All good deeds must never go unpunished. And there are still no takers on the chime…though I thought it was a gimmee…until one person changed their vote at the last minute. Hmmm…

One In A Million You

Aaron swore that the morning had it in for him when the alarm seemed to go off minutes after he had fallen into bed. No sooner had he closed his eyes than it was time to get up and start the next day. But it wasn't just another day: he had finally gotten some respect from Erin and Spencer, and he was going to a ball!

Showering quickly, he changed into his jeans and work shirt and hurried to the kitchen to make breakfast. Erin had said that it was supposed to fill them up so they could go back upstairs and nap until it was time to leave.

Cracking the eggs and frying the bacon, Aaron set the main table. He tried to control his enthusiasm but no matter how he pushed it down, it came out in his steps and the way he moved. And to top it off, Erin had sided with him. Maybe hell had finally frozen over.

Erin breezed into the dining room and looked at the table.

"You're up early," she commented and took a seat.

"I wanted to make sure things were ready," Aaron replied as he poured her juice. "Coffee?" he motioned with his free hand.

Erin held out her cup. "Don't mind if I do." She waited for Aaron to pour before sipping. "This is good."

"It's my personal blend."

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow. "You should consider marketing this; I can help."

Speechless, Aaron stared at her. Was she offering to help him? He was almost afraid to ask. Instead he replied, "Thank you."

Erin set her cup on the table. "I'll take my breakfast now." She unfolded the newspaper and started reading.

"Yes, ma'am" Aaron moved into the kitchen.

Spencer walked into his bedroom and looked around. The contrast of his room before and after was so dramatic that he wondered if he was in the same house. His bed was made and folded hospital corners. His shoes were lined up in the closet and his clothes hung up neatly. In the drawers, his underwear and socks were arranged meticulously.

Amazed was an understatement.

"You did this?" Spencer asked as he looked around the room again. Even his books were arranged alphabetically on the shelves.

"I wish it had been better…" Aaron started.

"This was more than I deserve. Why did you do this?"

"Because you deserve to go to the ball."

"So do you. Thank you, Aaron."

Aaron nodded toward the brass valet. "I have your suit ready."

"Thanks. What about Derek?" Spencer asked.

"I cleaned his room too."

"You should get ready."

"You too."

"Meet you downstairs in an hour."

Aaron left Spencer to get ready.

Derek was a man possessed. Where the hell were his wing tipped shoes? He knew he had put them on the shelf earlier in the day, but now they were gone.

Tearing thru the closet, he ripped clothes off the hangers as he searched frantically for this prized shoes. Nothing there. Reaching up on the shelves, he pulled down the boxes. Opening each one, he found something other than the shoes. Tossing the items to the floor, he continued on his search.

Under the bed he looked. In the drawers he searched, and yet he still came up empty.

"Where the hell are my shoes?" he growled. He was almost ready and now he was going to have to wear his second best pair to meet the princess. "You're a dead man, Aaron."

Running to Spencer's room, he continued his search. Nothing. He was going to find out where his shoes were if it was the last thing he did.

Wiping his face clean of the shaving cream, Spencer heard the noise on the other side of the door. Curious, he cautiously opened it to find Derek tearing thru like a hurricane.

"What are you doing?" Spencer asked.

"Where are they?"

"Where are what?"

"My shoes. I can't find my wing tips and I know that Aaron hid them from me."

"Why would he put them in my room?"

"To screw with me!" Derek moved to the dresser and threw items out at the speed of light.

Helpless, Spencer watched the total destruction of his room. "Stop!"

"What is going on here?" Aaron asked as he stepped into Spencer's room.

Derek stopped what he was doing and spun around. Advancing menacingly, he balled his fists. "Where are they?"

"What?"

"My shoes. I know you have them."

"You mean these?" Aaron asked as he thrust a cardboard shoe box at his half mad stepbrother.

Shocked, Derek took the box and opened the lid. Gleaming black shoes winked back at him.

"I thought I would shine them for you," Aaron offered. "I even put in new laces."

Yanking the shoes out of the box, Derek put them on. He started to say something when Erin walked into the room.

Dressed in a ruby red rhinestone dress, she surveyed the destruction.

"What happened in here?" she barked.

"It was all Aaron's fault," Derek spoke up before either man could. "He didn't want us to go to the ball so he destroyed our rooms so you would think it was us."

"Aaron Hotchner… How dare you?" she spat. "Does your jealousy know no limit? You were invited to go and this is how you repay me?"

"I…"

"I don't want to hear any excuses. You have finally crossed the line and I have had enough. You will not go to the ball and you will not leave this house for the rest of the week. You are restricted from driving anywhere under any circumstances. Hand me your keys. Now!"

Aaron did as he was told.

"Mother…" Spencer started.

"Spencer, I would suggest you meet us down at the limo if you are ready to go. That goes for you, too, Derek. Tell Hannity that I will be there in a few minutes."

Spencer gave Aaron a look of sympathy and left the room. Derek flashed a wicked grin. "I told you not to mess with me," he muttered under his breath and departed the room.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Erin asked. "And you aren't even ready. Did you think that you could meet the princess looking like…like…a hobo?" She took in his clothes and beard and frowned.

"I haven't had time to shave. I was shining Derek's shoes."

"Your responsibility was supposed to be to yourself."

"I can get ready."

Erin shook her head. "I'm sorry. But I told you that we were leaving at seven on the dot and already we are running late."

"But…"

"No buts, Aaron. A deal was a deal. And you promised to clean the boys' rooms and be ready. Neither deal you managed to keep. And now I must bid you adieu. Good night, Aaron." Erin turned to leave. "I want these rooms pristine by the time we get back."

Aaron stood in shock as he listened for Erin's footsteps down the hall, down the stairs, across the foyer until the door closed. He tried to remember to breathe, but it hurt too much. Moving over to Spencer's bed, he pushed the items aside and sat down.

He had thought that he would finally be free for one night and get to experience what his stepbrothers did every day. He surveyed at the destruction with a heavy heart.

"Where are you now, Dad?" he whispered and buried his face in his hands. Silently, his shoulders shook from sobs.

From her perch, Pen watched the scene unfold. It had taken everything in her not to suddenly appear and strike down everyone who had hurt her charge. She had to remember that her magic was for good and not revenge. But if anyone deserved her wrath, it was Derek. Oh, he would be seeing her again.

"But first things first," she announced to no one in particular. In the blink of an eye, she was standing before Aaron. Reaching over, she tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey, are you alright?" she asked.

Aaron looked up through blurry eyes at the glowing figure in white standing before him. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" he questioned and rubbed his eyes again.

"If you have to ask, maybe you haven't read enough books as a child."

Realization slowly dawned on him.

"I've seen you before. I thought you were a… You mean you're…a…I mean, my…"

Pen crossed his arms over her breasts. "Honey, just spit it out: I'm your fairy godmother."