Chapter 34

The next couple of weeks went by a little too slowly for Reba's taste. She was grilled by her boss when they got back about losing the two clients to Norris Realty. She really didn't need that and then she was humiliated at the Halloween office party with the costume that Vic had picked out for her. She had thought he had forgotten all about it but he didn't and she ended up going to the party as Naughty Nurse Nancy. Her co-workers were still teasing her about the outfit, not that she looked bad in it, and according to everyone she looked quite good.

Reba didn't like the way she kept getting bigger and Barbara Jean never let her forget it either of course because she was going through the same thing. She was five months pregnant now and her clothes were getting tighter. She had to shop for even more new maternity clothes, some which were not even very cute. Besides getting bigger by the second, Reba was anxiously awaiting the time when she would feel the baby kick, something she was highly looking forward to. She knew Vic couldn't wait either.

Now something had been wrong with Vic because it seemed ever since they came back from their honeymoon he had been feeling sick. He complained of backaches, headaches, and nausea. Reba didn't know what to do but to call into work for him and make sure he had everything he needed before heading out herself. She felt terrible for leaving him considering he took care of her when she was sick but he claimed he understood and he always seemed to push her away. It was one morning that slowly led to the reveal of the mysterious illness that Vic had.

Reba smiled in her sleep and cuddled up to Vic, wrapping her arms around his middle. Vic's eyes were wide open and he was trying not to puke as he smelled her scent of lemons and roses. It wasn't the roses that were getting to him but the lemons. It was just the sweet yet sour type smell, he couldn't really explain, that was making his stomach churn.

"Good morning." Reba said with a smile. She leaned over and kissed his cheek and that was all it took. Vic was out of the bed and bounding for the bathroom before Reba even knew what had happened. Reba sat up in confusion and then cringed when she heard Vic puking his guts out. Reba sighed and got out of bed, wrapping her robe around her. She stepped into the bathroom to see Vic with practically his whole head stuck in the toilet. "Are you okay honey?"

Vic shook his head. "I th…" He gagged and another wave of yesterday's food went into the toilet.

Reba walked over and sat stood next to him, rubbing his back in sympathy. "Honey, I'm sorry."

Vic shrugged her off and looked at her with red, watery eyes. "Can you just go? I am fine."

Reba frowned. He seemed a little moody and he never asked her to leave him alone before. He never asked her not to touch him before. He would have given anything for Reba to have her hands all over him. "Are you sure there is nothing I can…"

"Reba!" he said with his head back in the toilet. "Just leave."

Reba nodded and left but she was a little hurt. He usually never called her by her name. He liked the cute little pet names, like honey, darling, or his favorite Big Red and he never yelled at her before. Reba went downstairs and found the kitchen empty. She wasn't surprised considering it was early morning Saturday. She didn't know what she was going to do with Vic. She hoped it was nothing serious.

Reba grabbed eggs out of the refrigerator and began to make some breakfast. She wished there was something she could do for Vic but he just seemed like he didn't want her help. He had been pushing her away all week and now he had yelled at her. Reba wiped the tears away that were falling down on her cheeks and flipped one side of the cheese omelet she was making over.

Just then Barbara Jean decided to walk in. "Hey Reba." Barbara Jean said cheerfully as she sat down.

Reba smiled weakly and set the omelet on a plate. "Hello." She said she started cutting up some fruit for her salad. It's basically all she was able to eat for breakfast anymore. No more yummy, gooey, wonderful, tasty omelets or cinnamon good waffles swimming in syrup with butter. Now all she had in the mornings were fruit salads, dry wheat toast, or when for a treat, scrambled eggs. She knew eating right was good for the baby but she needed to find something other than what she had been eating to satisfy her persistent cravings.

Barbara Jean frowned. "What's the matter?"

Reba smiled and shook her head. "Nothing."

"Something's the matter. Did you not get any last night?" she asked sadly.

Reba glared. "It's not that Barbara Jean." Reba sighed and added a few apple slices to her salad. "Vic has been sick and he won't let me take care of him."

Barbara Jean nodded. "So you didn't get any last night."

Reba rolled her eyes. "Will you stop with the talk of sex?" Reba yelled.

Barbara Jean was taken aback by Reba's tone of voice. "Wow, sorry, didn't realize you were that frustrated."

