"He is mine?!" Blaze murmured shock apparent in his voice. His hands rested on the cold steal bar beside the cash register of Cynthia. He froze for a moment and sweat twinkled on his forehead. He felt lightheaded as the world in front of him spun. 

"Blaze?" the light calling came from behind and a small hand rested on his forearm bringing him back to his messed up reality. Feeling in raged , He flexed his hand harshly snapping the hand away from him. 

"This is why you left , so suddenly?" He yelled at his old beloved 

"You hated kids. you never wanted a swollen girlfriend. You felt like babies are mere nuisances: your words not mine." Cynthia reminded him with coldness 

"If you just told me..." Blaze huffed throwing his hands in the air

"Why? So you can humiliate me and break my heart? " she dared 

"So you broke my heart instead?" He yelled accusingly 

"Hardly" she mocked eyeing Alexa 

"Our marriage is not real. It is nothing." He confessed not knowing the effects of his words on Alexa. 

Tears silently fell on her cheeks and she hugged Austin closer to her. The little boy seemed to share her sour mood. His head rested motionlessly at her chest and his breathes sounded a bit heavy. she patted his back a little wanting to comfort him. How harsh can life be for them; he is just witnessing his father and mother fighting because of him and refusing to acknowledge him, while she is going through her first real heartbreak. 

Feeling unwanted, Alexa walked away. Hurt by Blaze's actions and words, she couldn't stay there any longer. Watching him with Cynthia was different from any of his endeavors. He was hurt and broken, this time. Now, he is showing emotions that were foreign to his usual cool facade. She even sensed love and heartbreak in his words.

 Feeling her heart getting heavier, Alexa couldn't walk that far. Feeling an uncontrollable need to cry she gave up sitting on the bench placed beside the shop. Without a care, she allowed her silent tears to fall freely. 

"I got myself into this mess. There is no one to blame." she cried louder and hugged a silent Austin. Among all events, she forgot the stroller and all her groceries but now nothing mattered to her nothing would make her feel better, nothing at all...

"Ma..Ma" Austin babbled lightly and Alexa's once silent tears became loud sobs.

"I know. She is your mama. I am sorry baby, I wish that she wanted you as much as you want her. I know I am not your mama but I am trying to be the best replacement that I can ever be. Please don't leave me too. He is a goner, now. He loves her. Doesn't he? Do you want to be with them? How can I blame you? They are your real parents. I am a mere stranger to you. Aren't I?" she cried loudly her tears falling faster now staining her shirt. She held Austin a bit further than her eyeing him , waiting for a answer. He would always remind her of Blaze, forever. That fact would break her heart but she will always love Austin endlessly.

"Ma...Ma" Austin cried this time with tears welling in his sea foam eyes as his hands stretched to grab a hold of Alexa again. His action left her feeling a new sort of comfort. He was calling her "mama" not Cynthia, or at least that's what it looks like. 

"I would try to be the best mother figure for you." Alexa promised bringing him again to her chest in a warm hug and his little hands circled her neck tightly. Her heart was still broken but the pain lessened by Austin's little action. She is used to him clinging to her but this time felt different; it felt like he understood her pain, like some sort of invisible link or magical bond connected their feelings and thoughts...

" Are you okay?" A deep voice questioned making Alexa's watery eyes shot up 

"Yeah, I am sorry if my cries disturbed you."She managed to voice an apology even though her voice sounded rough from all the crying.

"They didn't. I was just concerned to why a young mother like yourself is sitting her bawling her eyes out. Are you in trouble? Is your baby okay? Do you need any sort of help?" The blond guy questioned and Alexa rapidly shook her head

"I will be fine." she promised feeling a bit anxious around this strange man. Her social anxiety and messed up feelings would always get the best of her no matter how she tried to control them.

"I am Theodore Wight" He introduces not getting a hint of how awkward Alexa felt.

"I am Alexa" She replied while her heart and mind battled to pick between her own last name and Blaze's.

"What's his name?" Theodore asked pointing to a now lightly sleeping Austin

"Austin" Alexa mumbled feeling awkward by the forwardness of this unknown man.

"I mean no harm. I am the owner of that coffee shop" Theodore said pointing a cross the street "I have seen you take walks around here before. I always meant to greet you but never gathered enough courage. You see I am not that great while talking to girls and I seem to start rambling endlessly making them flee of boredom...My sister says that I once I talk to a strange girl my speed of speech becomes as fast as light. I don't mean to bother you...I just wanted to check if you are okay or not and if it is possible invite you for a welcome-to-Pennsylvania cup of coffee..." he explained in one breath causing a short giggle out of a crying Alexa.

"You do speak hastily." Alexa commented feeling a little lighter

"I will consider that a compliment since it made you laugh" He replied chuckling 

"sure." Alexa mumbled offering him a sincere smile as she dried her tear. She can cry her heart out inside the walls of her house away from the busy streets. Now for her and her baby, she had to act strong as if nothing happened.

