"Father," EJ questioned, heart hammering against his chest, gun still raised in the air, "When did, why did, what?"

"Articulate as ever Elvis," Stefano shook his head at his son, "I arrived back into the country today. Imagine my surprise when I came to my home to see my children, my family, being held at gunpoint. And by such a skinny little thing too." Stefano walked casually into the mansion, nudging Ian's dead body with his shiny black shoe.

Will, Ian's blood clinging to his skin, stared at Ian's dead body, mind completely blank.

Paul, standing up, tried to yank Will to his feet. 'Oh god, he can't see this. He doesn't need to see this.'

Sonny, assisting Paul, helped get Will to the sofa. Seeing Will's face covered in blood Sonny panicked momentarily. "Oh fuck," he whispered.

Sami, wanting to scream at Stefano, wanting to rage and pound her fists and cry hysterically, used all of her strength to ignore him and ran to Will. "Oh sweetie," she stated as she saw his shell shocked face. Running to the kitchen for water and a towel she returned and dropped to her knees dapping Will's face, cleaning him of Ian's blood as best she could.

Chad shook his head focusing on what just happened, glaring at his father, "You could have hit Will!"

"Ah, dear William," Stefano announced walking past his sons and stopping at the bar, pouring himself a stiff drink.

"You could have missed," Chad hissed, adrenaline slowly leaving his body. He put the safety back on the gun and put it on the table nearby before slumping to the ground. Seeing Zach's lifeless eyes staring at him Chad shivered, 'He deserved it. He needed to die.'

"But I did not," Stefano pointed out, lifting his glass towards William, "And now he is safe, no?" Taking a pull of his drink Stefano placed it down before walking towards Elvis, "Now, explain to me what just happened."

EJ, panting, still looking at the entryway, 'How did this happen?' Turning to William, seeing Samantha tenderly wipe his face and Narita and Kiriakis touching him gently EJ rounded on his father, "When did you get back in Salem?"

"Did the gunshot addle your hearing," Stefano questioned sardonically, "I told you I arrived just today. I came from the airport straight here." Unbuttoning his suit jacket, taking his glass and sitting on the chair near the French door Stefano questioned, "Now explain this situation. When I left you had nothing to do with Samantha and William. I return and they're not only in my home but you're all being held hostage."

"Things change," EJ said with narrowed eyes being purposely evasive. Kneeling down next to Samantha EJ put his hands on William's legs, "William?"

Will could feel Sonny and Paul touching his arms and shoulders gently. He could hear them speaking softly. He felt his mother wiping his face. But he didn't understand them. He couldn't understand them. After going through so many emotions in such a short amount of time Will felt completely check out. Catching EJ's eyes Will blinked slowly, tears ready to spill over his cheeks.

"William," EJ repeated gently gathering him into his arms. Feeling how rigid William was EJ put his hand to the back of his head, petting his hair, "It's OK now. He can't hurt you anymore."

Taking in a deep breath, lungs filling painfully, Will exhaled and clung to EJ tightly. Shaking his head back and forth Will cried gently, "Is he really dead?"

"Yes," Chad informed Will, crawling over to the sofa, leaning his back against it, one hand touching Will's knee, "They're both dead Will."

"How do you know," Will pleaded, "What if they're not? What if they're not?"

"They're dead," Sonny told Will firmly, placing his hand on Will's shoulder. "They're dead, Will."

Paul, wrinkling his brow at the slight blood stain on Will's back, "It's over, baby. It's done."

Sniffling, Will let go of EJ to grab Sonny and Paul's hands in each of his, head resting on EJ's shoulder.

Sami, dropping the blood stained towel to the floor, grabbed Will's leg, "It's going to be OK now."

Stefano, swirling his Scotch, smiled at the sight before him. 'My family is finally united. The Dimera legacy has expanded and will continue now for generations.' Saluting the connected, unified group on the sofa Stefano took a drink proud to see yet another plan come together.

Sami, knocking desperately on the door to the children's playroom, cried out, "Gabi, it's me!"

