Portia looked at her packed bags and felt another thrill of excitement. She had decided to take Curtis up on his idea to take the Tuscany honeymoon after all. Perhaps Trina was right . Maybe this trip was just what they'd need to get their marriage on the road to recovery. Her relationship with Trina was already on the mend as it was. She hoped that Curtis's offer of Tuscany was a sign that her life was about to return to normal...or as close to normal as it could get, with Trina now out of the house and married.

The tune of the doorbell brought her out of her thoughts. She frowned, wondering who it could be. She hadn't been expecting anyone. She met Curtis at the door, both of them reaching for the door knob.

"Oh, um, you can get it," Curtis offered, stepping back out of the way. He felt that this was more Portia's place. It was probably more appropriate for her to answer the door.

Portia smiled, but her smiled faded when she saw Spencer with his arms around a crying Trina. "Trina? What's wrong?"

"She won't tell me. She just said that she wanted to come here," Spencer explained.

"Come in," Portia stepped to the side and allowed them to come in. "Did you do something again?"

Spencer sighed and shook his head. "This time, I'm innocent...at least I think so."

Trina pulled away, still feeling miserable and looked at Spencer. "Can I talk to my mom alone, please?"

Spencer opened his mouth to protest, but Curtis placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Come. I believe that there are some gingersnaps in the kitchen."

"Call if you need me, ok?" Spencer frowned, still not willing to leave her side.

Trina simply nodded and watched as Curtis lead Spencer into the kitchen.

"Baby, what is it? Why are you in tears?" Portia asked, leading Trina over to the couch.

Trina again wiped at her tears, not knowing where to begin. She needed to talk, but she just couldn't to Spencer, and the only person she felt would understand was Portia.

"I had a fight with Joss," Trina admitted. "A really bad fight. Mom...I don't think we can be friends anymore!"

"What happened?"

"Well...I guess it all started with me and Spencer. Joss's boyfriend walked pass while Spencer and I were being intimate in the car. He didn't see anything, but you know the signs," Trina began to explain, feeling awkward.

Portia swallowed and simply nodded, not knowing how to respond. She didn't expect her daughter to remain a virgin, especially after getting married, but it still was a shock to the system to realize that her daughter's virginity was gone. "Ok…"

"Anyway, he went and told Joss that he saw Spencer Cassadine getting it on in the back seat of the car and if they could try the same...then today, when I ran into Joss, she couldn't wait to tell me that Spencer was cheating on me with some side chick in his car, not knowing that the side chick, was me! It'd be funny if I wasn't so furious…"

"What happened next?"

"I blew up at her. I was just so sick and tired of her assuming the worse about Spencer. And the fact that she just assumed that he was with some strange woman and not his newly wedded wife? I mean, who does that? She's acting like this was just some marriage of convenience and that Spencer only married me to get Ace and was getting his rocks on with someone else. That he couldn't possibly love me. That I'm just someone to be pitied...and it made me think and remember other times when she was less than a friend...when she would make sure that I was just a side kick. The second choice."

"Dev...Cam...but ever since Spencer came back to Port Charles...he didn't look at her twice. He was always about me, and Joss kept going in on her supposed friend. I used to think it strange, because they did grow up together, but it's all clear to me now. She's always dragging Spencer because he never was into her, but was into me. That to him, I was never the side kick. Why didn't I see it before? Why am I so stupid!"

"Oh, baby! You're not stupid, you're not!" Portia wrapped her arms around her sobbing daughter and stroked her hair. "You just see the best in everyone and that's a good thing. You believe and assume the best in everyone."

"I thought she was my friend...my best friend...but all this time...she looked down on me."

"Honey, she is your friend. Just not as good of a one as you thought," Portia sighed, hurting for her daughter. "My mother had a saying and it always served me well. When it comes to friends, feed them out of a long handled spoon. Maybe it's time for that between you and Joss. After all, friends do grow apart and you both seem to be on different paths now. It's okay to stay friends...but maybe it's time to put some distance between you two."

"It just hurts so much to know that she was never as good of a friend as I had thought."

"I know it does. But this is life. It's growing up. It's choosing the people that you want in your life and how close that you want them to be."

"I wish...I wish that she had been better. That I didn't have to distance myself...but...I think that it's the best thing I can do. Best for me...and best for Spencer even. He never got along with her after the break up with Cam. The only reason he even kept talking to her was because of me. Now he won't have to bother with seeing her ever again."

"You didn't tell Spencer about this. Why?"

