It was nearing the lunch rush and Spencer and Trina had yet to leave the table they had been occupying since Spencer's proposal. Cameron had treated them to breakfast and was now busy making his way from table to table taking customers' orders for lunch. Trina had a notepad and pencil laid out as she and Spencer went through what they were going to need for their upcoming elopement.
"Who are we going to invite? I want Cam to be my best man, of course," Spencer took a sip of water.
Trina paused as it hit her. "Normally I'd want Joss as my maid of honor...but with the way things are between her and Cam...I don't know. She'd be so hurt if I didn't ask…"
"Maybe we can do without the best man and maid of honor thing and just have them attend as witnesses. They don't have to talk to each other."
"Let's not think about that part right now. What we really should be doing is talking to Diane. Let her in on our plan, right? We want to make sure that this will work and get your brother away from Esme."
"And I need to find us home…wait...I think I know a place. I'll have to talk to grandmother though…"
"Where?"
"Well...when my grandmother was married to Luke Spencer, they had a house. They raised my Uncle Lucky and Aunt Lulu there for a little bit. I think there was a fire a few years back, but Grandmother had it remodeled and it's kind of been sitting empty ever since. She's been meaning to sell it, but she said memories were keeping her from...maybe if I talk to her...she'll let us live there. I mean...it's a nice house and would be a good place to raise a baby…"
"Wow. Things are moving so fast…"
"Are you having second thoughts?" Spencer asked, getting a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. What if she really didn't want this after all?
"No, of course not. I want this, I do. It's just that everything is feeling so...grown-up, you know? I guess it's really hitting me that we're no longer kids. We're adults now, doing adult things...like getting married and raising a baby in a house."
Spencer chuckled. "I get it. It is surreal. When I was a kid...I never even thought of any of this. I was going to be some evil mastermind who took over the world. Just ask Cam. He'll tell you," Spencer laughed at some of the old memories of his childhood.
Trina just rolled her eyes. "For some reason, I am not surprised. Well, I hope that you had gotten all of that out of your system. I don't want to get a call from Jordan saying that my husband had tried to take over the world again."
"Hey, I'm a Cassadine. Failed attempts to take over the world is what we do," Spencer snorted.
"Well, that is going to have to change. You'll have to be a good influence for your brother if we hope to get custody."
"That is true. So, no plans to take over the world. At least not yet anyway," Spencer chuckled.
"Yeah. Let's wait until he's at least twelve. That way he can help you out with fresh ideas," Trina giggled.
"Oh, there you are. I was hoping I'd run into you," Diane approached the table, her briefcase in hand. She placed a slender hand on her hip as she eyed the young couple. "I hope that you've given some thought on what to do next when it comes to your brother?"
"Oh, yeah. Trina and I both talked it over and we came up with an idea that would make me look a lot better than Esme. We're going to get married," Spencer simply stated, giving Trina's hand a squeeze.
Diane's stared at them, shocked. She had not expected this from her young client, but she had to admit, it was a good idea. But did the pair really think this through? "Marriage is a big step. Are you sure that you're ready for it?"
Spencer simply nodded. "We both have discussed it. We're ready. I know, we're young but we both are very much aware of what we're doing and what we have to gain. We're ready. I want the judge to see that me and Trina, ready to raise my brother in a stable home is a lot better than single imprisoned Esme, keeping my innocent brother in that place where no baby should be."
"Well, you're going to need a marriage license. I can arrange for that...and I suggest you get someone to officiate and some witnesses. Then after that, you'll need a permanent home for yourselves and a baby. I need you both to be the picture of stability before I can add Trina's name onto the case."
"How long does it actually take to get the marriage license?" Trina asked. She knew that her mother and Curtis had to have gotten one for their wedding, but she hadn't paid that much attention to the ins and outs of obtaining one.
"Twenty-four hours, but they don't want you to get married right away. They rather you wait another twenty-four hours before going through with the ceremony," Diane explained. "That is if you're getting married here in New York. It can go up to six weeks depending on what state you're applying in."
"Well, obviously it's going to be New York," Spencer sat back in his chair, beginning to feel a little impatient, and a little sad. Right now, he would have loved to have his father there for some advice. But then again, if his father had been there, he wouldn't be going for custody...at least he didn't think he would be...not after finding out how Esme had manipulated everything.
"In the meantime, I suggest that you two get to looking for a house. One with a picket fence would be nice," Diane winked.
