasy food.

The night when Marie was away Once-ler packed up the last of their things and he took Natalie. Off they went over the road and then they slowly came into town.

"If Chloe gets out soon then why do we need to be close in town?" asked Natalie as she attempted to play Cat's Cradle.

"I want you two in a safer environment until things get better," said Once-ler.

"When will that be?"

"One day." Once-ler felt exasperated with how to fix everything.

"Dad!" yelled Natalie.

Once-ler nearly lost control of the wheel and braked thanks to the red light ahead. He twisted around in his seat and panted.

"What?" he said all raspy.

"Look! Look!" Natalie was pointing out the window to the toy store. "Chloe would love that!"

They both leaned to the right of their windows and Once-ler gasped. In one of the large windows were toys that were farmyard themed in preparation of Fall. The little carnival toy set, red barnyard and dolls in pioneer dresses or coveralls were on display. That wasn't the thing Natalie noticed. Right in the corner was a plush donkey all soft and light brown like Melvin! The moment Once-ler saw it he fished out his wallet and shoved fifty dollars, all in ones and tens, into Natalie's hands.

"Run inside and get that," he said. He turned the corner to the parking lot when the light went green.

Natalie jumped out and ran. It wasn't even two minutes that Natalie came back out and dragging a plastic bag that had a huge box. She scrambled back in with a grin.

"I got!" she announced.

The rest of the ride was upbeat. Chloe cherished any stuffed animal she got and always gave it a food name.

"So where are we going again?" Natalie asked after a few minutes.

"Aunt Grizelda's," answered Once-ler. "She's not there anymore."

"Can we stay there forever?" asked Natalie.

"It's only for now," reminded Once-ler.

"I don't want to go back," said Natalie to herself. She was afraid of the river and didn't want to remember that fateful day.

"I'll be around more often," said Once-ler. "I'll even fix your hair in the mornings if you want."

Natalie smiled a little. She started opening the box of the donkey. After a few tugs she opened the lid and pulled him out.

"He's kind of cute," she thought to herself. "And he doesn't smell." She thought of how happy her sister would be and smiled even bigger.

Then her smile faded when she looked back out her window. The city which could have been described as quant and pretty ten years before had changed. Buildings, big and small, were coated around with steel and metal in construction. The sky was dreary and people seemed sickly. They would bend over now and then with coughing fits. Newspaper stands were up with him on the cover with titles like "Tree Killer," "The Destroyer," and "The Greed-ler," which he hated the most. Once-ler swallowed and felt shame again. It wouldn't be the last time he would! He weaved his way to The Jewel Condominiums with its fountain out front bursting. The water though looked murky. To the East he went and found Grizelda's parking space.

"Keep a low profile Natty," he whispered before getting out.

Natalie nodded. She tucked her hair into her jacket. Her hair looked much shorter, like a cute bob with it tucked away. She felt like a spy. It was near nightfall and Once-ler tucked his coat collar up and shrugged low. Quickly he went to the front door of 45 and unlocked it. It's safe to say that Grizelda had not bothered to mention to the landlord she was leaving so anyone might've suspected she went on vacation and would be back. This though, would sadly change in time. Natalie kept up with her dad's long stride and dragged her little suitcase of spare objects.

"This is home," he said when she came in.

Once inside she looked around. Down a little hallway were the rooms. To her left was the little bathroom all in pink much to her disgust and her room with a large window and blinds. She noticed Chloe's mattress was there too. Suddenly there was the sound of a ring. Natalie and Once-ler felt like they had gotten hit by electricity when they heard it. With a sharp breath he picked it up.

"It's me," said Marie before he could greet. She had already tried the factory and guessed they were already out. "Bad news Once."

"Is Chloe worse?" he said beating her to the punch.

"She's vomiting again," she said sadly. "She's going to be here longer than one week at this point. They're being very strict about releasing children with the…you know."

"I know," mumbled Once-ler sadly.

Natalie tugged at Once-ler's old black coat. He looked down to see her holding up the toy. He nodded and motioned for her to put it in the corner for later.

"Tell Mom we got Chloe something," she called.

"I heard her," chuckled Marie. "I bet she'll love it."

"So now what?" asked Once-ler.

"Chloe will be alright," continued Marie. "She's being monitored. Please Honey, don't worry."

It was bad enough Marie was the worrier of the bunch and it was terrifying if Once-ler had taken the title. However she saw that her poor husband was stressed and she had to take on the stronger role.

"It's my fault she's sick," she heard him say.

"This hasn't been Once-ler's week," thought Marie sadly. She wasn't sure what she could do to comfort him. It seemed his only comfort would be if he actually saw Chloe.

"At least try to not worry," she said gently. "You're very optimistic and I think you still are deep down. I'll be home soon."

She was right about it not being his week. Once-ler dozed off every night with uneasy dreams and had flashbacks of the last tree, his mother and the twins nearly drowning. His behavior made his oldest child a little uncomfortable, but she still thought he was a great person. Natalie later came out at night to put the donkey on Chloe's mattress. She liked the plush and planned on getting her twin to share him or her.

Hey C," she said when she visited her the next day. "Look what we got for you!"

Chloe screamed in delight and bounced. The donkey was the biggest toy she had. He, she had said it was a he, was nearly as big as she was. If he was on the floor she could use him as a pillow.

"He looks like Melvin," she squealed. "Thank you! Thank you! He's so cute!"

Marie who had never seen a stuffed animal that big was just as amazed. She wondered what Melvin would do if he saw it and if Edwin would curl up on it.

"I'm naming you C.C.," said Chloe to the animal.

"Cece?" asked Natalie. "Not a food?"

"C.C. for Chocolate Chip," corrected Chloe. "He's my new buddy."

Chloe used the donkey as her body pillow when she slept and would drag him around if she was in the children's playroom. She was kept longer, long enough that she missed the start of first grade. On August 20th it was the beginning of school. She didn't have to go, but of course that meant Natalie had to. She wasn't thrilled about it. Marie was out of work, but stayed in the hospital all day so Once-ler took over. For Natalie it was nice to spend time with him after him going off early.

Once-ler found it interesting to have only Natalie in the condo. It felt almost like having an only child. It was the closest thing he would know of it. While Natalie went off to visit he went back to that same gazebo and spoke his mind about why they needed trees again. He played a riff on his old guitar and instead called Thneeds a stupid thing no one needs.

Thneedville was furious enough at him for destroying the trees. They were already looking for new things. Some people were putting out plastic flowers in their flowerpots and saying they didn't need trees anymore. Every other day plants were getting torn out and thrown away. They still wanted Thneeds, but they were gone! So the city went on to make a nature for them. All the while they did that it seemed most had forgotten that trees gave air. What could substitute that? Poor Once-ler couldn't understand their hypocritical ways. Some people were trying to event new ways to get air.

