A/N: Parts of this chapter are a strong T (or even light M) rating. So please only read if it's appropriate for your age.

The usual disclaimer applies.

Norma watches the workers outside through her kitchen window as she does the dishes. It's been three days and the construction site is expanding. Alex talked to them on the first day and they explained that there had been been a burst main and that they had to find and fix the leak before it underwashed the street any more. Although the workers seem to do their best, they are not very successful. Obviously there is more than one leak. So they keep fixing and the water keeps flowing nonetheless. One lane is flooded already; passing cars have to slow down in order to not spin out of control due to aquaplaning.

The ironic symbolism is not lost on her. The constant risk that something might spin out of control. The inability to fix things. The situation is muddled outside of the house as well as inside. But the worst is that the pit is back. They suspected the leak to be there and started digging. By now the pit is almost as deep as it was when Bob Paris dug it to intimidate her

She hears Norman walk across his room upstairs. They had lunch together and watched a movie afterwards. Now, that it's late in the afternoon, he excused himself and went upstairs as he does every day. Because late afternoon means Alex will be home soon. Norman won't come back down so that they can have dinner together. Norma worries that he doesn't eat enough. Yesterday he told her he wasn't hungry and would go to sleep early when she brought him a plate with food upstairs. She heard him rummaging around in the kitchen later in the evening, long after she and Alex had gone to bed, most likely looking for something to eat. It broke her heart, and yet, she didn't go downstairs because what could she possibly have said? Why do you refuse to have dinner with us? We are one family. They tried family dinner and everything went straight to hell.

So for now Norma accepts that Norman avoids Alex's company, and for now, Alex doesn't insist on clearing things up because it would inevitably lead to another confrontation as they all know. She is living two lives with two men under the same roof and never the twain shall meet.

It's ridiculous, they can't live like that, and yet, they do. She gets up early to have breakfast with Alex and then she has another breakfast with Norman because he sleeps in, especially now that the full effect of his medication has started to set in. He had another appointment with his doctor the day after the dinner incident and she suspects that Dr. Edwards increased the dose, whatever Norman might or might not have told him. Despite their rather brief talks Norma trusts Dr. Edwards. Call it primal mother instinct. She knows that if anyone can help Norman, then it's him.

The only time during the day that doesn't feel out of place is lunch and the hours that Norman and she spend together afterwards. It's only the two of them in the house like it used to be. Normal you could say if that term hadn't lost its meaning long ago, leaving a bad taste in her mouth whenever she thinks of uttering that word, something she loved to do because that's all she ever wanted. A normal life, a normal son, to be normal. Not this crap. Funny how just when normal felt within reach after she had married Alex, Norman's return home pushed it as far away as never before.

She hears the front door. Alex comes in, checking the room. Maybe it's because he's a cop, maybe he wants to make sure that Norman is not waiting for him with an ax or another sharp object in his hand.

"Hey." He takes her in his arms and kisses her as he always does, but it's not his usual hello kiss. Alex wants more. He leans back, one of his hands playing with a strand of her hair as he watches her. His face might be unreadable for others; Norma can read every twitch and tilt by now. And what she sees is pure, unadulterated lust.

When Norman was at Pineview, they had sex every day, more than once on most days actually. As if they had to make up for the time they had wasted before. It's been five days since their last time at the motel. Almost a week. They sleep in the same bed, but sex isn't an option with Norman in the next room and the paper-thin walls in this house.

Alex kisses her again, walking her backwards towards the kitchen table in doing so, his hands wandering down her spine to grab her backside, something he loves to do. He is about to lift her and place her on the table. She is wearing a blouse and a skirt. That comes in useful to him. Still...

"Alex, we can't make love on the kitchen table." Norma puts her palms against his chest to gently stop him.

"We can. We already did. Remember?"

She loves when his voice sounds like that. Breathy, sexy. Norma blushes. "Yes, but… Norman is upstairs. He will hear us."

Norma sees the sudden swell of anger flit across Alex's face at the mention of Norman's name even if he tries to hide it. Alex wants to help Norman, but he wants to do so for her sake not for Norman's and that's a difference. Perhaps he can't forget that Norman was a suspect. Once a cop, always a cop and all that. Norma hopes that there will come a time when Alex and Norman will genuinely like each other. Right now it feels as if this time is a million years away.

