"You really have to go?" Brian asked, following Will to the door. "It's my day off."
"I know…. I know…., It is unfortunate." Will said, turning back to him and wrapping his arms around his waist. He kissed the corner of Brian's mouth. "Believe me." He said, kissing the other side of his mouth. "I would much rather stay in bed with you all day. But Sonny has never been known for good timing, and he is leaving for a business trip early this afternoon. I have to go get Ari, there is no no way am I leaving her in that house with Victor and Maggie and especially not Adrienne." He shivered at the thought. Brian captured his lips and licked into his mouth tangling their tongues together.
When Will broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to Brian's, Brian took a deep breath. "Well then why don't you go get her and bring her back here." he said. "You know I would love to meet your mini me."
Will pulled back and dropped his hands. "Are you crazy?" He said. "Bring her here and say what? Here Arianna meet Daddy's "special" friend, now you go watch TV, while we play doctor… ummm Yeah, No way."
"Well, what are you gonna do then?" Brian asked.
Will shrugged his shoulders, "I dunno, maybe we will stay with Neil."
"Wait a minute." Brian growled, "What's the difference between staying with Neil and staying here with me?" He asked pulling Will close again.
"Calm down." Will said resting his hands on Brian's hips. "Ari already knows Neil and, I am not screwing him."
"Good point." Brian said grudgingly. "Okay, well when do I get to see you again?" He asked.
"A few days, maybe a week." Will said. "Sonny should be back by then."
Brian kissed him one more time and then pushed him toward the door. "Fine, Go." He said, "Before we end up back in the bed."
Will nodded and turned to leave. "See ya." he called over his shoulder.
Brian watched him go. Somehow, without his knowledge or approval he had gotten in over his head in this. This was supposed to be just fun and games, but he was starting to miss Will when he wasn't around. And not just the jaw dropping sex they had but just talking to him and spending time with him, not that they did much besides have sex.
Will got back to the mansion about an hour later. He quietly let himself in the house and carefully crept up the stairs. He went through the bedroom to the bathroom and showered quickly and then dressed in some comfortable clothes.
By the time he joined everyone in the family room it was almost lunch time and he knew that Sonny had an early afternoon flight. He could make it through the next couple of hours and be home free for a few days.
"I was wondering where you were." Sonny said coming over and wrapping an arm around him. "When I woke up you were gone." He stood still for a couple of minutes, forcing himself to endure the embrace. FInally when all eyes in the room were no longer on the two of them he twisted out of his grasp and picked Arianna up instead.
"How's my favorite girl?" he asked, kissing her noisily on the cheek.
"Fine." Arianna said. "I helped Daddy Sonny pack his suitcase and then we went to the park." She said excitedly.
"That's awesome." Will said. "I'm glad you had a nice time with Daddy."
"I did." She said earnestly. "Did you know Daddy Sonny is going to be gone for FIVE WHOLE days." She asked.
"Yes I know." He said, trying to keep the joy from his voice.
"It makes me sad." She said, laying her head on his shoulder.
Will hugged her tight. "It's only a few days, and I will be here with you." he whispered.
"Don't worry." Sonny added, coming over and rubbing her back. "I will be back before you even know I left." He soothed. Will transferred her back to Sonny's arms, not wanting to be any closer to him than he had to be. He moved over to the couch and sat down.
"You promise?" She asked looking at him with tear filled eyes.
"Of course." Sonny said. "It is going to be a quick business trip and then I will come right back home. I will try to get finished early so I can come back sooner."
"Okay." She said wiping her tears away. She lay down with her head on his shoulder, hugging him tightly.
Will watched as she clung to him. It was all the proof that he needed that he had made the right decision. He could do anything for her, suffer anything for her happiness. Besides his only happily ever after had ridden off into the sunset without him so what did he have to lose?
A short while later the maid stepped into the room and announced that lunch was served and they all made their way to the formal dining room. As long as he lived here he would never get used to it. Formal meals, maids, cooks, someone to tell you what to do all the time, between that and all the haughty people that lived there, the house was a miserable place to be.
