A/N: This story is a continuation of Norma's proposal in 4x01. Everything afterwards didn't happen.

There is not much of a plot here aside from an alternate scenario how Norma and Alex could have gotten together. I love to let these two broken characters find happiness. So it's Normero all the way.

Will be a two- or three-shot probably, the rating going up in later chapter(s) when things heat up between Norma and Alex. (My dear fellow writer heldogtertjie: In case you are reading this, I guess you'll be happy to hear that. ;)) For now it's a strong T rating due to language including the one or other f-bomb.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Bates Motel and its characters belong to A&E and I CAN'T WAIT for the final season.

Five days.

Five fucking days.

That's how long it took Norma Bates to find a new husband.

Yes, he had refused her proposal, had told her to look for someone else, but he hadn't meant it. You're an attractive woman. I'm sure you'll find someone else pretty quickly. - Okay, I will. Fine. And then she had gone off to do exactly that.

Damn his stupid words. Damn her.

He didn't believe it when he heard the rumor for the first time two days ago what must have been the day of her marriage. There are so many rumors about Norma Bates, one more didn't seem to matter, regardless of how far-fetched it sounded. He should have known. When it comes to Norma, nothing is too far-fetched. Ever. Only when people started giving him sympathetic looks yesterday because everyone seems to believe they were sleeping together, it began to dawn on him that it could be true. He didn't get a wink of sleep last night.

And now proof that it wasn't just a rumor is staring Alex right in the face, so to speak. A ring on her finger. A nice one no less. Understated elegance topped off with a brilliant that says money. Well, she would have chosen someone with money or at least insurance. The marriage was about getting Norman into Pineview after all.

They are standing in the entrance of the stationary shop. Norma was on her way out, he on his way in. The situation feels awkward to say the least.

"Hi, Norma."

No use to prolong the uncomfortable silence and make this even more awkward than absolutely necessary.

"Hi… Alex."

His name like an afterthought, almost as if she has already forgotten it. He clenches his fist, the intensity of his anger as sudden as expected. When he is around her, everything is intense and what else than anger is he supposed to feel?

Alex has stalled checking on Norma after his refusal to marry her. It has been their weirdest encounter so far, although this moment might come close. He was hurt, had just killed Bob Paris for her and even though it is unfair to hold it against her because she doesn't know it, didn't tell him to do it in the first place, it felt as if it never would be enough. Whatever he did for her, she always wanted more. He needed time. But she needed insurance. And hasn't that worked out nicely?

When he becomes aware people have to squeeze past them because they are blocking the entrance, Alex grabs Norma's arm to pull her outside. They are attracting attention already – people know them; it's a small town. No need to reinforce that.

"So… congratulations, I guess." It sounds fake even to his ears.

"Yes. I mean thank you," she stutters, swallowing nervously.

It's oddly satisfying that her behavior is miles away from that of a happy newlywed.

Alex doesn't want to ask, but he has to know. "Who's the lucky guy?" He didn't mean to say lucky; the word slipped out of its own accord.

Norma studies him for a moment as if pondering on whether this could be a threat. Maybe it is.

"A guest. A motel guest. I mean… before. Now he's… we're..."

She can't bring herself to say husband or married, and for the first time since he saw her, Alex feels like this might not be the end of whatever hasn't even begun between them.

"What?" Norma asks defiantly, and only now, he realizes he is smiling.

"Nothing."

"What?"

"So you're not Norma Bates anymore?" It's a distraction, but also an attempt to find out more.

Alex needs a name so that he can check the databases and hopefully find something, a previous conviction or an arrest warrant, lock this guy up forever and throw the key away, but either she sees through his intentions or she is just Norma, saying the first thing that comes to her mind.

"Of course, I am. I'm keeping my name. Why wouldn't I?"

She is right. Even if he was… if they were… She will always be Norma Bates although there is this nagging voice in his mind that keeps telling him that Norma Romero has a nice ring to it.

So no name. He will find out, anyway.

"How's Norman?"

Alex would be lying if he said he likes Norman. However he is her son and she loves him. Deeply. Norma cares about Norman and he cares about her. Simple as that.

Her face darkens, sadness drawing a veil over her. "At Pineview. Getting better, I hope. It was difficult to convince him that it's the right thing to do, but it was long overdue. My fault." She obviously misses Norman and feels guilty in equal measures.

"I hope so, too, and he will. You did the right thing."

"Thank you." The smile Norma gives him is grateful. And there is something else in her eyes. Wistfulness?

For a brief moment Alex allows himself to indulge in the fantasy that she regrets marrying that guy whoever he is, that she imagines how it would be to be married to him. After all she proposed to him before he sent her away. This was your chance, Alex thinks. And you missed it.

"I, um, have to go," Norma says, her voice much gentler now, almost as if she doesn't want to leave. "I need to run some errands and then go home to make dinner. He… um… I need to go."

