Night had fallen over the safe house. The guests were long gone and the couples had departed to their separate corners for their final night in the house. Tomorrow, they were to be up bright and early and ready to board a plane that would take them to what Joss had described as the closest thing to paradise. There would be no more being cooped up in a house and forced to be close to each other. It'd be easier for Spencer and Dex to avoid each other and keep things at least nonviolent, for the girl's sake anyway. Honestly, both couples were looking forward to getting a little bit of distance between them. Cabin fever was threatening, so the trip was right on time.
Spencer and Trina were in their room, wrapped in each other's arms. Trina didn't bother wiping away her tears. She had loved the visit with Taggert, but now that he was gone and she had no idea when she would see him again, homesickness was settling in. It was the same for Spencer. He missed his grandmother and his little brother. Most of all, he missed his father and wished that he could make things right with him, but he had no idea where Nikolas had run off to and there was no way of getting any word to him. Maybe he'll return while Spencer was away. Maybe when it was safe to come back home, he'll find Nikolas waiting for him.
"I'm scared," Trina sniffed, hating to admit it like this. Saying it aloud made her fear seem all the more real.
"Of what?" Spencer frowned, feeling even more guilty. Trina was separated from the people she loved because she loved him. This wasn't right, but he didn't know how to fix it. Everything seemed out of his control.
"That I'll never see my dad again. I'll never see Curtis again either. What a way to thank him for coming after me in Greenland. I just disappear on him," Trina admitted. "I don't want to see my mother ever again, but I miss everyone else. Curtis and Marshall. TJ and Molly. Cam. Aunt Stella. I was just getting to know them and now…"
"You'll continue to get to know them. This isn't going to be forever Trina. I promise you that. My Uncle Sonny will fix everything and we'll be able to go home by at least August or September I bet. Maybe even sooner than that. You'll see your family again."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because...our situation is nothing like Joss and Dex for one. A mob boss is not after us. It's just your Uncle Zeke and once Uncle Sonny talks to him, he'll probably go back to where he came from and leave us alone. In the meantime, we can just consider ourselves on a nice, unexpected Summer vacation. Granted, I would have rather taken you to France and show you all the art galleries and palaces and gardens there, but Puerto Rico is nice. I get to see you on the beach," Spencer smiled, imagining the image of Trina in a bikini in his mind's eye.
"No splashing me, no dunking me, no nothing that will get my hair wet," Trina warned, the tears drying up from her eyes as the thought of Puerto Rico began to take shape.
"Trina Robinson's guide to water sports, huh?"
"Set in stone, my friend. Set in stone," Trina giggled, claiming his lips in a passionate kiss that he quickly pulled out of. His eyes were dark with a desire that she shared. "Why did you stop?"
"I meant what I said about wanting it to be special for you," Spencer stroked her cheek, his eyes full of adoration as well as desire.
"And I meant what I said about it being with you was what made it special."
"I know and I know that you meant it. But...Trina you mean so much to me. I want it to be more than just a passionate moment in bed. I want it to be...one of the best memories of your life."
"Spencer…"
"Just wait, ok? I promise I won't make you wait for long. Just give me a chance to arrange some romance for us both. After all...this will be my first time too. My first time actually making love to the love of my life."
Trina heard herself gasp as her mouth fell open. "Spencer...we're so young. How can you make such a big statement?"
"Simple. I don't see myself like this with anyone but you. I can't see myself feeling this deeply and selflessly about anyone but you. You're the one for me, Trina. Point blank period."
"Spencer…"
"You don't have to feel the same way. It's not something that I expect you to return. It's just something I feel…"
"But I do feel the same way! How can I not! It's the reason that I can't go back to live my life while you're off in hiding! It's the reason why I followed you onto the Haunted Star! I am in love with you, Spencer Cassadine. I don't care what anyone says about it."
"I hope that you never regret it, babe."
"I won't. I can never regret loving you the way I do, because I know that you feel the same way."
Spencer cupped her face in his hands and leaned in for a lingering kiss. Pulling away, he rubbed her nose with his own. "We may not be making love tonight...but holding you is just as nice."
Trina smiled, feeling a soft glow fill her. She realized something just then. Intimacy wasn't really about sex and making love. It was having an understanding, a connection that went beyond physical touch. Intimacy was feeling safe and loved and as close to another human being as one could get and that was what she and Spencer shared right at that moment, laying in each other's arms. She could wait for sex, just long as they always had moments like this.
…..
Dex and Joss lay in bed, sated from yet another session of making love. Dex hoped that Spencer and Trina didn't hear them as they both reached climax and now lay sated in each other's arms.
"Today was great. I was so surprised that Sonny brought my mom, Laura, and Taggert. I think Spencer and Trina needed that as well," Joss sighed, resting her head against Dex's chest.
"That was good of Sonny. Are you ok? It's going to be a while before you get to see your mom again."
"I'm fine. I said all that I wanted to say. I'm good. But are you ok? Was there anyone that you might have wanted to see before we disappear to the island?"
Dex sighed and shrugged. "Well...there's my mom...but I haven't spoken to her in a while and...well under the circumstances, it's probably best that I don't. She wouldn't be happy if she knew I've been working for Sonny Corinthos this whole time."
"You never talked about your mom before," Joss lifted her head off his chest to look at him.
"I know. I...I don't like talking about her. Especially here in Port Charles. I don't even want Sonny to know that I'm related to her…"
Joss frowned. "Why? Who is she to Sonny?"
Dex squeezed his eyes shut, remembering how the name had come up the night before when Joss had been looking for clothes. "Don't be pissed. I didn't know how to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"My mom. She's...she's Brenda Barrett."
Joss stared at him in complete horror and disbelief as she set up. "No fucking way!"
