Warning for brief mention of an abortion

Will pushed the key card in the hotel room door quickly, Alex's wandering fingers tracing up and down the front of his pants. Pushing the door open Will barely had time to take in the expensive looking furniture before Alex turned him around and slammed him against the door.

"That was the longest car ride of our lives," Alex complained, tossing their bags to the side, as he started to unbutton Will's shirt. "Why couldn't we have flown?"

"I'm afraid of heights," Will gasped as Alex gave up on the buttons and ripped the rest of his shirt open.

"I keep telling you, you wouldn't have time to be afraid if I could shove you into the bathroom," Alex's hands started mapping Will's chest and sides, fingers connecting all the faded marks he'd left on Will's skin.

"You couldn't fuck me the whole time," Will closed his eyes, loving the gentle pressure being applied to his bruises. "Besides, you were more than satisfied when we crossed into Nevada and I blew you."

"Gave that bus beside us a nice view too," Alex smirked briefly. Lifting one hand to grasp Will's chin Alex thumbed across Will's bottom lip, "And as perfect as your mouth is I want something else right now."

"Don't you have to go set up your display?" Will asked through a wide smile, following after Alex towards the bed. "You still haven't even shown me the pictures you're using."

"I've got you completely to myself for the next three days and I'm not going to waste it," Alex felt his knees hitting the edge of the bed. "The gallery can wait. I can't."

Will, pushing Alex carefully on the bed, smiled brightly as he crawled over him, "Then I guess we better make the most of it."

Skin sticking together, chests heaving Will, fingers running up and down Alex's chest, played one of his and Alex's favorite games, "What if I stayed in Switzerland with Austin and Carrie?"

"Hmm," Alex, eyes closed, thought for a moment, "I would have found you in a bar."

"I'd pretend I couldn't speak English because you'd intimidate me so badly," Will added smiling at the scenario.

"I wouldn't care," Alex pressed, "I'd tell you everything I wanted to do to you and watch your skin turn that red color it gets and figure out you were lying."

"OK," Will laughed and bit his lip before saying quietly, "What if you moved back to Salem when your dad and Adrienne did?"

Alex tightened his hold on Will's hip, "After you slept with Gabi you would have run into me and I'd put any questions you had about being gay to rest."

"That was an awfully quick answer," Will noted in surprise.

"I've thought about it a lot," Alex admitted.

"OK," Will licked his lips, "What would have happened after that?"

"I would have been afraid of my feelings for you then," Alex rushed out quickly, "So you would have ended up with Sonny."

Will's eyebrows rose in surprise, "Oh yeah?"

"Yep," Alex kneaded Will's hip, "And when everyone found out Gabi was pregnant I would have been there for you. Because seeing you with him would have driven me crazy. And I would have seen my chance and taken it."

"I would have liked that," Will sighed kissing Alex's chest knowing what that would have meant to Alex. 'He really is sentimental.'

"And you never would have had to deal with that idiot cousin of yours causing problems," Alex told Will firmly. "I never would have let that happen."

Will smiled, just imagining Nick anywhere near Alex, "That would have saved me a lot of trouble."

The two sat in comfortable silence, minds playing out the possibilities. Will wondered about Alex's fear that he wouldn't have been able to handle having feelings for Will if they had met any other time in their lives. Then he remembered the conversation he had with Alex before things started getting so serious with them.

"Have you always lived in California?" Will asked Alex as he lay plastered to Alex's side.

"Oh god no," Alex laughed hand running up and down Will's back, "I've lived everywhere. What about you?"

"No," Will sighed, looking around the room slightly, "I grew up in a small town. For a while I lived in another country with my uncle but not for long."

"Why did you move here then?" Alex wondered. 'Wow,' Alex thought feeling a bit uncomfortable, 'I actually care.'

"A lot of reasons," Will said evasively. 'No, stop it. You have to be honest. If you're not honest now it will all blow up in your face later. At least if he decides to hate you it won't hurt as much now.'

"Actually," Will cleared his throat, "The main reason is because I got divorced."

Alex wrinkled his eyebrows and pursed his lips, "Huh. You're like what? Fifteen? How are you divorced?"

Will smacked Alex's chest lightly, "I got married when I was young and it didn't pan out the way it was supposed to."

"Why did you get divorced?" Alex questioned finding himself curious. He wanted to know everything there was about Will and he didn't understand why.

"A lot of reasons," Will supplied, closing his eyes, 'He's going to hate me too.' "But the biggest ones are probably that I cheated on him, twice."

Alex stared up at the ceiling a few times trying to process what he was told. 'I did not see that coming.' "Alright," Alex nodded, "What are the other reasons?"

"What?" Will sat up slightly so he could see Alex's face.

"You said cheating was one reason what are the other ones," Alex shrugged. Seeing the confused, wide eyed, insecure look on Will's face Alex pushed him back down against his side, "So you cheated on him. I'm sure if I told you about my past you'd run screaming the other way."

"I doubt there's anything you could have done that beats me," Will challenged. 'You didn't grow up in Salem.'

"OK," Alex smirked, "When I was 19 I got arrested for possession of pot."

"When I was around that age I got arrested because they thought I murdered someone," Will countered with not knowing why he was telling Alex all of this. 'God he's going to leave you and know every one of your secrets. Stop talking.'

Alex smiled feeling slightly impressed. "Alright, when I was 14 I told my parents I was going to a summer program when in reality I was trying to hunt down my real mother by going from country to country for two months by myself looking for her."

Will squeezed Alex's hip slightly. He knew how strained Alex's home life was, how he never felt like he belonged with his step-mother. 'And holy crap really?'

"That's a good one and a little scary and it definitely explains a lot about you," Will conceded, "But when I was 14 I literally shot my step-father in the back."

"You did not," Alex laughed, "There's no way."

"I did," Will argued, voice getting animated, "That's why I had to live with my uncle."

"Is this the step-father that's dead now?" Alex asked remembering every detail Will ever told him about his family life.

"Yeah, someone else shot him that time though," Will clarified. "You got anything else for me?"

"When I was a senior," Alex smirked, recalling the memory, "I had sex with one of my brother's girlfriends."

Will huffed a laugh against Alex's chest, "Did he ever find out?"

"I told him after he broke up with her when he found a different girl," Alex shrugged, "And he didn't talk to me for a few days after I told him but I thought of that as a reward so."

"You're kind of awful," Will admitted with a small smile.

Alex dragged his hand up to Will's hair, "So now that you know I'm not perfect, shocking I know," he ignored Will's snort, "Tell me what the other reasons were."

Will, tracing circles on Alex's chest, lamented, "I met him before I came out. I really struggled and hated myself then. He was there for me. He was the first guy I was ever with."

"So you married him?" Alex guessed feeling odd hearing this. He felt something clawing at his insides, some horrible emotion he'd never felt before taking over.

Will nodded, "I got this job opportunity in LA. He encouraged me to go."

"And that's where you met someone else," Alex figured as much.

"It was this other writer," Will confessed with a long-suffering sigh. "He made me feel good about myself but he was just using me. I got fired and went back home."

"That was one time," Alex reminded Will after a few moments of silence, "What about the next one?"

Will rolled his eyes, "Practically the same thing. I apparently was starved for attention or compliments or praise. I don't know. I spent all my time with him and neglected my husband. I just remember he made me feel like I was special. That at least someone thought I was, for a while."

"Why didn't you think that before?" Alex didn't understand.

"Everyone always told me how I wasn't good enough for him," Will's voice got quiet and small. "His mom in particular. Even before we started dating she let me know. And I was doing this project on the guy. He was going to be my big story, right? And I told you about how I struggled with my writing before. I was always writing the wrong thing or doing something wrong. I thought I finally had something right. It doesn't excuse what I did. I know that and I never should have done it."

"So he found out and you got divorced," Alex hated hearing Will sound like that. Hated anything that could make him sound unsure of himself and small. 'How could anyone think he wasn't good enough?'

"No," Will closed his eyes, burying his nose against Alex's skin, "The second guy he was my husband's ex that I never knew about. And I realized that everything I thought I had wasn't real."

"What does that mean?" Alex wasn't sure he was following.

"They only broke up because he wouldn't come out of the closet. And I realized that every moment of our relationship was different. Everything had changed for me. I couldn't get passed the idea that he was just using me as a placeholder for someone else. He made me feel like I wasn't good enough, like I didn't matter. And I didn't know how to deal with that so I just made stupid mistake after stupid mistake. No one forced me to do anything though. It was all me."

Alex's face twisted, "Who would be dumb enough to not see how good you are?"

"Oh yeah," Will choked out a laugh, "I'm a real catch."

"You are," Alex insisted getting upset.

"Since I'm being honest I might as well tell you everything," Will knew it wouldn't matter anyway. "The reason I never let you come over or spend the whole night with you? It's because I have a daughter. She's three."

Alex felt his mouth open slightly, mind whirling, not sure what to do.

"When I was struggling with my sexuality I wanted to prove that I wasn't gay," Will informed Alex, positive that out of everything that he told him tonight, this was going to be what made him leave. 'Alex isn't the type for kids or relationships or settling down.'

"So I slept with one of my friends and she of course got pregnant. And my daughter is the best and brightest thing in my life but she wasn't a complete surprise," Will disclosed. "So there you go. I'm a divorced, cheating single father who lives with his mother. When I'm done here you'll have to get in line with all the others who are vying at the chance to be with me."