"We'll be quiet," Alex murmurs, half-lifting her up, half-pushing her down on the table.

For a brief moment it feels like a power-game, as if convincing her to have sex while Norman is in the house would give him a leg-up in whatever game it is they play. Alex could use the weight of his body to pin her down, but he would never do that, at least not against her will.

Therefore it doesn't take more than another gentle push of her hands to stop him. "We're never quiet."

That earns her a smile. His hands cup her face as he looks at her with what can only be described as sheer adoration. "No, you never are."

Norma blushes even more. Alex is the best thing that has ever happened to her. Aside from Norman's birth, that is, but that would be comparing apples to oranges. She has never felt safe with a man before, neither in bed nor beyond. With him she feels safe everywhere, as long as he is at her side. It's a cliché if ever there was one although it doesn't make it any less true. And he is right. She is unable to remain quiet whenever they make love. Suddenly her body aches for him. It's been too long. Five days are an eternity.

Alex notices the change in her face, his eyes following her tongue when Norma can't help licking her lips in anticipation. In an instant, his hands tug at her skirt, pushing it up. He believes he has convinced her. Well, he has, there is only one thing.

"Let's go down to the motel," she suggests.

He pauses to look at her. "We can't make love in our own house?"

"Alex… It was nice there, wasn't it? More privacy."

In the end, lust wins. He's a man, he wants her, and who is he to argue when she offers him what he wants albeit on her terms? They both know there's more to it, but the situation is complicated enough as it is. Debating about it when all they want to do right now is be close to each other would be a vicious spiral and wouldn't do any good.

So they go down to the motel, room no. 1 just like the last time. As Norma closes the door behind them, she can tell that Alex likes it here, that the tinge of defeat is forgotten already that having to come here might have felt like in the beginning. Instead, making love in this room has a forbidden touch they both enjoy.

"I've missed you." Alex fumbles around with the buttons of her blouse. She loves how he can be tender one moment and rough the next, love the mixture. Whatever he does, it's always the right thing because he pays attention. He notices what she likes and what not. She never had to say anything; he just knows.

Her blouse falls on the ground. "Leave it," Norma whispers when Alex wants to take off her skirt next.

This time it's her who walks him backwards towards the bed, pushing him down on it. Norma doesn't bother with her skirt or high boots. Sometimes their lovemaking is slow, sometimes it's eager, hungry. This is one of those times. She can't wait to feel him, fumbling with his belt, pulling clothes out of the way as far as required before she straddles him.

They won't last long; she knows as much the moment he is inside her. It feels too good. Alex Romero, big and tallish, as she loves to tease him, is built to satisfy her needs. However, it's the look in his eyes and the way he says her name when his movements start to get erratic and he is about to lose control that always drive her over the edge. Like now. One of his hands drops to her backside, the other grabs her neck as he kisses her, waits for her, until she can't help but break their kiss and gasp. Only then his movements become even more erratic and he allows himself to let go, too. She smiles. He isn't what she would call quiet either.

Norman is staring out of the window. The motel is dimly lit. There are no guests at this time of the year. Only one room is illuminated even if the curtains are drawn so that you can't look inside. Room No. 1. You would need a peephole to be able to watch what is going on. Norman swallows as he remembers how he pricked the wall, stepped closer and watched his mother and her lover have sex in that room some days ago. It was the final straw that made him snap when they had the fatal dinner the day after. Funny how he is almost calm today in comparison despite the awareness that the exact same things are going on in that motel room right now. It is a chemically induced calm. The medication not only suppresses his hallucinations, it also guarantees a certain state of numbness. He doesn't like it. Then again, he is too numb to care.

What happened, Norman?

He recalls Dr. Edwards' concerned look when he had his appointment with him the day after that dinner. What was he supposed to say? Oh, you know, I watched my mother and this man, her husband, have sex to be certain that she didn't lie to me when she told me that she liked him and wasn't only sleeping with him to meet an obligation. And what I saw confirmed that and made me… made me feel… Norman realizes that he clenches his fists as he remembers what he saw in every vivid detail. And then I attacked him with an ax because they don't understand that this is just a delusion, a mistake, that she's not meant to be happy with him. Can't. That everything they do only delays the inevitable. And it will be me picking up the pieces, kissing away her tears and holding her as she cries because of another man who disappointed her.

