Will woke up early Friday morning when he heard Sonny fighting with the overly fluffy comforter on Will's bed as he tried to leave for work. It was still dark outside so Will had a difficult time seeing anything beyond Sonny's silhouette. Not needing to be up quite yet Will closed his eyes and relaxed back against Paul's chest.
Whenever his dreams started shifting to nightmares during the night he would feel Paul pulling him against his chest or Sonny resting against him. He assumed Sonny and Paul must have been having bad dreams too due to the sounds he heard throughout the night. But he still slept easier than he had since last week.
'It's easier having nightmares when I have them here against me,' Will thought lazily as he burrowed against Paul.
He was drifting in and out of sleep when he felt the bed dip again and felt Sonny's fingers lightly touching his hair and forehead. A smile crept along Will's face when Sonny reached over Will and kissed Paul on the cheek.
"Sonny," Will whispered when Sonny started to move away.
"Yeah," Sonny asked, sitting next to Will, a bit surprised he was awake.
"Thanks for staying with me," Will opened his eyes and smiled.
"Of course," Sonny caressed Will's cheek. "Besides it wasn't exactly a hardship spending the night in your bed."
"What time are you going to be done today," Will questioned beginning to feel a bit nervous.
"Probably around lunch time," Sonny responded.
"OK," Will nodded before closing his eyes and snuggling back into bed.
"You're not even going to give me a hint about your answer are you," Sonny asked in fond exasperation.
"Nope," Will made sure to pop his p. "You'll find out later."
"It's just snow," Will said as Paul stepped out of Will's car. "It's not the end of the world."
"Well I haven't been in it that much," Paul retorted defensively. "I don't know what to expect."
"Walk where it's been shoveled," Will shrugged. "It's not that big of deal."
Will, hands in his pockets and warm scarf wrapped around his neck, watched Paul walking like a baby deer. "You look ridiculous," Will snickered.
"Don't make fun of me," Paul pouted. "It's all weird and fluffy. I've only been in it when the team traveled or I visited my grandpa."
"Well don't be so silly then," Will fired back. He glanced at his watch and knew he needed to get a move on or he'd never get to his lab on time.
"So you'll text me when you're done, right," Will double-checked as he started walking backwards away from Paul.
"Yeah," Paul nodded. "You're seriously not going to tell me anything are you?"
"Sorry," Will grinned as he waved and walked away with an extra bounce in his step.
Sonny finished wiping down some tables and walked back behind the counter when he heard the door open.
"Hey," Sonny smiled when he saw Kareem and Dustin. "What's up," he asked as he started making their orders automatically.
"In need of caffeine," Kareem remarked rolling on the balls of his feet.
"Well you know where to get that," Sonny said as he handed the cups off to Lauren to make.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Dustin waved his hand and sat down at the countertop. "What we really came here for was to talk about that thing in the newspaper yesterday."
Sonny rolled his eyes, "That thing was garbage. Didn't you read the retraction? It was in the evening addition and in today's paper again."
"I looked at it," Kareem admitted, "But seriously Sonny. What the hell? Why would that be in the paper?"
"Not to mention all the new rumors circulating about what happened with Will's mom and yours and Paul's," Dustin added. "So what the hell is going on there?"
"Paul," Jesse called from inside his office when he saw Paul walk by.
"Hey," Paul hurried in and closed the door when Jesse gestured for him to. "What's going on?"
Jesse pressed his lips together before indicating for Paul to sit down. "I'm really glad that you're working with us, you know that. And I think you can already see a visible improvement," Jesse stated.
"But," Paul asked beginning to feel a bit nervous.
"Well," Jesse sighed. "Since you are under the university's employ the school is getting a little nervous about some of the rumors that started circulating yesterday."
"Meaning what," Paul crossed his arms dreading the rest of this conversation.
"It's not even so much the rumors," Jesse shook his head, "It's the fact that you're involved with Will."
"Why would they care about that," Paul wondered.
"Because he's a student here," Jesse explained, "And there are rules about that kind of thing. The school's been very understanding, from what I hear, about Will's situation but I'm not sure what they're going to do about this."
"So you're implying I might be fired for dating Will," Paul demanded. "But that's ridiculous. He doesn't have anything to do with the team."
