"Wouldn't you normally just hire someone to do this for you," Will asked wanting to break the awkward silence surrounding him and EJ. The only sound was the sliding of the paint rollers going up and down the wall.

"Normally yes," EJ shrugged, "But I felt like getting my hands dirty and doing something constructive."

"So you're trying to distract yourself," Will nodded calmly. "Makes sense."

"I suppose I am," EJ admitted as he put more paint on his roller. "I've had a lot on my mind recently. I know you can relate."

Will looked at EJ, pursing his lips as he watched EJ's long arms reach much higher on the wall than he could, "Oh trust me that I get."

Before another lingering silence could surround them EJ tossed his paint roller on the tray and sat down on the floor. 'Might as well finally get this over with. Maybe I'll finally be able to relax if I know whether or not William is going to renounce me.'

Will followed suit sitting cross legged on the ground across from EJ. 'Never in a million years would I have thought the first time I moved in this room that EJ and I would be here. Well, discussing crimes he's committed yes but the other stuff no.'

Taking a deep breath, trying to pick flecks of paint off his fingers and hands, Will said, "I think, um, the first thing we should talk about is T and Gabi."

"Alright," EJ nodded agreeably. "With T, I, when," EJ paused. 'No don't place all the blame on Kiriakis. This is your fault.'

Clearing his throat EJ began, "If you want to know the details of what happened I can tell you but I think it's best if I don't. All you need to know is that I killed him."

"I know," Will sighed, "I just don't understand why."

"I had to William," EJ tried to explain, "I was not going to let anyone involved in that situation get away. I didn't trust that it was over. When I found out that your friend was involved I knew right away what I needed to do."

"But why was it kill him," Will beseeched putting his hands on his head, "Why did you have to do that? Why couldn't you have threatened him or, or run him out of town, something? For either of them?"

"It had to be this way," EJ believed. "I wasn't going to let anyone or anything else hurt you that way. The only way to be sure they were actually gone was to take care of them both."

"I didn't ask for that," Will said, shoulders drooping, "I didn't ask for anyone to be killed or taken care of." Whispering almost to himself Will asked, "Why does everyone think I want that?"

EJ frowned, "It's not that I thought you would want it. I just thought it would be best. If there were no more links around than you would have less chance of getting hurt again."

"And it didn't occur to you," Will questioned, pushing up his glasses on his nose and looking at EJ, "That maybe, I don't know, I might be a bit averse to violence or you shooting someone after what happened. That whole having a dead body landing on me with blood raining down."

EJ pressed his lips together, "No I guess it didn't occur to me. I, in my defense, I wasn't planning on you ever finding out."

"That is a horrible defense," Will stated, feeling a bit offended. "You can't just do whatever you want because you don't want people to know. If you didn't want people to know you shouldn't have stolen his things."

"I had to make it look believable," EJ countered. "What else was I supposed to do?"

"I don't know," Will argued, "Maybe not go around killing whoever you want. What's to say you aren't going to do it again, EJ? How do I know you aren't going to go out and kill anyone or everyone?"

"I wouldn't kill just anyone," EJ assured him. "And I won't make any promises that I can't keep. I don't know if I would or wouldn't harm anyone else." Seeing William about to protest EJ raised his hands, "But I can promise you I won't do anything violent in order to protect you. Unless the situation is life or death.

"You knew a long time ago that I was not a nice person, William," EJ informed him.

"Yes you are," Will insisted, scooting a bit closer to EJ. "If you weren't a nice person you wouldn't be in here painting my room just because you wanted me to be comfortable. You could be so much nicer if you really tried." Licking his lips Will said, "Maybe, maybe without Stefano around you don't have to be like him anymore."

EJ turned away from William, "I am what I am William. There's no changing it now."

Will looked at EJ sadly, "You could if you really wanted to."

Will sighed and looked away from EJ. 'I know he doesn't regret what he did. And I know he probably would do it again. But I don't know if I can handle any more of this. Anymore interfering and taking matters into his own hands.'

"I don't want you to do anything like that again," Will declared, lifting his head to catch EJ's eyes. "Ever. I don't care what they do to me you aren't going to plan to hurt anyone for me ever again. Because I don't know how I'm supposed to keep forgiving you for things like this.

