Chapter 14

Reba couldn't open her eyes as she sat in an uncomfortable bed that hurt her back. All she could hear was beeping around her and muttering of voices. Reba tried shifting but her muscles were stiff and it hurt to move. She was finally able to open her eyes and she let out a groan when bright lights hit her eyes. She immediately re-closed them. The voices stopped and she heard a rush to her side.

"Ms. Hart?"

Reba groaned again and once more tried to open her eyes. This time she held them at a squint and was able to see a Doctor hovering over her and a nurse checking a machine that she was attached to. She moved her jaw around a bit, realizing how dry her mouth was. "Water." She muttered in a weak broken voice.

The doctor nodded toward the nurse and she soon felt a straw being held to her lips. She sipped a little and let go quickly, quite satisfied, water never tasted so good. "How are you feeling Ms. Hart?"

Reba closed her eyes once more. "Tired." She muttered again.

The doctor chuckled as Reba felt the coldness of metal being held against her chest. "That is to be expected. Do you remember what happened?" Reba opened her eyes again, now being able to open them fully and shook her head. "It will come back to you I'm sure but apparently you have fainted from your high blood pressure. I understand this is the second time this has happened?" Reba nodded. "You need to keep your stress levels down; fainting like this is not good for you." Reba's eyes filled with concern and the doctor saw. "You are fine for now but you need to relax. I am going out to talk with your family. I want you to take it slow when sitting up if you want to. You will be somewhat dizzy but you just need to take it slow. Nurse Jeanine will stay here with you if you need anything. I will be back in with your family if you're up for visitors." Reba nodded and the doctor left.

Meanwhile Vic had been going crazy sitting in that hospital waiting room. He had run into the kitchen to find Reba past out on the floor. He immediately went to her side and took her in his arms, yelling for someone to call an ambulance. He stayed by her side until the ambulance got there and he rode with her in the ambulance after some brief arguing with the driver. He now had been sitting here for a few hours, waiting for her to wake up. The doctor had done a series of test but had yet to tell them anything about her.

Vic sat next to his mother, who tried to comfort him but he really wasn't in the mood to try and make up with his mother. What she did was wrong. It was forgivable but it would take him a pretty long time. Reba's family sat across from him, equally trying to keep it together. They explained to him that this had happened once before at Cheyenne and Van's wedding. She was fine but who knew what would happen now. They all tried to keep positive thoughts going but it was hard considering Reba was lying in a hospital bed and they had yet to hear anything from the doctor.

Vic's head shot up when the door to Reba's room opened. He saw the doctor walk out and Vic was the first one up. "How is she?" he asked quickly.

The doctor held up his hand and smiled. "She will be fine Mr. Mariano. She just needs to keep her stress levels down. It is not good for her or the baby if she doesn't relax."

Vic rolled his eyes. "Those stories are not true, she isn't pregnant."

The doctor seemed quite confused. "I have no clue what you are talking about Mr. Mariano but one of the test we have to run on woman when they arrive is pregnancy test to avoid giving anything that could be harmful to the baby. The test came back positive." Vic's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "I take it you didn't know." Vic shook his head. "Well…I suppose you will want to tell her yourself…congratulations." He doctor said smiling, patting his shoulder. "Now if you excuse me I have other patients to see. Now when you go in there you need to make sure you keep her relaxed."

Vic nodded and the doctor walked away. A baby? Vic couldn't wrap his head around the words. Reba was pregnant, with his child. She was carrying his flesh and blood. It now made sense, the crazy assumptions, the jealously, the eating more. What did he think of this news? Was he happy? Yes, he was very happy. He and the woman he loved are having a baby. What could make it him happier? Vic looked to everyone else and they seemed shocked as well, all except his mother.

He shook his head. He didn't need to worry about that right now. He approached the door and gently pushed it open. The nurse was propping Reba up on some pillows. Reba seemed to shift painfully and his heart ached to take the pain away. The nurse looked up when the door opened and smiled. "I'll leave you alone." She said walking out.

Reba gave Vic a strained smile as he walked over to her bed. "Hey." He said smiling big.

"Hi." She said quietly.

