Many thanks to the lovely Gerda who read through this chapter for me when I had a momentary freak out that I was making Alex "too mean" and "what if everyone hates me?" Thanks again!

You know a few years back, when that film Captivity came out, and everyone started calling films like that "torture porn"? Well, I've created a new genre - Emotional torture porn. You'll see... Prepare to feel unexpected sympathy for a character you don't expect...


After a thoroughly tiring morning rolling around the sheets, Norma had managed to tempt him from their bed, pulling him for one last round in the shower before dressing and sitting on the bed, her shoes on, her purse sat next to her, her face innocent and expectant.

He wandered out of the bathroom, taking in her excited little face, rubbing his shoulder tenderly. She weighed almost nothing, but he wasn't as young as he used to be, and holding her up had taken it out of him a little. She narrowed her eyes at him and he dropped his hand, not wanting to let on that she'd tired him out, especially as she gazed at him so cheerfully, looking entirely fresh-faced.

"I'm exhausted." She announced happily, stifling a yawn, and he was instantly strangely sorry that women had the luxury of makeup to cover up their exhaustion. He wasn't in his twenties anymore. Their night, plus their morning, plus their early afternoon had tuckered him out more than he cared to admit but he wouldn't change any of it for anything.

"Me too." He said, catching her contagious yawn, stretching his arms to the ceiling, pleased when he watched her gaze drift down to his bare torso. She was insatiable.

"Put a shirt on." She rolled her eyes, her tone playful, as if she could ever get tired of seeing his body.

"Why?" He stalked over to her, his eyes wide and innocent, his hand drifting playfully to where his towel was wrapped around his hips. "Can't resist me?"

He leaned in to kiss her, frowning when she pressed her hand against his chest, keeping him at arms length.

"Stop it." She said mildly, pretending not to be affected by him at all, her quickened breathing giving her away. "We have things to do."

He glanced at the clock, frowning.

"Our flight isn't for hours?"

Her face fell.

"But... the lighthouse?" She said, sounding like she was literally five years old and someone had just taken her candy off her. "You promised."

He rolled his eyes, his face breaking into a wide smile, watching as she mimicked his expression.

"How could I forget?" He surged forwards, breaking free of her hand and leaning down to kiss her before she could stop him. It was an innocent peck for all of 5 seconds, before her hand lightly grasped his shoulder, and she flopped back onto the bed, pulling him on top of her.

She moaned into his mouth, her hand drifting down his back to where his towel sat snugly against the small of his back, her fingers toying with the cotton, before he reared back suddenly.

"Now, now Mrs Romero." He chastised gently, untangling himself from her and pulling himself back up to stand up. He took her hand and pulled her to sit upright again. "We have things to do."

There was a knock on the door and they both jumped.

"Room service."

"Did you order breakfast?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.

"No. You were breakfast."

Her mouth dropped open, pretending to be deeply offended by his crass comment as he sauntered over to the door, flashing her a dirty grin before swinging it open.

"Good morning!" The smartly dressed waiter trilled at them automatically, despite the fact that it was clearly afternoon. "The bride and groom sent this, with their compliments. They also said-" The boy reached into his pocket to pull out a card, reading it intently. "Hope you enjoyed the honeymoon. Have a great last day here. Love you both lots." The young man blushed and Norma smiled, realising Sarah must have written the card. He unveiled the tray with a flourish, revealing two huge slices of wedding cake, and a pot of coffee. Sarah had kept her promise. Looked like it was cake for breakfast.


The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum was literally one of the most boring places Alex had ever been to. But somehow, with Norma, this new, happy, open Norma, it was fun. She had a childlike innocence to her that, until now, he'd only seen flashes of. He'd seen a glimpse when he'd got her car back for her, and once, when he'd been staying at the motel and she'd called him to deal with a "fucking tarantula" in her kitchen that had turned out to be roughly an inch across. She's insisted he take it outside, not kill it though, and had insisted on making them both an "adult beverage" as a reward for surviving their ordeal. Her smile as she'd watched that spider amble off into the grass, coupled with the grateful hug she'd rewarded him with had stayed with him for months afterwards, and he now saw that same Norma again as she bounded around the incredibly boring museum, dutifully reading each little placard of information like her life depended on it.

