"So," Will said sitting on the edge of the bed and looking at his grandma expectantly.

"So…" Marlena stared back at Will while leaning against a dresser. She didn't quite trust sitting on his bed.

Will's forehead crinkled together, "You're the one that brought me in here."

"You know what we're talking about," Marlena gave him the same look she always gave him: fond exasperation.

"Then talk," Will shrugged purposely being unhelpful. He really didn't want to hear what his grandma had to say about this particular situation.

Seeing how she was steering clear of his bed, Will rolled his eyes, "You can sit on the bed. I do wash the sheets you know."

"Right," Marlena realized she was being a bit ridiculous. "Is this new?" she questioned as she gingerly sat next to Will, sweeping her hand along the comforter.

"Yeah," Will answered. "Grandma Kate bought it for me. And before you even ask yes," Will heaved a big sigh, "That's why I took the mattress you offered me."

"OK," Marlena nodded feeling reassured. "That's good to know at least. I'm sure it would be uncomfortable if you were using your marriage bed. It does bring up a few of the things I wanted to talk about though."

Will awkwardly averted his eyes.

"Now," Marlena took Will's hand in hers, "I guess the first thing would be how long this has been going on. When I first saw the news I was certain it had to have been the first time but judging from the mattress confession that isn't true."

"Exactly how long have you been seeing Paul and how serious is it?" Marlena asked Will directly.

"It's not," Will didn't even know how to explain this. "We've just," Will stopped again. "For a while," Will finally admitted.

"How long is a while?" Marlena pressed knowing she was going to have to drag the information out of Will.

"A few weeks," Will told her in a subdued tone.

Marlena pressed her lips together before asking, "How long is a few weeks?"

Will, looking over his grandma's face, frowned when he saw the accusatory expression lining.

"Not that long," Will defended pulling his hand away from hers and crossing his arms. "God, Grandma, a few weeks meaning since October."

"Don't get upset," Marlena placated, "I wasn't sure. I just thought it might have explained some of your erratic behavior."

Will blinked at his grandma with a blank face feeling offended.

"Or not," Marlena quickly changed the subject, "OK, so you and Paul obviously resolved some of your problems for this to happen."

"Yes," Will told her shortly not feeling in the mood to be forthcoming.

'Everyone is so quick to judge me yet they forget that they've all done the exact same things I have,' Will thought unhappily. 'I wonder where I learned it?'

"I hope that one of those things was Sonny," Marlena gently said not sure how Will was going to react.

"Grandma," Will tilted his head and stared at her, "I have this covered."

"I'm just worried about you," Marlena confessed. "So much has changed for you in the past year and now you're apparently sleeping with Paul. The last time I talked to you about him you practically threw me out of your apartment."

"That's because he was in it, Grandma," Will argued.

"What?" Marlena questioned, taken aback.

"You were trying to get me to open up about him and he was getting dressed in my room," Will admitted.

"Oh," Marlena licked her lips. "I see."

"Look," Will explained, feeling a bit bad he was shutting his grandma down, "Paul and I have been seeing each other. At first it was just physical and we've slowly been getting closer. We've talk about stuff."

"Is this something serious then?" Marlena was trying to understand what Will was thinking.

"Not really," Will shrugged a bit, feeling uncomfortable.

"It's not?" Marlena didn't buy that. She might have been out of the loop in her grandson's life but she knew when he wasn't telling her the truth.

"No," Will started to say, "Maybe. I don't know."

"Have you been seeing other people?" Marlena wondered. "What about that young man I saw you with at Mandalay?"

"We're just friends," Will said. "That's it. Even if I did like him that way Paul-"

Will paused when he saw Marlena's eyebrows jump on her forehead.

"Paul what?" Marlena asked.

"He, um," Will closed his eyes and shook his head, "Asked me not to see him." Opening his eyes again Will admitted, "He said he wanted to be the only one."

"That doesn't sound like something you'd say to someone that you were just sleeping with," Marlena remarked. 'How could I not have known about this?'

