Disclaimer: I own nothing. Title taken from the Tom Jones song "My Mother's Eyes". Please note for Will and Chad I did envision Chandler and Casey. Feel free to picture whoever you like though.

Beep Beep Beep

Little William Horton opened his heavy eyes. His head throbbed and he heard a strange sound. All Will wanted was his mommy and daddy.

Will adjusted on the cold bed. He didn't recognize anything he saw.

The walls were white and bare. The bed had big, fat rails. Almost like the ones on his big boy bed at home. But these ones were big and had funny buttons on them.

Will turned his head, trying to find the beeping sound only it hurt. It hurt so much Will started whimpering. The whimpering hurt too. He was so thirsty and everything ached. Where was his mommy? He needed his mommy to kiss his booboos and make it all better.

Will glanced at his little hands and frowned. There was something stuck inside of him!

Will pulled at the needle taped to him. He cried out in pain.

Where was his mommy? Why was he all alone?

The back of Will's skull throbbed horribly. Will touched his head only to gasp loudly.

There was a big bandage over his entire head. He couldn't feel anything. Only a thick fabric that circled his entire head.

Will's lower lip wobbled, tears threatened to spill. He just wanted his mommy and daddy.

"Mommy?" Will croaked, throat raw. "Daddy?"

The beeps increased in tempo.

BeepBeepBeep.

Will panicked. His tiny chest rose up and down rapidly.

"Daddy?!" Will screamed.

Beepbeepbeep.

The door opened and a strange man walked through.

"Aw, I see our little patient is awake," the man announced.

The man sounded weird. Will wrinkled his nose and cowered against the sheets. He wasn't allowed to talk to strangers.

"Yes," the man, Rolf, nodded. He checked over Will's heart monitor. "Too fast. I told him you needed someone to be here when you woke up."

Will curled towards one side of the bed, eyes wide.

"Oh, forgive me," Rolf chuckled. "I am your doctor. Do you know what a doctor is?"

Will gave a single jerky nod. Doctors save people. His uncle Mike was a doctor.

"You were in an accident," Rolf explained. He gently grabbed Will's tiny arm and put a blood pressure monitor around it. "But we saved you."

"M-mommy?" Will questioned.

"No talking, please," Rolf hushed.

Will cried when the cuff tightened around his arm.

"There we go," Rolf released the pressure. "A little high but that's alright. You're just scared. Soon it'll all make sense."

Rolf wrote something down in a chart before giving Will a small smile.

"I'll just get you some water," Rolf explained. "Then you'll feel better, yes?"

As the doctor with the funny voice left, Will exhaled shakily. Maybe he would bring his mommy and daddy with him next time.

"Absolutely not," a gangly teenage boy raged. "How could you bring that boy here?!"

"It's only for a short time, my son," replied a man with a thick Italian accent. "Only until he is ready. You will hardly know he is here."

"No, father," the boy crossed his arms.

"I do not ask much from you," the man narrowed his eyes. "But you will respect my wishes. I need that boy."

"He's a child," the teenager raised his voice. "What could you possibly need him for?"

"Do not talk back to me," the man growled. "I have made my decision and you will respect me, Elvis."

EJ DiMera winced at his father's tone. He hated when his father yelled. He also hated hearing his first name.

Stefano DiMera sighed heavily. He did not like to yell at his son. But this was important.

"Do not question my decisions again," Stefano warned.

EJ nodded, refusing to make eye contact.

Knock Knock Knock

"Sir?" Rolf stuck his head in the door. "The boy is awake."

Stefano pushed open the door to the makeshift hospital room. He had a cup of water with a straw in hand.

The small boy on the bed lifted his head in anticipation. As soon as he caught sight of Stefano, his face fell, shoulders drooping.

"Hello," Stefano stated. He offered the boy the glass.

Will snatched the cup out of the man's hands. He clumsily directed the straw into his mouth. His mommy and daddy never let him use a big cup. He could only use his sippy cups.

"I'm sure you must have many questions," Stefano sat in the chair next to the boy's bed.

