A/N: Thank you for your extensive reviews, guys. That was incredible and I couldn't love all of you any more!

I'm a little worried that after the intensity of the last chapter and its sheer length, everything has to feel like a let-down. But since Norma and Alex are such complex characters, I hope I found a way to make the aftermath reflect that and keep things interesting despite a slower narrative pace.

The usual disclaimer applies. The author of the quoted poem is Caitlyn Siehl.

The chaos theory says that a butterfly flapping its wings somewhere can lead to unpredictable events. Cause and effect without any connection, so random that no one could have foreseen it. Alex has come to believe that Norma is the butterfly that entered his life that night, walking down the road blood-smeared and in a state of trance. The chaos that is swirling around her led to horrible occurrences, but ultimately, it has led her to him although some days are more difficult than others.

"You can't come," Norma says to Alex, stating the obvious as if they hadn't already cleared that issue up.

They talked about it again and again. It's Norman's funeral and Alex wants to be there for her, but he is the one who killed Norman. Despite everything her son had done to her, it's a miracle Norma didn't end their relationship. Therefore Alex eventually accepted her decision. It's better not to tempt fate.

Dylan is waiting for her outside. After Norma had been released from the hospital, she refused to go back to the house and she also refused to move in with him. So she is temporarily staying at The Kings Motel. It's her direct competitor in White Pine Bay, however the motel owner didn't say anything aside from expressing his sincere condolences when she booked a room. That's the only good thing about everything. White Pine Bay loves gossip; people would have gossiped viciously about the sheriff and the cute but nutty lady being a couple. Given the circumstances, though, no one dares.

Alex walks Norma out, resting his hand on the small of her back. He feels how she straightens herself the moment she sees Dylan, a tense bundle of muscles and bones, trying to be strong for her son who has to bury his brother today. Alex hates to let her go.

"Take care of her," he says to Dylan. Norma's shoulder is still healing and she doesn't nearly take as much care of herself as she should.

Dylan nods. After Norman's death and the realization that his brother almost succeeded with poisoning their mother, he has become almost as protective as Alex. Forensics not only found traces of poison in Norma's tea cup; they also found it in the bottles of lemonade Dylan had brought her. Norman's plan really was perfidious, and although Dylan had nothing to do with it, part of how he behaves around Norma feels like redemption. He couldn't protect her then, but he can now and he will make sure that she is safe. The times, they are changing.

When Alex leans over to kiss Norma before she heads off with Dylan, she turns away from him subtly but effectively so that he can't reach her, his affection not welcome right now. He is the reason her son is lying in a coffin after all.

It's an inappropriately sunny day for a funeral as if the weather was in a good mood. Alex has dozed off in the only armchair of the stuffy motel room, the sun shining in through the window, warming him despite the cold outside. There is no funeral feast, just a simple procedure at the graveyard; therefore Alex decided to wait for Norma. He hates the small motel room, is used to the space of his house, but Norma stays here and so does he, at least most of the time.

He startles when the door opens, Norma a black spot against the bright light. She just stands there for a moment and watches him. Then she turns around again.

"Let's go."

Alex has no idea where, but this is not the day to ask questions.

Norma is driving. He has never driven with her in her car before, Alex realizes. The sheriff in him would like to tell her to slow down because she is constantly breaking the speed limit, her driving style a bit too reckless for his taste although it suits her. But again, this is not the day to tell her this.

She eventually parks the car in a spot out-of-town from where they can overlook the city as well as the sea. The view is stunning.

"How was the…?" Alex starts when Norma remains silent, uncertain whether she wants to talk about the funeral or not. It feels like dangerous ground to mention it but also dangerous to pretend it didn't take place.

"Alex, don't." She raises her hand to stop him. So that's not why she has brought him here. No reflections in the aftermath. Norma falls silent again and he lets her take her time. "Norman and I, we parked here, too, on the day we moved to White Pine Bay," she eventually tells him, her voice soft and wistful. "We were so full of hope. Everything was supposed to be better. And now..." She takes a deep breath to control herself so that the tears don't overwhelm her. "Now there is a gravestone with the name of my son on it."

