Author's Notes: Well, this is sort of an emotional chapter. Please read the last note after the chapter, I need a little help.

*This hasn't been edited yet, but I've been working on it awhile so I thought I should post it. I'll fix any issues as soon as I can.

I hope you enjoy….

Chapter 14: Promises

"You can't tell him." Dylan whispers, immediately hanging his head low again after uttering the few words.

Norma gives no response, remaining frozen in place until she feels two strong arms wrap around her waist and pull her closer into a solid chest. She melts in the hold, slumping backward while allowing the supportive embrace consume her.

She rests against Romero with her full body weight now in his control, still in shock from the scene in front of her. As the silence continues, the tension builds in the room to the point where the Sheriff feels the need to at least attempt to mend the situation. His extensive law enforcement background urges him to say something, anything to fix this stifling stillness.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Romero asks calmly and quietly, careful not to agitate the young man immersed in obvious turmoil. However, barely after he questions Dylan, Norma flinches in his arms at the sudden sound and begins to sob.

Noticeably shuddering, Norma shakes free from the sheriff's hold and draws her hands upward to cover her face as she weeps. Firm fingertips sweep down from her waist to rest on her hips in order to steady her wobbly legs.

The palms of her hands slowly slide down her cheeks and drop to her sides as she focuses on her eldest son, who hasn't shifted his attention from the floor even during his mother's cries. Anger bubbles within Norma when she notices her son unmoving in his chair. "Why would you do this?" She accuses, venting her frustration and misdirecting her emotions toward the young man with hands now balled into tight fists. "You're out of control!"

At the unexpected and rage filled sound, Dylan breaks his stare from the floor to meet the tearful yet fury filled eyes of his mother. With the accusation, he sharply stands from his seat which causes the legs of the chair to scrape against the linoleum with a loud screech. "You think I did this!?" He yells, spreading his arms out wide to emphasize the disaster surrounding them. "Just because I had an argument with you last night, you think I would destroy your house? Are you fucking kidding me Norma!?"

After a brief glare, the tension in his jaw melts and a look of hurt flashes across his face. "Jesus, you do think I did this out of hate," he mutters under his breath in the realization.

In seeing the change in her son's expression, Norma takes a step closer to him while Dylan simultaneously takes a step backwards in response. "I-n-no one else is here, o-only you." She stutters in between tiny sobs, feeling a comforting touch of her boyfriend massaging her back. "Norman is down at the office and Emma would never do anything like this."

He can't help but chuckle at her words to mask his emotional wounds. "Of course no one else could possibly do this but me," he snaps. "Norman isn't working in the office right now, Norma. You are always so blind to what is truly going on when you have a man in your life. I mean, I know I never matter to you but I never thought in a million years that Norman would also be tossed to the side."

"What?" Norma asks so quiet, the word is barely heard by the two others.

The Sheriff decides to assert himself in the argument, hoping to cool down the fires that have ignited in such a short amount of time. "What happened Dylan?" He asks in an unruffled tone, trying to keep everything from exploding but also trying to investigate.

Dylan sighs and steps around Norma, not even sparing her another glance. "Norma already thinks she knows what happen so there is no reason for me to explain."

A pang of hurt shoots through his heart as he approaches the doorway; however, Dylan stops dead in his tracks when he feels a constricting grasp around his bicep, tugging him firmly back into the kitchen. "What the hell, let go of me!" He shouts, struggling to loosen the grip holding him in place.

"Calm down Dylan. Let's just talk about what went on here," the Sheriff tries to diffuse the young man's irritation. He relaxes his hand, allowing Dylan to slip his arm out of the hold.

To his surprise Dylan remains in the room.

With crossed arms over his chest and a furrowed brow, Dylan takes a few steps backward to put distance between him and the couple standing in front of him. "Norman is not well, Norma." He looks in the direction of his mother who is once again being held around the waist by the Sheriff. "I know it's easier to believe I would do something like this out of spite, but you should know by now this is not what I do. I leave and don't come back, which is something I should have done last night. To be clear, I'm only still here for my brother." Taking a deep breath, Dylan continues with a softened volume. "Norman isn't at the motel."

