"What're you and the professor doing for Thanksgiving?" Marnie (Sonny's boss and owner of Marnie and Associates) asks him a couple of weeks later, an hour before he's off.
Not a bad question to ask. They haven't spent a major holiday together since Valentine's Day, and truthfully, Sonny hadn't thought about it. But Will's been going crazy leaving recipes on his laptop since that morning of the first snowfall, one of which promised a recipe for the World's Best Turkey. And once Will has his mind set on something, there's no dissuading him. So Thanksgiving it is.
Okay, fine, it really doesn't bother Sonny at all. He's ecstatic to be going all out for Will. Thanksgiving and Christmas are all about being with the people you love, right? That's how it should be. Will's all he has now, but here, where nobody knows who they are, Will's the only one he'd do it with, so why not celebrate it? Regardless if that means being stuck in the kitchen, with Will trying to help but ultimately being thrown out and watching the parade.
"Probably gonna do our own thing this year." Sonny finally supplies, looking over the document in front of him one more time before deciding it's fine as is. "I'm a pretty okay cook, not to brag or anything. Me and Will, we uh...have so much to be thankful for. He's been bugging me about it too, so...it would just be a shame to just not do something, you know?"
Marnie pats him on the shoulder, "Of course. It's been a while now since you moved here with Will. And I dare say you two are happy too. You definitely look it, too. High time you celebrated that."
The older woman is older, with salt and pepper hair, but her heart is always in the right place. She actually reminds him of Will's grandma Marlena. Even though nobody could ever come close to replacing Marlena Evans, it's still nice to have a way to have her here, even in this still completely new life he's creating with Will out of the ashes piled high under all the drama they'd burned to the ground by leaving it behind.
He remembers walking in here on a complete whim, looking for a job as a legal aid, and Marnie had recognized him on sight.
Obviously, that had nearly sent Sonny into a complete panic attack, but he was quick to shove it down, and offer her a compromise. If she gave him a job and didn't rat him out, he'd tell her the truth. Marnie had asked if anything the tabloids were saying about the whole ordeal were true, and Sonny had no problem telling her the truth. "It was all a complete work of fiction. Even got creative with fake evidence."
Once he told her that, she'd given him the job, having not believed any of Leo's claims either, so she immediately put him to work. A lot of people like the work he does-- it was a worthwhile cause, sure, but she was passionate about her clients.
"I was asking cause I was wondering what you were planning on bringing for PrideDay."
Sonny just blinks, "Pride...Day?"
Marnie chuckles, "Like instead of Black Friday." Sonny nods at that, but it's clear he's still confused, so Marnie explains. "Basically, years ago, all the shops in town they'd rather still be on vacation instead of wasting it, so they came up with PrideDay. Every resident brings a dish in the colors of a pride flag of their choice, and everybody mingles and eats desserts."
That definitely sounds appealing, but, "PrideDay?" Sonny asks, snickering.
"I know. It's best to just go with it." Marnie laughs.
Sonny's a cook, this is true, but he's a little rusty as a baker. "Sure we can't just show up for the food?"
"Nope." Marnie shakes her head. "Liam's the one stamping hands. Won't let you in without a dessert. And he's really strict about it too. He'd kick kids out of the line if the opportunity presented itself."
Naturally. "Okay, we're in. What're you bringing?"
"Fudge. Bring it every year. Get creative with the flavors for a different flag every year." She pats Sonny's shoulder again. "You're a good man, Sonny. I know we're all a bit nuts here, but you and Will…" She smiles at Sonny, making Sonny wonder if they should stop pretending they're cousins. Eventually he's going to want to kiss Will in public. "You two have really made this town your home. So many people move here only to wind up leaving. If the town and the people don't agree with you, Melas doesn't hold much interest. Don't even have a superstore."
She stops here to catch her breath, then continues, "I'm just saying you two belong. I hope you know this by now, but your home is here, with everyone. From the youngest kid to the oldest resident, we all love having you here. Every single person."
Sonny smiles, deeply moved. "We're happy to be here. Believe me, now that you're the one person that knows exactly why we're here, you know I mean it when I say Melas is a sanctuary for us. The no superstore thing is just a bonus."
"That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say. All right, you can get back to work."
But instead of leaving, Marnie just looks at him then like she's contemplating something. "Actually, there's something else I wanted to talk to you about. I was gonna wait until after Thanksgiving, but screw it. I'm the boss."
