A/N: Thanks for all your lovely reviews! I loved writing the previous chapter. Loved that you loved all the cuteness! Hope you like this one. There's more fluff in it ;) Thanks again!

I wake up and as I slowly open my eyes see I'm alone in bed. Looking at my watch on the table realize I've slept later than usual. That might explain why she's not in bed with me. I mourn the gone possibility of slow and sensual morning sex, and get out of bed with a sigh, leaving the bedroom after putting on sweat pants and a t-shirt.

I can hear sounds coming from the kitchen and, after a stop at the bathroom, I follow the sounds. I'm walking barefoot so she doesn't hear me when I arrive. I take the opportunity to study her for a few seconds; she's wearing her blue robe and is humming some song I don't recognize. She's also cooking, a fair amount of food by the looks and the smells of it, and her movements are as always, precise and elegant.

"Good morning." I say from the doorframe and she turns around to look at me, a smile on her lips.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty." She teases me and I make my way towards her. I wrap my arms around her and kiss her softly.

She turns around towards the stove again, but I don't want to let her go, so I just keep hugging her from behind.

"Alex, I'm making breakfast." She murmurs as I start to plant little kisses on her neck.

"I can tell." I say as I look over her shoulder down to the pan.

"Then let me finish. Don't distract me."

I chuckle and press one last kiss on her neck and move to get a cup of coffee.

"So, were you planning on eating all this by yourself?" I ask amused by the quantity of food.

"Of course not. I was going to wake you up as soon as it was ready. I just let you sleep a little more. I know you've been tired lately and since it's Saturday, I thought you might allow yourself the little indulgence." She raises her eyebrow and I chuckle.

She puts a plate in front of me. It is filled with scrambled eggs, French toasts and ham. There's a bowl in the middle of the table that has fruit cut in small pieces. Another smaller plate has pieces of cheese. There's also juice and coffee. I think Norma thinks I never ate before I met her. She has a tendency to overfeed me, but I can't complain. I love everything she makes.

"This smells good." I say in complete awe.

"I know." She agrees, a little smug smile on her face, and sits down in front of her plate. Hers is the same as mine, only in smaller proportions. We eat in silence for a while, both enjoying the delicious breakfast.

Norma finishes her food before me, and suddenly stands up, goes to the countertop and comes back with another plate.

"There's one left. We can share it." She's already cutting the last French toast in half.

"I'm fine. You eat it." I offer.

She puts some more syrup on it and cuts a piece and puts it in her mouth. She chews and swallows it with enjoyment. Her tongue then comes out to lick the syrup off her lips.

"Mmm." She half moans after she's done. I'm transfixed by her actions. I never knew eating French toast could be so sexy. She then takes another piece on her fork and silently offers it to me.

I open my mouth and take it. She then smiles, knowingly, and finishes the last French toast. I do the same, swallowing with a little difficulty now. When she sees my plate is empty, she stands up, hovers over me and kisses me without any preamble.

I taste the sweet of the syrup on her lips and on her tongue. She licks my bottom lip and I take hers in between my teeth. Then just as suddenly, she stops the kiss, and I'm left panting like I've just run a marathon.

"Satisfied?" She gifts me with a wicked little smile.

"Not even close." She rolls her eyes at my response.

"Come on, help me clear all this."

While she does the dishes and I stand next to her drying them, it dawns on me we might look like an old married couple. We're sharing a silence that is not awkward but instead is full of meaningful looks, grins and touches. We understand each other without talking, I can sense her moods, and she knows what I want. It's kind of weird to think we've only been together for a few months. I want to grow old with her.

"Norma?"

She doesn't answer and the reason is because she's asleep on the sofa. The TV is on, volume very low, and some movie is playing. I find it odd that she's here, since she prefers to nap on the bed, but she looks comfortable and deep in sleep. I decide not to wake her.

I move her legs very gently and sit down, placing her legs on my lap. I glance at her; she's still resting her head on the sofa cushion, her hands resting below her chest. There's also a little frown between her eyes. I wonder what she's dreaming about and hope is not a nightmare.

About 20 minutes pass before she stirs lightly. I've been watching a game, in mute, and enjoying listening to her deep breathing which somehow has made me relaxed too. She seemed to have a bad dream for a moment, but then settled into a peaceful slumber again.

