One In A Million You

Erin Strauss rolled over and tried to block the sunlight that was beaming down on her face. Where was she? Her hands felt around for the familiar bed spread and sighed as she found it. She was in her bed, but God, she felt as though she had been dragged behind something. Her head ached, her body throbbed, and her memory was in bits and pieces. How much had she had to drink last night?

"I'm going to have to talk to the king about his champagne supplier," she muttered and tried to sit up. Squinting at the clock on the nightstand, she groaned again. Noon. It was pretty evident that she wasn't getting into the office today.

Standing up, she grabbed for her robe and slipped it on. Well, if she wasn't going in, she could at least check on her sons. Neither had come home with her - that much she remembered - and she was still pissed.

Her walk down the hall was gentle - more for her sake than the sleeping men - as she knocked on their doors. Getting no answer, she peeked inside. Empty. Where are they? Her head throbbed painfully. She needed coffee. Closing the door to Spencer's room, she made her way to the dining room.

"Good morning," Aaron greeted pleasantly. He poured her coffee and stood back.

"Why are you so chipper and where are your brothers?" she snapped. She sipped cautiously.

"I always greet you that way," Aaron reminded her. "As for Derek and Spencer…Derek is out in the backyard and Spencer never came home last night."

Erin scowled. "What do you mean 'Spencer never came home last night'? Didn't he call?"

"He…"

"Good morning everyone!" Spencer greeted happily as he bounced into the room. Leaning down, he kissed his mother, then took a chair to her left. "Something smells good. Can I get some?" he asked.

"I'll be right back." Aaron left the room quickly.

"Where were you?" Erin asked.

"Out." Spencer laid the serviette on his lap.

"I figured that. I meant who were you with?"

Spencer grinned. "A friend."

"A woman," Erin corrected.

"Yes."

"What did you do? Where did you go?" she demanded.

Spencer poured himself a cup of orange juice. "If you must know, we went to see a midnight showing of a horror flick down at the theatre in town."

"You what? I took you to the castle to meet the princess and you run off with some peasant…"

"She isn't a 'peasant' mother," Spencer returned evenly. "Her name is Ashley and she's fantastic!"

"But she isn't royalty."

"She is a best friends with the princess."

"Small comfort. Who are her parents? Are they some one?"

"Well…" Spencer drawled as he tried to prolong the inevitable. "You may know them." He sipped his drink slowly.

"Who are they?" Erin repeated.

"George and Marissa Seaver."

Her eyes widened. "The murderer? You hooked up with the daughter of a murderer?" she yelled.

"Mother, keep your voice down," Spencer replied.

"I gave you a princess! And this is how you repay me?" she spat.

"You didn't give me a princess; I never wanted her. And now I've found someone on my own."

"Don't you disrespect me."

Aaron stepped out from the other room, his arms weighed down with two trays. He placed the plates in front of the pair and stepped back.

"Leave us alone," Erin directed angrily.

"No," Spencer contradicted. "He can stay."

"This doesn't concern him."

"He's family; it does concern him. I love Ashley," Spencer stated simply and dug into his meal.

"You hardly know her!" Fear crept into her tone.

"We got to know each other; we stayed up all night talking."

Erin's eyes narrowed into slits. "About what?"

"That's none of your business, Mother."

"When it comes to your trust fund, it is more than my business! How do you know she isn't after you for your money?" Erin thundered.

"Because I know. I could feel it. She didn't even know who I was when she kissed me."

"YOU KISSED HER?" Erin shrieked reverberated thru the spacious room.

"Yeah, and I liked it. A lot," he added as an after thought.

Erin buried her face in her hands. "I can't believe this. I can't believe this. You were supposed to marry the princess and live happily ever after."

"Why can't Aaron marry the princess?" he asked dumbly.

Erin's hands dropped from her face. "Are you insane? Aaron marry the princess?" She started laughing. "That's the funniest thing I've ever heard. What are you going to say next? That you want to marry the daughter of a murderer?" she asked sarcastically.

