The first thing Will did when he woke from a restless sleep was find his laptop. He wanted to see the feedback on his article.

Will, leg bouncing up and down, waited for the link to his article to load. He didn't know why he was doing this. Or why he even cared.

'Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment,' Will thought.

For whatever reason, Will needed to read the reactions to his article. He didn't even know if anyone had read it or not. He hadn't heard any reactions except from Paul and Zoe. Everyone was too preoccupied with the photographs of himself and Paul.

Nervously, Will began to read the comments on his article. A few in, Will felt nauseous.

Hardly anyone spoke about the content of the article. Instead, everyone focused on the paparazzi pictures and speculated on Will and Paul's relationship.

Will read how he had no professionalism. How he clearly slept with Paul to get the story. How he threw away his scruples and morals. Those that knew he was married questioned his relationship too, his character.

After the fifth comment referring to Will as a whore, Will slammed his laptop shut.

Deep down, Will felt terrified that everyone was right. He didn't jump into Paul's bed. He didn't seduce Paul. But Will did get too close to his subject. Paul did want to sleep with Will. Maybe unconsciously Will did throw away his morals to get to Paul.

He just wasn't as close to Paul in the way everyone thought.

'Aren't I?' a voice in the back of Will's mind asked.

Will closed his eyes, clearing his head. He didn't want to deal with that right now, wouldn't deal with it. Will couldn't even think about Paul without wanting to curl into a ball and cry.

Will slumped against the couch.

'This is the one article I have where everything went right,' Will thought. 'I didn't hurt anyone. I didn't ruin anything. It was perfect.'

'And no one is going to read it,' Will realized. 'And if they do all they're going to think about is me sleeping with Paul.'

Will didn't think he could deal with that on top of everything else. He lost his husband, his best friend, and now, potentially, his profession too.

Ring Ring Ring

Will glanced at his phone with a frown. He hadn't touched the thing in ages. People he didn't want to talk to wouldn't stop calling or texting. Strange numbers he didn't recognize phoned too.

But, Will assigned a select few people special ringtones. Those whose calls he couldn't afford to miss.

'Zoe,' Will grabbed his phone and closed his eyes.

"Hello?" Will asked. His voice was dry and cracked from a night of little sleep.

"Will," Zoe eagerly answered. "Your article, oh my god. The site hits are outrageous! You have no idea how huge this has become."

"None of the comments are good," Will mumbled. "No one is reading it at all."

"Who cares?" Zoe countered. "This is our most popular article of all time. All the major news outlets are reporting about the retirement. But the speculation about your relationship, my god is it good. This is the greatest thing to ever happen to Sonix."

Will didn't appreciate anyone benefitting from his heartbreak.

"And the perfectly timed photo release?" Zoe continued oblivious to Will's distress. "I couldn't have planned that any better if I tried myself."

"Did you?" Will questioned, suspicious. "Did you plan that?"

"No, of course not," Zoe answered. "But whoever did is a godsend. I'll have to send them a gift basket."

Will sputtered indignantly.

"And you and Paul," Zoe added with a teasing lilt to her voice. "Trying to play off his coming out. I knew you had to be hitting that. I knew he couldn't resist."

"I didn't sleep with Paul," Will insisted.

"Sure, no, of course not," Zoe agreed.

Her tone and her words did not coincide.

"At least, that's what I'll tell anyone if they ask," Zoe conceded. "I've been getting questions all day for a company statement. I've just done the same as Paul and said no comment."

"Paul put out a statement?" Will furrowed his brows.

"Of course," Zoe rolled her eyes. "He's famous, Will. Not only is he retiring but now rumors about his sexuality? Of course he would put out a statement."

"Oh," Will mumbled lowly.

Will loathed that he cared how Paul was faring with the situation. He wanted to erase everything Paul Narita from his life.

"Now," Zoe stated. "We need to milk this publicity as long as we can. I'm doubling the orders for the magazine. I want everyone in the world to read it."

"Great," Will sighed. "Even more people to question my ethics."

"Nonsense," Zoe dismissed. "Who cares what you write as long as you get to do it?"

'I care,' Will thought.

"I hope you have another article in you," Zoe gloated. "I think the deal with Paul on the second article is about to pull through."

"Hello?" Lucas answered his phone.

"Lucas, it's me," Adrienne said.

