A/N: Hello my sweeties. Sorry for the wait! I recently quit my toxic job and have been so relieved and feel way less stress so I had time to finally finish this chapter. Cheers!

Previous Chapters: Norma is a new resident in White Pine Bay with her husband Sam and two kids, Dylan and Norman. Sam is very abusive and Dylan has been acting out in school ever since they've arrived in their new town. Alex was called down at the local elementary school to deal with a matter that involved Dylan and his BB gun. Alex meets Norma that way and learns she is a piece of work. However, as time goes by, he starts to develop a liking to this beautiful, nutty woman. Sam's abuse is getting worse and one day, he rages out on Norma and Dylan, resulting in them having to go to the emergency room. Alex has been very supportive and has been trying to help Norma get away from Sam as she decides to finally divorce him. Norma and Alex have become closer and they definitely like each other. Recently, they decide to go on a date!

*deviatedrift*

A few weeks have passed and it was the end of November. Alex had been preparing for the Sheriff's election which was happening this week. It had taken a toll on all his free time, so he hadn't been able to coincide his schedule with Norma's in order to take her out. The two of them had been texting every few days, but that's about it.

Norma had been yearning to see Alex. It was unbelievable she went weeks without seeing him in person.

Dylan had completed the juvenile program and luckily, it seemed to have worked. He ended up enjoying what he learned and his behavior improved drastically. It felt like a miracle to Norma.

It was almost 4 PM and Norma was about to get off from her job at the motel. It wasn't as busy as it would be next week when Thanksgiving rolled around and people would be coming into town to visit their loved ones.

Norma spent her time cleaning the rooms in detail to make the time go faster. She liked the job really, it was just the owners she found a little unnerving. Maggie was okay, but she was really weird and always seemed to be staring at her. She started being that way after Norma told her she had become close "friends" with Alex. Norma knew Maggie was fond of him, and she made a mental note to ask Alex about her.

Kieth Summers was vile. He always hit on her whenever she came into work and she had finally told Maggie how uncomfortable it had made her. Maggie scolded Kieth and made sure to tell him to stay away from Norma. Lately he was gone a lot, so Norma felt better about that.

Norma walked into the office where Maggie was sitting at the desk doing some word puzzle from an old newspaper.

"Hi, I'm about to head out," Norma announced.

The woman nodded and went to the back part of the office where she opened a small vault. She flipped through some bills and came back to where Norma stood.

Norma always wondered where their cash came from, knowing it wasn't from the motel since the business wasn't good at all. They hardly got any visitors. She knew the place was shady, but she had to do what she had to in order to bring a good source of income home for her and her sons.

"Here you are. See you tomorrow."

Norma told her goodbye and excitedly rushed to her car where she drove to her house.

*deviatedrift*

Norma and her boys enjoyed dinner together. The peace was so present ever since Sam went to jail. Norma could tell her boys were more comfortable without Sam being there with them. Dylan even laughed and talked more, something Norma was ever so grateful for.

"Mom?" Dylan's voice said. Norma's eyes widened. Her son hardly called her mom. It was always just 'Norma.' She smiled sincerely and looked into the blue eyes that mirrored hers.

"Yes honey?"

"Can I go to a sleepover Friday night?"

"A sleepover? Who's having a sleepover?"

"This boy named Ethan."

"He goes to school with you?"

Dylan nodded and played with the crumbs of food left on his plate while avoiding eye contact with his mother. He hated asking Norma to do things. It was a habit he had to get back into, as discipline and respect was something the juvenile program had taught him.

Norma was proud of him for being more mature and responsible.

"Well sweetie. I'll have to talk to his parents. We don't know people here very well since we're new. Does he get picked up from school?"

"No he rides the bus. I'll give him our phone number so that he can get his parents to call you I guess..."

"Yeah, that'd be fine."

"I wanna go too!" Norman interjected.

Dylan smacked his lips and turned towards his younger brother. "You don't even know Ethan. And besides, you're too young."

"I do know him! His brother is in my class and we eat lunch together. Can I go too mom?"

"Oh, Norman you really can't just invite yourself to people's house."

"Please!" Norman begged. Dylan was becoming annoyed, but kept his mouth shut.

"Norman we will just have to see. Okay?" Norma affirmed. Her youngest son nodded happily and downed the rest of the fruit punch he was drinking.

