Trina was just returning from the gallery, hoping to catch Ava, but sadly Ava wasn't in at the time. So she had stopped at the library to grab some art books to read and was just walking onto the porch and inserting the key into the lock when she had an unexpected visitor.
"Ah, Trina is it? I am so glad to have caught you," Victor Cassadine walked up onto the porch, wearing a friendly smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Oh, um...Mr. Cassadine, how may I help you?" Trina questioned, feeling wary. Spencer had told her about his Uncle and the other Cassadines of the past and didn't know why this man would be searching her out, especially when Spencer wasn't by her side. "If you are looking for Spencer, he's not here at the moment."
"Oh, that's quite alright, it was you I was wanting to see. It has come to my attention that you and my nephew have gotten married in a bid to gain custody of Spencer's baby brother."
"Oh. Um, yes. That's right. Even though, that's not the only reason. It's not just a marriage of convenience. Spencer and I really do love each other, let me assure you."
"Oh, I have no doubt about that. My nephew has been enamored with you for quite some time now. It is good to see that his affections weren't unrequited and that you two have bonded and that it can benefit that poor baby."
"Well, it's all up to the courts when it comes to baby Ace, but we are hoping for the best."
"What I am concerned about is the quickness of the nuptials. You and my nephew, in your youthful ideas of love and romance, had forgotten the more...practical arrangements of the marriage. Such as a prenuptial contract."
Trina blinked a bit taken aback. "You mean a prenuptial agreement? Well...I suppose you're right. We really didn't consider it. At the time, we just wanted to get married so we could get the custody battle for Ace started...but I assure you, Mr. Cassadine. I am not interested in Spencer's money. I don't plan on us ever breaking up, but if the worse happens…"
"Such agreements aren't only to protect Spencer, my dear. They are to protect you too. If the worse should happen, such an agreement would guarantee that you wouldn't be leaving the marriage empty-handed. I know it's all unromantic, but it is like an insurance policy. Kind of like life insurance...for the marriage."
Trina chewed on her bottom lip feeling really uncomfortable. She knew that the elder Cassadine was probably right, but it just didn't feel right even to be discussing this with him. "Um…"
"What do you think you are doing talking to my daughter, Cassadine?" Marcus Taggert was upon the porch, inserting himself between Trina and Victor.
"Why hello to you, Detective Taggert. I was just discussing the subject of pre...or rather post-nuptial agreements with the young lady here since she and my nephew haven't really gotten a chance to talk about such things. I thought it'd be wise to…"
"What? Protect your nephew's inheritance? Believe me, my daughter doesn't want or need your Cassadine money and I think that's a subject better left discussed between the married couple. Now I suggest you leave. You can come back when your nephew is here to entertain you."
"Really, detective. We are family now. We should strive to get along. Don't you think? Or should I really be talking to Mr. Ashford about family matters?"
Rage appeared in Taggert's eyes and he was about to punch the older man when Trina grabbed his arm. "Dad, don't! He was just leaving. Mr. Cassadine, I will let Spencer know that you dropped by and of your concerns, but it's a good idea that you be going now."
"Very well. I do hope that you give it some thought. After all, it's not just to protect Spencer. Romance is all well and good, but practicality never hurts. Just look at your friend Ava. She's benefited greatly from such an agreement."
"No disrespect, but Spencer and I are quite different from Spencer's father and Ava."
"Touche. Well, I bid you good afternoon."
"Get out of here, Cassadine," Taggert growled, growing angrier.
Victor just gave Taggert a chilling smile and walked off the porch, having said all that he was going to say.
Trina took a deep breath, relieved that Victor Cassadine was gone. Spencer would freak out if he knew that his Uncle had even approached her. It was bad enough that her father was there freaking out.
"I can't believe that you went and married into that family without even discussing it with me first," Taggert glared at his daughter, folding his arms.
Trina rolled her eyes and opened the door for both her and her dad to enter. "I am an adult now Daddy, I don't need your permission to marry the man that I love."
"Love?" Taggert stared at her in disbelief. How could his little girl be talking about love? How could she know anything about the subject?
"Yes, love. I love Spencer and he loves me. As I told Mr. Cassadine, this is not just a marriage of convenience. I wouldn't have suggested it if it was…."
"So this was your idea?!"
"Why is everyone having a hard time believing that?" Trina frowned, tossing her purse onto the couch.
"Because you're smarter than that, Trina!"
"How is it not smart to marry the person that you've been in love with for nearly two years? It's not like Spencer and I are strangers. I think I know him more than anyone by now."
"You say that you've been in love with this boy for nearly two years...well then what was Rory?" Taggert crossed his arms. "It wasn't that long ago that you were dating him."