Gabi, scared eyes peeking out through a crack in the door, sighed when she saw Sami alone. Letting her inside she immediately closed and locked the door behind them. "What happened? We could hear," Gabi glanced behind her, "We could hear them playing."

Sami, wiping her eyes and nose furiously, almost started crying again when she saw Johnny, Allie and Sydney huddling together in Johnny's tent. Johnny was holding his plastic sword sitting in front of the girls, ready to protect them from anything that came through the door. "Oh, we, we're done playing now. Everything is taken care of," Sami said brightly, fake smile on her face.

Gabi, hand to her chest, almost collapsed in relief. "And, and no one got hurt, you know, playing?" 'Oh god, tell me nothing happened to Will.'

"Will pulled a few stitches in his back but none of us were hurt," Sami admitted. "No one that mattered," Sami whispered to Gabi.

"Mommy," Johnny wiggled out of the tent, "Mommy we heard noises. And Will was screaming."

Sitting on the floor Sami let Johnny fall into her lap, his face smooshed into her breast, "It's OK. You know how Will gets so scared sometimes."

"Did Daddy tell him he had to take us to the Ferris wheel again," Allie questioned as she helped Sydney out of the tent. Taking her mommy's hand Allie looked at her innocently.

Surprising a laugh out of her Sami nodded, "Yes, Daddy scared Will but he's OK now. Everything's OK."

"Did Daddy save Will from the scary man," Johnny asked quietly mind playing back what he saw.

"Yes," Sami confessed, wrapping all three of her young children in her arms, "Yes, Daddy and Uncle Chad."

"And Will's friends," Allie asked, "The ones that sleep in his room. Did they help?"

Sami, frowning slightly, 'We're going to have to talk about that,' "Yes, they helped too. Even Mommy helped out."

"I knew you would," Johnny exhaled deeply before pulling away, dark curls sticking to his forehead, "You would do anything for us. You and Daddy."

"We would," Sami smiled, touching his sweet face. "We really would."

EJ, Stefano and Chad looked down at Ian and Zach's bodies with nearly identical scowls.

"What do we do now," Chad asked, arms crossed. Looking at Zach unnerved him but he didn't quite feel any guilt. 'He was going to hurt Will. He did hurt Will. I did what I had to do.'

"We dispose of them," EJ announced, "Make sure no one ever finds the bodies." Walking over to the bloodied towel on the floor EJ picked it up gingerly and tossed it near Ian. "Clean everything and make sure the evidence is destroyed."

"And the cops," Chad wondered, "Do we just let them continue looking for Ian?"

Stefano chuckled a fond smile on his face for his youngest child, "Oh Chad, you still have much to learn. The Salem police are inept. They cannot even solve the most basic of crimes." Rubbing his hands together Stefano looked to Elvis, "Now, exactly what happened here?"

Chad, answering before EJ had the chance to stop him, "They were going to hurt Will. They already did."

"William, eh," Stefano mused, stroking his goatee. "I take it the handiwork on his mouth must have been from them. So, what was it? A jealous lover?"

"Not quite," EJ stated giving Chad a harsh look. "We need to get them out of here. Now. The children can't see this and William can't either."

"Speaking of William," Stefano added, "Exactly what was a Kiriakis doing with him? As well as that ball player, whatever his name is?"

Chad shook his head and laughed, "You don't even want to know."

"Oh," Stefano smiled, "I see."

"So," Chad asked, "What do we do? Drop them at the docks? Take them to the woods?"

EJ rolling his eyes at his brother's naivety, "No. We need to find somewhere they won't be found."

"You know," Stefano said catching Elvis's eye, "I believe the children were asking for a new playground in the backyard when I left the country. Don't they sell those large structures? The ones they have in parks."

EJ nodded, considering it, "Yes, yes they do."

"You're gonna stick two bodies under where your kids are going to play," Chad said face wrinkling in distaste. Holding his hands up at the looks being thrown his way Chad shrugged, "OK, sure, whatever. Just make sure you pay extra for the rubber stuff to go on the bottom. You don't want any dead parts sticking out."

Clearing his throat EJ adjusted his tie, "I'll make the phone call." Looking at Chad EJ said, "You move the bodies."

