Paul walked down the street biting the inside of his cheek panicking internally.

Sonny, looking at him out of the corner of his eye sharply, said, "Tell me what it is."

"What," Paul asked, startled.

Sonny gave him a loaded look, "I know you too well for that. So just tell me what's bothering you."

Paul scrunched his face together, knowing Sonny wasn't going to be happy, "Uh, my mom still thinks we're engaged and she doesn't know about Will."

Sonny, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, "What? What do you mean she doesn't know about Will?"

"Everything has been so crazy these past weeks and I was so focused on getting you and Will back and when I finally did Ian happened and I just," Paul ran his hands through his short black hair, "I just never got around to telling her."

"Paul," Sonny said sternly, grabbing his arm and pulling him to the side of the sidewalk so they weren't blocking anyone, "You need to tell her. All of it."

"I-I don't know if I should," Paul admitted quietly. Shrinking under Sonny's fierce gaze Paul rushed out, "I just mean that she just barely adjusted to me being out and stuff. And she finally started to accept you. I don't know what she'll do if I tell her the truth now."

"How has she not even heard about Will," Sonny demanded, crossing his arms, "It was kind of major news when the article hit."

"My grandpa showed it to her but she immediately dismissed it," Paul told him weakly, "She said I would never do anything like that."

"Why didn't you tell her the truth," Sonny argued, smacking Paul's shoulder slightly, "This is important."

Stepping away from Sonny slightly Paul sighed, "I don't know, I just, I didn't want her to be disappointed in me I guess. I didn't know how to tell her."

"Are you embarrassed to tell her about Will," Sonny stared at Paul in shock, "Are you going to keep him a secret?" 'Oh my god,' Sonny thought shaking his head.

"I'm not embarrassed about Will," Paul denied, looking at his feet, "I just, it's hard to tell her. I mean, you know how she is, Sonny. How am I supposed to tell her this? And my grandfather? What if they both hate me?"

Sonny stepped away from Paul and started walking again, "If they love you they won't care about how many people you're dating. My family all know and Will's all know. You better tell them soon because I don't think Will's going to be too happy you refuse to tell your mom about him."

"It's not like that," Paul tried to say as he followed after Sonny.

"Well that's how it looks," Sonny said firmly, "It sounds like you're ashamed of Will. And you know that's how he's going to take it if he finds out."

"I'll tell her eventually," Paul decided, exhaling shakily, "Just, just don't say anything to Will yet. Not until I figure out what to do."

"Yeah," Sonny responded sarcastically, "Because I want to be the one to tell him you won't tell your mom about him."

Paul, imaging the look on Will's face if he ever found out, curled his arms around himself, 'He's not going to find out. I'll make sure of it.'

Will sat down in a lawn chair watching Johnny, Allie and Sydney run wild on their playground equipment. "They really like this, don't they," Will told his mom with a bright smile.

Sami, relaxing in the chair next to him, "They do. I wish they could have gotten it "just because and not for the reason they did but you know." Sami started fiddling with the cuff of her jacket nervously, "Um, why aren't you at work?"

"I'm only working a few shifts this week," Will told her, "Um, I didn't want to jump back into it so quickly." Deciding to be honest he added, "Plus it's kind of been hard for me, going back."

"What do you mean," Sami asked, turning to look at her eldest son. She couldn't help but smile at how cute he looked in his glasses.

"Being on my feet all the time and running back and forth," Will confessed, "I just, I get headaches still and it's hard to focus." Tonguing the scar in the middle of his mouth Will glanced at her over the rim of his glasses.

"You don't have to work you know," Sami said gently. She never knew what would set Will off or not; she didn't know when she would cross the line from motherly concern into overbearing. "Your grandma would understand."

"Yes I do," Will sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Sonny and Paul want to pay for everything and I don't want them to. I don't want to rely on them for everything."

"Well from what I know about Paul," Sami responded, looking at Will with concern, "I think he would like paying for you."

"I want to be able to do something for them though," Will told her, "All I do is clean the apartment. They pay for everything. They cook almost all the time. They do everything and I feel like I don't do enough."