"You tried to have Paul killed. You hurt Neil. Gabi and T are dead. God only knows what you were going to do with all that evidence to Sonny," Will shook his head and crossed his arms. "So that's it. Nothing else ever again."

"I only do it to protect you," EJ admitted in a quiet, subdued voice.

"I can appreciate you wanting to protect me," Will acknowledged, "But not that way. Not anymore. If it happens ever again that's it. Because we already had this conversation once after I found out about Paul. And I'm never having it again."

EJ nodded in understanding, "I can handle that." Sitting up a bit straighter, feeling as if a pressure was taken off his shoulders, EJ said, "And for your information I wasn't going to do anything to your boyfriend. Alright I might have held it over his head a bit but that's it."

Standing up EJ extended his hand to William, "Now come along. Before we finish painting there's something I need you to see."

"How exactly is no one going to notice a bonfire in the middle of the day," Will asked as he stuffed his hands in his jacket as he stood outside watching EJ set fire to the bag of evidence Stefano showed him.

"Oh please," EJ dismissed, "How many times has there been gun shots going off around here and no one ever questions it?"

"That's really comforting, thanks a lot," Will gave EJ an unimpressed look, 'Why does everyone seem to think I want to be reminded of that?' He was however pleased to see any possibility of EJ or Sonny going to jail go up in literal flames. 'Neil and Brian too,' Will remembered. 'Hmm, I'm gonna need to finish up with Stefano's laptop and get rid of it too.'

"Well," EJ put his hand on William's shoulder, making him take a few steps backwards. He had the fire contained but he wasn't taking any chances, "I have to confess I'm a bit surprised you've forgiven me this quickly."

Will brushed EJ's hand off, bringing the sleeve of his hand over his nose not wanting to inhale the smoke, "I didn't say I forgave you. You get one more chance." Getting worked up Will continued, "In fact everyone is getting one more chance. I am so sick and tired of having to forgive people for things they do to me or for me."

EJ gave William an appraisingly look. "You'd really cut them out of their life if they did something else," EJ asked incredulously not quite believing William.

Will bit his lip, shifting from foot to foot. "I don't want to but if I have to I will," Will decided unhappily.

"Interesting," EJ said making a note to tell Samantha when he saw her later.

Once the flames began to die down Will watched as EJ poked around in the ashes. He wanted to make an extremely inappropriate joke but figured he shouldn't. Playing with the bracelet he was still wearing Will walked closer to EJ, "Can I ask you something and you give me your honest opinion?"

"Of course," EJ declared, "When have I ever tried to spare your feelings?"

"That's true," Will rolled his eyes. "I just, ugh, you and mom you've gone through a lot of bad things. How are you two able to still be together after all of that?"

EJ, pushing around the ashes, making sure there were no more flames and that everything was destroyed, "Samantha and I are a special case, William. We're kindred spirits. We could get through just about anything and eventually come back to each other."

"Even though a few months ago you were both married to other people," Will questioned disbelievingly. "People you both hated?"

"Well I do believe the fact that we were married to them might have had something to do with the hatred," EJ admitted. "But yes even after that."

"But how," Will demanded, "How do you make it work?"

"We both put in a lot of effort," EJ explained, "Being with your mother and being with me is not easy. We're very difficult in our own ways. There's always one disaster after another. Most is of our own making but still."

Will moved closer to EJ, "And how do you deal with it all? What do you do?"

Knowing William was wondering for the sake of his own relationship EJ paused, 'Should I really be encouraging him with this?' But seeing the curious, open look in William's eyes EJ knew he would have to.

"There's a lot of talking, well screeching in your mother's case, and you have to be extremely honest," EJ told William. "There will be lots of uncomfortable arguments and you'll get extremely upset. But you have to keep working at it. Every day.

"And if one of you say, kills a few of your son's friends without telling the other," EJ quickly explained, "You have to let them rant and rave at you until they run out of steam and then tell them the truth. The whole uncomfortable truth."

"OK," Will nodded, "I can do that. Oh, what happens if you're always honest and the other person, people, aren't?"

'I guess I deserve this; having to counsel William on the relationship I hate.' "Well," EJ began, "Either they begin to be as honest with you as you are with them or you shouldn't be together."

"And what if you were say drunk when you shouldn't have been and tried to kiss your two friends that your boyfriends really hate," Will said quickly. "How do you deal with that?"