'Oh great,' Chad thought rolling his eyes.

Will lay shirtless on his bed in his room upstairs. After having a long, thorough shower he was ready to fix his busted stitches. His head was in Sonny's lap, Sonny's fingers caressing his face and neck, while Paul looked at his back.

"Well, it's just one," Paul stated, cleaning the area with a washcloth. "If I tried I might be able to fix it." Feeling nauseous Paul gulped, "Are you sure we can't just go to the hospital?"

"You heard EJ," Sonny expressed, keeping his eyes on Will's face, hoping the anxious look would disappear, "We can't do anything out of the ordinary for the next few days. Going to the hospital will just cause questions."

"I know, it's just," Paul sighed, grabbing the tweezers from the bed, "OK, this is probably going to hurt." Dunking the tweezers in the bowl of alcohol to sanitize it Paul quickly pulled the stitch under and over Will's skin. "Sorry baby," he told Will when he saw him wince.

"It's OK," Will whispered squeezing his eyes shut and holding onto Sonny's leg.

"There," Paul announced hands shaking slightly, "Done." Wiping Will down again Paul picked up the alcohol, tweezers and towel dumping them in the bathroom near the pile of clothes they were wearing earlier before hurrying back to the bed. "How, um, how do you feel," he asked Will, hands reaching out to touch his bare skin.

"I don't know," Will confessed, "I-I feel confused and, and scared and disgusting."

"You're not disgusting," Sonny said quickly as his hands stroked the shell of his ear. "You did what you had to."

"I still kissed him," Will swallowed harshly, "I-I agreed with all the horrible things he said about me. I said I didn't love you."

"And we know it was all a lie," Paul insisted while rubbing Will's sides comfortingly. "You love us and there's nothing wrong with you. You were trying to distract him and it worked. You don't have to feel disgusting."

"I feel bad," Will admitted, sitting up slowly, head aching slightly, "He, he was, he wasn't healthy, mentally. There was something wrong."

"That's not your fault," Sonny argued. "He wasn't right in the head but that didn't excuse what he did to you and what he tried to do."

"I told him everything was going to be OK," Will whispered, pulling his knees to his chest, eyes watering, "And he believed me. I was probably the only person that ever told him that and then Stefano, he, he just shot him. He didn't even know what was going on and he killed him. Why would he do that?"

Paul, sharing a look with Sonny, put his hand on Will's shoulder, "Will, what happened with Ian wasn't your fault. Yes, he was mentally unstable but it wasn't up to you to fix it. And as for Stefano, I don't know Will. It just seems a little too convenient, don't you think?"

"What do you mean," Will sniffed rubbing under his eyes looking confused.

"I'm saying that him coming in at that exact moment was a little suspicious," Paul shrugged, "I don't buy it."

Sonny, agreeing with Paul, added, "Will, Ian was just about to tell us who he was working with or for or whatever and Stefano killed him. Ian was literally the only person left who could tell us and Stefano took him out. Plus, Ian was working with someone from Dimera Enterprises."

"So," Will clarified, brain hurting, "So, you think Stefano was working with Ian? But why? I mean, he had nothing to gain from it. You heard him; he didn't even know EJ was back in my life. Why would he do that?"

"Why do any of the bad things that happen in this town happen," Paul questioned rhetorically. "I'm just saying that I don't trust him."

"There's a lot of unanswered questions still," Sonny explained reaching out and putting his hand on Will's knee. "But we're going to figure them all out. Together."

Will nodded feeling exhausted.

"Hey," Paul said squeezing Will's shoulder, "Why don't you lie down, OK?"

Will immediately let go of his legs and fell onto the bed eyes closing, "My head hurts."

Sonny pulled Will back onto his lap, "I know it does babe. But we left your pain medicine at the apartment."

"It really hurts Sonny," Will blinked at him miserably wiggling closer to him.

"OK," Paul said leaning down and kissing the top of Will's shoulder, "You close your eyes and try to sleep. I'm going to get your pills."

Will, making a high pitched sound in the back of his throat didn't like the idea; he wanted Paul and Sonny with him. Both of them. He didn't want to be alone ever again.

