Dear Readers-
I have really appreciated the feedback and support that I've received from you. Thanks for continuing to read my story and letting me know that you still want to read more chapters. Keep leaving me comments and reviews. I love reading them. It keeps me writing.
Happy New Year! I'm posting this chapter as a New Year's gift to my readers. I've been really busy lately. I know that I'm posting this a little late. Happy 2011!
Now on with the story-
I don't own Reba or any of the characters in this story from Reba. They belong to the writers of the REBA TV show. I also do not owe the rights to any of the songs and lyrics that I use in this story. Those are the property of the artists involved. The characters of Kim Campbell, Sam Holliway, Jenny Miller, Nick Holliway and Josh Holliway from this story are my creation though. The story is just a year off from the way that the seasons of Reba actually aired. The story picks up from the events of season one from fall 2002-spring 2003 and the events of season two in fall 2003-spring 2004.
Note to readers: I want you to know that I am a Reba/Brock fan. This story is establishing the history of the couple. He was lucky to get her to marry him in the first place. He'll realize that a little bit more later on when he realizes that Reba may fall for Mike again in the present. For the purposes of the story, the current setting for the story is fall 2008 when the family is watching the video that Lori Ann made for Mike and Reba. Remember at the beginning of the story, Reba wakes up in Vegas after a night that she can't quite remember and the story reveals how she got there. The first thing is establishing the relationships and history. This will bring the skeletons out of the closet for both Brock and Reba, and then you get to see how they deal with it. The story will go forward from the back-story into establishing how Reba got to Vegas and who's with her. Brock needs to have a challenge to face. He's put her through so much in the last six years. Trying to get back together with her won't be easy for him. She deserves a love affair better than she's had so far.
Previously- Reba just looked from Kim to Mike. She looked embarrassed to be caught in such a compromising situation by Mike's ex. Mike swore and ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"I'm gonna talk to Kim and then I'll be back to explain things to you. Reba, don't leave, please. Just wait for me with Lori Ann at the bar. This situation is complicated, but it's not what it looks like. I swear that I'm not the biological father of the baby that Kim's havin'."
"I sure hope not, for your sake!"
What will happen to Reba and Mike this time? Will she walk out on Mike again? What's happening with Kim and Mike?
It's 2004 in the story. What happens between 2004 and 2008? What happens in the present? Keep reading to find out more!
Author's note-Reminders- Brock and Reba are divorced. Brock married Barbra Jean and vowed to be a better husband and father this time. This shook Reba to the core. Brock throws his money around with the kids while she struggles to pay the bills. This makes Reba very frustrated. She ends up helping Brock in situations because of her feelings for him. She had to watch Brock marry Barbra Jean. She was also at the hospital with Brock on the day that Barbra Jean gave birth to Henry. This really hurt because Reba should've been nine months pregnant with the baby that she lost. Prom night came and reminded Reba of Mike as she watched Cheyenne and Van dancing in her living room. The night that Brock came over to stay the night in the tree house was the night that Barbra Jean came over to get help with baby Henry. Reba had to care for Brock's new child on the night that would've been her due date. Reba struggles each month with her loss. The worse moment for her was when she started having flashbacks on Cheyenne's graduation day. She saw the moments from her past: giving birth to John, marrying Brock, giving birth to Cheyenne, and other moments during Cheyenne's childhood. She has fought to get over the dreams that she has of Brock. She is currently dating Brian. Brock and the kids attend Barbra Jean's family reunion. Reba can't allow herself to be intimate with Brian. At this point, she's thinking of Mike and wishing that she'd never left him. The story picks up from the second season of Reba. It's 2004.
Now on with our next chapter-
Reba sat at the bar with Lori Ann. Mike was in his office with Kim. Lori Ann had the camcorder on the bar, facing them. She got behind the bar.
"As long as we're here, we might as well finish gettin' drunk," Lori Ann remarked. She started pouring more whiskey into glasses. Reba took the glass and made a toast.
