Will, making a detour before picking up Ari, stepped through the automatic doors at the hospital. He made his way upstairs towards the nurse's station.

"Hi," Will leaned against the counter and spoke to a nurse he didn't recognize. "I called a few minutes ago about getting a blood test."

"Sure," the nurse replied. She checked her chart and glanced at her computer. "I can fit you in right now, actually. Follow me."

Will walked out a few minutes later, bandage wrapped around his elbow joint.

"When will I find out the results?" Will questioned.

"Preliminary results should take a day. Anything further might take some more time depending on the lab," the nurse responded. "I know it isn't any fun playing the waiting game."

Will followed her back to the nurse's station to pay. He nearly forgot to hand over his new insurance card as well.

While she inputted his new info, Will fiddled with the pamphlets and advertisements on top of the counter. He paused when he found a collection of business cards featuring various doctors. He saw several names he recognized and a few he didn't.

Next to his grandma Marlena, Will found the name of a psychiatrist. He fingered the card before picking it up and shoving it in his pocket.

Maybe his uncle Eric was onto something.

"Alright, everything should be in order," the nurse told Will, handing back his insurance card.

"There wasn't any problem with the new insurance, right?" Will recalled Sonny telling him their new insurance wasn't accepted at the hospital.

"No," the nurse shook her head. She handed Will a print out of his bill. "No problem. A lot of our patients use this insurance. We've never had any problems."

"But," Will frowned. "I thought you…" Will trailed off with a roll of his eyes.

Will signed his name quickly, nearly stabbing through the paper.

'Is there anything he didn't lie about?' Will wondered.

"Thanks," Will grumbled, snatching his bill and moving to storm off.

"Will?" Kayla looked up after stepping out of an elevator.

"Oh, hi," Will said with a curt tone.

"What are you doing here?" Kayla wondered. "I thought Mom was having you over."

"She did," Will admitted. Calming himself, Will smiled. "She told me the news. I still can't wrap my head around it."

"Well, you deserve it," Kayla shifted the clipboard in her arm. "I can't think of anyone else we'd trust to take care of the place."

"I'm not sure about that," Will mumbled bashfully. "I mean, Shawn or-,"

"Nope," Kayla beamed. "Mom and I talked it over. You practically lived there growing up. You and the pub belong together. We trust you, Will."

"Thanks," Will looked his aunt in the eyes, giving her a lopsided smile.

"Now, you mind telling me what you're really here for?" Kayla zeroed in on the pressure bandage wrapped around Will's elbow.

Will moved from foot to foot, pulling down the sleeve of his hoodie. He kept his gaze on the cheap tile.

"Come on," Kayla herded Will towards her office.

Kayla pushed Will into a chair opposite her desk. She sat across from him and gave Will a long, hard look. She wanted to know if he was alright.

"How are you, sweetie?" Kayla gave him a supportive smile. "Really?"

"…I have no idea," Will shrugged, lips twitching. "I-I don't know."

"Okay," Kayla nodded. She bit her lip before reluctantly asking, "How does Paul play into this?"

"You were right," Will admitted. "Well, almost."

"What does that mean? What did he do? Did he hurt you?" Kayla demanded.

"Yes," Will curled his arms around his waist. "But that was before and then Sonny and I-I didn't know and they made it worse."

Kayla shook her head.

"Wait, calm down," Kayla urged. "I don't understand what you're saying."

"Sonny cheated on me," Will confessed, tone flat. "With Paul."

"What?" Kayla recoiled.

"When I was in LA," Will added with a cruel smile. "Apparently they're each other's long-lost loves. I was just the idiot boy that fell for all their lies."

"What do you need?" Kayla questioned. "Do you want me to throw Paul out of the studio? Do you need somewhere to stay? What do you want?"

Will pressed his lips together before leaping out of his chair and throwing himself into his aunt's arms. That's all he longed to hear since this stupid mess started. He just wanted someone to unequivocally support him.

Will didn't want accusations or shocked horror. He didn't want someone insisting Sonny loved him. He just wanted someone to be there.

