I am so sorry for how erratic my updates have been! I have been swamped with school and work. So I haven't had a whole lot of time to post any updates and for that I am sorry. So, this story is almost over! Can you believe it?! There will be one more chapter after this one. Thank you all for being so amazing and coming along on this journey with me. I love hearing all of your thoughts and opinions and theories on what has/will happen. I thoroughly enjoy all the reviews and love that you send my way. Words cannot express just how amazing all of you are. So thank you so much! I love you guys! :)


"Well, that was delicious," Sonny sighs, patting his stomach.

"Fabrite!" Arianna squeals.

"I would never have guessed," Will teases his daughter.

"Play?"

"Yes, you can go to your room and play."

"No. Sonny play!"

"Sweetie, me and Sonny need to talk, okay?"

"Sonny play," Arianna pouts.

"Not right now, sweetie. Maybe later."

"Wanna play Sonny!" Arianna says, stomping her foot.

Sonny is looking between Will and Arianna, not sure if he should say something or just completely stay out of it. Sonny can see a look of annoyance appear slightly on Will's face as he looks at his daughter.

"Arianna Grace," Will says firmly. "I said you can go to your room and play. Do not give me any attitude. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, daddy," Arianna sighs sadly, then stomps off to her room.

Sonny looks at Will and says, "Will, it's okay. We can talk later. After she's gone to bed."

Will sighs and shakes his head. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. It's fine," Sonny smiles. "I like hanging out with her. She's good company. Just like her father."

Will smiles and says,"Fine. But we only have about an hour before bath time and then her bedtime."

"That's perfect."

"Arianna," Will shouts. "Will you come here, please?"

"Yes, daddy," Arianna replies, softly.

"You have one hour with Sonny. Then it is bath time. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, daddy," she says gleefully.

"And do you have something you would like to say?"

"Yes, daddy. I sorry," Arianna says, looking down.

"For what?"

"Adtude and no listen."

"Okay, sweetie. Thank you. Now go have fun with Sonny."

"Okay!" Arianna squeals, looking up excitedly at Will.

Arianna runs over to Will and hugs his legs. Will smiles at his daughter and lifts her up.

"I love you, baby girl," Will says hugging his daughter to him.

"Lub you, daddy!" Arianna replies, squeezing her dad.

Will sets her down and she runs over to Sonny, who is watching the exchange with a huge smile plastered on his face. Sonny loves watching the two of them interact. At least, when they aren't mad at each other. It makes him fall a little bit more for Will every single time.

Arianna begins pulling on Sonny's shirt. After a couple of tugs, Sonny acknowledges Arianna and says, "So, what would you like to play?"

"Hmmmm. Play Cany Lan?"

"Can your daddy play Candy Land with us? I'm sure he would love it."

"Yes!" Arianna shouts, jumping up and down.

"Will, how about it? You want to play Candy Land with us?"

"How about you get it started and I will clean up in here?"

"Sure. Just tell me where it is at and where I should set it up."

"All her board games are in the hall closet. And we can play on the coffee table. Just move everything onto the floor."

Sonny turns his attention back to Ari and says, "lead the way."

Ari grabs onto Sonny's hand and pulls him down the hall. Will watches the two of them saunter off. He is slightly annoyed that this conversation has to wait, but he knows it is for the better. Will knows they should have this discussion when Ari is asleep. He doesn't want her to overhear any of it. Plus Ari has been so down about everything that happened with Gabi that she needs some time to have fun. And Will was definitely ready to have a little fun. Namely with Sonny. But that was also going to have to wait until after Ari went to bed.


"Wow. You win again!" Sonny exclaims.

"What can I say? I kind of own this game," Will brags.

"No fair," Arianna pouts.

"What have we talked about, sweetie?"

"Play nice."

"Which means?"

"No bad loser."

"That's right. So no more pouting, baby girl. Plus it is time for your bath."

"No want bath."

"Oh, you need a bath. Badly."

"Do not!"

"Arianna Grace, we already had this talk an hour ago. And if you do not drop this attitude, I will send Sonny home and guess who won't get their good night kiss?"

