Gott's store had more than Spencer had first thought and the food was delicious! He was glad that Trina had the idea to stop there. As they ate, they people watched something that Trina liked to do. She always found inspiration in just watching the people and going ons around her. It was the artist in her, just loving to observe life and catch something that she could put on paper.

It was a nearby couple that caught both of their attention. The couple was young and reminded Spencer of himself and Esme. He frowned as he listened to the girl berate her boyfriend, claiming that he didn't have any real friends but her. That people only liked him for his last name and that despite being wealthy, he was dumb and should follow her lead on everything. Once the couple was done, the girl lead her boyfriend to a convertible that was parked next to Spencer's and they sped off.

"Wow…," Trina shook her head. "What a bitch. What is he doing with her?"

Spencer found that he couldn't say anything. He was a bit disturbed, to be honest, and it made him question his past choices and actions. He sighed and shrugged, wondering if the guy had friends like Cam and Joss and a girl he possibly liked, like Trina? He wondered if his girlfriend was a psychopath that needed to be put down, like Esme. Maybe he should warn him?

"Spencer?" Trina frowned, not liking how silent he had gotten.

"Hmmm?" He snapped out of his thoughts. "Did you say something?"

"Where did you just go? You had gotten awfully quiet."

Spencer shrugged and got up out of his seat. "Nowhere important. Come on, we should get going. We still have a full day ahead. I was thinking that we can do Jordan Pond. The website said that there are some trials and pathways that can be explored...and the water is really beautiful."

Trina wasn't fooled. She knew where Spencer's mind had gone to. Esme. She didn't know what he was thinking about her, but that he was thinking about her and for some reason didn't want to share. So for now, she decided to let it go. Let Spencer distract her with this trip. But sooner or later, they were going to have a discussion, because she had a feeling that it needed to be had. For the good of Spencer's own mental health if not her own.

"Jordon Pond, huh? Alright. Lead the way."

…..

They decided to hike the Jordan Pond Nature Trail. Spencer teased Trina a little because the trail wasn't as difficult as Pond trail loop, but they had a nice walk, stopping to take pictures of the gorgeous nature surrounding them. It all came out in the same place, crystal clear waters that mirrored the surrounding mountains. Trina couldn't stop taking pictures.

"Are you having fun, babe?" Spencer stood behind her as Trina took another picture of the water.

"Everything is so beautiful. I never knew that New England was like this," Trina took another picture, then put away her phone to turn around to talk to her boyfriend. "Thank you for this."

"Thank you for coming with me. This time, you're following me into a fun adventure, nothing dangerous about it," Spencer grinned, wrapping his arms around his giggling girlfriend. "All of this fresh air has replenished my appetite. I do think it's time for lunch now," Spencer took a look at his watch.

"Oh my god, you are such a foodie, aren't you?"

"What makes you think that?" Spencer chuckled.

"Your biggest dream is to eat fresh Oysters. And you're on top of breakfast, lunch, and dinner it seems. Not that it's a bad thing. In fact, I like knowing that about you."

"That I like food?"

Trina nods. "I'm looking forward to getting to know more."

"Hmm...Esme used to claim I'll get fat someday if I kept it up," Spencer sighed, a little annoyed at himself that his mind again went back to Esme and her treatment of him during their time together. It seemed that the sight of the arguing couple earlier had opened up some floodgate in his mind that he rather had stayed closed.

"Esme was a fool. She still is. You're perfect and you're going to stay that way, even if you do get fat," Trina rested her head against his chest as she wrapped her arms around him.

"You'd love me anyway?"

"Of course," Trina smiled. "Just like I know you'd love me anyway."

Spencer sighed, feeling wistful. "I should have met you first, you know that? Would have saved me a whole lot of trouble."

"Too bad I wasn't going to school in Paris."

"I should never have left Port Charles."

…..

Spencer and Trina returned to their hotel room full of adventure and each other. They had not only explored the national park as much as they could in one day, but they had stuffed their bellies with clam chowder, Shrimp, and Maine's specialty blueberry pie with two scoops of locally made ice cream. Now full of food, both Trina and Spencer were ready for a night in.

