CRAWLING BACK TO YOU
Chapter 1-I Swallow My Pride
A/N: Hey y'all! First Reba fanfic, been out of writing for years, but here I am. Be nice in reviews please.
-Set in Season 3 Episode 23: Core Focus; This is right after Barbra Jean leaves the room, and Brock tells Reba he made a mistake…she turns to go and…
"Reba, don't go."-Brock says, seeing her fingers touch the door knob.
"Brock, your wife is upstairs. We can't have this out right here, right now…"Reba points out clenching the knob on the door as if she let go, she knew she would run back to Brock.
"Fine, let's go outside." He simply states, rushing over to her, and grabbing the door knob as she let her hand quickly fall. They both walked out into the back yard, and sat on the swing near the gate leading out of the yard. They were in a comfortable silence; however, they knew they had come out here for a reason. Brock finally initiated the conversation.
"Reba, look, I meant what I said back there. I did make a mistake when I left you and I-…" Reba cut him off, noticing the difference in words from what he said earlier.
"Hold it; did you just say you did make a mistake? Earlier it was 'I might have made.' What the hell just happened?" She stood up from the swing, causing it to stop the gentle gliding that both were enjoying. Reba could tell she was going just a bit overboard here, and could feel her blood pressure rising, as she knew that this would be a long talk. But, she had to be sure of what he said. All of a sudden, Brock grabbed his ex-wife's tender, yet aged hand, gently pulling her back down to the swing they were sharing. Neither was sure who should let go first, so they didn't. And that was fine for the both of them.
"Yes, I did. Don't get upset. Let's just take this one step at a time." They both nodded and took deep breaths before Brock started again. "So, as I was saying, I regret leaving you four years ago. We didn't talk, and that was our problem. Well, I didn't talk. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not talking, not being there, marrying Barbra Je-…" Again, Reba cut off her ex-husband.
"Eh! Don't' you dare finish that last line! And how do you know what our problem was? When did you figure that out?" Now, Reba pulls her hand back. She let this out all in one breath, but somehow, not yelling. She's curious. It actually sounded like Brock had put some thought into this.
"I had time, Reba. I found myself constantly coming up with excuses to get away from Barbra Jean, and my golf game was already good, so I went down to the lake and realized where it all went wrong." Brock decides to pour his soul out to her. He knows he wants her back, so what's the harm?
Reba's breath caught in her throat. No one knew about their special spot. This was the lake where Reba and Brock shared their first date, and at least two of their three kids were conceived in the romantic little cave near the lake, but just far enough away where it was secluded from innocent, yet prying eyes of the public. "The lake, our lake…with the cave?"
"Yes, and I went in there, but all I could think of was the great times we'd had in there. So, I sat on the dock, and just sorted through everything, day by day, every afternoon. It wasn't easy, but I'm ready now." Brock looks up, into Reba's gorgeous eyes, showing nothing but honesty, and love.
"Ready for what?" Reba questions, confused in the sudden change in conversation.
"Ready to earn back your trust; to try to communicate again, listen again… and love you again." He's still searching into her eyes for something, anything that would give him hope to love her again. As soon as he finished, however, her eyes turned to anger.
"Love again? Are you serious? Brock, you're married! You're supposed to love your wife! I'm the ex-wife; you left me, remember? You gave up that choice when you got her pregnant!" She says flinging her arm in the direction of Brock and Barbra Jean's house. Reba is now standing up again, looking down at Brock. She's not ready to let down her guard yet, when her husband is still married to that- wait, ex-husband.
This time, Brock stood up, matching her tense stance. "I am serious, Reba. I have never been more serious about anything in my life. I love you, YOU! I never stopped, I just-I- I can't love her, when I never did in the first place!" Brock finishes his outburst, while Reba is standing there fuming. If he never stopped loving her, then why did he just now want to come crawling back?
"I don't believe that for one darn second! You love her; you're just going through your mid-life crisis…again!" Reba keeps trying to come up with excuses, so she doesn't have to get hurt again, yet she's already hurting now.
