Sonny walked into the front room of his uncle's mansion with a bag slung over his shoulder. He barely took two steps into the room before his mother descended.

"Sonny?" Adrienne stood up from the sofa. "What happened?"

Maggie, Melanie, and Brady watched as Adrienne rushed to Sonny.

Sonny dropped his bag to the floor and let his mother envelope him in her arms.

"Everything's a mess," Sonny confessed. "He isn't going to, it's all worse, and Paul," Sonny gritted out, sneering.

"Sweetheart, you aren't making sense. I thought you two were working things out," Adrienne said in a low voice.

"I should have told him from the beginning," Sonny continued, disregarding his mother. "You were right. I needed to tell him about Paul. I should have told him about Paul. Why didn't I ever tell him?"

"How could it get worse?" Adrienne questioned.

"You haven't been online today, have you?" Sonny asked rhetorically. "I'm sure everyone in Salem knows."

"What does that mean?" Adrienne let go of Sonny. "What are you talking about?"

Before Sonny could explain, Victor Kiriakis meandered into the room. He stopped short once he noticed Sonny.

"Would someone tell me what the hell I just saw on the news?" Victor barked as a greeting.

Sonny groaned. His uncle knowing would make everything worse.

"It's nothing," Sonny insisted. He needed to get out of here. He couldn't hear this, not now.

"Your husband frolicking around town with that baseball player is nothing?" Victor scoffed.

"What are you talking about?" Brady stood up. He moved closer to his grandfather near the beverage stand.

"I'm talking about that lowlife my nephew married," Victor explained, all goodwill towards Will long gone. "Who is apparently sleeping with Paul Narita."

"What?!" Adrienne spat out.

"That's ridiculous," Brady dismissed easily. "Will's a good kid."

"Yeah, that doesn't sound like Will," Melanie agreed. "We all know how he feels about cheating."

"There are pictures to prove it," Victor shrugged, unconcerned with their thoughts on the matter.

"No, there isn't," Sonny said through clenched teeth.

"Would someone like to tell us what's going on?" Maggie requested as she looked back and forth between everyone.

"Will's been interviewing Paul," Sonny groaned. "They're friends but that's it."

"Sonny," Adrienne frowned, horrified. "Are you serious?"

"Unfortunately," Sonny covered his eyes. He just wanted this whole mess to go away. He wanted to wake up only to find out it was a terrible nightmare.

"What?" Brady still didn't get it. "So, Will interviewed someone. Why's that a big deal?"

"It's not," Sonny said when he saw his mother and uncle open their mouths. "They became friends. That's it. There's nothing else."

"Then explain why that little-," Victor began.

"Hey!" Sonny cut him off. "You don't get to talk about my husband that way! You sure as hell didn't have a problem with him when he almost went to jail for me."

Victor raised one unimpressed eyebrow. He turned towards Maggie.

"Are we in someone else's mansion, dear? Did we move and no one told me?" Victor questioned dryly. "That must be the only reason anyone would speak to me that way in my own home."

"Victor, hush," Maggie fondly scolded. "Look at the boy poor," Maggie gestured to the apparent stress Sonny was under.

"Uh," Melanie inputted, raising her hand. "If Will didn't do anything what's with the bag?"

"I-," Sonny couldn't explain. He shook his head uselessly. Instead of answering, Sonny grabbed his bag and slunk up the stairs.

"I'll talk with him," Adrienne announced. She shot a look at Victor. "Don't think about doing anything to make this worse. You leave Will alone."

"What did I do to deserve such hostility?" Victor asked loudly.

"Do you really want an answer to that?" Brady wondered with a wry smile.

"Sonny?" Adrienne rapt on his door. Sonny always stayed in the same room when he visited the mansion. Always had always will.

When Sonny didn't respond, Adrienne pushed the door open.

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

"I got married here," Sonny mumbled under his breath. "My wedding was here. How can I stay here?"

"What happened?" Adrienne demanded. "What's this about Will and Paul?"

"When Will got back from LA, Zoe gave him this big assignment," Sonny explained in a dull voice. "Had to keep it a secret, even signed a confidentiality agreement. I thought it was Paul. I always thought it was Paul. But I didn't have any proof. I even asked him once," Sonny's eyes watered again. "I asked Paul and he told me he didn't know who my husband was. He lied."

