Chapter 6

It's been three months since Reba went out on her first date with Brian, three months since she started working for Brock, and six months since Barbara Jean left. Little Henry was growing at an alarming rate; Brock couldn't believe how big he has been getting. Brock didn't like Reba going out with Brian but they were getting along great and Reba seemed really happy. As long as she was happy he was happy. He stopped coming over so much because it seemed Brian was over there a lot now. He seemed to be over there every weekend, trying to get into Jake's good graces. Brock didn't like that either.

Today was Valentine's a he was getting lonely, very lonely. He knew Cheyenne and Van would be out somewhere. Reba mentioned going out with Brian but then she suddenly decided to fake sick, according to Van anyway. He never really understood the antics of his ex-wife.

Brock was sitting on his sofa, sipping a coke and watching TV with his son in his arm. He hated to admit it but he was glad Barbara Jean left, he had time to get over it and he did. His divorce was going pretty great, Barbara Jean didn't want anything from him, she just wanted out, according to her divorce lawyer. It was going fast; it would be finale sometime this week.

As Brock sat there staring at the TV, his thoughts went to Reba again. He did want her to be happy but he wanted to be happy with her. There was no way of course that Reba could still love him, he cheated on her, and he has a baby by someone else. Brock shook his head trying to shake away any thoughts of Reba. It was time to move on; he has a son to think about.

Brock glanced down towards his six month old son. He was sitting there quietly, and if Brock could guess he would say he was looking around but not just around, it seemed Henry was looking for something or someone. Brock continued to stare at him and he began to notice his little lip started to quiver and not five seconds later Henry let out a loud wail.

Brock sighed and stood up to walk around with him. He knew Henry couldn't be hungry or need changing, he just did all that. He knew the best way to calm Henry down was to walk with him, he loved that. Brock continued to rub his back and walk around the small living room but nothing Brock did helped. "Come on Henry." Brock said while continuing to try and sooth him.

Brock did everything, walking him around, he tried feeding and changing him, a warm bath, reading to him, entertaining him with some of his toys, nothing worked. The only other thing he could think of was going to Reba's for help. She always knew what to do when it came to children. He set the crying baby down, only long enough to pack a small diaper bag, then he headed to his car with baby Henry crying in the car seat. On the way across town to Reba's Brock tried talking to Henry, hoping something would sooth him, he took the long way in hopes the car ride would help him sleep, it used to work all the time with Jake but when he arrived at Reba's a short while later, Henry was still crying his eyes out.

He arrived at the backdoor and saw Reba in the living room with Brian. He was confused a bit because he thought Reba canceled her date with Brian, he hated to intrude on their evening but he really needed Reba's help. He knocked with a little force and they both looked up quickly from their conversation they were having. He thought for one moment Reba almost smiled and looked happy that he was there but he quickly dismissed it as wishful thinking. He looked at Brian and he wasn't hiding the fact that he didn't like Brock being there.

Reba opened the door and winced a little when the crying entered through the doorway. "What's wrong?" she asked letting Brock into the kitchen.

He set Henry's car seat on the table and took Henry from it. He continued trying to do what he did at his condo. He then turned to Reba. "I don't know what's wrong with him. I tried everything, nothing will calm him down."

Reba sighed. Why did she keep doing this? She took the baby from Brock and almost immediately Henry stopped crying. He was soon giggling and trying to grab at Reba's short red hair. Reba of course was confused as to why he would be quiet all of a sudden with her, of course they have grown sort of a bond between them but if she didn't know any better she would think that he thought that she was his... "Reba?" She turned to see Brian in the kitchen entry way. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Reba scrunched her eyebrows in confusion but she nodded. She tried to hand Henry back to Brock but he just cried and Reba waved Brock away and just took Henry with her when she followed Brian into the living room. She saw Brian roll his eyes when he saw her with the baby. "What's wrong with you?"

Brian sighed as he thought about how to go about saying all he was about to say. "Many things." He said, and that was all that came out. Reba raised an eyebrow as to what he had to say. He sighed again and it came. "Reba, I don't know how much more of this I can take."

Reba's mouth dropped in shock a bit at what was said. "Excuse me?"

Brian nodded, his face now finally showing some anger. "I have been patient. I have been tolerant, but not anymore. Since our first date I was always curious as to why you would go and work for your ex-husband but I figured your explanation of that you really needed the experience and the job was good enough for me. Then I saw you baby sit your ex-husband's child, who he conceived with another woman while you two were still married, and I excepted the explanation that you were just trying to help him a bit after his wife left but then there was the second and the third, when does it end Reba? When? I mean, he comes here on Valentine's Day, interrupting our evening so you can help him calm his child! I don't get you! You say you can never forgive him for what he did, yet you do all this crap for him. I love you Reba! I want to marry you! I want to have a family with you! Not me, you, and your ex-husband!"

Reba just stood there for a moment, trying to process all that was yelled at her. Brian loved her? She never even thought of saying it to him. He wanted to get married? Was he nuts? She just got divorced last year. Brian was a great boyfriend but she wasn't ready to say I love you yet, she wasn't sure if she would ever be ready. She must have been silent to long because she heard Brian's voice again that snapped her out of her thinking.

He tapped her on her shoulder. "Reba…do you love me?"

She wanted to say something but she couldn't. What could she say? She didn't want to hurt his feelings by saying she didn't love him because to tell you the honest truth, she didn't. He was fun and great to hang out with but he was more of a friend than a romantic interest anymore. She must have taken to long again because she heard a sad sigh from Brian, now she had to speak. "Brian…"

He held up his hands. "No, I should have seen this. I mean I saw all the signs, I just didn't want to believe them."

Reba was confused. "What signs?"

Brian threw his hands in the air. "You still love him Reba! You still love your ex. He's always here, you two are always together, almost every time I am here! I see it, I'm not stupid! The way you look at him, the way he looks at you! I'm done and I don't deserve this. I'm gone." Brian grabbed his coat and then walked towards the door.

Reba walked as fast as she could with a baby in her arms. "Brian wait…I don't love…"

Brian turned to her and smiled. "I thought we had something great. When I first saw you in that office, I thought, wow, if only I could get the courage to ask her out, maybe, just maybe we could have a great relationship. I thought, wow, she could be mine but Reba you don't belong to me, you never have." Having said that, Brian left.

Reba stood there stunned. She didn't want things to end this way. Now she was really confused. She was confused about everything Brian said and was confused about what she should do now. She heard someone enter the living room. She turned to see Brock. She had forgotten he was here but considering she was still holding his child, she didn't know how she had forgotten. She also didn't know how, with all the yelling going on, but Henry seemed to have fallen asleep on her shoulder, his little chubby arm wrapped around her neck.

Brock smiled to her as he took baby Henry. He mumbled a thank you and decided maybe it was best for him to leave. He had heard everything Brian said and he was shocked. Could Reba still love him? He didn't know the answer and he was afraid to ask. He felt he needed to leave her alone for a while. "I'm just going to…go" he said gesturing towards the door.

Reba nodded, still having not said anything since Brian left. She was in shock. He dumped her, even though she didn't love him, it was hard to loose someone that's been in your life, even if just for a little while. She felt the burning sensation of tears coming on and hoped Brock would leave before they came. Sure enough, Brock said goodbye and gave her a small hug and left. As soon as that door closed Reba collapsed on the couch just as a load of fresh tears sprang from her eyes.

End of Chapter