"Yes, sure." What else is there left to say? Leave him. Get a divorce. I made a mistake.

"Goodbye, Alex." Norma turns around, seems to have forgotten what she was about to do when they ran into each other and then remembers, heading into the stationary shop.

Her words reverberate though. He as in her husband. That's what she meant. But what is it about him? Is he one of those guys who need to have dinner at exactly the same time every day, holding their wife responsible for making sure of that? Maybe he is violent. Maybe she is in danger. Alex takes a deep breath. He needs to calm down first, but then he needs to find out who the hell that guy is.

One more thing Norma didn't ask him to do. And one more thing he will do, anyway, to protect her. Or at least that's what Alex tells himself.

Why does he always knock even though there is a bell? The thought has never occurred to him before but now that Alex is standing on the porch of Norma's house, the strangest things seem to be important all of a sudden.

Heavy footsteps approach the door. The man is about his age, in his mid forties, approximately his height but with thinning hair and beginnings of a paunch. The kind of man who was good looking in high school but didn't manage to stay in shape as the years passed by. He seems to be wary when he finds a stranger in front of his door but relaxes as soon as he notices Alex's uniform. People who have something to hide react in a different way. Alex is certain the man has no criminal record or any criminal history whatsoever. He should be happy for Norma but feels a sting of disappointment instead. So much for hoping he could haul him out of her house and lock him up. But there is a fallback option.

"I'm Sheriff Romero. I need to talk to you and your wife about something that happened in town."

"Of course. Come in. It's cold outside. I'm Richard Newton. I moved in here only recently, but you probably know that already, being the sheriff and all that." Chatty and friendly.

They shake hands amicably.

"So what's your profession, Mr. Newton?"

"I'm a salesman, travel a lot. And then I met this gorgeous woman and... here we are." Richard sounds happy, grateful even, as if he still can't believe fate has meant so well for him. "Norma...," he calls for her. Nothing about the way he talks or behaves giving away that he has been living here for less than two weeks.

Norma comes down the stairs, briefly startled when she sees Alex and her husband together in the hallway but immediately covering it with a fake smile.

"Hi Alex."

If this was a game, he would have just won the first set. Her husband frowns when he realizes his wife and the sheriff know each other well enough to be on first name basis.

"Let's go into the living room," Richard tries to win the upper hand again.

Norma goes ahead, followed by Alex who puts his hand on the small of her back as he always does. Marking a territory that is not his.

After they have sat down, Alex introduces a story about recurring thefts and vandalism in town, presumably committed by some adolescents. It's completely made up and Norma knows it the moment he begins to speak. However she just raises an eyebrow and keeps looking at him unwaveringly. Did they see or hear anything hinting at who could be the juvenile delinquents? Richard obviously wants to help, thinks about it before he responds with regret that he didn't whereas Norma just shrugs and fobs him off with a curt no.

Richard is sitting close to Norma on the couch, touching her casually now and then, brushing her fingers or her thigh. It's what married people do and it's not inappropriate or intrusive in the least save that Alex can tell Norma doesn't like it. As nice as that man is, she doesn't want to be touched by him. His stomach convulses. There is nothing he can do. The man appears to be harmless, likable even. He will screen him later, nevertheless, but Norma married him. On the surface no one forced her to do anything, let alone is forcing her to stay with him. Except that Alex knows she feels as if she has no other choice if she wants to guarantee her son the best treatment possible. The idea sickens him. He hates himself for sending her away that day, underestimating her ability to make the sheer impossible happen just like that.

I know you're attracted to me. I'll sleep with you. I don't care. I really don't. Did she say the same things to that man? Probably not, however she made him marry her so quickly. But the arrangement is implied and she is for sure keeping her end up. Suddenly Alex can't stand to sit here with them anymore, the awareness that there is nothing he can do to change the situation taunting him. His muscles tense up; he has to leave, jumping to his feet.

Richard looks at him mildly surprised but otherwise unfazed while Norma seems to be alarmed. She flinched when he jumped up, obviously being as tense as he is.

"I have to go. There are some urgent matters waiting for me," Alex excuses himself.

Another pretext. His work is done for today. There is nothing left for him to do than go home and bang his head against the wall or better even go to the next bar and drink himself into a stupor.

"Of course," Richard agrees, oblivious of what is going on.

They stand up and Richard accompanies him to the door. As soon as the door closes behind him, though, he hears Norma say something unintelligible inside before it opens again.

"Sheriff Romero, wait!"

She steps out, closing the door behind her again albeit her husband seems to have gone back into the living room. At least Alex can't spot his shadow lurking in the vestibule, trying to overhear what they say. In a way he almost feels sorry for him. That man has no idea who he married. Then he remembers Norma's expression when her husband touched her, bordering on disgust, and pity is the last thing he feels. He doesn't want that man to be even remotely close to Norma, wants to get him out of the way.

"Sheriff Romero? Really?"

