Will set Ari, her car seat, and her diaper bag down on a bench just outside the bathroom in the Salem Airport. First thing off the plane they made a trip to the changing table.
"Daddy is going to be happy when you're potty trained," Will commented. He gave Ari a silly look and sighed dramatically.
Ari giggled, clapping her hands together.
"Do you like that?" Will questioned. He sat down next to Ari and dug through her bag. "Can you say like? Say like, Ari."
"…'ike," Ari squeaked.
"Good job," Will praised. He handed her a princess sippy cup. "You're gonna be talking up a storm in no time."
Ari sucked happily at her juice.
Will ran his fingers through Ari's hair, fixing flyaways.
"I hope Sonny's happy to see us," Will said quietly.
Ari turned to catch Will's eyes.
"We never should have left," Will sighed. "I don't know what I was thinking chasing after a pipe dream. I'm not cut out for life outside of Salem."
Ari climbed onto Will's lap, nuzzling against his chest.
"But you," Will held her firmly. "You're gonna do anything, everything. Nothing is ever going to hold you back."
The two sat quietly, people watching.
"No use putting it off," Will realized. "We need to go see Daddy Sonny."
Will grabbed Ari, the bag, and the car seat, heading for the luggage claim.
"What should Daddy make you for lunch?" Will asked Ari. He pushed her stroller up to the front door of their apartment, staggering under the weight of all their bags.
Will pulled out his house keys. Being so close to home felt good, comforting.
"Nana," Ari responded. She made little chomping sounds afterwards.
"A banana?" Will questioned as he opened the door. "You can't just eat a banana. How about a sandwich?"
Ari shook her head no.
"Yeah, we need a sandwich," Will argued. "Then we'll go see Daddy at work."
Will pushed Ari into the apartment. After, he scooped up the luggage and tossed it inside.
"Well, baby girl," Will leaned against the door. "We're home."
Sonny's eyes opened, a noise woke him from his nap.
Ever since his indiscretion, Sonny had problems sleeping. He'd lie awake for hours thinking about his choices, his mistakes.
Sonny would read Will's emails over and over. He never found it in him to reply. He didn't feel like he deserved to reply.
Bang, Clang
Sonny rolled out of bed.
Someone was inside the kitchen.
Grabbing his phone and a heavy book, Sonny crept out of the bedroom. He was ready to defend his home.
Instead of a stranger or a burglar, Sonny was in for an even bigger surprise.
Sonny dropped the book with a loud thump.
"Will?" Sonny breathed.
Will, putting down the bread and a knife-full of peanut butter, whipped around.
"Hey," Will beamed. "What are you doing home?"
"I-I was taking a nap," Sonny froze in place.
Will wiped his hands on his jeans before hurrying over to Sonny. Will stood in front of Sonny with a wide smile on his face.
"Hi," Will stated.
Sonny didn't say anything, couldn't say anything. Had Will always been this beautiful?
Will's smile dimmed, suddenly nervous.
'Did he not miss me? Does he wish I was gone still?'
"I know I didn't say anything about coming home," Will rambled. "But I wanted it to be a surprise. It was a quick decision. I got home from work and I talked to my mom and before I knew it I booked the tickets. I should have called you, I know.
"I know you didn't like the emails, that they weren't good enough," Will continued. "But you know how I never say the right thing. I thought, I just," Will closed his eyes. "I thought if I could type it, you'd see how much I missed you. I tried my best and I know it wasn't enough. I just missed you so much."
'Why isn't he saying anything?' Will panicked.
"I missed you and now I'm here," Will bit his lip. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I never should have gone anywhere. I love you so muc-,"
Sonny cut Will off. He lunged forward, hands grabbing Will's neck and yanking him into a kiss.
Sonny barely heard anything Will said. All he could focus on, all he could hear, and feel was an overwhelming love for Will. It felt like a literal punch to the stomach.
Will, Will in front of him. Will speaking to him. Will telling him he missed him. Will doubting himself.
Will was all Sonny could see.
Almost outside of his control, Sonny kissed Will. He kissed his husband for the first time in what felt like forever.
Sonny was so afraid kissing Will would feel different. That he'd touch Will, his sweet, innocent, good Will, and Will would know. Know what Sonny did. Know that Sonny let another man touch him, kiss him. Know that he had sex with someone else.
It wasn't like that at all.
Will melted into the kiss, in Sonny's arms. It felt like being awakened from a deep sleep. Finally, Will could breathe. Finally, Will was whole.