"Thank you," Will whispered, nearly breaking Kayla's ribs with the force of his hug.

"Ooof," Kayla stumbled, only just catching Will's hug. "Of course, sweetie, anything you need."

Kayla held onto Will just as tight for as long as he needed.

After a few moments, Will pulled back and smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry," Will said, feeling embarrassed.

"It's alright," Kayla assured him. "So, I take it the reason you were here was to get," Kayla made a rolling hand motion.

"Yeah," Will sighed deeply. "I don't exactly trust either of them right now. I'd rather know if I have an STD now instead of later."

"Good," Kayla nodded. "I would have suggested it if you hadn't come by. It's safer this way."

"We always used a condom, Sonny and me," Will explained, cheeks red. "But I don't want to take any chances."

"I understand," Kayla acknowledged.

Will glanced at his phone, noting the time.

"I need to go get Ari from my dad," Will told her. "Thanks for everything."

"It was nothing," Kayla insisted.

"My mom's in town, if you hadn't heard," Will informed Kayla.

"Really?" Kayla paused, realizing what must have brought Sami to Salem. "I'll give her a call."

"Sounds good," Will said before heading for the door.


"What happened last night?" Lucas questioned as soon as Will walked into his apartment.

"Went out with T," Will stated. "Drank too much."

"I see," Lucas responded hoping he didn't sound too judgmental. "Where did you go?"

"The Spot," Will admitted. He gave his father a hard look, daring Lucas to question him.

"…Okay," Lucas breathed out. He wanted to ask but knew better.

"Meet anyone hot?" Sami grinned as she walked into the room.

"A few," Will shrugged. "I didn't do anything," Will threw at his father. "Since I know you're dying to ask."

"I didn't think you would," Lucas revealed. "But you're hurting. People do dumb things when their judgment's clouded."

"Yeah, whatever," Will changed the subject. "Where's my baby?"

"Playing in the other room," Sami replied. "I'll go get her."

Once Sami left, Lucas patted the spot next to him on the couch.

"I know you don't want to hear this right now," Lucas said. "But have you thought about how Ari's going to see Sonny?"

"No, I guess I haven't," Will frowned.

Will hadn't thought much about anything other than his pain and making everyone pay.

"Do you want her to see him?" Lucas tilted his head.

"Yes," Will rubbed the palm of his hands against his eyes. "He's her father. I'm not punishing her for his mistakes."

"Have they spent much time together lately?" Lucas wondered.

"Not really, even before I found out everything," Will realized. "He hasn't been there for either of us."

"Right," Lucas muttered.

"Can you call Adrienne for me?" Will asked his father. "I don't think I can talk to him, not yet."

"Sure thing, buddy," Lucas agreed.

Sami, on her way to get Ari, grabbed her cell phone and dialed a familiar number.

"Alright," Sami immediately began. "Did you do what I asked?"

"Yes," Kate pinched the bridge of her nose. "I made my interns do it so nothing could be traced back to us."

"Smart," Sami praised, a bit surprised.

"I do know how to do these things," Kate rolled her eyes. "We need more though. A few false rumors to the tabloids and some trash talk on Yelp will hardly bring Will the justice he deserves."

"I know," Sami frowned. "We need to get something juicy."

"…I'll hire my private investigator," Kate decided with a nod. "He'll find something on Paul we can use to get him out of town."

"I'll see if I can get a few favors from some old acquaintances to work on TBD," Sami agreed. "I'll call you later."

"Wait," Kate urged before Sami could hang up. "I've scheduled a full spa day for you, me, and Will. Make sure you both get there. No exceptions."


Sonny leaned his head against the window in his bedroom at his uncle Victor's mansion. He sat on the window seat, staring at the garden below him. If anyone asked what kind of flowers there were he wouldn't be able to tell them. If they asked the time of day, Sonny wouldn't know. Sonny didn't see anything.

All Sonny could think about was his wedding reception. While everyone was distracted, Sonny pulled Will outside into the garden, the same garden below Sonny's room. Sonny held Will close, simply wanting a dance without an audience.

