Towards the end of October, Will and Sonny had been boyfriends for almost a whole month. Will didn't know how it had happened. It was gradual. Neither he nor Sonny ever talked about becoming official. They both just knew.

They would hang out a lot, at Common Grounds and alone. Will's crush on Sonny blossomed, feelings getting stronger by the day. Sonny's smile and holding his hand in public caused Will's heart to race.

The two hadn't gone beyond a few make-out sessions, though. Sonny never pushed, always backing off when things got too heated. Will knew Sonny wasn't a virgin so that wasn't the problem. The problem was Sonny thought Will was a virgin. Will didn't know how to tell him he wasn't.

How could Will find the right time or place to tell Sonny he had sex with Alex? Will knew Sonny. He knew how Sonny liked to one-up Alex. He knew how Sonny, despite loving his brother, was jealous of him as well. If Sonny found out what happened, there was no telling how he would react.

Will wasn't proud of the decision to stay quiet. He knew he should tell Sonny the truth, that he owed it to Sonny. And he would one day just not yet.

Sonny didn't even like Will and Alex hanging out. He questioned Will a lot about what happened during their trip to St. Louis which was nothing but innocent fun. If Sonny knew they had sex, everything would turn into such a mess. For a while, Will thought Alex would tell Sonny himself. That it would slip out in one of their arguments. But he hadn't, not yet, at least.

Will knew Alex was most likely biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to throw it in Sonny's face. But he liked to think Alex kept the secret because he cared about Will, even a little bit.

Even though Will became Sonny's boyfriend, he still managed to find time to spend with Alex. Sometimes at Common Grounds with Sonny hovering. Sometimes in the square or Alex's hotel. Will was glad that his friendship with Alex didn't end just because Will had a boyfriend. Although there was something lingering during their time alone. Alex would look at Will a little too long sometimes and the same with Will.

Will didn't know what it was and he didn't find it unpleasant. Still, he did his best to keep a certain level of distance between him and Alex. No more smoke sessions, no more sharing cups.

Still, Alex and Will had fun. They were friends, best friends in fact.

For once, Will's life seemed to be going well. Sure, his father had issues accepting what Will being out and proud meant. His mom would never have a stable love life although Will could see EJ made her happy, for now. But he loved working with EJ on the new art expansion for DiMera Enterprises. He was doing well in school. He had friends and family that supported him.

Yes, Will had residual feelings for Alex but he knew they weren't going anywhere. Alex didn't see Will that way so it didn't matter. Besides, Will liked Sonny.

Life was as stable as it got for Will all things considered.

Alex walked through town with his large camera wrapped around his neck. With Will's encouragement, Alex agreed to display some photos in the DiMera Enterprises art exhibition. The only problem was Alex had nothing new to enter.

He'd lost his inspiration.

Alex hoped walking around town might give him something. A fresh perspective, anything, Alex didn't know.

Bending over to take a picture of an arrangement of litter, Alex heard a few familiar voices nearby.

"Ugh, I can't take the three of you anywhere," Sami Brady complained, clutching a shopping bag and Sydney in both hands. Johnny and Allie trailed behind.

"I don't wanna go shopping," Johnny whined. "I wanna play."

"Me too," Allie agreed, dragging her feet. "Mommy, aren't you done yet?"

"No," Sami insisted. "Now, stop complaining."

Sami paused when she saw Alex bent over on the other side of the street. Desperate, Sami jogged after him.

"Alex, you busy?" Sami asked without a proper greeting.

"I don't know," Alex said, standing up with a shrewd look on his face. "What do you want?"

"I just want to know where you're going," Sami huffed. "Why so suspicious?"

"My shins remember what you do when I disagree with you," Alex reminded her. "So, I'm not answering that."

"You're much too smart for a Kiriakis," Sami noted. "Anyway, where are you going?"

"The park," Alex admitted. "I need to take some pictures. What's with that look on your face?"

"Oh, good," Sami grinned. She let go of Sydney's hand and forced it into Alex's. "You three behave."

