Chapter 47

Reba smiled and cuddled up to Vic the next morning. He was still asleep and they were still in the beautiful honeymoon suite that Vic had gotten them the night before. Last night for Reba was more than perfect. He could be so sweet sometimes and last night just proved how romantic he could be. The moment she stepped into that restaurant she was taken back to their first date. It was a beautiful night that night last year despite how it ended and it was so sweet of him to recreate that night…to recreate those nights, their first date and their wedding night.

Reba sighed and wrapped an arm around his chest. She smiled as she moved her hand to his well sculpted chest. She loved his chest. She always told him how good he looked for a man in his forties. He would then flex his muscles, Reba would roll her eyes and get ready to turn away before his ego would fill the room and there would be no room for her but he would stop her and wrap those muscular arms around her waist, bringing her close. She was happy and so content with her life and she couldn't ask for anything more.

"Good morning." Reba heard from a deep voice.

Reba smiled and those strong muscular arms she was just thinking about tightened around her waist and pulled her in close. "Good morning." She said leaning up and kissing his cheek.

Vic grinned and yawned as he shifted onto his side. "How long have you been awake?" he asked sweetly.

Reba shrugged and kept her arm around his waist. "I don't know, not very long."

"Well I've been awake for an hour." He said smirking.

Reba glared at him playfully. "So you just laid there and let me just watch you."

"And feel me up." He said smirking. Reba laughed. "Now it's my turn." He said rolling her over onto her back. Reba giggled and was brought into a sweet kiss.

"I love my mornings with you." Reba said caressing his soft cheek.

Vic smiled. "I love this morning with you. There is no baby to interrupt us…" he said nuzzling her neck. "No other children, no work. It's the perfect morning."

Reba's eyes widened and pushed Vic off of her. "That reminds me…" She rolled her body over and reached for the phone. "I have to call Kyra and make sure Sophia is all right." Vic frowned and pulled her away from the phone. "Honey…" Reba said giggling as he kissed her.

Vic broke the kiss but he still held her close to him. "I just want a morning of me, you, a bed, and nothing else."

Reba smiled as Vic, once again, began to kiss her neck. "I do too." Reba said pushing him away. "I won't be much fun if I am laying here worrying about our baby girl now won't I?" Vic groaned and let go of her. Reba giggled and pressed her body against him. "Don't worry. Once I make sure everything is okay I will give my complete attention." She said in a suggestive tone.

Vic glanced at her shyly. "Really?"

Reba nodded and let her hands roam. "I promise and I will take care of every one of your needs." She said close to his ear.

Reba was the only one that could ever make Vic go week in the knees with simple words such as that. "Okay…" he said pushing her away. "Call Kyra. Hurry up."

Reba giggled and reached over to the phone. She quickly dialed the number. She had to wait three rings before someone eventually picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Kyra…" Reba said with a smile. "How is Sophia?"

"Good morning to you too Mom, I'm just fine."

Reba rolled her eyes. "Kyra…how are you?"

Kyra smirked. "I'm just great mom."

"Now how is Sophia? Was she good for you?"

"She cried all night. I think she wanted you."

Reba eyes widened and she sat up quickly, wrapping the hotel bed sheet around her. "Okay, I will be home…"

Kyra started to laugh. "Mom, I was only kidding. I was telling you what you were thinking that had happened. She was perfect. She slept through most of the night except once when she wanted a diaper and half a bottle."

Reba sighed and sat back down. "Of formula?"

Kyra rolled her eyes. "No whiskey…of course formula and she was a perfect angel this morning. She ate her strained bananas and then went down for another nap."

Reba smiled. "That's good. What is she doing now?"

Kyra looked over to her baby sister sitting on the couch, playing with her favorite stuffed toy, a white tiger and seemed to be watching TV. "She is sitting on the couch playing with her tiger and watching Tom and Jerry."

Reba raised an eyebrow. "She is watching TV?"

