A/N: This is set when Brock's mom comes to visit. I sadly own nothing.


"Reba?" Brock called as he barged in her front door.

"What do you want?" Reba asked annoyed as she sat up from her afternoon nap on the couch.

"Well, I have some news.." Brock started as he joined her.

"Well go on now, I don't have all day."

"My mother is coming to visit." Brock managed to say looking up to see her reaction.

"What? When?" Reba asked getting interested.

"In an hour."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" Reba exclaimed as she stood up.

"Well, I didn't know 'till just a little while ago. She just called."

"Ugh, I have to get ready! Everything has to be perfect!"

"I'm sorry my mom was such a critic when it came to your cleaning, but really you don't have to do it, ya know." Brock said

"Oh, I know I don't have to clean. I'm not going to clean." Reba said as she threw a pillow on the floor. "That woman has criticized me for 20 years and for 20 years I couldn't fight back, but know that I don't have to be nice anymore I'm not going to." Reba said running upstairs.

"Where are you going?" Brock asked watching her.

"To get my favorite robe!" Reba called.

--One Hour Later--

"Grammy is coming?!" Jake exclaimed. "Yay I get presents!"

"You must be excited mom." Kyra said sarcastically as she sat down on the couch.

"Ecstatic." Reba smirked as there was a knock on the door.

"Yay! Present time!" Jake said running to answer the door only to find Barbra Jean behind it. "Your not presents." he said dissapointed.

"No, your more like junk mail." Reba said with a smirk.

"Very funny. Have you seen Brock's mom yet?" with a sense of panic in her voice.

"Why are you scared? 'Cause you should be." Reba said chuckling as she picked up another pillow.

"I'm just so worried about Grammy Liz's visit. She's just so critical." Barbra Jean complained.

"She's not critical. She's mean. Junkyard dog mean." Reba said.

"How'd you learn to deal with her?" Barbra Jean asked pleadingly.

"I divorced Brock, but don't take that, that's mine." Reba said as she threw the pillow to the floor.

"What are you doing? You know she doesn't like messes, Reba!"

"Not as much as she hates my old ratty bathrobe." Reba said smiling holding up her robe for Barbra Jean to see.

"But this is like poking her with a stick and then she is going to get all riled up and then she's gonna come over to my house!" Barbra Jean said picking up the pillow.

"Hey! Put that back." Reba demanded pointing at the pillow.

"Oh no, I'm cleaning up. If you're going down, you're going down alone sister."

"Oh just give me that." Reba said reaching for the pillow.

"You'll never get it back!" Barbra Jean said pulling it closer to herself.

"Give it to me!"

"NO!"

"Give it!" Reba shouted as she reached to tickle her for it.

"You have lost your mind. Your fear of Brock's mom has finally pushed you over the edge." Barbra Jean said as she realized what was happening.

"I want her to get mad. I want her to make her snyde little comments that I've had to put up with for the last 20 years." Reba said pushing Barbra Jean's hand from her forehead. "See I'm not related to her anymore and now when she comes in here and says 'Gee Reba how long has your vacuum cleaner been broken?' I can say 'Shut up! That's how long!'" Reba said enthusiastically.

Knock Knock.

"Oh my gosh! That's her!" Barbra Jean said having a panic attack.

"Alright, pay attention. You're gonna be wanting to tell this story one of these days." Reba said going to the door. "Hehe." Reba snickered as she rubbed her hands together before opening the door.

"Reba." Liz said.

"Liz." Reba said back.

Silence passed between the two as they stared at each other for a minute. "Reba, you look wonderful!" Liz exclaimed setting down her suitcase.

"Really? I didn't even brush my hair this morning and I've been wearing this old ratty bathrobe for a month."

"Only you could pull it off!" Liz said with a huge smile pulling her into a big hug. Reba caught Barbra Jean's look of disbelief as Liz acted this way.

"Ok then?"

"I've been so lookin' forward to seein' everybody!" Liz exclaimed, "and then there's you." she said looking at Barbra Jean. "How are ya, Barbra Ann?"

"It's good to see you, Mom." Barbra Jean said holding out her arms for a hug, but quickly put them down when she caught Liz's face. ". "Mrs. Hart."She tried. "Ma'am." She said as she curtsied, "and um, actually my name is Barbra Jean."

"Then why'd you tell me it was Barbra Ann? Are you trying to make me look stupid?" Liz said with her eyes narrowing. Barbra Jean was unable to form words, so she just curtsied.

"Sorry I didn't have time to clean up for ya. I hope you don't mind."

"I like the lived in look! Did I hug you yet? Come here." Liz said bringing Reba into an even bigger hug.

Barbra Jean seeing this and obviously nervous said, "My house is a pigsty!"

