A/N: I'm so sorry if it almost took me forever to update. Well, life. *shrugs* But either way, here it is now. This chapter isn't edited yet. I'm also kinda, a little bit scared in updating this chapter (as I was writing it also). I'm very hesitant. So please tell me how's it. Leave a comment, I do appreciate them so much. Than you! :)

Disclaimer: The characters and the Bates Motel itself belongs to A&E. The story is pure fictional yet I do not own anything except this specific story.

It was a 7-hour-scorching drive from Oregon to Seattle before the couple reached the beautiful house colored in cream yellow with a wooden fence Dylan had bought for him and Emma. The ambiance is rather peaceful and warm, Norma thought.

"Where did you put my medicine?" Alex asks as they were unpacking their stuff.

"Didn't you bring it?" She questions him in perplex answering his question.

"I didn't."

"Oh," she sighs softly pressing her palm on her forehead, "I must have forgotten it. I'm sorry, Alex. I was just too excited to get here…"

"It's okay. We can just buy at the pharmacy." He says placidly, taking her hand. "I can take care of the dinner just in case you'll worry about it."

"Okay. I'll go ask Emma to go with me." Grinning at him, she smoothly kisses his cheek.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah." She grins broadly and exits the room to find Emma.

When the two women finally make their way to go to drug store, Dylan stuns as he finds Alex at the kitchen doing all the cooking by himself.

"Hey," Alex approaches his step son entering the room.

"Hey," He clears his throat.

"Your mom, uh, she taught me. She's a great cook." He says in amusement, remembering the first time she taught him how to cook.

It was a cozy Sunday when Alex asked Norma what else they could do to a peach that was given by one of his deputies the day before. Norma, who loves cooking immediately thought of making peach crumble pie out of it and offers teaching his husband how.

"You're not gonna be able to appreciate eating your food if you don't know how to make one, Alex," She coos, trying to convince him to do so as they were standing at the kitchen, "Come on, Alex, just now…" she then takes his hand.

Alex reciprocates, making their fingers intertwine, "Okay. But if I cook better than you do, you're gonna regret this." He teases him. Norma giggles, nonchalantly releasing his hand, making her way at the counter top to start preparing.

After Norma made the pie crust and peeled the peaches, she then instructs Alex how to cut them into one to two inches chunks until it is done.

"You stir the peach chunks and all of these ingredients thoroughly combined and I'll go preheat the oven."

"Okay," He chuckles softly, his eyes following Norma, "What temperature do you usually preheat the oven, though?"

Norma grins at the question her husband asked as it isn't what she was expecting from him, "It's usually 350°F.", she plainly answers going back at the table, "You're not a bad student, Alex. You ask questions."

"Try me." His eyes give her a challenging look.

The two happily do all the work together until they finish and it is ready to eat.

Alex smiles at the memory yet his heart stings, wishing he has all the time in the world to make more. Albeit he's responding well with his medication, he cannot deny the possibility of death. He may not be afraid of it but realizing Norma is, how it is going to crash her world losing him, now makes it dreadful for him. Norma… the only reason he's tried to survive all along and fight back at the cancer cells that are slowly consuming him… his reason to live.

Meanwhile, Norma and Emma are waiting in line to get the medicines written in the prescriptions. A phone beeps enough for the two to be heard as Emma reaches for her pocket to check the message.

"Oh. Dylan texted. He told me to get a wine."

She pauses, almost lost in her thoughts, before answering. "Yeah, sure. I'll just wait for you here… I'm still in the line."

"Okay. I'll be right back."

"Okay." Norma smiles kindly. As soon as Emma left, she squints around the store, before leaving her line quickly.

As the two drives back on their house after finishing a quick errand, Norma has gone quiet at the passenger seat.

"Norma, is everything okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, sure. Of course." She nervously smiles, assuring Emma that nothing is wrong.

To Emma's concern that something might be really bothering her, she initiates to start talking, asking how was Norman's doing.

"He's fine, he's doing great. He just…. occasionally doesn't want to talk to me," does she pauses letting out a sigh, "Sometimes, it's just weird to me. He freaks out whenever he sees me, telling me he knows me, and what I'm doing. Dr. Edwards told me he's seeing these visions of me that is really evil which makes it harder for me to win him back. I just… miss having him around at home. But it can't. Yet."

"I see that. I'm so sorry, Norma."

