Port Charles looked sparkly and new to Trina's eyes as the taxi drove through the town, taking them to what will be the home she'll share with Spencer and hopefully Ace. She had left town a girl. Now she felt like she had morphed into a woman upon her return. She gripped Spencer's hand in her own, wondering if he felt the same way like he had grown into another version of himself somehow.

"I texted Grandmother. Told her we'll be home today. She said she'll be stopping by to help us get settled," Spencer smiled, his eyes shining with love and contentment.

"That's great. It'll be good to see her. I texted Joss earlier and let her know we'll be back in town. She's wanting to meet up for lunch at the metro court tomorrow. I have all my pictures on my phone saved. I know that she's going to want to know everything."

Spencer arched a brow. "Everything?"

"Don't worry, Preppie. I'm not going to share the most intimate details. That's for our eyes only."

Spencer just laughed. "I was not all that worried. Queen."

They both laughed as the taxi pulled onto Miller Street. Trina smiled, noting how diverse the neighborhood was. How down to earth. It certainly wasn't a place that she had pictured Spencer Cassadine wanting to reside in. But then again, Spencer's whole priority was giving Ace a normal childhood. You can't get more normal than a Port Charles suburb.

"I really think that you're going to love the house. Grandmother said that it's a special house meant to be lived in by a loving family."

"Do you think we can pull it off?"

"I hope so. For Ace's sake...as well as for our kids."

Trina blushed at the mention of having kids of their own.

"Am I moving too fast?" Spencer asked, catching her expression.

"A little...but that's okay. I like talking about the future. I don't mind."

Spencer leaned down for a quick kiss just as the taxi pulled up in front of the house that was now home. Trina looked at it with wide brown eyes. "This is it?"

"Yes. I know it's nothing like Wyndemere...but…"

"It's perfect," Trina smiled, feeling herself relax. For a while, she had been worried about having to adjust to a more lavish lifestyle, like servants and a big house with more wings than she could count. The normalcy of the house in front of her made her feel a lot more comfortable.

"As I said before, there was a fire, but Grandmother had it all remodeled and had all new appliances added and everything. We shouldn't want for anything here."

"Okay. Let's get our things inside. I'm ready to explore," Trina rubbed her hands together, feeling excited about this new phase of her life.

Fifteen minutes later found Trina standing in the living room of her new home. She looked around and closed her eyes, something in her spirit connecting with the house. She walked in deeper and looked at the stairs. For some reason, she could picture an African American woman standing on the stairs, preparing her children for school.

She glanced over at the mantel and sensed the same woman sitting a vase on the surface. This was indeed a family home and it seemed to welcome her with open arms.

"Are you okay?" Spencer walked up behind her, resting his hands on her slender shoulders.

"I'm perfect. This house is perfect. I love it, Spencer. I really do. Did your grandmother say who had owned it before she did?"

"Um...a Mary Mae Ward. Grandmother had met her back in the day and became close to the family. According to Grandmother, Mary Mae was a wonderful woman who raised her sons here. She said that she could sense the history of love and family when she and Luke Spencer first came across it."

Trina laughed, her smile lighting up her eyes. "Oh my god, I know what she means...I sense it too! It's like...it's like coming home. Somewhere where you're always welcomed, no matter what. Don't you sense it?"

Spencer shrugged. "I guess my Cassadine genes are blocking that, but I do like it. For you and for Ace. I'm glad that Grandmother is allowing us to stay here."

"I am too...I want to see the rest of it!"

Spencer just followed Trina as she explored the rest of the house. Ten minutes later, they were standing on the back porch, just outside of the kitchen, staring out at the garden which seemed to be in full bloom.

"This is beautiful," Trina wrapped her arms around Spencer's torso and rested her head against his chest. "This is home. I feel it."

"You're my home," Spencer kissed the top of her head before continuing to stare out at the garden.

"We're going to have a good life here. I just know it."

Spencer smiled, feeling the same way. As long as Trina was in his arms and loved him just as much as he loved her, he knew that his life would never be lackluster again. He had finally found the place he belonged, right there in his wife's arms.

…..

Spencer and Trina had just gotten everything unpacked and organized in the master bedroom, which was fully furnished with a queen-sized bed, two wardrobes, two nightstands, and a closet. Trina almost panicked, because she had more clothes than closet space and so did Spencer, but they both decided to make use of the closets in the other two bedrooms, one of which was going to be Ace's nursery.

"We're going to have to go through our wardrobe and downsize before we have any more kids," Trina giggled, hanging up the last of her dresses.

"How many do you want?" Spencer asked, curious. He never really thought about having kids of his own before...at least not before Ace. But now he had his baby brother to care for and the love of his life was his wife, so kids in the future were a definite possibility.

"Oh...ten...or eleven…"

Spencer's eyes widened, then he pursed his lips and looked annoyed when Trina began to laugh. "Very funny."

"I'm sorry, but the look on your face was pure panic!" Trina giggled.

