Title: Back Together

Summary: After a huge fight, Charlie and Wonka part ways for a year. But after both enter the same game show on TV for a chance to win a million dollars, they are forced to work together despite their unresolved fight - and their growing attraction to each other.

Rated: T

Genre(s): Romance, Drama, Friendship

Pairing(s): Violet Beauregarde/Mike Teavee, Willy Wonka/Ms. Beauregarde, Charlie Bucket/Willy Wonka

Warning(s): Some intense kissing/making out scenes

Their fight occurred on a dark, rainy night. Charlie was 18 years old now, and had been living at Wonka's factory for a long time. He and Wonka were sitting in their shared office, brainstorming ideas for their factory when Charlie asked, "Mr. Wonka? Do you think I'm a...a good chocolatier?"

"Define 'good'," Wonka said, which didn't sound like a good sign.

Frustrated at Wonka's response, Charlie added, "You know. Creative. Inspiring."

"Charlie, my dear, I think you have a very creative mind," Wonka said. He said this lazily, almost slurring his words. "But you lack the experience of, how did you put it, of a 'good' chocolatier. You still have a lot to learn, and well, my work is better than yours."

Charlie's mouth fell open at Wonka's harsh words. "Are you serious? Have I not done enough to prove myself to you?!" He stood up from his chair in outrage.

"My dear, it's - it's not that-"

"I'll prove myself to you one day," Charlie said, his voice breaking and tears filling his eyes. "No wonder you used to be such a recluse, who'd want to be around you?"

They yelled some pretty ugly things at each other that night, until both of them were exhausted. They had been very close over the years, and this was their first real fight. Wonka wasn't the most social man ever, and maybe his words came out wrong, but that was no excuse. In the end, Charlie said, "I'm leaving, and don't come after me! I'll make a chocolate factory of my own!"

The door slammed and Wonka was left staring at it, more upset than he'd been in a long time.

One year later

"Infuriating man," Charlie scoffed as he threw his newspaper down. He'd just finished reading about the new chocolate ski resort Wonka had just opened. He was probably making hundreds of thousands of dollars, Charlie thought angrily. Why hadn't he thought of it first?

"You know, you could just go to the slopes and talk to him," Mike Teavee, his roommate, pointed out. Mike had certainly changed over the years. He still loved his video games, and was majoring in computer science at his college.

Charlie wasn't in college, however. He had his own successful factory that made more than enough money for him to live off of. But Mike had needed a place to stay, and Charlie offered to let Mike live with him.

"I don't want to talk to him," Charlie said.

"Oh, grow up," Mike replied, some of his snarky attitude from their childhood years showing. "He's been trying to contact you."

"Relentlessly," sighed Charlie, annoyed. It was true. The man had left him voicemails, emails, letters... "He's obsessed with me."

"He cares about you," said Mike. "Even after all this time. Why don't you just meet up with him - hold on, what's that?"

Mike was now paying attention to a TV commercial about a game show that offered its winner a million dollars. "Charlie, we should sign up for this! Do you know what we could do with a million dollars?"

"'If I had a million dollars...'" Charlie sang the Barenaked Ladies song, and Mike groaned. "That sounds amazing. Can you imagine winning?"

"We could buy a mansion!" Mike said excitedly. "And so many video games."

Charlie laughed. "Let's do it."

Across town from Charlie and Mike, Wonka woke up to the sound of knocking on the factory door. He got out of bed, slipped on a robe, and opened the door to find Violet Beauregarde's mother, who was also - if you can believe it - his girlfriend.

"Are you ready to go, Willy?" she asked him. "Violet's there already, and let me tell you, she's very excited about this."

"I'm coming, don't worry," he said, giving Ms. Beauregarde a small kiss on the lips, although his slight attraction to her was slowly fading. He went to his bedroom, wondering why he was still with he if his attraction had passed. He knew he should be honest, but she really was a great woman and he didn't want to hurt her. But there was someone who he wanted...

Charlie and Mike got on the show, which was that same day, so they got a call about it quickly. It turned out that Violet Beauregarde was hosting their show.

"This should be interesting," Mike said as he pushed open the door to the building the address had shown them to. "Very interesting," he added, nudging Charlie and pointing.

"Oh, no," Charlie gasped. To his horror, and Mike's amusement, Willy Wonka sat among the other contestants.

AN: Hope you liked the first chapter! I'm proud of this idea, and I rewrote this first chapter several times so I hope it turned out ok. Review please and let me know what you think :) Should I continue?