'I couldn't stop staring at him that night,' Sonny recalled. 'He was so beautiful, looked so happy. I promised myself I'd do anything I could to always keep him that happy.'

Sonny turned away from the window.

'I failed.'

Knock Knock

"It's open," Sonny dully responded.

Sonny assumed it was his mom. She was the only one brave enough to come near his room. Sonny didn't mingle with anyone else in the mansion. It would be too hard to keep his mouth shut about it all.

"Hey, dude," T poked his head through Sonny's door. "Your mom let me up."

"Hi," Sonny stood up from the window seat.

"You look like shit," T declared.

"I know," Sonny rubbed his unruly hair. "I can't sleep. I dream about Will's face when he found out. His eyes," Sonny shivered.

"That's rough," T acknowledged. He sat on the edge of Sonny's bed. "Speaking of Will," T swallowed and looked everywhere but Sonny's face. "We had an interesting night."

"What does that mean?" Sonny moved so one knee was on the bed and the other leg dangled. "What happened with Will?"

T agonized the whole walk over whether to tell Sonny the truth.

'But lying's what got Sonny into this mess,' T thought. 'So, the truth is best.'

"He was angry, really angry," T recalled. "Something about a baseball, I don't know."

"Oh, god," Sonny groaned. That was another lie coming back to haunt him. He nearly forgot about that stupid baseball.

"What?" T frowned. "He was too upset to tell me about it. I mean, it's something about Narita, right?"

"Yeah," Sonny closed his eye. "Paul gave the ball to me a long time ago. I found it recently and I panicked when Will saw it. So, I told him I got if for him and forgot to tell him. That I got it before I found out the truth about Will being Arianna's father."

"Dude," T frowned, reaching out to punch Sonny's arm. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I know," Sonny groaned. "I know. I'm an asshole. I panicked."

"Yeah, dude, you are," T agreed. "I almost want to tell you about the rest of our night now."

"Why? What else happened?" Sonny chewed on his lower lip.

"I went with him to The Spot," T calmly replied.

"What?" Sonny stood up from the bed to pace. "But he, that place is so," Sonny rounded on T. "Why would you take him there?"

"It was either go with him or let him go by himself," T stated. "What would you prefer?"

Sonny growled, nearly ripping out his own hair.

"What happened?" Sonny demanded. He needed to know, had to know.

"He danced," T said. "Drank, got sick, had a meltdown."

"He didn't, I mean," Sonny stared at T imploringly. "He didn't meet anyone?"

"He met plenty of someone's," T revealed. "He always moved away when they got too close."

Sonny's shoulders slumped, eyes closing in relief.

"But," T realized. "I think he wanted to meet someone. I think he wanted to let someone close. He just couldn't."

Sonny chuckled lowly.

"He was always a better person than me," Sonny whispered.

"It's not a competition, Sonny," T said sadly. "It's about time you stop trying to settle some sort of score about who's better."

Sonny slumped back on the bed, burying his face in his hands.

T didn't like seeing Sonny so upset just like he didn't like seeing Will that way either. Will's pain seemed so far beyond what Sonny did. Deep-rooted insecurities and hurts that Sonny's cheating validated.

T knew Will was usually down as a kid. T spent most of their friendship trying to cheer him up. But even T didn't know about a lot of Will's problems. He suspected Sonny might not either.

'I hope he doesn't,' T thought. 'Otherwise what Sonny did would be even worse.'

"Do you think Will's depressed?" T asked Sonny suddenly. "I mean, not just over this, but like for a long time?"

"What?" Sonny looked at T, blinking several times.

"Seriously," T elaborated. "The way he acts, the highs and lows, the erratic jumps, it makes sense."

"I-," Sonny didn't know what to say, what to think. "I've never considered it."

"Me either," T acknowledged. "But now? It fits."

Knock Knock

"What fits?" Chad questioned, walking inside.

"Hey," T nodded at Chad.

"I had to knock out a few guards to sneak up here," Chad joked. "But here I am. DiMera in the Kiriakis den."

Sonny rolled his eyes. "I'm sure Henderson let you right in."