Norma's eyes widen in a panic, sensing the Sheriff's hand gently massaging her side as a sign of unconditional support. "W-where is he?"

"He's upstairs, passed out. After he destroyed the kitchen and hurled a few plates at my head, he blacked out." He pauses and focuses only on his mother's nervous expression while he proceeds in a sarcastic tone. "And, do you know why he did all of this Norma?"

Norma shakes her head a few times while chewing the inside of her right cheek out of uneasiness, hanging on her eldest son's every word.

"He thought you left him. All of this is because of you and your selfishness," Dylan uncrosses his arms in a huff and points sternly with his right finger toward the Sheriff. "Ever since you've essentially disappeared, Norman has felt like you abandoned him. It's too late to tell him this secret now Norma, you need to wake up and realize he needs help. This isn't some sort of a temper tantrum of a spirited child. He needs professional help!" He raises his volume while leaning his tailbone against the kitchen counter and then briefly pinches the bridge of his nose between his right index finger and thumb, squeezing his eyes shut for a second. "Just be a parent," he mumbles.

Dylan searches his mother's face for some sort of realization, but is disappointed when he recognizes her expression remains the same. After an extended period of quietness smothering the room, Dylan has had enough with all of this. He pushes himself away from the counter space and strides toward the doorway again with more force this time, without speaking another word.

When he approaches the exit the Sheriff releases his arm from his love's midriff and steps to the side in order to block off the doorway, making it difficult for the young man to leave.

"MOVE!" Dylan roars, reaching his hands up to physically push Romero out of the way.

Since the young man uses only half his strength to jostle the Sheriff, he's minimally successful in shoving the Sheriff before he finds himself captured in a stifling hold.

"WE'RE NOT DONE MASSETT!" Romero booms as he grabs Dylan's arms somewhat behind his back, fed up with the boy's antics.

"Alex! You're hurting him, let him go!" Norma screeches as she rushes and stops directly in front of them, not missing how the Sheriff gradually relaxes the grip on Dylan's arms at her request. She delicately touches the sides of her eldest son's face with the palms of her hands, saddened when he initially flinches. "I've made mistakes with you, I realize that. There is nothing I can do to fix the past, regardless of how much I want to. And I do, more than anything." She sighs while still holding her son's stare, noticing how his posture becomes more at ease. "But I can change the future," the mother smiles with more tears threatening to appear. "Let's take this one day at a time, okay?"

Dylan nods his head once in her hands, but he remains silently skeptical. It's hard for him to just erase so many years of resentment with another empty promise; however, he's willing to see what happens.

Dylan awkwardly clears his throat in an attempt to push down all of the past wounds, which have recently been ripped open again.

Norma uses her light touch to tilt his head down and kisses his forehead as if he were still a child. She then gently sweeps the couple stray wisps of hair from his temple with her fingertips and flashes another caring smile. After her confession she feels confident things are resolved, unfortunately they are not.

The smile fades from her face when she sees how her son's jaw slowly clenches and his eyes narrow. "Just don't lie to me anymore Norma. Honestly, I can't help you with Norman if you continue to lie to me. I will walk away and this time I won't ever come back."

With a sniffle, Norma focuses on her son's disappointed eyes and instantly feels shame for her past behavior. "I promise, I won't lie to you again. You can trust me, honey."

Dylan scoffs at hearing his mother's vow just prior to turning around to face the Sheriff, poking the older man's chest. "And as for you, don't fucking pretend to care about my life anymore."

Romero swats the young man's hand away in annoyance. "I wasn't pretending to do anything, Massett."

"Bullshit!" Dylan shouts. "All of those fake conversations were a joke, don't insult my intelligence Sheriff."

"I know you're upset about how Norma manipulated the situation and maybe you feel betrayed by both of us, but everything I talked about was genuine." Romero advises sincerely and coolly, trying to once again subdue the intense emotions still filling the space. "Yes the times we spoke may have been influenced, the conversations never were though." He sighs and catches a glimpse of Norma's troubled look from behind the young man. "I know you've a difficult circumstance when it comes to your fath-"

All of a sudden, the Sheriff is hit in the chest with two fists. The blows don't actually hurt the older man, but the motion shocks him. "Fuck you! You don't know anything!" Romero obviously struck a nerve the second he mentions his father, it is too much for Dylan and he loses his temper. He's ashamed of his shameful dad issue and hates to be reminded that he'll never be considered normal.

