Sonny carries a small gift bag out to Will's car. It strikes Will as both odd and sweet that he would think to do something. Not just buying a gift, something easily affordable, but the thing he puts the gift in. A nice gift bag or a bow, ribbons or wrapping paper, all the stuff most guys--or the guys he's known--wouldn't even think to bother with.

Any guy Will knows would call Sonny Kiriakis a keeper. And he wants to be with him.

"I want to ask you a question." Will starts as he starts up the car.

"Is it a yes or no, or multiple choice?"

"More of an essay question, actually."

Sonny settles back against the seat, stretching his legs the best he can as Will pulls out of the driveway. Sonny's always been good at essay questions. "Shoot,"

"How is it with all those strapping gay men in Chicago, and all the respectable guys here in Salem, I'm the one you want to be with?"

"There isn't a single one of them that made me feel so at ease, and nervous at the same time. But you still do. Not one of them could I ever see us together in ten, even twenty years, and I'm still reaching for his hand. But you do, Will. And there's nothing I want more than to hold onto you."

WIll doesn't dare look at him, because he can't, as everything inside him feels like it's filling up, knowing if he does, all it would take is one look and he'd spill his guts. Warmth and sweetness and utter defeat.

"That's a pretty good answer." Will finally manages to say.

"It's the truth." Sonny takes one of Will's clenched hands off the wheel, kissing it. "The honest to God truth."

"I'm pretty sure it is, but I have no idea what to do about it, Sonny. You're the only guy I've been with that I've ever had to worry about what my next move is. My feelings for you run so deep, and I wish they didn't."

"Here's an idea. Let's just elope to Vegas, then you don't have to worry about anything at all."

"And the Chicago Kiriakises would be just tickled to find out you eloped in Vegas with Sami Brady's son, owner of the Brady Pub. They'd have a field day."

"Or just give them some juicy gossip for the next few years. My mom would like you." Sonny says, almost to himself. "And she's not easy to impress. She'd like how you're your own person and don't let anyone walk all over you. Run your own bar, look after your grandma. She'd have a lot of respect for that, and she'd like that. She'd grow to love you because I do. My dad would fall at your feet."

Will laughs at that, loosening up some of the tightness still in his chest. "Are all the Kiriakis men slaves to love?"

"We're not. We just have ridiculously good taste."

Will pulls up in front of Marlena's apartment, before finally looking at Sonny. "Are any of them coming down for Chad and Abi's wedding?"

"Just my parents."

"We'll see what happens then, won't we?"

Will hops out first, walking right up to the door ahead of Sonny. "Grandma!" Will pushes the door open and walks in. "I brought you a booty call."

Marlena comes out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish rag. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and something baking follows her out. As always, she's wearing a pantsuit and sensible shoes. But there's a hardness around her eyes and mouth even Sonny can see immediately.

"I'm always up for a booty call." She replies as she kisses Will on the cheek.

"What's wrong?"

"Made some coffee cake fresh this morning." Marlena says, avoiding the question. She wraps an arm around Will's shoulders to move him along. "What's in the bag?"

"Just something I thought you'd like." In the kitchen, Sonny sets it on the table. "Smells amazing in here. Maybe I should start making coffee cake too."

Marlena smiles like he was hoping she would, but the tension in the air doesn't leave. "I just might be the one teaching you a few things. Making pastries is a good therapy to partake in. Takes your mind off of everything, lets you focus on other things."

She takes the small wrapped box out of the gift bag, turning it over in her hand, then pulls off the ribbon. "Will, if you don't grab him, I just may steal him away for myself." When she finally opens the box, her face goes soft.

The box is heavy in her hands. It's rectangular shaped and decorated with faded leaves. When she lifts the lid, it plays a tune.

"That song's been stuck in my head for weeks now." Sonny tells her. "So when I saw it, I just decided I should definitely buy it."

"'Bewitched'" Marlena tells him. "It's a really old song. Very sweet." Marlena looks at him. "Maybe you have a recently widowed uncle you could point in my direction."

"Well, there's Uncle Victor, but he's nothing worth looking at."

"If he's half as sweet as you, I'll take him."

"Well ain't this sweet?"

The second Will hears the voice, he goes stiff, like someone's holding a knife to his throat. Sonny can clearly see the look that passes between Will and his grandmother. Complete remorse on Marlena's end, utter shock on Will's.

Then they turn around.

Kristen DiMera slumps against the doorjamb, wearing something a size too tight. Her hair's a mess around her shoulders, face made up for the day with her eyes traced, lips slick.

"And just who are you supposed to be?" She lifts a hand, pushing her hair back as she gives a slow, seductive smile.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Will demands. "Why the fuck is she in this apartment?"

