Abby, Mel, Adam, Sonny and Will finish the evening at the Brady Pub. Mel and Abby are leaning against each other, with their hair all tangled. Abby's eyes are red but she's stopped crying and mostly looks drained. Will has a hand in hers and the other around Sonny's shoulder, who's began a conversation with Mel and Adam about the trip to Europe they're planning for this summer. Adam looks at Mel with tenderness, a little like Will looks at Sonny and he's getting more and more uncomfortable. The guy seems relaxed and direct. If Justin hadn't look so grave, Sonny would have doubted his sources. It's really hard for him to act casual after the trials of the day and furthermore, he dislikes seeing Mel so hooked up.
They come back to the studio, Will's hand in his, dead tired and collapse on the bed. Sonny has one fixed idea, getting under the covers but Will gets up and pulls him to the bathroom. "Come on, Sonny, you'll feel better …" "Mmmmm" He hides his head under a pillow and feels Will's hand sliding under his armpits and pulling him up. He allows him to be brought to the shower, enveloped in Will's arms. The first drops strike him, tensing his body which then fully loosens up. Will cleans him with the loofah and scrubs him so well, Sonny feels his energies realign. He takes the loofah and returns the favor. Will lets himself scrub and Sonny, who's still holding him, notes the change in the muscles, the light quiver and fully appreciates how much Will has struggled when he gave up. He draws the wet contour of the luminous trusting face and softly kisses him. He's rewarded by a wonder-struck smile and they stand for a while, simply looking at each other. Then, Sonny shakes himself up, turns the water off and wraps Will in a towel. He puts on a bathrobe and rubs Will until he's all dry. They go to the kitchen and Will sits while Sonny brews some herbal tea. They remain silent, enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the apartment. Sonny's eyes draw out the outline of Will's naked torso, that he now knows every line and curves of and he can remember how soft it felt under his fingers. Will glance at him every now and then, as if he's checking Sonny's still here, but mostly seems lost in thoughts. Sonny doesn't press any questions. He's aware Will needs to process all this. He puts down the elephant-shaped teapot, the one he's brought back from India and thinks that one day, he'll share with Will this crazy day in a crowded market when he acquired it, the game with the seller who was talking at the same time with a colleague on the next stand, unaware Sonny knew enough of the language to understand he was planning to rip him off about three time the actual price. Sonny had answered directly on one of these comments and the merchant had shut up. They had agreed to a reasonable amount, among bursts about how much effort the guy was making. The teapot is now a little worn and Sonny realizes how much he's settled in Salem and that now long trips aren't as appealing as before. He says, in a hushed tone "Mel and Adam's plans seem a little fanciful, I wonder how they'll have time for everything. The fjords in Norway; Barcelona, Prague… They'll spend more time in planes than in the places themselves…" "You speak from experience ?" Sonny nods "Though I guess if you're traveling together with a boyfriend, it can make the trips as fun as the rest. I'd picture us going on one. Maybe Paris or Greece ?" Will jerks his chin up and his eyes lighten "I'd love that!" His hand reaches out to Sonny across the table and Sonny puts the mug down to take it. "I love you, Will." Will doesn't answer. Sonny waits patiently. Will gets up and sits on Sonny's laps, nesting his head in Sonny's neck who puts his chin over the blond hair. He hears a whisper and has to focus to understand "You taught me to love. Without you, I'd be a lost soul." Sonny clutches him, felling stronger than ever. A giant holding a heart brighter than a jewel in his hands.
Will takes the top of Sonny's pajamas and puts it on then catches his cell to set the alarm to 8 am. Sonny asks "Are you sure ? You could rest tomorrow and catch up with what has happened since." Will clicks on the button and interlaces his cold-from-walking-on-the-tiled-floor feet with sensitive-to-cold-socked Sonny. "There is nothing we can do at the moment and it will take my mind off it. You'll go back to the coffee-house ?" Sonny looks down and acquiesces. He's hold on long enough, he misses the action as he likes to be everywhere at ounce, juggling his life and challenge himself. And, he suddenly remembers, Chad won't be there in the morning and this realization hurts more than the events of the afternoon. What about Common Ground's future ? Will it hold up ? In a way here's a challenge worthy of him and that will occupy his mind as Will has pointed out. After lots of sweet kisses, they fall asleep, embed in each other, sheltered in their cocoon.