"Have they told you they feel that way," Sami asked briefly checking on the kids, waving at them when they called her name.

"No, no, they think everything is fine," Will explained, "I just don't want to be their kept boy. I try to keep our place spotless but beyond that there isn't much I can do. Besides sex."

Frowning and making a face Sami, trying not to picture it, said, "If they haven't said anything to you then I don't think they mind." Trying to hold in her question but not being able to Sami blurted out, "You started having sex again?"

Realizing he walked right into this conversation Will closed his eyes again, "Yes Mom. I had sex with them. A lot."

"OK, didn't need to know that last part," Sami pressed her lips together tightly. "But it was what you wanted right? They didn't pressure you into anything? You didn't do it because you thought you owed it to them?"

"Mom," Will, eyes closed tightly, "Yes I wanted it that's all you need to know."

"Alright," Sami said rationally, "I just wanted to be sure."

"You don't have to worry about that," Will informed her finally opening his eyes, cheeks pink, "That's not going to be a problem for us."

"After what almost happened to Paul I doubt they'd do anything to upset you," Sami commented teasingly. Seeing Will's face drop Sami quickly asked, "What?"

"Do you really think, um, do you, would," Will tried to explain what he was feeling but he couldn't seem to find the words.

"I was joking," Sami reassured him, "They are with you because they want to be and not because they think something bad will happen if they try to leave. If I know anything about Paul and Sonny it's that they care about you."

"Are you sure," Will turned in his chair to face his mom having one of those rare moments where he needed her comfort.

Putting her hand on Will's arm Sami smiled, "You didn't see them when you were missing. They were frantic. I saw it then and I saw it when we were in the hospital waiting for news about you. Trust me, Will; they are with you because they are crazy about you."

Will bit his lip gently, looking at the ground out of the corner of his eye trying not to smile.

"So," Sami moved her hand down Will's arm to lace their fingers together. "You never actually told me any of the nice details in your relationship. And I want to know. So, go on. Tell me."

"Tell you what," Will chuckled finding it kind of nice to be having such a normal conversation with his mom, 'My mom of all people.'

"I don't know, everything," Sami laughed making a big gesture with her free hand. "I wasn't willing to hear about this before so I want to now."

"What should I start with," Will asked holding back a grin.

"OK, first off, I want to know who your first kiss with a boy was," Sami questioned him wiggling her eyebrows up and down.

"Oh," Will bit his lip trying not to wince. "Um, it was Neil."

"Really," Sami asked with a giggle.

"I was really drunk and he shoved me up against a wall," Will laughed with her, "And then Sonny and Paul saw." Will couldn't help but laugh harder at that.

"OK, OK," Sami tried to stop laughing, "What about Sonny and Paul?"

"Well, Paul told Sonny to kiss me, the first time, and I did," Will told her, 'Well, that's the time I remember.'

"And what about when you said I love you. I know you've said it by now," Sami questioned with a smile watching Will's face closely. She might not be thrilled about his relationship but she still enjoyed knowing Will was so happy.

"Oh, um," Will looked at his mom feeling bashful, "I said it first."

"Really," Sami raised one brow, "Huh, I wouldn't have expected that one."

"Well, it was right after I got out of the hospital and we were at my old apartment," Will confessed, remembering how beautiful and perfect the moment felt. "I had Paul read a poem for me since my eyes were hurting and then I told them."

"And of course they said it back," Sami poked Will in the side teasingly, "That's really sweet actually."

"It was," Will nodded. "Mom," Will started saying, "I like being able to talk to you about this stuff."

"Well me too," Sami agreed, "I hope we can now."

"Speaking of that, Mom," Will told her, remembering what Wendy suggested, "Um, Wendy, that's my therapist. She wants you to come with me sometime. To a session, I mean."

"Oh," Sami said blankly, "Yeah, um, of course." 'Oh god, she's going to blame everything on me isn't she?'

"Yeah," Will smiled widely. "You mean you'll come?"

"Well you asked me to so yeah," Sami tilted her head to the side, confused.

Trying to contain his surprise, figuring it would offend his mother, Will simply nodded, "OK." Looking over at his siblings Will asked suddenly, "Do you know where EJ is? I need to talk to him too."

