Chapter 25

Reba sat in the darkness, going over the dilemma. She didn't want to do it but she couldn't help herself. These impulses were taking over her and she needed it. She could feel the need deep within her stomach and it kept growing. She knew the only way to suppress it was to satisfy it with certain things.

Reba sighed and turned, as much as she could, to face her husband who lay sleeping next to her. "Brock…" she whispered, poking him in the shoulder. He didn't budge. She tried again. "Brock…" she said a little louder this time. He started to stir but he still didn't wake up. She rolled her eyes very irritated of how much she needed her husband right now and he just continued sleeping! "Wake up." She hissed while punching him in the shoulder.

Brock immediately sat up and hissed as he rubbed his shoulder. "Oww…woman…I was asleep."

"I know but I needed you awake." She said grinning. "Brock…" she said running her hands along his hurt shoulder and giving him those sweet puppy dog eyes.

Brock eyed her. He knew that look. He rolled his eyes. He knew what was coming next. It drove him crazy. She had wakened him up every night for the last month or so, sometimes more than once! He was exhausted. He needed his rest. He didn't know how he was going to deal with this any longer. "Reba…"

Reba pouted and began rubbing his chest. "Please…I need it."

Brock groaned and glanced at his wife. "Same as last time?"

Reba grinned and nodded. "Yes please."

Brock reached over and kissed her cheek gently. "I'll be back shortly." He got up out of bed and pulled his clothes on quickly. He grabbed his keys and walked toward the bedroom door.

"The baby and I thank you honey." Reba said rubbing her six and half month pregnant stomach.

He smiled and shook his head as he walked out the door as he said, "Yeah, yeah."

It has been, well…almost, bliss since their wedding a little more than four months ago. They had enjoyed a few wonderful days alone on their honeymoon before they headed back home to their family. During the past few months Reba's morning sickness and her blaming Brock for getting her pregnant had stopped…at least for now. They settled into married life quite easily, probably because before they acted so much like an already married couple the transition was just that simple.

The only thing that had changed was the cravings. When Reba's morning sickness stopped the cravings started and of course Brock had to get it. At first it wasn't so bad. Reba would just request something she remembered they had in the refrigerator combining it with something else and making it some completely disgusting dish she would happily eat. Then it went to Brock going out during the day to the store or picking something up on the way home from work and that he didn't mind either.

It was this going out during the middle of the night that drove him nuts. He couldn't say no. He loved his wife and it was his fault she was having these cravings. So when they began he had to drive out to get whatever she requested. First it was just to the store for some pretzels or chips or ice cream but then she developed a craving for Taco Bell and ice cream. It had been like that the last two weeks. He would drive to taco bell and get three supreme tacos, two soft shells, one hard shell, and some cheesy potatoes without the sour cream. Then he had to go to the store for butter pecan ice cream, which she would put one scoop on the potatoes and eat the rest when she was done with the tacos.

Brock had to turn away when she ate that. He didn't know how she could eat that stuff. He would never understand why women get cravings. He heard something along the lines of it's the body telling you you're missing something but he didn't understand what she could be missing with cheesy butter pecan potatoes.

It didn't take him long anymore to get the taco bell and ice cream. The late night shift at the restaurant pretty much knew it by now and what he bought. This whole week they had it good and ready for him when he drove up to the window to order because it was always the same time every night Reba woke him up and she was never late.

Brock arrived back home half an hour later and groaned when he walked in and found Reba sleeping on the couch. This wasn't the first time this happened. He loved his wife and he loved taking care of her but he had to admit that he was counting down the days when this child was born. He sighed and just put the food away.

Walking back into the living room he smiled when he saw his wife again, lying down on her side; one hand protectively over her stomach. He sat on the coffee table and just stared at her beautiful glowing face. He was happy things were finally settled in their relationship. They were married again and having another baby. Things were going great and he hoped they stayed that way.

-

"Honey where are the tacos you bought last night?" Reba asked searching through the fridge. It was easy to find the ice cream.

"Always in the microwave honey, you hate cold tacos."

Reba smiled when she opened the microwave and saw her food. "Thanks honey and I'm sorry I fell asleep but walking down those stairs just wore me out."

Brock nodded as he sipped his coffee. He had the office closed today because it was their doctor's appointment day. Today they would find out the sex of the baby…possibly. Reba kept changing her mind whenever they did an ultrasound and when she really did want to know the baby had its legs closed. Brock was eager. They had already decorated the nursery with the gender neutral color yellow. Everything was in place and ready. All Reba had to do was have the baby.

Brock shook his head when his wife sat down next to him with tacos and ice cream for breakfast. "You know the doctor is going to get after you for that." He said behind his newspaper.

"You're the supplier. He'll get angry at you." Reba pointed out with a smile as she scooped some ice cream cheesy potatoes into her mouth and moaned.

Brock frowned. "You never moan like that with me."

"You are never this good." She commented.

He smirked and set his paper down. "That wasn't what you said two nights ago."

"Oh please." Reba said with a roll of her eyes.