Kyra shrugged. "Watching…trying to figure out how that stupid mouse is able to defeat an animal three times bigger than he is…whatever…"

Reba rolled her eyes. "Put Sophia on."

Kyra stopped for a moment and tried to figure out what her mother just said. "Sorry Mom, she can't come to the phone…she contemplating the meaning of life at the moment while drooling all over your new couch."

"Kyra…just put the phone up to her ear."

Kyra rolled her eyes and sat down on the couch. "Sophia…its mommy…try not to talk to fast now."

"Kyra!" Reba yelled through the phone. Reba then heard bubbles in the phone. "Hey sweetie." Reba said in the sweetest voice possible. "How's my big girl?"

Sophia seemed to get extremely excited when she heard her mother's voice on the phone. "Hmmm…glah ba du…" Sophia giggled.

Reba smiled. She loved her baby girl so much and the sound of her baby talk was adorable. "Mommy misses you."

Sophia giggled again. "Mmmmm…a"

Reba sat straight up and pressed the phone to her ear. "What was that sweetie? Come on…what was did you say?"

"I didn't say anything." Kyra said into the phone.

Reba frowned. "Give the phone back to Sophia. I think she was about to say something."

Kyra rolled her eyes. "Sorry mom, she's practicing her address to congress at the moment. She will have to get back to you. How's next Thursday?"

"Kyra…just take care of her this morning, okay. We will be home in a couple of hours."

Kyra nodded. "Yeah mom, don't worry, Sophia is fine. You two just enjoy your time alone while you can."

Reba smiled. "Thanks Kyra. I really appreciate you watching her. I promise we won't be away too much longer. I don't think we will be home before noon so just make sure she gets a good lunch."

Kyra nodded. "I will. No need to worry. Everything is under control."

"Good…give Sophia a kiss for me. Goodbye." Reba hung up and moved herself back under the warm covers and turned to Vic. "Sophia is great and Kyra said she had a lovely morning. She is playing with her stuffed tiger and watching cartoons."

Vic raised an eyebrow. "She's watching cartoons?" Reba giggled and nodded. "Everything is okay then?" Reba nodded once more. "Your mind…" He said wrapping is arms around her, "Is at ease?" Reba smirked and nodded as she worked her hands up his chest and around his neck. "And you surrender yourself to me?" he said smiling.

Reba shook her head and laughed. "Absolutely, now come here." She brought him down into a gentle kiss.

Sometime later Reba was still trying to catch her breath when she felt Vic's hands roaming her body once again. Reba giggled and allowed him to roam for a few minutes before she pushed his hands away. "As much as I would love to continue once more I need something to eat honey."

Vic frowned but understood. He needed something to eat as well. "Okay, I won't start anything. I'll just order room service." He shifted and he reached over for the phone.

Reba laughed and caressed his chest that was right in front of her eyes. "How is this not starting anything?" she asked the man that was practically on top of her.

Vic smiled and picked up the phone. "It's not my fault you can't control yourself." He said smugly.

Reba rolled her eyes and shifted herself away from him. "Can't control myself…whatever." She mumbled. "I want eggs." She stated as she got up and walked to the bathroom.

Vic didn't even hear the room service answer the phone as he watched his wife walk from the bed to the bathroom, not even bothering to wrap a sheet around her body. "Hello…is anyone there? Hello?"

Vic snapped out of his daze and finally realized what he was supposed to be doing. "Yes…hello…sorry…I would like…"

Reba came out of the bathroom a few minutes later in one of the hotel bath robes and carrying one in her hand for Vic. "Did you call room service?"

Vic nodded and took the robe from Reba. "Yup…I ordered a lovely breakfast for the both of us. It should be here soon." He said sitting on the end of the bed. "These robes are comfortable."

Reba shrugged. "It's supposed to be one size fits all."

Vic looked down at his robe confused. "It fits."

Reba rolled her eyes and held out her arms. "Look at me." She said.