"It's not a big deal," Will told his grandma defensively. Seeing the look on her face Will added, "Fine, Paul said he wanted to take me on a date now that we aren't a secret. But that's only one date."

"OK," Marlena nodded. "I just hope that you are sure about this, Will. After all the problems you and Paul had I really hope you have figured everything out."

"No offence, Grandma," Will gave her small smile, "But I don't think you get to lecture me about being sure about a guy or not."

Marlena chuckled, "No, I guess I can't. I just want you to be happy. That's all I've ever wanted."

"I'm trying to be happy," Will assured her. Will, biting his lip, continued, "I like myself more now than I did last year."

"And Paul's helped with that?" Marlena patted his hand, smiling softly.

Will glanced at her briefly before nodding.

"Then I'm glad," Marlena decided. "But for the record I would love you no matter what."

"Thank you," Will leaned his head against hers and wrapped his arm around her.

While enjoying the moment Marlena thought something over, "Wait, if you've been seeing Paul for that long what exactly what were you two talking about when we were together for Thanksgiving?"

"Um," Will looked back and forth across the room, "Nothing."


"Paul," John sat down on the couch with him, "I gotta know what's going on here."

"What do you mean?" Paul wondered.

"You and Will?" John made a strange face. "I don't understand how it could have happened."

"What's to understand?" Paul asked even though he wasn't really expecting an answer.

"The last time I checked," John stared talking, "The two of you hated each other and you were in love with his husband."

Paul shrugged, "Things change, Dad."

"Well," John caught Paul's eyes, "I just hope this whole news story makes you see reason."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Paul demanded.

"Your life is getting on track. You've got your modeling and you've set down roots. You've gotten to know your family," John explained. "You don't need to get mixed up again with Will."

Paul set his jaw, "Excuse me?"

"I just figured that everything you've been doing, getting your life in order," John stated, "Was for when Sonny comes back."

"Why would I do any of that for another person?" Paul wondered. "All of that was for me. Because I wanted to get to know the family I never knew I had. Because I wanted to have something to do with my life without baseball, not for a guy."

"And for your information," Paul continued, getting a bit worked up, "I happen to really like Will."

"I," John tried to say before starting over, "I guess I'm just a bit confused here."

"Then let me explain," Paul began, "I'm the one that went after Will."

"Paul-" John said only to get cut off.

"I'm the one that pursued him and I'm the one that asked him out on a date before you came over," Paul added, completely ignoring his father. "I like him, OK?"

"Alright," John held up his hands trying to calm Paul down. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"I know," Paul sighed. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just defensive." Under his breath Paul mumbled, "Will was right about this being easier as a secret."

"Wait," John said, thinking something over, "This means you've been seeing Will since that time I ran into you at Mandalay?"

Paul pursed his lips, "…It might have been before that."

"I thought he was there with someone else?" John recalled Marlena gossiping about it to him over lunch.

"I took care of that," Paul proudly answered.

Raising one eyebrow John nodded, "I see."

The two sat in silence until John burst out, "And you're sure this isn't about Sonny?"

'Oh my god,' Paul groaned.

"Sonny is the last thing on my mind," Paul promised his father. "I know what I'm doing and it's seeing where this is going with Will."

Ari, coming out of her room, shoved her sippy cup at Paul, "More, please."

Paul narrowed his eyes, "I don't think your daddy wants you drinking any more juice before dinner."

"He does," Ari nodded seriously, eyes wide and innocent. "I need it."

"Nice try," Paul told her before pushing off the couch. "But you're getting water."

Ari crossed her arms and pouted, "Hmph."

John observed Paul interacting with Ari and shook his head.

Watching the two of them John was reminded of Thanksgiving.

'Oh, I guess that makes a lot more sense now.'


A Few Weeks Ago

Thanksgiving

"You wanna go eat a bunch of food and see some of our family?" Will asked Ari as they headed into Marlena's building.

It felt a little weird to be going there instead of the pub but Marlena and John were insistent they have their immediate family together this year.

"Family?" Ari asked as she held onto Will's hand and played with her new fluffy skirt.

