It was near evening when the plane arrived on the island. With their bags in hand, the couples were led to what looked to be a small mansion. Joss's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of it.
"Wow. I thought for sure he was going to set us up at the hotel. This is so much better though," She breathed as she walked through the door. She dropped her bags and went to the glass door that looked out onto a patio and then the ocean view beyond. "This is gorgeous!"
"I do think that we're going to like it here," Dex nodded his approval.
"Uncle Sonny likes to live in style. This place is proof of that," Spencer entered, keeping his arms around a quiet Trina. "I wish Cam could be here with us."
"Why? So Selina Wu can be out to kill him too?" Trina frowned. She had spent the last several hours coming to grips with what had happened at the safe house and her mind was still reeling. She couldn't believe how fast their situation had devolved.
"No. It just feels…wrong for him not to be a part of this...adventure."
"Yet another adventure. After this one, I'm definitely going to need a vacation," Trina sighed, leaving Spencer's side to flop down on the couch.
Again feeling guilty, Spencer went to sit next to her and took her hand in his. "I'm sorry. I just keep pulling you into mess, even when I try not to."
Trina shook her head and looked him straight in the eyed. "The only person to blame for this is my mother. If she hadn't tried to sick my Uncle Zeke on you, we would never have been where we were to witness a murder. This is on her, not you."
"You keep refusing to let me accept any of the blame," Spencer sighed, feeling lost on what to do and how to make any of this better.
"You're darn right I refuse because you're not at fault. The blame Is not yours."
Dex came out of the kitchen. He had gone in to see what the house had to offer. Now his eyes were wide opened and pleased. "We have a lot of food in there. I'll make some chicken piccata for dinner tonight."
"That sounds great," Joss smiled walking over to Dex and pulling him into a long kiss.
Spencer couldn't help himself. He was in a bad mood and he partly blamed Dex for what had happened. "Sounds gross."
Joss pulled away from Dex with a frown. "Well, you don't have to eat it then. Suit yourself. Really, Spencer. I can't believe you're acting up now."
"Well, I don't tend to be on my best behavior when me and my girlfriend are pulled into mob mess like this."
"Really? I mean, this is your beloved Uncle Sonny's line of work! This is what comes from that!"
"Like you were so anti-Sonny when it benefitted you," Spencer snarked. "But now that my Uncle isn't with mommy anymore you and Micheal both look down your noses at him, yet who do you turn to when your boyfriend there runs into trouble?"
"You know what? You are a…," Joss began.
"Stop it! Stop it both of you!" Trina got to her feet and glared at both Spencer and Joss. "We almost died today! We almost died and all the both of you can do is sit here and yell at each other! What about what happened to Sonny's guard?! Huh? What about what happens to his family now?! His widow and kids? How are they going to survive now while we're here living it up in paradise? Have any of you ever thought of that or are all of you just too selfish?! Just...just leave me alone!" Trina cried running out the glass door that lead out pass the patio and down to the private beach.
"Oh fuck, Trina wait!" Spencer ran out after her.
"Oh god, she's right! I am awful!" Joss cried.
Dex went to her and pulled her into his arms. "It's alright. It's alright. I think all of our nerves are on edge and it's coming out now. It'll be ok. We'll deal."
…..
"Trina!" Spencer ran after Trina, desperate to reach her and fix this somehow. He knew that this was his fault! He didn't know what had gotten into him, why he had made that stupid comment and began to argue with Joss, knowing that Trina was already in a bad way and now he had just made it worse. "Trina stop!"
He caught up with her just as she reached the ocean. He tried to hug her and pull her close so he could comfort her more effectively, but instead, he was met with tiny fists pounding against his chest in frustration and ragged sobs escaping from shaking lips.
Wanting to give Trina what she needed, he stood there and took the abuse. Allowed her fists to pound against his chest painlessly, allowed her to scream and cry until she slumped against him in a sobbing mess. Only then did he wrap his arms around her shaking body and held her tight.
"It's okay, baby. It's ok. Let it out," He held her close as she sobbed all of the negative feelings that had been boiling inside her. He lifted her up off her feet and had her wrap her legs around his waist, then settled down onto the sand with her wrapped around him, sobbing until she seemed to have drifted off to sleep in his arms.
