Hey everyone :) I tried to push for a longer chapter this time because I know it's been a little while since I've updated. If anyone has been waiting for this next chapter, I apologize, and if your still reading I really appreciate it. I know my last couple of chapters have been incredibly skimpy, I tried to be a bit more detailed this time. As always, if anyone had questions, comments, or suggestions please PM me or leave a review, it would be much loved. Enjoy - MJ123 :)

As Norma and Alex drove through Oregon, he looked over at her with an apologetic grin. "I'm sorry you have to drive...I just don't know how to get to Phoenix and I didn't have a GPS installed in this car".

She waved her hand at him while keeping her eyes glued to the road ahead. "No that's fine. You don't have to apologize. I can't even believe I remember how to get there" she laughed.

Alex nodded, keeping his eyes glued to the side of her face. He extended a hand and placed it on her leg. "Do you ever miss it?" he asked, wanting to know more about her life before they met.

"What...Arizona?" she asked with a small scoff. "Not really. I was only 20 when I moved to Phoenix; it was just nice to be somewhere new. It was pretty there, lots of attractions to see".

"And you had Norman there, that's a plus right?" he chuckled, clutching her leg.

"Actually, I didn't give birth to Norman in Arizona. Sam and I were celebrating our first anniversary and we decided to take a vacation to Vegas because it was such a short drive. The night we got there and settled in, we went down to a casino and my water broke. We hunted around Las Vegas for a hospital while I was having these sharp, intense contractions and when we finally found one, I had him about an hour and a half later. The drive home was probably the easiest, he slept the whole way" she explained, smiling at the thought of Norman as a small newborn. Even then he was so needy towards her, it made her feel useful.

Alex chuckled a bit at her story. "So Norman was a Vegas baby? That's pretty cool" he smiled, twisting in the seat so he could fully face her.

She laughed as well. "I think so, too. His first baby blanket was actually covered in dice and had "I Heart Vegas" imprinted in the center. Sam went out to the hospital gift shop and got it the night he was born" she explained, a miniature smile of her face.

"You could call that unique" he laughed, moving his arm up to take her hand in his. "Other than Norman, was there anything else in Phoenix that you liked?".

"To be honest with you Alex, there was nothing else. Norman was the only thing that kept me going. Through all that shit with Sam, he was the only person I could count on and speak to about my issues" she admitted, biting her bottom lip.

"At least you're out of that situation. And you know you always have me to talk to right?" he asked, leaning over the armrest to get closer to her.

"I do. Of course I do...and I love having you, it's nice knowing I can finally open up to someone. Especially someone I love" she smiled, quickly leaning over to kiss him.

"I love you too" he exclaimed, keeping the grip on her hand. He looked out the window to see the darkness falling over the skyline. "It's getting pretty dark outside. Is there anywhere we could stop for the night? I really don't want you driving in the middle of the night, there are too many accidents, with reckless and drunk drivers".

Norma listened to him, silently admiring his care for her. "Ironically, there's a motel about fifteen minutes away. We could stay there and head back on the road at about 8 am. I'm trying to mentally put together some kind of schedule so we make it to Phoenix on time".

He just nodded, feeling tired from sitting in the car. "Okay. Do you want to grab some kind of dinner before we get a room?".

"Sure, I'll find a place where we can grab something quick and head to the motel" she said, turning off at the closest exit.


Once the two got to a motel room, Norma collapsed on the bed, giving out a sigh of relief once her body hit the surprisingly soft mattress. It was the most comfortable she felt all day long.

Norma turned to face him and took a deep breath. "I'm so tired, I really don't wanna get the luggage out of the car. Do you think you could grab it?" she asked with defeat in her voice.

"Sure thing" he said, moving towards the door. "I'm just gonna grab some pajamas and toothbrushes". She gave him a nod and he left. Once he opened the trunk to the car, he unzipped the suitcase and took out a pair of plaid pajama bottoms and his white shirt. He grabbed the sundries and headed back in the room.

"I noticed it was a lot warmer here so I figured you could just wear my t-shirt" he said, holding out his clothing to her. She took the shirt with a grin on her face.

"Is this really about the heat or do you just wanna see me in as little clothing as possible?" she laughed, starting to unzip her skirt.

"Well, you do have a great ass" he laughed, watching her change. "But I honestly thought it was too hot to bundle up in clothing".