Norman Bates – beloved brother and son, the gravestone reads. Dylan fought with her over it, wanted to leave the gravestone blank because of what Norman had done, but in the end Norma got her way. He did these terrible things, Alex remembers Norma explaining herself the day she had that fight with Dylan over the epitaph. But he will always be my son. He was always by my side. I wouldn't have survived without him. Alex had nothing to add to that. His mother turned into someone else when she wasn't taking her medication. Someone mean and frightening, but he loved her still. It was like in that poem: When is a monster not a monster? - Oh, when you love it. Norma has experienced just as much darkness in her life as he has, maybe even more. He gets it. It's part of the attraction.

Alex takes Norma's hand, still uncertain how much closeness she wants or needs, physically as well as emotionally. She cried a lot when she was in hospital. Cried and yelled and accused him, even hit him once with the hand that wasn't fixed to her chest so that her movements were limited and her shoulder could heal. Alex can't undo killing Norman and he doesn't regret it, whatever that makes him. But it pains him to see Norma suffer.

She sniffles, squeezing his fingers. "I have that dream of killing Keith Summers," Norma whispers. "But this time Norman is behind me, holding my hand and forcing me to stab him." It's a possibility Alex actually thought through albeit he hasn't told her about it. Norma is right-handed and was cuffed with her right wrist to the table. Norman could have very well grabbed her wrist and forced her to stab Summers later, even against her will since she had a blackout and was in a trance. Her injuries due to the handcuffs would have covered up any additional bruises her son might have inflicted on her that way. Let alone that Norman would have had enough time to change his clothes that would have had traces of Summers' blood on it after Norma had run away and before he brought her back to the motel. "I will never know the truth, Alex." Norma's words interrupt his chain of thought. "I will never know whether I killed that man and Sam."

This is not what bothers her, though, at least not only. Those men were assholes and now they're dead. End of story. It bothers Norma the most that she will never know whether her son was a serial killer or only killed Matt Weary as an isolated incident, the fact that he also tried to kill her a mere sideshow in Norma's world.

Alex has an opinion. Call it the instinct of a cop but despite possible alternate scenarios, he is quite certain that Norma killed Keith Summers but also that Norman is responsible for the death of her ex-husband in addition to murdering Matt Weary. It fits both of their profiles. Norma is the kind of woman who would snap while defending herself and kill Summers in the process. And Norman was everything but a victim of circumstance. His actions were planned and deliberate although he made mistakes like sending the text message to Weary from Norma's cell phone. Maybe he wanted to get caught subconsciously, but he also wanted his mother for himself, and therefore, needed to get rid of every rival, beginning with his father. Norma told Alex that she found one of her dresses smeared with mud in the laundry after Weary's death. Something Norman must have done to manipulate her and convince her of her guilt. It was only a matter of time until he would have tried to get rid of him, too. Norman probably would have gone through with it if he wasn't the sheriff and no easy victim like the others.

Norma sniffles again, pulling Alex's hand up to her face so that she can snuggle into the back of it. Alex doesn't know what to say. He has no answers either and it's not going to be good, no matter what he tells her.

"So, what do you want to do?" Alex asks instead. "Sell the motel?" It feels the obvious thing to ask since she is avoiding motel and house like the pest, but she tenses up immediately.

"Why would I do that? It's my motel. I bought it."

"I know. I know, Norma. I just thought since you're not living there anymore…," Alex tries to soothe her.

She sighs. "You're right. I'm sorry. Yeah, maybe I'll sell it. I don't know. So much has happened there."

Although Alex has been waiting for it, Norma has never asked him about the exact way Norman died, accepted the version of the official report, that Norman took his gun and he had to shoot him in self-defense, without batting an eyelash. But now, after Norman's funeral, he can't keep it from her any longer. Norma deserves the unadorned truth even if it might be the one thing that will make her break up with him.

"The night Norman died…," Alex begins slowly.

"Alex, no!" Norma puts one finger against his lips as if to keep the words inside. She seems to be much more worried about learning the truth than never knowing what really happened. "Don't tell me, I'm..."

"You're what?"

She holds his gaze. "I love you, Alex," she breathes. "And I want to keep loving you and I don't know if I can if you tell me this right now. Some day, but not now."

Alex heard everything Norma said but is still stuck at I love you. Somehow it's a given that they love each other. You don't stay together after such a traumatic experience when you don't, but they never said it before, not with words.

