I've been convinced to write something again, and based on how much I love this show it just had to be Dallas. This fic will focus on most of the characters with some reference to what's going on in the show but nothing concrete and a lot of it is my own creation. Of course, the characters themselves belong to Dallas TNT but I hope you will enjoy my version of their story.
"Dad, are you sure this dinner is a good idea? I mean, I know you're just trying to get us all together as a family, but, well, I just can't see everyone sitting down as if nothing's happened." Christopher couldn't help voicing his doubts to his father. He could see how determined he was to get the Ewings to stop all the fighting and start acting like a family and he feared how disappointing it would be when, as usual, the Ewings failed at this task.
"Son, I know I can't just expect us to become one big happy family. Lord, I know better than anyone what we've all been through, but that's exactly why I think we all need to sit down together; we need to communicate for us to be able to mend these cracks before we break apart." Bobby smiled at his son and hoped that he could understand why he was doing this.
"And anyhow, we can't let all this good food go to waste now can we?" Added Ann in the most cheerful tone she could muster. She had exactly the same doubts as Christopher, but as she'd watched her husband work tirelessly to ensure that all the family would agree to this meal she hadn't found it in her heart to say anything to him. Instead, she supported him as always and attempted to lighten the mood before the others arrived.
"Mmm, you are so right Annie that is delicious." Bobby commented as Ann spooned him a taste of the soup she was preparing to serve as a starter from the pan, "but hot!" he added teasingly as he gulped from a glass of water to lessen the burning of his tongue.
As the pair laughed, Christopher checked his phone. "Elena's just arriving; I'm going to go let her in." He informed them as he left the kitchen.
"Hi." Elena wrapped her arms around Christopher and gave him a kiss on the cheek as he opened the door to her.
"Hey, you're early, dinner's not quite ready." He smiled and kissed her back.
"Oh I know, I just thought I'd come and make sure you were alright before everyone arrived, I know you've not been looking forward to this." Her words were comforting and Christopher smiled knowing that she was on his side. Recently, they'd had enough troubles of their own and it had felt like they were spilt between their own families but tonight they could face things as a couple.
"Hmm, you're right, I'm still not sure that this is going to work out, but Dad and Ann are so set on it going well so let's try our best to smile and get through it." He placed his arm around her waist and walked with her back towards the kitchen where Bobby and Ann's voices could be heard.
"Hi guys, sorry I'm so early." Elena walked over to the couple and exchanged hugs and kisses in a warm welcome.
"Don't be silly, you're welcome here any time of the day or night it's just that the food is still cooking so can I get you a drink instead?" Booby, always so welcoming, made sure that Elena knew how important a part of their family she was. He'd also noticed the distance between her and Christopher recently and one of his many motives for the night was to make sure they mended things between them.
"I would love a glass." Elena smiled as Bobby held up a bottle for approval.
"I wouldn't mind a glass of that too." Emma spoke as she came into the room from upstairs and smiled a greeting at everyone.
"Oh, it sounds like someone else has arrived." Ann stated as she heard the doorbell ring. "Bobby could you get that please, I must make sure this doesn't burn."
"Sure honey." Bobby said, handing the glasses of wine to Elena and Emma before going to open the door.
"John Ross." Bobby shook his nephew's hand as he welcomed him into the house.
"Uncle Bobby." It was their usual short address to one another but it seemed a little less frosty. It had taken a long time for Bobby to convince John Ross to come along, he'd been convinced that it was all a ploy and that business tricks would be the main course, so Bobby was pleased that he'd actually turned up.
"Come on through, we're still waiting for Sue Ellen to arrive but dinner won't be long now."
John Ross followed Bobby into the kitchen where he was greeted a little less warmly than Elena had been moments earlier. Bobby had never expected tensions to simple vanish but they could be felt a little harshly as John Ross and Christopher made eye contact.
"Cousin, what are you drinking?" It was Christopher who made this first move, he couldn't deny that he didn't want John Ross there any more than his cousin wanted to be there but for his father's sake he decided it was best to be the bigger person.
John Ross accepted the offer, not only for the drink but for peace between the cousins – for one evening at least. Everyone took their places at the table, chatting over their drinks as Ann continued cooking and from the outside it would appear that this was one big happy family.
