Chapter 56- Moms to the Rescue

"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the officiant said in a low, monotone voice. "You may kiss the bride and all that jazz. My shift is finished. Have a good life." He threw his script over his shoulder and fled the chapel.

"Well, I guess this is it," Spencer said.

"Yeah," Josslyn said. "I feel weird kissing you…."

"For Ace?"

Josslyn nodded. "For Ace."

Spencer leaned forward and kissed Josslyn awkwardly. But after a minute, they deepened the kiss.

Josslyn smiled at him. "Hey, you're a good kisser."

"You're not bad yourself, Mrs. Cassadine."

"Ms. Jacks," Josslyn corrected. "I'm not taking your name."

"But it'll look better in court if you do," Spencer said.

"Well, we'll see what Diane suggests about that. Take me home now."

Spencer frowned. "I don't want to face Trina."

"Yeah, I'm not ready for that either," Josslyn said. "But you know… we are married. We could get a room here for the night. I just have to be at the courthouse for 9:00 am."

He grinned. "You mean…?"

"Why not?"

He took her hand. "Okay, Mrs. Jacks-Cassadine."

"I could go with the hyphenated name. But I'd expect Ace's to be hyphenated too."

"That could be arranged. And I'll give him a better first name too."

"We could call him Michael," Josslyn suggested.

"That could work," Spencer said. "To honour Uncle Sonny. Michael Victor Spencrovich Jacks-Cassadine."

Over in the lobby, Jake suggested they split up.

"That way we can find clues faster," Jake said.

"Okay, Emma you go with Jake and I'll stick with Esme," Cameron said.

"All right, just be careful," Emma said and disappeared down the hallway with Jake.

"But… but… but what if they solve it before us?" Esme asked. "My mom will be proud of them, not me…."

"Oh, don't worry about that," Cam said. "Even if any of us figure something out, you can get the credit. Let's check the chapel."

They headed into the chapel and immediately bumped into Spencer and Josslyn.

Josslyn's jaw clenched. "I knew I had reason to worry when you took her side at the pool! You're going to marry her, so she doesn't lose Ace."

"That's very low of you, Cam," Spencer said. "You know how much my baby brother means to me."

Esme looked at Spencer nervously. "L-let's look somewhere else…."

"We're not getting married," Cam said. "But it looks like you two did."

Josslyn looped her arm through Spencer's. "We sure did. And I'm going to be Ace's new mommy."

Esme pressed her lips together in a thin line. "I'm Ace's Mommy!"

"Not for much longer," Josslyn said. "Soon, Spencer and I are going to take custody from you."

"Just days ago, you wanted me back," Cameron said. "Now you and Spencer married each other out of convenience?"

Josslyn sighed. "Cameron…. You have to let go. You don't own me. I can marry whoever I want."

The doors behind them slammed causing them all to jump.

GHGHGH

Jake and Emma walked along the hallway on the first floor.

"I don't even know what to look for," Emma said. "I'm nervous, Jake. I like Esme, I do. But I think this was a bad idea. I should call Aunt Felicia."

Jake pressed the button for the elevator. "I'm sure we'll find something."

The elevator dinged and opened for them. They stepped on and glanced down when Jake stepped on an old piece of paper.

"What's this?" He picked it up and read it.

January 2, 2004

Prescott,

I received your latest letter. Yes, I have trained up Junior well. I only hope his juvenile desires don't hold us back, but he could be an asset in the future with one of the daughters.

I have been in contact with Victor and he's on board with assisting us in the plan. Your old client that you suggested be our puppet for the more immediate could work. She is insane enough to believe anything we tell her.

No one knows your real identity and I don't anticipate that changing anytime soon. You've done well in the pharmaceutical business, as you know, but that shouldn't change course for our mission to obtain the Aztec jewels.

She's been located at the family ranch in Texas. That is where our new puppet will come into play and she will bring her to you.

I will give you more details when I see you. I will receive justice for the damage from the bullet to my head. She will suffer for it and we will take the treasure from her. We just have to be patient.

Your brother,

Peter

"Peter?" Emma said. "Could that be my mom's cousin Peter?"

"I don't know," Jake said. "I don't understand it."

"Well, Aztec jewels… that's talking about Aunt Felicia. Peter August hurt Maxie and my grandma. But I don't think he was shot…. Victor must be Victor Cassadine. But I don't understand the rest."

GHGHGH

Lucy tiptoed into the hotel, which only caused her red stiletto heels to make more noise as she shifted along the floor.

Anna groaned. "Lucy, do you mind?"

"You don't need to tiptoe," Felicia said. "The lobby is busy. But I don't see the kids here…."

"I think we should split up," Robin said.

"Okay, Lucy, you go with Robin and Elizabeth, I'll go with Felicia," Anna said.

"I'm going with Felicia!" Lucy set her hands on her hips. "She and I make the best team."

