A few days later, and the Horton house was a buzz of activity. Every helper and family member around was helping with the Christmas decorations and the tree. The Horton Christmas tree was a legend. A ten foot tall blue spruce with tons of body and vibrance. Will was a little bummed that he couldn't help with the decorations this year, Sonny really needed him to help out at the coffee-house and he was more than glad to spend any extra time with the love of his life.
The door opened and Will heard that tell-tale ring the bells made, and he turned to greet the new customer.
"Brian," Will said. "What can I get you?" Will said as he laid the towel down on the bar and laid both hands on each side of it.
"Hi Will...um...how about a non-fat chocolate mocha frappe?" He said. "Largest size you have, I have a lot of studying to do for that C++ exam tomorrow." And smiled at him.
Will didn't seem to notice the extra smiles, but Sonny did. He was sitting at a table beside of the bar, working on his budget for Will's surprise, but pretending to be working on stock needed for the coffee-house.
Will handed Brian the cup of coffee, and Brian paid him for it. He turned to leave but hesitated for a second. He turned back to Will and said "You know, there's a film festival coming to town, and the first movie starts tomorrow. It's Devil Wears Prada. Michael and I are planning to head out to see it, you game?"
Sonny stood up and walked over to Will and put a protective arm around Will's waist, causing Will to smile and blush a little.
"We have the coffee-house to run tomorrow." Sonny said and stuck his hand out in greeting. "I'm Sonny, Will's fiancé." He said shortly. "The coffee-house closes at 11, what time is the movie?" Will asked, interested because it is his favorite movie.
"Um, I think it starts at 10. Well, maybe next time?" Brian said to Will then turned to Sonny. "Sonny, nice to meet you. I'm Brian, I sit beside of Will here in Computer Programming. Well, I guess I'll be off. I need to study for that exam tomorrow." And with that Brian exited the coffee-house.
Will turned to Sonny "Why did you do that Sonny? I can speak for myself you know?" Will said as he began to wipe down the counter. Sonny came up behind of him, and wrapped his arms around Will's waist. He pulled Will into him, inhaling the scent of Will. "I'm sorry Will. I got jealous. I will never do it again, I promise." Will turned in Sonny's arms and wrapped his arms around his neck and said with a smile "Don't stop on my account, I thought it was sexy." Will said. "Sexy huh?" Sonny's sly dirty side was coming out. "Why don't we close up for an hour and I'll show you something sexy." Sonny said as he kissed Will within an inch of his life.
The jingle of the door snapped them back to reality. When Will turned around, he was eye to eye with Shelly and he froze, visibly shaken aback from the sight of her.
"Hiya Will, Sonny. You two are soooooooo cute together. I wish we were that cute Willy." She said with a smile. Sonny stepped in front of Will, putting himself between His love and his love's nemesis.
"What can I get for you Shelly?" Sonny said a little huffier than he meant to.
"Well well well, someone hasn't had their cup of coffee this morning." She said and smiled. "I would like a medium cup of black coffee and a banana-nut scone."
Sonny turned and grabbed Will by the shoulders and said, "Why don't you go into the back and do this inventory for me. I'll handle the counter for a bit." Will smiled and pecked Sonny on the cheek and made his way into the back room.
Sonny turned to Shelly, crossed his arms and leaned against the bar. "Listen Shelly, Will has told me about what happened between you guys, the torment you put him through, the threats, and the attempt on his life. If you EVER come near him or try to hurt him again, you will have me to deal with." He said with a sturn face. "And trust me, you don't want that." He stood up and made her coffee and grabbed her scone. He handed her the order and said, "Did I make myself clear?"
She went to lay her money on the counter and responded with "Crystal."
Sonny picked up the money and deposited it in the register. "Good, as long as we're on the same page." He nodded to Shelly and turned to go into the back room to talk to Will.
"Wow, this isn't working at all." She said as she walked out of the coffee-house. She was determined to make Will hers she just needed a way to do it.
