Will glanced at his phone while getting Ari ready to leave. He had gotten a barrage of texts and emails once he got his phone back from the police.

Most of his family had gone back to their respective homes. Will appreciated all his family coming but he also knew they had lives.

Austin had promised to let Will know when he got home though. In fact, everyone vowed to do a better job of staying in touch. No one wanted another tragedy to be what brought them all together again.

Will hoped to meet his little cousin sooner or later though.

Checking his phone, Will saw this text was from Paul.

-I miss you.

Will grinned at Paul's message. It was the first time they had been apart since the incident with Ben. Paul had deliveries at his condo to deal with.

-I miss you more, puddin' pop.

Will resisted writing that he loved Paul. It seemed ever since they professed their feelings neither had been able to stop.

'Three days and I still don't get tired of hearing it,' Will thought.

"I ready," Ari declared. She was quite proud. She zipped up her coat all by herself.

"You sure you want to go to daycare again?" Will asked Ari one more time before they left. "Because you can stay with Grammy if you want."

"I see Grammy all time," Ari huffed. "I play friends now."

Will smiled and wrapped a scarf around his neck. His bruises had finally changed to a light green color but he still wasn't taking any chances.

Will plopped a bright pink beanie and mittens onto Ari before allowing them to leave.

Just as Will went to lock the front door a mailman walked up with a package.

"Will Horton?" the man asked.

"Yes," Will replied, quizzical.

"Here you go," the mailman said. "Happy Holidays!"

"M'rry Chistmas," Ari called to the man. "Is that my present?" she asked Will.

"I don't know," Will mused. He glanced at his name on the box.

'No return address. Weird,' Will thought. He opened the door, put the box on his desk, and walked out again.

"We'll have to open it later and see," Will stated as he locked the door.

Ari held Will's hand as they walked to daycare. Will felt a little off about being in public without Paul but he knew he could do it.

'I can't rely on Paul for everything,' Will reminded himself. 'No one is going to hurt me or Ari. And if they do I am more than capable of defending myself.'

"Where super Paul go?" Ari wondered, pulling Will from his thoughts. "I not see him."

"I told you yesterday," Will explained. "He had to go to his condo to get all his new furniture."

Ari sighed dramatically.

"What?" Will questioned. He had an idea about what had her so upset.

"I no want Paul go," Ari complained. "I need super boyfriend around to save Daddy and Ari."

"Paul will still be around," Will assured her. "But he has his own place to live. We can go see him any time you want though. And maybe tonight we can go help him like he helped us when we moved."

"OK," Ari conceded. "But he won't go away forever?"

"Of course not," Will promised.

"Cause Paul looooooves you?" Ari grinned. Her cute little nose wrinkled as she teased Will.

"Yes," Will laughed. "Because we love each other."

"I know," Ari giggled. "He told me."

"What exactly did he tell you?" Will questioned.

"I can't not say," Ari shook her head. "Is secret."

Will shook his head. 'One of these days she'll tell me about that conversation.'

"Daddy," Ari swung their hand back and forth. "You take picture today?"

"Yep," Will nodded. "Daddy gets to go get his picture taken with Paul."

'And god only knows if I'll let you see them,' Will thought. He had no idea how risqué this shoot would be.

Ari, jumping over the cracks in the sidewalk, cheered.

Once inside the building for the daycare, Will purposely ignored every look he received. He didn't want to talk to any fellow employees about what happened yet. He still hadn't even decided if he wanted to write an article about his experience yet.

Ari marched up to the counter at her daycare. She had missed playing all day with her friends. She even missed the nice teachers.

"Miss Judith, Miss Judith," Ari vibrated with excitement. "I back to play!"

"Good morning, Arianna," Miss Judith replied. "It's so great to see you."

"Guess what?" Ari asked her. Without waiting for an answer, Ari blurted out. "My daddy is a model and he take fancy pictures."

"Ari," Will blushed. "Daddy is not a model. I'm just going to be with Paul."

Judith lifted an eyebrow in interest.

"Nu uh," Ari argued. "You be model."

Ari looked at Miss Judith again. "My daddy is the prettiest daddy ever. And I love him and super Paul loves him and we get to go to his house!"