"That's what I said," Jesse held up his hands innocently. "I told them it shouldn't matter but they're concerned. With the scandals about Will and the thing in the paper yesterday, which I did not understand by the way," Jesse shrugged a bit helplessly, "Plus there's a few unsettling things going around about your relationship with Will."
"Oh god," Paul covered his eyes, "Like what?" 'That I'm a violent rapist?'
Jesse looked extremely uncomfortable, "I'm sure it isn't true so you don't need to worry. Besides there are rumors about the rumors so I wouldn't worry about it."
"Well if I'm getting fired over it I think I should worry a little," Paul said mockingly.
"You just need to sign these papers," Jesse pushed a file towards Paul. "Something about you formally addressing that you and Will are seeing each other. That way if anything should happen the school can't be blamed for it."
Paul grabbed the file and started reading over it unhappily. 'This is ridiculous. There were plenty of rumors about me before I started working here. Why do they suddenly matter now?'
"There isn't anything going on," Sonny sighed as he handed their drinks over. "It's just gossip."
"Uh huh," Dustin rolled his eyes. "Then how come there's a video of Sami Brady beating up your mom? And Paul's?"
"It would be more surprising if Sami didn't get into a fight," Sonny tried to deflect really wishing that a rush of people who come in and save him from this conversation.
"Dude," Kareem shook his head, "Not cute. Besides everyone around town is talking about how Sami said something about Paul touching Will. And you guys said that technically Oliver won our bet. So did he or didn't he?"
"I am not talking to you about that," Sonny said firmly.
"I think the fact that you won't is saying more than you want it to," Dustin shrugged. "If it was no you would have just said that. So now I'm thinking Paul really did."
"I'm not saying anything because there's nothing to say," Sonny defended. 'There's no way I'm telling anyone anything.' "It's a ridiculous idea."
"Sami Brady is the one that said it," Kareem reminded Sonny. "Will's mom. Why would she make that up?"
"Because she hates me and Paul," Sonny answered. He didn't want to lie to his friends but he also couldn't tell them the truth. 'Will and Paul would both be humiliated. Not to mention I don't want anyone knowing Paul cheated on me. It's no one else's business.'
"So," Dustin looked at Sonny in disbelief, "You're saying that Sami Brady is going around town screaming about Paul being some sort of creep in order to break you and him up with her son?"
"Uh," Sonny looked up at the ceiling, "Yes that's what I'm saying."
Dustin and Kareem looked at each other briefly before Kareem sighed, "OK, that actually makes sense."
"Yep," Dustin nodded, "Now what about Will and Chad DiMera? And why didn't you tell me you still hung around Neil, huh?"
Sonny rolled his eyes, "What is the big deal about Neil? I seriously don't get it."
"He's cute and nice," Dustin defended. "You just don't like him because Will did."
"Oh yeah," Sonny mumbled under his breath, "He's the nicest. And there isn't anything going on with Will and Chad. They're friends."
"Right," Kareem said sarcastically, dragging the word out. "We all saw the pictures before you know."
"They are practically related," Sonny insisted. "Besides Chad is straight so it doesn't matter."
Following Sonny as he grabbed a rag and a tray Dustin and Kareem trailed after him. Dustin asked teasingly, "So how does it feel knowing one of your boyfriends is pretty much rumored to be dating the entire town?"
"And the other one is super famous and I'm sure the wet dream of many," Kareem joked.
"You better not be talking about yourself," Sonny warned as he got to work. "I've got enough to deal with I don't need my friends drooling over my boyfriends."
"Well Paul is hot," Dustin admitted. "But Will has that whole popular mystique going on."
"Oh shut up," Sonny tossed a balled up napkin at him.
Paul tapped his fingers on the table in the corner deliberating on whether or not to do it. 'Just look real fast and get it over with,' Paul told himself before opening up his chrome app and typing, "Paul Narita Rumors."
Trying to prepare himself Paul started reading. With a scowl Paul clicked on the first link he found. Paul read various things about himself, his relationship with Sonny and plenty of crap about Will.
According to this website the most popular idea, the one most people seemed to believe, involved Will purposely seducing Paul and Sonny, separately, to get the three of them together. On top of Will going out of his way to keep his name in the headlines and to use Sonny and Paul for their money. 'Idiots,' Paul sneered.