Trina winced, then sighed wearily, sinking down onto the couch. She tried not to think too much about Rory. There was a lot of guilt and regret in that direction, but she supposed her father's question was fair. "Well...I did care about Rory. If I had met him before Spencer, we probably would have fallen in love and been a great couple and he might have been the son-in-law that YOU always wanted. But I had met Spencer first. I had developed strong feelings for him before I even knew Rory existed. At the point that I met Rory and began to date him...if I'm being honest with myself...Rory was a rebound. I thought that things wouldn't happen with Spencer. I had let everyone else get in my head as well.
"To be really honest...I was going to break up with Rory because his feelings were stronger than mine and it wouldn't have been fair to continue it. But he had gotten hooked...and Spencer was there for me, not expecting anything in return. We had even planned to catch the hook killer, thinking that it was Esme. And I realized that my feelings were still there, they hadn't changed. They just became stronger. And...not even Rory looked at me like Spencer does. Spencer looks at me like I'm the most beautiful girl in the world, even when there are far prettier girls in the vicinity...but Spencer only has eyes for me and that makes me feel...indescribable."
Taggert frowned as he sat across from his daughter. Looking at her, he saw the glow of complete happiness. His daughter was happy and in love. By the looks of it, she was being treated like a princess and was adored by her husband. It was all that a father could want for his daughter. He just wished that it wasn't with a Cassadine. Wasn't his sister getting involved with the family enough?
"I don't like him."
"You don't have to. You're not the one married to him," Trina smirked.
"Haha. You do know that your Aunt Gia is going to have a lot to say about this."
"Well, I'll look forward to her visit. Really, Daddy. Spencer is the best thing that's ever happened to me. He really loves me in a way that...I never really expected to be."
Taggert's frown seemed to deepen. "Why wouldn't you expect that, baby girl? You deserve nothing less."
Trina just shrugged. "I just didn't. But I am and that's what matters, right?"
"Yes. That and he better keep that crazy family of his away from you," Taggert grumbled some more. "At least you won't have to bother with Helena Cassadine. That's a relief."
Trina just laughed and shook her head. "Daddy, try to relax and not worry. I'm happy. I'm taken care of. I'm loved. That should be all that you could ever want for me. Even if you don't like my husband. To be honest, you don't even know him really."
"I just don't like this. Not to mention that I had missed out on walking you down the aisle."
"Don't get too relaxed about that. Spencer and I plan to have a real ceremony down the road, once Ace's custody is settled."
"Oh is that so? I can raise my objections then…"
"Daddy!" Trina slapped Taggert's arm and laughed. "Don't you dare do anything to ruin it."
Taggert just laughed and kissed her cheek. "I wouldn't dream of it. Now, I guess I better go, seeing that no stray Cassadines are lurking about."
"What do you think about a postnuptial agreement? Do you think it's a good idea or should I just leave it alone. I don't want to be tempting fate or something."
"I had already told Cassadine. That is between you and your husband. I cannot tell you what to do on that front. If Spencer is the man you say he is, you should be able to bring up anything with him. It shouldn't be a problem."
"Hey Queen, I'm home!" Spencer announced, coming through the door, unaware that Trina had a visitor.
"Queen? I see that you have the boy trained well," Taggert smirked as he and Trina got to their feet.
Spencer nearly paled at the sight of Taggert standing next to Trina. The man seemed to be a little bit scarier than Curtis Ashford and his very presence demanded respect and obedience. "Mr. Taggert, hello. I didn't know Trina had company."
"Yes, Daddy stopped by to tell me off for getting married without him. I had to reassure him that his services will be needed once we arrange the big ceremony," Trina chuckled, walking up to her husband and rubbing his arm, seeing how tense he was. "Relax. He doesn't bite." Besides, if she could face his Uncle Victor, Spencer can face her father.
"I don't bite much she means to say," Taggert approached. "You're treating my girl good?"
"Yes sir. I'm at her beck and call," Spencer nervously swallowed.
"Good. Keep treating her like she's a queen and we'll have no problems. Oh and keep that uncle of yours away from her as well."
"Dad!" Trina stared. She hadn't wanted Spencer to find out about Victor's visit that way.
"My Uncle Victor was here?" Spencer frowned, alarmed by the news.
"I'll talk about it later," Trina glared at her father, not appreciating him spilling the beans. "I think that it's time for my father to go now. It was good seeing him though."
Taggert winced, noting the coldness in Trina's voice. He was in the dog house now. But she'll get over it. "Yeah, I have to go see your mother. Be sure to call her, by the way. She's probably climbing the walls waiting to hear from you."
"Sure. See you soon, Daddy."
"Mr. Taggert," Spencer nodded, feeling discombobulated by everything.
"Remember what I said. Take care of her. Keep her safe," Taggert nodded before walking out the door.