Alex looked down at Sydney. Her hand felt so small inside of his. "What?"

"Okay, be good," Sami bent over and kissed all three kids on the top of the head. "Mommy will be back soon. Have fun!"

"Where are you going?" Alex yelled out, surrounded by kids. "Hey, Sami! I do not babysit!"

"Uh-huh, yeah, bye," Sami waved over her shoulder, turning a corner, and disappearing.

Alex looked down at the three children staring up at him.

"Can we play now?" Johnny demanded.

"Yeah, let's go," Allie urged.

Alex, face pinched, threw his head back and sighed. He considered calling Will, getting him to take the kids off Alex's hands. But something held Alex back.

Things with Will were strange. The closer Will got to Sonny, the odder Alex felt. Alex felt like Will was pulling away from him. It almost felt like Sonny was stealing him away as petty as that sounded. But Alex knew watching Will's siblings would please Will and for some reason, that was all Alex wanted.

"I can't study anymore," Will complained just as Sonny sat down next to him. Hands buried in his hair, Will groaned, hitting his forehead on his statistics textbook.

"I don't think that's going to help you retain anything," Sonny said with a fond smile. He eased Will's head up and fixed his smooshed hair.

"It might," Will said, pout on his lips, "you don't know."

"How about you take a break?" Sonny suggested, tone changing. "I need to go check the supply room."

Will's lips spread into a wide smile as he nodded.

Sonny shoved Will into the door of the supply closet as soon as he shut it. Will wrapped his arms around Sonny's neck, opening his mouth right away.

Sonny's hands clasped Will's waist, squeezing but staying in a rather innocent location.

Sonny's mouth felt wonderful against Will's. His lips soft, talented, distracting in all the right ways. But Will couldn't help but wish Sonny was a bit more forceful. That his grip was harsher, his mouth more demanding. That Sonny's chaste hands would slip down a few inches and grab his ass.

Pushing away the thought, Will pulled away to catch his breath. He leaned his forehead on Sonny's neck, breathing in deep. His lips trailed up and down the sensitive skin of Sonny's neck, tongue brushing along his pulse point.

"Will," Sonny moaned in surprise.

Will nipped at the skin, hands digging into Sonny's thick hair. He wanted to continue but Sonny stepped away.

"Not the hair," Sonny said, hands checking the damage.

Will gave him a mild glare.

"You know I don't like anyone messing with it," Sonny defended. He pulled at the bottom of his shirt and sighed. "I do need to get to work here, anyway."

Will looked at Sonny without blinking, face blank.

"I'll make it up to you," Sonny promised, kissing Will's cheek.

"Yeah, yeah," Will said when he felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. He pulled it out and rolled his eyes. "You're in luck. I have to go rescue the babysitter."

"We both have a night of fun ahead of us," Sonny replied.

"I like my siblings, thank you," Will reminded him. "But I'm holding you to your promise."

Sonny walked Will out to the front of the shop, hands entwined. The two were so engrossed with each other they didn't hear their names called.

"Will! Sonny, hi!" Gabi Hernandez, Will's ex-girlfriend, waved. She sat at a table near the front of the entrance. Nick Fallon sat with her.

"Hey," Will greeted when he noticed her. His eyes flitted between Gabi and Nick with a bit of surprise. "So, uh, I didn't know you two were friends?"

"We are," Gabi linked her hand with Nick's and placed them on top of the table.

"A bit more than friends, it looks like," Sonny noted, eyes focused on their hands.

"Seems to be going around," Gabi pointed out. "I'm happy for you guys. You look adorable."

"Thanks," Will said, cheeks warm.

"Yeah, we are," Sonny gave Will a soft smile before leaning in for a kiss.

Will pulled away, reluctant. "You're trying to distract me but I have to go. Babysitting duty," Will said for Gabi and Nick's benefit.

Will crinkled his brows when he saw the expression on Nick's face. He looked like he tasted something unpleasant and wasn't sure if he should swallow it or spit it out.

"Aw, I miss them," Gabi confessed. "Tell them I said hi?"

