A/N:Taking a little creative license here to state that when Will & Sonny met in school, Will was in third grade and Sonny in fifth. Sonny graduated high school a year early, so he had 2 years of adventuring abroad before joining Will at Salem U.

XXXX

"No, Sonny. I will not!"

"But with our coloring, we'd look so good together."

"Jackson, I will NOT wear white for our wedding! I'll be happy to change to a white outfit for the reception, but under no circumstances will I wear a white tuxedo to the ceremony."

"I don't get it. We've so been on the same page for all the other wedding plans. Why are you being so stubborn about this one little thing?"

"One little thing? I do not want to be embarrassed at our wedding!"

"You look so hot in white. The contrast between us would look so good in our wedding album. I don't understand why you're trying to ruin my wedding."

Will's eyes narrow as his heart falters. "Did he say HIS wedding?"

It hits Sonny like a slap to the face. A glacial chill between him and Will that sends a shiver up his spine and icicles to his heart. "Oh, crap! What did I do now?"

Will starts unloading his pockets onto the kitchen table. "I'm going for a long walk. I don't want anything to distract me while I think." He places his wallet next to his phone, then he throws his keys on the surface, and he places his laptop bag on a chair. Will raises his left hand and pulls his ring off with his right and sets it down by his phone. Turning on his heel, he stalks out the door.

Sonny stares at the closed door. He closes his eyes as a sob wracks his entire body. "He walks away from an argument over the wedding and leaves his engagement ring behind."

XXXX

Walking around for a long time, Will's thoughts just go in circles and he's unable to control them in the least. He approaches a dark and locked Common Grounds. "Crap! Chad must've closed early. I was hoping to think with a hot coffee."

Just as he leaves the alley, Will is grabbed from behind and something is shoved over his head to block his vision. Will hears, "Did you see him? He doesn't look like Kiriakis or the tall kid."

"No, but I've seen him around. He hangs out with the Kiriakis kid a lot."

XXXX

Rolling over in bed, Sonny's eyes open when he encounters cold sheets. Sitting up abruptly, he rubs sleep from his eyes. He looks back at the bed and observes that Will's side has not been slept in. "He hasn't come back? " He turns his head to the clock. "It's 6 o'clock in the morning!" He gets up off the bed to grab his phone.

Hope-Detective Brady speaking.

Sonny-Hope, it's Sonny. I know it hasn't been 24 hours yet, but I think something has happened to Will.

H-What makes you worried?

S-Well, Will and I had a difference of opinion last night and Will went out for a walk around 7:20 and hasn't returned. Hope, he left his wallet and phone here.

H-Okay, Sonny. You're right that I can't do anything official until it's been 24 hours, but I'll see what I can do. I just need you to relax. Okay?

S-Okay, Hope. I'll try. Thank you.

XXXX

The phone rings in Victor Kiriakis's office. "Hello. . . What? . . . Don't touch it . . . I'll be down as soon as I can." Victor snatches up a walking stick and starts picking up speed as he heads for the front door.

Maggie descends the stairs just as Victor reaches the door. She is wearing a silvery gray pantsuit, opal jewelry and a concerned expression on her face. "I was just looking out an upstairs window. I saw a van pull up to the front gate and what looks like a body was thrown from it. What's going on, Victor?"

"My dear, I don't know until I get down there."

The first thing they take in is the body of a physically fit, young man dressed only in a pair of black briefs. There's a fabric bag over his head, his torso is covered in bruises and cuts, and there's blood smeared everywhere. Maggie kneels down to gently remove the bag. The revealed face is blotchy and swollen. Both eyes have been blackened and dried blood from his nose covers the lower half of his face.

Taking a ragged breath, the young man just barely croaks out, "Sonny . . ."

Maggie's eyes widen when she takes in the sweat-soaked, dark-blond hair. "Oh, no. I think this is Will Horton. We need to call an ambulance."

"Maggie sweetheart, I think it would be wiser if we take him to the hospital ourselves." Maggie puts her hands on her hips, narrows her in eyes in suspicion, but smirks. She nods her head.

XXXX

Unable to concentrate at work, Sonny has left Common Grounds in the capable hands of his baristas until Chad comes in. Just as he reaches for his keys to open the apartment door, his cell-phone begins to vibrate.

