Spencer sat upright, a scream just about to erupt from his throat as images of the nightmare began to fade. He looked around, his face heating up with embarrassment as he sensed Trina sitting up with him and soft feminine arms wrapping around his trembling body.

"Shh, baby. It's just another nightmare," She kissed his cheek, rubbing gentle circles against his back, her other hand pressed against his other cheek, trying to comfort him the best she could.

The nightmares seemed to never stop, no matter what Spencer did. Ever since that night, when he witnessed the explosion of the Haunted Star, his nights had been haunted by the sight of his Uncle Victor angrily pointing at him, accusing him with angry eyes, before disappearing into a wall of fire.

"I can't keep going on like this," Spencer rubbed his eyes, the horrific images gone, but the fear and guilt was very much still there.

Trina sighed and rested her head against his shoulder. The nightmares most likely won't go away anytime soon. Spencer probably couldn't get over this on his own. How could he? Watching his Uncle blow up was very traumatizing. "I think we should ask Kevin for some recommendations."

Spencer looked at Trina, almost feeling betrayed. "Therapy?"

"Spencer, you had a traumatizing experience. Your father had put you through literal hell, you found out that your ex was the daughter of a serial killer who sent her to manipulate you and that it all resulted in your father disappearing. Now, watching your Uncle die...it's a lot. I'm surprised that you're not seeing a therapist already."

"I'm not crazy."

"I know. You don't have to be. But Spencer...a lot has happened in your life and you might need help working through it all. I mean...all of us need that kind of help from time to time. I know I do. This whole thing with Curtis and my dad and my mom keeping it from me for so long...then the fact that I had lost the best friend I had since I arrived in Port Charles, and now, almost losing the love of my life...I need therapy too. Despite my lack of nightmares."

Spencer sighed and leaned back against his pillows, looking over at his beautiful wife, whose brown eyes were full of love and concern. "I love you so much, Trina."

She smiled, not able to get enough of hearing those words. "I love you too. So does that mean you'll be seeing Kevin tomorrow?"

"If you see him with me. Maybe...maybe this therapy thing is something we can do together."

"Maybe," Trina leaned in for a lingering kiss, then pulled away. "Can you get back to sleep now, preppy? Or do you want some hot milk? I can go make it?"

"I think I want something better," Spencer pulled her into another kiss and pulled her against his body, which longed for her touch more than anything.

They slowly pulled off their clothes and came together completely. They kept their arms around each other as they climaxed and came back down sated and exhausted. Trina looked into his eyes feeling her love for him take her over.

"Forever and always," She sighed, closing her eyes as sleep called to her once again.

"Come what may," Spencer kissed her parted lips, not bothering to fight his own tiredness. Feeling safe and warm in his beloved's embrace, he drifted off into a dreamless sleep, the horrors of the nightmare long gone.

…..

Esme woke up with a start. She looked around at her surroundings and frowned as memories she had thought...no had hoped...would never return filled her head at an alarming rate. She frowned as she glanced at the empty baby bed, remembering that Ace was with Spence and...her. Trina. Well, that wouldn't do.

One thing Esme did know was that she couldn't stay. Once everyone knew that her memories were back, it was a prison cell for her and she couldn't have that. No. She needed to go get her baby, the only card she had to play against Spencer and his family, and skip town as soon as she possibly could before anyone could suspect that her memory was back. Being as quiet as possible, Esme packed up her and Ace's belongings that she could carry and made her way out of the penthouse, forgetting all about the ankle monitor she wore because she was on house arrest. Carrying a bookbag with her and the clothes she hadn't packed for Ace, she made her way to Spencer and Trina's house and stood right at the end of the driveway.

She glared up at what she assumed was the master bedroom where Spencer and his whore were probably fast asleep, unaware that she was out there, ready to break in to take her baby and leave. How tempting would it be to rid herself of them both? She was sure that there was a butcher knife in the kitchen, and maybe some rope in one of the rooms so she could tie Spencer up so he could watch as she did what her own mother should have done. Take out Trina Robinson, now Cassadine once and for all. Then, after she was done with Trina, she'd kill him, but she wouldn't make it quick. No, a quick death was too good for her ex-boyfriend who had never given her a moment's peace since her memory loss. Now her memory was back and it was time for revenge baby!

She took one step forward when a hand grabbed her ponytail and pulled her back. Strong arms wrapped around her, holding her to a strong chest.

"Not so fast, Miss. Prince," an unfamiliar voice hissed in her ear. "It's time that we had a word with you."