"Bobby this soup is almost ready to serve; do we know what's holding Sue Ellen up?" Ann asked politely, they'd told everyone that dinner would be served at seven, now at ten past Ann was a little anxious that the food was going to be dry, if not burnt.
"No, John Ross do you know where your mother is? I thought she might be coming here with you."
"I spoke to her earlier and she just said she'd meet me here, didn't mention where she was going but she said there was something she had to do."
"Alright, well you start dishing up Annie and I'll go and give Sue Ellen a call."
Bobby was out of the room for a few moments whilst Ann made sure everyone had enough soup and bread and topped up the drinks – the perfect hostess, before her husband came back in to join them.
"She didn't pick up. I left a message but I don't think we can let this lovely food get cold so why don't we start and I'm sure she'll be here soon enough." Bobby smiled as he encouraged everyone to tuck in. It was unlike Sue Ellen to be late, at least without letting anybody know why, but everything was going to smoothly that he just wanted to start enjoying the meal.
As the starter finished and the main course was served compliments flew about the room for Ann's cooking and she graciously accepted them. There was still no sign of Sue Ellen but the guests refrained from commenting as light conversation flowed and nobody wanted to spoil an evening which was going surprisingly well.
Ann was clearing away the empty plates of what was a beautiful main meal when a knocking was heard at the door.
"Gosh someone's eager to get in." Commented Emma as the crashing at the door increased.
"Maybe it's Sue Ellen." Christopher added.
"My mamma knows how to use a doorbell thank you very much." John Ross sniped, unable to hold back from sneering at his cousin.
"Now, now, be quiet and I'll go see who it is." Bobby didn't want things to start getting out of hand at the dinner table but whoever was at the door was making a huge racket so he got up to see who was causing the disturbance.
"Where is he?" A voice was heard shouting as Bobby opened the door and those at the table quietened to listen to what was going on.
"I said; where is he Bobby?" The voice grew louder as the person came into the house.
"You bastard!" She shouted at she stormed into the room and everyone looked rather surprised to see that it was Sue Ellen.
"Mamma?" John Ross looked bewildered as his mother stormed over to him then slapped him.
"All those times you hurt me JR and I still loved you. I was such a fool, I still am! You use people and hurt people and I'm not taking it anymore, you hear me?" There was silence as Sue Ellen screamed at her son until Bobby intervened.
"Sue Ellen, stop." He didn't shout but pulled her away from John Ross to stop her from hitting him again.
"Get your hands off me Bobby, I'm gonna kill him!" She struggled in his arms.
"Mamma, it's me, it's John Ross." He desperately tried to get his mother to recognise him but she continued to shout, convinced that the man before her was JR.
"Sue Ellen, how much have you had to drink?" Bobby turned her round to face him, holding her shoulders so that she stood upright. "How much drink Sue Ellen?" He asked again when she didn't respond.
"Bobby, why didn't I marry you?" Her words slurred now as she stopped screaming and began to cry.
"I'm not going to stand here and listen to this." John Ross pushed past his mother and Bobby to leave the room, not wanting anyone to see the tears in his own eyes – he hadn't seen his mother like this in as long as he could remember, and it hurt.
"Bobby let's take her upstairs, she looks like she needs to lie down." Ann soothingly rubbed Sue Ellen's arm as she lulled in Bobby's arms.
"I just want him back, Bobby I need JR back, I have to tell him I love him." She sobbed uncontrollably and Christopher came over to help his father hold her up.
"Alright, it's alright Sue Ellen, let's get you upstairs." Bobby allowed Christopher to take half of Sue Ellen's weight so that they could both guide her upstairs. The scene had brought memories flooding back for Bobby – countless times he had needed to carry a drunken Sue Ellen upstairs and once again it was because of JR.
"I'll make sure she's alright Bobby, you both go downstairs, I think dinners over." Ann attempted to smile but everyone looked solemn as they left the room.
"Pamela?" Sue Ellen looked dazed as she laid her head back on the pillow.
"No, Sue Ellen it's me Ann. I think you best get to sleep my love; you're going to have one hell of a headache in the morning." She drew the covers over her friend and gently pushed her hair away from her forehead.
A tear ran down Sue Ellen's cheek as she looked into Ann's eyes and whispered, "I loved him so much Pamela."
"I know you did darling." Ann said with a tear in her own eye now that she saw how fragile this woman was, "I know."
Please comment and let me know what you think, many thanks, M :)