Arianna scooted her chair as close to Sonny's as possible. They were practically elbow to elbow for the entire meal.
Will wondered briefly if she would ever get over the two times that Sonny had tossed her aside like she had never mattered and went off to Paris to live his own life. He knew those were two of the things that was near the top of his "I will never forgive Sonny for…." list.
Oh yes, he had a list… Sonny had taught him how to make lists well.
After lunch Will told Arianna to go on upstairs and pack her overnight bag with enough clothes for 5 days.
"Where are we going?" Ari asked innocently.
"Yes, that is a good question, Where are you going?" Sonny chimed in.
"To spend a few days with Grandma Marlena and John." Will said, leading Arianna from the room and up the stairs.
Sonny followed them closely.. Arianna skipped happily into her room easily accepting Will's explanation, while Will continued on past the door intent on packing his own bag.
When they were safely in their room with the door closed Sonny stepped in front of Will and crossed his arms over his chest. "Where are you going Will." He asked again.
"I told you to my grandma Marlena's." Will answered sidestepping him and going into the closet.
"I am not an idiot." Sonny said. "You have avoided Marlena's place like the plague since Paul left town, and I know that you aren't going there now."
"Fine." Will said. "We are going to stay with Neil while you are gone, anything is better than here."
"What do have against this house?" Sonny asked.
"There's no need to get into that again." Will said dismissively. He opened the suitcase on the bed and dropped some clothes into it.
"I Don't think you should be taking Arianna to stay with strange men." Sonny said. "It doesn't look right."
"First, Neil is NOT a strange man, Arianna knows him. Second, I don't care what it looks like or to be honest what you think about it. We are staying with Neil, I am telling you out of courtesy, I am not asking for your permission." Will snapped.
Sonny watched him silently until he was done and zipped the bag and then he picked up his own suitcase.
"I told Ari that you would drive me to the airport." he said.
"You aren't taking the limo?" Will asked surprised.
"No, Arianna wanted to come with me." he said. "But of it is too much trouble… "
"No, it's fine." he knew just what to say, exactly how to make Will do what he wanted. It was infuriating. He repeated his mantra, 'anything for my baby girl' in his head until he calmed down.
They walked out of the room and stopped at Arianna's door. Her suitcase looked as if it would barely close and yet she was doing her level best to shove her teddy bear in.
Will put his own case down in the hall and went in to help her. He took the bear out and handled it to her. "You will have to carry this. He said, as he managed to get the suitcase closed and zipped.
They left and Will drove them to airport. He remained mostly silent while Arianna prattled on about all the things they would do when he got back home and Sonny agreed easily with her. If Sonny had any redeeming quality at all, it was the fact that Arianna loved him.
When he pulled up at the departure entrance for Delta airlines he stopped and waited for Sonny to get out.
Sonny got his suitcase and turned to Ari, "See you in a week." he said tossing her a kiss.
"Bye Daddy." she said.
He leaned toward Will. It was all Will could do not to lean away. Sonny was aiming for his mouth but Will turned his head at the last second and Sonny kissed his cheek. "See you in a few days." he said.
"Have a safe trip." Will mumbled.
Sonny had barely gotten out, pulled his bag from the back seat beside Ari and pushed the door closed when Will took off.
Will drove across town and pulled into the lot at Neil's apartment complex.
"This isn't grandma Marlena's." Ari said.
"I know baby." Will said. "We are going to stay with Neil instead." He said.
"Oh okay." She said. He loved that she was so agreeable, most of the time. Yet another personality trait she did not get from him. He had too much Sami Brady in him to be so easygoing.
Will reached in the back and unbuckled her from her seat. She grabbed her teddy bear and suitcase and hopped out. Will got his own bag from the trunk and they walked up the steps hand in hand.
Will knocked and it was a couple of minutes before the door opened and Neil looked at them perplexed. He took in the suitcases and the teddy bear in her arms.
His eyes flew to Will's. "Don't tell me… you finally did it?" He asked. "THANK GOD."
