(A/N: RIP to Jackie Zeman.)

Curtis and Taggert sat next to each other in silence, neither saying a word to the other. What was there to say? Both of them going to rescue a loved one of the girl that they both may be the father of. It made things terribly awkward.

It was Curtis who broke the silence. "You know, I could have done this on my own. I know how much you don't like the kid."

"It's his family I don't like. Barely know the kid...not to mention the whole Esme thing is his fault," Taggert snorted. "But I'm here for Trina. She cares about the boy and his survival and I'll do anything to keep her happy. Whether I like it or not."

"She's a good kid. You did a good job raising her," Curtis kept his attention on the book that he held in his hand but wasn't reading. "It'd be so much easier if Portia didn't have a type. At least personality-wise, we may get some clue on who Trina's biological father is."

Taggert frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well...I was in law enforcement at one time. You are in law enforcement. Trina has a habit of jumping in to help people. Laura pointed out that I have that habit. I'm guessing that you have that habit as well…"

"So Portia likes men with a hero complex?"

Curtis just laughed. "Yes, and Trina has inherited it from one of us. I tried to see if there were any physical traits...when I look and think about it...she reminds me of my mother. My mom had these big brown beautiful brown eyes…"

"So did mine," Taggert sighed. "Man, there's no telling which one of us it is. I just know that when it comes down to it, it doesn't matter to me. I've loved that girl for 21 years now. I've watched her grow, comforted her tears, and held her when she needed to be held. She was my little buddy when she was small and man, I know how to weather the cold when she gets angry at me. I don't care if she doesn't have my DNA. I love that girl. She's my daughter."

Curtis nodded. "When I first met Trina, I thought she was an extraordinary girl. And when she was mad at me when we thought you were dead...Man, I don't know why that killed me. I've always cared about her as if she was my own. But I cared for TJ like that as well, so I never thought...especially when Portia had assured me that I wasn't."

"Do you think it'd be wise to get a DNA test then?"

"I don't know. Frankly...I think for health history reasons, yeah. But I get it. You are her father in all ways. You raised her. I'm not going to get in the way of that. I just want to be a part of her life as well. Even if it is as a stepfather, or what have you. But I promise, I'm not going to get in the way of your relationship with her."

"I appreciate that. You're a good man, Curtis. I wish that we had known each other before Portia. I think we would have been friends"

"Hey, we can still be friends. Make it easier for Trina to navigate if need be, yeah?"

Taggert laughed. "Yeah. So...tell me. What is your impression of this Cassadine kid? Is he good enough for our girl?"

Curtis took a deep breath, not knowing how Taggert was going to take this. "The kid basically told me where to find Trina. He took a bad beating for her. She refused to leave his side. They practically had to drag her onto the plane. I say that there is real love there between them and if you and Portia try to get in the way of that…" Curtis held his hands up. "Good luck."

Taggert blinked and nodded. "I want so badly to blame the kid for getting Trina into this mess...but let's be real. Trina makes her own decisions. She decided to follow him onto that boat. No one made her. We can't blame him for that one. Plus, she's been in danger twice because of me. So I definitely can't judge."

"We'll find Spencer. Bring him home to Trina and Laura, and let Trina make her own decisions. If she wants to be with the Cassadine kid, all we can do is stand back and be available if she should ever need us, right?"

Taggert nodded. "Right. It'll just be hard to get Portia to see things the same way. She looks at Trina and she sees a ten-year-old girl. Not a twenty-one-year-old woman. She's going to need someone to distract her."

Curtis looked at Taggert with an arched brow and laughed. "I don't know man. I still can't seem to forgive her."

"Man, what's with you? I've noticed how you defended Nina Reeves for keeping Corinthos away from his family. You found that forgivable, yet you couldn't forgive Jordan for keeping secrets. Now you can't forgive Portia. What makes Nina so special? Look, you're going to have to forgive sometime, or else you're gonna end up alone, man. Because no one is perfect. We all lie once in a while, even you."

