***Long chapter, I know. I hope y'all like it! Leave feedback! :) Thanks, babes! ***

-Chapter 20-

Brock and I spent a good portion of the night talking. Most of it was from me since it was so difficult for him to. But I could tell he was trying his hardest to say all that was on his mind. At fist we talked about serious things- I confessed to lying about John knowing where I lived. He elaborated more on what John had said on the phone, which made me shiver with fear. Although I hated the condition Brock was in, I was thankful for what he had done. I called the kids and told them to stay at Brock's for the night without asking for an explanation. I couldn't risk John stopping by, considering that's what he told Brock he was going to do. They were confused, but didn't really argue considering all the sweets Brock keeps in his kitchen.

Soon, however, our conversation lightened, and we found ourselves talking about old times. Before we knew it we were shaking with laughter, which we hadn't done in years. We reminisced over the kid's childhoods, old friends, and even talked about the crazy parties we used to attend when we were younger. It was so relieving to see him smile.

I could tell Brock was slowly getting into more pain as the night went on, and I eventually told him he needed to get some rest. He nodded, and adjusted his head on the pillow. I pulled the covers up over his chest.

"Is this good?" I asked.

"Mhmm." He mumbled, already drifting off to sleep. I tucked the blanket around his sides and listened to his breathing get deeper as he drifted off to sleep. I sat on the side of the bed and brushed his hair back with my hand gently, trying not to wake him. I leaned down and kissed him lightly on the forehead before getting up.

I found a book in my purse, and sat next to Brock reading most of the night. I tried to give him some peace and quiet, and made sure not to make any loud noises. Every few minutes, I would rest my book in my lap and look over at him with the same intensity as before. For a while after he fell asleep, I continued to think about our long conversation. Not necessarily what we had said, just the fact that we were so caught up in stories and laughter that time got away from us. After the subject of John had left, we talked without tension and it came so naturally. Talking to Brock, I felt... Happy. Genuinely, truly happy.

Finally, my eyes started to grow heavy. Yawning, I looked at the clock, which showed it was already 12:30. I grabbed a blanket and pillow from the closet, and curled up on the small couch. It wasn't very comfortable, but the sound of Brock's gentle breathing in the background made me relax.

The next morning, they let Brock go earlier than expected. They gave him some medicine to take for dizziness, but other than that, and his cuts and bruises, he was fine. As we were leaving, I apologized to the nurse I had snapped at the night before. She forgave me quickly, and took a picture for Facebook.

We grabbed an early lunch for us and the kids and then headed towards Brock's house. I thought it would be best if I drove home. The car ride wasn't uncomfortable, but it was quiet. I wondered where to go from here with the whole John situation. When I finally spoke, I could tell by his response that he had been thinking about it too.

"I think I'm going to head home after lunch."

He looked at me like I was crazy. "What do you mean? You can't do that." He was still a little high from his medicine and his words slurred a bit. I could still understand what he was saying, though.

"Why not?"

"Because that man is still out there, Reba. He'll know where to find you there. And he will. I'm not going to sit by and let that happen."

"Well, what do I do then, Brock?" I asked, agitated. "I can't call the cops, because somehow he'll know. I don't know how, but he will. I'm surprised he doesn't know I told you yet! But when he does find out..."

"He won't. And even if he does, there's nothing you need to worry about. I'm going to keep you safe."

"What if you can't?" I asked quietly, focusing on the road.

"You know me. I told you I'd always keep you safe and I meant it." I recalled a long time ago after a show when a group of drunken male fans had attacked me because I didn't give them an autograph. No one was around me, and they all charged at once, dragging me to the ground and ripping at my clothes. I didn't even know Brock was in the same building as me at the time. But suddenly, out of no where and just when I was feeling out of hope, he popped up and managed to take out 6 full grown men. His face was red and his fists clinched. He looked like a monster. I remember staying on the ground propped up on my hands and staring at him, not knowing what to think. But as soon as he saw me he softened and gently picked me up. He kissed my bruises and helped me onto the bus, holding my hand the whole way. Remembering that made me believe him a little more.

I sighed. "I have to go home at some point."

"Then I'll be coming with you."

"Brock-"

"I'm not leaving you alone. Not while he's still out there looking for you." He looked at me seriously. I sighed.

"I'll be just fine. I'll just hire security again, and have them guard the gate 24/7. You know how seriously those body guards take their jobs. There's no way he'd get through."

Brock sighed and looked a little disappointed. "I still think I should stay with you the first few days." We were pulling up to his house. I didn't respond, but offered him a sincere smile before getting out. I rushed to his side of the car and helped steady him as he climbed out.

"I think I got it." He started walking, but his foot hit a crack in the side walk and he started swaying to the side. I rushed over and supported him with my body. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders as we walked in the back door.