Turning to glare EJ growled, "Damnit William!" EJ spat out, "I told you to stay away from those two."

"Well to be fair to them they both pushed me away," Will explained, wringing his hands, "But you know that doesn't really sound good either."

EJ rubbed his temples, "Did you kiss them yes or no?"

"No," Will said, "Well, no, I didn't. But mostly because I was too drunk to aim properly."

Rolling his eyes EJ asked, "Did you want to kiss them yes or no?"

"No," Will replied, "I wanted to kiss someone not necessarily them. Well actually I wanted someone to you know, kiss and touch me and make me feel wanted."

"There you have it. You didn't actually do anything. You told them the truth I'm assuming therefore everything will be just fine," EJ shrugged hoping to move past this conversation. 'Before I decide to renegade on my promise and run out and kill everyone.' "Now let's go inside."

"And then we opened the door and there was a crib and all this creepy baby stuff," Will explained as they finished painting. "I swear I thought a baby was going to come crawling out of the closet or something."

EJ, frowning deeply, "I'm going to need to check this out for myself. I don't like the sound of it."

EJ knew his father had to have had a reason for leaving William and Chad so many things but he didn't expect that. "And you never found a key in any of the other rooms for that desk," EJ questioned.

"Nope," Will shook his head. "I didn't do any deep exploring though. That place freaked me out. It was so nice you know? But a little too nice. It felt like walking into the Stepford Wives movie."

"We're going to need to look into the details of the house," EJ decided. "Something tells me there might be a few more conditions that go along with it."

"Do you think that DVD has any clues," Will asked suddenly remembering it.

EJ froze at the mention of the DVD. He and Samantha briefly talked about it. 'Whatever Father left on there can't be anything good.' "I'm not sure I want you watching it," EJ stated.

"Why not," Will wondered, "It's for me isn't it?"

"Yes but I don't want you seeing anything that would upset you," EJ informed William. "I think that it would be best for your mother and I to handle it."

"OK," Will said, back facing EJ, a determined look on his face.

"And I don't want you or Chad going back to that house until I've inspected it," EJ added. "It could be dangerous."

"Mmmhmm," Will hummed having no intention of listening to EJ.

"Hi," Sonny greeted Paul as he walked inside the apartment dropping some mail off on the countertop.

"Hey," Paul responded eyes on his phone. "Have you talked to Will today?"

"No," Sonny admitted, "I was waiting to call him with you."

"OK me too," Paul smiled slightly as he closed the game he was playing. Dialing Will's number he began bouncing his leg up and down nervously.

"Hello," Will asked in a strange voice. He didn't know how he was supposed to talk to Paul now. If he was even supposed to talk to him. He vaguely remembered Sonny and Paul telling him they were going to talk again soon but he didn't know if it meant this soon.

"Hi," Paul said in a breathy voice. "Um, hi."

"Hi," Will responded feeling a bit confused.

"Um, I, we, um, Sonny and I were wondering if we could see you tonight. And maybe start talking about somethings. If you want to," Paul started to explain but began to feel a bit alarmed when Will didn't answer right away.

"I guess I could do that," Will replied. "When and where?"

"Maybe around five," Paul asked. He wasn't sure why Will sounded that way, so unenthusiastic. "At home if that's OK."

"Yeah, I guess it will have to be," Will sighed. "OK I'll see you then," Will ended the call abruptly.

Paul pouted his bottom lip, "He hung up on me."

"Did he sound alright," Sonny asked instantly concerned. "Is he OK?"

"I don't know. He sounded weird," Paul shook his head, "When he comes we'll have to figure it out."

"I probably shouldn't sleep in here until the paint dries," Will commented to EJ as they looked at their finished product. It wasn't as nice as if they would have had it done professionally but they both felt accomplished.

"You can sleep in one of the guest rooms and tomorrow we can rearrange the new furniture," EJ suggested as he began cleaning up all the paint supplies. "So you're really going over there?"

"I guess so," Will sighed loudly. "I just, I really hope this isn't going to be another ambush."

"You just have to be firm with them," EJ reminded William, "Like when you were a rebellious teenager."

"Right," Will laughed. "Maybe this won't be so horrible." Checking the time he realized he needed to take a shower to get all the paint off of him.

"Oh," EJ called out as Will walked towards his bathroom. "Your mother and I scheduled an appointment with a financial adviser for you tomorrow. You and I will be meeting her there."

