Chapter 21

Reba stared at Vic in shock. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. He wanted to elope? He wanted to forget about all the exciting things that come with planning a wedding and just get married without anyone knowing? He wanted to hurt their friends and family by not inviting them to the ceremony? Reba was having a hard time wrapping her head around the words he had just said.

Vic sighed when she didn't say anything. She just stood there, shocked. "Are you serious?" she finally asked quite shocked.

Vic nodded understanding. He didn't know why she would agree to it. It was a dumb idea. He just didn't want to have to deal with Barbara Jean and Cheyenne corning him anymore about snails and tuxedos with tails. He understood she wanted her family to be there. Reba was different. She wasn't the spontaneous type. He should have known she wouldn't go for it. "I'm sorry. I know it's a dumb idea and…"

"I thought you'd never ask." She said relieved.

Vic nodded. "I know. I just thought…huh?" he asked looking up. Now it was his turn to be shocked.

Reba smiled and approached him. "I would love to elope. Let's go. Let's get out of here and just do it. Get it over with and then not have to worry about family."

Vic was trying to make sense of what she was saying. "Wait, are you sure. No one would be there but the two of us, no family, no friends, no big party, nothing."

Reba chuckled. "You're just making it sound better and better. Let's do it. Let's just forget about the big wedding and the big party afterwards. Why did we want a big wedding anyway?"

Vic shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe we just thought that's what we wanted. Are sure you want to do this?"

Reba nodded and brought him into a hug. "Yes." She said pulling away a bit but still holding on. "I want to just get this over with and then we move on from this whole wedding business and move on with our lives. Let's go."

Vic nodded and smiled. "Okay." Reba smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck pulling her into a kiss. Vic broke the kiss and smiled. "Now, we need to plan this out and…"

Reba took his hand. "Let's go." She said unlocking the door and running to their room.

Vic eyes widened as he was jerked into the bedroom. Reba shut the door and went straight to their closet. She brought out an overnight bag and began putting clothes inside. "What are you doing?" he asked as she watched her frantically pull out clothes and stuffing them into the bag.

Reba looked up confused at his question. "What do you mean what am I doing? I'm packing. Now you need to pack too."

Vic chuckled and stopped Reba before she could put another item of clothing in her bag. "We have to plan this out first."

Reba stopped and put her hands on her hips. "Then what is the point of eloping? This is the whole point of being spontaneous. If we have to plan we might as well wait and plan a big wedding. Now we either leave tonight or we don't elope at all but if we do stay here I will let Barbara Jean plan that freak show she was talking about that she calls a wedding and if we elope tonight that means we will be going on our honeymoon and that also means you will get to see me in this." She said holding up the small blue and lacy see through nightgown that Lori Ann gave her for her baby shower.

Vic eyes widened and he immediately went to the closet to get his own bag. Reba giggled as he began stuffing clothes into it. "I can't believe were doing this." He said excitedly as they continued on packing. He then paused and he started to panic. "What are we going to do about Cheyenne and Barbara Jean? They are still downstairs."

Reba sighed and collapsed on the bed. Their plan seemed foiled. What could they do? Even Barbara Jean and Cheyenne weren't that thick where they would ask where they were going with two full overnight bags. Suddenly, an idea popped into her head. "How about I distract them while you sneak out to the car with the bags?" She said smiling.

The plan still didn't seem full proof. "How would you get away?"

Reba shrugged. "I would just excuse myself and race to the car."

Vic shook his head and smiled, taking her hand into his. "I hope this works." He chuckled and rubbed a thumb across the back of her hand. "I am so happy you agreed to this."

Reba nodded. "I am so happy you asked. I am ready to get married now. What do we need a big wedding for anyway?"

Vic smiled. "We don't and in a couple of hours we will be married and we can go straight to the good part."

"Marriage" "Honeymoon" Vic and Reba turned to each other and chuckled.

"Are you really that anxious." She said questioning his answer.

Vic nodded. "You have no idea how anxious. We haven't been together at all since that one night we were drunk."

Reba chuckled and kissed his cheek. "I understand. Now let's finish packing and get out of here before something happens and we can't go." They both jumped up and finished packing clothes and personal items. They grabbed their bathroom things and stuff them into their bags. Reba looked around one final time, checking to see if they had everything. "I think we have everything." She said happily.

