Reba Hart lied in bed, wide awake. Next to her sound asleep and snoring lays her husband, Brock. A silent tear escaped the corner of her eye as she stared at the ceiling of their master bedroom replying a heated conversation between the two of them over and over again. Brock Hart had recently voiced his unhappiness in their marriage. Reba had been chalking all their disagreements up to Brock going through an "aging crisis". She believed he was having difficulty with aging and was going through the motions, taking his anger and frustration out on her. Reba rolled over to her side and faced Brock. She gently nudged him, trying to get him to wake up. "Brock" she whispered. "Brock, Honey" she shook him again. Brock stirred in his sleep before slowly opening his eyes. "Reba, what is it?" He mumbled, sitting up and wiping the sleep from his eyes. "I want you to make love to me" she confessed. Brock ran his hand across his face. "Reba, it's 2 in the morning" he groaned, glancing over at the nightstand alarm. "So?" she barely mumbled out. "So?" He repeated. "So, I have to get up for work in four hours." He stated. Reba scooted closer to him in the bed and wrapped her arm around his bare chest and laid her head into the crook of his neck. They both laid there silent. "Reba, is this about what I said earlier?" He asked, referring to their argument that took place several hours before. Reba nodded her head, saying nothing, against his bare skin. She felt another tear, two, three fall down her cheeks. Brock slid up further forcing Reba to lift her resting head. "Reba?" He said, cupping her face. More tears rolled down her face, and she clenched her eyes shut feeling the familiar low in her chest. "Honey, I said that in the heat of the moment. I didn't mean it, baby". He said wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. Reba couldn't control her emotions, she wept into his chest and held on to him loosely. She knew their marriage was in trouble but she didn't know what it was between them that had changed. Just as she began sniffling, they heard the sound of tiny footsteps trailing down the hall. Reba quickly wiped her eyes with the bottom of her oversized t-shirt. "Mommy?" Jake Hart, their five year old son, whispered standing at the doorway, clutching his matted brown bear. Jake had been having terrible dreams and as of late wasn't able to sleep through the entire night in his own bed. Brock Hart wasn't too fond of having little heels digging into his back at night; however, he was tired of fighting Jake on sleep, just as Reba was. "Honey, what's wrong?" Reba let out an airy nervous laugh. As if being caught crying by her children was some kind of crime . "Mommy what's wrong?" Jake questioned. "Nothing, honey. Here, why don't you climb up here and snuggle with me and your Daddy." She suggested a little too perky, patting a spot next to her on the bed. Jake climbed up into the bed and crawled right in between Brock and Reba". "Oowww" Brock moaned as Jake crawled across his body, feeling his little bones digging into his skin. "Sorry, Dad" Jake said as Reba helped him down under the warm covers. Reba wrapped her arm around Jake's little body and pulled him close to her. She rested her chin into his full head of dark hair and gently kissed his head. "You're okay, baby" she whispered as she stroked his little leg that rested under the sheets. "Goodnight Buddy" Brock said before settling comfortably under the covers, this time lying on his side.