"Yeah," Will nodded as they stepped into the elevator. "There's a few people that you haven't met yet. Our Aunt Belle, her husband Shawn and their daughter Claire."

"Oh," Ari copied Will by nodding even though she didn't quite understand.

Before the elevator doors could close Paul managed to sneak in.

Paul was anxious about coming to this. His relationship with his newfound family was tentative but getting better.

'I wish I had someone to bring with me,' Paul sighed as he squeezed into the elevator. 'I wonder what Will's doing today.'

Looking up, Paul was surprised to see Will and Ari both and asked, "What are you two doing here?"

'This is going to be infinitely better than being alone,' Paul realized. Taking in how nice Will looked in his dark jeans Paul mused, 'And harder all at the same time.'

'Does he really not know?' Will gave Paul an amused look before Ari responded.

"See family," Ari said very seriously.

"Me too," Paul gave Ari a big smile. 'God she's adorable.'

"Uh," Paul looked back at Will, "What family are you talking about?"

"The same one you are," Will answered with a hint of a smile.

"What?" Paul frowned feeling his stomach drop.

"Yeah," Will replied, "The sister you're meeting for the first time? She's my aunt."

Will squeezed Paul's bicep once the elevator doors opened and he and Ari walked out.

"Hey," John greeted at the front door. "Come on in everyone."

Paul, shrugging out of his coat, asked his father under his breath, "How exactly am I related to Belle again?"


"How's my favorite nephew?" Brady asked, stopping his conversation with Eric, seeing Will and Ari walk into the kitchen.

"I'm fine," Will answered, "And I'm telling Johnny you said that."

"Eh," Brady waved his hand in dismissal, "You're looking better than the last time I saw you."

"Thanks," Will said as he got Ari something to drink. "Where's Tate?"

"He'll be over later," Brady supplied. "Theresa has him with Eve."

Paul, following after Will, awkwardly hovered nearby. He wasn't quite sure if he was allowed to talk to Will here or not.

'Is that keeping us a secret?' Paul wondered.

"Paul," Brady greeted as Will started talking with Eric. "I'm glad you could make it. Did you meet Belle? What did you think?"

"She seemed really nice," Paul admitted. He really liked his brother, ('It's still so weird to think that,') but Paul couldn't stop looking over at Will.

"What's the latest from Sami?" Eric questioned knowing Will talked to her more often than he did.

"Everything's good," Will started explaining getting a prickling feeling down the back of his neck. Glancing over his shoulder Will caught Paul staring at him.

'Way to be subtle,' Will held in a sigh.

"Her and the kids are going to some ritzy Thanksgiving party at some house in the Hollywood Hills. She sounded really happy," Will continued.

"Well, that definitely sounds like my sister," Eric gave a small laugh.

"My grandma," Ari said proudly from where she was sitting on the kitchen counter swinging her legs.

"That's right," Will smiled at her. "Speaking of," Will pulled out his phone, "She demanded I sent a picture of you in the outfit she sent."

"Whatever happened with that Darren guy?" Brady questioned Paul.

"It was Derrick," Paul informed Brady, tearing his eyes away from Will, "And nothing happened."

Seeing where Paul was looking Brady nodded, "Oh, right. I remember dad telling me now."

Catching Brady's eyes, Paul shook his head, "It's not that."

"I'm staying out of it," Brady held up his hands.

"You and me both," Paul sighed watching as Will and Ari walked out of the kitchen.


While eating Will looked across the table and saw Paul laughing at something Shawn said.

'He looks good like this,' Will thought. 'Surrounded by people that care about him, smiling and laughing.'

'I guess it's a good thing I didn't drive him out of Salem,' Will decided. Catching Paul's eyes, seeing a familiar, teasing glint, Will smiled, 'For more than one reason.'

Paul, seeing Will's eyes on him, bit his lip before extending his leg and tapping Will's foot.

Turning to help Ari cut her turkey Will tried not react when Paul's foot started moving up and down his leg.

John, clearing his throat, said, "I just want to take this time to say how happy Marlena and I are that all of our children," John inclined his head towards Will, "Almost all of them."