Gritting his teeth Paul shook his head reading everything. 'God,' Paul shook his head, 'Sami literally screamed that I touched Will inappropriately and everyone is talking about how Will must have seduced me? What is wrong with these people? Do they really think that badly of Will or do they refuse to think anything bad about me?'
The more he read the more disturbed Paul became. 'I knew this crap was out there but I thought it was being taken care of. Didn't Victor get rid of it all? Why is all of this about Will suddenly back online?'
'Oh for fuck's sake,' Paul thought, seconds from tossing his phone against a wall, 'Why the hell would Will lie to Sami to get her to overreact and purposely go out to attack someone? What is wrong with these idiots?'
Paul closed the app and locked his phone, putting his head in his hands. 'How the hell can anyone say anything like that about Will? How could they not see the way Sonny and I look at him? The way we feel about him?'
'Brian is right. Sonny and I need to talk to Will about setting the record straight, publically. No more misunderstandings no more letting everyone think poorly of our relationship.'
"So," Brian remarked sitting across from Will at the student union. "Today's the big day, huh?"
"I guess so yeah," Will replied nervously, foot bouncing up and down.
"Do you know what you want to do," Brian asked as he started eating his lunch.
"Kind of yes," Will said, "But kind of no."
"What does that even mean," Brian wondered. "I thought you would be salivating at the thought of getting them back."
"I always had them," Will insisted, "It's them who are waiting around for me."
Brian smiled proudly, "That's the spirit. Do they have any idea what you're going to tell them?"
"I told them they have to wait," Will shrugged with an easy smile. "Make them sweat it out a bit."
"I approve," Brian nodded, "Wait until 11: 59 to tell them what you want."
"I'm not that bad," Will laughed, "I'm still thinking things through though."
"You heard what they said yesterday didn't you," Brian looked at Will briefly before taking a bite.
"Yeah," Will messed with his lunch. "And it really made me happy, right? And a bunch of crap happened last night and they were really helpful."
"But," Brian supplied, "You're still worried?"
"I-I don't know," Will admitted. "I know that I want to be with them. And it seems like they want to be with me too. It's just starting to feel like it did in the beginning and I don't want things to be great and then everything go to hell in a few days."
"Pretty sure that's a risk you're going to have to take," Brian pointed out. Pursing his lips, deliberating a bit, Brian sighed before giving up, "I had to take one when I started seeing Neil."
"Really," Will scrutinized Brian's expression. "Why did you go to the hospital that day?"
"I don't know," Brian looked away from Will uncomfortably, "I saw on Facebook he was in the hospital and I kind of freaked out and went to see him. To make sure he was alright."
"And saw me," Will smiled brightly before it dimmed a bit. "Oh, that's what you meant about risk. Because of how he was feeling about me then."
"Yeah," Brian nodded, "It's a bit intimidating going out with someone who's in love with someone else. That whole literally getting stabbed in the back for you kind of puts a downer on some things."
"Right," Will fiddled with his sandwich, "But you thought it was worth it? Potentially getting hurt?"
"I did," Brian pressed his lips together. He really didn't like talking about being uncertain. 'And I definitely don't want to admit Will made me insecure.'
"I'm not gonna lie," Brian told Will frankly. "I didn't really like you for a long time. I mean I wanted to sleep with you," Brian laughed, "But I didn't really like you at least not at first."
"Because Neil had feelings for me," Will guessed. "I think I knew that anyway. I could kind of tell from the way you called me stupid all the time."
Brian winced a bit, "Well, you know, I just wanted to point out your faults. Because apparently treating you like crap would make me look better," Brian rolled his eyes at himself.
"And here we are now," Will chuckled. "For the record though," Will waited until Brian looked at him, "I know Neil really likes you. And you're very smart and nice looking so you don't have anything to be insecure about."
Brian groaned, "This is why I didn't like you before. Quit being all wholesome or whatever. It's unsettling."
"Speaking of that," Will looked at Brian sweetly, "I have a few questions about a sex thing that I need answered, Bri."
"I'm listening," Brian said as he took a drink of his soda.
"How do you do double penetration," Will asked in as innocent of a voice as he could manage batting his lashes. Will gave a full-bodied laugh when Brian choked on his soda.
A few minutes later, once Brian recovered, "So do you know what you're going to do about them," Brian looked at Will expectantly.
"Yeah," Will nodded. "I need to talk to Chad," Will pulled out his phone and dialed his number.
