White.

Everything around her was white for as far as the eye could see.

There was no sound - the absence of movement almost unsettling. But it was a void that she had visited once before. Absolute nothingness. It could suffocate a person if allowed and yet it brought on a strange comfort that most weren't even aware they desired.

Her legs carried her through the void - feeling weightless. Like she was underwater, drifting along for the ride with no real destination in mind. Spinning around in half-circles, her eyes continued to search for something familiar. Something that she could reach out and grasp with her own two hands - tangible and real.

But what was she looking for?

Pausing, she looked down at her hands in wonder. Her fingers curled into fists, then uncurled and then curled back again. There was a single ring on her left ring finger - a jade band with a set of princess cut diamonds formed into a flower placed on a bed of silver blooming throughout the band. A gentle smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.

"After all these years, I see that boy can still make you smile like that."

Craning her neck, she saw a familiar face and her smile widened even further. "Grams."

The older woman smiled. "Hello, baby girl."

Bonnie encircled her arms around her grandmother as she offered up a hug. The warmth was comforting in that empty space. There was a weird feeling of déjà vu, but she didn't mind it so much. It was familiar and familiarity was something she needed in that place, regardless of how the empty space settled her.

They finally pulled apart and Sheila grasped Bonnie's hands in her own, giving them a gentle squeeze before pulling her along. They walked in companionable silence and it didn't bother her. Just having her there was enough for Bonnie.

And yet there was a dark feeling gnawing at the pit of her stomach.

After what felt like an hour, Bonnie felt herself stopping. Her grandmother paused, her hand still held firmly in hers but she turned to look at her. Green eyes met dark brown ones and the two Bennett witches stood facing one another. No words were spoken, but Bonnie saw her grandmother smiling - as if she knew something that she didn't.

The uncomfortable feeling continued to grow.

"...you're not really here," Bonnie said softly, smiling sadly, "are you, Grams?"

The older witch gave her a knowing glance, shaking her head. "I am, but I'm not." Sheila smiled. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"

Tears filled Bonnie's eyes as she nodded. She bit her lower lip in an attempt to suppress a sob. "Grams, what did you do?"

"I did what I had to in order to keep you safe," she said, reaching out to cup Bonnie's cheek. "Just like what you tried to do."

"Abby...Thomas...my babies-"

"-are safe, Bonnie. They're safe thanks to you."

"T-They are?" Seeing her grandmother nod in confirmation caused Bonnie to clasp her hand over her mouth, the relieved gasp muffled against her palm. Her legs gave out and she fell to the floor, her shoulders shaking as she cried. "...thank goodness."

Sheila knelt down in front of her and Bonnie continued to cry as she felt her grandmother's hands fall gently on her shoulders. After a few moments, Sheila pulled her into her arms like she had so many times before when she was a child. Bonnie shamelessly clung to her grandmother, crying until the ache in her chest made it difficult to breathe. Sheila petted her head and stroked her back in soothing motions - attempting to bring Bonnie down from her emotional roller coaster.

A few minutes passed. Or hours. She couldn't be sure. Time was different in that space they were occupying. She thought about asking her grandmother how long they were actually there, but Bonnie knew that the answer ultimately didn't matter.

"Breathe, Child," came Sheila's voice, soft and warm like the morning sun, "or you'll make yourself sick."

Bonnie laughed through her tears. "I can't get sick in this place." She wasn't sure how she knew, but she did.

Grams clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Not here." Pulling back a measure, she pointed toward the distance just over Bonnie's shoulder. "There."

Blinking, Bonnie turned to glance over her shoulder. Just a few yards away from them stood a bright red door with a silver handle and knocker. Nothing else was there. Just the door and miles upon miles of endlessness - emptying into the void. Her relief and sadness forgotten, Bonnie clambered to her feet and took a few shy steps toward the door. She'd done so without thinking.

Suddenly, she stopped and looked back at her grandmother. Sheila held a smile that spoke volumes. Bonnie felt her stomach tying up in knots.

"Grams…"

"Go on." Sheila motioned with both of her hands for her to get a move on. "Get going."

"I'm scared." Her hands curled into fists at her side. "I don't know where this goes."

Her grandmother chuckled. "Yes, you do."

"I don't want to. I'm not ready!"

"Yes, you are." Her expression softened. "You always have been."

Bonnie watched as her grandmother started to walk backwards, increasing the distance between them. She took a step forward but found she could take no more. "Please, don't leave me! I don't want to be alone!"