"To the past, leave it there because it can really come back to haunt ya. To Terry, may he rest in peace. To us, may we finally find someone that we can each spend the rest of our lives with."
"I'll drink to that!"
"I really feel like gettin' some revenge tonight. I'm so mad!"
"You're only sayin' that because you're not in the pool room gettin' lucky right now."
"No, I stood here earlier and sang Terry's favorite song right in front of Brock and Mike. Mike didn't do anythin', but give me the secret signal. Brock had tears in his eyes. He practically begged me to stay at the motel with him tonight to talk about Terry. He's not takin' this whole thing very well. I expected Mike to do somethin' to get things out in the open, but he didn't. I want a relationship; instead I've got two mo-rons who want to confuse the heck out of me. I'm not doin' the grief sex thing with Brock. If I'd stayed, it could've turned out that way."
"Instead you chose grief sex with Mike. At least you would've been on a bed with Brock. With Mike, you ended up on a pool table."
"Yes, but it was hot and excitin'. I've never done anythin' like that before. Every time we see each other, I wonder what will happen next. I kinda like that. It's never boring. It's like a roller coaster ride. I can usually predict exactly what would happen with Brock, down to every move that he makes. Barbra Jean can have him. I don't want that anymore. That's why I gotta break up with Brian. There is no way that I am ever goin' to fall in love with him like I love Mike. I'm gonna save myself the time and energy. I don't want safe, predictable, and dependable anymore. It hasn't gotten me the happily ever after that I've spent my life wishin' for."
"Brock is not that predictable or dependable. Did you predict that he would have an affair with Barbra Jean? Didn't he walk out on your marriage when you were depending' on him?"
Reba took another swallow of the burning liquid. "Yeah, who does he think he is anyway? Nobody plays around with my emotions like that. I need revenge. At least, Mike is in the doghouse with Kim. She'll give him plenty of grief over what she saw. She'll make him miserable. She's an ex-wife. It goes with the job description. I know exactly what I wanna do. I'm gonna call Barbra Jean and pretend to be at the motel with Brock. She's been callin' the motel because she's worried that he's gonna end up in bed with me."
"That's priceless. You should do that."
Reba picks up the phone on the bar and dials out for anonymous call to Barbra Jean's place without the number showing up on caller id. She sets the phone down on the bar counter and starts making moaning noises near the phone while Kim is leaving the bar. Mike comes out of his office.
"What is she doin'?" Mike whispered to Lori Ann.
"She's gettin' Brock in trouble with his new wife," she whispered back.
Mike whispers into Reba's ear. She stops for a second, obviously stunned by what he said to her, when she heard Mike making the same noises and moaning Reba's name with a Texas drawl. He grabbed Reba and started to really kiss her. Lori Ann ended the call.
"Okay, fun's over," Lori Ann declared.
Mike stopped kissing Reba. She stood there, silently stunned by the kissing.
Lori Ann leaned over and whispered to Reba, "He's turning you into jello again. Remember earlier? Are you gonna let him get away with that?"
Mike starts laughing. "Brock is gonna be in so much trouble when he gets home. That was actually a lot of fun. I haven't done anythin' like that in a long time."
Reba started laughing, too. "Yeah, me neither. How'd you do that thing with your voice?"
"In junior high and high school, Brock and I used to call girls on the phone to see if they could tell us apart. It was a pretty good trick. Most girls always thought that they were talkin' to Brock when they were talkin' to me."
"Oh, really? And what was the kissin' about?"
"I was makin' it sound as real as possible, darlin'. You wanted to get him in trouble, right? It had to sound real. If you want a real kiss, I'd be glad to oblige ya."
Reba held her hand up to stop Mike before he could kiss her lips. "Hold it! You still have some explaining to do to me. Got it?"
Mike cleared his throat. "Okay, honey, do ya remember what happened when you were here last?"
