Chapter 13

"Hey you, would you like me to drive home?" Will said with a chuckle.

"What? No, why?" Sonny asked as he glanced over with a frown.

"Well, you're looking at your ring more than the road" he teased. "And I for one want to actually make it to the wedding." Seeing the smile and shrug Sonny aimed his way Will burst out laughing.

"What can I say? You totally rocked my world tonight babe. I never, ever expected this as I was getting ready tonight. And my ring, it's absolutely beautiful. So, it's all you fault Will Horton that I'm a little distracted." He said with a laugh of his own.

"Sooo, you said I get a surprise tonight too?" Seeing Sonny nodding, he asked sheepishly, "I don't suppose you'd like to throw me even a little hint?"

"Hahaha ya, not likely there dude, you made me suffer… now it's your turn to wonder and wait."

"Crap," Will said with a huge sigh. "It was worth a shot."

Sonny laughed and shook his head at Will's antics. This truly was the best night of his entire life. He just couldn't believe that he was actually, officially, engaged to Will Horton he thought to himself as he caught himself staring at his ring on his finger as it rested on the steering wheel. Looking over guiltily, he caught Will staring at him with a big grin on his face shaking his head mockingly.

"The road Son, the ring isn't going anywhere."

"You're damn right it's not." He growled.

As the guys walked in the front door of their townhouse they saw Sami and Lucas both sitting on the couch. "Well boys, have a good time?" Sami asked.

"Yeah Sonny, what was the big surprise Will had? Did he spring for a fancy dinner somewhere?" Lucas asked with a laugh.

Sonny looked at Will, "They don't know?"

Will shook his head "No, I figured we could tell people together."

"Tell us what?" they asked excitedly.

Sonny, who was holding Will's right hand with his left, lifted their clasped hands towards them and the light hit the ring just right making the gold gleam and the diamonds sparkle.

Sami and Lucas jumped up even as Sami exclaimed "Oh my God is that what I think it is?"

All eyes turned towards Will. Sonny expected to see the famous blush start to stain those cheeks, instead he found Wills electric blue gaze steadily looking into his own eyes with such love in them he felt humbled. "Yes," Will answered in a calm sure voice. "I asked Sonny to marry me tonight." He brought their clasped hands to his lips where he kissed the finger beside the ring. "He made me the most incredibly happiest man ever, by saying yes."

Sami and Lucas looked at each other in amazement. No way did they picture this for their son even a year ago. But both knew a lot could happen in a year and watching the looks the guys were exchanging they knew that this was good, right. They threw their arms around both guys and hugged tightly.

Sami felt tears fill her eyes as she looked at her baby boy. There was a different look about him tonight. A quiet confidence she rarely if ever saw in him, as if he had finally found a place that was his. And looking at the love and contentment in Sonny's eyes as he looked at Will, she realized he had indeed found his rightful place in the world. Right there beside the man he loved, who loved him back just as fiercely. "Congratulations you two. I'm so very happy for you. I-We are behind you both 100%."

Lucas nodded his head in agreement and added his best wishes to the happy couple. "You guys are young, it's not always going to be easy. Just hang on tight to the love you both feel tonight, never let anyone come in between you, and most importantly... talk. Trust me, I wish I had followed this advice." He said with a glance at Sami to see her watching him with a soft look in her eyes.

"Thank you both. We really appreciate that. We haven't told Sonny's parents yet so please just keep it to yourselves tonight. We'll go over there tomorrow to tell them."

Sami and Lucas both agreed and spent the next few minutes filling the guys in on how wonderful and perfect little Arianna had been while they were gone. Will and Sonny glanced at each other and smiled. They knew the effect their baby girl had on anyone who came into contact with her. She is beautiful and perfect… how could anyone not love her? Saying goodbyes at the door they finally find themselves alone again.

Just as Sonny was getting ready to walk into Will's waiting arms, Arianna started to cry. "I think she knows we're home. We better go see the princess."

Walking into the nursery together they both started making the soft soothing noises so Ari knew they were home. Will picked her up and swayed side to side. "Someone needs changing don't they," he said with a kiss to her forehead.

"Why don't you change her while I warm up a bottle for her. I think she'll go back to sleep fast enough." Hearing Will's agreement, Sonny went out to the kitchen to warm the formula. Once he was done he walked back into Ari's room to find them snuggled together in the rocking chair, Will humming the music from the song he had sung to him earlier. "That song will forever be my favorite I want you to know. And I do have a request." He said handing the bottle over.

"Oh? What's that?" Will asked looking up.

"I want us to dance to that song at our wedding. Of the recording you made of it… I want everyone to hear you sing and play that incredible song. Please?"

"Son, no one is going to want to hear me…" he breaks off as Sonny interrupts him.

"I want to hear you. You have no idea how much that song means to me now. You have a beautiful voice babe. Please, I really want to dance with you, for the first time, in front of our family and friends… as husbands… to your song for me."

"How can I say no to your daddy Ari?" Will asks looking into her blue eyes as she watches them both as she is eating. Looking up at Sonny, and seeing the plea in his eyes, Will relents. "Ok honey. I really would love to dance to it again with you."

Sonny leaned over to brush a tender kiss against his lips. "Thank you," he whispered. "Now, you ok here with her? I thought I'd go catch up on some paperwork from the coffee shop. I'll just be in our room on the computer so when you're done here you could come find me? Maybe we can snuggle on the couch and watch a movie. Sound good?"

"Sounds great… as long as I get to pick the movie." Will said with a grin.

"Oh man, you always pick the scariest shit."

"Aww, don't worry honey. You can snuggle up in my arms and I'll keep the bad ole monsters away," Will teased with a smile.