"It was first lit in 1860!" She read, casting him an awed gaze over her shoulder, and he watched as her gaze grew distant and he knew she was wondering what 1860 was like. He wondered when he had been able to read her thoughts so clearly, watching as she bit her lip dreamily, a curious smile playing on her face before moving on to read the next placard.

He spent most of their trip fairly quiet, watching her run around like a child, smiling at her gentle wonder at a fairly mundane place, letting her grab his hand and pull him up the steps at a pace his worn-out body protested at. They burst out of the doors at the top of the stairs breathlessly and for a second, they didn't even notice the views around them, both of them bending slightly at the waist, trying to catch their breath. His muscles were burning in protest, feeling the dull pain in his thighs and his arms from their activities, taking a few deep breaths, glancing over at her.

Her face was contorted in mild pain as she puffed out a breath, her hands pressed against the front of her thighs as she bent forwards.

"Oof." She panted out cutely, glancing at him. "I ache." She said simply, straightening up, her hands on her waist. He was at her side in a heartbeat, his own pains forgotten as she rubbed her thighs together, wincing lightly, her hands flexing against her hips.

"Oh my god. I'm so-" He panted out, still slightly out of breath, his tone aghast as he shook his head at his own selfishness. She cut him off with a brief kiss, before shooting a glance around them at the handful of people also at the top of the lighthouse.

"A good ache." She whispered conspiratorially, sucking her bottom lip into her mouth for a moment, watching as his horrified expression smoothed into a cheeky grin, his hands drifting to her waist.

"Excuse me?" A voice drifted over to them, and his hands snatched back as if they'd been doing something wrong.

They both turned to see a young couple staring at them uncertainly. The girl had curly auburn hair that was dancing around wildly in the breeze, her arm wrapped around a tall young man's waist. Though his hair was dark, Norma cocked her head for a moment, seeing Dylan and Emma in the young pair for a moment.

"Hi." She said sweetly, smiling at them both.

"Would you mind taking a picture of us?" The boy said, holding out his cell phone to Alex, who took it from his hands.

"Of course." He said gently, watching out of the corner of his eye as Norma smiled broadly at him, knowing he was earning silent brownie points with his sweetness.

He fumbled with the overly fancy cell phone for a moment (He'd never been an apple man) before narrowing his eyes, the couple appearing in the viewfinder.

"Ok... Say Florida Keyes!" He said, in a moment so cute that Norma could have died on the spot, watching as the adorable couple posed, obeying his request, smiling through the words. He took the picture, and Norma was surprised to see him take a couple of photos after the couple had stopped posing, capturing a few shots of them staring happily at each other, their smiles growing more natural as they naturally giggled at each other, not knowing he had carried on taking pictures. It was only a couple of extra shots, but Norma's heart soared as she watched him do it, a small smile playing on his lips as he captured a few candid moments between the young couple that reminded so much of her son and the girl she knew he'd grown to love.

"Thank you." The girl said kindly, taking her boyfriend's phone back and immediately turning back towards the view. There was something endearing in her not wanting to see the pictures immediately, and Norma found herself smiling at them, before turning her attention to the view they were so preoccupied with.

"Wow." She breathed out, walking to the opposite end to that of the couple. It was quiet enough up there that there was enough room for them all to have their own little space, and she felt Alex's arm drape around her shoulders as she took in the view. It was hard to believe that it was the same sky that had been lit up with thunder and lightening the night before, the blue skies drifting on indefinitely now, sweeping across the horizon. Rightly so, the harsh weather felt a lifetime ago and he felt a happy sigh escape him, pressing a soft kiss against her temple.

"Excuse me?" A soft voice rang out, and they both glanced over their shoulder at the young woman who was leaning in towards them.

"Do you want us to take one of you?"

They hadn't even considered that, but even as Norma slipped a smile onto her face, ready to politely decline, she felt Alex pull away, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

"Yeah, actually. Thanks."

He slunk his arm back around Norma's shoulders, pulling her in close as the woman lined up the shot.

"Get the sea in!" The boy advised, leaning across her to push the phone a few inches to the left, and they all smiled at his advice, before Alex tickled Norma in the ribs, knowing the girl would capture a few shots of them really giggling before she handed the phone back to him, smiling politely.

