"You. You were at the Savoy," Trina picked herself off the ground and dusted off her dress.

"That I was. You were with Spencer Cassadine. Strange company for a vampire slayer to keep," Dex smirked.

"Spencer's not a vampire," Trina folded her arms.

"Not yet anyway. But that may be changing soon," Dex picked up his super soaker.

"What do you mean by that?"

Dex sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Let's just say that Nikolas Cassadine wasn't always a vampire. He was in his twenties when he was changed into one. Right after the death of his wife Emily, I believe. Now, Spencer is turning twenty next month and word of mouth says that the older echelons are wanting to change him as soon as possible. They weren't too happy that Nikolas turned up having a soul and is hoping that if they take Spencer younger than they took old Nik, the soul won't stick around. That Spencer will end up like all the other, normal vampires and be just as soulless as they are…"

"So he is in danger."

"Yep. Sadly, he doesn't seem to be aware that his family is a bunch of vamps. Probably won't know until it's too late."

"Unless someone tells him…which will probably have to be me…"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. They're keeping a close eye on him and they want to keep what they really are under wraps. If they even suspect that you may clue Spencer in...well my deed here would have been for nothing."

"What am I supposed to do then? Stand back and let them kill him? No way am I going to let that happen! I…"

"You like him. You like him a lot, which is not a good thing. You're going to let your feelings for him blind you to what needs to be done. To what you'll have to do in the end…"

"Which is what, since you seem to be all-knowing."

"To kill them. Kill them all. The Cassadines are a scourge and need to be eradicated! After all, you're a vampire slayer. That's your job."

Trina laughed and shook her head. "Priceless. A vampire telling me, a vampire slayer, how to do her job! Listen here, Buster! Yes, my job is to slay vampires! But it is also to protect humans! Humans like Spencer! I will not desert him! I will not stand by and let them turn him into one of them! No way! If I have to warn him to save him, I will!"

"And what makes you think that he'll believe you, girl? He's only known you for what? Forty-eight hours while he's known his father his whole life? Don't be a fool."

"And don't be heartless. Tell me, Dex. What would Joss say about your plan to abandon one of her oldest friends to an order of power-hungry vampires? Hmm? Would she like that? Would she cheer you on, or would she see you as the monster you possibly are?"

"Joss would want me to do what is right. Save the world by getting rid of the Cassadines."

"She'd also want to save Spencer. You're forgetting that part. He's her friend. They've been friends since childhood. She wouldn't want to just give up on him because of his last name. Spencer can be saved."

"You're on a fool's errand, Trina! I'm warning you here!"

"Well, then I'm a fool! A fool…"

"In love?" Dex arched a brow with a knowing smirk.

"A fool who believes that Spencer is a good person with a good heart and deserves a chance to live a full, human life."

Dex sighed and picked up his super soaker. "Fine. If that's what you want. Lucky for you, my boss agrees. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Spencer is his nephew…"

"So you're going to help me?"

"Help you fight the Cassadines and save Port Charles. The saving Spencer Cassadine part...you're on your own there. I can't stand the guy on the best of days."

"Hmm...well from what I hear, the feeling is mutual. Maybe if you steer clear of his best friend's girl."

Dex just laughed and shook his head. "I don't tell Joss what to do. If she wants to spend time with me, who am I to stop her?"

"How did you get your soul, Dex? I'm curious."

"Saw a demon in Africa. Performed some trials and now I'm all permanently souled up. I don't know how Nikolas Cassadine came by his though...I doubt that any Romani's cursed him."

"Thank you for the save, by the way. I appreciate it."

"We champions of the light have to stick together, yeah?" Dex winked, before turning to walk away.

Trina watched until he was gone and then she looked back out towards Wyndemere, where Spencer was hopefully safe and sound in his room and away from vampires like Helena. She swore on Buffy's scythe that she was going to keep Spencer safe. One way or another.

…..

Laura Collins stood before her son's desk, her arms folded and her mouth fixed in a straight line, showing that she was less than happy with her son. She was there to see her grandson, really. She had an early birthday gift for him, yet Nikolas insisted on stalling, stating that Spencer wasn't home, which she didn't believe.

"Nikolas, just call the boy down. That is all I'm asking. I usually wouldn't come this late at night, but I have meetings all day tomorrow and the sooner I give him my gift, the better," Laura sighed.

"Mother, why can't it wait? What is the big hurry? Give it to him on his birthday."

"I can't and you know perfectly well why! I am not stupid, Nikolas! I am very well aware of what you have planned! Besides, it's a gift for Cam too. I am so happy that my grandsons are finally close and this should bring them even closer…"

"Yeah, and then Cam can share the hurt that Lucky experienced when I had to turn away from our relationship!"

"That was on you, Nikolas. You didn't have to turn away from Lucky and you know it! Spencer is not you. He won't turn away from the people he loves. In fact, if anything, he'll need them more than ever after what you have planned."

"Really, mother? Do you really think that I want this for Spencer?" Nikolas got to his feet, his eyes flashing with anger.

"You're not giving any indication that you don't! God, why can't you all just leave the boy alone? Let him live his life peacefully?!"

