I know everyone seems anxious to find out what happens with Donna and the gun. I promise that will unfold in the next chapter. Thank you for all the awesome reviews. Keep them coming

Chapter 65- Sisterly Advice

Esme's eyes fluttered open and she looked down at Ace sleeping on her chest. She turned side to side and realized she had fallen asleep on the bus on the way to the train station. Outside, she saw Bobbie's diner. The train station was two blocks back. She checked her phone. 9:00am? They'd been riding the whole night. There was even a different driver now. Two missed calls from Spencer, and three missed calls and one text message from her mom.

Frankie, are you and Ace okay? Where are you? Don't worry about Spencer and Carly, I'm going to figure it out. Please call me. xo

"But I can't let Spence take you from me, Ace." She kissed the top of his head. They passed signs for the waterfront and they turned onto Elm Street.

" Come sit with Daddy." He patted the spot beside him.

Esme hesitantly sat with him.

"Your task at hand is to break up Ava and Nikolas Cassadine," Daddy instructed. "And the way in is to seduce the Cassadine boy."

"But… how? I've never seduced anyone before."

He stroked her hair sending shivers up her spine. "First things first, you need to start dressing differently. Dress more grown up and sexy. Get rid of the pigtails." He slipped the elastics out of her hair, one by one." And you need to speak more confidently. You can't ever get what you want if you remain passive and scared all the time. You need to be more touchy-feely, the way I am with you." He touched her cheek. "But while you're confident, you still need to put on the damsel in distress front. You want the Cassadine boy to be your hero in everything. Then you can trap him and get him to do anything you want him to."

Esme massaged her throbbing temples.

"Frankie, I'm wondering if maybe you shouldn't focus on anything romantically right now," Felicia said. "You're starting therapy this week and I'm hoping through that and being around us, you can learn what healthy relationships are like before you start dating again."

"You—you think I don't know how to have a healthy relationship?"

"I just mean you've been hurt so much by so many people, particularly by Ryan, Nikolas, and Spencer. Maybe it would be better to give yourself a chance to heal first and to know what signs to watch for while dating. Focus on family, friends, your community service, and what you'd like to take at school."

"You want me to be alone?" Esme asked.

"No, of course not," Felicia said. "You're not alone. Ever. Cameron's a good guy, but—"

"But you don't think I'm good enough for him!"

"Of course you are," Felicia said as she pulled into their driveway. "What I was going to say is, maybe you can be friends with him first, then once you've found some healing, maybe it'll turn into more if you both want that."

…"Even if I lose Ace?" Esme asked.

Felicia looked at her concerned. "What do you mean?"

"Spencer married Josslyn. That's why they were at the chapel. So, if I show up at court alone while Spence has a wife, the judge will side with him."

Felicia sighed. "Oh, honey. I don't know what's going on in Spencer's head. But if anything, I think that will only look bad for him, rushing out to get married just to look good in front of a judge. Especially since he just broke up with Trina and tried to get back together with you, all in a matter of days. And that wouldn't really be fair for Cameron or for you and Ace if you married him for that same reason. Plus, I think it would only backfire. You should only marry someone if you love them, not just to impress someone else."

The numbers on the doors ascended and the bus pulled over at the stop. "Ace… I want to trust Mommy's advice, but maybe in this instance I should follow Daddy's…."

She lifted Ace and pulled her backpack straps over her shoulders and climbed off the bus. She passed #38, #40, #42, and finally… she took a deep breath and knocked on #44.

After a few minutes, Elizabeth opened the door. "Oh… hi Esme. Can I help you with something?"

Esme mustered a confident smile. "I'm here to see Cameron."

GHGHGH

"Just try to take a deep breath," Mac said. "Like you said she's probably just upset about Carly and Spencer. I'm sure she'll come back."

"But she has a habit of running from things," Felicia said. "When she gets like this, I'm worried what she's going to do."

"We called Cody and Robin already. Emma hasn't heard from her. Where else would she go?"

"I don't know. Can you call Kevin to see if he or Laura have heard from her? But… be careful. I don't want this to get back to Spencer."

