Title: It's a Wonderful Life
Chapter 7: Happy Anniversary-Part One
Time: December 2008 (after the sixth season of Reba and beyond)
No copyright infringement intended.
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Brock sat up in bed. He found it hard to sleep. However, his wife was sound asleep, despite her assertion that she couldn't sleep with the handcuffs on. He walked over to the entertainment center across from the bed. He turned the TV on quietly so he wouldn't disturb Reba. She had a DVD playing. He decided to watch it for a few minutes. If he wanted to know more about this Reba, he figured that this might be a good start.
The DVD was a home movie. He pressed play to watch. He sat down on the edge of the bed, watching the home movie. The scene unfolding before him was a Holliway family home movie. The date on the screen was December 2, 2001. The party appeared to be taking place at Reba's new home. Lori Ann was behind the camcorder filming the party on the screen.
Her voice could be heard from behind the camera. "This is a special day for the Holliways. This is Reba and Mike's third anniversary party. No one ever thought that this day would come. Three years and these two are still going strong."
The camera moved around the party. Brock saw the faces of Reba's parents, John, Cheyenne, Paige, Kyra, Jake, Sam, Jenny, Josh, Kim, Mike's parents, and Max among the partygoers. The camera zoomed in on a conversation between Kim and Max.
Lori Ann's voice was heard again. "Hey, you two! Do you have anything to say to the happy couple?"
"Reba, you deserve all the happiness in the world. Congratulations to you and Mike on the baby. I think that it's great. You're finally gettin' the family that you've always wanted. You're a good friend and the best mother I've ever seen," Max remarked.
The camera moved again to a teenage Paige, talking with Sam, Jenny, Michael, John, and Cheyenne. "What do you have to say to the happy couple?"
"Because of you, my girlfriend is related to me. She's my sister-in-law's sister. Thanks," Sam remarked.
"He's only kidding. We love you. We're really happy for you. We're happy that you're having another baby," Paige commented, putting her arm around Sam.
"Come on, Cheyenne. Say something to your mother. John, aren't you happy for your parents?"
"Mom, I'm really happy for you. I love our new house. Mike is a cool stepdad. I'm happy to have a new baby brother or sister. Couldn't be any worse than John and Kyra."
"Thanks, sis. I'm feelin' the love. Seriously, Ma, we love you and we're glad that you're happy. We're happy for you about the new baby."
Lori Ann is walking around the party with the camcorder. She gets another close-up shot of Max. Reba walks up to her. "Max is lookin' so fine. Another example of a man who's actually gotten better with age."
"Why don't you ask him out before Kim does? Be my guest."
"Nah, we've got a deal. I don't date any guy who's been to bed with you."
"Don't worry about it. Max and I only had fourteen years of marriage. It was hardly serious," Reba said jokingly. "Mike wants to send this video to his buddy, Brock. Edit this stuff out before you make that copy for him, okay?"
"Wait. Did you say Brock?"
"He's Mike's best friend from junior high and high school in Dallas. He lives in Houston now, apparently."
"Did you say Mike's best friend?"
"Yeah, why?"
"The guy we met in Vegas?"
"Vegas? Nah, I don't think so. I remember almost everything about that trip. I don't remember anyone else at the wedding, except for our friends from McAlester."
"Reba, there are a lot of details from the Vegas trip that you don't remember. What does he look like?"
"I don't know. I've never met him. I've never asked Mike what the guy looks like. Why?"
"I seem to remember meeting someone named Brock there. I think that he was the guy at the bar the night before."
"Whatever. It's not important, Lori Ann. Why don't you date him if he's so memorable?"
"Reba!"
"Today is my anniversary. I am married to the man of my dreams. I am blessed with four wonderful children. I'm pregnant with Mike's baby and he's my husband. Nothing is more important than that. You should relax. Go find Terry and have a good time. All is right with the world and I've never been happier."
"Whatever you say, Reba. I'm gonna go find your husband and film him with the kids. He says that he has a surprise for you."
The camera pans out to find Mike. Lori Ann walks over to him to talk to him. He's standing next to Terry.
"Hey, Lori Ann. I see you filming this little shindig for the happy couple."
"Yeah, are you available later?"
"Maybe. Right now, I have to help my brother with a surprise for his wife." Terry turned to talk to Mike on camera. "Hey, Mike! Do you have anything to say to your lovely wife on the anniversary of the day that you married her for all eternity? Tell her how happy you are to be married to her."
Mike laughed and turned to look at Reba. "Hey, Sal! Today's our anniversary?"
Reba laughed at him. "Yeah, Jack. Look what you did to me." Reba's hands went down to her abdomen to gently rub her baby bump.
"Wow, it's our anniversary. You know what? I'm your husband and you're my wife."
Reba walked up to Mike and put her arm around him. "Would that be because I'm pregnant and my daddy owns a shotgun? We already had two children. It was about time to get married, don'tcha think? It was time to get married before we brought a third child into the world, you mo-ron." She slapped him playfully on the arm.
"You're gonna make our child think that we had a shotgun wedding and we didn't. We got married because we love each other. The baby came after."
"For once. You two mate like rabbits," Lori Ann commented from behind the camera.
