Chapter 17

"Hey, is everyone ok? I saw what happened on the news, the death count in the concert hall is no joke" Axel answers the phone to Adam.

"Yeh, it was pretty fucked up in there. I tried getting the civilians to leave but everyone was going crazy stabbing each other. We only managed to get Cherry outta there"

"Cherry!? What was she doing there, is she ok?" Axel anxiously questions him.

"Yeah she's fine. She has a stab wound but it's nothing major, the girl will be ok…. Bro the Y-Syndicate are behind all of this and they got Max under their control!

"I tried to apologise to him this morning but he's already signed a contract with them. There's no talking him out of it right now. You know what he's like, just give him some time and he'l see things for how they are." Axel explains.

"If this shit gets worse though, we gotta step in and help him".

"Something tells me he doesn't want our help, but you're right and I'm here ready to fight again when you or Max need me".

"Hey do you feel like going to the bar later on? It's still early and I'm sure Floyd or Sammy can watch over Leon," Adam asks.

"I can't, I still got Blaze here plus Leon has been suspended from school…"

"What Blaze has spent the whole day with you since this morning!? And she's met Leon?" Adam is pleasantly surprised.

"Yeah, it's kind of all unplanned but today has been something really special. We went to Zan's lab and even had some success in getting some of her memory back but she still doesn't know the whole truth yet".

"Just take your time with it all. I'm happy for you man, if anyone deserves a second chance it's you!"

"I know you so well Adam, something is wrong. Where are you? I'll come and meet you."

"No! I'm fine!" He insists. "It was a stupid idea to head out, besides I gotta stay here at the hospital with Cherry, they'll probably discharge her early in the morning then I'll bring her home."

"Ok that's good news! Just call me if you or Cherry need anything".

"I will".

Adam hangs up then he attempts to make another call.

"Estel? Hey, it's me!" he says with enthusiasm in his voice.

"Hey Adam! How's Cherry doing? I heard she's in hospital. I'm glad you both made it out of that explosion, I had some serious deja vu from 9 years ago."

"Yeah Cherry is ok, they'll discharge her in the next couple of hours or in the morning. I know what you mean, the same thing with that music happened again and we do need to get to the bottom of this! I got my boy Floyd investigating it further."

"Yeah, my team and I are also working on this and I believe those twins are behind this" she replies.

"Random question but are you free right now for that coffee to celebrate all the arrests we made earlier?"

"Actually, I'm going on a date after work" she awkwardly answers.

"A date? I see. Well let's hope your date likes dancing just as much as you do" he laughs, trying to cover up feeling surprised.

"I figured now that we got Blaze and Axel reunited after all this time, we probably won't need any more of those dance classes".

"Yeah you're right, I'm so busy with work anyway!" Adam deep down really feels a sense of disappointment. "Thanks for your help earlier and I hope you enjoy your date!" He quickly hangs up, leaving Estel feeling puzzled.

"Looks like it's a night at the office for me then" Adam says to himself before he orders a Chinese takeout. He takes his box of food back to his working office which is still busy and full of the cops working on an extra night shift after the explosion earlier. But even with most of his colleagues around, Adam can't help but feel alone and full of regret based on the home truths that Cherry and Sammy told him earlier.

"What time is it? I feel like I've been asleep for hours!" Blaze says as she arrives downstairs and enters the living room area.

"You've been sleeping for over 4 hours and it's now 8:30" Leon answers.

"Woah, I think I needed that!" She yawns. "Thanks for letting me sleep in your room Leon!" She gives him a warm smile.

"You're welcome, did you see my train set?" He excitedly asks.

"How could I miss it? It looks amazing. Did you build it yourself?"

He nods back at her with a proud grin on his face.

"How's your head feeling?" Axel asks her.

"It's better, thanks for letting me crash here. I hope Charlie has been behaving himself." she says as she strokes him.

"He's been really good, we even took him for a walk!" Leon happily answers.

"And we stopped off at the store to pick up some food for him" Axel adds.

"Aw you two are the best! I can't believe I've been asleep for that long! It felt like I was still under that anesthetic! So what are you two playing then?" She questions, noticing a deck of cards on the table in front of them.

"It's called poker. Wanna join in?" Leon asks her.

Blaze can't help but laugh. "Your 8 year old knows poker?" She says to Axel with her eyebrows raised feeling impressed.

"Well out in the wilderness there was no electricity. So that meant no TV, no video games and no phone. So once he mastered every board game out there we moved onto cards and this ones probably the most interesting" Axel explains.

"It's also the most useful one for when I get older" Leon adds, making Blaze laugh again.

"I'd love to join you guys but I gotta get back, it's getting late."

"The traffic has died down now, but there was an explosion earlier in the city. Leon and I can take you home on the subway".

"Aw it's ok you've done enough for me and Charlie already today plus Leon must be tired also."

"Well normally it would be a school night for us, but he did get suspended for that fight earlier so it's no problem" Axel replies.

"No! You can't leave us yet! Dad's made tacos for dinner and his food is the best!" Leon encourages her to stay.

"Ohhh, is that what I smell coming from the kitchen? I gotta admit, I do love spicy food," Blaze smiles.

"Me too! Does that mean you and Charlie can stay with us?" He gives her the cutest stare, making it impossible to say no.

"Ok. We'll stay for dinner but on one condition, you let me have a game of poker with you."

"Deal!" He excitedly grins. She glances over towards Axel, giving him a shy smile.

2 hours after dinner and 3 poker games later, the evening has flown by. The three of them naturally get along so well and can be themselves whilst enjoying each others' company and having a laugh together. It's almost as if they were never separated during the last 9 years and barely anything has changed from Blaze's personality or outlook on life.