Alex stayed silent as he breathed heavily through his nose. 'Divorced I can handle. A kid? I'm not so sure.' Alex was tempted to push Will off of him and tell him to get dressed. To tell Will his goodbyes and never see him again. But something was holding Alex back.

Maybe it was the new sensation he felt clawing away at his stomach, feeling like it was crawling up his throat whenever he thought about Will with someone else. Hearing that tone in Will's voice made him want to hold Will tightly, shield him. 'I've never felt anything like this before,' Alex closed his eyes and sneered. 'This isn't who I am. I don't get attached. I'm not protective or jealous.'

When Alex didn't say anything Will pressed his lips together and rolled out from under his arm. He knew it was coming. Alex was only supposed to be a bit of fun. Something to make him feel alive again. It was never supposed to be this. Never was he supposed to reveal all his secrets and feel anything like this.

'Get real Horton,' Will thought to himself as he sat on the edge of the bed looking for his clothes. 'Someone like Alex would never want anyone like you. When has anyone ever wanted you for more than sex?' Just as Will went to stand up he felt a large, strong hand on his arm pulling him back down.

Will struggled against Alex's grip for a few moments until Alex wrapped both his arms around Will and dragged him until Will's back was to Alex's chest. "I wasn't entirely honest earlier and I've never told anyone this before," Alex said into Will's ear, "But I think I should tell you."

Alex closed his eyes and focused, 'I can't believe I'm doing this.' "When I was in my first year of high school there was this girl I liked. Liked, mind you, not loved. And I got her pregnant."

Will stopped fighting against Alex and slumped against him, 'Oh.'

"And we didn't know what to do," Alex continued, "So she terminated it. I told her it was her decision. I knew there was no way we would have been able to handle it. After that, that's when I started acting out a lot. Doing everything I could to upset my parents, sleeping around, messing with some drugs and alcohol. I was probably just trying to deal with everything I don't know. Combine that with my fucked up home life and I was a recipe for disaster. Her getting pregnant was a mistake but I don't think what happened after was. But I never told anyone that before."

"Except for now," Will whispered while swallowing heavily knowing how much it must have taken for Alex to admit that.

"Yeah," Alex rested his chin on Will's shoulder. "If I would have met you at any other time in my life I would have fucked you a few times and gotten bored. But for whatever reason, since that night I saw you, there's been this thing attacking my insides and it keeps calling your name."

"Maybe I'll take one look at your kid and run the other direction," Alex shrugged, "I don't know how everything is going to work out. I know you've made mistakes and so have I. But if you'd let me I'd like to try, you know, being with you."

Will bit his lip tightly, trying not to smile, trying not to get his hopes up. Turning in Alex's arms Will looked at his dark blue eyes, "For the record referring to your feelings for me as a parasite is not romantic."

"Whatever," Alex cupped Will's face, "But just so you know," Alex dipped his eyes towards Will's mouth, "It doesn't matter to me that you shot anyone, that your mom lied to you about who your dad was," Alex smiled when he noticed Will's surprised face that he remembered, "That you cheated on your husband or that you have a kid I'd still beat down every other guy lining up for you to make sure you were all mine."

"Where did you go?" Alex questioned when Will didn't respond to him.

"Oh," Will shook himself out of it, "Sorry, just thinking about you and me."

"Were you thinking about how sexy you are?" Alex asked seriously, hand rubbing up and down Will's skin, "Because that's what I was thinking about."

"No," Will laughed. Will had noticed that ever since that conversation Alex complimented him more, on his looks, on his writing, on everything. Will suspected it had something to do with his confession but Will never once doubted Alex's sincerity. In fact he loved him even more for it.

"We need to get dressed," Will sat up, stretching his arms over his head, "And I need to call my mom and check on Ari."

"You look like an overgrown child," Alex rolled his eyes fondly as he pulled Will out of the elevator and into the casino.

"I've never been to Vegas before," Will defended while smiling widely at everything he was seeing. The sound of the slot machines dinging and the music over the radio, 'Even the oddly patterned carpets aren't so bad,' Will thought as he felt Alex's arm around his waist.

"You're kind of adorable," Alex smiled as he slid his hand from the small of Will's back, over the curve of his ass and into Will's back pocket.

"I'm adorable," Will elbowed Alex slightly, "I know exactly why you picked this hotel over all the others."

"Please," Alex looked everywhere but at the knowing expression on Will's face, "I picked it because it's a five-diamond hotel and nothing else."

"Uh huh," Will put his head on Alex's shoulder, "Sure it is. I guess the name had nothing to do with it then."

"Ari and Aria do not sound anything alike," Alex said nose turned up in the air, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You miss her," Will teased with a wide grin, "You wish she came with us."

"I most certainly do not," Alex scoffed. "Please? What would she even do with us here? I've got big plans."

"Mmm hmm, sure," Will lifted his head up and looked around as they walked outside into the hot desert air.

"It's so much nicer being in a pool you don't have to clean yourself," Will sighed as he relaxed against Alex's chest, aviator sunglasses snug on his face, warm sun beating down on his skin.

"That's true," Alex agreed, resting the side of his face against Will's hair. "It's also nice to not hear any high pitched squeals."

Hearing a group of females start giggling nearby Will chuckled, "Well not our high pitched squeal." Will glanced over at the group and saw them all staring in his and Alex's direction. Closing his eyes again Will wondered if they were staring at Alex or him or the both of them together.

"What time is the art exhibit opening tonight?" Will asked as he licked his lips pondering if he needed more sunblock.

"Around eight," Alex shrugged. "I think I need to get there by seven though. Are you going to stay with me the whole time or go explore?"

"I think I'll explore a bit if that's cool," Will wanted to see as much of Las Vegas as he could. He'd never been in a place that was so crowded yet so small before. "And you won't even give me a hint about the pictures? Not even which model?"

"No hints," Alex bit his lip, "You'll see soon enough." 'And hopefully won't kill me.'

Will pulled away from Alex, dipping further into the cool water for a moment, before pressing himself against Alex and wrapping his arms around his neck. "Well, I'm sure whatever pictures you used are going to be amazing."

"Oh they are," Alex bragged hands dragging up and down Will's dripping wet back, "I know they are."

Will smiled before angling his head and kissing Alex wetly. He didn't care that they were in a public pool in the middle of the day. He didn't care that anyone could see them. This was the first time they had ever gone away together without Ari and Alex was right. They needed to make the most of it.

Gasping when Alex started kissing along his neck Will opened his eyes and startled slightly. "Alex," Will whispered, "Did you tell anyone that we were coming here?"

"Seriously," Alex pulled away from Will, "You want to talk now?"

"Well I'm just wondering why Joey is coming this way," Will stated giving Alex an unimpressed look.

Alex, holding onto Will's hips firmly, turned from his spot leaning against the wall. "You have got to be fucking kidding me," Alex groaned.

"You are dead," Alex warned Joey when he waltzed over to them with a big grin on his face, "You are so dead."

"Wow," Joey proclaimed loudly, "This is such a coincidence. Who knew you two were going to be here as well this weekend." Smacking his hand against his thigh Joey laughed, "This is like fate."

"You knew," Alex hissed, "You knew we were going to be here you little pain in the ass."

Will looked at Joey suspiciously. He didn't like that nervous expression on his face or the too loud volume of his voice, "What did you do?"

"Well," Joey sat down on the edge of the pool, kicking off his sandals and slipping his feet in the water, "It's a good thing the whole family is here otherwise it wouldn't be much of a wedding."

Will looked quickly behind Joey and inhaled sharply as he saw the parade of family members walking around the pool area oohing and awing.

"Ha, ha," Joey laughed weakly as he saw the angry expression on Will and Alex's faces, "Please don't kill me."

Will and Alex sat across from Joey under a cabana with their arms crossed.

"Well what was I supposed to do," Joey cracked, "They planned on getting married here. Alex told me you guys would be here. I just made a suggestion about the day and they all agreed."

"Did it ever occur to you that we didn't want to see them get married?" Will asked with a shrug. He never anticipated seeing his dad marry Adrienne. At most he thought he would get a few pictures from his Grandma Kate, the only person in Salem he still talked to.

"Not really no," Joey admitted. "But look I figured being surrounded by so much alcohol and debauchery would lessen the blow. I mean this is like Alex's idea of a playground. Besides I'm in charge of the bachelor party tonight and I knew Alex could tell me the best strip clubs."

Will wrinkled his nose, "I don't want anything to do with my father and strippers. What is wrong with you?"

"There's bound to be a coed one somewhere," Joey looked to Alex for help, "No hints? OK, well I still need to plan something. I think the girls are going to the Chippendale show."

"Did Adrienne drop you on the head as a child?" Alex looked at Joey blankly.

Joey pressed his lips together, "No."

"My dad dropped me," Will commented. Seeing the looks they were giving him he added, "He did."

"I'll buy you all the booze you can drink," Joey smiled charmingly. "Come on, it's just tonight and the wedding's tomorrow. You guys can make it through this."

Will looked over at the group of people he recognized. He was prepared to never see any of these people again. 'Yet again here I am without any warning being forced to see the people I left behind.'

Alex squeezed Will's thigh, wanting to throttle his stupid brother. "Did it ever occur to you that there was a reason we didn't know about this stupid wedding?"

