Will nervously bounced his leg up and down as he sat at the table inside the café. He had agreed to meet Kevin here at eight o'clock but had arrived ridiculously early as he couldn't stand the waiting. As he checked his watch for the thousandth time, he groaned when he realized that he still had another ten minutes to wait. He glanced up at the sound of the door opening and shot out of his seat when he saw Kevin. Apparently, he wasn't the only one anxious about meeting. Kevin glanced around the room, smiling slightly when his eyes landed on Will.

Will's mouth went dry as he watched Kevin walk across the room towards him. Finally, Kevin was in front of him with a small smile on his lips and warmth radiating from his eyes. "Hey Will."

Will barely croaked out a "Hi" before panicking about what to do next. Fortunately, Kevin didn't have the same problem. He stepped right up to Will and wrapped his arms around him hugging him tightly. Will closed his eyes and sighed as he sagged into the embrace. It felt so good to have Kevin's arms around him again. He was grateful that the hug was a real one and not one of those obligatory hugs that people give purely out of formality. This was a lingering hug given with affection. As Will hugged Kevin back, he heard Kevin whisper in his ear, "I'm so sorry."

Will hugged Kevin harder. "Thanks."

Kevin pulled back, and they sat down at the table together. Kevin's eyes were filled with compassion as he said, "How are you doing Will?"

"Okay." Will said. He looked across the table at Kevin and could tell that Kevin didn't quite believe that. It was one of the many things Will loved about Kevin. That look of patient understanding in his eyes that always made Will feel safe, like he could tell Kevin anything without any fear of judgment or criticism. Will glanced down at the table as he said, "Honestly?" He glanced back up and continued after Kevin nodded, "I don't feel anything."

Kevin gazed into Will's eyes searchingly for a few moments before saying, "Why do you think that is?"

Will shrugged his shoulders and glanced back down at the table. He wasn't sure how he felt about the fact that Kevin had picked up on the fear in him that both Avery and Gunnar had missed. "Avery and Gunnar said that it was probably shock since the news was so sudden and unexpected."

Kevin continued to gaze into his eyes. "What do you think?"

Will was spared having to answer that by the waitress coming by the table. She smiled at Will and said, "So, you actually are meeting someone." She turned to Kevin and winked. "We were starting to wonder if you were real. Here you go. Black regular coffee." She set the cup down in front of Kevin with another smile and walked away.

Kevin glanced across at Will, his eyes twinkling with merriment. Will felt his face flush as he mumbled "I couldn't sleep" before taking a gulp of his own coffee.

A silence descended over the table as Kevin took a few sips of his coffee. Without looking up at Will, Kevin said softly, "You didn't answer my question."

Will immediately deflected with "What question?" Kevin sighed and arched an eyebrow at him. Will should've known that wasn't going to work. Will fidgeted in his seat before slamming his cup down harder than he intended. "Fine." Will hesitated before finally stating what had him so afraid. "What if I really don't feel anything?"

Despite Will's defiantly confrontational tone of voice, Kevin remained calm and said evenly, "Why do you think that?"

"Why?" Will asked incredulously. "Well, gee, let's start with the fact that he dumped me on the side of the highway at seventeen years old to fend for myself, then doesn't speak to me for ten years, reappears out of nowhere, finds out that I'm still gay and goes back to forgetting that I exist again."

Will's voice had steadily risen in anger during his speech, and he glanced around as he realized that people had turned to look at him. He ducked his head and clenched his jaw trying to calm down. His anger dissipated and his heart skipped a beat when Kevin reached over and grasped his hand. "You just proved that you do feel something."

Will huffed out a breath. "Anger wasn't exactly what I was expecting."

Kevin looked at him reassuringly. "Maybe not, but it's honest." Kevin gazed down at their entwined hands gathering his thoughts. "Will, your relationship with your father was…complicated. While he was alive, deep down you probably held out hope that he might change his mind someday." At Will's snort of derision, Kevin clarified, "As unlikely as that was, there was still a chance. Now, there isn't any. You have a lot of unresolved feelings that you need to sort through. It's going to take time. Maybe this is your heart's way of telling you that it isn't ready to deal with it yet."

"Yeah, or maybe I really just don't feel anything." Will said spitefully.

Kevin grasped Will's hand tighter. "I don't believe that." Will was slightly taken aback at the depth of caring in Kevin's eyes. "Doesn't sound like the Will Lexington I know. That guy has a big heart." Will tore his eyes away from Kevin afraid that Kevin would see how much he still loved him. He stared at Kevin's hand holding his, Kevin's thumb absently grazing back and forth across Will's knuckles. "You're going to the funeral right?"

Will shook his head. "I don't think so." Will's head popped up in surprise when he heard Kevin say his name disappointedly. "You think I should?"

"Of course I think you should. You'll regret it if you don't."

Will looked at Kevin who seemed so sure of that statement. He mulled it over for a few moments. "I don't know. I don't want to go alone."

"Surely somebody can go with you."

Will shook his head as he weighed his options. "Layla's still getting over Jeff's death. I don't think asking her to go to a funeral right now would be appropriate. Gunnar wants to stick close to home." At Kevin's questioning look, Will said, "Scarlet broke up with Caleb. Gunnar wants to be close in case she needs him." Kevin nodded knowingly. "Avery found out that Juliette is in a treatment facility for her post-partum depression. He's been letting her see Cadence as part of her therapy. He's not going to want to leave town with all that going on. He doesn't trust Juliette as far as he can throw her." Will shrugged his shoulders. "There isn't anybody else."

Will went back to gazing at Kevin's hand. He heard Kevin take a deep breath. "What about me?"

Will's head snapped up, "You? Do you mean that?"

Kevin smiled softly at him. "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't."

Will just stared at Kevin in disbelief. "Why would you do that?"

Kevin's smile softened even more. "Because I care about you, and I don't want you to live with that kind of regret."

Will felt a smile spread across his face as he nodded in acquiescence. "Okay."