AN: Well, it's 2011. I decided that this year I'll attempt to clean up some of my older stories; this one is the start (I'm not stalling on finishing the other's, really I'm not!) :D

Anyway, this story was basically completely re-written after I had a good look at it. I like this version better and I hope you do as well.

Onward!

Chapter 1

Warning: Suggestive slash tones.

-
Clicking Clocks

Children can hardly be expected to understand the matter of aging. Some children might look forward to their birthdays and the idea of being another year older; others may not and dread it with every fiber of their being.

Charlie Bucket was a mixture of both of those; he enjoyed his birthday now more so than ever before. The fact was: Each birthday morning he woke with the full knowledge that Mr. Wonka would have had the Oompa Loompa's prepare a marvelous breakfast which he would eat with his parents and the older man.
They would then go down into the Chocolate Room and open the mountain of gifts laid out there like a dream.

The gifts were wonderful, Charlie would never say or think otherwise, but the best part of it was watching the wide smiles on the faces of people he loved.

But Charlie also understood the other thing that Birthday's meant: It meant people got older.

His grandparents' had been his favorite people in the world before he met Mr. Wonka, so it came as no surprise to his parents that he mourned horribly when they passed on. Their passing brought with it a fear that Charlie could never quite put into words. It was the fear that the last people he had left would leave him as well.

His birthday's never quite had the same shine to them after his Grandpa Joe died.

As his parents got on in years and he himself grew from boy to man, Charlie couldn't help but notice the fact that a certain Chocolate maker seemed to be standing still in the flow of time.

Willy Wonka didn't look a day over forty when Charlie Bucket opened his eyes on his thirty-first birthday.

"Will," Charlie called as he stepped into their work station in the Invention Room. The other man had his back to the door, sitting in one of the rolling chairs. A puff of purple smoke drifted lazily into the air when he turned to look at Charlie, lilac eyes gleaming.

"Evening," Willy Wonka greeted as he leaned his head back against the back of the chair, sighing very softly when he noted the distressed expression on Charlie's face. "What's wrong?"

Charlie crossed the room with familiar ease and leaned his hip against the desk, forcing Willy to move his chair again to keep eye contact. "I wanted to invite you out to dinner with me and my parents. I heard they've gone and set me up with another 'nice girl' tonight." He couldn't keep the exasperation from his voice.

Willy's face clouded over for half a second before blanking completely. "Ah, well, thank you but…"

"But" Charlie finished, "you wont be able to attend? What excuse do you have this time?" he cocked his head to the side and tried for humor but his annoyance was clear.

Willy let out a loud sigh and shook his head. "I have to get these candies ready for marketing… and they're not even close." He reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"The candies will still be there in the morning and there is actually still a couple months left till were reach the busy season where we're expected to produce a new product." Charlie reminded him. Even as he spoke though, the young man could see that his mentor would not be giving in to his demands of companionship. He squared his shoulders; set on finding out the reason. "Why are you so set on not accompanying me?"

Willy rolled his eyes. "I just gave you a reason."

"No, you gave me an excuse; give me a reason and I'll let you be."

Willy stared at Charlie with his cold eyes for one long second before speaking. "Perhaps it would not be so bad for you to meet this young lady your parents are trying to set you up with." He said in a rush.

Charlie froze. Out of all the answers Willy could have chosen that was the one he least expected to hear. He swallowed once, with some difficulty, and laughed weakly. "You've gone and left me speechless," he managed.

Willy smiled faintly and reached up to pat Charlie's thigh. "Apparently I'm good at that," he murmured. "Charlie, I wont go and spoil a chance for you to be happy. You don't need an old man like me around."

Charlie rolled his eyes and shook his head. "You look no older than me." He murmured.

Willy's eyebrows knit together. "Charlie, I'm well into my seventies." He chuckled.

Charlie jerked as though someone had stabbed him with a pencil. "You're kidding me!" he gasped.

Willy leaned back in the chair again, crossing his arms over his narrow chest. "No, I'm not. I'm actually quite old." He shrugged as though there was nothing strange about admitting his age.

Charlie squirmed and shook his head. "Will, I don't…" he couldn't find the works. He struggled to, but there was just none to be found.

Willy reached up once again and patted the man's thigh. "Relax, I don't know any more than you do why I look as I do." He chuckled.

"It shouldn't be possible," Charlie whispered. "it shouldn't…"

"No, but it is." Willy with drew his hand and rubbed it on his coat. A nervous expression danced across his face before he blanked it. "is… this going to be a problem?"

Charlie frowned deeply, realizing what was actually being asked. "Will, I've known since I was a boy that there was something… odd about the way you didn't age; I just didn't really think about how old you must be." He explained. "It… doesn't bother me so much as make me wish I were you and able to be young forever."

Willy shook his head, "It's not a joy or delight for me to be stuck." He looked very distant. "But this is not a conversation to have when you should be going. You'll be very late with the traffic if you don't leave now."

Charlie stared at him for another moment. "Are you sure I can't talk you into coming with me?"

"Crowded places don't agree with me, Charlie." Willy murmured. "But thank you," he absentmindedly touched Charlie's leg again, patting it gently as the young man looked down at him. "really, thank you."

Charlie sighed but nodded, he stood straighter and laid his hand on Willy's shoulder, squeezing lightly before letting his hand drop and heading toward the door. "I wont be late," he called.

Willy closed his eyes and sighed. He waited until he heard the smooth sliding noise of the door closing behind Charlie before he spoke. "I know."