Every writer has a milestone. I thought I had reached mine when I hit story number 50. But there was still more to tell, and numbers 60, 70, 80, and 90 came to fruition before I could even comprehend it all. As I typed the last period of "My Girl" it dawned on me that I was at the magic 99! I tried to post a poll to get the reader's opinion on what the story should be. Well, thanks to fanfic, that idea was a bust. So, I had to flip a coin on three pairings. Well, JJ/Hotch won out.

Here is the premise: Aaron is the only son of a widower named Jason Gideon who marries a widow named Erin Strauss who has two sons named Derek and Spencer. When Jason dies, Hotch (as he goes by), becomes the servant in the Gideon-Strauss household and supports his two lazy trust fund step-brothers. Meanwhile, Princess Jennifer is the lovely daughter of King David and Queen Em. Though she is betrothed to Prince Will, she pines for "Prince Charming"…until that fateful day she crosses paths with a servant. How can Hotch win the fair maiden and still have time to cook dinner for a party of 50?

For those keeping score, this is second in the "Once Upon A Dream" Series and follows "Beauty And The Beast".

I don't own Criminal Minds.

Song prompt: "One In A Million You" by Larry Graham

One In A Million You

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…

"Star light, star bright; the first star I've seen tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, to have this wish I wish tonight," Aaron whispered from his perch on the window seat. "I wish for…"

His words were cut off by the bedroom door opening. There was no time to get under the covers, so he stayed where he was. Besides, he was too sad to care about being caught.

Jason opened the bedroom door quietly to peek in on his son. He was surprised to see the young child sitting by the window staring off into space.

"Son? I thought I told you to go to bed? What are you doing awake?" he asked quietly. He walked over and placed a hand on the slim shoulder.

Guiltily, Aaron looked up from his perch. "Dad…I'm sorry," he apologized.

Jason sat down across from Aaron. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know how to tell you."

Giving his son a knowing smile, he crossed his arms over his chest. "I thought we agreed we could tell each other everything."

"I know," Aaron shrugged. "But you might think this is stupid."

Jason put a finger under his son's chin and lifted until their eyes met. "I have never thought anything you say is stupid."

"Dad…I miss Mom." Tears formed in the young boy's eyes.

"I know." And he did.

"And my birthday is coming up and I don't want to celebrate it," Aaron continued sadly.

"Why?" Jason was flummoxed.

"Because she won't be here. I'm going to be ten and she won't know."

"Yes she will," Jason comforted gently. "Mothers always know."

Aaron turned his head away. "You say that, but I don't believe it."

"I suspect your mom is only part of your problem. What's really bugging you, son?"

"I'm afraid that no one will ever love me," Aaron confessed on a sigh.

Jason gave his son a wry smile. "I think you're a little young to be thinking that."

"What if no one ever wants to marry me?" the boy pleaded plaintively.

"I think you have a few years before worrying about that, son."

"I wish I had a mom," Aaron groused.

"Well, I was going to save this, but I guess I can tell you now…"

The little boy perked up instantly. "What? Is it a bike? You got me a bike for my birthday?"

"Better."

"A horse?" Aaron rushed on, his mind already envisioning the horse he always wanted. He already had the name picked out.

"I think it's better than a horse."

"What?" He could barely conceal his excitement.

"A new mom."

Aaron stopped and looked at his dad in disbelief. "A what?!"

"I met a woman and we fell in love. She has two sons about your age. She is dying to meet you."

"Dad!"

"Listen to me, son. You will always be my partner, but I get lonely. This woman is amazing, and is just like your mom was. You will like her. And I will have two more sons to love. I always wanted you to have brothers."

"I don't know, Dad…" Aaron's gut tightened at the thought of having to share his dad.

Jason cupped Aaron's cheek lovingly. "Do you love me?"

"Yeah."

"Then trust me when I say that I will never do anything to make you unhappy or harm you."

"I know."

Jason gathered the boy in his arms for a tight hug. "I love you, Aaron."

"I love you, too, Dad." Aaron hugged his dad back as tight as he could. "What is her name?"

"Erin."

The boy made a face. "She has a boy's name?"

Pulling back, Jason laughed out loud. "It's the Irish form of your name. Her sons' names are Spencer and Derek."

Aaron was hesitant. "Are you sure I'm going to like them?"

"Positive. Now give me a hug." Jason hugged the boy again. "Now get some sleep because we have a long day tomorrow."

Aaron crawled under the covers. Jason tucked him in.

"Sweet dreams." Jason turned toward the door.

"Dad?"

"Yes, son?"

"You never answered my question."

"What is that?" Jason turned around.

"Will a girl ever love me enough to marry me?"

Jason thought it over.

"Yes, son, I know she will."

"Thanks, Dad."

"Now go to sleep." Jason closed the door softly.

Aaron looked out the window at the falling star.

"I wish I had a beautiful princess to marry me and love me forever," he whispered before falling fast asleep.
*****

Meanwhile, on the other side of the kingdom, Queen Emily tucked her daughter into bed and turned out the light.

"Good night, Jennifer," she whispered and kissed the girl's forehead.

"I'm not tired, Mommy," the girl spoke up.

"Well, it's time for all little princesses to go to sleep," Emily admonished gently.

"Why?" the girl asked wide eyed.

Emily tapped her daughter's nose. "So they don't turn into ugly toads."

"I don't ever wanna be a toad. They're icky." Jennifer made a face.

"That is why you have to sleep; so you can grow up to be beautiful."

"Can I have a story?"

"Jennifer…"

The little girl sat up in bed. Clasping her hands together under her chin, she looked up at her mother with pleading eyes. "Please, Mommy? I promise I'll go to sleep."

Emily thought it over. "Okay." Sitting back down on the bed, she tucked the covers again. "Once upon a time in a land far, far, away, there lived a little princess in a castle."

"What was her name?"

"I'll let you name her. And she was the most beautiful princess in the whole world," Emily continued. "But she wasn't happy."

"Why, Mommy? Why wasn't she happy?" Jennifer asked sadly.

"Because she wanted someone to love her."

"What about her mommy and daddy? Didn't they love her?"

"They did," Emily agreed, "but she wanted a boy to love her. She had someone, but he didn't love her for her; he only loved her for her money. And one day when she thought about running away forever, she met a handsome man and they fell in love."

"Was he a prince?"

"No. But he loved her."

"What is his name?"

Emily shook her head. "I don't know. He is a mystery man."

"But how can you love someone who doesn't have a name?"

"Your heart knows, honey. The heart always knows love how to love someone."

"Like I love Daddy and you," Jennifer stated, her eyes shining with love and admiration.

"Just like Daddy and me," Emily affirmed.

"So, did they live happily ever after?"

'I don't know. Should they?"

Jennifer shrugged. "If she doesn't know his name, she can't love him. It's impossible."

"Maybe." Emily thought it over. "How about: And they almost lived happily ever after?"

"I guess. Mommy, can I be that princess?"

Emily laughed softly. "I think at five, you are a little young to wish for a prince charming."

"I know. I like to dream."

"I know you do."

"Can I have a pony for my birthday?"

Emily stood up. "Maybe. Now get some sleep."

Jennifer snuggled down. "Okay. I love you, Mommy."

"I love you too." Emily kissed her daughter. Walking to the door, she closed it behind her.

Rolling over, Jennifer peaked out from her canopy bed at the night sky.

"My prince charming is out there. And when I find him, I'm going to love him forever and ever and ever," she promised.

Closing her eyes, she drifted off into dreamland.