Dallas, Texas

Watching John Ross confidently plod through the grass ahead, stopping occasionally to crouch and pull a flower or collect a rock, Sue Ellen looked away when JR broke their comfortable silence.

"Do you think you might be able to take some time away from wedding planning?"

Out for a walk after he unexpectedly returned home from work early due to a false fire alarm on a lower floor of the Ewing Oil building, she didn't expect his mind would be where it was, but she wasn't upset that it was.

"The wedding is planned. I'm free to do whatever you're gearing up to ask me."

She knew he was delighted that Bobby was marrying Jenna, he thought it couldn't come soon enough; what she didn't know was what he had planned for her next.

Glancing at John Ross, she left JR's side the moment she noticed the pile of mud or otherwise he'd taken an interest in this time; they didn't raise cattle on their land but that didn't mean animals didn't occasionally wander across their vast acreage. "No sweetheart, that's not for touching", intercepting him just in time, she picked him up and set him back down a few feet away, handing him the flower he'd given her earlier in an attempt to redirect his attention.

Grumbling for a few seconds, John Ross made his displeasure known, however the moment he realised both she and JR were continuing to walk ahead he seemed to figure out that there was nothing in a tantrum for him.

On the same page as her, JR didn't react to the initial annoyance their son was showing, choosing instead to resume their conversation, although this time with a better eye on what John Ross was doing.

"In that case, I'd very much like it if you'd turn your attention from Bobby and Jenna's wedding plans to ours."

"We're already married."

Thinking back, she had fond memories of their wedding, a wedding that had occurred four years ago, therefore no longer needed planning, so she wasn't sure what exactly he was asking her to do.

"I meant celebrating our anniversary."

Making far more sense when he spoke of anniversary plans rather than wedding plans, her excitement and anticipation grew. With everything going on she hadn't really had time to think about their upcoming anniversary but she trusted him to deliver a wonderful experience as he always had before.

"What do you have planned?"

"Something private, romantic, somewhere we can be alone, away from all of these people we always seem to be around nowadays."

Laughing at the fact that he constantly reminded her that their fuller social life was a blessing and a curse depending on how his day at work had gone, the part of his comment that really interested her was the revelation that he had already made plans for them.

"I like that idea, where?"

"That's a surprise."

Stopping in her tracks, she put her hand on JR's arm to guide him to slow down, and standing on her tiptoes, she leaned up and brushed her lips against his, asking "give me a hint?"

It was a bribe, soft, teasing kisses, but they both knew it would work.

"Mama take."

Interrupted by a small voice and an even smaller hand, she looked down to find John Ross clasping a bug, one she couldn't be sure wasn't still alive.

"For me?"

Crouching down to his level again, she flinched as the small black bug moved when he opened his hand to show it to her.

"Thank you sweetheart", ruffling his hair and touching his cheek, she made her next move quite deliberately.

"He's very nice, but I don't think we have space for him at home. Why don't we let this little guy get back to his own mama?"

Lowering the hand John Ross had outstretched to the ground, releasing the bug back down into the grass, she waited for the tears she suspected might come, however he seemed more than content to watch it scuttle away, which was a far better outcome.

Standing again, she noticed the way JR was looking at her, he was admiring her, and she was sure it wasn't entirely because of the conversation they'd been having about her as his wife, but also because she'd just reminded him very clearly that she was the mother of his son too.

"You're wonderful", complimenting her, he kissed her softly again and then whispered in her ear, "pack light."

"Lightweight fabric or light on the amount of outfit choices I have?"

"Both."

"So we're going somewhere warm then?"

Gathering that she wouldn't be wearing a whole lot if he had his way, she couldn't say she disliked the idea. They were almost four years into their marriage and their relationship was still strongly physical. She'd held out on letting him have her for a long time, so now that they could do whatever they wished to, whenever they wished to, they did, and they enjoyed it.

"Mhm, blue sky, clear water, white sand. A private island resort, a place with things to do, but nothing to distract us."

Describing the location and situation, she was easily able to picture what awaited them based on past vacations they'd taken.

"I'm looking forward to it already."

Grinning, JR's attention wasn't on her for long before he was called to look down.

"Da-dy."

Standing at his feet, this time she was very grateful that the gift John Ross was presenting was for JR. She didn't like lizards, but being the mother of a curious son she'd seen her fair share of them, enough to know that she had no desire to help release the one he was holding.

Stepping aside, she watched JR and John Ross huddle together for their show and tell session, admiring them as he had her earlier. JR tried his best to be different to his parents, and he was succeeding. It was too early to know whether or not they'd be splitting their attention between two children this time next year, but the idea was not one she was afraid of anymore, in fact, it was something she was hoping would be the case.

To be continued…