"Oh," Lucas stopped preparing breakfast for Will and Ari. "Hi."

"Hi," Adrienne parroted. "Um, well, how are things?"

"Awful, actually," Lucas answered honestly. He went back to stirring the pancake batter. "You should know why."

"I do, yes," Adrienne swallowed. "That's partly why I called."

Lucas figured as much. He had gotten closer to Adrienne over the past couple of months. He was able to read her well.

"I wanted to check on Will," Adrienne admitted. "Is he, um, well how is he?"

"Devastated," Lucas stated. "Hurting, miserable, feeling like he's useless," Lucas growled the last word.

"I thought as much," Adrienne mumbled. "Do you think, um, no, do you know where his head's at? Do you think he'll forgive Sonny?"

"Yesterday, he said he wouldn't forgive Sonny or Paul," Lucas revealed. "Unless that changes I wouldn't hold my breath."

Adrienne sighed deeply. That's what she was afraid of.

"Sonny's miserable," Adrienne explained. "You don't know how guilty he feels."

"Good," Lucas spat out. "He should feel guilty."

"I don't think that's-," Adrienne defended.

"He hurt my boy," Lucas argued. "He broke his heart, destroyed his trust."

"I know that," Adrienne objected. "But he loves Will."

"Sonny knows everything about Will," Lucas continued. "He knew what would hurt Will the most. He did it anyway."

"It's not Sonny's fault Will's childhood was-," Adrienne argued.

"Don't even go there," Lucas hissed. "Sami and I might not have been the best parents but Will is a good kid. He isn't perfect but he tries his best."

"I know that," Adrienne admitted. "I know that. I-I know my feelings about Will are complicated. But I know Sonny loves him. Seeing Sonny like this, god, Lucas. I've never seen Sonny like this, ever. I just want my son to be happy again."

"Right now," Lucas said. "Sonny needs to keep his distance."

"And Paul?" Adrienne asked. "What about him?"

"Will doesn't want anything to do with either of them," Lucas replied.

"So, Will does know him, Paul I mean," Adrienne mused.

"They became friends through Will's article," Lucas stated. "Paul got a little too close."

Adrienne frowned.

Reluctantly, Lucas added, "I think Will might have too."

"What do you mean?" Adrienne pressed. She had to know everything about this situation. She needed to know what Will was thinking.

"Will was crushed finding out that Paul was who Sonny cheated with. Will was going to leave town with Paul. He insisted it was as a friend but I don't know," Lucas shrugged. "If they were just friends Will wouldn't have cared that much."

"This is awful," Adrienne sighed. "I knew Paul Narita was nothing but trouble. First, he broke Sonny's heart and now he's going after his husband. Why can't he just leave my son alone?"

"What does that mean?" Lucas dropped some batter on a griddle. "That Paul can't leave Sonny alone? Paul didn't even know they were married to each other."

"Lucas," Adrienne rolled her eyes. "I know you aren't that blind. Paul is clearly getting back at Sonny."

"Why is it so hard to believe that Paul might want Will?" Lucas wondered. "Hmm? Why is that so far-fetched?"

"Well," Adrienne didn't know how to reply. "It just seems suspicious. Paul wanted to get back together with Sonny and now he wants Will? That he learned Will was married to Sonny and still wanted him, I mean? I just don't see how it can be a coincidence."

"So, what you're saying is," Lucas set his jaw. "Your son is desirable and mine isn't."

"No," Adrienne denied. "I'm sure Paul's attracted to Will. I just think it's a little too convenient to be an accident."

"You know what," Lucas was fed up. "Maybe Paul is the one Will should be with after all."

"What?" Adrienne spat. "Lucas, you don't mean that."

"Sure, Paul lied," Lucas shrugged. "But he said it was to spare Will's feelings. He wanted Sonny to tell the truth and he never did. Paul didn't know who Will was when he slept with Sonny. What Paul did wasn't as bad as what Sonny did."

"Lucas Horton," Adrienne cried. "You stop that. I know you don't mean it."

Lucas flipped the pancake, silent.

"Fine," Lucas responded. "I don't want either man with my son. Will deserves better. He always has."

"Whatever happens," Adrienne pleaded. "Please, keep me in the loop. I'm trying my best with Sonny. But I need to know what's going on with Will, Will and Ari. I can't let my son lose his family like this."