"So are you agreeing to my invitation?" Theodore mumbled as his cheeks got rosier and Alexa didn't have the heart to refuse. 

"I would love to try some welcome-to-Pennsylvania coffee" she answered pulling her best fake smile and eyeing the shop one last time. Blaze is still inside. He is probably reconnecting with Cynthia, kissing her, loving her and doing gods knows what with her...He heart broke again at such ideas and she felt a wave of new tears ready to fall but Theodore's voice interrupted them.

"It is the best kind of coffee." He joked and ushered her to his shop. 

In minutes, a beautiful mug full of coffee was placed in front of her with it a tray of cookies. Theodore also asked one of his waiters to heat up Austin's bottle . Thank god that her baby-bag was not forgotten due to the earlier horrid encounter. Allowing her to enjoy her coffee in silence, Theodore just sat in a chair opposite to her. She could feel his questioning gaze on her but as she looked up only a warm kind of smile would decorate his face.

"He is an idiot" He declared as she took the last bite of her cookie

"Who?" caught off guard Alexa didn't get his sudden words

"The one who made you cry." He explained 

"I brought this misery upon myself." she vaguely announced 

"Never the less, mother taught me to never make a lady cry." He argued back

"You are a nice man Theodore. Thanks , for the coffee and for everything else." Alexa uttered sincerely leaning to get her bag so she can pay for what she ordered.

"This is surely on the house. You can also call me Theo." He denied with a warm smile

"Thank you, Theo." She repeated again feeling most of the previous awkwardness washing away. 

"Are you going home, now? If so I can call you a taxi or even drive you home. You had a long day and walking with a baby in hands isn't an easy task." He polity noted while following her stand

"I troubled you enough for one day." Alexa refused nicely 

"I had nice company for the whole day and Austin is just an angel. I cannot let you go alone with such sad , tired expressions." He argued back and Alexa sensed that such argument will lead to nothing so she just allowed him to walk her home and hold the baby bag.

"Thank you, for everything Theo" Alexa mumbled as soon as they were mere feet away from her bungalow 

"You are welcome." he said grinning childishly at her

"I owe you one and a coffee." she joked and he laughed 

"I will remember that" he teased making her laugh too

"This is me" she said pointing at her now showing door and to her surprise Blaze was sitting on the steps. She saw him freezing, his poster getting rigid and in some kind of a speedily way he rushed to meet her, Austin and Theodore.

"Where were you?" Her heart-breaker nearly yelled making her shiver and Austin whimper.

"Don't yell at her" Theodore stepped up shielding her and Austin away from an angered Blaze.

"And who are you?" Blaze sounded in ragged and ready to kill. 

"It is okay Theo. I can take it from here. Thanks a lot for everything and I would surely visit you soon." She tried to calm Theo down and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you sure?" He asked back without stepping away but her tightening grip was enough from him to move away

"I am expecting you and Aussie tomorrow and you better be safe or else ..." Theodore informed eyeing Alexa and she nodded right away

"She said leave." Blaze spat and Theo keeping his word just started to walk away

"Who is he?" Blaze questioned harshly as soon as Theo was out of sight

"None of your business" Alexa challenged walking directly to her home without looking at Blaze again because she knew his effects on her. She knew how easily she gets manipulated by his sea foam eyes yet now she has to stay strong for her and for Aussie 

"You are my wife. It is fully my business" He replied walking hotly at her steps.

"Our marriage is not real. We are nothing." she strongly managed to utter

"You are not meeting him tomorrow or any other day." Blaze ordered following her to what seems to be her living room.

"I am free to do whatever." Alexa smoothly spoke as she placed Austin on a baby bean-bag

"You are lawfully mine." Blaze roared at her and since morning, this is the first time that she met his eyes. Her glare shocked him and the hatred in her usually kind eyes terrified him. Alexa , the introverted silent wife of his walked in strides and met him face to face. Her index finger pointing directly to his face and her head tilted all the way up so she can meet his height.

"I am not lawfully yours. It is all a lie and we shouldn't feed on it. I am free to do whatever as you are. You cannot go around screwing unknown girls and expect me to be a saint. Didn't you tell not to lose my life waiting? Well I am not anymore. I decided to explore the world and live it freely just like you did. You cannot and will not restrain me because you have no powers on me! I am meeting Theo tomorrow or maybe I should just sleep with..." before she can finish that sentence his lips furiously slammed on hers. Her gathered her in his hands and tugged her as close as humanly possible to him. She was stunned by his action and could feel his heart beating crazily fast. She tried to wiggle out of his hands and it took all her might not to kiss him back.

"You cannot do that every time we fight." she yelled as she managed to break away from his lips

"I should be able to do so whenever my heart wants to." Blaze fought back tugging her once again but before his lips descended on her the sound a slap echoed in the air.

"Let go." the begging sob shocked him harder than the pain of the slap and his hands just freed a crying Alexa 

"I am tired" she mumbled hugging herself and walking away after getting Austin and his baby bag.