Six days had passed since Alex found Norma with Caleb and Five days had passed since the incident at the bar and somehow Norma had managed to avoid and dodge Alex in the days that followed. She had gotten to know his routine before what had happened as there was a connection between them, they had chemistry and they both felt the spark ignite in them, especially when they were around each other. She wanted to be close to him and would accidentally 'bump' into him, truth be told he did the same, they danced around their feelings and around each other like teenagers, both too scared to say anything but both enjoying the flirtatious interactions they had each day. Norma felt she had destroyed that, destroyed what they had and so knowing his routine meant it was easy to avoid Alex. It meant having to adjust her life a little more as she suspected Alex had gotten wise to this and tried to leave later than normal and come home earlier to catch her in the office. On these days Norma felt ridiculous having to quickly switch off the office lights and hide behind the desk, like she was hiding from some sort of masked intruder. She knew full well Alex had seen her try to hide, but she would never open the door, even when he knocked and begged to see her. She wasn't ready. It broke her heart every time she heard his voice, the desperation and the sadness floored her but again only fueled her to ignore him. She thought the more she pushed him away, acted unreasonable and cold towards him he would finally give up and go back to Rebecca. Norma sobbed behind the counter, thoughts rushing through her mind, 'Alex is better suited to her, you know he is. She is the woman for him, successful, pretty and with an amazing figure. Not to mention she probably doesn't have nearly as much baggage as me. And i bet she dosen't have a child that was created through a rape by her brother. She's 'normal''

However this particular day Norma felt herself thinking more and more about Alex, she didn't want to and she tried to push it out of her mind but it was pointless. He was there to stay, like an annoying nagging thought. She wondered why today of all days she should think of him and what did it mean. Norma tried to distract herself with catching up on paperwork, she was falling behind since she didn't have any help right now, she wished Norman would come home, she missed him terribly and needed his help around the motel.

Alex sat at the desk in his office, he'd barely been able to concentrate over the last 6 days, they had almost been the worst days of his life. He just wanted Norma to talk to him, he wanted to gauge how she was, was she okay, was she coping, or even eating. He knew fine she wouldn't be eating. She admitted to not eating when stressed or when old memories came back to terrorize her, it was her way of staving off the emotional trauma. He was worried. Really worried. If it had been any other person in the town he would have organised a welfare check, but he knew he couldn't do that to her. He knew that would push her over the edge and she would never forgive him, but he couldn't stand back and not do anything. He'd witnessed a different side to Norma the other day and she was the lowest he'd seen a person since his Mother. Norma was bringing it all back for him and he struggled to block it and push it from his mind. It scared him how similar they were, although he did see a strength in Norma that unfortunately his mother did not possess. Norma was strong and he knew she could come through this, she would come out stronger but he just needed her to believe that.

Norman and Dylan were due home from their camping trip soon and they couldn't see her like that. They would know something was wrong and probably push and push her to explain and that would crush her, it would set her back. He couldn't have that. 'Fuck this' he thought, he wasn't going to wait around and let her control the situation, not anymore. She wasn't even controlling it, let alone handling it and it was his move now.

Alex jumped in his SUV and sped up to the house, the town wouldn't fall apart if he skipped out early, it was important anyway although he knew he would need to lie in order to keep Norma out of it, last thing she needed or he wanted was for her to be humiliated by this.

Norma pottered about, she was bored and running out of things to do, if it wasn't distressing thoughts about her past, or remembering the night from the bar and Caleb it was Alex and his strong arms squeezing all her fears and emotional pain away. She needed him but she refused to admit it. Norma suddenly realised she had to fix a painting on the wall from room 12, she was delighted at having something to do. She grabbed what she needed and headed to the room, unbeknown to her Alex was coming to see her and wouldn't leave until she spoke to him. Her afternoon was about to get a whole lot more awkward.

Alex drove toward the motel, he figured that Norma would be in the motel office and would hear him pull in and do her usual and hide from him so he parked his SUV down the road, hidden and out of sight. He was determined and he wasn't going to give Norma the opportunity to run off. He walked the five minute walk, his head pounding and heart racing. He rehearsed over and over what he would say but he just couldn't get the right words, he decided to just wing it. Norma was unpredictable and who knows maybe she might throw another glass at his head.

Norma left room 12's door open to air the room, it was chilly but the room could do with the extra ventilation. Although Norma was cold she welcomed the crisp air, it stung at her cheeks and made her feel alive. She hadn't even bothered to dress appropriately, sporting an elegant and figure hugging skirt with a pink blouse tucked in. Norma's walls were well and truly up, her mask fixed back on and her perfect smile painted on again. She was back to 'Norma Bates' and refused to go back to the woman she was a few days ago.

