Sonny walked away from the window, for the one hundredth time since midnight. He had tried to sleep, but sleep was elusive. He guessed he had too much on his mind. Brian hadn't been overjoyed to see him, and honestly why would he be.

Sonny knew he had a lot of making up to do where Brian was concerned, but He couldn't do it if Brian wouldn't give him the chance. Brian had been more than patient with him when they had first gotten together. That was one of the reasons that he had fallen for him in the first place. Brian had understood that coming out of the break up with Will, Sonny had been wrecked, was not sure he would ever be able to feel anything for anyone again. Brian had offered him friendship, and laughter, drawing him back into the world of the living… and later he had shown him how to love again.

He sat down on the chair beside the bed, the morning sun was just starting to peek through the curtains he had haphazardly closed, when he leaned his head back against the cushion and, closed his eyes. He let his memories of the past roll through his mind. Thinking back to when Brian had first said that he loved him, how happy he had been. He wanted to get those feelings back.

"You look great!" Brian said when Sonny opened the door…. He handed him a single rose. (Yeah, it was corny but it was their first official date)

Sonny blushed. "Thank you." He said. "You uh want to come in?"

"No, we have reservations in an hour." Brian said, "You ready?"

Sonny nodded, "Let me just put this in water." He said. He walked to the kitchen and dropped it into a small vase with water. He grabbed his Wallet and keys and then walked out into the hall with Brian, closing the door behind him.

"So where are we going?" he asked.

"We have dinner reservations and then we are going to a play."

"Oh." Sonny whispered. He was impressed, no one had ever taken him to see a play before. He liked stuff like that, even though it was not really a well known fact.

Sonny opened his eyes…. How Brian had known that about him was still a mystery. They had such a good time that night. the food had been amazing and 'Cat on a hot tin roof' had been something that Sonny had been wanting to see but had never taken the time to go, so it had been a nice treat.

After the show they had took a nice long walk…

"Thank you!" That was amazing. Sonny said. "I haven't enjoyed anything that much in a long time."

Brian reached over and tangled their fingers together. "I'm glad you liked it." He said smiling over at Sonny. "I love things like that."

"Me too." Sonny agreed. "I used to go all the time, but it's been a very long time, I forgot how much I love it."

"That's a shame." Brian said, we will have to make sure that doesn't happen again."

"I would like that." Sonny said shivering.

"You cold?" Brian asked. "You can have my coat, or we can head back if you are ready."

"No, I'm fine." Sonny said, "Just got a chill is all, let's walk a little longer."

Brian smiled and they walked on, until the got to the edge of the lake. He stopped and wrapped his arm around Sonny's shoulder pulling him close.

"Sonny allowed himself to be pulled into the embrace. "For the first time since Will, he was enjoying the feeling of closeness with someone else. They stood there in companionable silence until Brian turned face him and pulled him around.

"Sonny, I have to tell you something." He said "I know that you have been through alot and that you are still going through a lot but… "I love you… And I think you need to know that."

Sonny stared blankly at him for a full minute before opening his mouth. "Brian that's such a sweet thing but I'm not ready for that, no where near ready for that." he said honestly.

"And that's okay." Brian said, "I'm not going anywhere. You take your time, but I felt like I needed to say something." he pulled Sonny close hugging him tight. "I know that you are still getting over Will and that it will be a while before you are ready to trust anyone with your heart again, but I want to be the one you turn to when you are ready." he continued. "Is that okay?"

Sonny's chocolate brown eyes swam in a sea of tears as hell nodded his accent.

Brian pulled him close and covered his lips with his own, kissing him briefly.

Sonny liked the fact that Brian didn't push him for more than he was ready to give.

Brian backed away and linked their fingers together again, then led him back toward the car….

That had been the first night that Sonny had thought he could go on.. . that he could put the past behind him and concentrate on the future. That night he had finally let himself feel something for someone else.

They had spent many great nights between that night and the night that Brian had proposed…

"What are you doing?" Sonny asked giggling as Brian covered his eyes with his hands and urged him up the stairs that lead to the roof access of his apartment building.

"You''ll see, now be careful, come on three more steps… we are almost there." Brian said.

"What are you covering my eyes? I have seen the view from up here a million times." Sonny groused playfully. On the inside he was giddy, like a small child he loved surprises.

"Well maybe you haven't seen this exact view" Brian countered.

Finally they made it to the top step, Sonny could already feel the cool night air hitting his face. Brian must have already had the door propped open for them.

Sonny heard the commotion of Brian, moving the large rock out of the way, he could hear it scraping along the ground as Brian shoved it with his foot. Then the door swung shut behind them.

