Sami wasn't in a good mood that day. Each child got an earful before lunch and she even snapped at Will when he asked her if he should cancel Sonny's visit.

"I can behave in company, young man! Are you afraid I'll embarrass you in front of your friend?

- No, mom. But I don't want to stress you. Looks like your work week was hard, you need a quiet week-end."

Sami looked at him, frowning, then took his hand.

- I'm sure Sonny won't stress me, darling. He was so sweet at Allie's birthday party. In fact, if you two can take care of the kids, I'll even have time to finish my work on my laptop."

It wasn't exactly what Will had in mind, but he agreed. Sami looked more tired than crossed and he hated that. He would have given up his whole love life, if that could help her cope in life.

He had wanted to surprise Sonny and he and the kids had worked on a cookie recipe. Sami had been forbidden to enter the kitchen, not to see the disaster until after it was all cleaned up but the cookies looked eatable if a little burned on the edges. Syd had patiently put chocolate chips on each one and Johnny and Allie had only eaten four so far, when Will wasn't looking. The cookies ended up in his bedroom until Sonny's arrival.

He was busy reading them a story when he heard the doorbell. Syd was up and running before he had the time to ask her to wait. She opened her mouth wide and ran back to Will's chair, hiding behind him. Will shook his head and got up, wondering how to greet Sonny, is he couldn't kiss him. They had never been formal. He placed his hand on Sonny's shoulder and pressed it tenderly. Sonny grinned and shook the kids hand solemnly, offering a finger to Syd who was gaping at him. Allie was chuckling and Johnny started tugging on Will's sleeve, presumably to remind him of the cookies, when they heard a noise in the stairs. Sami looked better and Will realized she must have taken a nap.

She greeted Sonny with genuine pleasure and Will felt proud of Sonny. He had brought some flowers for her and a little bag for the kids.

"What is it, what is it?" Johnny started tearing it. Will put his hand on his and shook his head.

Sonny explained:

- Bird seeds, for your feeder?

- Yeah! Come in the garden to see how it looks. We did it all by ourselves.

- I know, Will told me. Lead the way."

The cookies were produced proudly, at least by the children. Will wasn't very happy with the result, although given how good Sonny was at baking, it was not a fair competition, anyway. He looked at him nervously as he tried one and sighed of relief when Sonny met his eyes and nodded.

Sami had joined them again and prepared some tea while Will served juice to the children. She left again later and Will followed her to the stairs.

"Can you tell me when you're done mom? I'd like to show Sonny my room and chat a little.

- OK, sure. I'm glad he came today, he fits so well with our little family." Will smiled. Sami smiled back with a little smirk.

- And you know, you can kiss him in front of us, it's no big deal. Johnny and Allie might make some yucky noises but you know how it is at that age..." She brushed Will's cheek and he remembered to close his mouth.

- How did you know?

- From how you were looking at each other the first time I met him. You were right you know, being with a guy is good for you. You smile more easily."

She kissed his nose and walked upstairs.

Will found Sonny with happy family cards in his hand, looking very serious and careful not to look at Sydney's hands. She was still working on how to hide them and often forgot about it. Will walked behind the dining chair and kissed Sonny's temple. Sonny got distracted and asked for the wrong card. Johnny won and Syd asked for another round but Will proposed they go for a walk. It was always a good idea to tire them before bed time.

Once outside, he laced his fingers with Sonny's. It got him a soft look and a discreet peek. They reached the deserted playground and sat on a bench to watch them run around yelling at the top of their lungs.

They were still holding hands and Sonny asked:

"So, you've told your mom?

- I didn't need to. She's OK with it. She likes you a lot.

- Like mother, like son?" Will nudged him softly. Sonny looked happy. When Will let go of his hand to help Syd with her coat's zipper, he waited a bit, then put it on Will's thigh. Will took a breath and looked for a distraction.

"So, did Chad get the concert tickets?

