Happy New Year everybody! I honestly tried to get this chapter up faster, but ended up with more ideas for the upcoming chapters than this one. So sorry it was a wait – again.. But I just hope you'll like it.

Thanks again for all my reviewers, you all made my day! Please keep letting me know what you think.

Sonny stared out of the airplane window thoughtfully, gazing over the ground so far underneath him. Too many thoughts were flowing through his head and every second took him away further from the one person who could make him calm down with a simple glance, Will. Will, his Will, had been so great during all this so far. His mom alone had been driving him crazy with all the wedding plans, since she had taken it up to herself to make sure Alex and Charlotte got the perfect wedding. Just yesterday she's shown up at his doorstep unannounced, insisted on helping him pack his suitcase to make sure he'd bring the right clothing. He still had to smile at Will wordlessly handing him Ari, knowing that would calm him down while he simply followed Adrienne to their bedroom and let her rummage through their closet. The only thing he'd insisted on when she left is that they would elope together when it was their turn. Sonny remember the warm feeling spreading his body as Will had mentioned marriage casually and instantly felt better. Even from a distance, Will could calm him down. And he really need that since as of now, it wasn't just his mom annoying him, now it came to serious business. In just a few hours, he finally had to face his entire family. Face Alex, who he hadn't had a decent conversation with since they were teenagers. Heck, he finally came out for real by sending him some pictures of his travels through Europe and casually slipping some shots of his first boyfriend Marc and him in. He didn't get a response to that, but did hear his mom say he was pleased he was having a great time. After that, they just kept to sending casual birthday and holiday messages, so he was quite surprised Alex had actually asked him to be the best man. Together with Vic and Joey, but still. For a second, he imagined what the four of them could talk about and felt embarrassed he couldn't come up with anything besides the wedding and the weather, when he felt a pair of eyes burning into the back of his head. He finally looked up to find his dad smiling knowingly, 'You miss them already, don't you?' he stated.

Sonny nodded, not wanting to get into his other thoughts, 'I don't think I ever had so much trouble getting on an airplane before' he said, smiling slightly, 'even if we're just going to be apart for a little while'.

They both looked at each other for a second, while Sonny imagined Will cleaning up their closet as we speak. He and Ari would take the next flight to Greece, since Will had an exam tomorrow. It worked out for the best, since it meant Gabi got to keep Ari overnight as planned and apparently there was a Kiriakis family only thing planned here tomorrow too. But still, Sonny wished Will was here with him now. Just being apart from him made him dread the upcoming confrontation more.

'Your mom should see you now' Justin smiled, gesturing at his sleeping wife across from them, 'remember how sure she was you needed a few more adventures before settling down?'

Sonny nodded with a smile, 'She gets it now' he added, 'I don't need to adventures to find myself anymore'

Justin tried to smile, but couldn't help shooting him a serious look. He had always been the opposite of his wife, who couldn't help but make her sons happiness her business, but he had to admit he always had worried a little about Sonny. And Sonny just admitted what he'd seen all along. As a kid, he had always been different. Caring and generous, always surrounded by friends, but also alone in a way. He'd never make a tendency to let some truly in, keeping a lot of stuff to himself. To a certain extent, Sonny still didn't tend to wear his heart on his sleeve.

'Dad, don't give me that look' Sonny interrupted his train of thoughts, 'I am happy, remember?'

Justin nodded, 'I know son' he agreed, 'I just couldn't help but wish you'd never felt the need to flee away to be yourself'

Sonny looked up at his father surprised, but didn't even know how to react. He was right, Sonny did flee in his travels at the time. He didn't know how to deal with all it and just avoided thinking about it by going away. And when he finally decided to settle down in Salem, he surrounded himself with a new crowd that never knew the old Sonny. In a way, Sonny never really did come out to a lot of people besides his parents. He left Dubai as the apparent straight teenage boy and arrived in Europe as a gay guy.

'It is okay, Sonny' Justin reassured him, 'I am sure it wasn't easy for you back then, especially since we lived in a country where it was illegal for you to be yourself. I can't just help but wish things were different'

Sonny nodded gratefully, 'things did turn out good, though' he stated with a smile, 'I like to think everything lead me to this. To Salem, to Will and Ari'

Justin couldn't help but pull his son in for a hug, just to show him how proud he was, when the captain announce they were about to land. They casually gathered all their stuff, waking up Adrienne when it was time to leave the plane.

'We're here' Adrienne announced enthusiastically, while opening the door to the Kiriakis mansion. She let Sonny and Justin, both carrying suitcases pass, and looked around. 'Boys?' she called again, as they heard sound coming from the living room. Sonny walked through there and found his two brothers hunched over a notepad lying on the coffee table. 'Hi strangers' he smiled, making them jump up, 'Jackson!' they yelled simultaneously. Sonny gave both brothers a hug, after which they focussed on their parents behind Sonny.

