Author's notes: I received a couple of messages and reviews regarding Norma's personality. I hope as time goes on with this chapter and possibly more if I do continue this fiction, Norma's true intentions will shine through a little more. She is manipulative, but I promise it's with the best intentions. Romero is different from the others, so she struggles between her old ways and her need to have him by her side. Also, this fiction is different from the show with only bits and pieces of the storyline evident. Oh and Emma has had the surgery already which I know is a little out of sequence, but this is just a fanfic so I guess you'll just have to go with it.

*Sorry I haven't gotten a chance to edit this yet. Unfortunately this was my only time to post, but I promise I will fix any corrections later.

*Thank you for all your wonderful reviews! Please keep them coming if you want to read more! I truly value your opinions and suggestions!

*I hope you enjoy...

Chapter 2: I Just Can't

Almost two hours have passed since Norma left the Sheriff's house and it's been about 40 minutes now since she had her gaze on anything but her phone with his name and picture ready to be called. Occasionally the screen turns black due to inactivity until Norma frantically sweeps her index finger across the display to have his image once again come into her view. A hint of a smile graces her lips before her memory of Alex's expression of sadness and rejection dissolves her momentary excitement.

She's been steadily cooling down after the intense argument with her youngest son over an hour ago. In seeing Norman casually sitting at the kitchen table eating a sandwich, she became enraged. This so-called "emergency" was in fact just a ploy for her attention which caused Norma to see red in anger at the sight of his calmness. Typically Norma would be happy to see her disturbed son in the state of tranquility, but today it just made her blood boil. A consideration of whatever mental health issue her youngest child may be experiencing was completely forgotten as she continued to push the boundaries of her typical motherly behavior.

When she heard the front door slam closed, Norma only felt relief instead of even a hint of guilt.

This wasn't the first time Norman has pulled this type of stunt. In fact, this has become a routine at this point and for some reason it's always when she's with Alex. Seeing his smile suddenly drop from his previously brightened face every time she has to run from him devastates her a little more each time. At first, Norma thought her youngest son has caught onto her little escapade with the Sheriff but fortunately it appears he is still not aware of the relationship blooming between his mother and her new beau.

Maybe she's making a mistake for keeping her sons in the dark about her relationship, but she convinces herself this little secret is only temporary and she only needs to find the right time to tell them. The problem is, she can't figure out that perfect time to tell them so she continues with hiding one of the most enjoyable aspects of her life from them until she deems it safe to explain. It's not only Norman she needs to keep her intimate ties to the Sheriff from, Dylan also needs to remain unaware.

Norma has only just begun to slowly repair whatever damage was done years ago to strain the mother and son connection. All she can think about is how she can't lose him. Sure, there is a possibility he'd be supportive of her relationship with Alex but what if he's not? She can't be selfish and take that chance when they've made progress. Lately though she's been feeling her eldest son slowly slipping away again. Nothing drastic, but enough for her to notice. Norma can tell Dylan has been attempting to avoid her at times, like he's keeping something from her too.

Maybe that's all her fractured family is based on… Secrets.

Norma continues to stare down at the Sheriff's picture and soon becomes complete oblivious to her surroundings. She needs to apologize to him and beg for forgiveness if she has to. Yes, she knows he care deeply for her, but how long will he stay? How long can anyone stay in a circumstance like this one?

As she wipes a tear quickly forming in the corners of her eyes and a deep breath fills her lungs, her shaky pointer finger presses the call button.

XXXX

Dylan quietly steps down the stairs, unsure of what state Norman will be in when he reaches the kitchen. His brother's behavior has become even odder recently and he's not in the mood to start anything today. Besides, Emma should be relieved from her motel office duties soon since Norman will be taking over for her.

Dylan made sure to have time set aside to take Emma to lunch, out of town of course. Can't risk anyone figuring out he's been seeing Emma for a couple of months now. He can't even imagine how his younger brother and mother would react to that information since they have both expressed on more than one occasion that Norman is the young woman's perfect romantic match.

The timing couldn't be more ideal today since his mother isn't home, again. Plus, Norman will be making his way down to the office very soon leaving time for Emma to drive her vehicle down the block in a hidden abandoned parking lot and meet him at his truck. In his mind, this is the fail proof plan.

While stepping closer to the kitchen to briefly check in on his little brother, a familiar female voice catches his attention. He's about to silently step away from the area without his mother knowing of his presence, he hears his name. Automatically, curiosity gets the better of him and soon he finds himself hiding behind a nearby wall with his ear straining to hear the apparent one side conversation in the other room.

"I'm not ready to tell Dylan yet," Dylan hears his mother say with a small sniffle. The young man can feel a touch of anger build in his veins and grits his teeth in frustration. Of course she's hiding something from him. He should've known he could never trust Norma. "I know you think he'll be able to handle this, but what if he can't? You don't know how hard it has been to show him I'm not leaving him, that I'll never leave him behind again. Norman and Dylan are such an important part of who I am. They are my life."

The tightness that was slowly building in Dylan's throat a minute ago begins to fade a little at the words his mother is speaking with such sincerity. Her feelings must be true since she is completely unconscious of his presence behind the adjacent wall, but Dylan quickly reminds himself he's being lied to regardless of the motive behind her secrecy.