Will chewed on the straw nervously.

"Mommy?" Will asked.

Stefano shook his head.

"Oh, my poor child," Stefano sighed heartily. "I'm afraid your mother isn't here."

"M-mommy?" Will repeated, blue eyes watering.

"No, child," Stefano reached out and grabbed the boys hand. "No more mommy."

"D-daddy?" Will pleaded.

"I'm afraid I'm all you have now," Stefano said. "But it will be alright. You get to live in this wonderful mansion. You'll never want for anything. When the time is right, you'll understand everything."

"Want Mommy 'n Daddy," Will begged. "Want!"

"You'll have to stay here until you recover," Stefano continued, ignoring Will. "Your poor little head has been through so much."

Stefano cupped Will's bandage-wrapped head.

"Yes," a smile slowly spread across Stefano's face. "Everything will work out beautifully, il mio angioletto."

EJ turned the page of his book before tossing it aside in frustration. His father and Rolf were moving the boy into a room of his own today. EJ still didn't understand why the boy was there. EJ knew he must be important if his father went through all the trouble.

'But why won't he explain anything to me?' EJ crossed his arms. 'He usually tells me everything I want to know.'

EJ didn't want a child in the house. At 17 years old, he was too busy to deal with such things. He had his studies and his girlfriends. Recently, EJ developed an interest in racing cars. His father had just bought him his own formula one car to practice. Renovations to the backyard had already begun.

EJ always got what he wanted, always. He even managed to convince his father and Eton to allow him to live at home in the mansion instead of at school.

EJ did not need a little brat running around disrupting his time. Father and Rolf would return to Salem soon enough. EJ would be left with occasional visits from his mother and step-father as well as the staff. He severely hoped someone would be left to care for the child.

'It certainly won't be me,' EJ assured himself.

Will picked up one of the many toys in the room they guided him to. He squeezed the bear to his chest, using it as a shield. He didn't like the men with the accents. They scared him.

"This is your room now, child," Stefano stated. He waved his hand around the room with a grin.

Will looked at all the toys, overwhelmed.

"You shall want for nothing," Stefano grinned. He could see the future so clear, so brightly. "When the time is right you'll be everything I ever hoped for."

"Now, stay here," Stefano ordered. "Someone will be up with your lunch soon."

Will sat down on the floor once the scary men left. He gingerly pulled out two toy cars, making them race.

Will wanted his mommy and daddy more than anything. He missed them so much. He had been alone in that scary room forever. He was glad to have toys again. But he would rather have his mommy and daddy.

Weeks Later

EJ walked through the front door of the mansion and nearly tripped on his face. Righting himself, EJ hissed when he saw the toy cars left in front of the door.

"Damnit," EJ grumbled. "Who let him play near the door?!"

His words echoed around the mansions walls.

Will peeked out from behind a statue in the front room. He didn't know who the tall boy was. Will had seen him around the big house but didn't know his name. The boy didn't seem nice. He yelled a lot.

EJ picked up the toy cars and walked further into the house. He glanced at the front room and paused. Two little legs stuck out from behind a statue.

Rolling his eyes, EJ bent over and rolled the cars towards the figure.

Will waited until the boy left before reaching out and grabbing the toys. He began to play again.

It became routine after that. Everyday EJ came home, he would nearly trip over some toy left in front of the door. EJ would pick them up and place them in front of the boy's hiding spot behind the statue.

That was the only interaction they had for the first few weeks.

One day, EJ came home and there were no toys left for him to fall over. EJ didn't want to admit it. But, he was curious about the small, quiet boy.

EJ never saw the boy around the mansion. He supposed it was so large that wasn't surprising. Yet, EJ wondered what the boy did. Did he play with EJ's old governess or a maid? Did he keep to himself the whole time?

EJ placed his backpack near the front door and decided to look for the boy.

Will was questing. Not many two year olds could do it, Will knew. But he was special. The scary man with the funny voice told him so.

Will learned about questing in his book the funny lady with the pretty accent read to him every night. Big, brave knights went on quests. So Will would do it too.

