Dallas, Texas

"Darlin', would it really hurt to be a little less impertinent with daddy?" speaking as they turned out of the Southfork driveway onto the road in the direction of their home, JR questioned his wife, hoping she understood he wasn't trying to cause trouble. The family already had enough problems without them fighting too and if he could get everyone to remember that Bobby and Pamela were the cause of the problems he would be a happy man. Sue Ellen needed to go along with that intention too though and arguing with his daddy was not the way to go about making them look like the only stable, respectable couple in the family.

"From now on, no. I can be exactly what we discussed, impartial and quiet. I just had to make it clear that his judgemental attitude was more hurtful than helpful, especially when he brought my role into it. I'm allowed to defend myself". Sighing before she answered, Sue Ellen turned around to check that John Ross was still sleeping before turning back and looking at him. She had a point, but he had thought that by now she'd know it wasn't worth her time or energy to argue with his daddy.

"Yes, you are, but you know daddy, he's set in his ways", agreeing with her, he reminded her too that getting offended rarely fixed anything. His daddy didn't care what anyone thought about anything, not if he had a strong opinion about it himself; it was annoying, but simply not worth getting upset about, he had learnt that the hard way himself.

"Yes, he is, but that's not an excuse for being downright rude. Have some empathy for Bobby and Pamela, you don't like it when he treats you unfairly and I'm sure to them this feels unfair", replying again, she made it obvious that her thoughts weren't really about her, a positive as far as he was concerned. If Sue Ellen could just step away from feeling so personally attached to everyone else's problems then they would all be better off.

"They made their decision", shrugging, he believed what he said, unlike when Jock criticised him or treated him unfairly for things he couldn't predict, Bobby and Pam had to have known what they were doing was controversial so surely expected the outcome they were now experiencing.

"Yes, they did, and it's hard enough for them knowing who they are in themselves without everyone pointing it out every few minutes", clearly sympathising with the newlyweds, Sue Ellen continued to try to get him to see her perspective. "I guess", muttering his response with little enthusiasm, he wondered why he'd even started their conversation, he knew what she thought, he didn't really need to hear it again.

"JR, Pamela called you antagonistic and I defended you because I know you can be reasonable when you want to be. Now, when I was just trying to make friends with Pamela you decided you could live with it even if you didn't like it. Nothing has changed. Their marriage doesn't affect us, no matter how much of a fuss Jock makes". Trying again to convince him to think like her, he listened, this time doing as she wished, though his response probably took things in a different direction than she intended.

"Mm, if anything this might boost our position, three sons, three marriages, only one wife he truly likes", cracking a smile at the thought of potentially being the one son who wasn't a disappointment to his father, he was suddenly a little more supportive of his brother's marriage. It was possible that he didn't need to do anything from here on out, the union would crumble without his interference and soon enough his daddy would be looking to his firstborn again to make him proud.

"I wouldn't say your daddy likes me very much right now, but I don't like him very much either, so we're even", responding, Sue Ellen didn't seem to think that just by process of elimination they would be the new favourite couple, nor did she seem to care either and to be fair, neither did he in some ways. He wanted his daddy's respect and to feel that he wasn't only useful for business purposes, but he could do without the commitment of more family time doing things his daddy wanted to do, things that just didn't interest him. Luckily, Jack seemed to enjoy the types of things Jock and Bobby did, so he could have the long days of ranching, hunting and repetitive stories about the wildcatting days.

"I'm sure the next time he sees you acting impartial and quiet he'll get over that comment you made about how disgracefully you think he's behaving", acknowledging her critical comments, he hoped she would also remember that she had committed to changing her attitude, so they could have a chance at fulfilling the imagined situation in his head. It would be nice to have his daddy see him and Sue Ellen as what a son and daughter-in-law should be like and Sue Ellen smiling politely and silently played a big part in that.

"Ok, I admit perhaps that was a little too far, my mama would not be happy to hear I'd said such a thing, but my point still stands, Bobby and Pamela are in love and newly married and all anyone can talk about is how terrible it is. No couple wants to hear that, let alone newlyweds", sounding embarrassed at her rudeness, Sue Ellen tried once again to get him to see her perspective, which by this point he understood perfectly.

"Now darlin', I know you can't understand why anyone would think it's a terrible idea, a Barnes and a Ewing married, but you just have to accept that that's how it is and it's not your problem. Bob knew this would happen but continued to date the Barnes woman, and then he proceeded to marry her. There was no surprise in the outcome of this situation, nothing you could have done to stop it and there's little you can do to help now besides staying out of it". Repeating his perspective once again, this time he seemed to be getting through to her when she sighed resignedly and said, "I know, it's not our fight to fight", repeating the point he'd reiterated many times before and the point she'd herself made, she seemed to actually understand it now.

"That's right. Now, before we lay this discussion to rest, I do have one question", curious about something he knew he'd be better off ignoring if he wanted Sue Ellen to forget about Bobby and Pam for the rest of the weekend, he couldn't help asking her anyway.

"You do?" staring at him, Sue Ellen must have taken note of his inquisitive tone because she suddenly seemed very interested in what he had to say.

"Well, I couldn't help but overhear a few things, including mention of divorce. What do you know about that?" interested in knowing how far downhill his little brother's marriage had slid already, he asked the question.

"Eavesdropping were you?" asking a question of her own, Sue Ellen smirked at what she imagined of his actions, which too be honest weren't all that far from the truth. "I was checking on John Ross", covering with a semi-truthful excuse, he smirked himself at her raised eyebrow, she was sceptical and he knew it.

"Mhm, well even if you were, it wasn't mentioned in the context I'm sure you're wishing it was", brushing past his snooping, Sue Ellen answered his question vaguely, hardly settling his curiosity. "What was the context then?" asking again, hoping for a clearer answer, he nodded to indicate he was listening as Sue Ellen opened her mouth to give him the information he was looking for.

"A few arguments between newlyweds plus a tense atmosphere at Southfork equals an unhappy bride, that's all", shrugging, as if it was the most obvious answer, he supposed she had a point, it was fairly obvious why Pamela Barnes, unfortunately now Ewing, would be upset.

"Well you know what they say, 'marry in haste, repent at leisure'", chuckling as he responded jokingly, he barely even flinched when Sue Ellen looked at him with a horrified expression, "JR!" She had to know by now that he saw the humour in the situation rather than empathetically related, but if she didn't, he clarified for her, "I was only joking darlin'".

"It wasn't a very funny joke", shaking her head, she muttered a few words in response and although she certainly sounded annoyed, he thought he could see a little hint of a smile out of the corner of his eye. "Oh come on, admit it, it was a little funny", grinning, he glanced away from the road to look at her and immediately saw he was right, she couldn't help but find his comments amusing.

"If I admit it will you leave it alone?" shaking her head, he had all the information he needed. "Sure", shrugging, he grinned and stared straight ahead at the road as she muttered, "ok". Keeping his eyes fixed on the road, he let a few seconds pass before speaking again, "so you admit it?"

"JR, how about we just stop talking about Bobby or Pam or anything to do with Southfork", refusing to actually verbally confirm what he was asking, her facial expression said everything for her, and what she did verbally say was enough for him to not push anymore.

"An excellent suggestion darlin'", pulling into their driveway, he smiled smugly. He had no real interest in spending more time talking about Bobby and Pam and now he didn't have to. They were finally in their own space again, away from the drama at Southfork, free to enjoy the remainder of their weekend doing whatever they wished and right now none of his wishes involved anyone but his wife and son.

To be continued…