Alex was at the station helping file some more paperwork. This was all his job consisted of mostly since he wasn't an actual deputy yet. He couldn't wait to graduate college and go to the academy. However, he was worried about how it would work. He would have to attend an academy on the outskirts of White Pine Bay. It wasn't too far, and he would be able to come home in the evening after being in classes and training all day from 8am to 5pm. Still, it would consume most of his time.

Speaking of his beautiful Norma, he started thinking about her. She had her first doctor's appointment later today at 3 pm. He would have to leave work early again in order to take her, which he didn't mind at all. Their anniversary was coming up too. Going on three years, and Alex still couldn't believe it.

"Son, I just want to let you know that your tia says your mother is doing better." Mr. Romero came up to Alex's desk suddenly. Alex nodded his head, already knowing that since he kept tabs on his mother more now.

"Glad to hear that. Can I talk to you for a sec?"

His dad nodded and they walked to the hallway for a little privacy.

"So I'll be moving out the house in a week."

"Where are you going?" His father was surprised.

"I got an apartment close by here. I already paid for it. I just thought I'd let you know."

"I didn't know you were planning on moving out..."

"Yeah. It's time."

"You're still young and you haven't finished college just yet. You can wait."

"No I can't wait."

"I don't underst-"

"Norma's pregnant," Alex interrupted.

His dad stood there with a look of horror. His mouth was agape and his eyes were wide like he was a deer in headlights.

"I thought I told you to use protection at ALL times. She hasn't been on birth control this whole time?"

"Yeah. Well shit happens dad."

"This shit doesn't just happen. You could have avoided this. You two don't need a baby right now. Have you lost your mind?"

"At least I told you. If you don't like it, then that's you." Alex began to walk away. He was a legal adult, and while he knew he was still young, he couldn't let that stop him from being a responsible man. It wasn't like he was going to ask his father for help anyway. He tried avoiding his dad for the rest of the day. The day seemed to be moving abnormally slow. There was no calls and the deputies were mainly just sitting around drinking coffee in the middle of the afternoon. As 3 pm neared, Alex felt himself getting nervous. Norma had sent him a text to remind him of her appointment an hour ago. He grabbed his truck keys and headed out of the station.

"Norma, we're ready for you now."

Norma got up from her seat with Alex and they walked behind the secluded area in the doctor's office. Their hearts were beating furiously, but both kept a calm demeanor.

"You can take a seat in here while you wait for Doctor Simmons to come."

"Thank you," Norma replied politely. Alex took a seat in the chair that was in the corner while Norma decided to sit on the exam bed. She looked at him as he rubbed his palms against his jeans. She thought it was cute that he seemed to be nervous too.

"You okay over there?"

He was looking at the posters in the room before her voice caught his attention. "Yeah. You?"

"I'm okay. Just nervous."

"Yeah me too," he let out a deep sigh, relieved that he wasn't the only one feeling that way.

Dr. Simmons walked into their room with the friendliest smile on her face.

"Hi. I'm Angela Simmons. You can call me Angela or Simmons or just doctor. Whichever one you prefer. I'm glad you chose me to help you out with your pregnancy." She shook Norma's hand lightly and turned to face Alex. "Are you dad?"

"Yes. I'm Alex," he took her hand in his and shook it.

"Great! I love to see dads in here with the moms too."

Norma studied the doctor. She was fairly young, early 30s. She had dark curly hair and wore a pair of hipster like glasses.

"So let's get started." The doctor flipped through Norma's chart for a minute before speaking again.

"You were at a clinic when you found out you were pregnant? A test was taken there right?"

"Yes that's right."

The doctor scribbled a few things on the chart. "I'm going to have you take another just for our personal records." She escorted Norma to the bathroom in the doctor's office building and confirmed her pregnancy. Afterwards, they went back into the room.

"When do you think your last period was? Can you give me a date?"

"It was 2 months ago. I started the first week of the month and it usually lasts 5 days."

"Okay. Good. So your menstrual cycles are regular correct?"