"Good." Vic smiled and grabbed their bags. "Let's get out of here before they wonder where in the heck we went."

Reba nodded and she could feel the excitement bubbling inside her stomach as they walked out of her room. They tried staying as quiet as possible while walking down the hallway. They would be in big trouble if they were to arouse any suspicion from Barbara Jean or Cheyenne. Reba stopped Vic and she slowly poked her head around wall to see where Cheyenne and Barbara Jean were. She was confused when she didn't see any sign of them.

She walked downstairs a little and then saw that they were in the kitchen, stuffing their face with the sugar free chocolate cake. She smiled and walked back up to the stairs to Vic. "Their in the kitchen. We can leave at the same time if we go now."

"What are they doing?" he asked as she took her overnight bag from him.

Reba smiled and pulled him slowly and quietly down the stairs. "Their eating now is the perfect time." They kept their eye on the two pregnant women in the kitchen as they made their way to the front door. Reba suddenly stopped him. "You have your keys?" she asked in a hushed tone. Vic nodded and jiggled his keys in front of her face. "Shhh…" she said in a panic. "They will hear you." They both stopped for a moment to see if they were caught but on a happy note Cheyenne and Barbara Jean were now searching for ice cream in the freezer to go with the cake. Reba turned to Vic and motioned for him to open the door.

They quietly opened the door and they both sighed in relief when they stepped outside of the house. They thought they were home free…until Vic shut the door but he didn't just shut the door, it was slammed. Reba cringed and Vic mouthed a sorry. "Mom? Vic?" They heard coming from the inside of the house.

"We have to go…now." Reba said in a hurry. They rushed to the car, threw their bags in the back seat, and jumped in the car. Just as Vic started the car Reba gasp and Vic turned to see what she was looking on. "Go." She said as she saw Barbara Jean and Cheyenne walk toward the car with confused looks. Vic put his car in drive and put his foot on the gas pedal. Reba jerked back as the car started speeding down the street. Reba chuckled and patted his leg. "You can slow down, their not going to follow."

Vic smiled and slowed down just a bit. "Sorry, I was just a little panicked when I had seen them coming out of the house."

Reba nodded. "I understand. I thought we weren't going to make it either." Reba sighed and then she started chuckling and she couldn't stop.

Vic glanced at her for a split second, thinking she was crazy. "What are you laughing at?" Reba just laughed harder. "What is it?" he asked, chuckling himself a little bit.

Reba calmed herself down and wiped the tears that formed in her eyes. "I'm sorry…" she said her laughing turning into giggling. "It's just that we approached this like it was a mission or something."

Vic chuckled himself. "It is a mission, a mission of marriage."

Reba laughed. "So…" she said relaxing a bit now that they were farther away from their home. "Where are we going to get married?"

Vic thought about it for a moment. "Well…"

Just as he was about to answer her Reba's cell phone rang. She looked at the number and cringed. She turned to Vic. "It's the home phone, meaning it is either Cheyenne or Barbara Jean."

"Are you going to answer it?" he asked curiously.

Reba bit her lip. "I don't know." It stopped ringing and Reba sighed in relief. "I guess I got my answer." She put her phone away again.

Vic smiled. "As I was saying, I think…"

Reba's phone started ringing again and this time she decided to answer it. She pulled it out and flipped it open. "Hello." She said a little unhappy.

"Mom, where are you two going? Why did you leave like that?"

Reba turned to Vic to see what she should say. Vic just shrugged. "We…need to get away Cheyenne. Just Vic and I, make sure your sister and brother go over to your father's and Barbara Jean's. Goodbye." She quickly hung up and put her phone away, hoping that they did not call back.

"You aren't going to tell her?"

Reba shrugged. "I think its best we just wait until we are actually married so they can't talk us out of it or force us to allow them to be there. This is about us." She said taking his hand. "We don't need anyone else there and we certainly don't need anyone telling us how our wedding should be or anything."

Vic nodded and smiled, kissing her hand. "Right, now about getting married, where do you want to?"

Reba shrugged. "I guess we didn't really think this through. There are a few chapels around I'm sure."

