Will groaned loudly, head buried under his pillow. His phone rang shrilly nearby on the nightstand next to his bed.

'It's too early for this shit,' Will thought as his head pounded against his skull.

Will flung out his hand, uselessly groping for the offending phone. Finding the device, Will rejected the call.

'Finally, quiet,' Will almost smiled.

Ring Ring Ring

"Ugh," Will threw his pillow at his nightstand.

The phone continued ringing. Will grumbled before giving up.

Bleary-eyed, Will ripped the charging cable out of his phone and answered.

"What?" Will spat out, voice dry and cracking.

"Excuse you, young man?" Caroline Brady condemned. "Put my sweet, loveable great-grandson on the line."

"Sorry, Grandma," Will winced while covering his face with his hands.

"I need you to come to my house," Caroline requested.

"Is something wrong?" Will worried, hands dropping into his lap.

"No, nothing like that," Caroline assured him. "But hurry up."

"Grandma, does it have to be now?" Will asked. "I'm a little busy here."

'I'm too hungover to deal with this. Fuck, where did Ari-no, she's with Dad. Thank god.'

"Yes," Caroline insisted. "I need it to be now. Just roll out of bed and get your cute butt over here. I'm not taking no for an answer."

Caroline hung up before Will had a chance to respond.

Will collapsed backwards, intent on going back to sleep.

Ring Ring Ring

Will, eyes closed, held the phone to his ear.

"Don't even think about going back to sleep," Caroline warned. She knew Will just a little too well. "My house, fifteen minutes."

Will, grunting incoherently, hung up. It took several more seconds before he managed the strength to roll out of bed.

"There's my handsome boy," Caroline praised as she opened her front door.

Will, too-long hair a rats nest on top of his head, snorted as he slumped into the house. He pulled off his sunglasses and flopped on the couch, curling into a ball.

'Grandma looks fine. Why am I here?'

Will dozed for a few minutes while Caroline bumbled around in the kitchen.

Caroline returned from the kitchen with a precariously balanced plate and cup of coffee in her hands.

Will opened his eyes at the strained sounds Caroline emitted. He noticed her struggling and rushed to take the plate.

"I could have handled that," Caroline scolded. She didn't want to admit to having trouble with one simple plate.

"Sorry," Will said, practically salivating at the breakfast spread before him. "Is this for me?"

"Of course," Caroline smiled, gingerly easing onto the sofa. "I figure it'll help with the hangover."

Will, shoveling a forkful of eggs into his mouth, turned to stare at his great-grandmother through bleary, sleep-swollen eyes.

"What?" Caroline laughed. "You think I don't know a hangover when I see one?"

Caroline pointed to the two Advil she placed on Will's plate.

Downing the pills with the scalding coffee, Will smiled. His great-grandma was the best.

Caroline made a show of looking Will over from top to bottom.

Will didn't bother to change out of his pajamas before coming over. He threw on an old Salem U hoodie and some slippers. His hair was in need of a cut. It was far too long for Caroline's liking. Will's skin looked splotchy, eyes swollen and red with deep purple circles underneath.

"So," Caroline questioned. "You don't typically get that drunk, Will. Not anymore, at least. You mind telling me what happened?"

Caroline recalled the times when Will was a teenager. When he would stumble into the pub hungover or working on a buzz. Caroline wished she had done more back then, done more to help Will. But between all of her wayward children and grandchildren poor Will slipped through the cracks.

Caroline reached out, brushing Will's hair out of his eyes, shaky hand gliding along Will's temple.

Will closed his eyes, leaning into the familiar touch. It was soothing and sweet. Caroline always played with his hair when he was a child. Rubbing behind the ears that took years for Will to grow into. Will spent so many days and nights napping against his great-grandma inside the pub.

Caroline's touch was the opposite of what Will felt the night before.

Strong hands, hard bodies pressing against him. Technicolor lights flashing before his eyes, music pounding in his ears. Throwing up in an alleyway, T helping him into bed, forcing some aspirin and water into him. T promising him everything was going to be okay.