"I'm actually with Lucy on this," Felicia said. "Anna, you and I are the only ones who brought a gun, so we should go separately."

Lucy grinned. "See?"

"All right," Anna said. "I'll go with Robin and Elizabeth."

When Anna, Robin, and Elizabeth disappeared down the hallway, Lucy and Felicia checked the dining room.

They walked up and down, through the rows of tables, but didn't see any sign of them.

Lucy rubbed Felicia's arm. "It's okay, we'll find her."

Felicia took a deep breath. "We better. If anything happens to her again…. I just feel like I keep failing my daughters."

"Hey, Esme's the one who chose to come here, you didn't make her. So, you didn't fail her."

"But it seems like no matter what I do, I can't protect any of them."

"Well, you can't bubble wrap them," Lucy said. "As mothers, we do what we can, but we can't always shield them from the dangers of this world. And you're a much better mother than me. Remember when Serena lost her sight because of me? I felt horrible. Just horrible!"

"That was an accident. I just want my girls to have a normal life. Maxie's is the most normal, but she has abandonment issues."

"Don't worry, we'll find Esme," Lucy assured.

GHGHGH

Esme backed into a pew when she saw Dex standing there, pointing a gun at them.

"Well, well," he said. "Fancy seeing you guys here. Makes my life a lot easier."

"We know what you did to us," Josslyn said. "You and Esme were in on it together! How could you betray me like that?"

"You're going to prison, Dex," Cameron said. "You're going to pay for everything."

"Both you and Esme belong in prison," Spencer said.

"Actually, Esme is coming with me. And I'll kill anyone who tries to stop me." Dex pointed the gun at Esme. "Because of your princess mom, the cops are after me and I can no longer stay in Port Charles."

"Stay away from her!" Esme cried.

"I know the truth. I finally read the master's letters. I know about your ancestry. That's why you're coming with me."

Cameron stepped in front of Esme. "Leave her alone. You'll have to go through me first."

Bang!

Esme screamed and Spencer and Josslyn's mouths hung open when Cameron dropped down. Blood gushed from his left leg.

"That can be arranged," Dex said. "Esme belongs to me."

"Esme, there's one thing you have to understand," Ryan said, pointing his gun at her at Wyndemere. "You belong to me. You and that baby."

"Look out Ryan!" Heather yelled as Felicia clubbed him over the head with the fireplace poker and Esme fled.

Esme's lip trembled.

"No, she belongs with me!" The doors flew open and Felicia pointed her gun at Dex. Lucy peeked over her shoulder.

Dex grabbed Esme and held the gun to her side. "Get rid of the weapon or I'll shoot her."

"Just let her go!" Felicia said.

"Maybe Dex will take off with Esme and we won't have to deal with either of them again," Josslyn said.

"And we won't have to worry about a custody battle either," Spencer added.

Felicia gritted her teeth but tried to ignore Spencer and Josslyn.

Dex brought the gun up to Esme's temple and she started shaking. "Just a simple move of my finger and your daughter is dead. Now drop your weapon."

Felicia looked into Esme's frightened eyes and she dropped the gun.

"Now kick it away."

Felicia kicked it to the other side of the chapel.

"Very good," Dex said. "Now, you will have your daughter back when you give me your Aztec jewels."

"You can have them, just give me my daughter now."

"Not until you give them to me." He prodded Esme towards the doors.

"Stop! You want a captive? Take me instead. Please," Felicia begged. "Take me, then Mac can get my jewels to you. Just let my daughter go."

Dex laughed. "You think I'm falling for that? Move out of my way."

Lucy backed away.

GHGHGH

"I don't see them anywhere," Robin said. "What if Dex hurts Emma?"

"Emma is smart and resourceful." Anna rubbed her back. "And so is Cameron and Jake."

"Yeah, we've got to believe we'll find them," Elizabeth agreed.

"Mom?" Jake came from around the corner with Emma. "When did you get here?"

Elizabeth hugged him. "About 20 minutes ago. "Where's Cameron?"

Robin rushed over and pulled Emma into her arms. "Are you okay?"

"Cam went with Esme," Jake said. "We're trying to find them."

Emma nodded and handed Anna the letter. "I'm fine. We found this on the elevator. I think it mentions Aunt Felicia, Peter August, and Victor Cassadine."

Anna read it over a few times and swallowed hard. "It's not my nephew, Peter. It's a different Peter. But he was just as dangerous."

GHGHGH

"Stop, stop, please stop!" Felicia followed after Dex and Esme as they headed out the doors.

Cameron pulled himself onto one of the pews while Spencer and Josslyn stood back and watched.

Suddenly, a red stiletto heel flew past Felicia and wacked Dex in the back of the head. He let go of Esme and his gun, then dropped to the floor.

"You're not going anywhere with my very best friend's daughter!"

Esme ran into Felicia's arms.

Lucy held her head high and tried to balance herself with her remaining heel.