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It was 3 years ago when Norma found out that she was pregnant with George's child just a few months before she and Alex got legally married. Yet despite Alex being just Charlotte’s step daddy, he never failed to show up, to be there for her, for every night she cried, or when she needed comfort. Norma knew to herself that Charlotte would be loved. In a way that she's never experienced growing up. Charlotte would have a father to spoon feed her and brush her hair at night despite Alex still in his sheriff's uniform—tired and exhausted. But he would never be exhausted for his wife and daughter.
And not just these fragments are the sole reasons as to why Norma loves Alex so much. It's the fact that he chooses her everyday, accepted every part of her, stood up on the responsibilities of being a father without a moment's hesitation. And that's how she was sure that even when there would be a moment when Charlotte’s heart would be broken into pieces, it wouldn't overshadow the love that she received from the first man she's ever had in her life—her dad, Alex.
Even if Charlotte is still 3 years old, Alex has already been there through every milestone of her life she's achieved so far and would continue on claiming major milestones in the future.
—
It was one of the nights that Alex hated most. Overtime. It meant that he wouldn't be able to snuggle with Charlotte to sleep or get to tuck her in bed. He's more than sure that she must've been looking for her daddy all night and nagging about it to Norma. The thought made him smile. He slowly opened the front door—creaking so softly and rushed upstairs to Dylan's former bedroom. The door was slightly ajar and inside, he could see Norma hovering over Charlotte's sleeping figure. Kissing, nuzzling, playing with her hair.
“Hey sweetheart.” He called out to Norma which made her turn her head with a soft smile on her face. It was dark, only the lamps downstairs were on but he could see Norma's beautiful smile through the moonlight reflecting her face.
He walked over and sat on the edge of Charlotte's bed and kissed Norma's forehead before kissing Charlotte's as well.
“Somehow wish I caught her awake tonight…..” he whispered, which made Norma grin widely in amusement.
“She's been asking for you all night. She's a little sad that she only got to see you in the morning today. I had to explain it to her a thousand times.” She said with that big wide smile that her husband loves.
“Well I'm sorry for being the favorite parent.” Alex joked which earned him a playful punch to his arm.
“You owe me for that.” Norma said in her most serious voice before running her fingers in his lashes as he chuckled. God, she loved those lashes so much. She's a little sad that her baby girl didn't get his lashes.
After kissing Charlotte good night as she slept peacefully cuddling with her plushies, they both left Charlotte's door slightly ajar as they headed over to their room, getting ready for bed. Norma helps Alex change his clothes like she usually does, as she asks about his day. It's good to know that even when there are days when Alex spends the whole day working, he never fails to entertain and communicate with his wife. It was one of his promises—to always keep her company and to prioritize her no matter what—on the day Norma was discharged from the hospital after the incident. It was that day when Norma was more than sure that her love for her husband goes way beyond than she's ever loved anyone.
“Oh and George wanted to see Charlotte tomorrow since it's the weekend and stuff.” Norma blurted out without giving it much thought—which earned her a glare from her husband.
After a few seconds of silence and nervousness, Alex finally responded “Oh please. It's like he's rubbing it on my face. He can just take Charlotte out. Why the heck would he rather spend time with her here in our house?Norma, hon, he can't just-” He said in frustration,stopping himself as Norma rubs his chest to cool off his steam. He's restless, got an information he's been dreading to hear, and now becoming frustrated.
“Well I don't know… maybe he'd prefer it at home, private and stuff..” Norma said in her softest voice, trying to convince her husband which she knows always works with him.
“He barely even sees her, it's like he's obligated to see her and he's not even trying. Okay, when was the last time he came whenever you called him and said that Charlotte is sick? Or when Charlotte used to ask for him? Never. And Charlotte forgot it afterwards, his existence. He doesn't even try-”
“Alex… well he pays for child support so-” she replied abruptly.
“Just because he's a little better than the former male figures in your life and your sons’ doesn't mean it's okay. It's not even the bare minimum hon, I'm sorry.” he replies evenly with a mix of frustration in his voice that he's trying to hide but his wife knows him all too well.
That earned him silence. Norma knew how much Alex would go above and beyond just to provide for their daughter's needs even if she's not his biological child. He bathed her, fed her, took care of her and Norma without having to be told or praised. He carried the obligations and responsibilities of being a Sheriff, husband and a good father figure. The word lacking is simply a foreign word to Norma when it comes to Alex.
“Well fine, yea, you're right. How about he gets to see Charlie tomorrow and we can discuss it tomorrow over lunch? If that's fine with you? That seems fair.”
“M’kay.” Alex said, his tone seemed different because of the exhaustion from work.
“Okay” Norma mirrored with a smile and covered Alex with kisses on his neck and jawline making him smile as he held her by the waist.
“I love you baby” he murmured to her neck as he inhaled her scent, completely forgetting his earlier frustration
“I love you too.. goodnight sheriff. My sheriff.”
They both kissed one last time before Alex disappeared into the bathroom leaving Norma in bed as she settled for under the duvet.
—--
The next morning, padding of little feet on their wodden floor can be heard. Charlotte rushed to her parents’ room and jumped on the bed, waking Alex.
“Daddy, daddy!!!! Me and mwommy are making pancakeeess!!!! Wake up…” Charlotte exclaimed with excitement, snuggling with her daddy as the house was filled with the scent of fresh pancakes.
“Oh sweetheart… hey sweat pea.. “ he opens his eyes still groggy as he hugs and gives Charlotte a shower of kisses, making her giggle.