Brian narrowed his eyes, "That's not what I was expecting."
"Come on EJ," Sami whined following him around the mansion. "It's only for the weekend."
"Absolutely not," EJ told her firmly, "You know what happened the last time I took a day off."
"No one is going to kidnap Will," Sami argued, waving a pamphlet after him. "It's just two nights and a day. Will can send you a message every hour if it would make you feel better."
"No," EJ shook his head, "No. We need to focus on whatever else could possibly go wrong now."
"What could go wrong now," Sami sighed, "Is you lose it or have a coronary. That's what's going to go wrong."
EJ opened the door to his office and sat down behind his desk, "Father found a way to force William and Chad to keep the house. He found a way to keep William at DiMera Enterprises."
"He found a way to keep Sonny and Paul busy," Sami reminded him. Sitting down and crossing her arms Sami pouted.
EJ nodded, "He found a way to make sure everyone thought William and Chad were together."
"But what's going to distract us," Sami questioned. "Your father hasn't left anything behind for us to contend with. He had to know we wouldn't just sit around waiting for Will to come back."
EJ drummed his fingers along the arms on his chair, "No he certainly wouldn't go through all this trouble for nothing. What would he do to keep the two of us preoccupied?"
"Something work related," Sami guessed.
"Well since he thought I was apparently inept maybe not," EJ mumbled under his breath.
The two sat in silence until Sami said, "If Will was missing and Stefano was behind it he probably would assume we'd leave the kids behind with my mother."
EJ caught Samantha's gaze, "Of course and he'd never hurt them."
"No," Sami knew that much about Stefano. "Didn't Will say that part of Stefano's plan was for Chad to take your place at DiMera Enterprises?"
"Essentially yes," EJ acknowledged. He knew that look on Samantha's face, "What did you think of?"
"The board wouldn't suddenly decide to demote you," Sami pointed out. "Unless there was probable cause. And the only way that you would ever do anything to harm the company is if you left it vulnerable for someone else to try to take over."
"Someone like Chad," EJ wasn't quite following.
"No," Sami rolled her eyes, "If Stefano, you and I were all gone who would stand to benefit the most from DiMera Enterprises being here all alone? Wherein Chad could come back, sweep in and save the company leading to you having a smaller role. Someone that Stefano knows would try to do something with Salem being DiMera free."
EJ leaned back in his desk and pressed his hands together and chuckled, "Victor."
Adrienne sat on the sofa in the front room of the Kiriakis mansion thinking over the last month, everything that happened.
'How did I go from loathing Will to caring for him right back to wanting nothing to do with him,' Adrienne thought as she held an ice pack to her sore chin. She didn't even know who the one to hit her there was but it had bruised horribly.
She was afraid that Justin was going to be angry with Sami and Tori so she was fairly shocked when he helped her clean herself up and told her it was her own fault. 'And he's right,' Adrienne hated when that happened, 'If I would just mind my own business I wouldn't get into these messes.'
'Now Sonny is mad at me again. I've lost my friendship with Sami. Whatever acquaintanceship I had with Tori is over,' Adrienne listed everything that went wrong all in one day, 'And I spend more time with Lucas Horton than my own husband.'
'I need to well and truly leave Sonny alone. Maybe he's right and Will isn't the problem. Now I just need to get Victor to leave them alone as well,' Adrienne decided.
Tori sat on the edge of her bed at the Salem Inn, phone pressed against her ear, "I'm telling you Father, Paul is out of control here."
"I cannot believe that," Hiro Narita shook his head. "I cannot believe any of the things you are telling me about my grandson."
"I'll email you a video of what happened," Tori crossed her arms, "Then you'll see just the type of person my son is associating himself with."
Hiro still wasn't certain he was convinced. "Email me anything you wish but it will not change my mind. I know the type of person that Paul is."
"Fine," Tori was not in the mood to be argued with, "If you will not help me make Paul see reason I will find another day. Goodbye Father."
Tori promptly hung up and tossed her phone aside.
"Why exactly are we meeting here," Chad asked Will as they walked inside of the house they owned together. "EJ pretty much forbad me to take you here."
"EJ also said that he scoped it out," Will reminded Chad. "And besides since it's all snowy and crap shouldn't we check to see if there's any frozen pipes or anything."
"Being a homeowner sucks," Chad remarked as they made sure everything in the house was in working order.