"What time is it," Will asked, "Because I have an appointment with my therapist right after class."

"Around 4:30," EJ stated.

"OK, I can just meet you after the session is over," Will smiled at EJ slightly.

"Will you be home for dinner," EJ asked as he finished picking up the painting supplies.

"No I'm meeting Chad," Will responded. As he closed the door Will wished that EJ would keep his promise to him this time. 'Please don't take matters into your own hands anymore. Please.'

A little while later, as Will was about to head to Sonny and Paul, he took a detour to Stefano's office. He had left EJ in his office on the phone so he knew he would have plenty of time to snoop around. 'If I had a key where would I put it,' he thought as he began looking under things. Getting a bit annoyed Will leaned his hands across the top of the desk and startled when the wood moved.

Pushing down again, this time more firmly, Will almost shouted in triumph when he uncovered a secret panel. Double checking that the door to the room was closed Will looked down and started going through the few items in the drawer.

There were only three things inside Will's old phone, a DVD with his name written on it and an old fashioned looking key. 'Bingo,' Will thought as he took all three of them with him, closing the hidden drawer, shoving everything in his backpack and walked down the hall.

Sonny and Paul nervously walked around the apartment. They kept finding things to straighten up, a small imperfection here or there that they didn't want Will to see.

Sonny didn't know why he was so anxious about this meeting. He wasn't even this nervous when they first admitted to Will that they had feelings for him. 'Everything has to go well tonight or we might push Will away for good.'

Paul didn't know what he was supposed to do now. 'Are we supposed to offer him something to drink? Make dinner? What, how does this even work?' Beginning to pace Paul felt a bit faint when he caught sight of the time. 'Oh my god it's almost time and he's not here. He's always been on time for these things.'

"Do you," Paul asked Sonny quietly, "Do you think he's coming?"

"Of course he is," Sonny instantly replied, refusing to think about what that would mean. "He has to."

Knock Knock Knock

"See," Sonny smiled, waiting until Paul rushed to the door, to exhale loudly, 'Oh thank god.'

Will waited outside the door. He didn't know if he should use his key or if that would be inappropriate. He wasn't exactly worried about their meeting. The talk he had with EJ had actually been helpful. 'Even though he probably didn't want it to be helpful,' Will figured.

'I can be confident like I was when I was younger,' Will decided. 'I can definitely do that. I don't have to go along with everything they say.' Will bit his lip when Paul opened the door. He still felt the familiar rush of butterflies rumbling in his stomach at the sight of Paul but Will was determined to not let those rule any decisions he made.

'You're not getting overwhelmed by what you feel for them or what they feel for you. Today is just about talking,' Will told himself before stepping inside. "Hi," he smiled slightly at Paul.

"Hi," Paul whispered. 'He looks so much more put together than last night.' Paul moved out of the way and closed the door behind Will before taking his jacket for him.

"Hey," Sonny moved closer not entirely sure what he should do now. 'Do I hug him? Kiss him? How do we even do this?'

Will looked between Sonny and Paul a bit uncertain as to what he needed to do. When both of them just continued to look at him Will cleared his throat and said, "So, you wanted to talk to me?"

"Uh, yes, yes we did," Sonny shook himself out of whatever stupor he had fallen into. "Um, how about we all go sit down?"

"Alright," Will walked to the couch and sat down. Looking around the apartment he couldn't help but feel strange. 'Is this still my home too?'

Paul sat next to Will, close but not too close, "So, um, I guess that mainly what we wanted to talk about today is just to remind you that we love you."

"OK," Will said feeling a bit confused.

Sonny, sitting on Will's other side, said, "Because we do love you, Will. That's never been the problem. And I don't know if you've been doubting that or not but we do."

"I did wonder if you were sincere or not," Will admitted lowly, tugging on his bracelet. "You said, you gave me this and a week later you told me you needed to be away from me."

Paul reached out to stop Will's hand. Smoothing out the bracelet Paul grabbed Will's wrist, "I know. We never should have done that. We should have talked to you about what we were thinking. That's one of the things we all need to work on, talking to each other.

"But, baby," Paul shook his head, "Will, this," he traced over the etching on Will's bracelet, "This wasn't in question. Whether or not we love you was never up for debate. Do you believe me?"

