Where We Left Off

Dylan stroked Emma's hair as she sobbed. He wasn't sure what to say because he knew there was no right thing to say. Emma's best friend was gone and she had no clue when she'd return. Not only that, but Emma had the lung transplant digging into her thoughts.

I could be dead soon … and I don't even get to say goodbye …

"Em," Dylan murmured. "I don't mind holding you, but it's getting late. Have you told your father where you are?"

Emma wiped her cheeks and looked up at him. "She's a good person."

"Hmm?"

"Alexa. I don't want you to think she's bad."

Dylan furrowed his brows. "Of course I know she's a good person. I cared about her – well, actually, I still do, just differently now. But …"

"But?"

He ran his fingers through his hair. God, Emma was all puffy and red, it was hard to talk to her without kissing her. "She's complicated. She's got so much damage, y'know? I just wish she'd let us help. She's relied too much on Norman and Norma … don't get me wrong, they're not bad, but they're also damaged."

Emma looked at her fingers. "But … I'm damaged too."

"You aren't damaged, Emma, you're sick. Your body is physically wounded and it's changed you, but into a better person. Alexa was hurt by other people and she's been reeling from it for years." Dylan chuckled to himself. "Actually, I think you're her breath of fresh air."

"You're right, she has been reeling from it for years … the only person who can fix Alexa is Alexa. I try my best," Emma paused to rub her nose onto her sleeve. "The truth is, it took me a long time to realize that I can't help her. Not really."

Dylan continued stroking her hair. "There's nothing wrong with that. It's life! And peoples heads are complicated things."

"It's sad though," Emma looked at him. "I know there's things she hides from me. Horrible things that happened to her that she never told me. And despite all that, because of how she acted, I always felt like she never lost control. But what if she did?"

"I'm sorry, I don't get what you're saying."

Emma shook her head. "Never mind. I'm surprised Romero was honest with us; I thought he'd make up some bullshit story about Alexa visiting her relatives."

"I'm glad he was honest. I'd be pretty pissed if I thought Alexa was off in a different state for no good reason."

"She'd never do that," Emma murmured. Suddenly the thought hit her, and Emma cocked her head to the side. "I wonder where Norman is."

Dylan shook his head. "I'm just happy you stopped crying. For real …" he bent down and kissed her cheek, before kissing her nose and forehead and eyes. Emma began giggling; trying to shove him off, before he slowly pushed her down and pressed his body onto hers. Emma gladly welcomed the action, mostly because she wanted to but also because anything was acceptable to get her mind off Alexa. Her best friend, gone somewhere, because she couldn't handle the discovery of something to do with her mother.

Her death? The day the house burnt down? Alexa, the moment you're back, you're telling me everything. I have to know, I need to know.

Dylan's hands trailed down Emma's stomach. "You should call your dad," he murmured into her skin as he left kisses.

I know we have all things we have to hide, but this has gone too far. I'm going to figure you out.

"Of course," Emma moaned, grabbing Dylan's hair to push his face to hers.

I will save you.

Dylan smiled as he kissed her and Emma was warm with delight – Dylan being so close to her, and the prospect of saving her friend.

HEEY do you guys remember me? :D It's been a very very long time. To be honest, I try to stay incredibly close to the show so writing while the show isn't even airing isn't my kind of thing. Some fanfics do that and it's fine - I read a lot of them - but that just isn't me. Taking breaks is good for me anyway; I have a tendency to get writer's block very easily, so I don't mind the wait. If the show can do it, so can I.

A bit of important news - I no longer have cable, so I have to rely on ... other ways to watch the episodes. I used to watch it every Monday with a friend at her place, but now that I have night class, that's no longer available. Not to mention that while Bates Motel is starting, I have to

-pick my official program for uni -get prepared for going away to another continent for half a month -get ready for exams.

I'm basically trying to say that it's almost a given that I will not be updating right after the episodes air like I used to. HOWEVER that obviously doesn't mean I won't be updating. If I do update while the show is going on, there's a big chance it'll be well after the episode aired, and there is a possibility that I'll get onto a regular schedule after the show is done it's fourth season. I don't like that, mostly because it was a fun challenge to have to update within an hour or two of its air, but to be honest I think it's for the best. This story is going to be very strange from now on. It'll be good to have time to think it out, plan it out and write it out.

It will be very Emma rich, particularly with Dylan because I love the two of them a little too much. But Alexa's story will be present, just in an extremely different way then you're all used to. If you think about it, we've figured out all her 'blurred truths', so what's left is ... well, you'll see. Also, Norman and Alexa are absolutely positively not done. They're "cut from the same cloth", remember?

So kids, I will see you, maybe within a month, maybe within two, but I definitely will. Until next time,

N.D