"And I can't let my son get hurt again," Lucas stated.

"What do we tell Grandpa, sweetie?" Will asked Arianna as he wiped syrup off her hands and face.

"Tank'ou," Ari grinned at Lucas.

"You are more than welcome, sweet thing," Lucas kissed the top of her blonde head.

Watching Will with Ari made Lucas smile. They both looked so much alike.

'So much like Allie does, like Sami does,' Lucas thought wistfully.

For all the bad blood between Lucas and Sami their love for their grandchild united them in a way they never experienced before.

'Not to mention what's happening with Will,' Lucas admitted. 'Whenever Will was in trouble was when we were at our best.'

'I don't think he's ever hurt as much as he does now,' Lucas realized.

Ding Dong

"Can you get that?" Will questioned. "I've almost got all the syrup off her."

"Sure," Lucas agreed.

Lucas made for the door, swinging it open without looking through the peephole.

"Huh," Lucas stated with a smirk. "Speak of the devil and she shall appear."

"Quiet, you," Sami Brady shoved her suitcase into Lucas' chest. "And get out of my way."

Lucas, oomphing loudly, stepped aside.

"Will!" Sami screeched.

Will barely had enough time to drop the soiled rag he held before he had an armful of his mother.

"Mom," Will complained in a winded voice. "Can't breathe."

"Don't care," Sami held Will tightly. "I need to smother you with my love."

"Grammy," Ari clapped her clean hands together. "Grammy! Grammy! Grammy!"

Sami, holding onto Will with one arm, reached out for Ari in the other.

"Oh, my babies," Sami whispered. "I missed you both so much."

Will closed his eyes, relishing the moment. He didn't get opportunities like this often anymore.

"I missed you too," Will said in disbelief.

"Don't sound so surprised," Sami ordered with a light slap to the shoulder.

"The kids all say hi," Sami informed Will and Lucas with a nod. "They're with the nanny until I get back. They wanted to come too but they have school."

Sami let go of Will and Ari. She took a good look at Will's face.

'Bags under his eyes,' Sami noted. 'And that look's back. The one I hate. The one that makes him look like a lost, miserable little boy.'

"Alright," Sami said. "There's nothing to it now. I have to kill them."

"No, you don't," Will rolled his eyes.

"They betrayed your trust," Sami ardently maintained. "That means I get to cause physical harm."

"Mom," Will shook his head. "I want you staying out of it."

"And you know me well enough to know that won't happen," Sami smiled confidently.

Will closed his eyes and sighed. He loved his mother, he did. It was just exhausting having to take a backseat to the Sami Brady Show.

"But, right now, isn't about me," Sami confessed when she saw the expression on Will's face. "Let's talk."

Will set Ari on the ground to play with her blocks while he moved to the couch. Sandwiched between his parents, Will realized this is what he always dreamed of as a child.

'I wanted my mom and dad to drop everything for me. I wanted to be the most important thing in their lives,' Will recalled. 'I wanted them to love me more than anything else.'

"Tell me what happened," Sami requested.

"Sonny slept with Paul," Will shrugged. "What's to tell?"

"So, Paul is Sonny's ex-boyfriend," Sami tried to work it all out. "The one that Sonny proposed to. Well, I guess we know why he said no."

"Because he was in the closet," Will crossed his arms. He slumped on the couch, practically curling into a ball. "Not because he didn't want to."

"You don't know that," Lucas offered. "Not for sure."

"All I know is that Sonny wanted to marry someone else," Will listed. "And that when he married me a part of him wanted it to be Paul. Our entire relationship, a part of Sonny belonged to Paul. Hell, for all I know, they could be together right now. It's not like I'm in the way anymore."

"You know they aren't," Lucas sighed. "You didn't see them arguing yesterday."

"I don't want them arguing over me," Will insisted. "I'm not a toy they get to pass back and forth."

"Well," Sami questioned lightly. "Are you upset that Sonny had feelings for someone else? Or that Sonny had feelings for Paul?"

"It's the same thing," Will frowned.

"No, it's not," Lucas, shockingly, agreed with Sami. "I know you feel devastated by Sonny cheating. But it happening with Paul makes it worse. Because you trusted Paul, are attracted to Paul. Maybe you even lo-,"

"I don't love Paul," Will insisted. "I, yes," Will swallowed. "Knowing it's Paul makes it worse. He's one of my closest friends. Probably the closest lately," Will closed his eyes. "He was there for me when I found out about Sonny. He held my hand and, and encouraged me throughout it all.