"Yeah! How could I forget? I came in here pregnant and you agreed to raise my child with me."
"That's what's happening' here with Kim."
"No. But why? You did that 'cause of the love that we share."
"Sal, honey, she's the mother of three of my children. She's alone. The father of the baby is gone. The baby will be a half brother or sister to my other children. Terry really wanted me to help her out in raising the baby. Family was really important to him, especially at the end. I'm tryin' to do the right thing here. We're not together at all. I'm just helpin' her out. I'm gonna help her raise the baby just in the same custody arrangement that we share with the other kids. We're gonna share the baby as a divorced couple livin' separately. There's nothin' else goin' on here. I promise. Kim got mad tonight 'cause I didn't talk to her first about you comin' here. She is pregnant, hormonal, emotional, and she's takin' Terry's death very hard."
"I can understand that. Why are ya such a nice guy? I wish that you weren't in this situation. I'm entirely comfortable with it. I feel that you should be supportin' Kim through this without me as a distraction. I love ya so much. I want to be with you, but this doesn't feel right this time. You've got some things to finish here with her. You've got to do that before we can be together. This is an experience that will bond the two of you, just like Brock and Barbra Jean did."
"Do not compare me to Brock. I'm not Brock."
"Jack, sweetheart, I'm not saying that. You are so insecure about Brock, aren't ya?"
"I've got a right to be. You keep runnin' back to him. First, you marry him after you admit that you still love me and we spend the night talkin' about bein' together. Next, you come to me for comfort 'cause he's left you for another woman. I sent you back to him to make sure that you were really free and clear of him. I didn't want anythin' to get in the way. You come back to me. You finally choose me. We plan to raise a child together and get married, but then you lost the baby and almost died. I was never so scared in all my life. You get out of the coma and I find out that you still love Brock. I let you go again 'cause I want ya to be really sure of us. You contact me and tell me that you finally really wanna be me, free and clear. Now, you seem ready to run again. Why, Sal? I love ya. That's never gonna change. Please don't leave me again."
"Havin' a child together really bonds two people. If John had lived, what do ya think would've happened to us?"
"We'd still be married today. We would've spent the last twenty years lovin' each other. We'd had more children, too."
"Exactly! We were gonna raise a baby together, but if that would've happened we wouldn't have the six wonderful kids that we have today. Your children are wonderful and you probably can't imagine your life without them. You married Kim and stayed married to her, even when you didn't wanna 'cause of those kids. Kim is their mother. You chose to marry her. You have to understand that I feel that same way 'bout my kids. I can't erase Brock from them. He's their father, but what's past is in the past. We can only go forward from here. You chose to stay by Kim. If I come between you now, I'll feel like a home-wrecker. Your kids will never understand that. You have to figure things out between you two without any outside interference. I'm not gonna be the Barbra Jean in this situation. I'm not gonna rip a fragile family unit apart!"
"But you're not, honey, I promise. We're divorced and we're not planning to get back together."
"You're havin' another baby with her. That's gonna come with some expectations from your kids. Steppin' aside right now is the right thing to do for all of us. I love ya. That's not gonna change no matter what. I'm gonna go home. I'm gonna break up with Brian 'cause that is also the right thing to do. I'll be in Houston waitin' for ya. I'm not comin' back in here next time. I'll wait for ya. We've got a deal in place to get married in the future so you know where I'll be. When things are finished with Kim here, then you come and find me. I'll welcome ya back in my life with open arms. I'm not walkin' out on ya now. I'm just sayin' see ya later. It's just goodbye for now, not forever. I'm still waitin' for the happily ever after with ya, you mo-ron."
Author's note: I know that the following song came out in 2006, but for the purposes of this story I'm using it in 2004. The song seems to fit because Mike is two years older than Reba. They grew up together as next door neighbors because their families' properties were next to each other. They each grew up on a farm. They grew up as best friends before and after the Holliways lived in Texas. The Holliways moved back when Reba was 16 years old and that's when Reba started to hope for a future with Mike. If you have any questions, please go back to chapter two for some of the backstory.