"There you go."

"Thank you." Norma said gratefully, taking the phone off the girl, watching as Alex's gaze grew preoccupied.

"You ok?" She asked gently, as they both turned their attention to the magnificent view, watching as his brow furrowed.

He nodded automatically.

That girl's hair, the auburn waves flowing lightly through the breeze had reminded him of something he still needed to talk to Norma about. There'd been so much honesty the past 12 hours - He owed her some of his own.

"Norma?-" He started, watching as her blonde curls whipped around her face, her hand slipping into his own, her face turning to gaze at him questioningly.

Not here. Not now. Find the right moment.

"Do you wanna get barbecue for lunch?"

"OMG yes!"


1 month earlier...

"Guess who?" A voice trilled out in his ear, only just audible over the sound of the crowds.

A pair of hands slipped round Alex's eyes from behind, interrupting his view of the festival. He smiled. He knew she'd come.

"Thought you weren't coming-" He started, removing her hands from his eyes, spinning round and freezing when he found himself face to face with his ex.

"Why? I'd never miss the festival." She smiled up at him, the smile fading slightly as he took a shaky step away from her, his face looking mildly disturbed by her proximity. It wasn't the reaction a woman hoped for.

"Rebecca." He said formally.

"Alex." She mimicked his formal tone, smirking up at him.

"Who did you think I was?" She asked innocently, flicking a flame red lock out of her face.

"My wife." He said coolly, turning on his heel to leave, pausing when she reached out for him, her hand gently catching his arm.

"Wait! Alex," She started, her tone softening. "We were friends once. There's no need to be like this."

He sighed, letting her pull him back, but still retaining his distance. She was like one of those carnivorous plants - He knew from experience what would happen if he got too close. He fixed her with a hard stare, before letting his gaze soften slightly. The woman had done nothing wrong, beyond falling for him, and being manipulative, neither of which were crimes, and he endeavoured to keep the harshness from his face.

"Are you enjoying the festival?" She said lightly, gesturing at the prettily lit crowds of happy festival-goers.

"It's not bad." He said casually. He'd always enjoyed the Winter Festival, but it wasn't particularly manly to admit that. Besides, he would have enjoyed it more if Norma had shown up, his eyes wandering over to the small dancefloor, watching a handful of couples sway in each other's arms, their romantic grins lit up by the canopy of twinkling lights. A smile played on his lips, holding out a tiny spark of hope that maybe she might still show up. He must be losing his edge, because he found himself really wanting to dance with her under that canopy.

His eyes flickered back to Rebecca, who had followed his gaze, and was biting her lip nervously as she watched him.

"You wanna dance?" She uttered, her tone light and airy, but her face betraying her hopefulness. He shook his head slightly, sighing at the ground, rubbing his thumb across his lip.

"I don't think so, Becs." He took no pleasure in hurting her. Sure she was annoying, and she had become a nuisance towards the end of their... arrangement, but she hadn't really done anything to warrant the scorn he felt towards her.

"Becs." She repeated quietly under her breath, laughing softly. "You haven't called me that in a long time. Not since..." She laughed suddenly. "Not since that night, up at Bob's cabin..."

Her voice trailed off as they both remembered. She had told him it was her uncle's cabin, told him it would be good for him to get away from work, for them both to get away from White Pine Bay for the weekend. Once there, he had figured out that Bob Paris actually owned the cabin, leading to their biggest fight ever, leading to their biggest make up ever.

"Remember the hot tub..." She said seductively, her hand running down his tie. He chuckled despite himself, gently pulling his tie out of her grasp.

"Yeah, Rebecca. I remember."

Her eyes lit up pathetically.

"That hot tub's still there. I still have the spare key to that cabin. We could be there before-"

He crossed his arms across his body, realising it was a mistake to reminisce with her, even for a second, his body language growing defensive.

"No, Rebecca." He said seriously. "I'm married now."

She laughed coldly, a shrill peal that grew looks from the people around them.

"Of course. How could I forget? The notorious Norma Bates."

