Kauaʻi, Hawaii

Six months later

12 February 1972

Lying outside beside the pool, next to her husband, Sue Ellen couldn't say it was exactly swimming weather, not to her, but the atmosphere and company more than made up for the lack of scorching temperatures.

It was about time they look advantage of the weekend, leaving Eloise with Miss Ellie and flying to Hawaii, just in time for their one-year anniversary.

It had been quite a year; marrying JR had been wonderful, as had the initial honeymoon period, however soon she began to worry that she would fail to deliver what was expected of her as Mrs Ewing and then when the tide turned and the concern that she'd never have children dissipated, new concerns arose. Jock had wanted a grandson, he'd never made any secret of that, and she and JR had felt it, ultimately leading to JR having to make a tough decision when Eloise, not John Ross, was born, and the news arrived that she'd never be able to give him John Ross.

Mixed in with the strain Jock was putting on their marriage was the strain he had put on his own, cutting ties to his wife of more than three decades for his secretary. She'd never much liked Julie, she hadn't known her well but what she did know she didn't really like, however she did believe that no one deserved what she'd gone through and no one deserved to be where she was now. She didn't know the details, only what she'd heard from Jock and JR, but still, woman to woman she empathised with what Julie must have felt towards the end.

In the months since the tragedy and the disgraceful way Jock had spoken to JR following that she felt their lives had improved. JR had taken her advice and left his father and Ewing Oil behind to forge his own path, and while Eloise wasn't John Ross, she was the apple of everyone's eye and very much loved. They didn't need a son. No one needed a son. They had a daughter, a smart, adorable, healthy daughter, one who was just as worthy as an imaginary son, but better, because she was real.

Leaving Eloise back home had been difficult because they were attached, they liked to spend time with their daughter, however it had been easy too because as attached as they were, Miss Ellie came in a close second and they had no worries about leaving Eloise in her care.

Dallas, Texas

19 February 1972

"JR doesn't talk much about what's going on at work."

Walking from the bar cart in the corner of the condo living room over to a leather armchair, Bobby answered Jock's question as he sat down.

JR had done it, he'd left Ewing Oil in a huff, deciding to start his own company, JRE Industries, and what had once seemed like the result of a temper tantrum was beginning to look like a permanent decision. What he wanted to know though was how seriously JR's decision was affecting him. JR had more than enough income streams to survive without actively working, so it could all be a façade, something he was doing to prove a point that he didn't need Ewing Oil, but then again, he could really be working at his own endeavours, it wasn't entirely clear.

"I suppose he doesn't have anyone to talk to."

Considering when he'd lived at Southfork he and JR had been the ones to talk the most business, he suspected that neither Bobby, Sue Ellen, nor Ellie had filled his role, so there wasn't much intellectual discussion happening within the ranch house walls anymore.

"I listen when he does but you know JR, he's always ten steps ahead in his head."

"I think he's just happy. He doesn't have to fill his time at home with work."

Piping up, Lucy's opinion was as usual, controversial. He loved his granddaughter but her mouth could get her in a lot of trouble.

"Now, what do you mean by that?"

"You haven't seen Eloise in a long time but it's hard to keep your mind on much else when she's around."

Getting in two jabs at him, firstly that he hadn't been to Southfork since Christmas, and secondly that even when he'd been there, he'd kept at a distance from his other granddaughter, he didn't much appreciate her comments, but for the sake of maintaining contact with her he didn't argue. Soon enough there would be another little Ewing to coo over and at that point in time everyone would see what a family man he was.

"Mm."

"I think JR has more important things to think about than work."

Attempting to keep the peace, Bobby only succeeded in confirming what Lucy was saying.

"That'll be his downfall."

Crinkling his forehead, Bobby looked like he had thoughts but he held his tongue. Perhaps he wanted to agree, perhaps he wanted to disagree, he didn't know, but it was probably best not to get into that discussion when Lucy was listening with full attention and a mind and mouth of her own.

21 February 1972

"Ellie, I've come to care deeply for you."

"I do too Clayton."

"I'd like to make you my wife someday."

"I'd like that very much."

"To do that we'll need to tell our families about us."

"Then we will."

"You're sure?"

"Yes. We've been seeing each other for months now, Jock and I have been divorced more than a year, and my family isn't nearly as broken as they have been. I think now is the right time."

The discussion hadn't taken long, they were on the same page. Older and wiser this time around, a second marriage for both of them, her divorced and him widowed, the decision wasn't one made in the heat of a passionate moment or with the naivety of youth. They loved and respected each other, they wanted to share that forever, and they would. She truly hoped that her sons felt the same way she did, because the last thing she wanted was to be at the centre of a family drama again, not after she'd finally put Jock behind her.