Vic nodded and turned his direction toward downtown Houston where they would search for a chapel. Vic smiled at Reba as they continued on driving into the Houston night. It wasn't too late but it wasn't early enough for anything to really be open now but bars and restaurants. Vic sighed as they still didn't find anything. There had to be something.

They drove around for about half an hour before they both started getting a little restless. Vic looked over to Reba who seemed a little impatient and somewhat angry. He pulled into a parking lot and parked the car. "Why did you stop?" she asked

"We haven't found anything. I don't think there are any chapels in Houston, only the one we went to. We can't go back there obviously. We should just wait and take a plane to Vegas."

Reba shook her head. "I don't want to wait. We go back to the house now we will never do this and I would probably change my mind." Vic sighed and sat back, thinking.

Reba was trying to do the same. She probably would change her mind if they were to go back. She wasn't one for being spontaneous. What would her family think when they came back married? They certainly wouldn't like it, Cheyenne and Barbara Jean especially because they wanted to plan a big wedding. Maybe eloping wasn't the best idea they had in a long time. Maybe they rushed into it because they were just so frustrated. Reba never actually told Barbara Jean and Cheyenne no. Maybe if they went back it would be a good time to start practicing saying that.

Reba eyes wondered and she smiled when she saw what parking lot they pulled in to. "Vic…" she said patting his leg.

"What?" he asked, sounding a bit frustrated.

Reba smiled and motioned toward the building. "Look where we pulled in to."

Vic looked over and when he saw the sign he smiled. It was the empty parking lot of the closed chapel that they supposedly got married at almost four months ago. Vic looked across the street and saw the bar they had went to. That night he thought he was just trying to get Reba to loosen up, have some fun. He hadn't expected to get married to her, not that he didn't mind. He was happy it happened though. Who knew where they would be right now if they hadn't had gotten completely trashed.

Vic chuckled slightly and turned to Reba smiling. She was smiling too. Boy did he love that smile. Her smile could light up a room. It could make your heart stop. "What are we going to do?" A voice asked him.

He shook his head, trying to bring himself out of his thoughts. "What?"

Reba was turned toward him, her smile gone. She wasn't angry. She just seemed a little sad. "What are we going to do? I don't want to wait for Vegas. If I go home I might change my mind because of Cheyenne or Barbara Jean. What will we do?"

Vic sighed and leaned back, shrugging. "I don't know but the next time we are spontaneous, let's plan it out okay."

Reba chuckled and nodded. "Okay." She said laying her head on his shoulder. Her eyes were heavy and she yawned.

Vic saw this and his eyes widened. He pushed her head up. "No sleeping, we are getting married tonight and no way you are falling asleep on me tonight."

Reba chuckled and nodded. "Right, I'm sorry, no sleeping." She said with another yawn.

Vic frowned but didn't say anything. They had been sitting there for a good fifteen minutes and they still hadn't come up with something. Vic tried to think again for a moment. He had a lot of friends. He had a lot of connections. There had to be someone he knew that knew someone or could do something for them. They couldn't go back home, not if Reba was sure she would change her mind.

Vic was just about to give up when he smiled and pulled out his cell phone. "What are you doing?" Reba asked him.

Vic held up his hand and smiled when he finally got an answer on the other line. "This better be good."

Vic chuckled. "Hey Mike buddy. How are things?"

"Vic? Man, what are you doing calling me? You caused me to loose a potential female companion."

"I'm sorry but I have a question for you."

Mike sighed. "What is it?"

Vic smiled. "You remember that first night we came here to Houston."

Mike laughed. "Do I ever? You and I, those hot gorgeous blonde twins…"

Vic cleared his throat when he looked over at Reba who had her eyebrow raised. "Mike…"

"What was her name?" Mike continued. "I think it was Candy. She was sweet wasn't she?" Mike chuckled. "Anyway, how have you been? I read in the newspaper you got married. I saw the redhead though…nice but please tell me it was all a lie."

Vic looked away from Reba who still had an eyebrow raised. She could definitely hear their conversation. "I am just wondering. You remember how the night ended?"

Mike thought about it for a moment and then remembered. "Oh yeah, we ended up at that justice of the peace outside of town. I got married to Cookie." Mike smiled at the memory. "I kind of miss her right now."

Vic chuckled nervously as he took a quick glance at a smirking Reba. She knew she was making him nervous. "I just need you to tell me where the justice of the peace is at."

