Three months later…
Brock Hart walked into his ex wife's house to find his wife Barbra Jean standing in Reba's kitchen making lunch for the whole family. Jake, Kyra and Cheyenne sat in the kitchen with the happy blond while Van sat on the couch with Reba watching the game. He smiled to himself seeing every person he loved in one place. He smiled even more remembering that Buzzard was gone that week working in Fort Worth on construction. Buzzard was gone every few weeks for work helping build some of the nicest houses in Texas so even though his absence could be annoying for the family it was also understandable seeing he could bring in the money to support his own home and most importantly Reba.
"And that is why I am starting a petition stating that beanie babies should be labeled as a national treasure." Barbra Jean explained to Cheyenne
"Hey guys." Brock said happily as he walked up and kissed his wife
"Hey sweetie!" Barbra Jean said cheerily
"Hey Jake you left your English project in my car." Brock said turning to his eldest son
"That's where it was I still need to finish it up." Jake said with a hint of relief in his voice
"Buddy if you need any help we can work on that together."
"No thanks dad I don't really have much left to do."
"Really it's no problem it would be a good project for us to do just us men."
" No it's ok dad all I have to do is put on little extra glitter on the Alamo." Jake said flatly as he then turned and left the room to go upstairs.
"Glitter now that's a way to remember a pivotal battle in Texas history." Kyra said sarcastically as she fallowed Jakes lead out the room.
"You know I love my son but that boy worries me." Brock said rolling his eyes
Cheyenne just nodded as Barbra Jean patted her husband's back comfortingly "You want some patuna salad sandwich?" Barbra Jean chirped
"A patuna what?" Cheyenne asked
Brock was about to respond with a whole hearted yes when suddenly he caught a glimpse of Reba curled up on the couch laughing with Van. It had been a while since he talked with her and there were some things he needed to get off his chest especially with Buzzard out of they way for a little while.
"Yeah in just a second." Brock said turning to his wife then realizing he was already forgotten seeing Barbra Jean going into a long story explaining patuna salad. Taking that as his queue he then exited the kitchen towards the living room.
"You were a cheerleader!?" Van asked in disbelief
"Well only for a semester." Reba said with a giggle
Brock stood in the doorway with his signature smile listening in on the amusing conversation.
"That is awesome! What made you do it only for a semester?"
" I was only a stand in for a couple games really some girl got mono I think."
"Whoa Mrs. H as a cheerleader that's hot!"
"That is very inappropriate and kind of you to say Van."
"You think that's hot." Brock said making his presence known as he sat down in the chair next to the couch "You should have seen the little outfits she wore when she sang the National Anthem for the football games. Hey what was that little red dress you got in trouble for? You know the one red dress that really showed off your…"
"Dahhhhh!" Reba yelled holding up a hand "You said you would drop that."
"What?" Brock said innocently "Just jumping in the conversation."
'Well jump out!"
"What are we feeling a little defensive that we wore the hottest red dress that my football buddies still think about to this day?"
"Still!? What is wrong with you men?"
"You can't blame us I mean seriously your boobs looked.."
"Stop! It! Brock!"
Van sat in silence looking back and forth at his arguing in laws in awe of what he was hearing. Brock and Reba looked over to Van to see him just staring with his mouth gaped wide. After a half-minute of awkward staring Reba gently placed her fingers under Van's chin and pushed his jaw back up to the rest of his head.
"So..you wore…something like that….and you are…Mrs.H….so you….?" Van sputtered
"I know it's a lot to take in about your mother in law." Brock said amused
"Wait!" Van exclaimed more to himself "Mother in law as in my wife's mother as in….IT MAY RUN IN THE FAMILY!" Van then hopped off the couch with an all to eager grin walking to the kitchen yelling "Cheyenne have I told you how beautiful you look in red!"
Brock and Reba turned to each other in shock at their son in law's reaction but then just broke into a fit of laughter. Soon they were doubled over laughing with tears streaming down their faces.
"Oh I love that kid!" Reba said between her laughs
"I don't think I will ever forget his face when I described the dress."
"We may never hear the end of this!"
After some time of laughter the two calmed down pausing for a moment looking at one another.
