Recap:
Reba was shocked how well Craig understood her need for approval from Brock. "Talk to you tomorrow?" she said, fighting to keep her eyes open.

"Yeah. I'll stop by your house after work."

"Okay. I'll be waiting." the line fell silent as they both pondered the decision to say what they really wanted to say next.

"Goodnight Honey." Craig said hearing Reba's steady breathing through the phone.

"G'Night." she mumbled before placing her phone aimlessly on the other side of the bed.


Reba stared out the window of her office as she watched the people on the street below walk by. The sun shone brightly through the mid fall sky and leaves blew freely through the air. She placed her pen on the stack of paperwork that lay before her and pushed it to the side of her desk.

The phone seemed to taunt her, as if it knew she had bustling thoughts running through her mind. Silencing her thoughts, she picked up the phone and dialed Craig's number. Ring after ring filled her ears as she anticipated Craig's voice.

"Hello?" he finally answered the telephone.

"Hey." she said relaxing into the chair.

"Hey, Honey." He smiled hearing Reba's voice on the other end. "How is your day going?"

Reba sighed. "Good. I just have some paperwork to finish up. Then I get to leave the office. What about you. How is your day going?"

"I have a huge client that I have to make a case for. It's going to be tough, especially when I am representing the defendant and I believe he is guilty..."

"Are you still coming over tonight?" she was hoping a little alone time would take a bit of stress off of them both. However, with the idea that had been nagging at her all morning, she was sure tonight was bound to end with a crash.

"Yeah," he furrowed his eyebrows hearing apprehension in his girlfriend's voice. "I am coming right after work. Why?"

Reba hesitated before taking a deep breath. "Would you like to stay for dinner, and meet my kids?" The last part of her sentence was mumbled quickly. She hoped he wouldn't hear, but on the other hand, she was ready to take the next step in their relationship; and that seemed to be to introduce Craig to her family.

"You want me to meet your children?"

"Mhm, only if you want to."

"I think that's a wonderful idea."

Reba let out the unconcious breath she had been holding all morning. He wanted to meet the kids and she couldn't be more relieved. Now she just had to worry about what the kids' reactions would be.

"I'll see you tonight." she said with a smile stretching across her face.

"See you then. I-"

"I'm sorry I have to get back to work." she said cutting Craig off before he could say anything more. She had an idea of what he was going to say, and she wasn't ready for bump on the otherwise glossy, smooth road.

XXX

"Hey mom." Jake said walking through the back door with his book bag weighing down his back. "Why do you look so nice?" Reba laughed, knowing her son did not intentionally speak with a sharp tongue.

"I just didn't change after i got home from work today." she said placing the upcoming meal into the oven. "...And" she continued after shutting the appliance, "Craig is coming over for dinner tonight."

"Yes!" Jake balled his fist in the air.

Reba watched her son's reaction and was taken aback at his enthusiasm. She shot him a questioning look. "He speaks French!" Jake said with an 'obviously' tone to his voice. "I have a C in French; and he can help me." Reba turned back to the stove, gently smiling to herself. Even if Jake was excited for academic reasons, it was an excellent start to the evening.

"HeyCheyenne." Reba picked up the phone and called her daughter whom lived just down the street.

"Hey ma. What's up?" she asked her mother on the other end of the line.

"Do you, Van, andElizabethwant to come over for a family dinner tonight?"

"Yes!" Reba laughed when she heard Van shout from the background. It looked like she would have everyone at the dinner...everyone except for Kyra and Brock.

Kyra was away on tour, and there was no way she would ask her middle child to postpone a tour date simply to attend a family dinner. She was living her dream and Reba had no intentions of interfering.

Brock however was a different story. Did she really want him there? She desperately wanted his approval of her and Craig's relationship, but they had already met. They were golf buddies! Did he need to be here tonight?

Just as Reba pulled the chicken out of the dinner and took the rice off the stove, Van andCheyennewalked through the doors withElizabeth. "Dinner is almost done!" She hollered from the kitchen as the family made themselves comfortable.

"That sure is a lot of food."Cheyennestared at the stove as she left her husband and daughter in the living room and joined her mother in the kitchen.

"Well..." Reba said rushing around the kitchen to make sure everything was ready. "There is going to be someone else joining us tonight."

Cheyenne's eyes lit up. "Really? Is it your boyyyyfriend?" she sang like a high school girl.

Reba blushed, hoping she had turned away from her daughter quickly enough to hide her flushed cheeks. "Oh my gosh!"Cheyennesquealed. Obviously she had seen the flush. "I'm so happy for you!" she brought her mother into a tight hug before rushing back into the living room to tell her husband about the extra guest.

Just asCheyennescurried out of the kitchen, Reba heard a gentle knock on the back door. Placing the final chicken breast on the serving platter, she looked up and smiled brightly when she saw Craig at the back door. She quickly wiped her hands on a dish towel and opened the back door for him.

"I don't know if I am allowed to use this door." he said as if he were a child who had broken a rule. "It was closer to my car, though."

Reba laughed. "You are welcome to use whatever door you wish."

For the first time since Craig had arrived, Reba looked him up and down. It was obvious he had just come from his office, as he had told her earlier. He still wore black dress pants and a yellow, button down shirt. "I'm glad you were able to make it." she said softly, stalking toward him as the click of her heels filled the otherwise empty kitchen.

