"Where is he," Sonny shouted as he ran down the staircase, terrified Will might have tripped and tumbled down them. When he didn't see Will anywhere Sonny called up towards Paul, "He's not here."

"Fuck," Paul, frozen from his conversation with his mother, began to feel panic creeping up his spine. "Fuck," he pulled out his phone, ready to call Will or the police or anything when he saw a message from Will. Paul closed his eyes, bringing the phone up to his mouth, and sighed, "Oh thank god."

"What," Sonny dashed up the stairs, "What is it?"

"He's with his mom," Paul explained handing his phone over to Sonny and showing him the message:

Mom found me, taking me to mansion. Call later.

"Oh god," Sonny put his hand on his chest, feeling it pounding out of control, "I was so scared for a second there."

"Me too," Paul admitted before walking back inside. Slumping on the couch Paul put his head in his hands, "God, I made a mess of everything."

Sonny didn't want to be cruel but he had to be honest, "Yes you did."

Shooting Sonny a sharp look Paul added, "I don't know how this happened. Why couldn't I just tell them the truth?"

"Well," Sonny sat next to Paul and put his hand on his thigh, "You did try with your mother. She just wouldn't let you. As for why you didn't tell Will," Sonny looked away from Paul, "I can't help you with that one."

"Because I didn't want to hurt his feelings," Paul closed his eyes, "Which I did anyway." Rubbing his cheeks up and down Paul said, "I need to find a way to make it up to him."

"I think you should tell him the truth first," Sonny pointed out. "He might understand everything better then."

"Yeah," Paul rested his head on the back of the couch. "That's true. God how did my mom manage to get here so fast? And how did she get inside?"

"Will must have let her in," Sonny guessed upon thinking about it, "Neil said he had a headache and they made him go home. He must have taken a pill and went to sleep."

"Fuck, he didn't need to confront this when he should have been asleep" Paul grumbled. "He needs as much rest as he can get. We promised to make things easier for him. To make sure he wasn't as stressed and the opposite happened."

"I somehow doubt that's ever going to happen for Will in this town," Sonny commented lowly.

Knock Knock Knock

Sonny looked over at Paul warily. "Who the hell could that be," Sonny mused, "Who else could we have pissed off today?" Opening the door Sonny groaned when he saw who was standing there. "Go away," he said before attempting to close the door.

Brian stuck his foot out preventing the door from closing. "Nice try," he admitted, "Now what was that phone call all about?"

Sonny rolled his eyes before crossing his arms, "You know that's none of your business, right?"

"You're the one that called me," Neil reminded him. "And Will is our friend."

"We'll go away faster if you just tell us," Brian said in a sing-song voice.

Paul, never thrilled to see Neil or Brian, said from the couch, "We didn't want him to meet my mother yet."

"Why not," Neil asked immediately. "I thought you three were all super committed and in love or whatever."

Narrowing his eyes Paul admitted through clenched teeth, "I was going to explain our relationship to her but Will was already here and she got the wrong idea."

"Oh fantastic," Brian mock cheered. "Way to make your boyfriend feel good about himself. Is he still awake?"

"He's not here," Sonny informed them already knowing they were going to make a huge deal out of the situation to Will. "He's at his mom's."

"The same Mom who lives with the guy who threatened to kill him," Neil asked incredulously. "That Mom?"

Paul, almost having forgotten that, put his hands on the back of his neck and growled loudly, "Fuck!"

Brian, looking between Paul and Sonny, wondered, "Are you going to go get him?"

"I don't know," Sonny said as he started to pace. "He said he was going to call us later."

"Why did he go with his mom," Neil demanded. "He said he was coming here to sleep. How did he end up with Sami?"

"Because Paul's Mom came and interrupted his sleep and she got the wrong idea and Will left, OK," Sonny explained loudly. "Are you happy? We fucked up again. Is that what you want to hear?"

Lifting one eyebrow Brian calmly stated, "No it's not what we want to hear. We would prefer it if you didn't constantly upset the kid actually."

"It's not like we do it on purpose," Paul argued. "Besides it's my fault. Mine! I'm the one that lied."