"Like I said...he wouldn't understand. Besides, he's already furious with her. If he knew that she had hurt me like this...he'll go off on her and I don't like it when he gets that angry. The Cassadine in him comes out and it's a scary sight. Not that he'd ever hurt me or anyone...it's just...scary."

"I understand...but baby...you're going to have to tell him. I saw that young man and I can tell that when you hurt, he hurts right along with you. And at this point, I don't even think Joss deserves your protection, much less your friendship."

"Ugh, you're right! There I go protecting her again? When am I going to start protecing myself? Protecting Spencer?! He's my husband, the one person I'm supposed to stand up for...and here I am protecting someone that wouldn't even spit on him if he was on fire."

"Isn't it piss?"

"Eww, mom. Too gross."

Portia just laughed. "Ok, ok. Look, I know that you don't want him angry like that, but he has a right to be. You're his wife. It's his job to protect you, even from your friends. If she gets told off by the Cassadine prince, she should. Her and Dex for overstepping and not minding their business and for making my daughter feel less than."

"What really bothers me is that I never noticed it. All these years, I never noticed how she worked to make sure that I was second choice. I was so blind."

"Maybe she didn't notice either," Portia thoughtfully replied, a small frown on her face.

"Huh?"

"I don't know if teachers still do this, but when I was a child, teachers would unconsciously pick white students to answer questions over a black student who had their hands up too. When questioned, the teacher would be unaware that she was even doing it. An unconscious bias. Maybe Joss is doing the same thing."

"So I should just let this go? Let her get away with it?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying at all. What I am saying is...take a step back from the friendship some. She's definitely not best friend material...but just a normal everyday friend. An acquaintance at worse. I think it'll be less painful for you that way."

Trina simply nodded. "You're right. That sounds a lot more...tolerable than just cutting her off. But I will not stand for her saying anything against Spencer. Not anymore. I don't need her to be my bff when I have a husband that fills out that role just fine."

Portia just smiled and hugged her daughter tighter, her heart still hurting for her daughter. It was never easy when friendships changed.

"Thank you mom. I'm sorry for disturbing you and Curtis like this...I just...I couldn't talk to Spencer right away, but I needed to talk to someone."

"Well, I'm glad that you came to me. And again, let Spencer in on this. Don't shut him out. Take it from someone that's learned her lesson about keeping secrets from the man you love. I can't believe that I'm giving this advice about that boy."

Trina just laughed. "Maybe he's growing on you. Spencer has that habit."

"Maybe."

"So...are you and Curtis going to Tuscany? Can I expect some pictures when you come back?" Trina asked, her eyes lighting up with interest.

Portia laughed, happy to see excitement and glee in her daughter's eyes. "Yes. We are going to Tuscany! Just the two of us and I will be sending you lots and lots of pictures!"

Trina squealed with excitement and wrapped her arms around her mother. "I am so happy for you mom! I hope that everything works out! You deserve to be just as happy in your marriage as I am in mine!"

Portia hugged her daughter back then pulled away, looking at Trina in concern. "Are you sure that I should go, though? What if you need me? I should be here…"

"Mom, I'll be fine. You're just a phone call away. And it's not like I'm alone. I have Spencer, his grandmother, Marshall...I have a lot of people here. I'll be ok. You just go and work on your marriage. Get as close to Curtis as I am to Spencer. Don't you worry about me."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Is everything alright out here?" Curtis asked, leading a worried Spencer back into the living room. Both men are relieved to see smiles on the mother and daughter's faces.

"Everything is perfect. I am so glad that you two are going on that honeymoon. Hopefully, with some time alone, you'll get a new perspective on everything. I know Paris sure helped us," Trina smiled.

"I hope so too. We probably should have taken this trip a long time ago," Curtis smiled. "Maybe when we get back...you and I can talk too."

"I'd like that," Trina nodded, really meaning it. Taggert will always be her daddy, but she was willing to accept Curtis as well, because with him came a grandfather in Marshall, a cousin in TJ, a grand aunt in Stella, another family to add on to her own. More people to love.

"Well, I suppose we better go and let you two be on your way," Spencer smiled, walking over and wrapping an arm around Trina's shoulder.

"Text me when you arrive, mom," Trina waved, already leading Spencer to the door.

"Yes, I'll text you a picture of the Italian rooftops to go with the French ones," Portia chuckled and waved to her daughter.

Trina just smiled, feeling at peace with where her relationship with her mother stood. She could tell that the rift that had been between them was really beginning to close. She just felt sad that a rift between her and Joss was just beginning to grow.