"I mean...if you want ten or eleven, we can, but I'll really have to buy Wyndemere back from Ava or buy some mega-mansion to fit all of us into."

"Don't worry, Preppie. Two or three will be fine. I think we can manage that many. Two at least. Three at the most."

"Now that sounds a lot more manageable," Spencer chuckled. "Even though making those eleven babies would be a whole lot of fun."

"Says the one that only gets to experience the fun part. I'm the one that will have to do all the hard work. Getting fat...being sick most of the time...labor…"

"I'll be doing those crazy craving runs and massaging your swollen feet. That'll be working...not to mention the mood swings I'll have to endure," Spencer sighed, almost dreamily. "The work of a loving husband is never done."

Trina stared at Spencer consideringly. He seemed so...domesticated, standing there talking about his future as a new expecting father. The smile he wore, the light in his eyes. She had a feeling that Spencer was going to enjoy being a husband and having a family. Having a place where he belonged. She wanted that for him, so badly that it brought tears to her eyes.

Feeling the tears, she quickly looked away, but not before Spencer saw.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He went to her immediately and placed a gentle hand against her cheek, a thumb rubbing away a tear. "What did I do?"

"You didn't do anything wrong. It's just...standing here, talking...hearing you talk about the future, and looking forward to it. It hit me that you really do want this. You want a family. A place where you belong and...I want that for you too, so badly. You deserve it, you really do and I just hope that you won't be disappointed in me…"

"Hey, I can never ever be disappointed in you," Spencer wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. He loved this woman so much. There were no words. She really was the love of his life. Just the fact that she was here, wanting him to have what he had longed for for so long, hoping that she'd be able to provide that...it was proof of that. "I'm the one that has to worry about disappointing you. But don't ever think that you can disappoint me. You can't. Besides, you're already giving me what I need. A place to belong. You're giving me you."

"I love you so much, Spencer."

Spencer smiled and leaned down to kiss her when the doorbell chimed, causing them to jump apart, startled. "Why am I not surprised that there's an interruption! I am going to have to get used to that again!"

Trina giggled, getting his annoyance. It did seem that every time they were going to kiss there was an interruption. In Paris, they had gotten away from that, but now back in Port Charles, the interruptions were back.

"Let's go answer the door together for our first visitor!" Trina smiled, her eyes full of excitement, making Spencer excited too.

"Lead the way," Spencer chuckled, following his wife down the stairs.

…..

Laura and Curtis stood on the front porch both with bags of groceries in hand.

"I want to thank you for your offer of help, Curtis. I had meant to do this before they had returned, but with everything going on with Ace and Esme...I really lost track of time and before you knew it, it was time for their return and I still hadn't done the grocery shopping. At least with your help, I was able to get some of Trina's favorite foods," Laura warmly smiled at her friend. She had been just entering the grocer when she had run into Curtis and had enlisted his help for shopping for her nephew and his new wife. Curtis had immediately offered to help, knowing that this may be his only chance to talk to his maybe daughter.

"Well, living with her for a while, I became rather knowledgeable about Trina's favorite snacks. I don't mind helping at all."

"To be honest...I'm also glad for the support. Spencer will not be happy with the news I have to share. He had hoped that Esme would remain in jail…"

"But instead she was ordered on house arrest. Do you think it'll affect the custody case?"

"I don't know. Sadly, that won't be the part that he'll be upset about."

"Grandmother!" Spencer greeted as he opened the door, his face lighting up with happiness.

"And Curtis," Trina tried not to frown, but the surprise was clear in her voice. She hadn't been expecting him to stop by, at least not without an invitation.

"Oh, I ran into Curtis at the grocery store. He was kind enough to help. He helped me get some of your favorite snacks," Laura explained, sensing the tension between Curtis and Trina.

"Let us help you with that, Mayor Collins," Trina smiled, taking some of the bags from Laura and disappearing into the house.

Spencer took the rest of the bags and lead their visitors into the kitchen, sensing that Trina was avoiding Curtis for obvious reasons.

"Grandmother, I really appreciate this. Letting us have the house, the groceries, everything," Spencer rambled on, sitting the bags on the counter, along with the other bags that Trina had carried.

"Oh, it was no problem at all. I am glad that I can help you two young people. It feels like yesterday when I was your age and freshly married to Luke. I had so much hope for the future," Laura nervously laughed, clasping her now empty hands, her mind heavy with the news she had to share.

An awkward silence fell over the kitchen as everyone began to put the food away. No one knew how to start a proper conversation at that moment. So it was probably best that they kept their hands busy, but once everything was done, there was nothing to do but talk. It was Spencer who decided to break the silence.

"Um, we really appreciate all of this, Grandmother, Mr. Ashford," Spencer nervously pushed his dark hair out of his face, walking over to stand next to Trina, who also felt awkward herself. She had no idea what to say to Curtis. It's been a good two weeks since she had seen him last and she had told him nothing about her plan on getting married or anything else. A part of her felt guilty, but then again, she was an adult now. She didn't need his permission. Just like she hadn't needed Portia's or Taggert's.

