"Thank you so much, Dad," Will said in a rush. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

"Well, you know I'd do anything for you," Lucas replied. "And I'd do even more for my favorite little girl."

Lucas bounced Ari in his arms making her giggle.

"I know," Will smiled. He turned to face Ari. "Alright, baby girl. You're gonna spend all day and all night with Grandpa. It's gonna be so much fun."

Ari nodded, throwing her arms around Lucas' neck.

"Exactly," Lucas promise. "I'll call if there are any problems though."

"Thanks," Will handed Lucas the diaper bag. "Happy New Year!"

Will waved goodbye.

'Alright,' Will thought. 'Ari is with my dad. Now, I just need to get Sonny to stay home.'

"Today's my day off and it's New Years," T whined over the phone. "I don't wanna."

"Please," Will begged. "Just the morning and afternoon shift, please. Sonny hasn't had a day off since I got back. I need this."

"Gross, dude," T wrinkled his face. "I don't wanna hear about you needing him."

"Either you agree and hang up," Will threatened. "Or I'm going into detail."

"Will," T sighed.

"I want his dic-," Will started.

"Fine," T loudly agreed. "Fine, I will go in and cover for him. You happy?"

"Yes," Will demurely responded. "And I will be even happier when I'm stuffed full of-,"

T hung up.

Will laughed while he sent T a thank you text.

'I owe him,' Will realized.

'Now, there's nothing to get in the way. I can reconnect with my husband and Paul will be a distant memory.'

Will plopped on the couch and opened his laptop. He glanced over his article on Paul once more. It wasn't exactly what Will wanted but it was a good start.

Will knew he would need to let Paul read it before he sent it to Zoe.

'God, I hope I didn't ruin everything with him,' Will thought with a sigh.

Will honestly had no idea how things got so out of hand with Paul. Realistically, Will knew Paul was extremely handsome. He knew Paul was interesting and new. Paul listened to Will, offered attention when Will needed it most. He just didn't know how things could get to the point they did last night.

'Why did I let him kiss me?' Will wondered.

Will loved Sonny. Of that he was sure. Will wanted to spend the rest of his life with Sonny. Things had just been stressful lately. This was their first real marital problem. It wasn't like before when they had to deal with Nick. This was just the two of them having to deal with adult issues as a married couple.

'I married Sonny,' Will reminded himself. 'This is just a setback. We can get over this. If we work together, if we're dedicated. I'm not going to throw away my marriage because I feel neglected. I'm not my mother.'

'Paul is just a friend. He was there when I wanted attention. I was there for him when he was vulnerable. That's it. Maybe in another time or place things could be different. But they aren't. I made my choice.'

Will's feelings for Paul, whatever they were, paled in comparison to his love for Sonny. Everything Paul had said, all the attention he had been giving, was everything Will yearned for from Sonny.

'I need to tell Sonny about yesterday,' Will decided. 'He deserves to know the truth.'

Sonny sat on the edge of the bed, head in his hands.

'I have to tell him. I can't keep this from him anymore.'

Sonny just wasn't sure if he could do it. He didn't know if he could say the words, admit what he did.

'How can I break his heart? No, I did this. Now, I have to take responsibility.'

Will, attempting to be quiet, pushed the bedroom door open.

"Oh," Will frowned momentarily. "I was hoping you'd still be asleep."

Sonny said nothing. His throat wouldn't work. The words wouldn't come.

Will moved to sit next to Sonny, a tray of food in his hands.

"You know I'm not good with the stove," Will teased. "So, I made you some cereal and toast."

Sonny nodded once. He couldn't even look at Will.

"I know it's not a culinary masterpiece," Will said, shoulders hunching inward. "But I didn't think it was that bad."

Sonny shook his head.

"That's not, that's not it," Sonny finally answered. His eyes shut tight.

'Do it,' Sonny urged. 'Tell him. Tell him everything.'

Will placed the tray on top of the dresser nearby. He noticed Sonny's strange behavior was back.

