Will wandered through Salem as quickly as he could, head down and face hidden. He didn't want to seem too conspicuous so he had his phone in hand weeding out facebook messages. Will had never felt so cheap in all of his life. 'How do these guys think I could possibly be interested in them,' Will thought in disgust, blocking and deleting yet another filthy proposition. The more he read the angrier he got. 'I do not deserve to be treated like this just because I had sex with two guys. Two! What does it matter if it was at the same time? That doesn't mean I want to sleep with anything with a penis.' Fed up Will just deleted his whole page. 'There now I don't have to deal with that.'
Starting on his text messages Will wondered if he could convince EJ to just buy him a new phone and number, 'At this rate I'm going to throw this thing in the river anyway. How did these people even get my number?' Skin crawling at some of the things being told to him Will picked up his speed wanting to be with Sonny or Paul. Sighing in relief when he saw the apartment Will paused when he heard raised voices inside. Recognizing the voices Will leaned against the wall, hoping to overhear Sonny and Paul's conversation.
Sonny slipped his key into the lock slowly, nervous. He didn't know if Paul would be there and he wasn't even sure what he would say or do if he was. Bracing himself and taking a deep breath Sonny unlocked the door and slowly pushed it open. 'Here goes nothing.'
Paul, holding a putty knife and spackle in his hand, attempting to read the instructions he printed out almost dropped everything when he saw Sonny coming through the door. Heart racing Paul tried to keep himself calm. 'Don't panic.'
Sonny, eyebrows scrunching together, couldn't stop himself from pausing in front of the door, "What the hell are you doing?" Taking a look around Sonny noticed the entire apartment was spotless. It was cleaner than when he moved into it. "Where are the table's chairs," Sonny questioned completely confused.
Putting the materials down and rubbing his hands on his jeans nervously Paul told Sonny honestly, "I punched a hole in the wall and I'm trying to fix it. And I kind of smashed the chairs to bits." Seeing how flabbergasted Sonny appeared Paul added, "Um, I ordered new ones but they won't be here for a few days."
"You punched a," Sonny started to say before stopping, not sure if he was angry or concerned. Sticking with angry Sonny rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "What the hell were you thinking?"
"I wasn't, obviously," Paul retorted feeling defensive. "I was upset and it made me feel better."
"Well I'm just so glad you found something to ease your pain," Sonny said sarcastically. 'At least one of us did.'
Paul, stopping himself from saying something scathing, bit his lip. 'Don't yell at him. Don't yell at him. He's allowed to be pissed off.'
"I don't know why I'm even talking to you," Sonny muttered to himself before stalking over to the closet and pulling his bag and clothes out at random.
"What are, um, I mean, are you still with your parents," Paul asked nervously, unsure if Sonny would talk to him or not.
"Obviously," Sonny mumbled refusing to look at Paul. 'Stupid, dumb, cheating asshole.'
"Can you, can we talk before you leave," Paul cautiously rubbing the back of his neck.
"Talk," Sonny spat, gripping the shirt and hanger in his hands roughly, "You want to talk? Fine. Let's talk about how you lied to me." Throwing the shirt on the bed Sonny continued, "Let's talk about how you cheated on me." Tossing the hanger in Paul's direction, "Let's talk about how you molested Will!"
Flinching at each word and dodging the hanger thrown at his face Paul tried to remain passive, not wanting to exasperate Sonny any more than he already was. Agreeing with Sonny Paul gulped, "Yeah that's what I want to talk about."
Glaring Sonny shouted, "You want to talk, talk." When Paul simply stared at him Sonny screamed, "Say something!"
"I don't know what to say," Paul admitted, jumping at Sonny's words. "I don't know how to make this better."
Inhaling, fists clenched at his sides, Sonny informed Paul, "Start talking."
"I'm sorry," Paul whispered feeling small. "I never meant to hurt you, OK. I didn't."