She leaned in close, and Alex could now smell the faint hint of whiskey on her breath. She wouldn't be the first to fall victim to the ridiculously strong hot toddies. He said nothing, just fixed her with a hard stare.

"So tell me, Alex, what's so special about this Norma Bates?"

When he didn't answer, she ploughed on, not noticing the way the muscle in his cheek tensed, his hands balling into fists.

"What's she got that I haven't?" Her tone was playful, but her eyes were wide and desperate and sad.

It was the question he'd been waiting for and at least a dozen unkind, unpleasant answers ran through his mind before he settled on saying nothing again. There was no need to be cruel.

Her demeanour shifted and her desperate expression slipped into a calculated grin.

"Let me answer for you then. What does Norma Bates have that I don't?" She asked herself again, tapping her finger against a lip as if deep in thought. "Well, for one, a sick son, with bills to pay."

Alex tensed, his whole body freezing. He felt like time stood still for a moment, the sounds of the frivolities around him blurring away to nothing, the only sound his heart beating too loud in his ears.

"What?" He choked out, immediately angry with himself for sounding so panicked.

"I did a little digging. It's crazy the info you can get on someone once you have their bank details."

Alex's blood ran cold.

"Seems Norma Bates is broke. And yet, her son is at the most expensive medical facility in the state. Isn't that strange?"

She smiled, just a brief glint of her sharp white teeth, looking every part the shark that she was.

"Thank god for all that insurance money she's got rolling in from you. Isn't that convenient?"

"Careful, Rebecca." He said, his eyes glinting dangerously at her.

She laughed, like she'd got him on the ropes, leaning up to murmur softly in his ear.

"She's barely done spending the insurance money from her last husband, and now you've come along, just as the account's running dry. How handy. How did he die again? An accident wasn't it?"

His hand shot out to grab her elbow, pulling her close, his breath stirring her hair, her eyes wild as she gazed up at him. She wasn't scared. She was excited. She loved the game.

"What do you want?" He muttered darkly, watching as her face crumpled, hurt and confusion crossing her features. She seemed aghast he couldn't already tell what she wanted.

"What I always wanted. I just want you." She whispered pathetically, mewling as his grip tightened slightly on her arm.

"Well, you can't have me. I'm married. Happily married."

"To a murderer!" She shouted, and he glanced over his shoulder, his eyes darting wildly around the carnival, making sure no-one had heard.

Without another word, he tightened his grasp around her elbow, ignoring the slight hiss of pain she let out, and pulled her away from the crowds and the noise and the curious ears that could hear the wrong thing.

"Alex...? Stop." She half-heartedly mumbled, as she let him drag her, faster than her stumbling feet could move, away from the protection of the crowds and the noise to a secluded alleyway. Her eyes shone with arousal and fear in equal measure, even as she idly tried to pull herself out of his punishing grip.

"I don't blame her, ya know." She said quietly, and his steps faltered, her heels clicking to a stop behind him. He thought he heard another set of footsteps in the distance, but dismissed it as an echo, as his mind raced. "He beat her. Did you know that?"

"Yes." He said quietly. He'd seen the police reports and he didn't doubt that Rebecca probably had connections right under his nose in his own department, and that she had probably seen them too. There were only a handful of reports but they painted an ugly picture - Neighbours reporting domestic disturbances, but always being sent away with no charges being pressed; Child services being called, but finding no evidence of the children being harmed at all. He knew what all that added up to, but he refused to let himself think about it. From what he had read, he didn't doubt that Sam had been a violent man, and it made his heart ache to think of Norma being harmed by him, but he had a sliver of hope at the reports of the children not being harmed. Surely a man who stopped short of hurting children couldn't have been as bad as he feared? He clung to that thought desperately, even as he found himself reading and rereading those tiny, fractured police reports over and over again.

"Maybe she did what she thought she had to?" She said quietly, and Alex sighed again, letting his head drop in defeat, before realising he was giving her exactly what she wanted. She was manipulating him, letting him think she was on Norma's side, and by extension, his side. She wasn't though. She was only ever on Team Rebecca.

He starting walking again, squeezing her arm and yanking him along with him and he heard her let out a pathetic, calculated little cry. She knew she had lost at that point and changed tact.

