Hi guys so I decided to continue this story for now, for this chapter I tried to imagine what could lead Alex to come live at the Bates Motel, as they let us guess in the trailer, while keeping my story as much coherent as I could. I also like to write Norman/Norma's interactions so you got a pretty long one right here. Hope you enjoy and feel free to let a review!

Since Alex accepted to be Norma's husband, she annoyed him day and night to make this official as soon as possible, so he pulled some strings to get a quiet little marriage four days later. He knew people were going to discover it, and talk a lot, but he didn't care anymore. They were already saying so much on his back about his weird friendship with Norma and anyway he was never the kind of guy to worry about what people thought of him. As long as they trusted him to do his job. Which was becoming more difficult with him not even trusting himself. Bob Paris last words were still printed on his mind and the secret was becoming heavier to carry day after day. But now wasn't really a good time to tell Norma about it. Maybe it would never be a good time to tell her.
His ringtone got him out of his thoughts. He wasn't surprised to see Norma was calling him again.

"Hi Norma, I already told you that I can't advance the wedding date."
"I'm fine thank you, how about you?" She answered ironically.
"Sorry Norma but you've been kind of stalking me about this these last two days."
"Pardon me for wanting my ill son to get cured!"
"Let it go Norma" he said tiredly "why are you calling me?"
"Well... We might have a problem. Not that I really consider this a problem it's more … For you I mean ..."
"Cut the shit Norma what is it?"

He realized he was being rude but he knew sometimes he had to be like this with her to get to her point.

"I may have been overexcited and called Pineview to tell them my insurance problem was solved because I was getting married. They just found it weird because I didn't even mentioned you in the papers I filled. Now they want an inspector to visit us..."
"What do you mean visit us?"
"Yeah you know, you and me living together with my son and all"
"You told them we were living together?"
"Of course I did Alex! What was I supposed to say? They think we are going to marry each other!"
"Christ Norma... Well what do you want me to do about it?"
"To come live with me obviously!"
"You must be kidding me..."
"Oh come on Alex! It's just for a few days I'm sure you will like it it's not like you have a lot of fun all alone in your house."

"Please?"

Alex was trapped; he knew it was too late to back off.

"Ok Norma. I'll drop by after work and we'll see how we are going to deal with it."
"Thanks Alex."

He could almost hear her smile. Living at the motel again. Or maybe even more, living under the same roof as Norma Bates. He couldn't decide if he was happy or terrified. Maybe both.

Norma hung up a wide smile all over her face. Of course the inspectors were going to ask questions and they had to prepare but at least Alex accepted to play the game. She was about to go downstairs to make lunch when she saw Norman coming. She was in an exceptional good mood so she took him by the shoulders and held his gaze, still smiling.
"Are you hungry honey? You want me to cook something?"
"Why were you talking to sheriff Romero about moving in with us mother?"

Norma's smile immediately went off her face and she took a step backward while she put her hands on her hips.

"Yes mother I heard all of it. What is wrong with you? Are you really going to marry a man we barely even know?"
"I was going to explain you Norman..."
"Explain me what? That you sleep with the sheriff and now you want him to be here full time because you are scared of me?"
"No! Sweetheart no it's nothing like that!"
"Then what is it mother?! We were fine on our own why do you always want to make things so complicated?"

"Ok Norman I'm going to explain you the whole picture now but promise me you won't get mad okay? I just want to be sure you understand that I am doing this for your own good."

"Go on explain me mother. Explain me what is it that's so good for me with your little boyfriend living with us."

"Alex is not my… Anyway it is just that I went to this place again. Pineview. They could really help you honey I know you don't realize it but your blackouts are becoming more and more frequent and as much as I'd love to I can't help you on my own."

"So you want to break your promise and send me with all these crazy people. That's okay mother it's up to you to abandon you own son but I still don't see what Sheriff Romero has to do with all this."

"Well I… We need insurance to get in this place and Alex offered me to… to marry me so that I can benefit from his…"

She finally told him. She watched carefully for his reaction but nothing happened. Norman was staring at her with no emotion at all written on his face.

"You're crazy mother. I think it's you who just needs to get in a mental institution."

And with that he ran down the stairs, took his coat and left the house. Norma followed him on the porch, her eyes filled with panic.

"Where do you think you're you going?!"

"I'm going to Portland to see Emma. She must need her friends to be here right now."

"And how exactly are you planning to get there since you don't have you driver license?"

"I'll figure it out mother! I'm 18 now and you don't get the right to keep me locked in your house and tell me what to do!"

Norma didn't even have the force to go after him. She just texted Dylan to tell him about Norman plans and went back to the house, going straight to her bed without bothering eating. She was so tired of this whole situation. She sometimes wished it was just a bad nightmare and she would wake up in her old house with a non-violent Sam and a healthy Norman.

A small knock on the door woke her up few hours later.

"Norman?"

"Hum no it's me… Alex."

Without further talking Norma opened the door, happy to see him.

"I'm glad you're here. Come in!"

"Is Norman ok? You just…" Alex said while coming in.

"Nevermind this. Come I'll make you some coffee we got so much to talk about."

Alex executed and sat in the kitchen while Norma ran around to prepare him a cup of coffee.

"So… You want me to move in right?" asked Alex shyly.

Norma stopped what she was doing to stare at him.

"That's the idea yeah. I mean it would be so nice of you Alex."

"I was thinking about something you know… I have this money in my apartment that I'm not planning on using. I would like you to have it I'm pretty sure that even with insurance this place must be expensive."

"Alex… That's so sweet of you… But what is this all about? Where does this money come from?"

He stared at her for a long time. Maybe too long. He didn't wanted to tell her but now that he got this far he just had to. He couldn't lie to her about this.

"It's Bob Paris'. I killed him and he got it in his bag."

Norma didn't say anything. He couldn't read the expression on his face but he couldn't stand the silence either so he kept talking.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you I didn't want you to think you owed me or to know what a terrible person I am…"

He looked down at his feet, feeling more ashamed than ever. Hearing the words come out of his mouth sounded awful and made him feel like crap. Norma was still silent so he stood up, still incapable of looking at her.

"I should go get my stuff… If you still want me here of course." He mumbled.

Norma reached out for his hand.

"Of course I still want you here Alex."

She pulled him into a hug and he didn't resist. He needed that more than anything. He rested his head on hers, smelling her lovely perfume, wishing this time could last forever. But he knew it couldn't so he took a step backward and tried to keep his poker face to hide from her what this embrace meant to him.

"I'll go grab my things. See you in a while."

Norma smiled at him and reduced the distance between them again to put a small kiss on his chin. Then she almost whispered in her ear "Thank you Alex"