"Fine!"

Will raises an eyebrow at his daughter and says sternly, "Do you want to try that again?"

"Sonny bath?" Arianna whispers.

"Now that is up to Sonny if he wants to help with the bath."

Sonny has been watching Will and Arianna, awkwardly for the second time tonight. He feels like he probably should just go. He begins to get up when Will directs his attention back to Sonny. Sonny looks between Will and Arianna, not quite sure what his response should be.

"Uh. I think it is best if I just go," Sonny whispers. "I don't want to be the reason for you two fighting."

"Sonny," Will looks at his confused. "She's not acting like this just because you are here. She's three. She acts like this all the time."

Will directs his attention back to his daughter and says,"But that doesn't make it okay, right?"

"No," Arianna says softly, looking at the ground.

Sonny is shuffling his feet back and forth, nervously. Sonny quietly says, "But I should go."

"You don't have to. Really."

"No. Um. I should. I'm sorry. I had a great time, but really I should go."

"No. Please don't. Please stay." Will looks at Sonny, pleadingly.

Sonny looks at Will doubtfully. But Will is looking at him with those big blue eyes and there is no way that Sonny could possibly say no.

"Fine," Sonny whispers. Then smiles and says, "I really need to learn how to say no to the two of you."

"Bath wif Sonny?" Arianna asks, sweetly, drawing attention back to her.

"Sure. I can help you with your bath, sweetie."

"Ok. Go get ready for the bath and we will be back there shortly," Will directs his daughter.

Arianna scampers in the direction of her room to pick out her pajamas and bath toys.

"I'm really sorry if that made you uncomfortable, Sonny."

"I've just never really seen you yell at her before tonight. And I feel like it's kind of my fault for agreeing to play with her."

"Sonny, she's not going to be perfect all the time. Although, that would be amazing. But she loves playing with you. Don't ever feel guilty about that."

Sonny nods slightly, feeling a little bit better. Will smiles at Sonny, then kisses him on the cheek and heads back to the bathroom to get Ari's bath ready.

Sonny is still pretty uncomfortable with the whole was his first taste of Will really being a father. All other times have pretty much been carefree and fun. Sonny is reminded that Will really is a father. Not like he didn't know that already, but this was different. This wasn't hanging out with a three year old. This wasn't the two of them playing baby-sitter. This was Will's reality. And the implications of being with Will hits Sonny, hard. He is unsure about whether or not he is ready to have this kind of responsibility. He isn't sure if he even wants this kind of responsibility.

"Sooooooonny," Arianna yells out.

Sonny is pulled out of his reverie and back to his reality. Right now is not the time for him to be thinking about long-term implications of dating Will. Although, he knows that it is important to discuss and to figure out his feelings on that front. But that is another discussion for another time.

"Coming sweetie."

Sonny walks down the hallway towards the bathroom. He sees Arianna carrying her water baby under her arm. Then sees Will next to the bathtub getting the water ready. Will changed out of his jeans and shirt into black shorts and a white undershirt.

"Hey," Sonny whispers from behind Will.

"Oh, hey. You may wanna change out of those clothes. Things get a little messy with her in the bath," Will laughs. "I laid out some shorts and a shirt for you on my bed, if you want."

"Oh, okay."

Sonny turns and goes into Will's room. This is the first time that Sonny has been alone in Will's bedroom. He can't help but look around at everything. All the pictures and trinkets that adorn the room. Things that tell the story of who Will is and where he has been. He is drawn to this picture on Will's nightstand. It's of Will, Ari, and himself that was taken a few of days ago at the zoo. Sonny smiles at the memory and that day. And he begins to feel like an ass for questioning whether or not he wants to be with Will. Because he knows that this is what he wants. He wants Will and Arianna. And everything that comes along with them. He's wanted this for a while.

Sonny changes quickly and meets the two in the bathroom. He is met with splashing water from Arianna. And he notices that Will is covered in suds.

"What did I miss?" Sonny asks, smiling at the two.

"Oh, nothing much. Just Ari making a mess."

"Spliss. Splass."

"Yes. Splish, Splash. Now that Sonny is here how about we get down to business?"

