Trina and Curtis just sat there in silence for the next three minutes. Neither knew what to say to the other. It was a shame because it hadn't been too long ago when they had come to a conclusion about Curtis's role in Trina's life and the boundaries that she had set up. Now, it seemed like they were back at square one, with this time Curtis possibly being Trina's biological father and not just a stepdad.

"So, you and Spencer are married now. How are you liking married life?" Curtis went ahead and broke the silence that had fallen between them.

"It's nice. It's a lot nicer than I originally thought it'd be. He makes me feel like I'm the only woman in the world."

"That's good. You deserve to be loved like that...even...well…"

"Even if it's by Spencer Cassadine? Is that what you're about to say?" Trina arched a brow.

Curtis just gave a nervous laugh. "He's not exactly someone I'd approve of for you."

"Well, I guess it's good that the decision wasn't yours. It wasn't even my…"

Trina winced. She had almost said, my dad. They looked at each other, the last word hanging between them like a necklace.

"I guess the important question is if you are happy? Most marriages of convenience aren't centered around love and happiness."

"I am happy. Don't I look happy to you? It may not be the sweeping wedding ceremony and reception, but my honeymoon was something I'll never forget. Not only was it Paris, but it was Spencer. He and I had connected on a level that I had never thought possible. I saw even more of who he is and I love him even more for it. I understand him more now."

"Well, that's good. I'm happy for you, Trina. That's all I want for you, to be happy and safe."

"Well, I am."

Curtis nodded then fell silent again. Looking at the young woman before him, he couldn't help but see signs of his own mother, from her rich brown skin to her big beautiful warm brown eyes and her smile. She had his mother's mouth. It made him feel a way again because that was twenty years he'll never get back.

"So, how is my mother?" Trina asked, curious.

"Portia is keeping herself busy as am I. We haven't really seen much of each other," Curtis winced at the mention of Portia. He hadn't really gone out of his way to search the woman out. Every time he set eyes on her, he would remember her lie and get angry all over again. He just couldn't understand her and why she did what she did.

"Oh. So you two haven't talked about going on your honeymoon?"

"No. With the way things are, I doubt we will. I just...I can't understand her. She had lied to all of us for so long."

"Well...I'm not making excuses for her. Believe me, I am still angry with her and I'm finding it hard to trust her again. But she is my mom. I know that I'm going to have to work it out sooner or later. I also know that she's your wife. You two at least have to try to work it out. You loved her enough to marry her. Shouldn't you love her enough to try to rebuild what you have?"

"It's not that simple, Trina. You'll see that marriage...it's not like boyfriend/girlfriend. It's more complicated. You have to trust the other person completely. Without that trust...you have nothing. Once it's broken...you'll see. I mean, I take it that you trust Spencer."

"Completely. But I also know that he's not perfect. He's flawed. He will make mistakes. Mistakes that we will have to work through as a couple. But I love him enough to work through them. To give him a chance to get it right. Don't you love my mom like that?"

Curtis didn't answer. He couldn't. He did love Portia, but he also loved Jordan, who he had dumped when it came out that she had lied to him. But there had been other reasons for the divorce. Jordan had been all about her job, hardly making time for him. There had been a wall between them that he just couldn't climb. He couldn't say the same about Portia. She had always made time for their relationship, whether it was just a simple talk or a romantic dinner.

"I do love your mother…"

"Well then, work it out with her. Realize that she's not perfect. No one is, because if it's perfection that you're looking for Curtis, you're going to end up alone. After all, sooner or later, the person you are with will make a mistake, whether it's lying or something else altogether."

"I see what you're saying," Curtis nodded, the newly married girl, no she was a woman now, woman's words sinking into him.

"You know...the honeymoon to Paris really did bring me and Spencer closer together. We had intimate talks and really opened up to each other like never before. I feel like I understand Spencer more now. I now understand why he is how he is and why he does the things he does. Even the things that annoy me to no end. Maybe you should take my mom on that honeymoon to Tuscany after all. Just the two of you, no interruptions. No work. Just you and her and nothing to do but be together and talk. It might help."

Curtis laughed. "For one so young, you really do give good advice, Trina. You are really making me see where I may be going wrong and how to correct it. My own mother used to do that. She'd sit me down and by the time she was done, everything was clearer."

