(Yeah, yeah a million years since I've updated, but here's something special for ya…)
"Listen Reebs, you're really startin to freak me out…."
"BJ, you gave birth to Henry- At least I think it was you, or was that another one of Brock's mistresses?" Reba joked, even through the pain.
"It's unnerving that you, Reba Hart, are still making mistress jokes about your soon to be husband again." Barbra Jean retorted, with her new found attitude.
"Shut up and just help me up these steps…" The back door stairs to the church were steep, it was obvious they weren't meant for women in their third trimester.
BJ breathed a sigh of relief as Reba made it up the last step, she was practically in the clear, now all they had to do was get her dress on, and they were gold….
Cheyenne met them in the hallway,
"You two are late! Gosh mom, at least you could show up early to your own wedding…"
"Oh gee thank you Cheyenne, BJ done my hair up all nice for today- you look nice too.."
"Haha. Sarcasm aint gonna ruin my spirits, my parents are getting married, I would think you'd be a little more excited…"
"I am Cheyenne, but remember I've already done this, now shoo, Barbra Jean will help me into my dress and you can go make sure the kids are ready… kay?"
"Oh, okay, I just figured I could help too, but if you want BJ to do it instead…" She walked away like a small child denied the last cookie in the cookie jar, Reba sighed,
"Maybe my next wedding Cheyenne!" she called, but her daughter was already out of ear shot.
"Gee you gotta be so harsh there Red?" BJ teased.
"If I hadn't been she wouldn't of left, and she would of found out bout, you know?" Reba bent over in pain as Van was walking by,
"Everything okay there Mrs. H?" he asked bending to her level,
Reba quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and made up one of her excuses,
"I dropped a contact."
"You don't wear- BJ grabbed Van by the shoulder, her nails digging into his jacket,
"Today. She. . Contacts." She added behind her clenched jaw.
"Ok-kay, I- this isn't graduation all over again is it Mrs.H?"
"NonSENSE- she cut off to bend down again.
"Mrs.H, you really should-
"You think I don't know what we should do? I know Van, lemme decide okay, you MOron?"
"Fine, what are you gonna decide?" he asked seriously.
"We are having a wedding!" Reba yelled.
"Okay. Does Cheyenne know about, you know?"
"No- She doesn't, and I expect you not to tell her." Reba got back up to look Van in the eyes, "She wanted to graduate, she got to. I wanna get married, I'm gonna."
"Whatever you say.." Van bowed his head, "You need anything before I go take my place in line?"
"No Van, just tell everyone I'm comin' if they start askin."
"Ye ma'am." And he walked away.
"Okay, Reebs, let's get ya in your dress so we can get ya married and that epidural…"
"Thanks- But I don't think we'll have time for that epidural…" The way she felt right now, is definitely not what she remembered from having Jake, at this point she just wanted it out.
Just as Reba suspected, people were asking questions, but BJ managed to get her in her dress, and all ready herself in about twenty minutes. With a lot of scoffing from Reba, she even had time for one last bear hug before she had to walk down the aisle.
"ALRIGHT! Get off of me you big baboon!"
"Oh Reba, it's not every day your best friend gets married…"
"Especially not to your ex-husband."
"That's behind us now, I'll go find your Daddy, and we'll get this weddin on the road!"
BJ kept her promise, in no time Reba's Dad was by her side, her arms clasped tightly in his. His eye sparkled the way she remembered they sparkled when she was just a little girl.
"Now punkin- are you sure this is what you want?"
"Yes Daddy, very much, just like I want this baby, I don't think there is any other man in the world I would like to be the father of my child."
"But what about-
Luckily the music began before he could utter the name that always sent her into a panic, Reba's heart jumped into her throat at just the mere thought of Brian, at no time today did she want to think about her ex- No way, no how, she was more than content thinking about Brock.
Sweat trickled down her brow, whether from nerves or the pain, she couldn't tell. As another pain shot through her body the minister started to speak,
"Who gives this woman to this man?"
"I do." Her father said, a twinge of hesitance ringing in his tone, but he let go of her arm, and let Brock help his daughter up the tiny step. If she loved him, then he guessed there was no stopping his hard headed Reba.
"We are together here today to bond this man and this woman in matrimony…." As the minister went on, Brock smiled his goofy grin, absorbing the moment, taking in her eyes, her hair, and all of the things he had promised himself he'd appreciate more. He felt happy for the first time in years, Reba was the void, that hole he felt when he was with BJ, it was Reba that was missing. The hole Barbra Jean filled was one he could live without being filled, that was his stupidity. He just happened to screw up more than the average guy; his midlife crisis involved a dark exam room and his dental hygienist, but turned into a bitter divorce, a wedding he didn't want and a baby. Of course he couldn't imagine his life without Henry, or any of his children for that matter, and as strange as it sounded, he wasn't sure if he could imagine his life without his ex-wife being down the street either, it just so happened in Brocks world, that was normal. He could practically hear the joy ringing in his ears, and the pounding in his chest almost distracted him from the nervous tingle in his toes. Reba twitched in his grasp, and the little bit of motion jerked him from his thoughts.