Vic raised his head up and chuckled. "Well…" he said looking her over. The robe was a little big. Her hands disappeared and there were a few inches of fabric dragging the floor.

"You could fit another one of me in here." She said stepping in front of him.

Vic raised an eyebrow and pulled her close to him as she stepped forward. "Two Reba's?" he questioned with a smirk. "I don't know if I could handle two of you. I think one of you is enough."

Reba smiled and placed her hands on his shoulders. "What makes you think you can handle me?"

"I had a pretty good handle on you last night…and this morning." He said with a smirk. Reba rolled her eyes and moved her hands away, only to cause the front of her robe to gap open.

Vic smiled and couldn't tear his eyes away. "What are you staring at?" Reba looked down and rolled her eyes, pulling the robe together. "It's nothing you haven't seen before."

Vic shrugged and pulled her even closer to his body. "It's still a sight to see." He said. Reba smiled and leaned down in kiss him.

Things were just heating up again when there was a knock at the door and a yell of room service. Vic groaned and leaned his head against her stomach that was in front of him. Reba chuckled and patted his shoulders, pushing him away. "It will be fine. Besides, we do need to eat first." Reba said smiling.

Vic nodded and got up. "You sit at the table. I will get the door."

Reba sat at the table and crossed her legs. She doubled check the top of her robe and looked up just in time to see Vic allowing room service to bring in the cart. "Good morning Miss." The lovely gentleman said as he stopped the cart in front of their table. Reba smiled and Vic sat down across from Reba. The server set up their food and quickly backed out of the room to let them eat.

Reba smiled at the food that was put in front of her which consisted of eggs, bacon, toast, fruit, and coffee. She immediately dug in. "This is really good." Reba said as she enjoyed a slice of an orange.

Vic smiled. "It is good." He said digging into his blueberry pancakes and sausage.

Reba took a small sip of her coffee and smiled. "I still can't believe you did all this. It makes my present look so petty."

Vic shook his head. "You put thought into yours, you took time to make something special that would means something to the both of us. I just spent money." He said with a pout.

Reba shifted her chair and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "You did a wonderful thing. You just proved you are a hopeless romantic with what you did. You recreated my two favorite nights with you." She smiled.

Vic shrugged. "Still…you're present…"

"Was put together in just a few hours…" she said with a sigh, "Barbara Jean actually gave me the idea. I didn't even know what I was going to get you until the last minute. You put so much time into this and I just…"

"Hey…" he said silencing her with a small kiss. "We both received something meaningful, okay. Let's just drop the subject." Reba nodded and pulled him into a kiss that surprised him. Reba giggled as she broke away and he looked dazed. "Your breakfast is getting cold."

Reba nodded and gave him one last kiss before returning to her breakfast. "What time will we be returning home?"

"Check out time for us is 1pm."

Reba smiled. "I can't wait to see my baby girl. I haven't been this long away from her and I miss her already."

Vic chuckled. "I'm beginning to miss my little chunka monk too."

Reba shook her head. "That name is so silly."

"She likes it." Vic said defending himself. "She always giggles when I say it."

"She thinks you're silly too." Vic pouted and Reba smiled. "You know Sophia acts more mature than you do a lot of the time."

Vic frowned. "She's seven months old." He grumbled. "And I resent that."

Reba giggled and patted the arm that was on the table. "I like you just the way you are."

"Including my butt that's like a pair of honey due melons?" he joked.

Reba rolled her eyes. "I knew I shouldn't have put that in there."

"I just can't wait to read the rest of it and see what other stuff you put together to remind me of us. It was a special and wonderful gift." He said sweetly, taking her hand into his.

Reba smiled. "I was happy to give it to you."

"We can also show it to Sophia once she gets older…show how her parents got together."

Reba raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want her to know that she was conceived by us getting drunk and having a one night stand."

Vic chuckled. "You do have a point there. I guess we can always do what the parent thing to do is." He said sighing.