"You know," Neil crossed his arms, beginning to get pissed off, "When all of this started, everything between the two of you and Will, everyone was against it. We all knew you were going to hurt him. But you managed to recover from your first fight. You somehow won him back. And I literally have no fucking clue how you keep doing this to him."

"It's none of your business," Sonny shouted back, feeling defensive. "No, you know what Neil? You need to just stop it. You shouldn't even be in Will's life after what you did to him."

"Oh," Neil spat out, "That's rich coming from you!"

Paul, moving to stand next to Sonny, glared at Neil, "He's right. You're the asshole that can't get leave our boyfriend alone."

Brian watched the three of them arguing wondering where this was all heading.

"I don't want your boyfriend," Neil yelled, "No, let's just be honest. I wanted Will. I wanted him more than I ever wanted anything. I wanted to take his pretty little submissive self and mold him into whatever I fucking wanted. I wanted to use him over and over again until I got bored and threw him away."

"See," Sonny pointed at Neil menacingly, "I knew it!"

"No, no you don't know anything," Neil insisted. "Because that's not what I want anymore. All I want for Will now is to be involved with someone that's going to love him and protect him no matter what. And that isn't me. I don't want to deal with crazy, obsessive step-fathers and psychopaths. I want to be Will's friend but that's it." Taking a deep breath Neil continued, "But I don't think that's you two either."

"What the fuck does that mean," Paul asked angrily. Between Neil and Brian and Chad Paul has been itching to punch someone for days.

"It means that you two aren't good enough for him," Neil shouted, "You just keep upsetting him or hurting him. You said less than a week ago you were going to shield him from whatever bullshit comes his way and now look what you did."

"Shut up," Sonny screamed furiously. "Just shut up! You don't get to tell us anything. You fucking try dealing with all of this and see how you handle it. Do you have any idea how hard it is? We have to deal with asshole friends like you whispering in his ear about how horrible we are. We have to put up with his ridiculous family. We have to deal with articles and stalkers and kidnappings and people threatening him left and right. So just shut up and stop telling us we aren't trying hard enough! You have no fucking clue what I was willing to do to keep Will safe!"

Brian put his hand on Neil's forearm beginning to see that they were pushing Sonny a little too far. While Brian agreed with Neil he didn't exactly want to see him get beat to a pulp over it.

"Get out," Paul ordered; arms shaking with the amount of control it was taking to prevent himself from attacking. "Just get the fuck out right now."

Neil, biting the inside of his cheek, turned towards the door. Brian was pushing on his lower back but Neil couldn't resist telling them, "This isn't over."

"It's never going to be fucking over with you," Sonny muttered under his breath before collapsing onto the floor.

Paul looked at Sonny in concern before dropping to his knees in front of him. He hadn't seen Sonny lose his cool like that in a long time. Seeing Sonny trembling slightly Paul reached out and wrapped his arms around Sonny. Pulling him close Paul felt alarmed when he realized Sonny was crying. "Hey, don't listen to them. You know they're asshole. They don't know anything."

Sonny felt like he was hyperventilating. He couldn't breathe. Clinging tightly to Paul's shoulders Sonny cried loudly. It wasn't what Neil and Brian were saying. It was everything in their lives. Stefano and his threats. Paul and Tori. EJ and what Sonny asked him to do. All the lying he's done and continued to do. It all seemed to compound within him. Particularly the fact that once Will knew about his involvement with T's death he might never forgive him.

"Take a deep breath," Paul ordered as he rubbed Sonny's back, "Now another one. It's OK. Everything is going to be fine."

Sonny wasn't sure how much more of this he could take. "I just want it to be all over with. I just want us to be happy and safe. I don't want to worry about what's going to happen to Will every second of the day. I want to have normal problems. I just want this to be over with."

"I do too," Paul said soothingly as Sonny's breathing began to even out. "It's going to be OK soon. What do you need me to do right now? Right now what do you need."

"To see Will," Sonny admitted, pulling away from Paul and wiping his face, "I just want to explain everything to him. Everything."