"But this was such a big lie...if Trina is mine...that means I've missed out on most of her life. How can I possibly forgive that?"

"Not most of her life, man. She's still here. There are still a lot of milestones to witness. You just witnessed one."

"Really? What?"

"She's fallen in love. That's a milestone right there."

"Curtis laughed. "You're right, I guess that is a milestone...and it looks like we're ready to land. Ready to go find our girl's boyfriend?"

"More than ready. Did he really take a beating for her?"

Curtis simply nodded. "Yes."

…..

They were back on The Haunted Star, in what had been Spencer's room. They lay together on the bed in each other's arms, just kissing and relishing the time they had together. Trina rested her head against his chest and sighed in contentment.

"I don't ever want to wake up. I rather stay here with you forever. I don't care about anything else," She linked her hands with his and smiled and she felt warm lips press against her forehead.

"It'd be nice if we could stay like this...but not here. More like...in a place of our own. A penthouse with all the luxuries. We could just stay in bed all day and not worry about anything but each other," Spencer smiled. "Maybe I can make that happen. When I get back. Because I'm never leaving your side again when I do. You can count on that."

"Our own place," Trina smiled, cuddling up to him. "My mom won't like it, but that doesn't matter. It's time I grow up. I'm twenty-one now."

"I'd hate leaving Ace with Esme, though…"

"She is his mom. He'll be fine. She won't do anything to hurt him, especially with her memory gone."

"Grandmother may not want to let me go just yet."

"How about we just start looking? No rush. Even though, I think we must have a sanctuary of our own."

"I'd like that. It's a plan. When I come home and able, we'll look for a place of our own," Spencer smiled, his hands stroking her hair. "It's something I look forward to."

"Where are you, Spencer? Can you tell me?"

"No...but I'm alive...and I'm warm. That I can assure you."

"I miss you."

"I miss you too, baby," He used a gentle finger under her chin to tilt her face up and claimed her lips in a lingering kiss.

"Oh my god, Trina!" Joss's voice ripped her out of the dream and back into cold reality. She looked around, taking in where she was. Back in Port Charles, in GH, sitting outside what was Laura's room. She had meant to go in, but she had found herself unable to make herself enter, so she had sat down and drifted off to sleep, which was where Joss had found her.

Sighing sadly, because being awake meant being away from Spencer, she got to her feet and let her friend give her a welcome home hug.

"Oh my god, I was so worried about you!" Joss rambled on, pulling away and giving her friend a look over. "And what are you wearing?"

Trina couldn't help but laugh. "I know, I know. Not my style."

"What were you thinking, following Spencer onto that boat like that?" Joss asked.

Trina just shrugged. "Something inside me told me to follow him, so I did. I had never done anything like that before, but I'm glad that I did...even though…"

"He's not here?" Joss finished.

"Yeah. Curtis and my dad went back to look for him. He's not dead, Joss. I'd feel it if he was. He's still out there somewhere."

"Trina…what if…"

"No! There are no what if's. He's still alive! They just have to find him and I'll be here waiting until they do. Then when he comes home...we'll never be apart again. In the meantime...I'm going to look after his grandmother."

"But who will look after you, Trina?" Joss frowned, feeling bad for her friend. She knew that Trina had fallen hard for Spencer. She just hoped that in the end, her friend's vigilance will be rewarded.

Trina just shrugged. "I can take care of myself. I just need Spencer to come home."

…..

Somewhere in Greenland…

The farmer sighed as he looked down at the patient. The boy had yet to wake up since he had brought him home. He had called the doctor, who had diagnosed the boy with a slight case of hyperthermia and exhaustion. The physician said that he needed to keep the boy warm and just let him rest and he should wake up on his own.

But he hadn't woken up yet, which made the farmer and his wife worry. Hopefully, the boy will wake up soon and tell them who he is, how he got there, and how to get him back home where he belonged.