TITLE: Afraid to Sleep

RATING: M

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any recognizable characters from the Reba show. I would have made Reba the movie by now.

SUMMARY: a tragic accident brings two of the most unlikely people together in a time of loss, confusion, and nightmare riddled dreams. Set around right after Van got his arena football contract.

WARNING: So….I would not normally write an entire story like this, but I had a dream that sparked this thought and it can no longer be ignored! Be advised, there are character deaths, and I'm not entirely sure where I'm taking this yet. Just please bear with me.

"I have grown up, that process began the moment Cheyenne got pregnant, and continued on after Elizabeth was born. Then after Cheyenne, Brock, Barbra Jean, and Henry died in that crash, I stepped in and grew up because my family needed me. You needed me. I grew up enough to comfort you in the middle of the night when your nightmares decide to haunt you, and I grew up enough to fall in love with someone as grown up as you." Van said and turned and walked out of her bedroom equally angry, and hurt…..TBC

SOOOO…..THIS CHAPTER OFFICIALLY INSTATES THE M RATING!

Ch. 10: Making Up

Reba sat down on her bed with her mouth hanging open thanks to Van's confession. She never expected him to love her, hell, for that matter she didn't even know where there…whatever it was they were doing was going to go. She heard a knock from outside her door and she quickly wiped her face and walked over and opened it to find Kyra on the other side. "Did I hear yelling?" Kyra asked and Reba nodded. "Van did some idiotic things today at work so I yelled at the monkey's butt, and I'm just extremely stressed right now." Reba tried to explain in a way that would seem like a normal fight between her and Van. To Reba's relief Kyra merely nodded. "Well, remember that I told you that my friend Amy was having a sleepover tonight?" Kyra asked. "Of course, are you leaving now?" "Yes, I'll be home tomorrow. Oh, Jake called and said he was staying the night at his friend's house to try and avoid getting sick too." "That's fine, when did he call?' Reba asked. "In the middle of the screaming match" Kyra said and Reba nodded her head. "Alright, be careful" "I will Mom" Kyra said and then walked downstairs. Reba heard the faint sound of throwing up and ran downstairs and saw Elizabeth dry heaving. Van was holding Elizabeth's hand and Reba's heart broke. Van was a loving father, and he had grown up despite some of his actions from earlier in the day. Van had done what he knew how to do to make the sale, and that involved being goofy. It's just who he was. "Van, I don't want to put anything in her stomach until in the morning. Since that was a dry heave and it's only a 24 our bug, if we don't put anything else in her stomach except a little ginger ale until morning then that should be the last time she throws up. Reba said and Van looked up at her and barely nodded his head in acknowledgement. It was clear that Van was upset.

They gave Elizabeth some more ginger ale, cleaned her up and put her in bed where she passed out from exhaustion. Van practically ran back downstairs once Elizabeth was asleep. Reba quickly followed Van. "Van, wait" Reba said as she saw him heading out the front door. Van turned to her and looked at her expectantly. "I'm not angry anymore, although I'm sure you still are, but I want to explain." Reba said and Van walked over to the couch and sat down. Reba sat down beside him and turned towards him. "This….this is very difficult for me….I never admit that I'm wrong….well…almost never apparently….Van, you have to understand where I'm coming from on this though. Some of the things you did today were unprofessional. Most of all, using the mantle as a piece of workout equipment. Getting to know the client better and getting them to trust you is a great step in making a sale, and you did that by playing basketball with the man today…..and….well…..you shirtless is a very distracting thing for me when I'm trying to work and be professional." Reba felt a little relieved when she saw Van smile at her last comment. "I also became angry because you really could have gotten into trouble, selling real-estate for the company with no license can get you into a lot of trouble." Van nodded his head and before he could speak Reba cut him off and continued. "You said you were trying to make me proud, well, other than being mad as heck about the way you handled a few things, I am proud of you. Your first time to help show anyone a house and you convinced them to buy it. That's wonderful, and I'm sorry about calling you an idiot, and a child. You're a man, and while you're a little goofy, you're not stupid, and you do have a talent for real-estate. If you concentrate on being my assistant for a little longer we can work on getting you a license, and then maybe we could be partners." Reba said and gently laid her hand on his cheek.

Van put his hand on top of hers and smiled "I forgive you, and I love that idea. I really do, and I admit, putting my foot on the mantle wasn't the brightest idea I've ever had. I just feel the need to prove myself to you, because you are so beautiful, and so smart, and I want to be able to deserve you, and I've never said this sentimental hoo-ha to anybody before." Reba's eyes watered and she chuckled. "You prove yourself to me every day when I watch you take care of Elizabeth, and when you hold me close. Honestly, I'm scared to death, because I am so much older than you are. Van, you're young, what if you want more kids?" Tying yourself down to me isn't a smart move. Someday, you're going to realize it." Van leaned forward and kissed Reba softly, and Reba felt her heartbreak into a million pieces at the thought of him not wanting her anymore. "I'll always want you." He said against her lips. "Do you know what the brightest idea I've ever was?" Van asked and Reba shook her head. "That night on the beach when I decided kissing you was worth the risk." Reba smiled and wrapped her arms around Van's neck and kissed him gently, but thoroughly. She then pushed Van so that his back was against the couch and she straddled him, never breaking the kiss. "You're right Van, you have grown up, and you should know, that I think I've fallen in love with you too." She said quietly and Van beamed. He had been scared to death since those words left his mouth.

