Chapter 20

It's been almost a month since Vic has moved in. He talked with the landlord, giving him his notice. He gave Vic thirty days to get everything out of the apartment because he already had someone lined up. They had to work fast. Reba and Vic had been slowly cleaning out his apartment, deciding what stays and what goes. He had to put most of his things in storage but personal items such as photos of family and friends, he wouldn't part with the big flat screen television he had in his room. Reba agreed he could put it in their room as long as they didn't always watch ESPN or anything of the sort. As well as moving in, Vic also went back to the real estate agency. Mr. Slaton was happy to have him back. He even made Vic and Reba partners again. Mr. Slaton figured they would work better together now that they were getting married. This made them both really happy.

If Reba and Vic thought it would be easier to be alone once he officially moved it, they were sorely mistaken. The first night he stayed there Jake refused to leave, claiming he needed to spend some time with his mother and future step dad. Reba fell asleep before Jake even went upstairs to his room. It just seemed when Vic moved in everyone seemed to come around more often and they had even less time alone. Even at night they didn't have any time along. Since Vic was right down the street now, he and Brock seem to be hanging around each other more often. By the time he would return at night she would be too tired or already asleep. Sometimes they think about just keeping Vic's apartment would be the only way for them to be alone.

Despite the frustration of never being alone together everything else was going great. Reba went to the doctor every two weeks to check the baby and her blood pressure and Vic was always there right by her side. At her last doctors appointment the doctor said she was doing much better since she had first seen her. Reba had begun to watch her eating habits. She had to fight the severe craving for cheeseburgers with ranch and ice cream with cheetos. Other than her still little high blood pressure, the baby was doing wonderful and Reba couldn't be happier.

Reba stretched her toes and arms way above her head as she awoke on a beautiful Friday morning. She discovered as she stretched she couldn't move very well for she had strong arm wrapped around her waist. She smiled and shifted as she turned to face a sleeping Vic. She kissed his lips and tried to move his arm from her waist. She found as she tried to move it, the arm just pulled her in tighter.

Reba giggled as she tried to move out of the bed and the arm continued to press her into Vic's body. "Vic…" Reba said smiling, "I have to get up." Vic just groaned a little sleepily and still wouldn't let her go. "Vic, I know you're not asleep." Vic opened one eye but quickly shut it again, still not letting her go. "I really need to get up and so do you." Reba rolled her eyes and gave up. He was too strong for her to fight. She would have to bribe him with something. Reba smiled and racked her hands up his bare chest. She grinned when she saw him shiver. "I think we could save some time if we got up now and took a shower…" She grinned putting her lips close to his ear. "Together." She said in a husky whisper.

Reba laughed as Vic hopped out of bed and pulled her with him, dragging her into the bathroom. Reba giggled when he shut the door and pressed her up against it, kissing her passionately. They went as far as tossing her pajama shirt to the floor before there was a knock on her bedroom door. "You've got to be kidding me!" Vic said as he stepped away.

Reba smiled. "Just a minute." She said poking her head out the bathroom door just in time to see her son opening the door. "Jake, you don't just walk into my room." She said, trying to block herself with the door.

"Sorry." He said without really even knowing what he did. "Have you seen Vic?" he asked

Reba thought it would be to obvious to what they were doing if she said he was in the bathroom so she just said, "I don't know. Isn't he downstairs?" Jake shook his head, still not leaving. "Maybe he left alr…"

She stopped when she heard Vic scream. "Ouch!" he yelled. Reba looked over and saw Vic messing with her Venus Embrace razor. She rolled her eyes when he was nursing a cut finger.

She turned back to Jake. "What is Vic doing in the bathroom?" he asked completely oblivious.

Reba blushed. "Well…um…"

Jake realized what was going on and cringed. "Gross!" he said running out of the room.

Reba sighed and shut the bathroom door. She turned to Vic who was smiling and stepping towards her. He pulled her close and was about to kiss her when a blast of music filled the room next door. Reba sighed and pushed Vic away. "I'm sorry but the mood is gone."

Vic shook his head and brought her back into his arms. "It doesn't have to be." He said kissing her neck.

Reba tried but the music blaring next door was really killing her mood. "I'm sorry." She said stepping away. "The music is distracting. Can you make breakfast while I take a shower?" she asked turning on the facet to brush her teeth. Vic sighed and nodded stepping out of the bathroom. Another chance foiled.

Vic made breakfast while Reba took a shower and he went upstairs to get ready for work once he handed over her breakfast of scrambled eggs, fruit, and juice. The kids already had their breakfast with Vic and had left when he finally returned downstairs. Reba had finished up the breakfast dishes and was ready to go. They made it a habit of riding to work together, obviously because they lived together but they loved the small amount of time they had alone.