"What's that?"

"Lie." He simply stated. Reba laughed and nodded. "Now let's finish breakfast." Reba happily agreed to that.

Reba and Vic spent the rest of their morning and part of the afternoon in the hotel room, showing each other how much they love one another without the interruptions of babies or other children. Reba loved that whole night so much. She was happy to get away. She loved her little chunka monk so much but she was really tired too. They needed to get away, just the two of them and Reba was happy they did but once she went into that door she went straight for her baby girl and held her tightly.

They immediately went back to their normal routine. Reba and Vic would drop Sophia off at the day care, and then they would go to work, pick Sophia up and then come home. Nothing out of the ordinary happened…for a while. It wasn't until a couple of months after their little night that Reba started to feel a little sick again. Reba started to get excited because her cycle did eventually start when they returned from the hotel but it stopped again and Reba could only wonder if she was pregnant. She didn't want to take any home pregnancy tests. She wanted a 100% full proof test. She needed to know, so she made an appointment with Dr. Parks.

Now she was in the Dr. Park's office, waiting for her test results. Reba was happy because she had a feeling this was going to be good news. Dr. Parks was going to sit down and tell her she was pregnant and then she could go home, tell Vic that she was pregnant and then celebrate their great news…or better yet…wait to tell him at Christmas. It was just a week away. She could wait a week. They've been waiting for Reba to become pregnant for almost eight months now…he could wait a little while longer.

Reba smiled and sat up straight when Dr. Parks walked into her office. She smiled at Reba and sat down at her desk. "Well…it seems…"

"I'm pregnant!" Reba said excitedly. "I knew it." Reba was grinning big but Dr. Parks smile faded. "I just had to be because I…" Reba stopped when she saw the Doctor's face. "What? What is wrong?"

Dr. Parks sighed and leaned forward. "You're not pregnant Reba."

Reba eyes started to well up and she sat back in her chair confused. "But I don't understand. I've been feeling sick…dizzy…very weepy…I've even had a couple of cravings."

"Reba…all those signs can be signs of early menopause and the craving…was probably wishful thinking."

"But I'm late. I mean, I had my period last month but then it stopped."

Dr. Parks looked on to her in sympathy. "It's also an early menopause symptom. Your cycle is irregular due to the extra hormones."

Reba shook her head and stood up. "No, my mother went through menopause. I can't be."

Dr. Parks nodded. "Yes and she probably went through it at your age."

Reba sighed and stared at Dr. Parks through tears. "Are you sure you didn't mix me up with another patient's file or something. I…" Dr. Parks shook her head. "I can't go through this. Not now."

"I'm sorry Reba. I know you wanted another baby but maybe this is for the best. Maybe God is trying to tell you something."

Reba shook her head. "I have to get out of here." Reba then burst out of Dr. Park's office, ignoring the Doctor's pleas to come back.

Reba didn't stop running until she was at her car. She quickly opened it and sat inside, letting the tears flow down her cheeks freely. Menopause…she wasn't ready for menopause! She and Vic wanted another baby. How could this happen? They had been trying to have a baby for about eight months now. How could she not become pregnant within that time period? Reba sobbed in her car and all she could think of was how she was going to tell Vic that they would be unable to have anymore kids.

Reba had gone home and went straight to bed. She didn't want to talk or see anyone. She even called her boss to request a few days off, which he happily granted. She didn't even want to see Sophia. She just slipped into a deep depression like state. She hardly ate. She only left the room to use the bathroom and the worse part of it was that no one knew what was wrong with her because she didn't talk to anyone.

Vic was worried about his wife. He had tried to get her to talk to him but she would just turn away and refuse to speak. He was scared she might do something to herself. He made sure someone knew what she was doing at all times just to make sure she didn't do anything crazy. He suspected he knew what was wrong. He knew she was stressed about not having a baby and that made him worry even more if she did get pregnant her stress levels would be through the roof and they might lose the baby…or worse they could lose Reba.