"Well it's a little too late for that," Sonny stated simply, wrapping his arms around his stomach, turning away from Paul. Folding the clothes he got out Sonny caught sight of the bed. 'Our bed.' Remembering the picture Paul took from his night with Will Sonny tried to picture it. Tried to imagine what that night must have been like. How Will looked and acted. How Paul touched him, 'Right here. He kissed him and put his hands on him. How could Paul have done that? How?' Sniffling Sonny turned back to Paul, "How could, why did, how could you do this?"
Heart squeezing at the sight of Sonny's hunched shoulders and pained face Paul explained, "I don't know. I just, I had wanted him for so long. And then he was right here and he wanted me. I tried not to, OK, I did. I tried to resist but I couldn't. I couldn't Sonny. I know it was wrong and I'm sorry."
"How long," Sonny asked quietly, touching the comforter, imagining Will naked and pleading, 'And vulnerable.' "How long did you want him? From the moment you met him? From when I made you talk to him? How long?"
Head down Paul meekly confessed, "When I first saw him I thought he was gorgeous but I was jealous of how you looked at him more. Or it made my jealousy even worse. " Taking a deep breath Paul added, "The first time I knew I wanted him, that I had feelings for him, was right after he came out. He had just come from seeing you. He just, he was standing in the doorway and the moon was bright and he smiled at me and I knew I was in trouble."
That at least Sonny could understand. He too had to face coming to terms with his feelings for Will. 'But I never acted on them. I never put myself in any situation where I could hurt Paul or Will.' Closing his eyes, wringing a shirt sleeve, horribly wrinkling it, Sonny questioned, "How did it happen? I mean who kissed who first?"
Biting his lip, not wanting to admit the details to Sonny, 'It was hard enough telling Will.' Paul stated, "I kissed him first." Seeing Sonny grimace Paul continued, "Remember how I told you he asked if he could give me a blowjob? Well I told him no, like I said. I hid in a pillow and I heard these noises so I looked. And he had taken his underwear off and was touching himself. I just, I watched and he looked at me and I kissed him. I got him off."
"What else," Sonny demanded, needing to know it all, having to know.
"He tried to suck me," Paul said quietly. "But he started falling asleep. He, he, I just, I rolled him over and rubbed myself against him."
"And took a picture as a souvenir," Sonny snorted, upset and hurt. 'God, what am I even supposed to be mad at most?'
"Yes," Paul admitted. "I thought I would deal with everything in the morning. I thought that when Will woke up he would realize what happened and we would decide what to do." Looking at Sonny desperately, "But he didn't remember. I couldn't believe it. I just, he was so shy and scared. He was terrified he did something to ruin everything and I couldn't tell him. I didn't want to tell him. I thought it would be easier. That the two of you would be happier not knowing."
"How would that be better," Sonny demanded. "Because we wouldn't know what kind of person you were?"
"So you wouldn't be hurt," Paul replied, "So you wouldn't hate me. So we could be happy." Feeling tears threatening to fall Paul rubbed his eyes, "I never planned for any of this to happen. I thought that would be it. That I would stay away from him but I couldn't. I know that what I did was awful but I promise I never set out to hurt him. Or you. Never you."
"Did this happen because we were having problems," Sonny wondered, pieces of the puzzle beginning to make sense. "Because we were arguing and not spending time together and we weren't having sex as often."
"I don't, I don't know," Paul said frantically, "I don't know. Maybe that was part of it. Everything was so tense between us and it was just nice to spend time with Will."
Angry and angry at himself for feeling the same way, Sonny hardened his face once more, "So if it was anyone else would it have happened? If anyone else propositioned you would you fuck them too?"
"No," Paul insisted. "No, it wasn't like that. It was Will. If it was anyone else I wouldn't even be tempted, OK? It's just Will." 'Does that even make anything better?'
Nodding Sonny shifted his weight from foot to foot, skin crawling, fury lacing his veins, blinking back tears. "Did this ever happen before?"
"With Will," Paul clarified. "No, no you know he would never do that. He probably hates himself for hurting you more than he hates me." 'I hate me more than he does.'
"I know Will would never do that," Sonny said heatedly. "That he would rather be alone and miserable than hurt me. I meant with anyone. Is this the only time you've ever been with someone else?"
"What, Sonny," Paul replied, offended, "Of course it is. There was never anyone but you until Will." Paul looked down, realizing how insulting that probably sounded.
