Hello, my lovely readers. There is a lot of happiness and some painful moments in this chap. So, strap in for a bumpy ride. On with the show...

Chapter 16: Come Fly with Me

Phil

Pacing outside of Bonnie Bennett's house, Philip Walters lifted his face to the sky. If only he could be struck by divine inspiration. Given his luck, Phil figured he was much more likely to be struck by a fiery comet. Maybe a bolt of lightening. He'd spent too many years in which he'd chosen to be with women who either slammed their doors in his face, or who made it far too easy for him. And he'd only loved one of them: Tiffany. But he acted like a fool with her. Just when he thought he'd never allow another woman to get under his skin; he met Bonnie Bennett. She set his world ablaze. For Philip, this was terrifying, and he never shrank back from a fight or an adventure. But Bonnie...she could destroy him with a word. The possibility of laying himself bare to her-only for her to turn her back on him-well, Phil was not sure he would recover.

The front door opened; out stepped Bonnie. She tugged her long, green sweater around her. A frown marred her brow. Her eyes shown with confusion. "Phil?" she called as rain began to patter against the grass under their feet. "What are you doing here?"

Phil inhaled and walked towards her. His hands went into his hair. At first, he couldn't find his voice. Eyes going down to Bonnie's, Phil took her hands in his. "An old friend told me lately that I've been a fool. Can't say I disagree. Because I found this woman. And she makes my knees weak. My heart rate goes up. Whenever she smiles, I find myself smiling with her. Her laugh is the best sound in the morning. Her hands are what I ache to feel at night. I wake up wishing she was with me. Every, single day. I love her. And I just wish she'd know that for me: She's it. All I want. For the rest of my life."

"Phil?" Bonnie's eyes widened as Phil sank to his knees in the damp grass, soaking his pants.

"Bonnie Bennett, I love you. You. Alright? Don't make me spend the rest of my life wondering what we could have had. Please?" Bonnie's head began to bob up and down. Rising to his feet, Phil cupped her face and kissed her. Her hands went into his hair. He reached down, scooping her up and carrying her to her door.

Inside the house, Phil carried Bonnie up to her bedroom. He set her on her feet. Her eyes were shining as she undid the buttons of his shirt and he tugged her sweater off. She gasped when he hauled her up, moving to her bed. They fell down and he leaned back to look down at her. "I vow to worship you for the rest our lives."

"Worship away!" Bonnie cried. She leaned up, hand sliding around the back of his neck. He fell on top of her and they did not talk for a long time afterward.

~0~

"What are you up to?" Bonnie called. "And is that my robe?" She came in the kitchen to lean into Phil's back. Phil glanced down at the red, silk robe.

"I think it might be, Ms. Bennett." Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, Phil tugged Bonnie in front of him. He pressed his nose into the back of her neck. "You smell like fine wine," he muttered, running his lips over her skin. His hand snuck under her blouse to run over the curve of her back.

Bonnie sighed. Her head fell on his shoulder, craning backwards as his lips reached her jawline. "That's because my shampoo uses red grapes."

"Remind me to send them a 'Thank you' note. Dear Shampoo company, you make my girl intoxicating-"

"Woman."

"My woman. God, she makes me want to drink her," Phil muttered into Bonnie's ear.

Laughing, Bonnie turned in his arms. "Can't say I'd complain about those plans. But I do have an early shift, tomorrow-And something smells really good in here. What have you been up to, Phil?" She turned to go over and open the oven. "Did you make apricot muffins?" Her gaze moved to Phil. He could not tell if she was pleased or not.

Phil went over to the counter. His hand moved to rest on a small, blue box with hand-painted flowers on it. "This box was so pretty, and just begged for me to take a peek inside. I hope you don't mind."

Bonnie shook her head. A smile formed on her face. "Well, Pandora, you weren't worried about what kind of chaos you would unleash on my kitchen?"

"Chaos?" Moving to cross the distance between them, Phil wrapped his arms around Bonnie's waist. "Ms. Bennett, I assure you, the last thing I intend to do is to cause chaos."

"But you don't know the history of apricot muffins." Bonnie chuckled, rolling her eyes as Phil nuzzled her cheek with his nose.

"Then tell me," Phil said, "while I rescue your oven from the chaotic muffins." He donned an oven mitt and removed the troubling muffins.

Bonnie made her way over to free a muffin from the tin. She eased the paper away and steam poured out from the pipping hot pastry. "That little box you were admiring," inclining her head in the direction of said box; Bonnie took a piece of muffin and blew on it, "belonged to my Grams." Placing the muffin in her mouth, her eyes squeezed shut. A sigh of pleasure escaped Bonnie before she looked at Phil. "The last time my Grams made me apricot muffins was the day I was accepted to med school. I wasn't that happy because I made muffins for the boy I'd been seeing. And do you know what he told me?"