Trina simply smiled at Spencer and squeezed his hand. "Should we go talk to your grandmother about that house now?"
"I don't see why not," Spencer chuckled, keeping Trina's hand in his as he stood up from the chair.
"I'll get started on that marriage license as soon as I'm finished here," Diane promised.
…..
Spencer and Trina kept their hands clutched together as they stood outside of the Collin's home. Both of them were nervous, not because they were afraid of Laura's reaction to their plans, but because they really didn't know what the mayor would say. They were both aware that Laura had some empathy for Esme, because of her own memories of how she had given birth on Cassadine Island and was forced to leave her son behind. They were aware that Laura hoped to find a solution that would benefit not only Spencer but the amnesiac Esme as well, forgetting all the trouble that Esme had caused her grandsons. Spencer was also aware that Laura had her concerns over his intentions towards Trina, which he couldn't blame her for. After all, it was his fault that Esme had targeted Trina and he had seemingly turned his back on Trina when she had needed him the most.
"Grandmother is not going to like this. She only sees the way Esme is now, without her memories. She's forgotten what the real Esme is like. She's going to see this as me doing any and everything to rip my brother away from his mother," Spencer frowned, wishing that his grandmother was more on his side. "Who knows, maybe she really does blame me for my father's disappearance. She wouldn't be wrong."
"I doubt very much that she blames you for your father leaving. She knows that your father is an adult and makes his own decisions. She's just going to be worried because we're both just gotten out of our teens and we're taking such a big step. We just have to make her see that we know what we're doing. That this isn't just a marriage of convenience….even though that does look like what it is...and in a way, that is what it is...but we still have strong feelings for each other. That doesn't discount that."
Spencer smiled and gently ran a finger along her cheek, relishing the softness of her skin. "I do love you, Trina."
Looking into his eyes, Trina saw the truth of his words. No, she felt them and she felt the same way. Despite all that had happened between them during the past year, her feelings for Spencer had only deepened, especially when he had told on himself to try to help her during the trial. He had gone to Pentonville for her. He had put himself in so much danger, for her. Every selfless thing he's done since he came to Port Charles has been for her and it touched her heart in ways she couldn't describe. "No one has ever done for me what you have...not even Rory…"
"Spencer? What are you doing here?" Charlotte opened the door to find the couple on the doorstep gazing into each other's eyes. Both Trina and Spencer blushed and took a step apart.
"Hey, is grandmother home? Trina and I have something we want to tell her," Spencer cleared his throat.
"She's in the kitchen making cookies. She says that my mommy loved them," Charlotte explained, stepping back to let them in.
"I'm sure Aunt Lulu was crazy about them. Are you helping? I'm sure that Aunt Lulu would love it even more when she wakes up and get those cookies made by you."
"Do you really think so?" Charlotte asked.
Spencer's smile was kind. "Of course. Moms love that kind of thing. I wish I could make my mom her favorite cookies."
Charlotte's eyes lit up. "You can help me make them for my mom when she wakes up! I know it's not the same, but it'll be fun and my mom would like them from you too! And Trina can help!"
"I'd like that?" Trina smiled, touched that Charlotte thought to include her.
"I'd like that," Spencer smiled, keeping Trina's hand in his as he followed Charlotte into the kitchen where Laura was indeed in the midst of making cookies.
"Grandmother, Spencer's here with Trina!" Charlotte announced.
Laura looked up as Spencer and Trina entered the kitchen. A welcoming smile curved her lips. "Spencer, what a surprise! I wasn't expecting you."
"This is kind of a spur-of-the-moment visit," Spencer went to hug his mother then went back to standing next to Trina. "I know I've been so moody lately about the baby. I want to apologize for my behavior."
"Oh, that's alright. It's perfectly understandable. We're all concerned about the baby being in that place. Hopefully, Esme will realize that prison is no place for a baby and will let us take him until she gets out."
Spencer resisted the urge to roll his eyes. His grandmother was forever the peacemaker it seemed and he hated to let her down, but he just couldn't stand by and hope and wait for Esme to do the right thing. Especially when she wasn't taking responsibility for all the harm she had done. She had ruined his friends' lives, from Cameron to Trina. All because they were his friends! He could not let that go and he wasn't going to let her ruin his brother's life as well.