"Hey," Sonny encouraged, kissing Will's forehead, "Just close your eyes and he'll be back before you know it." Sonny dragged his thumbs all over Will's face; his eyes and temples, being very gentle, trying to soothe him.

Will, relaxing, breathing evening out, fell into a steady sleep, knowing for the first time that he was completely safe. Never would Ian's dark eyes watch him from afar again.

Sonny lifted his head when he heard a soft knock on the bedroom door. He waved EJ and Chad inside when the door opened.

Chad, closing the door behind them, ran his hands through his wet hair. After dragging the bodies to a secret storm cellar Chad took a shower. EJ had cleaned the room and made sure everything had been destroyed. Chad, holding a secret blend of cleaner walked into Will's bathroom and sprayed down the shower ensuring that no blood would be found. He would take the pile of clothes later. Now, seeing Will asleep on the bed Chad relaxed slightly.

EJ nodded at Kiriakis before sitting down on the bed eyes taking in William's form. EJ, remaining silent, lifted his hand to the back of William's head, frowning a bit when he noticed a patch of blonde hair looking distinctively red. Touching his head and pulling his hand away EJ groaned, "Blood."

"What," Sonny demanded, moving closer.

EJ, pushing William's hair aside found a small cut on the back of his skull. "It must be from when he fell to the floor." Cursing EJ stood up and ran to the bathroom before washing his hands quickly with soap and water. Returning with a clean cloth EJ held the cloth to Will's head firmly. "Chad, time me."

"Uh, I didn't think this was a race," Chad said a bit stupidly while getting out his phone.

"No you idiot," EJ hissed, "You have to put pressure on it to get the blood to stop flowing. Fifteen minutes."

"OK, shouldn't we take him to the hospital," Sonny asked shushing Will slightly when he moaned in his sleep.

"It appears to be a shallow cut," EJ explained, pleased to see Kiriakis so concerned over William's health. "He'll be fine as long as we get the bleeding to stop. He wasn't woozy or disoriented was he?"

"Not really," Sonny said, still cradling Will's face on his lap, "I mean he was tired but he's been like that since he got out of the hospital."

"OK," EJ nodded, "He didn't pass out right? He just fell asleep?"

"He definitely fell asleep," Sonny confirmed blinking back tears of frustration. 'Fuck when is he going to catch a break?'

"Good," EJ sighed, hand held against William's skull firmly, "He didn't go into shock then." Licking his lips EJ quietly whispered, "How was he?"

"Confused," Sonny answered, stroking the side of Will's face. "This whole thing has really shaken him up, even more than before. And your father," Sonny clenched his jaw, "What the hell was he thinking doing that when Will was right there?"

EJ shook his head slowly, "I don't know. But I don't like it." Looking around the room and spotting a notebook of paper and a pen EJ gestured for Chad to hand it to him before he opened the book quickly writing:

I don't trust him.

Sonny taking the book, reading it and replied:

Either do we.

EJ nodded:

We can't talk about it here.

Sonny nodded as EJ pulled the page out of the notebook and stuffed it in his pocket.

Chad said quietly, "What are we going to do about Will?"

Sonny, gazing at Will sadly, shook his head, "I don't know. He just, he needs a break. This is too much for him."

"For all of us," EJ admitted, reaching his free hand down to gently touch the stitches on Will's back. "He needs to go somewhere you can be alone."

"Yeah," Sonny asked quietly, "You trust us to protect him now?"

"Yes," EJ said decisively. "I do." Looking into Sonny's eyes EJ continued, "Just like I trust you to know what will happen if you don't." 'I never trust anyone fully.'

Chad, uncomfortable with the glares being tossed around, decided to ease the tension, smiling suddenly, "So, does Will really call you Daddy?"

Sonny groaned wishing Paul was here to help him.

Chad snickered, trying not to wake Will up, "OK, I know it's not that funny. But oh my god," covering his mouth Chad rocked back and forth, stomach beginning to ache from holding in his laughter, "OK. OK. I'm fine."

EJ, less than pleased, glared at Sonny, whatever goodwill he was feeling moments before gone. "And just what do you have to say for yourself?"

