Chapter 123 - Remembering.

The drive to the graveyard was quieter than usual. Blaze stared straight ahead, his jaw a little tight, hands gripping gripping on each other too hard. Next to him, Savannah reached out and placed her hand over his, her touch soft and calming.

"Thanks for coming with me." she said gently, her voice like a soothing balm to his frazzled nerves.

Blaze glanced at her quickly, his dark soft eyes meeting hers, and nodded and smiled. "Anything, Ana." He said, he knew this was tough for her. Visiting the grave wasn't something he ever planned to do. But for Savannah, he'd do it. For her, if needed he'd face parts of himself he had long buried.

The sun was low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the cemetery. Savannah and Blaze walked hand in hand on the stone path, moving slowly and carefully. The sound of rustling leaves above and distant bird chirps filled the air, adding to the peaceful scene.

They reached the grave-a simple, elegant headstone surrounded by well-kept grass. Savannah's son's name was etched into the stone with dates that marked a life far too short. Blaze, with his usual quiet grace, set down a small bouquet of sunflowers-her son's favorite.

Savannah took a deep breath and stood there quietly for a moment, a small, bittersweet smile on her face. Blaze stayed close, his arm linked with hers. His expression was hard to read, like he was hiding behind a calm mask that only she could see through. She knew how deeply he felt, how he shared her pain in ways words couldn't fully capture.

She crouched down a bit, her fingers touching the cold stone as she started to talk. Her voice was soft but steady.

"Hi, my sweet boy," she said, her smile shaking but full of love. "It's me, Mom. I've missed you so much, but I bet you already know that."

Blaze stood next to her, his presence like a steady anchor. She looked at him quickly, finding strength in the warmth of his hand holding hers.

"I wanted to come see you first," Savannah continued, her voice breaking just slightly. "Before we fully step into this new chapter of life. I thought you should know... I'm happy now. I finally feel like I've found peace."

Her fingers ran over the letter on the headstone as she talked. "Blaze has been great to me, sweetie. He's shown me what real love feels like. I know you would've liked him. He's kind, strong, and he takes care of me in ways I never knew I needed."

She looked up at Blaze, her eyes shiny with tears. "He's my anchor, just like you were, in so many ways."

Blaze gave a small, gentle smile. His other hand reached over and rested softly on her shoulder. "He's proud of you, Ana." Blaze said, his deep voice calm and comforting. "I know he is."

Savannah straightened up and leaned into Blaze, resting her head on his arm. They stood there quietly, looking at the grave. The warmth from Blaze made her feel at ease, and she felt a sense of calm wash over her.

"I'll always carry you with me," Savannah whispered, mostly to herself. "You'll always be a part of me. And I promise I'll keep living in a way that would make you proud."

Blaze gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You're the strongest woman I know, Ana," he said softly, full of quiet admiration.

Savannah turned her face toward him, smiling even though tears were close to falling. She said, "And you're the guy who showed me how to feel alive again."

Blaze bent down and gave her a gentle kiss on the top of her head. "You deserve to be happy, Ana. I'll spend the rest of my life making sure you stay that way."

Standing there together, Savannah felt a mix of emotions—grief, love, hope, and happiness—all swirling inside her. For a long time, she felt like something was missing. But now, with Blaze beside her and her son always in her heart, she finally felt complete.

After a while, she knelt again and placed her hand on the gravestone. "I love you, sweetheart. Always."

Blaze helped her stand up, and they both turned to leave. As they walked back down the path, the weight in her heart felt lighter. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden glow over everything.

The sun was getting warm, throwing long shadows across the well-kept lawn. They walked side by side towards the grave. Savannah's hand slipped into his, their fingers intertwining. He held tight, like hanging on to her was the only thing keeping him from falling apart.

They talked a little about the person they were going to see after meeting her son. When Blaze saw the name carved on the stone, he stiffened up.

For a bit, there was nothing but silence, just the sound of leaves rustling in the wind. Savannah gave his hand a gentle squeeze before stepping forward.

She knelt down. Her voice was soft but strong as she started to talk.

"I don't really know you," she said, her voice full of respect and warmth. "And you probably don't know me either. But I wanted to come here today to say… thank you."

Blaze looked at her, his face hard to read, but his eyes softened up.

"Thank you for bringing Blaze into this world," Savannah went on, her voice getting stronger. "For raising the man who's brought so much love and light into my life. I can only imagine how proud you must have been of him."

She stopped for a moment. "I wish I could have met you, even just once. To thank you in person. To let you know how grateful I am for everything you've done for him, for me, for us."