Phil shook his head. Picking up another muffin, he freed it and took a bite. "Damn. This is the best muffin I've had in the history of muffin-eating."

Now, Bonnie began to laugh. Her smile was so bright, Phil felt sure he could turn the overhead light off because she would light up the room. "No, honey. He told me that he liked store-bought muffins. I told my Grams and she told me: Child, that boy was not right for you. See, anyone who can't put love into their cooking-and can't receive it-when it's given; they not worth the trouble."

"So, are these love muffins?" Phil inquired with a teasing grin.

Nodding, Bonnie smiled back. "I think Grams would have approved."

"Good." Phil closed the space between them. Kissing Bonnie until neither of them could catch their breath. When he pulled back, Bonnie pressed her hands to his ass. Her mouth moved to his chest. "Bonnie..."

"Um-hmm?" Bonnie replied, tugging at the belt of her robe.

"I have another surprise for you," Phil whispered into her ear. "But you have to trust me."

Pulling back, Bonnie nodded. "I trust you."

"Good." Lacing their fingers together, Phil took a step back. "I have to go get dressed. Then I want you to take a leap of faith with me."

"What?" Bonnie called as Phil headed out of the kitchen. "Phil, what does that mean?" She followed him to the bottom of the stairs.

Phil paused a couple of steps up. "I thought you said you trust me..."

"I do." Bonnie stared up at him.

With a smile, Phil said, "Then don't worry. And go finish your muffin."

~0~

Blindfolded, Bonnie sat next to Phil as he helped her place a pack on her back. "Phil, why do I think we're on a plane?" she called as the propeller started up. "And what is on my back?"

"Trust me, Bon." Phil pressed a long kiss to her lips.

Groaning, Bonnie held onto his hand tightly. The plane took off, and Phil stared out the window in the front. He waited until they had been in air for fifteen minutes before he slid her blindfold off.

Eyes going wide, Bonnie grabbed Phil by the shoulder. "We're on a plane. Not the kind with mini vodkas, but... Oh, no! You didn't! Phil! Are you crazy!" Her green eyes stared into his with so much dread Phil almost felt guilty.

"Bonnie Bennett. You survived cancer. You're a doctor. You're going to be a world-class researcher. And you are afraid to fly? Baby, you already do. Every, single day. So, I want you to be part of my world." He watched Bonnie's eyes tick to the door they would be going to go out of. Her eyes were still wide. "You don't have to jump. But I was hoping you would..."

Inhaling, Bonnie straightened her shoulders. "You're right. Cancer couldn't kick my ass. And I am a phoenix, I rise. Okay. Let's do this crazy-ass thing before my fear of heights kicks in and I puke." She took Phil's hand.

The instructor knelt by the door. "Okay, Bonnie, don't worry. We're going to attach your belt to Phil. He's been up, about a dozen times, and he's still alive. You'll be fine. Phil, no crazy stunts with the first-timer!"

Phil nodded with a grin. "This is the love of my life. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to her!"

"Good!" The instructor pulled the door open and wind whooshed in.

Bonnie let out a scream. "This is insane!"

"Don't panic!" The instructor advised. "On the count of five. One. Two. Three. Four."

"Five!" Phil called, jumping out.

Again, Bonnie screamed. Her hands went over her eyes and she shook her head. "I don't want to die like this!"

Phil counted off the seconds before he pulled the rip cord. "Are we dead?" Bonnie shouted as the parachute jerked them up and then they began to fly towards the ground.

"No, baby! Look at the world with me!"

"Looking ends in vomit!" Bonnie mumbled, but her hands came down. "Oh! Trees! And a field! Aim for the field!" She pointed at the flower-covered field. That is where Phil settled them on their feet. "Okay." Bonnie sat down in the grass and laughed. "So, that is what you call a leap of faith?"

"No. This is." Phil knelt down on one knee. "This is." He pulled a small box out of his pants pocket. "You can call this an engagement ring, or a ring that tells the world that we choose each other, above all others. Anyway you look at it, Bonnie, I want you to know that this ring symbolizes my life with you, my love for you, and desire to be with you, until death do we part." Pulling out the ring, he held out his hand. "Will you do me the honor?"

"Are you kidding me? I just jumped out of a plane with you! Ring me, mister!" Bonnie held out her hand. Phil slid it on before picking her up and kissing her. He could not be happier than he was in that moment.

Hayley

"I'm going to my Mom's. I may be home late." Hayley popped her head inside Elijah's office as she spoke. Her fingers were wrapped around the edge of the door while she looked around the darkened space for her husband. Lately, Elijah had been having severe headaches. This led him to sitting in the dark, a lot. It also led Hayley to not always knowing if her husband was in the same room. However, she knew he was not in surgery. Or the cafeteria. He wasn't with one of his family members. And his shift had not ended. So, the safe bet was his office.

"Elijah?" Hayley called. She stepped into the office. Her hand went to the light switch, but she thought better of it and waited.