"Hey." She says opening her eyes.

"Hey yourself." I rub her legs softly up and down and she seems to appreciate the caress, flexing her feet and stretching her legs even more, then settling them back on my lap.

She turns her head to look at the TV. "You're watching a game without sound?"

"I didn't want to wake you." She gives me a soft smile in return.

"You had a good nap?"

"I had a sad dream." She mentions and she turns her head towards the TV again.

"Want to tell me about it?"

"It was about Norman." She quickly catches a tear that threatens to fall down the side of her face.

I keep massaging her legs, making her feel comfortable in sharing whatever she needs to share.

"I saw him as a little boy. He was running to me, screaming 'mommy!', and I picked him up and twirled around with him in my arms. I pressed him to my chest and smelled his head full of hair." She pauses a minute.

"You know… When he was born… That was the happiest moment of my life." She then looks at me.

"I mean… as a mother. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say I'm not happy with you. It's just, I miss him so much."

"Norma, I understand." I quickly reassure her. "You're a mother. He's your son. I wouldn't ever think our relationship would take precedent over yours with your son. Your sons."

"Why are you so good to me?" She asks.

"Because you deserve it. And because I love you." She sits up and curls up next to me.

"I love you too." She sighs into my neck.

I kiss the top of her head.

We stay like this for long minutes. I'm content with hugging her to me, as she's resting her head on my shoulder, playing with the buttons on my shirt.

"Alex?"

"Hmm?"

"Either turn the volume up or turn it off."

"It's driving you crazy, isn't it?" I chuckle.

She sits up and moves to put on her shoes. "Do whatever you want." She smirks at me. "But I'm going to the kitchen."

I grab her hand before she starts walking and she looks back.

"Let's go out." I invite.

"Again? We went out last weekend. To the fair."

"Oh, Mrs. Romero, I didn't know you were that boring."

She opens her mouth in mock shock. "I told you… I'm keeping my name." And then we both laugh.

"No, really. Let's go out to dinner." I insist.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay." And she starts walking upstairs.

I watch the game for 15 minutes more, now with the volume up, before going upstairs to get ready myself.

When I go back into the bedroom she's almost ready. I'm drying my hair with a towel and quickly start getting dressed.

"Alex? Can you zip me up?" She's standing in front of her mirror, holding the two pieces of black fabric of her dress together with her hands at her back. I pull the zipper up and use the opportunity to encircle her in my arms, pull her to me, and press a kiss on her neck. Her head falls back a little but she moves away fast.

"Come on, finish getting dressed. You promised to take me to dinner and I'm starving! So no more fooling around."

"Yes, ma'am."

Dinner was tasty. Drinks were too. And we had a good amount of those. By the time we arrive at the house we're in no better condition than the day we got married and got tipsy on my buddy's dime. This time, we're both definitely drunk.

We are tripping on the carpet, on the stairs, on the floor. There's no safe surface for us. Norma is in a fit of giggles. I'm just trying to make sure she makes it upstairs without injury. We finally do, and much like last time we tumble clumsily, this time both of us, into bed.

She keeps laughing and I do the same. We are laying side by side, my hand on her waist, her hand playing with my tie.

"Are you going to be a gentleman like last time and refuse my invitation?" She purrs sexily arching her eyebrow.

"It depends what you're inviting me for." I tease.

She responds by kissing me, putting her hands around my neck, and pressing her body to mine, hiking one leg over my hip.

This time I don't refuse her offering.

I have two very important things to do this week during work. Seeing Norma sad because of Norman put one of those ideas into action. I haven't thought of it before but hope I can find it soon enough. The other, well the other is something I know she'll like, and only need to get all the information and then make sure she doesn't find out about it until next Saturday. I want it to be a surprise and since the goal of both things is to make her happy, both are indispensable to achieve.

Being the sheriff has its advantages and in two days I've acquired the information I need. I even corroborate by calling first but I don't leave any clues behind. I just wanted to make sure. Don't want to get her hopes up if there is a slight chance of it not being correct. But now I'm certain and I can't wait to give her the news.

She's in what was Dylan's, and for a couple days, my room.