"I just use being scared for an excuse to snuggle in his arms on the couch Ari. Daddy isn't really a scaredy cat." Sonny whispered as he kissed her soft hair.

"As if you need a reason for me to hold you. I'd very happily hold you in my arms for the rest of our lives. Oh wait, that's exactly what I am going to do!" Will said smiling.

"Oh yeah you are, I'm counting on that babe." Sonny said with a wink as he walked to the door.

Leaving Will to get Ari fed and back to bed he hurried into their room. Pulling out the small black box he had hidden in his dresser drawer he opened it and looked down at the contents. Seeing the beautiful wide gold band shining in the light, he rubbed his fingers across the designs he had had etched into the gold that started on either side of the diamond in the center and continued around the band. When he had special ordered it he had had no idea it would turn out as beautiful as it did. Looking at his own ring Will had placed on his finger he felt his heart melt all over again remembering their dance and the words Will had said to him.

He had had some ideas of the way he had wanted to propose to Will, he just had been waiting for the right moment. Knowing how Will had felt about marriage in general he had been a little scared to ask him. Oh he never doubted Will's love and commitment to him... he just wasn't sure if Will would agree to take that giant leap of faith with him. Now though… he thought tonight would be a perfect time to show him the ring. And, Sonny thought with a grin as he pulled out a folder with a few papers printed off the internet inside, while there was no way he could ever top the romantic proposal Will had done for him… he did have an extra surprise to show the love of his life. Yep, he thought as he quickly went into the living room and stashed both the box and the folder in the cushions where he knew he would be able to reach them. Tonight was definitely a night that would live in both their memories forever.

Will walked into the living room just as Sonny straightened up from the couch. "I thought you were on the computer doing some work."

"No, I decided tonight was our night, no work allowed." Sonny answered with a smile.

"Sounds great to me," Will said sitting in the corner of the couch, one leg along the back of the cushion the other on the floor leaving the space between so Sonny could snuggle back against his chest. Watching as Sonny grabbed the remote and came towards him he opened his arms wide. "Come here honey, I just want to hold you."

Sonny stopped and stood beside the couch before he got down on his knees beside Will bringing them to eye level.

"Son, is something wrong?" Will asked worriedly.

Sonny reached out to cup Will's face in his hand, thumb stroking the slight stubble he found along his jaw. "Wrong? No, everything's perfect babe. I was going to wait till later to give you your surprise but honestly I'm just not sure of when the perfect moment is and frankly I don't want to wait anymore." Reaching under the cushion closest to him he palmed the box. Taking it out and looking into Will's eyes he sees the instant Will notices and recognizes what he's holding.

"Sonny, is that? Oh my God!" Will breathed out. Looking from the box to Sonny's eyes and back again Will reached out a hand towards it and Sonny noticed it was trembling.

"The other day when you first came home and I had to run to CG to sign for that package… it was this." Opening up the box to display the ring inside he said, "I ordered this for you because even though I thought you were still really unsure about marriage, I know how very much I love you. And I knew that all I wanted in this world was for you to be my husband and for you to let me show you that forever doesn't always mean for a while."

Pulling the ring out of the box he brought it closer for Will to see. "I had this ring special ordered just for you. The diamond to me is you. It sparkles and shines just like the light you've brought into my life. Look at the etchings Will that go around the band. The hearts are obvious. You have my heart always babe and they go along with the other symbol. Do you know what that is?"

Will wiped at the tear that was slowly making its way down his cheek. Nodding his head he said, "I-It's the infinity sign."

"That's right babe." Lifting Will's chin up so he could see those shiny blue eyes he leaned in and tenderly, softly kissed his fiancé. "So you see, anytime you need to, you can look at the ring and be reminded of three things. One, that you are the light of my life. Two, that you own my heart, I love you so much. And three, and it's the most important… my love for you is just like that infinity sign Will. It has no beginning and definitely no ending. It's forever. So, I know we already did this once today but I want to do this right. William Horton, would you please be my love forever? Would you marry me?"

Will lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Sonny so fast and so hard he almost knocked them both to the ground. Sonny could hear Will mumbling something but he had his head buried so tight to his neck he could barely hear him much less make out the words. Feeling the fine tremors wracking the body pressed against his he made slow up and down motions with his hands along Will's back while making quiet shushing sounds. After a few seconds he slowly backed up the tiniest bit just so he could hear what Will was saying. He felt his stomach clench and his heart melt as he heard Will mumbling over and over "Forever Sonny, we'll be a family forever. Never leave me Sonny, forever… you promised!"

"Hey babe shhh," Sonny said softly. "It's ok baby. I did promise, I am promising… this is forever for us Will. We are forever and anytime you need reminded of that, for any reason at all… you look at your ring, you touch these symbols… and know that you and Ari and I… are a family forever. Infinity Will. I promise." Slowly backing away he reached for Will's left hand and as Will had done for him earlier he kissed the finger before slowly sliding the ring on. It too, was a perfect fit. Giving it another kiss he let go so Will could hold it up and look at how it looked on him. It looked perfect.

Seeing the amazing, blindingly happy smile on Will's face as he turned his hand one way and then the other watching as the light sparkled and shone over the gleaming gold and shiny diamond Sonny knew that he had made the right choices in the designs for the ring. He knew Will still struggled with insecurity from his past. But seeing his reaction to his words and the ring just made him that more determined to prove over and over if need be that he was in this for the long haul. He wanted to show Will that life happened yes, and there would be ups and downs in life of course, but their love, unlike what he had been taught growing up in a broken home, would last forever. That their love would always be their shelter in any storm. That their love for each other would be their home always. And speaking of homes… he thought of the folder and the papers inside as he looked again at Will and said, "Hey babe, I have another surprise for you too…"

To be continued…