Hey, everyone. I've been on a wicked writing high lately so I whipped this little chapter up to keep all of you content. Happy to know you're all still reading and with me 100% on this story. Not sure what I would do if it wasn't for all of you backing me. I love all of you incredibly and I want you all to enjoy this! Leave me a review if you want and always remember that they really do keep me going! - MJ123 :)

It was a week later. Katie and Ella may have left Norma's home but they were still in White Pine Bay. Katie had some minuscule cash left over and with it, Alex was able to help find her a decent sized and affordable apartment. He had to pull some strings with the landlord but it was worth it to get her set up and comfortable in Oregon. She wanted to be close to the only people she could really call family.

Steven had been locked up for good, he had quite the sentence for attempted murder. There was to be no more mention of him or the events that happened amongst any of the players, too much shit had happened over the past three years to harp on this burden. Overall, they were the Bates, and they could get over any dark matter.

All heavy subject matter still needed to be swiped off the table, in order to do this Norma had put most of her energy into the elopement idea. She went to the store with Norman, her precious boy and someone she felt that she had began to lose touch with ever since Alex branded himself into the picture. Her main goal was to get a cheap wedding dress, something fun and not too formal or over the top.

Norman didn't seem to have much enthusiasm at all while they walked through the vintage store downtown. He had that same scowl on his face that had been planted there since Norma announced the engagement. Her fingers were peeling through numerous lacy ensembles as Norman took a seat closest to where she was.

"Mother, are you really going to go through with this?" he asked, his voice dark, something oh so foreboding. It was the same voice he used whenever he was about to either hit a blacked out state or throw a fit towards those who cared about him.

She nodded into the section of dresses and turned to Norman with a serious, almost sad look, though she didn't mean for it to come off like that. She was far from being sad about marrying Alex, she was actually extremely excited. "Yes, Norman. I'm marrying Alex."

"Do you want to do this? Or is this marriage some cheap manipulation you have concocted in order to get us out of some kind of trouble? Are we in danger, Mother?" he asked, making Norma worried about who was around to hear him speak. She already went through enough from the strangers of this shitty town, she didn't want dirty looks while looking for something that was to suite a happy occasion.

"No, Norman. Now...sit down and shush. You're causing a scene," she snarled, turning her attention back to the row of dresses. She let her eyes rest towards a long hippy-like ensemble, it had an open back and a floral top. Though she found something pretty and wanted to try it on, she could still feel Norman's cautious eyes hitting her in the back like a string of sharp darts.

"Then why are you doing this, Mother?"

She took the dress and held it over her arm. A sigh left her mouth as she turned back to her weary son, "Because, Norman. I am incredibly in love with Alex, okay? I love him. And I've never felt that way about a man in my life. Not your father, not Dylan's father...this is a good thing for me."

"For you, Mother, of course it is. But what about me, huh? Am I just supposed to sit in that house with you two all lovely dovey? And I get slapped aside like a used wash rag?" his venom was pure and spewing right in her face, it was like everything she said before didn't matter.

"Norman," she began sadly, taking his hand in hers, "I would never forget about you. I love you to the ends of my heart. Okay? No man will ever alter the way we act towards each other, honey. We will always be solid. I can't have you thinking like that, I don't want you thinking like that."

He simply nodded, though internally he was fuming with the way she seemed to be shoving him away. "Yes, Mother."

"Are we good?"

He just smiled his usual good boy grin and stood to help her with the dress. "Of course, Mother. We are good. I am happy for you, for Sheriff Romero."

She paused and smiled, giving her boy a hug. "Good, Norman. And Alex, well...he wants to help be a father figure to you and Dylan, y'know. He wants to be apart of our family. And I really want you two to start bonding."

"Sure thing, Mother. We will do something together soon," he promised though it was only something to keep her happy. He would rather eat the organs of one of his famous stuffed birds than actually force a bond with someone he hated to the very core. And it wasn't because he thought Sheriff Romero was a bad man, oh no...it was because he got to be with Norma.

Nothing would ever stand in the way of their bond. It was supposed to be Norman and his dear mother until the very end of time. They would always have their fresh start, Alex was simply a road block in the plans.

They would get the life they always dreamed of. Whether Alex's blood was on his hands or not.

Hope everyone enjoyed. Leave me a review and let me know what you're all thinking about Norman's new demeanor… - MJ 3