"Hey. What are you doing?" I approach her and kiss her hello.

"Oh, hi. Nothing important. Just emptying this closet, thinking what other use I can give it now that Dylan's not here."

"Uh, speaking of Dylan, I got you something." I produce the piece of paper and give it to her.

"What is this?" She asks even as she's looking at what's written on it.

"It's Dylan's new phone number." I see her surprised face. "After you left, I tried calling him, but he had disconnected his phone. You told me you two had a fight. I think you should call him. Let him know everything that's happened, with Norman, with you. I think you need your son and he needs you."

"What if he doesn't want to talk to me?"

"There's only one way to find out."

She went to our bedroom to make the call. I left her alone and hoped for the best. I'm busying myself with setting the table. She's been up there for half an hour and I'm starting to wonder if I should go check on her.

I decide to do just that when she appears in the kitchen, eyes red and face streaked with tears. She throws herself at me in a fierce hug. I can feel she's crying but not in a desperate or hurting way. I try to calm her down, rub my hands down her back.

"Norma? What happened?"

She looks back at me and that's when I see her smiling, smiling through tears, but smiling nonetheless.

"Thank you!" She exclaims and starts pressing tiny kisses on my face.

"Did you talk to him?"

"Yes." She can't say anything more but she looks happy.

"Here, sit down." I guide her to one of the chairs. Bring her a glass of water, she takes a sip. "So, are you two okay now?"

She laughs incredulously. "I think so. I mean, he was very surprised. I explained you found his number. I told him I was sorry. That I understood he was mad at me but that I wanted to see him. I told him about Norman… that he's back in Pineview. I didn't tell him everything about… what happened. It's too much for one call." She looks at me nervously but I nod in agreement. She relaxes a little and drinks a little bit more water.

"He agreed to come over for Christmas." She finishes with a big exhale and a laugh and starts crying again all at once.

"Shh, don't cry." I pull her up in another embrace. "He's coming over. You'll see him. You'll talk more and I'm sure he'll understand. And he'll be glad you've reached out to him."

"Thank you… thank you… thank you!" She keeps peppering my face with kisses between each word.

"Are you happy?"

"Yes!"

Mission accomplished.

"Alex, why don't you tell me where we're going? It'll be easier for me to choose what to wear." She whines as she places two not so very different dresses in front of her, and looks at herself in the mirror with an undecided expression.

"I told you is a surprise." I look at my watch. "And you better hurry up or we're going to miss it."

"This is all your fault." She wrinkles her nose into an adorable displeased frown.

"How is anything my fault? I told you this morning we were going out." I get up from the chair and stand behind her. Put my hands on her waist and start kissing her shoulder. "I think…" Kiss. "You should wear…" Kiss. "this." I grab her left hand that's currently holding a navy blue dress. The black dress already forgotten on her other hand.

She doesn't look too convinced.

"Or you can always go like this. You look very good in those boots and underwear." I point my chin towards the scraps of black lace she's wearing and our eyes meet in the mirror. I start to touch the edge of her bra with one hand, while pressing my other on her lower belly. She sways in my arms.

"Stop. You just said we were gonna be late. And whatever is it, I want to get there. I'll wear this one." She finally decides on the navy blue, puts it on and we leave.

As soon as we arrive I can tell Norma likes what she sees. The crowd is mostly our age or older, although there are some younger people too. The big tent is in the middle of the park, so we have to walk a little to reach it. I give the nice girl who's working at the entrance our tickets.

"Enjoy the movie!" She joyfully exclaims and Norma looks at me questioningly.

"Movie?" Norma asks just as we enter the tent and she sees the gigantic movie screen inside. There are rows of white lounge chairs with some kind of throw on them in a very colorful print. I guide her to a pair of chairs, in which I think is the best possible view, and offer to take her coat.

Even though is winter, the tent has heaters inside, so the temperature inside is not cold. The tent is decorated with big lamps placed strategically in the corners on top of some tables, and vases and fabrics in vibrant and dramatic colors. It feels like we're in another place, which I guess is the intent. We sit back on the chairs, which allow us to recline on them a little, our feet propped up. Norma looks at me apprehensively. Then she looks around and when she sees that everybody is sitting in the exact same position we are, she relaxes back into the chair.

