Sonny checked his phone for probably the thousandth time that morning. Will still hadn't gotten back to him. Usually by this time the two would have been texting nonstop. He knew Will had a break between his Economic and Chemistry lectures around this time. Will should have replied to at least one of his messages by now.

Sonny couldn't help but feel nervously excited. Ever since his talk with Paul the night before Sonny finally let himself relax. All the stress he had been feeling was gone. All the thoughts Sonny had repressed about Will were released, like water bursting out of a dam. There was no more hiding anything. He could freely smile at the thought of Will's rambling. He could openly stare at Will's butt when he wears those jeans Sonny likes. Most of all, Sonny could finally get the chance to cup Will's blushing cheeks and kiss his full lips.

Now, not only could Sonny admit that he wanted Will he did not have to feel guilty over it. Yes, he was with Paul but that didn't mean he couldn't have feelings for Will too. Sonny was practically giddy now. He could have Paul and he could have Will too. 'And I do,' Sonny thought blissfully. 'I want Will Horton and I'm going to get him.'

Unlike Paul, Sonny was completely confident Will would agree to be with them. At the time he was terrified of Will having a crush on Paul but now he realized it was a good thing. 'And he said he had a crush on me too,' Sonny daydreamed, elbow on the counter, head resting in the palm of his hand. 'This is going to be the easiest thing I've ever done.'

Will walked out of the Starbucks on campus clutching his white to-go cup. He felt strangely guilty. His free-coffee-for-life card was practically burning a hole in his wallet. But if he was serious about staying away from Sonny that meant no more trips to Common Grounds.

So far Will had done a decent job of avoiding Sonny and Paul. He ignored all the texts he got even if he really did want to know what great news Sonny needed to tell him. But Will made a promise. He wouldn't be the guy who ruins relationships just because he had a crush. That was one brand of family history he had no interest in repeating.

Will was so lost in thought, fantasizing about the way Sonny's eyes must be glistening because he was excited, that he literally jumped into the air when he heard his name being called, fumbling his cup. Will turned towards the voice, clutching his coffee to his chest, like one would cradle a baby. His stomach dropped when he noticed who was yelling for him. 'Oh no.'

There was Adrienne Kiriakis, signature dress and cardigan in place. One hand was grasping her purse and the other hand was holding the arm of a handsome young man a few years older than Will.

"There you are Will," Adrienne said voice full of delight. "I was just talking about you."

"Uh, you were," Will questioned in concern, 'What the hell?'

"I was just dropping off this check for the university when this gentleman offered to show me around," Adrienne began, an elated smile on her face.

"OK," Will commented in confusion. He was certain he must be missing something.

"Here I was telling him all about this young, gorgeous freshman that he absolutely needed to meet and then there you were, like a vision in white," Adrienne practically purred, smile reaching unnatural levels of bright.

Will blinked blankly at Adrienne.

Adrienne had to refrain from sneering in exasperation, 'Now I know Paul isn't interested in his brains.'

The man smiled in amusement, oddly charmed by Will's obliviousness, 'Is this kid for real?'

"Oh," Will said suddenly, realizing he was in a white shirt, "Are you talking about me?" Completely baffled Will glanced over both his shoulders just to be sure.

The man chuckled deeply at Will with an interested smile, "You were right, Mrs. Kiriakis. He is cute."

Will's face flushed and he looked down at his shoes immediately. 'What is my life?'

Adrienne stepped towards Will and put her arm around his waist, pulling him closer, "This is Will Horton. Will, this is Brian."

Paul walked out of the laundry mat with the gray comforter folded in his arms. Paul felt completely relaxed for the first time in ages. He couldn't even be bothered to feel embarrassed when the teenage girls in the laundry mat saw the stains on the comforter as he shoved it in the washer. Things were finally starting to look up for Paul.

Before last night Paul never would have dreamed that he would actually get to keep both Sonny and Will. Sure, he had visualized what it would look like late at night but he never thought it would come true. Paul loved Sonny; he knew he did. But there was something about Will Horton that got under his skin. Paul would not go so far as to say he was in love yet but he was infatuated with Will.

Sonny insisted that Will would readily agree to join them. He wouldn't give any details but Sonny was confident. Paul was almost certain there was a secret behind that mischievous smile on Sonny's lips last night. But Paul couldn't find himself that concerned, not after the secret he was keeping from Sonny and Will. 'A secret I'm going to have to take to the grave,' Paul decided, glad his phone had a lock and no one but him would see the picture he took of Will.