"OK," Paul nodded, leaning forward to kiss Sonny. "Let's go get him back."

Sonny held onto Paul's hand tightly as they walked downstairs to the car. 'I'm going to tell him everything. No more secrets, no more lies. Even if he can't forgive me he deserves to know the truth.'

Will opened his eyes taking a few seconds to realize he was in his bed at the DiMera Mansion wondering how he got there. The last thing he remembered was getting into the car with his mom and EJ. Looking out towards the window Will saw the sun was almost completely set. 'I must have fallen asleep,' he thought as he stretched. The pounding in his head had dulled to a small twinge. His eyes weren't as blurry as earlier either when he put his glasses on.

Feeling better Will contemplated getting up when someone knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in," Will answered. He didn't know who he expected on the other side but it certainly wasn't Stefano. "Oh," Will whispered.

"William," Stefano nodded towards him as he walked into the room with a black bag in his hands. He observed William's pale face and messy hair with a sad expression. "I hope you are feeling better after your rest."

"Yes," Will nodded. He felt uncomfortable with Stefano in his room, vulnerable. He looked at the closed door wondering if he should try to leave.

"I was very concerned when I saw Elvis carrying you over his shoulder up the stairs," Stefano confessed.

"Is that how I got here," Will asked lightly. 'I guess that makes sense.'

"Indeed," Stefano looked at William one more time before grabbing the desk chair and moving it towards the bed. Dragging the chair seemed to rob him of his energy. Out of breath Stefano sat down and rubbed his chest, a strained look to his face.

Will looked at Stefano, "Are you OK? You look like you're the one who should be resting."

"I am perfectly fine," Stefano waved his hand, "Just not quite as young as I used to be." Reaching for the bag at his feet Stefano lifted it to his lap before catching William's eyes. "Now, William, there is a few things we must discuss."

"Oh," Will asked nervously, tongue running against his scarred lips.

"Yes," Stefano cleared his throat. "I think that you have played your little game with Chad for far too long."

"Game," Will questioned in confusion. "I don't understand."

"I appreciate that you are young and just coming into your own," Stefano nodded, "But I am a man of little patience these days. You are going to end your relationship with Paul Narita and Jackson Kiriakis. You will stop stringing Chad along and you will listen to every instruction he or I gives you."

"What," Will couldn't understand what he was hearing. 'This isn't right. EJ said he was going to take care of this. He said Stefano wasn't going to be a problem.'

"Do not play coy with me," Stefano smiled at him knowingly. "I am not a man you can simply bat your lashes at and expect me to do exactly what you want. But I cannot fault you for trying. In fact," Stefano sighed in satisfaction, "That is exactly why you will be such an asset."

Will knew he was involved in something dangerous. That despite the pleased grin on Stefano's face one false move and Will could be dead. "I don't understand what you mean. I haven't been trying to upset Chad. I just don't want to hurt Sonny or Paul. I care about them."

"Hmm," Stefano hummed. Opening the bag on his lap Stefano pulled open a laptop and switched it on. "I suppose one of the reasons Chad and Elvis and your little boyfriends like you so much is because of that little empathy streak. How you never seem to want to upset anyone or hurt their feelings. That will have to be one of the first things to go." Waiting for the laptop to settle Stefano added, "I had it all planned you know. When you were younger. I was going to take you under my wing when you were still so impressionable but Elvis convinced me not to. I suspect it was to woo your mother."

Will listened to Stefano feeling a bit sick to his stomach.

"Of course," Stefano continued, "It would have been much easier back then but it would still work now. I put my plan to the side. I could wait a bit longer. And then I heard all about the little love triangle you found yourself in. Elvis invited you and your mother into my home. Elvis really should have taken better care of that picture he had printed from Paul Narita's phone. It was all too easy for Zach to show it to me. He was already watching over the mansion for my benefit."

Will inhaled sharply, teeth digging into his lower lip.

"I knew if the picture were to be leaked," Stefano chuckled, "Then everything would become even more confusing for you. You would be vulnerable and Elvis would be too busy dealing with the matter. It would be easier to get you to come around to my way of thinking."

