Austin, Texas

Sue Ellen timidly boarded the Ewing jet. JR would meet her at the Dallas airfield to bring her to her hotel and then to Southfork. He'd offered her a guest room at Southfork but she wasn't quite ready for that yet. She hadn't even met his family and wasn't sure she wanted to commit herself to staying in their home.

Staring out the window, she remembered her first time meeting Clint's parents. Clint was attending UT Austin on an engineering scholarship and was originally from Longview, Texas, a four and a half hour drive from Austin, so his parents didn't often visit. The first time she'd met them she was nervous, but not half as nervous as she was right now.

In contrast to her own mother, Clint's parents had been very nice and complimentary toward their relationship. Her mother liked JR, probably more because of his money and social standing than because of his personality, but that was just her mother, always looking ahead for a personal gain.

She hoped JR's parents were as nice as Clint's had been. She wanted Mr and Mrs Ewing to approve of her for who she was and how much she cared for JR. She didn't want them to think she was only interested in their name or money, because she wasn't.

Dallas, Texas

The Ewing jet landed and Sue Ellen exited the plane, finding JR waiting for her as she walked onto the runway. They drove to her hotel, dropped off her things and then made their way to Southfork.

"JR, are you sure your parents will be happy to meet me? What if I say something wrong and embarrass you, or what if they don't approve of me just because they don't like me?"

Worried, she craved approval and was anxious about making a good impression. She often doubted her own abilities because her mother had raised her with the goal of perfection and the belief that anything less wasn't good enough.

"Darlin', they'll love you, I promise. You're everything that they ever wanted. You're beautiful, polite, personable, smart and a real lady. My mama took to you the moment you had that short conversation. She called you a nice young lady and that was only based on a phone call. I promise that everyone will like you and approve of you."

Squeezing her hand with his own, he attempted to reassure her.

Pulling into the long driveway, Sue Ellen was in awe. JR's home was a beautiful white ranch house surrounded by acres and acres of land. She remembered when she used to imagine her future as a little girl, the home in front of her was exactly the type of home she had pictured, a family home.

Her mind flashed back to her engagement to Clint. She'd been so worried about where they would live but with JR she had no worries about the type of life he would provide his wife and children with.

JR parked the car and got out to open her door, whispering to her, "they'll love you, I promise."

At that moment, the sliding door to the house opened and Miss Ellie, Jock and Lucy walked outside, approaching the couple.

"Mama, daddy, this is Sue Ellen."

Waving his hand in her direction, it became obvious that JR rarely introduced women to his parents in the context of the relationship they had with each other.

"How do you do Mr and Mrs Ewing."

Trying hard to appear put together, inside she was a nervous wreck. JR's parents were such imposing figures and she truly wished to make a good impression.

"Lovely to finally meet you Sue Ellen, please, call me Miss Ellie."

First to respond, JR's mother pulled her into a friendly hug, an unexpected action.

Next, JR's father, Jock, welcomed her, although did not hug her.

"Sue Ellen, this is Lucy, my little niece."

Introducing her, JR's niece looked to be around Kristin's age.

"Nice to meet you Lucy, you know, I have a younger sister who looks about your age, maybe you two will meet someday."

"I'd like that; I always need new friends around here. It gets boring playing by myself all the time. That's why grandma promised me that I could have a little brother or sister soon."

Pleased with how things had gone so far, it was Lucy's comment that shocked JR back to reality. His parents were too old to be having any more children, but he had a feeling that the 'brother or sister' promised to Lucy was actually the long awaited John Ross Ewing III. He hoped that Sue Ellen would one day be his wife and the mother of his children but they weren't even thinking about that stage of life yet so to mention it aloud felt premature.

"Why don't we sit down and have some iced tea."

Chuckling at the young girl and her brazen words, his mother saved the situation by then motioning for them to leave the driveway and sit out on the patio where Teresa stood waiting to fill their glasses.

Sitting close Sue Ellen, he held her hand underneath the table, quietly reassuring her that she was doing just fine. His parents asked her questions about herself, her family and her life and it appeared to him that they were impressed he'd managed to find himself such a well-rounded young lady.