"Hypocrite!" passers would yell when they saw Once-ler under the gazebo. "Greed-ler The Hypocrite! Evil old Greed-ler."

A terrible comment he was called was evil. It was even used in the newspapers. He disliked that comment just as much. Evil sounded too exaggerated. This left a horrible thought creep in his mind. What if he was? Evil. It was on the first school day he wrestled with the thought and he awoke Natalie.

"Wake up Cutie," he said pulling her covers off. "First day of school."

"I'm too sleepy," she mumbled.

"Natty come on," said her tormented souled father. "I'll fix your hair if you do."

Natalie crawled off of her mattress and stumbled for her clothes. Once-ler gave a small smile. Then he got a barstool for her to sit on and waited in the bathroom for her. It was a bad idea as he noticed his reflection. Then his guilt ridden brain took over.

"Evil," he thought.

Once-ler looked at his face. He didn't look evil. Certainly not! Not with his eyes of sky blue, faint freckles on his baby face, point of chin, button nose and hair of black. Long and lanky with good taste in clothes; he didn't look like a villain. If anyone who had known him his whole life had been asked to describe him "evil" wouldn't have been an adjective. Quirky, childish, sarcastic, witty, ambitious and sweet would've come up, but not evil. However, the frightening thing about evil was that it could look good. Once-ler wondered if it was the fact that children should be told that evil didn't always look scary. Villains in his childhood were monsters with red eyes, dragons spouting fire, witches with ugly faces on their broomsticks, and huge wolves with large claws, bristling hair and sharp teeth.

"Dad," asked Natalie. She brought him back to reality. "Are you going to fix my hair?"

"Yeah," cleared Once-ler. He inched the bar stool up and lifted her up into it. "Curls today?"

"Please," said Natalie.

Then on he went with making ringlets like he did for when Natalie was a little flower girl at his vow renewal. She sat still with legs crossed, and watched the long hands of her father work his magic in her long locks.

"I don't want to go to school," she murmured after he was done. She did appreciate the work he did, but she was miserable.

"What?" said Once-ler with a gentle chuckle. "You love school."

"Not with Chloe sick," she said. She didn't want to admit that she really wanted to stay with her dad. She had been very clingy especially after the last tree.

"Chloe would want you to," said Once-ler as he shielded her eyes to spray her hair.

"Where are you going?" she asked when he stopped.

"I'm going to try to fix things," he said. "You-" here he twisted her around and gave her nose, identical to his, a tap. "-You have to go to school to be smart."

"I'll watch public television," said Natalie dryly.

The child refused to move as to protest, but she was lifted up and he brought her to the living room. He took her pretty new shoes and strapped them on for her. He wasn't sure why, but perhaps he wanted to fulfill the fact he hadn't done much with getting her ready for school mornings. The child grumbled and she got up with grunt. She took her schoolbag and slowly marched as if she was about to go to her death sentence.

"Where's Mom?" she asked monotonously.

"I'm taking you," said Once-ler bravely. "It's high time I've taken you to school!"

"What if people see you?" asked Natalie.

"They won't," he said confidently.

Marie took the bus that morning to Chloe while he took her car. The Ferrari of his would set off signals of who he was! He put on the raincoat he used to wear; it was a greyish-blue like his old color scheme of clothes. Then he pulled the hood, which had rarely been used before since he had always worn his fedora, over his mop of hair. The sky was cloudy as if it would rain; certainly many pedestrians had been carrying umbrellas along with scarves (not of Thneeds) around their noses.

Then out they went from the front door and into the parking area. Natalie had never dreaded school so much until that day. She groaned in disgust when she saw the school with bustling students. She pulled out the little card of information of where her classroom was.

"You'll have a good day," said Once-ler trying to cheer her up. He twisted completely around in his seat to see her.

"Tell Mom to be here on time," she muttered and slipped out without anything else.

Once-ler watched her go through the dark tinted windows. She was shuffling her feet on the pavement and dragged her book bag down so it'd be dirty. She looked very cute in her blue dress and cardigan. He felt sorry that she wasn't happy, but hoped she'd have a good day.

It wasn't a good day. Natalie's teacher kept calling her Natalia, she had a seat in the back of the room, she was last in line and when the students were given a welcome-to-school snack it was a popcorn ball. Natalie hated those especially at Halloween and thought how her dad would sometimes bring her a piece of cheesecake from his fancy dinners. The only good thing was how Miss McFuzz, her teacher, said she had pretty curls. However she wasn't the only one having a bad day…

"Nobody needs a Thneed," sang Once-ler on his old guitar. "A stupid thing no one will ever need. The Thneed is dumb! The Thneed is lame-ahh!"

"Go back to your killing machine!" yelled an old man who had flung a tomato at him.

"Monster!" hollered a young lady who had long ago thrown eggs at Marie. "You took away our Thneeds!"

"You don't need Thneeds!" scowled Once-ler as he wiped the seeds off his face. "We need the Truffula Trees and if we-"

"Hypocrite!" came the yells. "You nasty old hypocrite!"

"No I'm-"began Once-ler. He was halted when another tomato smacked him on his nice suit. Another pelted his sunglasses.

"You're a murderer!" cried out teen girl. She threw a tin can at him and it smacked his hip.

"Ah!" yelled Once-ler again in rage with narrowed eyes. "Naw! Hey!"

Angry shouts followed and the eyes of the tomato throwers were malicious. He was blood sport as they continued to abuse him. Once-ler gasped and grunted with each splatter. This was too familiar of his first selling day. And the second day, the third day, the fourth and fifth. Then one teenager got a nasty idea. He nudged to a friend of his and they snuck off to get a trash can. Then they came back and raced up the steps. Once-ler was just wiping his glasses when he felt something heavy and reeking get shoved on him.

"Boo-yah!" yelled the teenagers. The crowd roared with laughter.

Once-ler screamed, pulled the can off and coughed. Bits of paper, bottles, straws, sacks of old lunches and rotten food rolled off as he shook. Then the tomatoes came back to stain him. After a long time he left. He hid away in an alley for the rest of the day feeling furious and sorrowful.

"I hate this thing," he grumbled. Whether he was talking about Thneeds, the acts or how he felt he was detested. It wasn't his first day of the shallowness, there'd been more.

At last the long day was done and he snuck for home. Marie and Natalie were already at home. Marie was making fried chicken and the oil was popping along with the scraping of her spatula.

"Evening," she said and then she jumped. "Oh no!"

"Dad!" cried Natalie. "Why are you bleeding?"

"I'm not bleeding," muttered Once-ler. "It's tomatoes." He yanked his coat off and dropped it on his dining chair. "I'll be in the shower."

"You're not hungry?" asked Marie. It was too late for he was gone.

Marie was very worried about Once-ler's grief. This was even worse than when he would come home from his first Thneed sale attempts. She had to get to the bottom of it and help him. She didn't want him to keep abusing himself about what happened. She knew The Lorax, Pipsqueak, Melvin, Edwin, dear old Will and all the rest wouldn't want him to. So when Natalie was tucked in bed Marie decided to confront him. She found him lying on their bed. He always retreated there after dinner and by the time she saw him he'd be asleep.