"I went out with T," Will said, pulling away from his grandma. He shoved more food into his mouth to get out of talking.

Caroline nodded, giving Will a gentle look.

"Why did you go out?" Caroline pressed, suspicious. "When you have that beautiful baby to take care of at home?"

"Ari was with my parents," Will explained, avoiding Caroline's eyes.

"Where was Sonny?" Caroline watched for Will's reaction.

Will, eyes locked on the plate, locked his jaw.

"I don't know," Will admitted, refusing to elaborate.

Caroline sighed. She let an uncomfortable silence swirl around them for a few minutes. Let Will have his few moments of peace.

Caroline, despite her failing memory, had her good days and bad. She felt lucky that today was one of her good ones.

Of all the children in her life, Caroline always knew Will was different. Not in regards to his sexuality, Caroline didn't care about that. What Caroline noticed was how trusting and gentle Will always was. She never knew what to do with a child that hardly stood up for himself. Her own children and their children after them were always assertive. They stood up for what they wanted, argued themselves hoarse just to make a point. Will stood up for his friends, for his family but rarely for himself. He was content to let others be happy even if he wasn't. Even after others hurt him, Will forgave so easily. He offered second, third, fourth chances quicker and easier than anyone else Caroline knew.

Caroline wished someone had broken him of the habit. If they had he might not be in this situation now.

"I saw the pictures, you know," Caroline said once Will put down his plate. "Kayla tells me that man, the ballplayer, is the one funding the pub's renovations."

Will, polishing off his breakfast, shrugged.

"She said that you two seemed close," Caroline continued.

"Not anymore," Will grumbled.

"Why not?" Caroline asked. "Did something happen between you two?"

Will snorted.

"Is that why you don't know where Sonny is?" Caroline added.

Will sent her a sharp look.

"William," Caroline reached for his hand.

"Sonny's staying at his uncle's," Will pursed his lips. "Because I don't want him anywhere near me."

"Why not?" Caroline frowned, squeezing Will's hand.

"Because our entire relationship meant nothing," Will growled through his teeth.

"What are you talking about?" Caroline questioned.

Will rolled his eyes away from his great-grandmother's kind-face.

Caroline opened and closed her mouth several times. Normally, Will was a sweet, mild-manner boy. Sure, he was moody and hormonal as a teenager. Yes, Will could throw fits and pout when he didn't get his way. Will inherited his mother's penchant for drama. He could lie and scheme with the best of them. But Caroline knew there was a difference between Sami's drama and Will's. Sami knew she was making a terrible decision. She dove head first into a stupid decision. Whereas Will's good intentions blinded him to reality.

Secretly, Caroline had her doubts about Will. She never brought it up to anyone though. She was afraid to offend or afraid she misinterpreted but something was always off about Will. Something inside of Will didn't seem to work right. He would make decisions, even as a child, which made absolutely no sense. But to Will? To Will those choices were perfectly logical. Caroline assumed he would grow out of it but he never did.

Now, now it seemed far too late for Caroline to express any worry. That was just Will, doing things that were well-intentioned if not plain stupid. It made Caroline worry for Will even more.

Caroline never understood how a child could wander off with a stranger or accept candy. But Will? Will was that child. Anyone that offered him anything Will would accept. Anyone that implied Will could make them happy, Will would obey. Caroline assumed that was why he was kidnapped so often as a child. It was why his hopes always jumped so high with his parents only for them to be dashed time and time again. Deep down, Will never truly believed anyone would hurt him.

That mindset was what made it so easy for Sami to depend on Will. Why Will would drop everything to help his mother with whatever her latest crisis was. Why he spent more time babysitting than going on dates. Caroline knew Will shouldered so much responsibility for so long. Will always felt like he had to be the parent for Johnny, Allie, and Sydney and even Sami sometimes. He always had to be the strong one in the family. That Will watched Allie, Johnny, and Sydney have such a different childhood than he did. That they had the childhood Will never got. All while denying his own wants and needs, hiding himself.