"Take the fun out of it, fine," Chad dragged a desk chair over to the bed. "What are we talking about?"

"Will," T answered. "About whether he's got chronic depression or something."

"Oh," Chad nodded. "Yeah, most likely. After last night, he clearly has something going on with him."

"You were there too?" Sonny frowned.

"At the apartment," Chad said. "Will pretty much kicked us all out though."

"He didn't kick me out," T helpfully responded.

"What about Ari?" Sonny pressed.

"She spent the night with Lucas and Sami," T revealed. "Will was freaked out she might have heard him spazzing out."

"She didn't," Chad reassured Sonny. "Theresa and I were playing with her at the time."

"Theresa?" Sonny was lost.

"You know I'm seeing her now," Chad reminded Sonny.

"Does Brady know that?" Sonny lifted a brow.

"Don't know, don't care," Chad shrugged. "She's coming by in a while to get Tate so I guess Brady will find out."

"Okay," T held up his hands. "Back to what matters. Do you think we should talk to Will about seeing someone? Like a therapist or something?"

"He usually talks to Marlena," Sonny responded.

"Yeah, well," Chad pointed out. "He's been screwed up since childhood and she's never done anything professionally to help him, so…"

"She must be too close. We all are," T answered. "Although, I mean, can you be depressed when you're all crazy happy sometimes too? Because Will gets that way sometimes, have you noticed?"

"Well, sometimes he's super down and depressed," Chad noted. "But other times he's like crazy hyper and confident. It's weird when you think about it."

Sonny pinched the bridge of his nose. This killed him. He hurt his husband in the worst way possible. So much that Will went all the way to The Spot in the hopes of killing that pain. A place Will once promised to never go back to.

'And I never even thought about him being depressed,' Sonny closed his eyes. 'I didn't want him to be so I never wanted to think about it. But what did I expect? I gave him everything only to rip it all away.'

"Hey," Chad lightly kicked Sonny's leg to get his attention.

"What?" Sonny opened his eyes.

"How are you doing?" Chad asked.

"You know what I did?" Sonny glared. "How do you think I am?"

"Will told me, yeah," Chad divulged. "And you're my friend and I care about you even if you are an asshole."

"Everyone keeps calling me that," Sonny commented. "I don't think it's a big enough insult."

"Maybe not," Chad agreed. "But I still want to know how you're doing."

"I have no idea," Sonny revealed. "Terrified, miserable, I miss Will and Ari like crazy. I've never been so ashamed in my life. I want to hit something, preferably Paul's stupid face."

"You should have done that to begin with," T said. "You should have jumped him instead of jumped his bones."

"How the hell did any of this happen?" Chad asked. "I mean, I try to make sense of it and I can't. No one even knew about Paul, dude."

"I never told anyone," Sonny explained. "Well, I did once, to Will. I just told him about an ex I had that was selfish. And it was true. He was selfish almost the entire time I knew him."

"Okay," T tried not to say anything harsh. He didn't want to reveal any judgments.

"Paul was, he was this great what-if hanging over my head," Sonny told them. "I was in love with him and asking him to marry me was a giant mistake. I regretted it so much. Not because I didn't want to marry him but because it ruined everything. It was stupid.

"He said no and I was crushed. I couldn't, I just couldn't stay with him. So, I left and I never, I never had any closure. One minute I was in his bed and the next I was packing up and moving out. I went as far away from San Francisco as I could. Did everything I could to get him off my mind. Did everyone I could. Nothing helped, not until Will.

"I met him and it was, he was just the prettiest thing I'd ever seen. His eyes and his hair, his everything. I saw him and that was it. Every time I talked to him, every time I saw him a little bit more of my feelings for Paul got pushed away," Sonny said.

"Pushed away?" Chad asked. "Not disappeared?"

"No," Sonny admitted, shamefaced. "I just, I pushed and I pushed until I didn't think about Paul at all. It was all Will."

"So," T tried to make sense of everything. "When Will wasn't here and Paul was you forgot about Will?"

