Esme has spent the past few days wracking her brain, trying to remember the bad things she had done while she was "Old Esme." While she does vaguely remember walking out onto the parapet at Wyndemere and seeing Spencer talking with Trina, it's still a blur. She does feel a twinge of jealousy thinking about Trina, but is unsure whether it was how she felt when she first met Trina back then, or how she feels about her in the present. She does have feelings for Spencer, but at the same time, feels strongly that keeping her distance is what's best for everyone, including Ace. She doesn't need Spencer to help co-parent Ace, as she can have the people at the daycare watch him whenever she needs a break from the stresses of motherhood. And she could certainly use a break right now, as trying to remember her past life while living in the present for Ace's sake is beginning to take its toll.

After a particularly stressful day, Esme decides to pay "Jan" another visit. She makes her way to Nelle's house and knocks on the door.

Nelle: Come in!

*Esme walks in*

Nelle: Hi Esme!

Esme: Hi Jan.

Nelle: *notices that Esme looks unwell* Wow, you look terrible. Is everything okay?

Esme: Not really. Rough day at work, and I have a headache.

Nelle: Here, sit down. Let me get you some water, it's good for headaches.

Esme: Thanks.

*Esme sits down on the sofa, putting a hand to her forehead, while Nelle goes into the kitchen and returns with a glass of water and a sleep mask*

Nelle: Here you go. I hope you don't mind that it's room temperature, as ice water will make your headache worse.

Esme: Thanks. *She takes a sip of the water*

Nelle: And here's a mask for your eyes. I find that the light also tends to make headaches worse.

Esme: Thank you. *She puts the mask over her eyes.*

Nelle: Oh, and be careful not to-

*Esme leans backwards on the sofa, and it suddenly reclines, startling her and causing her to feel nauseous.*

Nelle: Yeah, I forgot that side of the couch is broken. It's a recliner couch, but it's not supposed to drop open like that.

*Esme puts a hand to her mouth*

Nelle: Do you feel like you're going to throw up?

Esme: No, I'll be okay. It just startled me. *Her nausea goes away*

Nelle: Do you want to tell me what happened?

Esme: Alexis yelled at me today. I was going through her files again, and she caught me.

Nelle: But isn't that your job?

Esme: Not really. I'm a receptionist. My job is to answer the phone and tell people that Alexis will be with them shortly. I already was caught going through the files once.

Nelle: Were you looking for anything in particular?

Esme: Yes. I was trying to see if I could find any articles about me supposedly trying to frame Trina for revenge porn.

Nelle: Revenge porn? Oh my god, that's horrible!

*Nelle knows about the revenge porn incident but is playing dumb in order to see if Esme will remember everything on her own*

Esme: Yeah. We were on a trip to a cabin. Me, Spencer, Joss, Cam, and Trina. I allegedly slipped drugs into Trina's drink, which made her pass out, and then hid a camera in Joss and Cam's room, and recorded them having sex. Then supposedly I sent the video to everyone at P.C.U., but made it look like it was Trina who recorded them. Or something like that.

Nelle: And you don't remember doing any of those things?

Esme: No. It's what I've been told.

Nelle: Wow. Revenge porn is so wrong.

Esme: I know. I would never dream of doing something like that, but it's what everybody says I did. Since I can't remember anything, I'm not sure what to think, or how to feel.

Nelle: Are you sure you didn't feel threatened by Trina? Maybe you were worried that she was going to try to take Spencer away from you?

Esme: I guess so. But Trina seems so nice, and I don't think she's the type of person who would do something like that, even if she feels jealous.

Nelle: And you're sure that you don't feel jealous?

Esme: I do actually. But I've only recently began feeling jealous. Honestly I've really been enjoying co-parenting Ace with Spencer. But at the same time, Spencer is not Ace's father, and his reasons for wanting to be part of Ace's life seem to have more to do with him wanting to get revenge on his father than they do with him wanting to do what's in Ace's best interests. Even though he says he wants to be Ace's father figure because Nikolas had gone AWOL, and therefore he's the only father Ace has known.

Nelle: You don't feel like he's being honest?

Esme: There's a part of me that actually believes that he wants to be with me. I don't recall anything about what our relationship had been like before, but I get the feeling that he still has feelings for me, and is jealous that Ace isn't his kid, and Nikolas being his father just adds insult to injury.

Nelle: Are you sure that Nikolas is Ace's father?

Esme: Well, obviously I don't remember, but…

Nelle: So you haven't gotten a paternity test?

Esme: No. I really should though.

Nelle: It's a good idea.

Esme: Even if it turns out that Spencer is Ace's father, I don't think it's a good idea for us to raise Ace together. The Cassadine family is so toxic, and Ace shouldn't grow up around people like that.

Nelle: But you have feelings for Spencer?

Esme: *She hesitates for a second* Yes. I do.

Nelle: So there must be a part of you that wants Trina out of the picture?

Esme: I guess so. But it's not like I'm the only person who's felt jealous that my ex-boyfriend is with someone else.

Nelle: And you don't feel like maybe she's trying to take something else away from you? Something that's rightfully yours?

*Esme tries to think, and her hands gradually curl into fists*

Nelle: Hold it. Not right now, while you have a headache. You don't want to give yourself a stroke now, do you?

*Esme sits up in the recliner and takes off the sleep mask*

Esme: Do you…know something that I don't know?

Nelle: I know a few things.

Esme: I mean about what I did.