"You know what," Sami said after she thought about it a moment, "He left for work early this morning. He should have been back by now."

"I think I'm going to go call him," Will announced while standing up and taking his phone out of his pocket.

Watching Will walk inside the mansion Sami grinned to herself, 'I really can parent Will.'

Hearing EJ's voicemail message Will made a face as he leaned against the chess table, "Hey, uh, it's me. I want to talk to you. So call me back. Bye. And by me I meant Will, obviously." Laughing at how dumb he sounded Will pushed the disconnect button and quickly sent Sonny and Paul a quick message.

"Looking for my son," Stefano asked from the entrance to the room.

Startling, Will held his phone to his chest, "You scared me."

"I thought you would be much more alert," Stefano observed looking across William's face, "After what happened to you."

Will licked his lips, moving his phone around in his hands, "Uh, I guess not. Actually I think I'm probably jumpier."

"I see," Stefano nodded.

Uncomfortable under Stefano's gaze Will cleared his throat, "And yes I was looking for EJ actually."

"I imagine wherever my son is he is working on helping you," Stefano stated confidently.

"Helping me how," Will questioned, beginning to feel creeped out, 'I need to leave. Sonny and Paul aren't going to like this.'

"Well," Stefano chuckled, "He is under the impression that I am out to get you. Apparently I have nothing better to do with my time and money than to obsess over a teenage boy."

"Uh huh," Will breathed out suspiciously. 'Who is he trying to convince?'

"I thought he would be a bit more grateful that I made your little problem disappear," Stefano continued with a sad shake of his head.

"You killed someone who was literally in my lap," Will frowned uneasily. He hated having to think about that. What it felt like when Ian's blood splattered across his skin. How he felt having Ian's dead body collapsed across him.

"The timing was not ideal," Stefano agreed, "But I do believe it was a fruitful decision. Nothing has happened to you since. Now you are safe."

"Right," Will nodded apprehensively. "I guess I should thank you then."

"Of course," Stefano smiled widely. "I've told you before William. We're all one big family now."

Making a decision Will blinked innocently hoping he could still work his eyes even with the glasses, "That's all I've ever wanted."

Delighted, Stefano, smirking at William, replied, "Me too William. Me too."

"Are you going to talk to me now," Chad questioned, voice laced with frustration, as he cornered Gabi against a table in the Pub.

"I've been busy," Gabi shouldered him out of the way. 'You are not doing this to me. You are not.'

"You haven't been that busy," Chad argued following her around to her tables with his arms crossed.

"Yes I have," Gabi insisted. "I went to class. I had a meeting with Kate." Rolling her eyes Gabi snorted, "And if Will ever felt like helping out here than I wouldn't have to work as hard."

"Will is still recovering," Chad easily dismissed her complaint. "But that still doesn't excuse why you've been ignoring me and all my messages."

Cleaning up a table Gabi slammed a plate back down on the table, "Give me a break. I am so sick and tired of hearing about Will and his stupid life. It's bad enough that he has to air his dirty laundry whenever he feels like."

"What are you even talking about," Chad shook his head. 'This is one of the reasons we are not going to work out; how selfish you are.'

"Nothing," Gabi sneered, "Absolutely nothing." Cleaning the table quickly Gabi dropped the dishes in a tub behind the bar and snapped at Caroline, "I'm taking my break."

Shooting Caroline a sympathetic look Chad rushed after Gabi, "Look, I don't like having to say this but-"

"No, you aren't telling me anything," Gabi rounded on Chad shoving a finger in his face. "I refuse."

"You refuse," Chad shot back trying to be nice but getting so fed up with her attitude. "Gabi this is why we don't work. It starts out nice and easy and then you," forcing himself to change courses Chad said, "Then it gets too complicated too fast."

Not knowing if she wanted to cry or if she wanted to scream Gabi asked Chad plainly, "So this is it? You just let me get all my hopes up only to pull the rug out from under me. Do you know how hard I worked to get this?"

"No, I have no idea," Chad reasoned, "We were friends and you helped me out with Will. What the hell are you even talking about?"

