A/N:I started writing this before finding out what Sonny was doing when he left Salem. And I have no claim to the Days of Our Lives properties.

~XXXX~

Will Horton appears at the top of the huge marble staircase. He's wearing a rose-pink, dress-shirt secured only by the lower 3 buttons over tailored black slacks. He quickly descends to the great-room below. Will sighs in happiness at the view from the huge shatterproof windows before him.

"Mr. Horton, you wished to see me?" A tall, brunette woman of some years stands at the foot of the staircase.

"Yes, Ms. Perkins. Is everything prepared for Mr. Narita's party, today?"

"Yes, sir. The food is all taken care of and Mr. Narita's memorabilia room has been set for it."

"Oh, good. With it set in there, maybe it won't get too raucous. Thank you." The housekeeper leaves as Will's phone rings.

W-Horton speaking.

V-This is Vince at the club, Mr. Horton. I know you're not the one we ordinarily call, but I thought you should know . . .

W-Know what, Vince?

V-There's a guy here acting strangely. He's only ordered coffee, so he's not drunk. He keeps flipping through a notebook and muttering to himself. One of the things he's repeating is "Will Horton is my husband."

W-Please describe him.

V-Very pale, olive skin; about your height; short, spiky, black hair, and dark brown eyes-

W-I'll be right there!

At Club KiMera, Vince points Will to a table by the window. The man at the table is gazing vacantly out the window when Will nears. The first thing Will notices is a slim, white scar from the man's left temple to just in front of his ear.

"Sonny. Sonny Kiriakis?"

The man is startled, picks up his notebook defensively, and looks up. Will gasps at seeing the man that disappeared from his life over five years ago. Sonny stares at him blankly for a moment. He shakes his head and recognition appears in his eyes along with the glimmer of tears. "Oh god, Will!" He rises from the table and holds out his arms.

Confused, Will embraces him anyway. Will gestures for Sonny to return to his seat and sits himself down facing Sonny. "Sonny, where have you been? Are you okay?"

"I'm so sorry, Will. When I left Salem, I went back to my old life of exploring. Only to clear my head, I had no intention of being gone so long." He reaches over to take Will's hand and starts thumbing circles across it.

"Well, what kept you?" Will asks in mock indignation.

Sonny flashes a feeble facsimile of his gorgeous smile. "I was mountain climbing, had equipment failure, and fell. I awoke in the hospital over two years later. I'd been in a coma! What's worse, I woke up with a screwed up memory. Initially, I had no memory passed my traveling days. My memory started returning, but in chunks and out of order. I started this notebook to take notes of my memories and try to piece them together. I've spent all the rest of my time in physical therapy, counseling and trying to make sense of my memory."

Will chews on his bottom lip as he takes Sonny's hands in both of his. "I wish I'd known."

"I understand, Will. You probably thought I couldn't handle our problems and was still running. What I don't understand is my family. They know about the accident and the coma. All my bills are taken care of. I have not been able to get a hold of anybody. Where is my family, Will?"

"Sonny, I'm not the best person to ask." He reaches into his shirt, just under the collar, to finger a chain around his neck. "I don't exactly interact with my in-laws much, not with all they've done to me."

"I have a feeling there are things you've kept from me, Will."

Will smiles. "You're right and it's long passed time for hiding from you. Your mother slapped me for cheating on you shortly before she started her affair with my dad. As much as I tried to keep Paul out of our lives, your father made sure he stayed around. Victor had me brought to the mansion at gunpoint so he could tell me off. There are some more recent things I'll tell you later. On the other hand, enough has happened to your family that there's a slim chance they can be excused for ignoring a coma patient." He sits back in his seat and locks eyes with Sonny. "A couple of years ago, Victor Kiriakis suffered a devastating stroke. He's recovering, but it's been a long, arduous process. Brady and your brothers now run Titan. You haven't been able to contact your parents because they are recently remarried and are taking a honeymoon cruise to Greece, a variation on their first honeymoon."

Sonny looks relieved, his smile is bigger, although a few tears have slipped from his eyes. Will taps his arm to get his attention. "Come on. Let's go back to my place. We'll both be more comfortable talking and you look as if you could use a freshening up."

"That sounds seriously great." Sonny pick up a large backpack and a cane, and starts limping to the door.

