Reba sat at the end of two hallways in a secluded little corner of the church, far away from the din of the wedding guests and she hoped even farther away from her ex-husband. Beautiful stained glass windows depicting bible stories of love and hope surrounded her, casting a heavenly glow and throwing colorful patterns of light all around. It was so peaceful and quiet where she was, but none of that, however, kept her from hurting any less.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, she chastised herself over and over again as she wiped away her silent tears before they could smudge her makeup. She hated herself for grieving like she was, after all the resolutions she made. She had promised herself she wasn't going to get in too deep and she did. But why? Why had she been so easily sucked in? She thought back on her actions over the past week and cringed.

Wishy-washy. That's what she had been. Reba usually had such strong opinions about everything, taking one side of an issue and sticking to it with all she had. This time she had let her heart go all over the place and as a result, her resolve faltered. Now she and her heart were paying the price.

Ugh, she groaned inwardly as she put her pounding head in her hands. She had done so well at not loving him for the past six years and the minute Barbra Jean disappears from the picture she lets him back in! She couldn't have been angrier or more disappointed with herself.

Reba leaned her head up against the wall and stared up at the image of an angel staring back down at her. It calmed her a bit to know there was still someone looking after her, but she knew there was still a lot in her life to work out. What was going to happen now? How was she going to be able to see him without picturing all the good times they had all over the past week; especially their little escapade the night before? How was she going to be able to see him at all? These questions and more plagued her until she thought she might break down again. She had to get out of that church, away from the problems and away from the heartache…at least for the time being.

She gathered her dress and stood up to go, formulating in her head a plan of escape without being noticed, but as she was preparing to leave she heard the rapid clicking of heels coming towards her down the hall. Looking for a quick get away, she spotted a door at the end of the hall she was staring down and sprinted toward it, only to find it locked when she approached it. She sighed with annoyance, realizing she was trapped and had no choice to face whoever was coming towards her. She waited, expecting to see Cheyenne round the corner, but instead was completely shocked to find the last person she'd ever think to see there of all places.

"Barbra Jean," she cried out incredulously. "What are you doing here?!"

"Cheyenne called me and told me what was going on," she explained. "I just had to come see if you were alright!"

Good ole' Cheyenne, Reba thought with anger as she squeezed her balled-up dress tighter in her fists. Always the one to call on the person Reba wanted the least help from.

"Well how did you find me?!"

"I followed the scent of your perfume," Barbra Jean stated simply. Reba rolled her eyes. Why she had expected anything but a completely insane answer was beyond her.

"Barbra Jean, its not that I don't appreciate your concern," Reba told the blonde, her tone a bit harsh with irritation, "but if you don't mind I'd really rather be alone right now."

"But we are alone, Reba," Barbra Jean replied. Reba groaned.

"I mean alone alone…by myself…" Reba waited but the naivety was still present in the blonde's eyes, "without you!"

"But I can't just leave you alone Reba, not when you're feeling like this. Who knows what you'll do!" Reba's shoulders slumped at the absurdity of Barbra Jean's mentality, accompanied by another eye roll.

"Thanks," she replied dryly, "but I was planning on doing anything. I was just gonna leave." She walked past the tall blonde to go.

"And go where," Barbra Jean challenged. "You belong here! With your family! And with Brock!"

"What," Reba cried out with disbelief, whirling around to face her. "I don't belong with Brock! You do! He's yours now, remember?!"

"No he isn't Reba! Not anymore! We got divorced….remember," she retorted mockingly. Reba narrowed her eyes and glared at the woman.

"But why," she asked, her tone all of a sudden going somber. "What happened with you two? I thought you guys loved each other."

"We did," Barbra Jean admitted. "We still do, I guess. But it's just….it's just different now." She broke eye contact with Reba and stared down at the floor.

"How so," Reba prodded. "What could have changed so much that you would be willing to end it all?"

"He found out about my past," Barbra Jean blurted out. Reba furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"What past?!"

"Oh come on, Reba! You know what past! I told you about it years ago, when you thought Brock had cheated on you before your separation." Reba tried to think back but so much had taken place over the years she just couldn't really recall. Barbra Jean could see this and sighed.

"How I had relationships with other married men before I met him," she explained with annoyance. Reba's eyes grew wide with realization.

"Oh," she exclaimed. "Barbra Jean, I never told him anything. I swear!"