Will walked into the backyard, essentially the one place he never actually spent much time in, and looked over everything. The grassy areas were covered in a few inches of untouched snow. 'I'm sure in spring and summer it must look nice,' Will could picture it. There was a covered patio and a built in fireplace. 'It basically looks like a smaller version of the mansion's yard,' Will noticed.
Chad, joining Will outside, "I didn't realize there was a hot tub and a pool."
"We'll we didn't really look outside," Will shrugged. "Looks like that sliding door goes to the master bedroom."
Getting a bit chilly Chad forced Will back inside and locked the French doors behind him. "So why are we really here," Chad questioned Will.
Will bit his lip as he sat down at the massive island. "I've been thinking a lot about my relationship with Sonny and Paul and about what I want out of life in general," Will confided in Chad. "And I guess I've come to a decision about a few things. But I needed to talk to you about them first."
"Alright," Chad replied looking at Will strangely. "Explain it to me."
Just as Sonny was getting ready to leave for the day he noticed Uncle Vic coming through the door with Maggie on his arm. Sonny smiled at the two fondly. 'They're actually kind of adorable,' Sonny thought as he got started on their orders. When the drinks were ready Sonny was going to walk them over to the table they were sitting at when he saw his Victor leaning against the counter.
"Hey," Sonny greeted. "I was going to take these over for you."
"That isn't necessary," Victor responded. "Besides I needed to talk to you about something."
"Really," Sonny wiped his hands on his apron. He didn't know why but he suddenly had a bad feeling.
"Yes," Victor leaned in even closer, "Actually it's something your father told me. Something about you expanding your business."
"Oh," Sonny exhaled a sigh of relief. 'I thought for certain he was going to say something about Will.' "Yeah," Sonny nodded and smiled. "Chad and I are going to open a second location soon. Next week probably."
"Excellent," Victor smiled pointedly, "I had my doubts when you chose him as your business partner but I think it's working out well. I better get back to my date," Victor nodded his head at Maggie who was chatting with another patron.
"Yeah," Sonny pushed the drinks towards his uncle. "I'll be sure to let you know when the new opening is."
"I'll have to schedule it in," Victor promised Sonny, "I'm doing a bit of business expansion myself."
"Really," Sonny remarked vaguely interested. He would have asked a few more questions but it was a few minutes passed his time off. 'Which means it's a few minutes closer to finding out what Will, Paul and I are going to do.'
Sonny got out his phone and sent a message to Will and Paul practically giddy with how excited he was.
Sonny, having picked Paul up from work, asked, "Any idea why Will sent us this address to meet him at?"
"Not a clue," Paul shrugged. He wanted to vent to Sonny about all the stupid rumors he read but he had a feeling Sonny wouldn't be sympathetic. 'I know I shouldn't have read them but if they're seriously jeopardizing my potential career I should know about them.'
Sonny, listening to the automated voice on his GPS tell him where to go, pulled into a driveway of an extremely manicured house.
"This must be the house Will and Chad inherited," Sonny said as he got out of the car. 'Will's car must be in the garage,' Sonny realized since it wasn't in the driveway.
"Why the hell are we here," Paul wondered as he maneuvered around the snow and up to the front door.
Sonny shook his head and rang the bell. 'No need to be nervous after last night,' Sonny reminded himself. 'Will wouldn't have wanted us to stay if he was going to break up with us.'
"Hey," Will greeted as he opened the large front door. He was feeling a bit anxious. 'I hope they understand.'
Will helped Sonny and Paul out of their coats and welcomed them inside, "Um so this is the house."
"It's kind of ridiculously nice," Paul commented as he turned around in a circle looking at it. "I'm impressed."
"Thanks," Will said not sure if that was the right thing to say or not.
"So," Sonny rubbed his hands together, "Is there a particular reason we're here?"
"Kind of yeah," Will nodded. "Are you hungry? I had some stuff delivered. I know it's early but I didn't want to get distracted. Chad showed me how to use the warming tray so it will be ready whenever you want it. I have water if you're thirsty. I think there's tea and maybe some kind of juice. And a lot of Scotch for some reason."
"Will," Paul reached out and grabbed his hand, "You're babbling."
"Oh, right," Will could feel his cheeks warming up. "I ramble when I'm nervous."