'But this is good,' Will sat next to Sonny, taking his hand. 'We can finally get things back to how they were.'

"Forget the food," Will linked his hand with Sonny's. "I just want to be with you anyway."

Sonny curled his fingers around Will's.

"There's something I need to tell you about though," Will squeezed Sonny's hand.

'I can't legally tell Sonny about Paul,' Will rationalized. 'But I can tell him enough.'

Sonny stared at Will, still trying to get his own courage.

"I haven't exactly been honest with you," Will explained. "While working I've made this friend. I thought, I mean, I didn't realize that, I sort of realized though."

Will chuckled nervously.

"I might have given him the wrong impression," Will continued. "Because he kissed me."

Sonny caught Will's wide, remorseful eyes.

"And for a moment I might have kissed him back," Will admitted. "But I pushed him away. I did." Will moved closer to Sonny. "I pushed him away because of us, you. I love you."

Sonny nodded weakly. Just a single short jerk of his head, barely any movement at all.

"I let things get too far," Will stated. "But it was a mistake. I'll make sure that he knows all I can offer is friendship, if that. I love you, Sonny, only you. And I'm really sorry I let that happen."

Sonny let Will's words sink into him. The severity of the situation and what it meant. Sonny thought for one horrible moment that Will would understand. Understand that need to satisfy your curiosity. Being weak and caught up in the moment. How you could forget yourself, forget the life you created, and the family that you love.

'But Will stopped. I didn't stop,' Sonny knew. 'He stopped twice, here and in LA. He could have cheated both times and he didn't.'

'A kiss. How can I compare a kiss to what I did? Will doubted our relationship for a moment, the length of a kiss. And I spent a whole weekend with someone else.'

'That's not even the worst part. I doubted our relationship. I considered throwing it all away, Will, Ari, everything. For nothing.'

"Sonny?" Will questioned, head tilted.

Sonny shook his head. Will had been talking to him and he hadn't heard a word he said.

"Sorry, what?" Sonny asked.

"I said, you believe me, right?" Will pressed. "I promise I didn't mean to let things get so far. He was just so nice and he was paying attention when you-,"

"I believe you," Sonny cut Will off. "I know you wouldn't…" Sonny couldn't finish the sentence. "I forgive you."

"I wouldn't," Will sighed in relief. "Things have been so weird between us," Will squeezed Sonny's hand once more. He let go of it to reach for the buttons on Sonny's sleep shirt. "But I know how to get us back to normal."

'Oh god, don't,' Sonny froze. He couldn't find it in him to push Will away. Not when he looked so earnest, sounded so sincere.

"We haven't had much time together," Will finished Sonny's shirt. He placed his hand over Sonny's heart, thumb rubbing the soft skin. "That's why things have been so odd."

'That's why I've been focusing on Paul,' Will believed. 'Because Sonny hasn't been there physically.'

"Work," Sonny whispered. He needed an excuse to get out of here.

'I can't tell Will,' Sonny realized. 'I can't tell him. I can't touch him. I can't look at him.'

Will smiled deviously.

"T's taking your morning and afternoon shift," Will gently pushed Sonny onto his back. "My dad is watching Ari today and tonight. It's just us now."

"I really think-," Sonny tried to say.

Will crawled over Sonny's prone figure. He sat on Sonny's lap, looking him straight in the eyes.

"I love you," Will declared. "And whatever things," Will licked his lips. "That have been getting in our way are done."

"Will," Sonny's face fell. "I-,"

Will leaned down and connected their lips.

Sonny dug his hands into Will's hair, clinging desperately.

'This could be the last time he kisses me,' Sonny pulled Will closer. 'This could be it.'

Sonny needed to make the most of it.

Sonny rolled Will over onto his back. He pressed himself on top of Will, covering him entirely.

Pouring his all into the kiss, Sonny held Will close. His hands slid underneath Will's shirt. He needed to map Will's skin. He needed to memorize Will's touch and taste and feel.

'I can't lose him,' Sonny bit at Will's lips. 'I can't lose him. I can't. I can't. I can't.'

