EJ was pissed, no worse enraged. The nerve of that meddlesome bitch to tell him that he did not care about William. His hot Dimera blood boiled at the thought of it. Yes, he had made mistakes in the past and yes he had hurt William many times because of those mistakes, but what parent hadn't. EJ was determined to make up for those mistakes not just the ones he made with William but also the ones he made with his other children. But of everything that Marlena had said the thing that had stirred up his wrath like a storm was that she said William was not a member of his family. As far as EJ was concerned William became his family the first time that William had called him Dad.

EJ's wrath was still building pressure and getting ready to erupt like a volcano when the doorbell rang. Who was it this time he wondered another self-righteous Horton or maybe a sanctimonious Brady come to hold him a countable for the many flaws of the world? At first he ignored it but the bell rang more insistently. He knew whoever it was wouldn't leave so he would see who it was and unleash his pent up wrath upon the poor soul.

"WHO THE BLOODY HELL IS IT?" EJ screamed face red and fists clenched. To his horror it was his son who bore the brunt of his dark rage.

Will just stood there for a minute terrified out his mind until he calmed down enough to say "Some greeting old man I'd hate to be the person who pissed you off so royally. Can I come in?"

"Yes please William come in. I am so sorry that I spoke to you that way my anger was not meant for you. Please sit down." EJ said as they went into the living room.

"The last time I saw you this angry was when mom told you Grace was your daughter and that she had died without you knowing her. So what idiot was stupid to threaten one of your kids?"

"What are you talking about?" EJ asked trying to collect himself and release his angry so not to take it out on Will again.

"Well the only time you get this upset his when one of your kids is in danger or has been hurt."

"It is not important and I do not wish to discuss it. What I do wish to discuss is this impromptu visit not that you're not welcome anytime it's just I didn't think we had another meeting for today."

"We don't but I have been giving it a lot of thought and I decided to hear your side."

"My side of what," EJ asked confused. "your mother and I sleeping together."

"God no! Just thinking about that makes me sick and disgusted and I don't think I'll ever be able to discuss that. Your side of the fake Rafe situation I've heard Mom's, Rafe's, Aunt Hope and Uncle Bo's, even Grandpa Romans version. But I've never heard yours I never gave you the chance and I'm sorry about that. If your honest with me and tell me what really happened I might be willing to start to forgive you."

"What brought this on?"

"Well how I see it is were stuck with each other for the rest of our lives and life would be easier if I didn't hate you so go ahead tell me."

"Alright well it started when you and Gabi found that spot in Johnny's eye. The doctors were telling us that there was a good chance that Johnny could lose his other eye and be blind. I was a wreck to say the least. I went to the hospital chapel and I made certain promises and your mother over heard and asked me if I would stick to those promises and I said I would. Then Johnny didn't lose his eye and he was fine so I promised that I would let Samantha be a mother to our children and I kept that promise. But I knew that there was still one very big obstacle standing in my way Rafael Hernandez."

"What did Rafe have to do with it? Rafe was never anything but good to us he makes Mom happy and loves us. Were a family."

"That was the problem he was taking my family from me you, Johnny, Sydney, he was turning all of you against me slowly without you realizing it. I had to do something to protect my family from his influence."

"So your solution was to switch him out with some twisted doppelganger? You put a stranger in our lives. Anything could have happened."

"It wasn't like that he was under my control and his mission was to ruin Rafe's relationship with Samantha and get her to leave him."

"And keeping Rafe hostage and trying to erase his memories. What was that? Sport?"

"No I had to keep the real Rafe locked away and when the fake finished his job the real Rafe wouldn't remember any of you. But you must understand I did all that to try and keep my family together. I was losing all of you to him. I already had to share you with Lucas I didn't want to have to share my other children with another man."

"Yeah, um, you lost us anyway didn't you?"

"I thought you said you were trying to understand."

"I am. Really but why didn't you just say something to me I could've told you that you could never lose us that we love you and Rafe could never take your place in our hearts or in our lives."

"I am so sorry William I was just afraid. I am truly sorry that my actions hurt you and your brother and sisters. But I don't regret doing it because I believed at the time it was the only thing to do. Please say you'll forgive me."

Will just there absorbing everything his father said and tried to process it. He knew that what EJ did was more than wrong it was sick and depraved. But on the other hand he understood that his father felt trapped with no other recourse. He just spent so much of his time and energy angry at all of his parents that he couldn't do it anymore and while he probably wouldn't forgive EJ for whoring it up with his slut of a Mother. He could forgive EJ for this.