"Again," Joey shook his head, "No." 'Are they aware they use the same speech patterns now?'

Will watched as his father walked around the outside area with Adrienne on his arm, Jennifer and Abagail laughing behind them as well as John with Marlena on his arm pointing at all of the sights. 'I guess the bright side is the majority of the people in that town that really hate me won't be here,' Will supposed. Seeing Sonny, Paul and Vic walking a bit slower in the back Will frowned, 'Or it will be completely horrible.'

"There's only one way we're getting through this," Will told Joey looking at him seriously at least hoping his Grandma Kate was going to be here.

Alex, seeing Sonny and who he assumed to be Paul, rolled his eyes, hand clamping harder on Will's thigh.

"What's that?" Joey wondered feeling a bit apprehensive.

Will giggled loudly, nose pressed into Alex's cheek as Alex pulled Will onto his lap in the nearby hot tub.

"You are such a light weight," Alex smiled at Will's slightly pink cheeks from their first pitcher of margaritas. 'I think Will pretty much stuck a straw in it and sucked the whole thing down himself.'

"Sorry," Will smiled, slipping along Alex's lap, "It went straight to my head."

"We need to get some food in you," Joey commented as he shook his head.

"I know what else I need in me," Will said licking along Alex's jawline.

"Wow," Joey held his hands up, "I don't know how I'm supposed to take that. Because technically by this time tomorrow Will's going to be my baby brother and Alex is my big brother. This is getting weird now. I think I should break this up."

"You're ruining my mood," Alex spat at Joey over his shoulder. "Go away before you attract any of the others."

"You're gonna have to see them sometime," Joey shrugged laughing at Will's wandering hands.

"No," Will shook his head feeling a bit lightheaded, "Just bring everyone over now. We can all sit here and reminisce about the good old days."

"When you were married to Sonny," Joey quipped with a grin.

"I was thinking more like when Paul fucked me," Will shot back, "But sure whatever."

Joey couldn't help but burst into laughter. He was still getting to know Will and with each new bit he learned he was starting to really like him. He felt a bit sorry that he was laughing about Sonny getting cheated on but after the awkward encounter he witnessed back in California Joey didn't feel that bad about it.

Alex swatted Will on the butt, "You should just take Joey and Vic out for a spin and complete the set."

"Ooh," Will puckered his lips, "That can be my wedding gift to Adrienne. Telling her I've had all of her children. That would make all her dreams come true."

"Hey now," Joey held his hands up, "You're barking up the wrong tree here. Vic's the one that watches gay porn."

"Quit telling people that," Vic groaned as he walked over to his brother and overheard his conversation. Glancing down and realizing who Joey was talking to Vic sighed, "Well there went that drama free wedding mom was wanting."

Joey, sipping on a margarita of his own while sitting in the hot tub, laughed as he watched Alex rub sunblock on Will's shoulders as Will told him about Ari's first soccer match. Vic, after throwing a fit, went off to keep everyone away from the hot tubs.

"And then this idiot," Will said unnaturally loud thumb pointing at Alex, "Starts screaming and yelling about Ari getting tripped when she clearly fell over her own feet. She's my daughter, of course she did. Anyway so Alex is ranting like an idiot which gets Ari going too and I was trying to get them both to knock it off because I just wanted to leave and go to the damn pizza party."

"Oh my god," Joey snorted at Alex, "You're a total parent."

"You take that back," Alex tossed the bottle of sunblock at Joey's face, smirking when it bounced off his ear and flopped onto the decking.

"I heard him call her princess the other day," Will divulged in a mock whisper.

Alex put his hand over Will's face, "I think you need to reapply your face too."

Laughing Will wiggled away from Alex's hand and turned around, "You know I love it when you do that stuff."

"Wipe stuff on your face?" Alex said rationally, "Trust me, I know."

"No," Will smiled adoringly, alcohol making him emotional, "How much you care about her. You love her." Will pressed his nose against Alex's.

"Uh huh, right," Alex dismissed before grabbing the back of Will's head and kissing him.

Joey looked around the hot tub to see if anyone else was around. "Well this is uncomfortable," Joey pronounced out loud when he didn't see anyone. "I really should find a girlfriend. Alex probably wouldn't even sleep with her this time."

Alex flipped off Joey before pulling Will tighter against him.

"Oh real mature," Joey mocked in a horrible impersonation of Alex, "I'm Alex and I'm stupidly in love and I get to make out in hot tubs on vacation with my sexy young boyfriend. I don't care at all about traumatizing my baby brother."

"Joey?" Adrienne asked as her and Lucas walked by, somehow evading Vic, "Why are you talking to yourself?"

"Uh," Joey put his drink down and turned to face his mother. With a wide grin Joey said, "Mommy! Do you love it here?"

"Yes," Adrienne looked at her son suspiciously before really examining the intertwined couple next to him. The couple that looked entirely too familiar. "Alex? Will?"

Alex mumbled, "Fuck," against Will's lips before they detached and looked at Adrienne and Lucas.

"Will," Lucas looked at him in shock, "What, what are you two doing here?"

"Well," Will rubbed his kiss swollen lips with his fingers, "That would be Joey's fault."

Joey gave his mother another wide smile and leaned his head against her leg, "I love you so much."

Will and Alex sat in the hot tub, holding hands, while Lucas and Adrienne sat across from them feet dipped into the water. No one really knew what to say after Joey explained his involvement. 'What the hell do you say after the last time we were all together,' Will wondered recalling that awful night the month before.

"Where's Ari?" Adrienne wondered quietly looking around the pool area hoping to see her. She was so focused on Alex and Will that day that she never gave much thought to Ari. 'She's always going to be my first grandbaby,' Adrienne thought wistfully.

"With my mom," Will told them trying to focus despite the tequila and the bright sun making it difficult.

Alex, practically crushing Will's hand, relented when he saw they wanted more of an explanation, "We're here for an art showing."

"You're gonna be in a show?" Adrienne questioned softly knowing how hard Alex worked on his photographs. 'And I never gave his art as much praise or thought as I did the other boy's ambitions, did I?'

"Yes," Alex replied in a gruff tone leaving no other room for questions or comments.

Lucas, putting his hand on top of Adrienne's, cleared his throat, "I know that we left things off in a bad way last month but I hope we can put that aside for this weekend. The two of us," Lucas gestured between himself and Adrienne, "Don't want anything causing any disruptions regarding our wedding."

"Then you shouldn't have let Joey be in charge of your bachelor party," Alex responded with a smirk.

"We aren't going to ruin your wedding if that's what you're thinking," Will rolled his eyes. "We're here for Alex's exhibit. That's it. We didn't even know you'd be here. And contrary to popular belief we don't care that you're getting married. In fact, I'm happy if you're happy. If you're happy and in love you should be together."

Adrienne took a deep breath. She had been thinking nonstop about Alex since that night in California. She replayed the words he told her over and over again in her mind. 'How can he not care about me at all,' Adrienne agonized time and time again. 'Did I really treat him that differently? Did I resent him so much that I turned him away from me?'

'But maybe them being here is a sign,' Adrienne couldn't help but think. 'Maybe it's proof that we can all work everything out.'

"I would like you to be there tomorrow," Adrienne confessed, tone as heartfelt and earnest as she could get it, "I want the two of you to come to our wedding."

Alex lifted one eyebrow glancing at Adrienne suspiciously. "Why?" he questioned.

"Because you're my son," Adrienne answered in a small voice. "And I want you there with me."

Before Alex could open his big mouth Will squeezed his hand firmly. Will knew that Alex had major issues with Adrienne, and everyone in the world knew so did he, but he didn't want to ruin her wedding. 'Her wedding to my dad,' Will thought feeling a little bit grossed out. Will hoped Alex would at least let the two of them talk about it instead of flat out saying no.

Alex rolled his eyes, "What time does this thing start?"

"Finally," Alex complained as Adrienne and Lucas left, "I thought we'd never be alone." Alex dragged Will back onto his lap, not wanting to think about Adrienne for another second.

Will smiled before wrapping his arms around Alex's neck and kissing him soundly, moaning a bit when he felt Alex's fingertips dipping into the waistband of his swim trunks.

"I brought more booze," Joey announced loudly as he stepped into the hot tub with another pitcher of margaritas and three glasses. "This time it's strawberry. Oh and a few extra brothers too."

Will contemplated moving away from Alex when he heard a few sputtering sounds behind him but decided against it. 'This is my vacation and I'm going to enjoy it Kiriakis family be damned.'

Vic stomped into the hot tub, glaring at Joey heatedly. 'Alex went back to his room my ass.'

"What?" Paul tried to say something coherent but couldn't. His face twisted in confusion. He hadn't seen Will in so long he almost didn't recognize him. He had no idea Will was going to be at the wedding but now Paul realized how stupid that was. 'His own father is the groom of course he'd be here. Although I think we could all do without the display.'

Paul looked away from Will and frowned sitting down in the water uncomfortably. Paul had hoped that after all this time Will would have been able to move on with his life. That once he realized Sonny wasn't going to be chasing after him Will would get over Sonny. 'I won Sonny in the end. But Will's seriously doing this here, in front of all of us. Does he really think making out with his boyfriend is going to make Sonny jealous? Hasn't he grown up at all?'

"You cannot be serious right now," Sonny practically spat at his brother and Will staring at them with open contempt. "You're in public for god's sake." 'Why are they here? I don't want them to be here.'