Yet any time Will acted his own age he was ridiculed. Everyone always held Will to an impossibly high standard. They expected so much out of Will and were so disappointed when he didn't deliver. Or the few, who knew nothing about Will but his parentage, expected the worst and thought they were right anytime Will dared make a mistake.

What worried Caroline the most was the highs and lows Will went through. There would be days Will seemed overly confident, almost cocky even. The next time Caroline would see Will he'd be so down and miserable it was like that other part of him never existed.

The last few years had been beautiful for Caroline, watching her little Will develop his own family. Watching Will blossom into a wonderful father and loving husband. Watching as Will grew and learned from his mistakes, that he came out stronger every time. A happy, healthy Will was what Caroline always longed for. He still had his highs and lows. He still had his leaps in logic and faulty reasoning but not as severe. Caroline suspected it was due to how happy Will finally was, settled for the first time.

It made it easier for Caroline to cope with her own declining health knowing that her loved ones were taken care of.

'But Will,' Caroline examined his tense posture. 'Will's fading.'

Caroline saw the news on Will, his article, and the pictures of him with the baseball star. Kayla explained her misgivings about Paul when he first offered money for the pub. Caroline did her best to remain open-minded. The pictures made that difficult.

'He is so like his mother,' Caroline thought. 'Stubborn, beautiful, and desperate for approval no matter who gives it to them.'

She didn't want to think the worst of Will but the evidence was mounting. She knew how reckless he was at times. Knew how he often jumped at the opportunity to make someone else happy. Knew how his reasoning skills were faulty.

Will was a good boy. Caroline knew he wasn't perfect though. Will makes mistakes. Huge, life changing mistakes that, at the time, seemed perfectly logical to Will.

Caroline squeezed Will's hand once more.

"Did you sleep with Paul?" Caroline asked gently.

Will ripped his hand away.

"Why does everyone keep asking that?" Will rounded on Caroline. "Is there something on my face that says 'whore' or what? What exactly is it about me that makes everyone I know, everyone I love, think I'd cheat on my husband?"

"Will," Caroline frowned disapprovingly.

"Don't 'Will,' me," Will shook his head, jaw set. "I wanna know why it is so easy for you to think of me like that."

"I didn't say I thought of you like that," Caroline pursed her lips.

"Then why did you ask?" Will demanded. "I didn't sleep with Paul. I have slept with two people in my entire life—my husband and the mother of my child. But everyone," Will's lips trembled. "Everyone thinks I would do that to him, hurt him like that. After everything that I saw growing up! All while they look right through me. Why does no one see what's right in front of them? No one sees me."

"I do see you," Caroline argued. She touched Will's shoulder, shaking him slightly. "I can tell you're hurting. But I won't know from what unless you tell me."

Will sucked his lower lip into his mouth, needing to control himself. He couldn't let that pain back in. He couldn't. Anger was so much easier to handle.

"Sonny slept with Paul, repeatedly," Will grunted.

"…What?" Caroline blinked several times.

"Why is everyone so shocked by that?" Will wondered, throwing his head against the back of the couch. "But with me, oh no, that's not surprising at all. Of course, Will would sleep around. Of course, Will would cheat. Not perfect, saint-like Sonny, oh no."

Caroline didn't know how to respond. Didn't know if there was a proper response at all. Having had a front row seat to Will's childhood, Caroline knew this was the absolute worst thing Sonny ever could have done.

"Oh, Will," Caroline muttered. She reached out to touch Will's cheek.

Will pulled his face away, crossing his arms.

"Will," Caroline sighed. "What do you need?"

"I don't need anything," Will hissed.

"I think it's clear that you do," Caroline looked Will over once again. "Out all night drinking, your behavior, this isn't you, not anymore."

Will shrugged.

"You are a sweet, forgiving boy," Caroline urged. "And I know Sonny loves you."

"No, he doesn't," Will stated with utter certainty. "And I'm not forgiving. I'm a pushover. That's what I am. Useless and weak and easily manipulated."

