Chapter Text
It's dark for a while, as if he's simply asleep, and then he opens his eyes to find himself in his wife's bed, morning sun pouring into the room.
Alex lifts his head from the pillow and looks around. He's alone, but he can smell Norma, and he knows you can't smell anything in dreams. The last thing he remembers is limping back to the motel, stumbling into the parking lot and lifting his head toward the house. He stares at the room for a moment longer then sighs, sits up, and swings his legs over the edge of the bed.
He looks down and sees he's only wearing underwear and a t-shirt. The clothes he last wore are nowhere to be found, but he notices his police uniform lying over a chair. Alex furrows his brows and squints at it but ultimately accepts what he sees.
After pulling on his clothes, he takes one last glance around the room, making it quick. He's been mourning for the past two years, and although he must have thought it was a good idea to sleep here last night, he thinks it's best for him to leave now. He doesn't want to be reminded of all the painful details he's been trying to repress so he can focus on finding Norman.
He descends the stairs, keeping his eyes straight ahead, gaze locked on the door, and is about to turn the knob when he hears a soft gasp behind him.
"Alex...?!"
Her voice has been haunting him ever since he lost her and hearing it now feels like an electric shock. Slowly, he turns to see his wife standing not ten feet away. She's wearing that blue robe he loves, her hair a bit of a mess, her eyes wide and crystal clear, just like he remembers.
"Norma?" he asks hesitantly, taking a step forward.
She runs into his arms, nearly knocking him over. Tears fill his eyes as he's overwhelmed by her scent and the feeling of finally holding her in his arms again.
"Are—are you real?" he manages. She must be, he thinks. She has to be. No force in the universe could be cruel enough to present him with an illusion like this. He holds her head against him and buries his nose in her hair.
"Yes, yes I'm real," Norma says, clutching onto him so tightly he can hardly breathe.
"How?"
Norma's hands slide down to his chest, Alex loosening his grip just enough to allow her to stand nose to nose with him. She looks at him and smiles sadly. "We're dead, honey."
"We—" Alex begins, but stops as his last moments come rushing back to him. Finding the house empty except for Chick, learning Norman was at the station, and kneeling in the snow over Norma's body. He looks at her standing before him now, his face distraught. "No."
"Yes, honey," Norma says, stroking his face fondly.
"But Norman is still... Still..."
"Shhh," she tries to comfort him. Her fingers slide into his hair, and all she wants to do is pull his lips down to hers. "You don't have to worry about him anymore. You're here with me, and isn't that what you really wanted?"
He stares at her blankly, even though she's right. Norma takes a deep, unnecessary breath to prepare herself for the explanation he deserves.
"That night, after I wrote you that letter, and Norman and I went to bed... The next thing I knew, I was walking into the kitchen to make breakfast. When I went to wake Norman, I couldn't find him anywhere, and when I tried stepping outside it was pitch black, even though it looked like morning from inside."
Alex glances toward the living room, brightly lit by the sun.
"I was out there for who knows how long, stumbling around in total darkness, before I ran into the porch steps. As soon as I was in the door, everything was all right."
She can tell Alex is trying to decide whether or not he believes her. She grabs his hand and leads him through one door then opens the other. Everything still appears to look normal. "Step out there, but don't let go of me," she says, squeezing his hand with enough force to break bones, just in case.
He does as he's told and is instantly taken aback by the oppressive darkness. Strong winds whip at his face, stinging his eyes. There's absolutely nothing—not even subtly different shades of black or gray to hint at the existence of the stairs or the motel—only an abyss. When he turns back to Norma, he can't even see her standing in the doorway. She pulls him back inside and quickly swings the door shut.
"We can't leave," she says, if he had any doubts. "I didn't even know you were coming. I thought I was going to be alone forever..." Norma looks down.
Alex lifts her chin, observes her pout and suddenly sorrowful eyes, and presses his lips to hers for the first time in what feels like an eternity. Norma sighs into his mouth and throws her arms around his neck. They kiss each other with all the passion of the miserable and lonely years they were forced to spend apart.