Reba shook her head. She knew it was useless. That was Barbara Jean's answer to everything. "Vic is really sick. He started throwing up this morning and he won't let me near him. I want to take care of him but he seems…repulsed by me."

"Maybe it's because you're fat." Barbara Jean said casually, like it didn't mean anything.

Reba's eyes shot up but then, it really did make sense. She was getting bigger everyday. She was about to retort when Vic walked into the kitchen with his robe. His hair was all over the place and didn't have its usually neat look. He always looked neat, even when he just rolled out of bed, except today. His eyes were red and his face had the shadow of a scratchy beard coming in.

"How are you feeling honey?" Reba asked sweetly, trying to get him to at least talk with her.

Vic shrugged and sat down at the counter. It was then he noticed the omelet. "What is this?" he asked looking down at the plate.

Reba frowned. "It's your favorite breakfast, a cheese omelet."

Vic pushed the plate away and scowled. "Are you trying to make me throw up?" he said angrily.

"I'm sorry I thought you could try something to eat since you haven't eaten all week except crackers and ginger ale." Reba took the plate and set it in front of Barbara Jean, who was happy to dispose of the omelet herself.

Vic rolled his eyes and watched Barbara Jean as she cut into the omelet and watch the cheese ooze out of the egg. Vic could feel his stomach churn as he watched the cheese. "I just love cheese omelets." Barbara Jean said as she drowned a piece of egg in the cheese. "The oozy gooey good cheese is…" She stopped when Vic flew out of his chair and outside because he knew he wouldn't be able to make it upstairs to the bathroom.

He threw up right outside the door in the bushes just as Brock walked in. "What's wrong with Vic?" he asked, stepping away so he couldn't hear the gagging noises Vic was making.

Reba sighed and sat at the table with her bowl of fresh fruit. "He is sick. He has been for a little over a week now."

"Why aren't you out there with him?" Brock asked as he sat next to his wife.

Reba gave Brock a look that said how he dare say something like that but Reba didn't say anything. She would like to be out there helping but he pushed her away. "He doesn't like me hovering over him. He just pushes me away every time I try to help. I wish I could help."

"Just leave him alone." Brock said, taking a bite of Barbara Jean's omelet. He immediately regretted it when Barbara Jean practically growled at him as she snatched her plate and sat next to Reba at the table.

"But I don't want to leave him alone." Reba wined.

Brock sighed and moved to the table. Barbara Jean glared, as to dare him to try and steal her omelet again. "If he doesn't want you around just let him be. I know most guys like to be waited on when their sick but when we say leave us alone when we're sick, we mean it." Reba frowned, not liking Brock's explanation but if Vic really did want her to help him he would ask for it.

Everyone paused when Vic walked back into the doors. He was holding his stomach and groaning a bit. "I'll be upstairs." He mumbled while walking past them.

"Do you…" Reba stopped when she saw Brock shake his head. "Okay." She simply said, not wanting to make him bad by smothering him. Vic left the kitchen. Reba didn't like this. "I have a doctor's appointment today. I guess I am going alone."

"I could go with you!" Barbara Jean said excitedly.

Brock rolled his eyes. "Barbara Jean, you have your own doctor's appointment today."

Barbara Jean frowned. Reba chuckled. "It's a nice thought Barbara Jean but even if you didn't have an appointment today as well, the answer would be no."

"Still, if you ever change your mind…"

"You'll be the first one I call." Reba said with an eye roll. Even if Barbara Jean still was her best friend there were some things she just didn't want to share or do with Barbara Jean and going to her doctor's appointment was one of them.

Brock smiled and turned his head toward his wife. "Are you ready to go?" he asked as he watched Barbara Jean try to get the left over cheese on the fork.

She shook her head. "Nope, I still have a good amount of cheese here."

"We have an appointment in an hour. We have to go." Brock stressed.

Barbara Jean frowned and stood up. "I guess I have to go." Barbara Jean said sadly. "I'll be back though. Don't throw away that cheese." She said giving Reba a glare.

Reba shook her head as they walked out the door. She gathered her bowl and Barbara Jean's plate, taking them to the sink. She was just about to clean off the plate when Barbara Jean burst through the door and quickly grabbed it from her. "I thought so." Barbara Jean simply stated and she walked out the back door again, taking the cheesy plate with her.

