Sonny made attempts to talk to Will after he told him about leaving. He tried online but Will never signed on. He called but they all went to voice mail. On his last attempt via phone he left a message pleading with Will to call him or meet him some where to talk. None of the attempts worked. He even waited outside Will's apartment building hoping to catch him coming out. Which he never did. He couldn't go up to Will's apartment because he knew that Will's mother wouldn't allow him to see him anyway.

It was the day that Sonny was to leave. His flight wasn't until early evening. He was trying everything to contact Will. He called Abby, Chad even T but none of them had seen or heard from him in a few days. He knew he couldn't leave without at least saying goodbye, so he walked over to Lucas's in hopes that maybe Will was there. He knocked on the door and Lucas answered. "Hello Mr. Horton...is Will with you?" "No Sonny" Lucas said with and anxious voice, "in fact he didn't come home last night and the police are looking for him now." "His mother and I are worried to death." "He could be hurt or something." "I am only waiting here, and not looking myself, just in case he shows up." "Do you know why he is so upset?" "His mom said that he locked himself in his room and wouldn't come out." "Then last night he came out and just grabbed his coat and left." "He told his mother that he would be back shortly but never came back." "What's going on Sonny?" There was a moment of silence. Sonny couldn't look at Lucas because his eyes were welling up."I am leaving Salem" Sonny told him..."my parents are sending me to France for high school." "Will was upset about it when I told him." "Well do you know where he would be...any ideas?" "No not really sir...I'm not sure." But Sonny had an idea and he was going to check it out himself. If he told anyone they would go and get Will and he wouldn't get to see him before he left. "I am sorry about this sir...I am sorry I upset him." "It's not your fault Sonny." "But if you hear from him please call his mom or me or the police, okay?" " I will sir"...Sonny said. "I am sorry to see you go Sonny...you are a good friend to Will." "He is going to miss you." Lucas says as Sonny walks away.

Once outside again he started to run to where he thought Will might be. He thought that if he was anywhere this would be where he would go. Sonny arrived at the riverfront and proceeded to walk over the rocks and trash that had been dumped on them to the place where Will kissed him for the first time. As he approached he could see Will curled up on the very spot where they shared their kiss. He wanted to be quiet because he was afraid that if Will saw him he would run away again. When he reached Will he looked down at him. He was curled up with his head was resting on his rolled up jacket, asleep. Sonny sat next to him but didn't wake him. He just watched him sleep. Sonny's mind was racing with thoughts of not seeing him again. He tried to think of ways to stop this. He thought that maybe he and Will could run away together. But he knew that wasn't going to happen. They couldn't survive on their own. He could just refuse to go...but he had tried that...and both his parents told him that this was the best thing for him. But he didn't see it that way. Yes he was excited to see France..but only for a visit...a short one so he could get back to Will soon. But to have to live there for 4 years...4 years without Will..he didn't think he could do it. Will's eyes started to open.

First he squinted because he face was right in the sun. But when he put his hand up to block it he saw Sonny sitting next to him. He didn't say anything at first. He rolled over onto his back. "So are you still going?" "Yes...I leave tonight." "Will started to cry." So did Sonny. "Will I couldn't leave without seeing you one more time to say good bye." I know we will be far apart but I will be thinking about you all the time." "Maybe you can come and visit me sometime." "Or I could come home for breaks." "Sonny you know that won't happen." "I could never afford to fly over there." "And you will probably make all new friends and want to stay there during your breaks." "But there won't be anyone like you Will." Sonny leaned down and kissed Will on the lips. They didn't pull away from each other. Will took his hand and put behind Sonny's back and pulled him down onto his body. Neither knew what they were doing they just both wanted to be together like that. They kissed for a while..and Sonny eventually rolled off Will. He laid down next to him with his head resting on Will's makeshift pillow. They laid on their sides looking at each other. Both were running their hands softly over the other's face. Will finally said the words that he had been feeling but was afraid to say because they would scare Sonny away. "I love you Sonny." he said with tears running across the bridge of his nose to join the flow of tears from his other eye. "I love you too Will." Sonny said through his own tears. Sonny reach over and wrapped his arm around Will and pulled him toward him. They laid in each others arms for almost an hour. Neither wanting to be the first to give the other up. Sonny finally released him. He pulled back and told Will that his family was worried about him..and that they had the police out looking for him. He told him that his parents were worried sick about him. Will was about to respond when they heard voices and then saw a police officer now standing at the door. "Found them" the office yelled. "Okay come on boys let's go." "How did you find us?" Sonny asked. "Coast Guard was checking the waters for Mr Horton here and they spotted you two here."

