Norma's beautiful blue eyes lit up when he confessed that he too was falling for her. She rolled the covers down just a bit for her to prop herself up and she wrapped her arms around Alex bring him closer to her. Their bodies collided in a explosion of love and lust as their kisses deepened. Alex whispered into her ear "I want to take away your nightmares and give you nothing but sweet, sweet dreams" as he undressed her. "Let me be your escape . . ."

Sunlight broke through the shades in the bedroom and beamed down onto the couples faces. Groans were heard from both of them as they stretched in the bed and rolled over to face one another.

"Good morning, Alex" Norma grinned from ear to ear.

"Morning, Norma" Alex sleepily replied. He slowly propped himself up on the bed and glanced around the room before saying "Damn . . . we should did a number in here. The blankets are all over there, the pillows are over there and there, our clothes are God knows where, and this sheet is now completely destroyed".

Norma laughed as she rubbed her eyes and looked around the room. "Well, you have to admit that it was fun" she got on her knees on the bed and looked down at her body "Hmm . . . look at what you did to me!" she bellowed as she grabbed the nearest pillow and tossed it at Alex.

"What?!" He growled as he caught the pillow.

"I have bruises on me" she chuckled.

"We both know well enough I didn't do that on purpose, Norma."

"Oh, I know. Still . . . you can turn into quite a beast when you want" she winked at him as she picked up her nightgown. "It just shows how much fun we had."

"You can say that again. And Norma?" Alex asked as he stood up grabbing his uniform for work. "Did it help at all with your nightmares?"

"It did. I slept peacefully afterwards" She walked over to Alex and wrapped her arms around him "Thank you".

"Anytime and by that, I mean ANYTIME" Alex smiled as he kissed her. "Norma? If you ever have any more nightmares just wake me up. I want to be the one person who can soothe you and not haunt your dreams."

She nodded as she kissed him back and ran her hands through his hair.

"I love you, Norma Bates" Alex said as he finished buttoning up his shirt.

"I. . ." Norma stalled.

"There is no rush. Okay? Just say it when you are ready." Alex smirked as he grabbed his badge off the table and attached it to his pants. He walked out of the door and to his patrol car but before he got it unlocked Norma ran up behind him yelling his name.

"Alex? Alex, wait . . ." She reached him with tears in her eyes as she hugged him again. "I am so sorry. I know you have to get to work but . . . just give me a few minutes?"

Alex nodded "What is it?"

"I never felt like this before, Alex. It scares me. Every man I have ever been with has either screwed me over or beat me . . . and now that I am finally with a good man I am terrified."

"Of what?" Alex questioned her as he shut the door to his car and leaned against it. "I already said you can trust me and that I'd never hurt you. I am better than that."

"I know, I know. I get that and trust me, I believe it. Just memories from the past still haunt me here in the present. I even panic about the future because sometimes it looks bleak and it looked way bleaker before you came into my life. I know I act pretty messed up at times and Norman, where do I start? I don't want to lose you, Alex. And I feel the same way you feel about me. I love you, Alex."

Alex walked over to where Norma stood crying, he wiped her tears away and cupped her face "Don't cry, Norma. I know how you feel about me and you know how I feel about you. Our pasts our just that. . . in the past. We are the present and who knows? Maybe the future. Norma, I have known you for years now and I can handle you. As far as Norman? We can work on him together. We can be a family . . . a slightly dysfunctional family, but a family."

"I like the sound of that" Norma said as she rested her head on Alex's chest.

"Good, because I mean it."

"When you say 'trust me, trust me' right?"

"You are finally learning" Alex chuckled as Norma gasped at his remarked and softly slapped his chest.

"Go to work, Alex" Norma kissed his cheek "And have a good day. Dinner will be ready when you get home."

"Yes, boss" Alex winked as he opened the car door and got inside. "You have a good day too, and if you need me you know where to find me."