Will startled when Sonny savagely dug into his lips. Pushing Sonny away, Will attempted to catch his breath.

"Relax," Will pet against Sonny's bare sides. Will stared up at Sonny, eyes shining. "We have hours, love."

"Oh god," Sonny's face crumpled. "I can't. I can't do this anymore."

Sonny couldn't touch Will. He couldn't stand to feel Will's gentle touch or hear the loving caress in his voice. He didn't deserve it, not anymore.

"What are you talking about?" Will asked. He felt scared, thinking he did something wrong.

Sonny scrambled away from Will and the bed.

"I can't," Sonny repeated.

"What can't you do?" Will sat up. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"I should have told you before," Sonny started to pace. He wrapped his arms around his stomach, holding himself together.

"Sonny," Will didn't know what to think.

'Do it,' Sonny urged. 'Tell him. Tell him everything.'

Sonny shook his head. He couldn't. He couldn't deal with the truth nor could he reveal it. He couldn't do anything.

"Sonny," Will said again. "What's wrong?"

Sonny stared at Will. Will had always been Sonny's anchor. He kept him grounded when the waves crashed against him. Will kept Sonny tethered and whole. Will, who was beautiful and strong and unsuspecting.

Will didn't know what to make of the look in Sonny's eyes.

"I don't know what I did. I told you the truth. You said you believed me," Will disclosed. "What did I do?"

Will knew it had to be his fault. Almost everything was his fault.

Sonny shook his head.

"It's not you," Sonny revealed. "It's me. I-I've been lying to you. Ever since you got back."

"What are you talking about?" Will questioned. When Sonny didn't say anything, Will pressed. "Sonny?"

"I," Sonny took a deep breath. 'Now, you have to do it now.'

"I cheated on you," Sonny divulged. "I slept with someone else."

Will stared at Sonny. He couldn't process what Sonny said. It just didn't make any sense.

"I'm so sorry," Sonny pleaded. "I love you more than anything. Please, Will."

Will blinked once, twice. He let Sonny's words surround him, penetrate him.

'Cheated, cheated, slept with someone else, someone else,' the words swirled through Will's mind. 'Someone else, cheated, someone else.'

Will's lower lip trembled.

"What?" Will meekly asked.

Sonny didn't think he could say it again. He couldn't stomach it. But he had to.

"I," Sonny blinked away tears. "I slept with someone else."

A broken noise came from the back of Will's throat.

Will fell forward, body caving in on itself.

"I'm so sorry," Sonny dropped to his knees. "I'm sorry."

"You," Will bowed his head. "You, oh god."

Sonny had imagined this moment so many times. All the different scenarios that would greet him. This was even worse.

Will didn't cry. He didn't yell. He didn't scream.

Will broke.

"Will," Sonny inched closer. "Please."

Will lifted his head to look at Sonny.

Sonny wished he didn't. He could physically see Will's heart breaking. He could see the confidence, the love seeping out of Will's wounds.

'I did this,' Sonny knew. 'I did this to him.'

Will's eyes swam with tears that wouldn't fall. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think.

Sonny reached out to touch Will.

Will recoiled. He lifted his arms and legs out of Sonny's reach. Sonny wasn't allowed to touch him. He couldn't touch Will.

Will pulled his knees to his chest, rocking forward and back.

"Will," Sonny tried again.

Will shook his head back and forth, back and forth. Over and over again.

"Why?" Will finally asked. "What did I do?"

"You didn't," Sonny explained. "It wasn't you."

"You said you loved me," Will's voice cracked.

"I do," Sonny promised. "I love you so much."

"Then why?" Will begged, tears so close to falling.

"I-I don't know," Sonny lied. He couldn't tell Will. He couldn't tell Will about Paul, about his doubts.

Will could never know that Sonny married him when a part of his heart still belonged to Paul.

"Why wasn't I enough?" Will curled even further into himself. "Why am I never enough?"

"You are," Sonny insisted even though his words fell on deaf ears.

"I felt so bad for kissing him," Will whispered. "And you did, did, oh god."