Mike was confused. "Why? You're not getting married to Candy are you because remember she was fun but…"

"No Mike…" Vic said with a sigh. "I am not getting married to a blonde. Now it's none of your business why I need the address just tell me."

Mike rolled his eyes. "All right, just relax. I have to think for a moment."

"Hurry up." Vic set impatiently.

"You don't even ask how I have been or anything. What kind of a friend are you?" he said, slightly kidding.

Vic sighed, some what frustrated with his friend. "Mike I don't have time…"

"All right all right. Keep your pants on. Now I believe it's about five miles outside of town. Once you hit Main Street, turn right and then it's about a few blocks down. It was a bed and breakfast, Mindy's Bed and Breakfast."

Vic smiled. "Thanks buddy I owe you one."

Mike smiled. "Hey, give me the redhead's number that was in the newspaper and we'll call it even."

Vic rolled his eyes. "Goodbye Mike." Vic shut his phone and shook his head. He chuckled and turned to Reba. "He is such a character."

Reba just nodded. "I heard." She said smirking. "I want to hear about this first night in Houston."

Vic chuckled and put his phone away. "There is no need. It was nothing. Now I received the address and now we can go and get married."

Reba nodded and figure she would let the blonde thing go…for now. They were going to get married soon and she couldn't be happier. Reba smiled and took his hand. "I can't wait." She said as they pulled out of the parking lot. Reba sighed and sat back, completely relax. Her cell phone began ringing again and Reba rolled her eyes when she saw her home phone again. She just ignored it and put it back. Her family was not going to ruin this for her.

They didn't talk much through the ride. They were just too excited to really say anything. Within the hour they would finally be man and wife. Vic couldn't wait either. He wanted nothing more than for Reba to be his wife. They were so excited it seemed to take forever to get to the bed and breakfast that Mike said the justice of the peace was at. When they did finally arrive Vic shook his head. It was Mini's Bed and Breakfast. Vic wasn't surprised that he got the name wrong. They were kind of out of it that night. He was just glad he didn't do anything really terrible he had to explain to Reba later. He knew he hadn't heard the last of it though.

They walked up to the door and they didn't know whether to walk in or knock. Vic figured it would be less rude if they knocked. Reba could feel her stomach churning with nervousness when the door slowly opened. "Can I help you?" An old woman asked with tired eyes.

Reba frowned. She hoped they didn't wake anyone. "We wanted to know if this is where the Justice of Peace is, we would like to get married." Vic said with a smile.

The old woman's eyes seemed to light up with happiness and she widened the door. "Come in, come in." Vic and Reba were kind of shocked she just let them in like that. They stepped inside and the old woman shut the door. "My husband is the one who does that. It's been a while since we've had a nice young couple like you in here." Reba and Vic glanced at each other but only smiled. It was a while either of them had ever been considered young. "You two just wait here and I will get my husband." She said excitedly.

Vic and Reba chuckled as the old woman hurried out of the room. "Are you ready for this?" Reba just nodded, smiled, and held his hand tight. She was afraid if she opened her mouth she might puke. She didn't know if morning sickness was starting to kick in or she was just really nervous. She hoped it was the latter because she was starting to get used to not having morning sickness.

The old woman came back, ushering her husband in from the kitchen. Reba took a note that he looked quite grumpy, probably from being awoken from a dead sleep. The man sighed and ushered them both forward. Reba squeezed his hand before they approached the man and the old woman who was already crying.

They didn't really hear the man until it was time for them to say their own vows. They didn't really plan on saying their own vows and they didn't tell the old man they were either but they just shrugged and went with it.

Reba smiled as she turned to Vic. She didn't know what she was going to say. She hadn't prepared anything. She just spoke from her heart. "When I first met you I thought you were a jerk." She said with a chuckle. Vic smiled right along with her. "I thought you had an ego that couldn't fit in the state of Texas." She paused for a moment when her cell phone rang again. "Sorry." She said as she turned it off. It was just her family again. She turned back to Vic. "But then that all changed. You've shown me that there is so much more to you. You're kind, loving, thoughtful, caring, and you're a great cook." She said giggling. She stopped giggling and turned serious. "I wasn't sure this day would ever come but you were. I wasn't sure if we would last forever but you were. You were always sure and I know with you, by my side for the rest of my life, the moments to come are going to be nothing but wonderful."

