Dallas, Texas

"So, is this a new thing we're all going to have to get used to?" speaking herself after listening to the casual conversation bouncing back and forth between her family members, Lucy took the silence that followed her question as a cue to clarify what she meant. "You know, everyone getting along. JR is being unusually nice to Jack, JR and granddaddy are talking about something besides business, JR and Bobby are talking like normal people, and nobody has raised their voice or gone silent because they're upset yet. It's weird, but I like it". Describing things as she saw them, she was pleased when her grandma finally spoke, because everyone else's silence was the complete opposite of what she had just been commenting on. "I like it too Lucy, we're a family and we should enjoy each other's company and get along. I'm glad you said something, it reminds me to say it too. I've waited a long time for us to all sit around the table and talk like we're doing now, this is what being a part of a big family is supposed to be like. I'd always hoped my sons would learn to act like brothers, and seeing you both with Jack gives me a lot of hope and positive thoughts".

Listening to her grandma talking, Lucy almost wished she hadn't said anything, because hearing the mushy praise being given to her uncles was not only boring but also a bit strange; she had appreciated the casual conversation that had been taking place prior to her comments and wondered whether that would disappear now that she had made mention of it. In a funny way too, she felt odd about appreciating her family as it was and her grandma doing the same, because her own father was not present and no one seemed that upset about it; whether that was because Jack was around or not she wasn't sure, not even in her own mind. She should miss her father and she did sometimes, but in saying that, she didn't even know or really remember him, so what was to miss? Doctor Lacey was always reiterating that the family that she should be focusing her thoughts and energy on were the ones that were always there for her, her grandparents, uncles, aunt, and cousin were all present in her life and it was more than ok to enjoy that without thinking about the uncontrollable aspects of her life. She liked that, it was freeing to know she could love her family without the guilt of wondering whether she should also equally love her absent parents.

"So JR's not usually this friendly? I never would have guessed", smirking as he spoke, Jack brought the conversation back to a casual, less sentimental tone, which she greatly appreciated. Jack was proving to be a welcome addition to the family, not only in her opinion but also in everyone else's too if she was reading the family atmosphere correctly. Her grandmother was happy, her grandfather seemed to be thrilled to have someone to listen to his old stories as if they were new, Bobby was back to his usual fun, happy self, and JR appeared to have warmed up to having another Ewing around. She didn't know how Sue Ellen felt about Jack, but she didn't seem unhappy about his presence, in fact, in some ways she seemed thrilled to have him around, or perhaps she was just thrilled that JR was being nice to everyone, it was hard to tell sometimes. She wouldn't even pretend to understand romantic love, but apparently it was responsible for softening a lot of hard lines, it had to be for Sue Ellen to see JR the way she appeared to, she didn't think that was such a bad thing though, because JR did slowly seem to be changing for the better.

"Hey now, I had to make sure that you weren't some imposter or worse…" Studying her uncle JR's facial expression as he spoke, she was sure now that even when he changed his opinion on something or someone, his old thoughts still remained filed away in his mind, ready to be recalled and laid out for everyone to see at a moment's notice. JR was capable of changing behaviours and probably even genuinely relaxing his suspicions, but that was on a case-by-case basis, not a complete overhaul of his entire worldview. In her uncle's mind, Jack was now safe to approach in a friendly manner, an opinion likely formed based on answers to personal questions and snooping, that's how he decided a lot of things; she didn't know the details of how exactly he did it, just that he and her granddaddy were always doing it to other people in business. Southfork was a big house but the walls weren't soundproof, nor was she always completely honest about minding her own business; she'd overheard enough discussions between her uncles and granddaddy to know bits and pieces of what went on at the office, not that most of it interested her though. Jack must have passed whatever tests JR had laid out for him, because he was at Southfork, welcomed by everyone this time.

"I'm not an imposter though am I? I'm a Ewing, just like you, and aren't you glad?" Turning back to look at Jack, Lucy smirked as she studied his facial expression this time, he was grinning as if he was just waiting for JR to grudgingly agree with him; JR's previous unpleasant attitude was clearly a thing of amusement, not pain for him, and in her experience, that was the right way to look at things. "Mm, well I guess if we were going to gain another Ewing, it could have been worse…" not elaborating on what he meant, it seemed obvious to Lucy that it was on the tip of his tongue to mention her father, he'd done it numerous times before in similar contexts. This was a new JR though, one who had just been complimented on his friendly attitude, and who seemed to be making friends with Jack, no matter how snappily they spoke to each other at times; apparently this new JR cared a bit more about where he stood in the family than the old JR had.

"Damn right it could have been worse, just think, Jack could have actually been an imposter. After all, who wouldn't want to be a Ewing? He's not an imposter though, he's a member of this family and I'm happy to hear everyone is finally accepting that fact. I knew it from the start boy, you've got Jason's look, your mother's too, but there's no doubt in my mind, you're Jason's son. I know my brother, he went his own way in life, made his own path, doesn't have anywhere near the empire I do now, but still, a fine man on his own, and I trust his son to be the same way. JR took a bit of convincing, but he got there in the end, didn't you son? I never had any doubts about Jack, but JR's attitude toward protecting this family is something to respect, if the circumstances had been different we could have been in trouble; we weren't though, so let's not dwell on that". This time turning toward her grandfather, Lucy knew from his facial expression and comments that he was just now beginning to accept that JR had been acting in the best interest of the family and Ewing Oil, even if it made him seem like a complete jerk at times. Her granddaddy was good at not apologising or admitting his weaknesses in so many words though; he complimented, acknowledged, and then quickly moved on, closing subjects and discussions before they really had a chance to be explored.

"Daddy's right, Jack is here now, another family member, and I think I speak for everyone when I say we're glad to have you". Finally saying something, Bobby carried on from what her granddaddy had been saying. "I think having you here is going to be a nice change; like Lucy pointed out, somehow you've brought me and JR back together and I think JR might agree, it's nice. There was a time where we did a lot together, then we stopped, but we've started again, and I like it". Looking between Jack and JR as he spoke, she could tell that he genuinely did mean what he was saying, which only added to her earlier thoughts; Jack was good for the family, he had brought Bobby out of whatever down mood he had been in for a long time now, and he was bringing out JR's real human qualities.

"I never knew you were so sentimental Bob", rolling her eyes as she listened to JR's reply to Bobby's nice comments, Lucy was almost ready to make a comment of her own about how things never really changed; before she could though, JR continued to speak, surprising her. "I appreciate what you're saying though, I like it too. Of course I'll like it more when you're like uncle Jason, on your own path, leaving me to mine. I'm ready to have my brother back though and a new cousin". Saying very little, it was the way he said what he did that made her stop and think. JR had spent years cursing Bobby's presence at the office, but now that he was leaving to do ranch work, he seemed to be relaxing a bit and seemed to have the space in his mind to think again about having a brother rather than an enemy. Apparently, business was that important to him, not that she hadn't already known that, but it was still surprising to her; school was nowhere near as important to her as her family, though to be fair, school was probably not an equal comparison.

"Good luck Jack", rolling his eyes, Bobby smacked his cousin on the shoulder as he spoke, eliciting a laugh from everyone at the table, including JR, and in that moment, Lucy knew her previous thoughts were true, though it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Some things didn't change, like JR's possessiveness over control of Ewing Oil, however, other things did change, and if everyone knew the state of things before they even entered a situation, it was more likely to work out positively. Watching and listening to the sound of her family's casual, chatty, happy conversation, she smiled to herself, weird but nice was the perfect way to describe what she was seeing, and she liked it that way.

To be continued…