Sorry for the shorter chapter...Be happy that it wasn't half of this, since it was before. I decided to add more instead of starting the new chapter. Anyway, please ENJOY. xx

Chapter 21

Will had been sitting outside of Sonny's apartment door for what seemed like hours. It had only really been an hour, but with the look Sonny had given him and the quiet pleading words he spoke, Will just wanted to see him again. He was close to calling Sonny, slightly worried that something had happened to him, when Sonny came bounding up the steps. Will took in his appearance quickly to make sure he was okay. Will slid his back up the wall so he was standing, leaning against the wall next to Sonny's apartment door.

"Hey. I was starting to…" Will said before the breath was nearly knocked out of him. He was suddenly engulfed in a tight embrace to which he gladly reciprocated. His back knocked into the wall behind him, but all he could feel was Sonny. Sonny's arms were wrapped around his neck, his head falling to the crook of his neck. He could feel Sonny shaking, a tell-tale sign that something was not right.

"What's wrong? You're not hurt are you?" Sonny didn't say anything back, didn't even move. He just kept him arms around Will, holding on for what seemed like dear life. "Look at me. I need to see that you're okay." Sonny whimpered against his neck and he feared for the worst. But Sonny looked fine, physically at least. He wasn't crying, just shaking like he had been stuck in a blizzard with no protection, no coat, no nothing. Will's hands cupped Sonny's cheeks, thumbs rubbing against his jaw.

"Sonny. Baby, you're scaring me" Will said.

"I saw him." Sonny whispered. Will could swear his heart stopped.

"What?"

"I saw him. In Horton Town Square. While I was walking home…at least, I think it was him…" Sonny broke off, feeling slightly embarrassed for barreling in the way he did.

"You think you saw…Brian?" Will choked out. Sonny nodded at him. "But you aren't sure?"

"No. I'm not sure. It looked so much like him though, Will. And I…I'm just scared."

"Shh, it's okay to be scared." Will said, rubbing a hand down Sonny's back, the other still thumbing at his jaw line. "I'll call my grandpa, or EJ or something. Let's just get you inside, okay? Where are your keys?"

"Pocket."

"Which pocket?" Will couldn't help but laugh. Sonny reluctantly let go of Will. He fished his keys out of the front pocket of his jeans. He blushed as he tried putting the key into the lock. He felt Will's hand cover his own and he relaxed slightly. He allowed Will to take over, letting him put the key in the lock as Sonny leaned back against Will's chest. Once the lock was undone, Will pushed the door open with his foot and wrapped arm around Sonny's body. They walked into the apartment with a little push from Will.

The door was still open and Will moved, trying to close it, but he couldn't break away from Sonny's arms.

"Mm." Sonny protested.

"Let me just close the door, Sonny." Will moved from Sonny's arms, but Sonny gripped his wrist tightly. Will stretched out and shut the door before Sonny pulled him toward him once again.

"Sonny. You're home, okay? He can't get to you here, not even if he was back in Salem." Sonny's cheeks heated at Will's words. Letting Will go, Sonny wrapped his own arms around himself, trying to protect himself from any harm that could come to him. Will immediately felt bad. Now Sonny was pulling away from him. He felt a twisting in his stomach from guilt. He saw Sonny take a minute to figure something out in his head, and Will could almost hear the cogs turning in Sonny's mind. Then Sonny walked to the bed before climbing under the covers fully clothed. Sonny buried his head in the pillow and Will felt even worse when he heard a choked sob from beneath the sheets. He slipped his coat and shoes off, walked to the bed and hesitated before slipping beneath the covers with Sonny. He felt the bed shaking and he wanted to pull Sonny into his arms, but he felt like it would overstep some line that had just been drawn, especially now that he had clearly upset Sonny in one way or another. He was the reason he was crying right now.

"Sonny, I'm sorry." Will whispered. "I didn't want to make you upset. I don't…please don't cry." Will could feel the bed's shaking lessen before stopping. He could hear Sonny sniffling and a whimper slipping out every few breaths. A minute later, Sonny's red and puffy chocolate eyes met Will's blue eyes.

"You think I'm upset because of you?" Sonny whispered. Will didn't know what to think, what to say. Hadn't Sonny gotten upset because of what he had said?

"I basically told you that you would be fine, that you could stand to be alone, and then you pulled away from me…" Will said hesitantly.