"It's okay." She sniffs, smiling anyway, slightly brushing Emma's hair.

Before it goes completely quiet again, Norma whoops before saying anything again, "Hey Emma," she starts, "Can I tell you something I've never thought I'd be telling you?"

"Yeah."

"Dylan. He- he's such a great one, he's a wonderful person. I was a terrible mother to him. I'm not sure I've ever made him felt loved when he was a kid, I couldn't even look at him."

"You did your best."

"Yeah… I guess. But either way, I just want you to know that I love him more than anything. He deserves happiness, his life to be cherished. I know I really can't give that anymore, I can't turn back time. But you, you made it so possible to him. And I just want to thank you for giving that."

She takes Norma's hand, absorbing every word she has been saying. Norma has never been this emotional in front her albeit she's seen her madness once when she knew about Shelby's darkest secret. Maybe it's a mother thing, she thinks. Albeit she conceived Dylan unwantedly, he was still her first born… he was her miracle.

After such a wonderful dinner, everyone was asleep. Dylan wakes up at the middle of the night because of the noises that is fussing somewhere that may seem like from the kitchen. As he takes the first step inside the room, he surprisingly spots a woman standing beside the counter top.

"Mom?"

In Norma's frighten, she almost drops the wooden spoon she has been holding, "Dylan, you scared me!"

"What are you doing?" He murmurs.

"Mashing potatoes."

"Gee, I know, Norma. It's midnight no-"

"I couldn't sleep because I'm hungry, what do you want me to do, let myself starve?"

"I didn't say that. It's just," he stops, pondering, "You're not like gonna do this."

She shots him a look, before saying anything, "Why don't you just hand me the butter?"

He does what she told him so, before sitting at the chair. "Where's Alex?"

"He's asleep already."

"He looks well."

"Yeah, he's been responding well to the medications. He's getting better and better every day." Dropping off the wooden spoon, she washes her hand and sits beside her son.

"Dylan, you're such a grown man, now." Before the next words come out from her mouth, her tears start to cascade her eyes with so much deep affection, "It's just… so fast. You've grown so fast. I wish I could turn back time and watch how you really grow like it was with Norman, but I just want you to know that I'm so proud of the man you've become. I love you, Dylan."

He embraces his mom so tight. For once in his life, he imagined being close to her mom like Norman is to her and wondered how does it is to be like Norman. Does it feel safe to be protected? Does it feel warm to be cared? Does it feel great to be loved perfectly? There's nothing more even better for Dylan right now than this.

Wedding Day

"Alex, I need to tell you something." Norma says subtly

"Now?" He lowers his head to look at his watch, there's only 25 minutes left before the wedding begins. "We're going to be late, it-"

"Just a second. This is important, I'm gonna be quick." She cuts him off, closing the door. Her heart is beating fast now, her thoughts are racing, not really understanding what to feel. Sitting down nervously, she takes a deep breath, "You know I haven't been feeling well lately, right?"

He nods.

"Well, it's familiar. The sickness is. I was just trying my best to ignore it so that you won't worry about me."

Her eyes widen and now watery.

"When Emma and I went to the pharmacy the other day, I sneakily bought a pregnancy test and ran it myself when you were asleep last night," she swallows before she continues, "And it's positive."

"Positive?"

Looking at his entirely blank face, her bottom lip begins to tremble, trying her best not to cry "Yeah. Positive as in… I'm pregnant."

"Well, remember when we had 'camping'?" She snuffles.

Alex glides in towards her with a serious gaze on her.

"I was ovulating that night. And I forgot to bring it and take it when we got home," she says the words as fast as she can, rising from her sit, her hands now shaking, "I know we didn't talk about this before. Ever. I know we're married but I'm just not sure if you-"

"Hey, relax…" He grabs her elbow, "It's okay."

"I'm sorry, Alex,"

He breaks at the guilty sound when the words came out from her mouth as he warmly spreads his arms, enfolding it around her. He faces her wiping the tears she has on her cheeks, "Thank you. I think you just gave me the best gift," he murmurs, not quite able to contain how happy yet nervous he's feeling.

Before Norma says any more word, Alex gives her a peck on her lips, "I love you, Norma."

"I love you too."

He kisses her forehead, clutching her tighter, "So I'm going to be a dad, huh?"

"Yeah." she audibly giggles, pressing her face on his chest.

