Feels Like Starting Over

Will punched in his best friend's number and stretched out on the couch with a sigh. Since getting involved with Kevin, he'd been lax about calling his mother and Peter on a regular basis. Tonight, though, he really needed to talk to someone who'd known him forever.

"Hey, Will."

"Hey," Will said, smiling at the sound of his friend's voice. "What's going on?"

"What's wrong?"

"Why do you think something's wrong?"

"It's late, I haven't heard from you for a while and I worry about you," Peter said with a chuckle. "I'm playing the odds."

Will laughed. He couldn't argue with that. "Well, my friend, your uncanny ability to know when I need you has served you well."

Peter's voice immediately lost its humor. "What happened, Will? Is it Kevin?"

One of Will's fears was Kevin getting shot in the line of duty; a fear he'd shared with Peter.

"It's nothing major. He's all right," Will reassured his friend. "We had a fight, that's all."

"Uh oh, the honeymoon's over already?" Peter asked.

"No," Will said, frowning. "And don't sound so happy."

"Aw, Will, I'm just teasing you," Pete said softly. "What happened?"

Sighing, Will switched the phone to the other ear and rolled onto his side. "I told him I wanted to go to a friend's wedding and he said no. When I pushed the issue, he got mad, basically called me a wimp and a burden and walked out. He's still gone."

"That doesn't sound like the great guy you want me to meet," Peter said, concerned. "Why doesn't he want to go to the wedding?"

"It's in Scotland--"

"Scotland?" Peter interrupted, then laughed. "Um, Will, you do know that's in another country, right?"

"Haha," Will said, practically pouting. "It's also the place I want to get a cottage--"

"And live with me and a bunch of dogs while you write novels," Peter finished. "I know, sweetheart. So Kevin balked at going that far for a wedding, right?"

"Yeah, which I could understand, so I told him I could go alone. I would just use my own money I have saved and go."

"And he still objected?"

"Yeah. He told me to grow a pair and get a job," Will sighed. "He's never spoken that way to me before, Pete. He said he's tired of me being around all the time. And maybe he's right. I'm always here and I've gotten so comfortable, I can't blame him for resenting me."

"Hey, stop that," Peter said quickly. "Don't take all the blame for this. Has he ever said anything to you before?"

"No," Will said, "but--"

"Then it just sounds as if you two aren't communicating." Peter sighed, and Will could hear the sound of ice clinking in a glass. "Do you love him, Will?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to break up with him?"

"No."

"Okay, then. You two need to talk. When Kevin gets back, talk to him, ask him what's going on, and don't get defensive. From what you've told me about this guy, he loves you, too, so he'll be honest with you."

"Okay," Will said. "I'll do that. But, um..."

"Will, what did you do?" Peter asked, almost scolding.

"I booked a flight to Scotland. I'm going to the wedding without him."

Peter laughed, making Will smile. "All right, well, that might not be such a bad thing. You can take this opportunity to show him that you're still independent, plus, if he really wants to have some time to himself, this'll give him that."

"But what if he's mad that I'm going after he told me not to?"

"Baby, he's not your father. He can't tell you what to do and where to go. If he tries that, maybe you need to take time on the trip to reconsider your relationship with him."

Will knew Peter was right, but he didn't really want to hear that. Reconsidering anything with Kevin would mean having to question his judgment and choices, and he could admit that he had no interest in doing that at this point.

"Don't you want to know who's getting married?"

When Will changed the subject, Peter knew to drop the issue with Kevin.

"Sure, why don't you tell me all about it?"

"It's my friend Wes - I told you about him."

"The sexy pilot?"

"Yes," Will giggled. He hadn't mentioned the fact that Wes was from another planet, finding it hard enough to explain the vast array of people he'd met since entering this community. "He and his boyfriend, Aidan, are having a commitment ceremony. At a real castle."

"As opposed to all those fake castles out there," Peter snickered.

"Shut up," Will said, grinning. "Anyway, I haven't met the other groom, but I'm really excited to do that. It'll be so cool to see a commitment ceremony, and I just know it's going to be incredibly romantic. Plus, I'm hoping to meet a bunch of people over there. I'll get to meet Orlando in person, too."

"Who's Orlando?"

Will rolled his eyes. "I told you about meeting him online a while back when I first got here. We've been talking a lot recently and he helped me out with some hotel arrangements."

Peter cracked up laughing. "Oh, right... The guy you think is Orlando Bloom."

"It is him," Will frowned.

"Uh huh. Did I tell you that I was just talking to Tom Cruise the other day? He asked me to be Suri's godfather."

"Screw you," Will said, laughing despite himself. "It's him, and he's just a really sweet man who's going through a hard time right now."

"Oh, right, that accident. I read about that." Peter paused. "Is it really him?" he asked, still sounding a little skeptical.

"I believe it is, yes, but don't make a big deal, Peter."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"You know I love him."

"I know."

"And I'm incredibly jealous."

"I know."

"Can I go with you?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"You'll embarrass me. I'm going there for my friend's wedding, not so you can act like a teenaged girl because of the best man."

"Are there going to be kilts involved?"

"Yes."

Peter groaned. "Oh, come on, Will, let me go with you."

"No."

"Then can you get me a picture?"

"No."

"Autograph?"

"NO!"

"Why?"

"Peter, I love you, but you're really missing the entire point. I'm going to Scotland to do a little poking around about my family, see a friend marry his boyfriend, and meet some people in person. That's it. Now, drop it."

There was a long pause, then Peter said, "I'll give you fifty bucks if you call me from there and have him say hello."

"Okay, I'm hanging up now," Will said, stifling a giggle.

"All right, I give up," Peter laughed. "But before you go, are you feeling better?"

"Yeah, I am. Thank you."

"Don't thank me. That's what I'm here for."

"You're too good to me."

"I know," Peter said softly.

"Okay, I'm going. Kevin could be home soon."

"Remember to talk to him, okay?"

Will nodded and sat up. "I will."

"And I'm really excited that you're getting to go to Scotland. I know how much you've wanted to do that."

"Thanks, sweetie. I really think I'll have a good time."

"I know you will. Love you."

"Love you, too."

The call ended and Will set the phone down on the coffee table. Now, all he had to do was wait for Kevin to come home.