"Yes?" Elijah's voice came out as barely more than a whisper. The lamp on his desk flicked on. His eyes squeezed shut. One hand went over his face.

Feeling a pang, Hayley crossed the floor. She rounded the desk to sit on the edge. Her hand went up and she placed it as gently as possible on the back of his head. He laid his head on her knee and she stroked his hair. "Elijah, you have to get you checked out." Doctors really were the worst patients. And she understood his fear. Just the thought of a positive test, or a shadow, on a scan made her heart stop beating for a moment.

Elijah nodded. "I know. I will make an appointment. Tomorrow."

Leaning down, Hayley pressed a kiss to the back of his head. "Please, go home. You need to rest."

Hayley sat up and looked at Elijah as he raised his head to stare up at her. "I will. I promise." He took her hand and kissed it.

With a smile, Hayley slid off the desk and headed for the door. Elijah's last word made her pause. "Hayley?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

Turning, Hayley grinned at her husband. "I love you, too." He smiled at her and she felt better. Hand going to the door, Hayley opened it and stepped into the hallway. She noted Elijah turning the light back off. This made her heart hesitate, again. He would get checked out. Soon. And everything would be fine. It had to be...

~0~

Keys in hand, Hayley let herself into her old house. Just like Elijah's office, all the lights were off. It felt strange sometimes to return to this house. She could still hear Jack strumming his guitar. Caroline and Tyler arguing about his leaving the toilet seat up. Rebekah walking through the room with a bottle of wine and a bag of snacks. Josh trying to decide if his shirt matching his shoes would turn his date-pre-Aiden-off. Rebekah was the only one of her friends who still lived here. And Tiffany. Hayley's mother.

Moving to the stairs, Hayley walked up them. She headed down the hall, to pause outside her mother's door. The door was closed. No light emitted from beneath the door. Hayley felt guilty if her mom was trying to take a nap, but they needed to talk. This could not wait.

Hand going up, Hayley knocked on the door. A startled gasp came from the other side of the wood. A soft thud. If Hayley had not perked her ears up, and the hall were not so quiet, she would have heard nothing at all. "Mom?" Hayley called. She knocked, again. "Mom, are you okay?"

"Hayley, dear?" Tiffany called from the other side of the door.

Nodding, Hayley waited. "Yeah, Mom. We need to talk. Can I come in?"

Tiffany muttered something. "Of course. Just one moment." Hayley pressed her ear to the door. She thought she heard her mother grunting. Her mother never grunted. What was she doing?

"Mom?"

"Coming!"

Then the door opened. Tiffany smoothed her hair. "I was about to take a shower." She offered Hayley that smile that used to tell Hayley everything was fine: when it was not. Not when the man who raised her went slamming out of the house. Not when her mother's eyes still sparkled with unshed tears. Not then. And not now.

"Can I come in?" Hayley's words made Tiffany's smile freeze. "Of course." She stepped aside and Hayley walked in.

Eyes moving over the room, Hayley tried to decide where the noise she heard earlier could have come from. She decided to check the bed, first. Hayley began to strip the bed.

"Excuse me, young lady! What in the world do you think you are doing?" Tiffany demanded. Her hands went to her hips.

Not looking back at her mother, Hayley said, "Coming from the woman who has taken up brandishing firearms at her tenants?" Scoffing, Hayley dropped to her knees and placed her hands under the bed. Nothing. Her eyes went to her mother's. "I thought you didn't like guns?"

Tiffany rolled her eyes. "I detest them. But your father left his old hunting weapon and there was that killer running about. How is your sister?"

"She misses you." Hayley's hand stilled as it came into contact with something hard. It was between the mattress and the bedsprings. Fingers curling around it, Hayley pulled the object out. Her eyes narrowed at a full bottle of sleeping pills. "Mom?"

"I've been having trouble sleeping-"

"I heard you. The night of the dinner party. And if you think Phil can take your place: You're dead wrong!" Hayley got to her feet. She shook the bottle at her mother. "And this..." Tears choked her. "Mom?"

Tiffany moved to sit on the end of the bed. "Hayley..."

"Davina needs you, Mom..."

"Baby." Tiffany waved for Hayley to sit next to her. Hayley sat down. "You know, I don't want to leave. But I am. My body is failing me. Much more quickly than I suspected it would. The pain is becoming more than I can tolerate. The fear. I see things that are not there. Sometimes, I am trapped in dreams of things that already happened. I need to be released before I can no longer recognize myself, nor can my children. Please, Hayley. Try to understand."

"Just promise me you'll stay a little longer..." Hayley said, taking her mother's hand.

Tiffany cupped Hayley's cheek and kissed the top of her head. "I will try. For you. And your sister. But when it is time..."

"I know. I know, Mom..." Hayley wrapped her arms around her mother and asked herself if she could let go...

Thank you reading, faving, following, and reviewing. :)

Be safe,

-J