"No, of course I didn't," Sonny argued. "I just, I hadn't thought about him in so long. And he was here, in Salem and Will was gone. And he kissed me and he, it was everything I wanted years ago. It was right here and Will was gone."

"Kissed you?" T lifted one brow.

"…Yeah," Sonny wrinkled his nose. "When I first saw him."

"Did you bother telling Will that?" T crossed his arms.

"No," Sonny realized. "I didn't." After a moment, Sonny added. "I was just so upset he was gone and Paul was there."

"You told him to go to LA," Chad reminded Sonny.

"I lied," Sonny revealed. "I didn't want him to go but I couldn't be the reason he stayed. He would have hated me and I-I would rather have missed him than that."

T and Chad watched Sonny's face as he processed everything.

"I should have told him the truth," Sonny knew. "If I would have told him about Paul before, if I would have told him not to go, told him what I did. I lied so much and so often and I didn't know how to stop. One lie lead to another and suddenly everything was so outside of my control. I don't know how to get it back. I don't know how to get him back."

"I think, right now," T gave Sonny a sad smile. "You need to let Will find his own control."

"Yeah," Chad agreed. "I don't think he's going to let you anywhere near him, not now, not yet."

"I've never seen him like this," T clarified. "I've seen him angry and disappointed. I've seen him miserable but this is different. He's closing himself off and building walls."

"He is?" Sonny's face fell.

"Yeah," T nodded. "I mean, I've always thought one of Will's best qualities was how trusting he was. But," T didn't want to hurt Sonny but he figured Sonny deserved the truth. "I don't think he's going to trust anyone for a long, long time."

Sonny swallowed, staring at his lap. T was right. That was part of what made Will, well, Will. Sonny hated to think he was the reason Will lost that quality. He hated to think that he took away that part of Will, robbed him of it.

"If you want Will back," Chad stated. "You need him to get himself together first."

"I don't know if I can do that," Sonny whispered.

"I don't care," Chad crossed his arms. "You're one of my best friends and I love you. But you aren't hurting Will again. I'm not gonna let you."

"Yeah," T reluctantly agreed. "We care about you too, Sonny. But you need to stop thinking about what you want. You need to think about what Will needs. Right now, right now he doesn't need you."

Sonny nodded, curling in on himself.


Will took a few extra aspirins as he sat down with Ari on the floor.

"Did you have fun with Grammy and Grandpa?" Will questioned, hugging his daughter close.

"Uh huh," Ari nodded, holding on just as tight. "TV!"

"TV?" Will glared at his mother and father. "Is that right?"

"Hey," Lucas held up his hands. "It was Disney Jr!"

"Because that makes it better," Will rolled his eyes. "Thank you though, for bailing me out."

"Oh, yeah, watching our grandchild is such a hardship," Sami commented.

"You shouldn't have to watch her because I can't act like an adult," Will sighed.

"A lot's been happening, Will," Lucas argued. "You don't have to put up a front. If you need time to unwind, time to yourself, time to be angry, it's fine. Just say the word."

"Thanks," Will replied, sincere.

"You understand what it's like to be a parent," Lucas stated. "Hell, even before Ari. You helped raised Allie, Johnny, Sydney."

"Oooh," Sami called out, rushing to her purse. "Speaking of the kids, they sent you something."

Sami riffled through her purse for her IPad. After switching it on, Sami found what she needed.

"Here," Sami handed the device to Will. "I told them you weren't feeling well, that's why I came to visit."

Will looked at the screen, a grin slowly spread across his face.

Allie and Johnny each held one end of a handmade sign. Sydney sat cross-legged in front of the sign with a gap-toothed smile.

The sign was covered in glitter hearts as well as manlier little Minecraft pictures. In big bold words, Will read, "Get Well Soon. We Love You!"

"I miss them so much," Will whispered, brushing his fingers against the screen.

Ari wiggled her way onto Will's lap and squealed loudly seeing the picture.

Will winced, lingering hangover stabbing against his skull.

While babbling excitedly and getting her sticky hands all over the screen, Ari bounced up and down.

Sami, watching the two, grabbed her phone. After a few whispered words, a facetime call came on the IPad screen.