Trina smiled. "Well, I am glad that I could help."

Curtis smiled and was again struck by how similar her eyes were to his mother and he swallowed down a lump in his throat at the memory. If Trina was his daughter...well he had a lot of making up to do. But right now, maybe he should take her advice and work on his nearly nonexistent marriage.

"Do me a favor, alright. I am not going to push...but when you're ready take your own advice. Realize your mom is not perfect and talk to her. She does love you."

Trina just nodded. "I know she does. I love her too. I will...I'm not ready yet...but I'll get there eventually."

"I know you will. You're a kind forgiving girl with more compassion than a lot of people contain."

Laura returned with a quiet Spencer. She had a gentle hand on his arm, and the way Spencer leaned towards, Laura, Trina could tell things were good between the pair.

"Well, I'm afraid that I must go. Mayor duties call," Laura smiled warmly.

"Thank you for coming Mayor Collins. Both of you, we really appreciate all that you've done for us," Trina got to her feet, along with Curtis.

"Oh, it was a pleasure sweetie. And call me Laura. Mayor Collins is too formal for my granddaughter-in-law," Laura walked over and hugged Trina.

Trina hugged Laura back and then went to stand next to Spencer as Laura and Curtis walked out the door.

Laura turned to Curtis with a concerned smile, noticing how quiet he had been. "Well, how did it go with Trina? Did you two talk?"

"She gave me some good advice about Portia. And...the more I look at her...the more I talk to her...I know that she's my daughter. She's too much like my mom."

"What are you going to do?"

"The only thing I can do. Give her time and space."

…..

Alone again, Trina took Spencer's hand and smiled up into his eyes. "Let me do my first thing for you as your wife. Let me make you a cup of tea."

Spencer blinked, coming out of his thoughts. "What?"

"Come on," Trina pulled him into the kitchen and sat him down at the kitchen table. She took out the tea kettle and filled it with water and put it on the stove to get hot. She then took out the box of tea and some sugar. And began to prepare the beverage. Once the tea was prepared, she poured it into two cups and sweetened it. She then remembered that Laura had brought a couple of boxes of Gingersnap cookies and brought them out for Spencer to nibble on. With the drinks and the cookies in place, she sat opposite Spencer.

"This is good," Spencer took a sip of tea.

"What did Laura say? Did you two make up?"

Spencer sighed. "I didn't mean to yell at her. I was just….taken off guard and disappointed. I wanted Esme in prison. I wanted the judge to look at us in our house and Esme in her cell and just give us Ace. Now, it's going to be more complicated."

"Well, she's still a single mother. She doesn't actually have a place of her own and no job. So we still look a lot better on paper," Trina gently rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb. "We still have a good edge."

"I just don't want her to use him as a pawn. That's all we Cassadines seem to be good for. If we're not doing the manipulating, we're being manipulated. I didn't want any of that for Ace."

"I know."

"He's just an innocent baby. He didn't ask for any of what he'll have to go through as not only a Cassadine but someone connected to someone like Esme and I can't trust her not to use him to her benefit. Heck, she already is!"

Trina felt her heart ache as she saw the pain in Spencer's eyes. Someone who didn't know Spencer would think that the young man would be jealous of his new sibling. That he'd be worried about his inheritance and place as the Cassadine heir. But in reality, he cared for none of that. He loved his baby brother almost to distraction. He wanted to protect the baby from the worse parts of being born a Cassadine. He wanted to give the baby the normalcy that he, himself, had been denied.

"You really do love Ace, don't you?"

"Of course I do. He's my brother and he's a baby. He needs me to protect him, and I will. I swear it."

"See. This is the you that I fell in love with. This is the Spencer that you have to show the courts when we put in for custody. A young man that loves his brother and wants to give him the best start in life possible."

Spencer nodded, getting what Trina was saying. "I'm leaving Prince Cassadine at home."

"Right. So when do we go put in for custody?"

"First thing tomorrow. I want the battle to begin and end as quickly as possible so Ace can be stable and begin to enjoy his childhood, knowing that he's safe and loved and the people who are taking care of him only want what's best for him, not themselves."