Sonny rolled his eyes and shrugged not pleased to have to deal with this himself, "Look, I'm sorry if you don't like it but Will does. If it makes him feel good than we don't care what anyone else has to think."

"Wait," Chad said face completely confused, "You mean it's like a real thing? Dude, what the hell? The kid's got enough problems as it is."

Sonny, indignant, looked at Chad harshly, "Shut up. There is nothing wrong with him. Will's been pulled between parents and families and father's his whole life. If he wants us to show him that we care and love him I don't give a shit what he calls me. Will likes guidance, OK? He likes it when someone is there to tell him what to do and validate him. And there's nothing wrong with that."

"So," Chad said, trying to understand, "You mean like with Neil? When he choked him or whatever. Wait, you mean Will wanted that to happen?"

"No," Sonny shook his head, 'Why did I make him my business partner?' "Neil pushed him into it. Will has to be in the right frame of mind for it to work otherwise he's just going to get scared and confused and be talked into something he doesn't want."

"Like Neil," Chad simplified. "OK, so when Will is in this mindset he wants you to what? Tell him what to do and when he does it you tell him he's good."

"Basically," Sonny confirmed. "I mean it's more complicated than that but yeah. Will," Sonny continued taking a big sigh, looking down at his perfectly imperfect boyfriend, "Will is a very complex person. Sometimes he wants to be coddled and taken care of and sometimes he'll argue about us getting too protective. It's a delicate balance."

EJ, listening to everything carefully, frowning, 'And what happens when you don't find the right balance? What about when you take things too far and William isn't ready for the consequences? I'm going to have to talk to William about this.'

Chad's eyes moved sideways, thinking about it all. "Well, I don't think I would want anything like that but I guess as long as Will does it's OK," he finally stated.

"How generous of you," Sonny huffed.

Paul walked through the apartment gathering everything that belonged to either his boyfriends or himself. Taking the picture Johnny drew for Will off the refrigerator Paul looked over the place one last time. He couldn't help shivering slightly walking through the rooms. 'We were so happy here. How did we not know we were being watched?' Remembering the frantic way Will asked them to check the doors and windows Paul thought, 'Maybe Will did know. Maybe he wasn't paranoid.'

Seeing the book of poems on the side table Paul picked it up and put it in the box with the rest of their belongings. 'This is too important to us now to leave behind.' Paul looked at the bed where they admitted they loved each other for the first time and sighed. Walking out of the room, box in his arms, Paul left the apartment behind. 'We'll make new memories somewhere else. Somewhere we can all be safe.'

Using the car he borrowed from EJ Paul returned to the mansion with all of the belongings they left at the apartment, including his smashed laptop. When he left Chad was just beginning to move the bodies from the entrance. But when he came back the room was spotless. It looked like nothing sinister had ever occurred. Ignoring the pain in his shoulder Paul carried the large box and bag up the stairs slowly opening the door to Will's room.

Inside, EJ, Chad and Sonny were sitting on Will's bed watching him sleep. Paul, setting down the stuff quietly, rummaged through the box until he found the bag full of Will's medicine. Placing it on the side table Paul sat next to Sonny on the bed. Paul nodded to EJ and Chad. 'I guess going through something like this can really bring together a group that used to hate each other,' Paul thought.

Sonny, brown eyes sad and downcast, told Paul gently, "He cut his head when he fell."

"What," Paul asked quietly noticing EJ had a towel pressed into the back of Will's scalp. "Fuck. How did we not see that?"

"We probably mistook the blood for Ian's in the shower," Sonny reached one hand out to lace his fingers with Paul's. "EJ's just making sure the blood stops. It's not that bad."

"Well it's not that good either," Chad supplied with a shrug. Seeing the harsh glares thrown his way Chad elaborated, "His head is already messed up. He doesn't need another head injury thrown into the mix."

"His head will be fine," EJ insisted. Without removing the pressure against William's skull EJ looked down, pleased to see none of the blood has soaked through the towel. "The brain is very resilient. And it's only been a few days. He'll get better."