'I am so sick of that stupid name,' Gabi thought flaring her nostrils, "Will? Is he all you ever think or talk about? If I have to hear that name one more time…"

"He is your friend too, Gabi," Chad had no idea why she was reacting this way. He knew she would be upset he only wanted to be friends but to blow up about Will? 'What is her problem?' "And I think that's how you and I should be too. Friends."

Opening and closing her mouth several times, blinking back tears, Gabi crossed her arms, "No."

"Excuse me," Chad demanded taking a step back, "This isn't something you can refuse. I am breaking up with you."

"Why," Gabi whined hair flowing around her face as she shook her head in confusion, "We work so well together. I wanted you for so long."

Swallowing, feeling bad but not enough to change his mind Chad said, "I'm sorry but I want to go back to being friends."

"Why don't you want me," Gabi screeched, "What's wrong with me that you won't stay? God, first Will and now you. What is wrong with me?"

Realizing that Gabi was taking this much harder than he could have predicted Chad tried to reassure her, "There's nothing wrong with you." 'Except you're kind of crazy but I can't tell you that.'

Gabi leaned against the wall outside the Pub, "There must be. You don't even know how hard I had to work to get this far. What I had to do. And you still don't want me. What did I do or not do?"

Panicking Chad tried to wrack his brain for some reason to get her to believe it wasn't her fault, "Um, Gabi, it's not, it's not like that."

Talking mostly to herself now and not Chad Gabi, head in her hands, "At least Will had a reason he couldn't be with me. At least I knew it wasn't because of me; he doesn't want any women." Shaking her head Gabi looked at Chad suddenly, "Oh my god."

"What," Chad asked quickly, completely out of his element and having no idea what to do.

"That's it isn't," Gabi sniffled and stood up straight, "I was right. You do want Will, don't you?"

"Uh," Chad, eyes wide, feeling lost, "What?"

"Don't act like you don't know," Gabi wiped the back of her arm across her eyes, "I knew it! I knew it. It's stupid Will."

"Uh," Chad thought about his answer carefully. 'I don't have feelings for Will but if it makes Gabi back off I guess I could pretend.'

"Just tell me the truth," Gabi looked into his eyes, "I just want the truth."

"OK," Chad licked his lips nervously, 'Oh god this is such a horrible idea,' "You're right. I do have feelings for Will."

Gabi, heart clenching painfully, grinded her teeth together, "I knew it."

EJ sat on the small chair in the dorm room quietly waiting. Black leather gloves adorned his hands and he ensured that no one saw him enter the building. With what little he knew about security systems he was able to disable what he needed. 'Now for the little bastard to come back.' Hearing the key in the door EJ stood arms crossed.

T slumped off his backpack and tossed it into a corner. Hands automatically rubbing against his face T wished he could get rid of the weary feeling he had in his bones. 'Ever since I came back to Salem everything has been a mess.' Sensing a presence in the room T swallowed and lowered his hands meeting the eyes of EJ Dimera. 'I've been expecting this for a long time.'

Lifting an eyebrow when T did not react to seeing him EJ said coolly, "You know why I'm here."

Nodding T answered, "Yes."

"So tell me," EJ demanded tone leaving no room for arguments.

Sitting down on the edge of his bed, legs crossing, T sighed, "I just wanted my friend back, the old Will."

"He never changed," EJ stated firmly. "He's always been the same."

"No," T argued softly, "No I don't know who he is now. Now he's a stranger." Taking a few deep breaths, feeling his heart rate accelerate, T continued, "I saw the article and read a few comments before they got deleted. I found this guy's Tumblr account. I could do without all the disgusting Paul and Sonny comments but everything else was making sense. He said he was going to Salem and he was going to fix everything."

"So you contacted him," EJ responded lowly. "You gave Ian information about William."

"Yes," T confessed, "I told him where he went to school and where he worked. I never met him in person it was only ever online. He said he had a bunch of money and he was going to fix Will. Make him normal again. I just wanted Will to go back to the way he was."

"And did he tell you how he was going to do that," EJ urged feeling impatient and wanting to know everything.