"I have never tasted clam chowder that fresh before," Trina gushed over her dinner. "And the blueberry pie...why do I have a feeling that no other blueberry pie will taste as good as it does here?"

"Probably because it won't," Spencer chuckled. He had tried to keep all thoughts he had of Esme to the back of his mind. He worked to give Trina all of his attention as they hiked and explored the pond and trails in the area. It wasn't an easy feat, but he had succeeded.

"I'm going to go get a nice shower and get comfy. Do you want to join me?" Trina wore a suggestive smile.

"Not right now. A little too full for such activities. Maybe later," Spencer snorted as Trina gave a little pout that made her look even more adorable.

"Suit yourself, handsome," Trina winked, disappearing into the bathroom.

Chuckling, Spencer picked up his laptop and flopped down on the bed. It was time to start planning for tomorrow's adventure. Today was great, but he wanted to do at least one or two more things here in Maine before moving on to the next state.

Once the laptop was on, he saw that he had an email from his Uncle Martin. He wondered what the lawyer had to say now? Hopefully, it was news that Ace was indeed safe and sound with Sam and Dante and that Esme was under the jail somewhere.

Dear Nephew,

I thought that you should know that Esme has made bail. I did some digging and it seems that your girlfriend's mother was the culprit. I don't know why she did that, but she did. News is that Esme is trying to get her baby back, but Ace is still in the hands of the state. Hopefully, Sam and Dante can convince the authorities that it is in the child's best interest to be with your cousins. I wish that I had better news. Call me if you have any questions.

Spencer read over the email twice and all of the anger he had been suppressing rose to the surface. He quickly put down the laptop, afraid that he'll hurl it across the room in his rage. He wanted to scream, cry, hit something! How could this be happening? Now Ace may be in peril once again and he wasn't there to protect him!

"Spencer?" Trina came out of the restroom, a white towel wrapped around her tiny frame. She frowned in concern as she saw Spencer's agitated state. "What is it? What happened?"

Spencer felt tears of frustration in his eyes. He just couldn't believe all of the rotten luck! "Esme made bail. She's out."

"Oh my god...who would pay her bail like that? For what purpose?"

Spencer bit his bottom lip, not wanting to tell Trina that it had been her mother. Not yet. It would devastate her and this trip was supposed to be full of happiness and relaxation. Not heartache and strife! Why had he opened that stupid email?! Why had he witnessed that argument that morning, which had put Esme on his mind all throughout the day?

"That doesn't matter. What matters is that she's free and she's trying to get her hands back on Ace. If they allow her to have him, then it's over. She'll take off, taking my brother with her and I'm not even there to stop her."

Trina sighed, her shoulders slumped as she slowly sat down on the bed, looking at her hands. Hating how she felt so disappointed and selfish at the thought of going back to Port Charles and cutting their trip short. She couldn't help the reluctance to do so. She had been enjoying having Spencer all to herself and being free from the worries that haunted them back in Port Charles.

"Do you want to go back? Make sure that she doesn't take off?"

Spencer froze, mulling the suggestion over in his mind. Did he want to return to Port Charles and leave this...bubble that he and Trina had built around themselves? No. Hell no, that was probably the purpose of bailing that bitch out anyway! No, returning to Port Charles was not an option! But he had to secure Ace somehow…

"No. No, we will not be going back. That's what she wants."

"Well, then what do you want to do? You're going to be worried about Ace the whole time we're away from Port Charles?"

"I don't know, but we're not going back to Port Charles. We're on a trip of a lifetime and Esme is not going to ruin it for us. I'll think of something...maybe I should call my Uncle Sonny. See if he has some connections and can pull some strings…"

Trina frowned. Spencer was again using his privilege and she hated that, but she would hate ending their trip more. So she would sit back and let Spencer do what he needed to do to secure Ace's safety and keep them on their trip away.

Spencer took his cell and dialed his Uncle Sonny's number. He wished that he had connections of his own as a Cassadine, but being that he was only 21 and didn't know anyone of that stature on his own...well it was what it was.

"Spencer?" Sonny picked up the phone, sounding surprised to hear from him.

"Uncle Sonny, hey. I kind of need your help...I need you to make sure that Esme doesn't get her hands back on Ace. Sam and Dante said that they'd take him, can you make sure that happens?"