"Is she a well woman?" Liz asked walking to the couch.

"Reba, I don't understand. Why is she being nice to you yet mean to me?" Barbra Jean whispered.

"I don't know. She's found a way to treat you badly and make it unenjoyable for me. She's very good." Reba whispered back looking at Liz.

"Jake! Kyra! Why don't you come down and see your ole' Grandma?!" Liz called.

Jake came running into the room excitedly. "Yay! Grammy's here! Presents!"

"This one is for you, Jake." Liz said giving the gift to him.

"What is it?" He asked holding it up confused.

"It's a dickie." Liz said getting a blank look from Jake. "It's when you want the look of a turtle neck without the extra heat." She explained further.

"You know, I've always felt that the dickie was an under-appreciated garment."

"You know what else is underappreciated?"

"No, what?"

"The muzzle." Liz said turning her attention to Kyra. "Now this is for you, Kyra." he said holding up a pink sweater with hearts and teddy bears.

"Me? What did I do?"

"Well, I saw this in the window o Murphy's and I said to myself 'That is so Kyra!'"

"It's um, perfect. I'll wear it Thursday to my Bridge game." Kyra said holding up the sweater in disgust.

"Kyra, don't be rude. Say thank you to Grammy Liz." Barbra Jean said with a nervous smile.

"Now why would she do that, Barbra Lynn? If she doesn't like it, then she doesn't like it. You think it's a good idea to teach children to be dishonest?" Liz said scowling at Barbra Jean.

"....No?"

"So you prefer they be rude?"

"....No." She said again with a nervous giggle. Under the pressure she was at a loss for words and was trying to find something to say. "Gee, I wonder how long Reba's vacuum has been broken." She finally decided on.

"Thank's, Grammy. I'm gonna go see if Jake wants to trade for his dickie." Kyra said waking out.

Reba walked into the living room holding a tray full of muffins. "I baked some muffins. I hope they aren't too over cooked for you." She said with a small mile.

"Reba...those look horrible." Barbra Jean said pointing at the muffins. "You must be the worst cook in the world. Ha ha." She said giving Reba a small wink.

"Why do you let that woman talk to you like that?"

"Because I value her opinion. Her honest opinion."

"Really?" Barbra Jean asked touched. " 'Cause you know usually you just tell me to shut up."

Reba turned to face her and gave her a look. "Shut up, Barbra Jean."

Cheyenne and Van walked in the door carrying Elizabeth. "Hello, we're home." Cheyenne said happily.

"Oh, and you brought the baby. Isn't she precious?" Liz said reaching for Elizabeth.

"I can't believe you're finally getting to meet her." Cheyenne said smiling.

"Oh and she is perfect." Liz said cooing over the baby.

"You know, it was my idea to name her after you." Van said trying to impress Liz.

"Then why didn't you?" Liz said causing Van to chuckle, but then he question whether or not she was joking.

"What?"

"My given name is Eliza. Liz is short for Eliza."

".....Wel yeah, that's her name. Eliza....beth." Van said.

"Grammy, stop it. Van she's lying to you. That's what she does. Isn't she great?" Cheyenne said giggling.

"Yeahhhhh. My grandma used to nit, but hey lying's cool too."

"Well it looks like it's time for Elizabeth's nap." Cheyenne said looking at her upset baby. "Grammy are you gonna be here a while?"

"Yeah, all afternoon." Liz said smiling.

"And then she get's to come stay with us." Barbra Jean said with a fake smile. "Lucky, lucky us."

"Van let's take Eliza-beth upstairs for her nap." She said to Van as the walked to the stairs.

"Mom!" Brock said walking through Reba's front door.

"Hunny. did you wipe your feet?" Liz asked.

"No it's ok my shoes are clean." Brock said smiling.

"Is that back talk?" Liz asked causing Brock to turn around and go out in front of the door to wipe his feet.

"Now come here and give me a hug." Liz said opening her arms.

"Mom, how the heck are ya?" Brock asked pulling away from the hug..

"I'm well, dear. A little head ache of course with your wife being so loud."

"Yeah, I know. My whole life I've been the gal with big booming voice. You know? Boom boom, that's me." Barbra Jean said gigling nervously.

"Hey boom "boom, zip zip." Reba said giving her a look.

"Mom I can't wait for you to see Henry. Now, I told the sitter to let him sleep an extra long time so he'll be in a good mood for you."

"Oh, yes. I understand you have a stranger taking care of him."

"Alright, wait just a minute. You can say alot of bad things about Barbra Jean, but she is not a bad mother. Sure she laughs like a horse and doesn't have the sense God gave paste, but she is a good mother!" Reba said standing up as she got red with anger.