"Spliss. Splass."

"No. That's enough. You need to finish this bath and get ready for bed. No more messing around."

"Fine," Arianna pouts. "Sonny help."

"Sure. What do you need me to help with?"

"Well, considering we haven't accomplished anything, we will start with her hair and move on from there."

Will hands Sonny the bucket he uses for Arianna in her bath and fills it up with water.

"I'll show you what to do. You can just follow my lead, okay?"

Sonny smiles and nods his head. Will pats the spot next to him on the tub for Sonny to join him. Sonny steps into the tub and sits next to Will on the side.

"Lean back, sweetie."

Arianna leans her head back and Will pours the water over her hair. Then hands the bucket to Sonny to do the same thing. Then Will grabs Arianna's shampoo and places a dollop on Sonny's hand.

"Now you get to wash her hair."

Arianna turns so her back is resting on Sonny's legs. Then Sonny begins gently massaging the shampoo through Arianna's hair. As Sonny is doing this, Arianna is babbling to Sonny about anything and everything she can think of.

"Fun?"

"Yes. We had a fun day, huh?" Will asks his daughter.

"Sonny fun."

"Well, thank you. But you are pretty fun yourself."

"Play again?"

"I don't think so. At least not tonight, sweetie."

"Later?"

"Yes. Maybe later."

"How about we see how things go?" Will suggests to his daughter.

Sonny rinses the shampoo out of Arianna's hair. Then Will grabs the wash cloth and gets it all sudsy. He hands it over to Arianna, who begins washing herself as Will supervises her effort. He then grabs another wash cloth for her face and hands it off to Sonny. When they are all finished, Will stands up.

"Okay. We are all good?"

"Yup."

Will grabs the towel he set out for Arianna. He opens it and wraps it around his daughter, lifting her out of the tub. He sets her on the ground and then proceeds to help dry her off. She bundles herself in the towel and takes off to her bedroom. Will and Sonny follow slowly behind her.

"What's next?"

"Now we have to dress her for bed. She picked out her jammies already. Or at least, she should have."

Will sees the discarded towel on the floor and his daughter already dressed for bed in her Snoopy pajamas.

"Well, that was fast," Will says as he enters the room. "Okay. Sit down so we can comb this hair out."

Will grabs the comb and sits on the ground, where Arianna plops on his lap. Will always tries to be gentle when he combs out her hair, but it never fails that she screams like a banshee.

"Daaaaaaddy! Huuuuuurt!" Arianna screams out.

"I'm sorry, baby girl. But I'm almost done."

Arianna is writhing underneath Will's hands, which isn't really helping anything. She begins pouting at Sonny, who can't help but laugh at the adorably ridiculous sight he is looking at.

"Okay. Okay. You can stop now. I am all done."

Arianna pops up from Will's lap and runs over to Sonny. She lifts her arms up and Sonny picks her up.

"You ready for bed, sweetie?"

"Nope."

"I think you are," Will says.

"Bedtime story?"

"Sure," Will sighs. "What would you like to hear this time?"

"Lub you forerer."

"Love you forever? That is one of your favorites."

"Yup! Sonny read?"

"Sure. Sonny can read it, if he wants to."

"Of course. I would love to read it to you."

Will walks over to the bookshelf to grab the book and then hands it over to Sonny. Will offers the rocking chair to Sonny.

"I always read to her in this rocking chair."

"Oh. Okay."

Sonny sits down in the chair and Arianna situates herself on his lap. Will sits down on Arianna's bed and watches as Ari lays her head on Sonny's chest as he quietly reads to her. Will smiles to himself at this sight. He loves how safe and happy Ari feels around Sonny. She never felt like this around Brian and he never really understood why. But he figures at this point he probably would never find out.

It only takes a couple of pages before Arianna is asleep on Sonny's lap. Sonny looks up at Will and smiles. He puts the book down and walks over to Will with Arianna in his arms. Will pulls back the covers and Sonny gently places Arianna in the bed. Sonny places a soft kiss on Arianna's forehead and Will follows suit. They leave her bedroom hand in hand.