For the first time Sonny heard the soft music playing in the background.

"Ready?" Brian asked.

"Uh Huh" Sonny said, nodding yes.

Brian removed his hands from Sony's eyes. Sonny blinked a few times. Taking in the scene before him. There was a small table with a burgundy cloth. The table was covered with White rose petals. White candles stood in the middle of the table, even though it was much to breezy for them to remain lit. There were also two covered plates.

"What's this?" Sonny Asked, "We have already had dinner."

Brian shrugged.. " Dessert."

Sonny walked over to the table and skimmed his hand over the cloth. "You did all this for me?" he said in awe.

"Of course… I love you." Brian answered honestly.

Sonny grinned, " I love you too!" he whispered. His heart felt full and overflowing.

Brian led him over and pulled out a chair for him, waiting for him to sit before going around and taking the seat in front of him.

Sonny took the cloth napkin and spread it in his lap, then lifted the silver dome from his plate sitting it to the side. He looked down at the plate expecting to see his favorite chocolate cake on the plate, instead there was a black velvet box holding a silver band adorned with diamond chips.

"Wha…" he began, then closed his mouth as Brian came around the table and knelt before him.

Sonny watched as Brian took his trembling hand in his own. Tears sprang into his eyes unbidden.

"Sonny, These last several months have been the happiest I have ever had, and I know that we have had some rocky moments, and things have not been perfect, but to be honest, I have fallen so deeply in love with you." Brian began.

"Brian." Sonny said, putting his hand over Brian's. "I…"

"No, please." Brian said. "Let me get this out."

Sonny closed his mouth and nodded, waiting quietly for Brian to go on.

"I can't imagine my life without you, you are my first thought in the morning, my last thought at night, and when anything remotely exciting happens to me you are the one that I can't wait to share it with." Brian continued.

Brian extracted his hands from Sony's and picked up the velvet box with shaky fingers.

"Will you give me the most extraordinary gift of forever with you? Sonny will you marry me?" Brian finished.

The tears were free flowing now coursing in rivers down Sony's face, there didn't seem to be anyway to turn the water works off.

Brian remained kneeling in front of Sonny, holding his breath. It couldn't have been more than a couple minutes but it felt like an eternity. Sonny remained quiet.

"Sonny." Brian said softly, his fingers squeezing his Sonny's.

Sonny looked at Brian, "Of course… yes…." Sonny said. "I love you." he said trying to hold his trembling hand steady as Brian slipped the ring on his finger.

Sonny sighed, Brian had loved him unconditionally back then, there had to be a way to get back to that place, to earn Brian's trust again. He wasn't even sure when he had started to lose it. Looking back now he could admit that maybe it was around the time that he had really forgiven Will and allowed Will back into his life. They had fallen back into the very comfortable friendship they had always shared quickly. Brian had been okay with it though…. Or had he? Sonny knew he had never asked. But surely Brian could see how much getting that friendship with Will back had meant to him. Maybe that was the whole problem. But he hadn't wanted to revisit the past with Will, it was just comforting to have his best friend back.

"So sorry, I am late." Sonny said walking in the door, and dropping his keys on the foyer table. He went straight to the refrigerator and pulled a water from the door, then went and dropped on the couch next to Brian.

"Did you have a good day?" Brian asked.

"Yeah, great day actually!" Sonny said.

"Oh yeah, what made it so great?" Brian asked, sitting the textbook and binder he was working on to the side.

"Will came by today, haven't seen him in a while and we really talked, like old times." Sonny said. "It was nice."

"Oh…" Brian said taken aback. "I didn't realize that you wanted to spend your time with Will again." his voice sounded strained, even to his own ears.

Sonny looked at Brian, "I dont." Sonny said. "Not like that, but…"

"But what Sonny?" Brian whispered.

"It's just nice to have my best friend back." Sonny said shrugging his shoulders. "It's really not a big deal, it doesn't change anything with us."

"Are you sure?" Brian asked. "I kinda thought I was your best friend…" he let the sentence trail off.

"Babe…." Sonny said. " You are amazing, and wonderful, and kind, and the best boyfriend I could ever ask for…." he continued. "It's just that Will is important to me, and if I am honest I have felt like something was missing from my life without him."

" Sonny, I don't want to sound like a jerk here but I don't …." Brian said.

"It will be fine, you will see." Sonny interrupted him. "We are just friends, I could never trust him like that again, so you don't have anything to worry about."

Sonny pulled Brian in for a kiss, stretching out. laying back on the couch and urging Brian to follow him. And just like that the topic of Will Horton had been forgotten.