Will adjusted on the couch.

"God, you'd think after my childhood I'd be able to spot a liar and a cheat from a mile away," Will shook his head. "I'm done giving chances to people that hurt me."

"You don't mean that," Caroline insisted. "What are you going to do about Sonny?"

"What is there to do, hmm?" Will lifted one eyebrow. "I am not so pathetic as to let him back in my life."

"William," Caroline glared. "Stop that. I know you're hurting and I know you love that boy."

"I love a lot of things," Will pointed out. "Doesn't mean they're good for me."

"I don't understand any of this," Caroline admitted. "This, this situation never should have happened."

"What is there to get?" Will asked dryly. "I was in LA and Sonny decided he was finally done with our sham of a relationship."

"Why do you keep saying that?" Caroline felt lost.

"Because, Grandma," Will explained in an overly sarcastic, borderline rude tone. "While I spent the entirety of my relationship with Sonny in love with him, he spent the time in love with Paul. I was nothing but a cheap, easy replacement that he threw aside when the real thing came crawling back. So, exactly what is so hard to understand?"

"William Horton do not take that tone with me," Caroline warned.

"No," Will stood up. "Why do I have to be perfect and no one else does?"

"I didn't say that," Caroline frowned, exasperated.

"Why don't I get to be upset about this?" Will shouted. "Why does everyone get mad at me because I'm angry? My husband cheated on me! He used me our entire relationship! Why does everyone freak out because I'm upset?"

"You can be angry all you want," Caroline said. "But you can't take it out on other people, William."

"What do I get to do then, huh?" Will asked, pacing. "I don't get to do anything that makes me feel better without someone there to tell me how wrong I am. I know I'm wrong! I know everything I do is stupid. I know I'm useless. I don't need everyone reminding me every second of the day!"

"What are you-?" Caroline shook her head. "No one is saying that."

"You think I don't know how people look at me?" Will chuckled sadly. "I know what they think, how they feel. And I'm done with it."

"Will," Caroline sighed.

"No," Will stated firmly. "I'm done with everything. From now on, it's me and Ari, that's it. Everyone else can go screw themselves."

Knock Knock Knock

"Hey, Grandma," Eric Brady poked his head inside the front door. "I just wanted to-oh, hey Will."

Eric took in the scene before him, the concern lining his grandmother's face. The set to Will's jaw, the red splotches on his face.

"Am I interrupting something?" Eric questioned.

"No," Will rushed towards the door. "I'm done here."

Caroline made an aborted motion to get up before sighing.

"Don't just look at me," Caroline ordered Eric. "Go after him!"

Eric didn't have to go far. Will was sitting on the front step of Caroline's porch. He pulled his hood up over his head and chewed his lip viciously.

Eric slumped next to his nephew, knocking their shoulders together.

"I talked to your mom yesterday," Eric admitted when Will made no effort to talk.

"Good for you," Will huffed.

Eric smiled and shook his head in fond exasperation.

"She told me what happened to you," Eric elaborated.

"Just tell the whole world, Mom," Will grumbled under his breath.

"She didn't tell the whole world. She told me," Eric reminded Will. "I'm different."

Will grunted.

"You know I won't tell anyone," Eric continued. "Only if you wanted me to."

"Yeah, like I need more people knowing how pathetic I am," Will rolled his eyes. "No, thank you."

"You aren't pathetic," Eric reasoned. "You're hurt. There's a difference."

"No," Will shook his head so fast he nearly hit the pole next to him. "I feel hurt. I am pathetic."

"Why would you say that?" Eric frowned.

Eric knew he hadn't been the best uncle to Will. Will had always been closer to Austin growing up than to Eric. But ever since Eric moved back to Salem they hardly ever saw one another. Eric could count the times they were alone on one hand.

That wasn't good enough, not even close.

"I've always been that way," Will said, monotone. "Pathetic and stupid and useless."

Eric stared at Will, alarmed.