"And the whole time he was the one that fucked my husband," Will finished in a grave tone. "He knew and he didn't say anything. He convinced me to go away with him and he didn't say anything."

"Do you have feeling for Paul?" Sami wondered. She hoped she sounded non-threatening. "I know things were murky for you a while ago."

"I-," Will looked down at his lap. His fingers curled around each other. "I don't know. I-I had a crush on him. I enjoyed his friendship. He was there for me in ways Sonny wasn't, in ways I wanted Sonny to be.

"Paul was this big, famous sports guy," Will closed his eyes painfully. "And he was paying attention to me. I'm nobody, nothing. But he looked at me like I was something. Sonny's the only one that's ever done that before. Paul listened to me, comforted me. He helped me with the pub. He made me feel important when Sonny said I was useless.

"He's my best friend," Will frowned heavily. "I don't know if I felt anything more than that. But I might have, one day."

"Baby," Sami put her arm around Will's shoulders.

"I can't," Will tried to explain his chaotic thoughts. "I keep picturing it, them. I was in that stupid hotel room. I can see it perfectly. Their hands on each other, their lips. Sonny throwing everything he promised me away. I-I can't look at either of them anymore. I don't know how to stomach it."

"I know," Lucas sympathized. He really did. He's been in this position more times than he wanted to admit.

"I just," Will tried to control his emotions. He didn't want Ari seeing him like this. "I can't imagine a time or a place where this doesn't rule my life. How am I supposed to get over this?

"And my dumb article," Will spat. "I thought for once I did everything right. I thought that this was finally it, my chance to prove that I'm good at something. And all anyone cares about is if I slept with Paul."

"Those stupid pictures," Sami hissed. "I have my people at the movie studio looking into it, Will. They'll find that paparazzi and nail his ass."

"I didn't even sleep with Paul," Will laughed ruefully. "Everyone thinks I did. Maybe I should have."

"Will," Lucas scolded.

"I could have," Will pointed out. He curled up even smaller, rounding his shoulders, stomaching hunching inward. "After I found out about the credit card, I went back to the pub. I went up to Paul's studio. I kissed him."

Sami frowned and held Will closer. She didn't know about this part.

"I kissed him," Will repeated. "I wanted to sleep with him. I wanted to do everything with Paul that Sonny did. God," Will laughed. "Paul would know, wouldn't he? Everything that Sonny did."

"That's not funny," Lucas shook his head.

"The only reason we stopped was because of Paul," Will admitted. "He wouldn't take advantage of me. He knew I wanted to hurt Sonny the way he hurt me."

Will shivered. Thinking about kissing Paul, knowing that Paul had been with Sonny, sickened him now.

"And the worst part," Will confessed. "Is I still care. I cared if Sonny could sleep last night. And I care about how Paul is dealing with the stupid rumors. And I hate that. I hate that I care. They hurt me and I can't stop caring. Why can't I stop?"

"You feel things, baby," Sami ran her hands down the back of Will's head. "You always have. You can't turn off your feelings for them no matter how much you want to."

"I want it to stop hurting," Will said forcefully. "I want to make it impossible for them to hurt me."

"That isn't going to happen, son," Lucas squeezed Will's shoulder. "But, one day, eventually, things will get better. One day you'll wake up and it won't feel like your heart is in a vice."

"I can't even imagine that," Will sighed. "It feels like it's always going to hurt."

"You're strong," Sami said. "You'll get through this."

"You'll have us with you," Lucas agreed. "We'll do anything to make sure you don't get hurt again."

Will nodded and leaned closer to Sami.

For the first time since he was a child, Will closed his eyes and blindly trusted his mom and dad to take care of him.

Sonny sat with his laptop on his bed. He hadn't left the bedroom in his uncle's mansion. He couldn't stand to see anyone.

Sonny was certain by now everyone had seen the pictures of Will and Paul. He didn't want to deal with any accusations or pity.

'Especially when I'm the bad guy,' Sonny thought. 'I'm the one that ruined everything, ruined Will.'

Adrienne told Sonny he needed to leave Will alone, at least for a few days.

Sonny couldn't do that. He couldn't go that long when he knew Will was hurting. He couldn't stand that he was the cause of Will's pain, that he had been hurting Will for so long.

