Oedipus Complex

Chapter 8: The Help

Ok, I know there aren't any Normero parts, but I will get there soon!! Very soon! I just need to practice planning this fanfic. Also, thank you for the sweet comments. I doubted my writing so your sweetness motivated me!!

"Ok?"

"Yeah. I have to tell Norman first. It can't come up as a surprise for him." She confessed.

"Yeah of course. You're doing the right thing, Norma. Norman's a good kid. He deserves all the help he can get."

"Am I?" Her voice cracked. "Am I doing the right thing because I always feel like I'm always messing up things for Dylan and Norman. Like I'm a horrible mother and they're better off without me."

"Norma, don't say that. They are lucky to have a mother as caring and strong as you." He looked off to the side and remembered his own mother. How much he loved her, but also how she gave up. How she committed suicide and left her son with her criminal husband. Norma was nothing like her, he concluded. She would never be weak and give up. He began to form a lump in his throat thinking about her.

"Strong?" She scoffed. I couldn't even stop the bypass. You know after bob's sex crazed party, I was furious. That poor girl was missing and I couldn't find her, so I knocked the bypass sign off with my car. It felt great, except then my car got messed up." He cleared his throat. Her little anecdote caught his attention and he turned his face to look back at her. She looked up at him curiously and saw him sneak in a half sided smile. She could hear his quiet laugh.

"You smiled. You never smile." She said softly.

"Yeah, my face is paralyzed. Right?" He said sarcastically.

She remembered that night she insisted on cleaning up a cut on Alex's face and she ended up teasing him. She had told him about the time she smacked the realtor with her purse. It was the first time she saw him crack a real smile and joked that his face was paralyzed. It was also the first time they were so close to each other that she could see every beautiful face feature up close. In that moment, the stared at each other. They shared a moment that, if neither of them did anything, they both would've shared a kiss.

Norma grinned gleefully. "Funny!" They both began to chuckle.

As their laughing began to subside, the air was hard to breathe in. His brown orbs seemed sincere to Norma. How could the man she despised and didn't trust for so long start to be a person she is starting to take a liking to?  She stared at him. Maybe for too long because he seemed to look uncomfortable. "It's only for the insurance. It's only for Norman. You don't have time for distractions, Norma. Norman is your priority!" A little voice in her head echoed.

She cleared her throat and stood up from her chair. "I should get going. I told Emma I was going to be picking up light bulbs, but really I came here to yell at you," she joked again.

He returned a chuckle that she expected to hear. "Yeah, sure. I'll walk you out."

Alex let Norma lead the way and he stood behind her, his hand right behind her, but not exactly touching her. When he was getting ready to pass Regina, she mouthed "I'm sorry."
Alex rolled his eyes and mouthed back, "in my office, NOW!"

Regina clicked the buzzer to let them out and walked back to Alex's office. She was going to be in for a treat when he gets back!

"You didn't have to walk me out. I've been here a hundred times, I could've shown my self out," she said sweetly.

"It's nothing, Norma." He opened her door and let her take a seat and carefully closed the door.
"We can go to city hall after you tell Norman. Whenever you're ready. I think it'd be best that we make this look as real as possible. The DEA is on my back and I could lose my job if they find out this... " he leaned in closer and whispered, " isn't real"

Since when did the DEA investigate fake marriages, she thought.? "Alex, if this is going to get you in trouble I can't le—"

"Norma, it's just as a precaution. We won't get caught if it looks real. I want to help."

"Ok. And Alex, thank you." Norma tilted her head and was truly grateful for his help. Deep inside she felt like this was all a fantasy. Norma liked Alex, but did Alex like her? Could Norman be okay with this? Of course he wouldn't, but it's the only way her baby could get the help that he deserves. He had to deal with it.

"Great. I'll call you tomorrow to see how things go."

Norma nodded and winded her window up. She backed out of the parking lot and began to make her way back to the motel, so she could talk to Norman.