"For so long," Will continued, hands balled into fists. "That's all I was. I'd wake up and I'd look in the mirror," Will's face crumpled. "And I'd see nothing."

Eric turned so his entire body was facing Will.

"Sonny-," Will pressed his lips together, bowing his head. "He saw me. He made me feel like I was something. All the voices in my head, they would shut up when he was near. He would make them go away."

"And now?" Eric wondered.

"Now, they won't stop. It doesn't matter what I do, what I feel," Will pulled his knees to his chest. "What Sonny did," Will pressed his forehead to his knees, muffling his voice. "I'm never going to forget. He was the only one to make me feel like I was worth anything and it was all a lie."

Eric put his arm around Will and pulled him close.

"I don't know Sonny that well," Eric divulged. "But from what I did see, what I noticed? He loves you."

"How do you know?" Will closed his eyes tightly. He refused to cry anymore over this.

"Because, Will," Eric answered. "After Sonny did what he did, he could have left. He could have tried to be with that Paul guy. He could have walked away but he's not. If he didn't want to be with you, why would he have stayed?"

Will held his breath.

"Sami told me about that Paul guy," Eric added. "And he's out now, right? Paul's out to the entire world. All Sonny's dreams from before could come true. Instead of being with him, Sonny's fighting for you. He wants to be with you, Will, only you."

"It doesn't matter," Will lifted his head. He turned to look Eric in the eyes. "I don't want to be with Sonny ever again."

"If that's what you want," Eric swallowed. "I'd support you."

"But?" Will asked in a dull tone.

"I don't think it's going to be that easy for you, Will," Eric said. "You forgive people. You always have. You give second chances, you hate disappointing anyone. I don't think you're going to walk away that easily."

"When Nick came back from prison I gave him a second chance," Will recalled. "I was nice to him, supported him with Gabi. And he screwed me over in the end. No one cared either. Maybe I'm done letting everyone walk all over me."

"You're a good person," Eric argued. "There's a difference."

"I'm a doormat," Will insisted. "Everyone knows I'll forgive them in the end. But no one lets me forget my mistakes. They throw them back in my face every chance they get. Everything bad I do comes back to haunt me and it feels like I'm the only one."

"That isn't true," Eric assured Will.

"It is," Will ardently replied. "Did you know Sonny used to write lists?"

"Lists?" Eric repeated, not liking where this was going.

"Yep," Will confirmed. "Lists of all the things I did to piss him off. Then he'd throw them in my face whenever I would get upset. Like everything I did was terrible and I could never be upset compared to him. That he could get away with everything because my mistakes were so much worse."

Eric didn't know what to say.

"All my writing," Will shook his head, lips snarling. "He'd tell me how great I was, how much he loved it. When something inevitably went wrong he'd turn on me. After that stupid article with Mom and EJ," Will barred his teeth. "Everyone gave me such a hard time and he let them. He never said anything when anyone would rip me apart. Why wouldn't he ever stand up for me?"

"God," Will choked out before Eric could respond. "No wonder Sonny supported poor, dainty little Abigail. No wonder he didn't give a shit that my mother was in agony, that my family was suffering. He sure as hell didn't care when he did the same to me."

"You don't know that," Eric attempted to calm Will down.

"I do," Will stated firmly. "He wanted to protect poor, innocent Abigail from the big bad EJ. I should have known, right then, what kind of a person Sonny really was."

"That's, okay, that doesn't sound good," Eric admitted. "But the situations aren't exactly the same."

"Really? Because EJ threw his family away because he was bored. But everyone in this town, in this state, in the universe knew Abigail was nothing but a cheap roll in the hay. My mom's always been the one he loved even when he was married to other women. I don't know that about Sonny. Hell," Will laughed sardonically. "Maybe I'm the Abigail in this equation. Maybe Paul is really the great love of Sonny's life and I'm the skanky blonde thristing over him."

"Will," Eric said disapprovingly.