S-Hello.

M-Sonny?

S—Yes, this is Sonny Kiriakis. Who is this?

M-Oh, good. Sonny, this is Marlena Evans, Will's grandmother.

S-Oh, yes. Dr. Evans, have you heard from Will?

M—Please, call me Marlena. And, no, I haven't heard from Will, but I know where he is. He's here at the hospital in Emergency. If you like, I can meet you there.

S-I'll be there as soon as possible. Thank you, Marlena.

Sonny joins Marlena at the hospital and she's leading him to Will's room. "Will was treated as a John Doe, but Kayla happened by and was just able to recognize Will."

"Just able to recognize him? What happened to him?"

"He is still unconscious, so he hasn't been able to tell us. He has cuts and contusions all over his chest and arms. He has 2 black eyes and his nose is very swollen. Oh, and, Sonny, there were traces of street-grade drugs in his cuts."

"Drugs?!"

Marlena puts up a dismissive hand. "They've done him no harm. Oddly enough, his metabolism seems to be burning right through any of their effects." She opens the door for Sonny and leaves.

Sonny is relieved to actually he able to identify his lover. Will's dark-blond hair is clean and fluffy. The dark bruises do cast a shadow across his prominent cheekbones and his eyes. His nose is still distorted from mistreatment. Looking further down, Sonny sees that Will's torso has been left bare so that the shallow cuts over his chest and arms don't become irritated. Glancing up again, Sonny is angered to notice two hand-sized contusions around Will's throat.

His eyes darken and glitter as his supple lips form a hard line. "Who could do this to my sweet Will and why?" Taking a few deep breaths and running his fingers through his own dark tresses, Sonny sits down next to Will's bed. He carefully takes Will's hand in his own and stares lovingly at the injured man before him.

XXXX

Opening his eyes, Will winces at their soreness. Looking down, he sees Sonny asleep with his head pillowed by his arms folded on the bed. Carefully pulling his hand from Sonny's grasp, he begins to stroke the thick, dark hair.

He looks around. "Looks like I'm in the hospital again." Glancing down at his chest, it all comes rushing back to him. He gives Sonny hair a cruel yank. He calls hoarsely, Sonny. Sonny, wake up!"

"Ow!" Will releases Sonny's hair. "Will, you're awake, but what's wrong?"

"You shouldn't be here, Sonny."

"Why? Look, I brought your wallet, phone, and your ring." Sonny pauses as he holds out the ring.

Will starts to hold out his hand, but then withdraws it. "Sonny, I—I still need time to decide whether or not I still want to marry you." He looks away as tears start to sting his eyes.

Sonny sits down again, utterly flummoxed. "Not marry . . . you might not be my husband because we disagreed over one little detail in planning my wedding?"

Will looks back at Sonny sharply and cocks his eyebrows. "Your wedding?"

Sonny, in shock at himself, briefly clasps a hand over his mouth. "Will, you know I didn't mean it that way!"

Will shakes his head sadly. "Sonny my heart, I have agreed with nearly everything you've planned because I am happy simply to marry you. But, because I disagree with one decision, I become the groomzilla trying to wreck YOUR wedding."

"Okay, Babe, I see. I got carried away and didn't truly consider you in the planning of OUR wedding."

"It's no longer just you, now. Sonny, I'm having doubts about my being safe in marrying into the Kiriakis family."

"What?"

"First, my childhood was a nightmare and your mother's big mouth was a contributing factor. Then, I'm not thrilled with my fiance's behavior lately. Now, there's your great uncle."

"What's Uncle Vic done now?"

Will spreads his arms, indicating himself. "I didn't hear the whole story, but I was taken and treated this way as some kind of warning to Victor Kiriakis!" Sonny's eyes blow wide and his jaw drops. "I need you to leave my room, Sonny. I can't bear to have you around while I make my decision." He closes his eyes and turns his head away from Sonny.

Sonny rises from his seat and slowly makes his way out of the room. Once he's in the corridor, he leans against the wall while he bangs the back of his head on it. Sonny pulls out his phone and presses for a contact. "Dad . . ."

TBC

A/N:If you have the time, please comment.