Alex, planning to punch Joey later for this, pecked Will's lips a few more times, lingering slightly, before pulling away. "In public in Vegas so it doesn't count. We were alone until you assholes came over here anyway. Find your own hot tub."

"All the other ones are full," Joey said cheerfully, sucking down his drink quickly. 'Best to get this out of the way now before the wedding.'

"Probably something to do with how you two are the only ones pawing each other," Vic replied dryly.

Will looked around at the other hot tubs knowing that couldn't be true. He shrugged, turning so he was sitting sideways on Alex's lap, arm around his neck, "You guys are the only ones complaining."

Paul looked between Will and his boyfriend curiously. 'Why the hell does everyone seem so buddy-buddy?'

"What the hell are you doing here anyway?" Sonny demanded arms crossed over his chest, refusing to acknowledge the way he suddenly felt sick to his stomach, "I know they didn't invite you."

Will smiled proudly as he answered, alcohol making him talkative, "Alex's photos are gonna be in a special one night only exhibit tonight at the Bellagio Art Gallery."

Turning to face everyone else in the hot tub Will immediately noted the confused look on Paul's face. Not giving him much thought at the moment Will relaxed against Alex and smiled to himself, 'Alex's abs are so much better than Paul's. Ha!'

Alex sighed, hand splayed against Will's firm stomach, "You didn't need to tell them that."

"Yes I did," Will waved away his complaints. Alex always hated when Will fussed over his art but deep down Will knew he loved it. He knew that no one was ever very supportive of Alex before. "They personally invited him," Will grinned widely.

"Wow," Vic smiled at Alex, knowing how big of a deal this was for him, "That's awesome, Alex. Congratulations."

"Yeah, yeah," Alex tried as hard as he could not to smile.

"Speaking of," Will said, "We should probably go get ready if we want to make our dinner reservations and get to the exhibit on time. Plus I need time to sober up."

Alex nodded, "Anything to not be here." He had shown a remarkable amount of self-control not looking at or saying anything to Sonny or Paul. 'Good thing Will guzzled all the tequila.'

Will climbed out of the hot tub, feeling a bit wobbly, as he grabbed the towels he had for him and Alex. Handing one to Alex Will started drying his chest and back laughing when Alex used his own towel to dry Will's hair.

"So I'll let you know about the bachelor party," Joey observed Will and Alex with a small smile. "And you seriously have no suggestions for strip clubs?"

Alex rolled his eyes, "That you're gonna need to figure out on your own. Oh and by the way," Alex walked over to Joey and punched him as hard as he could in the arm. "That's for ruining my weekend."

Joey made a pained face and rubbed his arm, "Excuse me for wanting my oldest and youngest brothers here."

"You're not excused," Alex informed him before grabbing his room key and the bottle of sunblock and dragging Will away. "And quit calling him that, it creeps me out."

"It's gonna take forever to get your hair the way I like it," Will, head on Alex's shoulder, reached up and started messing with Alex's dark locks.

"No," Alex slapped his hand away, "You aren't touching my hair. You always make me look like I should be in Happy Days."

Paul watched the two of them walking away feeling like he was missing something. 'Will Horton looked at me sitting next to Sonny in a hot tub and he didn't even react. He didn't care at all. Will Horton of all people.'

"What was that?" Paul asked breaking the awkward silence surrounding them looking between Sonny and his brothers in confusion.

"That would be Will," Joey commented, already on his second strawberry margarita, "I'm pretty sure you know him. Intimately from what I've been told."

Vic gave Sonny a pointed look setting his jaw when he saw Sonny look away from him quickly. 'God this weekend is going to be awful.'

"Will's dating Alex," Vic informed Paul who was looking at Joey like he had lost his mind. Vic liked the guy he really did but at the moment Vic wasn't sure he liked any of his brothers. Reaching over Joey, Vic grabbed one of the empty glasses and poured himself a drink, "As in Alex our brother." 'I'm gonna need this.'

"Wha-when did you all find that out?" Paul questioned carefully looking at Sonny. 'Why didn't he tell me?'

"This is even more awkward than when Alex and Will were making out," Joey remarked before clanking his glass against Vic's.

Will bounced back and forth on his toes as he stood next to Alex. "When are you going to pull open the curtain?" Will questioned as he tried to peak under it.

"Stop that," Alex hissed, nervously adjusting the blazer he was wearing. He knew his photos were good; great even but there were going to be a lot of critics walking around looking at his display. 'God, did I put them in the right order? Maybe I should have started backwards.'

"Hey," Will put his hand on Alex's shoulders and licked his lips, trying not to blind Alex with his smile. "This is going to be so good."

"You haven't even seen which ones I'm using," Alex tried to argue, shaking his head.

"I've loved every single one of your pictures," Will remind Alex, "Even the ones that make me blush. So I know that for something like this you're gonna use the ones you think are the best."

"I did," Alex nodded, "I just hope you don't kill me for it."

Will blinked a few times, "What does that mean?"

"Play our game with me," Alex requested quickly, "Please."

Will looked at him strangely but shrugged, "OK. What if I came to this show, tonight, and met you?"

"I would grab your hand," Alex laced his fingers with Will's, "And try to distract you from what the curator is saying." Alex pressed his nose against the back of Will's ear, "Tell you how nice you look in these pants," Alex's other hand snuck down to Will's ass, "And I'd turn you around and show you my photos."

Alex, when he saw the other artists pulling open their curtains, did the same. Turning Will around Alex braced himself for whatever fallout was coming his way.

Will squeezed Alex's hand. He knew how hard Alex worked on his photography. How many hours he spent getting everything just right. He couldn't wait to see exactly which pictures he had chosen.

Walking around the small space Will took in the first picture, the angles and the shading. Everything that Alex taught him to look for. Recognizing the model, Will was beginning to feel a little bit less excited about the exhibit.

"Alex," Will said in a careful voice staring at the picture.

"Yes," Alex answered, knowing what was coming.

"Are these pictures of me," Will turned to face his boyfriend and glared at him.

"…Yes," Alex lifted his hands to Will's shoulders, "I knew I needed to use my best ones and yours-"

"I told you I didn't want anyone to see those," Will took a step away from Alex. "You said you wouldn't use them. You promised me."

"I know," Alex tried to explain, "But-"

"I-I need to not be here right now," Will looked around the walls at the various pictures of his body and said, "I'll be back in a little bit."

"Will," Alex called out wanting to run after him when one of the art directors came over to his exhibit. 'Fuck,' Alex thought to himself.

Will sat down at a bar downstairs in the casino after walking around for a few minutes. Will ordered another margarita, figuring he should at least stick to one type of alcohol. Thanking the bartender Will took a large gulp trying to figure out what he was going to do about Alex and the photos. Closing his eyes Will remembered exactly how Alex convinced him to take them.

Will watched Alex as he looked over the pictures he had taken that day. Will thought they all looked amazing but Alex would sneer or frown at some before deleting them automatically. Will didn't want to disrupt Alex with annoying questions so he went back to focusing on his article.

When Alex was done looking through everything he went to put his camera away, ready to be done for the night, when he looked over at Will and paused. With the way the sunlight was streaming in through the blinds Will looked almost ethereal. As Will focused on typing Alex pulled the cover off his camera lens and started taking pictures.

Stopping in the middle of a sentence Will looked up at Alex, blushing slightly when he saw the camera pointed at him, "What are you doing?"

"Shooting," Alex replied easily. "You look perfect like this."

"Alex," Will complained softly, looking down at the comforter of his bed, biting his lip.

"I might not know about writing," Alex explained, "Or about parenting or how to be a boyfriend but I know how to take pictures. And you right now? You need to be a picture."

"My mom and the kids are going to be home soon," Will tried to say but he knew that wouldn't deter Alex. Saving his document Will closed his laptop and put it on his nightstand. Licking his lips nervously Will said, "What do you want me to do?"

"Take off your shirt," Alex ordered, feeling his heartrate pick up in a way it rarely did when he was working.

Will wrestled out of his shirt and tossed it to the side. "Now what?" Will blinked up at Alex's face, eyes wide and trusting.

"Your bottoms," Alex whispered snapping away, loving the way the delicate red of Will's cheeks reflected off the white bedding.

"OK," Will nodded taking them off, leaving himself completely nude. "How do you want me?"

"Just look at me," Alex ordered breathlessly as Will nervously clutched one of his elbows and stared at Alex.

"Excuse me?" a voice jarred Will out of his memory.

"Sorry," Will shook his head, "What was that?"

"I said you look familiar," the man smiled at Will, looking him up and down. "Were your photos in the gallery upstairs?"

Will groaned, shoulders drooping, "Yes." Will covered his hands with his face.

"I thought so," the man leered at Will, eyes lingering on the curve of his ass against the barstool. "Let me buy you a drink?"

Will turned to look at the man. Despite the dirty look in his eyes Will knew he was nice looking. But he wasn't interested. "No thank you," Will replied.

"Are you sure?" the man pressed, leaning closer against Will, "The photos were exquisite."

"Thanks," Will pressed his lips together feeling a bit unsettled.

"I didn't know nude pictures could look like that," the guy continued pressing in closer.

"Like what," Will asked as he moved away.

"You know, sensual instead of porny," the guy shrugged, "They're really good. You look really good."