"Once?" she said softly. "Did something really bad happen?"

"Why don't you read the newspaper?" he only said.

"I see enough of those in the hospital," she said humbly.

"They're right," sighed Once-ler. He stared hard at Marie. "I'm a monster."

"You know that's not true," reassured Marie as she closed the door.

"Yes it is," he said with his voice getting more upset. "You have every right to be mad at me."

"It's not because-" she began.

"You know it is!" said Once-ler sitting up. His dander was up. "If I'm not evil then why is Chloe in the hospital? Why are people mad at me? Why are the trees gone? Why is Mustache gone?!"

The mixture of anger and brokeness was engraved in his face. After a long stare he huffed and fell back on the mattress.

"I'm not mad at you," said Marie firmly. "Worried, but not mad. I think there's something more going on." She calmed her tone down before adding to that note. "If it's something about anything then you should tell me. Once-ler please I have to know how to help you." She waited a few minutes for his response.

"Sorry," he said quietly. He rose up on his elbows to see her. "I didn't say it yet, but I'm sorry for that stupid fight. That started everything."

"I still care for you," said Marie gently. She already knew he was sorry for the argument. "I came back didn't I? We need each other."

"You don't deserve me," said Once-ler with grief etching his words. "You-you don't need me."

Marie felt heartbroken and felt for sure only she and Once-ler truly understood how great grief was. He didn't seem to be the same Once-ler who was optimistic, funny and always grinning. Maybe she could change that.

"I need you Once-ler, because I love you," said Marie. "And I'm sorry for what I said."

"What did you say then?" asked the clean Once-ler who was very confused. He had gone off in his own train of thoughts of pity.

"What I said," she said sadly. "I was too angry. You are the Once-ler I married. You're still the same one I've known forever, I've fallen for and have made me something I always wanted to be: a mother and a wife. That's all I hoped for and you've given me more with a career and bond. I don't need to be jealous of you're mother showing affection to you because..." She paused since it was a sensitive subject. "Well, both of us have bad moms and I felt neglected...and...forget it."

She crawled on him and paused to look into his eyes. She kissed him hard and it was the first time he kissed back though he was surprised. Once-ler said nothing and only looked into her eyes. Marie wasn't done yet, but she felt her voice tremble as she recalled all the wonderful days she had with him. It wasn't out of grief though. It was out of a bliss she savored for them all.

"You're not some monster," she said. Her voice helped heal something deep down in Once-ler's soul. Her words, though he didn't know how, told him that what she said was true. "You are still the same Once-ler I befriended. Who proposed to me on two knees in the snow and I accepted. The same one who has said "I do" twice to me." Marie's fingers had clutched his coat.

"You're still the same one who…who saved me from terrible mistakes, yet you've always been faithful to me. You've protected me and our children with good intentions. Do you remember how you played with me in Misty Hideaway? Calmed me when I was having morning sickness? Asked me how I felt after our first honeymoon night? Sometimes you're greedy and in over your head, but you're always able to make me laugh. You're kind, comical, sweet, inventive, creative, loving and optimistic. All of those things are you. Do not let any other words tell you otherwise. Nobody in this city knows you like I do."

Once-ler's eyelashes twitched with tears. He closed his eyes to prevent them from spilling. Marie nudged under his neck and squeezed him tightly. Once-ler felt closer to the days. The days back when they had their cottage and they'd awake with the sun lights through the canvas walls and stained glass. For the first time since his realization of his crimes had shaken him and left him feeling ragged, he felt relief. Like some sweet mercy had gently washed over him like a clear stream. He dozed off without a nightmare and thanking all that was good and pure in that he had Marie.

When he went back to the gazebo to try turning things around he didn't forget her words. He braced himself with each toss of tomato. He let go of the hurt from the crowd. All that mattered were those who actually cared for him.

Once-ler did stay at home more often sometimes. Sometimes he didn't go out and he stayed in. He made himself busy with things he preferred to do. He sewed out some cute dresses and jumpers for the girls. Last thing he had made for them were their flower girl dresses. Natalie liked watching him make her something. Perhaps the two things he desperately wanted was for the trees to grow again and to see Chloe. He missed her very much, but Marie promised that she was only being kept for safety.

Marie stayed with Chloe half of the day. She didn't know what else to do with work with Little Saplings gone. The teen employees were rarely seen and it was likely they were working in fast food or department stores instead. She felt better at home and with Chloe. Sometimes she took her to the big room with the other children and they watched television programs or listened to stories being told. Half of the children were ill from the smog and needed oxygen tanks. Some couldn't leave their bed. Chloe would wave when she passed their rooms and she'd sleep all night while others coughed and wheezed with their nervous parents near. One elderly nurse stopped by once and chuckled at how cute Chloe looked; a little sleeping beauty with her dark curls and long eyelashes. C.C. was dragged either by the ears or muzzle by his new owner.

Natalie wasn't that happy. She was very miserable in first grade. It wasn't because the lessons were hard. Oh no! School was easy for her! She was just lonely. She wasn't used to life without her sister near. The students were the same ones from kindergarten. Not even that comfort made her feel better. The only good thing was that Once-ler packed her lunches. He'd write things on the napkins for her and little doodles. Besides that, he'd sneak her a heart shaped cut out from a pancake for dessert.

The worst was what the children said. All had parents who hated The Once-ler. So if one could imagine that was torture for Natalie to listen to. It was always downgrading and insulting things. Of course children will usually follow their parents' footsteps whether they know they're right or not. Listening to that only made the day very long for Natalie. Always long! Always a blood boiling day! She dreaded having to listen to the complaints. The only thing that would make it better was if the weather would make everyone as miserable as herself.

Natalie's temper was kept cool since she was worried about Chloe. She didn't show off answers to questions as often unless called on. At recess she sat by the fence and stranded little beads on string. She'd keep the beads in an old handkerchief of Marie's. She avoided socialization and would barely speak of her day at home. It was very unlike her to be dreary. That was how it went until one day when Natalie gave the worst outburst of her life.

It started when one of the students who had seemed like a shy boy in kindergarten had started talking. He had matured much since kindergarten. (Or at least by the term his parents thought he had matured.) Sean Spring was playing Four Square when he started bragging about how his parents had just gotten one of the new houses in Theendville which were more modern and sleek in their design of barely a straight line.

"We have a huge fridge," he boasted. "Then a very, very big staircase twisting around!"

"Whatever," thought Natalie glumly. She was as gloomy as the rain had been the night before.

"I bet it's better than that factory of The Once-ler's," he continued. "Much better! He's a moron."

