Dallas, Texas

Sensing Bobby's mood change just from the way his chest rose and fell against her back as they lay together in bed, Pam wasn't surprised when the first words that came out of his mouth after her announcement were, "Milan? That's even further than Paris". She'd made sure his husbandly needs were satisfied before dropping her working wife news on him, but as expected, nothing they did in bed was enough to make him completely forget the world outside the four walls of their bedroom, especially not when she brought that life into their pillow talk.

"Not by much", rolling over so they were face-to-face, she murmured her answer, defending her decision, knowing what he thought of her intentions without needing to hear his opinion again. They'd been through it countless times and agreed to compromise on the subject of her working, although now that she was pregnant, apparently that had come up for negotiation again.

"It's not the distance, not really", brushing her hair off her shoulder, he traced a finger over her collarbone, looking everywhere but her eyes as he responded to her rationalisation.

"I know, but we'll be fine", believing what she said, she touched a hand to his cheek, lifting his gaze back to her.

"Aren't you worried?" sliding his hand from her collarbone, down her arm and over onto her gently rounded abdomen, he appealed to her maternal protectiveness, an act she appreciated on one level but resented on another. She loved that he was so concerned about the wellbeing of her and their unborn child, but she despised when he attempted to use that concern to encourage her to do what he wanted her to do.

Biting her tongue to refrain from causing more problems by telling him exactly how she felt about his emotional manipulation, she rolled onto her back, nonverbally rejecting his attempt at affection. She didn't need him to caress her growing bump to remind her that she was with child and she didn't appreciate him behaving in a way that put her ability to bear children above who she was outside of being pregnant. She had a job and responsibilities, things that she wasn't going to give up just to satisfy his need for her to be what he defined as safe.

"About travelling? No. About my health and the baby's health? Of course, but you heard all of those doctors we saw, I don't have any symptoms of neurofibromatosis and all I can do throughout my pregnancy is continue to be monitored for any developments, which I'm doing". Standing her ground, she firmly reminded him of the reality of their situation, that staying in Dallas didn't guarantee anything and travelling abroad for a week posed no greater risk to her than travelling into town for work.

"I'm just concerned", responding to her sharp tone with a defensive comment, his words didn't convince her that that's all he was.

"I love that you're concerned, but that's not all you are and that's what's getting to me. I am old enough and smart enough to judge things for myself and to make decisions without you reminding me of the worst-case scenario so I want you to trust me when I say I believe I'm doing the right thing. Working in Italy is no more stressful, tiring or risky than working right here in Dallas. I'll be gone a week and then I'll be back, just like when I went to Paris", explaining her feelings to him, she hoped he didn't take her comments the wrong way, but she hoped too that he got the message. She didn't want to be controlled by him, she wanted to be supported by him. They were in the situation they were in together and neither one of them had an opinion that outweighed the other, but she did have to live day-to-day with the experience of pregnancy, so she thought perhaps she had a better idea of what she could and could not safely do.

"I do trust you, but things are so much more complicated now than when you went to Paris", reaching his arm over her, making the same movements he had earlier, he gently encouraged her to roll over to face him again, his hand resting exactly where he'd laid it prior, leaving her feeling conflicted again. It was clear that he placed a lot of importance on their baby, as small and hidden within her as it was at present, but for as unconditionally caring as he was in that sense, he seemed to have little regard for her besides being physically overprotective of her womb.

"No, they're not, not really. We didn't know it, but I was pregnant in Paris and I've been a neurofibromatosis carrier my entire life. I was perfectly fine in Paris and I am here in Dallas too, so I don't expect I'll feel any differently in Milan", reminding him of her history, she thought her perspective was quite reasonable, although his facial expression as she spoke told her he didn't necessarily agree.

"But…" frowning, he looked and sounded like he had an excuse for disagreeing all ready to tell her, one she really didn't want to hear.

Frustrated, she reached out to touch her hand to his mouth, "but nothing. It's nice to know you possess paternal protectiveness, but you're not my father and sometimes I'd really prefer if you kept those thoughts to yourself".

"I'm sorry, I'm not trying to parent you", looking surprised by what she had to say, his response sounded apologetic, although she knew not to expect everything would be different going forward just because he'd apologised once.

"Thank you. I'll be back before you know it", accepting his apology for what it was now, she made sure to let him know too that she hadn't changed her mind about travelling for work.

Sighing, he nodded, seemingly accepting her intentions, and asking, "when do you see the doctor again?" he moved his hand to her back, pulling her closer to him so they were once again chest to chest.

Comfortable in his embrace, despite their verbal disagreement earlier, she answered his question without thinking very deeply about it, "not until the beginning of August".

"Will you make an appointment to see her before and after you go away? For my peace of mind?" making his request, he acknowledged that his wishes were potentially a bit over-the-top but they'd make him more comfortable with her decision to leave Dallas.

Considering what he was asking of her, she didn't have a problem with it, they'd already attended several appointments together in search of clarity, so one more was unlikely to hurt. Nodding, she agreed to his request, "yes, if it'll make you feel better".

"It will, thank you", smiling, he rolled onto his back, using the arm he had on her back to bring her with him.

Giggling with surprise as he changed their positioning, she sat up, straddling him because laying on her front was not particular comfortable anymore, continuing their previous conversation, despite his obvious attempt to redirect her attention, "it's a good thing you're Bobby Ewing".

"Why?" sweeping his gaze up her exposed body, he met her eye as he spoke.

"Because Pamela Barnes couldn't afford all of this extra care even if she wanted to", answering him, she jokingly spoke about herself in the third person, referencing the fact that it was very lucky he had the ability to attain all of the things he wanted, besides having her obey him without question of course.

"Aren't you glad you married me then? Pamela Ewing", grinning, he addressed her using her married name, his name.

Nodding, she agreed, "I am, and not just for the better insurance coverage", and matching his expression, she leaned down and met his lips with hers. She was glad she'd married him, she loved him; she didn't love his behaviour or attitude sometimes, but at the end of the day she'd rather be his wife than not and that meant a lot.

To be continued…