"What else?" Adrienne sat next to Sonny on the bed.

"They became friends, I guess," Sonny continued. "The article came out today. I haven't even read it. These stupid pictures came out too. Some paparazzi idiot followed Paul and got all these pictures of Will that makes it look so bad."

"And nothing happened, right?" Adrienne had to believe nothing happened.

"Paul kissed Will," Sonny wiped at his face. "Will told me. Well, I didn't know it was Paul but he told me about it. Right before I told him I cheated on him.

"I don't even know the whole story," Sonny shook his head. "Just what I heard from earlier. But Will thought they were friends. He let Paul comfort him over what I did. God, Mom, Will cried on his shoulder about me cheating on him."

"And he had no idea it was with Paul?" Adrienne shook her head. "Why didn't you tell Will who you slept with?"

"I didn't think they knew each other," Sonny defended. "I didn't want to make Will hurt even more. What was I supposed to do? Tell Will I slept with this big, famous celebrity? A guy that Will idolized? His self-esteem is low on a good day. It would have wrecked everything. I just, why is every decision I make the wrong one?"

"Because you're lying, baby," Adrienne pointed out gently. "Lying is always the wrong choice."

"I didn't want to hurt him anymore," Sonny whispered. "I didn't think it mattered."

"I know you don't," Adrienne acknowledged. "But you have to see how bad this turned out."

"Paul lied," Sonny stated. "He told me he didn't know who Will was but he did."

"What does that mean?" Adrienne questioned. "Do you think Paul did this on purpose?"

"I don't know," Sonny exhaled loudly. "He didn't tell Will the truth either. He," Sonny's face morphed into something indescribable. "Paul kissed Will. He put his hands on my husband and he-,"

"Sonny?" Adrienne questioned, alarmed at Sonny's expression and tone.

"The things he said to Will, my Will," Sonny's nostrils flared. "He thinks he has feelings for Will. Kept screaming that he wasn't giving up on Will. He doesn't get to do that. No one gets to do that, feel that for Will."

Adrienne realized something terrible.

'Paul didn't know who Will was when I confronted him at the pub. No one is that good of an actor,' Adrienne's eyes widened. 'I'm the one that told Paul about Will and Sonny. Oh god, he was staring at Will. I thought he was up to something but he was admiring Will. He wanted him and if Will's been interviewing him that long…'

"Sweetie," Adrienne didn't want to say this. "Don't you think it's possible Paul might want Will for himself? That his feelings might be genuine."

"I-No, I, just," Sonny tried to work through the idea.

"If Paul didn't know who Will was when they met," Adrienne attempted to understand. "And Will didn't know who Paul was…"

"No," Sonny firmly replied. "No, Paul can't want Will."

"Why not? Will's young and good looking," Adrienne bluntly responded. "Why wouldn't Paul want him?"

"That's not," Sonny shook his head. "Of course, Paul could like Will. Will's gorgeous, but," Sonny closed his eyes. "Will isn't Paul's type."

"Why do you say that?" Adrienne tilted her head to the side.

"Because!" Sonny exploded. "Because Paul always liked confidence, maturity and someone his own age and-,"

"Sonny," Adrienne frowned. "Are we talking about Paul or you?"

Sonny glared viciously.

"Will is beautiful and I love him," Sonny firmly stated. "Paul can admire Will's face or his body all he wants. But he cannot want Will. I won't allow him to. Will is mine. Paul can't have him."

"Okay," Adrienne rubbed along Sonny's arm. "I know. I know."

"What if Will decides he can't try anymore? What if he can't forgive me?" Sonny asked. "What if-?"

"Will loves you," Adrienne cut him off. "He's hurting. But he'll remember that eventually."

"Will was so hurt, finding out I slept with Paul. I don't think it was because of me. I think it was because of Paul," Sonny told her. "But, what if Will has feelings for him too? I couldn't handle that. I can't. Will can't."

"Sonny," Adrienne tried to calm him down. "Sonny, stop it!"

"I love him, I can't-he can't," Sonny rambled, tears lining his eyes.

"Will loves you," Adrienne practically shouted. "He loves you. I don't know anything about how he feels about Paul. All I know is that that boy is in love with you. He's always loved you. Through everything, Sonny. That isn't going to go away."

