A/N: I've had this story idea for a while and decided it could work for Ann and Bobby and what I'd like to see happen after the fire etc. For the purposes of this story the revelation about Cliff has not come out yet but it will. In a promo Bobby told Ann she lied to his face so I am guessing about Harris and somehow Bobby found out. Ann is not living at Southfork in this story. She's staying with Sue Ellen. It takes place about a month after the fire.
"You stood there, looked me in the face and you lied." Bobby said almost more hurt than angry
"Bobby, please, understand. After everything that happened, how could I tell you about Harris?" She pleaded, "It didn't mean anything."
"It's not about that, Ann." He said, "It's about you keeping secrets then flat out lying." He told her, "How can I ever trust you again?"
"Bobby, I'll do anything to make this right." She said through her tears
He shook his head, "I want you out of the house. I've had enough. Just stay out of my site." He snapped then turned and walked away
"No! Ann sat up in bed, her breathing rapid and shallow
Looking around Sue Ellen's guest bedroom she had to reorient herself to where she was. It was the same thing every night. The replaying of his bitter, angry words. How could she have been so stupid? She should have known after everything else that lying to him would come back to bite her. Why was she so scared to just tell the truth? He'd told her to tell Harris Emma had to move back in with him so why couldn't she have at least told him she went to see him? It didn't seem to matter now except for self examination. Bobby wasn't interested in her explanations, then or now. She figured it was just a matter of time before he filed for divorce and she would lose everything and on top of that things weren't much better with Emma. She had no idea how to reach that girl. Emma seemed to be on a path to destroy herself and she resented Ann saying anything. But considering the mess her own marriage was in maybe she wasn't the best person to give her daughter advice. She looked at the clock, just after six. She figured she might as well get up even if the day would stretch out in front of her without Bobby, without her family. Sue Ellen would go to work at Ewing Energies, as usual, and Ann was happy to see her friend taking control of her life again. In the month after the fire she'd made great strides in her sobriety. As she put her feet on the floor and stood up a wave of nausea swept over her and she rushed to the bathroom, making it just in time to empty her stomach. Then came the clammy, sweaty feeling. She knew it was stress but it had come like clockwork the last few mornings. She splashed her face with water then caught her reflection in the mirror. Pale, wan, with lifeless blue eyes. Then she sobbed, wondering again how she let it all get so out of control.
/
A short while later Ann was sitting at the breakfast bar nibbling on some toast and sipping orange juice. She just couldn't stomach coffee but had a pot brewing for Sue Ellen.
"Good Morning." Sue Ellen said with a bright smile
Ann just smiled, conversation was just too hard even with her best friend.
Sue Ellen studied her friend. She loved Ann dearly and hated what happened between her and Bobby but something was wrong with Ann. Something other than stress.
"You threw up again didn't you?" She asked pouring a cup of coffee
"It's nothing." Ann assured her
"No, it's not nothing, Ann." She said, "You need to see a doctor."
"I'm fine." She insisted
"No, you're not." She said, "Now, I'm not leaving here today until you promise to see your doctor. Or do I have to drag you?"
Ann sighed heavily, "Alright, I'll call to make an appointment as soon as the office opens."
Sue Ellen eyed her suspiciously.
"Cross my heart." She made an ex over her heart and held up her hand
"Okay, but you better not be just humoring me." Sue Ellen said
"I promise." Ann said
"Good." She looked at her watch, "I need to get going. Call me and let me know when you're appointment is."
"Yes, Mom." Ann called after her as Sue Ellen walked out the door
/
Ann sat in an exam room waiting to see the doctor. She hated those gowns. They always made her feel vulnerable. She'd hoped to just come in and give blood and that would be it but they ushered her into an exam room and there she sat.
"Hello, Ann." Dr. Bright said upon entering the room
"Hi." She replied softly, "So, what's wrong with me? The flu or somethin'?"
"Not exactly." the doctor, a dark haired woman about Ann's age, replied sitting on the stool
"Well, what then?"
"Before we talk, I'd like to do an internal exam." She insisted
"Why can't you just tell me?" Ann asked, growing concerned
"Lie back." She said, "This will just take a minute."
Ann did as she said and the doctor performed her exam.
"Okay, you can sit up." Dr. Bright said, pulling off the rubber gloves
"Well?"