"And Ian," Will asked in a subdued voice, tears welling in his eyes. "How did that happen?"

"Well," Stefano sat up straighter, "That was almost too easy. Victor has his spies at my company and I have my spies at his. They told me the name of someone Victor had contacted. I managed to get ahold of Ian seconds before he got on Victor's plane. It only took one quick conversation before I knew he would do what I wanted."

"But," Will shook his head carefully, blinking several times so he wouldn't cry, "Why did he kidnap me? Were you going to have him really-"

"Well," Stefano lifted one shoulder helplessly, "He had his own agenda. If I fed him what he wanted I was going to get what I wanted in the end. You would have been much more amenable after that anyway." Tsking at the look on William's face Stefano reached out and grabbed his chin, "Chad rescued you in time did he not? I should have suspected from that moment his true feelings."

Will's nostrils flared as he pulled his face out of Stefano's reach. "Ian was arrested. How did he even escape?"

"He's rather sneaky," Stefano admitted as he put on a pair of gloves and started pulling something out of the laptop, "And small. Perhaps he went through the vents. I doubt it's too hard to fool the Salem PD anyway. Not when you have a technological genius working for you. I do wish Chad would have spared Zach at least."

Will was having a hard time stomaching this. They all suspected Stefano was behind it but it was completely different hearing the blasé way Stefano explained it all.

"I would have preferred if Ian had gotten you to the airport and we could have started your training immediately," Stefano mentioned, "But I do believe this has worked out for the best. Now you'll be with Chad and I will still get what I want."

"EJ isn't going to let you do this," Will started to say.

Laughing Stefano shook his head, "Elvis will not be able to save you now. He's going to have his hands full dealing with his own problem soon." Smirking at William Stefano lifted his eyebrows, "Or not depending on you."

"What does that mean," Will questioned in a firm voice.

"It's all going to depend on your choices William," Stefano informed him. "Either you break off your fling and commit yourself to my son and this family. Or I will use this," Stefano lifted the laptop up, "And send Elvis and your little boyfriend to prison."

Completely confused Will said, "I don't understand. What are you talking about?"

Stefano handed a pair of gloves to William, watching him put them on, before giving the laptop over to William with a wide smiled.

Will, balancing the laptop, glanced at Stefano cautiously. Looking at the screen Will felt the air being pulled from his lungs. It was opened to pictures and in almost every single one Will saw a familiar face. "Oh my god," Will whispered as he stared at picture after picture of T. "What is this," Will questioned getting a horrible feeling.

"Well," Stefano remarked casually, "He was murdered you know. I wonder who could have done that."

Will set his jaw, "EJ wouldn't do that."

"Then explain to me why I found it in his safe," Stefano demanded. "All it would take would be one anonymous phone call to the police. As inept as they are even they would not be stupid enough to ignore the tip. Most of them have been waiting for years to find some way to punish Elvis."

"How do I know you didn't do it yourself and are just framing EJ," Will inquired, not trusting Stefano in the slightest.

"Interestingly enough the security footage on the inside of the dorm mysteriously short circuited during the killing. But I did manage to snag a little still of what happened just outside the building," Stefano pulled out of the side of the bag a photograph. One showing Neil and Brian's confused faces looking at the back of a tall, dark haired man in all black. A familiar dark haired man.

Will gasped as he ripped the picture out of Stefano's hands. 'EJ,' Will thought sadly. Seeing Neil and Brian Will asked, "Is this who you were talking about when you said my boyfriend?" 'How could they see that and not put it together,' Will marveled about Neil and Brian.

"No," Stefano supplied, "That would be your young little Jackson. I guess that apple didn't fall far from the Kiriakis tree."

"What," Will inhaled sharply. "What does Sonny have to do with anything?"

"He and Elvis are not as subtle as they like to think. Of course I would find out they were plotting together to kill one of my employees," Stefano shook his head sadly. "Now do you understand," Stefano grinned in satisfaction. "If you do not follow my instructions I will give this information to the police. And how many people you care about will be implicated in this murder?"

Will dropped his head to his chest, pushing the laptop away from him.