Van wove his hands through her silky red hair and kissed her, Reba moaned into his mouth as his tongue found hers and the kiss began to heat up. Van's mouth left Reba's and his lips traveled down her throat. The button up blouse she had worn for work didn't give him much access so he decided to take a chance and unbutton it, after all, he had seen her in just her underwear before. Her black lacy bra came into view and Reba allowed Van to slip the shirt off of her shoulders and let it fall onto the floor. Van noticed that Reba had unbuttoned his shirt so Van finished removing it. He figured she was leveling the playing field. She ran her hands up and down his chest and moaned when Van got bold enough to kiss and gently nip at the top of her bra where lace met flesh. He had never done that before, and Van was amazed that she didn't stop him. He decided to be a little bolder and pulled her bra straps down. Again, Reba did nothing to stop him and Van looked into her eyes and she smiled. "I want you to make love to me Van, and don't for one second think that our first time is going to be on this couch." Reba said and Van's eyes widened. "Are you sure?" he asked. Reba nodded "I'm positive." She whispered in his ear and nibbled on his lobe. Van shuddered and stood up from the couch. He couldn't get over just how light she was. In one swift moved he changed her around to where he was carrying her bridal style and he walked up the stairs to her bedroom quietly so as not to wake Elizabeth.

Van laid her down on the bed and reached over and removed her pants. Her shoes were lost somewhere at the foot of the stairs as were his. Van removed his own pants which left both of them in nothing but their underwear. Reba looked at how perfect Van's body appeared and she became slightly self-conscious. Van got on the bed next to her and said "you are so beautiful; you have the most gorgeous hourglass figure." Reba smiled at his compliment and Van leaned over and kissed her deeply. Reba thought she would pass out from the shiver that coursed through her body when he moved on top of her. He ran his hands up and down her ivory skin, over her flat stomach and her lace clad breasts. He reached under her for her bra clasp and soon she was bare from the waist up. Van pulled back to see what he had uncovered and his breath caught in his throat. He leaned down and took a nipple in his mouth and Reba arched into his mouth and moaned. She ran her hands up and down his back as he switched back and forth and she began to squirm. "Van, I want you now." She said in a husky voice and Van removed his boxers and Reba moaned at the sight of him. "God, you're handsome" she said and Van grinned and kissed her before removing her panties. He positioned himself in between her legs as she wrapped them around his waist and he entered her so slowly Reba thought she would die of frustration. Van chuckled as she tried to urge him on. "Now, it's not so fun being teased is it?" Van whispered in her ear and Reba shook her head and dug her nails into his skin as he began to move faster. They were one and they moved as one, meeting each other's thrusts. Reba turned them over and took control for a little while. They could feel the pleasure boiling in their bellies and Reba leaned forward and kissed him hard as she ground her hips down on him. Van flipped them back over and moved faster and harder. Reba began to cry out. "Van!" their eyes locked, and Van covered her mouth with his as they orgasmed in unison and they cried out into each other's mouths. Reba literally saw stars and passed out.

She came to a couple of minutes later and saw Van staring at her. She was glowing. "I'll take that as a compliment" he said referring to her black out and Reba laughed. He gently pulled out of her and laid beside her. Reba turned to where her head was laying on his chest and she ran her hand up and down it gently. "You were amazing" Van said and Reba looked up at him. She felt safe in his arms. "You were pretty good yourself." She said and moved on top of him and kissed him gently. "I love you Reba Nell Hart" Van said and Reba smiled. "I love you too, Van" Reba said in reply. He stroked her cheek and then he started to chuckle. "What's so funny?" she asked smiling. "I just find it a little funny that the first time we made love is also considered our first make up sex." Van said and Reba giggled. "Trust me Van, wait until we have been mad at each other for a couple of days, I'll show you the difference between make up sex and making love, which is what we just did." Reba said and Van wiggled his eyebrows. "I'm hungry" Reba said and Van nodded "Me too." He said and Van put his boxers back on while Reba put on a robe and they headed downstairs.

"Hmm…how about pancakes?" Reba said and Van looked at the clock and saw that it read seven p.m. "Breakfast for supper! My favorite!" Van said and Reba got out the stuff to make the pancakes. Van came up behind her once she had gotten the batter made up and he kissed her neck. "If you want these pancakes, you'd better stop that, and I know you're not one to turn down food." Reba said. "Well, if I'm making a choice between food and sex with a hot woman…it's very difficult….both give me great pleasure." Van said and Reba giggled as she poured the batter onto a griddle. "Go sit down" she said and he did as he was told.

Once the pancakes were done they sat together at the counter eating. Halfway through bringing a bite up to his mouth some syrup dropped on Van's chest and he set down the fork and went to pick up a napkin….until Reba stopped him. She got down from her chair and stood in front of him. She raised her eyebrow and lowered her head. Her tongue darted out and licked up the trail of syrup on his chest. The sight of her doing that was so hot that Van immediately brought his mouth to hers and kissed her. "Food and sex….this is awesome!" Van said and Reba chuckled. "As much as I would love round two, Elizabeth has been asleep for a while and if she does happen to get sick again, it could be any time now, so we have to put her first." Reba said and Van pouted, but agreed. They got dressed into their pj's and passed the time watching TV, talking….and of course…the inevitable make out sessions. "I wonder who's going to catch the virus next…." Reba said and Van turned his attention from the TV to her. "When one gets this kind of virus…the entire house gets it and sometimes the younger ones relapse." Reba explained and Van nodded his head in understanding. "I never get sick." Van said and Reba chuckled. "You keep telling yourself that darlin'." "How about we not talk at all for a few minutes?" Van said and effectively started another make out session…..TBC