"I fold… again!" She sighs, placing her cards down onto the table whilst Leon celebrates another victory. He then gets up to go to the bathroom.

"Just for the record, you should know that I let the kid win all of those games," Blaze discreetly says to Axel with seriousness on her face.

"You didn't have to explain that to me!" He laughs.

"Yeah but I never lose and I don't usually play this bad…"

"You say you never lose huh?" He raises his eyebrows challenging her.

"No, I never lose," she folds her arms with determination in her voice.

"Can we have one more game?!" Leon returns, trying his luck again.

"Kid, you said one more game a whole hour ago! It's well past your bedtime now" Axel answers.

"But I'm not tired," a large yawn follows his response.

To their surprise, the dog barks once up at Leon then he runs upstairs towards his room. "Charlie, wait!" The young boy shouts before he follows him.

"Your dog is a genius you know!" Axel laughs.

"Dad?! I think Charlie wants me to read him a bedtime story!" Leon shouts out a moment later from upstairs.

"Sure! Whatever you want kid, just go to bed!" Axel shouts back trying to contain his laughter.

"It's fine, I'll call Charlie downstairs later when he's asleep," Blaze smiles.

"He'l definitely fall asleep if he starts reading to the dog" the two of them have a giggle, trying their best not to laugh too loud.

"Goodnight!" Leon shouts.

"Goodnight!" They shout back.

"Well that was easy enough," Blaze says.

"Maybe getting a dog after all is not such a bad idea if it means I get a break listening to him reading the same bedtime story to me for the 9th time this month! You know he refuses to go to sleep otherwise" Axel explains.

"I swear usually the parent is supposed to read the bedtime story and not the other way round?" Blaze grins.

"That's what I thought, but this way he falls asleep faster. Parent hacks" he winks.

"It's kinda sweet really" she smiles.

"What's kinda sweet right now are these chips I'm about to take from you after your next poker game" he challenges her whilst emptying the bag of counters over the table.

"This time it's for real huh?" Blaze quizzes. "I only have 10 dollars on me, so what are we playing for then?" She asks.

"Aside from pride, honour and that fact that you claim you never lose, you have two choices here" he answers, holding up a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a bottle of cognac in the other.

"Hmmmm, that's a tough decision but I pick the Hennessey…. Wait, are we playing to win the bottle or to drink the bottle?" She giggles.

"What do you think?" he answers whilst lining up several shot glasses on the table.

"You're serious about those chips aren't you?"

"Why are you so worried Blaze, you never lose right?"

"Bring it on!" She excitedly grins, taking her seat opposite him before she shuffles the deck.

The two of them end up playing poker into the early hours of the morning until they realise what time it is.

"I can't believe you almost won all of those chips until that last game! It was all of nothing, but I have to say winning when it matters most made those losses worth it!" Blaze smirks, proud of herself as she collects the last of the chips.

Axel shakes his head grinning "I wouldn't call 7 folds out of 8 a victory. Besides, I let you win that last game so that you didn't have to drink anymore" he replies before downing the last shot glass.

"Thanks, but I can handle much more than that!" The two of them glance over at the bottle which is now close to empty. They feel surprised that they are still sober but merry.

"Shit, do you realise what time it is?" Blaze observes her phone "it's just gone 3:30am!" her jaw drops with shock.

"Well I haven't had this much fun in a very long time so I didn't notice" Axel smiles at her.

"Me too." She quietly replies back

"Look I know it's late but I'm happy to sleep on the couch if you wanna take my room" he offers.

"Thanks, I'll help you clear all this before then" Blaze starts to collect some of the shot glasses.

"Don't worry, that can wait til the morning" he replies.

"But it is morning!" Blaze laughs.

"You know there was this time that you and I went for a drive after work. It actually happened to be the same night you refused to eat Zan's food." They laugh. "We ended up staying awake the whole night talking to each other".

"I hope I can remember all those good times one day. I know that we worked together a lot and were friends but what exactly happened? Why did we lose contact with each other?" Blaze queries.

"It's a long story but I know it will all come back to you, just give it time. I gotta check on Leon." He says, leading her upstairs whilst changing the subject.

"Listen..." Axel pauses, concerned as they hear a strange noise coming from Leon's bedroom. They carefully open the door, trying their best not to wake him.

"Look…" he whispers to Blaze with a grin on his face.

"Oh! That noise is Charlie snoring! I'm surprised Leon can even sleep through that! He must also be a heavy sleeper" she whispers as they look at him sound asleep with Charlie curled up guarding him on the end of the bed.

"It's so strange, usually Charlie is only this protective of me and never anybody he's just met. Leon is one of a kind though, you must be so proud of him".

"I am. He said you're awesome too by the way even though you lost most of the poker games tonight" Axel explains whilst quietly closing the door.

"Well everybody thinks I'm alright I guess!" Blaze confidently smirks.

"You're more than just alright" he smiles back, leading her down the hallway towards his room.

"Ok so you know where the bathroom is, there are some spare towels under the sink in there. There are also plenty of t-shirts in this drawer here and the extra blankets and pillows are in this closet here. Anything you need, give me a shout and I'll be downstairs" Axel briefs her.

"Thanks" she replies back.

"Goodnight" he nods.

"Goodnight.." Before he turns to leave, Blaze catches him off guard when she leans forward with her eyes closed, spontaneously kissing him on the lips.

"I'm so sorry" she reacts, immediately pulling away. Blaze pauses whilst feeling embarrassed and worried that she has just ruined their whole evening.

"I'm not sorry" he says before he runs his hands through her hair, holding her neck whilst passionately kissing her. One slow tender kiss turns into several more intense ones. The room gets more and more heated as the couple spend the rest of the night together for the first time in 9 years.