"I can't and you know perfectly well why not," Nikolas ground his teeth together. He loved his mother, but she just didn't get what being a true Cassadine meant...what was expected of both himself and of Spencer, Her shenanigans had put them both in far more danger than was necessary and now here she was again, messing with things that did not concern her! "Gah, this is your fault anyway! If you had just not done that spell...didn't anchor anything...I wouldn't have to worry so much!"

"I did what I did to protect you and your bloodline, Nikolas! I know you don't understand that...but…"

"What's going on here?"

All arguing stopped as Nikolas and Laura turned to face Spencer who was standing in the doorway, freshly home from his date.

"Father, why are you yelling at Grandmother like that?" Spencer entered the room, frowning at his father.

"It was just a small argument we're having, Spencer. It's nothing for you to worry about," Nikolas mumbled, feeling chastised.

"Well calm down. You shouldn't yell at her like that," Spencer admonished his father, going to Laura to give her a hug. "Hello, Grandmother."

"Hello, sweetie. I am so glad to see you up and about. Were you out somewhere?"

"Yes. I had an awesome date with a beautiful girl. I'll be seeing her again the day after tomorrow."

"It's that Trina girl?" Nikolas frowned.

"Yeah. She's really sweet and smart and...well she's just the type of girl I like. After the whole Esme debacle, it's about time I got back out there, right?"

"Certainly. Just...don't rush it, alright? Slow down," Nikolas warned.

"Of course, Father," Spencer rolled his eyes and turned back to Laura. "You wanted to see me, grandmother?"

"Yes. I have an early birthday present for you. Well, for you and Cam. I've noticed how close you two have become and you both are grown men now and need your own...bachelor pad sort of speak. So I took it upon myself to purchase this," Laura handed Spencer a folder.

Frowning, Spencer opened the folder and saw a picture of a cottage located in the district where all the University students seemed to live. It had four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a den, a kitchen, and a garage. There was also a garden in the back. He moved the picture to see a deed that had both his and Cam's names on it and two house keys. His mouth dropped open in shock.

"Grandmother...are you serious? This is...me and Cam's?" Spencer stared in shock.

Laura just laughed. "Yes. Yours and Cam's. You can move in whenever you want!"

"Mother!" Nikolas yelled, glaring at Laura.

"Grandmother, this is too much it's...it's….exactly what we needed! Cam's been talking about how he has no privacy from his brothers and I've been thinking of getting a place of my own for a while because it's such a pain going back and forth from Wyndemere to the town!"

"I knew you'd like it," Laura happily smiled, ignoring Nikolas's angry glare.

"Does Cam know?"

"No. Not yet. I thought that you'd like to do the honors."

"Would I?! He's going to be so stoked!" Spencer's eyes fell on Nikolas who looked less than happy and suddenly felt bad. Of course, his father would hate to see him go. After all, he's been here since his return from boarding school. But as his grandmother said, he was a grown man now. It was time. He walked over to Nikolas and wrapped his arms around him in a hug. "Father, I'll still come to see you! I promise and you're welcome to come see me at any time!"

"Spencer," Nikolas wrapped his arms around his son, touched by Spencer's show of concern for his feelings. "I understand, son. You want to get out there on your own. I guess as a parent, I hate to see you go."

"Well, now you won't have to worry about having me around to cramp your style anymore," Spencer chuckled pulling away from his father.

"You could never do that, son," Nikolas smiled, placing a hand against his son's face. "Go. Enjoy your gift."

"Can't now. Too exhausted. But I will be giving Cam a call first thing tomorrow," Spencer laughed. He turned to Laura and gave her another hug. "Thank you, Grandmother! This was the best gift ever!"

"You're very welcome!" Laura laughed and watched as Spencer left the room, most likely heading for his own.

"Let's hope that's the only gift you gave him. For his sake," Nikolas glared at his mother. "What was that supposed to be, Mother? A house for him and Cam? Cam is a human and Spencer will be staying here with the rest of the Cassadines…"

"Yes. Cam is a human. This means that certain Cassadines won't be able to enter unless invited by Cam. A safety measure."

Nikolas's mouth dropped open in shock.

"You said it yourself, Nikolas. If you go through with your plans...and Spencer's soul is intact...we all know what Helena and Victor will do. So I gave my grandson a safe place to call home. Somewhere that Helena can't get her claws into him."

"Mother…"

"And I have put up some protective spells around the place to make sure that all of my family members and the people they care about are safe while there. So tell Helena and Victor not to even think about harming anyone I call family. Is that clear? I love you Nikolas...but I won't hesitate to do what I have to," Laura warned.

Nikolas winced, reminded that his mother was indeed a powerful witch and was not to be trifled with. Not any longer. The Cassadines had truly pushed her to her limits.

"Yes, mother."

"Good. Now I'll be going. I'll see you again soon. Take care," Laura moved to leave.

"Mother...I don't want any of this for Spencer. You have to know that. It's just...my hands are tied…"

Laura's expression softened as she saw just how miserable her son truly was. "I know. I am sorry, Nikolas. I didn't want this for you either. I wish I could have given you a safe, normal family. But I am doing all I can to ensure Spencer's safety. Believe me."

"I do. Good night, Mother."

"Good night, Nikolas. Do try to sleep as well as you can," Laura walked out of the room, leaving Nikolas to his own gloomy thoughts.