Not wanting to waste even a minute of alone time with Trina, Spencer lead her outside down onto the beach, where they walked along the shoreline hand in hand. For the first time since this ordeal began, he felt totally safe.

"I can't believe that you're here," Trina clung to his arm as they walked. She smiled as he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

"I know. I honestly thought that I'd never see you again. When you made that call...I thought that Uncle Victor had done something awful to you," Spencer confessed.

"I'm sorry about that. I shouldn't have called like that...I just...I needed you to know how I felt. Just in case it was the worse thing that could happen."

"I was so worried that you thought that I didn't want you...that I wanted to go off with my Uncle. Things were finally going really really good and the last thing I wanted was to leave the best thing that's ever happened to me. So when Nikolai offered to help me contact you, I took it. I didn't know…well...it doesn't matter anymore…"

Trina frowned, hearing the deep sadness in his voice. She didn't like that. Something was up. "What? What is it? What happened?"

He released her and walked down to the edge of the water. He hugged his shoulders and kept his back to her, replaying the moment of Nikolai's death in his head over and over again.

"Spencer...please don't shut me out. Talk to me," Trina wrapped her arms around his waist, wanting him to know that whatever it was, she was there for him. She was not going to judge him or stop loving him. She was his safe place, just like she knew that he was hers.

"Nikolai was one of the guards that Uncle Victor had guarding me. He had a wife and a child and he loved them. He...he felt for me when he saw how much being away from you was affecting me...so...he brought the burner phone and secretly gave it to me...knowing that it would be against my Uncle's orders. I was supposed to be careful and not let on that I had it."

Trina closed her eyes getting a sinking feeling. "Then I called at the wrong moment…"

"I answered," Spencer sighed. "I answered then freaked out when you stopped responding...and Uncle Victor came in and saw me with the phone…"

"Oh god…"

"I tried to keep the truth from him. Said that Ambrose gave it to me...he then threatened to beat the truth out of me and I was going to let him. I was going to keep Nikolai's secret….but then he came in and confessed. Why? Why did he do that?"

"What happened next?"

"Uncle Victor shot him, of course. Right there in front of me and left the body in there with me for hours."

Trina gasped in devastated outrage. "Oh my god…"

"It was my fault. I got Nikolai killed."

"No! No, Spencer, you're wrong. It wasn't your fault at all. It was mine. I should never have called you. I should have known better. I was so stupid. What did I expect you to do? You couldn't come to my rescue...you were in the midst of being kidnapped yourself! How stupid could I be and now I had gotten that man killed and you traumatized! I'm so sorry, Spencer!"

Trina couldn't help the sobs that erupted from her as her own guilt took over. She leaned into him as he turned around and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "No, Trina. It wasn't your fault. Not at all. You were going through so much, more than any young girl should have to. You've lost too much. Of course, you'd call me. I'm the one that couldn't keep himself together."

"Maybe it's both of our faults. We can carry the guilt together," Trina sniffed, knowing that she couldn't excuse herself from the guilt. The burden was hers too and she wasn't about to let Spencer shoulder it alone. "I'm scared, Spencer."

"I am too. Uncle Victor is insane and drunk on power. There's no telling what he's going to do next or what he'd do if he knew you were here. I wish to god, that you were back in Port Charles. At least I knew that you were safe."

Trina pulled away and looked at him, shaking her head. "I rather be here with you. At least now I know where you are and what's happening to you. It was hell not knowing. And at least I get to be with you now...even if it's only for a few hours a day."

"I hope that whatever my father has planned, he hurries up and carries it out before Uncle Victor does become suspicious or finds this place even."

"Let's not think about that, alright? Let's just...enjoy our time together," Trina tightened her embrace and rested her head against his chest, just basking in being in his presence at last. She never wanted this moment to end.

"Of course," Spencer kissed the top of her head one more time, before resting his head on top of hers and staring out into the horizon beyond the ocean.

…..

They returned to the house hand in hand to find Nikolas glaring at an equally glaring Ava.

"I see you two are getting along," Spencer replied warily.

"We have to go, Spencer. The two hours are almost up. We don't want to give Victor a chance to be suspicious," Nikolas warned.

Spencer sighed, not ready to say goodbye just yet. He hated this. He just wanted to take Trina far away from all of this and live the lives that they both wanted. He cupped her cheek with gentle hands and looked into her eyes. "I'll be back tomorrow."