"It's not?" Sonny stared at Adrienne, trusting her completely.

"Of course not," Adrienne soothed. "I'm guessing you left to give Will some space?"

Sonny nodded.

"Good, give it a day or two," Adrienne suggested.

"I can't go that long-," Sonny argued.

"No, listen," Adrienne stressed. "Give Will a while to think. Get both of your heads on straight. Then, you can see what happens. But," Adrienne warned. "You can't go after Paul. You can't hound Will. You need to show Will that you can respect him and love him no matter what."

"I can do that," Sonny said in a small voice. "I can."

"I know," Adrienne smiled encouragingly. "And I'll see what I can do to help you, okay?"

"You'll help?" Sonny asked, sounding almost child-like. "You promise?"

"Yes," Adrienne assured him. "I love you, Sonny. And I'll do whatever you need me to do for this. But you have to listen to me. You cannot harass Will or Paul. Do you understand?"

Sonny nodded once again.

"Good," Adrienne said. "This is a delicate situation. But I'll do my best to find out everything that I can. Got it?"

"Why do you care so much?" Sonny asked bleakly. "You've never liked Will. Shouldn't you be encouraging this?"

"My feelings for Will are complicated," Adrienne admitted. "But I know exactly how I feel about you. And you love Will. I'll do whatever I can to help ease your pain. Got it?"

Sonny nodded.

"I trust you," Sonny promised. "But how are you going to find anything out? Are you going to talk to Will?"

"Not Will," Adrienne pressed her lips together. "But someone close."

"Here," Lucas set a plate in front of Will. "You need to eat something."

Will picked up his fork and stabbed at the spaghetti. He turned to look at Ari sitting in her high chair at the table. He couldn't help but smile at the mess she was making.

"Come here," Will pulled off Ari's dress so she wouldn't get sauce all over it like she did her face. "That's better."

"I used to have to do that with you," Lucas reminisced. "You'd get spaghetti everywhere. Hell, I remember one time it was even in your diaper."

"Ari's like that with ice cream," Will offered. "Bibs don't even make a difference. Every time, she gets covered in it."

"Must get that after you," Lucas decided.

"I hope that's all she gets from me," Will couldn't stop himself from saying.

"Will," Lucas frowned. "You don't believe that."

"I do," Will mumbled. He quickly and efficiently cleaned Ari off when she was finished with her meal. He didn't want her overhearing this conversation. "Although with how dumb both her parents are maybe she's a lost cause."

"Will," Lucas scolded, watching Will place Ari back near her toys.

"How did I not know, Dad?" Will asked Lucas. He stared at his father. Big blue eyes gazing at Lucas like he held all the answers. "How did I not figure it out?"

"You couldn't have known, Will," Lucas responded.

"Whenever I would talk about the Giants," Will recalled. "Sonny would get this look on his face. He'd always find a way to leave the room. I just thought he didn't like the Giants. But it was Paul. Everything was always Paul."

"Didn't he take you to a baseball game once?" Lucas frowned, straining his memory.

Will pinched his face together, lips curling.

"I almost forgot about that. He was going to take Gabi but I went instead," Will admitted. "He said he got the tickets from a friend. That could have been Paul for all I know. I don't even know when they really broke up. I don't know anything."

"You still couldn't have predicted this," Lucas said.

"Paul told me he hooked up with his ex," Will revealed. "That they spent a weekend together before realizing they were officially done. Sonny told me he cheated with his ex over an entire weekend. Anyone with an ounce of common sense would have figured it out."

"Stop saying crap like that," Lucas ordered.

"It's true," Will spat. "I've always been a stupid, lost little boy."

"You always did great in school," Lucas reminded Will. "And the spelling bees? Those word games you play with your grandma? You aren't stupid."

"It's different," Will shook his head.

"It's not and I never want to hear you say that about yourself again," Lucas warned angrily.

"Sonny treated me terribly and he's never been that cruel before. He'd, he'd tell me about how I'd make him angry and how he put up with so much crap from me. But nothing like this," Will shook his head. "I should have known something was wrong."

"How were you supposed to know that, Will?" Lucas questioned. "No one ever expected something like this from him."

"He did it because of me," Will insisted. "Because I wasn't enough, not compared to-"

"That is not true," Lucas argued.