Reba just stood there at the sink for a moment, wondering what in the world just happened. Reba shook her head at Barbara Jean's craziness and set the bowl in the sink. She glanced at the clock and her eyes widened when she realized she had an appointment with Dr. Parks in half an hour. She had to get ready.

She ran upstairs and to her and Vic's room. Reba opened the door slowly, not wanting to disturb Vic. Her heart went out to him as she watched him passed out on the bed. He looked so pale. She only wished he would let her near him. Reba just sighed and walked into the bathroom to take a quick shower.

Reba was out of the bathroom in a matter of minutes. She walked to their closet and grabbed the first pair of pants and t-shirt she had seen. She dressed and gave Vic a small kiss on his cheek, he didn't feel warm. She left quickly and drove straight to the doctor's office. She soon realized, when she walked into the office, that this was the first time she had went to the doctor's office alone. Vic had always gone with her and it made her sort of sad. He would hold her hand whenever they had an ultrasound done. He would always reassure her that everything would be fine with the baby but now she was all alone.

"Reba Mariano?"

Reba's head shot up as she was brought out of her thoughts when her name was called. She stood up and smiled sweetly at the lady as she led her to the third door on the right. Reba knew the routine like the back of her hand. She stripped out of her clothes and into the gown that she was given. Reba patiently sat on the table as she waited for Dr. Parks to make an appearance.

She heard a knock at the door and in walked the doctor. "Good morning Reba and how are we feeling today?"

Reba gave the tall blonde a strained smile. "We are doing okay." Reba said slightly rubbing her stomach.

"Well, that's good." She said putting a stethoscope around her neck. She frowned as she glanced around the room. "No Mr. Mariano today?"

Reba didn't like the way the good doctor frowned. Was the blonde hussy secretly wishing her husband were here? "No, he is sick this morning." Reba said, waiting for the woman's answer.

"Oh, well that's too bad. Tell him I hope he feels better."

Reba gave her a smile but added a small glare to it. "I'll be sure to do that."

"Okay." Dr. Parks said with a smile. "Let's get started." The appointment went as normal. She checked Reba's heart, checked the baby, measured Reba's stomach, she still hated that, and checked her blood pressure, which the doctor was extremely happy with but she still wanted to see Reba every two weeks. "I need you to lie back down for the ultrasound."

Reba lay down on the table and sighed. This was the part she wished Vic was here for. She knew he loved to see their baby up on the screen. It was too bad he was sick. Reba was snapped, once again, out of her thoughts when a loud thumping entered the room. Reba looked over to the screen to see her beautiful baby. He or she was so perfect looking, even if he or she looked like a little alien at the moment.

"The heart beat is strong and everything is looking wonderful." Dr. Parks said with a smile as she moved over Reba's stomach. "Would you like to know the sex of the baby?"

Reba thought about it for a moment. It would give them a heads up on what kind of clothes to buy and what to paint the baby room but the thought of the excitement she would feel when she finally went into labor was bugging her. She always liked not knowing and since Vic wasn't here to put in his opinion Reba decided on her own. "No." Reba simply stated.

"Are you sure?" Dr. Parks asked one last time before she would turn the machine off.

Reba nodded. "I'm sure. I want to be surprised."

"Okay, let's get you cleaned up and then you can go."

Reba was happy to get out of there. It seemed weird, going without Vic. She couldn't blame him for being sick but she really wished he would be there. Reba walked out of the office and into her car. She was about to start the car when she notice something, something familiar. Reba the burst into tears and cried all the way home.

She walked into the door, tears still running down her cheeks. She looked up to see Vic sitting at the table, reading something. He looked up when he heard her walk in and quickly put the papers away. "Hey honey." He said, still very weak. Reba ignored him. All morning he was moody towards her when all she wanted to do was help him out and now he wanted to be sweet and nice. Well, it was just too late. Vic smiled. "Honey, I'm sorry."

Reba ignored him and walked into the kitchen. Vic followed. "Sweetheart, are you going to talk to me?"

"No." she said, grabbing some water from the refrigerator.

