A/N: Sorry it has been a while. It was a bit of a struggle to write this chapter, hopefully it's not too bad.

December 31, 2015

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Will repeatedly banged his head against the door. I shouldn't have agreed to this. Paul's not fit to be a babysitter. What was I thinking? No, this is all Paul's fault. He was just standing there with a cheeky grin on his face. I hate him. And his stupid perfect cheekbones.

"Ugh!" he groaned, pressing his trembling fists to his temples and squeezing his eyes shut. Why couldn't he just leave me alone?

His phone beeped for the tenth time since he had entered the house. Not now, T. He was certainly persistent on making sure his plans for tonight were still secure. Wait a minute. Clearly, it's T's fault. Yeah, especially since he's the reason I'm in this mess in the first place. And then there's Zoe, she's been expecting the latest assignment to be completed by the end of the week.

There is so much to do. Maybe I should call it off. I've still got time. T will understand…right? But then he would be disappointed in me. We haven't hung out in such a long time. And every time we make plans I've blown him off? He blew a strand of blond hair out of his face irritably. Why's my life so complicated?

He quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He scrolled through his contacts, his thumb hovering over the screen for what seemed like forever before hitting the button. I am so going to regret this. As the phone ringed on the other end of the line, he walked over to the kitchen counter. He held the phone between his shoulder and ear as he poured himself a glass of wine.

"Hey mom."

"How's my little Pumpkin?" Sami cooed.

He rolled his eyes. "Mom—"

"Why haven't you called me till now? I've been worried sick!"

Will flinched as she yelled in the phone.

"Well, I… uhhuh...uhhuh...Look, Mom…" He sighed and closed his eyes, listening again. "Well she's the reason I…" He raked his hand through his hair, frustrated. "Will you just let me talk!"

"William Robert Horton, don't you take that tone with me," she scolded.

He slumped his shoulders. "Sorry, Mom. But, you wouldn't let me speak."

"Yeah, you'd better be. Now, what were you saying about my favorite granddaughter."

Once again, he rolled his eyes.

Well, here goes nothing. "You see, she's the reason I called…I need your advice," he said hesitantly.

"Go on."

"T's been bugging me to hang out with him. So I finally said yes. And everything was going so smoothly but then the babysitter called in sick. So, I tried ringing Abi—"

"What about Lucas?"

"He's having dinner with Adrienne. He said it was too late to cancel."

"Some father!"

He held back a laugh. "Like you're one to talk. Anyway, since no one was available I asked Paul to."

"You did what! I'm going to kill him."

"It's really not—"

"That'll wipe that smirk off the bastard's face. Now, where should I dispose of the body…"

"Necessary—"

"The river! Nope. I tried that already. It didn't work out…"

He downed the rest of the wine and poured himself some more. "Mom, you're not listening to me."

"Trust me, I heard you loud and clear. He's got you wrapped around his little finger."

"No, it's nothing like that. He's just doing me a favor," he said, but his voice wavered.

"Uh huh. He's just going to do this without expecting a little favor in return."

"Why'd I even bother to call you? I'm nervous enough as it is! And you're not helping me deal with it by being angry at me."

"Look, sweetie, I'm not having a go at you. I'm just being real with you. I mean, do you really think that's a good idea?"

"Not really. But I haven't been able to enjoy myself. Between work and taking care of Arianna my days are busy. And when the evening rolls around, I'm half-dead and exhausted. For just one night, I want to have some fun and not have to worry about anything. And T's a really good friend. I don't want to lose him."

"Alright, alright, but keep an eye on Paul. I don't want you getting your heart broken again."

"I will I promise." He said while nodding his head up and down.

"And."

"If anything happens, I give you permission to kill him," he added, shaking his head.

"That's my boy."

As Will stood looking at himself in the bathroom mirror, he hoped that no one else would be able to recognize the pain that seemed so evident on his face. His face had lost its brightness and energy. He had bags under his eyes. I look like crap. He sighed. It's time to get over Sonny. I'm sure he's moved on and found someone else already. I'm going to enjoy myself tonight.

"Knock, knock."

"I'm coming!"

"Knock, knock."

"Give me a second, will ya?" Will exclaimed, buttoning his shirt as he started for the door.

He swung the door open. It was Paul, with a grocery bag in his hand.

Paul looked him up and down. His eyes rested on his chest. He watched as beads of water slid down his chest. Will followed his gaze and quickly began buttoning up the rest of his shirt. Paul swallowed down a lump in his throat and tore his gaze from him. "Um, hi."

Will scratched the back of his head. "Hey."

He nodded his head. "So."

"So…" Paul motioned towards the living room. "Oh, of…of course, come in," Will stammered his reply.

Paul walked past him. Will let out a sigh of relief.

