Austin, Texas

"I still don't understand why you won't let me talk to your mother; I can be mighty persuasive when I want to", JR was annoyed, he wasn't a passive person and this wasn't easy for him. "I know you can be, but in this particular situation it would end up hurting us more than helping; my mother already thinks the worst of you and trying to persuade her to see this differently will only enhance that. She's already started talking about which men are still available, she would absolutely replace you if you stepped out of line; it wouldn't matter whether I wanted to go on a date with another man or not, she would make sure that I did and that you never saw me again. Please, just don't say anything. Let her calm down, and then maybe in a few weeks you can start that persuasive Ewing charm again", she begged him and he could see that she really was distressed about just how far her mother would go if she were angry enough. "Ok, I won't say anything. For now. However, maybe in the future your mama could use a little reminder about who is paying for that nice, private school Kristin is starting at in the fall and the reason she has that opportunity. She can't have it both ways", he looked at her and she looked visibly relieved that he wasn't going to get confrontational, at least not at the present moment. "Thank you. For this and for everything else; I have never met a man quite like you JR; my mother is not an easy person to deal with, so thank you for not exploding", she was continually surprised, sometimes she wondered why JR even wanted her. "Good, I like being one of a kind, and I'll gladly deal with your mother if it means I get to have you. Because I know that I don't tell you as often as I should, but I do love you", he lifted her hand to his lips and softly kissed it, "now, let's order dinner, because with this new ten o'clock curfew I don't want to waste a minute of our evening together.

Dallas, Texas

"JR, I want you to look over these contracts, and Bobby, you'll come with me to look at the Davis land. Ewing Oil is thinking of buying it but I want to see it in person first, it'll be a good experience for you", Jock spoke and JR was happy, at least Bobby was out of his way for the day and visiting land with their father wasn't exactly something JR needed to be there for. Jock was having a hard time with finding tasks Bobby could do, he wasn't as naturally talented in the technical department as JR was and it was becoming increasingly clear through his work. He had shown potential in the public relations field, networking and securing business meetings for Ewing Oil, but somehow he wasn't quite good enough for those meetings to actually materialise. Jock wasn't sure exactly what Bobby's future at Ewing Oil was, but he definitely had one, he was a Ewing and he was going to be part of the family business. As Jock and Bobby left the building, JR grinned to himself, his sabotage had worked and he was back to being the useful son again. It wasn't a permanent solution, but for the rest of the summer it would do. He was sure that Jock would be going over basic information with his brother and that would leave JR free to operate on his own terms, just the way he liked it. Things were good for him right now; the only immediate thing he had left was the small task of getting back on Patricia's good side, though he didn't think it would be too difficult, she was a woman who was easily swayed by money and that was something he had a lot of.

Austin, Texas

Kristin opened the door and saw JR standing with a bouquet of yellow roses in one hand and a bouquet of mixed flowers in the other. Inviting him into the house, she went to get her mother; she couldn't wait to witness another polite conversation between JR and Patricia, it was obvious that the two didn't particularly like each other right now. Patricia arrived and sent Kristin to tell Sue Ellen that JR had arrived, "these are for you Mrs Shepard" JR handed her the bouquet of flowers and she knew that she couldn't be too hostile toward him, not when he was trying to at least make a small effort. Sue Ellen walked down the stairs and JR was speechless, he often saw her dressed up for an evening out, but tonight she looked even more beautiful. "Happy anniversary darlin'" he kissed her on the cheek, handed her the flowers and they said their goodbyes before leaving the house.

Sue Ellen giggled as they entered the Driskill Hotel and took the stairs up toward the door marked 'Maximilian Room', she was experiencing déjà vu and was almost positive that inside the room would be a table, dancefloor and string quartet. "What's so funny?" JR asked, though he knew what she was giggling about, he wanted to hear her explain it. The doors opened and they entered the room, "oh JR" she gasped and then hugged him. "Do you like it?", he asked but already knew that she did, "yes, our first date was wonderful, and this just makes the memories even better", she looked into his eyes as she spoke, hoping that he could see exactly how she felt about him, "I love you JR, thank you". JR kissed her as he pulled her onto the dance floor, this was even better than their first date, there was no awkwardness and he didn't have to be quite as restrained in his physical approach as he had in the beginning.

"JR?" she took a sip of her champagne and reflected on their past year together, they'd had ups and downs, but she was so in love with him that the only things she cared about now were the good parts. "Mhm", he observed her, she was thinking and he was fairly sure that she was thinking about their relationship, they'd definitely had an interesting year, something he wouldn't have wanted to have with anyone else. "Did you ever think we'd get here?" he looked at her curiously, he wasn't quite sure of the meaning behind 'here'; "our relationship", she clarified, it was clear by his expression that he hadn't understood quite what she was asking. "I had no doubt. At the Miss Texas pageant, before we ever made eye contact and before we even spoke, I knew it. There were thirty-two women up on that stage and I couldn't see any of them but you. From the minute I laid eyes on you, I knew you would win and I knew that you would be mine one day. From that moment it was simple, I had to know you, no matter how much effort it took. Even when you didn't call me that first week that I sent flowers, I knew you would respond eventually. What happened between us that night was not a one-sided thing, I just had to be patient and wait, and eventually it worked, you did call me and we did go out. We may not have had the perfect relationship this past year, but I want you to know, I am trying and I do love you. So yes, not only did I think we'd be here tonight, I knew it", he looked straight into her eyes as he spoke and she got shivers, everything about him was appealing and he knew exactly how to melt her, "oh JR" she couldn't verbalise exactly how she felt, but he knew.

"I had a wonderful time JR; the dinner, the company, the carriage ride, everything. This second first date was perfect. Thank you" she kissed his cheek and moved closer to him as they sat in the limo on their way back to her mother's house. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself darlin'", he took it a step further and kissed her on the lips, this wasn't actually their first date and he wasn't bound by social etiquette. The limo stopped and he walked her to the door, Sue Ellen giggled as they stood outside, remembering the end of the night last year, "can I make a confession?" he looked intrigued and she continued to speak, "our first date, at the end of the night. I wanted so badly for you to kiss me, I'd wanted that all night, and then we were right here and you kissed me on the cheek. I can't describe it, that little kiss meant so much to me, but I wouldn't have minded if you…" she was about to continue when JR let out a small laugh, "I was trying to be a gentleman. Do you know how much self-control it took for me to just kiss your cheek?" Sue Ellen smiled widely as he confessed that they had felt exactly the same way, "I can imagine" she joked. JR was pleased to see how genuinely happy she was, "we got there in the end though, let's call it fate, and tonight we don't have any of those silly first date rules to follow, so I can do exactly what I know we both want", he took the opportunity to end their conversation and kissed her. Sue Ellen was thrilled, she was finally getting the end of the night kiss that she'd originally wanted, "happy anniversary JR" she whispered before wrapping her arms around his neck and opening her mouth to welcome his kiss.

To be continued…