"Sure," Will said, pulling his eyes away from Nick. "I gotta go. It was nice seeing you." He gave Sonny another quick kiss and left.

Will walked through the park in search of Johnny, Allie, and Sydney. Sami informed him the babysitter took them there but wanted to bail. That didn't sound like their normal sitter.

It wasn't.

As Will walked up to the playground equipment, he saw the strangest sight he'd ever seen. Johnny and Allie were chasing each other all over the slides, which was normal. What wasn't normal was Sydney sitting on the swings while Alex photographed her.

"What the hell am I looking at?" Will asked out loud even though he was too far away for Alex to hear.

Making his way through the sand, Will stopped in front of Alex. He was kneeling in the sand, camera focused on Sydney as she flew over him.

"Hey," Will said, "what are you doing here?"

"Babysitting," Alex responded.

"I can see that," Will replied. "Why?"

"Your mother is persuasive," Alex said, putting the camera down to look at Will.

"What did she do?" Will asked with a groan.

"Dumped them on me," Alex shrugged. "I wanted to take some pictures anyway so we came here."

"That was nice of you," Will conceded. "Bothersome that my mother pawns her children on anyone passing by, though."

Will checked on the twins, ensuring neither hurt the other. Then he turned back to Alex. "Why did you want to take pictures in the park? That's sort of the opposite of your M.O."

"I can't get anything to work," Alex groaned. He stood up and brushed sand off his dark jeans. "I find the models and nothing. No inspiration. I hoped doing something different would jumpstart me. I don't know."

Will took Sydney out of her swing and watched her run off to join the twins.

"No inspiration?" Will followed Alex to a picnic table. "The art show is in a few weeks, though."

"I know," Alex grunted. He put his camera inside the bag he left at the table. "I told EJ I'd have enough for an exhibit and right now I've got jack shit."

"When was the last time the pictures worked out?" Will wondered, sitting down.

"With you," Alex responded, giving Will a pointed look. "Those are the only ones I have that are usable."

"Oh," Will looked at the scratched table top.

"Yeah, oh," Alex scoffed. "Nothing's worked since then."

Will wanted to apologize but didn't. He knew Alex frowned on that, apologizing for things that weren't his fault.

Alex rearranged his bag while Will tried not to fiddle.

Will shivered when a gentle breeze fluttered the fallen leaves near his feet. Salem always got chilly in the Fall.

Pulling his jacket tighter around him, Will frowned. Alex wasn't wearing a jacket.

"You're gonna get sick," Will informed Alex. "It's getting cold out."

"I'll be fine," Alex said.

"You're one of those whiny baby sick guys, aren't you?" Will mused. "That thinks the world has to come to a standstill because you're sick?"

"No," Alex said with a huff. "I'm never sick. And when I am, the world keeps on turning."

"But I bet when you were a kid, everyone went crazy," Will added.

"Yeah, right," Alex shook his head and snorted.

"What does that mean?" Will tilted his head.

"Most of the time no one even knew I was sick," Alex said.

"Why wouldn't they know? There were five other people," Will frowned.

Alex shrugged. "I kept to myself. Everyone else would whine and I didn't."

"Huh," Will said. "I always got special treatment when I was sick. Not from my mom or dad. They always had too much going on. But my grandmas or aunts or uncles would notice. Someone would."

"Good," Alex said.

"Alex?" Will said. Once he had his full attention, Will added, "I'd notice if you were sick."

Alex smiled before rolling his eyes. "Always so sappy."

"And you always have to ruin the moment," Will frowned. "Come on, I'm hungry. I'm sure we need to feed the little monsters too."

Will wrangled everyone up. He made sure everyone's jackets got buttoned and zipped. The children were all tired from playing for so long.

"I can't carry all of you," Will said when all three whined. "But I know someone that could help us."

Will, Sydney, Allie, and Johnny all turned to stare at Alex.

Alex sighed loud and long. He bent over and picked up Sydney, resigned look on his face.

Will laughed as Allie jumped on his back and Johnny wrapped his legs around his middle. "Let's go home."