"Yes yes I forgive you."

EJ's heart leapt with a joy that washed away his earlier wrath. But he still had to keep Will in line about him sleeping with Samantha because he knew that Will could still have a crisis of conscience and confess everything to Rafe. He couldn't let that happen so he would still use what leverage he had.

"I am so glad my boy. Have you eaten yet, I could have the staff fix you something?"

"Look dad I forgave you for Rafe but I'm still pissed at you and mom and I can't play the dutiful son right now."

"I understand that, believe me I do, but you still have to eat."

"I made plans with Sonny and Chad to go over our business plan well probably get something to eat afterwards."

"Business plan? What business plan?"

"Oh right Chad didn't tell you. Sonny, Chad, I are going into business together again. A coffee house, were calling it Common Grounds, it will be open for everybody though honestly I don't know why they want me. Sonny's got the connections, Chad has the business sense, and me I don't know what I bring to it."

"Your fire, passion, and your brain. You were the one who designed that whole sports website. Don't sell yourself short I won't allow it."

"Thanks I think."

"So a coffee house that's a great idea you are filling a void that this town needs desperately. And I'm glad you haven't cut Chad out of your life."

"Yeah well we both have complicated relationships with our fathers. So we've bonded a little. And he is one of my best friends."

"Good I'm glad. Now please let me help in anyway I can."

"Dad the three of us want to do this on our own. Without having our families involved. I mean do you really want Stefano and Victor to have a hand in the same business. It'll get ugly."

"I see your point but finding investors after last time is not going to be easy. What if I just give you access to your trust fund early? It'll your money to do with as you please and I nor Stefano will have anything to do with it."

"Maybe I don't know I'll run it past them. Anyway I have got to go Sonny and Chad are probably waiting for me."

"Alright, I'm so glad we talked but I do hope you realize that I expect you to not let your duties to the campaign slide. I want you to succeed but I want you with me when I become Mayor."

"No I understand you still own me."

"And don't ever forget it."

The three of them had agreed to meet at Sonny's apartment to discuss the coffee house. Will was a little apprehensive to be spending so much to time with Sonny because of what happened the last time that they had been alone together. But at least Chad would be there as a buffer between the two and that was good because Will couldn't jeopardize the best friendship he'd ever had just because he couldn't control feelings he didn't understand. And it's not like someone like Sonny would ever want someone like Will anyway.

"Sonny I'm here." Will said knocking on his friend's door. After about a minute of waiting Sonny answered the door dripping wet in a towel.

"Hey Will I didn't expect you so early. Uh come in come in just let me get dressed and we can get started. Oh I ordered take out from The Brady Pub I don't know if you've eaten yet but it's there and the preliminary plans are in the folder by the table."

"Uh okay thanks did Chad say when he was coming?"

"Yeah about that he said he might be late but that we should start without him."

Will gulped he was still trying to get over seeing Sonny dripping wet in a towel. Now they had to spend who knows how long alone together with that imagine stuck in his head. Just perfect. "Uh sure no problem."

"Great make yourself at home." Sonny said going into his bathroom to change.

Will knew he was in too deep now he couldn't leave without hurting Sonny's feelings and if he stayed then he risked everything. He would stay if only to prevent causing Sonny any pain. Doing that would hurt worse than anything else. Sonny was the only Light left shining in the sea of darkness that was drowning him.

"So ready to get started?" Sonny asked coming out of his bathroom looking perfectly put together.

"Yeah totally."

"So I was thinking that we start with funding for the coffee house."

"Right, uh, I know that getting investors is going to be even harder than last time especially since the sports website ended in such a disaster."

"Come on it was going good for a while."

"Yeah till we got hijacked by criminals."

"So any ideas?"

"Well yeah one but I want you to hear me out before you say no."

"Will of course I want to hear any ideas you have why do you think Chad and I asked you to join us."

"Okay. Um I was talking to my dad earlier and he made a suggestion."

"Oh Lucas I didn't know he was back in town."

"He's not I meant my other Dad."

"EJ. I didn't know you guys were talking again."

"Yeah. Anyways the coffee house came up and he wanted to give me money but I told him no that we wanted to do it on our own. Than he offered to give me access to my trust fund early to meet any financial needs we might have."

"No Will I can't let you do that."

"Look I know how you feel but it's my money not theirs and I can do anything I want with it they have no control."

"It's not about that Will that money was setup for your future to make sure your taken care of I can't let you risk it on this."