"Just as I thought." She said, "You're pregnant."
"What?" Ann asked almost falling off the table
"Looks like about eight weeks." the doctor replied
"How? I mean I'm...well old." She said in disbelief
"You're what? Forty five?"
"Forty three." Ann corrected
"Well stranger things have happened. I've had a lot of patients over forty have babies and they're just fine. But we need to send you for an ultrasound. It won't take long."
"Okay." She mumbled
Dr. Bright smiled, "By the way, how's that handsome husband of yours? This is going to be quite a surprise for him."
Ann didn't answer, just stared out into space
"Ann?"
"Huh?"
"I asked how Bobby was doing. He's sure going to be surprised."
Ann smiled slightly, "Yeah, you don't the half of it."
A few minutes later Ann was lying on another table with her abdomen exposed as the technician ran the transducer over it.
"There it is." She said smiling
Ann gasped at the image about the size of a cherry swimming around inside her. Her eyes filled with tears
"Is this your first?" the technician asked
"No." She wiped her eyes, "I have a grown daughter. I just never imagined..."
"Well, everything looks good." She said, "So I'll print out the picture. You'll want to show this to your husband."
Ann just nodded
/
That evening Ann sat in Sue Ellen's living room staring at the ultrasound photo. She didn't know what to do. Here she was having a baby with a man she loved more than anything but he wanted nothing to do with her. Under different circumstances, aside from concern about her age, she and Bobby would be beside themselves at thee news. At least she thought they would be. It was altogether possible Bobby wouldn't be interested in having a baby in the first place. He was at a point in his life where he was thinking about grandchildren and if not for tragic circumstances he would be a grandfather already.
"So, how'd your appointment go?" Sue Ellen asked walking in the door just barely noticing Ann sitting there but there was no answer, "Ann?"
"Huh?" She asked looking up
"Are you okay?" She asked, "How was your appointment? What did the doctor say?"
Ann didn't know how to answer so she just handed Sue Ellen the photo.
She looked at it for a moment in disbelief, "Ann, is this what I think it is?"
Ann nodded
Sue Ellen sat down next to her and put her arm around her, "It's alright. You'll tell Bobby and it'll be alright."
"He hates me." She said
"No, he doesn't." Sue Ellen insisted
Ann looked at her, "He never even asks about me, does he?"
Sue Ellen's pause told Ann all she needed to know
"He's preoccupied with this mess with work at the office."
"It's just a matter of time before he files for divorce." Ann said
"Ann, I love you. You're my best friend. But you have to tell him. You know you can't keep it from him."
Ann nodded and wiped her eyes
/
Ann pulled up to Southfork. A place she once loved. The truth was she still did. All she wanted was her life back. She wanted to be here riding her horses, spending quiet evenings with Bobby. That was her life. Not this chaotic nightmare she was living. She rang the doorbell of the home where she was no longer welcome, hoping Bobby might at least listen to her.
Carmen opened the door, "Oh, Miss Ann. I'm so glad to see you. But you don't have to ring the doorbell."
Ann managed a smile, "How are you, Carmen?"
"Some days better than others." She said, "This place isn't the same without you."
Ann held back her tears, "Is Bobby here?"
"In the kitchen." She said, "Go on in."
"Thank you." Ann took a deep breath and walked down the hall and found Bobby sitting at the breakfast bar pouring over what looked like important papers, steeling herself she spoke, "Bobby." She said softly
He whipped around, "Ann." He said flatly, "What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk." She said nervously looking around
"There's nothing to talk about." He said
"Yes, there is." She said
He got up from his seat, "I suppose you're right." He said, "I've decided to file for divorce. I suggest you get a lawyer."
And there it was, that wounded look in her blue eyes, "Bobby, there's something you should know."
"More secrets, Ann?" He asked, "More lies?"
She looked down trying to gather herself then faced him again, "I'm...I'm pregnant, Bobby."
"What?" He asked
"I'm pregnant." She searched his face, his eyes for a glimpse of the man who once loved her
"You're really something, aren't you?" He snapped, "You really expect me to believe that?"
She opened up her purse and pulled out the ultrasound photo and handed it to him.
He took it and stared at it in disbelief then looked at her and he could see the fear all over her face. But all he could do was look at the photo again in disbelief.