"Thanks, Lori Ann. Right now, I have something to say to my wife, the mother of my children." He looked at Reba again. "I have something for you and I hope that you like it." Mike signaled Terry. Terry brought out a guitar and handed it to Mike before sitting down behind the family's piano to play a song. Terry started playing the notes to Love Me Tender and then Mike joined in with his guitar accompaniment. That's when Mike looked into Reba's eyes. Reba looked at him expectantly. Then...
Love me tender,
love me sweet,
never let me go.
You have made my life complete,
and I love you so.
Reba seemed to like it, there's a twinkle in her eye...some of the guests focus their attention on Mike and Reba.
Brock winced as he watched Mike sing. He knew that Mike sang to romance Reba, but he'd never seen him be so genuine with her. She seemed so happy...
Love me tender,
love me true,
all my dreams fulfill.
For my darlin' I love you,
and I always will.
Lori Ann moved the camera between Mike and Terry. She focused on Terry's face and then his fingers playing the tune. Love me tender,
love me long,
take me to your heart.
For it's there that I belong,
and we'll never part.
The camera caught the reactions of guests in the crowd... the women, smiles on their faces, wrapped up in the romance of the moment. Envy on the men's faces as they watch Mike serenade his wife...
A musical interlude from Terry as Mike took off his suit jacket and tie...some hoots and hollers from the crowd...Lori Ann captured the image of Reba whistling at her husband...
Lori Ann followed with the camera as Mike strolled in front of the gathered guests...
Love me tender,
love me true,
all my dreams fulfill.
For my darlin' I love you,
and I always will.
Brock watched Mike as he moved gracefully as he performed. He watched Reba's face with fascination.
Barbra Jean's words came to mind... "Well, do you want to now? That seems to be something that he does to woo Reba and it's workin'. What can you do? He's looking into her eyes. It's so intimate. He's romancing the socks off of her. It's like somethin' out of a romantic movie."
Brock thought about what Reba told him once during that late night phone call... "I also love being sung to, you know. It works as an aphrodisiac for me. I'm a sucker for a man with a guitar. You'll have to sing to me sometime."
In the video...Mike moved closer to Reba, she couldn't have a more delighted look on her face. He picks up the verse...
Love me tender,
love me dear,
tell me you are mine.
I'll be yours through all the years,
till the end of time.
The camera panned across the crowd, even the men are got into it, focused on Mike as he sang lovingly to his wife...Terry mouths the words along with Mike, staring at Lori Ann as he does so.
Brock watched the TV, seeing Mike do this...maybe he underestimated this effect on Reba...
On the video...Mike stared into Reba's eyes. They exchanged a sexy smile. Mike kissed her on the lips...more hoots and hollers from the crowd. Reba brushes a hand across Mike's face.
Brock watched this...seeing the connection, the heat between them...coveting it...envying the man who had this connection with his wife.
Back to the video...the music building...the crowd completely in the palm of Mike's hand.
Love me tender,
love me true,
all my dreams fulfill.
For my darlin' I love you,
and I always will.
(When at last my dreams come true
Darling this I know
Happiness will follow you
Everywhere you go).
A little musical flourish from Terry as the crowd broke out into huge cheers and applause...
Brock watched this version of Mike in the video- the center of attention, larger than life, focused on Reba... He knew that he would have to woo his wife in a grand, romantic fashion.
Back on video...
"Happy Anniversary darlin'...I love you," Mike said tenderly to Reba. He put his hand over her tiny baby bump and whispered in her ear. Reba leaned over, giving Mike a deep kiss...oohs and ahhs from the crowd...but Mike and Reba are in their own little world...
Brock is sad, watching this video. He ached for Reba because she had been watching the video recently- seven years later, alone, and six years divorced. The only bright spot was that Reba wasn't alone anymore. They had been married for two days now. He realized that it was after midnight. Today was officially December 2, 2008...
What happens next? Stay tuned to find out in the next chapter!
Author's note: I will continue to write new chapter updates as often as possible. Thanks for being patient.
I hope that everyone had a fun time over the New Years' holidays.
If anyone has any suggestions on them I'd love to hear! Review or Send me a P.M with your suggestions! Please feel free to make any comments that you wish. I may just decide to include it in the story. If I do include one of your suggestions, then I will give you full credit.
I want to express my special thanks to the following people who have given me valuable support.
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I thank all of you readers for your continued support. Your support really keeps me writing!
Without you, the story wouldn't be continued every week.
Characters I don't own: Reba McKinney, Brock Hart, Barbra Jean Booker, Kyra, Jake, Cheyenne Montgomery, Van Montgomery, Elizabeth Montgomery, Barbra Jean Booker, Henry Hart, Mike Holliway, Terry Holliway, Lori Ann Garner, JV McKinney, Helen McKinney, John D. Hart, Liz Hart, and any other characters from the Reba cast.
Characters I do own: Anyone not part of the Reba cast – original characters developed for this story include: Max Thornton, Cheyenne McEntire-Smith (Nana), Vince McEntire (Papa), Kenneth Smith (Gramps), Paige McKinney, Michael Davis, John McKinney Thornton, Barbara Ann Grant, Kim Campbell-Holliway, Sam Holliway, Jenny Miller, Terry Holliway, Jr., Josh Holliway, Madeline Mitchell (Maddi), Greg Brooks, Jason Holliway, and Maggie.