Vic smiled and took her hand. Reba didn't let go but she didn't really return the hold on his hand either. "The doctor said you're going to be just fine." Reba nodded, still not saying a word. Vic's smile went bigger. "There was something else I have to tell you."

Reba was confused. She noticed the grin and how happy he seemed but what was it? "What?" she asked in a small voice.

Vic gripped her hand and braced himself for how she was going to take it. He didn't know what she would think. He hoped she would be as happy as he was about it. It wasn't going to be easy but they could do it together. "Well…" he said rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. "The doctor found something on your tests when they brought you in."

Reba sat straight up. "What did they find?" she asked a little worried. She hoped it wasn't anything serious.

Vic grinned. "They found a baby Reba."

Reba's eyes widened and her mouth parted a bit. "What?"

Vic nodded. "You're pregnant. We're having a baby sweetheart. Isn't this great!" he said excitedly.

Reba didn't say anything. She was pregnant? That explained the weirdness she had felt lately. The wanting to eat, the moodiness, the cravings, all of that was explained. She didn't understand why she didn't notice it before. All the signs were there. She was pregnant three other times, why hadn't she notice? Was she just ignoring it, hoping that it wasn't true? What did she truly think about this? To be completely honest she wasn't sure. The thought of another baby frightened her. She was not young and then there was her high blood pressure. Was she ready for this?

"What are you thinking?" Vic asked, still smiling.

Reba's heart went out to him. She wasn't sure what she was thinking right now. Her emotions were conflicting and she wasn't sure if this relationship could work anymore. The baby, it added to the conflict. Reba shrugged. "I don't know. I…" Reba couldn't say anything. She didn't know what she felt at that moment. A baby was a big thing, a huge thing. Reba needed to think. Okay, first they had thought they were married, then they weren't, then they decided they were going to get married, and then his mother shows up, now she was in the hospital due to her high blood pressure, and now a baby. Maybe they jumped into all of this way too fast.

Vic didn't like Reba's silence. He became quite concerned she hadn't said she was excited. She hadn't said she was anything. "Reba…" he said rubbing her arm a bit. "Please say something."

Reba shrugged again. "I don't…"

Her family apparently decided Vic and Reba had enough time alone and they burst into the hospital room. Barbara Jean immediately went over and hugged Reba tightly. "Reba! I was so worried."

Reba glared at Brock. "Brock…you're about to become a widower."

Brock chuckled and pulled Barbara Jean away. "Barbara Jean, honey, I think we should leave Reba alone. Remember what the doctor said about her needing to relax."

Barbara Jean glared and glanced down at his hands that were clamped onto her arms, trying to pull her away. Barbara Jean's eyes met Brock's once more. "If you want to keep those hands and other parts of your body I suggest you remove them." Brock quickly let go of Barbara Jean and she ran back to Reba and hugged her tight. Reba just rolled her eyes and lightly patted Barbara Jean's arm that was wrapped around her. You can never get rid of the woman so you might as well just go with the flow. "I was so worried about you."

Reba's eyes bugged out as Barbara Jean squeezed her to death. "Thanks for the concern Barbara Jean." Reba managed to let out. Barbara Jean just squeezed her even tighter. "Can't…breathe…"

Reba let out a long breath when Barbara Jean finally let go of her. "This is so great." Barbara Jean said excitedly a she pulled the chair up to Reba's bedside.

Reba gave Barbara Jean a raised eyebrow. "Me being in the hospital is great?"

Barbara Jean shook her head and laughed. "Of course not." She said still chuckling. "You're pregnant." Everyone smiled but Reba. She gave sort of a strained smile and everyone noticed. Barbara Jean just kept on bouncing around excitedly. "Aren't you excited Reba? You're going to have a baby and you're getting married."

Reba tried smiling again but it came out sort of as a wince. Vic noticed this. She seemed so uncomfortable all of a sudden with talk of the baby or even the wedding. Wasn't she excited that they were getting married and having a little one of their own? He sure was. It wasn't going to be a piece of cake, that's for sure but as long as they had each other they would be all right. Vic glanced at Reba and gave her another smile but she didn't return the smile. Vic frowned. She did just wake up after fainting from her high blood pressure. Maybe she just needed some time. Maybe she just needed everyone to give her some space.