Natalie's eyebrows furrowed and she wandered her eyes to his direction. She bit her lip and tried focusing on her little bracelet she was making for Chloe. The colors of purple and mauve distracted her until he spoke again. Sean was using words he didn't understand.

"Dad says he ought to be locked up. He's a big old brute."

"Brute?" growled Natalie to herself. She tied a knot at the end of her strand. "You're a brute."

"He won't have a pretty factory anymore," chuckled Sean who was quoting his mother.

"What was that?" asked a voice behind him.

Sean looked to see Natalie with her arms folded. Her face was just inches from his. Her eyes of blue were staring him down.

"What did you say about The Once-ler?" she sharply asked.

"A lot of things," he answered. "Mom, Dad and my brother have told me."

"Really?" she asked sourly. Then she perked up haughtily. "I don't think he is."

"Dad says he's bad," said Sean Spring. "The Once-ler's a very bad man."

"No he isn't," came Natalie's voice with a growl. "He's not bad! He's good! People don't see it"

"He's an idiot," said Sean who stopped playing Four Square and put his hands on his hips. Idiot or moron was a word his older brother said and he copied it though a teacher certainly would've put him in the corner for that remark. "He's a stupid, mean, creepy, tree-killing idiot!"

Then the next thing the children on the playground knew a riot had started! All because of one thing; Natalie had lost it! She grew mad, terribly mad and if she had seen her face she would've noticed that her expression looked like Once-ler's when angry. Natalie's nostrils flared with her eyes wide and burning and her mouth showed all her teeth! With an ear piercing scream she lunged at Sean. The little boy was taken aback and ran. Natalie ran the best she could, faster than she had ever run. Around the slide and past the swings that jostled from impact. Then she leaped the best a child could and managed to push Sean down. They hit a mud puddle from the rain and she was beating her fists into his back.

"Take it back!" she screamed. "Take it back Sean! Do it!"

It is most unwise to insult someone who thinks highly of people they care for because a row could begin as easily as blinking. Especially to someone who has a famous family member and even more, if it's the parent. Not only that, but having a cynical and quick tempered person thrown into the mix only would make it worse and Natalie was no exception! She pounded her fists into that poor boy who was regretting what he said. Children gathered around and were yelling. Soon it was all hot and hazy from the noise and close encounters.

"What in the world?" cried a voice. Miss McFuzz, the first grade teacher, ran out with her pumps clicking on the blacktop. "What is going on here? Stop that! Stop that at once!"

The children scattered hearing her blowing the whistle. Natalie didn't stop until she was pried up by Miss McFuzz. She was flailing her long legs and arms. Miss Thorndike followed out and attended to one of her old students.

Miss McFuzz took Natalie to the principal. She had never been sent the principal before, but now that she was in first grade it would be different. She was seated with mud clinging to her clothes while the teacher and principal discussed what to do. Sean Spring was taken to the nurse and then spilled out what happened. He was actually honest compared to other children who would lie. It was decided that the girl would not attend the second of the recess of the day. She was to stay in the classroom and write on the blackboard "Hitting is bad." While she wrote out her punishment, Natalie was upset that her teacher loomed over and tried speaking to her.

"Miss Finnegan," said Miss McFuzz. "The Once-ler is very bad. Now why do you think he's good? Haven't you seen what he's done to the trees?"

"He's not evil," said Natalie stubbornly and the chalk squeaked as she pressed it hard. "He's very good deep down. He's a nice man.

Up until that point Miss McFuzz had heard nothing but applause from Miss Thorndike and Miss Pearl that Natalie was an intelligent child. Yes a side of arrogance, but intelligent none the less. Now she was thinking the opposite with what Miss Natalie Finnegan was saying.

"Miss Finnegan," said Miss McFuzz in a patronizing tone. "You are still only a child. This must be hard for you to understand, but that man is very, very bad. The Once-ler is not someone to like."

"Not so!" she retorted.

"What do you mean?" asked the teacher.

"Because…" she paused. She hoped that would end the conversation.

"Because what?"

"Because you're stupid!" snapped Natalie who was at the end of her rope.

After writing "Hitting is bad," twenty times, Natalie had to write another twenty times "Stupid is a mean word." Natalie dodged out as soon as the bell had rung. She didn't wait for anyone to come for her. She just ran for home.

Natalie slowly came in. Deep down she knew what she did was wrong, but she felt she had every right to punch off Sean Spring. She locked the door and sat in the kitchenette corner. Her knees went up to her chest as she hugged them. Everything seemed wrong; people hating her dad, her sister sick and her mother out of a job. Why had everything good gone so bad? She hated how people were talking about her father. She didn't want to admit that punching Sean was wrong. No matter what he said, she didn't have to lose her temper.

"He should say sorry to me," she thought. "He started it."

Then she heard the lock and the key. It was Once-ler. She knew he'd find her. However, she thought if she stayed quiet and still long enough, he wouldn't see her. Then she could sneak out and come back in.

"Tomatoes," sighed Once-ler. He pulled his coat off which was stained. "I hate tomatoes."

He came right around the corner and was shocked to see his eldest huddled up and covered in mud. What kind of day did she have in school that would cause that?

"Natalie Viola," he said in surprise. "What happened to your dress?"

"It was Sean Spring's fault," she grumbled. "I'm dirty because of him!"

"You need a bath," said Once-ler who didn't want Marie to find their daughter a mess.

Natalie grouchily obeyed and when she was done she put on a nightgown and her socks. She crawled onto the sofa and curled up. Once-ler had just finished putting his coat and Natalie's clothes in the washer. It was odd to find it in the closet than in a separate room. He then sat next to her, feeling thinner than before in his clean clothes. He thought out what might've happened.

"Do you want to tell me?" he asked.

"No," she groused.

"Natty," said Once-ler calmly. "I think you'd feel better if you talked about it. Why are you upset?"

"Sean Spring said something bad about you," said Natalie after a long pause.

"What did he say?"

"He said you are a quote-unquote "a stupid, mean, creepy, tree-killing idiot." Natalie shrugged up against one of the sofa's pillows and used the same finger gestures Once-ler used with the quote-unquote phrase.

Once-ler frowned and was surprised to find that he had been called some sort of idiot…by a child. That wasn't as bad as getting his guitar broken. Then again… He returned his attention to Natalie. He was trying to remember what he read in that parenting book when she was a toddler, but he didn't need to read it. Instead he pulled her away from the pillow and pulled her in. She muttered something incoherent.

"Natalie," he started.

"I did the right thing," she growled. "Mom's always said to do the right thing. I punched him out and he needed it."

"I-you punched him?" Once-ler was stunned.

"Yeah," said Natalie. "I saw some boys doing it before so I can do it too."

"Well that's um…" Once-ler felt a little prideful of how independent Natalie was, but what she did was still wrong. She just needed to tone her spunk down.