'I was cruel,' Sonny knew. 'I pushed him away. Right to Paul.'

Sonny would never forgive Paul Narita for going after his husband. Even if Paul didn't know who Will was, Sonny couldn't forgive him.

'Everyone in this town knows,' Sonny thought. 'A simple google search would tell Paul everything he wanted to know.'

'Of all the men in the world, he had to find my husband.'

Sonny knew why Paul would want Will. Will was dangerously good looking. Dangerous because Will had no idea. He went through life feeling like he was invisible. Will didn't appreciate his good qualities the way other's did. It made it easier for someone to prey on him.

'Will's young, hot, sweet,' Sonny recalled. 'He'd listen to everything Paul had to say. Why wouldn't Paul want Will?'

It was an unusual feeling for Sonny. He had never felt threatened before because of another person. Jealous, sure. Sonny was jealous of Gabi when she was dating Will. He was jealous that Neil was Will's first kiss with a man. Hell, once upon a time, Sonny was jealous of Chad for being Will's best friend.

But Sonny had never felt threatened before. He had always known his place in Will's life. Disregarding Arianna, Sonny was the most important person to Will. No one would ever take his place, his position. No one would ever love or want Will the way he did. Will would never want or need anyone the way he did Sonny.

Now, Sonny didn't know if that was true.

Sonny spent hours examining the photographs of Will and Paul. He looked over every expression on Will's face, his body language.

Sonny knew he was in trouble.

'If Will forgives Paul over me-,' Sonny thought. 'No, no that won't happen. I'm Will's husband. He only loves me.'

Because of that, Sonny knew he couldn't leave Will alone. He wouldn't call Will or text him. That was too personal. He didn't want to push Will away. Instead, Sonny took a page out of Will's book.

When Will was away in LA and busy, he found the time to email Sonny. So, that's what Sonny would do for Will. Only, Sonny wasn't as good with the written word as Will was. Spontaneous speeches, sure. Sonny could speak from the heart. But this was too important to wing.

Instead, Sonny put his faith in the classics. Historical love letters that could accurately describe his feelings better than he could.

Reading over his email one last time, Sonny paused before hitting send.

Will,

How did I love before I knew you — before I possessed your affection! I reckon upon your love as something that is to endure when everything that can perish has perished — though my trust is sometimes mingled with fear, because I feel myself unworthy of your love. But if I am worthy of it you will always love me; and if there be anything good and pure in me, it will be proved by my always loving you.*

Paul inhaled and exhaled several times. He had to do this while he still had the courage.

Phone in hand, Paul pressed dial.

"Hello?" Tori Norita greeted.

"Mother," Paul answered. "There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it Paul-san?" Tori questioned, concerned. "Is this about last night? The article and the rumors?"

"I should have told you a long time ago, I just-," Paul paused. "I was afraid of how you would take it."

"Take what?" Tori swallowed. A niggling idea in the back of her head bubbled to the surface.

"Do you remember," Paul thought back to the speech he planned. "When I was in high school and it was time for the prom?"

Tori thought for a moment.

"Yes," Tori recalled. "I was upset with you because you wanted to go with your teammates as a group. I wanted you to take Keiko Himura from your church group instead."

"That's when I knew," Paul mumbled. "I knew I couldn't tell you. I couldn't tell my friends. I couldn't tell anyone."

"Tell me what, Paul-san?" Tori wondered.

"I pursued baseball, lived and breathed it," Paul listed. "Dedicated my entire life to it. It was the only thing I thought I was good at. I thought it was worth it.

"I spent my whole life believing I had to hide myself," Paul added. "I had to be myself in secret. I knew everything would be over if I admitted it out loud. I couldn't be myself and have baseball at the same time."

"Paul?" Tori blinked away tears.

"I just wanted you to be proud of me," Paul cleared his throat. "I wanted to make you and Grandfather proud. Baseball was the only way that would happen. I thought, as long as I had baseball, I wouldn't need anything else. I could get by with the secrets and the lies. I thought I would get away with it."

Paul sniffed wiping underneath his nose. He needed to be strong for this.

"I had what I wanted once," Paul declared. "I had it all and I threw it away. Baseball was more important. I almost had it all again and I screwed up so bad. But now," Paul shook his head. "I don't have baseball. And I'm not, I don't want to hide any more, Mother. I just want to be me, all of me."