"You aren't, silly girl. You haven't been for quite some time." Sheila clasped her hands together, as though she were saying a prayer. "I'll always be with you. Always."

The door opened behind Bonnie and a blindingly bright light spilled forth, enveloping her. The image of her grandmother continued to get further and further away from her. She reached out with one hand, knowing it was in vain but she did it anyway.

Sheila pressed her fingers to her lips and blew a kiss to Bonnie. "It's time, Bonnie." The light continued to swallow her up. "It's time for you to wake up now."

"Grams!" The tears ran hot down her cheeks and fell from her chin. "GRAMS!"

"Wake up, Bonnie."

He wasn't a religious man.

He never had been.

But for six and a half months, Kai Bennett-Parker prayed for a miracle.

After Bonnie's interference with The Merge ritual, she had remained in a comatose state. It was like she had placed herself in suspended animation and had no reason or will to wake herself up. The physicians said that she was healthy everywhere else - her current condition a mystery. The healers in various witch circles all came up with the same diagnosis.

Bonnie chose to stay asleep.

Kai refused to believe it. There was no way that Bonnie would sacrifice herself. She told him countless times that she was done with that part of her life. That she was tired of not putting herself first. She didn't even involve herself in coven affairs outside of her own freelancing because she wanted no part of being tied down by rules and regulations that would only hinder her from achieving her goals.

But their children… That was a different matter altogether.

Family meant everything to her. Ever since she lost so much of hers at a young age. After all these years, only her father remained. He'd retired a few years back and had been actively involving himself in family affairs outside of the realm of magic. Both Kai and Bonnie had preferred it that way.

Rudy had come by early in the morning to relieve Kai so that he could see to his family and coven affairs. The official transition of passing on the mantle was still a process. Mostly because he'd threatened to kill every single one of The Elders. As far as the twins were concerned, they didn't feel comfortable sliding into the leadership role while their mother was still sleeping.

Whatever Bonnie had done, she'd neutralized the stipulation of The Merge where a sacrifice had to be made. Not only were Abigail and Thomas completely unharmed from the ritual, but the transference of power had been divided between them. At least, that was the theory. There was also the theory that if one of them died, it wouldn't wipe out the entire coven. It was possible that it would only take out half of them. Still a horrifying theory, but better than the alternative. No one was willing to test it out and Kai wouldn't let them.

It was well past visiting hours. Caroline dropped off food for Kai and he thanked her. It was still sitting in the takeout bag on the table next to a vase with fresh flowers. Ms. Cuddles was propped up against the flower arrangement.

Even after all these years, she'd still kept that bear…

"Wake up, Bonnie," Kai whispered as he cradled her hand in his. "Please…"

Closing his eyes, he lifted her hand to his face - pressing the backs of her knuckles against his skin. She was warm, her breathing regular, and, for all intents and purposes, looked like she was resting. Yet Kai had never felt so far away from his wife as he did while she laid there.

Those who really knew Bonnie knew that she was a fighter. She wouldn't quit. Those who didn't know her believed that Kai should have been merciful and pulled the plug. She was suffering.

They knew nothing.

He smiled, his lips pressing against her skin as the heart monitor continued to beep faithfully in the background. "Don't you think you've rested enough, Bonster? You're so lazy."

Kai's thumb glided gently across her fingers, his nail scraping along the edge of her wedding band. She was taking a well-deserved rest without him. It wasn't fair. How could she leave him there alone to take care of everything by himself? Didn't she know that it was always a bad idea to leave him to his own devices?

Suddenly, the lights started flickering in and out. Once. Twice. Three times. Followed by an eerie wave of silence that blanketed the space he encompassed with Bonnie.

Like a gunshot, thunder crashed outside and the spidery flash of blue veins sparked outside the windows. The sheen illuminated Bonnie's face, giving it an ethereal glow before he was plunged into darkness. The sound of frantic footsteps thundered in the halls as doctors and orderlies alike were given instructions and carrying out those commands.

Kai wasn't sure if it was his nerves, but he thought he'd felt a twitch in between his fingers. The backup power finally kicked in and the world was bright again. Bonnie's heart monitor screeched off multiple alarms - presumably restarting its systems.

Already rising to his feet, he felt nails digging into his skin and his heart froze in his chest. His gaze barely had a chance to shift in Bonnie's direction before a shrill gasp of life erupted through the night. The grip she had on his hand intensified to the point where pain blossomed in the wake of her nails. But he couldn't focus on it.