Despite Sonny's assurances Paul was still nervous. There was still Neil to contend with, not that Paul thought he was much of a challenge. But everyone in Salem knew Sonny and Paul were engaged. It would be a little hard to explain how or why they were suddenly going on romantic, candlelit dates with Will. Last night, Paul and Sonny didn't get into the details of what they really wanted but Paul did not just want Will for sex. He was certain Sonny felt the same. Hopefully Will would see that as well.

Struggling with the giant blanket Paul dug into his pocket for his car keys. Yanking them out triumphantly, Paul pressed the unlock button a few times before he noticed a blonde leaning against his car. 'I'm really beginning to hate blonde females,' Paul thought with a grimace.

As soon as she noticed him Sami Brady pushed off of the car and stood before Paul face-to-face. Shoulders set back and chin raised, "Paul," she began, "Let's get straight to the point. You need to stay the hell away from my son."

Paul, awkwardly holding the fluffy comforter, raised his eyebrow at Sami incredulously, "I don't think that's any of your business."

"Oh, believe me, it is." Sami stated in a no nonsense tone, "Anything to do with Will is my business."

"Yeah, and does Will know you're doing this," Paul asked, trying his hardest to bite his cheek and stay polite. 'God help me if Sami and Adrienne ever become friends.'

"Will is young. He doesn't know what he needs in his life. But I do," Sami stepped closer to Paul, blanket the only thing between them, "And what Will needs is someone who can actually be with him. I don't know what sick game you're playing but it stops now."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Paul insisted internally panicking. 'There's no way she knows what we're planning.'

Sami snorted inelegantly, "Right," shaking her hair out of her face Sami gave him a cruel smile, "You're engaged. If you aren't satisfied with Sonny then find someone else to cheat with. My son deserves more than to be your side piece."

Paul's fingers tightened their grip on the blanket, bunching the fabric together. "I would never treat Will like that," Paul gnashed out behind clenched teeth.

Giving Paul an unforgiving look Sami declared, "Stay away from Will. Or I will make your life a living hell." Sami tossed her hair over her shoulder and tramped away on her dangerous looking heels.

'Well fuck,' Paul thought, blanket drooping in his arms. He unlocked the door again, shoving the comforter haphazardly in the backseat. Paul was tempted to hit the wheel but thought better of it. His arm was still recovering and his knuckles were still bruised from Neil's stupid fat head. Paul settled for banging his head on the headrest behind him. Paul reached for his phone and was disappointed once again that Will still hadn't responded.

Sonny clutched his phone in his hand, a resigned look on his face. He snapped his neck up when the door opened only to slump back down when he noticed it was only EJ Dimera. 'Come on Will', Sonny thought, anticipation killing him.

Sonny stood up straight when EJ walked to the register. Sonny never knew what to think about EJ. He had heard some pretty horrible things but Will seemed to like him. Even if some of the horrible things involved Will. "What can I get you?"

"Espresso to go please," EJ told him directly while his hands were already opening his wallet and wading through the cash.

Behind him Lauren began the order so Sonny stayed to take EJ's money in a strained type of silence. Sonny felt slightly uncomfortable under EJ's intense stare.

"When does William get out of class today," EJ asked suddenly, dropping his change in the tip jar absently.

"I think around four," Sonny said casually, "He might have a study group though." 'Hopefully not, I need to see him now.'

EJ gazed at Sonny coolly, 'Hmm.'

"Why do you ask," Sonny questioned finding it hard not to be curious. His fingers began drumming the counter-top absentmindedly. When he noticed Sonny's lips quirked into a smile; he must have picked up that nervous habit from Will.

"I've decided to take him to dinner. We had a nice long chat yesterday. I realized how unwise it was to stop mentoring him," EJ told Sonny with a peculiar tone of voice. "He does flounder about uselessly without my guidance."

Sonny looked at EJ oddly, "I didn't think you were that involved in Will's life anymore." 'Not since you fired him.'

"Oh William and I may have had our differences but he'll always be special to me. He's almost like a son. And I'd do anything for my family," EJ looked Sonny straight in the eyes, "I'd keep him away from anyone who would hurt him or take advantage of him."

Lauren set EJ's cup in front of him edging away from the tense conversation.

"Have you talked to William today," EJ asked Sonny pointedly, a smirk belying his handsome features.

"No," Sonny whispered beginning to feel something akin to dread. 'That would never happen. Will would never do that.'

EJ grabbed his cup, nodded his head at Sonny and said, "Good." EJ left without another word, the door closing ominously behind him.

Sonny frantically pulled out his phone again, shaking it in his hands when there was still no message from Will.

"I just knew the two of you would get along perfectly," Adrienne cooed at Will, squeezing his hip.

Will said nothing. He felt trapped under the weight of Brian and Adrienne's stares. Will's eyes were wide and his lips pursed.

