Laura had the living room all ready for the coming meeting. A tray containing sandwiches and a pitcher of lemonade was sitting out on the table. The couch and living room chairs were arranged in comfortable positions so people could sit comfortably as they discussed how best to manage the custody arrangements. Looking around, everything was perfect.

"What time will Spencer and Trina arrive again?" Kevin walked into the room, a supportive smile curving his lips.

"In a few more minutes. I just wanted to make sure everything is in place so no one can be distracted," Laura sighed and shook her head, placing her hands on her hips. "I don't know where Nikolas ran off to or what he's doing, but the fact that he's not here and stepping up for Ace...I just don't understand him."

"Well, he is wanted by the police, sweetie."

"I know, I know," Laura again gave a deep sigh, this time the disappointment clear in her voice. "I just hoped he would be a better man than this. It makes me sad that he's not. I really did make a mistake in leaving Cassadine Island and not raising him myself."

"Hey now, we've discussed that before. Besides, sometimes it doesn't matter how one is raised. Nikolas is still a grown man who makes his own decisions. He's deciding to stay away from his family. That is on him, not you."

The sound of the doorbell disrupts the conversation. Laura gave the room one last look over and went over to open the door to Spencer and Trina and Diane.

"Spencer, Trina, hello," Laura smiled.

"Grandmother," Spencer immediately wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug.

"Come on in you two," Laura hugged her grandson back before pulling away and beckoning them into the house. She turned to Kevin, who just waved hello to the guests. "Kevin, will you please tell Esme and Martin that Spencer and Trina are here? It's time to get this meeting started."

"I'm sorry that you're in the middle of this, Grandmother. I know that this must not be easy for you," Spencer apologized, noticing how tense his usually relaxed grandmother was.

"I just want what's best for both of my grandchildren. I do think that this may be too big of a responsibility, Spencer. You're nearing 21. You should be out partying, going to college, and being a carefree young adult. Both you and Trina. Not saddled down with a baby thanks to your father's irresponsible decisions," Laura sighed. "But you are an adult, and this is your decision to make. I won't stand in your way."

Trina could see how hard it was for Laura to take a step back like this. Judging from her own mother's reaction to her own very adult decisions, she knew that it must be hard.

"Just remember that if you ever need help, I am here," Laura smiled, placing a hand against Spencer's cheek.

Martin Grey chose that time to enter the room, followed by his client, whose arms were empty, much to Spencer's indignation.

"Where is the baby? I was hoping we'd see him today?" Spencer and Trina took a seat on the loveseat while Esme lowered herself down onto the couch. Both lawyers remained standing while Laura excused herself and went into what was her office to take care of mayoral business.

"Ace is asleep. I didn't want to wake him up," Esme simply replied, not looking at all happy with this. "Let's get this over with. I want to get back to my baby."

"Even though he's asleep?" Trina arched a brow.

Esme simply shrugged, not in the mood to explain herself.

"Let us get this discussion started and over with, shall we?" Diane began, opening up her briefcase. "The judge has ruled that my clients are to have partial custody of baby Ace Nikolai Niklosovitch Prince-Cassadine. What we are here to do today is to discuss which days the child will live with my clients."

"My client wants the weekdays since the child is still young and is indeed in need of his mother," Martin took a calendar out of his briefcase. "The child can go to your clients on the weekends."

"That's not enough time," Spencer shook his head. "We need it more even, so Nikolai can be used to living with us too. We have a nice nursery all fixed up for him."

"Ace. His name is Ace," Esme growled, annoyed with Spencer's insistence on calling the baby Nikolai. "Isn't that too many middle names? I'm already allowing Niklosovitch...which is a horrible name anyway…"

Spencer just rolled his eyes and folded his arms across his chest. "Like Ace is any better…"

"Come on you two, stop. Sweetie, I think it's wise if we keep using Ace, so he won't get confused, alright?" Trina placed a hand on Spencer's arm. "I promise, you can use Nikolai for when we have a son."

"Ugh, fine. Ace," Spencer gave in, feeling like there was no point in trying to fight it. Trina was right, it would only confuse his brother in the long run.

"I think we should give the Cassadines three days and the mother four. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, baby Ace will go with his brother, and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, my client gets the baby. During the holidays, they can work out on their own without us lawyers present," Martin suggested.