"How am I supposed to believe that," Sonny asked voice rising once again. "You were always traveling from city to city with the team. How do I know you didn't have any late night visitors?"
"I didn't," Paul stated, "I didn't. You can ask any of my teammates, I never did that." 'Even when I was lonely and missing you I was never tempted.'
Shrugging Sonny argued, "You didn't want them knowing you were gay. You would have kept it a secret."
"Well I didn't," Paul frowned, "And I told them eventually. When we first got engaged I came out."
"Yeah," Sonny uttered, "Fantastic decision on my part. What the hell was I even thinking asking you that?"
Stunned Paul flinched at Sonny's harsh words. "I, I know that I messed up. I know you might not forgive me but it doesn't mean that I don't care about you."
Running his hands through his hair Sonny groaned, "Care for me? You care for a dog or a cat. You don't care for your fiancé."
"What do you want me to say," Paul asked confused. "I don't understand."
"I want you to say you love me," Sonny yelled. "We were going to get married Paul! Spend the rest of our lives together. And since we've both been in Salem, since you got hurt, we haven't been like that. The past week was the absolute best of my life and we spent it being with someone else. What does that even mean?"
Speechless Paul tried to process everything Sonny was saying. Trying to respond Paul opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, nothing coming out.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed Sonny, emotionally and physically exhausted, rubbed his hands over his face, "Why were we so eager to be with Will? Why was it so easy to be with him? To invite him into our bed and into our hearts."
"Will's special," Paul whispered, tentatively walking over to stand in front of Sonny. "We both could see it. Neil could see it. That guy your mom wanted him to hook up with could see it." Sitting down on the bed, a fair distance between them, Paul took a deep breath, "We both wanted to be with Will. We're better with Will than when it's just us."
"We put our wedding on hold for a boy," Sonny said simply. "A boy."
Shaking his head Paul knew that wasn't true, "He's more than that Sonny."
"I know," Sonny promised, 'That's not it.' Tears lining his lashes Sonny turned to Paul, "Why wasn't I enough? Why am I not enough?"
Wanting to touch Sonny, wanting to comfort him and tell him anything he could to make his pretty brown eyes stop staring at him, 'But I can't. I can't lie to him.' Clearing his throat Paul told Sonny, "You know that's not it. That's not how this is. I can't explain it but you know. You know that it's Will. He makes us better. He fits us. He helps us work." Slowly grabbing Sonny's hand Paul assured him, "But that's not your fault. It's nothing you did or didn't do. You and I," Paul gestured between them, "We haven't been OK for a long time. But it is absolutely not your fault. There is nothing wrong with you."
Tears finally spilling Sonny let out one loud cry before taking his hand back and curling in on himself, pressing his face to his knees. Breathing deeply Sonny tried to get his emotions under control, hating to be so vulnerable.
"It's not your fault," Paul adamantly explained. "And I am so sorry I made you think it was."
"Did you say yes to my proposal because you were afraid to lose me or because you wanted to marry me," Sonny demanded, voice muffled between his knees
Heaving a deep breath Paul, hands twitching, hoping Sonny wouldn't hate him, "I think a little of both. I knew I didn't want you to leave me but I don't think I really wanted to get married. I just, I wanted to keep you and I knew that maybe one day I would want that, with you."
Sonny nodded slowly, 'I already knew. I've always known.' "I didn't ask you because I was ready either. I just wanted you to prove to me you would come out, that you wanted me," Sonny explained. "That's why we never bought rings or set a date or listened to my mother. We both knew it wasn't real."
"Oh," Paul blurted out. 'So, that explains why we were so ready to throw that away for Will.'
"Do you still love me," Sonny asked voice small and fragile.
"I love you Sonny," Paul confessed. "It's just different than it was before."
"Because of Will," Sonny concluded. "Because you love him too. Because I love him too."
"Yeah," Paul agreed, lips pressed together.
Gathering himself Sonny lifted his head, wiping his eyes, "Where do we go from here?"
"Do you think that someday you could forgive me," Paul asked nervously, terrified of the answer, "For cheating on you?"