After Dylan and Emma's wedding ceremony, they headed at the reception to continue the celebration. Albeit it was all held simply at the Kingston Downtown Hotel, enough for 70 persons to come including some of their friends and families were only invited. The grand dinner was served at the levee accompanied by a band playing. Each table has a bouquet of light pink roses with peach daisy flowers at the center as the colours were also served as the wedding motif. As soon as "Moon River" by Andy Williams starts playing, the newly married couple finally takes the center for their first dance.

Everyone look so happy watching them. Norma's heart swells at the sight of her first born unfathomably happy waltzing with his wife. She feels so accomplished as a mother, knowing her son has settled and will soon start his own family. She was almost unable to contain the joy she has at the moment, trying not to tear up but fails to, letting out a little sob. Well, who could blame her? It's a mother thing.

Before the song shifts into another song for the third time as Alex surprisingly asks Norma for a dance. As soon as the beat of the music goes a little faster, Norma recognizes the song immediately.

"Ah! I love this song!" She giggles in astonishment with the songs that Emma and Dylan chose for the evening. They aren't that bad. In fact, some of them were her favorites. It might be her that they picked these songs. Maybe.

I heard you played this on your piano once." Alex murmurs, steadily gazing at her.

"You did?"

"Fly Me To The Moon, right?"

"How did you-, have you been going through to my notes?"

"What?" He trails off in surprise.

"Yeah, I knew it!"

He doesn't say any word, shaking his head.

"They're mostly disarranged whenever I play."

Alex laughs a short. This is just but another thing that adds to his list why Norma Bates is the most interesting woman he met. They banter on each other as they keep on dancing.

"Well, I think I'm going out of my head."

The song starts as it changes.

"Yes, I think I'm going out of my head

Over you…"

"Alex?" Norma leans on his shoulder while swaying still with the song.

"Hmm?"

"Are you nervous?" She whispers, looking up at him.

"Kinda. I don't really know about parenting stuff." He gently tells her.

"You'll do fine. It's hard at first but I promise you will." She presses a long fine kiss on his cheek.

"You look beautiful." He randomly compliments her in her knee length dusty rose satin lace sleeves dress. Her delicate beauty is what make him thinks that she's the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.

As they roam across the dance floor, Dylan asks to switch pairs in exchange to dance his mom.

"Is Alex alright?" He takes a look back at his step-father.

"Yeah, honey. Maybe he's just a little nervous. He's going to be a dad. I'm pregnant." She breathes out carefully, biting her lip in her mouth, looking at her son uncertainly.

"What?"

"Yeah."

"Wow. That's… great. Congratulations, Mom!" Dylan plainly smiles.

"So,why are these songs playing?"

"I picked them."

"How did you know them? You're too young for these."

"I remember you listening to them when I was a kid. Haha. I like them, Norma."

She beams at the very thought Dylan is no different with Norman as her son. He secretly enjoys what she likes. Her heart also brittles in pieces wondering what are the thing she still doesn't know about Dylan. He's her son.

Time has been passing and guests slowly start to leave after the two newly wedded couple finished opening their gifts.

"Hey Dylan, have you seen Alex?" She inquires shudderingly at her son, for not seeing her husband for ten minutes now.

"No. Why? Is everything okay, mom?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll just look for him." Leaving the room, she walks around the whole floor. The longer it takes for her to find Alex, all the more that she fears something might be not so perfect this time.

As she was walking through the hallway, she meets a familiar groan she hears coming from the comfort room when she hurries up even more.

"Alex? Alex?"

In her surprise, she squeals at the sight of seeing Alex weakly sitting beside the door, hacking with blood coming out from his pale mouth. "Alex? Alex! Oh, God. What happened to you? Oh-…"

She hurriedly goes behind him, arching his back. "Oh, God, you're coughing blood."

She wipes the blood from his face, trying her best to calm herself. She knew this will always be part of and thought stuff like this must be something she can handle, but right now, her knees weaken at the sight of his husband fighting for his will to live. She shivers in disbelief this is happening when he was progressing well.

"Just hold on a minute, I'm gonna get help."

She then gets her phone from her pouch to phone Dylan.

"Hey Dylan, call an ambulance right now, I found Alex at the comfort room. He… He…" unable to finish what she was about to say as she makes her best to not to cry, "Just call an ambulance. Hurry."

"Alex, please." Her hand cupping his face. She could feel a sharp pain right in her chest. It's all too impossible to believe what is happening.

TBC...