Brock Hart woke up just moments before the sound of his blaring alarm clock. He groaned, sitting up, and shifted the weight of his son's leg off his abdomen. He silenced the alarm before swinging his legs over the bed. Brock slipped into his house slippers and grabbed his robe hanging from it's hook. He slid his arms into the sleeves and loosely tied it closed. Reba was in the shower, he could hear the water running and the muffled sound of her humming. He grinned, grabbing a hold of the door handle. He stopped himself before turning the knob. There was no way he could pounce on her like that, not after last night. He knew his words really hurt Reba, and that alone made him feel like the biggest ass in the world. He balled his hand into a fist and lightly thunked it against the door, he leaned into it, sighing. He backed away from the door as he heard the water shut off.Then headed toward the stairs. Reba rang her red hair out in the shower before stepping out into the steam of the bathroom. She dried herself and wrapped the towel tightly around her chest, tucking the corner under her armpit. She threw her head over and wrapped another towel tightly around her head. She looked into the mirror and wiped the steam away with a nearby hand towel, she would regret that later whenever it left a streak mark that she would have to clean. She looked into the mirror and stared back at her reflection. She touched her delicate skin with her finger tips. Examining every laugh life and wrinkle on her face. Was her marriage falling apart because of her aging? Did her husband not find her attractive anymore? She shook the thoughts from her head as tears formed into her eyes. She quickly washed her face and began her morning skin care routine. When she finished, she grabbed her robe off the counter and slipped into her underwear. She hung up her towel to dry and let her hair down, running a brush softly through it before applying any product. She walked out the bathroom and smiled softly at the sight of her sleeping son. Reba headed down the steps of her house and headed for the kitchen. It was a Thursday morning and she had to prepare breakfast and lunches before Brock left for work and their two daughters left for school. "Brock?" Reba asked, shocked as she saw Brock at the stove scrambling eggs. He jumped, not realizing she had come down. "Look at you! Making eggs! Man, you must really feel bad." She laughed heading toward the cabinet retrieving five plates. "Hah-Hah" he sarcastically said, turning the burner off. "Can't a husband make his family breakfast every now and again?" He walked behind her and wrapped his arms lovingly around her waist. "If by every now and again you mean every 10 years, well then, sure you can!" Reba jabbed pouring coffee into her mug. Just as Brock began to speak, their 15 year old daughter Cheyenne came walking sleepily into the kitchen. "Good Morning Honey" Reba mused pulling a chair up to her daughter. "Morning" Cheyenne mumbled, clearly not a morning person. "Daddy?" Cheyenne asked. "Yes, sweetheart?" he replied, making her a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. "What's up with you making breakfast?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow. "What?" Brock whined, "Can't a guy make breakfast for his family?" Cheyenne looked at Reba who shrugged her shoulders before taking a sip of her hot, black coffee. "Cheyenne, is Kyra up?" Reba asked setting her mug down on the table. Cheyenne shrugged poking at her eggs. "How do you not know, Cheyenne? You two share a room." Reba laughed. Just then, Kyra, their 10 year old daughter, came into the kitchen. "There's my girl" Reba said, pulling Kyra onto her lap. Kyra rubbed her eyes and laid her head into Reba's shoulder. "Kyra, honey, are you hungry?" Brock, asked, fixing another plate. "I just want cinnamon sugar toast" she said as Reba stroked her beautiful, long red hair. "You got it" he said pulling a golden brown piece of bread from the toaster. He lightly buttered the bread before sprinkling a little cinnamon and sugar on it for his little girl. Reba kissed Kyra's temple before she slid off her lap. Kyra climbed into the chair between Cheyenne and Reba just as Brock sat her plate of cinnamon toast in front of her. He ruffled her hair before kissing her head. "Thanks Daddy!" Kyra said picking up the toast biting into it. "Mom why does Jake get to sleep in?" Cheyenne whined. "Cheyenne" Reba said. "He's five." She said, holding up her hand. Cheyenne rolled her eyes. "Reba, do you want your toast buttered?" Brock asked from behind the island, just as she took another sip of her coffee. She nodded. A few moments later, Brock walked around the counter and sat the plate in front of her, kissing her on the cheek. Reba smiled, "Thanks." She said, truly appreciative of his gesture. "Alright girls, go on and brush your teeth and get dressed. I'll do your hair when you're done." Reba said shooing them out of the kitchen as the girls dumped their plates into the sink. Cheyenne groaned and Kyra dramatically drug her feet along the tiled floor. Reba laughed, shaking her head before dunking her hands into the warm and sudsy dish water. Brock sat at the table, sipping his coffee and reading the paper. "Thanks again for making breakfast" Reba said, breaking the silence. He looked up from the paper, grinning giving her a gentle nod. Reba dried her hands and walked over to where he sat. He pushed his chair back from the table and took her into his lap. "Reba, look, I'm sorry about yesterday" he said uncomfortably as he played with a loose string on her robe. "It's alright" she said rubbing her hand over the back of his head. "I want to do better for our family" he said looking into her eyes. She held his hand in her lap and smiled, "It's gonna take a lot of hard