"Who would want me when they could have Paul?" Will threw down his fork. He couldn't eat. "When they had Paul. I'm sure my coming back to Salem was a massive disappointment."

"Sonny loves you," Lucas reluctantly said. He didn't want to encourage any of those idiots but Lucas knew that much.

"Every moment, every time we were together," Will bit his lower lip. "Sonny was comparing me to Paul. When, when I got back, Sonny and I were together, you know, together. Do you think Sonny thought about me then or was he thinking about Paul?"

Lucas didn't want to know any of this. Will was his little boy.

"I'm sure Sonny wanted to be with you," Lucas answered, uncomfortable.

Will shook his head, wrapping his arms around his waist. Unconsciously, Will glanced at his stomach. Will hadn't been to the gym in a while. He didn't get to go often in Los Angeles either.

'Is Sonny disappointed in how I look?' Will wondered. 'Is that why he-?'

"Look," Lucas cut off Will's ruminations. "There's just one problem with your theory here." When Lucas was certain he had Will's attention, he explained. "Sonny and Paul both want to be with you."

Will huffed, looking away.

"They almost came to blows," Lucas said. "Over you. Because they both want to be with you."

"No," Will denied. "I don't know what they want but it's not me."

"Will," Lucas refrained from rolling his eyes. "I know you heard what they were saying. They want you, both of them."

"Well, I don't want them," Will answered stubbornly.

"I don't think that's true," Lucas informed Will. "I think the problem is you do."

"The problem is I trusted them both," Will looked his father dead in the eyes, believing every word he was saying. "And I am never going to forgive them."

Paul slammed the door to his apartment shut. He didn't care that everyone downstairs probably heard. He didn't care about anything right now.

'Why the hell didn't I tell him the truth?' Paul wondered not for the last time. 'I could have explained it all. I could have salvaged everything.'

Paul's phone buzzed in his pocket again. He ignored it while on his quest to get to Will. Now it was harder to disregard.

Paul had missed calls from his publicist, his agent, friends, family, everyone. It felt like everyone in the world wanted to know what was happening.

'The article, the pictures,' Paul closed his eyes. 'Why is this all happening?'

"Paul," his publicist sighed over the line. "I don't know how to deal with this. The article I knew was coming. But the pictures? What do you want me to say?"

The woman had no idea how to ask Paul if he really was gay. She had sent out many comments to various news sources about Paul and his female conquests over the years. She had never dealt with any of this before. Sure, there had been the rumors but she never thought anything of it.

"I don't know," Paul responded.

Paul was overwhelmed. He didn't want to come out now. He wasn't ready.

'But these stupid pictures,' Paul grimaced.

Paul browsed through the photographs on his IPad. He had no idea how he didn't notice the stupid paparazzi following him.

'How the hell am I going to explain why I'm holding Will's face? The way I'm looking at him?' Paul shook his head. 'Even if I do deny it, these pictures aren't going away. People aren't going to forget these.'

'It doesn't matter what I say or do,' Paul realized. 'Everyone already knows.'

Beyond himself, Paul knew this was going to come back and reflect on Will too. Will's professionalism, his entire career could be in jeopardy if everyone thought he slept with someone to get the scoop.

'As if I haven't wrecked Will's life enough,' Paul closed his eyes. 'I ruined what little faith he had left in the world. Did I have to ruin his career too?'

"Paul?" the woman asked. "I can send out a comment explaining it's all just a misunderstanding. I could blame it on circumstance or not comment at all. Blame it on the journalist and the magazine?"

Paul knew he could do that. He could blame Sonix and Zoe. It was true that Zoe pressed Will to out Paul. Before Will himself even knew Paul was gay, actually. It would be easy to blame them, try to save face.

But Paul couldn't do it. He couldn't do that to Will not after everything.

'He's probably getting enough flack for this as it is,' Paul knew.

Paul recalled the way Lucas accused Will of sleeping with him.

'Because of a hug,' Paul scoffed. 'What's everyone going to think with the pictures? Especially the ones showing Will going into the pub at night and leaving the next morning in the same clothes.'

'God, this is a mess,' Paul groaned.

"Just say you aren't commenting," Paul finally decided. "Until I figure out what I want to do."

"Alright," the woman replied. "I'll send it out. Just, please, keep me in the loop about this all."