"Yes."

"First baby?"

"Yes," Norma blushed and glanced at Alex.

"Congratulations. It's an exciting thing to experience. So do you have any history of STDs?"

"No."

"What about you dad?" Simmons looked at Alex.

"No," Alex answered.

The doctor asked them more questions about their medical history and birth control methods. She took Norma's weight and height and told her she would have to get a pap smear and cervical exam. After that, she would be able to do an ultrasound to help determine how far along she was. Then, the doctor told her she would have to take some blood tests so they could make sure everything would be okay during Norma's pregnancy.

"Are you staying in the room while she's getting checked?" The doctor directed towards Alex. He looked at Norma, asking her what she wanted him to do with his eyes.

"He's fine."

"Okay. Well I need you to remove your shorts and underwear and you can sit on the exam bed. Cover yourself with this sheet. I'll be back in about 5 minutes!" She handed Norma a large sheet and walked out of the room.

Norma got up from the exam bed and unbuttoned her shorts while Alex watched her. He looked away for a second before landing his eyes on her again. She was looking at him with a playful smirk on her face, finding so much entertainment in watching him try to avoid gazing at her. She slowly wiggled her hips out of her shorts and Alex shook his head at her.

"Stop Norma."

"What? I'm just doing what the doctor said," she said as innocently as she could. She loved to tease him.

"It doesn't take all of that to remove your shorts."

"You would know huh," she giggled. Alex turned red in the face while biting his lip to hide his smile. She sat back on the exam bed and covered herself before taking off her panties. "I'll be nice and not strip completely in front of you since you can't handle it," she smiled.

"Thank you for your consideration," he chuckled at her and shook his head again. The doctor walked back in and went to put on a pair of gloves that where in a box inside the room. She instructed Norma to lie on her back while she examined her. Norma winced in discomfort. Once the doctor was done, she told Norma she could sit back up.

"So the pap smear will take a few days to come back. But overall, everything looks good. I'm going to go get the ultrasound tech and we can see how far along you are. Or at least have an estimate. You can go ahead and put your shorts back on."

"Okay thank you."

Norma couldn't hide the joyful feeling she had. A smile plastered itself on her face the whole time. Alex watched her with content. He loved seeing her happy and he was glad that she was the one he was building his life with. The ultrasound technician and doctor walked back into the room. She asked Norma to lie back again and told Alex he could come closer so he could see the screen.

"This'll be a little cold." The ultrasound tech squeezed the gel on Norma's stomach before she placed the machine on her. After a few moments, they found the baby.

"Ohhhh. Look at them Alex!" Norma placed her hands over her chest in awe. Alex saw the little peanut like thing on the screen and smiled. He reached for Norma's hand and held it in his.

"So there's your baby. Looks like they're moving just a bit. You see? They're waving at you," the tech joked. She clicked a button on the machine and they heard the heartbeat. Norma gasped as her eyes started to fill with tears of joy.

"Heartbeat is at 176 bpm, so that's good!"

"Now I'm just going to size their head and body." She moved the machine around for a minute as she documented everything she needed.

"So it looks like you're about 8 weeks pregnant, based on the information you told me and the look of your baby." Dr. Simmons said as she looked at the screen. The tech nodded in agreement. She told Norma she was taking pictures and then cleaned the gel off of her stomach. The tech went to the counter to cut some pictures she had taken of the embryo and handed them to Norma.

"Ohhh look how tiny they are. I can't believe it," she beamed at Alex. He kissed her head and took the pictures from her hand as she handed them to him.

The doctor talked to Norma about how the next visits would go and gave her a list of things she should and shouldn't do during her pregnancy. She shook hands with Norma and Alex before leaving. The two walked out of the clinic and were inside Alex's truck. Norma kept looking at the pictures with the tiniest smile on her face while Alex drove.

"8 weeks huh," he said out of the blue. She turned to look at his profile.

"I guess we should've been more careful," she commented and started to reflect on when this pregnancy most likely happened. She must have forgot how fertile she would be a week or two after her period ended.