They arrived at work just in time. They gave each other one last kiss before turning away from each other and to their desks. Their morning wasn't quite busy. They had a few papers to go through and some clients to call but that was it. Reba kept sneaking smiling looks over to Vic and he happily returned them with winks. The notes that Vic started when he was trying to win her over didn't stop. He continued to leave her small sweet loving sticky notes when he would pass her papers she needed to see. The only difference now is that she would return a note when she returned the papers.

Reba smiled when Vic sneaked another note to her as he walked by her desk. She felt so silly, like she was passing notes in class, but they were always so sweet. 'I love you sweet heart. I can't wait to get you alone.' Reba giggled and wrote and quick reply. 'I love you too. What would happen once you got me alone?' She got up and sneaked the note into his hand when she passed him on the way to the break room to get some water.

Reba had just grabbed her water bottle from the refrigerator when she felt strong arms around her waist. "Do you want the details of what would happen once I got you alone?" The deep voice whispered into her ear.

Reba giggled when she felt Vic's hot breath against her ear lobe. She turned and he kept a firm grip on her waist. "Are you ready to go to lunch?"

Vic smiled and pulled her even closer. "Not just yet."

Reba smiled and when their lips were about to connect of course someone had to come in and interrupt them. "Reba, Vic, I want to see you in my office now." Mr. Slaton said in a harsh tone.

Reba and Vic sighed, curious to know what the heck it was all about. They walked into his office and Mr. Slaton had his arms crossed an angry expression on his face. This couldn't be good. "You wanted to speak with us." Reba said breaking the uncomfortable silence.

Mr. Slaton stood up and walked over to the door, shutting it quietly. "Look…" he said standing in front of the both of them. "I understand that you two are married, getting married, whatever but I would appreciate it if you kept the public displays of affection at home."

Reba looked down at her feet ashamed. She didn't think they were that bad where they had to be reminded by their boss. "We are sorry. It won't happen again."

Mr. Slaton nodded. "I also think its best if you two go solo again." He said breaking the bomb shell.

"What?" Reba asked shocked.

"I think its best. You need to keep the affection at home and work at work. I am not discussing this with you anymore and there is no negotiation. You are dismissed."

Reba and Vic sighed as they walked out of his office together. "So much for being able to be alone."

Reba smiled and took his hand into hers. "It will be all right. Just think we will have tonight alone." She said wiggling her eyebrows.

"How?" he asked, not convinced, there was always someone over.

Reba smiled. "Kyra will be gone for the weekend with an away gig. Barbara Jean and Brock are going with her, taking Henry and Jake with them. I don't think Cheyenne has any reason to come over. Since she can go into labor anytime now being over her due date, she is afraid to really go anywhere away from Van, plus I called her and told her we were having a romantic dinner alone, so we will have the whole place to ourselves." She said with a grin.

Vic's eyes lit up. "Until tonight then." He said leaning down to kiss her.

Reba then stopped him. "No displays of affection remember." She gave his hand one last squeeze and walked away.

They were disappointed when their lunch date was canceled when Mr. Slaton loaded Reba down with more paper work and sent Vic off to meet a new client. Vic was sweet enough to run out and get her, her favorite grilled chicken salad before he left to have his lunch meeting. Reba was very appreciative of it but still sad at the same time. There was nothing they could really do anyway. They both figured tonight would finally be their night and they could have a romantic evening alone together. It would be well worth the wait.

When that clock turned to five o'clock Reba and Vic immediately left the office. Reba explained there was really no need to rush. Kyra and everyone else already left. Vic dropped off Reba at home to make sure she rested while he went to the store to get the supplies he would need to cook her a lovely romantic dinner.

Reba went straight to the couch to sleep when she arrived home and that is how Vic found her when he arrived back. He chuckled and gave her a loving kiss on the forehead before heading to the kitchen to start dinner. He had decided to make the dish he made her the first night he was here for the first time, with a salad of course for the healthy portion of the meal, and for dessert he decided to treat her to a sugar free chocolate cake.

He set up everything in the kitchen. He had set up two candles on the table, a CD player for playing soft music in the background while they were eating, and lovely flowers set on the table for her. He set up the plates and the wine glasses, although there would be no wine, he made sure to remind himself to get a bottle of sparkling grape juice for the dinner. He smiled at the beautiful set up of the table and then turned back to the pasta in the pot.

Reba stirred and awoke to the wonderful smell of food. She smiled and rose up, stretching her entire body. She walked into the kitchen and smiled when she saw the table set up nicely. Vic was standing at the stove, messing around with something in a dish. She smiled and walked up beside him. "Hey." She said smiling down at the dish. "It smells really good in here."

He smiled and lifted the dish into his pot holder covered hands. "It's the dish I made you the first night we were alone."

She smiled and walked back over to the table. "I remember." She said sitting down. "That was when I didn't like you or I did, I just didn't want you to know it."