"I don't want you to hide either," Tori informed Paul. "Please, tell me."

"I met someone that made me believe my life wasn't over. That I hadn't thrown everything away," Paul revealed. "Convinced me that I wasn't just baseball. That I was more, better. That there was so much more I could offer to the world."

"Please, son," Tori pleaded. "Let me in."

"Everyone already knows," Paul whispered. "They all saw the pictures. I-I don't even get to control this decision. It's already been made. God, this was my worst nightmare once. That I would be forced to do this.

"Mother," Paul blinked several times, staring at the ceiling. "I'm gay."

Tori inhaled sharply, holding her breath.

"I'm sorry, Mother," Paul stifled a small sob, believing her silence said enough. "I don't mean to disappoint you."

"Oh, my sweet son," Tori stemmed her own flowing tears. "The only disappointment here is me. I'm the one who has failed you. A mother who denies her child is no mother at all."

Paul cried openly.

"I will always love you," Tori promised. "There is nothing you can do or say that will change that. I apologize for ever making you doubt that. You're my son and I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, Mother," Paul wiped under his eyes.

"There's nothing to thank me for," Tori assured him. "You are my son."

"Do you think Grandfather will feel the same way?" Paul questioned. "I-I don't want him to-,"

"Nonsense," Tori dismissed. "My father is the only person on earth who might love you more than I do. But, I will be with you when you tell him, if you wish."

"Please," Paul requested. "I don't want to do this alone."

"Whatever you need of me," Tori promised.

Will sat alone on his couch. Alone, for the first time in forever it felt like. As much as Will appreciated the support from his parents, they were stifling him.

For the first time since his call that morning with Zoe, Will looked at his phone. He had several missed calls and texts. Reluctantly, Will dialed his voicemail and pressed his phone to his ear.

"Mr. Horton, this is Bebe Jones with the National Enquirer," a female voice stated. "We're interested in talking to you about your relations with Paul Narita. We're prepared to highly compensate you for your time."

Will deleted the message before she could leave her number.

He found four similar messages. Magazines and online distributors wanting a tell-all of his alleged wild nights with Paul.

Will vaguely wondered if they would be as interested if they found out he spent more time with Paul talking and with a toddler.

Will pinched his face together just thinking about all the time he spent with Paul.

'And I never even knew,' Will sighed, moving on to the next message.

"Will," Kate's message said. "I don't know what's happening but we'll salvage it. Call me as soon as you can."

That didn't surprise Will. Grandma Kate always thought of life as a problem to be solved.

'At least she didn't question anything,' Will thought.

After pressing delete, Will went to the next message.

"Will, sweetheart," Marlena said. "I'm concerned. You haven't talked to me in so long. I'm worried about you, about your behavior. I don't know what to think about these pictures. Please, just let me help you."

Will frowned and hung up. He wasn't in the mood to hear anymore messages.

'She doesn't know what to think?' Will rolled his eyes. 'Even she believes I did something wrong?'

Will ignored all his texts. None of them looked too important and he was not answering any questions about the article. Only one email stood out. It was from Sonny's Salem U account. The same email he told Will he no longer used.

Will knew he shouldn't look. He should be too angry and hurt to want to look.

But this was Sonny. His husband, his Sonny. The same Sonny that charged into the hospital when he heard Gabi was admitted even when they were broken up. The same Sonny that held Will's trembling hands and kissed him so sweetly the first time they were intimate.

'The same Sonny that cheated on me,' Will forced himself to recall. 'The same Sonny that spent the entirety of our relationship wanting someone else.'

Despite his better judgment, Will opened the email.

Reading it over, Will swallowed. He didn't know what he expected but it wasn't this. Seeing the sweet words, feeling them, made Will even more confused than before.

Will didn't know who Sonny was anymore. Everything he knew about Sonny changed. It wasn't just the cheating either. It was everything that came afterwards. The lying, the manipulating, it was a Sonny Will never knew. A Sonny that Will didn't know how to handle.

'Sonny was supposed to be different,' Will thought. 'Maybe that's why he cheated. He had enough of me expecting him to be perfect.'

While holding his phone, the screen lit up indicating he had a call.

Paul

Almost automatically, Will answered.

'Why did I do that?' Will wondered. 'Why did I answer? I don't want to talk to Paul, I don't. Why did I answer?'