Will looked into Paul's eyes and tried to think. He both loved and hated when one of them would talk to him like this, clouding his head, making him focus on how much he loved them. 'But that's not the problem. What does it mean to love me if they're just going to hurt me or throw me aside?'

"I believe you love me," Will told Paul before glancing at Sonny, "But you told me that wasn't the problem. When we talked the other day you said it was whether or not you loved me enough to put up with me."

"We did not say it like that," Sonny scolded instantly before realizing he didn't need to be talking down to Will. 'Oh god, do I do that a lot?'

Sonny said, "I'm sorry. You're right that we said that loving you wasn't the problem. How we told you what we did was the wrong way. It was so awful Will. We didn't think about any of the things we were telling you and about how it would make you feel."

"Like when you said everything was my fault and you didn't know if you wanted me," Will asked bluntly. "Because I have to say that didn't make me feel too good."

"Yeah," Sonny tore his eyes away from Will. "God, I never meant to imply that everything was your fault. I know that it's not."

"Well I know it's not too," Will said, surprising both Sonny and Paul with how firm he sounded. "I didn't ask for any of the things that happened to happen. Just like I didn't make you do anything, Sonny.

"Whatever actions you did," Will continued, "I'm not going to be blamed for. And I don't appreciate you implying that everything else that happened, with Ian or with Stefano, was my fault either. I can't control what other people do. And I didn't do anything to bring either of those on."

"No, no it's not your fault," Paul nodded. "We know it's not. It's just that it's extremely hard watching all of those things happen to you over and over again. No matter what we do it seems like there's always going to be something."

Will played with his fingers, "That doesn't mean it's my fault." Swallowing and taking a few deep breaths Will said, "And I don't know if that's ever going to stop, having so many bad things happen. That's just how my life is. It seems like everything is fine and then disaster.

"And I would understand if it's not worth having to deal with it all," Will told them honestly trying to keep a brave face. "If, if it's too hard to cope with I would understand."

Sonny's eyes traced over Will's face. He immediately recognized the determined set to his features. He knew Will was trying to be strong, trying to brace himself for something bad to happen.

Sonny scooted closer to Will just a bit and placed his hand on Will's knee, "You know I don't have all that peaceful of a life either. My family isn't that different from yours. I mean my uncle? Who even knows what kind of things he's done. And my parents? There's parts of their lives they won't even tell me about.

"Not to mention what I did, what I asked EJ to do. It's not just you that make things complicated Will," Sonny reassured him.

"And that's not even going into what I've done to you, both of you," Paul pointed out moving closer as well. "So it's not just you Will. I did something awful to you and it was basically the catalyst for everything happening to us.

"Not to mention that Ian only targeted you because of me," Paul twisted his face. He hated thinking about that. That someone set out to hurt Will because of him. "Then this mess with my mother? It was wrong of us to make you think that every problem we have is your fault."

"Thank you," Will said quietly. He felt a bit of relief knowing that they didn't blame him for everything. 'Even if I knew it wasn't my fault it feels good knowing they believe it too.'

"But at the same time," Will admitted gently, trying to stay resolute. "I don't know how to stop any of the things that happen. I don't know if they're ever going to stop. And if you want to be with me, really be with me, than you need to be able to handle the unknown."

Thinking about the inheritance he got from Stefano, the mystery surrounding it all and about how some of Chad and EJ's siblings might not like the things he got too much, Will doubted his life was suddenly going to be peaceful.

"So if you aren't going to be there for me if something else happens," Will started clenching and unclenching his fists, "Then I don't think we should be together anymore."

Paul shook his head, "That's, that's not an option anymore OK. I know that we said we had to decide if you were worth it but that's, but we don't need to OK. We don't."

"But why," Will started to say before Sonny cut him off.

"We were confused," Sonny answered, "We were overwhelmed by everything. And that was a mistake. But we know Will. OK we know that we want to be with you. It's just how our relationship works that we want to fix."

"So," Will blinked several times, starting to get upset, "So you made me think that there was something wrong with me? You made me think that there was a chance you didn't want me anymore." Practically spitting out the words Will demanded, "Why the hell did you do that to me?"

"I-I don't know," Sonny said deflating a bit. "We just, we did think about it. About what it would mean if you weren't there. And we don't want that. We couldn't stand it if we weren't with you."