She realised that she'd left something in the office that she needed and groaned at the thought of having to go back to get it, as she left the room she spotted a tall figure from the corner of her eye, her heart stopped, ever since Keith had raped her she was always very wary of men approaching the motel on foot and by themselves. She turned her head and her face dropped, she studied this brooding, stoic man and immediately followed her instincts. 'Oh shit. Shit. Not today Alex for fucks sake'

She ran as fast as she could to the motel office, she wasn't doing this, not today. She wished Alex hadn't come.

Alex raced after her, she wasn't going to ignore him this time, as he caught up to her he pulled her arm causing her to stop in her tracks and gaze into his eyes, Alex noticed her eyes were full of such sadness, he couldn't bear it. Norma tried to pull her arm from Alex's tight and firm grasp but she couldn't manage, finally she resisted. Alex pulled her into an embrace and squeezed tightly, he felt her sigh and go limp in his arms almost like she had been needing this all along. They stood there for what felt like forever, both melting into each other, forgetting everything round about them and enjoying the warmth and love they both felt for each other but would never act on. As they continued to hold each other, neither of them wanting to let the other go and break the magnetic connection they had, meant that they were completely oblivious to Dylan standing at the motel office watching on in total confusion to why Norma was hugging the sheriff like they were an item, he noted that their embrace was a little more, actually a lot more intimate than a normal friendly hug. It felt rude to interrupt them, but he wasn't really sure what he wanted to see next, as he went to clear his throat they started to pull away, slowly. Dylan felt a kiss was coming next, it had to be, you don't hug your friends like that.

As Norma pulled away she felt Alex's breath on her neck, his lips painfully close to hers, her heart was racing and her head screamed at her to pull away, she was supposed to be pushing him away not being turned on by him holding her like this but her heart screamed the opposite. She wanted him, more than she had ever wanted anything or anyone in her life. The way he got her, understood her and knew everything and hadn't ran away yet. It was overwhelming that a man could even be like this, he was too perfect.

Alex's head also told him to pull away, he vowed to be there for her as a friend only, she needed a friend right now. A relationship wasn't right, it wasn't the time and it might hinder Norma getting back to normal and interfere with her emotional healing. Although he believed she needed a friend he was well aware that she wasn't able to have him as one, she'd been ignoring him and pushing him away, what good was he to her if she wouldn't allow him anywhere near her. He'd sacrificed his want for a relationship in order to support her as a friend but now he felt maybe the only way to help her was to be with her, supporting her, loving her and comforting her. But he couldn't bring himself to, even though his heart cried out for him to caress her face and kiss her softly.

Norma decided against following her head and leant into him closing the gap between them, time seemed to pass in slow motion, her brain reassessed her decision and she changed her mind right at the last second, the fear of him rejecting her again was too much to bear. Her lips brushed past Alex's lips and she kissed him delicately on his cheek, Alex's body shivered under her touch, he tried with every fiber in his body to resist kissing her. He felt her panic, he knew she had changed her mind about kissing him and it helped to make his mind up. As he started to pull away he felt Norma's grip around his waist, he knew she didn't want to let go but he was scared he wouldn't be able to control himself any longer. The magnetic pull was too strong for either of them to resist and before they knew it their lips were touching, it was small and soft, not much of a kiss but enough for them to both sigh at the same time. Norma pulled away first, her breathing hitched and tears rolling down her cheeks. She had wanted this, wanted to kiss him but her head took over, he deserved more than she could ever offer him.

'Al-Alex...i can't…I'm sor-im so sorry...I don't know why'

Alex put his finger to her mouth and hushed what she was going to say next,

'Norma, it's okay. Don't be sorry. I'm sorry I shouldn't have. We shouldn't have.'

And with that he finally let down the tough guy act, tears spilled out of his eyes too, this felt like a goodbye. Why was she saying this, did she want to end their friendship too.

Norma stood away from him, she reached her hand up to his face, tears still running down her flushed cheeks. She knew she had to address last night,

'Alex, about last night. We need to talk, but i don't know if i'm ready yet. You really hurt me, and I hurt you in the worst possible ways, I'm so sorry. I'm not sure i'll ever be able to come to terms with what happened, and i never thanked you when you...you know with that guy and for rejecting me'

'Norma don't say that, i never rejected you, i respected you like any man should and i'm sorry you've met such assholes that have never respected you like that, but i never rejected you. Please don't think of it like that. And as for everything else, it doesn't matter. You were drunk, emotionally distressed and in turmoil. You were reliving painful memories and using destructive behaviours to cope, i've seen this before many times and yes it was hard to watch you go through that knowing I couldn't help you. Norma you had a breakdown, that's the only way i can make sense of this, and i hope you can see that. You can't keep living your life pretending your past didn't happen. And for what it's worth I am deeply sorry for the things i said and did'

'Alex, i'm sorry i didn't mean to say rejected, poor choice of words but you know what i mean, and me being drunk isn't an excuse for how i treated you. I'm so incredibly sorry about what i said about Caleb, it's complicated and i shouldn't have said that stuff to hurt you, it was awful of me. As for a break-'

Norma's body tensed up, her face hardening and her eyes and expression showing no emotion but giving Alex a frosty vibe. She trailed off and bit her lip to stop herself from losing her temper...After taking a breath she spoke again,

'It wasn't a breakdown Alex, it was a weak moment and it won't happen again. And if it does i'll be sure not to involve you, don't worry'

Her icy exterior made Alex uncomfortable, it was impressive how quickly she could change although he was sad that he was on the receiving end again.