"OK," Will settled Ari down. "I thought you wanted to play."

"I do," Ari gasped. She tore her mittens, hat, and coat off. "Bye, Daddy," Ari called as she ran towards her friends.

"That happens a lot," Judith informed Will. "Kids talk about their parents business all the time."

"Great," Will put on a fake smile.

Will left the daycare pretending he didn't hear anyone calling his name.

'Besides,' Will thought once he was outside. 'I have to meet my mom at the police station anyway.'

Will quickly made it to the police station. Without Ari around to distract him, Will realized how unsettled he was in public.

'It would be better if everyone stopped staring at me,' Will grumbled. He walked inside. 'Yes, I almost died. Yes, I have a famous boyfriend. There's no need to gawk.'

"There you are," Sami called out to Will.

Sami got off of Rafe's desk and sauntered over to her son. Without asking, she yanked on Will's scarf to examine his bruises.

"Mom," Will complained. He pushed her hands away.

"I'm checking on you," Sami insisted. "Your voice sounds better."

"I've been drinking all the teas you bought me," Will informed her.

"Good," Sami smiled. With a glint in her eye, she teased. "I'm sure Paul," Sami emphasized his name. "Has been keeping you healthy."

"Yes," Will responded.

Sami pushed Will's shoulder. She knew all about Paul's declaration to Will. Sami couldn't help but be proud that her contribution to that night made Will so happy.

"Will," Rafe greeted coming up to the pair.

"Rafe," Will nodded. Apprehensively, he asked. "Why did you need me to come down again?"

"Nothing bad this time," Rafe assured. "Well, not really at least."

Rafe gestured for Will and Sami to follow him into an interrogation room. Rafe, of all people, knew it was better to keep Sami in the loop.

"I just wanted to let you know what we found out about the video leak," Rafe informed them both.

"Who was it?" Sami demanded.

Lucas was the one to tell Sami about the video. She had been watching Ari all day and had no idea. Once Ari was fast asleep, Sami and Lucas watched the video together.

If Sami thought she hated Ben before it was nothing compared to how she felt now.

"Well, we made some arrests," Rafe scratched the back of his head. "They claim to be journalists. Weird thing is we can't find any credentials on any of them. They worked together to get the video out though. They didn't even bother selling it to a news source or anything. They just uploaded it themselves."

"Strange thing is," Rafe continued. "They all had a large sum of money deposited into their accounts the day before the leak."

"What does that mean?" Will wondered.

"They're not talking," Rafe said. "We can only charge them with so much. But we're pretty sure Clyde must have paid them off."

"I thought he was in jail," Sami stated, nostrils flaring.

'First Clyde took my husband,' Sami crossed her arms. 'Then Ben tried to take my son. If they weren't already behind bars I'd kill them both myself.'

"He is," Rafe admitted. "That's the troubling part. As far as we know the only person he's had contact with is his lawyer. The lawyer can't tell us about what, lawyer-client privilege."

Rafe rubbed his forehead. "But if he still has people working for him on the outside," Rafe sighed and shook his head.

When he saw Will and Sami's faces, Rafe stopped. "Don't worry. We're on top of this. We aren't going to let anything happen this time. Alright, Will? I promise you. This time we'll get it right."

Will nodded. He still had his misgivings but he would try not to worry.

Sami pressed her lips together. She didn't like it but she could think of only one man that could make Clyde and anyone associated with him disappear.

Sadly, Sami knew the one thing she could offer to Stefano DiMera to get him on her side. She just wasn't sure if she could trade the safety of one of her children for the others.

Then, Sami remembered there was another DiMera who might be able to help her. A DiMera riddled with guilt. A DiMera that wasn't as power hungry or as ruthless as his father.

'Maybe I could convince Chad to ask Stefano for me,' Sami thought.

A knock at the door interrupted Sami's musings.

Justin Kiriakis peeked his head around the door.

"Oh, good," Justin said as he came inside. "You're still here."

Will's eyebrows furrowed, confused. Since the attack Justin had been nicer but it still weirded Will out.

'After everything with Sonny the other day I assumed he would go back to hating me,' Will thought.