Will answered eagerly. He laughed when he saw his siblings' bright faces.


"Thanks for doing that," Will told Sami as he handed her IPad back.

"I think you all needed it," Sami shrugged. "Now," Sami grinned. "You and I are going out."

"What? Why?" Will complained as Sami dragged him up from the floor. "I'm not in the mood to go anywhere."

"You and I are meeting Kate at the spa," Sami wrapped her arm around Will's.

"Since when do you hang out with my mom?" Lucas asked suspiciously.

"Did you tell her what happened?" Will demanded, eyes narrowed.

"…Maybe," Sami glossed over. "Anyway, I figure your dad can take Ari and you can go get some much needed relaxation. Now, shut up and bond with me."


"Will!" Kate called out. She moved towards the entrance of the Salem Spa and Holistic Massage Therapy.

Before Will could react, he had an armful of Kate Roberts.

"Sweetheart," Kate pulled away, grabbing hold of Will's face. "Oh, Will."

"Grandma," Will complained, shifting from foot to foot. He didn't need anyone seeing his grandma fawning over him in public.

"Don't worry about anything," Kate forced Will to nod. "Your mother and I will take care of everything."

"That, that right there," Will closed his eyes. "That's what worries me."

"Oh, when have we ever steered you wrong?" Sami rhetorically asked. "Now, let's get started."


"I don't know how comfortable I feel doing this," Will told his grandma Kate as he was being shoved towards a private room.

"Nonsense," Kate dismissed. "I ordered the works. Massage, facial, body treatments, water therapy. Don't even try to tell me you don't need this. You need it more than anyone."

"What are you doing to me?" Will asked apprehensively. He wasn't used to this type of treatment.

"Suck it up," Sami ordered. "We're getting pampered. Now, move your ass."


Will nervously slipped out of his robe. He quickly covered himself up with the towel provided for his massage. He felt a little weird about doing this, not comfortable enough in his own skin to think about some strange person rubbing their hands on him.

But he did agree he needed to relax. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

A knock on the door sounded and Will informed his masseuse he was ready.

The small woman walked into the room, turning on some relaxing music. As soon as she got started, Will felt his eyes slip closed. This was better than he anticipated.

The warm towel covering his modesty felt comforting. The woman's strong yet small hands relaxed his tense muscles as she glided warm oil over his skin. Even the light music permeating the air calmed Will considerably, focused his mind.

Will didn't worry about his failing marriage. He didn't worry about his abandoned friendship with Paul. How Ari would adjust to everything. What the entirety of Salem thought of him. How he would even begin to run the pub on his own.

Will closed his eyes and relaxed for the first time in what felt like ages.

After the massage, Sami and Will sat side-by-side in a private heated, stone pool. They each had a green mask on their face and cucumbers over their eyes.

"Where's Grandma?" Will wondered.

"I don't know," Sami replied. "She's old. She needs more work done."

Will, head leaning back against a pillow, sighed blissfully.

"I didn't realize all this crap felt so nice," Will confessed.

"I kept telling you to take better care of your skin," Sami tsk-ed.

"I should start taking better care of a lot of things," Will realized.

"Like what?" Sami removed one cucumber to look at Will.

"There's a lot of things I want to change," Will told her. "This counts as taking better care of myself, right?"

"It does," Sami admitted. "But I don't want you changing yourself because of what happened. You don't need to change."

"I want to," Will stated simply. "I never felt comfortable with myself. Sonny helped but I can't depend on him. I need to depend on myself. That's only going to happen if I change."

"I see," Sami mumbled. "What are some of the things you want to do?"

"I want to workout more," Will felt along his stomach until he brushed against his swim trunks. He frowned knowing that his abs weren't as defined as when he got married.

Will couldn't help but think that if he was better looking someone would love him.

"You're in perfect health," Sami argued.

"My arms aren't as big," Will pouted. "I used to go to the gym every day. Now, I'm lucky if I go four times a week."

"Oh, boo hoo," Sami mock complained, adjusting her own swimsuit. "You're gorgeous. My masseuse couldn't keep his eyes off of you when he brought us in here."