Dylan continues to yell obscenities at the Sheriff, pushing him with weaker and weaker strikes backward while he releases the emotions he's bottled up for years.

In realizing the magnitude of Dylan's negative emotions regarding his biological father, Romero allows himself to absorb each shove until his back finally nudges against the wall. When the young man tries to throw another hit, the Sheriff grabs his arms. "It's ok kid." The Sheriff attempts to keep him in his grip, even as Dylan continues to struggle. "I made a mistake by bringing up Caleb. I shouldn't have, I apologize." Romero quietens his voice to almost a whisper, loosening his grasp slightly. "Just relax Dylan, this isn't you kid."

After hearing Romero speak about Caleb as his father, Dylan freezes and his complexion pales. When a few moments of silence pass, he turns his focus toward Norma with widened eyes. "Y-you t-told him about Caleb?" Dylan stutters with combination of distress and rage in his tone. "W-why would you do that? That was supposed to be a secret, only known by the family."

Tears start to escape the corners of her eyes as Norma witnesses her eldest son's wounded expression. "Alex is family, honey." She advises carefully and in the most consoling manner she can muster. "Maybe not officially, but we both care for each other deeply." Norma flashes a tentative smile at the Sheriff, who returns the sentiment with a grin. In receiving a beaming smile as a reaction from Alex, Norma restores her attention back to a distraught Dylan. "I apologize for not talking with you about this first. I should have."

"That wasn't only your secret to tell Norma!" Dylan exclaims through gritted teeth, then turns to escape the room once again but pauses when he hears the Sheriff speak up.

"I've already told Norma I would guard this secret and I meant it. I would never betray that promise to you or your mother. I understand the sensitivity to the subject and how it must make you feel to have another person know, but I would never use this information to hurt either of you." The Sheriff cautiously lifts his hand and touches the young man's shoulder in an attempted comforting style.

During their many interactions, the Sheriff could actually see himself stepping into a fatherly- type role for not only Dylan but for his brother as well, if only he would be given the chance to prove himself as a person who could be trusted and not the enemy. Romero knows he needs to tread very carefully if he's going to overcome the lying and scheming reputation Dylan now associates with his character.

Dylan flinches when he feels Romero squeeze his shoulder, which ultimately snaps him out of his muddled thoughts. The words strike another nerve within him, but this time it didn't make him want to punch the older man. Instead he feels like his emotions are somewhat understood. He's not used to that.

"Sweetie? Are you alright?" Norma asks softly after seeing her son recoil slightly, then become rigid in his posture after the Sheriff's consoling gesture. Her right arm reaches around her boyfriend's waist in encouragement and cuddles close to his side which prompts his left hand to rest on her lower back. Romero's other hand remains on Dylan's shoulder, regardless of the initial wince, in hopes of some sort of promising response from the young man.

A slow nod is the only visible reaction to his mother's question with a stray sniffle slipping through the silence, which worries Norma even more but she remains tucked into Alex's body as she sees him squeeze the young man's shoulder once again.

With the second movement by the Sheriff, Dylan turns around to face the couple with noticeably reddened eyes. His head suddenly starts to throb terribly due to all of the confusion and increased pressure building in his mind from the overwhelming emotions he's fought to keep hidden for so many years. He's mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted at the moment, just seeking some sort of relief. His desperation for validation for what he's feeling at the moment allows the Sheriff to pull him into an awkward bro-hug, which gradually becomes more comforting and parental.

In seeing her eldest son so vulnerable, Norma steps aside in awe of the scene. She beams in happiness and pride while bringing her hands in front of her in a silent clap, like an excited teenager. Soon she detects a hand reaching out toward her which she eagerly accepts, bringing her closer to the two men. Her son instinctively buries his face into her neck to seek the motherly comfort he's always sought, which Norma happily provides.

Norma sighs in relief when she senses her eldest son finally relax in her hold. "Everything will be better for all of us from now on, honey. I promise." She whispers with dampened eyes and a smile no one can see.