Sonny and Paul, hand in hand, knocked on the door to the DiMera Mansion already sensing they were going to have to fight their way inside.

EJ answered the door and crossed his arms, "Well, well, well. I'd let you in but I'm afraid your secret boyfriend is still asleep. Do come back later."

Taking a page out of Brian's book Sonny stuck his foot in the door jamb preventing EJ from closing it. "We just want to explain everything to him. If he can't forgive us then you can say I told you so and kick us out," Sonny told EJ desperately. "We just want the chance to explain."

Standing up straighter EJ looked between the two before opening the door wider, "Fine. But you are not interrupting his rest. Go wait in the front room."

"Does it have to be the front room," Paul asked in a quiet voice, "I hate that room. Bad things happen in that room."

"It does have to be that room," EJ decided, 'If only for me to see them suffer.'

Sonny and Paul sat on the couch awkwardly. They both tried to focus on exactly what they were going to tell Will when he woke up. How to get him to understand why they did the things they did.

Sonny sighed, 'How am I going to get them both to understand what I did?'

Sami, walking in from outside where the children were playing, wasn't entirely surprised to see Sonny and Paul on the couch. "So," she announced as she came inside, "Exactly how are you going to get out of this one?"

Paul, feeling like maybe he was a bit closer to Sami after working on the seminar with her, shook his head sadly, "Tell him the truth. That I'm a giant douche who was too afraid to tell his mom about him."

Sami sat down on the chair nearby and frowned, "What do you mean?"

"My mom is not like you or Adrienne," Paul explained, "She isn't OK with me being gay. Or she is but she's not OK with me being out. It's apparently fine as long as no one knows. And it was so hard telling her that I was engaged to Sonny. I had no idea how to tell her about Will."

"So you just didn't say anything," Sami speculated, "Wouldn't it have been better to tell her the truth than to upset Will?"

"I tried," Paul defended, hands running through his hair, "I tried but she never gave me the chance. Then it all just became a huge mess and now Will is pissed off."

Sami didn't want to feel sorry for Paul but she kind of did. She understood all too well about admitting to your parents something difficult. 'My life is an example of that,' Sami thought. But at the same time Paul's refusal to tell his mother hurt Will, 'And Will is more important.'

Standing up Sami said, "I guess you'll just have to hope that he can understand why you kept him a secret." Walking out of the room Sami moved towards the door when she heard the bell ring.

Kate, standing anxiously on the other side, immediately barged in as soon as the door opened. Seeing Sami she started talking, "I don't think we should wait any longer, Sami. I have a terrible feeling something bad is going to happen before EJ gets a chance to work his plan."

Pulling Kate to the side, not wanting Paul or Sonny to overhear, Sami hissed, "Would you keep it down?"

"No," Kate shook her head, "Sami I don't think it's going to be enough. We can't wait any longer. You don't know Stefano like I do. I was the one who was married to him. I was the one that loved him. I know the way his mind works. He's going to do something soon."

"OK," Sami held up her hands, "Fine, let's go tell EJ and see what we can do."

EJ, wandering back into the front room with Sonny and Paul, stared at them with his lips pursed. Drumming his fingers on the arm of his chair EJ thought, 'You'd think they would realize William needs brutal honesty in his relationships.'

Sonny was attempting to ignore EJ's glaring. He was trying to prepare himself for the worst that could happen. 'I never wanted to admit to this but Will deserves the truth and he needs to hear it from me. He has to hear it from me.' Getting distracted from his musing Sonny frowned slightly when Sami and Kate came into the room.

Paul watched Sami and Kate, heads bent together, enter the room and stood in front of EJ with their hands on their hips. 'Those two are too alike. No wonder they hate each other.'

"What," EJ demanded as he stared up between Samantha and Kate. "We settled everything this morning."

"It's not fast enough," Kate insisted, "He's going to do something soon. You're sitting here feeling smug and like you're in control while Stefano is always one step ahead. Whatever you plan to do needs to be done now."

"I am telling you that for everything to work out we need to wait," EJ said getting upset.

"And that's not good enough," Kate argued.

