Author's Note: This story is coming out because I was really starting to love seeing Norma and Romero together, and I was really sad that Norman had to go and ruin it. So this is from a world where Norman didn't kill Norma. Hope y'all enjoy!

"Hey, there, Norma Ray," Alex said, kissing her on the cheek and pulling her close.

Norma laughed. "You know it's Norma Louise."

"Louise isn't as easy to rhyme." He chuckled.

Momentarily confused, Norma just laughed again, "You're in a cheery mood," she observed.

"Yeah, I thought..." he stopped to kiss her, "we could both play hooky today and I'd take you on a nice romantic day out." He winked././

"Oh, honey, I wish I could," Norma said, returning it, "but I'm afraid to leave Norman alone. He keeps having these blackouts and..."

"Norma, I really think it would be better for you and for Norman if he went back into Pineview. He was doing really well there, and you could visit." Alex could feel her shaking in his arms under the weight of her sudden tears. "Oh, Baby, please don't be sad. Norman will get better there, and when he comes home, we can all be a family like you wanted."

Norma's ice blue eyes were still leaking tears of anguish when she met his gaze again. "Alex, I promised Norman years ago that I'd never leave him. I'd feel like I broke that promise if I sent him back."

"But you'd be doing it to help him, Baby," Alex cooed, hoping to soothe her. "Norman needs a lot more help than you can give him here, and we both know that."

"Yeah, but will he understand that?"

"At first, he'll probably be angry and scared and desperate to get you to keep him here. As he gets better, he will thank you for it."

"You think so?"

"Yeah. You wanna protect Norman, right? Keep him safe?"

Norma nodded. "More than anything."

"You cannot keep him safe on your own anymore, Norma. He's... just too sick." It hurt him to see the flash of pain in her eyes at this, so he kissed her forehead. "I know it really hurts to hear that, but it's true."

Norma didn't say anything for a long moment, then finally whispered, "You're right. I can't fix this for him." She cleared her throat and then said in a much stronger voice, "He has to go back to Pineview."

Norman, who was coming down the stairs as she said those words, immediately ran over to them and pleaded, "No, Mother. I can't go back there." He had tears in his eyes already, and a child's voice came from him then. It said, "I won't be safe there. I'm only safe here with you."

Norma glanced at Alex, who let her go so she could take Norman's hands in hers. "You'll be safe there, Norman," she promised. "Honey, I know this hurts, but I can't... I can't keep you safe right now."

"What are you talking about ? You always keep me safe." Norman was getting upset, and Norma saw it in his eyes. She sat down and pulled him onto her lap like she had when he was very little. "Norman, I know you're scared."

"You promised me I wouldn't go back."

"I... I know, Honey," she said, her voice wavering, "and this hurts me more than you know, but you're very sick, and I can't help you right now."

"You... always helped me before." Norman's voice grew harder,"before Sheriff Romero." Alex's name had venom dripping from it, and Norma looked apologetically at him before Norman continued. He asked, "Was this his idea?"

"No," Norma responded. "You need more help than I have the power to give. I can't help you get better. They can because they know how."

"But you knew how before!" Norman's voice was a mixture of anger and fear. "I want to stay with you. I'm safe here because you protect me."

"I can't, Norman," Norma said in a pained voice, "Not... not right now. You're just too sick." It wasn't lost on her that she'd just accidentally used the exact phrase Alex had several minutes earlier.

"If I go there, you'll leave me there, and you'll never come back for me." He was whispering now, clinging to Norma as a frightened child would. Norma held him tighter, kissed his forehead, and replied, "I told you I'd never leave you, and I won't. This... this is just for a little while, and I'll come and visit. You'll only stay until you feel better and the doctors say you can come home. When that happens, I promise I will come and take you home."

"But I want to stay with you!"

"I know you do, Norman, and I wish you could."

"I want to stay here where I'm safe," he said over and over, shaking like a leaf in Norma's lap.

Norma didn't know what to do. She locked eyes with Alex as if to say, "I'm lost. Please help me."