Norma put her boys to bed later that evening and got settled in her bed as well. She desperately wanted to talk to Alex, but it felt like they were becoming a little distant. Norma wanted to ask him what was going on. Was he avoiding her? Did he finally realize how complicated she was? Although she had been good and hadn't done anything to make him go out of his way in order to help her with something.

The thoughts saddened her a little, but instead of calling him in order to get answers to her question, she turned off her bedside lamp and drifted to sleep.

*deviatedrift*

A few days later, Alex made his way to the jail where Sam Bates was held at. He was going there to make the man sign the divorce papers so that he would be one of the things Norma didn't have to worry about anymore.

He was buzzed into the facility and escorted to a private room inmates used in order to meet with their attorneys. Alex personally asked the guards to give them the private room which they obliged by.

When Sam entered, he eyed Alex before taking a seat. Neither one spoke for a minute until Alex slid the divorce papers across the table so that they lay in front of Sam.

The man let out an exaggerated sigh and looked at Alex unamused.

"You're signing these today. Right now," Alex said.

"Like hell I am. What kind of fool would I look like handing my wife over to some son of a bitch like you?" Sam squinted and leaned forward across the small square table.

"You better stay away from my wife," Sam then said menacingly. Alex watched the man through his eyelashes. He didn't understand how this man whom he hardly knew got under his skin so quickly. It must have been because Alex knew what kind of person Sam really was. He was the kind of guy that played nice in front of his friends and peers but was truly a monster deep inside.

"You want to make this hard huh?" Alex questioned.

Sam balled his fist together. Alex knew he wasn't handcuffed, but that didn't faze him one bit.

"She better not be screwing you in my house. I swear to God..."

Alex pushed the papers further cross the table only to have them thrown up in the air by a hostile Sam. The man stood up and Alex quickly stood as well.

"You better get out of here if you know what's good for you. You have five seconds," Sam threatened.

"I'll leave when-" Alex didn't finish his sentence as he was cut of from being surprised at the punch Sam threw at his face.

Alex's face turned red as he became furious. Sam then attempted to tackle him and Alex elbowed him in his gut. The two men scuffled for a bit, both landing blows to one another's face. Alex gained the upperhand when he placed Sam in a chokehold.

Just before Sam could pass out, Alex released him when he heard the guards running towards the room. He figured they had seen the whole thing on the surveillance cameras.

The guard asked if Alex was okay and cuffed Sam where he was taken back to his cell. Alex nodded, ignoring his swollen lip and the painful scratch on his forehead that started to bleed. He didn't care though. He was happy he at least made Sam look worse.

Alex then talked to a few of the guards about the kind of man Sam was.

"Don't worry. We got it," one guard told Alex before he left.

*deviatedirft*

The boys were at school and Norma was off today. She found herself extremely bored, and watching a movie until the boys got out of school didn't interest her.

She pulled out her phone and scrolled to Alex's name. He'd been so busy lately that they barely had time to talk on the phone. With the Sheriff's election in two days, she doubt he had time aside in order to hang out with her, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

The phone rung about four times and Norma thought she wouldn't get any luck in talking to him, but then she heard his voice.

"Hello?" Alex said.

"Alex. Hi," Norma greeted lightly.

"Hey. How are you? I've been meaning to get in touch with you."

"Yeah... I've been good. You?"

"Pretty much the same. I actually uh... I went to visit Sam today. About your divorce papers."

"He still hasn't sign them has he?" Norma sighed and shook her head. "I'll just have to find a cheap lawyer. No need to worry about this anymore Alex. Thanks for all your help though."

"He didn't sign them, but I have a feeling he will now," Alex said.

He wouldn't tell her, but Alex made a deal with the guards to "convince" Sam into signing his divorce papers. Alex knew the COs at the jail would most likely haze Sam until he couldn't take it anymore. They didn't take too kindly to men who hit women and children.

"What does that mean?" Norma wondered.

"Just... trust me. I know how much you wanna get your boys away from him. And you will."

"Okay..." Norma replied with uncertainty in her voice.

"I'm sorry we haven't find the proper time to go out," he apologized.

"What are you doing right now?"

"I'm at my house," Alex answered as he placed a bag of ice on his swollen lip.

"I can be there in ten. Do you mind? Or are you about to do something?"

"Um, yeah okay," he hesistated. He didn't want her to see his scratched up face, but he was dying to see her either way.

Norma hung up and quickly made her way to Alex's home.