All of a sudden Dylan feels two soft hands lightly cover his eyes, causing him to flinch backwards and the tiniest of gasps to leave his lungs. When the warmed touch leaves his face, Dylan swiftly turns around to see Emma staring back at him with a hint of a sinister smile. Before she can make a sound though, Dylan shoves her to his other side and gently presses his right index fingertip to her lips and then his own to signal the need for her silence. Emma widens her eyes but then nods slowly at Dylan's actions.

Emma decides to use the situation to her advantage a little by intentionally leaning close into his strong side. She then gradually slips her hand onto Dylan's back, feeling the young man's slightly erratic breath through his thin shirt. To help him relax Emma smoothly runs the palm of her hand up and down to soothe him, earning a small grin from him in gratitude.

Just as Emma starts to use her body against his in an attempt to stand on her tip toes to whisper in Dylan's ear, Norma's voice from the other room begins to speak again.

"Please, this is not how I want things," is heard through the wall with a whimper. "More than anything I want to be with you, I just need more time to tell them. Please, they're my sons!" Norma continues to beg, "I need you! Please just-I-just need more time!" His mother continues to cry.

Dylan imagines a steady stream of tears are streaking down her cheeks at this very moment, causing him to clench his jaw in anger and ball his hands into fists. Regardless if Norma is lying to him or not, Dylan can't hear her upset like this without feeling her pain. No matter what kind of broken ties they may have, she's still his mother.

Silence now fills both rooms, only Emma's tiny breaths can be heard by Dylan until a sharp scratch sound of a chair being suddenly pushed on the floor can be loudly heard. "Shit," Dylan whisper-yells as he rapidly and frantically pushes Emma towards the door to the basement for a spontaneous hiding place. He then rushes through the door, holding Emma carefully in his arms to avoid her slipping down the stairs in their haste.

Reaching in front of her, Emma carefully yet quickly closes the door in front of them to remain unnoticed. A few seconds later she feels a nose barely nipping at her neck with a warmed breath hovering over her shoulders. All she can do is whisper in a soft tone, "she'll be okay Dylan."

They linger in the quiet hum of the basement until they hear aggressive jingling of keys with a loud door slam shortly after.

Gradually they push the door open and step into the living room. Immediately Emma turns to Dylan and nuzzles her cheek into his chest. Soon she feels firm arms encircle her upper back and shoulders, forcing her closer into him. "I don't understand why she won't tell me what's going on?" He mutters in confusion. "She obviously doesn't trust me."

"We don't know what's going on Dylan. You can't jump to conclusions."

"You clearly don't know Norma," he sighs loudly in response. "But, you do know how to be nosey."

Emma slaps his chest in protest and strains her neck upward to meet his eyes. "That's not true!" She replies in objection. "Well. Okay. I guess it's a little true," she admits in defeat with a tiny giggle.

"We're going to figure out what she's hiding or rather WHO she's hiding. Are you up for the challenge Miss Decody?"

"Absolutely!" She smiles brightly in response.

XXXX

Norma is parked in front of the Sheriff's house now and has been for the last 15 minutes, figuring out the perfect words to say. Finally, when Norma has rehearsed the flawless words in her head several times, she opens her car door and steps outside. After closing the door, Norma brushes her hands swiftly down the sides of her dress to smooth out any overly obvious wrinkles in her dress and then uses her fingers to ensure not a hair is out of place before approaching the entry to his home.

She needs to fix this is all she can think about as she advances toward the door with an extra sway to her hips. However, in her unmindful state she doesn't see the slight raise to pavement and she stumbles a little causing her to wobble on her heels. Of course this is the exact moment the Sheriff decides to open the door.

In law enforcement Romero is trained to have a heighten awareness and therefore, clearly heard the hum of Norma's vehicle turning into his driveway. Though he can't deny it is entertaining for him to watch through a slight opening in his curtains, how Norma fidgets dramatically as she continues to talk to herself in her car for the last several minutes.

Seeing her prepare with rehearsed words and then try to arrange her appearance in such a way that would easily cause him to fall for every single excuse she repeated to herself just prior, causes him to grin before he steps in the direction of his entry way. When he opens the door, Alex is caught with the sight of Norma stumbling from her former attempt at a seductive walk. He hides his face behind the door quickly to snicker before coming face to face with the woman he cares so deeply for, preparing himself to hear the words Norma has thoughtfully created in her mind.

Norma's cheeks immediately tint pink in the realization her wobble was seen, cracking her primed façade and making her lose all of the words she's had in her head just moments ago. Instead of dwelling on her failure to allure him, Norma accepts the opened arms of her lover and rushes to snuggle into his embrace. "I'm so sorry, Alex. Please don't give up on me," Norma cries urgently when she feels a finger rest on the tip of her chin and tilt her gaze upwards.

"I'm not giving up on you Norma," the Sheriff's voice never wavering as he moves his hands to gently caress the sides of her tear stained cheeks. He then releases her face and steps aside in the doorway, leading her inside with a caring yet firm hand to her lower back.

"No matter how hard I try, I just can't," the Sheriff whispers to himself before closing the door behind them.