"I am honored you wanted me here." he whispered with his forehead resting gently against her own.

Rather than responding, Reba simply closed the minute gap between them, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Might I add how beautiful you look?" He said placing his gentle hands on her hips.

"You don't look too bad yourself." She replied gently pulling him closer by his tie. He leaned in to kiss her luscious lips again, but was interrupted by footsteps walking into the kitchen.

"Alright kids, break it up." Van said immediately finding his way around the island and next to the couple.

"Van," Reba stepped out of Craig's embrace and placed an arm behind his back. "This is my boyfriend Craig. Craig, this is my son-in-law, Van." She stepped away as the two men shook hands. Van stared the man down, hoping to somehow intimidate him.

"So, Craig, is it? What's your game?"

"Van!"

"It's okay." Craig insisted the interrogation was not bothersome. "I couldn't help but notice you're wearing a Longhorns shirt. I'm an alumni, so I could get you tickets...to any sports event."

Van raised an eyebrow, not sure what to think. "I like him." Van said nodding his head up and down before pacing back into the living room.

"So far, so good." Reba said placing an affectionate kiss on Craig's lips. "Should we face the rest of the family?"

"Nope, I think we should stay in here and continue what was happening before Van walked in." Reba rolled her eyes, hitting his chest gently.

"Jake, you remember Craig." Reba said walking into the living room with Craig close beside her.

"Oui. Je suis heureux de vous rencontrer, monsieur." (Yes. I am pleased to meet you sir.)

"I thought you said you had a C in French." Reba said, quite impressed that her son had greeted Craig in French.

"I do. That's all I know how to say." he said with a sly smile on his face.

"Bonjour Jake. Il est bon de vous revoir." (Hello Jake. It is good to see you again.)

"Okay. Stop speaking French, I feel out of the loop." Reba said as the two greeted each other.

As Craig was introduced toCheyenne, Reba made her way back into the kitchen and began to set the table. She was extremely relieved everyone in her family was getting along with Craig. Just as Reba was about to call everyone to the dining room, she heard a little voice pipe up to be noticed.

"'scuse me, mister. Gramma did not introduce me." Elizabeth stood at Craig's feet, tugging gently on his pant leg.

"You must beElizabeth." Craig said bending down to the little girl's level. She nodded her head, telling him he was correct.

"Your shirt is yellow...That's my favorite color!" she exclaimed.

"It is?" Craig said, acting surprised. "I also heard you love chocolate chip cookies. I just happen to have some in the kitchen."

Elizabeth's eyes became round with excitement. "Really?"

"Yep, but you have to eat dinner first."

Reba's heart melted as she watched the exchange between her grand daughter and her boyfriend. It made her wish her own children were young again. She snapped herself out of her thoughts before she could get too lost. "It is time for dinner!" she said as she watched the family stampede into the dining room.

Conversation at the dinner table flowed smoothly from one conversation to another. Craig talked about football with Van, French homework with Jake, French fashion withCheyenne, Cookies in the kitchen withElizabeth, and when he got the chance, he would sneak his hand into Reba's under the table and whisper an affectionate comment into her ear.

As everyone finished up their meal, Van andCheyennesaid their goodbyes, as they took an extremely drowsyElizabethout to the car.

"Bye-bye père" (Bye-bye grandpa) Elizabethmumbled from her mother's shoulder.

"Bye Elizabeth."

As Cheyenneand Van left, Jake helped Craig and his mother take the dishes to the dishwasher.

"What didElizabethsay?" Reba inquired as she turned the dishwasher on.

Jake shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know." he said before fist bumping Craig under the counter, out of Reba's sight. She accepted his answer as she watched him take his spot on the couch to flip through channels.

"I better get going." Craig said taking his keys out of his pocket. Reba followed him to the front porch and closed the door after they had both stepped out the front door.

"You don't have to go just yet." Reba said leading him to the white bench that sat beside the door. Reba shivered as an early November wind blew through the air. Craig took this as his cue to wrap his arm around her shoulders, bringing her into his warm embrace. "Did you have a good time tonight?" she asked, placing her head on his chest.

"I did. I love you family. Especially Van; he cracks me up."

Reba smiled. "They sure seem to like you too."

"That's good." Craig said intertwining his fingers with hers. "Because I like you, a lot."

Reba lifted her head from his chest. "I like you...a lot, too." Craig placed a finger under her chin and kissed her, eliciting a gasp from the redhead as she deepened the kiss and leaned heavily on his leg.

"If that was my goodnight kiss, I better go." He said, gaining a small giggle from Reba. He was about to step off the porch, but stopped before his foot hit the first step. "Reba?" he said with his back still turned.

"Yeah?"

He turned around as she stood up from the bench. "I love you." Reba gave him a smile that could light up the night sky before stepping toward him.

"I love you too." she said placing another passionate kiss on his lips. Even the mid November air could not chill her when she was in Craig's arms.


I hope you liked this chapter! Just a few A/Ns , i do not speak French, so if it is grammatically incorrect, i am sorry. And, i realize November in Houston probably isn't cold, however, November in Ohio is. lol. And my surroundings tend to reflect in my stories. So, don't be surprised if it snows too. (: i have been enjoying the reviews! please keep em coming ! xo