Hello everyone, I found this written in a book and knew it was time to get it typed up and posted so here it is. Hopefully, it'll tide you all over until I post my Sue Ellen/Harris fic. A huge thank you to Ravenclaw's Redhead for betaing this. I do not own anything in regards to Dallas; the rights belong to David Jacobs.
Two years had passed. The family had had their fair share of ups and downs but they were happy once more, even if the core that had once held them together was still missing. Bobby had taken up the mantle of head of the family, and after a little uncertainty but assurance from Sue Ellen he'd soon fit into the role. But today he needed to be alone just for a short time to grieve for the brother he'd lost. Bobby couldn't deny that at times he'd hated J.R. for his deceptive ways. But, he'd also looked up to him and most of all; he'd loved him because nothing was thicker or stronger than a bond between brothers.
Dismounting from the horse, he walked over the grass, the gentle breeze of the summer wind cool to the touch, which he was grateful for. Opening the gate, he stepped inside the small family cemetery that was in the shade of the trees and walked along to stand by his brother's grave.
Crouching down in front of it, he sighed and traced his fingers across the engraving on the marble headstone.
"It sure doesn't feel like two years have passed, J.R. Not with everything that has happened…" he trailed off, already feeling his throat constrict but he swallowed the lump in his throat and continued, "John Ross is a lot calmer now and he's going to be a father. I think you'd be proud of the man he is now."
Pamela was five months along and it had been a welcome surprise after she and John Ross had given their relationship another go.
"I just hope he stays this way, J.R. I know you would have loved to be here to see things unfold. The house still isn't the same without you, there's that never-ending void that will never be filled, brother."
He paused then, feeling tears well up, but he held them at bay as he added, "Sue Ellen is good, I know she comes to see you from time to time, she needs the talks with you as much as me, but through the grief we found each other and I love her. What I want to say is that we all miss you. I'd trade a day just to tell you this in person because you went when there was still so much I had to tell you, but I'm telling you now. But I know you're looking down on us with Mom and Dad." The tears fell silently, he didn't stop them.
He wished he'd been there before J.R. had passed, to say goodbye properly, maybe even to make peace somehow, even though he felt as though that was what he was doing now.
"I'll raise a glass to you tonight, brother, I promise," he said through sobs, wiping the tears away on the sleeve of his shirt and stood up. At that moment a beam of light broke through the canopy of the trees to illuminate the gravestone and Bobby. For a moment, Bobby stood dumbstruck until a form stood before him just for a few minutes. It was J.R. He smiled at his younger brother and patted him on the shoulder, words not needed in that moment before he disappeared once more as the light faded.
Bobby felt a sense of calm wash over him as he smiled and left the cemetery before mounting the horse. He looked one last time at his brother's headstone before riding through the trees towards the field and back to Southfork.
As he'd promised before, that evening he raised a glass of bourbon to his brother. As he downed the amber liquid he smiled at the silent knowledge that although J.R. was no longer with them, his spirit would forever be at the heart of the family and Southfork.