Sonny nodded in agreement, "Yeah. He was doing better this morning. His head wasn't hurting as much as it did the day before. Well, before everything happened."

Chad's phone went off with a loud beeping noise, indicating the timer had gone off. Turning it off quickly Chad winced when he saw Will open his eyes and blink. "Oh, my bad," Chad apologized.

"What's happening," Will questioned voice low and full of sleep. He made a questioning noise when he felt something touching the back of his head.

"William," EJ began softly, "You cut your head. I'm going to see if it's stopped bleeding." Pulling the towel away EJ sighed in relief. "It's fine now," 'Thank god,' he thought.

Sitting up slowly, skull pounding, Will pushed his face into Sonny's neck, "It hurts."

Paul, immediately grabbing Will's medicine went to the bathroom to get some water from the sink, holding out the pill to Will he smiled encouragingly, "Come on baby."

Swallowing, making a face, Will complained, "It's gross."

Chad, rolling his eyes fondly, teased, "You always were a baby about taking medicine."

Pulling completely away from Sonny Will turned his body to face EJ, fingers twisting together nervously Will said, "I know that earlier you said that they were but I just, I just want to be sure."

Nodding understandingly EJ put his hand on William's shoulder, "Yes, they're still dead."

"It's just, that I've seen people who were supposed to be dead," Will explained in a panic, "Not be dead later. That's, that's not going to happen this time right?"

"Little buddy," Chad interjected, reaching a long arm over to place on his knee, "Trust me, they're dead."

"OK," Will nodded slowly, "Good. That's good."

EJ, pulling William to his side and putting his arm around him, "Are you alright?"

"I-I think so," Will put his head on EJ's shoulder, relaxing into him, "For the most part. I still, I still don't understand things though."

Paul, crossing his arms and glaring at EJ's arm, wishing he could pull Will away or at least put a shirt on him, "What don't you understand, baby?"

"I don't, I don't understand what happened," Will admitted, closing his eyes, waiting for his medicine to kick in, "I mean, I get it in theory but how did it all happen? Ian, he, he what? He did all these things because he was sick?"

"Essentially," EJ confirmed, hand rubbing up and down William's arm, "He was a disturbed young man. He was fixated on one thing and let it rule his life. But that is not your fault William. Nothing he did or said was in any way because of something you did."

"You said he left his medicine at home," Will whispered, "If, if he had it, if he took it here would he have done what he did?"

"I don't know," EJ shook his head, "There's no telling what he might have done. All we know is that he's not going to bother you anymore."

"He said that he hated me," Will added, opening his eyes and looking up at EJ, "He said he hated me but he cried when I gave him a hug."

"Like you said babe," Sonny told him, arm locking with Paul's, smiling at Will unhappily, "He was sick. There was nothing you could have done to fix him."

"If he hated me so much," Will wondered out loud, almost talking to himself, "Why did he like it when I touched him? Why did, why did he keep touching me? When he took me he wanted to sleep with me. If he hated me why would he want that?"

Chad, rubbing Will's knee, answered, "He probably never had anyone touch him before or been with anyone like that. He must have been overwhelmed and didn't know what to do."

"Did I, I mean," Will tried to get out, brain thinking too fast for his mouth to work, "He kept saying that I was tricking him into wanting me or, or whatever, is that, is that what I was doing?"

"No," Paul said fiercely, "There was nothing that you did or didn't do that made him react the way he did. He was deranged, OK? And now he's dead. The only thing that's going to hurt you now is your memories."

Will closed his eyes again. "I'm hungry," he stated suddenly, realizing his stomach was growling. 'And I don't want to think about this anymore.'

Chad, smacking Will's knee gently, stood up, "I'll get you something to eat." Chad left the door open on his way out the room.

"Where do you want to stay now," EJ questioned William eyes going from Narita to Kiriakis sternly.

Will, making a face, said, "Here, I guess."

"No," EJ replied firmly leaving no room for arguments. "Not happening." Sharing a look with Kiriakis, knowing he would understand why, EJ squeezed William's arm.

"Babe," Sonny interjected, "I don't think we should stay here. Maybe, I mean, I know it's not ideal but maybe we could go home."