"Why do we only get three days?" Spencer frowned.

"Seeing that you and your wife have a fuller schedule than my client, it's more practical," Martin explained, looking between Esme and Spencer.

"I rather not do this at all. Ace is my baby. I shouldn't have to share him with anyone," Esme glared at Spencer. "You're not his father, you're only his brother."

"And he has a right to get to know me and his paternal side of the family. Plus, there's still the possibility of your memory returning. I will not leave my brother at the mercy of a raging psycho!"

"Alright, that's enough. I think that we can agree to those conditions," Trina stepped in, seeing that things were about to take a turn for the worse.

"Alrighty then, just sign on the dotted line and we're finished here," Martin slid over some documents outlining the conditions.

Spencer sighed and picked up the offered pen and signed the documents, along with Trina. They watched as Esme did the same. With that said and done with, the newlyweds were ready to go.

"Alright. We'll be back Friday morning to pick up Ace. Don't worry about packing supplies. We've got everything," Spencer simply stated.

"You don't have his favorite stuffed bear. Or his favorite blanket," Esme crossed her arms with an arrogant smirk that reminded Spencer too much of the old Esme.

"Well, I guess you better pack those then. I've had enough. See you Friday," Spencer grabbed Trina's hand and pulled her out of the penthouse.

…..

When they pulled up in front of the house, Trina was in for a surprise. Standing on their porch was none other than Trina's Aunt Gia.

"Oh my god! Aunt Gia is here!" Trina exclaimed, darting out of the car and into her aunt's waiting arms. "Aunt Gia, what are you doing here? When did you get here? Why didn't you call? You look fantastic!"

Gia laughed at her niece's excited tirade and pulled out of the hug. "I got here this morning. I heard that you had gotten yourself married into the Cassadine family and I had to come see for myself. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, so I didn't have time to call and thank you, sweetie. You look gorgeous yourself."

"I'm so happy you're here! Oh, and you get to meet Spencer!" Trina again gave an excited squeal as she dashed off the porch and grabbed Spencer's hand, who had just gotten out of the car, and pulled him back up onto the porch. "Aunt Gia, this is my husband, Spencer Cassadine. Spencer, this is my Aunt Gia!"

Gia gave Spencer a speculative look and chuckled. "You look exactly like your father. Except you're taller, and have more muscles."

"You know my dad?" Spencer looked surprised.

"Oh yes, rather intimately. We used to be engaged," Gia gave a coy smile. "I see my niece was smart and had a short engagement and secured that ring real quick."

Trina looked at her aunt in shock. "Is that why Daddy doesn't like Spencer? Because of you and his father?"

"Probably. Things didn't end on good terms with Nikolas, but that's life I suppose. It's just as well. If we had lasted, your sweetie pie would be your cousin instead of your husband. How is Nikolas, by the way?"

"Um...I don't know. He left town a while back and we haven't heard anything from him since," Spencer answered, not sure how to respond to all of these revelations. So his family already had a connection to Trina's. It was like they were meant to be…

"Hm...that's too bad. I would be concerned that psycho granny has him, but I heard that she's dead and gone. Thank god," Gia chuckled.

"Aunt Gia, does Daddy know that you're here?" Trina asked, unlocking the front door and leading the way inside.

"No. I wanted to surprise everyone. Especially Portia. I have a few words to say to her."

Trina sighed and faced her Aunt. "So you know then? About Curtis and…"

"I know," Gia nodded and wrapped her arms around her niece. "And it doesn't matter. I don't care what some test says. You're still my niece."

Trina felt tears in her eyes as she hugged her aunt back. "I think I needed to hear that. Ever since the truth came out...I've been questioning who I am…"

"Oh Trina," Gia sighed, pulling away to stroke her niece's face. "You are still the same girl that attended sleepovers at my house."

Trina laughed. "I don't know about that. I think I've changed a lot. But I am finding out more and more about who I am and who I want to be. Like, I am really enjoying the art of flirting. My husband can testify to that."

"Oh, I bet. A handsome guy like him," Gia chuckled.