Sonny takes a seat on the couch, followed by Will. Will drapes his legs over Sonny's lap and rest his head on Sonny's shoulder.

"Thank you," Will smiles at his boyfriend.

"For what?"

"For staying. For helping me with Ari."

"Well, it was my pleasure," Sonny replies, placing a soft kiss on Will's forehead.

"You are so amazing with her. You know that, right? She really loves having you around. And so do I."

"Well, I love being around the both of you."

Will nuzzles himself even closer to Sonny. "How did I get so lucky?"

"I think I am the lucky one. I get two for the price of one."

"Ha! We are kind of a packaged deal."

"Speaking of," Sonny begins, turning towards Will so that they are now face to face. "Do you want to tell me what happened last night with Gabi? And why Ari is now staying with you?"

"Sure," Will whispers, turning towards his boyfriend and looking him in the eyes. "You know how she kept calling me over every night because Ari was inconsolable?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I told her we needed to talk and this wasn't working."

"Yeah..." Sonny lets out slowly.

"And she basically agreed with me."

"That it wasn't working? What did you guys decide on?" Sonny asks.

"Yeah. She's going to let Ari stay with me for now."

"She's just letting you have her? She agreed to that?"

"Yeah. Pretty much."

"But that doesn't make any sense. Why would she just let you have Ari? Wouldn't Ari have just learned to adapt to being with Gabi? Not that I think she should. Everyone knows Ari needs to be with you."

"Yeah. She probably would have. But I don't think Gabi wanted to wait for that to happen."

"What do you mean?"

"She said that I won and that Ari loved me more. And that I was the better parent. Then she just kinda broke down after that. She said she wished she loved Ari like I did. She wished that she missed Ari more when she was gone, but all she felt was relief at the fact that she didn't have to deal with the responsibility of being her mom."

"Will! You can't be serious. She didn't really say that, did she?"

"Yeah. She did. Trust me, I was just as shocked as you. Then she asked me how I did it."

"How you loved your daughter? How you love being able to take care of her?" Sonny asks, confused.

"Yeah."

"Will, this just doesn't make any sense. That is her daughter and she doesn't want to take care of her anymore?"

"No. Not exactly. She said this was just temporary."

"But what does that even mean?"

"I don't know, Son. I was completely blindsided by it. But I won't complain because that just means I get more time with my daughter. And this is what I wanted. I want Ari here and Gabi is giving that to me."

"I know, Will. That's the great part. But Gabi doesn't want to be a mother anymore? Is that what you are saying?"

"I don't think it's so much that."

"Then what is it, Will? Because I don't understand someone so willing to hand over their child."

"She knows that Ari likes being with me and vice versa."

"Of course she does. Because you are an amazing father."

"Thank you. But she thinks she is horrible mother."

"Well, from what I am hearing, it sounds like that may be true."

"Sonny!" Will exclaims, standing up.

"What?" Sonny asks, looking up at his boyfriend. "You can't possibly think that she's a good mother now."

"She's trying to do the right thing. And that's having Ari with me."

"But what if she changes her mind and wants Ari back?" Sonny asks, standing up. "You can't be carding her around. Will, you lived through that. You know what that's like. Do you want the same for your daughter?"

"No," Will whispers. "That's the last thing I want."

"So, what happens if she changes her mind?"

"I don't know, Sonny."

"Will," Sonny sighs.

"Just don't say it. I don't want to think about this right now. Ari is staying with me for now. Can't you just be happy for me?" Will asks, sadly.

"Will, I am so happy for you. But I also don't want Gabi to pull the rug out from under you. Don't you know your rights?"

"Yeah. Gabi has primary custody. We have an arrangement."

"But what does this all mean for the arrangement?"

"I guess that when Gabi wants her back, she gets her back."

"And it doesn't worry you that she could do that at any point?"

"No. Not right now."

"I don't want Ari being taken away from you. I don't want to see you like you were when Gabi took her. Do you know how much it hurt to see you so broken?"

"Well, I didn't exactly like the feeling, either," Will replies, deadpan.

"Will, please look into doing something about this custody agreement, okay? You deserve to have Ari. This is where she wants to be."

