Dallas, Texas

While Sue Ellen and Patricia had gone shopping and to lunch together, JR had opted to stay at home with John Ross for the day. He didn't see his son nearly as much as he would have liked to during the week, so naturally, when the choice was between an invitation to lunch with Patricia and an afternoon alone with his son, the answer was obvious. He wasn't entirely alone, his mother, Lucy and Teresa were all at Southfork too, however, he wasn't incapable, so when he said he would look after his son, he meant it. Contrary to what society thought of men and what certain people expected to happen, he actually enjoyed being a father and although he couldn't say it was particularly pleasant to change diapers or see half of John Ross' food ending up on his hands, face and outfit rather than in his mouth, he wouldn't have traded those experiences for anything. He loved being a businessman, but he also loved being a family man. There was a certain thrill and pleasure he got from making deals, plans and having his plans culminate in a lot of money and increased power, but no longer were those things the ultimate and only source of happiness and excitement in his life. His younger self had enjoyed the company of many women, but the man he was now understood and appreciated the love of a good woman, one good woman, his wife. As well as that, before he'd become a father, he'd never really understood true, complete familial love and happiness, because his childhood and subsequent adulthood hadn't been as good as it could have been, but now that he was a father, he couldn't believe how much he'd been missing out on and how much he was capable of.

He wasn't a perfectly patient father though, and as much as he would have liked to read another one of the many boringly simple books his son had on the bookshelf in his nursery, he just couldn't; he was a smart man and reading just one or two words on a page was beginning to drive him insane. From what he could tell, John Ross enjoyed touching the pages of the book, looking at the pictures and hearing the sound of his father's voice, so assuming and hoping that's what it was and he wasn't exceptionally amused by the narrative content of each book, he put down the children's books and walked downstairs. Collecting the daily newspaper, he then settled into an armchair in the living room, and resting John Ross comfortably on his lap, he began to read aloud. Watching as his son began to take notice of the large printed pages in front of him, JR grinned to himself; he was surprised it had actually worked, but as well as that, he felt proud, he was a good father and knowing that gave him great confidence and enthusiasm.

Arriving home from lunch with her mother, Sue Ellen was both surprised and thrilled when she entered the house, made her way up to the nursery and caught the last few moments of her husband readying their son for his late afternoon nap. It make her extremely happy and grateful to know she had a husband who was so willing and happy to be involved in his role as a father, because if anything other women had told her was true, that wasn't always the case. As well as happiness though, she couldn't deny she felt something even more for him; JR had many sides to him and they all had their appeals, but for some reason, seeing him as a father made her love and desire him even more than she did just in everyday life. She was already n a good mood from the way her lunch had ended, with an agreement between her and her mother to interact in a more positive manner and possibly implement some of Doctor Williams' methods of discussion in their relationship. Coming home to see her husband and son like they were was the icing on the cake for her day; she felt good, happy, optimistic and very much in love, and it was all a welcome change from the way things had been in the past. Hanging back for a moment as JR laid a half-asleep John Ross down in his crib, she then made her way over to both of them, her presence obviously coming as a surprise to JR, though she could tell he was pleased to see her and very pleased to see the look of adoration on her face. As well as the love she felt for him, he could tell she had a few other thoughts on her mind, thoughts that would probably end very well for them when they were alone together. It was strange, because an afternoon with her mother wasn't usually such a positive event, but if this time it was, then he was glad, Sue Ellen deserved to be happy and deserved to receive positive attention from her mother.

Just ten minutes later, JR got the answers he was looking for. He wasn't thrilled that Patricia had worked out that they were in marriage counselling, because as far as he was concerned, it really wasn't any of her business and he'd rather not have her nosing into his and Sue Ellen's shared past, one they had put behind them now. He was pleased though that Sue Ellen seemed to view her day so far as positive and progressive, and because of that, he decided against really questioning her decision to tell her mother about their marriage. Additionally, if the way she had looked at him as they left the nursery and she was looking at him now was any indication of how her moods would be in the future with the new arrangement she had come to with her mother, then maybe it wasn't such a terrible thing. He and Sue Ellen had a very healthy intimate relationship, but he loved when she seemed to just suddenly want and need him; it was a real ego boost and always resulted in an interestingly different, but enjoyable experience for both of them. He couldn't tell exactly what it was that was making her move toward him with a determined, seductive look, but he was sure they would both benefit greatly from her sudden urge, and as she stood in front of him, wrapped her arms around his neck and then kissed him, he knew his assumptions would be true.

To be continued…