Nelle: Yes, I do. But it's not like I'm the only one who knows about it. News travels fast in Port Charles, as you already know. Though I suppose there are a few lesser-known details that I might be privy to.

Esme: Well, can you tell me?

Nelle: I'll tell you when I feel you're ready. Some of the details might be too disturbing. I think you should spend a little more time with the group getting to know everybody. They all really like you.

Esme: But how will I get to know them? You say I need to be a trusted member before they're ready to share their story?

Nelle: Yes.

Esme: So does this mean I'm ready to become a trusted member?

Nelle: Not quite. There's a little more to it than simply having somebody say that they trust you. They need to agree to be your sponsor.

Esme: A sponsor?

Nelle: Yes. It's similar to what they do in twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. The difference is that in our group, it's a requirement.

Esme: Oh. I see.

Nelle: You and Leann seem to have hit it off pretty well. Why not spend more time getting to know her?

Esme: Oh yeah, I love Leann! But she doesn't really seem to have much to share with me about her past, other than her growing up in that clinic, with that evil doctor who's now locked up.

Nelle: Well, that's something you both have in common. The two of you are both searching for answers about your past. Why not ask her if she'd be willing to sponsor you?

Esme: Yeah, I think she'd be a great sponsor for me.

Nelle: But wait until you're feeling better. You might want to see a doctor about your headaches, if they're becoming a regular thing.

Esme: I'm pretty sure that the doctors at GH would be glad if I dropped dead from a stroke.

Nelle: I never said that you'd have to go to GH. Here…"

*Nelle reaches into her purse and takes out a business card, and hands it to Esme.*

Nelle: This guy is amazing! I see him all the time for my own aches and pains. His practice is located at a private clinic.

Esme: Thank you.

Nelle: Sure thing.

*Nelle checks her watch*

Nelle: I just remembered, I have to make an important phone call. Get some rest, and take that sleep mask with you, it really helps. And don't worry, you and Ace are in excellent hands!

*Esme gives Nelle a small smile, and walks out the door, while Nelle reaches into her purse, takes out her phone, and dials a number*

Nelle: Hi Leann!

Leann: Hi there. Is everything okay? You don't usually call me at this time.

Nelle: Yes, everything is fine, but I need a small favor.

Leann: Okay, what is it?

Nelle: It's only a matter of time before Esme starts asking people to be her sponsor, and I'm pretty sure you're going to be the first one she goes to. If she asks you, I need you to politely decline.

Leann: Um, okay, but why?

Nelle: There's somebody else whom I want to have sponsor her.

Leann: Okay. May I ask who it is?

Nelle: Me.

Leann: But I thought you said that you can't sponsor trusted members yourself.

Nelle: I wouldn't say that I can't do it, just that it's not something I typically do. I feel strongly that the decision on who becomes a trusted member should be up to anyone who's a trusted member, not just me. People should be free to offer help to anyone in need, and relying on me for approval kind of defeats the purpose of the "trust" aspect of trusted membership. But every now and then there will be someone whom I feel like I should sponsor, for the sole reason that I've been in a similar situation to theirs, and therefore I feel that I'm in the best position to help them. I was your sponsor after all.

Leann: Yes, and I'm very grateful that you were. But I thought it was because my situation was different, because I'm not a parent, nor do I know anything about my own parents.

Nelle: And that's the way in which I can relate to your situation. Growing up, I thought my father was the man who raised me. You and everyone else of course already know all about how angry I was after he had one of my kidneys removed and sold on the black market, as I've told the story very many times. I hated him for it, and was happy when he died. But then a couple of years ago, I found out that he wasn't even my biological father! Now I don't have anything against adoption, but it takes a special kind of awful person to adopt a child, not to give them a better home than what their biological parents can offer, but to abuse and take advantage of them. After I found this out, I went looking for my biological parents. My father died a long time ago, but I eventually found my mom. I also found out that I had a fraternal twin sister, as well as a half-sister. It's a long, complicated story that I won't get into, but suffice to say it wasn't the happy family reunion that I so desperately wanted. I had made some not-so-good choices in the past, and they insisted that I was a horrible person because of it. I think my mom feels bad that she wasn't there to raise me, and if she had, things would've been different, but my sisters want nothing to do with me.

Leann: I remember you telling me. That's awful.

Nelle: It was. And the reason why I'm telling you about it again is because I know what it feels like to grow up without your parents in a cruel environment, and are in search of answers about how things could have been had you been raised by them. That's why I wanted to be your sponsor. I wanted to support you on your journey to find out where you came from, and to be there for you if you were troubled by anything you may have found out.

Leann: I just wish I knew more.

Nelle: I feel strongly that you'll find out eventually. And everything I just said still stands. I want to help you

Leann: Thank you. I appreciate everything you do.

Nelle: My pleasure!

Leann: I have to get going.

Nelle: Of course. One more thing though, before you go.

Leann: Yes?

Nelle: When you tell Esme, please don't mention anything about me being her sponsor. It's important that she comes to me and asks me to sponsor her after you and everyone else turn her down, as opposed to me offering to be her sponsor. If we do it this way, it will show that she trusts me.

Leann: Okay, will do.

Nelle: Thanks.

*Nelle hangs up, then clutches the half heart pendants in her hand and looks upwards, an evil smile slowly creeping across her face.*

Sneak peek for part 7: Michael and Willow decide that the time is right to tell Wiley about Nelle, but disagree about what they feel is important for him to know. Kiki cares for a certain patient at the clinic, and has an uncomfortable encounter with a certain doctor.