work between the both of us, but I want to make us better too." She said, lightly squeezing his hand in hers. He smiled, and she leaned in to kiss him softly on the lips. Just then, Jake came into the kitchen. "Mommy?" He said, walking over to her reaching up. Reba stood up and smoothed her robe. "Jake, honey, you're getting too big for me to pick up" Reba said shaking her head no. He frowned and dropped his hands at his sides. Reba looked at him, her little boy, hair a mess and wearing dinosaur footed pajamas. She couldn't help but feel a piece of herself melt in those dark brown eyes. "Oh, alright." She said giving in, lifting him up into her arms. He wrapped his arms around her neck, and she kissed his plump rosey cheek that lie rested on her shoulder. "Well isn't someone spoiled?" Brock chuckled, standing up. He rubbed his hand over Jake's back. Kyra came back into the kitchen, brush and hair tie in hand. Reba kissed Jake's cheek again, before sitting him at the island, where Brock fixed him a plate of eggs with ketchup. Kyra climbed onto an island barstool and Reba began to brush the knots out of her long hair. "Owww" she whined. "Sorry, honey." Reba said brushing her hair back into a tight ponytail. "Daddy's going to drop you and Jakey off at school." Reba said as she tied the hair tie tightly around Kyra's thick hair. "Can I watch tv?" She asked hoping down off the stool. "Sure" Reba said leading her out of the kitchen. "Make sure you have everything for when your Dad is ready to go" Reba yelled as Kyra left the kitchen. "Mom!" Cheyenne screamed. "What?!" Reba went running over to her daughter, who just rentered the kitchen. "Look!" Cheyenne yelled pointing at a zit at the bottom of her chin. Reba rolled her eyes. "Cheyenne, that's going to happen. You are fifteen." Reba said walking away. "But Mom! I cannot go to school looking like this!" Cheyenne cried, pointing to her face dramatically. "Cheyenne." Reba said firmly. "We can put a little bit of concealer on it, ok?" Reba said, wrapping her arm around her teenage daughter's shoulders. "Yes!" Cheyenne squealed, getting her way with wearing makeup before the age sixteen. "Makeup, huh?" Brock questioned, raising an eyebrow as Cheyenne left the kitchen. "Oh Brock" Reba said rolling her eyes, "it's just a little concealer". Brock held his hands up in defense. "Hey, I'm just saying." He said laughing at one of the rules she had insisted on instilling years ago. "Dad?" Jake asked tugging on the tie of Brock's robe. "Yeah buddy?" Brock asked. "Will you come upstairs with me?" Brock smiled and lifted the little boy into his arms. "Sure buddy. We'll get dressed and fix our hair together." "Can we shave our faces too?!" Jake asked excitedly causing both Reba and Brock to chuckle. "Uh, sure. Sure we can pal." He said walking out of the kitchen with Jake. Reba went over to the island and began to pack her children and husband's lunch. The girls got a ham and cheese sandwich, baby carrots, grapes, and pretzels. Jake wouldn't need a lunch, he was still in a half day of kindergarten. She would make him lunch of his choice when he was home. It was likely to be hotdogs and macaroni. Brock got last nights dinner. Steak, baked potato, and asparagus. She wrapped the silverware in a napkin and zipped the lunch bag shut. Lining all three bags up, she yelled up at Cheyenne to get a "move on". Cheyenne came darting down the stairs with Reba's concealer in hand. She handed it to her mom, giddily. "Now just a little honey, you know the rule." Reba said as she placed a tiny dot of concealer on her daughter's "imperfection". "I know mom" Cheyenne said, rolling her eyes. Reba twisted the concealer applicator back into the tube. She patted the product into Cheyenne's skin with her finger tip, making the blemish fade away. "There!" Reba said. Happy with her work. "Thanks Mommy!" Cheyenne said, wrapping her arms around Reba's waist. "Go on now, bus will be here any minute." Reba said kissing the top of Cheyennes head. "Lunch is on the table" she called out and Cheyenne ran for the door. "Mom?" Kyra said, turning from the sofa. "Yes, honey?" Reba said sitting next to her daughter on the couch. "Is Daddy mad?" Reba felt her heart drop. She began to stutter her words. "Uh. No. Honey, why? Why would you think that?" Kyra looked down at her lap. "Honey?" Reba questioned her, truly concerned. "I heard Daddy say he isn't happy." She said, her lip quivering. "Oh, baby" Reba said, pulling Kyra into her embrace. "Honey, Daddy didn't mean what he said to Mommy. He had a bad day at work and said something he didn't mean." She said rocking her daughter. Kyra sniffled and nodded. Reba wiped the tears from her daughter's eyes. "Daddy loves you very much." She said tweaking her nose, causing Kyra to grin. Just then, Brock and Jake came back down the stairs. "Ready to go little lady?" Brock asked Kyra, gathering the kids' book bags. Kyra nodded and slid off her mother's lap. "Kyra, Jake, why don't you go and get your lunch boxes off the table." The two children ran into the kitchen. "Brock." Reba said. "Yeah?" He asked. "Kyra heard everything last night." She said, biting her bottom lip. "What?" Brock questioned, alarmed. "She heard you say you aren't happy." Reba said wiping her eyes quickly and then running her hands on her robe. "Jesu-" "We're ready!" Jake yelled from the kitchen. "We will talk about this later" Brock said, pecking Reba on the cheek. "Buh-bye" Reba said kissing her children as they walked out the door. "Love you mom!"they yelled waving, Reba blew them a kiss. "Brock" Reba said, getting his attention before he walked out the door. He gave her a questioning look. "Talk to her." Reba said nodding in reference to Kyra. Brock rubbed his hand over his face. "I will" he said, sighing before heading for the car.

