This is a short story based on characters that I do not own and references to established works.
"A Roadblock Named Trina"
As Ace slept peacefully, Esme scrolled through the pictures that had been taken earlier of him. However, the pictures that captured her attention the most were those with Ace, Spencer, and herself. "What a beautiful little family we are," she thought as she smiled at the pictures. Lately, Esme couldn't help but find herself anxiously waiting to leave The Invader so that she could get Ace and go home to... Spencer. "We've had no big problems and he doesn't seem like he minds having me around as much as he used to. It's definitely been a good thing for us having the whole place to ourselves. Yes, progress is definitely being made, Ace. Maybe I won't have to resort to any drastic measures, after all," Esme said aloud to her son.
Esme's wishful thinking was abruptly halted when she heard the front door open. She jumped up eagerly, hoping that Ace was still sleeping, as she went to open her door.
"Well, that was quick, did you get..." Esme stopped short of finishing her sentence when she saw that, not only had Spencer returned but, Trina had accompanied him. She tried to mask her shock and disappointment with a tight smile.
"Hi, Trina. I didn't expect to see you here today," Esme said innocently.
"Oh, really? And why not, Esme? Spencer is my boyfriend," Trina said, as she took Spencer's hand and walked with him over to the couch. As they sat down, they sat as close together as they possibly could without taking up the same spot. Before Trina continued, Spencer pulled her into a long, passionate kiss. Esme could feel her stomach twisting into knots as she watched Spencer and Trina kissing and embracing as though they were the only ones there.
Unable to take it anymore, Esme interrupted and said," I think I hear Ace waking up. I better go check on him."
But, before she could make her exit, Spencer and Trina pulled themselves away from each other, still intent on getting the seriousness of their relationship through to Esme.
"Really? I didn't hear a thing," Trina said, unfazed.
"Well, Trina, I'm surprised that you could've heard anything in the middle of that kiss you just came out of," Esme said, clearly agitated.
"Esme, that was totally uncalled for," Spencer said defensively.
Esme, eager to correct her mistake, broke out into a smile. "I was only kidding with Trina, and you, too Spencer," Esme said, as she left to go check on Ace.
When she closed the door to her room, Trina turned to face Spencer.
"Now, tell me that that wasn't the reaction of a jealous girlfriend. I dare you, Spencer. Esme was definitely not happy to see me show up and that kiss may just give her nightmares," Trina said, as both she and Spencer laughed slightly.
"Well, no she definitely seemed taken aback by your presence and our kiss. But, Trina, there's no way that she could possibly think that she and I could...could anything," Spencer said emphatically.
"Spencer, when you're, let's say "off balance", logic and common sense are not tools that one would have, let alone use on a daily basis. Esme has an agenda that involves you, Ace, and herself," Trina replied. Spencer, not wanting to believe something so ridiculous, unfortunately found himself with no words to counter Trina's reasonable arguments.
When Esme got into the room, it was as Trina had said. Ace was still sleeping like an angel. However, Esme needed him awake. Better still, she needed her son awake and cranky.
"Ace, don't hate me for this, but I've got to do it. I've got to do it for us," Esme said, as she took the baby carefully from his crib and began to try and rouse him from his sleep. It wasn't easy, though. Ace was completely out of it. That is he was, until Esme's tickling and bouncing elicited the cranky cries that she desired as she headed back to the living room.
"I tried to get him to go back to sleep, but as you can clearly see, he wasn't having that," Esme said innocently, as she sat on the couch on Spencer's other side. "See if you can get him back to sleep," Esme said, as she handed the baby to Spencer. As Spencer prepared to take his baby brother, Trina shifted in her seat and cleared her throat. In response to that oh so obvious hint, Spencer got up, carefully handed Ace back to his mother, and said to Trina, "Let's go get a bottle for Ace and see if that helps." Trina quickly got up and headed with Spencer to the kitchen. "We'll be right back with a bottle, Esme and see if that helps," Spencer said, as he and Trina retreated, hand-in-hand to the kitchen.
Esme got up quickly and hugged Ace tightly. While she hugged him, a cross look came over her face. Then, she whispered to her son, "I know what I've got to do to fix this. But, when and how can I take care of it? How can I take care of a roadblock named Trina?" Ace's crying continued. "Shh, shh. Don't worry, Ace. Mommy's going to figure it out-very soon," Esme said, as her eyes turned hard and cold.