"I love you, too." He gently grasps the back of her neck and pulls her towards him to kiss her.

A lot of things remain unspoken. Alex hasn't told Norma about what Norman did to her the night Keith Summers died, doesn't want to add even more agony to her memories regarding the son she lost. Norma hasn't told Alex about her past and Dylan's father, the reason why her relationship with Dylan is so strained or at least used to be. Some day. It's a promise or a threat. Either way, they have to take one thing at a time.

A couple of days later, they are at the motel for the first time after that fateful day Norman died and almost took Norma with him. There are no guests, all 12 keys neatly hanging at the wall. Dylan checked the last guests out while Norma was in hospital.

Norma looks around for something to do or put away. This is the pretense why they are here after all, that there is actually something to do. But Dylan did a good job. Desk and office are tidy, ready for winter season until new guests will arrive in spring next year. Norma touches the desk, uncertain what to do, sensing Alex's presence. He is hovering over her, insisted on accompanying her. They are both aware that being here is progress, an important step for her to cope with what happened.

Alex wraps his arms around Norma's waist from behind, pulling her towards him. "See? Everything's fine. Dylan handled it."

Norma leans back. It feels good to be in his arms and just let him hold her. Aside from Dylan, Alex has been the constant in her life recently. Something she didn't expect. Their relationship had been so fresh, and yet, he has never made a move to leave or insinuate it is too much for him. A dead son. A broken mother. But he has stayed. Alex even spends most of the nights at the motel with her although she knows he hates that place. Let alone that nothing more than cuddling has happened between them since she was released from the hospital. Norma misses the passion. There is this resistance deep down inside her, though, that doesn't allow her to feel the way with him she wants. How can she enjoy life when her son is dead?

More than a month. That's how long they haven't slept together. Alex's body reacts when she shifts against him; Norma can feel his arousal.

"I'm sorry," he says, pulling his lower body away from her just as she reaches backwards to keep their bodies close.

"Don't be," she whispers.

Norma wants this, but every time she closes her eyes, she sees Norman raising his hand to stab her. When she turns her head to kiss Alex, a sob escapes her throat instead.

"Norma, we don't have to do this." Alex practically tries to shove her away from him.

"I want to." Again, she keeps him close and they struggle awkwardly until they stumble forward towards the desk, Alex's weight pressing Norma's upper body down on it. She pushes her hips back into him involuntarily as she loses balance and Alex groans in response. Then she finds something to hold on to and does it again, deliberately this time, and again. "I want to," she repeats, grabbing one of his hands and putting it on her breast, his fingers flexing of their own accord. "I need to feel alive again. I need to forget." Norma half-unbuttons her blouse to give him better access, his fingers slipping inside.

Alex seems to have given up to try and resist her. There is no one here, not even cars driving by since a new bypass was opened two weeks ago. Norma feels his lips on the back of her neck as one of his hands continues to tease her breast and the other pushes the hem of her skirt up.

"Just pull them down," she mumbles, referring to her pantyhose. One of the disadvantages of the season. Too many layers of clothing. The knee-high boots are an advantage though. Norma knows Alex appreciates them.

Their bodies are rocking back and forth together gently. It's nice and sexy and Alex is clearly getting more and more in the mood. Despite her words and efforts, however, Norma is not and she hates it.

"Damnit, do it already," she hisses, fumbling around with his belt and zipper. Alex freezes behind her. This is not how they have sex.

Norma is half lying on the desk, half has she pushed herself up to support herself on her elbows. Alex puts one of his hands on her lower back. He is not actually holding her down; it's rather an instinctive gesture to calm her and at the same time make sure she doesn't freak out as he contemplates what to do next. Then Norma feels him slowly backing away from her. He is aware something is wrong and she should have known that a man like Alex would never go through with this. His understanding and gentleness make her even angrier at herself. She tries to shake his hand off. That's when it happens.