Vic smirked. "You just did." Reba glared at him but that didn't stop Vic from walking up to her and wrapping his arms around her. "I am sorry honey." Reba shrugged him off and moved away, tears were forming in her eyes again and Vic saw them. "Don't cry. I didn't mean to yell this morning. I was just so crazy for being sick. I am a little better now." Reba still let the tears fall. "I hate it when you cry, please don't. I said I was sorry and I mean it."

Reba shook her head. "It's not that." She said looking into his eyes.

"What?"

Reba pointed to the pants she was wearing. "These pants fit." She said bursting into tears.

Vic was still confused. "Okay but isn't that their supposed to do?"

"Their yours!" she yelled through tears.

Vic chuckled and brought her into his arms. "Honey…"

"I didn't even realize that they were yours until I came out of the doctor's office. I thought they were a little long but other than that they fit perfectly in the waist area." She said with tears flowing down her cheeks.

Vic wiped the tears away and smiled. "Don't cry, it's okay and hey the only reason you fit those pants is because their old pants." He said looking them over.

Reba sniffed and looked up. "Really?"

Vic nodded. "Yeah, old work pants, I don't know why I kept them. Trust me honey, it's going to be okay."

Reba wiped away her tears and smiled. "Okay." She said cheerfully. Vic chuckled and shook his head. Those hormones sure did make her crazy. Suddenly a timer went off. Vic ran into the living room and turned it off. Reba followed. "Are you cooking something? I didn't smell anything."

Vic chuckled nervously and shook his head. "No, there is just something I need to check on, excuse me."

Vic bounded up the stairs and Reba followed. "What are you doing?" she asked walking behind him.

"Nothing, nothing." He said nervously as he blocked the bathroom door. "Just go downstairs. I'll be there in a minute."

Reba raised an eyebrow but nodded and started to walk away. Vic opened the door and Reba turned right around and pushed her way through. She looked around expecting to see a girl in there or something else than what she saw. She had to hold back laughter when she saw the box, the directions, and the little stick sitting on the counter.

She picked it up and turned to Vic, who was turning completely red. "What is this?" she asked, quite amused.

Vic sighed. "I'm taking a pregnancy test."

"Why, are you late?" she asked bursting into laughter.

Vic glared at her and snatched it out of her hands. "I was taking it to check estrogen levels. I have Couvade Syndrome."

Reba, who was still trying to hold back laughter, replied, "What?"

Vic sighed and grabbed her arm and they went downstairs. He walked over to the couch and pulled out the papers he had hidden when she walked through the door. "It's sympathetic pregnancy."

Reba's laughter turned into a smile. It was actually kind of…sweet? "You are having sympathetic pregnancy?"

Vic nodded. "I could be. I mean, I just…"

Reba chuckled and set the papers down. "It's a nice thought but you know what they say that brings on these symptoms?" Vic shook his head. "Nerves." She simply stated. "Or you're worried."

Vic looked shyly down at his feet. "I don't know." He said.

"Vic…"

Vic flopped down on the couch and sighed. "I am just…scared…worried that something might be wrong or something could happen to the baby or even yo…" He pointed at her and he couldn't even finish the sentence.

Reba smiled and sat down next to him and pulled his face close to hers. "Nothing is going to happen to me or this baby. I just came from the doctor's office and she said everything was fine."

"That's another thing. I wanted to be there."

Reba smiled and patted his leg. "It's okay. There are many more to go to."

"She said everything was fine?" he asked, still a bit unsure.

Reba nodded and smiled. "She said the baby is looking good and I am doing great with my blood pressure, there is nothing to worry about."

Vic smiled and nodded. "Good."

Reba kissed his lips tenderly and then pulled away, looking him straight in the eye. "I can't believe you took a pregnancy test." She said with a chuckle. Vic shrugged, trying not to look embarrassed.

"What pregnancy test? Who's pregnant?" Kyra asked as she walked down the stairs.

"Vic." Reba said with a smile.

Kyra looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Is it mom's?"

Reba laughed and Vic rolled his eyes. Reba patted his stomach. "Ooo, I felt him kick." Reba said with a smile. Kyra couldn't contain her laughter either.

Vic scowled at them both and left the couch, unable to take the humiliation. "Since I am feeling better, I am going to get dressed and go for a run."

"Honey, do you really think that's a good idea in your condition?" Reba asked laughing even harder. Vic rolled his eyes and stomped up the stairs, so much for sympathetic pregnancy being a sweet thought.

End of Chapter