"Why are you nervous," Sonny stepped a bit closer, lifting his hand to fix the collar on Will's shirt. "It's just us."
Will's breath caught a bit when he saw on close Sonny was to him, "I-I know it's just I have a few things to say and I'm kind of freaked out about it."
"What do you have to tell us," Paul turned Will's hand over and brushed his thumb over Will's pulse point.
Will gently pulled his hand out of Paul's grip and took a step back, needing space, "I think I should show you around first and explain some things."
"Like what," Sonny asked as he followed Will further into the house.
Will scrunched his face together, "I might not have been completely honest with you about everything involving my inheritance and what I found out about Stefano."
Will stood outside the creepy nursery, "I'm not sure how you're going to take this."
"Well," Sonny stated, "We saw the office where Stefano planted horrifying pictures to threaten you with," 'Thank god EJ destroyed them because I might have puked if I had to see that again.'
"We saw the disturbing bedroom with clothes that look like you picked them out yourself," Paul nodded with his lips pressed together.
"Not to mention the basement with the dead bodies buried underneath of it," Sonny closed his eyes, "I don't think it can get much worse, Will."
Will gave Sonny a sad smile before pushing the door open and grimacing at the baby decorations, "You're going to regret saying that."
Will almost smiled at the expressions on Sonny and Paul's faces. "Scary, huh," Will muttered.
"What in god's name is this," Paul demanded as he lifted up a fluffy bunny by its ears.
"How can one human being be that disgusting," Sonny questioned as he slowly backed out of the room. 'Brainwashing Will was terrifying enough but to bring a baby into the world too?'
Paul followed after Sonny and headed down the stairs, "Where was he even going to get a baby?"
"No clue," Will shrugged. "I'm sure it was going to be something disturbing though."
"You don't think Gabi was pregnant or anything do you," Sonny asked carefully.
Will furrowed his brow, "I don't think so. If she was I'm sure Stefano would have kept her under some sort of strict supervision. Besides it's not like he was adverse to adoptions or anything. Half his kids are adopted I think."
"Let's hope that's it," Paul remarked. "You know you still haven't exactly said why we're here."
"Well," Will brushed the toe of his foot against the hardwood floor at the bottom of the staircase. "Because of the stuff in the basement you know we can't really get rid of the place. And I've been doing a lot of thinking about everything. With the three of us and what I want to do now and about school."
"OK," Sonny took Will by the elbow and guided him over to the comfortable looking sofa in the front room.
"And well," Will started playing with his hands, pulling his knuckles and clasping and unclasping his fingers together, "I know that I want to be with the two of you."
Paul smiled widely as he sat on Will's other side. He didn't want to admit it but he was actually a little scared that Will was going to break everything off.
"I know that I love you both," Will looked from Sonny's face to Paul's, "And I want us to be together again. I just," Will closed his eyes, "I don't know if I want to move in with you again."
Sonny frowned, "You don't want to live with us anymore?"
"It's not that I don't want to," Will explained, "It's just that I like the idea of having my own place to go to that's separate. I like it when we have to plan things so that we can be together, to make it special."
"It's not special," Paul repeated face downcast.
"That's not," Will leaned his head on the back of the couch, leaving his neck exposed. "I love the two of you; I'm in love with you. I just, I want to try being on my own for a while."
"Wait," Sonny adjusted on the couch so he was facing Will and Paul. "Is that why we're here? Are you really thinking about moving here? Will that's crazy."
"It's not that crazy," Will defended. "I already own it. And I can't work with EJ all day and then have to go home and live with him too. I'd end up wanting to shoot him again," Will told them. "And I want to try this."
"Isn't this just going to give you nightmares," Paul wondered.
"I want to try this," Will insisted. "I called about setting up power and water and internet and stuff and all the companies they were already set up. They said I didn't have to worry about payments."
"Stefano already is paying for everything," Sonny looked at Will skeptically, "I don't know about this. I don't want you here alone."
"I won't be alone," Will informed them. "Because Chad is going to move in too!"
"Where the hell is he going to sleep," Paul barked out before he could stop himself. 'Oh crap, you're not supposed to be so jealous, remember?'
"He's going to change the weirdo nursery into a room for him," Will explained. "And I'm going to fix it so the master bedroom isn't so creepy anymore."
"You mean so there isn't any stuff alluding to your imaginary wedding," Sonny said dryly.
