A/N: This is the result of a prompt from a kind anon from Tumblr for Alex helping Norma plant fruit trees. Things got a little out of hand and the story kinda started taking a different turn I couldn't stop it, hehe.

Enjoy! :)

{Also, THANK YOU so much for the reviews on my last Normero fic. They seriously mean so much and are so motivating. :) }

"Hey, stranger."

She sidled up behind him and wound her hands around his shoulders, where she rested her chin. Alex turned his head to look back at his wife and pressed a kiss to the soft skin just shy of her nose. They met each other's eyes, grins spreading across their faces. Alex staked the shovel into the ground, his hands resting on its handle.

"So, will I be making fresh apple pie this time next year?"

Alex smiled at the question and gestured to the paper tag still attached to the little tree.

"No, at least twice that. The people at the nursery said that it could take up to five years for these guys to start producing anything."

He anticipated Norma's reaction, and couldn't keep a smile from his lips as her hands slipped away from his shoulders and came to rest on her hips.

"Five years? I thought these things were going to be poppin' 'em out in no time."

She looked so defeated that a chuckle bubbled from Alex's chest.

"Hey, you know what they say: good things come to those who wait."

Norma said nothing but leaned down, picked up a clod of dirt, and flung it in the general direction of her husband's face.

"Really?" he coughed, spitting dirt from his mouth.

Norma simply made a face, shrugged her shoulders and raised her hands in innocence.

"Okay, if that's how it's gonna be." In a second Alex scooped up a large handful of particularly moist soil. His hand released the clump, which sailed in a beautiful arc to land squarely in his wife's face. She stood motionless for a split second before diving for the same area of dirt. Alex followed suit.

Dirt flew from their hands, both hitting the intended targets. Laughter rang from Norma's mouth, echoed by the throaty chuckles of her husband. She then grabbed a particularly large handful of soil. Her arm swung back, coiled to shoot, but her heel-clad foot slipped in the mound of dirt, causing her to fly forward. Alex lost his footing as she tumbled into him, her soil laden hand still managing to collide with his face.

They stilled momentarily, looking at one another. At the sight of Alex's whole face and torso covered in dirt and of Norma's hair and face encrusted with the same brown substance, both broke down again. Alex's chest rumbled with his chuckles against Norma, her laughter ringing clearly from her wide smile.

As their laughter died down she used her fingers to up to clear away the dirt from his face, giggling as he did the same to her. His hands cupped her face, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. She gazed down at him, sparing a long moment to look into his eyes before pressing a long kiss to his mouth.

She broke away before returning her lips to his, this time more arduously. Alex deepened it, his hand on her back drawing her closer to him. The urgency of the kiss grew, and they were soon forced apart to catch their breaths. Norma carded her fingers through the hair at his temple, lowered her head so that their noses touched and their breaths mixed.

"You could always plant the rest of those trees later," breathed Norma, grazing Alex's nose with hers. He needed no more convincing. Norma lifted herself from atop his chest. As they got to their feet Alex reached for her hand, entwining their fingers.

They strolled side by side to the front porch, only letting go of one another once they were through both doors, at which point Alex swept her into his arms. Norma let out a light giggle, draping her arms around him.

He pressed a kiss to her lips before ascending the stairs, content with the love of his life nestled in his arms.