Trina stared up at Spencer, almost not believing that he was there after just now telling her Watcher about saving him last night.

"Why hello again. I see that you're showing off your best work," He gave a charming smile, his eyes teasing.

Trina blushed. "Well, it's not finished, but she wanted to see my most recent work. Not that it's the best," She smirked, wanting to knock him off that high horse he was on.

Spencer just laughed. "Sure. Um...I just wanted to come over and thank you for what you did for me last night. You saved my life."

"Oooh, you got a thank you," Dawn couldn't help but grin, seeing the sparks between the handsome tall man and her slayer. There was something there. Something that reminded her of Buffy and Spike and she couldn't help but want to cultivate it. Trina has been through a lot during her years as a slayer. She deserved some happiness. "What are you going to do to repay her?"

"Dawn!" Trina stared, shocked by her watcher's antics. Embarrassed, she turned to Spencer. "I suppose I should make introductions. Spencer Cassadine, this is my watcher Dawn Summers. Dawn, this is Spencer Cassadine."

"Watcher? What? Do you watch Trina slay vampires?" Spencer asked curiously.

Dawn stared at him with wide eyes then laughed. "Kind of. Watchers help slayers. They do research and help them train. We basically help them stay alive and in the know."

"Pft, it's us that keep you guys in the know nowadays," Trina rolled her eyes.

Dawn winced. "Eh, that's true. Stupid first evil, blowing up the headquarters so we have to start over."

"Huh?" Spencer frowned, not getting any of what Dawn was mumbling about.

"Long tired story," Trina chuckled.

"Anyway, let's talk about repayment," Dawn folded her hands, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"You want me to pay her? I guess I can do that, how much?"

"What? No! No, Slayers do not get paid for saving people!" Trina glared at Dawn, wondering what. she was trying to do! She was almost in the mind to call Dawn's sister.

"No, no. Not money silly. You know in old movies, when the hero saves the damsel and she's all 'How can I repay you' and the next thing you know, they're sharing a meal. Going to a movie. Sharing an excellent choreographed dance number…"

"Dawn!" Trina's eyes widened finally getting where her Watcher was going with this.

"Oh, you want me to take her dancing? I can do that. How about it? A night at the Savoy? It's the hottest dance club in Port Charles. We all go there. Maybe we can even catch dinner at the Metrocourt first…"

Trina's mouth opened and closed in shock, a sound refusing to come out. Finally, she managed a squeak.

"That would be a yes," Dawn's smile widened gleefully. "I'll have her at the Metrocourt to meet you at what time?"

"Seven. We'll eat. And then we'll dance," Spencer smiled happily. He had simply come over to say hello to the pretty girl that he's been fascinated with since the moment he had set eyes on her and now he actually had a date with her!

"Spencer! Come on, you promised to drive Joss and me to PCU so we can all get registered!" Cameron Webber called out. His eyes brightened as he saw who Spencer was talking to. "Hey, Trina!"

Trina waved back, her mind still reeling over what had just happened.

"Sadly, that's my cue to leave. I'll see you at seven, Trina. I promise, I'll show you a good time," Spencer smiled before jogging over to where Cameron was waiting.

"Dawn, what did you just do?" Trina turned to glare at her Watcher, who looked like a cat that had just eaten the canary.

"Got you a date with the hot guy of your dreams, that's what I did. Besides, he's a Cassadine. You can pump him for information about his family...if he knows. He's human, so he might not be privy to any of it yet."

"If he's not...I...don't want to destroy his worldview," Trina frowned.

"Hey, I get it. You want to protect him from what can be the truth...but the thing is Trina, telling him the truth is protecting him. If Luke Spencer is right, your guy is a lamb living amongst wolves. He should be warned. In the meantime, you get a fun night with a hot guy and in our line of work, those are hard to come by. So enjoy it. Like Buffy always says, you're not just a slayer. You're a human girl. You may have superpowers, but you also have a heart. You want what normal girls want too and that's okay."

"I had just met Spencer. How can I want anything with him? I don't know him."

"That's what this date is for. Get to know him. Get to know his friends. Not because of his connections mind you, but because...well let me put it this way. Back, before my sister was called the slayer, there was always just one girl in all the world to be a slayer and she worked alone. She had her watcher, but...he was more her mentor. The slayer had no friends, no partners, no help. Then Buffy came along and she changed the game. She had friends, family, people that she loved and fought for. People who kept her fighting for her life and not giving in to some death wish where some big bad had his one good day. You may be a slayer Trina, but you need people who care about you and you care for. People who make you want to keep fighting. Keep you from giving in to a death wish when you get burned out."

"And you think Spencer can be that person?"

"Spencer and his friends. Take this opportunity to become part of a friend group. He already knows that you're a slayer obviously. Let his other friends in on it if they're human. They can be of some help."

"But that can get them killed, right?"

"Xander Harris is human and he fought by my sister's side since they were kids in high school. He's saved her life a thousand and one times. Willow was just a normal girl when they met and she started learning magic so she could be of help to my sister. Normal friends who helped the slayer and they're still breathing."

Trina sighed and nodded. "I get what you're saying."

"Form your own scooby gang, Trina. They can be of help to you, especially in this mission."