Vic smiled and set the dish on the table. "I am glad you like me now. Now if you eat all of your salad and chicken pasta you can have the chocolate cake I have for dessert."

Reba's eyes lit up. "You made me chocolate cake?" she asked excitedly.

Vic smiled and shrugged. "Made…bought at the bakery…same difference."

Reba laughed and its then she finally noticed the champagne bucket and the bottle in it. "Honey you know I can't drink." She said smiling and pointing to the bottle.

Vic smiled and put a white linen napkin across his arm. He picked up the bottle and held it up for her to see. "This you can and it's a good year too." He said showing her the label. Reba laughed. "Is it to your liking ma'am?" he said in a really bad French accent.

Reba laughed and nodded. "Oui." She said trying to fit in but it only made her giggle even more.

Vic laughed and opened the bottle. He took her glass and poured her a generous amount. "Here you are." He said handing it over.

Reba smiled and sipped her sparkling juice as Vic poured himself some. "So…how was your clients?" she asked as she served up the salad that was in a bowl in front of them.

Vic rolled his eyes and dished out the chicken pasta. "They are so demanding, they don't even want to look or consider houses under 200,000 but the thing is they can't afford anything over that. I am trying to explain to them their budget but they don't want to hear it. I know I am not supposed to do that but I don't want this family to dig themselves into a big whole down the road."

Reba nodded as she took a bite of her salad. "Their young couple right…just married…perky…happy."

Vic nodded. "Yeah, how did you know? You know them?"

Reba shook her head. "It's always the young newlywed couples that want the big house they can't afford, eager to start their lives." Reba sighed and twirled some pasta on her fork. "I think we need to stop talking about work and concentrate on what matters most." Reba said with a smile.

"What?" Vic asked adding more salad to her plate to make sure she gets her vegetables.

Reba rolled her eyes but turned her face back into a smile. "The fact that we have the whole night to ourselves." She said wiggling her eyebrows.

Vic smirked and twirled some pasta. "I am looking forward to after dinner."

Reba shook her head. "After dessert, there is no way I am missing out on chocolate cake."

Vic chuckled. "Don't worry. I won't deprive you of chocolate cake."

Reba nodded. "Good." She said looking serious. "The baby and I will kick your butt of you do." Vic looked up in alarm but relaxed when he saw her beautiful smile and a lovely wink.

They spent the rest of the time during dinner having a lovely conversation. They talked about the rest of the stuff they had to get from Vic's apartment and where they would put the stuff he couldn't put in storage. Reba thought of the garage but remembered her office. They would have to figure something out. The conversation soon turned to the wedding and the baby. They talked about moving the wedding up so they could get married as soon as possible. Reba didn't want walk down the isle with a huge stomach in the way.

They soon turned to baby names. "If we happen to have a baby girl there is no way we are naming her Victoria."

Reba frowned. "Why not?" she asked

Vic shook his head standing and taking her empty place in the process. "Because I am not having guys ask Victoria what is her secret."

Reba giggled and nodded in agreement. "Good point."

"Besides…" Vic said placing their plates in the sink. "I have a feeling its going to be a boy."

Reba smiled. "You do?"

Vic nodded and placed a slice of chocolate cake on the plate for her. "Yup, I have already planned on taking him to baseball games and signing him up for little league."

Reba laughed and gladly accepted the plate of chocolate cake set in front of her. "The baby is about the size of a peanut and you are already thinking of baseball games and little league?" Vic nodded and Reba shook her head, taking a bite of the cake but the minute she placed the cake in her mouth she cringed as she continued chewing.

Vic noticed her cringe. "What is wrong?"

Reba, with a little force, swallowed the bite of cake. "Where did you get this cake?"

"The bakery, at the market, I told you that."

Reba nodded and poked at it for a moment. "Honey…this cake tastes like dirt."

Vic frowned and pulled the plate towards him. "I don't understand. The baker said it would taste just like if it had sugar in it."

Reba made a face. "This doesn't have sugar in it?" Vic shook his head. Reba scoffed and smirked. "No wonder it tastes like dirt." Reba gave him a sweet smile. "Please don't make me eat any more of that."

Vic smiled and nodded. He stood up and he pulled her up from her chair and into his arms. "Let's go relax in the living room."

Reba gladly followed his lead into the living room where they made themselves comfortable on the couch. They didn't talk. They just sat there in silence, holding each other. Reba was so happy they finally had an evening alone. They had a wonderful romantic dinner and now they could just relax and take their time. Everyone they knew was gone and there was absolutely no way they could be interrupted.

Reba turned to Vic smiling and kissed the corner of his mouth, slowly working her way towards his cheek and then his neck. Vic shivered at her touch but chuckled as well. "I thought you didn't want to rush this tonight. We can finally not worry about intruders."