"I thought it was too quiet," Belle commented making everyone but Paul chuckle.

"And," John shook his head knowing no one would get away with that if Sami was here, "We're grateful to have almost all of our family together finally."

Will tried listening to John but it was difficult as Paul's foot started moving closer and closer to Will's groin.

As John's speech tapered off and the conversations resumed, Eric questioned across the table, "Will are you feeling alright?"

"What?" Will replied in a shaky voice trying his hardest to not look at Paul.

"Your face is getting splotchy," Eric informed him, feeling concerned.

"Uh," Will could see Paul smirking out of his peripheral vision.

"Maybe you should go in the bathroom and take a minute," Marlena suggested. "We'll watch Ari."

"Right," Will nodded, pushing Paul's foot away from him and standing up. "I'll be back."


Will splashed some cool water on his face in the bathroom when he heard a knock on the door.

"It's me," Will heard before going to open it.

Paul pushed Will back into the bathroom and locked the door behind him.

"What are you-?" Will tried to ask.

"No talking," Paul ordered before digging his fingers into Will's hair and pressing their mouths together.

"Wha-?" Will tried again as he attempted to pull away.

"Shh, we only have a few minutes," Paul urged capturing Will's lips again.

Opening and closing his fists several times Will took a few moments before giving in and wrapping his arms around Paul's neck.

Prying Will's mouth open with his tongue, Paul lifted Will onto the counter and pressed their bodies together. Paul shoved Will's legs open and grinded against him.

Will whimpered into Paul's mouth and dug his fingers into Paul's shoulder blades.

"Shh," Paul whispered. "We have to keep this a secret, remember?"

"Uh huh," Will nodded dumbly as Paul popped the button on Will's jeans.

Kissing up and down Will's jaw, Paul teased, "Do you know how hard it is to stay away when all I want to do is touch you?"

"Well you did a fantastic job resisting by trying to feel me up at the table," Will complained.

"You were sitting there looking so good," Paul muttered into Will's mouth. "I couldn't help myself."

"Do you think it's easy for me?" Will groaned once his jeans were pulled down and Paul started fisting him, getting him completely hard.

"Seems like it," Paul grumbled, flicking his wrist back and forth.

"Well it's not," Will choked out. Unzipping Paul's pants, Will pulled Paul out, enjoying the way Paul twitched in his hold, "But you know what they'd all say."

"I don't care what they'd say," Paul sucked Will's lower lip into his mouth.

"I do," Will panted before grabbing the back of Paul's neck and with one hand.

"Stop talking," Paul ordered once more tightening his grip.

Will followed directions, keeping his wrist moving as he rested his head on Paul's shoulder.

Paul closed his eyes. He loved hearing Will's little whimpers and moans in his ear. He didn't know what it was- the possibility of being caught or Will- but he was so close already.

With their mouths pressed together to muffle their cries Will and Paul quickly got the other off. Resting their foreheads together, catching their breath, Paul realized vaguely that he knew exactly how to bring Will to the edge.

'I know how to touch him, what to say to him to get him going,' Paul thought moaning slightly when Will gently pressed their lips together. He didn't know why but that thought excited him. He liked that he knew someone so well that he could bring them so much pleasure so quickly.

Tongues pressing together briefly, Will pulled away, "We should get back before someone notices."

"Right," Paul nodded feeling something pulling in his chest.

Will wiggled off the countertop and turned around to wash his hand of the mess Paul made of it. Glancing at Paul in the mirror Will felt something in him constrict at the look on Paul's face.

Will, making a decision, bumped back into Paul to get his attention. Smiling at Paul through the mirror Will teasingly licked his hand clean before doing the same with Paul's.

Paul inhaled sharply, "Fuck, Will."

"Just a preview of tonight," Will murmured rinsing his hands off quickly. Turning on his heels Will wrapped his arms around Paul's neck.

"Tonight?" Paul wondered looking deep into Will's blue eyes.

"Mmm hmm," Will nodded with a smirk, "Tonight, when you come over, I'm going to take my time and swallow everything you give me."

"Will," Paul moaned.

"Tonight," Will repeated before pulling away from Paul and opening the door.