"EJ, can't we at least consider what we talked about," Sami asked in a quiet voice.

"No," EJ shook his head, standing up, "Get that idea out of your head now."

"Why is it so far-fetched," Kate questioned. "It would be the easiest way."

"No one is killing anyone," EJ stated firmly, turning from the two of them in order to make himself a drink. 'I am not killing my father. That is where I draw the line.'

Sonny and Paul looked at each other with wide eyes before standing up.

"Are you talking about killing Stefano," Paul asked butting into the conversation and joining Sami and Kate.

"No," EJ said only be cut off.

"Yes," Sami and Kate answered together.

Sonny pinched the bridge of his nose. 'I don't want to know. I can't be involved in another murder. This isn't me. This isn't my life.'

"I told you," EJ rolled his eyes, making his drink a double, "That isn't happening. Now this conversation is over."

"What conversation is over," Chad asked as he walked into the room. "What?"

"Why aren't you at Common Grounds," Sonny looked at Chad in disbelief. "Your shift isn't over!"

"I left that one guy in charge," Chad dismissed Sonny's concern easily. "I knew I had to get here." Lifting up his phone Chad explained, "I got a message from Father saying he had good news for me."

"Indeed I do," Stefano proclaimed as he entered the front room. He was rubbing his chest again, feeling winded from going down the stairs.

EJ noted the familiar black bag in his hands with a sense of dread, 'Oh no.'

Whirling around Chad smiled, "You do? That's great, Father. Um, what is it?"

Leaning on the back of the chair in front of him Stefano grinned, "Oh I think I best let William explain it to you, Son."

"What about Will," Sami couldn't help herself from asking. "He's still asleep."

"No," Stefano replied. "We had quite the conversation." Shaking the bag in his hand Stefano glanced at Elvis, "Care to guess about what?"

"What did you do," EJ didn't want to think about what was going to happen. 'I should have listened to Samantha, Kate and Chad.'

"Let's just say," Stefano explained smugly, "That William is ready to do everything I ask of him."

"What the hell does that mean," Paul demanded, "What did you do to him?"

Sneering at Paul Stefano assured him, "It doesn't concern you anymore. William knows your little thing is over now. He's prepared for his new role."

Sonny's throat felt dry and he could hardly swallow, "What does, what does that mean?"

"Nothing you need to worry yourself over," Stefano nodded at him. "And don't worry. William knows to keep your secret."

Inhaling sharply Sonny looked at Stefano with panicked eyes, "Secret?"

"Of course," Stefano turned to face Elvis, "William understands what would happen if he turned from me now."

"Blackmailing him yet again, Father," EJ tried to keep his cool. "It didn't take long for him to cave and tell me the truth the last time."

"Well this time I found a more effective method to keep him under my control," Stefano confessed. "Either William does what I want or I'll go to the police and inform them you and Jackson Kiriakis plotted to kill that poor college student." Smiling at the shocked looks on almost everyone's face Stefano added, "Something tells me he'll follow my rules this time."

Paul stared at Stefano uncomprehendingly. 'Jackson? What the hell could Sonny have done? Sonny would never do anything like that.' Facing Sonny Paul saw the look on his face. The shame outlining his features, the tears stinging his eyes. 'Oh my god,' Paul took a step away from Sonny. "What did you do," he hissed lowly.

"I didn't, I was just," Sonny couldn't even explain himself, how could he explain himself. "I just wanted Will to be safe," he whispered.

"You want William to do what you want," EJ asked loudly, "Find another way. I'll call the police and confess myself." EJ walked over to the phone and lifted it up. Going to prison would be worth whatever hell his father had planned for William.

"Now, now, now," Stefano chuckled, tossing the bag into the chair in front of him. "That's to keep William in line. I have something else to ensure you stay out of my way."

Sami, arms crossed, wanted to take the few steps it would take and smack Stefano's smug expression right off his face.

"Chad, my son," Stefano reached out for him. Taking Chad's arm Stefano shook it slightly, "Now why don't you tell everyone exactly what I told you, hmm? What I said I would do to William if I didn't get exactly what I wanted?"

