Chapter 4

Deep blue stares into deep blue…

Will's eyes widen as he sees the tiny baby lying next to him on his pillow. Eyes flickering to Sonny's he says "Babe what…" Will winces as his throat feels like it's on fire and his voice comes out in a croak.

Seeing Will's eyes widen almost in a panic Sonny says softly "It's ok babe. I know your throat hurts. You had surgery and they had to place a tube down your throat during it. Dr. Jonas explained to me that would happen. Here are some ice chips that'll help." As he lifted a spoon toward Will's mouth he noticed Will's eyes constantly dropping down to gaze at the baby lying in the crook of his arm.

Will felt the cool iciness of the ice chips melt in his mouth and sooth his throat. He found he couldn't stop looking at the tiny perfection of the miracle he was holding. In amazement he softly whispered "Arianna." Feeling tears mist his eyes, he whispered "I would recognize you anywhere sweetheart. Sonny, look at her! She's so beautiful! Just look at how tiny she is!"

Sonny smiled tenderly as he watched Will, watch little Ari. Feeling his breath hitch in his throat as he watched Will lean those few inches and lay his cheek upon her head. Breathing in that wonderful smell that babies have. Kissing her tiny cheek. Listening to him whisper softly "Hello little one. I'm your daddy." Looking up and cathching Sonny's eyes on them he whispered "Well, one of them anyway." Holding her close he murmured "I love you so much little one. I've been so anxious to meet you, to hold you. You are just beautiful! Oh Sonny just look at her dark hair and her eyes… Babe she has my eyes!"

"Oh trust me, I noticed that first thing! As soon as Gabi delivered her into my arms and I looked at her… all I could see is you."

"Wait, she delivered in your arms? What does that mean? You were in the delivery room? What…" Will breaks off as Sonny touched his finger to the softness of his lips.

Seeing Wills eyes soften and the pressure against his fingers as Will kissed them Sonny felt his eyes sting. "I love you so much Will Horton. More every day." Brushing his thumb back and forth against Wills bottom lip he whispered "Thank you."

Raising a brow in question Will asked "For what?"

"For coming back to me." Nodding his head at Arianna he said "To us."

"Coming back? Sonny please what happened? Where was I? I'm feeling a little lost here."

Taking a deep breath Sonny exhaled and said "Will I promise I'll explain everything. But first, we need to let the nurses and Dr. Jonas know you're awake."

At this point Sami feels like she can't wait another moment. She'd been standing back out of the way, tears running down her cheeks as she looked at her son, awake. Seeing him hold his little girl brought an overwhelming tenderness to her heart. Looking at that precious baby's face was amazing. Knowing that inside that tiny baby was part Will but also part her, part Lucas, part Her mom and yes even Kate too she supposed. Part Rafe as well. It was an amazing site seeing the two young men, so much in love coming to the realization that they were indeed a family now. Walking up to the bedside she said softly "Honey, Dad and I are here too." Leaning down she kissed his cheek. "I love you baby boy. You have no idea how good it is to see those blue eyes! I'm going to go let Maxine know you're awake. But I promise I won't be gone long and Sonny will stay right here with you ok?" Brushing another kiss to the top of his head she smiled at Sonny and turned and left the room.

"Whew! Ok, what was that all about? You all act like I almost died or something!" Will chuckled. Seeing Sonny flinch as a tear rolled down one cheek he whispered "Babe, what's going on? I gotta say you guys are all freaking me out here a little." Feeling his arm grow rigid with tension he hears the softest whimper and looks down again. "Oh Son, look at her, she's sleeping. She looks like…" Will breaks off and looks down. Sonny notices his cheeks warming with a rosy color.

"Go ahead Will; tell me what you were going to say. Please."

"She looks like… us. You and me I mean. Her hair is the same dark color as yours, and she has my eyes. She looks like…like she's our baby." He mumbled.

Bending over Sonny placed two fingers under Wills chin and lifted his head so he could see those blue eyes he always felt like he was drowning in. "Oh babe, maybe because she is ours Will. I couldn't love her anymore if that was my DNA running through her veins also. Today, Will Horton, is the first day of the rest of lives to live as a family. You, Me, and little Ari here are going to have an amazing life… I just know it."

Tipping his chin up to receive Sonny's kiss, Will smiles. "Ari? What happened to Arianna? Or even AG? We called her that before too."

"Well just look at her Will. She is way too tiny to have a name longer than she is!" Sonny chuckled to see Will look down at the baby, then nod his head in agreement with a big smile on his face. "And… she is more precious than words, more loved then she will ever know. AG just…I don't know… doesn't fit. Ari is beautiful and just her size!" Will couldn't help but agree.

Just then the door opened and in walked Maxine with another nurse as well as his Mom and Dad, both his Grandmas and his Grandpa Roman, all wearing big smiles at seeing him awake and holding the sleeping baby. "Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes Mr. Will. How are you feeling?" Maxine asked looking at the vital sign machine and charting all the number on a paper.

"I-I'm ok I guess Maxine. A little dazed and tired. I Still need to hear what all happened. But otherwise my throat hurts, and my back is a little now too. Gabi? How is she?"

"She's ok Will" Marlena said coming over to give him a hug. "Kate and I were just in there to check on here and she is sleeping soundly."

"Will," Maxine said. "This is Arianna's nurse. She's going to take her back to the nursery now." Seeing Will's lips part in protest she added "It's ok honey. She needs fed and changed that's all. You can see her again later I promise."