Dex winced, feeling guilty for keeping this to himself. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. I didn't even tell Micheal and I definitely didn't tell Sonny…"
"Are you his son with her?!"
"No! No, Sonny and I are not related! I know who my father is and..he's a jerk that wants nothing to do with me. Believe me, I kind of wish that Sonny was my dad. At least, he'd want something to do with my life."
Catching the bitterness in his voice, Joss calmed down from discovering this revelation. "Your father abandoned you?"
Dex nodded. "Mom tried to get him to stay and help raise me, but he refused. He obviously thought it'd be great to have sex with a supermodel, but when it comes to raising a kid from the encounter, he was like a ghost."
"I'm sorry…"
"He even refused to pay child support. Mom was so embarrassed. She wanted no one from her life here in Port Charles to know what happened. Especially Sonny. So that's why I never told anyone who I was. I wanted to keep my mom's secret. It's the least I could do for her after all the sacrifices she made raising me."
"It sounds to me like you're a good son."
Dex just smiled and shrugged. "I try to be. I'm a pretty sucky one these days since I haven't bothered to keep in contact...and now...it looks like I'll probably never see her again. Well, not anytime soon anyway."
"Hey, you'll see her again. I know you will. Sonny will neutralize Selina Wu. He'll let you go from the organization and then we'll both go and see your mom."
"You want to meet her? Even after that rant about 90's fashion?"
Joss rolled her eyes and laughed. "Yes! Of course, I want to meet her! She's your mom! She's important to you, which makes her important to me."
Dex's eyes widened suddenly. "Oh fuck...I just realized...your dad is Jasper Jax...her ex-husband!"
Joss blinked a few times and laughed. "That's the problem with Port Charles. It's too damn small. You don't think that'll be a problem, do you? I want her to like me."
"I doubt it. Just be your sweet, beautiful self when you meet her. She'll fall for you just like I did."
"I hope you're right," Joss giggled, claiming Dex's lips in another kiss.
…..
Portia frowned as she tried to call Trina's number, just for her call to be ignored yet again. She tried texting, but all of her texts went unread. She had no idea what was going on with Trina and she was beginning to panic! Where could her daughter be? Maybe she should call Zeke. He'd know since he was probably tailing Spencer. Surely, he had eyes on her daughter at some time or other.
She went to dial Zeke's number when Taggert came barging into the house, slamming the door behind him.
"Marcus?" Portia blinked, surprised by Taggert's angry entrance. Usually, he'd knock and announce himself, but there was none of that this time. He just stood in one place, openly glaring at her. "What are you doing here? Have you seen Trina? I've been trying to…"
"Have you completely lost your mind?!" Taggert yelled, his eyes dark with fury. This woman was so damn hard-headed and now his daughter was on her way out of the country so she could be away from her family, all because of Portia's ill-conceived notions!
"What are you talking about? What is this?" Portia frowned, taking a step back as fear began to fill her. Did Taggert somehow find out? How? Who told him? Was it Zeke?
"You know exactly what I'm talking about! Sending Zeke after Spencer Cassadine! Are you completely mad?!"
"You don't understand...I…"
"No, Portia! I don't want to hear your excuses! Just be happy that I don't call Jordan and have your ass put under the jail for this, along with your brother!"
"Marcus, come on! I'm desperate! Spencer Cassadine is no good for Trina! I had to do something to save our daughter!"
"Is she saved, Portia? Now that you've done what you did, is she saved? Have you even spoken to Trina?"
Portia frowned, feeling confused and scared. She had never seen Taggert so angry...and now that he was asking if she had even talked to Trina...and the fact that she hadn't...not since she had put her plan into motion…
"No...she's not picking up my calls or reading my texts...I guess she's still mad at me about the paternity issue after all…"
Taggert just gave a dry chuckle. "You would think that was the reason she has your crazy behind blocked."
"What are you saying?"
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing, Portia. Just call off your brother before Corinthos decides to call him off for you! You do know that Spencer is Sonny's nephew right? What do you think will happen to your brother if he goes through with your plan? Huh? The Cassadines won't be the only ones after Zeke's head!"
"What?"
"As a brother, I would tear apart anyone that comes after Gia's kid, do you think Sonny Corinthos will have mercy towards anyone that would hurt the kid of his dead baby sister? Huh?! You have Zeke pissing off really powerful people Portia! Sonny's not the worse of the worse, but he can be pretty damn dangerous when pushed! Goodness knows the man knows how to cover his tracks. Why do you think I've never been able to take him down myself?"
"Zeke's smart...he knows how to cover his tracks, Marcus!"
"There is no covering your tracks against an angry, vengeful, mob boss! You've probably just signed your brother's death warrant, Portia!"
"Well, then I'll call Jordan…have her arrest Sonny and protect Zeke…"
"With what evidence, huh? What will you tell Jordan? I'm afraid for my hitman brother because I sicked him on the nephew of Sonny Corinthos, oh and I have no proof that Sonny is even gunning for Zeke! You'll only end up in jail, probably right next to Zeke!"
"Well, what do you want me to do?! I can't call off Zeke, not when I've put him on a job already!"
"Where is he? I'll handle him."
"I don't know."
"Portia!"
"I'm telling the truth! I don't know where he is! He's probably out tailing Spencer! He won't contact me until the job is done," Portia sniffed, tears leaving her eyes. "Marcus, you have to understand. I had to do it! I had to save Trina!"
"Trina was never in danger, Portia. The only thing you did was destroy any chance of reconciling with your daughter. I hope you're happy," Taggert shook his head before storming back out the door, having said what he needed to.
Feeling desperate, Portia tried to dial Trina again, just for the line to keep ringing and ringing. Her tears increased, realizing that her daughter was not going to pick up.