The lights inside are turned off. We look up. The tent has a clear ceiling made of plastic, and you can see through it, all the way up to the stars on the clear sky tonight. Norma is looking up with the awe of a small child, and I take her hand and bring it to my lips.

The very first credits of the movie begin, in black and white, and I've only read Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman when I hear Norma gasp.

"Casablanca!" She exclaims in a very polite tone and turns to face me. "It's one of my favorites." I smile at her enthusiasm at seeing a movie she has clearly, as I imagined, seen before.

Almost two hours later and Norma is softly sniffing next to me. Bogey just said goodbye to Ilsa as she went away with her husband. I think I saw this movie when I was much younger, and thought it was a completely boring one, now I see I was mistaken. I can understand now why is called one of the greatest movies ever made and can appreciate Norma's love for it.

"Did you like it? I mean, I know you've seen it…"

"It was perfect! The tent, the Moroccan decorations, the movie. Everything was perfect." She gushes.

The twinkly lights inside the tent are on again. I help Norma to her feet and we say hello to a few people who greet us as they pass by. Back outside, the temperature is considerably lower, and I buy us a hot toddy from the stand to warm ourselves.

"Here's looking at you, kid." I quote the movie and raise my glass at her. The look on her eyes and her bright smile tells me I did something good. I also want to tell her that this is not only a movie date, but I don't want to sound too sentimental. I wanted to do something special for her today but I'm happy as long as she is. Maybe she doesn't even remember.

"Do you want anything else?" I ask her as we walk back to the car.

"Yes." She stops walking, faces me, and kisses me. I'm a little shocked at her brazen behavior, since she usually is very reserved when we're out and is not very fond of public displays of affection. But now her lips are moving against mine softly, invitingly; and her arms are thrown around my neck. I try to keep this appropriate for the general public as I'm vaguely aware there are people still walking around us, and keep my hands on her waist, not an inch lower. Then I feel her lips following a path from my jaw to my ear and hear her whisper.

"Take me home."

By the time we're opening the door to the house the anticipation is overwhelming. I see her walking a few steps in front of me up the stairs and I grab her by her hips and press her body flush to mine; her back against my front. She leans back, her hand going around my neck to pull me down for a kiss. My hand goes up her thigh, pulling her dress up in the process, until I bury my hand between her legs, cupping her heat through her panties.

"Ahhh." She hisses into the kiss. Then she puts her own hand over mine, pressing my hand further, harder, into her.

"Jesus!" I growl and remove my hand from her heavenly heat just so we could move this into the bedroom. Once there, I quickly unzip her dress and it falls like water at her feet. She steps outs of it and bends to take off her boots, kissing my chest as I hurriedly open the buttons of my shirt and shed it off.

I start to walk her back to the bed when I hear her say something. It takes a few seconds for her words to register on my brain.

"Wait, Alex, wait." She's pushing me away with her hands against my chest. I stop my advance on her immediately.

"What? What happened?" I manage to find the words in my sex occupied brain. I look at her, instantly worried at her reaction.

"I just… want to give you something first." She explains and opens the first drawer in the drawer and takes out a small black velvety bag. "I got it a few days ago, and thought about giving it to you for Christmas, but then I thought it was not a Christmas gift. So anyway, I think today is perfect. It's not much, but I want you to know I bought it with my own money, the money I earned while working in Florida, so you know, I paid for it."

She then takes a gold band out of the tiny bag, takes my left hand in hers, and puts the ring on my finger.

"Happy two months wedding anniversary." She says earnestly and I just look at her in complete awe. She did remember. Of course she would.

I can't speak so I just kiss her, my hands cradling her face. I kiss her for long minutes and then look back into her blue eyes.

"Thank you." I murmur as I caress her cheek and she turns her head to kiss the palm of my hand.

"You're welcome. Now you're officially a married man."

"It was official since day one." I cover her mouth with mine and slowly lay her on the bed.

The sweet interlude did not serve as a distraction. We're already panting into our kisses, sighs escaping her mouth, our earlier passion renewed with fervor. Her scraps of lace are gone, and so is my underwear. I move my hand down her hip to her outer thigh, then caress a path up the inside of her thigh and urge her thighs apart.