Trina sighed and closed the door behind her father, locking it behind him, feeling a bit more secure that way. She smiled when she felt two arms embrace her and hold her close.
"What's this about my Uncle? What happened?" Spencer asked.
"I was just getting back from the library when he approached, talking about prenuptial contracts and practicality," Trina sighed, turning to face her husband. "I take it that he had that conversation with you before approaching me?"
"Yeah. He tried to before Uncle Sonny interrupted. I told him that there was no need for any of that. I'm shocked that he approached you about it. He...he wasn't mean was he?"
"No, he wasn't. He wasn't overly friendly, but he wasn't mean. He said that such a contract would protect me as much as it would you."
Spencer huffed and released Trina to pace the room. "The nerve of him! I know he considers himself the patriarch of the family, but he has no right to…"
"He has a point, though...don't you think?" Trina winced. She wasn't taking Victor's side and if Spencer didn't see the need, she'll drop it. But she had witnessed enough divorces where such agreements would have come in handy. Not that she thought there would ever be divorce in their future, at least she hoped not. She felt too strongly for Spencer. She couldn't even imagine feeling like this for anyone else but him.
"What? You agree with him?" Spencer frowned, coming to a standstill.
"Well...he made a good point. When we got married, we were thinking about the romance of it all and how better it'll look to the courts when it comes to the custody of your brother. We never even discussed what should happen if we fall apart."
"Because we're not going to fall apart."
"I don't want us to fall apart...because if we do...I know there will be no one else," Trina sighed, sinking down onto the couch, looking at her hands, feeling more vulnerable now than ever. She just couldn't imagine anything being as strong as her feelings for Spencer were. She'd do absolutely anything for him. Even face the hounds of hell if she had to. She looked at him with shining brown eyes that conveyed so much emotion, it nearly took both of their breaths away. "I love you so much…"
Spencer went and knelt before her, taking her hands in his. "I love you too. More than anything. I'd give all of my inheritance to you if it meant being by your side forever. You know that. You mean more to me than any amount of money. You're my heart and soul. You really are. I don't want anything but you."
"Funny, because I feel the same way. I don't want your money or your title. I just want you, Spencer. We can be living in a hovel right now and have nothing but rags and I'd be perfectly happy just as long as I get to wake up next to you every day."
"I'm going to make sure that never happens because your dad will murder me if I let you live in a hovel and you deserve a palace," Spencer chuckled.
"Well, it's not up to my dad. It's up to me and...I love you so much, it's to distraction and I don't think practically when it comes to you, I'm realizing that now. Which is….it's kind of good that your Uncle brought it up because….I want you to be protected, as well as myself. I know divorce is never on the table for us, but who knows what the future brings and I want to make sure that we have our ducks in a row."
"Trina…"
"And I'm not wanting to do this because I'm afraid of your Uncle or anything. I don't want you to think that. I just want us to be…safe and secure in all aspects of the future. Prepared."
Spencer sighed, seeing in her eyes that she won't be detoured. "Fine. I'll have Diane draw up a post-nuptial agreement. I don't like it, but if it'll make you feel better…"
"It will. Really, all I want in the contract is that we leave the marriage with what we brought in."
"No. No way. I want you taken care of, regardless. I want it put in that if the impossible happens...you are to have a good chunk of money. We can split up anything that we acquire together. But a nice amount of money is a given."
"Spencer…"
"Or no postnup at all."
"Alright, alright. Have Diane put it together tomorrow and I'll sign," Trina sighed, giving in.
"I just want to take care of you Trina."
"I know and I understand. I mean...I wanted this so you can be protected as well. Can you come up here now and hold me. I really don't want to talk about this anymore. I just want to be with you."
Spencer got up and settled onto the couch next to Trina and pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. "I want to be with you too. Me and you, baby. Against the world, right? I'll even face both of your scary dads if I have to."
Trina had to laugh. "Oh come on, Daddy is not scary. He's a teddy bear. As for Curtis...he's not scary either."
"They both want to protect you from hurt and heartache. I don't blame them. For a while there, I was even willing to have you hate me forever, just as long as you were safe and happy. I'm still willing to do that."
"Hey, there's no need for that. I never hated you, really. That's why I was so hurt because...I was in love with you even back then, even though you were with Esme. I had no idea that you returned my feelings, so much that you'd even make me angry if it meant keeping me safe and proving me innocent."
"When did you know for sure, though?"
"When you got up on the stand, knowing that you were going to end up in Pentonville for three months."
"I'd do it again."
"How can I even top that?" Trina cuddled closer to him, resting her head on his chest.
"You don't have to. I know that you love me. It's in your eyes, your beautiful smile, the way you move...the way you say my name...it's all over you. You radiate I love Spencer Cassadine."
Trina smiled, tightening her hold on him. "I do. Now and forever. As the song says, come what may."