"Hummingbird, people are going to…" he began. He searched out his words. "Everyone's going to say bad things about me because of what happened and you're going to be hearing it. A lot. It's okay to get mad, but I don't want you to hit anyone. You have to be the better person and stay back. You know the truth and that's all that matters. So tomorrow I want you to apologize and I'm sure he will too."

"I still like hitting," sniffed Natalie.

"Natty you're better than that," said Once-ler. "Can you at least promise me you'll try?"

"Maybe," she grumbled.

Once-ler let her go and sunk to the floor with a sad face. He folded his hand together and wobbled his lip. Natalie was puzzled.

"Please," he pleaded with a funny voice. "Please Miss Natalie please!"

Natalie scrunched and twisted her mouth to hide her laughing. She turned her head to hide her want to giggle.

"Pretty please," continued Once-ler.

"Fine!" Natalie shouted and tossed the pillow aside. "Fine I'll try!"

"Good," said Once-ler adjusting his voice back. "So you promise?"

"I'll try," she said. Then she placed a hand up to her chest and the other up. "I promise."

It was an hour later when Marie came home and asked why Natalie was in her pajamas and why she hadn't waited at school for her. The firstborn daughter kept her word, but the only kicker was that Sean Spring didn't apologize and nobody encouraged him to. To deal with it, Natalie went around the back of the school and punched midair.

Then something good happened. Chloe was released after being closely watched for the past weeks and her recovery was completed. She was glad to go home. Two weeks was too much to be away from her Daddy. She had dreamed that he'd come to visit, but she knew the rule.

"Daddy will be there right?" she repeatedly asked.

"Of course," chuckled Marie. "And we're going to get you're a treat before we go home!"

Dr. Wickersham came in looking pleased. At least a couple of his patients were improving and Chloe was one of them. He knelt down before her to shake her hand.

"You take care of yourself," said Dr. Wickersham with a grin. "You've been a great patient."

"Thank you," said Chloe softly. Then dressed in some comfy clothes and C.C. in hand she was sent home.

"Thank you so much for helping her," said Marie before they went. "My husband sends his thanks too."

"It was an honor," chuckled Dr. Wickersham. "Let's just hope that old Once-ler man feels bad enough for what hurt he's caused."

Marie felt a twinge in her heart from his remark. After some more farewells Chloe and Marie were on their way to the bakery.

"You can pick whatever you want," said Marie as they went inside.

"Anything?" breathed Chloe. It was like her wishes from her birthday and Christmas had just come true!

"Anything you'd like," answered Marie.

Chloe wandered up and down the glass case of pastries. All the cupcakes, cookies, pies and fancy things to eat! It was a difficult question to decide what was best. After several minutes she chose a chocolate cake with a thick frosting.

There was only one thing that didn't seem right as they were homeward. Chloe didn't like the look of the city. It looked very intimidating and the sky with its last sunlight was barely visible.

"It looks worse," she said.

"What is?" asked Marie before she pulled in.

"Everything." Chloe hugged C.C. and Gumdrop closer. "Everything looks bad."

"Daddy wants to talk to you about that," sighed Marie. "Some things have changed since you've been sick."

"What things?"

"You'll know soon when we get to our new home."

"Mommy?" Chloe asked when they stopped and she saw her brand new residence. "Where will Melvin stay if we live here?"

"He'll…" Marie paused. "Melvin's fine where he is. So is Edwin. Let's get inside so we can have dessert."

Dessert distracted Chloe enough. Natalie sprung up from the sofa, distracted from her favorite sitcom and tackled her with a hug when she entered.

"You're here!" she shouted.

"Where's Daddy?" asked Chloe eagerly.

"Give him a minute Chloe," said Marie. "I'll get him up soon.

"He's in his room," said Natalie. "He couldn't sleep last night."

"C.C.," said Chloe to her toy. "I'll show you around."

"Cake," hummed Natalie to herself when she saw the treat on the counter.

Marie went to wake Once-ler. He was half asleep and nearly falling off the bed. Perhaps haunted by more nightmares that he couldn't take it. She shook his shoulder gently to get him up.

"Hey," she whispered. "She's home."

"Huh?" he muttered and yawned.

"Chloe's home," said Marie who couldn't wait to see his reaction.

"She's here?" Once-ler gasped.

There was the sound of a clatter which startled them both. Natalie and Chloe had tried getting some plates and already had a knife (a small one) in the cake.

"Girls no!" shouted Marie when she found them. "No knives!"

"What?" scoffed Natalie who didn't think it was that dangerous. It was a small knife. A butter knife to be exact.

Chloe dropped another plate when she saw Once-ler. In a wonderful blur she rushed up and safe long arms caught her up. Instantly they were both smashed together in an embrace. Oh how Once-ler had missed those hugs! The girls had their own hugs and he had felt too deprived of his youngest. Chloe felt smaller than before, which worried Once-ler, for she had lost weight during the weeks. Yet she was there. His Butterfly's wings were healed. A miracle had spared her from a tragic fate. She was with her daddy again, her hero.

"I missed you Butterfly," he said against her hair. A hand pressed against her head and gently stroked her hair to make sure she was real.

"I missed you more," she said cheerfully. "Hey." She pulled back to see his face. "You don't have your gloves."

"No," laughed Once-ler as he felt his eyes watered. She was right about his bared hands. "Not today Chloe."

"Are you sad?" she asked with concern seeing the tears brim in her father's face.

"No," said Once-ler with a lump in his throat. He hugged her again. "I'm very happy."

Safe in her home Chloe spent the rest of her night with her family. Once-ler seemed to have perked up quite an amount after Chloe came home. In fact, the days of tomatoes didn't seem as bad when he thought of how better she was. Then it came to when he had to tell her what happened when he tucked her in that night.

"So Daddy," she asked. "When can I see Melvin?"

Once-ler knew he couldn't avoid what happened, nor could he ignore that Chloe needed to know what happened. He tugged her covers up and glanced a painful glance at her stuffed donkey.

"Melvin's not here," said Once-ler haltingly. The joyous occasion was over and it was time for the waterworks. "He-he had to leave Sweetheart."

"Leave?" Chloe sat upright. "Why?"

"When you were sick," said Once-ler and he nervously thrummed his fingers. "I gave up the business so I could take care of you. Grandma took it over without me knowing and she let all the trees get cut down."

"All?" said Chloe quietly. "They're all gone?"

"Yeah." Once-ler crossed his legs as he sat on the floor. "So without the trees all the animals had to go. Melvin and Edwin too." He paused before mentioning The Lorax. "So did Mustache."

Chloe whimpered and she held C.C. closer. She sniffed and Natalie ducked under the covers after listening long enough.

"Can they come back?" she asked.

"I hope so," said Once-ler honestly.

"Me too," thought Marie as she listened from the hallway.

"Can I make an early Christmas wish that they'll come back?" Chloe asked with a smile.

"Yeah," inhaled Once-ler and shakily laughed. "That'd be great." He kissed her head as she lay back down. "Glad your home Butterfly. Sleep well."