"I, I don't want to be the type of person who doesn't give second chances," Sonny whispered. "But I don't know. Right now it still hurts too much."
"And what about what I did to Will," Paul questioned. "Do you, will you ever forgive me for that?"
"I guess that depends on Will," Sony told him flatly, "I can empathize with you for wanting to be with Will but I did not understand how you can do that to him when he was that far gone."
"I don't think I can forgive me," Paul admitted something sour bubbling in his stomach. "I don't know either. When I thought Neil was taking advantage of him I was so pissed off. And I did something even worse." Closing his eyes, concentrating, Paul added, "I think I just wanted him so much. I was so amazed that he wanted me too that I forgot everything else. I forgot he wasn't in the right frame of mind. I forgot and I hurt him. I hurt you. I ruined everything."
"I doubt Will thinks so," Sonny told him, despite everything he still cared about Paul and didn't like seeing him so wounded. 'Even if he did it to himself.'
"He said that he wasn't mad at me for what I did," Paul disclosed, "Just that I lied about it but I don't know how. How is he not terrified of me? How can he stand looking at me?" 'I can barely stand it.'
"Wait what," Sonny asked. 'Will, why?'
"I don't think he's accepted the reality of what I did," Paul said honestly. "I think he's too busy blaming himself to acknowledge that I took advantage of him."
"He does blame himself," Sonny responded. "I tried to tell him but he doesn't want to admit it. Not yet."
"I told him I would make it up to him," Paul stated, looking into Sonny's eyes. "And I'll do the same for you too. For both of you. I'll prove that I won't hurt you." Exhaling loudly Paul added, "Sonny, I need you to promise me something. Just make sure that Will really is OK. I know that he has an easier time talking to you and I just I don't want him being with me because of how he felt before he knew."
Sonny nodded, "I promise." Uncertain as to what to say now, uncertain they would ever get back to what they once were. After a few silent minutes, Sonny remembered something Paul said, "Wait, when did you see Will?"
"Really early this morning," Paul told Sonny slowly, unsure if Sonny was going to be upset, "He showed up when it was still dark."
"And did you see what happened," Sonny quizzed. "With the article and everything?"
"What article," Paul, confused, titled his head to the side, "What are you talking about?"
"Haven't you looked at your phone," Sonny demanded, frustrated. 'Something gargantuan happened and he had no clue,' Sonny thought with a roll of his eyes.
Standing up and walking to the desk Paul pulled open a drawer and searched for his phone. He threw it in there after his talk with Will last night. Opening the lock screen he had setup, Paul's eyes bugged out when he saw all the notifications he had. "OK, something big must have happened," Paul commented. "What was it?"
"Someone wrote an article blabbing about what happened," Sonny informed him, still remembering the humiliation and outrage he felt dealing with customers today. "Everyone knows."
"What," Paul questioned, opening up an email from his former publicist, mouth dropping open at what he was seeing. 'No, I don't want to give an interview about my sex life to Hustler magazine. What the hell?'
"Yeah," Sonny expressed, seeing Paul's expression, "Chad wanted them to write about you cheating but instead the paper did some digging and decided Will was a whore who broke us up."
"Oh my god," Paul grumbled glancing at all the twitter mentions he had. "I took advantage of him and I'm somehow a fucking hero. I hate the media."
"Hell, maybe it's better no one knows about that," Sonny frowned rubbing his elbow, "Will would be horrified."
"No, I think this is going to be what horrifies him," Paul sighed, holding his phone out to Sonny. Will's naked back and butt, painted with Paul's come, featured in post after post on twitter, 'And who knows where else.'
"Fuck," Sonny breathed out. "We have to call Will." 'Oh my god this is awful.'
Dialing Will's number Paul and Sonny both lifted their brows and turned their heads when they heard a loud buzzing outside of the apartment. Ripping open the door Paul found Will sitting on the welcome mat, chin resting in the palm of his hand.
"Will, what are you doing out here," Paul asked in concern, wanting to help Will up but uncertain if he should touch him.