Paul glanced around casually as he walked. Will closed the door and took a deep breath as it clicked shut, then quickly spun around. His eyes narrowed on the object in Paul's hand. "What's in the bag?"

"Huh?" Paul looked down at the bag. "Oh." He took the tin out of the bag. "It's just...I bought some chocolate chip cookies for Arianna."

Will nodded.

"And you," he blurted out." Will jumped, startled. "If you get hungry later."

"Well...Thanks, I guess." Will tried to smile, but it felt more like a grimace.

Paul walked toward the couch, hands dug deep in his jacket pockets. "Mind if i sit?"

"No, go right ahead."

Paul plopped down onto the couch and looked at him with a nervous smile.

Will looked sheepishly down at the ground. "I'll go get Arianna."

As soon as the door was closed, Paul put his head down in his lap. His hands were sweaty, his heart was racing. He was very nervous and hoped Will couldn't tell. God, I'm such an idiot! How can I possibly take care of this kid? No, I can do this. I mean, I'm Paul Narita. I can do anything. He lifted his head when he heard Will.

"You remember Paul, right?"

Paul glanced at Arianna as she shook her head and hid herself behind Will's leg. From there she popped out to look at him. He let out a small laugh.

Will tried to pull her out from his leg. She looked up at him and pouted, "I want Mandy."

Will sighed. "Well, Mandy's sick. And Paul's babysitting, just for today. Is that okay?"

"Uh huh," she nodded.

He put his hands on his hips. "Good."

Arianna ran back into her room. Paul casted a confused glance at Will. He shrugged. She came back with a tiara and handed it to Paul.

Paul gasped in feigned shock. "For me?" She nodded her head, giggling. He took the tiara from her and put it on his head.

"U a princess now."

"Oh really?" He crossed his arms over his chest.

Will couldn't help but laugh.

"Honk! Honk!"

"That's my ride." Will turned around and looked at them. Paul nodded at him. Ari was watching him with sad, anxious gaze. Then he knelt down in front of his daughter so she could look him in the eye. "Listen, you be a good girl, okay?"

She nodded and wrapped her tiny arms around him. "Luv you."

"Love you more." He smiled and tickled her sides. She giggled.

Will opened the car door and got into the back seat.

"About damn time," Chad muttered. T nudged him in the side. "What?"

T looked back at Will and smiled. "So are you excited for tonight?"

He crossed his arms over his chest and slumped down in his seat. "Maybe if I knew where we were going, I would."

"It's a surprise." T smiled devilishly.

Chad slammed his hand on the steering wheel. "Oh, for Pete's sake, just tell him!"

Will flinched and looked at T, worried. "Abigail," he mouthed. Will nodded.

"Fine, we're going to Chez Chez," T exclaimed.

Will looked at him in shock. "Wait isn't that a gay club?"

T nodded. "Exactly."

He raised an eyebrow. "And you're both okay with that?"

"Yup!" T looked at Chad expectantly.

"Well it's not like I had a—" T elbowed him in the ribs before he could finish his sentence. "Ow! I mean, it's not a problem at all."

Will looked back and forth between the two of them and wiped his hands nervously on his jeans. "Okay then."

Silence fell upon the men.

Will drummed his fingers on his knee as he gazed out his window. T started whistling a tune, something random. In an effort to drown out the sound coming from T, Chad turned up the volume on his radio.

"Trouble, trouble, trouble," Chad sang along.

Will did a double take. T shook his head. "Really, dude?"

"What? Abigail listens to Taylor Swift all the time now."

"If you say so, dude." T looked back at Will, smiling with that wide grin of his. Will smiled as well.

Paul's sitting on the couch, his feet up, phone in his hand, and the TV on a replay of the last Giants game.

Arianna was on the floor, playing with her doll. She suddenly stopped and threw the doll to the floor.

"I'm bored!" she huffed.

She looked up at Paul. His eyes were glued to his phone. She got up and jumped onto the couch. He made no sign of acknowledging her. She scooted a little closer and snatched the phone out of his hands. She jumped off the couch, and ran under a chair.

"Hey!" Paul shouted as he jumped off the couch.

Crouching down, he looked under the chair. She was looking back at him, smiling.

He hung his head, sighing before he looked back up at her. "Listen, I'm sorry I ignored you. But, I have to make a very important call. So why don't you give me back my phone?"

She shook her head.

"Ugh, I don't have time to deal with this." he grumbled.

His hand reached out for the phone but Ari crawled out from under the chair and jumped back onto the couch. She stood up, the phone dangling from her hand.

His face fell. "Whoa," he put his hands up in surrender. "All right, all right, you win."

She jumped up and down on the couch. "I win," she said over and over.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh, shut up already!"

Finally Arianna stopped jumping and just stood staring, shaking.