"No, sweetheart, I'm not. I know I love you. I know I want to try again. And I know you…you're hurt, but deep inside you wantto love me." Brock steps closer, much calmer now. He picks up her hand, and caresses it with his thumb. It takes a minute for Reba to respond, not being used to this side of Brock. But when she does respond, she jerks her hand back.
"Brock, if you really mean this….then you'll think it over. And after you've thought it over, you'll think it over again… long and hard. And if you still…love me, then you know where I am. But you can't forget about Barbra Jean, and Henry! If you- well, you'll hurt them too! You have to understand there are consequences either way. This cannot be done lightly." Reba finally tells him, in a way, that she's ready too, but not without bringing in the harsh reality that comes with getting what he truly wants.
"I know, Reba, but I can't keep living like this. I can't keep living a lie. Hell, I'm surprised I've lasted for four years! Eventually," He points his finger in the direction of their house "Barbra Jean is gonna find out that there's someone else. So, something's gotta give and you know it, Reba." He explains, still close to her. He closes the small gap, by easily touching his hand that was once holding hers to her cheek. She moves her head downwards and over toward his hand at the same time.
Brock saw a smile slowly appear onto her deep features. He too smiled; maybe for the first time in months, if he really let himself be honest. That smile was the only thing that mattered to him, for it symbolized Reba's potential happiness. Just then a voice came bellowing out the front door.
"Brock…are you out there?" Barbra Jean decided she had waited too long for her husband to make up his mind.
"And that'll be my cue…"Reba mutters loud enough for Brock to hear. Brock's hand stays on her cheek, not afraid to let it down, as they are in the back yard, away from Barbra Jean's suspicious eyes. Reba looks up, eyes looking tired but very sure of herself, as she moved her lips up to Brock's right cheek, just brushing it enough to send shivers down his spine.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" Reba asks, now looking into his eyes. His hand moves up and down her arm to reassure her.
"Yes, of course." Brock made sure his voice was firm, because no matter what happened in there with Barbra Jean tonight, he would find a way back to Reba tomorrow, and he would certainly never forget this night.
"Good." Reba smiled again, this time shivers were radiating all over her body from his touch.
"Brock?" Barbra Jean's harsh voice brought them out of their special moment. She was still near the front door searching for her husband. Brock rolled his eyes, frustrated that he couldn't even get ten minutes alone with his love.
"Coming, Barbra Jean!" He yells, and regrettably removes his hand from Reba's arm while slowly backing away from her towards the door.
"Goodnight, Reba."
"Night, Brock. See you tomorrow." She, too was somewhat frustrated, but knew that BJ came with the territory. She just wasn't sure what it felt like to be the "other woman". Reba shuddered at the thought.
"See you then." He turned, and walked around the house to the front door, out of Reba's sight.
Reba sighed at the night's events. She tried to digest it all, but it just wasn't happening. It took all she had to put one foot in front of the other on the walk out of Brock's backyard (careful to avoid walking past a window where she could be seen by BJ) to her home.
It was times like this that she was glad Van and Cheyenne had their own home, she thought as she walked to the front door. Kyra was at her friend's house for the weekend, and Jake was camping for the weekend with his scouts group. She leaned back against the door and sighed. It was too quiet…but tonight she welcomed it, for she had much to think about.
She walked into her bedroom and put on some country music, and then proceeded to flop down on the bed. Rolling over on her stomach, she looked on her bedside table, noting her wedding picture. She sighed, again, and picked it up.
Reba looks intently at the picture and says, "Oh, Brock…what am I gonna do about you?"
~End of Chapter 1~
Review PLEASE, but keep in mind that IF I get any reviews urging to update fast, I may or may not… I have to be inspired. Sorry, y'all. THANK YOU so much for reading, as this is my first Reba fanfic.
Love from TTown :)
"So my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Do not let ANYTHING change you. Always give yourselves FULLY to the work of our Lord because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted."-1 Corinthians 15:58