"Um, eavesdropping," Will told him sheepishly, rolling onto his knees and standing up. "I didn't actually hear anything though," Will stated him with a shrug. Walking inside Will noticed that Paul had cleaned the apartment up. 'Good.'
"Why are you dressed like that," Sonny questioned, barely able to see Will's face.
Pulling off his hood, hair sticking up everywhere, "Oh, um, I was trying to be incognito." Sighing Will looked between Sonny and Paul and explained, "I guess I'm pretty recognizable even with clothes on."
Paul growled audibly, "Are people giving you a hard time?" 'If I have to hire a bodyguard I will.'
"You could say that," Will muttered. "I just, no one will leave me alone. Even one of my professors couldn't stop staring at me."
Sonny, reaching his hand out for Will, smiled when Will took it before guiding him to sit on the bed. "When did the picture come out? How?"
Throwing himself onto the bed completely Will covered his eyes with his arm, "I don't know when. Chad called and let me know. Paul's famous; I'm sure plenty of people were curious as to what I looked like. From all the posts I saw on tumblr when I was trying to listen in on your conversation it wasn't the only picture they put online. But it was the only one where i was naked."
"I am so sorry, Will," Paul groaned, covering his face, "I can't believe this keeps getting worse."
"It's not your fault," Will stated, "You can't control what other people do."
"No, but I can control what I do," Paul insisted, "And if it wasn't for me none of this would have happened." 'How do I keep making everything worse?'
"What kind of things have people been telling you," Sonny probed, "I had some customers say some stuff to me too." 'Probably not as bad as you.'
"Lots of stuff. Telling me I'm awful or just like my mom. Telling me they want to have sex with me or I'm going to hell," Will calmly informed them, beyond done with the situation. "Oh and apparently in between ruining your lives I've been sleeping with Chad too."
"Are you fucking kidding me," Paul burst out, outraged. "How do they even figure that?"
"He walked me to school," Will explained. "I guess that must mean we're fucking." Finding the picture on his phone Will showed them the updated article with a roll of his eyes. "Look."
'Um, I can see why they came to that conclusion,' Sonny thought with wide eyes, taking in how firmly Chad was holding onto Will and the kiss to Will's head. 'What's with Dimera's being so touchy with this boy?' Clearing his throat Sonny said, "How did they even get that picture?"
"Hence covering my face on the way here," Will remarked, still reclining on the bed. "Who knows who even took it ."
Paul, staring at the picture of Will wrapped in Chad's arms, 'You don't have anything to be jealous of, nothing. And if he did move on it would be your fault.'
Suddenly Will laughed loudly, grabbing his stomach.
"What's so funny," Sonny asked bewildered yet amused to see Will looking happy.
"I just remembered Chad was telling me he thinks of me as his little brother when that picture must have been taken," Will giggled rolling around on the bed.
Smiling, Sonny lightly pushed Will, jokingly saying, "Imagine if someone saw the way EJ touches you."
'This really isn't that funny,' Will thought, stomach hurting from laughing so much, tears of laughter rolling down his face. 'I've officially lost it.'
Tearing his eyes away from the phone Paul walked over to the bed, gingerly sitting and smiling at Will's antics. 'I miss this. The three of us.'
As the last of Will's giggles died down, wiping his face, Will closed his eyes and relaxed, "I just, I can handle the article since I know it's stupid. But I hate knowing the picture is out there. I don't want anyone seeing me like that, only the two of you."
Before either Sonny or Paul had time to respond Will started talking again. "What were you two talking about," Will asked, "When I got here I could hear yelling."
"We were talking about what I did," Paul clarified, afraid to say the wrong thing. "What I did to Sonny and what I did to you."
Will rolled over onto his side to face Sonny, "Are you still mad?"
Nodding slowly Sonny explained, "Yeah, a little. I'm hurt more than anything but I think I'm beginning to come to terms with it." Taking a deep breath Sonny added, "What about you, are you still mad?"
Thinking about it, between the picture, dealing with so many people confronting him, and the article Will tried to process what he was feeling. 'Am I still mad?' Blinking slowly Will said, "I still don't understand everything but I want to forgive you, both of you. I don't want to be angry and alone anymore."