They laid in bed for a little while as he continued to tease and tickle Charlotte in his arms before going downstairs with her in his arms.
He entered the kitchen to see Norma setting out the plates and the chocolate syrup that Charlotte loves the most. She placed one pancake on Charlotte's plate first, unsure if she's able to finish such a big one, adding a happy face and a little hat on the pancake.
“Hey honey..” he said as he set Charlotte down and wrapped his arms around Norma's waist and inhaled her scent.
“Good morning sheriff.” She teased before kissing him, and he kissed her back deeply but swiftly before the little one notices .
They ate while listening to Charlotte's relentless rants and rambles about random things and about Mimi, her sheep plushie that “apparently” loves cookies and how Mimi is definitely the one who sneaks at night to get cookies and bring them to Charlotte's room which made Alex and Norma smile, knowing the missing cookies isn't each other's doing, but their daughter's doing. But Alex can't spill out his secret that he helps Charlotte get cookies to get a bite for himself as well. If mama bear wouldn't scold baby bear, she would definitely scold papa bear.. He can never be caught
-
As Alex was helping Norma with the dishes after checking up on Charlotte watching her favorite Tom and Jerry show as she cuddled with Mimi, they heard a knock on the door. Norma dried her hands on her apron as she walked to the door and was greeted by George with plushies and candies in his arms. Alex tried his best to hide his frown as he turned to continue where he and Norma left the dishes and finished them.
“Oh well, hi, come in, good to see you, George.” Norma smiled as she shook his hand and moved away from the door frame so he could enter.
Before George could approach Charlotte, Alex intervened and asked to have a private conversation between them only. George placed down the plushies and candies he was carrying and followed Alex into the dining area where he told him to have a seat as Norma tried to keep Charlotte company for a little while as the two men spoke.
“Alright, to start this off, I'll be honest with you. You can't just barge into Charlotte's life whenever you feel like it just because she knows you're her father. You can't make up for your absence with gifts and what else that you're not even sure if she likes.” Alex calmly spoke, trying to be polite.
George was taken aback and offended by Alex's statement, clearly not expecting jt. He knows all too well that Alex had always disliked him. It wasn't something Alex tried to hide. It's subtle when Norma is around, not wanting her to feel the tension boiling in him every time he sees the asshole who ought to be a so-called father. It's the way his eyes seem to linger on his movements seconds too long, so subtle yet unyielding and sharp—something you can expect from a sheriff who's been running the town for years.
But at this moment, it surely was unmistakable.
“But I'm here now aren't I? Norma said I could come by.” George replied trying to sound nonchalant to be able to somehow feel like he isn't inferior in this conversation.
“Unfortunately.” Alex said, barely letting him finish his sentence, clearly pissed.
“I didn't stop Norma from letting you come by but you don't get to confuse permission with presence. What Charlotte needs is consistency from a parent. Not an actor who calls himself a father.” Alex continued evenly.
“You don't get to call out what kind of father I am or what kind of father I should be. We're different.” George replied with frustration in his voice, just wanting an out of this.
“Oh I'm not. Listen, I'm not in the position to call you out on anything. But Charlie can. If you want to be in her life, don't confuse her. Show up when it's messy, chaotic, and inconvenient. Otherwise don't act like you're raising her.” George was about to rebut when they heard Charlotte giggling as she approached them.
“Daddy, daddy look!!!” hearing her excited voice, both men turned.
And at that moment both of them knew who she was referring to.
“Tom always struggles catching Jerry!!” she said giggling as she nudged at Alex's arms which picked her up in an instant.
“Probably because Jerry is smarter, baby” Alex said with a smile as he dotes on her.
“No daddy, he's just faster!!” She giggled as Alex rubbed her back before looking at George sitting across from them.
“Hi dad..” She said shyly, almost hesitantly.
“Hey sweetheart… I got these for you.” George said as he gestured to the plushies he bought the day before for her. “I didn't know which ones you like so I got you a few” Alex set Charlotte to the ground, letting her come check out her new plushies.
Charlotte walked over to George as she took the plushie, beaming a little as she hugged the little mouse to her chest. She looked at Alex as if asking him for approval.
And as Alex gave her a small nod, she beams and hugged it tighter. In that moment for the first time, George finally understood what Alex was trying to prove.
Alex is daddy.
Charlotte thanked George as she took the plushies and candies politely and went back to watching her favorite show, clearly becoming distracted by the loud noise of what the tv was playing.
Norma rubs her nose on Alex's shoulder as she tries to calm whatever's inside of his mind. She couldn't help but notice the watchful eyes of Alex as he stares at George and Charlotte's interaction. She knows Alex doesn't want competition—all he ever wants is to give Charlotte the kind of childhood that she deserves. At the end of the day, the three of them are parents. Charlotte's parents.
George sighs as he opens his mouth to speak, but no words seem to come out. He tried once again. “I get what you were implying Alex. I'm barely here, and you're there for her, feeding her, bathing her and comforting her. I-i.. I don't know what else to say.”
"You don't know what else to say? Not even a promise of ‘oh yea, I can't commit, I'll just stop making her hopes up’ or anything?" Alex asks, stepping closer to George, his voice low. "I'll be there for her first day of school, her first boyfriend, her first broken heart. I'll be the one walking her down the aisle someday.”
The truth of Alex'swords hits George like a punch to the gut. Charlotte prefers Alex - she asks for him by name every night. George has never been her default, her comfort, her security. He's just... an occasional visitor who brings gifts and promises ice cream.
Alex is Daddy.