Esme struggled to free herself from the tight hold, but it was useless. She didn't have the same body strength that she had before her pregnancy. There was no way for her to maneuver herself into a position to break free. Her assailant's grip was too tight and her ponytail was now twisted around his hand, pulling her head back even more.

"Let me go! I'll scream! I'll wake up the whole neighborhood!" Esme threatened.

"No you won't," a familiar voice spoke up, making her blood run cold. Her captor lowered her head so she could see Nikolas Cassadine emerging from the darkness, his dark eyes cold and full of hate. "You won't make a sound. Not anymore."

"Nikolas? You're back?"

"I've come back to collect my son. I'm going to make sure that he has a happy, safe, life. A life without you," Nikolas coldly replied.

Esme just laughed. "Yeah right. You're wanted by the police for what you did to me! They're going to lock you up and throw away the key! You won't get anywhere near Ace! Even if you do get off, I'm going to be far gone! I'm going to go somewhere where you and your stupid son Spencer can't find me! Heh!"

Nikolas rolled his eyes. "That is not going to happen Esme. You're not going to be telling anyone anything. Because you won't be here anymore."

"What are you going to do? Take me to that stupid island that you were always spouting off about? Fat chance I'll allow that to happen!"

"It's far too late for that, Esme. If you had stayed put instead of throwing yourself off the parapet, you would be dining on fine cuisine in the beautiful scenery of Cassadine Island right now. But thanks to your...shenanigans, that's no longer an option."

"Nikolas, we should go. We don't want to wake up the occupants of the house there. After all, it's not time to reveal our presence just yet," Stefan warned.

"You're right, Uncle. It's time we go somewhere more...suitable to take out the trash once and for all."

Stefan smiled as his gloved hand covered Esme's mouth as they dragged her away. Nikolas took one glance towards the house and saw that there was a light on in one of the windows and a shadow was picking up a smaller shadow. He couldn't see who it was because the blinds were down, but he knew the smaller one was his infant son.

"Soon. Soon Daddy will be home," Nikolas smiled before following his Uncle and the struggling Esme into the darkness of the night.

…..

Ace's cry brought Trina out of her room and into the nursery. Picking up the baby, she felt a shiver go down her spine, feeling as if someone was watching her. Frowning, she went over to the window and peeked out the blind, just to find no one there.

Shaking her head, she took Ace and returned to the room that she shared with Spencer, who was now wide awake.

"Is he ok?" Spencer frowned as Trina slid onto the bed next to him with Ace in her arms.

"Yes. I think it's just that he's in an unfamiliar place. He probably misses Esme," Trina handed the baby over to Spencer.

"He's the only one that does, honestly," Spencer muttered.

"Spencer, come on. We're supposed to be co-parenting peacefully."

"I know, and we are. He doesn't even understand what I just said," Spencer chuckled. He frowned when she didn't smile back in return. "Something else is bothering you. What is it?"

Trina shrugged, not knowing what to say without sounding paranoid. "It's probably nothing. It's just that...I felt like someone was watching Ace and me from outside. But when I went to look out the window, no one was there. It's just strange is all."

"You don't think it's the person that blew up my Uncle, do you?"

Trina shrugged. "I have no idea. I just know that I'm a little freaked out right now."

Keeping Ace in one arm, Spencer wrapped the other around Trina and held her close. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, alright? You're safe."

"It's not my safety that I'm worried about," Trina sighed, resting her head against Spencer's chest and allowing Ace to play with one of her fingers.

Spencer just kissed the top of her head and then kissed the baby as well, reveling in the sweet soft baby smell that all babies have. "He's so freaking cute."

Trina laughed. "I think he adores you just as much as you adore him. What are you going to do when he gets too big for you to hold and protect like this?"

"I have no idea. I don't even want to think of that right now. I just want to enjoy this time we have right now. Where he is small enough to hold and look after. Where I have both of you in my arms and know that you're both safe."

Trina smiled, feeling the truth of his words. They were together and they were safe and at least for that night, they were going to remain that way.

…..

Hours later, on the shores of Spoon Island, a body washes ashore. The launch master was just clocking in for his shift when he saw it. The still body of a woman. Concerned, he made his way over to the rocky edge of the shore and rolled the body over, and recognized the girl that used to frequent the island regularly. Her long hair flowed free, nearly covering her bruised face and a gaping hole destroyed her throat. Her eyes were wide in terror and her whole body was bloodless.

Esme Prince was good and dead. Her reign of terror was over.