Sleep well she did. Not one nightmare came to either child that night and very soon it was time for reality. Chloe attended school for the first time and of all days she came back it was picture day. Natalie had badgered Once-ler to make something nice out of her long locks for the day. It seemed she was happier too with her sister back. She held her hand when they went to class to help her feel less scared and showed her all the places in the school. It hadn't been a bad day, except how some kids were talking.

"Do they have to talk about Daddy like that?" whispered Chloe to Natalie as they played Jacks behind the school wall. They were safe from all ears.

"Don't even ask," replied Natalie as she scooped up two jacks and tried catching the tiny rubber ball. "Last time I did I was writing on the chalkboard."

"Why's that bad?" asked Chloe who hadn't seen that form of punishment yet.

"Just don't talk about Dad," said Natalie. "I promised I'd be good."

"I'll help you be good," offered Chloe warmly. "I'll even report it to Daddy and Mommy."

Then before the family of four knew it, it was Fall. Jackets were on more often and the air felt colder. At this point if the Truffula Trees were still up, they would be rocking back and forth in the strong wind. Yet there was nothing to interact with the wind. Miss McFuzz's class was learning about pioneer days and in a month it'd be the time of getting candy. Once-ler tried finding new ways to get people's attention about making things better.

"We need trees to brea-eh-meh-heh-breathe," Once-ler sang to himself as he sat in the corner of the gazebo. "Na, na…that's not good."

He was practicing on a song he had written a week ago and it hadn't gotten a good response. He was beginning to think it wasn't as good as he hoped. He kept looking up now and then to check on Melvin. Then he'd remember. It was lonesome without the old mule.

"Hey!" came a gruff voice.

Once-ler jumped and scrambled to his feet, spidery legs nearly tangling and old guitar smacking his front. One would've laughed seeing the richly dressed man struggle his way up. He spotted one of the officers in Thneedville in his uniform.

"You!" said the portly officer. "Down here."

Once-ler obeyed and looked down at him. He didn't have much of choice since he was taller.

"Don't you look down on me," said the officer dryly. His gaze bore into the once famous man.

Once-ler bit his lips to prevent laughing. He cleared his throat and put his hands behind his back.

"Something you need officer?" he said giving a polite smile.

The officer looked at him coldly and then grabbed his hand and shoved the envelope. Once-ler recovered and held back a growl. The officer adjusted his badge and then he spoke.

"If you value your life sir, you will obey what is commanded of you."

Then the officer briskly walked away. Once-ler scurried off for an alley and cowered behind a huge dumpster. He tore the envelope open and then took in each word on the sophisticated paper.

To The Once-ler of Thneeds Inc.,

Thneedville has unanimously decided that we cannot let people who cause harm stay in this city. Understand that the city sees you as a public menace for your crimes. Due to the fact that you have destroyed the Truffula Trees, polluted the valley, have given health issues to civilians young and old and have displayed hypocritical actions as of recently we are left with one choice. With these crimes we could arrest you, but instead of permanently throwing you away in jail we will let you go free. However, if you do you can never return to Thneedville. Do not even try to sneak back in for in time there will be a wall of protection around this city to guard the lives of the people from the foul air. Furthermore we shall be less kind if you steal your way inside! If you are not out of Thneedville within sunset of September 22nd then we shall see to it ourselves that you are banished to the wasteland.

Our condolences that it must happen this way for you had great potential. We shall look for people of better status to give us what we need.

Signed by,

The Community of Thneedville.

"They're kicking me out?" Once-ler said in disbelief. He dropped the letter and stared until his eyes glazed over. "They-they can't do this. They can't!"

It was September 21st on that day and nineteen years before he first met Marie. What he had hoped would be a good day after the ridicule ended was done. The city's cruelty was only beginning with wanting him out. Now it was possible he had to go away.

Once-ler didn't want to and it wasn't mainly for himself. He thought of how downtrodden the twins would be if he left and Marie feeling alone. He didn't want them to have any more sorrow and leaving would only give them more. Of course he would be sad and this only made him question who he was, but Marie, Natalie and Chloe were his biggest concern. If he left he would be protecting them again, but the first time he tried that it had only caused fighting. It seemed like there was no answer to solve multiple problems all at the same time.

Once-ler returned home feeling down. He felt shaken to tell Marie what had happened. He felt even worse of telling his little girls. Chloe had just gotten adjusted to new life and Natalie was having trouble in school. She was getting an attitude towards the teachers. They needed him and of course after those long days of him at work, they wanted him around.

"Hi Daddy," said Chloe before he could even shut the front door. She hugged his legs and he lifted her up.

"Hey Butterfly," he said seeing her expression.

"Natalie didn't get in trouble today," said Chloe proudly. "I kept her in check."

"Really?" he said genuinely surprised.

Natalie was sitting on the sofa and studying a first reader which was too easy for her. Once-ler went up and kissed her hair.

"You had a good day Hummingbird?" he asked.

"Mostly," said Natalie bluntly.

"Keep it up," he said with a chuckle. Chloe climbed down and then she gathered her ice skates in her book bag.

"I skated today," she said. She put them on, skate guards on the blades, and walked around.

"Yes," sighed Natalie. "Yes you did."

Once-ler inhaled a pleasing scent. It was a maple syrup scent and cooking oil. Then he heard the egg timer ding and the rushing of flats dulled by the carpet. Marie sailed in with her apron ties in a perky bow and she grabbed a potholder to remove the covered frying pan. She had made comfort food for the night. She knew Once-ler wasn't too fond of waffles, but Chloe had asked for them. They could have pancakes in the morning like many others they had.

"Hi," she said quickly with a smile.

"Hey Honeysuckle," said Once-ler with a half-smile. He gave a gentle rub to her shoulder and smooch to her jaw.

"Table's all set," said Marie to herself. "Good." She started serving the food and Once-ler took the plates. "Alright we're all set. Girls let's eat."

Chloe climbed up her chair and kicked her legs. Natalie plodded over, looking very bored. The child was tired after a long day and was looking forward to bedtime. Once-ler couldn't find the words to admit the letter he had gotten. He couldn't bring it to tell his Bunnies, but he had to tell Marie for sure.

"Something happened," he whispered before he put the plates down.

She took it as a hint they needed to talk. She had almost forgot about it when later she looked up from a sewing project for the girls' Halloween costumes to see them cuddling against Once-ler after he had read to them.

"You have a lullaby voice," she chuckled as she picked Natalie up for bedtime.

Once-ler smiled a little, but knew he had to tell her what happened. When alone he took the letter back out and crumped it up in his hand. Then feeling downcast he placed a kiss to each head of his daughters. He felt a lump in his throat, but held back. He had to be strong and that was his last thought before he turned out their lights.

"Well?" asked Marie when they were in their room. "What'd you have to tell me?"

"It's this," he said. He gave her the letter.