~XXXX~

"Will, isn't this the way to the DiMera Estate?"

"It used to be."

They make a familiar turn, but Sonny does not see what he was expecting. Gone is the Gothic-Italian DiMera mansion. In its place stands a huge, contemporary house with an asymmetrical design, lots of pillars, tall windows, and panoramic balconies.

Will lets them in and leads Sonny to one of the guestrooms. "You may stay here for now. The bathroom is through there. There should be a bathrobe on the back of the door that you can use while I have all your clothes washed."

"Thank you, Will." He picks up his toiletry kit and his cane and heads for the bathroom. Sonny tosses out the clothes he'd been wearing for Will to pick up.

Will gathers the clothing from the floor and from Sonny's backpack. When he steps out in the hall, he thinks, "My estranged husband is in my house, naked and wet. I want so much to just join him like the old days." Spying Ms. Perkins headed for the stairs, he catches up with her. "Hi. I've run into . . . an old friend who will be staying as a guest. Would you please launder his clothes?" She takes them and nods. "But, before you do, I want you to ditch any checked shirts and go out and buy some T-shirts and polos of medium size in purple, burgundy, or black. I'll lend you a card."

After a long, hot shower, Sonny feels more clear-headed and very relaxed. He looks about the room curiously and takes in the view outside the window. He lays down on the bed to test its comfort and is soon sound asleep.

A couple of hours later, Will is working on his laptop at a small table in the great-room. "Will," calls Sonny from the top of the stairs. He carefully walks down the steps with one hand on the bannister and the other grasping his cane at the ready.

"Sonny looks much less stressed, he must've caught a nap. He looks so handsome in that violet polo with black collar."

As Sonny reaches the bottom, Will receives a text. "Oh, that's as expression of Will's I well remember. That's the smile only his daughter can induce."

"Is that Arianna?"

"Yeah, John and Grandma Marlena have taken her to Switzerland to stay with Uncle Austin and Aunt Carrie. Apparently, John has just introduced Ari to Swiss chocolate!" Both men have a good chuckle.

"Will, on the way down the hall, I saw several sets of photos on display. Only a few people appearing in more than one set. Who actually lives here with you?"

"Oh. I share this house with Chad and Paul."

Sonny's face falls and he sucks in his bottom lip. "Oh, so you and Paul-"

"We are just good friends. In fact, Paul is throwing a birthday party for his boyfriend right now, just down the hall."

Sonny visibly unclenches, as the fingers of his right hand move to touch the ring finger of his left as if to toy with a now missing ring. Will makes a small, satisfied smile while he again touches the gold chain around his neck.

"Okay, how did the three of you wind up here?"

Will closes his laptop and turns off his phone. He joins Sonny on a couch, repressing the reflex to lean up against him. "It starts when Stefano DiMera has a heart attack and dies in his sleep."

"That must have been a relief to many people."

Will chuckles and nods. "With the sole exception of his bed partner that night." Will unconsciously fiddles with his own ring. Sonny notices and his eyes soften with a faraway look and a small touch to his chest over his heart. "Anyway, Chad had his father cremated as soon as possible. I think the urn is displayed somewhere in this house under Stefano's portrait. Maybe in some closet?" Will makes a face that brings out Sonny's heart-melting smile. "Thus, Chad became head of DiMera Enterprises. That's when I learned something interesting. Each time I was brought into the DiMera family, Stefano set aside shares in the company for me. Each time, Sonny. He must've planned to use me for something that never got set in motion. In the meantime, Paul's contract at Mad World expired and he was looking for a new project. I told him about my gifts and he bought shares to match. Our being major stockholders, we got with Chad to streamline and update everything about the company. It's now so unlike DiMera Enterprises that we renamed it. We three are partners in Rising Sons, Incorporated. Chad runs the day-to-day business while Paul and I vote at board-meetings."

Sonny is impressed. "Will must be really well off now. Paul's even wealthier than he was and Chad gets to run the company without the negativity of being a DiMera."

~XXXX~

Sonny is watching the oven warily as Will prepares a salad. "Doesn't your housekeeper cook for you?"

"Ms. Perkins works 6:30 AM to 4:00 PM or 3:00 if Ari has after school activities." Will spies the way Sonny is watching his every move. "Relax, Sonny. It's only baked fish and it's on a timer. I have learned to cook a few things."