Will pulled Ari closer to him and whispered "Daddy loves you little punkin. You be a good girl and I promise I'll see you soon." Giving her a last hug and gentle kiss he reluctantly handed her over to the waiting nurse.

Sonny stopped her before she left the room. "This Daddy loves you too sweetheart. Be good darlin' and we will see you soon." He said tenderly kissing Ari's brow. He glanced at Will and smiled as he noticed Will wiping a tear from his cheek. "What? She looks so much like the love of my life" he chuckled. "How can I not love her?"

"Ok then Will, Dr. Jonas is currently in the middle of another surgery. He will be down soon though and into see you as soon as he can. This machine here is a pain medication pump." Showing him the button attached to the cord she said "you push this to give yourself some pain medication. It will make you drowsy and don't worry about pushing it too often. It's perfectly safe. If it isn't time for another dose of medication, it won't give any. Here is your bell attached to the railing and if you need anything you ring for me." With a last smile she turned and left the room saying to everyone…" A few more minutes please then I'm going to have to ask that we limit visitors to 2 people please. He needs to rest also."

His two Grandmas and his Grandpa Roman were all the first to leave. Showering Will with hugs and congratulations and so glad you're better's. Lucas and Sami came up next and said they too were going to leave but they were only going to the cafeteria to get a bite to eat. They had been so sick with worry earlier no one had been able to eat. 'We'll be back soon sweetheart." Sami said softly squeezing his hand.

Soon it was just Sonny and him and he looked up into those dark brown eyes and seeing dark smudges under them realizing how long a day it had been on him. "Babe, come here" he said motioning to the side of his bed. "Please tell me what happened before I go crazy!"

Sitting in a chair pulled up as close to the bedside as he could get it, holding tightly to one of Wills hands, Sonny then proceeded to tell Will all the events that had happened since Will had told him to take Gabi and get her and their baby to safety. He had to stop several times as his emotions were brought forward again and again as he thought how close he came to losing him…forever.

Hearing Sonny as he talked about what a miracle it was to look into Ari's eyes and know he was the first person she saw as she entered the world made a lump come to his throat. Hearing him talk about how in the middle of all the chaos he "felt" something… "I just knew it was you Will. I didn't know what, but I knew something had happened to you and I couldn't… I couldn't leave her and I knew you needed me Will. I should never have left you!" Sonny's emotions give in to the horror of the day. Retelling the story just brought back the vivid memories of not knowing if he would ever see Will again. Ever touch him, make love to him. Ever see his beautiful smile and sparkling eyes that got him through each day.

Seeing one tear after another roll down Sonny's cheeks, hearing the hitching of his breath as he tried to regain some semblance of control, shattered Will's. It was so hard remembering that Nick, his own cousin, had tried to kill him. To think of never seeing Sonny again or of Ari never knowing him broke his heart. With a sob of his own he tugged Sonny up and closer to him, leaning over him. He then wrapped his arms around Sonny's neck and pulled him tightly to him. Sonny in return buried his head in the crook of Will's shoulder, his face buried into his neck and both men gave into the terror and fears of everything that happened that day.

After several moments Sonny slowly pulled away, afraid he would begin to hurt Will. Grabbing several tissues he wiped his eyes and dried Will's as well. Looking into those oceans of blue, voice hoarse from crying, Sonny said "I love you baby. You are everything to me. Heart, mind, body and soul you belong to me. Don't ever leave me Will. I wouldn't want to live on this earth without you. I couldn't. I need you in my life just to breathe baby. Promise me Will… promise you'll never leave me. There is no me without you. "

"Oh honey, I can't promise that nothing will ever happen to me. What I can promise is this… I will love you with every breath I have in me. Forever and beyond Sonny. And I promise... I'll always fight like hell to come back to you. Just like I did this time."

Cupping his hand around the back of his neck, he pulled Sonny toward him, staring into eyes so bright with love he felt blinded. "I love you so much." He murmured his lips lightly brushing against Sonny's. Bringing his other hand up, he ran his hand up and into Sonny's hair and tightened his fingers bringing a gasp to his lips. Feeling those lips open, Will took advantage and pressed his tongue inside. Slowly licking the inside of his mouth, feeling Sonny's tongue meet and rub against his own caused a moan to start deep in chest.

"Uh-hum" they suddenly heard causing them to slowly part and look toward the door. Seeing Dr. Jonas standing there they both felt their cheeks heat. Will gave the Dr. a shy smile as he said "Dr. Jonas, I hear I owe you a huge thank you for saving my life."

Coming to stand at the lower part of Will's bedside, he reaches out and pats Wills leg a few times then lets it rest there. "I'm just glad I was here and you're here Will. Your Aunt Jen and JJ and Abigail would have never forgiven me otherwise." He said with a smile. "I 'm just going to exam you now. Sonny if you wouldn't mind stepping out…" Daniel said.

Sonny went to stand when all of a sudden Will reached out and grasped his hand hard. Almost desperately. "No! Sonny stay with me please!"

Sonny and Daniel glance at each other in surprise, and then looked closer at Will where he is staring at Daniel's hand on his leg. Noticing the increased breathing Daniel looks at the monitors noting that even as Will grows pale, his heart is racing.

Sonny sits back on the edge of the bed close to him and places his arm around Will, pulling him to him. "Will, what's wrong baby?" he asks even as Will is trying to bury his face in his shoulder. Feeling the trembling in him he holds Will even tighter. He feels the blood drain from his face as looking into Daniel's eyes they both hear Will say in a choked voice, "I can't feel his hand Sonny! Oh God, I can't feel his hand on my leg!"

To be continued…