"Yes," Will nodded choosing to ignore Sonny's tone. "I know it sounds confusing but I think I need this. If I'm here maybe I'll have a better chance at getting over everything."
Paul sighed, shoulders slumping, "What about us?"
"Well," Will licked his lips, "You'd still be with me even if we don't live together, wouldn't you?"
"Of course we would," Sonny assured him. "You know we would."
"I still want us to be together," Will promised. "And I thought it could be fun if you helped me with my room and stuff. You could even pick out what drawers you two want to use."
"Drawers," Paul asked.
"For when you stay with me," Will looked at Paul like he was nuts, "I figured I could leave the stuff I already have at the apartment there for when I stay over and you can leave stuff here."
Sonny smiled slightly, "So we'd still get to spend the night with you?"
"Of course," Will smiled back, "I don't want to be completely alone."
"So really," Paul was starting to get it, "You just want a place that you can be alone in sometimes and be independent, away from everyone that takes care of you."
"Yes," Will bounced slightly on the couch, "I just, I really feel like if I move back in with you completely that I'll go back to the way I was before. Uncertain and insecure all the time. I just want to have the opportunity to prove to myself that I can be alone and take care of myself when I need to. Do you understand?"
"Yeah," Sonny laced his fingers with Will's, "I think I do."
"I think if you want to try it out you should," Paul decided.
"Well good," Will grinned, "Because I wasn't asking your permission."
"Is that so, huh," Paul dug his fingers into Will's sides.
"Yes," Will squirmed away, crawling over Sonny's lap to get away, "I'm in charge of myself now."
"So no more spanking you," Sonny teased as he swatted Will's butt.
Will yelped, "I didn't say that." Will turned over so he was spread out across Sonny. "I'm just thinking maybe more of a roleplaying thing than a real life thing," Will explained with a nervous smile, "If that's OK. Unless I really think I need one."
"Good," Paul grabbed both of Will's hands and helped him sit on Sonny's lap, "I was little worried there."
Remembering what Stefano told EJ Will looked at Sonny and Paul sadly, "Um maybe we won't touch on the Daddy stuff for a while."
Having had the recording explained to them yesterday Sonny smiled and nodded, "Whatever you want, babe."
Will grinned and rocked side to side on Sonny's lap. "Is it weird that I'm excited to get my nicknames back?"
"No," Paul laughed at Will's obvious happiness in delight. "It's endearing. Although," Paul thought of something, "Why don't you have a nickname for us?"
"Huh," Sonny said, "You don't. But you do have a nickname for Brian. Why is that?"
Will shrugged, "I don't know. I just hear Neil say it so I say it. He has a nickname for me."
"Yeah," Paul rolled his eyes.
"Do you want me to have a nickname for the two of you," Will wondered. "I can think about it if you want."
"It's no fun when we force it on you," Sonny said, "It has to be natural."
Will nodded in understanding. "Hey," he remembered something, "No one ever told me why the two of you and Brian and Neil were together yesterday."
"We were meeting with them at Common Grounds," Paul explained. "To sort of talk things out and ask for some advice."
"It was Paul's idea," Sonny informed Will.
Impressed Will put his hand on Paul's chest, "You actually asked to meet them to try to get along?"
Paul nodded a bit bashfully, "I know they're important to you so I figured we could try."
"And the only fighting was between our mother's," Sonny tried to say with a straight face before laughing.
"Ugh," Will groaned. "I am so sorry my mom beat yours up."
"Baby," Paul reached out and pulled Will back onto a cushion and off of Sonny, "I love my mother. I really do. But she kind of had that coming."
"But still," Will looked at his knees, "She probably hates me even more now."
"Maybe," Paul shrugged, "But I don't. The fact that you're apologizing kind of reminds me why I love you. I tried to explain this to my mom, the kind of person you are, but she doesn't get it."
"Besides," Sonny put his hand on Will's knee, "Tori and my mom, they were saying pretty awful things about you. No one, and I mean no one, is allowed to do that."
"People can only say nice things about me," Will rolled his eyes tenderly.
"Exactly," Paul nodded as he wrapped his arm around Will's waist, "There are only nice things about you anyway."
"Right," Will flat out laughed, "Uh huh, sure."
"To us there are," Sonny put his head on Will's shoulder.