Sonny dug his fingers into the back of Will's skull, harder than necessary. He wrenched Will closer, needed him closer.
Will's eyebrows wrinkled together. Sonny's grip hurt but Will didn't mind. He was just happy to be in Sonny's embrace.
Will's kisses erased every fear in Sonny's mind. Will's touch eased the pain and the guilt.
Will made everything better.
Will and Sonny separated, foreheads pressed together.
"I missed you," Sonny breathed against Will's lips. "I love you. Your emails were perfect. Please don't leave me again."
Will nodded, knees weak.
Sonny sat next to Will at the table, holding his hand. He watched Ari clumsily eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
"She's so big," Sonny shook his head in amazement. He rested his chin on Will's shoulder.
"Yeah," Will agreed. "She's improving her vocabulary too. She can repeat words and is getting good at describing her emotions now."
Sonny smiled proudly.
"I missed so much," Sonny stated wistfully.
Will looked at his lap before angling his head to face Sonny.
"I never should have left," Will confessed.
"It's a great opportunity," Sonny weakly argued. "You couldn't pass it up."
"It doesn't matter now," Will pressed his lips together. He looked away from Sonny. "I'm not going back."
"What do you mean?" Sonny asked. "You have to go back. The contract you signed isn't done."
Will shook his head.
"I, um," Will closed his eyes. "They fired me."
"What?" Sonny moved away from Will. "What are you talking about?"
Will's hands wrung together.
"I guess technically," Will explained. "They asked me to resign. It's about the same thing."
"What happened?" Sonny wondered.
"It was so hard," Will whispered. His face crumpled in humiliation. "Nothing I wrote was ever good enough. I'd get so excited and write and write but they hated it. And it, it hurt, you know? I can take criticism. I can. But it wasn't even constructive. It was just, just cruel."
Sonny took Will's hand again. His fingers caressed the top of Will's hand.
Will took a deep breath. 'Might as well get it over with.'
"They brought this other writer on to help me," Will said. "At first it was fine. He was helpful and I was learning a lot. He didn't trash me like the producers. He was nice."
Sonny frowned. He didn't like where this was going.
"One day we were working," Will confessed. "We had a breakthrough on a scene and I was really excited. So I hugged him, right? It was just a friendly hug. But he, I guess he got the wrong idea because he um, he kissed me."
It felt like Sonny's heart stopped. He didn't want to picture someone else kissing his husband, touching his husband.
Sonny couldn't deny that for one horrible, treacherous moment he hoped something more had happened. That way he wouldn't have to feel so guilty for what he did.
"I pushed him away," Will ardently insisted. "I swear I did!"
Sonny noticed the panicked, desperate look in Will's eyes. He could tell Will was telling the truth.
"I believe you," Sonny responded. He flashed Will a weak smile.
'Will could have cheated on me and didn't.' The realization made Sonny feel even worse.
"He kept pushing though," Will continued. "I'd tell him to back off but he wouldn't. It happened at work and I got upset, made a big deal.
"The producers called me in the next day," Will slumped against the table. "Told me that my behavior was unprofessional. I got indignant I guess, didn't handle it well. But after all their criticism with my writing, I just couldn't see how that was my fault. I didn't ask him to harass me."
"That's when they asked you to resign?" Sonny asked.
"Yeah," Will nodded. "I spent a few days with my brother and sisters. I wanted to tell you but I wasn't sure how you would handle it."
"What do you mean?" Sonny pressed. He squeezed Will's hand.
"I didn't know if you'd get upset," Will shrugged. "That I was so selfish and left you here for nothing. I learned my lesson at least," Will smiled helplessly. "No more stupid dreams."
"Will," Sonny argued. "That's ridiculous. It wasn't a stupid dream. They wanted you. They poached you."
"It all blew up in my face regardless," Will exhaled loudly. "I'm just glad that I get to be back with you, if you still want me."
Sonny froze momentarily. Will's tone, the phrasing, terrified him.
'Does Will know what happened when he was gone?' Sonny thought before blinking.
Will stared at Sonny with a hopeful, loving expression. Sonny knew that look well. He had seen it on Will's face several times before.
Sonny reached out to cup Will's cheek. He stroked across the cheekbones he had missed so much.
"I love you," Sonny promised. "I've never wanted anyone the way I want you."
Seeing Will's face and eyes light up almost eased the guilt bubbling in Sonny's stomach.