Across the table, Jock's appreciation for Sue Ellen grew as she spoke. He'd always thought of beauty queens as vapid, nothing going for them but looks, but JR's girl had a lot of redeeming qualities and JR would be silly not to do everything he could to keep her.

Equally interested, Lucy listened to the conversation and quietly observed her uncle's behaviour. The nice lady he'd brought home had a strange effect on him and she hoped that would continue. She remembered too what her grandma had said about a baby, that if she wanted one to join the family then she should ask her uncle JR.

"Grandma, may I go upstairs and show Sue Ellen my dollhouse?"

She didn't understand everything but she knew that for her uncle JR to bring her a new family member then he'd need a wife, and she wished to know whether to focus her energy on encouraging him to put Sue Ellen in that position.

Hearing the question spoken by the child, Sue Ellen couldn't say she was expecting it, but she wasn't at all discouraged. She hadn't realised that she'd made such an impression on her but she liked that she had.

Heading inside, she took in the interior; it was just as nice as the exterior and she hoped maybe someday her and JR's children would enjoy the home.

Passing a few closed doors, they came to an open door and Lucy proceeded to show her inside, excitedly encouraging her to sit down and play along as she shared her dollhouse, dolls and their accessories.

"Sue Ellen? If you came to live here, would you do things like this with me? Grandma is fun to play with, but some things are more fun with more than one person."

Interrupting their imaginary play with a very real question, Lucy's inquisitiveness was flattering, although the loneliness she clearly felt was obvious. She knew what it was like to feel lonely and she empathised greatly with the child. It seemed that she craved a mother and a friend.

"I'd love to."

Outside, JR sat on the patio listening to his parents compliment Sue Ellen. He was pleased they approved and seemed to really like her, pleased not just for Sue Ellen but for himself too. It was a new feeling for him to have his parents' endorsement and support for one of his choices because usually it wasn't so easy to please them.

Noting Sue Ellen and Lucy had been away for a while, he wondered how they were getting along and what they were doing. Excusing himself, he walked upstairs, hearing the two before he saw them; Lucy was giggling as Sue Ellen made voices to go along with the dolls personalities. Standing unannounced for a time he felt satisfied that if she was like this with a child she'd just met then she'd be a wonderful mother.

Clearing his throat, he made his presence known.

"Lucy, why don't you go and see grandma and I'll take Sue Ellen on a tour of the ranch."

Taking Sue Ellen's hand, he led her outside for a helicopter tour of Southfork, a brand new and clearly exciting experience for her.

Later, they walked down toward the stables. Sue Ellen had some experience in riding horses and enjoyed it very much but didn't get to do it very often whereas he wasn't much of a horse person and simply enjoyed making her happy.

Leaving the horses behind, he made a suggestion, one that he'd been wanting to action all day, after being around people constantly it seemed.

"Darlin', why don't we go up to the hayloft, you get a great view from up there."

Assisting her up the ladder, the two settled to look out the small window.

"JR, I'm having a wonderful time, thank you for bringing me to meet your family."

Wrapping his arms around her, her back to his chest, he whispered in her ear, "it was all you darlin', I told you they'd love you."

Turning her away from the window slowly, back toward him, he did what he'd been holding out for all day, kissed her, delighted when Sue Ellen passionately reciprocated.

"Uncle JR? Sue Ellen? Are you in here?"

Pulling away as Lucy's voice interrupted the moment, he was ready to pretend he hadn't heard her, but she persisted.

"Uncle JR? Granddaddy sent me to find you and bring you back to the house, uncle Bobby is home."

Looking at Sue Ellen apologetically, he cleared his throat.

"We're here. We'll be right down. Run along and tell granddaddy that."

Hearing Lucy leave the stables, he guided Sue Ellen down the ladder and after making sure they looked acceptable, they walked back to the house together, Sue Ellen's amusement clear. It wasn't the first time they'd been interrupted and it wouldn't be the last.