"You know what," Will ignored Eric. "I'm starting to think my dad was right all along. He thought Sonny just wanted to sleep with me at first. And I wouldn't hear a word of it. I wouldn't let my dad speak badly about Sonny. But I let him get in my head."

Will leaned his head against the pole beside him.

"I asked Sonny once," Will explained. "About his past, if I was just another guy to him. Sonny got all pissed off, acted like I asked if he murdered anyone. He wouldn't talk to me about his past, ever. He thought it was none of my business. That should have been a giant red flag too. Who convinces their dumb little virgin boyfriend that you don't need to talk about past partners? Someone that spent the entirety of our relationship lying, that's who."

Eric didn't want to admit it but Will had a point. The things he was hearing about Sonny made Eric uncomfortable and angry.

"What are going to do then?" Eric questioned. "If you don't want to be with Sonny and you can't get past this, what will you do?"

"For starters," Will responded. "I'm going to make Sonny and Paul feel as miserable and pathetic as they made me."

"What does that mean?" Eric frowned. "What are you going to do?"

"Don't worry about it," Will dismissed. He knew his uncle would try to talk him out of it. There was no point in mentioning the article he was writing.

"Will?" Eric narrowed his eyes.

Will shook his head, closing his eyes.

Eric patted Will's back. 'Definitely talking to Sami about this.'

The two sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. It gave Will time to focus his thoughts, channel his energy. It felt good, getting everything off his chest. Eric was so easy to talk to. He didn't judge Will as easily as others. He also didn't know Sonny so Will didn't have to worry about him automatically taking Sonny's side.

Will was always closest with Austin growing up; it was hard for him not to be. But Eric held a special place in Will's heart. Will often reserved life's philosophical questions for Eric.

"Uncle Eric?" Will finally said.

"Yeah, kiddo," Eric answered.

"Do you believe in karma?" Will wondered.

"Karma?" Eric pursed his lips. "I'm not sure."

"Because you were a priest?" Will guessed.

"Well, I suppose that's part of it," Eric agreed. "I'm just not sure I believe in past existences. I don't really believe that bad things or good things happen because of something you did in a previous life. Why, do you?"

"I must have been awful in my past life," Will noted.

"You don't really believe that," Eric maintained. "What's happened or happening has nothing to do with something outside your control."

"I called out my cousin for ruining my family and not six months later the same thing happened to me," Will said. "What does that tell you?"

"The universe isn't punishing you, Will," Eric believed. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"Then why does it happen?" Will asked. "Why do bad things always happen? Why is it every time I'm happy it gets taken away?"

"I don't know," Eric admitted. "Things happen because people make mistakes. Sometimes it's intentional, sometimes it's inadvertent. But it still hurts."

"Yeah, it does," Will mumbled.

"I don't want to lie and say that things are never your fault," Eric continued. "Or that you didn't contribute to what happened with Sonny. But you can't blame yourself. You can't sit around wondering what specific thing you did to deserve this. No one deserves to be hurt."

Will didn't quite believe his uncle. He wanted to, he just wasn't there yet.

"It's okay to be angry," Eric said. "It's okay to yell and scream. But maybe not at your great-grandma."

Will winced. He knew he would have to apologize for that.

"I know you don't want me to preach at you," Eric patted Will's back. "But hanging onto your anger isn't good for you. It isn't good for anyone."

"It's easier to be angry," Will revealed. "It makes it hurt less."

"It won't in the long run," Eric argued. "You'll just push everyone away, alienate yourself. You'll push so hard until you're all alone. That's what happened with your mom. She let her anger control her actions. She became vindictive and self-centered. It's taken her a long time to grow up and overcome that, Will. I know you don't want the same to happen to you."

"I don't know what else to do," Will bit his lip. "If I let my hurt rule me I can't feel anything else. It's just this all-consuming agony and I can't do anything else, can't think. I just get trapped in my own head. When I'm angry it doesn't hurt."

"I think it does hurt," Eric pointed out. "I think it hurts even worse because you know you're upsetting everyone else too."

Will gave a one-shouldered shrug.