We were greeted by the kids and Barbra Jean, who was more excited than anyone to see us, especially me. She squeezed me until I thought I was going to pop. Jake immediately started asking Brock questions about everything that had happened. Cheyenne stayed glued at his side with her arms wrapped around him. Kyra hugged Brock quickly, and then gave me a cold look. She returned to the counter and continued working on her homework. Barbra Jean came up and gave him a tight, 'Barbra-Jean-Style-Hug', which she does with everyone. But for some reason, a small feeling of anger rose in my stomach when I saw her do it. But as soon as I saw Brock's uncomfortable face, it faded away a bit. I knew I had no right to those feelings, anyways.

"I hate to break this up, but lunch is getting cold." I said, holding up a few sacks filled with burgers and fries.

"It's about time!" Van pushed past everyone and rushed to make his plate. Cheyenne rolled her eyes and calmly grabbed a paper plate before taking a burger from the bag.

Lunch was nice. We all sat down, as a family, and talked about a million different things at once. Besides the casual arguing that came along with our family, there was also laughter and happiness.

Cheyenne, Barbra Jean, and I were discussing a movie we had seen. "Yes, the main guy was cute!" I agreed with them. "But all he did was talk the whole movie. Plus he was an idiot. Thank goodness I've had years of experience with idiots who talk all the time, or I don't think I could have watched it!" I said, looking over at Brock. He smirked.

"Hey I saw that movie, too. The girl who played his sister was pretty. But gosh, she had such a twangy, nagging voice that I could hardly watch it! Thank goodness I've had experience with hearing that, too." He said, returning my glare. Van 'oooohhed', and Brock stuck out his tongue at me. Without thinking, I threw a french fry at him and hit his forehead. He chuckled, and threw it back, hitting me in the chest. Van grabbed a french fry next, and meant to aim for Jake, but accidently hit Barbra Jean. She grabbed it, plus two more, and threw them back twice as hard. Before I knew it, the whole table was throwing food.

"Hey, hey!" I yelled standing up. "Knock it off! Stop it!" Gosh, my voice was twangy and nagging. Everyone got quiet and stared at me, trying not to laugh. "Y'all are acting like a bunch of animals." I muttered under my breath as I sat back down. Everyone was still quiet. As I was picking up my burger, I noticed and sat it back down. "What?" I asked. Barbra Jean was covering her mouth and her face was red from holding back her laughter. Finally she blew, along with everyone else. Amidst the laughter, I couldn't stay mad, as hard as I tried. I found myself laughing too, with no clue what was going on. Finally, as Cheyenne was wiping a tear from her eye, she pulled out a little mirror from her purse and handed it to me. I looked at her questionably before looking in it. It was then I noticed the fry intertwined in my hair and dangling to the side of my face. I busted out laughing, causing everyone else to start up again, even louder than before.

After lunch, everyone went their separate ways. Jake and Van decided they were going to go throw the football, and Brock was still dizzy so he said he'd just watch. But before leaving, he pulled me aside into the other room.

"Why don't you stay here tonight?" He asked.

"Brock, I told you I'll be fine."

"You're not going home alone." He said in a serious tone.

"I'm going to call the security agency and they'll send some people to guard the perimeter."

"What are you going to tell the kids?"

"Another crazy stalker." I replied casually.

Brock sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I know how stubborn you are. But until I know that at least security is there, you're not leaving here."

"I'll call them now, then." I said with a smirk. I pulled out my phone and dialed my personal assistant, and then asked her to direct me to the number of my old security agency. Brock stood there as I worked out all of the details. Finally, after a several minutes on the phone, I hung up. "They'll send out three people to guard the perimeter at 5 tonight." I said.

"Only three?" He asked in shock.

"Brock! I'm telling you, these guys know what they're doing. Plus, the only way he can even get in is the gate, and one of the guards will be there. The other two are just incase he tries to get in somewhere else, which I doubt he will."

"You never know." He seemed nervous.

"Brock, I promise things will be fine."

"Let me see your phone."

Before I could ask why, he took it from my hands. "What are you doing?" I asked, trying to get it back. He was too tall for me, and I strained to reach him as he dialed back the last number and waited patiently.

"I'm asking for them to send six men instead. That way I'll be a little more comfortable."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine Brock." I threw my hands in the air and started walking back towards the kitchen. "Do what you need to do. Just set my phone on the couch when you're done with it."

I walked back into the kitchen to find Barbra Jean, Cheyenne, and Kyra sitting at the table staring at me, as if they had expected me to come in. There was an empty seat besides Barbra Jean. Knowing I had no choice, I walked over and sat down. I offered a small smile at them. Cheyenne smiled back. It was quiet for a moment before she spoke.

"So mom," She said, getting to the point, "You've had time to think about what we said."

"What I said." Kyra butted in. Cheyenne ignored her.

"What are you thinking?" She asked sympathetically as she leaned in and took my hands in hers, tilting her head to the side. I pulled my hands from hers slowly.

"I'm not sure." I responded, not knowing how to answer that.