"I do." He said, when the minister looked at him insistently, Reba chuckled nervously.
The minister went on, Brock wiggled his toes a bit trying to make them stop tingling but instead of the usual relief he felt afterward, he only felt a "Squish", he looked down nonchalantly to see, from his toes to underneath Reba's gown was soaked. He looked back up to wonder, but was distracted by the minister once more,
"And Reba?"
"I-I do." She answered, gulping in a huge breath after doing so,
"You may kiss the bride." Even through the soggy feeling in his shoes, he locked his lips to Reba's and when he unlatched he leaned over to whisper in her ear,
"The honeymoon can wait, how about we go have a baby first?"
She blushed through tears of joy.
"I'm up for it…" she shuddered.
"You alright?" This time, his voice echoed through the church.
"Y- I just don't feel all that well, we should really go." Cheyenne stepped from her spot as a bridesmaid,
"Where are you going? This is the part where you live hap-
She looked down at her father's feet,
"What did you two do, stand in a pud-MOM YOU"RE IN LABOR!" she realized he eyes widening in disbelief.
"Shhh, keep it down Cheyenne…" But it was too late; the whole congregation was up from their seats, Van made his way over,
"I'll go get Mr. H's car, and bring it round front, then I'll take the kids home in Cheyenne's car.."
"Thank you Van, Now scram, get the car!" Brock ordered after Van stood there for several seconds just staring at the puddle everyone else had their eyes glued to, he waved his hands in front of Van's face and repeated "Scram!" His goofy son in law pushed through the crowd and disappeared out the back door of the church.
"NOW EVERYONE MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!" Cheyenne screamed. Her voice reached such an octave that many guests covered their ears, and moved from the aisle immediately. Moments later you heard honking out in the front of the church. Van beeped once or twice more impatiently and then it stopped all of a sudden, to be replaced with shouts.
"What could he be doin?" Reba asked the pain now showing itself in her annoyed voice.
"I don't know.." Brock answered stretching his neck curiously, dragging Reba faster and faster up the aisle.
"Here, I got her see where that ruckus is coming from there pretty boy…" Mr. Mckinney took hold of Reba's arm propping it around his neck,
"Daddy, I never thought it would be this way, I swear I didn't…" She groveled.
"Now don't you worry sweetheart, not many daddies get to see their little girls get married and have one of their grandchildren all in the same day…" He tried to hide how ridiculous it sounded to him with a sort of excitement.
Reba finally made it to the front of the church only to find the source of the arguing, which sent her heart up into her throat. There stood Brian. The person she had managed to avoid, for nearly five months…
"How dare you come to my wedding!" Brock yelled.
"How dare you try to father my child!" Brian screamed back, Reba watched with tears streaming down her face at the spectacle in front of her. She felt dizzy, and her head was pounding, but she raised her voice loud enough to get their attention.
"THAT"S ENOUGH! BRIAN I WANT YOU OUT OF HERE! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO COME BACK NOW OF aH!" Reba crumpled in her father's grasp… And then there was black…
(I'm feeling lazy, and would much rather just write the next part with this one, just pretend there was a lapse of time, and I built up the suspense, it's like the joy of reading without the frustration! Consider it a favor from me to the few of you who read this. Enjoy, this is possibly the last part, depending if I'm feeling saucy or not….. XD )
Reba woke up, with Brock looking over her, his eyes glossy. She felt the familiar feel of her wedding dress, and the motion of a car, only she looked around to find she was in no car she had ever been in, but an ambulance.
"Brock?"
"Yeah honey? Thank goodness you're awake!"
The vehicle stopped, and to Reba's surprised the doors opened and the light of the day came flooding in,
"Did I fall?"
"No, no you passed out, the E.M.T says you're about 9 and a half centimeters, they're not gonna waste any time getting you up to the maternity ward.. I'm so glad you woke up.." He smiled, wiping his cheeks of the tears that had managed to fall.
"Where did Brian go?" she asked, still feeling a little dizzy, and slightly nauseous.
"Van took care of him…"
"What do you mean?" her head shot up, "You didn't let Van hurt him too bad did ya?"
"No, he's fine, although he deserved a beatin I left Van to keep him far away from us., I didn't let him lay a finger on him."
Reba felt the wheels of the gurney hit the ground and another contraction go flying through her lower stomach, she reached down to her protruding tummy, and felt around, it was how she remembered it felt when Cheyenne was born, tight as a drum. The baby was ready.
She breathed through contraction after contraction as the EMT's barreled through the E.R just down the hallway to the Maternity Ward doors. Nurses gathered round, surprised to see the wedding dress, Reba listened as they giggled at her expense, but wrote it off as a sharp pain ran up her back and through her side.