"Ummm no." Will said, walking in and leading Arianna into the apartment. "I haven't done anything." He said. "Sonny is going to be out of town for a couple days. So we are gonna camp out on your sofa if you don't mind."
"You know, you are always welcome here." Neil said. "You and Ari can have the bed, I will take the couch." He continued matter of factly.
"Nope, uh huh." Will said. "I will get a couple of air mattresses but we are not taking your bed."
"It isn't a big deal." Neil said. "Most nights I fall asleep on the couch anyway."
"We will figure it out." Will said.
Arianna ran to the couch and made herself at home confiscating the remote from the table. She turned the channel to the Disney channel and sat back happily engrossed within seconds.
Will and Neil went to the kitchen and sat down at the table. "So you are really just hanging out because Sonny is out of town? He asked quietly.
""Yep." Will said. "I can't stand that house." he said.
"Mmk." Neil said.
Two days later
Will, Neil, and Ari walked into the pub. Arianna held a hand from each one of them.
Roman was at the bar. "Hey Guys." he said.
"Hey!" Will said. They took a small table in the middle of the room and it was only a few minutes before a waitress stopped at the the table.
"Hey guys, what can I get you?" she asked.
"Pancakes!" Ari sang out. "With lots and lots of whipped cream and strawberries. And Orange Juice."
The waitress chuckled and wrote it down when Will nodded and held up two fingers indicating that he would take the same thing. She turned her attention to Neil.
"Egg White omelette with Turkey Bacon, peppers, onions, and cheese made with Skim milk and coffee, black." he said closing the menu.
She took down his order. And walked away.
"Really?" Will said.
"What?" Neil said. "Some of us have to work to maintain our figure."
"Hey, I go to the gym five days a week." Will said.
"But you don't have to.." Neil said.
"I do it, so I can eat what I want." Will said.
"Well some of us have to work out AND watch what we eat." Neil said.
It was pretty quiet in the restaurant so it didn't take long for them to get their food.
When the waitress sat down the plates of goo covered pancakes, and Neil's much more sensible breakfast, the door opened and Marlena and John walked in. They walked straight over to the table.
"My Godness, Arianna, that stack of pancakes is almost as big as you are." Marlena teased. "How will you ever eat it all?"
Ari smiled and shrugged, she threw up her hands, "I dunno." she said.
"Need some help kid?" John asked kneeling beside her rubbing his hands together.
"No way Jose." Arianna said.
"You sure?" John asked. "That is a big job."
Arianna giggled. "I can do it." she said.
"Okay." John sighed sadly.
"Arianna how would you like to come with us today and then maybe you can spend the night?" Marlena asked. "We haven't had a lot of time together lately."
"Sure." Arianna said around a mouthful of food.
"Would that be okay, Will?" Marlena asked.
"Absolutely." Will said. "She would love that right baby girl?"
"Uh huh." Arianna said still shoveling in food.
"Okay then." They said pulling up chairs to join them.
About an hour later Will excused himself and Arianna in order to take her to the bathroom and attempt to clean off the majority of the syrup and dried whipped cream.
He held her hand as he led her toward the bathroom. He stopped short when he saw Brian at the counter.
Brian turned around and looked at him. "Hey!" He said, his eyes lighting up.
"Hey!" Will said.
"This can't be Arianna…" Brian said.
"Uhhh yeah." Will said. "Ari this is my friend Brian, Brian meet my daughter Arianna."
Brian crouched down to her level, "Hi Arianna." he said. "It's very nice to meet you." He said holding out a hand to her.
Arianna reached out and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you too." She said politely.
Will burst out laughing when she pulled her hand away and Brian's nose wrinkled as he looked down at his now syrup covered hand. Roman had witnessed the exchange and handed him a wet cloth from behind the bar. "Thanks." Brian said wiping his hands off.
"Don't mention it." Roman said. "Your to go orders will be ready in about 10 minutes or so."
"Great." Brian said turning back to Will.
