It was an especially hot day and Reasia was in need of some relaxation after a day of shopping for her dress for the coming masquerade ball. So she had talked Trina and Brooklyn into spending the rest of the time at The Metro Court pool. Trina at first was reluctant. She and Spencer had left the baby with his grandmother and didn't want to take advantage, but Reasia and Brooklyn finally convinced her that an afternoon of relaxation at the pool was exactly what the shopping doctors had ordered. Especially after the day that they had. Both she and Trina were flustered by the extra reverence that the salespeople had given them.

They had just found a chaise and were settling down when Cam and Spencer showed up.

"Trina? Sweetie, what are you doing here? I thought that you two were off shopping for the ball?" Spencer's face lit up the room with his pleased smile.

"Oh, we finished. I found the perfect dress. Since your family history is connected to the Romanovs I thought I'd have a gown fashioned off the gown in the cartoon Anastasia. It's pink and gold and off the shoulder, I think you'll like it," Trina grinned. "What about you? Are you finished?"

"Of course. I figured you'd be thinking about the Romanovs, so I purchased a suit based off of one of the Czars. It's really regal. Quite fitting for a Cassadine, I'd say," Spencer took a seat next to his wife, missing Cameron's eyes rolling.

"Are you going?" Reasia eyed Cameron curiously, still a little hesitant about him, despite Trina's encouragement.

"Yes. I'm going as a normal person with a regular mask," Cameron chuckled.

This time it was Spencer who rolled his eyes. "I told him that he was being boring."

"What about your dress?" Cameron asked curiously.

Reasia blushed. "I liked the fashion of Queen Charlotte from Bridgington. So I had one of my dresses based on hers."

"Sweet! A princess and a queen! How about that?" Cameron grinned, nudging Spencer's arm.

"Oh, I have to go girls," Brooklyn stood up, looking down at her phone. "Business calls!"

"Thank you for the shopping trip, Brooklyn. It was so much fun," Reasia waved as Brooklyn scurried away. "She's always on that thing. Deception keeps her so busy."

"But music is her real love though. I'm surprised that she's still at Deception," Cameron took Brooklyn's place.

"Wait...Cameron...you are not going as a regular person," Spencer stared at his cousin, an idea hitting him.

"I'm not?"

"Nope. You're going to be inspired by King George. I'm not going to be the only one dressed like royalty."

"Oh come on Spencer! We just got everything ordered and fitted! All I want to do now is sit by the pool and relax. It's too hot to do any more shopping. Besides, look at Trina. Wouldn't you rather be here and look at her for the rest of the day instead of in a shop getting me fitted?"

Trina giggled as Spencer's gaze fell and stayed on her. "You have a point there...she is a lot prettier than you are."

"Hey!" Cameron laughed.

"May I get my queen something to drink?" Spencer knelt before his wife, taking her hand in his.

"An orange juice would be nice," Trina blushed, beginning to feel flustered by the heated way Spencer was staring at her.

"Coming right up," Spencer kissed her hand and went off to the bar to get her order.

"So, Reasia...who are you going with to the ball?" Cameron asked curiously. He halfway hoped that she didn't have a date. He'd love to take her.

"Oh, I don't have a date," Reasia shrugged. "I'm surprised that I had gotten invited at all with me being new in town."

"Same here. I've been gone for so long. I'm surprised that I'm being included."

Trina's eyes lit up as she listened to her two friends talk. She rubbed her hands together happily. "Well, why don't you two go together? Be each other's dates?"

"Trina!" They both exclaimed, both liking the idea, but not sure if it was appropriate to show just how much.

"Well, why not? You like each other, right? What better date and a way to get to know each other than to go dance the night away at a ball?"

"What's going on here?" Spencer returned with four glasses of orange juice. He handed a glass to Cameron and Reasia, as well as giving one to Trina.

"Trina thinks that Reasia and I should go to the ball together," Cameron explained, taking a big gulp of juice.

"Why that's an excellent idea, Townie! In fact, since she's Queen Charlotte inspired, I insist that you change your suit to something royal as well," Spencer grinned. "We won't go now, but first thing tomorrow, prepared to see me on your doorstep."

"Don't you have a baby to take care of?" Cameron frowned.

"Yes. Ace can come with us. We can use some unbiased commentary."

Cameron just rolled his eyes at his cousin's antic's and then looked at Reasia, wondering if she liked the idea. "What do you say? Would you like for us to go to the ball together?"

Reasia just smiled. "I absolutely love to!"

…..

Trina and Spencer were just arriving home with baby Ace in their arms. Spencer was just about to take the baby to the nursery when Trina's phone went off. Trina dumped her bags on the couch and looked at the phone and frowned. She was standing in the same spot when Spencer returned.

"Who is it? Something about Esme?" He asked, concerned.

"It's my Mom. She and Curtis are back from Tuscany. She wants to meet up tomorrow."

Spencer walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Do you want to?"

"I don't know. I still feel a way about the lies she told...but she's my mom. I'm also curious about whether they were able to make up or not."

"If you want to go, that's fine. I'll go with you if you want me to."

"I do. That is if I go. She needs to see the three of us together. You, me, and Ace. She needs to see us as a real family. It's time."

"Baby, I know that it won't change anything...but do you think you should get that DNA test done? Just so you know and it all can be laid to rest?"

Trina frowned, then sighed and nodded her head. "Yes. For health reasons if nothing else. What if there's something genetic that I need to know about? Hiding from the truth won't make it go away. It's best to be prepared."

"I don't think it'll change anything between you and Mr. Taggert. But if Mr. Ashford is your father...you'll get TJ as a cousin, Mr. Marshall as a grandfather, and an Aunt Stella. Your family will grow and that's all the more love for my Queen! I can't help but be pleased about that."

"It'd make you happy if I have even more family for you to jump through hoops for?"

"Yes. As long as they love you and would take care of you if there's a time I can't."

Trina blinked back her tears. "I love you so much. I wish my mom can see the real you. See just how much you love me."

"I love you to the furthest planet and back, Trina."

She couldn't say anything else, so she just pulled him into a deep loving kiss to convey her own feelings for him. Sometimes, she just felt so strongly for this man, there were only actions because there were no words strong enough to convey it.