'Where are the bride and groom?' Justin then asked. Vic shrugged, 'I think it had something to do with the cake' he told them, when Joey shook his head, 'flowers' he corrected.

'Why don't you put your stuff upstairs' Vic then added, 'I'm sure they'll be here in a minute'

Justin nodded, while Sonny tried to get a glimpse of the notepad, 'What's that?' he wondered aloud.

'We could actually need your help with that' Joey grinned, 'We're planning the bachelor party'

The boys ignored the strict look their mother send them and focussed on their baby brother, 'And just to warn you beforehand, you might have to endure some female nakedness for an evening' Vic said grimly, before giving Sonny a cheeky wink.

'Victor!' Adrienne let out, before giving Justin a look to ask for some help.

'Way to acknowledge the gay-thing' Joey praised his brother sarcastically, looking at Sonny apologizing. Sonny however, grinned broadly and couldn't believe the casual comment. 'I'm sure I'll live, Vic' he assured his brother.

'Well, at least Will won't get jealous' Vic then pointed out, 'I'm looking forward to finally meeting him. Where is he?'
Sonny couldn't help but smile, 'He's still in Salem' he explained, 'Had an important exam, so he's flying out later'

Both boys nodded understanding, when they all heard the key in the front door. With a quick movement, Joey swept the notepad of the table and into a drawer, before standing back next to his brothers.

'Alex' Adrienne let out first, bringing her son in for a hug, before doing the same to Charlotte, 'So great to see the two of you again'.

Justin repeated the gesture and then stepped aside for Sonny, who had took a hesitant step forward. He observed his brother for a second, but didn't get a chance to say anything as the brunette next to him already came up to him with a broad smile, 'You must be Sonny' she said warmly, 'I am so glad I finally get to meet you after everything I've heard about you'. Sonny smiled back and let himself be pulled into a hug, 'We are so happy you all could come'.

Sonny greeted Alex with a sideway hug next, before smiling at Charlotte, 'I wouldn't miss it for the world' he assured her, feeling instantly warmed up towards his future sister-in-law.

'So, how are the preparations going?' Adrienne asked, focussing on the couple in front of her, 'Did you receive that list I send you yesterday?'

Charlotte smiled and nodded, 'We did Adrienne, thank you so much for all your help'

'Don't worry about that, dear' she assured her them warmly, 'I'm just happy to help'

Justin nodded with a smile, 'She really is' he pointed out, 'hasn't been able to talk about anything else for weeks'

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at that, knowing Adrienne well enough for that to be very true indeed. And then Vic casually gave his mother a strict look, 'But just so you know, mom' he spoke, 'I don't want you even mention the word marriage to Sophie'

Adrienne looked up, but before she could react Joey already put his arm around his brother, 'I don't think we have to worry about mom focussing our wedding next' he pointed out, 'I think our little brother here should be the first to get the honours. I recall she send us all a happy message when gay marriage was officially legalized in Illinois'

Sonny looked up wide-eyed between his brothers and his mother, not even daring to look at Alex before Justin saved the day, 'Let's focus on one wedding at a time, shall we' he winked casually, 'How about we go unpack now and we'll go out for dinner in about an hour?'

Everyone nodded, when Charlotte look around for a second, 'Just one question though, where is Will?' she asked, 'I thought he was coming too?'

Sonny couldn't help but see Alex tense up besides her but forced himself to smile as if he didn't, 'Yes, of course he is' he reassured her, 'He'll just take a later flight since he has an important exam. But don't worry, he and Ari will be there on Thursday'

Sonny saw the smile on Charlotte's face vanish for a second, before she looked at him surprised, 'Ari?' she then let out confused.

Within seconds, the atmosphere in the room thickened. Sonny didn't even know what to say, he saw Adrienne shooting a look filled with daggers at Alex, before he tried to get his voice to work again.

'Ari is..' Alex started explaining, grabbing his shoulder in a clearly uncomfortable manner, 'Erhm.. Ari is.. Ari is Will's daughter'

But just as he said, Sonny finished his sentence simultaneously, 'Ari is our daughter'.

For a second, the family members looked at each other silently, trying to pretend the air didn't just get even more tensed. 'I'm sure I've mentioned her before' Alex let out almost silently, looking over at Charlotte. She didn't acknowledge being spoken to, as Sonny just stared at Alex.

'She's a real angel, I'm sure you'll love her' Adrienne then spoke fondly, trying to lighten the mood. Sonny forced himself to look over at his mom and couldn't help but smile as he saw the love in her eyes as she spoke about her granddaughter. 'You better stop her' Justin warned them with a wink, but put a warm reassuring hand on Sonny's back at the same time, 'She just needs a little encouragement to pull the baby pictures out'.