"If you were with someone else or relied on someone other than us to help you," Paul added, "We just, we can't even picture our lives without you now. We meant it when we said we wanted you forever. We just, we started doubting it. And I'm so sorry for that Will."

Will didn't know what to think. 'This is what I wanted right? For them to realize they want me and they don't want to let me go. Then why don't I feel as happy as I should?'

"The next time," Will began, feeling hurt and upset, "the next time something happens how do I know you aren't going to just throw me away again?"

"We," Sonny started to say but realized there wasn't any guarantee he could really give Will. "We have no intention of ever doing that to you again Will. And for what it's worth I'm so sorry we did that to you now. That we didn't give you the opportunity to talk to us before we sprang that on you."

Will breathed heavily for a few moments, lips pressed together tightly, "Why did you suddenly start doubting me, us? I don't understand how in less than a day you went from loving me to not knowing if it was enough for you? I-I just don't get it. What did I do or not do?"

Paul frowned and looked at his knees, knowing this was going to hurt Will. Taking a deep breath he rushed out, "Everything with Stefano and Chad and finding out about Sonny and hurting you it all just kind of came together. And I talked to my mom and she, she just has this way of making me doubt myself. But it wasn't anything you did."

Before Will had a chance to process anything Paul said Sonny confessed, "Seeing everything unfold, realizing what I did, I just, I was already feeling down and I talked to my uncle. It was like he knew exactly what to say to make me question if what I was doing was right."

"Oh," Will said staring off at the coffee table. 'I guess this is what they must feel with my mom and EJ. It is hard knowing their family doesn't approve of me.' Will gnawed on his bottom lip, 'But at the same time I never let mom and EJ decide what I'm feeling. If I let them influence me completely I'd never be around anyone but them.'

"And, and, um, how do you feel about that now," Will questioned. "Is it going to be a big problem? That you're families don't like me. Every time you see them are you going to pretend you aren't with me?"

"No," Paul promised. "If I can't convince my mom this is what's best then oh well. I'm not going to give you up for her."

Will smiled shyly, cheeks turning slightly pink as he averted his gaze.

"I don't even know what's going on with my family," Sonny admitted, "But I know that if they have a problem with you that's their problem not ours."

"That's sweet," Will told them. "But I don't want to cause any issues. You both should try to work things out with them." Turning to face Sonny Will put his hand on Sonny's forearm, "And you should talk to Victor about, um, you know. I know you said a while back that it was your decision but I think it would be for the best if you two patched things up.

"I know that I make you be around my mom and EJ a lot even though you don't like them and they don't like you most of the time either," Will said, "And it's not really fair if it's not reciprocal."

Sonny smiled widely at Will, "That sounds nice."

"And," Will turned to face Paul, "Um, if you wanted, I could try to talk to your mom. When I'm not drugged." 'God I'm really not the type of person you get to show off to your parents am I?'

"I would really like that," Paul smiled. "I think if you two met under the right circumstances you could really get along."

"But speaking of EJ and Sami and people that don't get along with us," Paul said trying to keep the anger out of his voice. "Neil and Brian."

Will winced and did everything he could to not bury his face in his hands or curl up in a ball. 'Confident remember, confident. They aren't going to hate you.'

"I haven't talked to them," Will informed Sonny and Paul. "I think I remember you asking me that right?"

"That's good," Sonny nodded, "But, but can you tell us more about what was going through your head last night?"

"Well," Will licked his lips repeatedly, "I went out with them and that was fine. We danced some and then Brian had me dance with that guy from the smoothie place. And I didn't want to," Will said quickly, knowing that wouldn't please Paul. "It was only for a song and then I went to the bar to get away from him."

"And met Kyle," Paul grumbled a bit, pouting slightly. 'He better not be hot.'

"Well I met him before that," Will said, "Well actually it was when you took me but I learned his name yesterday. I told him that I didn't want to dance with anyone else but Brian and Neil because I was with you. And he was confused as to why I was there without you so I told him."

Sonny blanched at that admission, "Will!"

"Not everything," Will clarified, "Just the highlights. And he said that maybe I did deserve to have something to drink. And he gave me this cake flavored vodka and it was seriously the best. It was like drinking a cake. You have to buy me some."

"You're getting side tracked," Paul pointed out.