On one hand Paul was ridiculously happy, 'I haven't destroyed the best thing that ever happened to me.' But on the other hand Paul knew it was too soon, knew he had hurt Will too badly for him to be forgiving this quick. "Will," Paul whispered, taking his hand, "You can't forgive me, not yet."
Sitting up quickly Will stuttered out, "Wh-what, what do you mean?"
"I hurt you, and not just by lying to you," Paul argued. "I took advantage of you and you don't even care. Until you accept what happened, until you are ready to deal with it, you can't forgive me."
Mouth open, hands beginning to shake, Will snarled, "You don't get to tell me my feelings. If you're so concerned about making choices away from me than you need to understand that I'm the only one who gets to decide what I'm feeling and what I want."
"Will," Sonny pleaded, "We just want you to be sure, OK. Absolutely sure." 'I'm not even sure if I can forgive Paul yet.'
"I didn't say I was sure," Will maintained, "I said I wanted to forgive you. I didn't say I already did or I was going to anytime soon. I want to forgive you."
"OK," Paul accepted. "I just don't want you saying you forgive me if you really don't or if you realize later on that what I did was unforgiveable."
Snorting Will glared at Paul, standing up and moving away from the bed, "Why does no one let me make my own decisions? Why does everyone keep telling me what to do?"
"We just want to protect you," Sonny said lowly.
"Are you even sure this is what you want," Paul inquired. "I wouldn't blame you or Sonny if you only wanted to be together." 'I would hate that but I wouldn't blame you.'
"Or if you wanted something a bit more ordinary," Sonny added, 'Please, no.'
"Stop talking," Will demanded furiously. "Just stop it. I don't want anyone else. I just want the two of you."
"We were only together for about a week and look what your life has turned into," Sonny insisted, "How often you've been hurt since we showed an interest in you."
"If I wanted someone else I could get them," Will pointed out, getting his phone and reading some of the latest messages he had been sent, "'I could fuck you so much better than they can.' Oh this one sounds promising, 'My dick is so big you wouldn't need two guys to satisfy you.' Judging by the picture he sent with it I'd have to agree. I guess if I'm feeling adventurous I could always call this guy, 'My friends and I are having a party tonight. We want you to be the main course.' But I can't rule this one out, 'You're just a dirty little slut who needs Daddy to punish him.' Want me to keep reading," Will asked cruelly, "Or is that enough?"
Paul, face turning red from anger, roared, "Stop it. Stop it. Stop it." Looking to Sonny for help Paul gestured feebly, not able to say anything else without screaming at Will. 'Only we get to do that for him. Say those things to him.'
"No, Will," Sonny maintained. "We know how desirable you are. We know. We just want you to be absolutely, irrevocably certain you forgive us, for everything. Not because you were happy last week. Not because of how we made you feel before you knew. But because you know, completely know, that we're it."
Breathing heavily, tears welling in his eyes, Will said, "If this never happened, if I could take it away, you would be all I wanted."
"But it did happen, Will," Paul whispered. "And I can't take it back. It happened and you have to decide if what I did was forgivable or not."
Realizing something was off about Paul, about everything he was saying, Will's face crumpled before he asked, "Why won't you call me baby anymore?"
Trying not to look at Will's face, knowing he'll give in, Paul told him, "Because I don't deserve to."
Sonny, realizing this was what Paul was talking about earlier, this was why he made Sonny promise to watch over Will, that Paul was right, 'We need to protect Will from himself.' "Will," Sonny told him. "We're not saying never, just give it more time."
"So," Will questioned shyly, trying to wipe his eyes, "It's not because of me? Because you don't want me anymore?" 'Because you really did only want me for sex?'
"Of course not," Paul added, "That isn't even a question."
"We've always wanted you," Sonny promised. "We just want you to take your time and really think about this. The last time we just jumped in without thinking. We didn't let you think. This time is going to be different."
"OK," Will sniffed, "OK." Deciding, Will continued, "This time around, if you two want me, you're going to have to work for it."
"Oh yeah," Sonny asked, charmed by Will's turnaround.
"Yep," Will said making his p pop. "You're going to earn me this time."