"I have just as much right to be here as you." Kristen fires back. "Some have more respect for family than others, clearly."

"I told you to get a cab and get the hell out."

"I don't take orders from my son-in-law." Kristen pushes herself off the doorjamb, walking over to the stove. "This coffee fresh, Marlena?"

"How could you?" Will demands of Marlena. "How could you let her come back?"

"Will." All Marlena can think to do is take his hand. "She's your father's wife."

"I'm your grandson." The bitterness pours out, leaving a nasty taste in Will's mouth. "So you're just going to let her come back, let her stay till she's bled you dry, and she and whatever loser she's banging with this time rob you blind? She's on coke right now. You really can't see it? And she's not getting it for free."

"I told you I'm off the stuff." Kristen slaps a mug off the counter.

"Liar. There's not one thing that comes out of your mouth that is true."

Kristen lunges for Will. Even as Will braces himself to take the hit, Sonny's already stepping in between them and grabbing her wrist.

"Try that again, I dare you." He says it very calmly, but the anger in his voice reverberates around the kitchen.

"You lay a hand on him, Kristen, even one finger, and I will not hesitate to throw you out."

Marlena walks over to the stove, pouring coffee for herself with shaking hands. "I mean it."

"He was raised better than to talk to family like that." Kristen's lips quiver slightly. "And in front of a stranger, no less."

"Sonny Kiriakis. I'm friends with Will and Marlena. I can grab the coffee, Marlena. Take a seat."

"This is a family matter, Sonny." Will keeps the fury in his eyes on his stepmother's face. He'll have all the time in the world to be embarrassed later. Right now it's just a minor inconvenience poking at the anger. "You should just go."

"Just a minute." Sonny pours the coffee, bringing it to Marlena. Crouching so they're at eye level. "I'm Greek." he tells her. "Both sides. We may not be the Irish, but we can hold our own. One phone call away, and I'm here."

Sonny squeezes her hand, then straightens up. "That goes for you too." He tells Will.

"I'm not staying either. I can drive you back." Will has to take a deep breath, bracing for the pain he knows his words are about to cause. "Grandma, I love you more than words can say. But as long as she has one foot in this apartment, I refuse to be. I'm sorry to hurt you like this, but I can't do this again. Call me once she's gone. And you," Will turns to Kristen. "You hurt her, you steal one penny from her or bring any of the trash you like to screw into this apartment, I will end you. I swear on my Grandma Caroline's grave I will. It doesn't matter where you go or where you try to hide, I'll skin you alive."

"Will!" Kristen walks down the hallway outside the apartment as Will walks away. "I've changed! I just want to make it up to you! Give me a chance--."

Now that he's outside, Will whips around. "You blew your last chance with me a long time ago. Stay the hell away from me. Stay the hell away from the pub. You're nothing to me, do you understand me?"

WIll slams the car door, turning on the engine, then speeds off, leaving a cloud of smoke that covers both Kristen and the apartment he's lived in on and off his whole life.

"Well wasn't that just a barrel of laughs?" Will steps on the gas. "I can just see it now, just how well your family and Kristen DiMera would get along. Slut, junkie, thief, and a liar."

"You can't blame Marlena for this, Will."

"I don't blame her. I really don't." Tears start to form a lump in Will's throat, and he can feel the burn. "But I refuse to have anything to do with it. I can't." He slams on the brakes in front of the mansion. "I have to go." But he lowers his head on the wheel. "Go on, leave. Go away."

"No, I'm not leaving without you, Will." Others would've already, Sonny suddenly understands. And that's the root of all this man's hurt. "You wanna keep talking about it here, or are we going inside?"

"I'm not talking about it at all."

"Yes you are. Pick the place."

"You already know everything there is to know. My stepmom's a slut and a junkie. When she doesn't have enough to pay for whatever fix she's craving, she steals it. She'd lie before she even knew your name."

"She doesn't live here."

"I don't know, or care, where she lives. Nowhere permanent. She showed up at my apartment yesterday. Coked out of her mind, spouting bullshit and her whole spiel about turning over a new leaf and letting bygones be bygones. She honestly thought I'd let her stay the night. Never again." Will says, leaning back against the car seat. "I gave her a hundred for cab fare. I was an idiot to think that was it. Most likely it all went up her nose."

"Let's walk."

"You can't just walk this off or kiss it away, Sonny. I have to get back."

"You're not going back to the square when you're this worked up. We're taking a walk."

Making sure Will doesn't drive off when Sonny gets out, Sonny takes the keys and puts them in his pocket. Then he climbs out, walking around the car. Opening Will's door, Sonny holds out a hand.

Will doesn't have any energy left to argue. But instead of taking Sonny's hand, he slides out of the car and digs his hands into his pockets.

They'll walk, they'll talk, and then it'll all be over.