"Oh right," Will shook his head, "So I might have convinced him I needed more than one. Anyway I was pretty far gone and he helped me find Neil and Brian. And we were walking home and I got pretty emotional I guess. I just remember thinking that you two were without me and you were probably really happy and you didn't need me around anymore."

"Will that's so far from the truth," Sonny shook his head.

"Well I was drunk," Will defended, "It didn't have to make sense. Anyway I saw we were at that Italian restaurant where my mom set me up with Neil. And somehow I got it in my head that if I couldn't have the two of you I could just have them instead."

"So you kissed them," Paul stated arms crossed over his chest.

"Tried to kiss them," Will corrected, "My aim wasn't too good. Not that it makes it any better."

Sonny ran his hands through his hair, messing it up a bit, "So it wasn't because you wanted to go home with them? That you were drunk and horny like you usually are."

Sticking out his lower lip, a bit offended, Will replied, "No I definitely remember being teary eyed before I tried to kiss them."

"Stop saying that," Paul requested. "I don't need that mental image." Throwing his head back on the couch Paul groaned, "Just tell me you didn't want either of them. OK, especially Brian."

"I don't want to be with them," Will answered evenly. "And I know that maybe I made things pretty complicated by being friends with them. You've never really liked them and I never took that into consideration." 'Why especially Brian?'

"If we asked you not to see them anymore would you listen," Sonny wondered.

Will frowned and started picking at his dry lips, "I don't know. I-I'd like to say that of course I would listen to you but they're my friends."

Paul stared at Will, trying to figure out what he was thinking, "So, you wouldn't stay away from them? Even if that's what we wanted."

"I just, they're my friends," Will repeated. "And I don't have that many. If I don't count the two of you or them then I've got Chad."

"You can make other friends," Paul muttered even though he knew it was a bit unfair.

"I could," Will furrowed his brows, "I, um, I know that you might not like it but I don't think I should just get rid of them either. They said they don't want to be with me like that."

"Will I don't want to forbid you from seeing anyone," Sonny sighed, "But you have to see where we're coming from with this. Why it makes us uncomfortable?"

"Yeah," Will did know. "Can't, can't we all just talk things out. I know that all four of you would get along if you just tried."

"I don't know, Will," Paul shook his head. He thought about asking Will to take a break from Neil and Brian too but he realized that was ridiculous. 'Sure, Paul, take away everyone in his life.'

"How about," Will suggested, "That, um, we all sit down and talk things over, the five of us, and if you two still can't stand them I'll try not to spend so much time with them. But I'm not saying that I'm giving them up for the two of you. Or that you're allowed to dictate who I'm around.

"I'm just saying that I know they bother you and I'm willing to do what I can to make you feel better about it," Will finished.

"Fine," Paul agreed, "That seems fair."

"Yeah," Sonny nodded, "That sounds good. But um, can you just make sure that you keep us all civil."

"I don't know," Will said teasingly, "Maybe I should just take you to a boxing ring and let you all fight it out."

Paul stroked along his jawline, "It's not a terrible idea."

"It would be super hot," Will giggled.

"Never mind," Paul said with a slight smile, knowing that Will was just teasing, "I don't need you seeing them shirtless and sweaty."

"But you'd be shirtless and sweaty too," Will started actually thinking about it. "No I like this idea."

"Will," Sonny laughed glad that they were still able to joke around together. 'At least we haven't completely blown everything.'

"OK fine that will be plan B," Will sighed dramatically as he adjusted in his seat on the couch. He liked that they were all talking things over. 'And with me here,' Will thought, 'I like that I'm actually included in this.'

Remembering something Will said, "You said something the other day about not seeing your friends because of me. Is, is that true?"

Sonny grinded his teeth together, 'No, he wants honesty.' "Actually," Sonny told him, "It's kind of true." Seeing Will open his mouth Sonny shook his head, "I just mean that with everything that happened between the article and Ian and Stefano it was hard to see them. When we couldn't be honest about everything. When no one knew anything about the situation."

"Oh," Will said, smacking his lips together, "Um, right. OK, I can see why it would be hard to see them when you can't be honest with them about everything. But, um, don't you think you should be able to see them now? Since everything is mostly calmed down."

"We talked about it yeah," Paul confirmed. "It would be nice to see them all again."

"Then you should," Will smiled at the two of them encouragingly. "You'll have some free time anyway without me around."