Will said nothing, simply breathed.

"…Hi," Paul said breathlessly.

Will didn't respond, couldn't find it in him to say anything.

"I just, I needed to talk to someone," Paul explained. "No, that's a lie. I needed you. I wanted to talk to you. I didn't think you'd answer."

Will pressed his lips together as he pulled his legs up to his chest.

"I talked to my mom," Paul said with a breathless laugh. He still couldn't believe it. "And I told her. I told her that I'm gay."

"What did she say?" burst forth from Will's mouth without his permission.

"She said she loved me," Paul answered, stunned. "That she was proud of me."

"Wow," Will licked his lips. "That's amazing. What about your grandfather?"

"She helped me talk with him," Paul revealed. "And I never thought it would go this way. I never thought I could have this."

"I told you your life wasn't over," Will reminded Paul.

"I know and I believed you," Paul shook his head. "But it didn't really sink in. It still felt like it was outside of my reach. But now, god Will," Paul smiled. "My family knows about me and they don't care."

"I'm really happy for you," Will admitted.

Despite their current difficulties, Will knew how important this was for Paul. He knew how Paul worried for so long about this. He wouldn't wish rejection on anyone even someone that hurt him.

"But it doesn't change anything," Will forced out.

"I have almost everything I've ever wanted," Paul realized. "Everything but-,"

Paul cut himself off.

"But what?" Will queried mechanically.

"But you," Paul confessed.

Will froze, words drying up again.

"I promise I didn't mean to hurt you," Paul declared. "I know that sounds like crap. It is crap. I saw how much you were hurting and I couldn't do it. I couldn't tell you.

"I tried to do the right thing," Paul continued. "I told you to go back to Sonny, remember? I thought he would tell you the truth. I wanted him to be the one to do it. I know you love him and I thought, I thought he would tell you. When he didn't, I just, I saw you hurting because of him. I didn't think he deserved you."

Will tightened his grip on the phone, eyes closed.

"And I swear I didn't know right away," Paul rushed out. "I didn't know for weeks after we met. I should have," Paul knew. "But I didn't. I was reading about your life on the Salem Chronicle but I never got that far. I should have read them all. I was enjoying getting to know you for you and I didn't want to ruin it. I wanted to know you, the real you. Not what some stupid gossipy article told me about you.

"I found out the truth from Sonny's mother a few days ago," Paul admitted. "She saw me at the pub. Threatened me. The day you showed me the apartment for the first time."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Will asked voice low. "You found out and you didn't tell me."

"I wanted you for myself," Paul exposed. "You told me about how Sonny treated you. I knew he cheated. I thought I could get you away from him. I was going to tell you. Okay, I promise. I just, I hadn't felt this way about anyone in so long. You were in a bad situation and I wanted to save you."

"You made it worse," Will whispered.

"I know I did," Paul agreed. "I'm no better than Sonny. I know that now. I kept telling myself I didn't know you when I did what I did with Sonny. I didn't know you and it was going to ruin everything. I didn't want to keep anything from you. But I didn't want you to blame me for something that happened before we met."

"You were my best friend," Will said. "You built me up only to let me crash and burn by myself."

"I didn't mean to," Paul promised. "I never meant to hurt you."

"You hurt me anyway," Will sighed.

"I know," Paul agreed.

The two sat in silence for several moments. Both thought back on their friendship, the few months they had together. Everything they learned and everything they lost.

"If it makes it any better," Paul said. "I don't have feelings for Sonny anymore. Whatever I did feel for him is long gone."

"It doesn't make me feel better knowing you fucked my husband for a weekend and you don't even care," Will stated.

Sami, walking into the room, narrowed her eyes.

"Will, who are you talking too?" Sami questioned, hands on her hips.

Will stared at his mother guiltily.

"Gimme that phone," Sami held out her hand.

"Mom," Will complained.

Paul listened in, torn between amusement and panic.

"Give it," Sami climbed onto the couch, wrestling with Will for the phone.

Triumphant, Sami brandished the phone in the air.

"Whichever one you are, stop calling my son," Sami declared before disconnecting the call.

"Mom," Will sighed.

"No," Sami waved the phone at him. "No talking to either of them."

"Why?" Will shrugged. "What difference does it make?"