"What are you going to do, mom? About you and dad?" Kyra asked bluntly.

"Well, I don't know what you mean-"

"Are you going to give him another chance?" Cheyenne butted in.

"I don't know-"

"Mom, you've had time to think about this!" Kyra said, almost offended.

"Well-"

"It's not like you don't know he cares about you!" Cheyenne said.

"Hey! Let her think. She'll talk when she's ready." I was actually proud of Barbra Jean for taking up for me. That is, before she pulled me tightly in a side hug and made me want to vomit.

"Listen girls... You're father and I have been through a lot. Especially here recently."

"And it's made each of you stronger! It's made your relationship stronger!" Kyra interrupted again.

"I know honey. It's just, sometimes after something like what happened between your father and I happens, it's hard to just go back to normal." The room got quiet. "I don't know how I feel about everything yet. You have to understand how much this is for me all of the sudden." I could tell Kyra was getting agitated. "It's just... I'm not ready to jump into anything. I just can't handle that now. I need to-" Without letting me finish, Kyra shot up from the table and marched out of the stairs and up to her room. I heard her door slam so hard I was sure it had broke. I looked down at my hands and sighed, trying to hold myself together. I felt Cheyenne's small, cold hands embrace mine like she had done before. I looked up to see her staring at me as if she understood my pain. Finally, she spoke softly.

"What's holding you back?"

Tears formed in my eyes. "I...I don't want to get hurt. I can't handle that ever again. It was almost too much the first time." I sighed hard after the words left my lips.

"That's the only thing?" Cheyenne asked as if it was nothing. I nodded, and wiped a tear that had silently escaped. I placed my hand back in Cheyenne's. "Can I tell you something, ma?" I nodded again. "There's a risk you could get hurt again with dad. That risk is true with anyone. With anything. Now you have two options. You can live your life in fear of that small chance of something bad happening and miss out on everything else, or you can take a chance, and be happy. Because sometimes, when it comes to a love as strong as you and dad have, it involves taking chances. It involves risks. And it involves having to put faith in someone who hurt you, which I know can be the hardest thing in the world. But that's just something you're going to have to do. You know why?" I looked at her, trying to hold in my emotions and not show how touched and amazed I was by her words. "Because what you and dad share, and how happy dad can make you, is worth it. I promise you it is, mom. Now you've just got to take a chance. Are you willing to do that?" She looked at me with big eyes.

Right as I was about to respond, a sudden feeling came through my veins. It felt like insane courage, mixed with some weird, crazy relief I had never felt before. I somehow felt as if every feeling I had been trying to understand was answered for me, and finally said out loud. I knew this bravery and this confidence wouldn't last long, so without answering Cheyenne and without saying another word, I stood up and walked out the door.

I marched out into the grass and across the lawn. I knew what I had to do, and I knew I had to do it while I could.

Jake had just caught the ball and was about to throw it to Van when I walked in between them.

"Hey, watch it Mrs.H!" Van yelled. I didn't acknowledge him, but marched on to where Brock was sitting on a lawn chair under a big Oak tree. He looked up when he heard me coming, and smiled, showing how happy he was to see me, even though we had talked not too long ago. His smile turned to a confused look when he saw how determined I appeared. He stood right as I was approaching him. I looked up at him right in the eyes with my hands on my hips.

"Brock?"

"Yes?" He choked out, looking somewhat scared.

"I'm about to talk a lot, and I don't want you to interrupt me. Because I know you just love to do that." He lifted his eye brows a little, and then agreed, with a slightly terrified yet amused look on his face. "Well, I should hate you. If you were anyone else, I probably would. I would probably never get over what you did to me, and just how badly you hurt me, and I would live my life striving to make yours a living hell." He looked down. "You know why? Because I was so in love with you, Brock." He looked back up slowly, his eyes showing pain and relief. "Everything about you. Every flaw, every bad habit- everything Brock. I loved every part of you And then one day you just changed! You did something I never imagined you would do. You became a different person. And from that point on, I've seen you as that awful person who took over one night of your life. But I've realized these last few weeks that that person isn't there anymore. I realize that you are who you were when I married you. That person who I was madly in love with. And I want everything we had back." His mouth dropped a little and I could tell he couldn't believe what I was saying. "I know it won't come easily, if it ever even comes back at all. For all we know, things may never be the same. We could end up just getting hurt even more than we already are. But you know what? I'm willing to take that chance. Because what we had... What we have...is perfect. It's all I could ever ask for, and it's what I've spent the last six years searching for. But you're the only place I know I'll ever find it. What we have is rare, Brock. But I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get it back. I'm done with judging you for a dumb mistake. And I'm so sorry if my words have hurt you these last few weeks. I've just tried so hard to keep you away so I wouldn't have to worry about falling for you again. But now, I'm done worrying. I'm taking a chance." I took a deep breath. "Brock, do you want to go on a date with me tomorrow night?"