Alex followed without any objections. He didn't notice the shrewd look on Johnny's face as they walked off.

"I could eat orange chicken every day of my life and never get tired of it," Will declared, pushing away a takeout box. "Even now, I ate so much I could puke and I still want some more."

"Your palette is pathetic," Alex responded, stirring his spicy ramen noodles.

"I like orange chicken too," Johnny said, giving Alex a stern look. His nose wrinkled as he tried to look menacing.

"Uh-huh," Alex refrained from rolling his eyes.

"I liked yours," Allie told Alex with a sweet smile, "even if it was too spicy."

"Is not, wimp," Alex winked at her, causing her smile to widen.

Alex wasn't keen on kids. Not even when he was a kid himself. But for some reason, he ended up around Johnny, Allie, and Sydney more often than not. He even let Sami convince him to watch them, alone.

Alex didn't know if he should feel flattered Sami trusted him or concerned about her lack of judgment. Not that he would have let anything happen to them. Besides, Alex suspected the reason he put up with them was for Will.

They were Will's siblings and Alex always did strange things when it came to Will. Things he wouldn't normally do. Things he wouldn't get caught dead doing and yet here he was. Eating takeout with Will and his siblings and not having a horrible time.

Alex didn't know what was wrong with him. Alex wanted to blame Will, though. Will made him stupid. Clouded his brain, screwed everything up.

Will was also addicting. Alex couldn't let him go.

Alex never had that problem before. He'd sleep with someone once and walk away without a worry. That didn't happen with Will. Even when Will started dating Sonny, Alex couldn't leave.

It pissed Alex off, to be frank. Will shouldn't mean anything to him. He knew people that were hotter, smarter. People that had the same interests as Alex. People better suited to him, that let Alex do whatever he wanted.

For some reason, Alex gravitated toward Will. Toward his inexplicable insecurities and seldom displayed confidence. Toward his loyalty and his stubbornness. Toward his dorky habits and hidden sophistication. Toward all Will's contradictions.

Will made Alex feel things he never had before. Alex didn't know what to do with those feelings so he did what he always did. Nothing.

"What about you, Syd-Syd? What was your favorite?" Will asked as he started cleaning up their mess.

"Noodles," Sydney answered, pointing to the box of chow-mein.

"That's good too," Will agreed. "What should we do now, huh?"

"Play a game!" Johnny screamed almost before Will finished asking the question.

The girls yelled out their agreement while Alex groaned.

When Sami came home that night it was to all four of her children screaming at the television. Will and Alex battled it out in Wii boxing. Johnny cheered on Will while Allie supported Alex. Sydney jumped up and down on the couch, excited about all the yelling.

"You are not gonna, no, no no!" Alex screamed, face red from exertion, fists flying as he held the controls in both hands.

"Ha! Yes, yes," Will laughed as he dealt a swift uppercut and Alex's player fell down.

"Knockout!" Johnny squealed, stomping his feet. "Yes!"

Alex threw a swift glare at Johnny and Will. "I want a rematch."

"I beat you four times in a row," Will grinned. "I don't think your ego can stand any more knockouts."

"Hmf," Alex snorted, looking away.

"Will always wins boxing," Johnny said, arms wrapped around Will's middle. "Austin taught him!"

"The fu-uh-I mean who's that?" Alex corrected himself.

Sami, watching from the sidelines unnoticed, almost smiled.

"Our uncle," Will explained, "well, Allie's and mine. He's my dad's brother. Well, his half-brother. Same mom, different dad. He's married to our aunt Carrie, Mom's half-sister."

"Too much information," Alex rolled his eyes but filed it away for later. "I thought Austin was your first dad."

"He was," Will nodded, pleased Alex remembered. "He got engaged to my mom a few times. My dad even married Carrie for a while."

"Your family is too incestuous," Alex declared. "And I'm never remembering all that."

"I didn't ask you to," Will said as he gathered everything up to put away. "But I get the feeling you'll remember. You're like that."

"Like what?" Alex questioned.