XXXX

Emma creeps through the front door with caution after noticing it slightly ajar. "Hello?" She calls out as she steps in the house and peeks around the entryway.

Unsure of what she'll see, Emma continues to tip toe inside the house and hesitantly follows the faint sound of sniffling to the kitchen area. With a deep and shaky breath, she sneaks into the room's doorway and is shocked what she sees.

In seeing her boyfriend in a family embrace with his mother and the Sheriff her heart sparks with delight and swells instantly. It's a scene Emma never thought she would witness. But by standing in such close proximity to the significant family moment Emma starts to feel awkward and maybe even a little rude, almost as if she's intruding.

Emma's eyes surge with dampness in seeing Dylan mending the previously damaged beyond repair relationship with Norma. He even appears to be allowing Romero to become the father figure her boyfriend so desperately needs in his life, especially since Caleb appears to have disappeared again. Though Dylan has always been the strong one in any situation, it's refreshing and a relief for her to see him accept himself and all of the emotions he hasn't previously permitted himself to feel.

She covers her smile with her hand and then carefully begins to slink out of the room without disturbing the other three; however, Norma senses another being in the room. When Norma suddenly shifts her focus to the young woman attempting to step out of the room, she gently removes herself from the arms holding her and paces toward Emma with tears staining her cheeks.

"Please don't go Emma." Norma pleads while stretching her arms outward in her direction, prompting Emma to move toward her. Before she knows it, Emma is wrapped up in her mother figure's hug.

In hearing Emma's name alerting him to her presence, Dylan immediately pulls away from the Sheriff with a single nod and a hint of a smile at the older man in appreciation for his fatherly efforts. He's still not ready to show what he perceives as weakness to his girlfriend but he can't deny he feels lighter to some extent after the conversation with Romero and his mother, and maybe a little hopeful for the future.

The second he turns to face his girlfriend, Dylan clears his throat gaining both women's attention. "Um, h-hey Emma." He greets clumsily with an awkward wave then coughs into his fist in an attempt to cover up his discomfort.

"Hi Dylan," Emma responds excitedly with a brightened grin as she pulls away from Norma's embrace. All of a sudden her jaw drops when she looks around the room and sees destruction like she's never seen before. A noticeable gasp leaves her previously weakened lungs when she fully takes in the scene surrounding her. "Oh my god, what happened?"

"Well, I think maybe Dylan can fill you in on the situation." Norma flashes a knowing smile at the young couple and then winks at the Sheriff when she's sure Emma and her son are not looking toward her. "Do you two mind helping with the mess in here? I'm just going to check on your brother for a bit and then I'll be back down to help also."

"Of course we'll help!" Emma replies eagerly for the both of them while looking back at her boyfriend with a smile, which now seems to be permanently glued on her lips. Regardless of the magnitude of the disarray around her, she's pleased to spend more time with Dylan.

"I can help also," the Sheriff quickly interjects. "Also I want to pay for all of the damages and replace anything that was lost Ms. Bates," he smirks in addressing her formally. Neither of them realize Emma has already been included in the secret of their dating status by Dylan.

"Oh. I don't know what to say Sheriff Romero. That is more than generous of you," Norma responds with her own smirk that quickly turns into a smoldering smile, which earns a huff and dramatic eye roll from her eldest son. "I'm not sure how I'll be able to repay you for all of this kindness."

"Oh for fucks sakes," Dylan mumbles to himself at the not so subtle flirting happening in front of him. Dylan just wants to blurt out how Emma already knows their little dating secret, but if he does this then he's essentially giving away his own secret and he's not quite ready for everything to be out in the open yet. Needless to say, he chooses to remain silent but annoyed beyond belief at this weird playful banter. "Yeah alright. Thanks Sheriff, can we move on now?" Dylan interrupts the situation with a flat tone of his voice, trying to end the awkwardness.

"Sure, ok. Let's get started." Romero states with a clap of his hands, just about to take a step toward the counter where a couple of glasses lie broken before a question stalls his movement.

"Didn't you say you have to get to the station today?" Norma asks with a sweetened tone and a raised brow, sending a hint to the Sheriff.

"No, you know I already called th-." He starts to answer, but is quickly disrupted when he feels a not so gentle jab to his ribs. Romero slightly tilts his head to the side as he stares at his love in confusion.

