I do not own Bates Motel.

But, in some ways, I do own a Dylan. And I love him so much.

Yeah, Whatever

Rollercoaster of Emotion

It was the longest four minutes of his life.

Okay, no it wasn't. Not by a long shot.

But, it was right up there.

He paced the apartment they shared with Will.

Will who was gone off to class.

Leaving Dylan and Emma the perfect opportunity to . . .

I wonder how that's gonna change.

. . . deal with some life changing revelations.

Dylan rubbed his neck. Ran a restless hand through his hair.

Glanced nervously around from here to there to everywhere, trying to find a focal point which with to wait out the clock.

When Emma finally emerged from their bathroom with a flushed face and those warm brown eyes lit up and bubbly, his heart stopped.

And he didn't even need to hear her say the words.

But he really kind of did.

And she obliged him.

"I'm pregnant."

His heart jerked once, twice.

And then started hammering so hard it hurt his chest.

She grinned nervously, face estatic, then scared, then a wild mix of emotions all over the place.

"I never really thought about living long enough or being healthy enough to ever be a mother, it was never part of a future for me-"

She was talking fast, stammering over her words.

Anxious and worried and excited and everything rolled into one.

"- and I know we didn't plan for this and we don't have any money saved and you just started your new job and we've only been married for six months-"

Wrapping her arms around herself, trembling fingers tucking her auburn hair behind one ear, obviously wanting to reach out to him but unable to do so yet until she knew how he was going to react.

"- please don't be mad, I don't-"

And Dylan burst out into laughter mixed with tears of pure happiness as he reached for his beautiful wife.

"Emma, Em, stop, stop!"

Taking her face gently in his hands.

And kissing her. Softly. Lovingly.

Tasting her. And the salt of his sudden tears on their lips.

And when they parted a little, Dylan stayed still.

Pressing his forehead to hers, eyes closed.

He wasn't praying exactly.

He had never known how or to whom or why.

He was just very, very . . . grateful.

Finally, he sniffed and opened his eyes.

Seeing her so close.

Peeking at him.

Those eyes, those eyes.

Those liquid eyes.

And he smiled.

And drew back.

Speaking quietly, frank sincerity coloring every word.

"I love you, Emma. So much. You're everything to me. I can't imagine my life without you. It would be . . . horrible."

And it would be. He'd be lost. Like he'd always been before her.

So lost.

And alone.

Full of anger and resentment and misery.

"You're right, we're not ready for this baby. But I want it. I want it so much. I want it more than I've ever wanted anything in my entire life besides you."

He could feel his emotions swelling in his chest, threatening to overwhelm him.

"I wanna . . . I wanna hold it and love it and cuddle it and take care of it. I wanna talk to it and feed it and make sure it knows it's loved more than anything in the world."

He paused, sniffing again, then continued.

Somewhat lighter than before.

"And I wanna name it. 'It' is a weird name for a baby. Like, creepy clown weird."

Quirking a lopsided smile at Emma, still in his arms.

Who burst into relieved giggles, face alight with joy.

Reaching up, wiping a thumb gently across the tears that now streaked his face.

"Okay. But, no offense, we're not naming it 'Norma'. Or 'Norman'."

He grimaced, still somehow grinning and crying at the same time.

"Oh, god, no."

And even though it hurt like it always did, dull and distant, the thought of Norma and Norman's severe continued dysfunctionality, Dylan Massett still managed to chuckle.

As he swiped away his tears.

And cradled his amazing wife and unborn child close to his chest.

"I love you, Emma."

"I love you, Dylan."

Dylan Massett, former unloved incest bastard son of brother/sister dyfunctional duo Norma Bates and Caleb Calhoun, now current person, was going to be a father.

Father.

Dad.

I'm going to be a dad.

He was both terrified.

I don't know how to be a dad.

And elated.

But he sure as hell know how not to be a dad, a parent.

I'm never going to abandon my child.

Never make my son or daughter feel unloved or unwanted.

He would always back his child up, be there when they needed him.

He would teach him or her how to survive the world well.

And then watch on with pride as they went out into it and succeeded.

And if his child failed, for whatever reason, that child would always have a place to come home to.

Welcomed. With open arms.

And backed up with love, supported, until they could regroup and step forward again.

Always.

He was going to always be ready to put them before himself.

Always ready and willing to listen, even if he didn't like what was being said.

And be open and honest about everything, all the ti-

What about Audrey?

Shut up. Go away. I don't know anything for sure.

All the time.

He was going to be a great dad.

He would make sure of it.

Emma and the baby were going to be the most important people in all the world to him.

Forever.

If they lived.

If they lived.

If.

Oh god.

Ohgodohgodohgodohgod-

No. No.

No.

They're going to be okay.

The doctors will take care of them.

It'll be fine.

Emma's strong and tough.

And careful.

It'll be fine.

Fine.

They'll be just fi-

"Dylan? Are you okay?"

Emma's murmur was husky and sleepy, buried somewhere in the covers of the warm, welcoming bed they shared.

And she had every right to be sleepy.

It was three in the morning.

She should be sleeping.

And had been.

Until Dylan Massett, a future father for going on a good six hours now, was experiencing what some might term as, 'a complete new parent riddled anxiety attack'.

Or something.

"Yeah," he answered into the soft fall of her hair. "I just want to hold you awhile."

She made some sort of noise in her throat and rolled over.

Wrapping strong slender arms around him, lips brushing kisses all across his face.

His closed eyes. His nose. His mouth.

She did this without speaking.

As if she knew what was in his mind.

And then took his hand and placed it on her still flat stomach.

Pressed her forehead against his.

And they stayed like that for awhile.

Sending the baby their love and strength.

And for the rest of night, he finally slept in peace.

And dreamt of walking in the sun with his happy, healthy child cradled in his arms.

Well, Dylan is a rollercoaster of emotion, isn't he?

Thanks to Lana Brown and my kind guest for reviewing!

Thanks also to lilped7 and Alexander Old for adding your support to this story.