Looking at her he saw fear in her eyes. "Shit, shit, shit!" he muttered.

Chad downed his shot and slammed the glass on the counter. "Another!"

Will and T exchanged worried glances.

He motioned them nearer with his finger. "Come here." They moved even an inch closer. He swayed on his barstool and leaned in close. "So, I've been thinking...if Will and Paul never get back together...I'd definitely do Paul."

"Well, you're in luck." Chad's eyes lit up with excitement. Will narrowed his eyes at T. "They were never together to begin with."

Chad grinned before bursting out into a fit of giggles. "Pfft, yeah right." He waved down the bartender for another.

"I think you've had enough for one day," Will said firmly.

Chad just waved his hand like he was literally brushing him off. "Lighten up, Will. I'm fine." He got closer to Will and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. He motioned toward the crowd. "Besides, tonight's about you."

T nodded. "He's right." He took a sip of his beer.

"Getting laid."

T nearly spit out his mouthful of beer.

Chad pushed Will into the crowd. "Now, off you go."

T shook his head, amused. Chad shrugged. The two of them watched as Will danced with some guy. Chad shot a grin at T before he turned back around and pulled out his phone.

T felt his pockets. "Shit."

Chad cocked his head to the side, "What's wrong?"

"My phone's inside the car."

"And that's a problem?"

"I'm meeting up with Annie later tonight. She might have called."

"Who's Annie?" Chad asked, his brow knotted in confusion.

"My girlfriend." He saw the confused look on his face. "Look, I'll explain things later." He leaned over and rested his hand on his shoulder. "I'll be right back."

Chad tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned around he was dangling his car keys in his hand.

T grabbed the keys, "Thanks." As he made his way through the crowd he called out, "Don't do anything stupid."

Chad smiled and answered over his shoulder, "No promises."

With her back facing Paul, Arianna crossed her arms over her chest.

"Come on, Ari, don't be like that."

"Yell."

"I know, I shouldn't have yelled at you."

"Hurts," She cried out.

His face paled, but he managed to stammer sharply. "What—what—what d'you mean?"

As he took a small step forward, her shoulders slumped and she fell to the ground.

"Ari!" he screamed.

She didn't move.

He called her name again. But her body wouldn't move.

As he looked around, he broke out in a cold sweat. "No, no, no, this can't be happening."

He spotted his jacket hanging on an arm of the couch. He quickly snatched it and searched through his pockets until he found his phone. His hand shook as he put the phone to his ear. "Come on," he muttered, pacing, listening. "Pick up, pick up, pick up..."

He dropped to his knees and lifted her head gently and cradled it in his lap. After a few rings, it went to his voicemail and Paul let out a disgruntled sigh. "Damn it, Will," he muttered.

T slumped against his seat and gave a deep sigh. He searched the entire car, seat by seat. His phone was nowhere to be seen. I must have left it at Will's place. He glanced down at the keys in his hand. I'll be quick. They won't even realize I'm gone.

Paul heard a knock at the door. Oh, thank God! "Why haven't you been answering my—"

When he opened the door, he found T standing there, with shock written all over his face.

T glanced over his shoulder to the figure on the floor. He pushed past him and ran to Arianna. He could feel the heat coming off her skin. He glared up at Paul. "What the hell have you done?"

His eyes widened as he stammered, "What? Why? I—I didn't do anything! I swear!" He threw his hands in the air and started to pace. "She just collapsed."

"Bull crap," T said.

"I swear it's the truth."

"Then why the hell haven't you called for an ambulance?"

"Will would never forgive me," Paul replied, barely above a whisper.

T hung his head down, but raised it quickly. "We have to get to the hospital."

Paul nodded grimly.

Will sneaked up behind Chad and shook out his wet hair.

"Gross!" Chad shouted.

Will stood, collar askew, shirt half out of his pants, and covered in sweat.

"Looks like someone had some fun." Will thumped him on the back of his head. "Ow!"

"Did you have fun?"

Chad nodded. "You bet I did. I even managed to get that guy's number." He grinned.

Will looked across the bar at a tall, muscled blonde. Chad winked at him, confirming that they had shared some kind of moment. The blonde nodded at him. Will stood, his mouth agape.

Laughing, Chad nudged him in the shoulder and said, "I'm everyone's type."

Will rolled his eyes.

"Beep-beep!"

Chad felt his phone vibrating in his pocket and pulled it out of his pocket. "It's T," he said.

Will scratched his head. "What? Isn't he here?"

Chad motioned him to be quiet as he answered. "Hey, T," Chad said into the phone. "Whoa, whoa, slow down. What? Is she okay?"

As soon as Will heard those words, his heart sank and his face turned pale.

Chad held the phone away from his ear. "We have to leave now," he said firmly but quietly.

Will remained silent, his expression blank.