"I told my dad."

"What'd he say?" she let out nervously.

"He wasn't too fond of the news, but that wasn't unexpected. Have you told anyone?"

"No. I don't want to tell June yet, even though I'm sure she would be nice about it. I just keep feeling scared she'll try to replace me. I haven't said anything to Rebecca because she's still mad apparently. Paul and Susan, it's just awkward to bring up to them you know?"

"Yeah," he touched her knee with one of his hands and rubbed his thumb along her skin tenderly. They drove to Norma's place. Alex had been inside only once, despite having to drop Norma off there multiple times during the last week. Norma had told him that Rebecca would probably be home and it wasn't a good idea for him to come in. He argued with her about it first, but eventually gave in to her wishes.

They pull up outside the complex and Norma leaned to him and gave him a chaste kiss. He watched her get out his truck and head inside.

The next week...

Alex opened the door to his new apartment. He could tell the place had been cleaned some more which he was thankful for. His dad walked in after him along with Bob. Alex's dad finally came to the realization that Alex was a man now, and he would have to leave the nest sooner or later. He told Alex that he would help him get settled into his new place, if he wanted his help of course.

Alex let Bob and his dad help him move his things in. He didn't realize how hard it was moving your own things into a new place with only 2 other people. A small part of him wished his friend Kieth was here to help, but Kieth had moved halfway across the country with his parents and sister. They still talked on the phone occasionally. The trio moved all of Alex's boxes inside the place, grateful he didn't have that many things.

He had a lot to do with the place. He still didn't have a bed or any furniture for that matter. Bob had to leave, so Alex and his dad headed to the furniture store to see what they could find.

"Have you told your madre she's going to be an abuela?" his father asked suddenly while they were browsing the furniture.

Alex shrugged his shoulders. "No. I'll tell her the next time I talk to her."

His father nodded, not saying much after that. Alex picked out a couch and a new bed set, something he was actually happy about. It was a king size bed, just enough room for him and Norma to share. The cashier rung up his purchase and promised him that it would be delivered in 5 days. He got his receipt and left with his dad.

They decided to get something to eat to energize themselves. Once they find a table in the diner, the waitress comes up to them to take their order. Alex orders a toasted sandwich while his dad settles for a cheeseburger. Alex kept noticing his dad staring at him, which he found a little irritating.

"What is it?"

"Nothing son. I'm still trying to wrap my head around you being a dad soon," his dad admitted.

"Yeah..."

"You know. Babies are a big responsibility. In 9 months, won't you already be off to the police academy? How will you help Norma? She can't handle it all by herself."

Alex's irritation grew as his father kept speaking. He didn't need anyone telling him how hard this would be. He knew it already.

"The academy I'm going to will let me take the classes and training in the day and I'll get to go home in the evening. So I'll still be there for her. And it's not like I'll be asking you for help," Alex said with grim. His father's face fell a little before composing himself again.

"Well... your mother wouldn't like if I just abandon you during this."

"Now you take her feelings into consideration." he mumbled, but still certain that his words was heard.

"Alex. I thought we were pass this."

Alex sighed deeply and stirred his straw around in his drink. He thought they were moving forward, but that didn't seem to be the case. Alex still felt a lot of resentment towards his father for what's been happening to his mother.

The food arrived, and they ate in complete, awkward silence. Once they were finished, they got back into the Sheriff's SUV that they came in and Alex was dropped off at his apartment. He said a quick goodbye to his dad before closing the passenger door shut.

Norma was laying in her bed looking at her sonogram pictures again. It was 10 pm and she had a long day. She felt herself feeling more fatigued and less energized now, assuming it was because of the baby. She heard a knock on her door and placed the pictures face down on her mattress.

"Come in," she called out. Rebecca walked in with her pajamas on. Norma looked at her, somewhat uncomfortable with her presence now.

"You're still here?"

Rebecca scoffed in offense. "I live here," she said with attitude. Norma shook her head.

"I didn't mean it like that. I'm just surprised you're not out right now."