She simply nodded and put his shirt on, heading into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash the makeup off of her face. She hated taking her makeup off in front of Alex, it made her feel incredibly self conscious. When she was in front of the mirror her confidence always went away. Her wrinkles became clear to see and signs of aging were increasingly evident.

Alex would always take note of the way she looked at herself. As he stood near the bed and watched her obvious disgust grow, he walked into the bathroom and wrapped his arms around her waist as she wiped the makeup away.

"You're beautiful, Norma" he murmured into her ear.

He really thought so too, she didn't need all that makeup to be perfect in his eyes. She had a glowing natural beauty that always beamed to him. She shot him a tiny smirk and kissed his neck. Walking out of the bathroom, she laid her items on the table and climbed into bed.

After Alex spit out the Listerine dancing around in his mouth, he flicked the lights off in the bathroom, and moved towards the bed. He peeled the covers down and lay next to her, taking the television remote in his hand. "You wanna watch some shitty movie and then go to bed?".

She nodded and glided over to rest her head on his bare chest. He flipped on the TV and to his surprise the screen showed a woman lying down on a bed with a man in between her legs moaning at the top of her lungs.

"Looks like the last guest was feeling a little adventurous" he chuckled. Quickly he slipped the channel to some sappy romance movie.

"I don't like porn. My husband used to try getting me to watch it with him, you know to spice things up, but I always refused. It's not that I'm a prude, I just don't like such a beautiful thing to be made dirty" she explained, moving a hand onto his chest.

"I would only watch it when I was in the mood. But it never quite got me going, not like you" he said, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.

Norma looked up to stare into his warm pupils chuckling slightly. "I get you going, huh?".

Alex nodded and wrapped his arms around her waist tightly. "You do," he smiled, moving into a spoon. She rested with her back against his chest and he placed his head on her shoulder kissing her pulse point gingerly.

Norma reached over to flick the alarm on, that way they could wake up earlier, and hit the rode at her ideal time. She moved back to let her head hit the pillow. "Goodnight. I love you" she smiled, closing her eyes.

"I love you, too" he cooed, kissing her cheek before drifting off into sleep.


When Alex woke up the next morning, he realized the sheets were vacant next to him. He immediately shot up with worry. Where was Norma? He threw the sheets off of him and sat at the edge of the bed, taking his cell phone off the bed stand, and calling her cell.

The second the ringing started, Norma came through the front door, with two cups and a paper bag in hand. Alex shot up, shutting off the phone, and shooting her a relieved smile. She quickly took note of his expression and set the food down. "What's wrong, honey?".

"Nothing. I just woke up and you weren't there," he laughed. "What did you get?".

"Not much. Just some orange juice and bagels. We need to eat kind of fast because we're a bit behind schedule" she smiled, reaching into the bag and handing him the breakfast food.

"Thank you," he exclaimed, placing the cup back on the table "I'm not much of an orange juice person".

Norma gave him a knowing smirk and handed him the cup back. "You should drink it because it's filled with vitamins and it'll give you some kind of energy for the rest of the day" she stated, her maternal side coming out.

"I understand that, I'm just not a fan of it" he defended, rising to rest his hands on her hips.

"I'll make you a deal. If you drink that cup, I'll let you take a shower with me" she grinned sinfully, giving him her seductive eyes.

"Oh come on, you're bribing me with a shower" he scoffed.

She rose her eyebrow and set her cup down, taking the t-shirt off to reveal her bare chest. Alex stared with an aroused expression, his mouth hanging open a bit at the sight. "Good defense. Let me see the cup" he said, taking it, and quickly tossing the drink back.

He wiped his mouth and grabbed her hand. "C'mon" he smiled, pulling her into the bathroom anxiously. Norma laughed as they entered. "Okay, okay. Just remember we can't be in here too long".

He turned with a devilish grin. "Oh don't you worry. I'll be quick".


Once they finished the steamy shower session and got dressed for the day, they packed up all of their belongings and headed back outside to the car. Norma slid inside and started the engine, pulling out of the lot and turning to Alex.

"We only have about 10 hours left to go. We'll probably make it to Phoenix by 6 pm" she explained, pulling the sun visor down, blocking the morning sun from her weary eyes.

Alex nodded and closed his eyes as she pulled out.

Thanks for reading. Want more? Leave me a review to let me know :)