Satisfied expression dropping from his face, Will almost panicked when he saw his grandma standing near the bathroom.

"There you are," Marlena put her hand on Will's forehead, "I was worried about you."

"I'm fine," Will assured her.

"You're still flushed," Marlena remarked moving her hand to Will's neck, "Are you sure you aren't coming down with something?"

"I'm coming down alright," Will mumbled before clearing his throat. "I'm fine. I promise."

"OK," Marlena hooked her arm with Will's and walked into the front room.

Ari, wandered up to Will, "Daddy, I'm sleepy."

"Did someone eat too much?" Will smiled as he lifted Ari up into his arms.

"Uh huh," Ari nodded, nuzzling into Will's neck and shoulder.

"Let's go say goodbye to everyone and you can get some sleep before we go see Grandma Caroline," Will suggested, bouncing Ari slightly.

As they were saying goodbye to everyone Will wasn't sure what to say to Paul when he saw him standing next to Marlena and John.

Ari made the decision for him when she said, "Bye friend. I see you at home again."

Marlena looked between Will and Paul suspiciously, "I hope you are behaving yourself, Will."

Will, glancing at Paul briefly, answered, "Don't worry, we've just decided to put everything behind us."

"Yeah," Paul jokingly slapped Will on the back, "Will is very determined to get me behind him."

Will glared at Paul.

"Oh," Marlena helped Will to the door, "Just call and let me know when to bring over that mattress."

Paul, giving Will a strange look, eavesdropped easily.

"I'll let you know," Will answered quickly.


Will licked over his lips, chasing the last bit of Paul he could taste.

"Fuck," Paul panted, chest heaving, "You are so damn good at that."

"I know," Will grinned at Paul before kissing him firmly.

Paul chased after Will's lips before pulling Will against him. With their naked, sweaty skin pressed together Paul found himself running his fingertips up and down Will's bare arm.

Enjoying the silence for a few moments, Paul finally asked something that was on his mind since Will left the penthouse earlier, "What was that talk about getting a mattress?"

Will, eyes closed, nose pressed against Paul's neck, replied, "Grandma is turning her spare bedroom into some sort of work base for John. She asked if I wanted the mattress and I said yes."

"I didn't think there was anything wrong with this one," Paul wiggled around to make his point.

"Not physically," Will admitted slowly, "But I just thought it would make sense to get one."

Pressing his lips to Paul's neck, Will murmured, "Don't you think it's strange being here?"

Paul had tried not to give it much thought. It was a lot easier to be with Will, especially here, if he didn't think about it at all.

'If I don't think about Sonny,' Paul sighed.

Will could feel when Paul tensed up. Pulling his lips and body away Will sat up. Ever since the night Paul spread him out and worshipped him with his hands and mouth and words Will had felt a certain level of confidence he didn't have before.

'I guess I was so caught up I forgot about the truth,' Will mused as his shoulders started hunching.

Disliking the sudden tense, uncomfortable atmosphere Paul sat up as well.

"Are you OK?" Paul finally asked.

"I-I guess," Will responded before grabbing the comforter that had been kicked to the end of the bed and covering himself up. Closing his eyes Will confessed, "I'm just reminded of a few things I wish I could forget about."

"Like what?" Paul pulled the blanket over himself as well. He hated seeing Will literally reverting back into his shell right in front of him.

"That you're only doing this with me because Sonny isn't here," Will whispered.

Paul pressed his lips together, "Isn't that what you're doing?"

"I, um, no?" Will knew he didn't sound quite so confident.

"You sure about that?" Paul pressed.

Will thought it over before saying, "Yes, I'm sure. It wouldn't matter if Sonny was here or not. He wouldn't be here for me."

"You don't know that," Paul said

"Seeing as he divorced me after moving to the other side of the world to get away from me, yeah," Will rolled his eyes. "I'm pretty damn sure he wouldn't want to be with me."

"Besides," Will continued, "It's been a few months and I've been moving on."

"What do you think I've been doing?" Paul wondered defensively.

