"Will," Marlena said as she opened her front door. Her face lit up, yanking Will into a firm hug.

"Hi, Grandma," Will gushed. Eyes squeezed together, hugging her tight.

He didn't know how she did it but Marlena always gave the best hugs. She never even complained when Will held on longer than he should.

"Come in, come in," Marlena held Will's hand, pulling him toward her couch.

The two adjusted, bodies angled toward one another, knees touching.

"My dad wanted to spend the day with Ari," Will said. "And Ari was so excited about it. It was the cutest thing actually. It reminded me of when I was younger and there was nothing better than going to Grandma's house."

Marlena grinned taking a good look at Will.

"I like to think you're still as excited to spend time with me. Now, what's wrong?"

"Why do you assume something's wrong?" Will countered, fidgeting.

"I know you, sweetie," Marlena said with a perceptive smile. "Besides, I had a hunch you'd be over sooner or later with everything that's happened."

"Yeah," Will sighed. "You know me better than anyone these days."

"I do," Marlena patted Will's hand. "So, tell me what's on your mind."

"I don't know," Will edged. "It might not be anything. Maybe I'm over thinking everything."

"Overthinking what?"

"You know, being with Sonny," Will admitted, sneaking a peek at Marlena.

"Ah," Marlena nodded.

She gave Will a patient look and waited.

It didn't take long before Will exploded.

"I miss Paul so much. And I know everyone expects me to run back to Sonny but I don't know if I can. I've tried, Grandma. I have. But it feels exactly like it used to and I hate it."

"Okay, slow down," Marlena eased. "One thing at a time. I thought you wanted things to go back to the way they used to, with you and Sonny."

Will shook his head vehemently no.

"No, Grandma. I can't stand it. I don't know if it was the time apart or being with someone else but I don't know how I dealt with it before. Sonny doesn't treat me like an equal or his partner. He acts like I'm some wayward little boy in need of saving or directing. It's like having another parent."

Marlena tried to play devil's advocate.

"What if he's just worried about you, sweetheart? Everyone thought you died. He dealt with that pain and horror for years. When he finally got you back, he lost you to someone else. Someone he trusted. Maybe Sonny just wants to protect you."

"Protect me from what? Even if everyone thought I was dead, Sonny moved on. He was ready to have a whole new life with Paul and abandoned it for a guy who didn't even remember him."

"Do you think that's why he's holding on to you so tight now? He was minutes away from marrying Paul when he found out the potential news about you. Then, before he knew it, you were back and instead of wanting your husband, you went after Paul."

"But I didn't know Sonny as a husband then. I didn't feel anything for him. Being with him wouldn't have been fair when I wasn't interested in him. And how can he blame me for wanting Paul? He was going to marry him."

"Again, sweetheart, I'm sure that worried him most about losing you to Paul."

"He didn't lose me," Will argued, hands waving animatedly. "It wasn't a competition and I'm not a toy. I'm a person and it was my decision to divorce Sonny."

"I know that," Marlena said gently. "I know, sweetie. I'm sure Sonny knows that too and worries."

"Grandma," Will shook his head. "All he does is argue with me. He won't let me make my own decisions. I feel smothered and we haven't even been together more than a few days."

"Argue about what? Give me an example."

"He wants me to move in with him already. He refuses to listen to my opinion. I don't want to rush into anything. I don't want to live with him or his family."

"Why do you think he wants you to move in?"

"To control me. To watch my every move. To keep an eye on me."

"Is that it? Or is he worried you'll change your mind again unless he keeps you close?"

"No, he seems to think we're going to go right back to how we were when we were married. Our marriage was terrible towards the end. We weren't working. I don't want that again. And Sonny and I don't even know each other anymore."

"Well, then get to know each other again."

"He doesn't listen to me so why bother."

"He doesn't?"

"No," Will shook his head. "Besides, there's always something wrong with what I'm doing or saying. And he gets so mad about Paul but I can't help it. Even if he broke my heart, I miss him."

Marlena gave Will a sad smile.