He is angry, needs an outlet for the complete disaster this is although none of this is her fault. Well, some is. She is the one with the ring on her finger. Norma takes a step back, looking at him as if he was a wounded animal about to attack. "Your husband already heard that you called me Alex, Norma. He knows we know each other, but don't worry, I won't tell him that you can get pretty aggressive when you don't get your way or how we almost kissed."

His anger catches her off-guard. Norma doesn't understand why Alex is so angry, but she knows exactly what he is talking about. That day at his apartment not long ago when she hit him and they ended up pressed against each other, their breath mingling, their lips almost touching before she simply left. There is not one day he doesn't think about what happened and what didn't.

"We didn't..." Norma looks at the door, lowering her voice, then back at him. "We didn't almost kiss. And keep your voice down."

"No? Then what didn't we almost do?"

Alex can't stand to not touch her, reaching out and taking her hand. Her reaction is so different from the way she behaved just moments ago when her husband touched her. Norma intertwines their fingers and for a moment he thinks she will pull him towards her, but she doesn't, just keeps caressing his palm. It's highly sensual, his perception overly sensitive.

"Why did you come here and tell us this story?" she changes the subject. "There are no juvenile delinquents, not since you eradicated drug business." Despite her blunt words, Norma's voice is quiet, soothing.

She has to know he came here to find out more about her husband since Richard never seems to come to town and he didn't want to ask the staff of the registry office for his name. On some level Norma must be aware that the idea of her being with someone else drives him crazy and keeps him up at night. She can't be so blind or can she?

"Are you sleeping with him?"

"Alex..."

The gentle caress of his hand stops. Of course she is. Why does he have to torture himself?

"Why did you marry him?"

She rolls her eyes and shrugs. "You know why! Norman needs insurance for his stay at Pineview. What was I supposed to do? You made it pretty clear that you wouldn't marry me, not even if it's part of a bargain." She cuts him a look and Alex flinches the way he did when she offered herself to him on his threshold. How is it that she is able to offer herself, her body as part of a deal like it was nothing?

"Yes, I know that. But why didn't you wait? Just a couple of days."

"For what?"

For him to get a grip on his conflicting feelings when it comes to her. All he needed were some days or a heads-up that she was about to marry someone else. He would have never let that happen.

Alex only realizes he has grabbed Norma's upper arms and pulled her towards him when she puts her hands against his chest. She doesn't push him back, though, just lets him hold her. If he pulled her any closer, the situation would be similar to the one in his apartment. He feels her irregular breath on his neck and face, the tension in both of their bodies rising. Whatever it is between them, it's eclectic and addictive.

He waits for her to see it in his face, to realize what she means to him, but she doesn't. Norma's glance drops to his lips like it always does. She pointed out his attraction towards her during the proposal as if it was one-sided when she is just as attracted to him. Maybe she doesn't know what love looks like or feels because she has never experienced it before.

"What are you afraid of?" Alex whispers.

It's as if he flipped the wrong switch. He shouldn't have used the word afraid. Norma Bates insists on the idea that there is nothing and no one she is afraid of. She steps away from him.

"Perhaps that my husband catches me making out with another man on my front porch. You are really something, Alex. Hitting on me after I got married. You could have had me, but you missed your chance."

Offense is the best defense. Norma knows that, every word stinging him.

"I'm not giving you up."

"I didn't know you had me."

Alex wishes she would stop acting so indifferently, wishes he could walk away and never come back, but by now he has relinquished that hope. Something about Norma will always bring him back to her doorstep, no matter whether she is widowed or married. And he wishes she would stop raising her eyebrow. She looks so damn sexy that reasonable thinking around her is very difficult. He has to be. Reasonable, that is, since she has somehow accepted her situation and seems to believe this is only a testosterone game for him, daring him with her words and countenance because that's the way she handles men who pine for her.

The idea to meet her husband and figure out a quick fix to get rid of him based on potential criminal records or his assumed repulsive personality was a dismal failure. Norma Bates married a nice guy who is probably head over heels in love with her. He needs another plan.

"I'm not giving you up," Alex repeats.

"Then don't, but I have to go."

Perhaps there is something close to longing in her eyes before she turns around and goes back inside. Or perhaps it's just wishful thinking. Either way Alex knows insomnia and a bottle of Scotch will be his companions tonight. Again.

To be continued

Two things:

I know the timeline is a bit off because originally Norma needed to have insurance for Norman within 48 hours if I remember correctly. So let's pretend for the sake of the story that she had a little more time. Five days are still not much to find a new husband and cover the insurance problem. ;)

And I'm aware Norma is not very nice to Alex in parts here, but I believe this is the way she would behave. She only opened herself up to him and let herself love him after she married him on the show and basically was forced to let him into her life. So it will be more difficult for Alex to make her fall for him. Then again, this is the whole purpose of the story and I hope you enjoy it.