Vic smiled and sighed, taking a deep breath before he began. "When I first saw you in the office I thought you were the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. I just knew I had to have you and I know how macho that sounds but it was all I thought when you came in, wearing that light blue dress suit. Slowly but surely my feelings changed. You were no longer just another woman, you were special. Even though we exchanged words…" he said putting it delicately. "I still felt the love you had, not for me but for just everything around you, your family, friends, and other people in your life. I fell in love with you. I was so happy, you don't even know how happy, when you came to that airport and told me you love me. Then I thought I finally gained love from you. I was so happy. We were getting married and then I found out about the baby, I was just so full of joy and then you told me to…leave." Reba looked down sadly but Vic pulled her chin back up. "I thought I lost you forever. I wasn't so sure we were getting married. I was so afraid because before you my life didn't make sense. I wasn't truly living but now with you everything makes sense. I say this to you Reba, the love of my life, the mother of child, and my wife. I love you."

By now Reba and the old woman's tears were flowing down their cheeks. The old man rolled his eyes and handed them both a tissue. "Thank you." Reba said quietly as she wiped her tears and blew her nose. Vic chuckled and kissed her hand lightly.

They turned back to the old man who was waiting for the blowing of his wife's nose before he started again. "Do you take her to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death to you part?"

"I do."

He looked at Reba. "And do you take him to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death to you part?"

Reba smiled and glanced at Vic. "I do."

"Now I pronounce you man and wife you may kiss the bride." Reba smiled and they turned to each other, pulling one another in a deep kiss. The old woman blew her nose once more but kept balling her eyes out. The old man just rolled his eyes and brought out the marriage license. "100 dollars please." Was all he said. (I know there is a bunch of legal stuff and such you have to go through to get a marriage license but this is a fanfic, so just go with it.)

Reba smiled, clearly the old man was still ticked he had to wake up to marry them. Vic and Reba filled out the marriage license and smiled once they were finished and paid the money. The old woman happily set them up in the biggest room they had at the bed and breakfast. Reba didn't have the heart to tell the woman no and tell her that a bed and breakfast wasn't really their thing.

"Wow." Reba said when they walked into the room. It was flowers, lots of flowers, lots and lots of flowers.

The old woman smiled. "Isn't it lovely? I designed it myself."

Reba nodded. "It's something all right."

She smiled and walked toward the door. She paused just before shutting the door. "I am Mrs. Doris Nelson, just let me know if you need anything, have a goodnight."

"Thank you." Reba said smiling as Doris shut the door and Reba locked it.

Reba looked around and shook her head. "Lots of flowers."

Vic just smiled and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. "It will be fine for the night. We are only making use of the bed anyway." He said nuzzling her neck.

Reba giggled and then pushed his hands away as they began to roam. "You just wait." She said with a suggestive smirk. "I will be right back."

Vic watched as she took her overnight bag and walked into the bathroom. Vic shivered and began to undress himself. He had just sat down to remove his shoes when his cell phone rang in his pocket. He looked at it and rolled his eyes when he saw their home phone number on it. "Who is it?" Reba asked in the doorway of the bathroom.

Vic shook his head. "It's just the house aga…" He stopped when he had looked up. Reba was standing the bathroom doorway in the small lacy see through night gown with matching g-string underneath. "Wow."

Reba walked over and sat on his lap. "I hope you like it." All he could do was nod. Reba kissed him and shifted herself so she could push him back on the bed. Reba was intently kissing him and he was thoroughly enjoying it when his cell phone that was still in his hand rang again. Reba broke the kiss and sighed. "Give me the phone." Vic shook his head. "Just give me the phone. I want to tell them to leave us alone."

Vic sighed and handed it over. He watched as Reba answered the phone, talked a bit, but then he saw her eyes widen and her face go into panic. Reba quickly shut the phone and pushed herself off of Vic, rushing to the bathroom. "What's wrong?" he asked when he went to the door. He saw that she was getting dressed.

Reba pulled her shirt over her head and turned to Vic. "Cheyenne went into labor. We have to get to the hospital." After Reba said that he immediately went to getting redressed. He hoped everything was okay.

End of Chapter