I do not own Bates Motel.
But, in some ways, I do own a Dylan. And I love him so much.
Yeah, Whatever
Yes, Please
People kept leaving him.
Dylan kept allowing himself to trust people, hope in them.
And they kept leaving.
Trying to make friends as a child. Unable to with all the moving around they always did.
"Mom, I don't want to go!"
"Oh stop whining and get packed!"
Leaving home at seventeen.
Anything's gotta be better than this.
Okay, I was wrong. Wow, life does suck.
Trying to come back to Norma.
Finding no one.
Because she moved entire regions without bothering to tell him.
What the hell?
Arizona all the way to Oregon.
Caleb, his uncle-father.
Wanted. Warrant.
And of course, the whole can't-ruin-my-dear-sister-lover's-life-a-second-time thing.
And now Emma.
Seattle.
She was going to Seattle.
And leaving him cold and empty again without her warmth.
And he had to let her go.
Because it was what was best for her.
What she needed.
And, if he was really going to care about her over himself, he was going to be nice about it.
Because she was her own person who had to go off and have her own life because she was going to live now.
Seattle. Shit.
I mean, damn.
I mean, good.
He had already said it.
She was being unleashed on the world.
She was going to go out and live.
Because she deserved it.
She deserved everything.
Because she had earned it.
Because she was her.
And he was going to stay.
And make do.
Because he deserved nothing.
And that was okay.
The best respiratory center in the country.
Yes. Good.
The best.
Because she deserved the best.
Because she was the best.
He had already tried to detach a little. Let her go.
He didn't want to parasite her.
"I'm going to go back to the farm. Make sure Gunner hasn't burned the place down."
"Are you coming back?"
Do you want me to come back?"
I mean, you know it's just me, right?
Her little smile, as if the answer was obvious.
Maybe to you but not to me.
"Come back. Yes, I want you to."
Okay. Let's see how long that lasts.
Then he had kissed her on the cheek.
Short and quick.
Thinking it might be the last time.
Because he was leaving.
Just for a few days.
Long enough for her to sit and think and realize the potential the world held for her now that she wasn't dying.
Realize she didn't really need him anymore. Realize she was too good for him, could do better.
Easily.
Part of him wanted to hope she wouldn't.
But he knew it was true.
Not even able to consider something going medically wrong with her.
Notifying Will so he wouldn't think he had just run off and abandoned her.
Feeling the world beginning to weigh down on him again as he drove back to White Pine Bay.
Skipping the town, the damn house and motel.
Driving straight to the farm without making contact with anybody.
Parking the truck.
Staring at the place.
Realizing it wasn't as awesome looking to him anymore.
Not without her, or the thought of her there.
Feeling depressed. Empty.
Ignoring the barn, the plants, everything.
Stomping into the empty cabin, past the wilted wildflowers.
Collapsing onto the creaky cot and just passing out of existence for a little while.
Twelve hours to be exact.
Awakening.
His first thought being of her.
Emma.
Knowing he shouldn't bother her.
Knowing he should leave her alone. Let her heal.
That she was going places now.
And that he needed to get out of her way.
Let her go.
But he was weak. And selfish.
And . . .
I love her.
. . . totally in love.
Barn's still standing. Guess Gunner's doing better than I thought.
Wonders never cease. So everything's okay?
Yeah.
When are you coming back?
You still want me to?
Yes, of course. We already had this discussion.
Welling happiness.
She still wants me.
Visceral relief.
Okay. I'll be back in a couple of days.
I'll be here. They won't give me back my clothes.
Him grinning, thinking, neither would I.
Unable to type the joke. Not yet.
Take care of yourself. See you soon.
Okay. Safe travels.
Bounding up off the cot, leaping to his feet.
Showering.
Grabbing fresh clothes from a bugout bag.
Grabbing a soda and a protein bar from the seven eleven.
Easily ignoring the cigarettes.
And powering back up to Portland.
Only two hours to get back to her.
Grinning most of the way.
Spending a few days with her.
Will giving him some new hope he had never . . .
". . . too good to be selling pot."
. . . considered before.
Hinting it to Emma. Seeing her interest.
Powering back down to White Pine Bay.
Not even getting the pleasure of firing . . .
"Later, dude."
. . . Gunner.
Emma being so sweet again.
Dealing with Chick.
Norma.
Norman.
All the while . . .
Emma.
. . . keeping her face firmly fixed in his mind as a focal point of calmness.
Good decision making.
Sanity.
And now back here on the roof.
That good feeling seeping into him again.
That he got just being around her.
Only to find out she was the one that was going to leave.
Well, not immediately, not now.
She still had another week in the hospital.
Then probably a couple of weeks at home.
But still, she was leaving.
And they could make it work.
He could live in White Pine Bay, drive the five hours and visit her here and there.
Facetime.
Sext eventually. Maybe.
I can't sext Emma.
Until she met somebody in Seattle, somebody closer, somebody better. And it all faded away between them.
Shit, that sucks.
But he wasn't going to hold her back.
He wasn't going to weigh her down.
She deserved to be free and unleashed on the world.
And he was steeling himself to smile and wave goodbye and accept life without her.
Because it was what was best for her.
"I was wondering if you would consider coming with us?"
What?
"I mean, I know it's alot to ask, for someone you've only been with a few weeks, well, not even really been with . . ."
He stared at her, pleasant shock and surprise seeping into him through her warm smiling eyes and the gentle touch of her trembling fingers because she was . . .
Nervous? About me? Seriously?
. . . asking a question she didn't know the answer to.
You've got the whole world at your fingertips and any guy would love to be near you and you want me?
And it seemed too good to be true, like the painkillers had gotten her to or something.
Me?
And he found himself smiling
But . . .
"Emma, if you want me to come, I'm going to go with you."
. . . Dylan Massett was never one to let any opportunity pass him by.
Oh hell yeah.
He was selfish after all.
And . . .
Oh thank god.
. . . he loved Emma Decody.
Had already decided he would do anything for her.
To make her happy.
To take care of her.
She smiled, relief and happiness clear . . .
"Really?"
"Yeah."
. . . on her face.
And he felt mild bewilderment that she would really feel that strongly about him.
Seriously?
Oh my god, yes.
And then, just to top it all off, he got to kiss her.
Again.
Oh god, yeah. I could get used to this.
Like, forever.
Oh these two incite so much hope for healing, don't they?
*sighs happily*
Thanks to Lana Brown and your unfailing enthusiasm. So sweet!