"Right," Will replied, "Well I'm sorry," Will hopped off his seat and pulled out some money for his drink, "But I'm taken."

Walking away Will headed back for the direction of the gallery ignoring the man calling behind him. 'I'm not stupid and insecure anymore,' Will told himself, 'It's gonna take more than a few compliments to get me away from my partner.'

Alex, trying to be polite to everyone that came in, couldn't help but worry about Will. He knew he was taking a big risk using the photos he took of Will but they were his best work. He hardly had to retouch anything. 'The lighting was perfect, the setting, and the model. I just hope he'll be able to get over it.'

"Hey," Will walked back to Alex's section looking at the pictures with a grimace. 'Does the entire world need to see me like that?'

"That was fast," Alex noted. Usually when he and Will argued they needed at least a few hours apart before their heads were clear.

"Yeah well you made me famous," Will shot back, "So I figured I might as well come stand by them."

"I didn't mean to piss you off," Alex started saying emphatically.

"You knew I was going to be though," Will argued, "How many times have I told you I don't want anyone to see them?"

"A lot of times," Alex admitted, "But that's not the point. The point is this right here," Alex gestured to the entire display. "This set, every single one of them, is perfect. And when I got the invite to be here," Alex shrugged, "I knew these were the only ones I could use."

"And I'm sorry that I pissed you off and didn't listen to you," Alex confessed taking both of Will's hands, "But I'm not sorry that I used them, OK? Because I think everyone should see them, not just me."

Will looked into Alex's eyes, searching for something, "Don't ever do that to me again, ever."

"OK," Alex agreed voice sincere. "I won't."

Will looked over the photos once more and nibbled on his lower lip, "Perfect?" he asked softly.

"When have I ever lied to you?" Alex reminded Will exhaling loudly in relief.

"Just so you know," Will smiled at Alex slightly, "You did just show my completely naked body for everyone to see, right? Everyone."

Alex, mulling it over, looked to his left and saw a few of the people who had been looking at his display eyeing Will. Alex yanked Will against him firmly, ignoring Will's laugh, "I did not think this through all the way."

"Nope," Will chuckled, "I get to be mad at you and you get to know that every single person in this room has seen me naked."

Will, looking at the exhibit next to Alex's, tensed slightly when he heard a voice say, "Hello, stranger."

Turning around Will smiled in surprise, "Grandma Kate!"

Kate laughed when Will wrapped his arms around her and squeezed tight. "Let me look at you," Kate pulled back slightly, lifting her hands to Will's cheeks, turning his head from side to side. "California looks good on you," Kate decided.

"Thanks," Will grinned. When Will left Salem he gave no notice to anyone. Ari and he had said goodbye to Gabi and left. It had taken almost a year for him to talk to Kate again. He learned from his mother that Kate was looking for him. She was the only one looking for him. It didn't take much more encouragement than that for him to send her an email. 'And now we're here,' Will thought as his grandma took his arm.

"Now," Kate moved closer to Will, "I know something else that looks good on you so why don't you officially introduce me."

"Grandma," Will huffed out a laugh, leading her over to Alex. Waiting for Alex to finish talking to someone Will immediately could tell Alex was getting flustered. 'Poor guy has no idea what to do when someone compliments his art. That or he doesn't know what to do when someone compliments art featuring my body.'

"Alex?" Will reached out and grabbed his hand, "Hey," Will said, "This is my Grandma Kate."

Alex stuck out his hand, not one for hugging in greeting, "Kate nice to formally meet you."

"You as well," Kate shook his hand while looking him up and down. "I thought for sure that I got my dates wrong for this weekend. But I guess not. Do you two know about the wedding?"

"Unfortunately," Alex rolled his eyes, "Otherwise I would have picked a different hotel. But my stupid brother decided to interfere."

"Which one?" Kate shrugged having a poor view of most Kiriakis's.

Alex nodded appreciatively, "I like her," he informed Will.

Kate smiled before beginning to look at the photos on display lifting her eyebrows and snorting when she recognized the model.

Will pushed his lips out and sucked in his cheeks when he felt his grandma's eyes on him, "Don't look at me."

"What?" Kate asked, "I think they're great. Sure I could go without looking at you naked," Kate laughed when Will's cheeks turned pink, "But I can see the beauty in the set."

Alex, moving closer to Kate, started pointing out some of the details in the pictures. Hands gesturing widely as he began to get animated.

Will looked at Alex proudly. 'God I hope the critics like his pictures as much as everyone else does. He's worked so hard to get here.'

While he was waiting Will felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. Pulling it out he smiled before answering, "Hello Princess."

"Hi Daddy," Ari gushed into the phone. "Guess what? Guess what? Guess what?"

"What? What? What," Will replied stepping away from the exhibit.

"Johnny was practicing soccer with me and I scored more goals than him," Ari bragged as she bounced up and down on her bed at Grandma's house.

"That is so awesome baby girl," Will congratulated her. "What else did you do?"

Alex, keeping an eye on Will, continued explaining everything about his photos to Kate. With a groan Alex noticed some familiar faces headed his way. 'Fuck my life.'

"And you're doing OK?" Will asked quietly, "With me being gone?"

"I guess," Ari replied in a tiny voice. "I don't know. I always have fun here but I miss you."

"I miss you too," Will confessed, voice getting a bit scratchy, "Alex and I will be home in a few days. And I told you, you can call me any time you want to."

"You promise you're going to come back?" Ari asked in a small voice. "You won't leave me here?"

"I'd never leave you. Remember the sound of your heart and what I said," Will closed his eyes, "I promised you before, it's you and me forever. Besides I would never leave you alone with Grandma forever. No one deserves that."

Ari giggled, "I'm gonna tell her you said that."

"What?" Will complained, "Traitor!" Listening to Ari's laughter Will smiled, "Did you get to talk to Mommy today?"

"Uh huh," Ari nodded, still not quite getting that her daddy couldn't see her over the phone, "She said she liked the pictures I sent."

"I knew she would but maybe next time we can include pictures of you and not just ones you took," Will suggested.

"Maaaayyybbbeee," Ari said before yawning widely.

"You go brush your teeth and pick out a story for Grandma to read," Will ordered knowing it was past her bedtime.

"OK," Ari agreed, "Daddy?"

"Yeah baby girl?" Will questioned.

"I love you," Ari proclaimed.

Grin practically taking over his face Will answered, "I love you too."

"And Daddy," Ari added after taking a deep breath, "Tell Alex I want to know where he hid my Barbie."

"Don't worry," Will's cheeks started to hurt, "He misses you too."

After hanging up Will held the phone to his chest recalling what happened the first time he tried to have just Ari spend the night with her grandma.

"Are you sure?" Sami looked at her son as he fixed his hair in the mirror.

"I just," Will stopped and looked at his reflection, really looked. "I don't want Ari being confused as to why Alex is over and in my bed but he's right. It's been months and I haven't spent the whole night with him. I think it's about time."

"I can appreciate that," Sami crossed her arms and leaned against the bathroom door, "But Will, Ari isn't used to you being gone all night. What if she wakes up and you aren't there?"

"I know," Will bit his lip, beginning to wonder if this was a good idea or not, "I-I don't want to bring Alex around her when she still isn't that comfortable about it. And I don't want to be that parent that brings strangers around their kid."

Bristling slightly Sami said, "Did you ever think that maybe you need to stop coddling her so much?"

"What are you talking about?" Will demanded.

"You know I love her and you more than anything," Sami held up her hands peacefully, "But you can't give her everything she always wants."

"You were just saying that I shouldn't go," Will didn't know what his mother wanted from him, "Now you're saying I give in to her too often?"

"I know," Sami pinched the bridge of her nose, "I'm saying that the reason she doesn't like Alex isn't because she doesn't like him."

"What does that even mean?" Will was lost.

"It means she doesn't like him because she thinks he's taking you from her," Sami spat out getting annoyed. "You know how clingy she is with you. She thinks he is going to take you away and you'll leave her here forever. That you'll never come back again."

"Oh," Will uttered in a dull voice. "She thinks I'm going to abandon her?"

"I think so yeah," Sami reached forward and put her hand on Will's shoulder. "When you left that place," Sami knew Will didn't like to talk about that town or anyone he left there, "You said you didn't have anyone left there to support you or Ari."

"Not really, no," Will had told her this a hundred times. "I know deep down they probably would have been there for Ari if they had to but it didn't feel that way at the time. Everyone was so angry with me and all they ever did was lecture me when they saw me. Like I didn't have enough to deal with I needed everyone telling me how awful I was anytime I went anywhere. I already destroyed my daughter's family. I didn't need to be punished anymore."

"And he," Sami knew better than to say Sonny's name. "Was never around then?"

"No," Will shook his head, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes. "When he moved out that was it. No visits, no calls, no texts. It was like he didn't want anything to do with her anymore."

"Which is why," Sami patted Will's back, "Ari needs to be reassured you love her and you aren't leaving her for Alex or for anything. Maybe in a year or two she won't even remember him but right now it's fresh in her mind. He was always there for her and then he wasn't."

Will knew his mother was right. He should have realized before. He could still remember the first week after he moved out. Ari would cry for hours asking for him and Will didn't have any answers. Will didn't know when Ari was going to see him again. After the second week of Ari clinging to him in the middle of the night, sobbing and crying, Will didn't care if he ever saw him again at all.