A few minutes later, they are dining on a balcony overlooking the garden.

"This is really good, Will."

"Thanks. I told you I know a few simple meals," he replies and takes a sip of white wine.

"The DiMera garden doesn't look much different."

"Right. The garden, we kept. The mansion, we demolished. We even had the foundation removed. The three of us wanted a completely new home."

After dinner, they are drinking more wine while watching the sunset from the balcony.

"Still write, Will?"

Will nearly misses his mouth with his glass. "What?"

"Your writing. You were on your laptop when I first came down. You still doing it?"

"Oh! Yeah, I do. I no longer work for a magazine. I write a blog on being a single, gay father and I've written a book that happened to become a best-seller. In fact, I've just returned from a book signing tour."

"That's wonderful, Will. I still can't believe all the time I've missed. Ari's already in school."

Will reaches over to touch Sonny's arm. "It wasn't your fault, Sonny. You were injured."

Sonny smiles shyly. "What's your book called?"

"Oh, it's a work of fiction called Secrets & Scandals of a Small Town."

"Fiction, huh? Would I recognize anybody?"

"Not really anybody specific unless you're privy to the actual stories I told." His full lips stretch into a broad smile.

~XXXX~

Early the next morning, Will is on his way back to his room from a workout. He's wearing a light blue, sleeveless T-shirt that's deeply cut under the arms, as well as navy-blue, drawstring shorts.

He's just passing by the guestrooms when he hears, "AAHG! Oh, god!"

He hurries to the door and knocks. "Sonny, what's wrong?"

"Will, please!" Will enters and spots Sonny on the floor curled around his bad leg.

Will kneels down beside him. "Can I help?"

Through clenched teeth, Sonny responds, "Cramps, need massage."

"Okay. Can you roll over onto your stomach?" With a grunt Sonny complies.

With brisk and firm strokes, Will works his way up and down Sonny's leg muscles. "How's that?"

"Much better. Thank you."

"Why don't you roll back over so I can do the front of your thigh?"

Sonny pushes up and Will can see Sonny's head dip down as if inspecting the carpet. "Uh, I don't think that's a good idea at the moment." Sonny lays back down and his hips shift a little.

Will smiles knowingly. He looks down to admire the fit of the green and orange striped, boxers Sonny sleeps in. He gives Sonny a swat over the thin cotton, causing Sonny to yelp. "Enough of that. Who do you think you're talking to? I'm very familiar with everything you have to offer."

Sonny shrugs and gingerly flips around. Will tries not to smile too big as he notices the bulge in Sonny's shorts that can't quite escape his fly. Will resumes his ministrations. As he works, he moves ever so slowly to the leg opening of Sonny's shorts and concentrates more on the inside of Sonny's thigh. He watches Sonny's abdomen move faster as his breathing increases. Finally, Will's fingers barely brush the inside of Sonny's hem and Will sees that the waistband can no longer contain all of him. Will quickly pulls away. "Okay, Sonny. How was that?"

Sonny's eyes open as a fleeting expression of disappointment crosses his face. He shakes his leg and wiggles his ankle. "Much better. Thanks."

"Sonny, is that leg always going to be that way?"

"No. My leg was broken in the fall and its healing was neglected a little when the coma became a concern. Believe me, I've got a huge settlement coming. I've gotten a little behind in my therapy."

"What do you need?"

"I was working with hydrotherapy."

Will grins fully. "Sonny, you're staying in the house of three men who like to keep in shape. We have a huge indoor/outdoor pool and a jacuzzi. We even have a sauna. Let me get cleaned up. You grab your swimsuit, if there is one among your clothes. I'll get a little breakfast for us and I'll show you to the pool. Meet me in the great-room."

"Okay, sounds good. Thank you, again. And don't think I haven't noticed the changes in my clothing." He grabs the cane that had fallen to the floor earlier and stands up.

Will's face beams. "Just like you despised the shirts I wore that you said looked paint-spattered, I couldn't stand all of your checked shirts. Your swimsuit better not have any checks or you might be skinny-dipping out there." Will observes Sonny's shorts twitch before making his leave.

TBC

A/N:Comments welcome.