"You act like you don't care and don't listen but you do," Will's back faced the TV entertainment center so he couldn't see Alex's face. "You always listen especially if it's someone you care about."

Sami observed Alex looking at her son. She watched his expressions change, his eyes soften. She didn't think she'd ever seen anyone look at Will that way before.

Clearing her throat, Sami tossed her purse on the kitchen counter. "I'm home."

"Mommy, Mommy!" Johnny yelled running up to her. "Will won! He won!"

Allie, pouting, following Johnny, "Only in boxing! He didn't win the bowling."

"That's 'cause you cheated, like always," Johnny stuck out his tongue.

"I don't cheat!" Allie stomped her feet and shrieked.

"Oh, geez," Sami sighed, "Glad I rushed home for this."

"Says the woman that dumped them on me," Alex responded.

"Like you've never babysat before," Sami dismissed, looking at Alex in a whole new light

"I didn't. Adrienne didn't trust me especially with her precious little prince," Alex said.

"What did you do to Sonny?" Will wondered, head tilted toward Alex.

"Nothing," Alex crossed his arms and flashed Will a sharp look.

Will stared at him right back.

"I didn't tell him to eat the box of dog biscuits," Alex said after a time. "I thought he would have been smart enough not to eat the cookies with the picture of the dog on the box."

"I'm sure he was little," Will defended, trying not to smile.

"He was ten," Alex retorted.

Will couldn't keep it together anymore and burst into laughter.

Sami smiled when she noticed the way Alex responded to Will's laughter.

"What do you want to do with your life?" Sonny asked Will the next day.

It was mid-afternoon and Will and Sonny were walking through the square. There was a crisp chill in the air causing Will and Sonny to stand close, hands entwined.

"I don't know," Will said, swinging their hands together. "I haven't thought about it much."

"Never?" Sonny questioned.

"I-well-," Will paused and looked at the ground. "Before, I would always picture my life. I wanted the opposite of my childhood, you know? Stable house, wife, kids, the whole works."

"You could still have that," Sonny said, "one day. I mean, not a wife but a husband. The world's changing, Will. One day we'll be able to have the same legal rights as everyone else."

"I wouldn't even know what to do with a husband," Will said. "I've never seen a relationship that wasn't torn apart."

"Then you can become the exception," Sonny nudged Will's side with a wide grin.

"Even then, I never imagined a job or a career," Will confessed. "The future was a far-off, distant idea that I never thought would come."

"Isn't there something you want to do, though?" Sonny pressed. "I always knew I wanted to operate my own business. I didn't know that it would be coffee or anything like that. I don't even know if I only just want Common Grounds either. But it's a place to start."

"I guess I've never been as ambitious as you," Will replied.

"What about a hobby or something?" Sonny added. "Something that you love to do?"

"Well," Will rubbed his lips together, "I've never told anyone but I like to write."

"Write what?" Sonny encouraged. "Stories or something?"

Will nodded.

"Why haven't you told anyone? Can I see some? What do you write about?" Sonny asked. "I wanna know everything."

"It's embarrassing, I guess," Will shrugged, turning his head toward his shoulder. "I don't know what I write about. I just write. Sometimes it's a story, sometimes a poem, or just some stream of consciousness. I like it."

"And do I get to read some?" Sonny urged. He stopped and pulled Will toward him, joining both their hands.

"I don't know," Will said, looking everywhere but at Sonny. "I don't think anything's that good."

"Oh, come on, please?" Sonny stuck out his lower lip and gave Will some sad puppy eyes.

"I'll think about it," Will laughed.

"Maybe you should major in creative writing or English literature or something," Sonny suggested.

"I'll think about it," Will smiled. "That does sound nice."

"Hmm," Sonny moved his arms around Will's waist, holding on tight. "My boyfriend, the famous author."

"I might not be any good," Will put his hands on Sonny's shoulders, unable to stop grinning. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

"Will, it's you," Sonny said with such open sincerity. "I know it'll be amazing."

Will's smile got even wider before he kissed Sonny. He didn't care that they were in the middle of town or that anyone could see them.

He didn't care about anything.