Will felt a bit uncomfortable with his boyfriends thinking he was perfect. "I almost kissed someone when I was at the party on Wednesday," Will blurted out.
"We know," Paul stated, exhaling loudly from his nose.
Will crossed his arms, "Let me guess your fanboys?"
"Yeah," Paul admitted guiltily. "I meant what I said though. I told them to make sure you were fine but to leave you alone."
"They called though and told us about you and that guy almost kissing," Sonny replied quietly. 'God that was one of the worst moments of my life. It was like my nightmare come to life.'
"Why didn't you kiss him," Sonny couldn't help but ask. "What stopped you?"
Will knew he needed to tell them the whole story, everything about his night. "When we got there I talked with Brian's friends for a while until I saw Kyle."
"Kyle the bartender," Paul's eyes widened, "The one that Brian said didn't really want to be your friend? That Kyle?"
"Yeah," Will continued explaining, "And I was so cold and he got me a blanket and he made me hot cocoa and we had s'mores. We talked for a really long time and it was a lot of fun."
Sonny stuck his bottom lip out slightly, "We saw. The ball players sent us a picture."
"Of course they did," Will sighed, "Anyway he was really nice and sweet. But I just kept picturing what it would be like if the two of you were there. If we would be cuddled up and making out like Neil and Bri were or if you would have wanted to mingle."
"What about the kiss," Paul asked. He was doing a remarkably good job of trying to stay objective.
"I helped him take everything back to his car when Neil said it was time to go," Will began, "And Kyle said some stuff and that was that."
"Will," Sonny poked him in the ribs. "You can tell us. We won't be upset. We already got our happy ending."
"I had explained at the bar about our relationship. I said it was complicated," Will told them truthfully. "And he said that he didn't really care. That he like me anyway. So he stepped closer and we almost kissed."
"But you backed away, right," Paul confirmed. 'Please tell me that's what really happened.'
"His hand was on my face and I touched it and stepped away," Will nodded. "He was really nice about it."
"You really need some friends that aren't going to hit on you," Sonny declared. "Or that you're rumored to be marrying."
"I got one of Paul's fanboys to drive me to the square yesterday," Will lifted his eyebrows, "Does that count?"
Paul shook his head, "I thought you were joking when you said you were going to boss them around."
"He offered," Will shrugged, "My head hurt. I wasn't going to pass up that opportunity."
"You can hang out with our friends again," Sonny retorted, "They won't hit on you. Well," Sonny remembered his conversation that morning, "They probably won't."
"There's some lesbians in the group," Paul remembered, "They're dating each other. Perfect friend candidates for you."
Will smiled slightly, "I don't know if I've ever met a lesbian. Is that weird?"
"I'm sure you've met them you just didn't know it," Sonny pointed out.
"Probably," Will nodded. "You know I don't pick up on those things. Are you sure it's OK to hang around your friends?"
"They told us to bring you next time we all get together," Paul squeezed Will's waist.
"So they know about us," Will tilted his head so it was resting on Paul's shoulder.
"Of course," Sonny promised. "We had a nice long conversation all about our relationship."
"Good," Will relaxed. "And they get it? They don't think it's just a sex thing right?"
"I think for the most part they get it," Paul hoped they got it. "There might be a few awkward questions though."
"That's OK," Will decided. "I just didn't want to go out and hold your hand and have someone accuse me of something."
"That won't happen," Sony reassured.
"Do you think we should have a party or something here," Will questioned as he looked at how big the place was, "Your friends and mine."
"Dustin might burst into tears if he saw Neil with Brian," Paul snickered.
"Brian would like that I think," Will declared.
"Probably," Sonny snorted.
"So Chad's probably not moving in with you tonight is he," Paul asked after a few moments of comfortable silence.
"Nope," Will grinned. "I told him I would be busy tonight."
"Busy doing what," Sonny asked as he started rubbing up and down Will's chest.
"Well," Will grinned as he stood up, turned around and grabbed Paul and Sonny's hands, "I haven't shown you the hot tub yet."
"We don't have any swimsuits," Paul remarked as he followed after Will.
"I know," Will leered as he started pulling off his shirt.
Author's note:
Today is apparently the busiest day in the world for me. So I haven't responded to any reviews or PMs. I promise I will soon though. I'm using my few free minutes to get this out.
Thanks for reading!