"Are you through?" Liz asked standing up to meet Reba's height.

"Are you mad?" Reba asked stepping closer.

"Yes."

"Then I'm through." Reba said satisfied.

"I'm mad at myself."

"..What?" Reba asked confused.

" I crossed the line. You are a good friend, Reba." Liz said sitting down.

Reba couldn't take it anymore so she stormed off into the kitchen to find Cheyenne making a sandwhich.

"Something bothering you Mom?"

"it's your Grandmother!" Reba said flaming.

"Is she picking on you again?" Cheyenne asked putting the food back in the fridge.

"No, worse! She's being nice! For 20 years that woman has tortured me and I couldn't fight back and now that I can she won't throw the first punch!" Reba said punching the air to exaggerate her point. "Hey, has she said anything bad about me behind my back?" Reba asked.

"Why does she have to criticize you first? Why don't you just tell her how you feel?"

"Because then I would be picking a fight and Momma always said that was wrong. I guess I'm just gonna have to keep chumming the waters till she strikes."

"Isn't that picking a fight?"

"You want a piece of me?" Reba asked pointing to herself.

"No." Cheyenne said quickly. "Look Mom, I love Grammy Liz, but I have no idea why you put up with her for this long."

"She may be an awful, judgemental, pain in the butt, but shes your grandmother. I had to be nice so she'd keep coming around."

"Bad news Mom, you still have to be nice to her for Jake."

"Are you kidding? She gave the boy a dickie. He's on my side." Reba said walking into the living room.

"Ok Mom, Barbra Jean and I have to go. We have to get the babysitter." Brock said leading Barbra Jean out the door.

"Well, it looks like it's just you and me. I have missed you." Liz said smiling at Reba.

"What's wrong with you?"

"What?"

"What's wrong with you? Why have you suddenly started likng me?"

"I've always liked you."

"You ran over my foot once!" Reba exclaimed.

"Oh, I was just teasin'" Liz said.

"Oh, like you were teasing Barbra Jean just now?"

"I don't want to talk about her. She's not gonna be around much longer anyway."

"What are you talking about?"

"What would you say if I told you Brock was in love with somebody else?" Liz asked looking for Reba's reaction.

"You mean other than himself?" Reba smirked.

"I'm serious. He told me."

"I'd say I don't believe in spreading gossip, so after you give me the name it all stops here."

"he's in love with you." Liz said pointing at Reba.

"What? You're saying Brock is....How is....what?!"

"The person he is in love with is you." Liz said walking away.

"Oh, she's very very good." Reba said to herself. "Brock is not still in love with me. What's your game old lady?"

"It's not a game! My gosh, Reba, you must have suspected!"

"Oh yeah, I knew he was still in love with me when he came over and showed me his new baby!"

"Never the less, you two have the best divorce of any couple I know!"

"Oh yeah! IT's the kind little girls dream of! You know in case you haven't noticed Brock is married to Barbra Jean."

"He'd leave her for you in a red hot second!"

"I will not be the other woman to the other woman! That's just wierd!"

"When you two seperated it's not 'cause you two didn't love eachother. It's cause Brock was having a midlife crisis! He was vulnerable and that's when he was stolen away by Barbra Ella! He wants you back, Reba."

"There is no chance of that ever happening."

"Ok, you're a little overwhelmed. I'm gonna give you some time to think about it. Don't you think it was a mistake for Brock to leave you for Barbra Jim?"

"It doesn't matter what I think. Brock married her....so he must love her."

"Do you think that Brock is basically a sane person?"

"Yes, I think basically he's sane."

"Ok, listen close. Would any sane person chose that woman over you?" Liz asked before leaving the room.

--Half Hour Later--

"Hey Reba. Where's my mother?" Brock asked as he came into the house.

"Don't worry about that. We need to talk."

"No we don't. Not with that tone fo voice."

"Sit down Brock." Reba said pulling him to the couch.

"You want something to drink?"

"No thanks."

"You sure? Don't make a snap decision that you might regret later. For once in your life think long term. Think about the future."

"Well, I was only gonna stay a minute, but I guess I could go for a snapple." Brock said confused by Reba.

"I can give you a snapple, but that's all I can give you. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Well if you just have the one, I'll pass."

"Your mother told me your secret."

'Oh no. She couldn't have. Reba can't know. She can't know. This would ruin everything.' Brock thought. "Oh....umm...which one?"

"The big one." Reba said.

'Please don't say it. Please don't say it.' Brock thought.

"The one where you said you're still in love with me." Reba said looking to Brock.

"Did she now? Oh my mother, God rest her soul."

"So is it true?"

"Well.." Brock was interrupted by Liz coming in to the room.