Sonny groaned, Brian had been jealous from the start, but he had thought he was doing a good job of convincing Brian that Will was not changing anything between them. He invited Brian to join them for coffee, to play basketball when they had pick up games, not that he ever joined in, or had time for stuff like that. He had been extra attentive to Brian's needs, had surprised him with lunch at the hospital a few times. Brian had eventually stopped worrying, or so Sonny had thought. He had obviously been wrong. Another memory flowed over him, once they had started it seemed like there was no end.

It was late and Brian sat at the table working on his latest assignment, while Sonny sat at on the couch attempting to go over the books for the club, but mostly he was wrapped up in his own thoughts. Brian had been quiet and reserved most of the evening, but Sonny chalked it up to him being worried about finals. It had nothing to do with the fact that he had walked into the club today, just as Will was telling him about Arianna rolling over for the first time by herself. Will had been more excited and happy than Sonny had seen him in months, he had given Will a huge hug, it was so good to see a glimpse of the old Will again... Brian hadn't liked it, Sonny could tell but, it was really innocent. What was his problem anyway?

Honestly, he hasn't really had a romantic thought about Will. Even though he knew for a fact that Will still loved him, It was hard to miss, the way that Will looked at him sometimes, the lingering hugs Will gave him on occasion, and Will's over exuberance to anything Sonny asked him to do. Sonny was aware and always careful to keep the boundaries in place, and even encouraged him to go out and have fun, so what if he cringed inwardly every time Will accepted a date from anyone, it didn't mean anything, not really.

"So…." Brian said startling Sonny out of his inner monologue. "Will seemed excited today."

"Yeah!" Sonny said, he was, "His daughter, Arianna rolled over by herself this morning, he came by to tell me about it, he even had video."

"Hmmm, and you were the only person he could think to share that with?" Brian asked.

"I don't know." Sonny laughed, "He was excited and wanted to tell somebody. She's a cute baby." he said.

"Where was his family?" Brian asked. "Marlena, Sami, Lucas…. Any of the rest of them, there are more Horton's and Brady's in this town than there are stars in the sky.

"I don't know, but really what's the big deal, we are friends." Sonny said sighing.

"I'm just saying there were plenty of other people for him to tell and he chose you. He is still In Love with you Sonny, please tell me you see that." Brian said slamming the book closed in frustration. When Sonny remained silent Brian got up and went over to the couch and sat down beside him. "Seriously Sonny, you do see and understand that he is… right?"

"He isn't, and even if he does love me, I don't feel like that towards him anymore, you are the one I want." Sonny said taking Brian's hand in his. "I love you, please trust me. Okay?"

Brian nodded his agreement. "I'm going to take a shower." he said.

"Want some company?" Sonny asked winking at him.

"No, it's fine, I am gonna be quick, I have an early morning class tomorrow." Brain said, kissing him quickly before he got up and went into the bathroom closing the door behind him.

That was the last that Brian had mentioned anything until the last few months. Things had been going great for them, they were moving along with the wedding plans and life was good. And then all of the sudden there had been a few off handed comments, a few displays of possessiveness…. but nothing that made Sonny think that Brian was truly bothered. Until Paul had shown up, Paul's arrival in town seemed to have opened up a whole new side of Brian's personality, showcasing his insecurities. It had also scared Sonny into feeling like he was losing his best friend all over again. Suddenly his instinct was to cling tightly to Will, no matter what. Of Course he knew that the easiest way to do that was to give Will what he had been wanting since the day they broke up.

Sonny got up from the chair and paced back to the Window. He had made a mess out of everything. He had been blind to everything, he had hurt Brian in his desperation to hold on to something that wasn't even there anymore. Will had loved him, no question until Paul had come into the picture, but somehow Paul had filled the loneliness inside of Will and brought back the joy that had been missing from his life. He had almost ruined that for Will, right along with his own relationship with Brian. Thankfully, Will had understood it for what it was and Called him on it. Will and Paul would probably have a long and happy relationship, they were well suited to each other.

Now he had to concentrate on getting Brian to forgive him. He picked up his hotel phone and Called for Room service, ordering some of everything on the menu. Then he texted Brian to ask if he would join him for Breakfast in 30 minutes. His mind was still spinning with memories, trying to map out what he wanted to say, what he could possibly say to convince Brian that their relationship deserved one more chance. he was almost at full blown panic mode when Brian finally texted him back "Ok". He dropped his phone on the bed and pulled some clothes out of his suitcase, and hurried to take a shower.