Not wanting to move, he just sat there with her in his arms, with her tear-streaked face pressed against his chest and her breathing slowed down to a more relaxed rhythm. Finally, Trina seemed to be at peace in the protective embrace of her boyfriend, who seemed to be content to just sit there with her in his arms.
Joss finally made her way out to the beach carrying two plates of food and two bottles of coke.
"Dinner's ready," She sat the plates down on the sand. "It's Chicken Picatta. Sorry if you hate it."
Spencer didn't say anything. He just shrugged and continued to keep his eyes on the waterline, letting his girlfriend sleep in his arms.
"She's asleep? Shouldn't you take her inside?" Joss frowned.
"She's been cooped up inside for the past two days. I think the ocean air may be good for her," was Spencer's subdued reply.
Joss sighed as she sat down beside him. "How is she, really?"
"Scared. Probably more scared than she's ever been on the Haunted Star and Greenland. I can't blame her. I am too. Probably why I went off in there."
Joss nodded. "This isn't easy for us either, you know. I hate this. I hate that I had gotten Trina caught up in it."
"Maybe it wasn't you this time."
Joss frowned, not understanding his meaning. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, you said it at The Nurses Ball. All I've brought since I came back to Port Charles has been misery and pain. Especially for Trina."
Joss winced, remembering the angry words that she had come to regret. "Spencer, I was wrong to say that. I was angry and…"
"You were right. All I have brought Trina has been misery and pain. Danger. That whole business with my Uncle Victor is proof of that. Now this...her mother is right. I'm bad for her. And I tried to stay away from her and leave her alone so she could be happy and safe. I tried so hard...but...she's so sweet….and pretty...and she understands me in ways no one else has ever bothered to. She is full of goodness and light and...she believes that I can be a good person despite it all...and she makes me believe it too. She's the one good thing in my life and I can't let her go...not this time...not when...not when she loves me as much as I love her."
Joss saw the tears in Spencer's eyes and her heart ached for him. He honestly thought that he was a bad person undeserving of Trina's love and that was probably hurting him...yet he was striving to be a good person for Trina. Little did he know that he didn't have to strive to be a good person. He already was one.
"Spencer...her mother is wrong and so was I. You don't bring misery and pain. You're not a danger to Trina. In fact...you're good for her. You are really good for her. Since you two became official, Trina has come out of her shell. She's become more confident. She smiles more, even when she's sad. She looks… lighter. She looks...loved. And yes, you are petty and spoiled, and entitled...but you mainly use all of that to defend her. To protect her. To fight for her. I've seen it again and again. And that's what Trina needs. She needs someone who will fight for her. Even if it's being petty for the both of you."
"You mean that?"
"Yes. I'm sorry that I said that to you and for all the other times that I had ragged on you. You had just made me so mad," Joss sighed.
"I do love her, Joss. More than anything in the world. I'd give up my whole inheritance if it kept her safe and happy."
"I know you would."
"She's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"And you're the best thing that's happened to her. Despite all the other stuff. It doesn't matter. She loves you and you love her and...there's an unbreakable bond between you that has even Dex and I jealous. Just take care of her, don't stay out here all night," Joss set the cokes down next to the plates, got up, and went back to the house, leaving Spencer alone with Trina in his arms.
To his surprise, she lifted her head. She hadn't been asleep at all. "Trina?"
She didn't say anything. She just gently cupped his face and pressed her lips to his in a lingering kiss.
"How long were you awake?" Spencer asked, curious.
"Long enough. I had no idea you thought so down about yourself."
Spencer sighed and rested her forehead against hers. "How can I not? I'm a Cassadine. Then look at my two Uncles Sonny and Cyrus. Not that Uncle Sonny's evil, but he's not a law-abiding citizen either."
"But what do they have to do with the person you are? Spencer, you may be related to people with bad reputations. Your family name may be connected to psychotic people, but that doesn't have any effect on who you are as an individual person. You're not evil, you don't bring me pain and misery. All you've brought me is happiness and a place to go to feel safe and secure and loved. Like now. When I was having a meltdown, you gave me a place and a time to have it without even needing to be asked. You have no idea how much that means to me. How much you mean to me."
Spencer gazed into her eyes, seeing the truth in their soft brown depths. She really did love him. It was as clear as day. "I love you, Trina Robinson. More than anything."
"I love you too, Spencer Cassadine," Trina again claimed his lips in another kiss.