Will tightened his hold on his legs. He felt his wedding ring press into his flesh. Holding his hand up, Will frowned.

"Is that why you took my ring?" Will's accusing eyes landed on Sonny. "So you could be with someone else?"

"No!" Sonny yelled. "No, of course not. That was, that was after."

It took Will a few moments to process.

"After?" Will repeated, tiny moments falling into place, making sense. "Oh, god."

Sonny felt his own heart breaking along with Will's.

"You, you and I, and the-I knew I didn't make those marks!" Will shouted. "You had sex with me covered in someone else's hickeys. Didn't you?"

Sonny nodded weakly.

"Oh god," Will covered his face with his hands. He felt disgusting and humiliated.

When Will lifted his hands, the first thing he saw was a picture of himself and Sonny. It was around the time they got engaged.

Will wanted to smash it to pieces.

Instead, he headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Sonny questioned, horrified. "Please don't leave me."

Will ignored him. Ignored everything around him, the pictures, the toys. The reminders that he once had everything. A happy home and a happy family.

'Now, I have nothing,' Will thought.

"Will, don't go," Sonny wiped against his eyes. Will couldn't cry yet Sonny didn't think he could stop.

Will paused with his hand on the doorknob.

"I've spent almost the entirety of our relationship telling myself I wasn't enough for you," Will revealed. "Now, I know I was right."

Will opened the door and ran out.

Will meandered around town, arms wrapped around himself. He didn't see anyone, didn't hear anyone. He didn't even know where he was going, just walked.

There was a chill in the air, an icy breeze. Will couldn't feel it. He couldn't feel anything.

Without his knowledge, Will found himself sitting on a park bench, lost and alone.

Paul left the Salem Inn with his suitcase rolling behind him. He was almost sad to see the place go. But he knew he made the right decision.

'The apartment above the pub is private,' Paul thought. 'And it's closer to Will.'

Paul worried that he came on too strong the day before. That he might have scared Will off. On the other hand, Paul knew Will felt it.

Felt how close they had gotten, how much they had in common.

'That's why he was so worried,' Paul knew. 'That's why he reacted the way he did. He felt something when he kissed me.'

Paul cut across the park, baseball cap low on his head.

'Do I even need this hat anymore?' Paul wondered. 'Soon enough I'm not going to have any reason to hide. Everyone can know I'm in Salem. And eventually they'll know I'm with Will.'

As Paul rounded a corner, he saw the person haunting his thoughts.

"Will?" Paul frowned. "What are you-are you alright?"

Paul stopped in front of Will. He didn't like the way Will looked. He wasn't even wearing a coat.

Paul saw the way Will clung to his own arms. How his fingers dug into his skin. White fingerprints imprinted on Will's skin. His normal, sparkling eyes were glazed over, face white.

Paul let go of his suitcase and reached out to touch Will.

"Will?" Paul asked again. "Will?"

Paul shook Will's shoulder. Will moved with the motion but gave no response.

With a sigh, Paul put his arm around Will and helped him rise.

"Come on," Paul said. Will's skin felt like an icicle.

Will followed along, barely aware of his surroundings.

"Here," Paul unlocked the studio door. "Let's get you inside and warmed up."

Will didn't say anything, couldn't say anything. He wasn't even sure he knew where he was or who he was with.

"Sit," Paul urged. When Will didn't move, Paul physically pushed Will onto the couch.

Paul took a blanket from the edge of the bed and wrapped it around Will's shivering shoulders.

"What happened?" Paul asked. He rubbed up and down Will's arms, needing to warm him up.

Will looked at Paul's face, really looked. For the first time since Paul found him in the park.

Will's lips trembled, eyes watering.

Paul could see the devastation on Will's face. The utter heartbreak in Will's eyes.

'He knows,' Paul realized.

"It's okay, Will," Paul promised. He pulled Will against him. "It's okay."

As Will's forehead touched Paul's collarbone, his tears finally began to fall.

Author's note:

Any thoughts?

Thanks for reading!