"There's something I want to ask you to do." Will says as they start walking again. "I know the square's already named after them, but I want a plaque set up for them. A few plaques, actually. One for Tom and Alice, by the bench, one by the river, and one maybe by the pond. I think it's time everyone was together."
"I think they already are." Or pretty close, Sonny thinks. Ridiculously close, because there's now a lightness in his heart he wasn't expecting to feel again. "But the markers are still a nice memory. We'll put one by the bench, put it there. And a tree, together."
WIll nods. "Maybe."
"Like the one she liked so much." Sonny nods. "Sometimes when you put the puzzle pieces back together, and sometimes you have to change them to make them fit. We can do both. Then when we have our kids, we can have picnics right next to them, and tell them the whole story."
Sonny waits, then says, "You're not pushing me away."
Will shakes his head.
"Sonny, you really know how to wear someone down. Looks like the cleanup crew is here."
Sonny looks, wincing when he sees the cars pulling in. "Won't this be a real party? We can sneak up the stairs and lock ourselves in my room. I feel like I could hibernate."
"Bedroom works, but I only have an hour. Then I have to get to work."
"I have an hour to kill." Sonny replies, then taps a finger to his lips as they creep up the stairs. "Ever had the chance to roll around naked in bed with a house full of men and women scrubbing floors right outside?"
"No, and I don't plan to, either."
"Killjoy."
"Sonny. No don't close the doors. Just hold on--."
"That's exactly what I'm doing." Sonny says when he traps Will in his arms. "Holding on. And God, it feels wonderful. I've missed you so much." he murmurs, and understands it's just as much Alice as himself who's holding on so tightly.
A circle, nearly made whole again, Sonny thinks. And this time, it's unbreakable.
She's been defeated, Sonny realizes. Adelaide. It's all spiraling out of her control.
"I have some things I need to say."
"I don't want to talk." Sonny plants his lips on Will's in a soft kiss.
"Lay with me, Will. Just lie down with me. I can't tell you how much I've missed getting to hold you."
"I need to be vertical for this." Will pulls away, standing in the sunlight. "I've done so many things up until now, and that's all been fine with me. You've thrown a wrench in all of them, messing them up, pissing me off, and completely turned my whole life on its head with what used to be, what is, and what might be. I've never been a fan of what might be, Sonny."
"What about what will be?"
"That's your stubborn brain talking. And I love that about you. There's so many things about you I love, I can't even count all of them. So now I'm stuck with some pretty rich boy."
Everything inside Sonny swells, then lights up like a firework. "William."
"Please just wait until I'm finished." Will sighs, waiting until he's sure he can speak calmly. "I have so many friends that care about me, maybe even love me the way a friend is supposed to. I had John, who loved me like I was his. I have my grandma Marlena. But there's nobody in my life that loves me like you do. And the funny thing about that is, I've never loved anybody the way I love you. So, so much."
Will lifts his arms, undoing the chain around his neck. He holds it out to Sonny, letting the key dangle. "It's yours now. Has been for a while now. You're the answers to the secrets of the universe. You always were."
Sonny takes it, then to Will's delight, clasps it around his own neck. "We're going to be so happy, Will."
"We'd better. So are we actually getting married, or what?"
"Absolutely." With a laugh, Sonny spins him around in a circle. "Can you feel it?"
"Feel what? My head's still spinning."
"The mansion's ours. No one else's." Sonny pulls Will close. "The ghosts are gone. We're finally together, for all the days of our lives."
Will slides his arms around Sonny, leaning his mouth into Sonny's. "Welcome home, Sonny."
