Will looked around the room, checking to make sure that he had all of his things. It only took a few boxes to hold his meager belongings. He really hadn't brought anything from Memphis except for his clothes and his laptop. Everything else he had there had merely been props for the lie he was living.

Most of what he had gained since he had been back in Salem had been memento's designed to help him get his memory back, given to him by various people. A picture here, a card there, his old writing journal, his favorite CD, a pair of concert ticket stubs, Sami had even saved his favorite shirt. It was nothing special, but she had brought it back to him folded neatly in a ziplock bag. Funny, the things that a grieving person would hold on to.

For the first time through the whole ordeal, he thought about what they must have all went through thinking he was dead for so long. How hard it must have been for those that loved him. He suddenly found himself struggling with emotion.

"You about packed?" Marlena asked, knocking on the door behind him, looking around, taking in the empty room, "That didn't take long."

"Yeah." he said, wiping his eyes, trying not to blush. "There wasn't much to pack. Being dead really helps you clear out the clutter." he quipped.

Marlena smiled, "I'm glad you find it funny young man." she said.

"Well laughing is better than crying right?" he said. "Sometimes, most of the time actually, I feel like crying."

"We all have those moments." Marlena said. "You have been through a lot my precious boy, it's okay to be emotional from time to time."

"Thanks." He said. "He turned and threw himself into her arms, uncontrollable sobs shaking his body.

"Oh." she said, surprised at the sudden contact. Will had definitely been more standoffish since he had been back. He hadn't really been receptive to being touched. She cradled him to her. "I love you, Will." she said, unable to keep her own tears from falling.

They stayed that way for a long time, When they separated he wiped his face with his sleeve, embarrassed. "I love you too grandma."

"So are sure you want to move out in the big wide world alone?" she teased.

"Grandma, it's a couple miles across town. I think I will be fine." he said.

"I'm sure you will." she said. "I just am not sure I want to let you go."

"Aren't you and John ready to have your place back to yourselves?" he asked.

"Not at all." she said. "I have loved every second of having you here with me."

"Well, I am not leaving town, so we will be able to hang out." he said.

Marlena chuckled at that. "Not many young men like to "hang out" with their grandmothers." she teased.

"Well then not many of them have a cool grandma like I do." he teased back.

"Come here you." she said hugging him again. "Promise me you will come to me if you need anything? she asked. "And I do mean anything, if you want to talk, or just don't want to be alone."

"Promise." Will said. Hugging her back.

When they broke apart he stacked a couple boxes on top of one another and carried them out into the den. "Need some help with that kid?" John asked.

"I think I can manage." Will said. "I just have a few boxes and I called a cab."

"I would have driven you over." John said.

"I know." Will said, "But this is easier, and I didn't want to put you to any trouble.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. "My cab is here." Will said. "I should hurry."

He picked up the boxes and John grabbed the two suitcases of clothes that were already there. "I will walk you out." he said.

They got to the cab and loaded Wills things into the cab. "I will run up and get the other few boxes." John said. When he came back down Will took those and stowed them in the back seat. "Thank you." Will said. "For everything."

"No thanks needed." John said. "We are just thrilled that you are back. Doc was a mess with you gone and the truth is we all missed you."

Will nodded. "Me too." he said, and for the first time he found that he really meant it.

"Listen Kid." John said. "You know you are welcome to stay with us as long as you want but I understand that you need some room to figure out who you are and who you wanna be. It's gonna take you a while to get on your feet, and that's a fact…This should help." he said pulling a stack of bills from his pocket and extending it toward Will.

"Uh huh, I can't take your money." Will said pushing it away. "I will be fine."

"Take it son." John said. "Call it a loan, or a gift of love, or whatever you need to call it… but take it."

Eventually Will took the money and shoved it into his pocket. "Thanks again." he said, as he got into the cab.

It was a short ride to the apartment building. Will got out and pulled his boxes from the back seat. The cabbie opened the trunk and sit his other belongings on the curb. Will paid him, picked up as much as he could, and started in the door. He would come back for the rest… surely it would be fine on the curb right?

"Will?" Paul called as he walked up the sidewalk, "What are you doing here?" he asked… Will chuckled, he seemed to get asked that question a lot.

"Umm, moving in actually." he said.

"In here?" Paul asked indicating the building, looking puzzled.

"Yeah on the fourth floor, we are gonna be neighbors." he said.

"How did that happen?" Paul asked, curiously.

"My grandma Kate Is letting me use the Countess W apartment." he said. "I just felt like I needed some space, and she offered so..."

"Does Sonny know?" Paul asked dreading the answer.

"Not yet." Will said. "He isn't going to like it."