"Oh," Will blinked wildly. "Um, yeah, I-I guess." 'I don't know if I want to. If I'm ready yet to go back near that place.'

"And just when were you going to tell us you were moving in with them," Sami called from the door walking into the room with three small children excitedly trailing behind her. Laughing slightly when Johnny, Allie and Sydney all climbed on the bed and attacked Will with hugs Sami apologized, "Sorry, they saw the door open and wanted to check on you."

Will, being pushed away from EJ, fell onto the pillows with three rugrats jumping all over him. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute here," Will giggled, not realizing how badly he missed his brother and sisters, ignoring the pain in his head.

"Will," Allie jumped up and down excitedly. "Will, we missed you!"

"Yeah," Will smiled sitting up slowly, "I think I noticed that. I missed you too."

Johnny, threw his arms around his brother's neck, holding on tightly, still afraid from what happened earlier. "Don't go away anymore," he whispered.

Will, hugging the small boy to his chest, reassured him, "I won't stay away for so long. I promise."

Sydney, shoving Johnny aside, smiled sloppily at Will as she crawled on his lap. Pouting her lips Sydney reached her hand up and touched Will's lips gently, "Will has a boo-boo. Need kiss make better." Softly Sydney reached up and pecked Will on the lips. Pulling away with a smile Sydney asked, "Better?"

"All better," Will nodded tickling her behind her ear.

"Alright," EJ announced, rubbing his hands together, "It's time to let William rest." Laughing at the complaining his young children were doing EJ whispered, "I bet if you run to the kitchen Uncle Chad will give you some ice cream."

"Ice cream," Johnny shouted jumping off the bed and running out of the room with the girls following behind him laughing and screaming.

Sonny, leaning against Paul's shoulder, smiled watching Will interact with his siblings. 'That is so sweet.'

"Now," Sami said moving closer to EJ, "Moving in? When you were you going to tell us?"

Will rolled his eyes before moving closer to Sonny and Paul, "Um, never."

"Will," Sami scolded. "I think we would have noticed that you didn't live with us anymore."

"You didn't really noticed when I never came home before," Will pointed out raising his eyebrows.

Crossing her arms Sami insisted, "Things are different now." 'I'm going to be a better mother now.'

EJ, putting his arm around Samantha and pulling her closer to him, smiled, "This is just like old times. You trying to boss William around. William ignoring you entirely. Children laughing through the halls." Spotting Narita and Kiriakis EJ's smile dimmed slightly, "Of course William had less boyfriends then."

"I didn't have any boyfriends then," Will stated plainly, smiling when Sonny moved sideways to allow Will his spot in between them.

"Nope," Chad happily announced as he walked in with a plateful of food, "But you totally wanted to date me." Putting the plate in front of Will Chad nodded at Sonny and Paul, "It's like I told you before buddy. Now you have to have two boys to replace the Chad shaped hole in your heart."

Will took a bite of his sandwich, cheeks pink, recalling how he admitted his previous crush on Chad to Sonny and Paul. Practically feeling Paul's glare Will continued to eat pretending he didn't notice.

Chad, having left Will's room when Paul's rough stare became too much, walked back to the kitchen. 'I wonder what he was so mad about.' Spotting Gabi sitting on a stool at the island Chad paused and stared at her before sitting next to her.

Gabi, eyes red, black lines from her mascara trailing under her eyes, threw her arms around Chad, "Oh Chad. I'm so sorry."

Surprised, nearly forgetting that Gabi was even in the mansion, Chad patted her on the back slightly, "Why are you sorry?"

Wiping her nose with the back of her hand Gabi asked, "I just, I don't know. Because something bad happened?" 'Did Ian not tell anyone he knew me?'

"Well it's not like it's your fault," Chad told her sounding a bit exasperated. 'It's my fault. My fault for getting that article published. My fault for not killing Ian when I had the chance.'

Nervous, heart beating so hard and fast Gabi was certain someone was going to hear it, "What, what happened? I just, I don't understand."

