It's a couple of weeks later when Will and Sonny find themselves in the very busy Mike's Market to grab any last minute supplies for Thanksgiving. Their turkey's been thawing in their garage for the past few days, delivered by Mrs. Atkins herself, the farmer's wife that raises free range poultry. Sonny can't help but smile when he remembers the squawk of protest that came from Will when Sonny suggested just buying a Butterball.
Their shopping cart is loaded with vegetables, regular and sweet potatoes, jellied cranberry sauce, because only heathens eat it homemade, cornbread for stuffing, and the dinner rolls they both agree they absolutely have to have. The pies they had to reach a compromise: pumpkin, of course, a pecan, and for sweetness, a deep dish cherry. But Sonny will be the first to admit he's really getting sick of all the old biddies that keep giving him their recipe cards.
Sonny's no dummy when it comes to cooking, okay? He's been doing so much research preparing, and he's gonna make damn sure Will gets the best Thanksgiving dinner as possible, even if Ari can't be there with them.
As they make their way to the register, who should they bump into but Eli and his loser boyfriend Logan. Next to him, Sonny feels Will go rigid.
"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes." Sonny says, a little impressed how he managed to sound friendly and slightly threatening at the same time. He doesn't hold Eli's little crush on Will against him, because how could he? But his boyfriend, however, he would love nothing more than to chase him out of town with an angry mob.
"Um, hi." Eli stammers, deliberately not looking at Will. "Sonny, have you met Logan?"
"No, can't say that I have." Sonny says through clenched teeth, a smile that doesn't quite meet his eyes. Which he's paying for a second later when Will elbows him in the side.
Logan holds out a hand to shake, and Sonny revels in how Logan's literally shaking. "So this is the guy, sorry, is that what I said? This stupid asshole who thought getting our boy here high was a good idea." Sonny says quietly, still plastered with that shit eating grin.
"Sonny." a voice from behind hisses, one he recognizes. Only just a little reprimanded, he lets go of Logan's hand to turn around, grabbing an unamused Liam in a hug.
"Let's try and get through this without killing someone, shall we?" Liam hisses in Sonny's ear before letting go.
"You know he's bad for him." Sonny argues, maintaining eye contact as he backs away.
"Well." Liam starts as he adds candy to the conveyor belt. "Must run in the family, that pesky habit of falling for guys that are bad for us." He's smiling, which Sonny takes as a good thing, because it tells him Liam's really okay with their little fling being over. But it doesn't quite take out the sting.
They wave goodbye once the cashier rings up their purchases, and both Will and Sonny give a dirty look as Logan tucks a hand into Eli's back pocket as they leave.
"I am in complete agreement." the cashier tells them as she scans their items. "Nobody in the world is good enough for our boy Eli. Except." she admits. "Will right here. Any idiot can see how big a torch Eli carried for him. But it looks like the old saying's true: good ones are always taken, cause they're gay, married, or in your case, both."
Sonny, who at that point had been just watching the prices, falters in protest.
"Ma'am." Will starts, much nicer than his counterpart. "Sonny and I-we're not.."
"Poppycock!" she interrupts. "Everybody already knows. Don't you think it's about time you guys stopped assuming we're that naive and just drop the act already? Two men with the same last name move into town with the same last name, saying they needed to start over, try and work things out--please! No place better to do that than right here in Melas. We're already a few steps ahead of you. You don't have to lie anymore, okay?"
Will, whose face has turned beet red, looks like he wants to protest, but just shrugs in Sonny's direction. Sonny's already well aware of this, having heard it from the grapevine long before he started getting Will in bed regularly, but still refused to confirm or deny. But he also knows how full of holes their cover story really is: two cousins in their late 20s, early 30s, still living together with no plans to move out and get their own lives. So really, while Sonny's never really gonna find all the words that can describe the way he belongs to Will, he's actually fine with them saying they're in a relationship. It's not like it's a lie.
"Guess the gig's up, honey." Will says, grabbing Sonny's hand and threading their fingers together. Sonny tightens his grip, in acceptance, in love and agreement, which makes Will wonder how long Sonny's been wanting them to share a last name again. Legally. "No point in keeping up the act, right? If everyone knows."
"Guess not." Sonny mumbles, with a small shy smile. Casting a glance around the store, he notices a bunch of customers are now staring at them.
As they leave with their groceries, neither let go of the other's hand. Sonny catches sight of Eli and Logan in the parking lot, which prompts Eli to duck away, the way Will can't stop smiling at Sonny, the way their hands are always trying to move them closer. He feels for him, he really does, Will's friend who crossed a line that hadn't even been marked.
"Will." Sonny starts hesitantly, after they climb into the car. "If, uh-- if we're really gonna do this, can we…" and he stops himself, chewing on his bottom lip.
WIll reaches over to pry it out with his thumb, kissing where Sonny's teeth leave a mark. "What? Tell me."
"I, uh, want to wear your ring again. If, you know. If they think we're still married, and I just…" Sonny's blushing again, but he's very clear, and it actually shocks Will they haven't considered this until now.
The large part of Will that likes to claim as his, the part of him that will go to any lengths to keep Sonny with him, is thrilled at the idea, but he just smiles.
"Not wearing a dress." Is all Will says, and Sonny understands. He scoots closer, and Will wraps an arm around Sonny's shoulders, and they drive all the way back like that, the radio playing soft rock.