"Alex? You're hurting me." Her voice was frail, soft and gentle, everything Rebecca was not, and it just made him angrier, his breaths coming out too hard as he realised he had almost let her get to him.

"No I'm not." He growled out, digging his fingers in even harder, earning him a little yelp, swinging her round to face him.

"If I wanted to hurt you, you'd know it." He said menacingly and she shrunk away from him a little, taking a tiny step back.

"Maybe Norma Bates has made the same mistake again. Maybe she's just swapped one abusive husband for another?" She spat nastily, lifting her head up haughtily, obviously not believing her own words at all. They got the intended reaction though, as his nostrils flared, his teeth gritting as he took in her triumphant grin.

His hands shot out to grasp her shoulders, slamming her back hard enough against the wall to probably have hurt her. A flicker of guilt shadowed his face, before he replaced it with a glare, watching as she gasped, clearly surprised by his actions. Her fear was soon gone though, as she giggled at him, letting her hands sweep up his biceps, leaning her hips forward.

"Oh Sheriff." She breathed out, licking her lips like this was all some game.

"I'm warning you, Rebecca. Don't fuck with me."

She rolled her eyes, like she was bored of the whole thing.

"Oh Alex, is this the part where you give me the "I'll burn you to the ground" speech? I know you too well, remember?"

"No." He ground out, pulling her forward a few inches and then shoving her back against the wall again, the little shake getting her full attention as the smile fell from her face. "I will kill you." He ground the words out slowly and surely, his voice low and dangerous. "I will not hesitate to kill you. You are nothing to me, you understand that? If you come near me, or my wife again, if I hear one whisper of you checking police records, or bank accounts or any of that shit, you will disappear and you and I both know I can make people disappear very easily in this town, understand?"

She nodded, her breath hitching in her throat, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Say it."

"I understand." She whimpered.

He released her, taking a sharp step back and she stumbled forwards, panting shakily, her arms immediately wrapping round herself to rub where his hands had dug in. It was everything he could do not to catch her as she tripped forwards, but his hands remained where they were, twitching at his sides. He couldn't let her know he hadn't meant any of it.

He hated Rebecca. He really did. He hated her manipulative ways and her game playing and her relentless loyalty to him when he was nothing but dismissive to her, but he would never hurt her - Not really. But he needed her to think he would, so he stood stoically, watched as she struggled to find her feet after he released her, watched as her tears began to fall, watched as she rubbed at her sore shoulders, her face a mess of emotions as she came to terms with the fact that she man she'd been in love with had threatened to kill her.

He shot her a cold look as she glanced up at him, tears spilling freely now.

"How long?" She sobbed out, and he floundered for a moment. For a second, he wondered if she was asking him how long he'd been in love with Norma Bates and he shocked himself, wondering when he started thinking of himself as being "in love with Norma Bates."

"How long till you do something wrong? Or your insurance runs dry? Or her motel fails and you can't afford to bail her out?" She sobbed out, her body still half turned away from him protectively.

"Goodnight Rebecca." He said coolly, turning to walk away, feeling her hand tentatively reach out, grasping his jacket but not his actual arm. Good. She was afraid to actually grab him. He felt a triumphant little thrill that also made his stomach turn. He was happy he'd made a woman afraid of him. The thought made him feel sick.

"She killed him, Alex!" Her voice rang out raggedly through the alleyway. "You and I both know it! She killed him for his insurance, and she'll do the same to you. I can't lose you..."

He shrugged her hand off him, turning away without glancing at her face.

"You already lost me, Rebecca."


A note about Rebecca. a) She is The Actual Worst. b) I genuinely feel sorry for her. She is a woman scorned. Don't get me wrong, a manipulative, vindictive, bitch of a woman, but, she is still a woman scorned. She loved Alex, and he didn't love her back, and we've all been there. Maybe none of us have ever worn a wire and tried to send someone to prison for murder, but... there've been times I probably would if I could. Not excusing her actions, but I decided to write this chapter to try and explain some of what she might be feeling and what exactly Norma was seeing when she assumed the worst. Don't worry - She'll found out the truth... soon. ;)

Let me know what you think guys. Your reviews are cold ice tea on a hot summer's day! (And we're having a heatwave here in England so that's actually apt right now! Yay!)