"I didn't want him to leave and I miss him. I miss him so much, Grandma. I know I should respect Paul's decision but I hate that he left. I know I didn't give him any incentive to stay and I hate myself for that too.

"But Paul did leave. He left and Sonny was here and everyone was telling me I was going to end up with him anyway. I've tried to be with Sonny, Grandma. I swear I have. I've tried to feel how he wants me to, how everyone expects me to but I can't. After being with Paul, everything with Sonny doesn't feel right. When he kisses me or touches me, it's nothing like it was with Paul."

"No?" Marlena asked, sitting up a little bit straighter.

"When Sonny kisses me, it's nice. He's a good kisser and it's fine. But it wasn't like with Paul. Every time Paul touched me or kissed me, I felt it everywhere. It was electric. It isn't like that with Sonny."

"Have you been…intimate with Sonny?" Marlena asked, overcoming her own embarrassment on the subject.

"No," Will admitted. "Because every time he touches me, every time we kiss, I'm so bored. I try to get in the moment but I don't feel anything."

"Right," Marlena acknowledged. "You shouldn't force yourself to be with Sonny especially if you still have feelings for Paul."

"I know," Will agreed. "And I've tried to explain that to Sonny but he gets so mad and defensive. He doesn't understand my love for Paul was genuine. He thinks we only had a sexual relationship and we didn't. I mean, yeah we were intimate a lot but it was like we couldn't help ourselves. You know?"

"I do," Marlena smiled. "I remember those days. In fact, you remind me so much of myself."

"What do you mean?" Will asked.

"You and Paul and you and Sonny," Marlena sighed. "It's like watching my own past."

Will didn't get it.

"You remind me of my own struggles with John and Roman."

"Oh, now that you mention it, it is eerily similar. Although John and Grandpa never tried to marry each other."

Marlena let out a loud, harmonious laugh. "No, thankfully they didn't. It's been a long time but the situations are so similar."

Marlena grabbed Will's hand again and squeezed.

"I understand everything you're saying. There were times where I forced myself to be with Roman, to keep my distance from John. But I always ended up in the same place."

Marlena looked around her condo, seeing all the little touches of John in the décor.

"It took a long time and it's not always perfect, but I'm finally happy."

"Good," Will smiled at her, squeezing her hand back. "I'm glad."

"I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did," Marlena cautioned. "I tried to please others instead of myself and in the end, I hurt even more people. Wasted so many years being with someone I didn't truly want.

"You know I love your grandfather but he isn't the man for me. And I don't want that for you, sweetheart. I don't want you miserable to please others. I want you happy. I want you with the man you love. I want you with the man that loves you best."

"Thank you," Will gave her a sweet smile.

Marlena cupped Will's jaw, brushing against his cheek with her thumb.

"You know I'd never tell you what to do, not that you'd listen anyway," Marlena said. "Advise, yes, lecture, maybe. But I won't tell you what to do. I just want you to follow your heart, Will."

Will put his hand over Marlena's, holding her against his cheek and closing his eyes.

"I love you, Grandma," Will declared. "Thanks for listening to me."

"I love you too, sweetheart," Marlena smiled before letting Will go.

She stood up, brushing her hands against her suit pants.

"You know I think Sonny is a good person," Marlena said as she moved over to her desk. She rummaged through a few papers before holding something to her chest. "But I think of Paul the same way I think of Brady, one of my own."

Marlena placed the paper on the coffee table in front of Will.

"I won't tell you what to do, Will," Marlena's eyes twinkled. She moved back to her desk and opened up her purse. She took a credit card out of her wallet and set it next to the paper.

"As long as you're happy, I'm happy. Now, I'm going to make us some coffee. You think things over."

As soon as Marlena turned toward the kitchen, Will snatched the paper off the table.

It was a postcard.

A postcard from Paul.

A postcard with Paul's new address.

A postcard with Paul's new address in San Francisco.

Marlena wasn't surprised when she walked back into the room to find Will and both cards missing.

*Marlena ships Will/happiness which I believe is Horita. Ergo, Marlena ships Horita