"You know what difference it makes and you need to stop it," Sami warned. "You're just going to fall into a trap. I don't want them playing with your emotions anymore."

"Paul came out to his mom," Will told Sami.

"And you don't think he's preying off of your emotions with that?" Sami countered.

"Mom," Will scolded. "He's all alone. He did something that brave, that life changing and he didn't have anyone. We talked for so long about what it would be like for him and I-," Will shook his head. "He shouldn't be alone."

"I agree," Sami reluctantly replied. "That doesn't mean you have to be the one there for him."

"He doesn't have anyone else," Will countered.

"I'm sure that's not true," Sami remarked. "There's bound to be someone he could talk to. He wants to talk to you. He wants you to think you're the only one he has."

Will crossed his arms and lilted against the couch. He didn't want to talk about this anymore.

"It doesn't matter," Will declared. "I'm not going to forgive Paul."

"Aren't you?" Sami gave Will a soft look.

"What does that mean?" Will wondered.

"You're a forgiving person," Sami explained. "Actually, it's one of your best features. I love that about you. But it's also one of your worst."

Sami grabbed Will's hand and squeezed.

"You forgive and you trust when no one else would," Sami continued. "You did it with Nick. You did it with EJ over and over. With me and your father, everyone. That's who you are Will."

"Maybe it's time I change," Will mumbled. "Maybe if I was smarter I wouldn't be in this mess now."

"I don't think anyone wants you to change," Sami pointed out.

"I want to change," Will decided. "I don't like being me."

Sonny lied in bed scrolling through the photos on his laptop. It had been so long since he looked through them. He'd upload them and forget about them.

'God,' Sonny smiled softly at the picture.

Will holding Ari at the hospital. The two gazing at each other in wonder.

Sonny knew right then and there that he would do anything he could to keep Will and Arianna.

'How did it all change so fast? How could I screw up so badly?'

The longer Sonny thought about it the worse he felt.

'If I love Will as much as I say I do, how could I do what I did with Paul? How could I ever think that Paul was worth more than Will, more than Ari? What the hell is wrong with me?'

Before Sonny could agonize anymore, his phone rang.

Sonny leapt across his bed for the nightstand his phone rested on. He hoped beyond anything else that it was Will.

It wasn't.

"Dad?" Sonny questioned, surprised.

"Sonny, hi," Justin Kiriakis responded. "It's been a long time since we've talked."

"I know," Sonny grunted.

Sonny didn't take too kindly to his father playing around on his mother. Ironic considering what Sonny had done.

"I deserved that," Justin admitted. "But I'm worried about you."

"Why?" Sonny demanded.

"I talked to Victor," Justin said. "He informed me of what's been happening in Salem."

"Uncle Vic doesn't know what he's talking about," Sonny argued.

"Then explain it to me," Justin requested.

So, Sonny did. He told Justin every hard truth, every disgusting detail of what he did. It was easier talking to his father rather than his mother. Justin didn't wear rose-colored glasses the way Adrienne did. He knew his son wasn't perfect.

"Sonny," Justin finally said once Sonny finished. He didn't know what else to say.

"I know," Sonny groaned. "I screwed up so badly and Will isn't going to forgive me."

"You did make a mess of everything," Justin agreed. "But you know Will. For all his faults the boy is loyal. He loves you more than anything. I don't think this is the end."

"You didn't see the way he looked at me," Sonny shook his head. "He hates me."

"Maybe," Justin commented. "You can love someone just as much as you hate them. Besides, he doesn't hate you. He hates what you did."

"I hate what I did," Sonny mumbled. "Hate what this makes me."

"Don't say that," Justin demanded. "You're better than that. You made a mistake. That doesn't make you an awful person."

"But I-," Sonny tried.

"A lot of people cheat, Sonny," Justin reminded him. "I have. Your mother has. Victor has. Sami, Lucas, EJ-," Justin listed.

"Alright, I get it," Sonny cut his father off.

"Cheating doesn't make you a bad human being," Justin maintained. "It makes you a jerk, maybe even an asshole."

"Thanks," Sonny half-laughed, half-choked.

"Will loves you. You love him. You'll get him back," Justin promised.

"How do you know that?" Sonny asked.

"You're a Kiriakis, son," Justin smiled. "We always get what we want."

Author's note:

*-Nathaniel Hawthorne to Sophia Peabody

Thanks for reading!