Will didn't find anything interesting in the first rooms he went too. This last room looked exciting though.

There were pictures of cars that looked like Will's toys on the walls. There were so many books and a great, big bed. Will loved books.

Being very careful, Will climbed onto the massive bed and attempted to reach a book. It was so high, he couldn't reach.

But Will was on a quest. Brave knights didn't give up. Brave knights found a way.

Will grabbed all the pillows on the bed and stretched his little arms. Finally, Will's fingertips brushed the spine of the book.

Just as Will yanked with all his might, the bedroom door opened. Will startled and toppled off the bed with a shriek.

EJ pushed open his bedroom door. He couldn't find the kid anywhere. The maid was of no help either. On a whim, EJ decided to check his own room. For all he knew the kid could have gotten lost in the labyrinth of hallways.

Will's bandaged head bounced off the hard wooden floor with a loud smack. He laid there for a few breaths, stunned into silence. Then he began to wail.

EJ reacted as fast as he could. He saw the boy bang his head on the floor and winced.

Will sobbed loudly, tears and snot dripping down his face.

"Woah," EJ didn't know what to do. He had never dealt with a child before. "It's alright."

EJ lifted the boy into his arms. He bounced the boy up and down on his hip, trying to sooth him.

"It's okay," EJ promised. He gingerly touched the boys head, hoping that was true.

EJ didn't know much about the boy. All his father had told him was he had rescued the boy from a horrible accident. That the boy's father had drunkenly drove them into a tree. Afraid, the father fled the scene and his child. Stefano, through the goodness of his own heart, adopted the boy when no family could be found.

EJ didn't even know the boy's name. He heard his father referring to the boy as his angioletto though.

"It's okay, Angel," EJ pressed the boys head to his neck. "It's okay."

Will cried and cried until he couldn't anymore. His head hurt so much. Didn't the tall boy understand? He was hurt and his mommy wasn't there to kiss it better.

EJ sat them on his bed. The boy kept his arms and legs locked around EJ's body.

"Shh," EJ rubbed the boy's back. "Shh."

Will shook his head. Through his sobs, he whispered, "Booboo."

EJ frowned, barely able to understand the boy.

"Booboo?" EJ repeated. It took him a few moments to realize what the boy wanted.

EJ carefully pushed the boy away. Nervously, EJ pressed a kiss to the top of the boy's head.

Will blinked up at the boy, getting his first good look at his face.

EJ smiled at the boy's large blue eyes.

"Better?" EJ asked.

Will blinked. The boy's voice was different but not scary like the other men's voices. Will liked it.

EJ didn't know what to do under the boy's scrutiny. So, he placed another kiss on the boy's head.

"It's going to be okay," EJ repeated.

Will nodded and smiled slightly.

Will didn't hide from the boy when he came home now. Instead, Will continued playing in front of the door.

Instead of EJ almost falling over a toy, now he fell over Will.

"Can't you play somewhere else?" EJ wondered with a huff. "Somewhere I won't almost die?"

Will giggled and smiled.

"Oh, fine," EJ sat on the floor. "I might as well play too."

Every day Will and EJ got closer and closer. EJ took time to play with Will. Will looked forward to EJ coming home from school every day.

One night the mansion shook with the sound of thunder.

Will threw his covers over his head, trembling. He clung to his teddy bear.

As his room lit up with lightning and the windows clattered, Will rolled out of bed.

Will pushed open his door, teddy bear tight in his hand. He ran as fast as his little legs could take him to EJ's room.

EJ woke to two bony elbows and two bony knees digging into his stomach.

Will crawled over EJ as carefully as he could.

Thunder rumbled loudly.

Will squeaked, terrified.

"What?" EJ questioned, confused.

Will pushed his face into EJ's neck and held on tightly.

EJ, barely awake, put his arm around Will and patted his back.

"S'okay, Angel," EJ promised. "I got you."

"Daddy," Will whispered. "No let go."

EJ opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. He took a deep breath before replying.

"Daddy, won't let go," EJ swallowed. "Daddy's got you."