She moans when I reach her center. I kiss her cheek and her lips softly. Slip my tongue in her mouth at the same time I slide a finger inside her and she arches her back, her hips elevate from the bed, and her hands grip my shoulders tightly. I tease her for a while like this, moving my finger slowly in and out, until she's panting and a string of words and sounds are coming from her mouth.

"Alex, please, oh god, hmmm, ahhh…"

I rub my thumb over her clit until she explodes in a series of moans and jerks. She writhes under the weight of my body in the most potent way. I wait for her to recover, and after a few minutes she does, and plunges her tongue into my mouth and moves us until she's on top of me. My hands grab her hips and I feel her hand reaching down, holding me firmly and stroking me a few times, before guiding me in. She lowers herself slowly and I'm already straining and panting with the effort of not thrusting forcefully up into her, as she braces herself on my shoulders. Instead I let her set the pace. She starts slow, moving back and forth, but soon her breaths are shorter, her movements faster and I can tell she is as close as I am.

"I love you." I pant against her ear when she buries her face against the side of my neck after she can no longer hold herself up. I feel her whole body tensing. Her breasts are pressed to my chest, the little hard nipples rubbing against my skin. I'm meeting her thrust for thrust. Then I hear the sound coming from somewhere low in her throat, she's coming again, a little less powerful than her first orgasm, but still strong enough to make me speed up my movements, hold on to her hips forcefully and slam into her desperately until my own orgasm gives me the release I need.

We've been lying side by side, looking at each other and holding hands, basking in the afterglow, for minutes now. I interlace our fingers and my eyes catch the ring on my finger.

"Do you like it?" She asks innocently.

"Of course. I love it."

"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" I add.

"Mmm, yes. Very much." She says suggestively and rubs her leg seductively between mine.

"I meant the movie."

"Oh! That." She laughs. "I'm kidding. I loved it. Did you remember what day it was today?"

"I did. I wanted to give you something special. And then saw the ad for the outside cinema and knew you'd like it. I wanted it to be a surprise so I couldn't say anything about it being a gift."

"It was pretty special. The whole night. Thank you."

We share one last sweet kiss before I hear her fall asleep, her breathing deep and slow, and I stay awake for some time enjoying the feel of her in my arms. I'm honestly a little amazed that we've made it this far. I remember when I told her at the Lights festival that everything was gonna be okay. Since that day we've fought, been apart, rode a hurricane together, came back to White Pine Bay, and put her son back in a mental institution. I saw her go through, probably, the worst moment of her life. We've gotten closer too. The fog has lifted, the sky is clearer and I wouldn't change a thing. I press a kiss to her forehead and go to sleep too.

A creaking and hinging sound wakes me up. My light sleep is disturbed by anything and I'm already on alert. Then I hear it again and I quickly jump out of bed, jostling Norma in the process.

"What is it?" She mumbles sleepily.

"Shh. I heard sounds downstairs." I whisper as I put on my pants and take my gun.

"Alex! What are you doing? Where are you going?"

"Norma, stay here. Whatever you hear, stay here."

I go down the stairs slowly, wincing as the wood creaks a little, gun drawn in front of me. The front door is open just a little and I get tense, hold the weapon up more firmly. I hear Norma behind me; I look back and see her at the top of the stairs, wearing a robe and a scared expression.

"Go back!" I try to whisper in an authoritative tone. I reach the end of the stairs, and I see a shadow in the hallway. I get ready, aim and fire.

The gunshot breaks the dead silence. Norma screams and I hear her running down the stairs just as I see the body I shot at moving slowly, still in the dark, bending at the waist. Whoever it is doesn't fall quickly to the ground. I merely shot to wound, not to kill.

Norma appears next to me just as I turn on the lights.

A big gasps escapes her throat and she covers her mouth with her hands when she sees who it is.

"What the f… " I blurt out.

Norma looks at me terrified and confused at the same time, just as the receiver of the bullet grunts from its seated position on the floor.

"You gotta be kidding me!" I snap in annoyance and disbelief.

TBC…

PS. Ten chocolate candy bars to whoever guesses who the intruder is! ;)