"Mom," Will whined.

"I'm pretty sure he almost cried when you took off your robe," Sami pointed out.

"That's not true," Will groaned, embarrassed.

Sami laughed before sobering.

"I get it though," Sami said. "Being insecure in your own skin, thinking there's something wrong with you."

"Yeah?" Will asked. He knew his mom struggled when she was younger but they never spoke of it before.

"I thought I was fat most of my life," Sami bluntly responded. "I thought that was why Austin never noticed me. Your dad didn't help matters any. Went on a million different diets, starved myself, made myself puke. I did pretty much anything I could."

Will sat up, cucumbers falling from his face.

"I mean, eventually I realized eating right and exercise were best," Sami acknowledged. "But it took a long time."

"What did Dad do?" Will wanted to know.

"Told me Austin didn't want me because I was fat," Sami shrugged. "We both were stupid kids."

"That's awful," Will maintained.

"Yeah," Sami agreed. "But it's water under the bridge now. So," Sami took her cucumbers off too. "What do you feel like?"

Will shrugged, averting his gaze.

"I don't know," Will mumbled. "I look in the mirror and I feel like nothing's staring back."

"You're not, you know?" Sami urged. "You're pretty much everything."

"I've never felt that way," Will admitted. "I always felt like I was this thing to be used. Like you and Dad only wanted me so the other couldn't have me. Even when people tell me good things, I always want to look over my shoulder to make sure they aren't talking to someone else."

"I know it doesn't mean much to you," Sami smiled. "But I think you're beautiful, inside and out. And I'm sorry I've never talked to you about this before."

"I never told anyone," Will shrugged. Will closed his eyes and laughed. "Everyone always says I'm just like you. I guess they were right."

"It could be worse," Sami squeezed Will's wrist.

"Come on," Sami urged. "I've had enough water. Let's go see if our spa day includes a trip to the salon. You need a haircut."


"I would recommend this brand," the hairstylist handed Will a bottle. "Your hair isn't exactly thick but it's not thin either. I think this would work best for you."

"Oh, yes," Kate snatched the shampoo from Will. "I've used this before. We'll take it."

"I already have shampoo and conditioner," Will pointed out.

No one listened.

"Now," the woman examined Will's face. "What kind of products are you using? What moisturizer?"

"Uh," Will blinked several times. "Soap and lotion?"

"Oh, dear god," the woman mumbled.


Will walked out of the salon clutching a bag full of beauty products and scratching against the back of his shortened hair.

"How does it look?" Will asked apprehensively.

"It looks good," Sami smiled, reaching up to rub against the tip of Will's ear.

"It's not too short?" Will ran his fingers over his hair.

"You know I prefer it short," Kate stated. "I like looking at your face and eyes."

Will gave her a half-smile.

"It doesn't look bad?" Will asked again.

"Nope," Sami praised. "You look nice, trust me."

"Okay," Will nodded, staring off into space.

The relaxation and the pampering were nice but it gave him a lot to think about.


Will tossed his keys atop his desk and closed the apartment door. It took a lot of convincing to keep his mom and grandma away but he managed it.

Will needed this, needed to be alone, truly alone. It was the only way he could think.

Moving to the couch, Will sat ramrod straight, staring at nothing. He felt so exhausted. It wasn't the lingering headache from his hangover. It wasn't the lack of sleep. It was him.

'Being me is exhausting,' Will thought.

Hanging onto his anger wasn't working. It made him do stupid things, yell at undeserving people.

'Being sad is wrong. Being angry is wrong. Everything I do is wrong.'

'I'm wrong.'

Will closed his eyes. He didn't want to feel this way anymore. He didn't want to look in the mirror and hate himself anymore.

'Sonny chased those demons away. And I can't rely on him. I can't rely on anyone. I'm the only one that I can depend on.'

'The only way I can do that is if I change.'

Getting up, Will dug through his desk, needing to find a blank paper and a pen. He had to get down everything he wanted. Everything that was going to comprise the new Will Horton.


Author's note:

Thanks for reading!