Reba shook her head and continued on her question by unbuttoning the first button on his shirt. "I think we have taken it slow long enough. Now is the time to go a little faster." She said with a grin.

Vic was happy to give Reba whatever she wanted and brought her into a kiss, moving her horizontally on the couch. Reba closed her eyes and smiled as he kissed her cheek, jaw line, neck, and make his way down her collar bone. He was just about to throw down one of his best moves when, "Reba…whoa." Someone said as they walked through the front door.

Reba and Vic immediately sat up and straightened their clothes. She turned to the person at the front door who was none other than Barbara Jean Booker-Hart and Reba's daughter Cheyenne. "What in the world are you doing here? I thought you went to the out of city gig."

Barbara Jean smiled and wiggled her way in between Reba and Vic. "I changed my mind. I didn't want to go and then I got bored and I called Cheyenne to see what she was doing and wondered if she wanted to come here and hang out."

Reba glared at her daughter. "I thought I told you Vic and I was having a romantic evening alone."

Cheyenne, who we all know is not the brightest bulb in the shed, just shrugged and waddled herself over to the chair next to the couch. "You said you were having romantic dinner and…" Cheyenne paused and then realized something. "Oh." She said giggling. "Sorry mom." Reba rolled her eyes and sighed. "We can leave if you want."

Reba just shook her head. "No, the mood is officially gone, thanks."

"You're welcome." Barbara Jean said cheerfully. She didn't notice Vic and Reba's joint eye roll. "We came over really to discuss a few ideas for the wedding and I have come up with a few gown ideas to take away from when this little buddle of joy when you're walking down the isle." She said patting Reba's slightly flat stomach.

Reba glared at Barbara Jean and she pulled back immediately. "I will not need a special gown because we have decided to push the wedding up because I don't want to walk down the isle looking like a wale."

Barbara Jean smiled and clapped excitedly. "That's perfect because we have a few ideas since Halloween is coming up." Reba turned to Vic and gave him a look of horror as Barbara Jean started going off about her ideas for a Halloween themed wedding.

Reba listened with a cringe on her face as Barbara Jean started giving her a list of ideas she would like to do for the wedding. It was really a blur to Reba because she was trying to block out the horrific moment. She remembered Barbara Jean mentioning everyone coming in costume and the colors would be orange and black. They could get married on the thirty first of October, which was in two weeks. She mentioned skeletons and weird guys she knew that they could hire jumping out of coffins. Reba hated the ideas. Who wouldn't?

"Oh…" Barbara Jean said quite excitedly. "We can have you and Vic dress up like Frankenstein and his bride. The reception would have nothing but Halloween music. What do you think?" she asked bring Reba out of her thoughts.

Reba didn't know what to say. She knew Barbara Jean had good intentions but all of her ideas were just crazy. "I…have to go to the bathroom." She said jumping up and walking towards the stairs. "You know what something the size of a peanut does to your bladder. Talk to Vic about your ideas." She said laughing nervously.

Reba ran upstairs without another word and before anyone could make her come back down. She opened the bathroom door and shut it behind her, locking it, to make sure no one would follow her in. She ran her hand through her hair. What was she going to do? This was nuts. Everything was nuts and she was going nuts about this wedding. Everyone wanted a say in it and everyone wanted to make a big deal about it. She now just wanted to get it over with.

Everyone had ruined the exciting part of planning a wedding. Cheyenne wanted to make it big and fancy. Barbara Jean wanted to turn it into a freak show. Van wanted to make sure she invited clients. Jake was worrying about not having anyone to talk to. She had to admit they had the best intentions but come on. She was the one who wanted to plan the wedding and she was supposed to pick out the flowers, the colors, the food, the music, what guests to invite, and everyone was taking that away from her. Brock and Kyra were the only ones who having asked for anything…yet.

She thought she was just about to cry when she heard a knock at the door. "Who is it?" she asked, afraid of whom exactly it might be. She prayed it wasn't Barbara Jean or Cheyenne.

"It's me." Vic said, sounding frightened.

Reba sighed in relief and opened the door. She smiled and let him in. "Thank God it's you." She quickly shut the door and relocked it. "I don't think I can take…"

"Do you want to elope?" he asked frustrated.

Reba's eyes widened. "What?"

Vic nodded. "Yeah, the minute you left they started talking about a tuxedo with tails and snails for an appetizer." He said running his hands through his hair. "Their driving me insane, I hear 'Oh you have to look at this, listen to this'. It's driving me bananas. I am sick of hearing about what they want to do for our wedding." He sighed in frustration as he started pacing and his voice was getting louder. "I can't even sleep with my fiancée without someone barging in before we even get to second base!" Reba had to chuckle a bit. Vic calmed down and stopped pacing. Stand in front of her he said, "So I ask you again. Do you want to elope?"

End of Chapter