Dallas, Texas

Leaving the hospital after their six week check-up, Sue Ellen couldn't stop smiling; it was a huge relief to hear from a doctor that both she and her son were right on track with where they should be and that as long as she kept up with their routines, there was no reason that should change. It was a boost to her self-esteem to know that she was doing a good job as a mother; she had been so worried in the beginning that she was incapable of caring for her son and that he was rejecting her as his mother, but after a little learning and practice, she was now more competent and confident. She'd also received good news about her relationship with JR; as long as she was comfortable and they were careful, there was no reason why they couldn't resume their intimate relationship. Just as JR had wanted their honeymoon and anniversaries to be special and memorable, she had decided a few weeks ago that he deserved to have a special evening/day/weekend planned for him for this event. However, just as much as her plans for the upcoming weekend were about her love for him, they were also about her empathy for his situation; he was a man of needs and despite the fact that she'd been trying to satisfy those needs as best she could, after six weeks, he was probably ready to resume a fuller relationship. Knowing the way she and JR were when they resumed contact after a drought, she had a feeling that a little time away from Southfork was just what they needed; no one in that house needed to know just how much they loved each other and frankly, she didn't want anyone else knowing it. Driving back to Southfork, feeding John Ross and then putting him down for a nap, she explained to Miss Ellie what she would like to do for JR and without even having to ask, she had a babysitter in place. Miss Ellie was a wonderful mother-in-law and grandmother, she was kind and understanding and she knew exactly what to say in any situation. In a moment of self-doubt, Sue Ellen had wondered whether it was really right for she and JR to go away for the weekend when their son was still so young, but Miss Ellie reassured her that it was exactly what they needed and John Ross would be just fine at Southfork for the weekend. The Ewings were a family and John Ross was part of that family; he would be well cared for and loved.

Leaving John Ross in Miss Ellie's care for the next few hours, she then drove over to Fort Worth; she liked the anonymity that Fort Worth offered her, especially when she was planning on purchasing a few things that she'd really rather not be questioned about. It was completely natural for her to want to feel good about herself and purchase a few special outfits for the occasion, but if she could avoid bumping into any of the DOA ladies on her shopping trip, then life would be much easier.

Fort Worth, Texas

Leaving a travel agency with their flights and accommodation booked, Sue Ellen made her way over to the only lingerie store she knew of in Fort Worth, purchasing a few new nightgowns for their weekend away as well as a few things for later on in the year, when she really looked her best. After purchasing the items she wanted, for both she and JR's pleasure, she remembered the practical side of their actions and made her way over to a nearby drugstore. Never in her life had she ever had to consider contraception, she'd always been abstinent, trying to conceive or pregnant, there was no in-between. She would begin taking the pill tomorrow, but Doctor Krane had advised her that for at least the next few weeks, it was preferable for she and JR to use other means of protection to prevent pregnancy; whether that meant abstinence again or condoms was up to them, she was just advised to know her options. She'd also been advised that their physical connection may not be the same as it was pre-pregnancy and there was no shame in that, she simply needed to know how to solve those issues if they did arise. On her shopping list were two items; the first had been relatively easy for her to choose, each bottle described its use and benefits and she'd chosen the one with the longest list; it wasn't so much a medical decision as it was a consumerist one, she was easily influenced by marketing. Her impressionable mind was confused when it came to the men's section though; as easily as she had been able to use her female knowledge to work out which product was right for her, the use of different words that really meant nothing of any value simply confused her. She'd slept with a total of one man so even if she believed he was a 'large', she had no way of knowing, and what exactly were the pros and cons of 'thin', 'transparent', 'shaped', 'colored'? Overwhelmed by choice and her own nativity, she decided to leave it to JR to decide what he needed, because as much as she hated to think about it, he had years of experience choosing protection for himself and from the absence of illegitimate children in his life, he knew which ones worked best.

Dallas, Texas

Packing their bags on Friday afternoon, Sue Ellen excitedly waited for JR to come home. She had their flights booked for 7pm and Miss Ellie was more than happy to look after John Ross for the two days they would be away, all she needed now was for JR to come home so that she could surprise him with her news. She knew he probably wouldn't be extremely surprised that they could resume full intimacy again, he'd been waiting for this day for weeks, however, the fact that she had booked a weekend for them to enjoy themselves, away from Southfork and Dallas, would come as a complete surprise to him. Hearing his car park in the driveway, she excitedly ran downstairs and outside. Relieved to see that he appeared to be in a good mood himself, problems at Ewing Oil could make or break a weekend, she bounded toward him, unable to contain her excitement. Surprised but not upset by the amount of energy she was displaying, JR held her in place for a moment, giving her enough time to stop and think before speaking, "I have a surprise for you". Watching the grin on her face widen as she spoke, JR knew it had to be something exciting and when she kissed him with the passion that was usually contained to their bedroom, he had a fair idea of what the 'surprise' was. "I can't wait to find out", grinning back at her and then kissing her again, he then stopped what they were doing and took her hand, leading her into the house. She probably had special evening planned for them and he would respect those plans, but that didn't mean that they couldn't still enjoy themselves right now.

To be continued…

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