A/N: This turned out to be one of my shorter chapter stories. Really it's a super-long one-shot broken into four sections. I just wanted to explore a "what if" scenario and hit all the important scenes. I don't think I'll write a sequel, but I also didn't think I'd write another Reba story, so you never know. Thanks for the reviews!

Part IV

May 2008

Reba didn't date anyone else after her fling with Brock. As usual, life got in the way. Steady business meant opportunities for overtime hours. Cheyenne's baby needed a caretaker and Elizabeth needed help with her kindergarten homework. Kyra had an unpredictable schedule that took her to an out-of-state one week and a studio session the next. High school freshman and underdog athlete Jake finally gave up on sports when he landed a part in the play (a fact his father still struggled to accept).

Meanwhile, everyone commented on the new friendship between Reba and Brock. Over the phone, Barbra Jean even "subtly" asked if anything more was going on. Reba and Brock just laughed off the questions while Kyra rolled her eyes. The two felt liberated now that they had closure. Instead of wondering "what if," they could move on.

...except, six months later, they were nowhere near "moved on." They had dinner with Jake, and Kyra when available, almost every night. On occasion, if no one else was looking, Brock would kiss Reba's cheek or Reba would put her arms around him.

Reba made a mental note to keep this in check at the party over the weekend. Barbra Jean and Henry were flying in for Elizabeth's birthday/kindergarten graduation. Reba and Brock also thought to get a cake for Henry since his birthday had been the week before. While Brock kept his promise to visit Henry, this would be Reba's first time seeing her "best friend" in over a year. She even admitted that she missed Barbra Jean's antics to an extent. Reba's life had never been dull with Barbra Jean around.

An hour before the party started, Barbra Jean helped Reba and Brock with decorations. While Reba and Brock put up banners and balloons, Barbra Jean sat in a club chair attaching tape to cardboard signs. They were alone in the living room while the rest of the family took care of their own tasks. "So how's it going at the station, Barbra Jean?" Reba asked. Brock's other ex and their son only flew into Houston the night before. This was the group's first real chance to catch up.

Instead of answering, Barbra Jean leaned forward towards them. She looked like she was trying to solve a puzzle and couldn't figure it out.

"Why aren't you two dating?"

The balloon in Brock's hand popped. Reba froze while she adjusted a banner. "Excuse me?" they replied in unison. Brock added, "You mean each other?"

"Yeah! Actually I thought you'd be remarried by now," Barbra Jean continued, ignoring their shock. "For six years, all anyone said around here is that I broke up your marriage. Now...what's stopping you?" She hesitated when she noticed the guilt on their faces. "Look, am I upset that Brock and I couldn't work out? Of course I am. But you guys are still family and I want you to be happy."

Touched by her confession, Reba and Brock took seats on the couch across from her. "That's incredibly gracious of you, Barbra Jean," Brock said, glancing at Reba. "And to be honest, we...thought about it a few months after you left."

Reba let out a deep breath, knowing what she planned to say contradicted the bitter grudge she'd held onto for years. She'd wanted to share some thoughts with Barbra Jean when they saw each other again, so apparently the time for her speech was now. "I've grown enough that I can admit Brock and I had a lot of our own problems before you came along, Barbra Jean. Brock and I might have been able to get through it back then if he didn't leave, but now, our lives are very different. Our family is different. We're not going to jeopardize everything we fought so hard for by trying again, just because it feels like the obvious next step."

It was Barbra Jean's turn to be stunned. Even Brock did a double-take. "Wow," she whispered. "You have thought about this."

Taking Barbra Jean's hand in his, Brock explained, "Thank you, though. We had our problems too, but you'll always be family, Barbra Jean. Everyone...yes, everyone, misses you here, but we also hope you find nothing but success in Little Rock."

Overwhelmed, Barbra Jean wrapped both Reba and Brock in a bone-crushing hug. She was wiping away tears when they pulled apart. "But would it really be so terrible for you two to get back together? I get that you're not ready now, but in a few years when Kyra's moved out and Jake's graduated high school, and if neither of you are seeing someone else..."

Reba and Brock shrugged at each other. "If there's a single thing we've learned here, it's that Brock and I have a bond that won't be broken easily," Reba replied. "Whatever's meant to happen will happen. We just have to handle it the best we can."

The End