Norma breaks away briefly to whisper, "Take me to bed," into his ear.
Alex has plenty of questions, all fighting to be asked first, which he shoves to the back of his mind. He bends to hoist her off the ground and she locks her ankles behind his back. This time when he climbs the stairs with his wife in his arms, their lips never part.
"I missed you so much," he says against her mouth. "I thought about you... every second... of every day."
"I missed you, too." Alex sets Norma down on the bed and she pulls him down on top of her. "I'm sorry for leaving you that way," she says softly, running her fingertips over his face.
He kisses her again before replying, "It wasn't your fault."
"But I should have—"
Alex tries not to think of his time in prison as he tells her, "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm here." He drops some kisses to her neck and collarbone. "I'm here."
Norma lets it go. There will be plenty of time to apologize more later.
She pushes on his shoulders, rolling him onto the mattress so she can lay on his chest as she kisses him. Alex hugs her to him, one arm wrapped around her shoulders and one hand on her ass. Norma pulls away slightly, and is about to dip her head to kiss his neck, when Alex whispers, "Just don't do that again."
She laughs into his mouth as her chest tightens at the sound of his voice so low. She slides back down onto the bed while pulling at his shirt until it's come untucked. Alex begins to unbutton it, still laying on his back. He can't help smiling as he tries to keep his mouth pressed against Norma's.
He props himself up on one elbow to get the shirt off and Norma helps him undress the rest of the way, taking her time as she undoes his belt and zipper. Alex slips his pants and underwear down as one, Norma easing them down to his ankles and removing his shoes in the process. He pushes her robe off her shoulders and is pleased to see that she's wearing nothing else, as usual, when she lets it fall to the floor.
Norma crawls on top of him again, taking his cock in her hand and rubbing to get him hard. His hands travel up and down her sides from breasts to hips, finally resting back on her ass. She nudges one of her legs in between his and presses herself against his thigh, craving friction between her legs.
Alex places a hand on her arm and shifts her off of him, then he takes her hands and they lock their fingers together as he slowly slides inside of her. When he can't go any farther, he pulls back and begins to move rhythmically and without haste.
"I love you," he says, thinking that this is how it should have been the first time, thinking of the nights they should have had and all the ones they will now.
"I love you," she says back, holding his gaze. She can still hardly believe he's there. She had a terrible feeling that he wouldn't live long without her and didn't even hope that he'd be joining her in the afterlife. She thought that she was doomed to live in her own personal hell—it was what she deserved.
"Alex," she breathes, eyes falling shut.
"Yes, baby."
"Alex, I—"
Just then his stroke hits that rough spot inside of her and she cries out. He grins wickedly and adjusts his position so he can keep at it.
"I'm so—" Norma tries again. "Happy you're here."
Alex lowers his mouth to where her neck meets her shoulder and inhales her scent. Gradually he begins to increase his tempo, and Norma lets go of his hands to grab his shoulders and hold him closer while she rocks her hips up into his.
"Norma," he says her name like a warning.
"Yes, honey."
She continues to match his thrusts and he groans against her skin. One of her hands travels up into his hair, and he picks his head up to look into her eyes. Norma smiles the best she can while gasping for air. Her head rolls back onto the pillow as she comes, but she keeps her eyes on Alex, watching his expression as he finishes too.
He lets his forehead rest against hers while he tries to catch his breath. He feels like he would be okay without the air, even knows that he doesn't need it, but it's harder than expected to get used to not breathing. And sex wouldn't be the same without the panting, so he doesn't try to stop himself.
Norma places her hands on his face and says again, "I love you." She missed telling him that every day.
"I love you too, baby," he says, smiling like a madman, and kisses her with the last bit of energy he has.
Alex rolls off of her but the length of his body remains pressed against hers. He brushes a few strands of hair away from her face and kisses her cheek. She grins and wraps her arms around him.
"Can we stay here all day?" he asks.
"We can stay here forever."
Alex laughs, shaking both of them lightly. He never thought he would have this good of a time in the afterlife.