Dallas, Texas

Hearing the news as they stood gathered in the Southfork dining room, called together supposedly for a rare family breakfast, the real reason obvious now, Bobby froze.

"Congratulations!"

Lucy was the first to speak, addressing both JR and Sue Ellen.

Jenna was next, whispering loudly enough for all to hear, "I knew it."

"The more Ewings the merrier."

Always delighted by the idea of grandchildren, his daddy was as expected, thrilled.

"Congratulations." Holding his own hand out to shake JR's, he meant what he said, he was happy for his brother and sister-in-law, however his feelings on the wider subject were a lot more complicated than that.

Just over a year ago, he and Pam had surprised the family with the news that they were expecting to welcome a baby, news that had absolutely devastated Sue Ellen as she'd only just recently lost a pregnancy of her own. This time around, the shoe was on the other foot and he was the one who needed to deal with potential negative feelings that came from otherwise happy news. He'd lost Pam and Will suddenly and grieved their losses, finding happiness with Jenna only to find out after they were married that she wasn't so different to how Pam had been, not keen to find out what having a family with him would be like.

He didn't wish JR and Sue Ellen anything but happiness, they'd had their fair share of unhappy circumstances and he never wanted anyone to feel as he had, he simply wished that they weren't the only ones who got to share in the delight of new life.

Houston, Texas

Champagne glass in hand, surrounded by flowers, balloons, family and family friends gathered outside on the patio to celebrate her graduation, the late morning sun already felt hot against Katherine's shoulders, a sign of good things to come. They were heading to Europe for the summer as they always did but she anticipated a series of wonderful, relaxing pool days between her house and Alice's home and before she left the country and returned in the fall to much cooler temperatures in New York.

"You're going to love Hamilton, it has a real charming small town feel but you're not that far from the city when you want to be."

"That's exactly how I feel about it, we visited a few times and I just fell in love with the campus. I want to end up in New York eventually too so it's a natural fit."

Looking at her father as she mentioned the word 'we', she then returned to addressing her aunt Margaret.

Hamilton wasn't really anywhere near New York City on a map, but by plane she could be in the city in just over an hour, which along with a number of other factors had made her decision a little bit easier. She'd been a little overzealous in applying, but it had paid off and she'd had her pick of colleges to choose from when the letters arrived in the mail.

She hadn't been accepted into Barnard however it was probably for the best as on her college visit she'd decided she really preferred a traditional campus feel to being surrounded by the city. Wellesley, Mount Holyoke and Bryn Mawr had all been contenders but in the end, she'd decided she'd at least like the option of graduating with a ring on her finger and that would be a lot harder to do attending a women's college.

The final choice had really been between Williams, Vassar and Colgate and she wouldn't admit it to her parents but she'd made her decision based solely on the fact that she wanted to join a sorority. Academics, campus locations and other extracurricular activities simply hadn't led her to a conclusive answer, they were all excellent schools, but only one offered her the opportunity for sisterhood.

"Sweetheart, don't sell yourself short, there are plenty of nice college campuses, they don't all come with excellent academics."

Listening to her daddy's supportive comments, she smiled. She'd miss him when she left for college but she knew he was always only a phone call away when she needed him.

Appearing at her side, Florencia waited patiently for a break in the conversation before announcing to her. "Miss Wentworth, there's a call for you."

"Thank you. Excuse me."

Nodding at her father and their guests, she turned and headed inside, walking upstairs, leaving the noise of the party behind.

Closing her bedroom door behind her, she set her champagne coupe down on her nightstand and answered the phone.

"Hello, Katherine speaking."

"Good afternoon Katherine, it's Doctor Davis here."

Hearing the familiar voice, it occurred to her that this wasn't the first time he'd tried to contact her and it was rude of her to have not returned his earlier messages.

"Oh, Doctor Davis, I'm sorry I didn't call sooner, I've been so busy with finals and now graduation that it completely slipped my mind, I've barely had a free moment these past few weeks."

"I understand."

"You'll be glad to hear that heartburn seems to have gone away since I stopped eating spicy food."

Sure he was calling to follow-up on the complaint she'd had a number of weeks earlier, she gave him the answer before he had to ask, not wanting to waste any more of his time than she already had.

"And the cramps?"

"They're only occasional and not really cramps as such, more like a nervous stomach. I'm sure it was the stress of finals week."

Touching her hand to her stomach, she confirmed to herself that there was nothing going on at present, most likely because she didn't have a single thing to be stressed about.

"I wouldn't be so sure."

Vague and quiet, which was very unlike him, the tone of his answer brought back the butterflies in her stomach she thought had disappeared months ago.

"Is something wrong?"

"Not wrong, but your tests did show something we're going to need to meet to discuss."

Finding his comment to be anything but reassuring, she asked again for clarification.

"I feel fine now. What did my tests show?"

"I ran the samples more than once, you're pregnant."

Dropping the phone as if it were on fire, she fell to her knees automatically when the sensation that someone had knocked the wind out of her took hold.

Dizzy and disoriented as she struggled for breath, she attempted to make sense of what she'd just heard.

To be continued…