Sami frowned seeing Justin. She knew all about the way Justin treated her son after his return to Salem. She didn't appreciate it one bit.

'If EJ was alive Justin never would have treated Will that way,' Sami believed.

Justin sat down next to Rafe and cleared his throat.

"I just wanted to keep you updated on what's happening with Ben," Justin explained.

"Oh," Will sat up straighter. "What's going on?"

"Well," Justin began. "His lawyer knows there's no chance in hell of him winning any case. So, they're trying to get a plea bargain."

The look on Justin's face said it all.

"You don't like the idea?" Will questioned.

"No," Justin declared. "I want him punished for every crime he committed. But, since you're involved in this, I wanted your opinion."

Will played with the ends of his scarf nervously. He wanted Ben to pay for what he did. For what he did to not only Will but to everyone else too.

'But I don't know if I can handle a trial,' Will thought. He chewed his lower lip. 'I don't know if I'd want more publicity and for this to go on for months.'

"If he took a plea," Will wondered. "What kind of sentence would he get?"

"His lawyer knows if it goes to trial there's a good chance he'll get a death sentence. A plea bargain would probably end up being life in jail instead," Justin told Will. "But, for a plea to happen, we might have to drop some charges."

"Meaning what he did to Will," Sami stated bluntly.

"Maybe," Justin acknowledged. "I know that if this goes to trial I can win it. But I have to think about what's best for the state and for the lives Ben ruined."

"It's not a done deal yet," Justin admitted. "We're in the negotiating stage. I just wanted to make sure you were aware."

"Right," Will nodded. "Thank you," he said after a moment.

"Of course," Justin said. He nodded to Sami and Will both before leaving.

Will stared at his lap, deep in thought.

"Come on," Sami put her hand on Will's forearm. "You need to go to your shoot, remember?"

'We'll talk about this more later,' Sami thought.

Sami walked arm-in-arm with Will. Sami wanted to rid Will of all thoughts about Ben.

"I officially decided to bring the kids to Salem," Sami announced.

"What about Stefano?" Will asked, instantly concerned.

Sami smiled at Will's worry.

'He's always worrying about everyone else,' Sami thought.

"I've got an idea," Sami stated. "But I know how much they want to be with you and Ari."

"They must miss you too," Will pointed out. "You've been here for a while, Mom."

"They understand," Sami dismissed. "I ask them every day if it's OK I'm gone. Actually," Sami's lips pouted. "I think they're enjoying my absence."

Will withheld a chuckle. He'd been there many times.

"Well, I'm excited to see them," Will revealed. "And," Will bit his lip nervously. "Paul's mom is officially coming too. Maybe his grandfather too."

"Well," Sami squeezed Will's arm. "If nothing else we'll keep the kids around you at all times so they can't say anything bad."

"Paul wants to have everyone over at his condo," Will said. "When everyone gets to town. Maybe Christmas Eve."

"Everyone meaning…?" Sami asked.

"Me and Ari," Will started listing. "You and the kids. John, Grandma, Tori."

Sami nodded. "What about your dad?"

"I want to invite him," Will explained. "But I don't know if he'll want to be with Adrienne."

Sami rolled her eyes. That was one relationship she would never understand.

"That would be awkward, yes," Sami agreed. "Speaking of awkward, have you heard from Sonny?"

"Not since the other night," Will sighed. "I don't even know what I would say to him."

"You'll say he needs to step it up as a father and get over himself," Sami huffed.

"I'll keep that in mind," Will smiled.

"Now," Sami teased. "Are you ready for this?"

"No," Will confessed. "But Paul said he'd coach me. And I know Jake will be good about it all."

"And who is Jake?" Sami wondered.

"Just a guy that works for Grandma Kate," Will said. "She tried to set us up but I was already seeing Paul."

"Does he like you?" Sami asked, curious.

"I don't know," Will's forehead wrinkled thinking about it. "Paul thinks so."

"Hmm," Sami hummed. "I think your photoshoot is about to get interesting."

Paul met Will inside the lobby. He was anxious to get Will back into his sights. When he was directing the delivery men with his furniture he was fine. But once Paul was no longer distracted he worried.

'Is Will doing OK? Does he need me? Did anything happen?' Paul kept repeating over and over in his head.

