-- 07 --

Reba had been trying not to give in to Brock, pretending to be a loving husband. She tried her best to keep out. But Brock tried his best to get closer. However, he knew his limit. He didn't try to take advantage of her. He snuck a few kisses when she let her guard down, but never on the lips. They slept on the same bed, but Brock never tried anything forward. He was just glad that Reba let him be that close, he would not do anything to jeopardize that now.

"When are you going back to Houston?" Helene asked, looking at the calendar.

"We're going back tomorrow mama."

"Are you going to count down to New Years in the city tonight? Watching fireworks, Seeing the outdoor concert and dancing."

"Yes Helene, I'm taking Reba to the city tonight." Brock answered before Reba had chance to say no. Reba let out a long heavy sigh. "Darling, is there something bothering you?" Brock wrapped his arms around her, Reba tried to struggle out without her mom noticing. But she looked at her, so she had to stop struggling.

"What's matter Reba? You don't wanna go with your husband?" Helene questioned.

"I want to stay home with you mama, I'm going back tomorrow, and we didn't talk much."

"That's all right, you young kids should go out and have some fun. Me and your daddy have our New Years to celebrate too." Reba discreetly made a gross face, and thought maybe she should go out. Brock took her to the New Years Eve celebrations in the city. They were waiting for the fireworks at midnight, welcoming the New Year. Reba though maybe she was too old for this kind of celebration now, the music was a little too loud for her liking. Brock took her by the hand to find a quiet place to sit down.

"Remember our first count down together?"

"Again with walking down memory lane. Brock I'm not the one who has lost her memories, it's my mother that need reminding."

"It was when we were dating." Brock ignored her annoyance, he continued to talk "We actually went up to the mountain, and watched the fireworks from there quietly, just the two of us. That was when we shared our first passionate kiss."

"No we shared our first passionate kiss the first night we walked hand in hand along the beach!" Reba turned her head sharply and disagreed, but when she saw his grin, she knew he tricked her. She blushed and looked away.

"I'm glad you still remember. I thought you only remembered bad things between us."

"Sometime, I wish I don't remember them." Reba admitted.

"Just because we didn't end up forever doesn't mean we should erase all the good times we shared." Brock stared at Reba who looked at people enjoying the outdoor concert.

"True, but thinking about them only makes it hurt that the love that you treasured and hoped to last forever, fell apart."

"We can mend it back."

"It will never be the same."

"We'll never know until we try."

"I'm done trying the moment you said 'I do' to Barbra Jean" Reba let out a long heavy sigh.

"Alright, that served me right, if I have to do this alone than I will."

"If only you had that attitude six years ago, we wouldn't be where we are today."

"A lot of things wouldn't have happened if I knew then what I know now. I wouldn't be stupid enough to suggest that we separate, I wouldn't give in to Barbra Jean, I wouldn't mention divorce. Those things happened and I can't change that. I know I'm six years late, but I believe it's not 'too late'. I love you then and I love you even more now." That word had shaken her world the first time he said it, and it still does today. But years and years of concrete walls she built to protect her heart and soul from shattering every time she saw how he cared and loved Barbra Jean had made her strong and not weaken to his sweet words. Brock was looking deeply into her eyes. Her facial expression didn't change, but he saw a flash of content appear in her eyes before it disappeared. That was enough to give him hope, and keep him going. Reba looked at her watch, still half an hour before the countdown.

"I remembered the last time we counted down together." Since he would walk down memory lane, she might as well join him. "It was the millennium. Remember the Y2K crisis?"

"Yeah, they were talking about Nostradamus predicting that the world would end." Brock chuckled.

"We were counting down in front of the TV, wondering if it would go off at midnight with all the Y2K talk, drinking champagne, getting drunk, making new year resolutions."

"I still remember all resolutions I made that night." Brock said meaningfully.

"That should teach you not to make any resolutions when you were drunk." Reba ignored his look. She remembered them too. He said he would be a more loving husband and spend less time at the golf course and more time with her, and he'd make love to her every night. However, they ended up separate only a few months later because he couldn't keep his promises. Never mind about the 'making love every night' part, she asked him to spent more time at home with his family. She tried to make him talk to her and open up with all that was bothering him, but he just complained that she was nagging. His solution was to get out of the house and spent time on the golf course to cool off.

