Nikolas returns to Port Charles, and finally meets his son, Ace. Spencer, not surprisingly, is not happy to see his father, and the battle over Ace's custody arrangement heats up! Esme, who is still amnesiac, is determined to prove that Ace is the safest with her. Knowing that the judge most likely will not award her custody given her history (even though she doesn't remember), she researches support groups for young parents. One such group gets excellent reviews, so she decides to check it out. She meets with the director, a woman named Jan, who seems very excited to meet Esme. Jan asks Esme some questions about herself and her situation. Jan tells Esme that she reminds her of herself when she was that age and insists that Esme will fit right in with the rest of the group! Esme finds Jan's enthusiasm a bit odd but dismisses it as simply her making a sales pitch. She decides to attend a meeting.
The group is quite large. Jan introduces Esme to the group, and then asks the members to introduce themselves. While they all seem nice, Esme can't help but notice that they hardly seem to talk about their own experiences that led them to coming to the group. Instead, they rave about how wonderful Jan is, how she has welcomed them and their children and provided them with a second home, and they all are one big, happy family. They do, however, take turns discussing the issues with which they currently are struggling. When the meeting is over, Esme meets with Jan, who asks what Esme thought of the group. Esme tells her that while she feels very warmly welcomed, she doesn't understand why the other members seem to not want to discuss the things they were struggling with prior to coming to the group. Jan explains that the details about everyone's lives and the circumstances that led them to coming to the group are privileged information that only "trusted" members of the group were to know about. Esme asks what it means to be a trusted member. Jan explains that it simply means that since this is her first time attending, it's natural that people might not want to open up to a stranger right away, but by continuing to attend the meetings, the more people will trust her, and the more she will trust them. Esme isn't sure what to make of this but agrees to continue to attend the meetings. Jan tells her she made the right choice.
As the date of the custody hearing approaches, Jan offers to write a character reference letter for Esme, which Esme agrees to. Meanwhile, Spencer and Nikolas continue to be at each other's throats regarding Ace. Spencer feels that while Nikolas may be Ace's father, the fact that he's walked out on Spencer multiple times proves he's not fit to be a father. Nikolas admits that he screwed up with Spencer but has a second chance with Ace, and unlike with Spencer, Ace's mother will be there to help raise him. Spencer of course does not react to this well. Kevin and Laura, noticing how much Esme has changed since she first came to town, and especially since she started attending the group, feel that Ace is safest with Esme, and that Nikolas and Spencer will not be good influences. Esme tells them that she's grateful for their support. At the hearing, the judge reads the letter from Jan and acknowledges that Esme has genuinely changed for the better. The judge awards custody of Ace to Esme, believing her to be the most fit to take care of him, both because she's his mother, and because she's working on becoming a better person.
Esme continues to attend the meetings with the support group and feels increasingly comfortable and at ease. Eventually, she asks Jan if she is a trusted member yet. Jan says not yet. Esme again asks what it means to be a trusted member. Jan explains that it means that the other members of the group are comfortable enough around you that they're ready to open up and share details of their lives that they aren't comfortable sharing with just anyone, and the important thing to remember is that even though she might not be a trusted member yet, this is still a safe place, and often times it's more helpful to discuss the issues you are currently are facing, rather than dwelling on the past. She assures Esme that they are all there to support each other, and to support her. Then Jan asks Esme if she trusts her. Esme thinks about this for a few seconds, then answers yes. Janelle smiles and hugs Esme, and says that she's glad to hear her say that, because she trusts her. Esme then walks out and closes the door behind her.
After Esme leaves, Nelle reaches into her blouse and pulls out the two half-heart pendants hanging from the gold chain around her neck. "I trust you more than anyone," she says.