Of course, he didn't say any of it, told Dr. Edwards only a sugarcoated version that was the truth and anything but at the same time, the risk being too high that his therapist would see him as a danger to himself or others and revoke his discharge. Dr. Edwards sensed that something was going on, though, and they eventually agreed to increase the dose of his medication. What else was there to do? His mother wouldn't listen to him. The sheriff wouldn't leave, let alone divorce her. He had to find a way to deal with the situation until he found a solution. Without medication his rage would overwhelm him faster than Alex Romero could say put that ax down. Norman is not stupid. If his stay at Pineview taught him one thing, then it's that he has to stay in control of what happens – to himself and to the people around him. He has a long-range-objective and that is getting things back to normal, back to solely him and his mother living together, being together. Just normal.

Right now, there is not much left that feels good or normal. Norman has no idea how much time has passed since his mother and her husband, he stumbles on his words merely thinking that term, went down to the motel. One hour? Two? Maybe more. Either way, it's them together down there and him up here all alone and it breaks him. He has to ramp up his efforts to convince her what is the right thing to do. The time they spend together every day is limited and always over too soon, something he is not used to at all. Life as he knew it is slipping from his grasp and he needs to stop that. When he touches his face, his hand gets wet. He didn't even notice he has been crying the entire time.

Norma has dozed off, Alex's body heat keeping her warm, his hand drawing lazy circles on her back as her head rests on his chest.

"What if we sleep in Dylan's room?"

"Huh?" She is half-asleep, not really able to process his question.

"Dylan's room. The room he used when he was living here. He doesn't need it anymore and it's at least a little further away from Norman's room. More privacy."

Dozing time over. Norma writhes before she looks at Alex. "The bed in there is too small."

"We could buy a bigger one."

"With a bigger bed in there, nothing else is going to fit in anymore."

"A bed is all we need. We can leave our clothes in the other room. Norma…," he interrupts her in advance when he sees that she is about to come up with another argument why this won't work. "I'm trying, okay?"

She sighs. "I know. I know. It's just… It won't make much a difference for Norman. And we can come down here whenever we want. He will come around and accept our marriage. He just needs more time."

Alex traces Norma's jawline with his fingers. If he had his way, he would never stop touching her. "I don't want anyone prescribing when and where I'm allowed to make love to my wife."

The mother in Norma feels undermined, the woman feels flattered. "Alex… Don't you think I want that, too?" She takes his hand and kisses his palm. Alex has a thing for hands. Well, hers, but still. "This is not forever." She holds his gaze, aware that he is not convinced. He's trying; she has to give him something. "If things don't get better soon, we'll give the other room a try."

"We will?"

"Yes."

"Promise?" Alex pulls Norma closer so that he can kiss her.

"Yes." Her response is muffled by their kiss.

Just as Alex rolls them over, about to start round number two, there's a knock at the door. They both give a jump, thinking the same thing. Norman.

"I'll get it." Norma wants to stand up, but Alex holds her back.

"Let me handle it."

"No, no." She is getting agitated. "I'll get the door."

"Norma," Alex's voice is firm although he doesn't yell at her like her other husbands used to do. Husbands. God there really is a plural since this is her third marriage. She knows that all Alex wants, all he has ever wanted, is to protect her.

"OK." She lies back again, watching him put his pants and a shirt on, blocking the view of the bed with his body when he opens the door and steps outside.

Norma tries to relax, but curiosity wins. She sneaks to the door and puts her ear against it to overhear the conversation outside. It's too risky to look out of the window. Alex and whoever he is with would be able to see her, if only her outline through the curtains. Norma frowns. There are two voices. She can't make out what they are talking about though. Who would have thought that these motel room doors are soundproof? It's the reason she hears Alex's steps approach the door only last minute and almost has no time left to jump back into bed and pretend she never left when he comes back in. Judging by his face, he seems to know or at least assume what she did, anyway.

"Who was it?" Patience is no option. Norma has to know.

"One of the workers."

Not Norman. She is relieved. Yet, anything out of the ordinary usually means bad news in her experience. "What did he want?"

Alex looks thoughtful. He doesn't want to tell her, for whatever reason. "They found a suitcase. It's dirty and damaged, but there are women's clothing in it and an ID. Audrey Ellis. Any idea who that is and why her suitcase would be in the pit?"

To be continued