Mike laughed. Reba got up on stage to sing another song, "Mary's Song (Oh My My My)".
She said, I was seven and you were nine
I looked at you like the stars that shined
In the sky, the pretty lights
And our daddies used to joke about the two of us
Growing up and falling in love and our mamas smiled
And rolled their eyes and said oh my my my
Took me back to the house in the backyard tree
Said you'd beat me up, you were bigger than me
You never did, you never did
Took me back when our world was one block wide
I dared you to kiss me and ran when you tried
Just two kids, you and I...
Oh my my my my
I was sixteen when suddenly
I wasn't that little girl you used to see
But your eyes still shined like pretty lights
And our daddies used to joke about the two of us
They never believed we'd really fall in love
And our mamas smiled and rolled their eyes
And said oh my my my...
Took me back to the creek beds we turned up
Two A.M. riding in your truck and all I need is you next to me
Took me back to the time we had our very first fight
The slamming of doors instead of kissing goodnight
You stayed outside til the morning light
Oh my my my my
A few years had gone and come around
We were sitting at our favorite spot in town
And you looked at me, got down on one knee
Took me back to the time we walked down the aisle
Our whole town came and our mamas cried
You said I do and I did too
Took me home were we met so many years before
We'll rock our babies on that very front porch
After all this time, you and I
I'll be eighty-seven; you'll be eighty-nine
I'll still look at you like the stars that shine
In the sky, oh my my my...
When the song ended, Reba stepped down from the stage. She wrapped her arms around Mike's neck and looked up at him.
"In a couple of years or so, you'll come and find me. You'll get down on one knee and propose. We'll get married, and then we'll come back here and raise our children together. You said before that you wanted to grow old with me. I wanna grow old with you, too. You know where I'll be when you're ready. I'm letting you go now, but I know that you'll come back to me because somehow we always find our way back together. I know that it will happen again. This time, I'm not runnin'. I'm letting you go because it's what needs to happen right now. I love ya enough to let you go just like you've done for me before."
"I hate this, Sal. I don't want things to be this way." Mike pressed his forehead to hers and looked into her eyes. "You're the most stubborn woman that I've ever met."
Reba wrote down her address, phone number, and e-mail address information for Mike and handed it to him. He took a hold of both of her hands in his. "I love ya, babe."
"I love you too, you mo-ron." Reba slapped him upside the head gently. "I'll be waitin' for ya, but you have a deadline. If we don't marry someone else by December 31, 2008, then we'll marry each other in Las Vegas just like the first time. If you don't find me by then, I'm gonna try to move on with my life. I can accept it if you decide to stay with Kim without any hard feelings because you're my best friend. I only want what's best for ya."
"That would be you, darlin'."
"Then you have to get this situation settled and help Kim through her time of need. I've waited twenty years to be with ya. I can stand to wait a little longer. You're worth it."
Reba moved in to kiss his lips one last time before leaving. Her lips searched and explored his mouth desperately like Mike did with his kiss the last time that they parted.
"Now that we've sealed the deal properly with a kiss. I gonna let you know that I plan on holdin' ya to our deal. We're gonna get married in 2008, if we don't get married sooner."
Reba gently laughed. "I'll be countin' the days, Jack. Good luck. See you soon."
"Bye, honey. I'll be seein' ya again as soon as I can."
Reba smiled and turned to leave Holliway's. Lori Ann followed Reba's exit. When Reba reached the door, she turned around to blow a kiss and wave to Mike before walking out the door.
What will happen to Reba and Mike this time? Will Mike come back to Reba? What's happening with Kim and Mike this time? What's happening with Reba and Brock?
It's 2004. What happens in the year 2008? Stay tuned to find out in the next chapter!
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