"This is where I want her to be. But I have to think about Gabi. That's her mom."

"Yeah. But she doesn't want to be a mother right now."

"That's not true."

"Will! You just said that was true. And when has Gabi ever thought about you?"

"Sonny," Will sighs. "Me and Gabi are in this together."

"Well, she sure as hell doesn't act like it."

"That's not fair, Sonny."

"Fair? Are you kidding me right now? She doesn't want to take care of her daughter and you think I am not being fair towards her?" Sonny asks, incredulously.

"Sonny. She just doesn't want to be a full-time mother right now, okay? What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know, Will. But how can you be okay with Gabi being a part-time mom? Ari doesn't deserve that. She deserves so much more than that."

"I agree. But Gabi is her mom and she deserves to be there for her. To be in her life."

"Will, why do you protect her so fiercely? After everything."

"I don't protect her," Will whispers.

"Yes. You do. Listen to yourself defending her to me. She doesn't deserve you, honestly."

"She's the mother of my daughter. What else am I supposed to do?" Will asks, angrily, as he begins to pace.

"Will, I am not trying to tell you what to do. I just want you to protect yourself and protect your daughter."

"From Gabi?"

"If you have to, yes."

"There's nothing to protect her from, Sonny."

"You have to be kidding me, right?" Sonny sighs and whispers, "This is not how I saw tonight going."

Sonny walks up behind Will, grabs him by the shoulders and turns him around.

"Me neither," Will sighs, looking into his boyfriend's eyes.

"I just hated seeing you sad. I don't ever want to see you like that again. And you have to know that I am with you all the way, right?"

"Thanks," Will smiles, weakly.

"I mean it, Will. I am here for you. No matter what. And I just want what is best for you and Ari."

"Thanks," Will whispers.

"Are you mad at me right now?"

"No. It's just...Nevermind," Will sighs.

"Tell me, Will."

"I'm just disappointed. That's all," Will says, shrugging his shoulders.

"In me?" Sonny asks, hurt.

"Kind of. Yeah."

"Because I am questioning Gabi's motives?"

"You don't even know her. But no. That's not it."

"Then what is it? What did I say?"

"You are questioning my motives. Don't you think I want to protect my daughter from everything that I went through growing up? Do you really think I would let the same thing happen to her?"

"Not intentionally."

"I can't talk to you about this, Sonny. It's not like you are going to even understand. You could never understand."

"No. Maybe not. But I know how you deserve to be treated and it doesn't seem like Gabi treats you that way. She uses you, Will. And you just let her."

"That's not true!" Will yells out, angrily.

"I may not know her, Will. But I know you. I know Ari. And the fact that Ari doesn't want to leave you says a lot to me."

"She's a daddy's girl. That has nothing to do with Gabi."

"It has everything to do with Gabi. Ari wants to be with you. And only you. What does that say?"

"That my daughter loves me."

"And that you are a good father."

"Well, that's what I try to be."

"And you do a damn good job of it. But can you say the same thing about Gabi?"

"She does the best she can, Sonny."

"But is that good enough for your daughter? That's something you have to think about."

"Gabi is Ari's mother. I can't change that."

"That's not what I am saying. I am saying you are the better parent. Ari deserves for you to fight for her."

"Really? You don't think I fight for my daughter?" Will asks, disbelieving.

"When it comes to Gabi? No."

"I make concessions for Ari. So she can have a stable upbringing. Something I never had."

"But you are the stable presence in her life. You, Will."

"Sonny, my life is far from stable."

"Do you love your daughter?"

"Yes."

"Would you do anything for her?"

"Yes."

"Have you done whatever you have to, to provide for her?"

"Yes."

"Then how are you not a stable force in her life."

"Have you seen my life? I break up with Brian and move on to the next available guy."

Sonny stares at Will in shock. In anger. In hurt. In disbelief. "Is that what I am? Just the next available guy?"

"No" Will shouts, eyes widening. "That's not what I meant, Sonny. Please don't take it that way."

"How the hell am I supposed to take that, Will?" Sonny asks, angrily.