Moving away from his mother and over to Ari's room Will knocked on the door. When he heard her tiny voice answer Will smiled when he saw her on her bed surrounded by toys. During the long trip from Salem to California Will made sure all of Ari's toys were with her the entire time. He wanted her to have at least some comforting items around her as he completely uprooted her life.

"Are you coming to play with me?" Ari asked shaking Will out of his memories.

"Daddy wants to talk to you," Will closed her door behind him, moved some toys to the floor and sat on the bed.

"OK," Ari, holding a handful of toys, looked at her daddy with blue eyes that matched his perfectly.

"You remember when Daddy talked to you about telling the truth?" Will asked carefully. Seeing Ari nod Will pulled her onto his lap, "Daddy needs to tell you the truth now. I want you to know that tonight Daddy is going to go have a sleep over with his friend Alex."

Ari's face twisted, her eyes instantly watering, "No!" She tossed her toys aside and threw her arms around Will's neck.

Will swallowed carefully at her reaction, "Why does that bother you?"

"Don't go," Ari begged loudly practically screeching in Will's ear.

"Why don't you want me to go?" Will asked as he held her against him and felt her tears pressing into his neck.

"You're gonna leave me," Ari sobbed. "Leave and not come back."

"That's never going to happen," Will shook his head, lifting one hand to the back of Ari's head, "Daddy is always going to come back."

"No," Ari clung to him harder. "Don't leave me, Daddy."

"I'm not leaving you," Will promised, "I'm just visiting. I'll be back in the morning."

"No, please, no," Ari sniffled. "Please don't leave me."

Fighting back his own tears Will pulled her back a little so he could see her face, "Daddy isn't going to leave you. I'm always going to come back, always. I would never leave you."

Hiccupping, eyes red and mouth trembling Ari looked up into her daddy's eyes, "You promise?"

"Of course I promise," Will cupped her tiny, round cheeks, "I love you and I'm always going to come back for you. I love you."

"I love you too," Ari confessed as fresh tears started sliding down her cheeks.

Will pulled Ari against his chest as he leaned back onto her pillows. Gently running his hands through her long blonde hair Will asked, "Do you hear that sound? Do you remember what it is?"

"A heart," Ari answered right away, wiping her nose on her daddy's shirt.

"Yep," Will licked his lips, "And do you remember what I said about who it belongs to?"

"Ari's heart," Ari smiled slightly as she held onto her daddy tighter.

"Exactly," Will continued combing his fingers through her hair, "It's all yours and every time it makes that sound, ba bum, ba bum, ba bum, it's just for you. And every time your heart makes that noise," Will reached one hand down to Ari's chest, "That's daddy telling you exactly how much I love you."

"Daddy?" Ari whispered as she was listening to her daddy's heart talking to her.

"Yeah baby girl," Will replied staring up at the ceiling.

"Can you have a sleepover with Alex here instead?" Ari wondered.

Will smiled, "I'll ask him. Does this mean you're gonna be nice to him?"

"I don't know," Ari yawned and asked, "Does Alex's heart make sounds just for you?"

Will pressed his lips together, "Maybe a tiny bit. Is that OK?"

"Is he gonna leave too?" Ari bluntly questioned.

"I don't think so," Will closed his eyes. "I hope not."

Alex looked at Will when he walked back over, "What's the kid doing?"

"Getting ready for bed," Will explained as he took Alex's hand, "She wants to know what you did with her Barbie though."

"I knew it," Alex wrapped his free arm around Will's shoulders. Looking at Kate Alex sighed, "Damn kid can't go a day without me."

Kate smiled slightly at Alex and her grandson. From the long talks she had had with Sami about the two of them she thought she had a pretty good grasp of their relationship. 'And Sami was right. I've never seen anyone look at Will like that.'

Seeing Adrienne and Lucas coming their way Alex rolled his eyes, "Oh goodie."

"Alex," Adrienne cautiously walked over to him and Will. Frowning slightly at Kate Adrienne said, "Is it, can we, um, can I look around?"

Alex shrugged, trying to look casual, "Yeah sure."

Lucas nodded at Will and Alex before he took Adrienne's hand and started looking at the exhibit.

Will closed his eyes and winced before telling Alex and his grandma, "I don't think I want to see my dad's face when he realizes who's in those pictures."

A few minutes later, Lucas, red faced, tried not to look directly at Will, "Um the photos are really good, Alex."

"I know," Alex replied with a lazy smirk enjoying seeing Lucas squirm.

"They really are sweetie," Adrienne tentatively reached out and placed her hand on Alex's forearm. "I-I think they're amazing."

"Sure you do," Alex retorted looking at her hand in surprise.

"I do," Adrienne insisted, "I can see how much you care in your photos. I think they're beautiful."

Alex examined Adrienne's face incredulously, "That's the first time you've ever called them photos and not porn."

Adrienne scrunched her face together, "I-I am so sorry about that."

"If you say so," Alex moved his arm away from Adrienne not knowing how to feel.

Will, looking at his grandma, seeing the way she was glaring at Adrienne, tried to think of something to say to break the uncomfortable silence surrounding them.

"Will?" a asked voice dripping in surprise.

Will closed his eyes, 'I wanted something to make it less awkward but I guess that works.' Feeling Alex gripping his hand tighter Will nodded, "Marlena, John."

"I-I didn't know you were here," Marlena said in a shocked voice. Staring at Will's face she could feel tears in her eyes, "Adrienne," she shook her head, "Adrienne said one of her sons was displaying his art work. I had no idea you would be here."

Guessing his grandma also had no idea about his relationship Will said, "Well I didn't know anyone would be here either."

John immediately noted the way Will was carrying himself now instead of the last times he had seen him. After knowing Will for so many years John had no idea what to do when Will found himself in a mess with his newly found son. Just like he had no idea what to do about Will now. 'How is Paul going to feel about this? How is Sonny?'

"Whe-where have you been?" Marlena asked. She had been so disappointed in her grandson for so long that she didn't know what to do. Every time she tried to help it only seemed to push Will farther away from her. She decided it would be better to leave Will alone to give him some time to think. 'And then I got busy with my own life. I was so busy trying to help Sonny and Paul that I never stopped to think about what I was doing to Will. And then he was gone.'

Will, ignoring her question, said, "Ari isn't here if you were wondering. This was a weekend trip."

"With who?" Marlena wasn't sure what to do, how to react.

"That would be me," Alex responded in a loud voice.

Adrienne, giving Marlena a pained smile, supplied, "This is my son, Alex. He's dating Will."

Will pressed his lips together when he saw his grandmother's eyes soften. Saw that same look he loathed seeing. The look that said he wasn't what she wanted. That he was just a walking disappointment that couldn't do anything right. The look he thought he would never have to see again. Leaning against Alex Will licked over his teeth and said politely, "Would you like to see his photos?"

Alex and Will stood closely together a few feet away from his display. "Do you want me to cause a scene and get them kicked out?" Alex offered, "Because I can do that."

"No," Will shook his head. "I just, I don't want to see any of these people. For the first time in probably my entire life I'm happy with everything. My career is great. Ari is perfect. And you and I?"

"Magical," Alex mocked slightly.

"Something like that," Will rolled his eyes. "And I don't want any of the people that made me feel horrible about my mistakes around me. Like my mistakes were any worse than what anyone else had ever done. I deserved better than to be treated like I didn't matter."

"Damn right you do," Alex encouraged, rubbing his hands up and down Will's arms, "You deserve everything. And I'm going to give it to you." Grabbing the back of Will's neck Alex kissed him soundly.

Once he pulled away he said, "And all of those people can go fuck themselves for all I care." Glancing over Will's shoulder Alex groaned, "Especially the dumbasses coming our way."

Joey grinned at the photographs in front of him clasping his hands under his chin, "Oh my god."

"What?" Vic who was looking at a different side of the display asked.

"Guess who the model is?" Joey practically jumped up and down in excitement. 'This is too good.'

"Will," Paul stated looking at one photo in surprise.

Sonny narrowed his eyes at Paul, "How could you tell that? His face isn't in that picture."

Joey glanced quickly at the photo Paul was staring at and lifted his eyebrows up, "I knew because his face is in the ones over there. But you," Joey patted Paul's back, "Must have a very vivid memory."

Will, torn between horror and amusement, replied, "Well he has seen me naked before. I didn't think it was that memorable but," Will shrugged.

Seeing Sonny and Paul together while he was completely sober was much different for Will than when he was enjoying the warming effects of the tequila in his system like earlier. A small part of Will was terrified he was going to feel something he didn't want. Terrified every insecurity Paul Narita brought out of him was going to come rushing back.

'But nothing,' Will thought as he bizarrely watched Paul and Sonny looking at photos of him naked. All Will felt was a vague hint of nostalgia. 'The old Will would have vomited at the sight of them holding hands in public and I just feel reflective.'

Gone were the days when Will would pester Paul day in and day out to leave Sonny alone. Gone were the days when Will would beg for Paul to let Will have a chance to fix things. 'I spent so long fighting for something that was already over and done with.'

'Now I've moved on with my life and I hope that Sonny is able to as well. I hope he gets to live the life with Paul he tried to have with me.'