"Ari go wash your hands, I will be right there to wash your face." He said.
"Ok daddy." She said running off happily.
The urge to touch Will was strong so Brian shoved his hands deep into his pockets."So what are your plans for tonight?"
"I dunno." Will said, "Arianna is going over to my grandma and John's, so I may be going out with Neil and maybe T, What about you?"
"Work." Brian said, "But you know, you could come by if you want."
"Yeah?" Will said. "You sure you won't be too busy?"
"For you, I will make time." Brian said.
"Okay, see you later then." He said. "I gotta go help Arianna." He continued as he backed away.
He went into the bathroom and lifted Arianna up onto the counter. He wet some napkins and carefully cleaned her face. "I am gonna miss you today." He said.
"You can come with us." She said hugging him.
"Not this time baby." He said, hugging her back.
"Why don't you like grandpa John anymore?" She asked innocently.
"What makes you think that I don't like Granda John?" Will asked surprised.
"We never go there to see Grandma anymore, and you don't talk to him." She said.
It hit Will, how much she really did notice, even when he thought she wasn't paying attention.
"I love Grandpa John." Will said, then he sighed. "It's just hard to be around him."
"Without Paul?" Arianna asked, looking him in the eye.
Will blinked back tears. "Yeah, baby without Paul."
"You miss him." she said.
Will nodded his agreement. "Very much."
"I'm sorry daddy." she said hugging him again. "I miss Paul too."
"You do?" Will asked shocked.
She nodded, "He was nice to me and he made you laugh all the time." she said. "You don't laugh like that anymore, not even with Daddy Sonny."
"I'm sorry." Will said, completely awed by how smart his daughter had gotten. "I am trying with Daddy Sonny. I want you to be happy, I am doing everything in my power to make sure that happens."
"But you should be happy too daddy." she said earnestly.
"When did you get so smart?" he asked her ruffling her hair.
"I have always been smart daddy." she said.
"Yes you have." he agreed. "You ready to go with Grandma now?"
"Yes." Arianna said as he sat her down on the floor. She tore out of the bathroom and went back to the table. "Where are we going?" she asked throwing herself into Marlena's arms.
"Wherever you want." Marlena promised kissing her cheek.
They got up and Arianna hugged Will and then Neil. "Bye." she said.
"Bye baby, be good, and mind your manners." Will said.
"Yes sir." she said.
"Bye Honey." Marlena said, kissing his cheek. "We miss you too you know."
Will nodded, "I know, I'm sorry."
"See you around Kid." John said.
Will watched them go and then sat back down.
"Soo.." Neil said. "That was a surprise."
"Yeah." Will said, "I didn't know they were going to show up here."
"Clearly." Neil said, "Or we would have been eating elsewhere. But I really don't know why you are avoiding seeing John, It isn't like seeing him is the only time you ever think about Paul."
Will was so busy watching Brian at the bar, he didn't hear what Neil said. "Huh?" He said finally realizing that Neil was talking to him.
Neil looked over his shoulder. Then turned back to Will.
"Aw come on Will… that guy, really?" He said.
"What?" Will said. "What about that guy?"
"Is he the one? The one you have been sneaking around with?" Neil asked.
"You're crazy." Will said. "What are you talking about?"
"Of course, he works at the hospital, I have seen him there." Neil said adding it up in his head. He ticked off the facts on his fingers. "He was there the night I took you in for your concussion. Now that I think about it, he is the one that came out and told me he was admitting you for observation and rest. The next day the hospital said you had never been admitted but you were not at home. Sonny called me looking for you… That's when this all started right?" he mused. "That's exactly when you got a little spring back in your step. Don't think I didn't notice. Besides I saw you flirting with him on the way to the bathroom."
"I have no idea what you are talking about?" Will denied. "I haven't been sneaking around or flirting with anyone."
Brian walked by the table carrying multiple take out bags. "See you around Will." he said flashing Will a bright smile.
Will smiled back and watched him until he was through the door and out of sight.
"UmmmHmmm." Neil teased, "You wanna try that again?"