xxxx

"Jake, baby!" Reba mused as Jake came running out of his Kindergarten classroom, and into her open arms. "Look what I made Mom!" He beamed, holding up a macaroni necklace. "Wow, Jakey! It's beautiful!" Reba fused, holding the noodle necklace in her hands. "It's for you Mom." Jake said proudly, hands tucked behind his back. "Awww, thank you honey." Reba said, crouching down, wrapping her arm around him, pulling him into her embrace. He beamed. She kissed his cheek. "You're my sweetheart. I am going to put it on and never take it off!" She said smiling before taking his hand, and leading him to the car.

xxxx

Brock Hart came home from work. He was late, again. Reba sighed tapping her fingers on the kitchen table. She glanced up at the ticking clock, 6:15. She reached for the cordless phone and dialed Brock's office number. Just as the phone began to ring, Brock came bursting through the door. "Where the hell have you been!?" She yelled, banging the phone into its charging port. "Reba. Not now." He said, avoiding her gaze. "Brock, it's a quarter after 6! You are never this late!" She argued, trailing behind him as he kicked his shoes off, tossed his keys onto the island, and sat at the table where his fixed plate sat. "Reba! I said not now!" He snapped. "Brock! You had me worried sick!" She yelled. She took his plate from the table and placed it in the microwave. "You missed dinner." She said. She looked over at Brock who sat with his head down in his hands at the table. She walked over and sat his warm meal down in front of him.

Xxx

Reba walked up the stairs and stopped at the doorway of her girls' room. There slept Kyra and Cheyenne. Reba smiled. She quietly walked in and kissed Cheyenne on the forehead. "Goodnight, baby." She whispered before pushing her hair out of her face. She then walked over to Kyra's bed. "Goodnight my angel" she said, kissing her forehead, pulling her blanket over her shoulders. She stopped at the doorway. Turning around, she watched their chests rise and fall with each breath they took. Cheyenne, the eldest, was Reba and Brock's pride and joy. They wanted a child so badly after they married. Three years later, they were blessed with a little blonde hair blue eyed baby girl. Cheyenne was the highlight of their lives. She was breathtakingly beautiful, innocent, and the sweetest soul. Then, five years later, came Kyra Eleanor. Kyra was a spitting image of her mother. Beautiful long red hair, with ocean blue eyes. Wise well beyond her years. She was the voice of reason. The love her and Brock made, right in front of her. How could their marriage fall apart so quickly? When did things go so wrong? She wiped her eyes and clicked their bedroom door closed.

Reba walked down to Jake's bedroom. "Goodnight Jakey, I love you" Reba whispered kissing his cheek. She smiled at her sleeping baby boy. The one who had stolen her heart the very moment she held him in her arms. She remembered how proud Brock was to have a son, and she remembered how proud she was to give him one. She walked towards the door, clicking it closed.

Reba went to their bedroom. She undressed from her evening attire and slipped into a bed shirt and sleep shorts. She tossed her clothes into the hamper and walked into their bathroom. She pulled her hair up into a messy bun, washed her makeup from her face, brushed her teeth, and sighed once again looking in the mirror at her reflection. She shook her head and switched the light off. She crawled into bed and waited for Brock. She was hoping she'd be asleep before he came up. They had avoided each other for the remainder of the evening. Brock sighed heavily before dragging himself up the stairs. He was dreading the conversation that was guaranteed to happen. He walked into their bedroom's bathroom, avoiding looking at their bed and brushed his teeth. Looking into the mirror sighing, he flicked the light switch off before walking into their dark bedroom. Reba lie on her side, facing away from him. He slid under the covers and rolled onto his side. "Brock?" Reba said, a lump forming in her throat. "Hm" he mumbled. "I thought you said we were going to be better." She fessed. "Reba-I know. You have no idea what I am going through right now!" He responded shifting his weight onto his forearms, sitting up. Reba sat up and reached for the bedside lamp cord. "Brock, what are you talking about?!" She mustered out, holding back tears. "Work!" He finally said. "Work, life, you, us, everything! I'm falling apart Reba." Reba look at him puzzled, not understanding. "Look, Reba I need extra help at work. I have to hire another hygienist. I'm behind at work. I'm stressed out. I am a terrible father, terrible husband, I just am so sick and tired of all of this. My little girl even sees it." He said dropping his head into his hands, now sitting with his back against the head of the bed. "Baby" Reba whispered, sympathetically. She scooted next to him and pulled him into her arms. "Reba I made a huge mistake." He said, choking back tears. "Honey, you're okay. I was just worried about you. I wish you would've called and told me you were going to be late. I didn't even know you were wanting to hire another hand." She said, running her fingers through his hair. He stayed silent, shaking his head against her chest. "No. No you don't understand. I am falling apart. I'm turning into someone I don't want to be. I'm turning into my Dad." He finally choked out. Reba closed her eyes and held him close to her chest, saying nothing.