Instead of replying Chad licked his lips, "I want to go check on Will."

"Oh he's perfectly fine," Stefano waved his hand. "Very strong. He didn't even cry when I told him we would be leaving tonight. You'll have all the time in the world to see him soon enough."

"I really want to see Will," Chad insisted in a strained voice.

EJ, put the receiver back down, concerned about the expression on Chad's face. 'What the hell is he going to do?'

Kate, standing closest to Chad, immediately noticed when he started reaching behind him, under his coat, something metallic flashing in the light. Understanding dawned on her and she tried to get Stefano's attention, "Don't we at least get to say goodbye before you take Will away?"

"He'll be back," Stefano guaranteed. "Besides I don't think I'll be risking letting him out of his room quite yet." Glancing at Chad Stefano assured, "You'll see him soon enough. Your love is still perfectly fine."

"Chad," EJ warned when he saw him lifting his arm.

Sonny, head hanging low, wishing he was anywhere else, looked up and gasped in shock when Chad pulled out a gun.

"I told you I want to see Will," Chad repeated, arm steady as he pointed the gun at his father.

Stefano shook his head sadly, "And I told you no harm would come to him. You'll be there the whole time to ensure it."

"You are out of your mind if you think I'm letting him go anywhere with you," Chad spat at his father, "Not now, not ever."

"Chad give me the gun," EJ ordered as he moved towards him. "Hand it over, you don't want to do this."

"No," Chad shook his head, "I really do."

Looking between his children Stefano tilted his head back, feeling slightly out of breath again. 'Am I actually scared,' he wondered in surprise feeling sweat beading on his forehead.

"Just give it to me and I'll take care of it," EJ promised. "Let everyone else leave the room and I'll be the one to do it."

"EJ," Sami whispered. She didn't know what the right thing to do here would be.

"I'll handle this Samantha," EJ stated. "Now walk outside and take the children to the end of the property."

Sami took a step backwards when she bumped into Paul who wasn't moving.

Paul, stunned by what he learned about Sonny and what Stefano threatened to do to Will, couldn't leave. He needed to see this. Needed to see that Stefano was really dead.

Chad, still pointing the gun at his father, said, "No, I'm not letting you do this EJ. You have a family and kids. I'm completely prepared for this. I brought this on Will by giving out the article and lying to Gabi. It's my fault."

Stefano smiled gruffly, panting slightly, feeling a sudden twinging of pain in his chest, "If you cannot even decide who is going to be the one to pull the trigger how do you expect me to believe either of you will do it?"

Noticing the expression on Stefano's face Kate began to hope that maybe they might get out of this without murdering anyone.

Staring his father straight in the eye Chad told him, "This is for every single horrible thing you've ever done. All the people you've hurt. All the families you've torn apart. I'm not going to let you do that to mine."

Stefano felt lightheaded. He tried to keep his grip on the chair but found his hands no longer at any strength.

Chad inhaled deeply and pulled back the safety on the gun and said firmly, "Goodbye father." Keeping his eyes wide open Chad pulled the trigger and exhaled loudly.

Sami and Kate screamed loudly while Sonny and Paul both jumped in the air.

Chad, arm still in the air, stared in confusion when he saw the bullet he fired had lodged itself in the doorframe. Dropping his arm and hurrying to the other side of the chair he found his father lying limply on the floor, arm clutched to his chest.

EJ, reacting quicker than Chad, dropped to his knees and put his hand on to his father's neck checking his pulse. It was very weak but it was there. As everyone else gathered round EJ commented, "Heart attack."

"Should we call an ambulance," Kate asked weakly already knowing the answer.

No one said anything.

EJ kept his hand on his father's neck feeling his pulse get weaker and weaker until he could no longer feel it at all.

Sitting on the floor EJ sighed loudly, "He's dead."

Author's note:

I'm not going to be bringing anyone back from the dead so bye bye Stefano.

Please review and let me know what you thought. I'm very curious about this chapter.

Thanks so much for reading! And if you have any ideas/suggestions for what you would like to see next please tell me.