Author's Notes: I tried to have the ending of this fiction be this chapter, but it didn't happen. There will be more… At least 2 more chapters. At least this is a longer chapter.

Please let me know what you think, leave a review!

Stay safe everyone and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 24: Linger

Emma stands completely bewildered watching as Dylan takes off into a full blown sprint, clueless as to what just happened. One moment she's secured in his arms and the next she's shoved to the side, being left by herself.

After the initial shock, Emma focuses on not only Dylan's steadily blurring figure but also the shadow he's chasing after. In focusing a little more, Emma begins to realize what is happening and rushes toward the potential disaster.

As she tries to run, Emma scorns the sandals she decided to wear tonight while also hoping her new lungs don't give up on her. As she finally approaches Dylan she stops dead in her tracks when Emma sees him tackle his little brother to the ground.

With wide eyes, her body is frozen solid at what she has just witnessed.

Quickly, Emma looks in the direction of where Norma and the Sheriff had been standing moments ago, only to notice they had moved to somewhere else. Slowly releasing her breath, Emma scans the area. Much to her relief, Emma catches a glimpse of the couple dancing with other pairs in the middle of the main streets of downtown White Pine Bay. With their eyes clearly focused on each other while swaying in a fluid motion they appear to fit together as if they're a puzzle piece, thankfully oblivious to the altercation that's taking place nearby.

In glancing back to the brothers, she sees a distressing scene in front of her. Dylan is crouched by Norman's side, gently shaking his shoulder.

With a gasp and a hand over her mouth, Emma rushes to Norman's other side and kneels across from her frantic boyfriend.

"I'm sorry Norman, I'm so sorry. Please be ok, please wake up Norman!" Dylan whisper-yells, while continuing to try to wake his little brother. He hasn't noticed Emma yet, even though she's inches away from him.

Cautiously, Emma carefully reaches her left arm out and places her palm on the top of his right hand, while gently stoking the side of Norman's face with her other.

This action caused Dylan to flinch his hand back and jerk his head up to connect his focus with hers. "I didn't mean it Emma, he just was charging so fast toward them. I couldn't stop him any other way," he blurted out in a panic before once again putting his hand back onto his brother's shoulder.

"I know Dylan. I know you didn't mean harm," she speaks softly trying to calm everyone's nerves.

Dylan once again tries to wake his brother, with a little more aggression. When nothing seems to arouse Norman, Dylan collapses to sit on the grass with his knees drawn to his chest. Instantly he rests his elbows on top of his knees and drops his forehead into his hands. "Shit, he won't wake up. I don't know what to do," Dylan whispers desperately.

Emma continues to gently stroke the side of Norman's face with a delicate touch and doesn't stop even when she notices her boyfriend's demeanor. She's never seen Dylan like this, so distraught. Though there aren't any tears dropping to his cheeks, she can see his eyes glistening as if they're about to fall at any moment.

"Dylan please don't give up," she tries to encourage when she sees him lift his head to look at his brother again.

"You're right, sorry Emma." Dylan mutters before crouching to Norman's side once again and swiping his eyes with the back of his hand in a quick motion. "I don't want to do this, but I think I have to." He mumbles before tapping his brother's cheek with a bit of force, careful not to fully slap him.

By Dylan's third tap to his little brother, Norman slowly flickers his eyelids open. "Dy-l-an?" Norman stutters.

"Norman, thank God!" Dylan sighs in relief with a smile, glancing at Emma who reciprocates the grin. "How do you feel? Are you okay? Does anything hurt?" He rushes out the questions, almost at the same time.

"What happened?" Norman asks, struggling to sit up.

"I'm sorry but I had to stop you little brother," Dylan replies with regret in his tone while sitting him upwards.

As he sits up on the grass, Norman surveys the area in an attempt to piece together what occurred. When he realizes he's downtown, Norman glares at his older brother in confusion. "Why?" He questions quietly. "Why am I here?"

"Honestly Norman, I don't know but I think we should go home now." Dylan doesn't have the heart to tell his brother how he was charging after his own mother and the Sheriff. Some things are best kept as a secret.