"I'll take your advice into consideration," Trina giggled. "But first...I have a date to get ready for! I need something fancy to wear if I'm going to the Metrocourt!"

"Not to worry. I have Buffy's credit card for emergencies and this is an emergency. Come on, we're going shopping!" Dawn got up out of her chair.

"Dawn!"

"Are you coming or not? You need something shiny and red I think...but pink is your color as well...oh come on, we'll find something!" Dawn walked towards the gate that she had come through.

Trina hurriedly gathered her things and followed her, wondering what Dawn was getting her into.

…..

Nikolas moved through the secret passageways of Wyndemere silently. He did not want the servants, or even Spencer to know of the meeting that was about to take place. The servants that were in the know already had everything set up. All Nikolas had to do was show up and allow his guests in so they could discuss what was to take place next month. An event that had a heavy knot in the pit of his stomach.

They were waiting for him when he entered the small area that he had designated for their secret meetings. Helena and Victor stood side by side, glaring at him. It was obvious that they hated that he was The Cassadine and not one of them. They felt him weak and ineffectual, which he was. That was no lie. He just didn't have the backbone to stand up to them and do the right thing and he didn't have the full-on darkness to be one of them and just as evil. The only thing he could do was be their figurehead and do what he could to protect the ones he loved, namely his son Spencer and his mother Laura.

"So he arrives," Victor coldly smiled. "I do say that it is about time. We have some important matters to discuss."

"Such as Spencer's becoming next month. We need to know the details so we can make the proper preparations. Finally, my great-grandson can take your place as the head of the family," Helena sipped a champagne flute of red liquid that Nikolas knew was blood.

"Grandmother, Spencer is not ready to take up the position of head of the family. He'll only be twenty-one. He hasn't experienced anything yet. He doesn't even know that I am a vampire and that he is to become one. We can't rush it. We need to give him time to adjust...in the meantime...we have some worries to discuss…."

"Like what? That pitiful fool Luke Spencer? No one even listens to that old man anymore. He will not be a problem," Helena gave a derisive sneer, waving away Nikolas's concern.

"Not Luke. Even though, I think he had made a call...in fact, I know he did…"

"Whatever are you talking about Nikolas?"

"Last night...Spencer was attacked by your protege Esme," Nikolas explained, glaring at Helena. "Grandmother, you said that you had given orders that Spencer is off limits! What if she had killed him? Then what?!"

"Well, obviously she didn't. In fact, where is Esme? I will have a word with her," Helena gasped, horrified by the news. That girl could have ruined everything!

"I told you that it wasn't a good idea to make fledglings this close to the becoming," Victor eyed his cohort.

"Oh shut up, you old fool!" Helena growled. "Where is Esme, Nikolas? I will deal with her myself!"

"Esme is dust. A vampire slayer came upon her attacking my son and dusted her good and proper. And that's my news. A vampire slayer has been called to town. Probably by Luke Spencer himself. Which means, we have to be extra careful. Spencer has shown interest in the girl it seems. So you two have to stay out of sight."

"What of you? You are one of us!"

"I have a soul. Slayers have a soft spot for souled vampires it seems. They don't usually dust us. I'm safe...Spencer is safe, but you guys will be as good as dust."

"This is horrible news! Just horrible, and right at the wrong time! What of the becoming?!" Helena ranted.

"Not to worry, Helena. We will still have the becoming. As Nikolas had just said, we will just have to be extra careful and remain hidden until it's time," Victor placed a hand on Helena's shoulder. "Your great-grandson will be one of us soon…"

"And hopefully he won't be a failure like his father," Helena gave a derisive glance at Nikolas. "I blame Laura for your soul. I don't know what she did to make it stick."

"Stay away from my mother, Helena. I've already warned you twice."

"I cannot make any assurances of her safety. Especially if my great grandson turns out souled as well. Victor, has Rasputin been able to explain why my grandson retained his soul and is there a chance that the same will happen to my great-grandson? Is there a defect in Stavro's DNA? Or is Laura some witch that cursed this family's vampire line?"

"Rasputin will be able to inform us of what's going on with the family's vampire line on the night of the becoming...that is if the boy retains his soul, which we are all hoping that he won't. We need a strong Cassadine head. A ruthless one with a spine of steel. Trying to run things through Nikolas is exhausting. We should be living it up in Transylvania right now, not here running the family until a suitable heir shows up," Victor grimaced.

"I'm right here, by the way," Nikolas clenched his teeth angrily. He did not appreciate their harsh words at all! It wasn't like he was enjoying this! When Stefan was raising him up and preparing him to run the family, he had never dreamed that it would turn out like this, and now...he was truly terrified for his son.

"What about this slayer? What are we going to do about her? Once the becoming is over...well we cannot have slayers in Port Charles," Helena stroked her chin.

"Simple. We kill her. After all, slayers have short life spans anyway. It should not be that hard. All these years avoiding these little nuisances and now we're forced to deal with one. Oh the irony," Victor chuckled.

The discussion over, Nikolas turned around to make his way back to the main part of the mansion. He knew that things were about to go from bad to worse for his family. His son will probably hate him and the slayer, most definitely called by Luke Spencer, will probably dust all of them when it was all said and done. He was certain that the Cassadine's days were numbered and there was hardly anything that he could or probably would do about it.