"I have missed this." Brock said
"Missed what?" Reba said wiping away her tears
"Laughing with you, being friends with you."
"Me too."
"How are you feeling?"
"Ugh huge"
"You look beautiful."
"Wish I could feel that way."
"You are stunning Reba. You look amazing whether you are eight and a half months pregnant or just a twenty one year old bride."
"Thank you." Reba looked down for a moment blushing then looked quizzically "What are you doing?"
"What?"
"Why are you suddenly so sweet? So helpful? "
"I'm a good man that made bad mistakes. I miss our friendship I want to be here for you."
"You don't like Buzzard do you?"
"I like him. I respect him. I guess I'm just jealous that's all. Not to mention it is weird to see you glowing, looking amazing as you always do when you're about to have a child and have the child not be mine. But as I said before that is my cross to bear."
"Yeah it's weird to see."
"What I'm feeling must have been a hundred times worse when Henry came along. But you have been just as supportive with him as you are with all the kids. I hope you know I want to be supportive to this little one."
"You don't have to make anything up Brock I'm done being angry."
"I know but that still doesn't mean I still don't care for you. We failed as husband and wife but we didn't fail as simply two loving people."
"You know you're not so bad to talk to when you're not being a monkeys butt. That and you wearing long pants so I don't have to look at your chicken legs."
"You still think of them don't you." Brock said teasingly
Reba laughed but after a second her face softened as she stared at her first love "I'm glad god blessed me with you." She said in a faint voice only he could hear
"You are the blessing." Brock said just as softly, The two stared at each other feeling many wounds being healed in the silence. Barbra Jean then entered the room with a tray full of hot sauces causing for the private moment to end.
"Babe what are you doing?" Brock asked exasperated
"I have some hot sauces for Reba to try it will kick her into labor!" Barbra jean chirped
"Barbra Jean I'm not eating all those hot sauces." Reba sighed
"Of course you are not going to eat all of the silly. Just the ones that makes your little rocket want to start a blast off." Barbra Jean said happily as she squeezed herself between Reba and Brock placing the tray on the coffee table in front of her.
"Little Rocket?" Brock said suppressing a smile
"Listen Barbra Jean I've already gone through three different uh…. Rocket launches this baby will come when it wants to." Reba said sternly "Just hope blast off doesn't happen till my co caption comes back."
"Don't worry Reba you know we are on call for what ever happens." Brock said reassuringly
"Don't worry I will be here every second" Barbra Jean said as she turned herself to look at Reba
"You don't need to do that"
"Oh but I do. When my very best friend hurts I hurt."
"You hurt when I hurt?"
"Yes because we are connected, don't you feel our strong cosmic vibrations?"
"You know? I think I'm feeling it." Reba exclaimed dramatically as she widened her eyes looking off into the distance "A strong movement that dwells within me, a feeling that builds over time."
Brock looked at the redhead confused but began to smile realizing where she was going with her words. Even when she was being mean he had to admire how clever she could be.
"Oh my god really?"
"Yes! Barbra Jean are you feeling any strong emotions right now? I'm feeling a pressure on my cosmic senses." Reba said still staring into the distance grabbing the blond by the arm
"Yes! Do you feel it in the bottom of your heart?"
"No more of the bottom of my gut. "
"Our love is so strong" Barbra Jean squeaked sitting up on the edge of her seat with pure excitement
"Yeah I….nope sorry….that was just gas." Reba said flatly as she leaned back on her pillow with a smug smile on her face
Barbra Jean deflated back into her seat crossing her arms in a huff as she started to pout watching Brock and Reba begin to crack up. Just then Cheyenne came storming through the room with Van trailing behind her yelling "Van I am not fulfilling some sick dream you had about my mom!"
"No it's not like that." Van said defensively "I don't dream of your mom like that I dream of you dressing like your mom being slutty like that!"
"Oh my god Van you are disgusting!" Cheyenne screamed as she stormed up the stairs
"I didn't mean it like that I meant it as….uh….I am a man and I am dumb!" Van cried out fallowing his wife up the stairs
Brock watched the fighting couple until they disappeared into their room then looked at a laughing Reba and a still agitated Barbra Jean. Brock smiled at his two favorite women and finally said "So how about them hot sauces?"
