Dallas, Texas

"I think I hear daddy. Shall we go and see him? Tell him how well you did at your doctor's check-up today?" gasping playfully as she heard JR's car parking in the driveway, Sue Ellen spoke her thoughts to John Ross and delighted in the squeal that resulted at the mention of 'daddy'. Although she and JR weren't in a calm, happy marriage right now, as parents, they were definitely on the same page and she adored that their son appeared to be so attached to both of them, it was exactly what she had always wanted for her child. Picking him up off the rug in his nursery where they had been playing with his toys, she then carefully carried him downstairs and walked out onto the driveway to meet JR.

Having had a long day at work and knowing that he and his father would be having a serious discussion later that evening, JR was slightly distracted when he opened his car door and didn't immediately notice his wife and son waiting for him, though that all changed as soon as he came into John Ross' line of vision. Catching sight of his father, John Ross began to make excited noises and move around in his mother's arms, and noticing that happening, JR's thoughts turned toward the present rather than the past or future; it was a wonderful picture to see, he really did love his wife and son and being part of their little family. "There's my boy", grinning as he held his arms out and took hold of his son, he then nodded at Sue Ellen thankfully and turned his attention back to John Ross, bouncing him in his arms a few times before walking toward the house. Entering and making their way upstairs, his grin widened as Sue Ellen explained the details of their day, first gushing about John Ross' four-month check-up and how Doctor Danvers had been very pleased with his development and very complimentary about his overall nature, and then explaining what she and John Ross had done for the rest of the day. Sue Ellen's attitude toward motherhood and John Ross' obvious recognition and excitement at seeing him, his father, made him a very happy and proud man; it felt wonderful to know that his family loved him, at least in a fatherly capacity, though he was hoping that he would have Sue Ellen loving him as a husband again soon. Reaching the top of the stairs, JR found himself a little disappointed as their time as a happy little family of three was interrupted by Miss Ellie as she exited her bedroom and kindly offered to watch John Ross while he and Sue Ellen got ready for dinner. It was a genuine, loving and practical offer and he was pleased to have such a supportive, helpful family, however, in the split second it was offered, before the practical side of things was clear, he did feel a little put out; he liked being an involved father and selfishly, sometimes he didn't like the idea of sharing John Ross. Realising that his mother wasn't offering to look after John Ross as part of some scheme to remove him as a major player in his son's life though, he then gave him a light kiss on the forehead and handed him over. John Ross wasn't going anywhere and the five minutes he spent away from him as he got ready for dinner wasn't going to ruin their bond; his son knew he was his father and no one could or would ever take that place in his life.

A couple of hours later, JR and Jock headed into the downstairs office to talk. Family dinner had been conversation-filled thanks to everyone's interest in John Ross' development; apparently, according to Jock and agreed upon by JR and to a lesser extent by Miss Ellie, Bobby, Lucy and Sue Ellen, Doctor Danvers' compliments were evidence of the superiority of the Ewing genes and lifestyle. It was a nice, happy conversation and although they all knew that in some ways, they were just making up facts, they were no less proud or happy; John Ross was the Ewing they'd all been waiting for, especially Jock, so leaving the dinner table and entering the office for his talk with JR, he was in a good mood. Also in a good mood as dinner ended, JR began to get a little more nervous as he closed the door to the office and walked over to the bar to make two drinks; he had a point to make, but he needed to make it in the most sincere way if he was to get what he truly wanted. "Daddy", handing his father his glass, JR then waited for him to take a drink and give him a cue to begin speaking, he wanted to remain as polite and respectful as possible in their discussion, it would only add to his point and show his father that he was serious. "Thank you", taking the drink, Jock eyed his eldest son suspiciously, JR was obviously up to something, though what that something was, he wasn't entirely sure, and to not know beforehand what their conversation was going to be about made him feel a little uneasy. Like JR, he liked to be in control, but right now, he wasn't and he didn't like it. "You wanted to speak to me", offering JR a chance to explain his reasoning for their private meeting, Jock almost chocked on his drink when JR did finally speak, "yes, I wanted to discuss changing my contract again, specifically the morality clause".

After a long, awkward silence, one where JR felt as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff and Jock wondered who the hell his eldest son thought he was, JR then added a secondary part to his explanation, "I suppose that didn't come out very well. Please, allow me to explain before you make any decisions", pausing for a second, but not hearing his father object, he then continued to speak. "I know I was a bastard who had his priorities in the wrong place, so I understand why you did what you did and why I felt like it was a good plan to agree to, because at the time, it really did seem that way. However, over the past few months, I've come to realise the extent of the consequences of my behaviour and I've been really trying to change the way I think and act and honestly, I do believe that I am changing. The thing is, how can anyone ever trust or believe that my change in behaviour and attitude was because I love and respect for my family and not just because my future at Ewing Oil was on the line? I cannot lose Sue Ellen and John Ross and I really don't want to lose Ewing Oil, but I also don't want the two things to be so closely connected. I want a chance to be a man, to prove myself as worthy of Sue Ellen's love and the ownership and presidency of Ewing Oil, but to do that, I believe that I need to start afresh, without secrets or hidden agendas. You said it yourself, there comes a time and a place when fun stops and you start facing up to your responsibilities and I always had that in business, but not in my personal life; I understand exactly what you were saying now and I want to prove that that's no longer the case. Please daddy, please give me a chance to prove myself in an honest way; I have a wife, a son and a business that I care about, and I want to show that I can do right by them because I care about them, not because I'm obligated to". Knowing that he was heading into territory that could border on pathetic begging, he decided that it didn't really matter as long as his father could see that he was serious and honest in his intentions, though as he waited for a response, he did begin to wonder whether he'd approached the situation incorrectly. Stone-faced, Jock stood in thought for a moment before holding his now empty glass out to his son, "I think I'm going to need another drink". He understood JR's point, but they were going to have a long, serious discussion before anything was even remotely agreed upon as a plan for the future; there was so much at stake right now and he couldn't risk anything.

To be continued…