Dallas, Texas

"Bobby, Pam", stopping them as they made moves to leave the living room after finishing their evening coffee, Jock's interruption put a dampener on what Pam had been hoping would soon be the enjoyable part of the evening.

"Daddy, we were just going upstairs", reminding his daddy that they had plans, Bobby did his best to get out of yet another likely unnecessary personal discussion, without much luck.

"This will only take a minute", holding his hand up, Jock resisted their wish to leave.

"Ok", answering his daddy, Bobby looked at her apologetically and squeezed her hand as they followed him into the downstairs office. They had plans, but they could wait if Jock was going to be quick.

"Drink?" walking over to the bar to prepare himself a drink, Jock's behaviour didn't strike Pam as that of a man who actually intended to take a minute of their time.

"No, thank you", shaking his head, Bobby refused the polite offer and waited patiently to hear why they were being held back.

"I'll get to the point then", surprising her with his perceptiveness, Jock turned just one glass over and began to make himself a drink.

"I assume you haven't told Digger the news yet?" looking up from the bar, he asked her a question she didn't seem to be able to get away from, as much as she might like to sometimes.

"No, I haven't", uninterested in detailing her reasons for staying quiet, she gave him the most basic answer she could. As much as he seemed to think it was, it was absolutely none of Jock Ewing's business what was going on with her and her current state. She was pregnant, Digger was her daddy, and it was her decision what she told him and when. She valued Bobby's opinion, and Miss Ellie and Sue Ellen had offered what turned out to be reasonable advice at one time or another, but Jock himself was simply too intrusive and opinionated for her liking.

"Any particular reason why?" questioning her, his gruff tone made him sound inquisitive in the worst way.

"I haven't found the right time", giving him little explanation again, she was close to telling him to mind his own business, but for Bobby's sake she stayed quiet.

"It's been a month since you told us", reminding her that he'd known for quite some time now, he made her regret telling him the news. She'd agreed to tell Bobby's family in anticipation of them guessing when she had morning sickness or started to display other early pregnancy symptoms, however, she'd been very lucky thus far and even being almost out of her first trimester she'd still yet to really experience anything overly indicative of her condition, so in hindsight she wished she'd waited.

"I know", confirming his comment, she left it at that.

"There hasn't been time in the entire month?" persisting, Jock showed her that he really couldn't take a hint.

"Not the right time", shaking her head, she kept her answer short.

"He deserves to know", frowning, her father-in-law attempted to appeal to her emotions, making it sound as if he cared about what her daddy deserved, which she knew he didn't.

"He will", annoyed by the tone Jock used, she pushed back, confirming that she did intend to tell her daddy the news sometime.

"When?" raising his voice, Jock demanded an answer, really irritating her now.

"Daddy", stepping in, physically, literally stepping forward to put himself between them, and emotionally, defending her, Bobby's words and demeanour made it clear whose side he was on.

"No Bobby, hear me out. You know Digger and I have had our differences and we don't see eye to eye on much, but this is different, in this we are equal", sounding again as if he was trying to convince them that he really cared about her daddy, all he really did was convince her that he cared about himself.

"You're not above my daddy in anything", unimpressed with his inference that her daddy wasn't ordinarily equal to him, she made no effort to hide her feelings.

Turning his attention back to her, Jock was uncharacteristically gentle in his response, surprising her and encouraging her to actually listen to what he had to say. "Now Pam that's not what I meant. I was referring to the fact that he's going to be a grandfather to that baby just the same way I am. He should know that and he should hear it from you, his daughter, not someone else. Time is running out for you to tell him before he either hears whisperings around town or sees it with his own eyes. Nature doesn't hide these things for much longer and staying quiet is no way to handle what should be a joyous occasion".

Hearing what her father-in-law had to say, she felt a bit guilty, though knowing him as she did, she had to wonder what his intentions were. "Do you really care about Digger's feelings or are you just itching to tell the news to anyone who will listen?"

Setting his glass down on the bar, Jock sighed, replying with an answer that indicated perhaps she'd misjudged him. "A bit of both; I'm a proud man Pamela, I want to tell the world, but I'm not heartless, you two have asked me not to say anything and I've respected that, but this can't go on forever. Digger will find out sometime and I know how I'd feel if I were him and heard the news from someone other than my own child".

Exhausted by the up-and-down emotions she was experiencing, she looked at him and offered a weak smile, "thank you for being honest". She wasn't particularly fond of her father-in-law but she did appreciate that he had some empathy for her daddy, even if it was only as a grandfather and not as a friend or just a man.

"You're welcome", maintaining his sedate tone, he matched her weak smile. He was probably as wary of her as she was him, though he had no reason to be, he was the one that had always had the power to change things between their families if he'd so wished to.

"Is that all?" not keen to stay and discuss the situation any more than they already had, she initiated what she intended to be an exit process. She liked dating her husband and she didn't intend to eat into their time alone together chatting with his father all night.

"Will you think about what I've said?" regaining a little bit of the gruffness she expected from him, he asked her to consider his comments.

Nodding, she reiterated her original point; he'd get what he wanted eventually, but not because he'd asked for it. "I will tell my daddy, he does deserve to hear the news from me, but I will do it in my own time, nobody else's".

Picking his glass up off the bar, he murmured, "that's all then".

"If you'll excuse us then", needing no further encouragement she said her goodbyes for the both of them and then turned to leave the room, taking Bobby with her as their hands were tightly entwined, just the way she liked it.

To be continued…

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