He chuckled before replying coyly with, "I believe the words were 'oh Brock'."

Reba couldn't help but just smile as she shook her head. "Shut up."

Brock shrugged and tried to take a taco from her but she smacked his hand. "Ouch…" he said rubbing his lightly red hand.

"You would take food from your own child?" She said shaking her head.

"It's not very good food for the baby. Maybe you should add some fruit to that."

Reba shrugged. "I'll eat an apple and banana on the way to the doctor's office, that make you feel better?"

"A little…" Brock paused for a moment and took her hand. "You know I'm only concerned for you right?"

"I know and the doctor said I am fine. My weight is fine. This one indulgent I have is not going to do any harm."

Brock nodded and didn't say anything more about it. He figured the doctor would warn her if it was getting too bad. The doctor always asks for a list of her diet, part of her monitoring the baby's health considering her age and blood pressure, and she always told him the truth of what she had eaten. Brock trusted Dr. Mallard wouldn't withhold information they needed.

Reba sighed and glanced at her husband. "Have an idea of what the baby might be?"

Brock shrugged. "I don't know, you?"

Reba smiled. "I think it's a girl."

"Maybe." He said picking his newspaper back up.

Reba raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying I don't know?"

"No…" he said shaking his head. "I'm just saying that it could be a boy. I think it's more than likely a boy because you acted the same way you do now when you were pregnant with Jake, very hormonal, very weird with your cravings."

"You want to make that a bet?" she asked opening up her first taco.

That got Brock to lower her newspaper. "Why? I didn't doubt you. It could be a girl but I think it might be a boy."

Reba smiled. He fell for her trap. "Well let's make a bet. If it's a girl…and I know it is…you have to be my slave." She said with a smirk.

Brock grinned. "I like the sound of that."

Reba shook her head and giggled. "Don't let your mind go too far."

"And if it's a boy you'll be my slave?"

Reba shrugged. "Fine, is it a bet?" She held her hand out for an official shake.

Brock nodded and grasped her hang gently. "It's a bet baby."

-

Three hours later Brock and Reba walked back into the living room. The doctor's appointment went well. They did all the normal routine of measuring her stomach, checking blood pressure, weight…all fine for now. And much to Brock's delight the doctor told her to cut down a little on the taco bell and ice cream. It was okay for a once in a while indulgent but almost every night was a little much. The door was shut behind and both of them looking extremely happy despite one of them loosing the bet.

"So…" Brock said giving Reba a wide grin. "What sort of slave do you want?"

Reba chuckled as she struggled out of her coat. Brock came to her aid immediately. "Well, I was right, it's a girl, and I want you to be my slave and…" She tapped her chin for a moment, teasing him with the anticipation of what she could be thinking before continuing with, "Clean the house."

Brock frowned as he hung up her coat. "Clean the house?"

Reba nodded. "Yes, you can start with the vacuuming but before you start that if you could bring me some orange juice and popcorn that would be great."

"Can't I just hire a maid?"

Reba thought about it for a moment and shook her head with a smile. "Nah, why hire a maid when I have my husband?" Brock pouted as he hung up his coat. "Don't worry honey. It won't be so bad. I'll go easy on you and umm…don't forget to wear something sexy when you vacuum." She patted his butt as she laughed and then waddled on over to the couch to sit herself down.

Brock shook his head but smiled as well. She was enjoying this but he had no problem with it. If she wanted his help he would gladly give it up to her. He loved her, plane and simple. And that is what made him get her orange juice, popcorn, vacuum the living room, stairs, and hallway, dust, do the dishes, polish the good silver she had in her china cabinet they only used on thanksgiving and Christmas, and do the laundry.

"Can I take break?" he asked standing in front of her, looking extremely tired after he just washed the car, his chore while the laundry was going.

Reba giggled and patted the spot next to her. "Sit down, you've done enough and I love you for it. You don't have to do anything more…well one more thing but that's later tonight." She said with a wink.

Brock chuckled as he sat next to her and shook his head. "I don't know if I will have the energy for that."

Reba made a playful frown and as best she could, moved closer to him. "Are you sure?" she asked in a husky tone, her lips near his ear. She smiled when she saw him shiver a little. "I think you'll be up for it tonight." She giggled and patted his knee before snuggling herself on his chest. "And thank you for doing all those chores for me. It really needed to be done and I was just too tired. I'll finish the rest tomorrow."

Brock wrapped his arm around his wife and shook his head. "No, you won't."

Reba raised a curious eyebrow at him. "You're gonna do the chores?"

"No I'm going to hire a maid."

Reba laughed and kissed him gently. Just then the doorbell rang and Brock groaned. "Don't worry I'll get it." Reba said trying to get up.

Brock chuckled and shook his head. "No, sit down." He said moving away and groaning as he stood up. "It would take you all day just to get off the couch." Reba glared and smacked his butt when he got up. "Hey, don't do that."

Reba shrugged and smirked. "You do it to me."

"That's because you secretly like it." He teased walking to the door and opening it. The smile he had on his face left when he saw the person behind the door. "Mom."

End of Chapter