At that, Sonny's stomach does a little flip flop. It sounds like good news, but even if he's being fired, Will's salary is still enough to keep them afloat until he finds another, but he likes working for Marnie and Associates. He hasn't really worked since before he stepped down from his CEO position at Titan, and he really doesn't want to go that long not working again.
"I'd like to make you a partner."
Sonny drops the pen he's holding in his excitement to shake Marnie's hand. "Are you serious? I didn't know that was possible."
Marnie laughs, giving Sonny's hand a few firm shakes. "It actually probably isn't, but I'm getting old in my age. I need someone like you as a partner. You'll have your own office." She gestures to an empty room with a computer and desk. "You'll also essentially be the face of the company. Anybody needs help, I want you showing them we care. You have an ease about you. And all the others here follow your example too, don't you go pretending otherwise. And it's a serious raise--instead of by the hour, you'll be paid a 216K salary a year, including benefits and a 401K I have written up. I want you here working for me. I want you to love it here. I don't have any sons, and my daughter can't stand the thought of having anything to do with this place. You understand me?"
"Yes ma'am." Sonny's quick to assure. "Yes. Thank you I-I won't let you down." He can still feel the smile on his face, but couldn't care less if he's grinning like a maniac, or if he sounds like the worst kind of fangirl.
"I know you won't, Sonny. Is that a yes?"
"Yes!" Sonny says adamantly. 'Yes ma'am. Thank you!"
They shake on it, then Sonny decides to take the rest of the afternoon off, at Marnie's insistence.
As Sonny drives away, he lets his walls come crashing down, lets everything just fall right off of him, as he lets their car carry him towards the man he loves.
Will leans back against his desk, listening to one of his more animated students give a very detailed opinion on why New York Times vs Sullivan is important in protecting a person's right to free speech. He's also well aware that this particular student only does so because he's trying to get him to sleep with him. He's already turned him down three times, and locked his office doors when he hinted he'd be hanging around during office hours. He hates having to do that, but the guy literally almost humped him once. Lucky for WIll, he's quick and a bit of a prude when it comes to someone trying to get in his personal space.
Sonny, naturally, is the exception. Their personal space? What is that, anyway?
Will finally wraps up, calling out the pages to be read for Thursday. They all groan, which prompts him to smile back at them. He remembers being where they are, groaning at the thought of yet more homework.
"Okay, I want you to listen for a minute, okay?" he says, as the class starts to get up from their seats. "There's no pop quiz on the reading material. So if something else needs to take priority, just manage your time wisely, but the sky's not gonna fall if you don't. But it's important! A lot of your exam questions come straight from the text, because that's how much I love it." He's about to start frothing at the mouth, but some of his more… less enthusiastic students have already left, at hearing there's no homework.
"Bottom line: just read it before the test. I'd rather you did before Thursday, but you won't be marked down for it."
They all shout their thanks as they all start to flood out the double doors. From the corner of his eye, he sees Lester (his borderline stalker), looking like he's about to stay behind. Will sighs before looking up, knowing he has no choice but to talk to him, but then--
Sonny is walking down the stairs of the auditorium-like classroom, a bright bouquet of flowers wrapped in plastic clutched in his hand. When they lock eyes, Sonny smiles, blushing.
"Will." Sonny greets him, smile somehow simultaneously shy and smug at the same time. But mostly happy, and Will finds himself smiling too.
"What brings you here?" Will asks. If he smiles any bigger, it's gonna fall right off his face. But damnit, he can't help himself. Sonny's never shown up like this before, and he still has one more class before he can leave for the day. He has about half an hour before his course on quantitative reasoning, but he doesn't move watching until Sonny's less than two feet away.
"Kinda sorta got off work early, and just wanted to… bring you flowers. Just cause." Sonny's ears are tipped pink, and Will's ready to let him off the hook. Sonny doesn't need to explain himself-- the fact that he did it at all is plenty for him. "Well, actually, something huge happened today. So I was wondering if you were interested in-- in case, uh, you know. You're actually okay with being seen with me. And maybe recommend a place to eat around here."
Will's not using the word date, and is a little relieved Sonny's not either. But that's exactly what Sonny's asking-- somewhere to sit down and share a meal together, to celebrate whatever it is that has Sonny smiling so hbig. So of course, Will can do that.