"I know you didn't," she replied dismissively. "He found that picture again when we were going through the attic and finally asked me about it. I guess he just didn't think about it last time because he was too busy being upset over you. And you what a blurter I am, so the whole thing just kinda spilled out."

"But that was a long time ago, Barbra Jean! That can't be the only reason you two aren't together!"

"Yeah well, its kinda not," she admitted.

"What do ya mean?"

"We had been having problems for a long while Reba. We didn't talk, we didn't spend any time together, and we didn't have intimacies for over two months…"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Reba cried out as she held up her hands. "Let's leave that part out, shall we?"

"Okay, sorry," Barbra Jean agreed and continued. "Well when he found that picture, it was just the thing that brought up everything we had been putting off talking about, not just for that time we were unhappy but for our whole marriage. And it brought up a very serious question that neither of us could answer." Barbra Jean paused for a second as her voice cracked a bit with emotion.

"And what question would that be," Reba asked gently. She knew it was hurting her to reminisce about what had ended her marriage but she just had to know. Barbra Jean took in a deep breath and continued.

"Would we have gotten married if I hadn't gotten pregnant with Henry?" A stunned silence followed as Reba took in that question. She had asked herself that question a couple of times before early on but she never thought it would be a serious issue between the couple. She just always figured the answer was yes.

"And neither of you could answer that question?!"

"No," Barbra Jean admitted.

"But you two loved each other! Of course you would have gotten married!"

"No we didn't Reba! We didn't love each other, at least not the way married people ought to love each other. We kinda had to grow into that love after we found out I was pregnant. But what if that hadn't happened?! How long would our relationship really have lasted?!"

"It would have lasted as long as it has, I'm sure of it," Reba retorted quickly. Barbra Jean stared at her sadly and shook her head.

"No it wouldn't have Reba. I was young and reckless. I probably would have just dumped Brock after awhile and moved on to somebody else's husband. Getting pregnant was the thing that settled me down; it had nothing to do with Brock."

Reba couldn't believe she was hearing these words. What's worse was that, despite her own anger with him, the way Barbra Jean talked about Brock so dismissively was actually making her angry. "So he was just another affair to you," she asked, her tone a bit testy.

"No, I'll admit he was something special," Barbra Jean replied, "But it wasn't enough to build a lasting relationship, as you can see now. And I don't think Brock would have stuck around with me too long either."

"Oh yes he would have," Reba argued.

"No he wouldn't! I was just his little escape from all the problems he was having with you; his excuse to not face his issues. But he never stopped loving you Reba. I know he would have gone back to you if I hadn't gotten pregnant."

"You're wrong, Barbra Jean," Reba still refused with a shake of her head. "We were through."

"No, you weren't," she retorted with a scoff. "You know as well as I do that if Brock had been willing to talk back then you two would have worked things out. Why do you think you guys have been getting along so well now? Because he's finally willing to work on the issues you guys were having."

"Yeah well maybe I'm not," Reba exclaimed. "Maybe I was finally happy with the way my life turned out before this little fiasco and was finally ready to move on!"

"Maybe…" Barbra Jean agreed. "Or maybe you could go back to the life you were just as happy with!" Reba shook her head vehemently.

"No…no, that can never happen. Brock and I are finished and that's that." Reba crossed her arms and turned away from Barbra Jean.

"Why are you being so stubborn," the blonde asked with frustration. When no answer followed, she came to the only logical conclusion on her own. "Is it because you're afraid of getting hurt again?"

Reba winced as Barbra Jean hit the nail right on the head, though she still refused to admit it to her. Instead she kept quiet and the blonde continued.

"Reba," she began gently, "you know you love Brock, and he loves you too. You shouldn't deny yourself that love just because you don't wanna take the risk. You can miss out on something really great if you do that."

The redhead was a bit taken aback at the wise words coming from the goofball. It sounded more like something she herself would advise to someone else. Still, she refused to accept those words. She had finally gotten her heart to mend over her failed marriage; why on earth would she want to open it back up to that heartache again? So instead of taking Barbra Jean's advice she chose to try to escape her presence.

"I need to get outta here," she told her as she turned around and pushed past her. She was about half a second away from rounding the corner and disappearing when Barbra Jean stopped her once more.

"Reba, you once told me that every marriage that can be saved should be saved….do you still believe that?" Reba froze in her path and turned to the blonde again.

"Of course I do," she answered, assuming that Barbra Jean was referring to her own marriage with Brock.

"Well," she replied, "maybe you were just talking about the wrong marriage."

