Dallas, Texas

After a morning of shopping followed by a leisurely lunch and then more shopping, eventually saying goodbye to Jenna, Sue Ellen found herself stepping out of the elevator and into the Ewing Oil reception area, a plan in her head, set in motion by her slightly unnerving conversations with Jenna. She was sure she and JR were on the right path in their marriage, they had their fair share of problems, but they were working through them, and she could confidently say JR had no reason to go looking for other women to satisfy his needs, however, for whatever reason, she was still a little unsettled by Jenna's comments.

As husband and wife, they looked after each other in different ways and usually, there were few complaints about how they did that for each other. If she was to complain about anything though it would be that JR's underlying sly nature interfered in their personal life at times, and if he was to complain about her, she guessed it would be to say her insecurity, hesitation and overthinking of situations could result in problems for them sometimes. They had methods they looked to to help them deal with their grievances, mostly communication based, but at times for JR, simply not telling her certain things if he knew they'd make her uncomfortable, which she was ok with as long as it didn't come back to bite them. She didn't want to know how underhanded he was being at work if it was going to cause her to worry, but equally, she did want to know about his plans personally, but in those cases, she often looked for assurance that he wasn't doing what he was doing. It was a bit of a circular problem, but they weren't unhappy, in fact, she was very happy and she hoped JR was too.

What Jenna had said regarding wives neglecting their husbands needs had gotten under her skin though and despite knowing that she and JR had a very healthy intimate relationship, she wanted reassurance that she was doing all she could for him, and him for her. Her overthinking was affecting the way she lived her life once again, but she didn't really mind this time, and she was sure JR wouldn't either.

"Mrs Ewing, how lovely to see you", looking up at her from behind her desk, Diane smiled friendlily, the feeling mutual for Sue Ellen as she really did like JR's secretary, especially in comparison to what could have been with Julie. "Well thank you Diane, it's nice to see you too", meeting her in front of her desk, Sue Ellen felt comfortable as they began to talk, Diane asking about how she and John Ross were, using a tone which indicated she was genuinely interested, not that she was just making small talk. "We're doing well, John Ross is as cute as can be, he loves to toddle along next to us and he's really trying to talk more now", replying with a sentimental comment and a smile, she knew perhaps she didn't give a clear picture of how difficult motherhood could be, but she didn't really feel the need to either. Genuine conversation or not, they were having a polite chat between acquaintances, not friends, and nobody needed or really wanted to hear about the challenges others faced in their daily lives.

"He sounds delightful, you should bring him in one day, we'd all love to see him again", answering her without hesitation, Diane's genuine attitude was hard to miss, though her naivety was apparent too, the last time she'd brought John Ross in Julie's distaste had been obvious and she didn't imagine that had changed much since. "Maybe I will, I'm sure Jock and JR would love that", bypassing mention of the other woman who shared the main floor of office space, Sue Ellen took her suggestion on board.

"Speaking of JR, I'll let him know you're here", making a move toward her intercom, Diane stopped suddenly as Sue Ellen put her hand out, explaining herself as she did, "actually, I'd like to ask you a few questions and then speak to Jock first for a moment if that's possible?" Retreating as she listened to Sue Ellen, she nodded, "of course, what was it that you needed from me?" curious as to what help she could actually be to JR's wife.

"I've been out shopping and I was inspired, I'd like to surprise JR with another weekend away, a long weekend if possible". Understanding exactly what Sue Ellen wanted as soon as she briefly explained herself, Diane flipped forward to Monday in JR's agenda, looking over the meetings and appointments to see what could be rescheduled and what couldn't and would need to be either dealt with today or passed on to Jock if he agreed to Sue Ellen's request.

Watching Diane jotting down notes and drawing lines on a piece of scrap paper, Sue Ellen had a new appreciation for JR's secretary when she looked up at her and confirmed, "it'll require a bit of work but it can be done". Clapping her hands together, Sue Ellen smiled, she'd passed the first hurdle. "Excellent, thank you. Please hold off on changing anything until after I speak to them, both of them", nodding as she listened, Diane appeared to agree, waiting patiently for her next question, which she led into quickly, ready to get things going for their weekend away. "So, is Jock busy?" hoping he wasn't, she was disappointed when Diane answered, "he's in with Julie…", though she knew disappointment was silly considering she'd turned up during work hours expecting to see the president of the company without an appointment.

"I can wait", assuming what Jock and Julie were doing together wouldn't take long, and not wanting to bother him, she turned to take a seat, though before she could she turned back as Diane commented, "well, there's probably no harm in letting him know you're here". Looking over at Julie's empty desk, she wondered whether both or just one of them would be annoyed, however, before she could protest otherwise, Diane was calling through to Jock's office.

"I'm sorry to interrupt Mr Ewing, but Mrs Ewing is here and wonders whether she might speak to you for a moment?" listening, she waited silently for Diane to react to whatever Jock was saying, smirking when the next comment out of her mouth was, "no sir, Sue Ellen". It had to be confusing to call everyone by their titles when at the office alone there were four Mr Ewing's and in their current family arrangement there were two Mrs Ewing's; to top it off, Jock was probably confused about what his wife was doing there, because Miss Ellie rarely visited the office, though neither did she, not often. "He'll be right out", looking up at her as she ended the conversation, Diane's facial expression told her that she was relieved Jock had taken her announcement well. When the two appeared from down the hall too, Sue Ellen could see for herself that that was the case, though not before she noted the annoyed look from Julie as their paths crossed.