Paul hung up without responding.

'I've lost Will. I've lost baseball. Everyone knows I'm gay. This is a nightmare.'

Paul's only saving grace so far was no one seemed to know he was staying in the pub. Everyone seemed to think Will and Paul were only shacking up at the apartment. No one knew Paul actually lived there.

Paul managed to make it from Will's apartment to the pub without being seen as well. At least Paul was able to shake the paparazzi when he tried.

'That's about the only thing that's gone right,' Paul thought.

Paul's phone rang again. With an eye roll, Paul made to turn the damn thing off. Only, he saw his mother's name flashing across the screen.

"Mother," Paul answered, desperate. "I screwed up so bad."

"What happened, Paul?" Tori Norita questioned. "You're all over the news."

"I ruined everything," Paul explained. "And I made everything worse and I just-I don't know what to do now."

"Tell me what's happening," Tori requested. "I read your article. It was beautiful."

"I told you it would be," Paul said. "Will's amazing."

"And, Will is the one in the photographs?" Tori clarified.

"Yeah," Paul sighed.

"Why would they try to misconstrue your friendship?" Tori wondered.

"Because," Paul took a deep breath. "There isn't anything to misinterpret."

"But," Tori responded, confused. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Actually," Paul closed his eyes. "It makes perfect sense."

"Son, I do not understand," Tori honestly replied.

"I-," Paul tried.

He couldn't do it. Paul wasn't prepared for this. This isn't how this was supposed to happen. There was a plan.

'I was supposed to figure out my life,' Paul thought. 'I was going to establish myself, get everything together. Then I was going to tell my mom. I was going to take my time, tell her face to face. Be confident.'

Media speculation and paparazzi photos were not part of the plan.

"I need to go, Mother," Paul said. "I-I'll call you back tomorrow."

"Goodnight, baby girl," Will whispered into Ari's crib, caressing her cheeks. "I love you."

Ari whined and made grabby hands at Will.

"Alright," Will sighed, never able to resist when she needed him.

Will leaned against the crib and rubbed up and down Ari's back. He began humming one of her nursery rhymes.

Once Ari drifted off to sleep, Will turned to see his father watching him.

While Will was going through Ari's bedtime routine, Lucas unpacked all the bags left near the door. While shoving Will's things away, Lucas counted the reveal this afternoon as a godsend. Lucas could only imagine the type of humiliation Will would have felt if he made it all the way to California with Paul before finding out the truth.

Reluctantly, Lucas could relate to Sonny and Paul's actions. He knew sometimes lies were easier. That sometimes you hurt the ones you love. But Sonny and Paul hurt Will, Lucas' son. It was different.

Now, for the first time, Lucas understood why his mother fought so hard against Sami, against anyone that threatened her children.

'It's a different kind of pain,' Lucas realized. 'Watching your child hurt. It doesn't matter if I can relate to the situation or empathize. They hurt my boy. There's no going back from that.'

"Have I ever told you how proud I am of you?" Lucas asked Will as he moved away from Ari's doorjamb. He adjusted a bundle of clothes in his arms.

Will closed Ari's door and shook his head.

"Well, I am," Lucas assured him. "I had my concerns when we all found out about Gabi being pregnant. But, Ari's perfect and you're amazing with her."

"I try my best," Will said as he gathered up Ari's toys scattered across the floor and put them away. "At least I can do that right."

"Will," Lucas frowned heavily.

"I just," Will took a deep, steadying breath. "I wish none of this happened."

"I do too," Lucas admitted. "You don't deserve any of this."

Will turned away. His own opinion on the subject differed.

"Here," Lucas handed Will a pile of clothing.

"You didn't have to do that," Will said. "I could have just sucked it up."

"It wasn't that hard unpacking for you. Besides, you said you didn't want to go in your room. You don't need to go in there until you're ready," Lucas shrugged. "You're my son and you're hurting. I'll do whatever I can to help."

"Thanks," Will responded, feeling his eyes water again.

As Will went into the bathroom to change, Lucas moved around the apartment. He covered every picture of Sonny as he went. He knew how much Will was hurting right now. There didn't need to be little reminders jolting him everywhere he looked.

Lucas was determined now more than ever to protect his son from everything and everyone that could hurt him.

Author's note:

Thank you for reading!