"That's putting it mildly." Paul agreed. "Can I help you carry this up?" he asked, pointing to the boxes.

"That would be awesome." Will said. "You don't mind?"

Paul waved him off and picked up the boxes. Will held the door open for him to enter the building first. They rode up on the elevator in silence and then exited onto the fourth floor.

"Which apartment?" Paul asked.

"Umm, give me a sec." Will said putting the suitcases down and pulling the keys from his pocket. He looked at the keychain, "Apartment 418" he said.

"This way." Paul said leading the way down the hall. He stopped at the door and then waited for Will to open it. Together they carried the boxes and suitcases into the apartment.

It wasn't very big, just a studio apartment with the smallest kitchen he had ever seen, but it was furnished nicely, and it was a place that he could feel free to be himself. He wouldn't feel any pressure here to be the Will that everyone remembered . He really didn't want to be that person anymore.

Will sat the suitcases on the bed, and took it all in.

"Where do you want these?" Paul said holding up the boxes, reminding Will that he was still holding them.

"Oh sorry, Just there on the table is fine." Will said. "Thanks for helping me. When I get settled maybe you can come over for a couple of beers or something." he said. "As a thank you ofcourse."

Paul held up his hands. "No thanks necessary." he said. "Besides I didn't really do anything."

"Okay, so then maybe you can come over for beers because I want to spend time with you." Will said, raising his eyebrows, waiting for an answer.

"I don't know if that is a good idea." Paul said.

"Why?" Will asked. "We were doing pretty good getting along before Sonny showed up the other day."

"Yeah, maybe too good." Paul said remembering where things had been headed before Sonny had knocked. No telling how far they would have gotten. "Sonny wasn't overjoyed to find us together, he doesn't want us to be anywhere near each other."

Will walked toward Paul, stopping right in front of him. "You really need to stop thinking so much about what Sonny wants, and think about what you want." he said placing his hand on Paul's chest. He looked into Paul's eyes, "What do you want Paul?" he asked.

"I umm… " Paul licked his lips nervously, his heart was racing in his chest, from the close proximity to Will. "I don't know." he said.

"Hmmm." Will said. "Maybe we will have to figure that out together. He said winking.

"I have to go." Paul said. "I will see you around." he said turning, practically running out the door.

Will sat down on the edge of the bed and watched the door close behind Paul. This was going to be interesting. Paul was so skittish but Will knew that whether Paul wanted to admit it or not, the attraction was still there. He just had to find a way to make Paul see that Sonny was just keeping him hanging on as a backup plan.

Four days later. Gabi brought Arianna to the park for a play date with him. "Thanks for bringing her." he said, as he watched her run off to climb to the tip top of the jungle gym.

"You can see her as much as you want Will, she is your daughter too. You two have a lot of catching up to do." Gabi assured him.

"I know, I am just worried that I will push her too hard, too fast ." he confided.

"You don't have to worry about that Will, our little girl worships you." she said.

"Swing me daddy." she called, running up grabbing him by the hand.

He picked her up and sat her in the seat. He began pushing her gently.

"Higher…. Higher" she giggled.

Will obliged pushing her higher. "Like that?" he asked.

"Yeah!" she called, holding on tightly.

"Will, I mean it, we are so glad that you are back and she doesn't have to grow up without her dad." Gabi said from her place beside him. "She loves you soo much."

"I love her too." Will said "I am glad that I don't have to miss out on her growing up.

"Look, I'm going to go and give you two some time together." she said. "Can you bring her home later on?" she asked.

"Of course." Will agreed.

He watched her walk out of the park and then slowed the swing to a stop and helped Arianna down.

"Hey baby girl." he said. "What do you wanna do now?" he asked, picking her up.

"Slide?" she said.

"Slide it is.." Will said. He spent the next couple of hours chasing her around the park, sliding, swinging, twirling on the merry go round.. he caught her and tickled her side… "You wore me out." he teased. "Daddy is tired and hungry.. are you hungry?" he asked.

"Me hungry too." she agreed.

"I am hungry too." Will reminded her. "Let's go get something to eat."

"Okay!" she agreed.

He took her hand and they walked out of the park and over to the square. "What do you want to eat?" he asked.

"Ice Cream!" she shouted enthusiastically.

"Oh no… " Will laughed, "you aren't getting me in trouble with your mom. No ice cream before dinner."

Arianna poured. "After dinner?" she asked hopefully.

"We'll see." he said. "Let's see, do you want a hamburger?" he asked.

She crinkled her nose and shook her head. "Uh huh." she said.

"Hot dog?" Will tried again.

"Yuck." she said. "Don't like that."

"Salad?" he asked.

"Noo Daddy…." she giggled. "I want chicken nuggets."