All he could see was his wife, his beautiful witch, swallowing an endless amount of air into her lungs. The moisture left his mouth as Kai waited forever - his awe for her will to survive staggering. A bubbling cough exploded from her chest before it spiraled into a mini coughing fit. She thrashed across the bed, tugging at her IVs and yanking the machinery down where they crashed without a second glance from him.

It wasn't until he saw her green eyes shining under the fluorescent lighting did he realize he'd even been holding his breath. Bonnie's magic ballooned with a life of its own - permeating every crevice of the room and seeping into each pore in Kai's skin while causing the hair on the back of his neck to stand on end. Seconds later, he was knocked off his feet and sliding across the floor.

He managed a grunt as his back slammed into the door, knocking about half the wind out of him. But he refused to stay down. It didn't take long for Kai to get back on his feet. Slow, measured steps were taken toward the bed as the last dregs of her seizure began to ebb.

Kai reached out to touch her but paused as the feel of her magic started to choke him. His fingers traced along the walls, pulling the power that had been bleeding into the surface of it into him. The shock of everything was starting to wear down now that he'd felt her magic - had felt her.

One last gasp screeched from Bonnie as she sat up, grappling at the air and Kai was there with his arms wrapping around her in a fierce hug. He could feel her heart thudding like a jackhammer against his chest as he cradled the back of her head. Her body slowly began to relax until he felt her hands falling against his ribs.

"K-Kai?"

Her voice was a whisper, hoarse from lack of use. But it still sounded like a lilt in his ears. Kai pulled her even tighter against him, burying his face into the crook of her neck.

"Thank God," he choked out, unable to shake the tremor from his words, "the Spirits, Buddha, the Saints, Allah, Ganesh, Shiva, I don't even give a fuck who was listening but I-"

Kai couldn't finish his sentence, the last of it lost in the wake of his sobs. He hiccuped and cried, a silent wail all he could breathe from him as his body shook from the thrum of his emotions.

"...Kai."

She called his name again and he couldn't even believe it. Someone needed to stab him to prove that this was real.

"Bonnie…"

"Kai…" He felt her swallowing against his shoulder. "I...I can't...breathe."

It was like someone had slapped him sober. Quick as he dared, he pulled back and immediately cradled her face in his hands. He gazed at her through the blur of his tears and he smiled at her frustrated expression. Her brows were furrowed and she looked every bit like she'd just woken up from a long nap and needed a cup of coffee.

"...I knew it," he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. Her hands wrapped around his wrists and he felt the pads of her thumbs stroking the insides of them. "I knew you'd come back to me."

Bonnie gave a weak smile, tears spilling out the corners of her eyes. "...who else is going to keep you in line?"

They chortled pitifully together. Kai continued to pet her face lovingly and she grasped either side of his neck. For a while, all they could do was look at each other - devotion shining clearly in their eyes. It was real. It had to be.

Her brows knit together slightly and Kai smoothed his thumbs over them in an attempt to make them disappear.

"What's the matter?"

He watched her bottom lip quiver a measure before she took an unsteady breath. "I'm...I'm so sorry, Kai." She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. "I'm sorry I left you."

It was like a lump of ice had formed in his gut. She had single-handedly rescued their family when he couldn't. His beautiful, green-eyed witch had broken through a ritual rooted in darkness when he had believed that that was how it was always meant to be. Bonnie had risen above it all and fought hard to reach her goal.

A few months without her? To him, it was a fair trade off.

Kai grinned, shaking his head slightly. "Just promise me that you won't leave me again."

Her eyelids fluttered open and he was amused to see the surprise glowing in her eyes. They shifted rapidly between his own until a smile touched her lips. "I promise."

"And if you do, you have to promise to take me with you. No more solo vacations."

Bonnie gave a tired laugh. "I promise."

"I'll chase you to the ends of the earth if you try that again."

"What if you can't find me there?"

"Then I'll chase you into the afterlife."

"And if you can't find me there?"

"Then I'll chase you into the next life." He smiled, pulling her face close to his so that their noses were barely touching. "There won't be any escape from me, Bonnie Bennett-Parker. You're stuck with me."

Her fingers carded through his hair and they shared a languid sigh. She smiled up at him.

"Good."

A rush of air was pulled from them both as their lips claimed one another. Kai pressed his body hard against hers and there was a deep moan that was born in the small amount of space that existed between them. And what space remained disappeared instantly - breaths taken to whisper words of love before being overtaken once more.

Kai loved her. If not her, then it was no one else.

He was whole again.