"I'm not upset because of you, Will. Please believe that. You don't…" Sonny closed his eyes, hands turning into fists and he pressed them into his closed eyes. Will reached over without hesitation to pull his fists away, not wanting Sonny to hurt himself.

"Hey. It's fine. You don't need to tell me anything. Just don't hurt yourself. And I'm here if you need me" Will whispered into the silence. "I'll just go, maybe?" Sonny's eyes fluttered open and locked onto Will's. Immediately, Will could sense the desperation in the man's eyes across from him. "…Or I'll just go sit on the couch and check my email or something." Will saw the desperation turn into relief. He stood up, moving with assurance to the couch on the other side of the apartment. He sat down and pulled out his phone, hoping to distract himself, but he kept thinking about Brian. He texted EJ, telling him about what Sonny saw, or thought he saw and then wiped a hand down his face when he yawned. He hadn't been this tired just a little bit ago. So he knew he was stressed out and overwhelmed right now. He always felt utterly exhausted when he felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. He must've fallen asleep because he woke up when he felt someone sitting next to him. Sonny. Will's eyes landed on the beautiful mess of a man who was now next to him.

"Sorry. You can sleep some more, I just…" Sonny said.

"It's okay. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"I'm…" Sonny started before breaking off. "I'm glad you stayed."

"Me, too" Will replied, reaching out to touch Sonny's cheek softly with a couple of fingers. "What time is it?"

"Almost 10:30."

"Oh…I didn't mean to sleep so long."

"Me neither. But…"

"Yeah?" Will asked.

"I don't want to be…clingy or annoying or anything, but" Sonny looked down nervously.

"What? You'd never be annoying" Will tells him sweetly.

"Will you stay the tonight? I mean, the rest of the night?" Sonny blushed, knowing that Will had already been here for almost 6 hours. "I wont ask you for anything else ever again…I'm just worried about being alone with what happened tonight. What I think happened…"

"You could ask me for anything and I'd do whatever I had to do in order to get it for you. So, yes, I'll stay," Will said. Sonny swallowed through the lump in his throat. Will was honestly perfect, and Will thought Sonny was perfect. Yet they both didn't want to push the other. They were both nervous and scared of their newfound friendship, possible relationship, that they were somewhat pushing each other away. At the same time, they wanted to get closer, had things they felt they needed from the other that they couldn't help but ask for.

Sonny stood up after while, feeling like he wanted to just lay down. Reaching out toward Will, Sonny stopped his hand in midair. He pulled it back just as quickly and he looked down at the ground. A soft caress was felt against the hand he dropped, causing him to look up cautiously.

"You sure?" Will asked, already sensing what Sonny wanted. Sonny bit his lip in hesitation. Still looking at the ground, he could feel Will's eyes burning into him.

"Sonny?" Will slid his thumb across the back of Sonny's hand as he spoke.

"Yes?" Sonny said, inflection causing it to sound like a question.

"Are you sure that...?" Will started, thinking Sonny wanted him to repeat his previous question.

"I meant, yes. Please, Will. I want you with me." Sonny looked up once he finished speaking. He smiled at Will slightly, reaching his hand out again. Will took it, standing and following Sonny to the bed. They both got under the covers before talking again.

"Will…I don't want to be this person. This man who is scared to sleep alone at night. Who freezes up when someone sneaks up behind me unannounced. I'm sick of feeling like a needy child, whining and getting attached to things…to you." Sonny said, upset.

"Wait. Where is this coming from? You're not…attached to me." Will said, confused.

"I am. I'm so fucking dependent on you right now and I hate it. I just want my life back."

Will didn't know what to say, so he stayed quiet. He stared, couldn't tear his eyes away from Sonny's face, even though Sonny's eyes were downcast. When Sonny's eyes finally landed on Will's, they both froze. Sonny finally realized what he said and Will still didn't know how he was supposed to react.

"I didn't mean it like it sounded." Sonny tried reasoning.

"It's okay. I get it." Will said in a clipped tone. Will closed his eyes and shifted so he was lying with his back to Sonny. Right before he fell asleep, he felt a warm body, Sonny's body, pressing against his back.

"I do want my life back, but if I have to sacrifice you to get it…I don't think I could do that."

With Sonny's words echoing in both of their minds, they drifted off into dreamland.

To be continued . . .