He didn't want to lose Reba and he knew Sophia wanted to have a mother. Sophia wanted her mother so badly. She began to cry and cry…never stopping unless she saw her mother but Reba didn't even want to see her baby girl. Vic tried to get her to hold Sophia but she just turned away, that made Sophia cry even harder. He just didn't understand what was wrong but he knew he had to go on. He had to take care of their baby and the rest of the family and he would patiently wait until she would come out of whatever she was in.

And Vic did wait patiently for a small while…a week…before he was tired of seeing his wife like that. He decided to just do something about it. He walked into their room Christmas morning. It was time she came out of whatever funk she was in and discuss something he recently did for both their sakes. He knew she probably wouldn't like it but it had to be done and he was happy with his decision.

"Reba!" he said slamming the bedroom door. He of course didn't expect a response from her and he didn't get one. He just walked over to the curtains and opened them wide. Reba just cringed at the bright light coming and turned away. He shook his head. "Oh no you don't." he said walking over to her. "It is Christmas morning and your family is downstairs waiting for you. Now move it!" Reba glared, it was the first sign of life he had seen in her all week, but she still just ignored him and turned over again. "Fine." He said annoyed. "We will just have to do it the hard way."

Reba was surprised when he had burst into their room and she was even more surprised when he actually walked away but what got her curiosity going even more was when he turned on the shower. Vic came back into the room and walked over to the bed, picking her up in his arms. "Vic!" Reba yelled as he kept a firm grip on her. "Put me down!" she screamed. Reba fought him even though she knew it was no use. He was stronger and he kept that firm grip until they walked into the bathroom. "Put me down!"

Vic smirked and nodded. "Okay." He said and he set her down in the shower.

Reba screamed as the cold water hit her body. She was practically climbing the walls trying to escape. Vic wouldn't let her. "This is nuts!" she screamed as he held her under the freezing cold water.

"D*** right its nuts. Your nuts!" he yelled. "What is wrong with you? You haven't gotten out of bed in a week! I am worried about you! Your family is worried about you and Sophia wants her mother back." Reba began to tremble and she slid down in the shower to the floor, letting the tears fall from her cheeks. Vic's heart went out to her and he knelt down beside the tub. "Honey please, tell me what is wrong. I can't help you if you don't talk to me. I'm just so worried about you."

Reba sniffed and looked up to her husband's eyes. She saw tears threatening to fall and she had never seen Vic look so hurt before. Maybe it was time to tell him. "It started the day before our anniversary two months ago." She said in a weak voice. "My period was late and I was feeling sick. I took four pregnancy test and they turned up negative." She said sighing and running her hands over her wet hair. "I thought okay, so…we will just have to try again."

"The pregnancy tests were the onions?" He said smiling.

Reba chuckled and wiped away a tear. "Yeah…anyway…then we went out on our anniversary and that night at the hotel when…" she said nodding her head a bit and blushing.

Vic smirked. "Yes, I remember that night very well."

"Well, a week and a half ago I started feeling sick and my period was late. I went to see Dr. Parks. I was so sure I thought I was pregnant but then she…" Reba started to cry again.

Vic started to get worried because he thought it was something serious. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"She told me I had early signs of menopause." Reba sobbed. Vic stopped for a moment to process this and then he started to laugh. Reba looked up hurt. "It's not a laughing matter. Don't you see! We can't have anymore children." She started crying again.

Vic smiled and pulled her close. "Oh honey…I was so worried something serious was wrong."

Reba pushed him away, still hurt. "Menopause is serious. You want another baby and I can't give you that! You won't want me anymore and you will take Sophia and leave me."

Vic shook his head and took her hands. "Honey…I did not marry you for your ability to reproduce." He said smiling. "I married you because I love you and I don't want anymore children."

Reba scoffed. "You say that now."