*deviatedrift*

The door swung open and Norma gasped as she saw Alex's busted lip and the scratch right above his eyebrow. He had a faint bruise underneath his eye as well.

"Oh my God, what happened to you!?"

Alex chuckled and moved aside to let her in. Norma's eyes roamed all over his face.

"Sam Bates happened." Alex had to calm himself as he thought about the fact that this same man that scruffed him up was the same man putting his hands on a woman and kids three times smaller than him.

"What? When did he do this? And why?"

"This morning when I visited him. I'm fine. He looks worse trust me."

"Oh Alex... I'm sorry."

"No no, it's not your fault," Alex gently touched her arm and Norma felt her stomach flutter.

"Tell me you have a first aid kit."

"In the bathroom," Alex confirmed and went to the bathroom with Norma right on his heels. He reached underneath the cabinet and pulled out the kit, handing it to Norma.

He watched her face as she looked through the contents of the small container. She was just so beautiful. His heart could burst from the way she made him feel.

"Okay," Norma said as she washed her hands and then rubbed some ointment from the first aid kit to the tip of her finger. Alex sat down on the sink counter and placed his hands in his lap. Norma began to gently clean Alex's cut all while Alex admired the beautiful face she had.

"He hit on you pretty good huh?" Norma joked.

Alex grinned, his dimples on display, causing Norma to become distracted. She then began to bandage the cut on his face.

"I hope he actually does look worse like you said," she added.

Alex grabbed her hand softly, causing Norma to stop again. Alex smiled at her before softly rubbing the skin on her hand.

"Thank you Norma," he granted and then let her hand go. The contact was so explosive to Norma and overwhelming.

"Ahh, you're very welcome," she gazed into the brown eyes he had and smiled back. She finished bandaging his cut and Alex didn't hide the fact that he was staring dead at her face. Norma couldn't avoid the eye contact and chuckled as their eyes kept meeting.

"Would you quit that?"

Alex squinted. "I'm sorry?"

"You," she pointed at him. "Staring at me."

"Oh," he said unbothered, not even attempting to look away.

Norma lightly laughed again as he continued looking at her. "I mean it. You're distracting me."

Alex only smiled while the two of them looked at one another.

"How are you going to go to the Sheriff's election event with your face like this?"

"I guess I have no choice."

"Hmm. You're still pretty," Norma used her hand to gently caress his face. Alex didn't hold back and reached out to grab her waist. He pulled her closer to him in between his legs while he still sat on the sink counter.

Their eyes wandered on the other's face. He was just a kiss away, something Norma wanted so badly. Her face felt warm as the proximity between her and Alex grew closer.

"Did you just call me pretty?"

Norma laughed and nodded her head.

"That's a first," Alex replied.

"Your lip is so swollen," Norma noted, staring at his mouth. Alex sucked his lip in and continued looking at her face.

"It doesn't hurt that bad though."

"Really?" Norma found herself leaning in, their noses practically touching at this point. She gave him a quick peck on the lips just to see if he would react from pain. Luckily, he didn't.

Alex touched the small of her back and tempted her to kiss him again. She did, this time longer and she instinctively sucked his bottom lip into her mouth. Alex groaned and Norma pulled away.

"Liar," she accused.

"It's a good pain."

Norma smiled at him and pulled away to put the kit up. Alex hopped down from the counter and they exited the bathroom. They then went into the kitchen where Alex grabbed a new bag of ice and placed it on the swollen areas on his face.

"What are your plans for the day?" Alex asked her.

Norma shrugged and looked around the kitchen. "Nothing. I was actually really bored at the house by myself. That's why I called you."

"Oh yeah?" Alex smiled.

"Mhm."

"Well, I guess I can try to entertain you."

Norma's eyes grew wide as she deciphered what he could have meant by that. She didn't want to say, but she desperately wanted to jump his bones. Yet, Alex still didn't want to rush into that kind of intimacy yet.

"What kind of movies do you like?"

"Um," Norma thought for a blink of a second. "I like really old ones. You know, the ones in black and white."

"Really?" Alex chuckled.

"Yeah," Norma nodded, her cheeks turning pink.

"Well, I don't think I have any of those, but I have a couple DVDs that we can watch."

*deviatedrift*

It was the day of the Sheriff's election and Alex felt jittery and nervous. He was running against another deputy from the next county in the state. Alex didn't know much about the man, but he had heard very good things about him.

