The FUTURE Mrs. WONKA (On Hold)

Time Goes By

~Heather's POV~

I jolted awake to the sound of Dad's latest experiment backfiring – probably another attempt at chocolate-powered time travel. Throwing on my clothes and lab coat (a family tradition), I rushed downstairs only to find Marty McFly bursting through our front door, nearly knocking over Dad's perpetual motion chocolate fountain.

"Heather!" Marty gasped, trying to catch his breath. "You're not gonna believe what's happening downtown!"

"What is it, Marty?" I asked, my mind still foggy from dreams of floating candy bars and a certain top-hat-wearing chocolatier I hadn't seen in years.

Marty's eyes sparkled with excitement. "It's about Wonka – your Wonka. His factory... it's opening again! And get this – little Charlie Bucket found the last golden ticket!"

My heart skipped a beat. "Charlie? The Buckets from next door?"

The Buckets had been our neighbors for years. Dad and I often shared our soup with them during hard times, and Charlie would sometimes help us with experiments (mostly the candy-related ones). That sweet boy deserved this more than anyone.

"Yeah!" Marty nodded enthusiastically. "Jennifer and I just saw him running home with it. The whole town's going crazy! Doc – uh, your dad – is already theorizing about the statistical improbability of the ticket being found right next door to another candy inventor's house."

I couldn't help but smile, remembering all those years ago when Willy and I would dream up impossible candies together. He'd actually done it – built his chocolate empire, just like he'd promised. And now Charlie, of all people, would get to see it.

"I wonder if he's changed much," I mused aloud, more to myself than to Marty.

Marty gave me that knowing look he'd perfected over years of friendship. "You mean Wonka? The guy whose candy experiments you've been trying to reverse-engineer since high school?"

"I have not!" I protested, feeling my cheeks flush. "Those were purely scientific studies of molecular gastronomy and temporal sugar crystallization."

"Right," Marty smirked. "And I suppose that drawer full of old photos has nothing to do with it?"

Before I could defend myself, Dad's voice boomed from his lab. "Great Scott! Heather, the temporal chocolate stabilizer is showing unusual readings! The golden ticket phenomenon might be causing ripples in the space-time confectionery continuum!"

"Speaking of which," Marty chuckled, backing toward the door, "I better go before Doc recruits me for another experiment. Jennifer's waiting anyway. But Heather?" His expression softened. "Maybe it's time to stop analyzing his candy and actually talk to him again?"

As Marty left, I found myself staring at the old photograph on my desk – Willy and me, standing by our gate, both so young and full of dreams. Now Charlie Bucket, the kindest soul in Hill Valley, would be walking into Willy's world of pure imagination.

I picked up the photo, running my thumb over its worn edges. "What are you up to, Willy Wonka?" I whispered. "And why do I have a feeling this golden ticket is just the beginning?"

"Heather!" Dad called again. "These readings are heavy! The candy particles are achieving temporal displacement!"

I smiled, tucking the photo away. Maybe Marty was right. Maybe it was time to stop studying Willy's creations and start being part of them again. But first, I had a neighbor to congratulate – and possibly a chocolate-based time machine to prevent from melting down the neighborhood.

Just another day in the Brown family household.