"I'll be discreet about it," Mac assured.

Felicia pulled out her phone again and called Maxie.

"Hey, Mom."

"Hi Maxie," Felicia said. "I'm sorry to bother you, but Esme is missing again. And so is Ace. I know how you felt about it last time, but can you just let me know if you see or hear from her?"

"It's okay, Mom. I won't react like last time. Although it's unsettling that she ran off again…. I know she's dealing with a lot, but I wish she wouldn't put you through this again. I'll let you know if I hear from her, though it's doubtful she'll call me. I'm actually on my way to the train station. I'm dropping off a client. I might have some time to look for Esme and Ace later. Unless you think they're in danger, then I'll see if someone else can drop her off."

"I hope they're not, but she's probably just upset. Thank you, Maxie. I'll keep you posted."

Felicia hung up, then she thought of someone else. She called Elizabeth.

"Hello?"

"Hi Elizabeth, it's Felicia Scorpio. I don't have Cameron's phone number, but could you ask him if he's heard from Esme?"

"Oh, Esme is here," Elizabeth said. "She brought Ace too. They're visiting Cameron right now."

Felicia sighed in relief. "Thank goodness. Would you mind telling her to text me if she wants a ride when she's finished. That way she doesn't have to walk or take the bus with Ace."

"Of course."

"Thanks, Elizabeth." She hung up and gritted her teeth when her phone rang. Spencer's name displayed on the screen. "What is it, Spencer?"

"I've been trying to call Esme, but she won't answer," Spencer said. "I know she received the papers."

"She's visiting a friend this morning."

"I didn't know she had friends. Well, tell her I'm picking up Ace at noon and he better be ready."

GHGHGH

"How are you feeling, Cam?" Esme sat on the couch with him and rubbed his hand. Ace sat on her lap and sucked on a ball. "I really felt horrible after what happened at the hotel."

"I'm fine. Terry said my leg is healing nicely. I still have to use crutches for a bit, but probably not for long."

"That night at the hotel was terrible," Esme said. "I still have nightmares over it. And I really can't believe Spencer and Josslyn would do that. They really hurt both of us."

"Yeah. And they think they're the victims. Joss acted like it was my fault that she cheated on me."

Esme shook her head. "She is awful. If you were my boyfriend, I'd never do that to you, Cam."

He cleared his throat. "They hurt Trina too."

Esme bit her lip. "I saw you at the hospital with her. Are you… seeing each other?"

"No. We're just friends."

Esme smiled. "I'm not seeing anyone either. You know, I'm really scared about the custody hearing coming up. Spencer and Josslyn have strong families behind them."

Cameron nodded. "They do. But you do too now."

"Yes, but there's something missing. Spencer is going to arrive in court with Josslyn on his arm. I know the judge is going to take his side if I'm by myself." She ran her hand through his hair. "But… if say, you and I got married, we'd make a beautiful family with Ace."

Cameron gently moved her hand away. "Esme, that's not going to work."

"You don't want to marry me?"

"We were just starting to become friends," Cameron said. "But just now, you seemed kind of like the way you were before. I thought you were only that way because of Ryan. I thought you were different now."

Esme frowned. "I am different."

"I know you're scared of Spencer and Josslyn, but you don't have to be that way to beat them. I don't want to be with someone who tries to seduce me or only wants to marry me to impress a judge."

"You don't want to help me…."

"I didn't say that," Cameron said. "I'd be happy to testify on your behalf. You seem really good with Ace. But I'd hate to see your personality go back to the way it was before. I know you've been through a lot and that's not fair. But you and Ace deserve better than a marriage of convenience. I'd like to think I deserve better than that too. And Ace also deserves the mother he has and the person you're growing into, not the person Ryan controlled."

"I can't lose Ace. I can't."

"You have your new family behind you and I'm willing to help. If you play dirty like Spencer and Josslyn, it's not going to go the way you want it to."

"If you won't help me, Cameron, then I'm leaving." She grabbed her backpack and walked out with Ace.