"I already have," Spencer replied.

"WHAT?" Aaron and Erin replied simultaneously.

Spencer grinned broadly. "We got married early this morning." He proudly showed his left hand and the gold ring that encircled his ring finger.

Aaron tried to hide the smile that broke out across his face. "Congratulations."

Erin spun on him. "Congratulations?" she stormed. "How can you congratulate him?" She turned back to her youngest son. "How could you do this to me?"

"I'm twenty one."

"You're still in college. How will you take care of her?"

"I'm going for my second masters; I think I can support her."

"Where will you live?" Erin whined.

"She has an apartment outside of town. And her mother is thinking about moving to be closer to her mother, so we may be able to buy her house."

"I can't believe this. I had such plans for you."

Spencer shrugged. "But they weren't my plans. Guess you're left with Aaron now that I'm married and you pushed Haley and Derek to get together."

Speechless, Erin snorted and walked out of the room. Her ice cold demeanor stayed behind as the sound of her footsteps echoed up the stairs.

An uncomfortable silence filled the room. "I wish you could have been at the party last night," Spencer told Aaron. He picked up his fork.

"Thanks, Spencer." Aaron didn't meet his brother's eyes. "Congratulations."

"Thanks. Would you cater the reception?" Spencer asked nervously.

"Spencer…"

"I know that we haven't always gotten along, but after meeting Ashley…we had a long talk about Mom and Jason…and you. I can see how mother has manipulated us against you."

"Spencer…" Aaron felt uneasy at the revelation.

"It's true. She doesn't like you and neither does Derek, and I don't know why. You're a nice guy who gets shafted every time he turns around, and it isn't fair."

"Gee, thanks."

Spencer blushed. "I didn't mean it like that," he protested. "I meant that you deserve to be happy. And from what Ash was saying, the princess deserves it too. That's why I think you should have been there last night. Maybe you two would have found each other."

"I…"

"Ash told me that a couple weeks ago, the princess ran away." He grabbed a slice of toast and buttered it.

"Really?" Aaron said tonelessly.

"Yep. She was gone for two days. Seems she met some one and fell in love."

"You don't say?" Aaron's breath caught in his chest.

Spencer bit into the toast, chewing thoughtfully before swallowing. "She never got his real name, but she looked all over for him. I guess the party last night was her way of trying to find him."

"Did she find him?" Aaron wondered.

"I don't know. I got distracted." Spencer scraped the plate clean. "Thanks, Aaron, that was delicious." Pushing the chair back, he stood up. "Well, I guess I'd better go upstairs and start packing. I don't want to cause Mother to have a stroke if I move Ash in," he grinned.

Aaron's lip twitched.

"You smiled," Spencer said. "You should do it more; it looks good on you." He started out the door, then stopped. "I hope you meet someone so you can get out of the house."

"Erin will never allow that."

"I know. But maybe…"

"Does Ashley have a sister?" Aaron asked.

"No," the young man reluctantly admitted.

"It was a good thought, though."

"It was." Spencer started forward again, then stopped. "By the way, where is Derek?"

"Out in the backyard by the pond," Aaron replied with a straight face. It was almost the truth. Derek was by the pond…just not in the usual way. Was there a way to get hold of his fairy godmother and put a rush on the reverse spell before the family got suspicious?

"Don't tell him my news; I want to surprise him."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Aaron began clearing the dishes. "I'll be up in a few to help you pack."

"Thanks. Uh, Aaron…"

"What?"

"Is it too late for us to be brothers?" Spencer looked nervous.

Aaron shook his head. "I don't think so."

Spencer smiled. "Okay."

Aaron stacked the dishes and took them to the kitchen. The look on Erin's face at Spencer's announcement flashed in his head. Without warning, laughter bubbled upward, then burst out loud and strong. And it continued until he was breathless.

And he liked it.