"To The Once-ler of Thneeds Inc.," she read aloud and then her voice dropped lower.

Once-ler waited for her to finish. While he waited he pulled his gloves off. He felt the coolness of the room and breathed deeply. He quietly closed the door and then it felt colder. He couldn't hear Natalie's snores from down the hall. Then Marie looked up with sorrow.

"No," she whispered and slowly shook her head.

"I don't know what they'll do if I don't leave," he said.

"What should be done?" questioned Marie. Now she felt a lump grow in her throat. "Once?"

"I don't want any more trouble," said Once-ler and it was an honest confession of how he had felt since the last tree's fall. "Not for you or them."

"You can't think of anything else?"

"Well you can't live out there." Once-ler threw hands up. "It's not safe."

"I know but you're back with us. I know the girls would be heartbroken if you left."

Once-ler sat next to her and she gave him a side hug. If he left, he'd be safe, but they'd grieve. If he stayed he'd be in danger. Not really them, but him. Nobody connected them all together.

"No one's figured out who we are," said Marie. "You'd be safe from people who hate you if you leave, but I don't think you want to leave. I'd miss you if you went away, but I don't want you in any danger if there's any here in this place. Your safety matters too."

"What if I never see you again?" he asked nuzzling his chin into her hair. "They'll have a wall up."

"Isn't there somewhere we can all go? We don't have to be here."

"Where? The smog's all over the place. Chloe and Natalie almost died out there."

"Anywhere at all?" Marie nearly choked.

"This is unfortunately the only safe place." At least that's what Once-ler thought. "I don't think there's a whole lot of other choices."

Silence loomed over them. No fresh ideas came to them. No resolutions. Once-ler and Marie truly felt that they were at a dead end. After several minutes of the silence one of them moved.

"Then that's it." Marie got up and fished out a suitcase. "If this is it then at least…at least I can help you get ready."

It looked like it was really happening. Once-ler was leaving. He slowly got up and hugged his best friend.

"If I go then I'll find a way to get the trees back," he said. "Then the sooner that happens, then the sooner we'll be together again."

"Right," said Marie shakily. She felt her pent up sorrow beckon her to the edge. She couldn't break out now so she made an excuse. "I'll help…I'll help you pack in a moment. I just need to take a quick shower. I haven't had one today. It'll be quick."

Once-ler nodded knowing she needed a moment alone to comprehend it. When she went to the bathroom he heard the water run, but he didn't hear it change its note. She wasn't taking one. She probably was just using it to drown out her crying. That was what she was doing. Marie was leaning over the sink weeping not for her, but for him. It wasn't fair for him to be banished.

Once-ler slowly put some clothes in his suitcase, but he stopped and leaned against the wall. He thought of Natalie and Chloe. For the past four years he had been dedicated to work to give them the best. They didn't need a workaholic dad who gave them pretty things, they needed him. It'd be like a death sentence to them if he was taken from them, but what if he stayed? Thneedville was probably only putting on a tough face. Perhaps it was only exaggerating to scare him. He nearly lost Marie three times and now a fourth. How many more times would it happen?

Marie hovered over the pink tiled counter. Her tears splattered. She nearly lost it out there and needed to release it all. She didn't want Once-ler to feel awful. She wanted him away from anyone who had hurt him. She let out a sob, moved away from the sink and then smacked her hands down in agony.

"Don't let him be hurt," she prayed aloud. "Please."

A year before she lost Rufus, and a month ago Betsy had passed. Now would she lose her husband? This was all too much! What would she and Once-ler tell the girls in the morning and how many tears would be shed? Then suddenly the door swung open, banged and she was pulled back around to see Once-ler.

"I can't take this anymore," he said as he grabbed her arms. "It's not fair you should be deprived from me." He wanted nothing more than to turn back time to when things were better. "Or me from you. I don't know what'll happen to me, but I know that I love you. I love you too much." His hands brushed the rain on her face and his face was mere centimeters away from hers.

"I do," wept Marie. "I love you Once-ler."

She felt his grip sail down to her waist and for a long time they stayed still in an embrace. Once-ler felt one tear break past his eyelashes and drop in to her hair. Then he found himself silently grieving and it was one of the worst feelings he had ever felt. Marie was pressed against him as she quietly cried. Finally, she looked up at him in despair, but also in affection. With glistening eyes and moist faces they kissed. It started off as tender, but slowly it became strong. Then it was sweet moaning into their throats. Marie's ring nearly got caught in his hair as she raked through his locks. Once-ler's kissing began to push her down into a dip and he lightly growled in pleasure as she went to his neck, a sensitive area.

"I love you," she repeated as their sudden passion grew. "I'll always love you."

She didn't need an answer in return when he looked at her. He brought her back up to him and they both forgot everything that was wrong...

When Once-ler awoke it felt like a déjà vu. It felt like a morning in early June from years ago and with a sleeping Marie by his side. He remembered waking at a regular time around seven and then turning over to find his new bride asleep. Since she had come to his house very late and they had…well it was no wonder she had slept in. Of course he had only snuggled deeper in the cover and fell asleep again with his arms around her. Then the next thing he knew she was downstairs making breakfast.

So Once-ler wasn't too surprised that it felt familiar when he woke up. Instead though, he decided to do what he had originally planned seven years ago for their first morning together. He made breakfast for Marie with his clothes all crumpled on him. He knew she'd awaken when the smell of pancakes lingered in. Natalie and Chloe who could sleep through a jackhammer's pounding didn't stir. Not only had when he awoken did the morning ring with nostalgia, but his thoughts as well. On both mornings he thought of how euphoric it was to (finally) have Marie for the rest of his life. To be with her every day, call her his better half, fall off into a deep sleep and arise at first light with her.

Then the second thought hit him. The threat of having to leave had convinced him he should listen, but now he didn't give one cent for what anyone told him to do. He was not going away! Not after having to live in a work environment for four, no five years when he counted the very early business days of the tuft plucking, to provide and rarely see his family. He wasn't going to do it again. He wanted to stay and that was all he thought of as he poured batter and watched it sizzle. The intense, but loving acts from last night had only reminded him of how much he loved Marie. What she had said about him was how he felt. He needed her in his life because he loved her and nobody would tear them apart.

While he thought this out and how at least his three girls' identities were hidden to protect them, he felt Marie hug him from behind. Another déjà vu came for that was the same act he did to greet her that one morning. She didn't speak yet and only held him for a long minute. Then when she freed him, he turned to kiss her. She was wearing his favorite dress on her, the one plum colored one she made by hand nearly ten years before.

"Morning," she said halfheartedly after their lips departed.

The only light was from the sunrise which peeked through the windows. Other than that it was dark, but it seemed cool and shady. He took her hands in his. Like always he leaned his head down to hers and she went up on her toes to meet him. Marie's eyelashes fluttered as she breathed in the scent of his shampoo and soap. So much more refreshing than that cologne he wore in his work days. She seemed to be waiting for his goodbye for her eyes seemed to glisten again.