Reba blinked rapidly at her companion's words, utterly shocked. She had never looked at the situation that way before. She had always told Barbra Jean and Brock, and even her own children, that if people were willing to work at their relationship they should. After all, all love needed care and nurturing. So why had she never taken her own advice? Why had she never lived her life as an example for her family…well, when it came to her own relationships at least? There was no good excuse really. Maybe it was time finally time to give Brock the second chance she said everyone deserved. But there was just one thing that stood in her way. She gazed up at the tall blonde with sad eyes.

"But what's gonna happen to you?" Barbra Jean gave a small smile.

"I'll be okay, Reba. Really I will. You already taught me how to survive on my own. I'll move on and eventually find someone new…someone who I can get to know a little better before I marry him."

"I'm sure you will Barbra Jean," Reba assured her with the slightest bit of guilt. She still couldn't help but feel like she was taking something away from her. Suddenly a thought occurred to her.

"Does this mean we'll never see each other again," she asked, fearful of the answer. But Barbra Jean just smiled.

"You know I would never let that happen. And besides, if we could never see each other again…" she reached behind her and pulled out a giant ring of keys attached to her belt loop by a string, most labeled with Reba's name, "what would I do with all these?!" Reba burst out laughing and wiped away a few stray tears.

"You could probably get a nice profit if you have Jake sell them." Both women giggled delightfully, easing the intense emotions that had risen before. Then Reba did something that six years ago she never thought she would ever do. She closed the gap between her and Barbra Jean and pulled her into a real hug. They stood like that for a few seconds before Reba pulled away, revealing a incredibly shocked Barbra Jean staring down at her, her mouth agape.

"That's the first time you ever hugged me," she said rather incredulously. Reba shrugged.

"It's what best friends do, isn't it," she asked with a smile. Barbra Jean's mouth fell open even wider as her hand flew to her heart.

"Best…friend," she said the words as if she didn't believe them. Reba nodded slowly and waited for her reaction, expecting tears of joy or something to that effect. Instead Barbra Jean let out an incredibly loud scream, startling Reba immensely, and then pulled the redhead into a tight bear hug.

"Barbra Jean…" Reba said breathlessly, "you're gonna wrinkle my dress…or break my spine."

"Oh sorry," she replied, letting go immediately. "I was just…I never thought I'd ever hear those words. It's like a dream!" Reba laughed at the starry-eyed goofball.

"Well I meant every word of it," Reba confessed. "Now if you'll excuse me, I better go find Brock and straighten out this whole mess."

"Oh right," Barbra Jean remembered. "I'll meet up with you later then…best friend!"

"You're never gonna use my real name again, are you," Reba realized.

"Not if I can help it…best friend!" Reba laughed.

"I have a feeling that's gonna get old real fast," she replied. "But I can live with it." She gave Barbra Jean one last smile before gathering her dress and heading off in search of her ex-husband.

She found him quickly, in the exact same little room where they had their fight just a half an hour before, leaning his elbows heavily upon his knees and holding his head in his hands. He looked up when he heard the clicking of her heels as she entered the room.

"Reba," he said softly as he stood up. "I-I thought you left." She shook her head solemnly.

"No, I was about to but, uh, something stopped me."

"Really, what?" Reba wasn't sure whether she should tell him it was Barbra Jean or not. She was probably the last person he would expect to convince Reba to stay with him. Frankly, she was still having a hard time believing it herself.

"It doesn't matter," she told him. "What matters is we need to talk."

"Oh so now you wanna talk," he shot back, obviously still hurt. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather just have me pour my heart out to you and then run away?!" Reba bowed her head with sadness.

"Alright, I guess I deserve that," she admitted. "I'm sorry Brock. I didn't mean to run away like that, but I still have every right to be just as angry with you too, ya know!"

"Yeah, you're right," Brock admitted, his anger quelling a bit. "I shouldn't have led you on like that, and I really am very sorry."

"I know you are," she replied, "and I forgive you for that." Brock grinned happily, relief shiny in his eyes.

"So…what do we do now," he asked hopefully.

"I don't know Brock," she cried out with frustration. "I mean, I want to be back with you, I really do, but I still stand by everything I said before I left! You hurt me when you left, how am I supposed to trust that you won't do it again?"

"Reba, I promise you, I will never let that happen again. I would die before I let you get away again." He cautiously closed the space between them and gingerly took her hand, bracing for a violent reaction and immensely relieved when one didn't follow. He cupped her right hand with his and brought it close to his heart.