Norma ever so slightly nudges her head toward the path of her son and Emma with a wink in an effort for him to soundlessly understand her motives. "Are you sure Sheriff?" She asks again a little more aggressively, fluttering her eyelashes at him frantically. "I think these two will be fine to start on this ALONE." Norma adds with emphasis on the last word, causing the young couple to exchange a look of curiosity.

With widened eyes, Romero finally catches on and plays along at Norma's silent insistence. The Sheriff pretends to peek at his watch quickly as a reaction and then clears his throat throwing a perceptive glance with a grin at his girlfriend. "Oh, yeah whew look at the time. I really should get going. I have to- you know, change and things."

Norma hums with a tiny giggle escaping by accident. "I'll walk you out Sheriff. Again, thank you so much for the help today."

Before leaving the area, Norma walks toward her son with what appears to be a sinister smile. "And thank you Dylan. You took care of Norman when I couldn't. It means the world to me and trust me, it does to him too." She whispers with the palm of her right hand touching the side of his face, but then moves her hand to squeeze his cheek with her index finger and thumb. "Such a good kid."

Dylan groans out of embarrassment as his mother continues to pinch his cheek. "Mom!" Dylan exclaims with a faint tint of pink rising to the very same cheek.

Norma can't help the giddiness she feels inside the second she hears Dylan call her mom. It's been so long and she was beginning to think she would never hear that word from her eldest son again. "Alright. I'll stop honey," she giggles again while walking through the doorbell with Romero following closely behind.

The very moment the other couple leaves the room, Emma rushes toward her boyfriend and cuddles him close which accidently causes him to stumble backwards at the surprise movement. "I'm so proud of you," she speaks into his chest with a heartfelt smile Dylan can't see, but can definitely sense. "Seeing you all hug like that when I walked in was just so, so wonderful!"

Dylan slowly unravels Emma from his middle and then touches his index finger to her lips to politely shush her before crossing the room to check on his mother's whereabouts, careful to avoid the stray shards of glass littering the floor. In peeking his head around the corner of the kitchen with caution, Dylan exhales in relief when he hears the front door close and pair of heels run up the stairs.

"I had to make sure we were alone." Dylan says as he returns to his girlfriend's side, frowning when he notices Emma's sadness. "I'm sorry. I know you want to tell Norma about us but please understand now isn't the right time."

"Does the timing have anything to do with all of this?" She asks while motioning to the destruction encircling them.

Dylan moves to stand in front of her as he weaves his fingers in between hers with a timid look. "Norman did all of this," he watches her facial expression fall to concern. "He was upset Norma left and I also found out he was upset with me for leaving when we were younger. I had no idea he even noticed." He sighs, while tightening his fingers around hers. "I've never seen anything like it Emma. He was so angry and confused all at the same time, he just couldn't control himself." Dylan focuses his attention to stare directly into his girlfriend's anxious brown eyes with his troubled blue ones. "He literally blacked out, Emma. I know he didn't mean to do any of this. None of this was done on purpose for attention or anything, like I thought in the past. I think he's just… lost."

XXXX

Norma gradually opens the door to Norman's room to find him still sleeping, appearing peaceful. However, her son is anything but peaceful. She quietly sneaks into the darkened room and takes a seat in the chair next to his bed. The more she watches Norman, the more she can sense his inner turmoil.

She decides to scoot her chair closer to the bed and then leans her body near Norman. She reaches her arm forward and lightly touches her youngest son's forehead with her fingertips. "I'm so sorry Norman. I would never leave you sweetie, never. I only want to add someone to our family that I know will love my boys as much as I do," she sniffles using the fingers from her other hand to swipe away a tear falling from the corner of her eye. "I should have been more equal with my love between you and your brother. I see now I hurt you both, but I vow to fix all of this!" Norma whisper-yells, flinching when she sees her youngest son slowly blink his eyes open.

"Mother?"

The End…Maybe?

XXXX

Ok. I'm leaving the status of this fiction open for now because I'm not convinced this should be the ending, but I thought it could be? Please let me know if you want more and maybe what you'd still like to see if I do continue this. Thank you for reading!