- He did. I asked if his girlfriend was OK double dating with gay guys and apparently she doesn't mind at all. He's more concerned about me embarrassing everyone by my ignorance over music.

- I'll make sure you don't sing and it should be alright..."

Sonny gave him a sharp look, then caught on the teasing. He kissed Will's cheek, his hair brushing his temple.

Johnny called them from the other side of the playground. He had found a bird on the ground. It looked wounded. Too much to be helped and Will hugged his little brother tightly, making sure Syd was still playing and hadn't notice anything. Sonny looked bummed. It was strange to see him lose his efficient manners for a change.

They walked back to Sami, who had met her deadline and looked more human. Johnny wept on her knees while the girls went to play with the doll house. Will finally took Sonny upstairs. He felt terribly young, he who was still living with his mother and just had a small bedroom to present.

Sonny looked around and saw the cardinal photo on the desk almost immediately. It was a bright red in a red frame, about the only bright colors in the room. Will wasn't very much into decoration or displaying his tastes, even in music. He had a big stack of CDs but no posters on the wall and the bookshelf was plain and messy. There was a shoe box that he filled with all his writings and it was starting to overflow.

Sonny sat on the bed and tapped the mattress next to him. Will's knees went weak. His boyfriend was warmly clothed and his hair was messier than ever, yet Will's inside disagreed with the invite. He hated being like that, feeling so afraid. He tried to recapture the magic of the night they had spent together on the stairs, remember the deep kiss, how great it was. He took a step and bent his face to Sonny's mouth. They lay on the bed, still kissing, their hands on each other's hip bones.

"You were good with your brother this afternoon. I felt useless, he looked so sad."

Will pinched his lips.

- I didn't like the sight, but yes, I'm used to comforting them. When he was a baby I learned how to calm him down when he was crying.

- Poor birdy... I wish I had know you at Johnny's age. You must have been cute as hell, like him.

- Well, he's my half-brother, so that's not sure at all." Sonny's mouth twisted a little. He sat up on the bed and walked to the window.

- It's night already, I should go.

- Oh, OK. Thanks for spending the afternoon, it was really great. I hope you weren't bored."

Sonny shook his head but looked absent-minded. Will waited. After a minute or so, Sonny mumbled

- You know, if your mom doesn't mind, one day you could... I mean, one night...

- Yes?

- You could stay at my place?

- Like the other night?" Will was about to tell him how much he had liked it but Sonny said

- No." He looked straight into Will's eyes. It was getting difficult to breathe. Will focused on it, then searched in his head for what he should answer. There was a little war up there and no side was clearly winning.

- Maybe. I'll tell you when..."

Sonny looked defeated. Will didn't want him to leave like that. He got up and hugged him tightly.

"I'm in love with you."

Sonny broke the hug and took a step back. Will started eating his lower lip until he saw how Sonny's face lit up from within. He kissed Will, then kissed him again, then whispered:

"Thank you. I love you too. So, so much."

They walked down the stairs slowly. Sonny went to say good-bye and thank everyone, including Johnny who looked better and was eating the last cookie. Will handed him his coat and walked him outside.

He looked at the silhouette fading in the dark, hearing the words echoing in his head. Allie had joined him and looked a little sad. Like brother, like sister too.

- You know we could go there Thursday afternoon. I'm sure Sonny will be happy to see you again.

- He will? What if he only want to see you?" Will looked at her, frowning. Her face was as tranquil as ever, yet he heard the doubts.

- He'll be happy to see us both. Like this afternoon, he said he had a great time with all of you.

- Then why was he looking upset when he left?" Will didn't reply. Allie was smart but it was hard to explain, even to himself.

- He had a lot on his mind. You could make him a nice card, like the one you did for grandma.

- Will you write in it? You're better at it.

- I'll help you."

he had left his cell on his desk. There were two texts. One was long, one was three-words long. The first one was planning their next date. The second filled his heart again.