"Brock, make em hurry.." But there was no need to hurry, they already had her in the room, it was getting her out of the dress that was causing so much trouble, how BJ got her into the thing was an absolute mystery to Reba. She cringed as she heard the dress tear as a nurse attempted to unzipper it, but Brock didn't seem to notice, it was just a matter of time anyway she supposed because that material had been stretched so much to get her to fit in it for today, it was just barely more than paper thin. They helped Reba into and ill-fitting gown, and began hooking her up to all sorts of monitors, ones that kept her pulse, another for her blood pressure, an I.V so she would stay hydrated and a fetal heart rate monitor. Never had she had to feel the displeasure of that plastic contraption around her baby bump, it was something that made her worry. Within minutes a doctor entered, one Reba had never met before,
"I'm Doctor Blake, is our doctor on the way, or would you like me to handle this?"
Reba looked up at Brock,
"I called, but only got her voicemail, I'm sorry honey.." He looked down at his wife for reassurance that he shouldn't feel bad.
"It's- AH" She pulled Brock down to her face,
"GET IT OUTTA ME!" She yelled into his face.
"Uh, Doc, could you? I don't know… Help me out here."
The doctor chuckled, clearly not as afraid of Reba as Brock was at the moment.
"Would you mind if I took a look Mrs. – Oh, I don't believe I caught your name…"
"Mrs. Hart, Reba, if you prefer young lady…"
"Mrs. Hart will do, let me just take a look here…" She closed the door, and slid on a pair of examination gloves, "Just what I suspected, you're ten centimeters, dilated, but your blood pressure is a little high, so we're gonna start to push, but I want you to take it easy.."
"O-Okay" Reba stuttered, wondering how she was going to take it easy pushing out a human from her body, but she would give it the ol' Texas try.
"Alright, on my count of three, I want a slow paced push, one, two, three and push."
And Reba did, The doctor grimaced, ot in disgust but in disappointment,
"Can I get another nurse in here?" She yelled down the hallway.
"What do you need another nurse for?" Asked Reba nervously, sweat pouring down her face already while she looked at the one already present,
"It's just a precaution, now Mrs. Hart, again, on my count, One, two, three, and push"
Reba tried again, and rather than pushing easily as the doctor had asked she did with all of her might, the monitor on her left went crazy,
"Uh- oh.." The Doctor jumped up, her eyes in a panic, "Mrs. Hart the baby's heart rate is dropping very fast, we have to get you in for an emergency C-section!" she said firmly.
"What? Why?" Brock didn't say anything, he stood there with his mouth wide open,
"Mr. Hart, I need you to go outside, while we prep your wife, and see if we can get the babies heart rate t increase…"
"I don't want him to go! He can't leave me anymore!" She cried, but one of the nurses pulled him out the door,
"I love you more than anything Reba!" he yelled.
"What happens now?" Reba sobbed, "T-tell me what happens now?"
The woman worked fast, unhooking her from all of the different monitors to portable ones,
"We'll get you to a room, and I can have your baby out in sixty five seconds if I have to…"
"Can Brock come with me…"
"Usually under these circumstances-
"Please?" Reba cut off "We just got married today, my children aren't here for him, cuz they're trying to keep the baby's father away from us so Brock can sign the birth certificate!"
"Oh my, well ummm."
"Please?" Reba begged one last time,
"I suppose.. Nurse get some scrubs and bring him to surgery room 303!"
"Thank you!" Reba sobbed, "Thank you so much!"
Five people wheeled her out of the room, they took the corner slowly, but then it turned into a full blown sprint, the baby's heart rate jumped up and down, but never did it return to normal, they busted through the doors of another room, and they placed a cap on top of Reba's head, tucking in her hair as they transferred her to the table, they put a curtain up, and they began numbing her, giving her absolutely no warning as to when they began the c-section.
Brock came in, tying the scrubs off, and then adjusted his cap so his last golden lock of hair was no longer visible,
Reba looked over,
"You're the only man I know who would be worried about lookin good in the delivery room.." she joked.
"Honey, they've started, and I want you to know, I've never seen you look more beautiful than you do now, right here with me."
"You always know what to say Brock Hart, that's why I fell in love with you all over again.."
He smiled, but his head shot up,
"The baby's out." But there was no excitement in his tone, and no happiness in his facial expression.
"Why isn't it crying?" Reba started to cry again.
"I don't know."
The doctor brought the baby to a small table, and pushed on it tiny chest a couple of times and suctioned down into its throat, and as Reba's sobs got harder and harder, the baby finally let out a loud wail.
"Thank goodness." Brock laughed.
The doctor, wrapped the baby in a blanket, and walked over to Reba,
"Meet your new son Mrs. Hart, he just had a little gunk in his throat is all, but he seems fine.."
"Aww Brock, he's perfect ain't he?"
"He's your son of course he's beautiful."
"Well he's your son too." She laughed, forgetting all about Brian.
Reba basked in the joy of seeing her son for the first time, while Brian sat in the waiting room, awaiting the news of the birth of his son, one he intended on fathering.