"I know you, Will," Eric finished. "You don't want to disappoint anyone. You don't want to hurt everyone. You like to make people happy. You like to take care of those you love. Eventually you're going to do something through your anger that you can't take back. You'll feel even worse knowing that you hurt someone."

Will shifted on the concrete step.

"I don't want to put other people first anymore," Will replied. "I don't want to do something that'll hurt me to make other people happy."

"You don't have to," Eric promised. "You need to find a way to accept what happened, find a way to cope. You don't have to move on or get over it. Just find a way to live your life."

"What if I can't?" Will asked. "What if I feel this way forever?"

"You won't," Eric assured Will. "You'll survive, Will. Everyone in our family does, your family. It's in your blood to endure."

"How?" Will shook his head, overwhelmed. "How do I get past this? How do I control everything I'm feeling? Because it's, it's everywhere. I can't escape it."

"You don't have to get past anything, Will," Eric said. "You just live with it. Find other ways to adapt, ways to channel your anger, work through your hurt. Healthier ways."

"Yeah," Will muttered.

Will looked up at the sky and pulled off his hood.

"It's getting late," Will told Eric. "I need to pick up Ari."

Will pushed himself off the stoop and brushed off his pants.

"But first, I have some groveling to do," Will said with a sheepish smile.

"Yeah, who do you think Sami gets the slapping from?" Eric asked ruefully.

"Uncle Eric?" Will bit his lip. "Thanks."

"Of course," Eric pulled Will into a tight hug. "Anytime, kiddo."

Will held on tight.

"Grandma?" Will asked, coming inside the front door.

"In here," Caroline called from the kitchen.

"Grandma, I'm sorry," Will rushed towards her. "I was rude and you didn't deserve that."

"I know," Caroline answered. "But don't you dare think you're gonna get away with that again. I don't care how old you are, young man."

"I know," Will bowed his head, standing in front of her.

"But I love you," Caroline reached out to hold Will's face. "And I called you over here for a reason."

"Oh, right," Will blushed. "I forgot."

Caroline squeezed Will's face once more before letting him go.

"I wanted to thank you for what you've been doing at the pub," Caroline explained.

"It's not a big deal," Will shrugged. With a pinched face, Will admitted. "I wouldn't have been able to do most of it without Paul."

"I know it was your idea. You've been working so hard," Caroline smiled proudly. "Which is why," Caroline grabbed one of Will's hands. "Kayla and I both want you to be in charge, officially."

"Officially?" Will wrinkled his nose. "What does that mean?"

"That means," Caroline smiled. "I'm transferring ownership to you."

"To me," Will repeated, blinking several times.

Caroline waited patiently for the news to sink in.

"Wait, what?" Will panicked. "What are you talking about?"

"Kayla and I both agree it would be best," Caroline beamed. "We know our pub will be safe in your hands."

"Grandma," Will shook his head, overwhelmed. "I have no idea how to run a business."

"You'll be perfect," Caroline guaranteed. "You care about the place more than you care about making money."

"I don't know how to do this," Will admitted.

"You'll figure it out as you go," Caroline assured him. "I trust you."

Will took a few moments to take it all in, what this meant.

"I don't know what to say," Will confessed.

"Just say thank you," Caroline ordered.

"Thank you, Grandma," Will stated. "Thank you," Will wrapped her up in a bone-crushing hug.

"Ooof," Caroline nearly fell over. "Brittle bones."

"I promise I'll do my best, Grandma," Will reiterated. "I promise."

"You always do," Caroline praised.

Caroline and Eric watched as Will walked down the path, off to collect his daughter.

"You didn't tell him about moving," Eric pointed out.

"No," Caroline sighed. "He's got enough on his shoulders."

"Too much," Eric frowned. "Why hasn't my mother ever helped him?"

"Marlena adores the boy," Caroline scolded.

"Then why hasn't she ever gotten him the type of help he needs?" Eric shook his head.

Author's note:

Things seem bleak but soon they will start picking up again.

Thanks for reading!