Will finally nods, holding out a hand for the flowers. And it's absolutely no surprise whatsoever when Sonny chooses to shove them in his face.
Sonny winds up watching from the back of the next classroom Will's teaching in, watching him in his element. There are no words to describe how content Sonny feels, warmer than a blanket fresh out of the dryer, than forgiveness. And the fact that his now slightly smashed flowers sit on his desk for the whole class.
Once the class is dismissed, one student calls out, "Dr. Hortrakis, what up with the flowers?"
Will blushes, but he's already smiling as his eyes move up to where Sonny's still standing in the back, waiting for the rest of the class to leave. Several students turn to see what Will's looking at, and the guy that asked whistles.
"Damn, Dr. H! Someone's in trouble!" he laughs.
"Alright, alright, that's enough." Will laughs, gesturing for the student to go with the quizzes in his hand. He keeps looking at Sonny, still blushing as he ducks his head and stuffing his things into his briefcase. After a couple more times, Sonny finally walks down the stairs to help him.
"Whaddaya say to Italian?" Will says, picking up the flowers. "There's this really awesome place really close to campus, and--"
Sonny doesn't let him finish, as he leans forward, intent clear as he settles in for a slow kiss on Will's lips. He's just so enticing like this, with his tailored suit and blond hair, eyes still shining from all the debating he'd been doing in his last class. Sonny's only had this back for a couple of weeks, but he already knows he's never letting it go: this, feeling Will's smile against his mouth, the blush on Will's cheeks once Sonny steps back.
"S-sorry." Sonny murmurs, then goes back in for another one. Their lips part with a sound that makes Will's cheeks dig into his, and Sonny has to bite his own to stop himself from going in for another. "I-you-just--."
"Don't you dare apologize." Will insists after a dazed induced pause, still looking at Sonny's mouth. He clears his throat, gesturing towards the exit. "As I was saying. There's an Italian place close to campus, and I've never had an excuse to go."
They put on their scarves and winter jackets as they walk, banging shoulders and elbows as they go. Will's is a gray peacoat that goes past his knees, with red plaid silk lining. Sonny's is black, also lined in red, but not plaid. They'd done their shopping separately, but even when they inevitably realized they'd be matching, they still refused to change their minds. Liam had been relentless in his teasing for a whole week.
"No co-eds to invite you? Gotta say, I'm disappointed." Sonny picks up where Will left off, as he holds the door open for Will, and they walk through together, shoes hitting the ground simultaneously as they walk side-by-side.
"Sonny." Will whines, trying to hide his smile. That's all he says, but it's like a whole paragraph, with a nuance in every syllable. And because it's them, it is.
"Italian is perfect." Sonny says, squeezing a hand around Will's waist. He wants to hold it there, push it under Will's layers, feel the warm skin underneath, declare it his once more. He wants to pull out every little thing Will keeps hidden from everyone, so if someone catches a glimpse, they'd know Will is very much taken, and more importantly, some lucky bastard gets to be the one to say he belongs to Will.
"Dr. Hortrakis." someone calls out from behind, right before they reach the doors.
Will turns, eyebrows raised. A woman in a red pantsuit is walking straight for them, high heels clacking. "Dr. Ingalls. Hi."
"Just wanted to ask if I can count on you to attend the Christmas party." She says once she's reached them. "Counting heads so I know how much booze to buy."
Sonny whistles, definitely excited at this new development. "Yes he is, and a plus one."
Dr. Ingalls gives him a confused smile, eyes going back and forth between the two of them.
''Right, sorry. Dr. Ingalls, this is my, uh. This is Sonny." Will stammers, reaching out a hand to rest on Sonny's backside.
"Can I safely say he's your other half?" Dr. Ingalls asks politely, shaking Sonny's hand. Sonny's well aware of what she's actually asking-- is he your boyfriend or whatever, but he finds he likes the way she said it better.
Because they really are two halves of the same soul coming together, coming together to create something close to perfection. Will's always known that, but he still can't believe how much time he wasted never realizing how true that actually is.
"Better half." Sonny corrects, smiling at Will.
"We'll definitely be there." Will promises, looking at Sonny and rolling his eyes.
They turn to go once gain, then push their way out the doors, into the gray dusk, damp with fresh snow.
"You can say significant other." Sonny tells him as they walk through the half empty parking lot. "It's accurate in more ways than one."
"Okay." Will says, blush creeping up his cheeks once again.