Blushing, Spencer felt like he was observing something that was not for his eyes, so he just cleared his throat and made his way toward the stairs. "Um...I'll just leave you, ladies, to your visit. I think I'm going to make sure that the nursery is all ready for Friday."

"Baby, you don't have to leave," Trina left Gia's side to go to take Spencer's hand.

"I know. But it's nice that your Aunt is here and you should enjoy your visit. I do need to make sure everything is ready for Ace...ugh that name…"

Trina laughed and placed a hand on his cheek. "Let it go, Preppy."

"I'm trying, Queen," Spencer leaned down for a quick kiss, then released her to dart upstairs, leaving Trina alone with her aunt.

"He's cute. Reminds me a little of his father...back when we had first gotten together," Gia stated, shedding her coat.

Trina quickly took the coat and hung it on a nearby coat tree. "Mr. Cassadine must have been different back in the day. I can't say he's all that much of a stand-up guy these days. He just took off. Hasn't been back to see his new son, and hasn't tried to get in touch with Spencer at all. No one knows where he is."

"Hmm, that's interesting."

"It's sad. Spencer is devastated. He won't say that he's devastated, but he is. Despite all the strife in their relationship, Spencer loves his father. He needs him. I just can't understand why Mr. Cassadine would just walk away from his family like this."

"I can't understand why you would want to marry into this family, as crazy as they are," Gia blurted out, causing Trina to frown.

"Not all of the Cassadines are crazy and evil. Spencer's not. And despite Mr. Cassadine's obvious faults, he's not evil either. Or else, you wouldn't have been engaged to him."

"I just want you to be careful. Psycho granny may be gone, but I'm pretty sure there are other not-so-sane Cassadines out there and I rather you not run across them."

"I am careful, Aunt Gia. Believe me. I know what I'm doing."

"Really?"

"Yes. I married the man I love. I don't care what his family history is...even though it is interesting, it doesn't matter. Spencer is not like Helena, Victor, or any of the others. He's Spencer and I am in love with him. You may think that this is an infatuation and that this marriage is just to get custody of his brother, but let me assure you that is not it...not really. I've been in love with him for a good long time now and I finally have the guy of my dreams. I'm happy. I just wish all of you would be happy for me."

"I am happy for you, sweetie. I am just cautious. I have a history with this family and…"

A crash from outside interrupted what Gia was about to say. Startled and concerned, Trina got up and opened the door to see what had made the sound. She frowned when she saw one of the flower pots that Laura had sat out there a while ago, shattered to pieces. It looked as if someone had bumped into it or something.

"What the hell?" Trina frowned.

"Who did that?" Gia appeared behind her niece, curious.

"I don't know, but whoever it was is gone now. Maybe I should go see if I see anyone…"

Gia grabbed Trina's arm. "Are you crazy, girl? Haven't you watched any horror movies? One does not go out investigating. Especially alone. Just let it be. It was probably a raccoon or something."

Trina frowned. She didn't want to let it go, especially when someone has been tailing Spencer for the past several weeks. But perhaps her aunt was right and it was best to stay put. "Alright, alright. How about I go make us some tea?"

"That sounds good. Let's do that," Gia accepted the offer, relieved that Trina was listening to her.

…..

Nikolas barged into the cottage that he was sharing with his Uncle Stefan, his face pale and his eyes wide. He couldn't believe that she was back in town! When she had left him, he had thought that she would never return to Port Charles. That she was gone for good, but no. She was here and had even met his son! How could he stay hidden now?

"What is your problem now?" Stefan looked up from the chest game he was playing on the laptop.

"Gia's back in town," Nikolas collapsed on the nearby couch, his mind still reeling.

"Your ex-fiancee?"

"She's Trina's aunt. Of course, she'd show up. I should not be surprised," Nikolas sighed. "We have to reveal ourselves."

"It is not time yet…"

"Make it time! Uncle, I have done everything you've said. I've been more than patient...but...I need to return to my family. Neutralize Victor now! Or I will!"

"And what of your legal woes? Your friend Elizabeth made sure that you don't have a proper defense."

Nikolas simply shrugged. I'll worry about that after you get rid of Victor," Was all Nikolas said before getting to his feet and disappearing into the kitchen, leaving a frowning Stefan.

"Well, it looks like it's time to checkmate Victor. Once and for all."