Sonny grabbed Paul's hand and yanked him further down the display. Knowing that Paul took one look at a picture of someone's naked body and automatically knew it was Will angered Sonny. He didn't care that he could do the same. 'Will was my husband of course I would know what he looks like. Paul was with him once. They promised me it was once. Why the hell does he remember that when you can't even see Will's face in the picture?'

Studying the collection Alex laid out made Sonny want to rage and scream or cover his face and cry. Ever since he saw Will and Alex the month before that's all he wanted to do. He had thought he was over Will Horton. Over everything that had happened with them, over everything Will had done to him. But seeing Will with Alex, really seeing them together, made something tear inside of Sonny's chest.

He didn't think he was still in love with Will. He wasn't even entirely sure if he liked him anymore at least not the new Will he had seen. The one who told Sonny everything he was feeling without getting indignant. 'My Will never would have let me leave. He never would have left Salem at all.'

'And that's the problem with me isn't it,' Sonny thought as he saw photo after photo of Will in various stages of undress. 'A part of me still thinks of him as mine. A part of me really wanted everything to be a trick, one last scheme to get my attention.'

'And it worked,' Sonny admitted, 'I abandoned everything to fly all the way to California to see him. I didn't care about leaving Paul behind at all. I just left. And I never told him when I came back either what I had done.'

'Maybe Will was right. Maybe I do expect everyone to sit around waiting for me.' Closing his eyes Sonny turned away from a photo of Will's wide blue eyes staring at him, 'No, staring at Alex.'

Paul chatted with his father as Sonny stood silently by his side. Before this trip Paul thought everything in his life was perfect. He had settled into Salem wonderfully. He had a job and the guy of his dreams. He forged bonds with all of his new family. 'Even the differences I had with Marlena were put aside when we really started to get to know each other.'

'And Will Horton was a distant memory,' Paul reminded himself as he looked over at Will and Sonny's brother. From the vague explanations he had gotten earlier all Paul knew was that Alex was with Will now, really with Will.

'Judging by the pictures I just saw,' Paul thought, 'I can say that's true.' Paul didn't know why he recognized Will in the picture other than the fact that he wasn't blind. 'At one point in time I wanted to be with Will even if it was before I knew everything about him.'

The first time they met Paul liked what he saw. He liked getting to know Will. He liked having Will hanging off his every word and dropping everything to come listen to him. He liked kissing and sleeping with Will. But he did not like Will after everything happened, after the truth came out. The Will he thought he knew, the one that helped him come out to his family, the one that listened to him pour his heart out, was missing. Instead Paul was met with a bitter, insecure child who was nothing like the Will he knew before.

Paul knew his own actions weren't exactly helpful to Will but in his own defense Sonny never seemed to mind. 'Sonny sought me out time and time again even when he knew it would hurt Will. Every time I would try to pull away Sonny would reel me back in. If he didn't want to be near me he would have left me alone.'

When everything was finally over and Sonny had left Will for good Paul welcomed him with open arms. It had felt like it was three years ago almost as if they had never broken up. 'Except I was proud to show Sonny off on my arm and take him anywhere he wanted to go.'

Paul knew that he might have been a bit unfair at first. He had encouraged Sonny to give Will time and space before he tried to talk about the baby. Justin had helped him out by making the divorce go as smoothly as possible. Paul knew that if he let Sonny go back to seeing Will and Arianna every day that eventually Sonny would feel guilty and start to doubt his choice. Start to doubt Paul.

'I never thought that would cause Will to leave though,' Paul admitted. Looking around at the way Will barely interacted with anyone outside of Alex and Kate Paul couldn't help but feel a little guilty. 'Everyone was so busy encouraging me to go after Sonny or to settle down with him that I never stopped to think why they weren't there for Will. His own grandma had left him alone.'

'It was Will and Arianna in a town full of people that openly disliked or disapproved of him. No wonder he left. Oh, but I loved it when Will left town. Sonny and I, hell everyone, thought that was Will's last ditch effort. He wanted Sonny to chase him down and drag him back but Sonny didn't.'

'Sonny was all mine and I never doubted us for a second,' Paul glanced at Sonny now. He could see who Sonny was staring at. 'I just wish I felt that way now.'

As the exhibit was winding down for the night Will watched as Alex pulled the curtain back across his booth as Will awkwardly chatted with Abigail and Jennifer, "Yeah she's in pre-school now. She loves it."

"Do you have any pictures?" Abigail asked looking at Will hopefully. She had been so upset when Will relocated Ari away from Salem but every time she tried to talk to Gabi about it she was instantly dismissed. For whatever reason Gabi agreed with Will's decision.

"Yeah," Will didn't particularly want to show any off but he figured one wouldn't hurt. Pulling out his phone he showed them one of his recent favorites. It featured Ari, Alex and Will standing in front of the castle at Disneyland. Alex had kept true to his word and took Ari to Disneyland every weekend.

"Oh my gosh," Jennifer grabbed Will's phone, "She's beautiful."

"Thanks," Will replied taking the phone back slowly. "And trust me I know she's gorgeous. Unfortunately so does she."

Smiling widely at Will Abigail nodded, "It's really nice seeing you, Will."

Will looked between his cousin and aunt nervously. "What?" he asked unaccustomed to anyone from Salem telling him that.

"You look and sound really good," Jennifer agreed. "What did you say you were doing with your writing now?"

"I write a weekly column for on parenting," Will explained, "Just online though. But I also do some freelance stuff for local papers. One of my friends went on maternity leave about a week ago and until she gets back I'm covering her consumer reporting."

"Wow," Abigail replied. "What, um, what kind of consumer reporting?"

"Mostly beauty stuff," Will told her while making a face, "Companies send me products and I use them for a while and write about if I like them or not. Not exactly the most fulfilling of jobs but it's just until she gets back to work."

"I'm glad to hear that things are going well for you," Jennifer patted Will's shoulder. While she wasn't very close to Will before he left she had missed him.

To save Will from having to say anything else Alex came over, "You ready to go?"

"Hi, Alex," Abigail smiled at him rocking back and forth on her heels.

"Do I know you?" Alex asked expressionlessly.

"It's your cousin, gosh" Abigail huffed and tossed her hair behind her shoulder laughing loudly.

Lifting one eyebrow Alex replied, "You're related to Adrienne which thankfully means you and I don't share any of the same genes. See ya."

Will snorted as Alex dragged him away. "You are so bad," Will told him as they started walking down a hallway.

Pushing Will against a wall Alex leered, "I just wanted to get you alone."

Putting his hands on Alex's shoulders Will asked, "How do you think it went?"

Alex shrugged, "OK I guess. No one said anything bad."

"But you'll know for sure tomorrow when the review comes out, right?" Will clarified.

"Yep," Alex pursed his lips trying to appear casual. "No use worrying about it now. So I was thinking that we could go find a nice dance club and recreate the moment we met."

"Hmm," Will pretended to think, "I guess that could work." Right before their lips touched an annoying face appeared at their sides.

"Guess what time it is?" Joey questioned. "Strip club time!"

"This is officially the most uncomfortable thing I've ever done," Will whispered into Alex's ear as they walked into the gentlemen's club behind Vic.

"You mean you're not interested in watching your father see girls take their clothes off," Alex commented. "I'm shocked."

"Girls I could care less about," Will shrugged, "It's the whole being here with people I don't particularly like thing."

"Look on the bright side," Alex said as he found a table near the bar and watched the girls on the stage momentarily, "You can take some notes and give me a show later."

"Why do I always overhear you saying something inappropriate?" Vic asked as he sat down across from Will with Sonny and Paul following slowly behind him.

"Stop listening to my conversations," Alex responded back.

"Sorry, Vic," Will laughed. He kind of loved that even though Joey and Vic were identical twins they had very different personalities.

"I'm sure it's not your fault," Vic conceded smiling at Will slightly.

"Nope," Will told Vic seriously, "It's all Alex. He's a terrible influence."

"How dare you?" Alex mocked yanking Will against him. "I'm an upstanding citizen."

"Why is everyone sitting over here?" Joey whined as he came over. "I got us a table up front and so far it's only Lucas, John and me. Do you know how weird that is?"

"What did you think was going to happen?" Will looked at Joey curiously. "Only half of the guys you brought to this thing are completely straight."

"Sonny, Paul sit with me?" Joey asked hopefully. When they both looked at him blankly Joey narrowed his eyes.

"Fine," Joey huffed, "The straight boys are going over there." Joey dragged Vic out of his seat, "Alex, you like girls too. That means you're coming."

"I have so many jokes I want to say right now my brain can't even function," Alex informed his brother.

"Tell them to bring out blondes," Will smiled at Joey, "Dad likes those best."

"Huh, your dad and I finally have something in common," Alex lifted his eyebrows up at Will before putting his hand low on his hip.

Joey glared at Sonny and Alex slightly, "Just so you two know at the moment Will is my favorite brother."

As Joey dragged Vic away with him Will realized he and Alex had been left alone with Sonny and Paul. Seeing a waitress Will smiled at her to get her attention, 'We're gonna need some drinks.'

Sitting in painful silence no one knew what to say. Will glanced at his father and frowned slightly when he saw the blondes jiggling in his father's direction. 'I could have gone my whole life without seeing that,' Will shivered slightly.

"Boobs scaring you?" Alex asked sardonically.

"You know Ari wasn't born from Immaculate Conception," Will sighed, "I'm fairly certain I've seen boobs before."