"I haven't have a drop of alcohol yet, but I'm telling you, I'm making the same resolutions this year, minus, that part... you know... Only because I know you wouldn't let me."

"Actions speak louder than words. If you can do it, good for you. If not..." Reba shrugged. "I'm at the point that I don't expect great things from you anymore." Brock took that as a hint for him to prove himself. Reba saw the determination in his eyes. She checked the time again, only fifteen minutes before the countdown. "Wanna walk around?" Reba suggested. Brock stood up and offered his hand, she took it.

"Your hand's cold. Are you cold?" He rubbed her hand with his, trying to create some heat.

"It's chillier than I thought." Brock took off his jacket and put it on her. Reba wouldn't take it. "You'll be cold."

"I'm alright. I can stand the cool air more than you can."

"Thanks." She flashed him a smile. They walked quietly deep in their own thoughts until they heard that they were ready for counting down. They went and joined the crowd.

"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 HAPPY NEW YEAR!" The fireworks shot up high in the sky. Couples started to kiss welcoming the New Year. Brock wrapped his arm around Reba's shoulder. He felt a little cool, but he wanted her to be warm. Reba sang Auld Lang Syne along with the band.

Should old acquaintances be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld Lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang sine

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld Lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

"Brock, are you crying?" Reba was a little surprised seeing a teardrop at the corner of his eye.

"Huh? No I'm not." Brock wiped the tear from his eye.

"Yes you are. What's going on?"

"You know, I've never pay attention to this song all my life, because I was pretty much drunk by the time the music started. But tonight I wanted to hear you sing, and I listened to every word of it. It's a beautiful song."

"Hmm... You're right, it's a beautiful friendship song," said Reba after replay the lyric in her head.

"For old time's sake." Brock parted his arms silently asking Reba to step in. Reba accepted his embrace, for old time sake. "Things will be different, I promise. That's my New Year resolution. I'll do everything in my power to make you fall in love with me again." He kissed her on the top of her head. Reba didn't try to get away.

"Then my New Year resolution should be not falling for you again then." Reba smirked. "I don't believe you could do it, but I'm waiting to see you prove me wrong." She accepted his challenge. If he won her heart back, they both win. If not, she had nothing left to lose. There was no way he could break her heart anymore than he did before. "Shall we go? It's getting really cold, and I have your jacket. I don't want you to catch a cold you know."

"Sure, we're going home tomorrow. We should rest." Brock drove back to her parent's house. Seemed like her parent had gone to bed. They got ready to sleep and stayed on their side without having any kind of contact. Brock wanted to hold her, but he resisted his temptation. He kissed her on her shoulder saying good night. He took what he was allowed, and would not ask for more.

"Daddy, are you sure you'll be okay taking care of mama alone?" Questioned Reba, saying goodbye to her father.

"I vowed to take care of her, in sickness or in health, and that's what I'm gonna do. Don't you worry about me. I only called you to come here for the holidays like the way you used to. I don't want Helene to notice anything unusual." JV gave his daughter a hug, and shook Brock's hand while Reba went to say goodbye to Helene. "Take care of her for me, son."

"I will, JV. I'll take care of her in sickness and in health. I'll love your daughter like you love Helene. I'll grow old with her if she'll let me."

"I'm going, mama. You take care of yourself okay? I'll see you sometime soon." Reba gave her mom a hug.

"Next time, you'll be here with my grandchild, won't you?" Said Helene glancing at Reba's midriff.

"Sure... Anyway, we should get going. I love you mama."

"Bye bye now, remember, don't be mad at your husband too much, he loves you." Helene waved goodbye as Reba got into the car.

"He sure does!" Brock confirmed Helene's statement with a grin before driving off to Houston. Once they arrived, Reba thanked Barbra Jean for taking care of the kids while she was gone. She told the kids that Helene's physical health was fine, but she did forget things from time to time. Reba reassured them that she had a caregiver making sure she didn't forget important stuff like leaving things on the stove unattended. And their grandpa was doing find to, he was a loving husband who willing to put up with his wife's forgetfulness.

"Anyway, Reba do you mind if I stay in your living room for a few days until I find an apartment?"

"Fine." Reba nodded and she was about to go upstairs when she heard Barbra Jean talking to Brock.

"I didn't mail out the divorce application, Brock. I want to stay married to you. I don't want us to divorce. I still love you. Can we give our marriage one more try?"