"I have no idea," Will admitted seeing Paul's face scrunched up in annoyance.

"I haven't been sitting around moping," Paul explained. "And I wouldn't be doing whatever it is we're doing if I wanted to be with someone else."

"How am I supposed to know that?" Will demanded. "That's what you did in February, isn't it? You only wanted me because you couldn't have him."

"No that isn't why I slept with you," Paul argued starting to get worked up. "I slept with you because I liked you. I wanted to date you!"

"What?" Will spat out in disbelief.

"I even told Sonny," Paul continued. "I liked spending time with you and I felt like I finally had someone who could relate to me."

"Then why did you act like you hated me when you found out who I was married to?" Will asked.

"That was you, Will," Paul shook his head. "You're the one that changed." Seeing Will opening his mouth defensively, Paul cut him off, "It was like you turned into a different person. I didn't like that Will."

Will frowned before looking down at his lap, "You were everything I wasn't and I knew no one would ever want me if they had you. I wouldn't want me if I had you."

"The Will that would listen to me for hours," Paul gently said, "The one that was there for me when I came out. That's the Will anyone would want. That's the Will I wanted."

"Paul," Will looked back at his face again, "As nice as that sounds it still doesn't take away from the fact that I wasn't the one you wanted."

"What does it matter now?" Paul shrugged, "I wanted to be with you until everything came out and blew up in our faces."

"And," Paul kept going, "I can admit now that I wasn't the nice guy I try to be. I was trying to get Sonny back. I would have loved for that to happen."

Will watched Paul without saying a word. He already knew all of this. He had worked it out a long time ago with his therapist.

'Sonny and Paul tried to make me seem crazy and paranoid but I wasn't,' Will told himself. 'I wasn't.'

"I relished each time Sonny ran to me to complain about you," Paul confessed. "I was so certain that eventually I would get what I want. I was crushed when I found out what you and Derrick did and when Sonny left."

"That was months ago though, Will," Paul ended. "Things change. You and I have changed. I don't know about you but I like where we are now."

"I do too," Will carefully admitted.

"I know that our past is complicated," Paul cautiously moved his hand over to Will's, "But I think that we're getting past it all. Don't you?"

"Yeah," Will agreed.

"I wouldn't be here," Paul squeezed Will's hand and gave him a small smile, "In this exact bed if I didn't want to be. I could be with anyone else but I want to be here. You could be with anyone else too."

"Really?" Will gave Paul a smile. "What if I wanted to be with Jake?"

"Not him," Paul immediately stated.

"Why not?" Will wondered teasingly yet slightly curious.

"Because," Paul tried to explain, "Because he's stupid and too old for you."

"Actually he's the same age as you," Will commented trying not to grin.

"Yeah, well," Paul tried to think of something else, "I don't want you to see him. I want to be the only one in your life."

Paul, seeming to realize what he said, opened his eyes wide, "Uh, I mean, I-"

Will couldn't keep the wide smile off his face. Throwing his arms around Paul Will knocked him against the pillows.

"Oomf," Paul huffed out before Will pressed their lips together.

"So," Paul said once Will pulled away, "I take it you agree."

"Yeah," Will nodded a bit bashfully as he lied back down next to Paul and pressed his nose back to his neck. "But we still have stuff to talk about, right?"

"Definitely," Paul agreed, wrapping his arm around Will, "But we'll go slow and take our time."

"OK, good," Will said enjoying the silence.

"Now that you mention it though," Paul scrunched his face together, "It is kind of weird being in this bed." Paul shifted uncomfortably, "Can you get that mattress before I come over next time? I'm getting weirded out now."

"Shut up," Will laughed, "And put on some pants before we fall asleep."


Author's note:

Many people pointed out that it's weird Will and Paul have been using the same bed as Will and Sonny in Will and Sonny's old bedroom. I completely agreed. That's definitely one reason why Will wants to move to a new apartment.

Will and Paul are slowly getting closer together and taking it one step at a time getting over the things that happened in the past.

Let me know what you thought.

Thanks for reading!

Shout out to the amazing iluvh0rs3s! Thanks so much for all you do!