"No," T shook his head he didn't. 'I found that out on my own.' "I just figured he would take Will to one of those camp places where they come back straight or whatever."

"You can't change who he is," EJ argued. "There's nothing wrong with him."

Ignoring EJ T added, "I didn't know he was going to hurt him. That day in the park I thought Will would go with him willingly. I didn't expect to find a mess and police and, and blood."

"Why would William ever go with that psychopath," EJ sneered. "You were there and you knew what was going to happen."

"I didn't," T whined, "I didn't know. I thought he hated Will and wanted to fix him. I didn't expect he would try to have sex with him!"

"You were there on purpose," EJ snorted, "You were there to distract him weren't you?"

"I-I knew something was going to happen but I already told you I didn't think he would hurt Will," T insisted. "I didn't expect that."

"Did you tell Ian when William left the hospital," EJ looked T up and down. 'He's not equipped to deal with things like this; he's in way over his head.'

"No," T said looking surprised. "I didn't even know when he left. Or what happened to Ian after he escaped. I mean I assume he went back to wherever he came from but," Trailing off seeing the look on EJ's face T said simply, "But he's dead. Isn't he?"

"Of course he is," EJ confirmed. Stepping closer to T EJ, towering over him, gazed at him unblinkingly.

"Oh," T shriveled, curling into himself. "Oh."

"You've left me with no choice," EJ proclaimed, pulling out a gun and attaching the silencer. "And since you apparently don't have anything useful to tell me I suppose this is it."

"When I thought Ian was gone and it was over," T whispered, "Your father started calling me. He wants Will for something."

"I already knew that," EJ replied grimly. "I wish it didn't have to be this way but I'm not leaving anything up to chance anymore. Or my father." Taking a deep breath EJ, arm steady, lifted the gun and pulled the trigger.

Leaving T's body on his bed EJ grabbed a few items from the room while making a mess, wanting it to look like there was a struggle. Closing the door behind him, head down just in case the security system had been fixed EJ made it all the way to the entrance before seeing anyone.

Neil, hand in hand with Brian, paused when he saw EJ Dimera walking out of his dorm, with a bag full of items while wearing gloves. Looking into EJ's eyes Neil nodded once before stepping to the side and letting him pass.

Brian, curious eyes following the former Mayor, turned to Neil, "What was that all about?"

"Nothing," Neil told him seriously, hoping he would understand what he meant, what he needed Brian to go along with, "We saw absolutely nothing."

Chad walked into the mansion with a sense of unease. 'Oh god why did I tell her that? I made everything worse.' Moving into the front room Chad stopped short when he saw Will sitting on the couch next to Chad's father looking at a photo album. 'What in the actual fuck?'

Stefano, noticing Chad, "Ah, my son. Come join us. I was just giving William a lesson on our family history."

"Uh huh," Chad muttered suspiciously. Sitting down next to Will Chad asked, "Why?"

"William is interested," Stefano put his arm around William and squeezed once before letting him go. "Us Dimera's can trace our family history back for generations. But for myself it all started with my father, Santo."

Will, trying to appear at ease, filed everything Stefano told him away to think about later, "He looks like EJ," Will smiled slightly.

"Yes Elvis very much takes after his grandfather," Stefano agreed, fingers tracing the picture of his father carefully. Pulling himself out of his memories Stefano closed the album with a snap, "Perhaps you will get another lesson soon, William." Slowly standing up Stefano looked between Chad and William with a small grin, "Until then," he waved his hand and walked out of the room.

Waiting until he was sure his father was gone Chad shoved Will in the chest, "What the hell was that about?"

"Nothing," Will shook his head, rubbing where Chad hit him, "Just trust me Chad; I know what I'm doing."

'I don't believe that for a second,' Chad thought while shaking his head. 'You have absolutely no idea.'

Giving Chad a smirk Will asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you," Chad shifted uncomfortably, 'Deal with one crisis at a time.' "I broke up with Gabi."

"Why," Will questioned, moving forward and grabbing Chad's arm, "I thought you liked her. I know she's crazy about you."