"It hurts," Norman says a little dazed as Dylan and Emma help him stand to his feet. With his wobbly legs, he instinctively leans into his brother.

Dylan instantly lifts Norman's arm around his neck, while he also reaches his left arm around the younger man's waist. "I know, I'm sorry. We're going home, then you can rest." As he starts to carefully walk towards his vehicle with his brother in tow, Dylan notices Emma trying to help from Norman's other side.

"Emma, go home." Dylan states, quietly at first but when he detects Emma's continued closeness he changes to a firmer tone. "Emma! I said go home," he grunts a bit when Norman trips over his feet. "Please, just go spend your time with your dad," he huffs with sadness evident in his words. "I don't want this to be what you do on your last day before you leave for college."

"No!" Emma exclaims defiantly as she reaches her right arm around Norman's waist also, resting her limb on top of her boyfriend's and peering around Norman's body to catch a glimpse of Dylan's tightened jaw in the moonlight. "I want to help, Dylan. Please let me."

Dylan swiftly pushes her arm away and then returns his arm to where it had been placed. In order to reach his vehicle faster, Dylan picks up his speed using his strength to almost pull Norman along. He ignores Emma's pleas as he continues to move forward, while she trails behind.

Dylan leans his brother's body against the side of his truck as he unlocks and opens the door, then carefully places Norman in the passenger seat. After buckling the seat belt around the younger man's torso, Dylan shuts the door and steps away to walk around the front of the truck when he's stopped with a tender touch to his bicep.

Flinching at the unexpected pressure, Dylan snaps his focus to Emma standing in front of him. "I'm serious, I want to help. My dad understands and wasn't expecting me home anyway," she says fluttering her eyelashes at him. It's her secret weapon.

"This isn't your problem, Emma. We're not your problem." Dylan says calmly to disguise the growing anxiety bubbling inside of him. With a closer step, Dylan leans in closer to his girlfriend and gently presses his forehead while simultaneously placing the palm of his right hand to her left cheek. Tilting his chin upward, he touches his lips to her temple before letting go and stepping away. "Please… go."

Without another word Dylan walks around the truck, opening the driver's door and steps inside. A second later, the engine starts with a roar. Quickly Dylan pulls away from his parking spot, leaving a sullen Emma behind.

XXXX

"I want to tell Norman about us."

"Really?" The Sheriff asks with widened eyes and a hopeful tone.

Norma flashes a smile and then leans in a little closer to his chest, nuzzling her face against his jacket. "I love you Alex and I love Norman. You're both apart of my life, I can't be scared of my own child's reaction to my happiness." She hums, while also subtly inhaling the man's inviting cologne scent.

"I'm definitely a little shocked," he chuckles while squeezing her a little tighter. "What changed your mind?" He asks quieter, pulling back a little to try to make eye contact.

Staring up with a playful grin she replies softly, "I can't lose you, Alex. I never want to lose you. I love you."

"Good answer," he answers with a stoic face, leading to a not so gentle shove to his chest with a usually typical delicate hand. "What?" The Sheriff stares at her with his mouth in shock, pretending to be hurt.

"Aren't you going to say it back?" She asks with hopefulness, a little nervous that he doesn't feel the same level of intensity of love for her, as she does for him.

He pauses, maybe just to tease her a bit.

"Say it back!" She raises her voice, with yet another slap to the man's chest.

"I guess if I'm forced to. Sure, I love you too." The Sheriff smirks and throws a wink when he notices her pout.

"Alright." The Sheriff chuckles as he squeezes her impossibly tight in his embrace, so constricting Norma has no choice but to lean her head against him. "I love you, Norma. More than you could ever know," he whispers with his chin resting on the top of her head which is currently tucked into the man's chest.

Norma hides a smile as she feels the Sheriff adjust to rest his cheek on her hair. Inhaling deeply she relaxes in his arms, completely oblivious to half the crowd staring at the couple.

A couple of songs later, Romero pulls back to peek downward at Norma who is holding onto his jacket with a tight fist as if she is afraid he would leave her if he moves away. He then raises his chin and glances around the crowd, inwardly cringing in noticing how many people are staring at them.