"Uh," Paul said licking his lips nervously, "Speaking of Ari how is she?"

Giving Paul a strange look Will replied, "Fine. She started playing soccer."

"That's, um, that's nice to hear," Paul gave Will an uncomfortable smile.

"Do you wanna see a picture," Will offered trying to be nice. He handed over the same picture he showed Abigail and Jennifer earlier.

Paul smiled at the picture of Ari in a princess outfit with a beaming grin. He showed the photo to Sonny, "Wow. She's gigantic now."

Sonny practically ripped the phone out of Paul's hand and stared at it. When he was in California he spent almost all of his time focused on Will and Alex he hardly thought about Ari at all. 'I was the first person in the world to see her, to hold her. And now I hardly recognize her.'

'Why did I stay away from her when I left Will? Why did I leave her too? How could I leave her?'

Without Will's permission Sonny looked through Will's pictures not surprised in the slightest that they mostly all featured Ari. Ari wearing a soccer uniform. Ari smiling outside of the dentist's office showing off her teeth. Ari and Alex asleep on the couch. Alex wearing a princess crown glaring at the camera as Ari pointed and laughed. Ari jumping into the ocean. Ari surrounded by a large pile of presents and a huge birthday cake. A close up of Will and Alex's faces smooshed together with a wide carefree smile on Will's face.

Paul took the phone back from Sonny when he saw Sonny staring at the picture of Will and Alex. Handing it back to Will Paul told him, "She's really cute."

"Thanks," Will nodded as he leaned back against Alex. The heavy weight from his arm felt comforting across Will's shoulder. Wondering how the hell his weekend brought him here Will practically cheered when the waitress returned with their drinks.

"I think you're the only men in the room not enjoying the show," the fake redhead proclaimed as she passed out the drinks noting that none of the men at the table were looking down her barely there shirt.

"He's enjoying it," Will patted Alex's chest. "He's just too busy glowering to admit it now."

"Why are you all here if you aren't interested in the show?" she couldn't help but ask having figured out they must not be very straight.

Will, already downing half his drink, responded, "Bachelor party."

"I see," the waitress waited stood around hoping for a few tips. "And why do you all look like you want to kill each other?"

"Well," Will shrugged, "Probably because we're mostly all going to be related this time tomorrow." Gulping down the rest of his drink Will put his glass back on the woman's tray, "And I've had sex with everyone at this table."

Staring at the blonde man in front of her the waitress tried not to laugh and said, "I think your next round is on me gents."

"Really?" Sonny gave Will a harsh glare when the waitress moved away.

Will shrugged, "Well it's true."

"That's not something you tell people," Sonny scolded. "Nobody needs to know our business. Why do you always do this?"

"Do what?" Alex demanded getting sick and tired of Sonny's comments toward Will. "Tell the truth?"

Paul looked between Sonny and Alex not knowing what to think. Most of the things Paul had ever heard about Alex were never very friendly. 'I knew they always had some kind of rivalry but this is ridiculous,' Paul shook his head.

Glancing at Will Paul couldn't help but notice how differently he carried himself. 'He looks completely comfortable with himself, with being here. Even the way he looks at Sonny is different.'

Paul still wasn't sure what this was all about, why everyone seemed to know about Will and Alex but he didn't. Every time he tried to bring it up to Sonny he'd find a way to change the subject. 'Sonny can't even talk about Will and it looks like Will could care less about Sonny at all.'

"That is not the whole truth," Sonny practically hissed at Alex, hands clutching the arms of his seat.

"Really?" Alex shrugged exaggeratingly, "Because I know you've fucked Will. I know he's fucked Will," Alex gestured to Paul, "And I fucked him a few hours ago. So please tell me how that wasn't in any way true."

Will touched his fingertips to his forehead eyes wide, "Wow."

"God would you stop it," Sonny wasn't sure he could take much more of Alex or Will. "No one needs to know that."

"You know," Alex settled back in his seat, smiling at Sonny widely, "I'm starting to think you have a problem with me being with your ex."

Sonny took a deep breath and set his jaw, nostrils flaring as he stared at Alex.

"Nothing to say this time?" Alex taunted, "So what part of it bothers you; I'm curious."

"Alex," Will sat up straight and put his hand on Alex's leg. Will bit his lip and looked in Alex's eyes, "You need to stop it, both of you," Will turned his gaze on Sonny.

Sonny shook his head, "Are you doing this on purpose?"

"I'm not doing anything Sonny," Will could feel exhaustion settling in. From getting up early and the long car ride to visiting so many people he never wanted to see again and now this. 'All I want is to go to the room and leave this mess behind me.'

Paul, frowning, crossed his arms, 'What is this?'

"Right," Sonny scoffed. "You never did anything."

"I'm not your husband anymore, Sonny," Will pointed out. "You don't get to talk to me like I'm a child." Moving away from Alex Will stood up, knowing Alex would follow him, "If you feel like talking to me like an adult you know where to find me. Until then you can keep your mouth and your opinion to yourself."

Will shut the door behind him once he and Alex were inside. Tossing his room key card on the side table Will stretched his arms over his head and started taking off his shoes.

Alex, who had been particularly quiet since they told everyone goodbye, watched as Will kicked off his shoes. Moving forward when Will started pulling his shirt off Alex reached out to grab his hips.

With his shirt still covering his eyes Will made a loud oomph sound as Alex grabbed him and tossed him to the bed. "What?" Will started to ask before Alex's mouth descended on his.

Alex held onto Will's hips tightly as he licked across his mouth. Without giving Will any time to think Alex started unbuttoning his pants and ripping them off his legs.

Finally pulling his shirt all the way off Will grunted when he was suddenly naked underneath Alex. Wrapping his arms around Alex's neck Will opened his mouth kissing Alex back. Will didn't quite know what was running through Alex's head but he was fairly certain it had to do with everything from tonight.

Alex dragged his hand from Will's hips down to his ass. Squeezing the ample flesh Alex pulled Will's cheeks apart. Thumbing across his hole Alex wasted no time roughly inserting his thumb.

Biting on Alex's lower lip in surprise Will yanked away. "Fuck, Alex," Will whined. Sometimes the two experimented without any lubricant but usually Will was given a warning.

"Want you right now," Alex explained as he pulled his thumb out and shoved his index finger inside in its place. "Don't want to wait. You're still a little open from earlier."

"Ah," Will smacked at Alex's upper arm. "No I want the lube."

Alex nodded before scrambling to get the bag he shoved the lube in earlier, "Fine, fine. Don't move."

"I'm not going anywhere," Will assured him. "But hurry up."

Finally getting the tube Alex rubbed a generous amount around his fingers before spreading Will's legs and immediately shoving two fingers inside of him.

"Alex," Will threw his head against the bed circling his hips as Alex finished preparing him.

Making quick work of Will Alex unzipped his pants and shoved them down just enough to pull out his cock. Stroking the leftover lube around his dick Alex lined himself up with Will's opening and shoved himself inside.

Legs curling around Alex's hips Will pulled Alex into a rough kiss to match Alex's harsh thrusts.

Ripping away from the kiss Alex bent forward and bit against Will's chest wanting to mark his skin everywhere. He wanted everyone to look at him and know he was his. Alex nipped at every bit of flesh he could reach.

Will ran his fingers through Alex's hair, holding his face against his chest, listening as Alex punctuated each bite with the word, "Mine."

"Yes," Will worked his hips back against Alex's thrusts, "Yours. All yours. I don't want anyone else, just you, only you."

Alex tore away from Will's chest and grabbed Will's face looking into his eyes, "I love you, OK? I fucking love you."

"I love you too," Will choked out eyes closing as he felt Alex's hand wrap around his cock.

"I love you," Alex repeated as he slammed into Will and jerked him quickly, "And you're all mine and I'm all yours."

"Yes," Will nodded weakly, barely able to focus, "Yours."

It only took a few more minutes before Will was coming loudly practically wailing as his body twitched and shook against Alex.

Feeling Will clenching around him Alex pounded as roughly as he dared until he spilt inside of Will. Holding Will's trembling body against him Alex worked his hips until he was completely spent. Collapsing on top of Will Alex lightly kissed along Will's neck and jawline worshipfully.

Will ran his fingers lightly through Alex's brown locks as he slowly recovered. After a few moments Will chuckled, "You're still wearing all your clothes and shoes."

"Yeah," Alex responded in a low voice. "I told you I didn't want to wait."

"Apparently you meant it," Will smiled before he winced when Alex pulled out of him.

Reaching over for Will's shirt Alex used it to clean Will off with before tossing it to the floor.

"Gross," Will complained half-heartedly.

Alex shrugged completely unconcerned. He took his time pulling off his shoes and clothing. When he was completely naked he crawled back into bed with Will and opened his arms waiting for Will to lie against him.

"The wedding is in the afternoon," Will told Alex as he traced shapes against his chest. "Did you want to go?"

"No," Alex answered honestly before sighing and closing his eyes. "But I think we should go."

"That's what I thought you were going to say," Will nodded. "So I guess we know what we're doing tomorrow."

"Good thing Joey said he would buy us all the booze we wanted, huh?" Alex grunted as he leaned down to kiss Will again.

Author's note:

The next chapter is going to feature the wedding and a few confrontations.

Please let me know what you thought.

Thanks so much for reading!

PS Thank you to iluvh0rs3s for being my cheerleader throughout this chapter.