The second Will stepped through the door at Titan Industries, Paul was by his side.

"Hey," Paul greeted. He grabbed Will's hands. "Are you OK?"

"Yeah," Will nodded. "It was a little scary at first but I'm fine."

"Good," Paul exhaled in relief. "I worried about you."

"You should be worried about the pictures," Will remarked. "I don't know how good I'm going to be at this."

"Don't say that," Paul dismissed. He put his arm around Will and headed towards the elevator bank. "This is going to be fantastic."

Will sat down in a makeup chair scratching at his face.

"Stop that," a makeup artist smacked his hand away.

"It feels weird," Will complained.

"It's just powder so you're not so shiny," the woman rolled her eyes. "You'll get used to it."

The woman puffed and primped Will's face while another one worked on his hair.

Once he was done, Will looked at himself in the mirror.

'At least my hair looks good,' Will thought. 'And my neck isn't so bad either.'

Will nervously bounced his right leg up and down. Paul was still getting taken care of in his own seat.

"Hey," Jake said walking over to Will.

"Hi," Will flashed him a brief smile. His leg continued shaking.

"You don't have to be nervous," Jake assured Will. He leaned on the makeup counter across from Will.

"Can't help it," Will admitted.

"You know," Jake stated. "I was with your grandma when she found out about what happened to you."

"I didn't know that," Will replied.

"Yeah," Jake nodded. "I didn't know what was worse. What happened to you or your grandma's reaction?"

"I'm sure she was terrifying," Will snorted. "But I'm better now."

"Well, I'm glad," Jake declared. "And not just because I'm in charge of today and I know this ad will make us a lot of money."

"I'm sure that helps though," Will joked.

"A little," Jake laughed. "But knowing that you're OK is just as good."

Will smiled.

"So," Jake said with a smirk. "You gonna tell me what's going on with you and Paul now?"

Will's cheeks heated up.

"Well," Will scratched the back of his neck. "I think it's pretty obvious."

"Yeah," Jake chuckled. "I just wanted to see if you would admit it to me now."

"He's my boyfriend," Will stated clearly. "And I'm pretty much completely in love with him."

"Wow," Jake nodded, impressed.

Jake moved closer to Will.

"OK, now tell me all the details," Jake requested.

Will started talking to Jake, explaining about Paul's romantic date.

'Jake could be a good friend,' Will thought.

Paul finished with his hair and makeup. He slipped into his wardrobe: a pair of tight jeans.

'Now to find Will and see if he looks as good in his pants,' Paul thought. He walked out of the bathroom and back towards Will.

Seeing Will talking to Jake made Paul frown.

Paul walked over to Will and Jake. He crossed his arms and cleared his throat.

"Are you ready, baby?" Paul asked Will.

Will turned to Paul and smiled. He looked Paul up and down several times.

"You look nice," Will greeted. "Very nice."

"I know," Paul stated. "What are you two doing?"

Jake recognized the expression on Paul's face.

"Oh, nothing," Jake dismissed with an easy grin. "Just chatting."

Jake reached out to squeeze Will's knee.

"Can you both be ready in five?" Jake asked before walking away.

Will shook his head, amused.

Paul turned to face Will and pouted.

Will stood up and pulled Paul into a hug.

"He's just teasing you," Will rubbed along Paul's arms. "I was bragging about our perfect date."

"Really?" Paul asked, softening.

"I told him how in love with you I am," Will said with a grin.

"That's right you are," Paul smiled.

"So," Will moved his hands to Paul's bare chest. "Are you ready to teach me to be a model?"

"Paul, Will," Jake gestured to a woman in all black. "This is Natalie, our photographer."

Natalie nodded at them both. Then she got right to business.

Natalie glanced at Will and ordered. "Take off your robe and get on the bed."

Will blinked a few times. He was aware of Paul's and Jake's eyes on him.

Disrobing, Will crossed his arms over his chest. He could feel several eyes on him.

Jake's eyes latched onto the v of Will's hips, leading down Will's jeans.

'Damn, I knew those jeans would look good,' Paul thought. 'A little too good,' Paul scowled seeing Jake.

"Come on," Paul grabbed Will's hand. The two sat down on the bed provided.