While he was sweating bullets in his police uniform, he engaged in coversation with some White Pine Bay politicians and officials. The event was crowded, as it seemed like everyone that resided in White Pine Bay decided to come out.

"I can see that sweat shining on your forehead from across the room."

Alex turned around to see the current Sheriff, Dan Miller, standing next to him. He smiled and shook the man's hand.

"I keep hearing how great of a man everyone thinks my competition is," Alex replied.

"Oh please Alex. You got this one in the bag. I've told everyone how much of a fine Sheriff you will be," Dan smiled.

"I know you're worried about how people will look at you because of the things your father has done when he was Sheriff..."

"No. I don't care about that," Alex brushed off, lying.

"Either way, you and I know that you are nothing like your father. You are what this town needs. And the people here know that. Now let's get some of that wine and ease down."

An hour had passed and it was time for the new Sheriff to be announced. Alex was incredibly nervous. Being Sheriff was something he craved for, something he felt like he deserved and earned rightfully.

The announcer thanked everyone for coming and praised the people who participated in putting the even together before finally announcing White Pine Bay's new Sheriff.

"Congratulations to... Alex Romero! Our new Sheriff!"

Cheering and clapping could be heard throughout the room. Alex was immediately grabbed by Dan and pulled into a big bear hug. He shook hands with almost everyone in the room as they congratulated him on his win.

Alex was ecstatic, something he hardly experienced. He felt proud. If only his mother could see him now...

Later that night, Alex was dropped off at home by a few of his buddies from the station as he had a little too much to drink to legally take himself home.

One of his friends helped him into the house where Alex plopped down on his sofa. The guy who helped him in grabbed a glass of water and found a bottle of aspirin from Alex's medicine cabinet in the bathroom and sat them beside the couch for Alex.

As Alex laid there in his couch, he thought about the events of the day and then his mind drifted to Norma. He wondered what she was doing. It was around 1 AM so she was probably asleep, he figured. However, that didn't stop him from reaching for his cell phone and dialing her number.

The phone rang a few times until she finally answered.

"Alex?"

"Hey sexy," he replied, grin on his face as he fell into a trance with the sound of her voice.

Norma chuckled. "It's 1 AM. What are you doing calling so late?" She knew he was probably drunk as she could hear his heavy deep breathing on the other end and the fact that he greeted her by calling her sexy.

"I know. I thought you wouldn't answer... I don't know why I called this late."

"Well lucky for you I was still awake. I guess I should go ahead and congratulate you on your win. I voted for you just so you know."

Alex snickered. "Thanks. I appreciate that."

There was silence for a while as Norma continued to listen to Alex breathe through the phone. It was quite arousing for her.

"What are you doing Mr. Sheriff?" She finally asked.

"Lying down on the sofa. I swear I'm seeing two ceiling fans on my ceiling."

"Are you drunk?"

"Um..." Alex dragged out. "Yes. I think so."

Norma laughed through the phone.

"I love that laugh," Alex admitted.

Norma was blushing at his words. "Shouldn't you be getting some sleep?"

"I wish you were here," he continued.

"Oh do you?" Norma responded.

"Yeah. I wish you were lying on the sofa with me right now."

Norma giggled softly as she let Alex continue talking in his drunken state.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing. I hope you didn't drive yourself home tonight," she said.

"No. I'm Sheriff now. I can't drink and drive. I think one of the guys at the station helped me in. Sneaky bastard stole one of my beers out the fridge too. I swear I heard some fumbling around in my kitchen before he left."

"Wow. Seriously?" Norma laughed.

"Are you in your bed?" Alex asked, changing the subject.

"Of course. It is past midnight after all."

"I wonder what you'd look like in mine."

Her eyes widened as she held the phone close to her ear. She was getting so much entertainment from this drunk phone call from Alex.

"Oh yeah?" She flirted.

"I still have those panties you let me keep. You smell amazing."

Norma let out a exhale as she started to feel herself sweating. The room became so hot all a sudden.

"Are you trying to have phone sex Alex?"

"Wh-what? No. I mean.. I was just- I'm- No. I wasn't."

"I'd rather do that with you sober," she replied.

He hadn't said anything else so Norma assumed he was stuck on how to reply.

"Good night. I hope you have aspirin for that headache you're going to have in the morning. I wonder if you'll remember this conversation." Norma hung up with a big smile on her face. It felt good to talk to Alex and she couldn't wait to see him again.