A bit later, Chad and Gabi walked into the coffee-house carrying a handful of presents. They sat their purchases on the counter and sat down on the stool. Sonny leaned on the counter and whispered, "Shelly's back in town." Chad visibly blanched and Gabi inhaled sharply at the sound of that name. "And her brother Frederick. They've been in here a few times trying to get me and Will to hit on one of them. It hasn't worked obviously, but they're starting to freak Will out. Shelly wants him, and Fred wants me. It's one freak nightmare after another with those two." Sonny finished and stood up, crossed his arms.
"Shelly's back? And Fred's gay? Those are 2 sentences I never thought I'd ever hear. Has Will told you about them?" Chad whispered, leaning closer in to Sonny.
"A bit, but somehow I get the feeling he's left a little out." Sonny said as he walked around the bar and motioned for the table beside of them. The trio sat down and started talking.
"Fred's the prick I warned you about Sonny. Those two together are trouble with a capital "T" ". Chad said. Sonny noticed Gabi sitting quietly, she hadn't said anything, he noticed since he told them about the duo being back.
Gabi looked at Sonny, "Shelly did a number on Will, Sonny. She outed him, she threatened him, she tried to kill him Sonny. You have to keep him protected. If she's back and wants him, nothing will stand in her way. She WILL get him, if that means something outside the means necessary, she will do it." Gabi leaned forward, and said "Did he tell you what she did to us?" and motioned between Chad and herself. Sonny nodded "no" Gabi took a deep breath. "After Will and I broke up, Chad and I started dating. Shelly saw that the 3 of us were happy together, so she decided she needed to do something about that. So, she put "E" in our coffee cups one night. Chad almost died from a drug overdose and Will was so high he ended up coming on to me. If we weren't drugged it never would have happened. But it did. We slept together, and I got pregnant from that night." She said, as a small tear fell down her cheek. Chad wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her tightly to his side. "Sonny, Ari isn't Rafe's daughter, she's mine and Will's. Will doesn't know and I don't know how to tell him he has a 1 and a half-year old daughter from a drugged one night stand." Gabi said, her body trembling with sobs.
"What? How? He didn't know you were pregnant?" Sonny asked in shock.
"No, I hid it well, and when I couldn't hide it anymore, I went to live with my mom. Rafe came back with me so I would have somewhere to live and now he helps me take care of her. Will never knew that I was pregnant so he never questioned why my brother had a baby."
Sonny put his head in his face and rubbed his eyes. "I'm liking these two less and less the more I learn about them." Sonny said and stood up to grab 3 cups and the coffee pot. Chad stood up and grabbed the bottle of "French Vanilla" creamer and they both sat down at the table. The 3 made their coffee in an eerie silence.
"Sonny, please don't let this change Christmas Eve for you two. If you do, they win. Please don't make me regret it. I have a hard time being a mom, please Sonny, make Will happy. Marry him. You have your lives to be happy Sonny, three days and that will come true. Please Sonny..." She said in tears and took a long sip of coffee not knowing what else to do at that moment.
"It doesn't change anything for me, so Will has a daughter. But I have to tell him about the wedding now, if we tell him about Ari. He deserves to know Gabi, we have to tell him. Does Rafe know Will's the father?" Sonny asked.
"No. No one does. Except Chad, and now you. I'd like to tell Will, really I would. I just haven't found the words..." She said as more tears poured down her cheeks. "And these two can't find out. Ari will be in danger if they do. They will have ammunition..." She said and rubbed her legs, looking down into her lap.
Will walked in "Hi guys!" He said and plopped down beside of Sonny. He looked around and saw the somber mood and said "What's going on?"
Sonny looked at Gabi and took a deep breath "Gabi, can you go get that thing we were just talking about? We can show him together. The 3 of us." And motioned to Chad. Chad nodded his agreement. "Want me to go with you?" Chad asked. "No. Give me 10." And she stood up and walked out of the coffee-house.