Will was a bundle of nerves. He didn't realize there would be so many people watching them. There were assistants, makeup artists, set designers, producers, and several more.

"Wait," Will's makeup artist called. She tossed a bottle of something at Will. "You two need to put that on."

Will glanced at the tube of baby oil. He looked at Paul incredulously.

Paul smiled. "It's just to make sure our skin looks good."

"Oh," Will mumbled.

Paul took the bottle from Will and squeezed some into his palms.

"You too," Paul requested.

Will put some oil in his hands. Will reached out and rubbed his hands on Paul's chest.

Paul chuckled. "Look who's suddenly an exhibitionist."

Will, face red, sputtered. "I thought you meant for me to!"

"I'm not complaining," Paul guaranteed. He started rubbing along Will's body too.

Jake, amused, signaled for Natalie to start shooting.

An assistant moved forward to grab the bottle of oil. He placed a bottle of the Narita cologne on middle of the bed.

Will pulled away from Paul when a flash startled him.

"No, keep going," Natalie instructed.

With an embarrassed expression, Will continued.

Will's hands ran over Paul's pecks and down across his abs. Paul's hands dug into Will's shoulders. Without a thought, Paul leaned forward and kissed Will.

Paul continued to run his hands along Will's skin. He didn't mind the crowd or the camera. In fact, he wanted everyone to see him laying claim to Will, Jake in particular.

Will rubbed as much of the oil into Paul's skin as he could. He had to admit it looked good.

Will gave Paul another once over.

"God," Will whispered. "Why are you so sexy?"

Paul grinned. "Just for you, baby," Paul promised.

"OK," Jake got their attention. "Will, sweetheart? Can you try to get comfortable?"

Paul glared at Jake before pushing Will onto the bed. The back of Paul's shoulders showed light scratch marks. Remnants from the night they confessed their love.

Will and Paul's skin glided together. Will bit his lip, feeling awkward.

"Come on, baby," Paul urged. "You need to relax."

"I'm trying," Will whispered. He didn't want anyone to hear him. "I'm just not good at this."

"At what?" Paul wondered. "Looking sexy? Because we both know that's a lie."

Will closed his eyes, lashes brushing against his cheeks. He heard a flash going off nearby.

Paul lied on his side facing Will. He placed one hand on Will's chest. The entire scene reminded Paul of the first time he slept with Will.

"Remember that time on Thanksgiving," Paul said quietly. "When I brushed my foot against you under the table?"

"Uh huh," Will nodded.

Paul moved in closer, his nose brushed along Will's earlobe.

"Remember how nervous you were?" Paul whispered. His hand moved up and down Will's side, brushing against his nipple. "But deep down you were turned on. You wanted me touching you, liked that it was a secret."

Natalie glanced at Jake. "Just how racy is this shoot getting?"

Jake shifted on his feet. He was getting a bit hot and bothered.

"As far as they take it," Jake decided.

Paul's tongue flicked out, licking against the shell of Will's ear.

"You're so sexy," Paul told Will. "Just relax."

Will nodded once. He gathered his courage.

'Paul thinks I'm sexy,' Will gave himself a pep talk. 'Jake thinks so too. You can do this.'

Will ran his fingers through Paul's hair, pulling him into a kiss.

The camera flashes and snicks continued.

Paul moved his hand around Will's back. His thumb brushed against the waistline of Will's jeans.

Jake's eyes zeroed in on it. At the way the material clung to Will's backside. At Paul's thumb finally dipping just inside.

Will gasped loudly, back arching. Paul bit at his shoulder. A shiny red mark stood in its place.

"Aren't you supposed to be promoting something?" Natalie asked dryly.

"Right," Jake shook his head.

The assistants nearby snickered.

"We need to see Paul's face," Jake said loudly. He crossed his arms. 'Professional,' he reminded himself.

Will pressed his lips against Paul's one last time.

"Right," Will turned towards Jake, chest heaving. "Sorry," Will gave Jake a half-smile.

Jake nodded dumbly. His eyes focused on Will's pink, swollen lips.

"I don't think he'll be complaining," Natalie remarked. "Let's take a break."