"Actually, Trina and I have come up with a plan on how to get my brother out of that prison. Diane thinks that it might actually work," Spencer began, feeling anxious about Laura's reaction, but determined to follow through with the plan.
Laura stared at her grandson and then at the young woman by her side, another young girl that reminded her of herself at that age. Young, optimistic, and in love. Willing to do anything for the man who owned her heart. The love she once held for Luke was now in Trina's eyes directed at Spencer. "What plan is this?"
Spencer gripped Trina's hand in his and smiled at her. "We're going to get married."
Laura blinked in surprise. "You are going to get married?"
Spencer nodded. "We're thinking that the judge will look at Esme and then look at me and Trina and see that a young married couple who live in a house is a much better choice than a young single mother in prison."
Laura had to say that she was shocked by this solution. Getting married to gain custody of a sibling seemed so extreme! Both Spencer and Trina were so very young. They had their whole lives ahead of them. They should be concentrating on going to parties, studying for college, and being carefree young people, not getting married to gain custody of a baby! But things were what they were. It wasn't like the pair didn't care for each other. In fact, Laura knew that Spencer was in love with Trina and would move the world for her. But was marriage really the right thing here?
"You both are so young," Laura stammered, not knowing how else to respond.
"I know...but we feel that we're both mature for our age and my brother would be better with us than inside a prison."
"But are you sure that this is the way? I mean, what about college and spring breaks and parties? You two won't have time for any of those things if you're taking care of a baby?"
"Well, both of us aren't real big partiers and we didn't have any plans for spring break anyway," Spencer shrugged. "College is still and will always be there. It's just...an innocent baby needs us right now and our attention is on him."
"Spencer…I know you don't agree...but Esme is his mother. I agree the baby doesn't need to be in prison, but he does need his mother…"
"Grandmother…"
"No, hear me out. I am aware of her crimes and I am just as outraged as you are by all she has done. But this is about what Ace needs. Not about Esme. All I'm asking, as you fight for custody, remember, she is his mother and you may be able to cut her out of his life now...but later. When he's your age. He's going to have questions. He is going to want to know who his mother is and will be angry with you, just as you were with your father...just as Trina is with her mother if you lie."
"He won't need Esme! He'll have Trina!"
"And I have Taggert...but I'm still angry with my mother for lying about Curtis. I get what your grandmother is saying," Trina winced.
"And believe me, Spencer. You are not the first self-righteous young man who hates his parents that I've dealt with. Just ask your Uncle Lucky," Laura shuddered, remembering the time Lucky had run away and had barely talked to her and hadn't talked to Luke at all. It had broken her heart and just when she had him back, Helena had snatched him from her again. Helena Cassadine was always snatching her children away.
Spencer frowned as he saw something in his grandmother's eyes. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Grandmother?"
Laura blinked and came back to the present. She smiled and took Spencer's hand, reminding herself that despite Helena, she did have her children, and she had this handsome grandson in love and wanted to protect his brother. "I'm fine, sweetie. I just had a memory of the past. You remind me so much of your Uncle Lucky at times."
"My father did say you have some strong genes," Spencer chuckled.
"I must have. Anyway, I won't discourage you from this marriage. All that I ask is that you do keep in mind of the future and that Ace will want to know his mother. That perhaps it's not a wise idea to cut Esme completely out of his life."
"I'll give it some thought...but grandmother...that's not the only reason that we came to talk to you."
"It's not?"
"You see...with us getting married and me suing for custody of my brother...we're gonna need a house. Now, I know that I can afford to buy one, but...I was thinking it'd be nice if we could bring him up somewhere with a connection to the family. Somewhere that's seen a family and has been full of love once or twice before. I was wondering if you'd let us stay at the house where you raised Uncle Lucky and Aunt Lulu?"
"The ward house?" Laura blinked, using the name that the house was once known for. "Why, no one has lived there for years, even though I had just remodeled it. Are you sure that you'd want to live there? It's nothing like these new houses that's been going up…"
"We're sure. We want to give Ace as much of a normal life as we can and that house screams normal, don't you think?" Spencer chuckled.
"Well, I suppose it does...despite all that had taken place there. Well, I can't see why not, and Mary Mae would be happy to that a new family will take form there. Alright. I'll get the keys and get everything ready for you."
"Thank you, grandmother!" Spencer hugged Laura. He glanced over at Trina who simply smiled back and felt that finally, things were going to be alright.