"Sure, nephew. I know some people in Children's services that are rather influential. They'll make sure that Ace goes where he's better-taken care of by two upstanding people, like my police officer son and private investigator soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Not to mention, Sam is a Cassadine, so she is family…"

"Thank you, Uncle Sonny. I just can't risk Esme getting her hands on him again. She'll take off."

"When are you coming back?"

"I don't know. Trina and I need this time away and...I don't want to give that up if I don't have to."

"I don't blame you there. I hope that you two are having a good time. You deserve it."

"We are. Thank you, Uncle Sonny."

"Anytime, nephew. See you soon. I'm looking forward to some pictures!"

Spencer hung up and sighed with relief, confident that his Uncle had everything handled and Ace would remain out of Esme's clutches.

"It's times like this when I wish my dad would come back," Spencer sighed forlornly.

Trina got up and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend, feeling wretched on his behalf. Thinking back, she realized what had brought Spencer's mood down that day and why it had remained not its best. It was when they had seen that arguing couple. An obviously wealthy young man with a girlfriend that had not a nice word to say to him. It made her realize something that none of them had considered before and the guilt of the realization filled her voice.

"Baby, I am so so sorry."

"About what?" Spencer frowned. Why would Trina need to apologize? She hadn't done anything.

"Ever since the whole revenge porn thing, we've all been harping about what Esme had done to us. We never once even mentioned or considered what she had done to you. After all, out of the four of us, you were her first victim."

Spencer wrapped his arm around her as he felt fresh tears fill his eyes. "I...I didn't think it was important to bring all of that up. What she had done to you guys was so so so much worse and it was my fault. After all, I was the one that brought her into all of your lives…"

"But it is important, Spencer. What she did to you was just as wrong too. She manipulated you. She inserted herself into your life and encouraged you to act in ways that you may not have otherwise...and from what little you told me just now...she was abusive as well."

Spencer frowned. "She didn't hit me."

"Maybe not...but that's not the only way that one can be abusive. Telling you that you'll get fat someday...what other things did she tell you? That people only liked you because you're a Cassadine? Judging how she had tried to ruin your friendship with Cam and Joss, she tried to isolate you, that's tip number one in the abuser's handbook. She didn't count that Cam and Joss were stubborn and weren't ones to just walk away from their friends. She didn't…"

"She didn't count on there being a girl that I liked way more than I had ever liked her," Spencer chuckled. "You're right. You're right, she was emotionally abusive...and I didn't see it until it was nearly too late! I'm lucky that all three of you even kept talking to me after all she had done!"

"Well...I know for a fact that you're not a very easy person to walk away from. Believe me, I tried."

"Why didn't you stay away?" Spencer asked, curious.

"Because by the time she showed up...I was already crushing hard on you...and by the time she did what she did...I was in love with you by then...even though I tried not to be. Even though I had tried to move on with Rory. I just couldn't deny my feelings."

Spencer smiled. He couldn't help but feel thankful for whatever had led him back to Port Charles, because, despite Esme's manipulations, it had led him to Trina. The one person besides his grandmother and Uncle that has ever been truly real with him. Everything that had happened to him because of Esme had been worth it because now he had Trina as a result and he wouldn't trade her for anything in the world.

"I am so grateful that I found you, Trina. I'm sorry for all the strife it had caused, but I am grateful that we've met and that we're together. I really do believe that you are the love of my life."

"That's a pretty big claim, Spencer," Trina smiled.

"I know, but it's how I feel. I can't imagine feeling this strongly for anyone. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that I wouldn't do for you."

"Again, I'm sorry that we never took into account the effect that she had on you. You are just as much a victim as we were. I wish there was some way to get justice for you."

"Justice will be keeping my baby brother out of her claws and her far away from the people I love. To me, that is justice. According to Uncle Sonny, I will have that. So no more thinking about, Esme, alright? Let's concentrate on what we're going to do tomorrow. Is there anything you want to see or do?"

"Hmm...I heard that Maine has moose! I've never seen one before, but I'd like to."

"Well, let's get to googling and see what we can do about that," Spencer claimed her lips in a short but lingering kiss before returning to his laptop, all thoughts of Esme now put to rest.