"Hem, hem," a voice beside them cleared his throat.

Will and Sonny turned to see Justin smiling at them. Adrienne, at his side, did not look anything close to happy.

"Dad, hey," Sonny greeted. "I was on my way to meet you at the pub."

"Looked like it," Justin smirked. "Will, hi, nice to see you."

"Hi," Will said, hand on his lips, cheeks red.

"Seems like every time I see you, you're with one son or the other," Justin teased. "You seem to like your Kiriakis men."

"Don't try to steal my boyfriend, Dad," Sonny joked. "I already have to share with Alex."

"And we all know how you two fight over your toys," Justin added with a smile akin to a grimace.

Adrienne and Will both felt uncomfortable.

"Speaking of him, where's Alex?" Will said after a few moments. "I thought this was a family dinner."

"It is," Adrienne replied, face pinched. "Alex decided to cancel at the last minute. At least he told us this time instead of just not showing up like usual."

"I'm sure he's just busy," Justin rubbed Adrienne's arm although he didn't sound too confident.

"Yeah," Will furrowed his brow, remembering Alex's refusal to wear a jacket the night before.

"Oh, speaking of Alex," Sonny laughed, shaking his head. "Guess who babysat Sami's kids yesterday?"

"What?" Adrienne spat out.

"Alex, babysat? Willingly or does Sami have some kind of dirt on him?" Justin questioned.

"Alex said my mom saw him headed to the park so she asked him to bring the kids with him," Will said. "They seemed alright."

"Yeah, well, maybe Alex wanted to get in your mom's good graces," Sonny said with a certain tone to his voice Will didn't care for at all.

"Alex wouldn't do that, not with my mom," Will pulled away from Sonny.

"You don't know Alex the way I do," Sonny insisted with a shrug. "I wouldn't put it past him."

"I wouldn't either," Justin said with a sad shake of his head.

"Maybe you don't know him the way I do," Will defended. "Alex is a good guy."

"Of course he is," Justin gave Will a strange look. "He's just Alex. Now, I'm starving. Let's head to the pub. Will, you're welcome to join us, if you'd like."

"Uh-thanks," Will said, "but I need to get some studying done. Sonny said he'd help me but he's pretty distracting."

"Oh, right, sorry," Sonny said looking anything but. He kissed Will goodbye before walking off with his parents.

Will watched until they were out of sight. He hoisted his backpack higher on his shoulder before turning off. Not for home or the library or even Common Grounds.

Will headed straight for Alex's hotel.

Will pushed open the door and pocketed a room key. With a bit of fibbing, Will managed to get the front desk to give him a spare.

"Alex?" Will asked, dropping his bag on the floor. He checked the front room to see if there were any signs Alex had a guest. He did not want to catch Alex with anyone.

Will didn't think that was why Alex would cancel dinner, though. Even if Alex didn't say it out loud, Will knew he enjoyed eating with his father and Sonny, even Adrienne on occasion.

Alex wouldn't miss it for some stranger.

Pushing the bedroom door open, Will saw Alex fast asleep on his bed surrounded by a mountain of used tissues.

"Told you so," Will couldn't resist saying even if Alex was asleep.

Alex looked peaceful while he slept. There was a certain fragility to him that rarely showed when he was awake. His arms curled around something small and orange.

"What's this?" Will asked in a small voice. He pulled Alex's blanket back a bit and almost laughed.

Alex clung to a well-worn Winnie the Pooh stuffed bear.

That is the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Will put his hand on Alex's clammy forehead and sighed. It was warm. He took a few moments to brush Alex's hair off his head, hand sliding down to the growth of stubble on his cheeks.

"I'll be back," Will whispered, wrapping the blankets tight around Alex's shoulders.

Will headed to the local pharmacy and grabbed everything he thought Alex could need. Cold and flu medicine, a box of super soft tissues, nose spray, cough syrup, and lozenges. Some Gatorade, a box of pancake mix, and syrup, although Will wasn't too sure about the last few.

When Will returned, he could hear coughing coming from the bedroom. He headed right for Alex.