"Hmm. Well I had some homework to do so I just stayed in."

"Oh."

They stare at one another in silence for what seemed like forever. Neither one knew the right thing to say. Norma wasn't even sure why Rebecca was in her room. Did she come to stare at her?

"You need something?" Norma decided to ask, hoping it didn't come off rude, but she knew Rebecca was easy to take offense on things.

And she did just that.

"Why are you being so damn weird now? Look, I'm not going to apologize for the same thing every fucking time I see you. You need to accept my apology and move on. We can't avoid one another here."

"I've already accepted your apology," Norma said with an intese glare in her eyes.

"Doesn't seem like it."

"Well..." Norma said, not really wanting to fight with her again. "I do. So I don't know what else to tell you Becca. I think there's something more going on with you than just you and I. Are you... okay? Is there something you need to vent about?" Being the concerning and loving friend she is, Norma wanted to see if Rebecca would accept her help.

"What do you mean..."

"It just seems like you're going through something. On a more personal level."

"No," Rebecca refused to acknowledge that.

"You sure? Look, I know about Bob... and other things."

"Bob?" she jerked her head back. "And what other things? Who's telling you this? Alex again? For fuck's sake!"

"You're irrational now. And I know you've been hanging with those girls a lot. Ya'll are trying new things... drugs... and the thing with you and Bob? He cut off contact with you. I want to help you and I'll be here for you. But I can't help if you don't let me in."

"I don't need any help. I've never in my life done any type of drug. So Alex can stop fucking gossiping about me and mind his own damn business. Norma I'm tired of him getting in the way of our friendship. How come you don't realize that!?"

"Alex said Bob told him you cheated on him and that you were doing drugs..." Norma said with confusion.

"Yeah? Well Bob's lying. He's just mad because I said I didn't want anything serious with him. I can't cheat on him because we weren't together. And I'm guessing he was just mad and told Alex that I'm doing drugs because he knew that Alex will tell you and that you would believe Alex and potentially stop being friends with me. You two fell right into the trap of that manipulative asshole."

Norma could see Rebecca's eyes welling up with tears and she felt the guilt immediately.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know he would lie about something as serious as that."

"Well... he did. I'm going to my friend's apartment tonight." She turned to walk out of Norma's room and soon enough, she was out of the apartment. Norma let out a deep sigh and called Alex.

"Hey beautiful."

"Hi," she said lowly.

"What's wrong?" He asked, always able to read her emotions.

"Rebecca and I."

"I'm sorry. You want me to bring you something to make you feel better? Ice cream?"

"It's late and we have class in the morning. It's Monday tomorrow. Remember? Which reminds me, will you be able to pick me up in the morning? I'll put gas in your truck."

"Gas?" Alex let out a laugh. He would never take any gas money from Norma and he didn't really let her buy him anything neither. He always felt like he was supposed to take care of her, though he knows how strong and independent she really was. He just liked being able to do things for her. It was one of his favorite parts about their relationship.

Norma rolled her eyes and chuckled through the phone. "So is that a yes or no?"

"Of course I will come."

"Okay." The hormones were getting to her again. She didn't know why, but she started to feel aroused by Alex's deep voice in her ear on the phone. "I miss you a lot."

"I miss you too."

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to get herself together. "Are you laying down right now?"

"Mhm," he hummed.

"Yeah, me too," her fingers grazed along her stomach. "You thinking of me? I'm thinking of you."

"Always thinking of you babe."

"Come over."

"I thought it was getting late," he playfully mimicked her.

"Alex, these hormones are driving me crazy."

"So I'm a booty call?"

She laughed loudly into the phone at him. She loved their antics. "Stop."

"Is Rebecca still there?"

"No, she just left actually."

"Good, I'll be there as soon as I can. Don't fall asleep and leave me stranded outside the door."

"Just hurry up. Oh and since you offered earlier, bring me a hot fudge sunday please!"

Alex shook his head and grinned before hanging up with her. He couldn't wait for their lives to thrive together.