Vic shook his head. "No I really don't. I had a vasectomy done."

Reba's head shot up. "What?"

Vic nodded. "I suspected what was wrong. You were stressed about this whole baby thing. I even talked to Dr. Parks about what would happen if we did ever get pregnant and she gave very good reasons why we shouldn't."

"Wait…" Reba said trying to process this. "You had a secret vasectomy? How long ago did you have it done?"

"Just this past week, you were in bed the whole time you didn't notice. It's a very short procedure and I only had to ice "them"." He said smiling.

Reba pushed his hands away that were trying to pull her close. "I can't believe after all that you made the decision about children and if you talked to Dr. Parks why didn't she tell you about me?"

"Dr. Parks didn't tell me anything because of Doctor/Patient confidentiality or something and I made this decision honey…" He pulled her close and this time she didn't pull away, "Because Dr. Parks told me there was a good chance of losing you with your high blood pressure if we were to have this baby. There is no way I am losing you and we have Sophia honey…do we really want another baby? Think of all the things we could miss with Sophia if we had another baby."

Reba sighed and wrapped her arms around his chest. "I know you're right. I just…didn't want you to leave me because I couldn't have your children anymore."

"Like I said…" Vic pulled her face into his hands. "I didn't marry you because you can have children. I love you and I am happy and content with the way our lives are now."

Reba smiled and nodded. "Good." She said smiling and sitting back again.

Vic stood up and looked down at his now wet shirt. "I need to go change my shirt before I go downstairs. Are you coming with me? We are going to have breakfast and then open gifts."

Reba nodded but then glanced up at the shower. "Can I take a hot shower first?"

Vic nodded. "I would insist upon it because…" he said as he stepped closer to the door. "No offense honey, but you smell." Reba glared and threw a bar of soap at him but missed as he darted out the door. Reba chuckled and then stepped out of the tub to change out of her wet clothes and take a shower.

Reba walked downstairs a half an hour later dressed in jeans and a green sweater. She was all smiles. "Merry Christmas everyone." She said cheerfully.

"Mom, you're looking better." Cheyenne said as she sat on the couch next to her anxious husband.

Reba smiled. "Thanks. I'm doing so much better and I'm sorry I was such a pain."

"We were only worried mom." Kyra said as she set Sophia on the floor next to Adam who was playing with a stuff animal.

Van couldn't take it. "Okay, she's fine. Can we eat now?"

Reba smiled and nodded her head. "Yes…you ca…"

Reba was interrupted by a small voice. "Mammmma!" Reba's head snapped toward Sophia. Reba's eyes widened and her eyes filled with tears as she saw her baby girl push her little butt up in the air and stand all on her own. "Mama!" Sophia said giggling as she took shaky steps toward her mother. Reba let the tears stream down her face as she took a few steps toward her baby and bent down to bring her into her arms.

Reba held onto Sophia tightly and kissed her sweet chubby cheek. "That is the best Christmas gift." Reba said with a sob. "How long has she been walking?"

Vic smiled as he stepped toward her. "A couple of days, I tried telling you but…"

Reba sniffed and looked at her sweet baby. "I can't believe she said her first word too. I can't believe I could have missed this. My baby's first Christmas." Reba cried and held Sophia close.

Vic smiled and rubbed Sophia's soft hair. "You see what we can miss if we have another baby. We can just spoil her rotten."

Reba smiled and nodded. She looked at Sophia and then looked toward the kitchen. "I'm starving."

Vic chuckled. "Me too, let's go eat." Van and Vic then practically ran into the kitchen.

Reba rolled her eyes and looked at her daughter. "You're still more mature."

"Mama!" Sophia said with a giggle. Reba's smile was even bigger and she kissed her baby once again. Reba was so happy at that moment. She couldn't believe she had gotten so crazy over the whole baby thing. She was happy with Sophia and Vic. They were the special addition to this whole crazy family and she knew now her family was complete.

End of Chapter