Vic decided to try and get everyone out of the room. Maybe a nice talk would help. Vic stood up. "Now that we know Reba will be fine why don't you all go and get something to eat or some coffee or something." Everyone nodded, understanding they needed some time alone but Brock had to practically drag Barbara Jean away.

Vic shut the door and walked back over to his chair, sitting down. He tried taking her hand once more but she just pulled gently away. Vic frowned. "What is wrong?"

Reba shook her head. "Nothing." She simply said.

"I know something is bothering you. Please talk to me. Tell me what is on your mind."

Reba glanced up to look into Vic's eyes. That wasn't a good idea because it made what she was just about to do even harder. She sighed knowing he probably wasn't going to take it well but it was for the best. "Vic…" she said pausing a moment. "We do need to talk…about the wedding."

Vic smiled. "I think so too. I have been thinking of what you were saying about the outdoor spring wedding and I think it's perfect. We can…"

Reba shook her head and held up her hand, stopping him from continuing. Hearing about anything plans they decided on already or anything he had in mind would just hurt her and him worse. "I don't want a spring wedding." She stated simply and quietly.

Vic nodded. "Okay…" he said glancing down at his hands. He looked up and smiled. "What about a summer wedding?"

Reba shook her head. "I don't want any wedding."

Vic's eyes shot up. "What?"

Reba held back the tears as best she could. This was going to be just as hard on her as it would be on him but it was for the best. "I think its best if we just…" she held her breathe for a moment, "Went our separate ways."

Vic shook his head. "No, we are having a baby together."

Reba nodded and looked down at her hands. "I know and I won't keep you from seeing him or her. I just think it's for the best if we didn't continue our relationship."

Vic was quite confused. "How can it be for the best? We love each other. You're not thinking right. Reba…" He tried taking her hand in his again.

Reba wouldn't let him. She just pulled away as she did before. "I am thinking clearly okay. It's not right to get married just because we are having a baby and I don't think this can work Vic. We barely know each other. We knew each other two months and then we sleep together, thought were married, and suddenly fall in love. It doesn't work like that and it won't work."

Vic shook his head. "It will work. I know how we actually got together is not exactly a fairy tale but…"

Reba shook her head. "No Vic, it won't work. I am not the right woman for you. Your mother hates me and I am sure your father thinks it's best if you have a woman who can be the perfect wife behind the business man."

Reba jumped when Vic stood up and the chair flew back behind him. "No!" he yelled his voice breaking. It broke Reba's heart to hear the hurt in his voice and see the tears forming in his eyes. It was the first time she had ever seen him cry. Vic immediately got down on his knees by her bedside. "Reba please don't do this. I know I act like a fool a lot but I can change."

Reba shook her head. "It's not that. Everyone is against our wedding Vic. I just think we rushed into this too fast and if you stop and think about it for a moment you will realize it too."

Vic shook his head. "No, I love you and I know what we are doing is right. We are having a baby. How can you just throw everything we have been through away?"

Reba sighed and glanced down at her engagement ring. She brought her fingers to it and slowly slipped it off of her ring finger. "We haven't been through anything together Vic. We survived a few negative magazine articles. If what you say is true and you love me then you should respect my wishes and leave me." She held the ring out for him to take.

Vic's heart broke into a thousand pieces and dropped into his stomach when he saw her take the ring off. She was serious. She didn't want the wedding to happen. He slowly and with a shaky hand took the ring from her fingers. He would respect her wishes…for now because he did love her but he would not give up. He would show her what she was doing was a very big mistake. Vic stood up from where he was kneeling. It was probably best if he just left her alone for a while.

Vic walked towards the door and stopped about halfway there. He turned sharply and his heart soared a bit when he saw the tears. Don't misunderstand why he was happy. It broke his heart that she was crying but those tears gave him a bit of hope that she truly didn't want this to end. "I just want you to know something." Reba looked up at him through her red puffy eyes. "This isn't over. You can't get rid of me that easily. I love you and I think you know that. I am not giving up on you. If I wanted a high society wife by my side I would have had my father set me up with someone but I want you Reba. I love you." He said before turning and leaving the hospital room.

End of Chapter