"He'll be back here first thing Tuesday morning", minutes later, Sue Ellen sat in one of the leather chairs in front of Jock's desk, explaining herself as she asked him to allow JR some time away from the office; it was short notice, yes, but JR was the vice president, surely that allowed him some privileges. "It looks here to me that he already has a long weekend booked next month", looking over the monthly view in his agenda, Jock frowned at her request, though she didn't let his disapproval stop her. "He does, at the end of next month. I'm coming to you to ask for some leniency", aware that Jock probably thought he'd already been lenient in letting JR use some of the vacation days he was entitled to, days he'd been trained not to think about when there was work to be done, she thought ahead to how she could pose her suggestion in a different light.

"Oh? And why would I be lenient? It seems to me I'm already lenient enough with that boy. He has a job to do here you know and as his wife, your job is to support him through demands that job puts on him, not to encourage him to do the opposite and run away from those demands". Hearing his response, she smiled sweetly, maybe he had a point, but she wanted to scoff at how he made his point. "I am supporting him, every day, which is why I think I can say JR works very hard and deserves some time off", whether or not Jock valued how hard JR worked was debatable, however, it didn't make it untrue. JR had been born into a life where the opportunity to be someone important was given to him, however that didn't make him lazy or stupid, he had worked and continued to work extremely hard for everything he had.

"That's what the weekend is for, is it not?" hearing his gruff tone, she felt like she was getting nowhere because he wasn't really listening to what she was asking him; he had an opinion and saw no reason to change it. "Well, yes, but it's hard to disagree that a long weekend isn't more relaxing, isn't it?" responding to his question with a question of her own, she finally felt like maybe, just maybe, she was getting somewhere, because his, "hm", in response to her comment, potentially agreeing that she had a point, was better than him disagreeing again.

"You'll benefit too", smiling again as she replied, she decided to make it about him, hoping to help him see that what she was asking wasn't that outrageous. "How so? What benefit do I get out of agreeing to this?" looking at her sceptically, his demeanour told her he was actually interested in what she had to say this time. "Well, you're always asking for more time with John Ross, you'll have him for the whole weekend and I know Miss Ellie and Lucy will be happy about that", appealing to his paternal side, she smiled at him, wondering why she hadn't thought of starting with that point to begin with. "I can't disagree with that", nodding at her, she could tell that she'd finally broken the wall between them; it was unfortunate that Jock didn't seem to value his son as much as he did his grandson, however, she wasn't going to start that argument with him right now.

"So you'll give JR Monday off?" keen to hear him say yes, she continued to smile sweetly, though her smile dropped a little when he didn't automatically agree, instead muttering, "I didn't say that. I'll think about it". He was making things difficult for no real reason, he hadn't once mentioned that they were too busy to let JR go on short notice, or that if JR wanted a day off he should ask for it himself, instead he was focused on the question of why he should say yes when he could just as easily say no.

"Ok, when?" asking him for a timeframe, because she knew if she let him sit on the question she'd leave with no long weekend plans, she was pleased when he looked straight at her and shook his head, resignedly commenting, "right now if you insist, just let me check a few things out first". It appeared she had pestered him enough to actually take her seriously, and that little win felt good, "thank you. You know, we really do love the lake house, it's a real shame it doesn't get used much. It's a nice place to get away, to reconnect".

Laughing aloud at her comment, Jock's attitude seemed to change immediately, and when he replied, she knew why. "Somehow I find it hard to believe you and JR aren't connected", it was a simple comment, but one she understood completely; as far as the family saw them, she and JR were very much involved with each other, from their happy family interaction to the way they made time for their relationship. Jock had even commented on her appearance the previous weekend, noting that her femininity was a manipulation tool and JR was a lucky man, so as far as he was concerned, they had very little problem connecting with each other. "We do try", shrugging, she smirked and shook her head as he replied, "I'd think with all that trying I'd have more grandchildren by now". Comments about future grandchildren had bothered her before John Ross was born, but not now, not when she was deliberately taking measures to make sure she didn't have any more children for the moment, not that he needed to know that much detail about her life though. "I don't have much control over that, but what I can say is you'll definitely have fewer grandchildren in the long run if JR's always at the office", meeting his eye as she spoke, she knew he understood her and she didn't feel the least bit bad about bending the truth regarding her control over the situation.

It didn't take long for her to get what she had come for after tempting Jock with the one thing he seemed fixated on having, and soon after she was surprising JR with the news, much to his confusion. "I convinced him", shrugging as she accepted the drink JR had handed her, answering his question vaguely, as if it had been easy, she wasn't surprised when he didn't automatically accept her ambiguity, answering, "how?" He wasn't stupid, he knew more than anyone how stubborn his father could be, so naturally he was interested.

"I told him he'd see more of what he always wants to see, John Ross", expanding on her answer, she laughed when he shook his head at her, seemingly doubtful. "That's it?" holding her eye as he tried to understand, this time nodding in understanding when she responded, "well, I told him we needed some time away to connect and he may have taken that as an indication that we might not come back as two, but three". It was no secret that Jock wanted a large family, so he understood perfectly what she had done, however, he took it a step further than she had intended when he asked surprised, "are you?" looking her up and down as he spoke.

Surprised by his question, she was quick to respond, "no, or at least I don't think so, I can confirm that for you in a week or so though". It would come as a genuine shock to her if she was expecting now, because she was meticulous in her prevention, or at least she liked to think she was, as much as remembering to take a pill everyday counted as meticulous. Laughing aloud as he listened to her reply, he shook his head again before replying, "you played to daddy's weakness, you know that", appearing amused by her comments, he didn't seem the least bit upset which was good. They were having a lot of fun practicing with each other before they made any real moves to extend their family, but Jock didn't need to know the details of their family life. Smiling and shrugging, she took a step forward and almost met his lips, whispering, "I do", before closing the gap between them and kissing him.

To be continued…