"Sonny I am touched that you're worried about me truly I am but I believe in you and your idea this will work and it's not risking my money if anything it's ensuring my future. That is if you don't mind me investing as a silent partner."

"Well yeah Will I don't want you to be silent and if you really want to do this than okay I'm with you. But were still going to need more than just your contribution were going to need more capital I have something I'm working on and I don't want to say anything until I'm sure it pans out."

"Okay. So what next?"

"Next I think that we should talk about advertising. I was thinking that we could take out promotions not just in the Salem local newspaper but in the Salem U paper as well."

"That's a great Idea Sonny but I think that we need to go straight to the source."

"Okay. What do you mean?"

"We go to the college and we set up a booth hand out flyers, give free samples when we have them, answer any questions they might have. We need to make the people of Salem realize that common grounds is a place where they can come not just to drink great coffee but also where they can feel comfortable and safe with being who they are. Well what do you think?" Will asked Sonny nervously he didn't mean to say so much but he just got so excited by the idea.

"Will what do I think it's a great idea. See this is why I wanted you on the team your passion and creativity. I know this is going to be great."

"Thanks Sonny that means a lot coming from you." And it truly did it made Will's heart pound in his chest so hard he could swear he could hear it beating.

"Well now I think it's time we dug into some of this delicious food." Sonny said picking through the take out containers on the coffee table.

"Yeah now that you mention it I am starving I haven't eaten all day."

"Will can I ask you something kinda personal?"

"Sure you can ask me anything." Will replied praying Sonny wasn't going to ask THAT question.

"Well earlier you said you were talking to EJ and well I know it's none of my business but I thought you and he weren't talking anymore. I mean after everything that he did I just thought you wouldn't want anything to do with him."

Will sighed he was relieved but also weary he didn't want to lie to Sonny but knew that he had to. Sonny being the amazing guy that he was would feel duty bound to do everything he could to help him even if It meant taking on EJ. And as sweet as the thought was he knew all too well what happened to people who went up against his father.

"Well you know I was at the mansion last week, picking up the kids and EJ and I started talking a little I told him that I was looking for a job and he offered me a spot on his campaign.'

"Wow well what did he do when you turned him down?"

"Well that's the thing I didn't turn him down I accepted the job."

"What? Will why on earth would you want to work for EJ especially if you were so angry at him?"

"Well it's like this, EJ and I had a long talk and we discussed a lot of things and by the time we were done I had agreed to work for him, or as he likes to call it work with him."

"Okay but that still doesn't explain how you can forgive all the things he's done."

"Oh I haven't forgiven him at all but I have been able to put those things aside for the time being to work with him and I have to tell you Sonny it's a great job with lots of perks and opportunities. But I'll understand if you don't want me to be your partner now."

"No Will I'm happy that you and EJ are in a better place it's just that I'm worried about you and I don't want to see anything bad happen to you."

"Sonny I'm touched beyond words that you care about me so much but EJ is my adoptive father he did raise me for most of my life. He wouldn't do anything to hurt me."

"Look Will I know he's your Dad and he loves you and would never intentionally do anything to hurt you but things happen and I just don't want to see you get hurt physically or emotionally. But I understand that you're an adult and I can't tell you what to do but I want you to know that if you ever need me for anything to talk or anything that I'm here whenever and wherever you need me."

The look of pure concern and sincerity in Sonny's eyes brought Will close to tears. He had never had someone so good and honest care so much about his personal wellbeing and that's what made lying to Sonny that much harder.

"Thank you so much Sonny and I'll never forget that. Not ever."

Sonny and Will had been eating, talking and strategizing some more about the coffee house when Chad finally got there and the tension in Will was able to loosen just a little.

"Well it's about time we were going to send a search party out for you if you didn't get here soon." Sonny said with a wry grin.

"Yeah sorry man I got caught up with some stuff it's not important. So where are we are?"

"Well we just started talking about the layout and some design details. We wrote down some notes about the finances and advertising if you need to catch up." Will said handing Chad a legal pad with pages of notes.

"Thanks. Looks like you guys covered a lot this is some really good work I'm impressed Will but of course with having such a great uncle like me as an influence I shouldn't expect anything less."

"Oh please will you stop with that please. You have no Idea how weird it is to have your best friend as your uncle and on top of that have him be the same age as you."

"Come on Will your like the only Dimera I talk to that I actually like other than Lexi so let me milk it little. Besides it's just too funny not to mess with you."

"Ha ha thanks a lot Uncle Chad."

"Alright guys lets get back to work."