When they arrived back at the docks Sami and Lucas were waiting. Sami ran over and hugged Will. She looked at Sonny. "You knew where he was and didn't tell anyone didn't you?" "Mom...he didn't know where I was." Lucas standing beside Sami said..."it's true Sami...Sonny came by my place looking for Will." "But you had an idea where he was didn't you Sonny?" Lucas added. "Yes." "Then why didn't you tell us?" Lucas asked. Sonny lied..."I wasn't sure...and I didn't want to get your hopes up in case I was wrong so I thought that if I went and looked and then found him I could get him to come home." "But you must have found him almost two hours ago..and you didn't report it to anyone." "Dad...I told him if he did that I would run away." Sonny and Will looked at each other. Sharing in this lie..and both feeling that this may be the last thing they ever get to share again.

Justin and Adrianne upon hearing on the news that Will had been found with another boy they immediately knew it had to be Sonny. So they rushed down to the docks. Almost everyone had dispersed by the time they arrived. They saw Sonny standing there alone. They walked over to him. Justin put his arm around Sonny's shoulder asked him with great sympathy "How you doing Sonny?" "Sonny just cried and buried his face in Justin's shoulder. Justin put his hand on the back of Sonny's head holding him as his son weep. "I know Sonny...and I know it hurts." "Just let it out." Adrianne is watching them and not getting it. Justin sees Lucas and Sami start to lead Will away..."Lucas." Justin says a bit loudly. "Lucas stops and looks at him. "Could you give Will and Sonny a minute to say good bye." Will looks at his dad with tears. "Sure..go ahead Will." Will walks over to Sonny and the two walk away from their parents but they can't be alone since there is no privacy there. The two stop and look at each other. "We can still chat online..and email..and maybe talk on the phone once in awhile if it's not too expensive." Sonny says. They both know that probably won't last but they hold on to the chance that it might. Without caring who was watching they hugged each other. It was a tight embrace as if they weren't going to let go and if by not letting go then this whole thing wouldn't happen. Adrianne feeling uncomfortable calls over. "Come along Sonny..we have to go." "Adrianne...can't you let them have this?" "They may never see each other again." "Come on Sonny...let's go." Sonny finally tries to release Will but Will isn't going to give him that easily. He holds him a moment longer. Then gives him up. One last time...softly Will says to Sonny. "I love you and always will." "I love you too Will." Sonny walks over to his dad. Justin can see Sonny trying to hold back anymore tears. He puts his arm around him. "I understand son." Sonny looks at him and see that his father really does understand and hugs him. The three leave. Sonny unable to look back because he is afraid if he does he will run to Will and not let him go.

Will walks over to his parents but doesn't even stop to talk to them. "Can we just go home?" Will says with slight anger. Sami and Lucas exchange looks unable to understand what has happen.

Sonny arrives back at the mansion with his parents. He immediately goes to his room. As he is sitting on the bed it occurs to him that he hasn't touched his cast since he told Will about him leaving. At night he just gets into bed and cries himself to sleep. He climbs off the bed and reaches down to get the cast but it is gone. He stands up and is about to yell when he sees his dad in the doorway. "Yes Sonny I know it is gone." "But dad you knew how important that was to me." "Yes Sonny I do know that." "That is why I had this made for you." Justin pulls a present out from behind his back. Sonny just looks at it. "What is this?" "Well open it and find out." Sonny sits back down on the bed. He slowly unwraps the gift. He throws the wrapping paper on the bed and proceeds to open the box. There is tissue wrap on the top and underneath it is a cherry wood box about 6 inches long and 4 inches wide and 3 inches deep. Sonny opens the hinged lid of the box and sees the section of his cast that has Will's inscription on it encased in glass with Will's writing mounted on a pedestal in the center. Sonny looks up at his dad and starts to cry. "This is the best present anyone has ever given me dad."

Will and his parents arrive back at Sami's apartment. No one has talked the whole ride home. They enter the apartment and Will walks right to his room and locks the door. Sami is about to say something but Lucas puts his hand on her arm. "Leave him alone for a while." "Give him time to adjust to this." "Sonny was his best friend..and he may never see him again." "It will take sometime for him to get over this." "He'll make new friend when he starts school."Sami says. "Not like Sonny he won't." Lucas says. "You'll see in a few days he will be back to normal." Sami says. But this is the day of Will's decline and they don't know it..but Will does.