"I'll be waiting," Trina tried to smile, also hating having to let him go, but knowing that there was no choice. "I love you."

"I love you too," Spencer smiled before claiming her lips one last time. Finally, he pulled away, gave her hand one final squeeze, and made himself walk away to stand by his father's side.

"I suggest that the both of you remain quiet. You can go down to the beach in the back of the house, but stay away from the front of the house and the windows," Nikolas warned.

Trina simply nodded. Ava rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"No funny business, Ava. Trina asked for you to be here so she's not alone. You make trouble, I'll have you locked away again. Remember, if you attract Victor's attention, you'll be putting Trina in danger."

"No need to worry. I'll behave," Ava folded her arms.

Nikolas just nodded, then motioned for Spencer to follow.

With an aching heart, Trina watched Spencer walk away, leaving her alone with a woman that she barely trusted.

"So that was quite a reunion, huh?" Ava tried to smile, sensing that Trina was still upset with her.

"Yes, it was. I just hope that this whole ordeal will be over soon and we won't have to hide anymore."

….

"Thank you, Father," Spencer replied as they headed back to the house together. It was amazing how much better he felt after seeing Trina after all of this time. Being able to see her, hold her, talk to her...it made him more relaxed, less angry, yet more worried than ever because she really was in more danger than ever before now, yet he couldn't help but be happy that she was nearby and that he was able to see her at all.

"I understand how it is, to love someone like Trina. She reminds me so much of your godmother, Emily."

Spencer looked at his father. His father barely ever talked about his first wife, Emily Quartermaine. He knew that it had been one of those once-in-a-lifetime, soulmates, great loves, and that her death had changed Nikolas drastically. He wished that there was some way that he could go back in time and save her for his father. Keep him from changing from the man he was to the man he is now. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. There's nothing to be sorry about. I wouldn't change the time I had with Emily for the world. I just have to accept that she was it for me. My one great love. I just want to promise you that I'm going to do all I can to make sure that you don't lose yours. I never want you to experience that heartache."

They stepped before the main mansion, staring at each other squarely and for the first time, understanding each other.

"You're a grown man now, Spencer. But you will always be my boy. I'm always going to do what I can to protect you and the people that you love."

Touched by his father's words, Spencer hugged him tightly. "I love you too, Father. I'm so sorry for the past two years. I'm sorry that I let Esme manipulate me into ruining things for you and bringing her into our lives period."

"Why isn't this touching?" Victor returned with his guards. "Finally, you two have made up! There is hope for this family yet!"

Nikolas rolled his eyes, annoyed by Victor's interruption of such a tender moment with his son.

"I'm feeling tired now. I think I'll go on up to my room," Spencer yawned.

"Ambrose. You know the wing where Ace and I are stationed. Escort Spencer to one of those rooms."

"I was thinking that Spencer can stay closer to me…," Nikolas spoke up, but Victor's glare cut him off.

"I'm allowing you two unguarded hours with your son, Nikolas. Don't push me for more. That is a warning."

Nikolas struggled to hold back his anger as he simply nodded. "Very well. I'll see you in the morning, son."

Spencer simply nodded, not wanting to anger his Uncle, nor risk endangering his father. Not only because he loved his father, but he knew that Trina's survival depended on his father's safety as well. Nikolas was their only way out of this. Without saying another word, he followed his guard to the room that his Uncle had picked for him.

"I am glad to see that things are mended between yourself and Spencer. Make sure that they don't become unraveled again. Family before women, I always say," Victor lectured.

"Yes, Uncle," Nikolas sighed. "I must say, I am glad that you and the boys are here. The island has missed having the family in place."

"Yes, it is good to be home. Just don't mistake my love for family as a weakness, Nikolas. The boys are under my care from now on. At least until you prove that you can handle being head of the family."

"You think controlling the weather and releasing pathogens are the Cassadine way?"

"I know it is. Someone has to look out for the good of this planet! It might as well be us. Now if you'll excuse me, I am exhausted. It has been a long day."

Nikolas watched Victor leave and resisted the urge to scream in anger and frustration. The man was infuriating! Victor had grabbed control of his family and was holding on with an iron grip! At least he had a plan. Little did Victor know that the inhabitants of Cassadine Island saw only Nikolas as THE Cassadine! They were all loyal to him and when Nikolas finally sends word, they will usurp Victor and his cronies and free his family from the worse of the Cassadines once and for all!