"Oh she's crazy all right," Chad puffed out a deep breath, "She's too clingy and she was suffocating me. I had to back out while I still could."

"OK," Will nodded, "I guess that could be frustrating. But why do you look so freaked out?"

Chad licked his lips and looked up at the ceiling, "OK, so when I finally told her what I wanted she wouldn't accept it."

"What," Will blinked trying to figure that out. "What do you mean?"

"I mean she literally said no," Chad explained heatedly. "I tried to break things off gently. I didn't want to admit the reason it didn't work was because she was driving me insane. So I said the only thing I could think of to get her off my back. To get her to believe me."

"Which was what," Will turned so his knees were on the couch. Not liking the look on Chad's face Will sighed, "What did you do?"

"I, um, I kind of told her the reason I couldn't be with her anymore was because I wanted to be with you," Chad rushed out as fast as he could. Wanting to explain himself Chad added, "Which I don't OK. I am 100% straight. Not that there's anything wrong with you little buddy. I'm sure you're an awesome boyfriend. I mean you keep two guys interested in you so you must be fantastic. But that's not the point."

"Chad," Will complained loudly. "Oh my god. Paul is going to kill you!"

"But I lied," Chad whined, knowing how possessive Paul was over Will. "So just tell them that it was just an act to get Gabi off my back. I mean, I've been telling Sonny I wanted to break up with her for a while now. No one is going to believe this anyway."

"You don't understand," Will told him while taking off his glasses and rubbing his forehead, head pounding. "I used to have a crush on you and I told them and now Paul is going to hear this and he's going to be unbearable."

"Wait, what," Chad stopped his complaining, "I was always joking about that stuff! You mean you really did want to date me?"

"Shut up," Will screamed reaching over and punching Chad in the arm, "You are going to get beat up and my ass is going to be so sore I won't be able to sit after Paul's done spanking me."

"Dude," Chad moved away from Will, "I did not need to know that. Wait is that asshole hurting you? Because I swear to god Will I will beat him down faster than-"

Punching Chad again Will urged, "Shut up! Just stop it. Ugh we have to go find Sonny and Paul before Gabi does. No wonder she was saying so many weird things to me the other day." Shouting goodbye to his mom and siblings Will grabbed his things and ran out the door. Chad hot on his heels. 'I guess I'll talk to EJ tomorrow.'

Paul walked into Common Grounds nervously. He wasn't sure if Sonny was still upset about what he told him that morning about his mom. 'I just don't know how to explain it to her. She barely accepts the fact that I came out. She'll never understand how I can be in love with two people at once.' Sagging into an empty seat Paul put his hand on his elbow.

Sonny, just about done for the day, shot Paul a nasty look when he came inside. 'Will is going to be crushed. He needs to man up and tell his mom the truth before Will finds out. Everything is finally going right for us. I don't want anything to screw it up.' Making Paul a drink Sonny placed it on his table quickly before walking away.

Paul, sipping his latte slowly, appreciating Sonny's coffee making skills, debated how to admit to his mom the truth. 'Do I tell her the articles she saw were kind of true? Do I tell her about how Sonny and I got close to Will and it escalated? I definitely can't tell her about Ian or she would flip out.' Frowning miserably Paul almost felt relieved when he saw Gabi Hernandez storm into the building.

Hair flowing wildly around her hair Gabi, out of breath and frantic, stomped over to Paul. Standing in front of him Gabi crossed her arms, "I want your stupid, slutty boyfriend to stay the hell away from Chad!"

Stunned, Paul leaned his head back slightly, "What did you just say?"

"You heard me," Gabi hissed, "He ruined my relationship. It's bad enough he broke my heart did he had to steal away my boyfriend too? He's already got two of his own he doesn't need anymore."

"What the fuck are you rambling on about," Paul demanded fists clenching; trying to remind himself he wasn't allowed to hit a girl.

"I am talking about Chad leaving me because he wants to be with Will," Gabi told him flatly. "Now what the hell are you going to do about it?"

Author's note:

Please let me know what you thought. How does everyone think Paul and Sonny are going to react to what Gabi tells them? And what is Will going to do if/when he finds out about T?