'Norma please don't be like that, i'm sorry if I'm speaking out of turn, really i am. I care about you, you know i do and I'm worried. I can't sleep, work or even really function right now knowing that you're up there alone and thinking god knows what. I know you won't let me help, but please don't shut me out. Also it makes it kinda awkward since im living in the motel'

Alex chuckled a little and he saw a hint of a smile from Norma. She seemed to relax a little, and Alex hoped maybe her ice queen act was melting.

'I guess you're right, i can't avoid you forever' Norma rolled her eyes and gave Alex a weak smile…She whispered back to him...

'And i know i can't avoid my past, i just don't like it when people tell me what I need to do or point out what I already know. I'm well aware i'm broken and in need of some sort of help, but on my terms and when I'm ready. '

'Norma, you're not broken. Not to me. And i understand, i wasn't trying to push you'

Norma looked at Alex, and motioned that she had to go, Alex gave her a nod and leaned in to kiss her forehead as a sweet gesture to show her he was still there for her. They both jumped and pulled apart at the sound of someone coughing, Norma hadn't realised there was anyone at the motel.

Alex and Norma spun round and were shocked to see Dylan leaning against the door, watching them curiously with a confused look across his face.

Norma swallowed hard, and tried to speak sounding casual but ended up sounding surprised with a worried look upon her face,

'Oh Dylan you frightened me, I didn't know you were back? When did you get back, Where's Norman, i really need to see him. How come you guys are home so early'

'Sorry if i disturbed your plans Norma, i wasn't aware you wanted the place to yourself'

Dylan's tone sounded cold and he wasn't really impressed to come home and find Norma embracing someone so publicly but yet hasn't had the guts to tell her own children.

Norma suddenly realised where this was going and was quick to shut down his ridiculous accusations..although she wished he were right.

'Oh God Dylan no,no,no. It's not like that at all, i promise. I jus-we just- its not what it looks like. He was helping me'

Dylan replied back in a sarcastic tone,

'Yeah Norma i'm sure he was "helping" you. Look whatever, do what you want to do. I don't care.'

Norma's face crumpled and she felt herself lean against Alex for support, something she was completely unaware she was doing, Alex supported her weight and with a deadpan look and casual but firm tone addressed Dylan's shitty attitude.

'Look Dylan, not that it's any of your business what you mother gets up to, believe it or not there is nothing between us.'

'Well Sheriff, it didn't look like that, so you'll forgive me for thinking otherwise. But unless you want people to gossip and assume you are a couple I really wouldn't kiss like that in public for everyone to see, especially Norman.'

Norma's face dropped at the realisation that Norman could be lurking anywhere and he would not cope with the thought of her being with Alex. Norma pulled away from Alex and tried to stifle her tears, she turned to him and smiled at him whispering'Thank you Alex. Thanks for everything. And im sorry about that night'

Alex ignored Dylan's glaring stare and looked deep into Norma's eyes,

'It's okay, you don't need to be sorry. We can talk about what happened later, if you want to? '

Norma walked past Dylan, her eyes were sad and Dylan couldn't help but notice a tear escaping her, he felt bad, he hadn't meant to upset her, normally she would just fire off some sassy remark and roll her eyes, but not this time. He wondered what was up and wanted to know what exactly had gone on between the two of them, he had overheard something about 'that night' and her being 'sorry', he wondered what she had done now. In his eyes Norma was a trainwreck most of the time.

'Oh Dylan, you never did say why you were back, is everything okay?'

'Yeah Norma everything is fine, i had to come back for something thats all. Norman misses you by the way, we all do. We'll be home in about 4 days.'

'Oh okay, tell Norman i miss him too. I miss you all actually.'

And with that Norma waltzed off like nothing had happened. She maintained her composure until she got into the house, where she leant against the door and sobbed. Everything was too much. Norma collapsed to the floor struggling to breathe through her uncontrollable sobs. She needed Alex. She wanted him but she knew she couldn't have him. It was easier to just blame him and be angry at him. Easier than facing the gut wrenching truth that quite possibly she was making the biggest mistake of her life by pushing him out.