A/N: I've been stuck with the thought of writing my own Normero story for months with this idea and I thought I might want to share it to you. Hope you'll like it! xoxo
Disclaimer: I do not own Bates Motel. It belongs to A&E.
You crossed over the line and you are never crossing back. I will never trust you again. Norma's words keep echoing in Alex's head, hitting him like a bullet. I will never trust you again. She's going to shut him out. And it can't happen. He needs to do something about this; he needs to protect her. As Alex drinks another glass of beer, he gets up from his seat leaving the cash on counter of the bar and get into his car.
"What the hell do you want, Alex?" Norma says in an icy tone as she opens the door, seeing Alex standing on her porch. She looks at him, her face straight, trying not to give in to what a mess he is at the moment. He's drunk and she knows it's because of her; she hurt him with her words. And it hurts her too. But who does he think he is telling her what's best for her son?
"Norma... " he starts, "I-... Let's fix this."
"Fix what?" she responds with cool indifference.
"Us."
"Us? Right." She laughs dryly before raising her voice. "So you really think it's just about us? This whole thing? What about Norman-he's my son. You went behind my back-..."
"It's because you're always blinded when it's about him!"
"And that gives you the right to do that? Well that's bullshit!" Her temper is flaring.
"Yeah, just because you're his mother doesn't mean you always know what's best for him!" As soon as the words slip from his mouth, he realises his mistake . He shouldn't have said that to her. Truth be told, though: Mothers don't always know what's best for their child. She's been doing what she thinks best for Norman, keeping him so close to protect him at all costs She would walk over hot coals for him and not mind. God knows what else she would do for Norman. So what gives Alex the right to say that? He knows the hell she's been through. No one who knows her, who loves her even could say that to her. But she knows that in this case, he's maybe right. She doesn't always know what's best for Norman. She even blames herself sometimes about the whole situation. And that hit her hard.
"I'm sorry... " He slowly steps forward. But it's too late. He's drunk and he shouldn't have come to her in such a state. All he's done is make things worse.
Norma stops him before he can touch her. She's hurt. "Look," she whimpers softly, trying to hold back the tears that gathered in her eyes, "I'm not really even sure what's between us was real. There's no need to fix this."
"Norma," Alex grabs her hand before she can turn around and leave. He knows she's lying."I had a-... I didn't mean that. I'm drunk, I'm sorry. L-..."
"Alex, I want a divorce." She cuts him off in a muffled yet frigid voice. Her emotions have taken control of her whole being.
"A divorce..." This is it, he thinks. He knows she means it. He pushed her too far and there's nothing he can do about it. "Okay," he lets out a pained sigh, looking down before he can beg her to reconsider, and slowly turns around to walk away
As soon as the door shut, Norma makes her way towards the couch. Slowly, as if in a trance, she sits down, her chest rising and falling, not believing what had just happened. She wrote him a letter and removed the ring before going to bed and before Alex knocks on their door but she didn't mean to want a divorce so suddenly. Because somehow, she still had hope everything between them would still be fine. She buries her face in her hands, whimpering as tears spill from her eyes. She can't hold it all in anymore. Seeing Alex looking as wretched as he did, hoping to fix it for them, but it ending up in another argument that leads her to asking for a divorce, is too much.
The following day, Norman finds Norma sleeping on the couch. Unable to bear all the hurt, she had simply fallen asleep.
"Norman..." she blinks her eyes open to look up at him. "Good morning, honey" she coos, smiling at him, trying to hide all the cruelty life had thrown at her the previous night. Maybe even leaving it all behind.
"Why did you sleep on the couch, Mother?" He asks in confusion. The knowledge that he heard her crying, breaks his heart; he fell asleep to the sound of her sobbing before Alex drives in to their house.
"I decided to watch TV last night and fell asleep." He knows she's lying. "I'll just go upstairs and wash up and then make you a breakfast, okay?" She grins at him, rising from the couch.
It's been almost a week since it all happened and Norma has done the best she could to keep her mind occupied and not able to think about Alex. She manages the motel, does the chores in their house, and take care of Norman. But sometimes, when she's on her bed and about to sleep, she fails to do so. She always end up thinking about Alex, reminiscing their happy times together and it weighs her even more. She misses him and it just gets heavier so she cries herself to sleep.
On a one cold afternoon, after finishing all the stuff that is left to do, she relaxes herself by playing on her piano.
"Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight..."
She sings as her fingers deft over the keys, making music that resonates her whole being. It's her only escape that she doesn't get tired of. Music has been her therapy for years and somehow, it helps her ease the pain.
"Through the years we all will be together
If a fate allows
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now..."
She finishes her song as she rises up from the piano chair, feeling fulfilled to what she just did. She always beam up with pride after playing. It makes her feel like she owns the world for doing such.
The telephone suddenly rings.
"Hello?"
"Is this Norma Bates?" A question from the other line.
"Yes, this is she." She frowns. It couldn't be threat, right? She has been so good and busy to piss anyone off to just call her on their landline, asking if she is Norma Bates. She thought of just hanging up the phone but whatever she's hearing has swiftly makes her heart races fast.
"...last night. His deputy found him unconscious. I'd like to discuss a few things with you since you're the only family member he has." Not sure of what to answer, she got lost in the thoughts, only hearing her heavy breathing.
"Mrs. Bates?"
"Yeah, I'm still here." She states agitatedly.
"He's fine, though. You have nothing to worry about. But there are just serious matter I'd like to discuss with you. Are you gonna come, Mrs. Bates?"
"Yes." She clears her throat.
TBC...