AN: Thank you so much for the reviews. This chapter is dedicated to the memory of a dear friend who recently lost the fight for life. Linda Fanfiction, you will be missed.

Chapter 9

After doing a final check on the electrical at the Spooktacular Ball—he didn't want the fog machines and music to blow circuits—and doing two more food runs to his mom's house, Derek finally made his way to the party. And what a party it was! Penelope had worked her magic yet again. The lights were flashing, the music was pumping; it was more than he had hoped for.

Now, if only one more thing would come together, then this would be the best visit home he'd ever had.

Derek scanned the dance floor, looking for Penelope. He didn't see her right away. He assumed she was taking care of party goers, like she usually did. She had a nurturing instinct for everyone and everything, no matter where she was. The kids had taken to her so quickly, it left him speechless. The same boys that had given him a wary eye were giving her hugs and trading jokes. It made him grateful to know her and be loved by her.

"Derek," James said, coming up to him, clapping his hand, and doing the one-armed man hug. "Everything settled?"

"Couldn't look better," he replied honestly. The whole set up for the lighting was great now; the center shouldn't have issues for years to come.

"That's great, man!" James said with a sigh of relief.

Derek turned his attention to Vonda. "And look at you, Miss Thing," he said with a brilliant grin. "You look gorgeous."

She flushed happily. "Thanks, Derek."

"Better watch out, my man," Derek teasingly warned James. "This cat burglar could be stealing your heart."

As he looked up to teasingly wink at Vonda, he saw Penelope approaching from across the dance floor. His breath caught in his throat, and he couldn't speak. He'd never seen her look more lovely. She was an absolute vision, all blonde curls and decadent curves in lace and satin. She was truly a fairy tale princess.

"I think that's two of us..." James drawled, patting Derek and waking him out of his reverie.

He was still awestruck as Penelope stepped up to him. Her smile was brilliant, genuine, and by far the most beautiful thing about her.

"Hi there," she said, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

"You..." he said and then stopped. He couldn't think of words to describe how she looked. Finally, he settled with, "You're stunning."

She giggled. "Thank you."

"I mean it, sweetheart," he said, taking her hand and twirling her so he could check every angle. "You're breathtaking. A real Cinderella princess."

She quirked a smile. "Actually, most princesses in Cinderella's time had no hair and terrible teeth, due to the bad hygiene they had in that era...but I'll accept the compliment."

A smile spread slowly across his face. Only Penelope could come up with something like that to put him at ease.

"I take it we're a pair for this?" she asked, a sweetly hopeful look on her face, "considering you're wearing the matching crown." She glanced around him. "How do you keep that up there without hair?"

Derek burst out laughing and shook his head. "Silly girl."

A slow song began, right in the middle of some faster songs. That was rather odd, so he glanced over at the deejay. His mother was walking away from the booth and then glanced at him, giving him two big thumbs up.

He'd have to thank her for that later.

"Vonda," James said, turning to his girlfriend, "would you like to dance?"

"Sure," she said, casting a smile at Penelope and Derek.

He bowed slightly to Penelope. "May I have this dance?"

Penelope nodded. "Of course."

She flowed in his arms as they circled the dance floor with fluid, beautiful movements, like she'd been born to dance with him. He held her close, so soft and delicate in his arms. She'd always told him she had two left feet, that she couldn't dance, but he was certain she was lying now.

Or perhaps she'd always been dancing with the wrong partners.

"So," she said, smiling up at him as they rounded a corner, "what kingdom are you from, fair prince?"

"I'm the prince of Sexyville," he answered with a smirk. That made her giggle, so he asked, "Where are you from?"

"I have a secret," she whispered conspiratorially with him. "I'm not really a princess."

He arched a brow in surprise. "You're not?"

"No," she said, her eyes twinkling with happiness. "My fairy godmother came and made me a princess for the night."

"She did a good job," he said appreciatively.

"She did," she agreed.

The intoxicating scent of pears and apples, fragrances that seemed to linger near Penelope, tantalized him. He held her closer and spoke huskily, "Why would she do that, fair lady?"

"I've been helping her out, and she likes me."

He rested his cheek against her hair. "Nice godmother."

"But I think she had ulterior motives," she said softly. He could feel her lean into him as the music and the magnetic magic of their closeness carried them both away.

"She did, hmm?" he murmured low, letting his lips brush against her hairline. He longed to place a kiss there, to show her he was interested, that he wanted her, and for more than just a dance.

"Her son is the most handsome prince in the kingdom," she answered, sighing and laying her head on his shoulder. "I think she wanted me to dance with him."

"Lucky prince."

"No, I'm the lucky one," she answered, and he could feel her shudder softly, like something was bothering her. "But not completely so, I guess..."

"Why is that?" he asked gently.

"Because everyone knows that Cinderella's dance ends at midnight. I know this is just a fairy tale, but I can't help it." She leaned back and looked into his eyes, the love in those big, warm caramel eyes of hers tearing at his heart. "I know I'm taking a chance, but I have to practice what I preach. Hot Stuff...I never want this night to end."

"Cinderella wasn't dancing at midnight, but that doesn't mean you can't. It doesn't have to end," he said. "Not now, not ever."

She swallowed hard and then grumbled under her breath, "Really..."

"Yes, really."

Penelope sighed and pouted. "Derek, just because your mom got me a dress and put you in tights doesn't mean—"

"Baby Girl," Derek interrupted, stopping their dance and putting his fingers on her lips. "Momma didn't buy you that dress."

"She didn't."

"No, she didn't," he said softly. "I did. It was all my idea."

Her eyes widened, and she stared at him. "But...why...?" she mumbled behind his fingers.

He lowered his hand and looked into her eyes. "Penelope...we've talked about your favorite fairy tale, how it was so romantic, and fairy tale things you've wanted for as long as I can remember."

"I do love my Cinderella," she commented softly.

He smiled brilliantly, pleased that he'd pleased her. "You've worked so hard, and we are at a ball—your first ball. I wanted to give you a taste of that Cinderella feeling."

She glanced down at her feet, and when she looked back up, she looked a touch pale, even in the dance floor light. Her voice was meek when she spoke. "So... you did it for me so I could play dress up?"

"No, sugar," he said quickly, seeing that she was jumping to the wrong conclusions. "That's not the only reason."

"What else, then?"

He cupped her face in his hands and let the words pour from his heart. "Because I wanted you to think of me when you think of romance. Because I wanted to be the one to finally get to dance with you."

"Wow," she said, awestruck.

He ignored her interjection and continued, "I did it because I wanted to be your hero, your Prince Charming, and your man. Because that is all I have wanted for a very, very long time." He brushed at tears rolling down her face with his thumbs and smiled at her through his own watery eyes. "Baby Girl, I wanted it so damn badly...and this seemed to be the best way to get it."

She returned his smile, and gave him a teasing swat. "Silly boy... You could've just asked."

He lowered his hands and chuckled. "Sweetheart...I did. You didn't answer."

"Oh, sweet cheeks," she cried as understanding hit her. "I'm so sorry. I was so scared and so foolish and so scared and—"

"Hey, enough of that," he interrupted.

She blushed sheepishly. "Okay."

"So..." he began, brushing a tendril of hair from her cheek. "I got just one question left for you."

"What's that?" she asked expectantly.

He gave her a slow grin. "Are you still scared?"

She smiled at him with all the love she felt clearly in her eyes...and then slowly shook her head no.