Savannah turned to look at Blaze, her eyes glistening with emotion. "He's amazing, you know. Strong, loyal, kind… and he makes me feel like the luckiest woman in the world. That's all because of you. His father."

Blaze's jaw tightened, and he looked away, taking a deep breath.

Savannah turned back to the gravestone. "I wish I could have been there for you when things were tough," she said, her voice filled with sadness. "I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye. But I promise, I'll honor you by loving and supporting your son every single day."

Savannah stood up and moved next to Blaze, taking his hand again. For a while, Blaze stayed quiet, staring at the grave.

"I never thought I'd be back here," he said finally, his voice low and gravelly. "There are so many things I never told him... stuff I'll never get to say."

Savannah turned to him, her face soft and kind. "You can say them now." she said gently.

Blaze gave a small shake of his head and managed a faint, almost bitter smile. "He wasn't perfect," he said. "He messed up a lot. But he was still my dad. And... I guess he did the best he could."

He took a deep breath, his eyes softening as he looked at Savannah. "If he were here, I think he'd like you," he said, his voice a little warmer. "You have this way of... making everything feel better. Even stuff I thought would never heal."

Savannah smiled, her eyes sparkling. "I think he'd be proud of you, Blaze. For the person you've turned out to be."

Blaze glanced at the gravestone, his face thoughtful. "Maybe," he said softly. "But I know he'd definitely be proud that I found you."

As they stood there together, the sun sank lower, turning the graveyard into a golden scene. Blaze felt a strange calm wash over him, like a light burden lifting.

Savannah rested her head on his arm, her presence a steady comfort. "We'll come back," she murmured, as if promising herself too.

Blaze nodded, squeezing her shoulder as they turned to go. "Yeah," he replied softly. "We will."

Hand in hand, they walked back to the car. Blaze felt a quiet thankfulness he hadn't expected. Savannah had given him the strength to face his past, and for the first time in years, he felt like he could handle it without being crushed by it.

Driving away, Blaze took her hand and held it tight. "Thank you," he said, his voice full of genuine feeling.

"For what?" she asked, glancing at him.

"For being you," he replied simply, a small, genuine smile playing on his lips.

Savannah smiled back, leaning her head against his shoulder as they drove toward the future, together.

Later that night

Baldwin's Mansion

As the clock struck midnight, the quiet of Blaze's grand mansion was only broken by the sound of his slow footsteps. Moonlight came through the curtains, casting soft shadows on the walls. Blaze quietly left the bedroom, leaving Savannah asleep. She looked peaceful, wrapped up in their bed, and he was careful not to wake her.

He wore a black robe over a plain t-shirt and pajama pants—his usual outfit for these secret trips. Arthur and Elijah, always by his side and on high alert, followed him silently as he left the main house. The three of them moved through the big property towards a hidden entrance, which was cleverly hidden behind some tall bushes in the yard.

Elijah went ahead and unlocked the hidden door with ease. The heavy metal door groaned as it opened, showing a dimly lit staircase that went underground. Blaze went down the stairs without any hesitation. He looked calm, but there was a sharpness to him, like he owned the place even in the dark.

As they went deeper, the temperature dropped, and the atmosphere changed completely. Unlike his big fancy house, this place was plain, cold, and practical—showing a side of Blaze that few ever saw. The walls were made of thick steel, and the air smelled like metal and oil.

When they got to the end of the long hallway, Arthur and Elijah stood on either side of him. Elijah stepped up again and typed in a code. The door unlocked with a soft hiss and slid open, revealing the real core of the underground hideout. It wasn't just a room—it was a sanctum.

The room they walked into was huge and lit by some overhead lights that made long, scary shadows. You could hear the sound of machines somewhere hidden, making everything feel tense. At the other end of the room, there was a long table where a bunch of people were sitting. They all looked up at Blaze as soon as he came in.

The Santaro family, known for being powerful friends but also dangerous enemies at times, were all there. Their faces showed both excitement and worry. Blaze's name was well-known, and even the people sitting there couldn't help but show him a lot of respect. He walked with the calm confidence of someone who always knows what's coming next.

Blaze walked up to the table, his robe fluttering a bit as he moved. He stopped at the head of the table and looked at everyone. The Santaro leader, a sharp-eyed guy with silver hair and an air of authority, was the first one to speak.

"Blaze," the man said, his voice smooth but cautious. "We've been waiting." Blaze nodded, keeping his eyes steady. "Let's not waste time."

Arthur and Elijah stood a safe distance behind him, watching carefully. Blaze pulled out the chair at the head of the table and sat down, leaning back like he was totally chill, even though the tension was thick.

Author's Note :

Thankyou for reading<3

Have a good day/night<3<3