Chad, eating his fourth slice of pizza, asked Neil, mouth full and muffled, "So, you know that Brian guy right?"
Grossed out by Chad's eating habits Neil said, "Yeah I know him."
"Well, we're sick and tired of him popping up to ruin Will's day," Chad explained, "So, you're going to tell him to leave Will well alone."
"Why do I have to do it," Neil asked. 'Why do I keep coming over here,' Neil pondered.
"You're his friend, Will is your friend, make him understand," Chad described, looking at Neil as if he was stupid. "Although I gotta say, it's kind of weird that Adrienne tried to hook Will up with your friend."
"I didn't even know about that until she came here ranting and raving last week," Neil blurted out. "I just thought Brian saw him on campus or something."
"Yeah, well, once you deal with him he'll be off our backs," Chad grumbled. 'One less thing for Will to deal with.' Glancing at the door Chad wondered if he should go and get Will from Paul and Sonny's apartment. 'I know that's where he is. But I told him I would be supportive of him. Ugh, why does he have to be so stubborn and frustrating?'
Victor hung up his phone and clapped his hands, "Alright. That's taken care of." 'Now maybe I can get the hell out of here,' Victor thought with a shudder, unsettled to be in the Dimera Mansion instead of his own.
EJ, looking away from his laptop, asked, "Did you get it settled?"
"Yes," Victor informed him smugly. "Tomorrow morning there will be a hefty donation to the newspaper, following the immediate removal of its Editor-in-Chief. Do you have everything finalized after that?"
Nodding once, refusing to reveal the information to Chad or Neil, EJ gave Victor a meaningful look. 'It was just convenient the man recently divorced his wife and moved to the countryside.' Phone buzzing, EJ stood up and walked into the hall immediately answering.
"And you're certain there isn't anything we can do about the picture," Victor questioned yet again.
"How many times do I have to tell you? It doesn't matter that the original link was deleted. It's been saved and re-uploaded too many times," Chad sighed, doing all he could to not roll his eyes. "If it's on the internet it's never going away."
Walking back into the room EJ smiled grimly, "The bellboy was fired. So, that's that." Mentally checking another person off his list EJ went back to his laptop, doing everything he could to moderate the comments on the article.
"And Paul," Neil asked from his seat nearby, shifting uncomfortably when everyone turned to look at him. "What are you going to do about him?"
"Not that it's any of your business but we won't be deciding that until the P.I. comes," EJ announced. Giving Neil a harsh look, EJ thought, 'I still think I let him off too easy.'
"Dude," Chad said, "If he had anything interesting he would have sent it by now."
Before EJ could retort the doorbell rang, EJ smirked when his P.I. was brought into the room and introduced. "It's about damn time you got here," EJ barked, "How bloody long does an appendectomy last?"
"I had to stay in bed a few days," the man said simply. "Besides the information I have will make you forget all about that." Wincing slightly the man pulled open his briefcase, handing EJ the thick folder within.
Opening the folder EJ began to read, unimpressed at first, "I already knew about his father. You better give me something that will be useful."
"Keep reading," the man insisted, hands gesturing wildly, taking in his surroundings. 'Shit why is a Kiriakis here?'
Eyes going back and forth, EJ, bored and regretting his decision suddenly paused. 'This is interesting.' Lifting up an eyebrow EJ announced, "Now this? This we can use." Turning to Victor EJ told him, "Call the newspaper again."
Justin sighed, regretting his decision to be mediator to Sami and Lucas. Adrienne retreated to the kitchen to collect refreshments, leaving Justin completely alone with them. 'How can they still be arguing about this hours later?'
"Why the hell hasn't EJ used his influence as a Dimera to make this go away," Lucas questioned once again, voice hoarse from all the arguing.
"He's been doing the best he can," Sami screeched back, finger pointing in Lucas's face, "And unlike you, he's been there for Will. Will didn't go to you for help or comfort he went to EJ." 'Maybe that will wipe the self-satisfied look off his face.'
"You are unbelievable," Lucas hissed. "And I don't think you really want to bring up who the better parent is now do you?"