"Hey," Will said, sitting on the edge of the bed and opening his plastic bag of goodies. "Looks like I came back just in time."

"Will?" Alex asked between coughs.

"Yep," Will said, opening up the cough syrup and measuring out a serving. "Take this."

Alex looked between Will and the plastic cup of syrup with a frown and a wary eye.

"Do it," Will insisted.

Alex tossed back the syrup and cringed. "You had to get cherry?"

"It's all they had," Will shrugged. He popped out a pill for Alex and handed it over along with the Gatorade.

"What are you doing here?" Alex frowned, wiping across his mouth. He even tilted his head back for Will to spray his nose with the nasal spray.

After shoving a cough drop in Alex's mouth, Will said, "I told you I'd notice if you were sick. Now, close your eyes and rest. I'll be right back. Oh, don't forget this."

Will picked up the Pooh Bear that fell to the floor and handed it over.

Alex snatched the bear to his chest and glared at Will. Its intended effect weakened when it ended with a cough.

"Don't worry," Will chuckled. "Your secret is safe with me."

Alex grumbled but snuggled into the stuffed bear anyway.

Will shoved all Alex's gross used tissues in his plastic bag and moved toward the front room. He took the box of pancake mix, found a bowl in the tiny kitchenette, and sent up a little prayer he wouldn't ruin this.

Alex woke to the scent of pancakes. It made his stomach rumble. He hadn't eaten all day.

"Hi," Will said again, holding a plate with a bashful smile on his face.

"You made me pancakes?" Alex asked, struggling to sit up. "Don't you suck at food?"

"Yes, yes, I do," Will nodded, helping Alex sit up. "That's why it took twelve pancakes before I got some edible ones. Well, I hope they're edible. Anyway, I tried."

"You didn't have to," Alex said. He took a tentative bite, aware Will was watching his every move.

"Is it terrible?" Will wondered, tense. "I don't want to give you food poisoning."

"It's fine," Alex rolled his eyes. "I'm eating it, aren't I?"

"Oh, good," Will gave a goofy grin. "I just remember you saying pancakes were your favorite. And when I'm sick I don't want to eat soup because it just reminds me of being sick. I want my favorite foods."

"Makes sense," Alex responded, eating the rest. "You got any more of this stuff?"

"Sure," Will said. "I'll be right back."

Will used the entire box of pancake mix. Alex ate and ate. They weren't the best pancakes he ever tasted. He still gobbled them down like he couldn't get enough. He thought that might have had to do with the chef rather than the taste.

While eating, Alex's phone buzzed several times. He glanced at the screen before ignoring the call. When he saw Will's curious look, he said, nose stuffy, "My mother. She won't leave me the hell alone."

"Why?" Will wondered.

"Who knows," Alex shrugged. "To make my life miserable."

"I know how that goes," Will chuckled.

Once Alex finished eating, Will forced him to lie back down.

"I don't wanna sleep," Alex complained around a yawn.

"Come here," Will kicked off his shoes and climbed under the blankets. He manhandled Alex until his head was on Will's chest.

Alex grumbled but closed his eyes.

"See? It's not so bad," Will's fingers dove into Alex's hair. He dragged his hands forward and back, massaging Alex's scalp.

"No," Alex agreed, relaxing. "You're comfortable. Must be the giant chest."

Will sorted. "You're just a big cuddle bug, aren't you?"

"Nope," Alex denied. "That's you, Kitten."

"I missed that nickname," Will said with a smile.

"I missed you," Alex whispered, near sleep.

"I see you almost every day," Will reminded Alex.

"Not the same, miss you like this," Alex explained, holding on to Will tighter.

Will paused his fingers and took a deep breath.

"I do too," Will admitted, petting Alex's hair once more.

Will drifted off to sleep with Alex, comfortable in a way he hadn't been in a long time.

Author's note:

Will and Alex are two big, stubborn idiots in denial. Although Alex is getting closer to figuring things out.

Thanks for reading and please let me know what you think.

Also, some reviews haven't posted yet but I will reply to them when they do.