"I'm not leaving," whispered Once-ler. He watched Marie look in shock. "I've been away from you three for too long. I'm not letting anyone change this family again. They can't do anything."

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Your identities are safe," he continued. "I think Thneedville is trying to scare me. That's all."

"What about what others do or say?"

"I'd rather have a bad day and see you three than have a good one and never do." Once-ler traced along one of Marie's curls.

"You're staying," said Marie seeing how serious he was.

"Newsflash; not going anywhere" he said firmly but with a smile. Marie suddenly hugged him at the dear old words. "End of story aaannnd sealed with a kiss."

So it was. With one strong kiss that seemed to wrap up all their feelings from the past seven years the little newsflash was sealed. They stood for a moment, just holding each other, then they let go when Marie's belly growled. She was startled and then giggled with embarrassment.

"Sorry, but I am ready for breakfast." She felt Once-ler squeeze her again with a laugh.

"Breakfast is ready," he said and then served the pancakes out.

It felt interesting to eat breakfast just together. It was almost too quiet though they could hear the rumbling of milk trucks and garbage trucks pass by. Once-ler scooted his chair closer to Marie and she propped her feet up on his knees. Towards the end of eating Once-ler had caressed one of her ankles and up to her calf.

"You're leaving early again?" asked Marie when he put their plates in the sink for her to do later.

"Yeah," said Once-ler. "But I'd like to be home earlier."

"Do your best," said Marie. "And maybe we can watch a movie tonight?"

"You pick," he said. Then he gathered his coat and gloves. He snuck in to kiss his sleeping girls one more time. "Give the girls a hug for me," he added to Marie.

"I will," she promised. She got his hat off of the easy chair and he took it.

One more embrace and one more kiss. That was all it took. It was one of the sweetest of the hugs and kisses they had given each other. Then Once-ler went out bravely and faced the day. Marie smiled as she watched him leave. The door closed very softly and she locked it behind him.

When the twins woke up they did get a hug as a morning greeting and had a nice day with parents as guests to talk about careers. Marie kept busy as she ran to the store for groceries. While she had been shopping she noticed the shop's merchandise seemed smaller and smaller. There was barely enough apples to go around! Happily Marie grabbed a few for dinner. The twins had been invited over at the Drews' house. Hilda had said that Rosy wanted to have them over for a long time to play. In a week they'd go to little Yolanda and Jerry Alderman's house. So Marie was by herself making an apple pie along with a casserole.

"I'll make myself comfortable," she thought. "I'll change when I get the twins."

Marie put on some pajamas and set the table. She checked a magazine for which movie to watch on a channel. When she looked out the window that showed the quiet street she spotted a dear and lanky figure. She grinned wistfully and leaned over the sink with her toes curling.

Then it took a turn for the worst…

Once-ler hadn't talked for a long time about why they needed trees. He stayed in a library and read books about nature. He had remained there all day and was glad to see his new home in distance as it grew dark. Soon the streetlights were lit and he was a beautiful shadow on the warm street.

"It's going to be alright Mustache," thought Once-ler to his old friend. "Things can turn around. Yes sir!"

After defying the city's ridiculous order and live how he wanted he felt content. He was just about to step into off the sidewalk when chaos turned up. Then the wailing of sirens was heard and lights of blue and red were blinding him.

"We've given you a chance!" came a gruff voice.

With a yell Once-ler felt himself getting pushed down by two men and his cheek hit the hood of police cruiser. Another yell followed as he felt an ache begin in the side of his head. His hat had tumbled off to the pavement. He felt his wrists get pulled around and then handcuffs were clasped. His heart was thumping in terror. He struggled up and felt weak as the pain throbbed. His eyes wandered frantically up to the captain. The man looked darkly at him.

"C'mon men," he said. "Let's get him out of here!"

"No!" snapped Once-ler. He found his strength and flung himself back to shaken the lieutenant and sergeant.

He had almost gotten free and had tried going into the direction of the condominiums. He stumbled and tried running faster than he had when The Lorax tried disabling his tent! All he could think about was getting inside his home. When he saw the pretty blonde slam the door ajar his heart leaped into his throat.

"Ma-" he began and for the first time not caring if anyone knew!

He was interrupted when a hand went over his mouth. Then he was pulled down and dragged with his shoes getting scuffed. Then he was crammed into a different car. Two men, not much taller than him, but very burly had taken him. They weren't with the police; they were agents of the Thneedville, making sure the P's and Q's were minded.

"What are you doing?!" screamed Once-ler with his face getting hot.

The men didn't answer except that they started driving and abruptly braked to smack his head. The thump was hard enough that Once-ler passed out. Then they drove out with the cops following and some staying back to reassure it was safe. They had just gotten rid of a public danger.

Marie had been shocked by the police showing up. When she saw Once-ler get arrested she screamed. People were already coming out. They were distracted from their dinners, programs, game nights and chores. One resident had her and her guests leave their birthday party to watch. Marie had flung the door open and nearly bolted out.

"Whoa ma'am!" said an elderly man who grabbed her back. "Do you know who he is?"

Before Marie could respond to his kind warning she watched with her inner being crashing as she watched her husband leave. She stared hard with her mouth agape. She thought she was in a nightmare and she'd awaken. The crowd still looked surprised, but pleased to see the man gone. The elderly gentleman let Marie go and gave her a gentle pat on her shoulder.

"Youngster," he said to himself and then he inched his way back to his newspaper reading.

Marie stood there looking down the street. Then, barefoot and in her nightgown, Marie ran down. It wasn't any good for she wasn't as fast. She felt tears brim her eyes. After she had gone several blocks she felt despair. She returned and locked herself. She didn't know whether to dial the police or call Hilda to bring the girls. Marie paced all around and panted. She felt all her feelings build up.

"What do I do?" she cried out with nobody answering her. She honestly didn't know what to do.

As for Once-ler he remained blacked out with bumps on his head. His vision was blurred and he looked out the window. He wondered where he was. Then his pupils wandered up and they widened.

"Not…this…place," he whispered to himself.

He was yanked out and dropped to the hard ground. The poor man looked up to see The Captain unlock the handcuffs. His wrists hurt from the metal and he wrung them. The cruiser was filled again then Once-ler gave a stare full of fury and fear. He couldn't believe it was happening! He was now banished! The city had really meant it!

"You can't do this!" he said sternly at them and stood on his knees.

Something bumped him in the face and he fell to his side. He looked to see it was his hat. That silly stovepipe hat! No other words were said and the vehicles left. The man who once had such power and glory watched them roll away and fade into the hills back to Thneedville.

"No…"

It was like a nightmare of all nightmares. The silence felt deathly, not even the wind blew. Once-ler bit his lips so hard he could've cut them until they bled. Then he pounded a palm into the ground.

"No!"