Will moved away from Paul. "I can't believe you made me do that," Will complained.

"Me?" Paul scoffed. "You're the one that kissed me like that. What was I supposed to do?"

The makeup artists surrounded Will and Paul. They fixed everything the two had ruined with their wandering hands.

Jake came over with a sheepish smile.

"As hot as that was," Jake said. "We need to think about how best to sell the cologne."

'I'm not blowing this ad because I want to blow Will,' Jake insisted.

"No," Paul bragged. He placed his hand high up on Will's thigh "I'm pretty sure that said it all. If you wear this cologne, you'll get laid."

Will hit Paul lightly on the chest.

"Kate," Jake said, ignoring Paul. "Had a suggestion."

"Of course she did," Paul groaned. "What is it?"

Jake eyed Will's neck.

"I think you two know," Jake responded. "Just make sure Paul's in the foreground."

Everyone got back into position. Will and Paul sat down together on the bed.

"What did Jake mean?" Will asked Paul. "What's my grandma's idea?"

"We're pretty famous right now," Paul told Will.

Paul reached forward to brush against Will's neck. The makeup did a good job of covering the bruises. But Paul wanted to see them.

Paul explained, hand on Will's neck. "This is what makes everyone curious."

"That I almost died?" Will frowned.

"No," Paul swallowed. "That you lived. That I saved you. That we're together."

"Oh," Will sighed. "OK."

"You know I love you, don't you?" Paul hummed. He leaned forward and kissed the top of Will's right shoulder then the left.

"Yes," Will closed his eyes again.

"Trust me with this," Paul entreated.

Will nodded.

Paul rubbed away the makeup on Will's neck. It left Will's green-ish bruises exposed.

Paul moved closer, pulling Will into his lap. The two were angled towards the camera.

Will wrapped his legs around Paul's waist. Paul lifted his hips, brushing their groins together.

Will forgot all about the crowd watching them.

Paul's hand held Will's neck in a light grip. The bruises showed through his fingers.

Will tensed briefly. While Paul had touched his neck before no one had held it.

'Not since Ben,' Will thought. 'But Paul's not Ben.'

Will nodded, letting Paul know he was alright.

Paul smiled slightly before leaning forward again.

The camera captured the two just before kissing. Paul's hand around Will's neck. One of Will's hands tangled in Paul's hair. The other hand clutching at Paul's waist, dangerously close to Paul's ass. Hips pressed together, legs entwined. The trust in Will's eyes. Paul's look of complete and total adoration shining across his face.

"Think that'll sell some cologne?" Natalie questioned Jake.

"If it doesn't," Jake commented with a swallow. "We'll just sell off the negatives from the shoot. That'll make us a fortune."

"Well," Adrienne pushed her hair out of her face. "I'm glad to see you're looking better now."

Adrienne sat across from Sonny at TBD.

Sonny nodded.

"I feel better now," Sonny stated. "I got some much needed perspective."

"What does that mean?" Adrienne wondered.

"I talked to Will and Paul," Sonny admitted. "I think I get it now."

"Good," Adrienne sighed. She felt a weight lift off of her shoulders. "Good."

"I get why Will went so far earlier," Sonny continued. "Why he acted so crazy."

The relief Adrienne felt evaporated.

"What are you saying?" Adrienne questioned. "Sweetheart, what does that mean?"

"Will didn't give up on me when I wouldn't stay away from Paul," Sonny said. "So, I'm not giving up on him."

"That's not exactly the same thing," Adrienne tried to say.

"I don't care," Sonny shook his head. "Mistakes were made by all of us. I can see that now.

"It was stupid of me to expect everything to stay the same," Sonny added. "I pushed Will away. I told him one thing but would do another. I'm not going to do that anymore. I'm not going to disregard his feelings."

"Sonny," Adrienne reached across the table for his hand.

"No, Mom," Sonny stated. "I'm getting my husband and my daughter back. I'm getting my family back.

"And I know just how to do it," Sonny smiled confidently. He thought of the present he sent Will earlier that day.

'If anyone knows how to get to Will,' Sonny thought smugly. 'It's me.'

Author's note:

I hope that photoshoot lived up to expectations!

Please let me know what you thought.

Thanks for reading!