"Oooh that's right!" Will exaggerated. "I forgot those are your favorite." he said.

They made it to the pub. He looked around. It was pretty quiet in there for it to be early evening. They took the small table in the corner. Will ordered her chicken nuggets and fries. He could not resist ordering her a chocolate shake. "That's our secret, okay?" he said to her when her eyes lit up. She nodded solemnly. Then he turned back to the waitress and ordered himself a salad and a glass of tea.

"Daddy." Arianna said when they sat down.

"Yeah baby girl?" he asked. He could tell she had something on her mind.

"Are you going to move back home with Daddy Sonny?" she asked.

Will was taken aback, surprised by the question.

"Why do you ask?" he said looking at her warily. He wondered momentarily if Sonny had put her up to asking him that.

"Mommy said that you don't remember us, but that when you do, things will be like they were before.." she sniffled and wiped her nose on the back of her hand. "Before you died and went to heaven and Daddy Sonny went away on a long trip."

Will's heart shuddered in his chest. Of course Sonny had left them, and then he had died, of course she felt like they both left her. "Come here baby." he said pushing his chair back from the table. She came around and he picked her up, sat her in his lap and cuddled her against his chest. He kissed her forehead. "Daddy loves you soo much, you know that right?" he asked. She nodded yes against his chest. "Good….." he crooned. "And you know that I never wanted to leave you. Daddy would never leave you like that if he had a choice." she nodded against his chest . "I will always love you, no matter what, I don't have to live with Daddy Sonny to love you." he said.

"I know." she whispered. "But will you, don't you love Daddy Sonny?" she asked innocently.

Will held her quietly and thought about how he could explain this to such a young child.

"Yes, I do love Daddy Sonny." He said swallowing thickly. "You know how much I love mommy, I will always love Mommy because Mommy is our family. Mommy and I don't live together either, but that doesn't mean that we love you any less. We are a family, Me, You, Mommy, and Daddy Sonny, and we always will be that isn't going to change. But Daddy Sonny and I won't be living together anymore." he rubbed her back. "Do you understand?" he asked, pulling her back so that he could look at her.

"I think so." she said timidly.

He hugged her close. "I'm so sorry baby girl. Daddy has made a real mess out of your life so far." he whispered.

"It's okay daddy," she said putting her arms around his neck, "I am just sad when we aren't together." she said.

"Do you remember when Daddy Sonny was gone on the trip across the big ocean, when he was gone for a very long time?" he asked her.

Remember we missed him so much and when you would get sad and miss him the most, we always sang a song to make you feel better. Do you remember that?" he asked.

"Yes." she said squirming closer to him.

"Do you remember what song we always sang?" he asked.

"The Itsy Bitsy Spider." she said softly.

"Yes!" Will said, "we sang that song soo many times. And it always made you feel better. And when Daddy Sonny came home, he didn't love you any less did he?" he asked. She shook her head no. "So when you get sad and miss me, you just sing out song, and remember that I love you very much okay?" he asked.

"I didn't see him for a long time." she whispered, "Then you left me too."

"I know baby, I am so sorry, I didn't want to leave you." he said fighting back tears. "But Daddy Sonny came back and took care of you didn't he?." he asked.

"I only saw Daddy Sonny a little before he left me again." she cried. "Nobody sang Itsy Bitsy Spider with me while you were in heaven. Mommy took care of me, only mommy, but she was so sad all the time."

"What do you mean before he left again?" he asked. Anger clawed at his insides. How dare Sonny just leave her alone in her grief.

"Daddy Sonny went on another trip across the ocean." she said. "He was gone forever. I don't want you or Daddy Sonny to go away again." she began to cry in earnest, just as the waitress put her food on the table.

"Hey Hey…. Shhhhhh." he comforted her. "That is never going to happen. I PROMISE YOU I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE EVER AGAIN!" he said. He held her until her sobs subsided. Sonny was going to pay for this. He had trusted him and Sonny had betrayed him.

He pulled her plate over to his side of the table and offered her a French fry. She accepted it and took a small bite. He kissed her head and held her as she calmed down and slowly ate her food.

"Is there something wrong with your salad?" the waitress asked when she came to check on them.

Will looked at the plate, he hadn't touched it. "Not at all, I just lost my appetite." he said.

"If you like I can box it up for you." she said. "You can take it home."

"That would be great." Will said. He reached across the table and picked up Arianna's shake. He held the straw to her lips so that she could take a sip, then the took a swallow himself.

While he waited for her to eat, he pulled out his phone. He opened his contacts found Sonny's name and opened a blank text message. "You and I need to talk tonight." he typed, the mansion always seemed to have a revolving door and he didn't necessarily want an audience for this conversation so he added the address to his apartment and pressed send.