It's not that he isn't proud to have Norma in his arms; however, having so many eyes watching their every move makes him uncomfortable. "I don't really like this song, do you mind if we maybe go back to my place. We could spend some time catching up," he grins while taking ahold of her hand in his.

"I would love that." Norma smiles, gladly following her man away from the others gathered in the streets.

When they reach their vehicles, which happen to be parked near each other, Norma pauses by her car and pulls her phone from her pocket. "I need to call Norman to check in on him." Norma looks down at her phone, missing the look of concern while she reads the new message on the screen.

"I hope you took my advice tonight. Norman just finished his shift, he said it was a quiet night. I've decided to stay at the motel. – Dylan."

"Everything is fine with Norman," she beams while gazing up into his eyes. "Dylan messaged me and said he's staying at the house tonight. So that means, I'm all yours tonight."

Romero flashes a tight lipped smile in response, but in his mind he can't help to feel a little disappointed in the realization that things may not be so different after all. Norma feeling the need to check on her 19 year old son as if he were a 10 year old, is troubling. Either Norman can't be trusted to be on his own as an adult, or she can't let go and allow her son to become independent. Both scenarios aren't positive when it comes to their relationship.

"Follow me home?" He asks, burying deep his feeling of insecurity and worry.

Norma nods in response, unable to wipe the grin off her face as she enters her car and happily follows the love of her life without a care in the world.

XXXX

After walking up the long outdoor staircase with almost Norman's entire weight leaning on him, Dylan is exhausted but he knows he has a long night ahead of him. He momentarily, halts his steps in order to dig into his pocket and grab the extra set of keys. After kicking the door shut behind him, not bothering to lock it, Dylan continues his steps up the stairs to his brother's room as if he's on automatic pilot.

Unsurprisingly the second Norman's head hits the pillow, he's falls asleep instantly. Dylan carefully removes his brother's shoes and then covers him with his sheet and comforter. He slowly shuffles his feet with a yawn to the corner of Norman's room and sits on the nearby chair. Maybe he should go, but Dylan can't help to wait a little longer just in case his brother would need him.

XXXX

Emma sneaks through the front door to the Bates' house, carefully shutting the door behind her. In the foyer, she doesn't see anyone around with only a small dull light shining from the living room. As she nears the other room, Emma notices an exhausted Dylan starting to drag his tired body down the stairs with eyelids only partially open.

When Dylan is about half-way down the stairwell, he finally notices Emma standing in the living room. Suddenly, his eyes widen in seeing her. "Emma?" He whispers with a tightened jaw while taking the last few steps. "I told you not to come here," he sighs out of exasperation. "Go home Emma and be with your dad, you shouldn't be here. This isn't your problem."

"This isn't yours either Dylan," she says softly while approaching him. "Let me help."

Dylan starts to take his suit jacket off, when Emma reaches out to help him with a small smile. She takes the jacket and walks to the foyer, hanging it from the coat hook near the door.

"Please let me spend the night with you here. I can help you and Norman," she pleads and then pauses. "I know he's your little brother and you feel a need to help him, but in case you've forgotten he's also my best friend." She argues, now following him into the kitchen but stops in the doorway. "I just want to be with you." Emma whispers focusing on the floor versus her boyfriend, afraid he'll see the hurt written all over her face.

He remains quiet while lazily reaching into the upper cupboard to grab some coffee and a filter, he knows it's going to be a long restless night. As he switches the coffeemaker on, he turns to look at the distressed young woman in the doorway. "Emma, he's asleep. There's nothing you can do," he mumbles under his breath. "Please just go home," he orders.

"There is something I can do!" Emma turns around with a huff and disappears, leaving Dylan speechless with a roll of his eyes. When the coffeemaker is done, Dylan grabs a coffee cup and pours what he considers to be liquid gold disguised as coffee.

When Emma returns a couple of minutes later, with a laptop in her hands and a grin.

"Is that my laptop?" Dylan questions skeptically with a squint of his eyes, while lifting the mug to his lips.