"I love you Reba," he told her with the up most sincerity. "I love you more than anything, and I promise you I will spend the rest of my life showing you that I have changed." Reba hesitated a bit, but she knew she couldn't deny what she felt in her heart any longer, nor did she even want to.

"I love you too Brock," she admitted. "I always have." Brock sighed with relief as he pulled her into his arms and held onto her tightly.

"Things are gonna be different this time, Reba," he told her. "Better, in fact. I promise you." He kissed the top of her head and pulled away a bit.

"So, you ready to get married….again?" He gave her a hopeful smile.

"Well…" Reba said thoughtfully. Getting married again was a pretty big and scary step considering that they just officially got back together, she wasn't sure if it was the wisest move to make so soon. But she figured that was probably where their relationship was going to end up again anyway, so she let go of her insecurities and smiled. "I guess since we already paid for the food." Brock laughed and leaned in to give her their first official kiss as a truly restored couple. Reba gladly responded to the motion, tilting her head and leaning in as well, but suddenly a thought occurred to her and she interrupted him before their lips could meet.

"But if you ever pull something like this again, I swear I will not hesitate to shoot you this time around." Brock laughed again.

"Got it," he told her. Reba smiled at him and picked up where they left off, grabbing him by the lapel of his jacket and pulling him into a kiss. She felt her heart soar once again as she tried to communicate all the lost love and passion she had stored away. Wildfires sparked on both their parts as the kiss grew more intense. They could have lasted that way for a good long while until Reba realized something.

"Brock," she said quickly in between kisses.

"Yeah," he replied in a rush, never wanting their lips to stop meeting.

"There's a church full of people probably wondering where we are…"

"Your point," he retorted.

"We have to stop." She put her hands on his chest on pushed him away gently, finally breaking of their fiery lip lock. "But I promise we can pick up where we left off later," she told him with a coy smile.

"Well...alright," he consented with disappointment. "But I'm holding you to that promise!"

With that, the couple reluctantly pulled out of each other's embrace and exited the dressing room hand in hand before heading of to their respective positions, Brock standing at the head of the church by their children and Reba at the back of the church waiting for her cue. The wedding was finally ready to begin.

After being given the signal, the band started up the music, and Elizabeth the flower girl proceeded to saunter down the aisle, tossing rose petals to her left and right as she went. Next it was Jake the ring bearer's turn, and he gallantly began to make his way down the aisle, occasionally giving a pretty young girl a confident wink. Reba laughed at her son's antics and shook her head. She guessed he was just at that age.

Suddenly she heard the music switch to the wedding march, and it was finally her turn to go. Wearing a dazzling smile she didn't even know she had on, she slowly and gracefully began to make her way towards the head of the church.

It was like everything she had dreamed about a week before, only better because everyone she loved was present. She made eye contact with Brock and smiled even wider, fearing she would burst into tears of joy even before the real ceremony began. She couldn't remember the last time she was this happy.

Yes she could, her first wedding. That was when she had been the happiest. And now there she was again, getting to relive that day over again. She hadn't realized how much she missed it until then; how much she had missed Brock and the life she had had before. Sure she had been happy these past six years, but it still didn't make her love her old life any less. She had just pushed that love aside for a while, locked it behind that door that she had admitted existed a few years back in that therapist's office when Brock and Barbra Jean had been going through their first separation. It had always been there, just like therapist had said it would be, whether Barbra Jean was in the picture or not. And now it was open, letting loose all those old feelings and lost love. Reba couldn't be more relieved about that; sure was sure holding it in couldn't have been good for her health or her heart.

She finally reached the head of the church, handing her bouquet of roses to her eldest daughter and taking Brock's outstretched hand. They stood before the pastor of the church, listening to the vows he recited from the Bible before repeating them to each other. They were the exact words Reba stood and recited twenty six years ago, she knew that, but somehow they seemed to be different. They seemed to hold more meaning to her that time around; seemed to come more from the heart. They had been through the ultimate trial, her and Brock, yet their loved still prevailed. This time around the vows they recited seemed more permanent, and she had a pretty strong feeling that this time, they would be.

Hold on, it still ain't over yet! There's one more chapter to go and I already have it all written out, I just need to type it and tweak it a bit, so it shouldn't be more than two or three days before its up. Hope you stick around and as always, reviews are greatly appreciated!