"So, why don't we all go sit in the living room. I am sure that we have a whole lot to talk about," Laura offered.

"That sounds good. It'd be a lot more comfortable as well. Would you two like anything to drink? I can make some tea or pour some juice?" Trina offered, wanting to be a good hostess.

"Oh, I am fine, dear," Laura waved away the offer as she followed Spencer into the living room and sat down on one of the living room chairs. Curtis took the other chair, while Spencer and Trina took the couch. "So, how was Paris?"

"It was gorgeous! It was my first time going and Spencer showed me all of it. From his boarding school, where I met his favorite teacher, to Monet's house in Giverny. It was a dream come true. We've taken about a million pictures between the two of us," Trina gushed, feeling herself relax.

"And we grew even closer than ever before it seems," Spencer smiled, taking Trina's hand in his and lifting it to his lips in a warm kiss. "I can't believe that I've found the love of my life."

"Yeah, your um...mother told me that you had accidentally sent her a picture of the rooftops. It looked like you two had a nice time," Curtis cleared his throat.

"Oh...yeah. My first night there. But we have plenty more. I just want to arrange them first before I share," Trina nodded, again feeling awkward once again. She just didn't know how to talk to Curtis anymore. Not after what she had found out. How do you talk to someone who is possibly your biological dad?

"I can probably hire someone to do it if you want," Spencer offered, sensing the tension and wanting to ease it somehow.

"I don't know. Let me think about it," Trina smiled, patting his knee before turning back to Laura. "So...is there any news about Esme and Ace? Did they really send the baby to prison with her?"

"For a few days, they did...but then Martin had gotten a judge to get her out on house arrest for now. At least until her memory comes back…"

"What? They let her out?" Spencer stared, outrage building in his eyes. "After all she did? They were so eager to throw Trina under the jail, but they want to go easy on Esme?!"

"Spencer calm down. I know it's upsetting, but getting angry isn't going to fix anything," Trina rubbed his knee, feeling angry herself, but yelling at Laura was not going to help anything.

"I think the DA is thinking of dropping the case until her memory returns. Right now, she has an advantage. Young mother who had lost her memory, terrorized by two serial killers, and now only wants to be a mom to her baby...that can move the jury and if her memory returns, there's no trying her again," Curtis explained.

"Double jeopardy," Trina sighed, seeing where this was going. "Great. So she may just go free."

"And be allowed to use my baby brother as a pawn, which she is probably already doing. This is insane! House arrest...where will she even go? How will she even live and with my brother to boot?"

Laura paused, knowing that Spencer will be furious, but she was doing the best she could for her latest grandchild. She couldn't just leave it to Esme to make sure that the child got the care he deserved.

"Well...I was thinking that she would have no place to go. Nowhere suitable for a baby anyway. And Ace is my grandchild as well. I can't just leave him in such a situation…"

Spencer frowned, getting a sick feeling. "Grandmother. What did you do?"

"I...I'm allowing her to stay with me. At least until the DA makes up its mind on what it's going to do. After that...I guess it's up to Esme where she goes."

"Damn it, Grandmother!" Spencer got to his feet, outraged. He didn't mean to yell at Laura, he was just angry at the situation.

"Spencer, calm down and watch how you talk to your grandmother! She deserves your respect," Trina scolded, taken aback by his behavior. She knew if she had yelled at her grandmother like that...well Spencer would be a widower.

Spencer paled, realizing his misstep at least. "I'm sorry, Grandmother. I didn't mean to yell…I'm not angry at you. It's the situation. It just...everything seems to be working against me."

"I know the situation is not ideal. But at least your brother is not in that prison. He's in a normal, quiet environment, more suited for an infant," Laura was not happy with Spencer's behavior, but she did understand why he was angry. "At least this way, I can keep an eye on her."

"You shouldn't have to, though. That witch should be out of all of our lives. But instead, she keeps turning up like a Faberge egg!"

Curtis and Trina met eyes and then laughed.

"You mean bad penny," Trina giggled.

Spencer just blushed and shrugged. "Yeah."

"So...what does this mean for our custody case? I mean...we got married to give Spencer an edge. Her staying in a penthouse kind of smoothes that edge a little," Trina questioned.

"It is still an edge. You two live in a big house. You're married. You still have a good chance, I say."

Spencer sighed. He couldn't take this right now. He needed some air. "I think I'll take a look at that garden out back. Excuse me."

"Spencer!" Trina called, but he was gone, leaving her alone with a frowning Laura and Curtis. She turned to her guests with an apologetic smile. "I do apologize. He's just so hot-headed when it comes to Esme and Ace. Maybe I should go after him…"

"No, allow me. I know how to talk him down. Get him to see reason. I'll be back," Laura got up and followed her grandson, leaving Trina and Curtis alone, just looking at each other, neither knowing what to say.