Alex pulled Norma's panties down along with her pantyhose, and when she makes a sudden move, the solid, wooden edge of the desk hits her naked flesh right between her legs. It hurts, making her gasp, but then Norma feels something she hasn't felt in a while. Arousal. For some reason the pain overrode her inability to enjoy this. She doesn't question the why; in fact she doesn't think at all because weeks of suppressed desire are about to be set free. Norma pushes herself against the desk again hard and it feels even better, so good that she throws her head back and moans. For once, she doesn't care about Alex or his needs. It's enough that he is there with her. She wants him and this, please more of this.

When she repeats the move over and over, Norma senses Alex leaning forward. He covers her with his upper body, his hand slipping back into her blouse that gapes wide open to touch her, his kisses on her neck making her shiver with excitement.

Aside from the one rather surprised moan at the beginning, Norma remains silent. It's not like her, Alex knows as much by now, but everything about this is different. It's just her erratic breathing and her hips bumping against the desk, something that sounds as if it has to hurt, and yet, seems to be what she needs right now.

"Let go," Alex whispers, and this time, there is no sob when Norma turns her head to kiss him.

It's an inconvenient angle, the kiss sloppy but passionate until she breaks it, her entire body trembling underneath him. Then she whimpers, an almost relieved tone before her body goes limp. Norma murmurs something he doesn't understand because she is breathing so heavily.

"I want to feel you," she repeats.

He gently pushes some strands of hair aside so that he can see her face. "Are you sure?"

"Am I sure? My naked ass is right in front of you. So yes, Alex, I'm sure," Norma states impatiently.

She is still in a strange mood, but it feels as if a burden has been lifted from her. Not to mention that his arousal is beginning to feel uncomfortable. Therefore Alex doesn't need to be told twice. Norma is more than ready for him. Nevertheless, and despite what he just witnessed her do, Alex sets a gentle pace. She, however, won't have it, pushing her hips back against him hard and eventually straightening herself into a half-standing position to change the angle. She gasps when he pushes inside her again.

"Does it hurt?" Alex slows down.

"No. Yes. No, it… Just don't stop."

It has to hurt, but she doesn't change position. He feels her body tense up with every stroke as Alex holds her against him because she sways and has trouble keeping her balance.

"You have to help me out here, Norma. Tell me what to do." He usually senses it by instinct even if they are still getting used to each other's bodies. But this is different. Alex needs to know what she wants.

"Touch me," she whispers, pushing his hand down between her legs.

Norma's head falls back on his shoulder when he complies, her mouth half-open. She still doesn't moan, but this way Alex is able to hear her aroused breathing. Even though Norma continues to tense up every time he pushes inside her, his touch seems to even it out, pain and desire deliciously flooding through her body in equal measure.

He watches their reflection in the glass of the window. It's an incredibly sexy sight. Nothing is more thrilling than Norma's unpredictability, her behavior irritating and exciting him at the same time. Alex wants to wait for her, but the way Norma writhes in his arms makes it impossible.

"Norma, I can't..."

"Just don't stop, don't stop, don't..."

Alex doesn't stop when he comes, intensifying speed and pressure instead until Norma follows him with a stifled moan that is replaced by a whimper when he makes an incautious move and hurts her shoulder in the process. Shit! Alex completely forgot about it, lost in the moment.

"I'm so sorry, Norma."

"It's ok, it's ok," she assures him breathlessly, "worth it." She gives a laugh, more the Norma he knows again, her body still resting against his when she raises her hand to touch his neck like she loves to do. "That was nice," Norma murmurs. Nice is definitely not the word Alex would use, rather unique albeit wonderful.

The silence is a little awkward but not tense anymore when they get dressed.

"So, um, do you want to go up to the house as well?" Alex asks.

Norma considers it. "No. Let's go...," she meant to say home until she realized they don't have a home at the moment. She gave hers up voluntarily what made him abandon his all the same. "Let's drive back."

It's getting dark already when Alex starts the car. Norma has been there but not there during the last weeks, strong but a shadow of herself, the way people are who are dealing with grief and tragic events. Now she is holding his hand while he is driving, at least as far as practicable, her presence like a gentle caress clasping him. It doesn't mean that the grieving process is over. Things like that take years. But she is here, right here with him. And that's all that matters.

To be continued

Before you start to nitpick regarding my continuity error: I imagined the desk in the motel office to be a little lower than it is on the show. Norma and Alex are tall but not that tall. I couldn't say anything in advance without spoiling you though. ;P