"Hey now," Justin butted in, yet again. "We're not here to discuss parenting styles. We're all here because we care about Will." 'Or Sonny,' Justin thought wondering how his son got into this mess.
"And I still want to know why these people knew before I did," Lucas argued, arms crossed, glaring at Sami.
"They know because it involves their son and they don't go weeks at a time without talking to him," Sami jeered, smiling at Lucas viciously.
"I was away on business," Lucas justified, throwing his arms up and turning away from Sami. 'I had to have children with the world's most aggravating woman.'
"Yeah," Sami said sarcastically. "Or Will didn't want to tell you because you like to pretend he isn't gay."
"Excuse me," Lucas sneered. "But I was not the one to flip out when he told us."
"No, but you are the one who told him his friendship with Sonny was inappropriate," Sami huffed. "You're the one who freaked out because Will's closest friends were a gay couple. Maybe Will just didn't want to see that judging look on your face when you found out he was dating both of them."
"Sami, Lucas, calm down," Justin ordered, raising his voice. "This isn't helping anything. If you want to be supportive now than you can find a way to get along." 'Or else I will have to lock you in a room with a loaded gun and see what happens.'
"All I'm saying," Lucas stated in a faux polite tone of voice, "Is for you to keep me up to date on any major happenings in Will's life. Not read it on the front page."
Smiling fakely Sami agreed, "From now on I'll call you and let you know whenever something happens in Will's life he doesn't feel like telling you."
Sighing in relief when his wife walked back in the room, interrupting the argument, Justin leapt from his chair to get a cup of coffee. Frowning at the tray, "No pizza?"
"Chad ate most of it," Adrienne told Justin apologetically. Sensing the tension in the room Adrienne smiled sympathetically at her husband. "So, I think now is as good of time as any to bring this up." Sitting down in her chair Adrienne looked at Sami and said, "I know that you have issues with your mother but I really think Will needs to talk to her. About all of this."
Frowning and crossing her arms Sami asked, "Why?"
"Because he isn't dealing with this properly," Adrienne explained. "When I talked to him yesterday he wouldn't even admit that Paul did something wrong. Will thinks it's his fault and that the only reason he's hurt is because Paul lied to him."
"What," Sami whispered, heart constricting, 'Why would he not tell me this? Oh god, I was too busy yesterday trying to make myself feel better about him I never asked him how he felt.'
"I just, he needs a professional," Adrienne implored Sami. "I know they've always been close so it shouldn't be too hard. He needs help."
"OK," Sami said blankly, "You're right. I'll call her."
"Why hasn't she talked to him before now," Lucas demanded. "She helped him through coming out why the hell wasn't he talking to her about this?"
"He was probably embarrassed," Justin inputted. "I mean, who would be comfortable talking to their grandmother about having an engaged couple interested in them?"
"She would have judged him," Sami admitted. "Would have tried to talk him out of it. Convince him what he was doing was wrong." 'But he was so happy with them. He stood up to all of us at that intervention. He wanted to be with them. How could I take that away from him?' Mentally shaking herself Sami forced herself to remember, 'And Paul had already taken advantage of Will by then. They hurt him. Don't forget that.'
"Well perhaps now she can convince him that what Paul did was wrong," Adrienne said softly; skin prickling recalling how Will spoke about Paul the day before.
EJ and Victor, standing together in the foyer as everyone gathered to leave, whispered quietly to one another. Making sure no one could hear him EJ commented, "So we have an agreement?"
"Yes," Victor nodded, trying to look discreet, "We'll meet tomorrow and decide when to do it." Without looking back Victor walked out the door, Justin and Adrienne following behind.
Watching the visitors leave his home one by one EJ put his arm around Samantha's shoulders, 'Soon we won't have to worry about Paul Narita ever again.'
Author's note:
Things are falling into place. But Paul still has quite a bit of work to do to get Sonny and Will back. At least they're talking now. I don't know I don't want to rush it but I don't want to drag it out forever.
I think EJ and Victor as reluctant partners is a terrifying idea. But I'm rolling with it.
Please review. Any and all comments are welcome. Thanks very much for reading.