"Hey," Sonny smiled coming out of Ari's room. "I got her down for her nap."
Sonny quieted down when he saw Will was on the phone.
"Okay, yeah, I can meet you tomorrow," Will agreed. "Sure. Thanks, Zoe."
"What was that about?" Sonny asked, sitting next to Will on the couch.
"Zoe," Will tossed his phone aside. "I guess there's a new project they want me to write."
"Good," Sonny wrapped his arm around Will. He pulled Will against him. "Getting back into writing will be good for you."
"I hope so," Will closed his eyes. He nuzzled against Sonny, heading fitting under his chin. "I just want things to go back to how they were. You, me, and Ari."
"That's what I want too," Sonny rested his cheek on the top of Will's head. "Let's just pretend the last few weeks never happened."
Will lifted his pinky and waved it in the air with a familiar dopey grin.
"God, I missed you," Sonny linked their pinkies.
"I missed you too," Will pulled Sonny by the pinky into a kiss.
Will ran his fingers through Sonny's hair, sucking on Sonny's lower lip.
Sonny shoved Will into the mound of pillows on their bed. He deftly unbuttoned Will's shirt, hands mapping the exposed skin.
"You too," Will urged. "Want your clothes off."
Sonny nodded his agreement. When Will grabbed the bottom of Sonny's shirt, Sonny panicked.
Sonny recoiled away from Will with a start.
"What is it?" Will sat up with a frown. "Did I do something?"
"No," Sonny swallowed. "I just thought I heard the baby. I'm, um, I'm gonna go check on her," Sonny rushed out. Refusing to look at Will, Sonny left the room.
Will slumped against the pillows wondering what he did.
Sonny pressed his back against the wall outside the bedroom.
'Oh god,' Sonny put his head in his hands. 'Will almost saw.'
Will couldn't see the fading marks Paul left on Sonny's body. He would figure everything out. But Sonny needed to be with Will. He couldn't wait until the marks were gone.
Taking a few steady breaths, Sonny went back into the room, determined.
"Is everything alrigh-mhmm," Will tried to say.
Sonny crawled onto the bed, pulling Will into a deep kiss. With Will distracted, Sonny took off the rest of Will's clothes.
Will's head was spinning, full of nothing but Sonny. Sonny's kiss, Sonny's touch, and Sonny's love.
Sonny kissed down Will's cheek, along his defined jawbone towards his ear.
"I missed you so much," Sonny breathed into Will's ear. He kissed and bit the tender skin behind Will's ear. "I love you."
"I love you too," Will gasped. "Sonny," Will grabbed the back of Sonny's neck.
"I want you," Sonny moaned. "I want you right now."
"Oh, god, yes," Will nodded his agreement. "Sonny, please."
Sonny shoved his hand inside his pillowcase. That was the location they chose to keep a condom and packet of lube for easy access.
Sonny made quick work of opening Will up. Normally, Sonny would take his time with Will. Shower him with loving touches, ensuring Will was comfortable. This time Sonny felt crazed.
Sonny needed to be inside of Will. Needed to feel that connection. Sonny needed Will's body to wipe away his mistakes.
While Will was completely nude, Sonny merely unzipped and pulled his pants open.
With their hands linked together, Sonny made love to his husband. He whispered Will's name, moaned it, praised it, curled it around his tongue. Sonny used every thrust, every caress to prove to Will how much he loved him.
Will came with his knees pressed into Sonny's sides. His body trembled, overwhelmed with the intensity of Sonny's love.
Sonny pressed his forehead against Will's collarbone. His chest rose rapidly. He felt like he couldn't breathe. All the pressure from Will's absence, struggling with TBD, and dealing with Paul rose to the surface.
"Hey," Will whispered. He ran his hands through Sonny's damp hair and worked his hips. "It's okay."
"Will," Sonny cried before coming.
"It's okay," Will promised. "I've got you."
Sonny bit his lip to stem the tears stinging his eyes.
"I love you," Sonny promised, voice wet. "You're the only one. For the rest of my life, I will love you."
Will closed his eyes, pleased smile on his face. He basked in Sonny's love and devotion.
Finally, Will was home.
Author's note:
I never understood Will cheating when he was in LA. It seemed like it was thrown in last minute. So, yeah, none of that happened here.
Let me know what you thought.
Thanks for reading!
Also, I'm going to try to post at least one chapter a week but if I can manage two I will.