Dallas, Texas

"Do you like it? I know we already have one that we bring on vacation with us, but this is specifically a gift for you, to use whenever and wherever you like. I've been assured that it's easy to use and it comes with this case that supposedly fits well into your purse, so you can bring it anywhere", handing Sue Ellen the camera, JR waited in anticipation for his wife's reaction. He knew she enjoyed receiving the jewellery and flowers he purchased for her, but he wanted her to be able to remember the event in more ways than just by looking at their son and the pretty, sparkly tokens of remembrance that went along with his birth. A camera was really a gift that kept on giving; it had practical usage, would last for a long time and allowed his wife to always have the means of capturing special moments, especially the ones he would miss while he was at work all day. He knew that she was always overly cautious when it came to their shared possessions and wouldn't dare just take something without first asking his permission, even though she didn't need to, they were married and what was his was hers too. However, even with his reassurances that she was entitled to take and use whatever she wanted, he knew that it was easier for him to simply give her something of her own, at least that way he was guaranteed not to miss some of the special moments in his son's life. Neither of them had many photographs from their own childhoods, partially due to the low popularity of personal cameras and partially due to parental disinterest, but JR was determined to do things differently with their son, even if it was something small like encouraging his wife to capture the small moments on film for no purpose other than memories. "I love it. Thank you for being so thoughtful", Sue Ellen still couldn't get over how amazing her husband had been over the past few months, he was like a completely different man sometimes and she absolutely adored how he treated her. It may have taken him a while, but he seemed to really want to be a good husband and father now and she couldn't fault his efforts.

"Is there film in it?" thinking along the same lines as her husband, Sue Ellen was ready to start making and capturing memories for their family and with the nurse fetching John Ross from the nursery right now, she thought it was the perfect time to start recording their current happiness. She'd been through a few emotional ups and downs over the past forty-eight hours and it would be a lie to say that she'd been completely prepared for everything motherhood had and would throw at her, but despite the challenges she'd faced, ultimately, she was happy, very, very happy. "Of course darlin'", mentally patting himself on the back at his successful gift giving, JR grinned to himself as the mixture of happiness and pride welled inside him. Watching his wife give birth and then seeing and interacting with their son had been an eye-opening experience for him and although he'd been reluctant to listen and really comprehend and apply his father's words to his own life in the past, he now understood what he'd been trying to tell him all the way back in 1967. There was nothing inherently wrong with being a bachelor and really enjoying his time as a bachelor, but there came a time in a man's life where he had to leave that lifestyle behind and face up to his responsibilities, first as a serious adult and second as a real family man. After reuniting with Sue Ellen, he'd really begun to understand what it meant to be a good husband and actually enjoy being married, but now that their son was here and he was a father, he had an even better understanding of what his father had been trying to tell him. For the first time in his life, he was genuinely pleased with the way everything in his life currently was; he had a wife, a son and he was set to gain control of 51% of Ewing Oil in just a few years. Things were good, very good and for once in his life he didn't find himself wondering about the what ifs of taking a different path anymore, he was happy with what he had now and none of the temporary women in his life or the pursuit of small, petty victories compared to the way seeing his family made him feel. Sure, he loved doing business and he got a huge thrill out of winning a battle or using his deviousness to crush an unsuspecting but deserving opponent and he'd probably never change in that aspect, but in his personal life, something had changed within him. He finally had the familial love he'd longed for his entire life, even when he didn't want to admit to it, and he wasn't prepared to do anything to mess that up. What he did in business was for them; he wanted his son to grow up looking at him with the same reverence he had for his father and he wanted his wife to be proud to be Mrs JR Ewing. Now, his plans to build Ewing Oil into the biggest independent oil company in Texas were not only for his own ego and to make his father proud, they were for his son, his wife and their family.

"Mama loves you, yes I do", speaking softly and playfully as she worked on fastening his new diaper, Sue Ellen smiled as her son quietly gurgled and she was convinced that he even let out a small hint of a smile, as much as a newborn could, in response to her words. Perhaps everyone had been right, he did seem to be responding better to her calmness and relaxed demeanour than her previous tense disposition. Allowing herself to relax and just interact with him as if it were a normal thing, not something she were being graded on really did seem to be a better, more successful approach and although she knew that his contentedness wouldn't last forever, his current mood was slowly building her self-confidence back up. "There we go, all done", snapping his tiny yellow sleeper onesie together, she picked him up and held him to her chest, loving the way he felt against her. She always loved her son and nothing could change that, but in moments when he was calm and content like he was now, her heart swelled with happiness and she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the feelings she had for him. She'd wanted a family of her own for years, prior to JR, prior to Clint or any of the other men she had dated, she'd always imagined that her future would look something like her reality was now and the fact that she was comparing the two and had no disappointments pleased her greatly. Provided that the doctors were happy with their health, she and John Ross would be leaving the hospital and heading home to Southfork to start their lives together tomorrow and as much as she sometimes wished that she and JR lived on their own, she was grateful for the familial love and support living at Southfork would provide. Taking a step back for a moment to observe his wife and son, there was no doubt in JR's mind that he had made the right decision all those years ago. Walking backstage at the Miss Texas pageant to introduce himself and then pursuing the popular beauty queen he now called his wife and the mother of his son was the best decision he ever made; she was a loving and devoted wife and mother and he couldn't have asked for anything more.

To be continued…