"Well," Chad started to say when he noticed EJ and Sami walking into the kitchen hand in hand. Catching EJ's glance Chad furrowed his brows before turning back to Gabi, "Just a misunderstanding."

"Chad, that guy had a gun and, and he was saying all sorts of things about Will," Gabi stated miserably, 'And I helped him. I helped him.'

"It's all taken care of," Chad told her simply drawing her back into his arms, resting the side of his face on top of her head. Staring right at EJ Chad announced, "You don't need to worry about it."

Opening his eyes with a gasp Will sat up in bed, shaking slightly. Blurry eyes caught the alarm clock nearby, '3:17 am? Ugh .' Putting his head in his hands Will tried to relax. 'It was just a nightmare. It wasn't real.' Crawling out from under the blankets Will stood up slowly trying not to wake Sonny or Paul. Needing to get up and move around Will walked to the door and headed down the stairs to the kitchen.

Despite EJ's protest Will didn't want to leave the Dimera Mansion until morning. He didn't understand why EJ wanted them to leave so badly. 'Unless he doesn't want me around anymore now that Ian's been taken care of,' Will thought miserably. Shivering slightly Will wished he had put a shirt or shoes on before he came downstairs. 'For such a large place they certainly don't like to put on the heat.'

Walking into the kitchen, switching on the light, Will opened the refrigerator and tried to find something he wanted. Not seeing much Will pulled out the orange juice before getting a glass. When he was younger he wouldn't have bothered with a cup because he knew it drove EJ crazy. But now that Will was older he didn't feel the need to do anything so petty. Taking a sip, leaning on the counter, Will closed his eyes and tried not to think of the nightmare he had.

"Can't sleep," came a heavily accented voice from the doorway.

Will jumped, opening his eyes; glad he didn't spill his juice. Staring at Stefano cagily Will said, "You don't have to sneak up on me like that."

"Apologizes," Stefano chuckled good-naturedly walking into the room and grabbing a bottle of water. "I did not realize you would be in here."

"I had a nightmare," Will admitted keeping his eyes on Stefano. "You?"

"Jetlag I am afraid," Stefano replied taking a drink of water. "It does not surprise me though, to see you here."

"Here," Will questioned, "In the kitchen here?"

"No," Stefano said quickly, "Here, as in my home. With your mother and the rest of the children. I always knew one day you all would return."

"Did you now," Will asked swallowing another mouthful of juice. 'I should have stayed in bed.'

"Of course," Stefano explained, hand gesturing wildly, "When a man loves a woman the way Elvis loves Samantha it is only a matter of time before he wins her back."

"Right," Will nodded feeling uncomfortable. "I think I'm going to go back to bed now."

"Those men," Stefano continued talking, as if Will didn't speak, "The ones in your bed? They love you."

"They do," Will whispered wrapping his arms around himself.

"That's good," Stefano nodded, "To find not only one person who would do anything for you but two? Two is even better."

"Uh huh," Will wanted to leave. Inching towards the door Will tried to wrack his brain for something to say. Something smooth and calculating like EJ would tell Stefano but he couldn't think of anything.

"When you lived here the last time," Stefano mused looking down at his slipper covered feet, "I saw something in you. I knew you would be special. And here you are."

"I'm not special," Will stated, his back to Stefano, standing so close to the exit. All he could remember was Ian's angry eyes and steely voice when he explained to everyone he knew why Will was so special. "I'm nothing."

"Come now," Stefano smiled, "That is not true. Elvis would not care for you so much if you were nothing. Chad would not kill someone to protect you if you were nothing. There wouldn't be two men, loving you, if you were nothing." Stefano put his water bottle on the counter and moved closer to William. Placing his hands on William's shoulders Stefano added, "You are something. And soon enough I am certain Elvis will marry Samantha yet again. You will be my grandson just like little Geovanni."

Will swallowed heavily, "I will?"

"Oh yes," Stefano clapped William's shoulders lightly, "Then we will all be one big happy family." Grabbing his water bottle Stefano left the kitchen, "Goodnight William. Sweet dreams."

Author's note:

Things are calming down now. Plenty of story still to tell though.

Please review. If you have any requests for things you want to see happen please let me know.