"Maybe." She giggles catching a glimpse of Dylan who clearly is clueless to what she's doing as she sets the computer on the tabletop, opening it immediately. After turning on the laptop, Emma pulls out a chair and quickly takes a seat. "What's your password?"

"Umm, that's private." Dylan advises, pushing away from the counter with his mug secured in his hand. He takes a few steps and sets down the cup on the table to lean over and type in his secret password. Dylan surely didn't want to let her know that his password is actually her initials and birthday. "There," he mutters while moving another chair next to hers, cheeks tinted pink from her possibly noticing the letters and numbers he typed in.

"Seriously? You really need to keep that a secret?" She asks sarcastically, catching a glimpse of his evident embarrassment.

Waving his hand out toward her, Dylan tries to distract Emma from the issue. "Let's move on. What are you doing anyway?"

Emma let's a tiny giggle again while she navigates around his desktop until she finds what she's looking for. "I'm going to do a little research for Norman."

Rolling up the sleeves to his shirt, Dylan scoots his chair closer to his girlfriend in order to get a better angle of the screen. "Oh, okay. You're good at that type of thing," he smiles before reaching out for his coffee. "It will be practice for your classes."

Staring at the computer, her fingers glide across the built in mousepad and then type fiercely against the keys. Dylan sits back and takes in the scene of Emma staring intensely at the screen with her bottom lip tucked slightly between her teeth.

With a gentle touch to her thigh, Dylan silently gazes at his girlfriend in awe with an overwhelming sense of love. He's never felt this way about anyone, or anything and at times it can be overpowering which leads him to run away. With no more questions in his mind, Dylan knows this is the person he is meant to be with. He'll protect her at all costs, even if it's from himself.

No more running.

"I'm sorry." Dylan blurts out by accident, causing Emma to halt her fingers and to rotate her body towards him. "You deserve better than me with all the things I've put you through." He drops his chin momentarily, before once again focusing on her.

"I hate when you talk like that," she states with a furrowed brow, simultaneously placing her palm on the top of his hand still resting on her thigh. "Dylan, I've chosen you. If I had any doubts in who you are, I would've walked away. The trouble we've had is because we handle things differently. Eventually, we'll learn from each other." She advises sweetly, squeezing his hand gently for a few seconds in reassurance.

A brief and somewhat uncomfortable silence blankets the room before Dylan speaks again. "I've realized, I'm my mother's son."

She studies his face with concern, but remains quiet.

"Norma treats the Sheriff the same way I treated you. I've spent so much time hating her and now I realized I truly hated myself. You've changed me Emma, more than you'd ever know."

XXXX

The Sheriff pulls his SUV into the garage and then walks outside to meet Norma at her car. When the driver's door opens, Romero immediately holds out his hand for her to take which she does instantly.

After unlocking door, the Sheriff catches Norma off guard by easily picking her up in a bridal carry and stepping inside gently placing her onto her feet.

"That was unexpected." She smiles, turning to look at him before placing both her palms on his chest.

Romero clears his throat, still trying to forget about all of the concerns surrounding Norma. "You haven't been here in a long time. I thought we could have a fresh start," he says unable to hide the hint of sadness in his tone.

Slowly Norma slides her hands upward until she is holding his face in her palms, forcing him to focus on her. "I'm sorry for how things were before. I shouldn't have pushed you away when you were only trying to care about me and my sons. I know how much Dylan respects you and I know, Norman will get there too."

XXXX

After a couple of hours just enjoying each other's company and cuddling on the couch, as they had so many times before. Everything started to feel more and more comfortable for the Sheriff, almost as if no time had passed at all.

The problem is, time has passed. Months went by without so much as a reply to the times he had reached out, causing the hurt to suddenly flood his heart. Hoping the wounds would instantly heal the second Norma touched his hand, simply hasn't.

Suddenly, Norma stands up and reaches both of her arms out with a wide grin and a glint in her eyes. "Come on, let's go."

With a tad of hesitation, the Sheriff takes her hands in his as she pretends to pull him from the couch but he clearly goes willingly. He follows her blindly to his room with negative thoughts still lingering in the back of his mind, willing for them to vanish with every step.

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Thank you for reading and your patience!