Sonny frowned slightly, "What do you mean?"

"Well," Will shrugged, "Since I'm not here I figured you could spend some time with them."

"But I thought," Paul said, moving closer to Will, "I thought we were talking things over. So that you could come back."

"Why would I come back if we're on a break," Will asked tilting his head. "That kind of defeats the purpose doesn't it?"

"What," Sonny demanded, "Will, I thought, I thought you meeting us, us doing this," Sonny gestured between the three of them, "I thought that meant our break would be over."

Will blinked slowly, "Well I didn't think that."

"You don't want to come back to us," Paul sucked in a large breath, "But what was all this stuff about then?"

"It's not that I don't want to come back," Will said, "I just, I think it might be too soon."

"But we've talked about stuff," Sonny weakly replied. "I thought we were fixing things."

"This is just a start," Will informed them both, "There's a lot of things left to decide." Sitting up straighter Will continued, "I have to deal with you," Will looked at Sonny, "Plotting with EJ behind my back. And you," Will turned to Paul, "Keeping me a secret.

"Not to mention," Will added, "The fact that you kicked me out, demanding that I reevaluate our relationship. Then less than two days later you suddenly want me back. I love you both but I'm not a toy. You don't get to decide when to play with me and when to put me away. I had enough of that growing up. I don't need it from the two of you either.

"So," Will finished, "I think we should stay on a break for a while longer."

"How much longer," Paul whispered feeling almost completely stunned.

"I'm not sure," Will shrugged, "Let's say until Friday. That's a whole week we'll have been apart. And I'm not saying we can't talk or see each other."

"But," Sonny was trying to figure everything out, "I thought you didn't want a break."

"I didn't," Will said honestly. "But now I think you two were right. Of course you told me in the world's worst way possible. And besides I think I need to be with my family right about now."

"Wait, where are you even staying," Paul wondered baffled by this turn of events.

"With my parents," Will said, "Where else would I be?" 'Besides the creepy house I own.'

"We just assumed you wouldn't be with them," Sonny replied, "Since we're still living."

Rolling his eyes Will huffed, "EJ's not allowed to do anything violent anymore. And besides I think they like that we're on a break."

"Really," Paul began to feel uncomfortable. 'If Sami and EJ want us on a break it was probably a horrible decision to make.'

"I assume so I mean I haven't talked with my mom much about it. But I think if she wanted to hurt you she would have done it the other day," Will admitted. He glanced at the fancy watch he got for his birthday and said, "Oh crap. I'm gonna be late."

"Late for what," Sonny asked, 'What did you schedule that could be more important than us?'

"I'm having dinner with Chad," Will smiled as he stood up and went to put on his jacket. "I don't mean to talk and dash but there's some stuff I really need to talk to him about."

"Like what," Paul felt so lost as he got up and followed Will.

"Just some stuff about his father," Will said vaguely. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell Sonny and Paul about his inheritance and the mystery surrounding it but he didn't think now was the time. 'Maybe once I know more about it I'll explain it to them. I don't need to worry them for nothing.'

"Right," Sonny nodded, watching Will, 'Why didn't Chad say anything to me?'

"Oh," Will said suddenly, "There's something I need to get." Will walked into their bedroom and found his journal in a drawer with his clothes. 'I definitely need this.' Walking back into the front room Will put his hands in the pockets of his jacket and rocked on his heels, "This is kind of weird. We haven't really done the whole goodbye thing in a long time."

"Not for a really long time, no," Paul admitted. "What should we do?"

Will chewed on his lip before sighing and wrapping his arms around Paul firmly. Closing his eyes Will enjoyed the moment before pulling away. Holding onto Sonny Will couldn't resist touching the hair on the nape of his neck slightly.

Stepping away Will smiled at them both. "Hey," he asked, "Do you remember right after the article came out and you both started wooing me?"

"Yeah," Sonny said immediately.

"Of course," Paul responded.

"Good, keep that in mind," Will gave them both a wide beam before walking out the door.

Author's note:

A strong, confident Will Horton has appeared from the wild.

Thanks for reading! And please let me know what you thought of this chapter. I'm pretty excited about it myself.

Up next: Will and Chad uncover the mystery surrounding Stefano's intentions for them. And Sonny and Paul try to figure out Will's behavior.