A/N: This is all fake. As much as I want to, I don't own REBA or any of its characters or anything affiliated with the WB or its new network. Any characters or anything you don't recognize is all mine... and you can't have it.

A/N 2: Set in future... maybe season 6. Kyra comes home after a year away at school.

And I Loved Him Because

Chapter One: Welcome Home, Kyra.

"What time is Kyra supposed to be getting in?" Cheyenne asked her mother as she sat on the couch, flipping through a magazine. Her daughter, Elizabeth, now five, sat in front of her, coloring at the coffee table with her uncle Jake.

"Your Dad and Barbra Jean are pickin' her up at the airport soon….they're probably gonna grab a bite to eat, then they'll be bringin' her back here….I can't wait to see her, I've missed her so much!"

Cheyenne just smiled and went back to reading her magazine. They all waited for Kyra with some patience; and after a while, when they heard the turning of the doorknob, Reba became excited.

"Kyra?" Reba asked, her body slumping when she saw who it actually was behind the door. "Oh, it's just you."

"Daddy!" Elizabeth squealed and ran into Van's arms.

"Well, at least someone is glad to see me." Van mocked. He picked Elizabeth up, then turned back to Reba.

"Did you guys know that Kyra is sitting out on the ledge on the porch?"

Reba looked shocked. "What?"

Cheyenne, Jake, Van and Elizabeth followed Reba outside to pull Kyra into a great big bear hug. "Welcome home!" Reba excitedly told her daughter; but she noticed something different about her. Her eyes were gray and gloomy and there was hardly an expression of joy on her face.

"Hey guys, why don't you go set the table for dinner and we'll be in in a minute."

They all went without protest and Reba closed the door behind them. Then she turned to look at Kyra, who had resumed her intense staring at the ground.

"Kyra? Are you okay?"

Reba didn't care why she hadn't come home with her dad or the fact that she hadn't bothered to come in and let someone know she was back; she just wanted to help her little girl, who obviously had something troubling her. She inched toward her and placed her hand on Kyra's back.

"Sweetie, I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong."

"Maybe I don't want help." Kyra snapped. Reba backed away. "I'm going home."

Reba stood there, shocked. This wasn't the kind of homecoming she had expected. She had planned to have a big dinner, then use the rest of the night to sit and talk about her year away at school. Instead, Kyra didn't even come in and tell anyone she was home, then she left upset.

Reba walked into the house and called Brock. She told him there was something bothering Kyra and that she was worried about her. Brock offered to talk to her and Reba's worries subsided for now.

"Kyra, can I come in?" Brock asked his daughter from the other side of her bedroom door.

Kyra rolled her eyes, "do whatever you want."

Brock opened the door and saw Kyra sitting on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. "What ya lookin' at?"

Kyra just stared at her dad. She wanted him to leave, and leave right away so she could be alone with her thoughts.

"Listen, your mom just called and said you were upset about something and that she was worried about you."

"I'm fine." Kyra lied. The truth was, she really did want to talk to her mom. That was the whole reason she went over there in the first place. But once she started to think about it again, it just hurt too much and her first defence was to protect herself. "I'll call mom tomorrow and let her know everything's okay."

"Are you sure?" Brock asked, becoming a little concerned himself.

"Yes. Now can you please leave? I want to be alone right now."

Brock eyed his daughter carefully as he moved closer to the door. Kyra slipped underneath the covers and placed her hands behind her head. She laid down and stared up at the ceiling. Brock slowly shook his head, before opening the door and leaving. He secretly hoped she would talk to somebody before it was too late.

Kyra walked up to her mother's front door. It was the middle of the night and she knew everyone was asleep, but she was still a little scared to go in. Many thoughts and different scenarios played out in her head as she placed her hand on the doorknob and gently pushed the door open.

The room was dark, so Kyra padded her way over to the couch. She laid down and pulled the blanket around her body.

'Why?' She whispered to herself, before crying herself to sleep.

"Kyra?" Reba asked while coming down the stairs the next morning. "What ya doin' sleepin' on the couch?"

Kyra jumped up, a little startled. She didn't want anyone to know that she was here. "Oh, I just didn't feel like sleeping at home."

Reba stepped down the last few steps, then stood behind the couch and turned to face Kyra, who had folded the blanket and started making her way to the front door. "Won't you stay for breakfast?" she pleaded, "I'd sure like to know how your trip was."

Kyra just shook her head no, horrible sadness still alive in her eyes. Reba sighed and was about to say something else when Kyra pulled the door open and left without saying another word.

"Oh Kyra, I wish you would let me help you." Reba whispered to herself, praying Kyra would come to her eventually.

"Who are you talking to, Ma?" Cheyenne asked, while strolling down the stairs for some breakfast. The rest of the family was not far behind her.

"Myself."

"Why were you talking to yourself?" Van asked.

"I was prayin' that Kyra would come talk to me. I wanna hear about her trip, and the reason she looks so sad now every time I see her." Reba explained, picking up Elizabeth and giving her grand-daughter a kiss good morning. Elizabeth giggled as Reba tickled her a little, then set her back down. She ran into the kitchen.

"She'll come to you, Mrs. H. If things get worse she knows that she can come to you." Van reassured her as he and Cheyenne followed Elizabeth into the kitchen.

Reba thought about it for a moment. "I sure hope so….."

TBC