Tears in her eyes, she boarded the next bus. "I'll do everything in my power to protect you from Spencer, Ace. Even if that means leaving town."

After quite a ride, the bus finally pulled in front of the train station. She went up to the ticket booth. "One adult and one baby."

"Destination?" the lady asked.

"I don't know. Anywhere. What's the cheapest?" She pulled out a twenty dollar bill her mom gave her a while ago.

"Rochester is the closest trip today," the lady said. "That's $34.00. The baby can ride for free."

"I—I only have twenty."

"Sorry, hon. It's thirty-four."

Esme moved away from the booth and plopped down on the bench.

"Esme?"

She looked up to see Maxie walking towards her.

"Heading somewhere?" Maxie asked.

"Maybe," Esme said. "You?"

"I just dropped off a client, but I saw you in line. Esme, why do you keep doing this to Mom? You don't need permission to leave the house, but you should at least give her a heads up. She's constantly afraid she's going to lose you again. This isn't fair for her."

"Spence is trying to take Ace from me. He got the restraining order lifted. He married Josslyn, so that's going to look good in front of a judge. But Cameron won't marry me. I can't and I won't let Spence take Ace."

Maxie sat with her. "Okay, well running away is a sure way to guarantee Spencer to win custody. You don't have money, so you won't get far. Once Spencer gets wind of this, you know he's going to find you. A judge will assume you're unstable and unfit to raise Ace. But if you stay and continue community service and therapy, plus keep a stable home for Ace and a support system, the judge should see that you're really trying to be a good mother. Even if you got away safely with Ace, that's just going to devastate Mom to lose you again."

"She has enough on her plate right now especially since she and Mac are having a baby."

Maxie stared at her. " WHAT? I thought Mom couldn't have kids anymore. They're way too old and have two daughters really struggling and have four grandchildren they help out with. Are you sure?"

"They?" Esme asked. "Mac thinks of me as his daughter?"

"The way he talks about you, yeah."

"Well, it doesn't matter anymore. They're having a baby and there won't be any room for me and Ace."

"Esme, that is ridiculous," Maxie said. "Even if by some chance pigs have started flying or the sky has fallen and Mom is pregnant… she'll always have room for you and Ace. She is so happy to have you back. And after hearing your testimony, I know the lengths you went through to find Mom. Why are you so willing to throw that all away? Is she not what you were hoping for?"

"What? Of course she is. She's better than what I was hoping for."

"Okay. Then why don't you trust her to help you with Spencer? If you run away, then you'll be all alone. Don't you want better for yourself and Ace?"

Esme nodded.

"Then just get it out of your mind that Mom doesn't want you," Maxie said. "That couldn't be further from the truth. Even if she is pregnant…. That's what I've had to accept, that she can love you and me at the same time. So, she can love us and this baby at the same time too…." She cringed. "But at her age…."

"She does seem pretty old…."

"Right? It just seems so wrong…. I don't even like to think of Mom and Mac… together that way. Did you know they almost got arrested for public indecency in the park years back?"

Esme gaped at her. "What? What do you mean? Did Mac… did he hurt her?"

"Oh no, I don't mean that," Maxie said. "It was very much a two-way street. Ask Man Landers advised they spruce things up in their marriage. I was horrified when I found out. But Nathan didn't let them get arrested."

Maxie noticed her shift uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, Esme. They were married and Mom was fine. But anyway, please don't run away again. I used to be flighty when I was your age. I really gave Mom and Mac a hard time back then. Don't do that to Mom anymore. It really hurts her because it brings back her memories of losing you."

Esme sighed. "I didn't think about that. I guess I've been selfish. I just panicked."

"Then talk to Mom when you feel panicked. Or if you feel you can't, talk to me. Just don't make the childish choices that I made. It's not like before, you have a lot of people in your corner. Mom is determined to help you keep Ace. If you want, I can even testify that you're good with James and Bailey as well as Ace."

Esme blushed a little. "You'd do that for me?"

"Sure, why not. So, what do you say? Can I drive you and Ace home?"

Esme hesitated a minute, then nodded. "Okay."