I do not own Bates Motel.
But, in some ways, I do own a Dylan. And I love him so much.
Yeah, Whatever
No Monsters
Their first marriage, the one that lasted just a little over a year, was happy and full of light and love.
And one great big fat lie that whispered between them, unbeknownst to Emma.
It ate at Dylan, like a hidden cancer he kept ignoring, hoping it would go away. Forcing himself to carry the burden of his brother in silence and fear.
Because to let it out might mean hurting Emma. Or losing her altogether.
Their second marriage lasted only days. Full of anger, resentment, uncertainty and fear. With that great, big, fat lie finslly oit in the open, screaming at the top of its lungs and right in their faces all the time.
The third marriage lasted several months and was fragile and brittle, like thin ice in the middle of a deep, dark lake. Ready to swallow them up if it cracked under the weight of the aftermath of the directly related events of the second marriage.
Their fourth marriage was the best. It was much like the first. Except they had absolutely no secrets between them. None. It was the freest. The most loving and trusting and true. And lasted for nearly sixteen wonderfully long years.
And Dylan Brian Massett was truly happy. Finally free. And oh so very grateful.
I love you, Emma.
I love you, Katie.
I love you both so much.
There was this children's music video.
'Little Baby Bum.'
Seriously, he had laughingly challenged Emma. That's the name of it?
Well, yeah, she had returned. 'Cause baby bottoms are cute and the songs are cute.
Isn't that, right, Katie, she had cooed.
And Katie had gurgled.
Yes, it is, that's right.
And bemused Daddy Dylan had been overriden.
He hadn't minded.
So the show consisted of little two minute baby songs.
Some boppy, some quiet and soothing.
And it was cute.
Some of the songs he knew.
'. . . bus go 'round and 'round . . ."
Some he did not.
" . . . eating sugar?' 'No, Papa.' Telling . . ."
But there was one in particular that got stuck in his head.
". . . you, boo . . ."
Dylan Massett really liked it.
It made him feel free, reminding him of where he had come from.
And where he was now, what could be now.
He hummed it.
". . . hiding under there?"
He tapped his fingers to it.
". . . live in our home . . ."
He even found himself singing it to Katie as he rocked her gently in his arms.
". . . only me and my family . . ."
Which gave Emma, on her way to their bedroom for a nap . . .
"Is that the 'No Monsters' song, Dylan?"
. . . pause.
He was only a little sheepish.
"Yeah."
Emma pressed her lips together in an amused but enchanted smile.
"Oh. That's so sweet."
He grinned and shrugged.
"Yeah."
And she kissed him and went on her way.
He watched her with a content little smile on his face.
He didn't know if she understood the significance of that song.
What it meant to him.
But really . . .
"Hey, you, boo . . ."
. . . it didn't matter.
" . . . hear that sound . . ."
He did.
". . . that I've found . . ."
He might tell her some time.
"There are no monsters that live in our home . . ."
But for now, he just kissed his tiny daughter's forehead.
"There's only me and my family that live in our home . . ."
And kept quietly singing.
"There are no monsters that live here . . ."
Little Baby Bum and all the songs therein are real and currently on Netflix.
And just as cute as I said.
You know, it did occur to me that when we see their little family at the end, it might be all a lie concocted by Dylan's now broken-from-having-to-kill-his-brother brain. A desperate delusion. Maybe he's the one in Pineview now. Maybe he's the final victim of this sordid tale. Emma sitting with him on visiting days, trying to figure out how she's going to explain all this to her daughter, not lie and not hide the truth.
But that ending is too dark, too miserable, too terrible.
And this is my damn story and I believe in Emma and Dylan, which I will expound upon later.
And so I'm going with goodness and real life with all its ups and downs and happinesses and sadnesses.
And that's my rant. ;)
One more chapter to go. And we'll let them be.