The adoption proceeded smoothly after that, and when Blaine signed the papers several months later, he felt some of his worry ease. The authorities were still keeping tabs on him, but at least now Blaze was legally his son, and there was nothing anyone could do - not men and women in dark suits, nor grandmothers who seemed to think they knew best for a grandchild they'd never seen.
Not all of the worry was eased; Blaine could never pin the culprit down, but not long after officially adopting Blaze, the CPS visits started. They were, for the most part, relatively painless - his home was neat, and there were now hazards for a growing boy to get into - but Blaine still felt like he was an insect under a microscope. He religiously kept up to date with all of Blazes's appointments, and he made sure to have a copy of the pediatrician's letter stating that Blaze was in very good health. It took only a couple of months before the visits stopped, but then the man and woman stopped by again, almost sending Blaine's blood pressure through the roof. This time, though, their visit was short and to the point.
"You've made it clear you'll do all to protect your son," the woman said coolly, investing the word "son" with all the scorn she could muster. "I see no real reason for this farce to continue. We will leave you alone from here on out, since every time we've tried to get access to Blaze, you've blocked us at every turn - which, sadly for us, is your right as the boy's father." Again the last word was laden with scorn and disdain thick enough to cut. Blaine ignored her tone.
"Then I take ya'll are finally going to stop the needless spying?" he drawled.
The man snorted. "What choice do we have?" he snapped, rising. "As my colleague has stated, you've made it clear you'll do all you can to protect the boy. There is really nothing more we can do. It will be up to you to tell the boy about his unique situation when he is older. But God help you - if the boy feels cheated, his first instinct will be to blame you."173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2HXNFh313
"I've no intention on lying to my son," Blaine said, laying an emphasis of his own on the word "son". "Ya'll needn't think I'm going to beat around the bush, do you? I intend to tell him the truth, and he can decide what he wants to do. But there won't be any DNA sampling done without the both of us agreeing to it. Have I made myself clear?"
"Crystal," the woman replied curtly, raising a hand to silence her companion. "But the fate of millions will depend on Blaze one day," she added, giving Blaine a look that cut like a knife to the core of his soul. "I say that not to guilt trip you, but to remind you of the true weight you're carrying. That boy's DNA could be the key to unlocking the cure for many diseases that should've been cured a long time ago. I suggest you think very long and very hard about your next move when the boy is old enough to consent."
There was nothing Blaine could say to this, and he swore softly once the man and woman had left. He knew the woman was telling the truth, but it still galled him to know she was right. "That don't mean Blaze doesn't get to choose his own path when that time comes," he muttered. "If he's meant to save the world, well, he can do so on his own merits, and not because some stuffy woman in a dark suit told him it was his destiny."
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