Brian grinned at Adrienne, "Thank you Mrs. Kririakis, I think so too" sunlight glistened off his bright smile.

Will felt a bit blinded by his teeth. 'No one has teeth that white naturally.' Despite how handsome he was Will was beginning to feel creeped out.

"Maybe you and Will could go out sometime Brian. I'm sure Will would love that. Wouldn't you Will," Adrienne asked, her fingers digging into Will's flesh making him cringe.

"Um," Will interrupted meekly, a bit unnerved by his exclusion from the conversation. "I'm kind of already seeing someone."

"Nonsense. A little date would hardly be anything, Will," Adrienne told him, an unpleasant smile on her face. 'Seeing my son-in-law you mean.'

"Yeah, maybe we could head to The Spot sometime," Brian replied, eyes sweeping Will's body in a way that made Will uncomfortable.

Before Will could say anything Adrienne snatched his phone out of his pocket, handing it over to Brian. As Brian was inputting his information, Adrienne squeezed Will in a death grip, head tilted until it rested against Will's, and hissed through her smiling teeth, "Now Brian can be your special friend instead of Paul."

Will looked at Brian a bit harder, 'Maybe having new friends wouldn't be so bad.'

EJ was pondering what to do about young William when he heard someone call out, "Mr. Dimera!" Turning his gaze EJ looked at a tall, young man he had never seen before. "Can I help you," EJ asked in a bored tone, looking down at his watch.

"I'm Will's friend, Neil. Hopefully his soon to be boyfriend," Neil rushed out, extending his hand to shake EJ's with a firm grip.

"Of course," EJ said. "And what did you need?" 'What could have possibly happened in less than a day,' EJ speculated. 'William is as dramatic as his mother.'

"I just wanted to say thank you for convincing Will to stay away from Paul and Sonny," Neil admitted, glad EJ did all the hard work for him. He was positive he could have handled the situation but having an authority figure Will looked up to do it for him was much more convenient.

EJ nodded his head, sizing the boy up. 'Doesn't seem particularly special but if he keeps William focused who cares.' "Naturally, I want William to be completely happy."

"So do I," Neil confessed. "Which is why he needs to ignore Sonny and Paul. They've been messing with his head for too long now."

'Just as I suspected,' EJ mused. "And you intend to keep William pleased?"

"Yes," Neil told EJ confidently. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make Will happy." 'And I plan on making him happy over and over again.'

"Then we're in agreement," EJ acknowledged. As he started walking away he told Neil assuredly, "But if I find out you have failed William won't be the only one unhappy."

Neil gulped as he stared at EJ's retreating back.

The walk from downtown to the university's campus wasn't that long exactly but Neil made slow work of it. His head was preoccupied thinking about Will. Even if EJ threatened him Neil knew he made the right decision meeting him. If he was someone Will listened to then Neil needed to keep him close at hand, especially if he was going to beat Paul.

Neil walked into the chemistry building hoping to see Will before Will's class began. Instead Neil saw Will being guided into the lecture hall by a large hand dangerously low on the small of his back. The man bent low to whisper in Will's ear before kissing his cheek. Will went inside the room, the tips of his ears red. As soon as the guy turned around Neil instantly recognized him.

"Dude, what the fuck was that," Neil asked with his arms crossed. 'So not cool.'

Brian smirked smugly and shook his head, "I gotta say man, I was very skeptical when you kept bragging about your little virgin but damn. I usually prefer my men experienced but there's something about that one."

Neil rolled his eyes and chuckled, "Yeah there really is. But he's mine so don't even think about it dude."

"I figured as much but you can't blame a guy for trying," Brian admitted. The two fell into step as they walked out the building and down the steps. "Doubt he'd give it up to me before you anyway."

"I've been working this kid for weeks. He better be able to keep his legs closed a few more days," Neil snickered.

"Well let me know when you break him in. Maybe we could test him out together," Brian suggested, throwing his arm around Neil's waist, grinning dirtily.

Neil clapped Brian on the back good naturedly, "Dude, I plan on using him any and every way I can."

Author's note:

I couldn't resist having Brian make a cameo. He won't be around for very long I promise. I never really understood why no other guys were ever interested in Will. The kid was young and hot Salem's gay scene should have been all over him. Of course Will was so hung up on Sonny he probably wouldn't have noticed.

Will's trying to stay firm on keeping his promise to keep away from Sonny and Paul. But I doubt Sonny or Paul will let that last for very long. Meddling parents be damned. Which parent would you be afraid of the most?

Also, how diabolical was Neil trying to suck up to EJ? For now he has at least one ally on his side.

Please review and let me know what you thought. Suggestions/comments/complaints/questions are always appreciated.