A/N: The memories are highlighted in bold and italicized so there is no confusion.


Chapter 2

"What happened?" Paul asked with a shock look on his face.

"I don't know. I'm just worried. I just hope nothing happens to him." Will got up and paced the floor once again.

"Me too." Paul got up as well.

"Want a coffee?" Will poured himself a cup.

"Sure. Thanks." Paul said as Will handed him a cup.

"You're welcome. Any news on your mom coming to Salem?"

"Uh, yeah. I talked to her earlier. She's coming next week. How long has Sonny been in surgery?"

"He's been in there for a couple of hours. I just can't wait any more. It's too much."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too." Paul gently rubbed his back again.

"I'm actually kind of glad that you're here." Will managed to say.

"And why is that?" Paul asked with a smile.

"You know how to make me feel better."

"Well, you know, I try. Don't expect it to happen again though." Paul laughed jokingly. Will laughed.

"Thank you. Right now, I just hope Sonny wakes up. I can't live without him. I don't know what I would do without him." Will broke down once again.

"It's going to be okay. He's going to be fine." Will moved his arms from his sides and hugged Paul. Adrienne stood off to the side as she watched the two of them hugging. She slowly walked up to them.

"Hey Will, how are you holding up?" She wiped away the dampness of her tears.

"Not that great." He released himself from Paul's grasp and sat down. Adrienne sat next to him and took his hand in hers.

"He's going to get through this." Will rested his head against her shoulders and closed his eyes for a few minutes. He didn't get that much sleep last night and he needed it. Paul walked off and slowly made his way to the waiting room. There was no one in the room so he closed the door. He walked around not knowing how he is going to make it through the rest of the day. He stopped when he remembered when he saw Sonny the first time in a long time.

"Paul what are you doing here?"

"I had surgery."

"What...oh, right your shoulder." Sonny gave a half smile.

"Yeah. And I saw you coming through here and I had to see you. Why are we talking?" Paul reached for Sonny and let his lips fall onto Sonny's.

"What are you doing? What if someone sees us?" Sonny pulled back.

"They won't." He kissed him once again. Paul responded back with a little more force when Sonny moved closer to him.

"I can't." Sonny pulled back.

"But..."

"I can't Paul."

"Come to my room later so we can talk." And that was it. Paul found himself sitting on the floor in the room and crying. He set his head back against the wall thinking of the time when Sonny proposed to him.

"I love you Paul, you mean everything to me. I know how much your career means to you. And I will support you no matter what."

"My career is not that important. Nothing is as important as you are to me. I love you Sonny."

"We have gone through so many things together and I still want to go through it all with you. You make me so happy Paul. Marry me."

"I can't Sonny. I want us to wait."

"I don't want to wait around anymore. Who are you the most happy with, me or those girls you pretend to love?"

"You are important to me Sonny."

"Then answer this: do you love me?"

"Of course I do. More than anything."

"Then marry me."

"You have made me so happy Sonny. And I want to be able to spend the rest of my life with you more than anything. I want to marry you. I just want us to wait for a little while."

"How long would that be?"

"Just until baseball is over."

"That's in like five months."

"I know. But, this will all be over soon. And all my time will be focused on you instead of baseball. I promise you, it will be worth it."

"It better." Sonny said with a smile.

"It will. I love you." Paul whispered before he leaned closer to Sonny for a kiss.

"I love you too." Sonny made his way on top of Paul and kissed him softly, before the kisses turned to something more.

"Why didn't I say yes. I'm so stupid. I've lost him for good." Paul cried openly as he sat on the floor.

"Paul, are you okay?" He looked up saw Will standing there. Paul got up from the floor and wiped away his tears.

"Yeah. I'm fine. So, is Sonny okay?"

"He's still in surgery. He's been in there for about five hours. I can't wait anymore. I'm going to go crazy."

"Why don't we get some fresh air?"

"Yeah." They both walked out of the waiting room and into the open area.


Adrienne sat on one of the chairs, with Justin sitting on one side comforting her and Lucas on the other side on his phone. He was texting Sami non stop letting her know about Sonny and the condition that he was in.

"How could they even know him?" Adrienne sobbed.

"It was me. That's how they knew." Victor replied.

"None of this was your fault Victor." Justin came in.

"It was Clyde's undoing and his hillbilly friends of his."

"I bet he was the one that killed EJ. He could have easily gotten to someone else." Lucas intercepted. He looked up from his phone and saw they were looking at him.

"They did. They got to Sonny, to get back at what I did." Victor almost yelled.

"I'm sorry. I'm just saying in my opinion, that's probably what happened. And Sonny didn't deserve that. He still has his whole life ahead of him with Will and Arianna."

Abigail was off to the side with JJ and her mom. Ben came in and stayed with her as well.

"Chad, I am so sorry. He's going to be fine." Jordan hugged Chad.

"I hope so. He was there for me when I got shot, and I need to be there for him too."

"I understand. You don't want to lose your best friend."

"After everything I did to him, I feel stupid. Not only is he my best friend, but he is my business partner, and I feel like I'm responsible for what I did to him."

"What did you do?"

"I did something that I know I am going to regret for the rest of my life. And I have to live with it."

"What are you talking about Chad? You are an amazing friend. Tell me what happened."

"You're not going to think I'm so amazing after what I tell you Jordan."

"Just tell me Chad. I want to know."

"So do I."


Will walked around and sat on the bench thinking. Paul joined Will for a walk outside for a breath of fresh air to relax. It was almost Will and Sonny's anniversary and he wanted to do something special. Will let his memory jog back to their wedding.

"You are the anchor that doesn't weigh me down. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You and Arianna Grace. I love you both so much. And I will always be there to love and protect you both." Sonny said with tears just under his eyes.

"I love you so much Sonny. And I will never stop. You mean the world to me. And I want you to know that each and every day."

"I give you this ring for every cherished memory." Sonny set the ring onto Will's finger.

"And so I give you my heart." Will set the ring onto Sonny's hand. Their hands were wrapped around each other before they leaned in to kiss.

"Will, you okay? Will?" Paul's voice got Will back.

"What, oh yeah. I'm fine." Will cleared his throat.

"What were you thinking about?"

"It's complicated. I don't want to bother you with my problems."

"Really Will? After what just happened? Why don't you tell me what's really on your mind." Will looked up at Paul and fought the urge to tell Paul what he is really thinking.